The documentation wiki for the USB Infrared Toy has been updated. There’s new upgrade instructions, mode overview pages, and easy access to the schematic and partlist. We could still use some help documenting the connection procedure for Linux and Mac. A picture of the IR Toy connecting to Windows for the first time would also […]
Category Archives: Infrared toy
Lazy Saturday free PCB
There’s a lot going on in the lab this morning. Instead of writing a post, we’re going to give away a couple PCBs for an all through-hole version of the USB Infrared Toy. This is part of a kit that probably won’t be made because the through-hole version of the PIC18F2550 is four times the […]
USB IR Toy: WinLIRC plugin complete
WinLIRC v0.8.6b+ now supports the USB IR Toy, thanks to a new driver written by Dukey. Dukey finished the driver before we did, so he’ll get an IR Toy v1.1 prototype as soon as the boards are in. You’ll need to update your USB IR Toy to firmware v1.05, it has the new IR sampling […]
USB Infrared Toy firmware v1.05
USB Infrared Toy firmware v1.05 is available for download. We’re on a roll today, first a new Bus Pirate firmware, now a new IR Toy firmware. Firmware v1.05 corrects several bugs in the IR sample mode in v1.04. This update should fix the buffer overflows in v1.04 that cause the IR Toy to freeze and […]
USB IR Toy v1.04 fimware bug?
It looks like there’s a major bug in IR Toy firmware v1.04. After a few days it stops working. We have not seen this bug in the lab, if you have an example please let us know how it happened (died suddenly, on startup, etc) and the operating conditions (mode, etc). v1.04 has been deprecated […]
Remote control protocol reverse engineering
Ytsirk analyzed the remote control protocol from a LED license plate frame using the USB IR Toy. Also check out part I and part II that introduce the hardware. We can’t wait for the next installment that covers reprogramming the marquee with a battery powered IR Toy, it sounds like there’s a lot of potential […]
Infrared Toy OSX client application
rsdio developed a Mac application for the USB IR Toy. It captures and displays the raw waveform from the IR Toy’s raw infrared mode, and has a limited protocol analyzer.
USB IR Toy: Sampling mode
See the latest version in the documentation wiki. The USB IR Toy test firmware v1.04 has a new infrared sampling mode that will be used by the upcoming WinLIRC plugin. This mode times the duration of infrared pulses and sends the measurements to the computer. It’s currently receive-only, but we’ll add a compatible transmit feature […]
USB IR Toy test firmware 1.04
It looks like there’s a bug in v1.04 that makes it stop working after a few days. It can be fixed by connecting the PGC and PGD vias to enter the bootloader and uploading the v1.02 firmware again. USB IR Toy firmware v1.04 is ready for download. This release has a new mode for better […]
USB IR Toy: WinLIRC, irPyton updates
WinLIRC, the Windows version of the popular LIRC PC remote control decoder, has seen a spurt of development after 4 years of no activity. The updated version uses a new plugin system that should be able to support the USB IR Toy’s irman decoder mode and rawIO modes. We’re also adding a new mode that […]
Bus Pirate v4, IR Toy updates
There is an update of the USB IR Toy and a new Bus Pirate v4 in the forum. Your comments and suggestions are needed to make these the best designs yet. These projects won’t be manufactured until the fall at the earliest, and probably won’t be available until next year. This preview release is part […]
USB IR Toy: rawIO capture, analyze, and replay
The USB IR Toy will soon have a cross-platform GUI that can capture, display, and replay infrared signals. The application is written in Python with the open source wxPython IDE. If you’d like to join the effort, our latest work is always in the SVN. We hope to have a demonstration version soon. What should […]
USB Infrared Toy, web platform back in stock
The USB IR Toy is back in stock at Seeed Studio. Back orders will ship now, and new orders should ship immediately. The latest batch of USB IR Toys has a few minor updates: The IR LED footprint was swapped for a correct version. A plain IR LED instead of the metal-can version. The IR […]
DIY USB IR Toy clone
Here’s a DIY, potrable version of the USB IR Toy. It runs the same firmware and bootloader as the IR Toy, but has a few changes: smaller than the original USB IR Toy full integration in a tiny case four IR LEDs for increased range it can be powered with a 9V battery, making it […]
Confessions of a prototyper: USB Infrared Toy
Confessions is a series where we share prototypes that didn’t quite work out. Read previous posts for the Bus Pirate, #twatch, and web platform here. The USB Infrared Toy took a few tries to get right. We’d like to fill you in on some things that happened behind the scenes before we released the v1 […]
USB Infrared Toy in stock
The USB Infrared Toy is back in stock for $20, including worldwide shipping. Orders should ship immediately. The Bus Pirate is on back order, but v3b should be tested and shipping soon.
USB Infrared Toy firmware v1.02
There’s a new firmware, hardware, and source archive for the USB Infrared Toy available for download here. This release includes a very minor firmware update, there’s no real compelling reason to upgrade: USB device descriptor properly reports bus-powered device Removed padding from manufacturer string in descriptor Increased delay before and after self-test Updated self-test version […]
IR remote codes overview
Ken Shirriff’s infrared remote control overview covers different ways to interpret remote control codes, and how to extract codes from various data files available online. This could be good background for anyone adding new remote control protocol support to the USB IR Toy.
USB IR Toy: Calculate transmitter carrier frequency
See the latest version in the documentation wiki. The USB IR Toy raw IO mode samples and replays infrared waveforms. IRIO mode starts with a default 36kHz infrared transmit modulation frequency. The rate can be changed with the setup modulation command (0×02), followed by a byte that sets the pulse-width modulator match value (PR2), and […]
USB IR Toy: Calculate sampling rates
See the latest version on the documentation wiki. The USB IR Toy raw IO mode samples and replays infrared waveforms. IRIO mode starts with a default 10kHz sample and playback timer. The rate can be changed with the setup timer command (0x01), followed by two bytes that set the sample timer offset. The first byte […]