I would like to switch a row of LEDs with the Arduino Nanos D10 output.
The Output is not strong enough to do that, I need a Transistor to switch the row of LEDs:
But my setup is a little different.
My nano is part of the mirumod, used for the AR.Drone. When I press a switch on my remote, D10 goes to 4.5 Volts for 1 second, then to 0 again (or 0.3 Volts).
I still want to switch the LEDs but can only switch, when D10 goes to 4.5 Volts.
Are you saying you aren't able to reprogram the Nano? Surely you can?
Anyway if you are stuck with the 1 second pulses then you can put them through a
D-Q flipflop - wire Q-bar to D and put the pulses into the clock input. Q and Q-bar will
switch state each time the clock goes LOW->HIGH. Add a logic-level MOSFET or BJT
to switch the LEDs.
I can reprogram the Nano, BUT: For the AR.Drone there already is a program with more than 4000 lines of code for the Arduino. The 1-second "switch pulse" is from a function in that program and not changeable without major rewrite.
I cannot do that, the program is written by a superPRO.
So I am stuck with a 1 second pulse, but that is fine to me.
Doesn't sound likely - its one little function in the code - probably the delay is in a constant anyway,
or configurable (if the author is "superPRO", whatever that is).
use a ne555 timer (or any compatible low power version) and set it up as a monostable multivibrator.
so you can turn your 1 second impulse into an impulse of any lenght.
the chip is really cheap and the required hardware is 2 or three resistors and one capacitor. if you use a potentiometer you can even adjust the time you would like to have in a very wide range.
there are hundreds of circuit examples in the internet.
the ne555 was developed in the 1970s and became the most successful chip up to today.
you will love it.
low cost -absolutely flexible - requires almost no extra hardware - requires no special expertise.