Electronic Letter Box

The circuit illustrated below is used as an electronic letter box. When letter is kept in this box then a LED glows which indicates that letter is inside the Box.

   This circuit uses a popular timer I.C which is 555. I.C 555 is connected as comparator with pin 6 connected  with positive  supply, the output goes high-1 when the trigger pin 2 is at lower than 1/3 level of the supply voltage. Conversely the output goes low-0 , when it is above 1/3 level. So small change  in  the voltage of pin 2 is enough to change  the output of  pin 3 from 1 to 0 and 0 to 1. The output has only two states high and low and can not remain in any intermediate stage. It is power by 9V battery for portable use. The circuit is economic in power consumption. Pin 4,6&8 is connected to the positive supply and pin 1 is grounded.