A new open source hardware project every month
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Dukey’s latest update to the USB Infrared Toy plugin for WinLIRC now supports the new transmit features in firmware v07. Read our step-by-step WinLIRC configuration guide if you need help getting started.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
USB Infrared Toy firmware v07 is ready to download. V06 was a little buggy, this release should be a lot more solid. This download contains the latest firmware only.
Upgrade instructions are on the wiki. The new IR sample mode commands are also documented on the wiki.
The next version will have some minor feature updates.
You can get the updated IR Toy hardware early by writing a plugin for EventGhost. Python hackers wanted!
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping. Every sale supports this open source project.
Tags: features, Infrared transmitter, modulation
USB Infrared toy firmware v06 is ready to download. The IR sample mode now includes a transmit command, see the updated documentation. This download contains the latest firmware, source, and hardware.
Upgrade instructions are on the documentation wiki.
The next version will have some pretty major updates, what’s on your feature wishlist?
You can get the updated IR Toy hardware early by writing a plugin for EventGhost. Python hackers wanted!
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping. Every sale supports this open source project.
Tags: EventGhost, Infrared transmitter
There’s a new IR Toy/WinLIRC tutorial that shows how to decode remote controls on your computer. WinLIRC doesn’t control things alone, but it works as a plugin with automation programs like EventGhost to control your computer using a remote control with almost any protocol.
For instant satisfaction, try the WinLIRC irGraph tool. It shows a continuously updated graph of the infrared signal from a remote control.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
Tags: automation, irGraph, RC decoder, remote control, WinLIRC
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 be helpful, all our ports have had an IR Toy previously installed.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping. Every purchase supports further development of this project.
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 cost of the surface mount version. Just give us a shout if you’d like one, while they last.
An assembled USB Infrared Toy is available for $20, including worldwide shipping. Each purchase supports the development of this project.
Tags: though-hole, usb ir toy
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 mode required by WinLIRC. Look for a WinLIRC tutorial later this week.
Anyone interested in bringing IR Toy support to Lirc? We’ll send you a prototype of the next IR Toy too.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
Tags: WinLIRC
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 get stuck in bootloader mode. If you have any problems with v1.05 please report them in the forum.
The next firmware update will include the ability to retransmit infrared signals using the IR sample mode data format.
Upgrade instructions are in the documentation wiki.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
Tags: bug fix
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 and removed from the recommended downloads at Google Code.
So far this seems limited to the v1.04 firmware, if you have this problem with a v1.02 firmware please let us know.
People with this bug report that the IR Toy can be revived with the bootloader:
Illustrated upgrade instructions are in the documentation wiki.
We’ll try to get this straightened out and release a new firmware this week.
Tags: bugs
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 mischief fun to be had.
Tags: LED, plate frames, remote control
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.
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 in a future update.
Work on the plugin will begin soon, but if you finish it first we’ll send you an IR Toy v1.1 prototype.
Protocol documentation follows.
Tags: infrared sampling, wiki, WinLIRC
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 WinLIRC support, and a new firmware query command. The new mode is still being tested, we may need to hand-tune some timing for the best performance.
Upgrade instructions and the updated USB IR Toy protocol are in the documentation wiki.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
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 gives the actual duration of each change in the remote signal.
Development continues on the cross-platform Python GUI for the IR Toy. See the latest build images and source code.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
Tags: open source, remote control, WinLIRC
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 of our pledge to move new projects to the forum earlier in the development process.
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 we name it?
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:
A second batch of web platforms is available today too should also be in stock soon. The Flash Destroyer kits will ship shortly.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping.
Tags: backorders, Shipping
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 independent of the computer
It’s always great to see a new take on a design. If you’ve ever updated an open source project for your own needs, we want to know.
Tags: home etched, Manu, mods, remake
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 hardware. It went through three revisions before we were happy, and even then there were plenty of bugs in the initial production version.
The USB IR Toy is $20, including worldwide shipping. At the time of this post it’s on back order, but v1a hardware is currently in production.
Continue reading for a look at the early USB IR Toy prototypes.
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.
Tags: Seeed Studio, updates
