Mysterious box, anyone know what it is?

[Heemis]

Bit of backstory... there's a woman who lives in my neighborhood who sells random tools and electronics devices on the weekends in the summer.  For years I've gotten some amazing deals on old tools and test equipment.  Recently she had this unit, which I bought, but I can't find any information on what it was originally used for.  Obviously it's begging to be turned into some kind of modular synth, or amp, or both!

Anyway, I was just wondering if some of the more experienced EE types might know what this box's original purpose was.  Thanks for looking!

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Looks like a simple patch box so you can introduce different components into a circuit. Photo diode, Photo transistor, different resistor and cap values, different logic gates.

Universal test tool. You can always call the manufacturer and try to get info. 1-800-237-5227

[Heemis]

Thanks for the reply... yeah, I figured it was simply some kind of test tool, but just wasn't sure if there was a specific field or purpose it was made for... I guess the name "Optics receiver" threw me off.  Also, there were a few components included that I didn't recognize (Interrupter, Reflector, the two strange jacks at the bottom left labeled "amp").  Anyway, it's got a speaker, built in + and - 9v, and lots of banana jacks... I should be able to have some fun with it!

[Govmnt_Lacky]

The more I look at it and the components/values available... it does look to be for a specific purpose.

Best to call and get info... 

[Kevin Mitchell]

My first thought was a patch box for lab equipment which is actually what it is. It was made to educate students in electronics. It's obvious by looking at the manufacturer's home page.

But I am curious to what equipment this would be used to poke around with. I've been wanting to make a patch box myself but that's mostly for switches, pots and raw VCOs and optical effects.

[Heemis]

I actually have a sine/square generator made by the same company that I use for troubleshooting effects and amps, so they definitely are/were in the test equipment game.  I actually have a bunch of decade capacitor, resistor and inductor boxes from the same woman which I use for prototyping so this guy is on the chopping block for a re-purpose.

[anotherjim]

Oviously aimed at teaching interfacing circuits. Opto isolated serial interfaces in particular. "interrupter/reflector" suggest a telecomms bias to me.

[PRR]

It is a classroom demonstration tool.

This one focuses on opto devices.

On the left are two phototransistors and two photo sources.

On the right are two photo detectors, slot and reflecty.

On top are indicator LEDs, center is a speaker.

All the rest is the glue-parts to amplify/convert opto signals to blinking lights and maybe speaker sounds.

Jumper it like this. (I assume the internal power supply is alive.)



When you put light or dark on the side opto-transistor, LED 8 glows or no-glows. (It may have to be VERY dark for a no-glow.)

Another "fun one" is to get the "Interrupter" LED-side lit (power + through 10K resistor to interupter LED to power -), and use the above circuit to convert interrupter photo-T current to an LED indication. Sliding a matchbook through the interrupter slot blinks the LED.

The opamp and pot can be used to compare light-level to knob setting and do an LED when it gets too dark (or light) compared to the pot setting.

Opamp or transistors can be cobbled to make an oscillator, audible tone controlled by light sensors.

More elaborate demonstrations are possible, but perhaps not your thing.

Company is here: http://cesindustries.com  --website is very slow.

That particular trainer is not listed, as product or support info, but they have others clearly from the same thinking. Dig the big digital trainer:

[Heemis]

Ah, all is revealed.  Very interesting!  Maybe I'll play around with it a bit before converting it to something more... useful for me.

Thanks PRR!

[Güero]

[danielzink]

Huh....

Looks like a Burst Box....

[chankgeez]

I love Farmingdale.

[wavley]

Huh....

Looks like a Burst Box....

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

[duck_arse]

.... random tools .....

reminds me of someone.

that digital trainer, is the vent on the side for audio or air-conditioning?

1 person liked the fruit-loops.