USB IR Toy v2
From DP
| Project Summary | |
|---|---|
| Name: | USB IR Toy v2 |
| Buy it: | Get one for $19.50 at Seeed Studio |
| Price: | $19.50 |
| Status: | Test production |
| Manufacturing: | Shipping |
| Forum: | USB IR Toy v2 Forum |
Use a remote control with your computer, view infrared signals on a logic analyzer, or capture and replay remote control buttons. USB Infrared Toy v2 has an improved IR transmitter and several new features.
Features:
- NEW: 100mA constant current IR transmitter with improved range
- NEW: Infrared frequency measurement
- NEW: Pin breakout area
- Infrared remote control decoder (RC5)
- Infrared signal logic analyzer
- Capture and replay infrared signals
- USB connection, USB bootloader for easy updates
- Supported in WinLIRC
- Open source (CC-BY-SA)
Read about the design below.
Contents |
Overview
There's lots of interesting infrared projects on the web. Serial port infrared PC remote control decoders have been popular for years, Ian published a USB version at Hack a Day. The TV-B-Gone is a popular kit that turns most TVs off by transmitting POWER codes with infrared LEDs. The IR Toy combines all these projects into an upgradable USB dongle, with some extra functions, like a simple logic analyzer that visualizes remote control signals.
IR Toy v2 has three updates that were not in the original hardware:
- Transmit range is increased by using a 100mA constant current driver circuit
- Infrared frequency measurement helps to identify remote control protocols, and to clone remotes with odd frequencies
- Extra pins and infrared signals are brought to a breakout area. Extent the IR Toy with extra receivers, transmitters, and other parts
IR Toy parts:
- USB MINI-B connector
- Indicator LED, blinks on receive and indicates other functions depending on mode
- Infrared transmitter LED
- Infrared demodulator
- Infrared frequency detector
- PIC programming header pins
- Serial UART pins, can be used as a USB->serial converter
- Access to the infrared transmitter and demodulator signals
- Unused pins, including +5volt supply from USB
Hardware
Click for a full size schematic image. Schematic and PCB were designed with the freeware version of Cadsoft Eagle.
Microcontroller
- Microcontroller
- Power and decoupling
- Oscillator
- Programming and reset support
- LEDs
Infrared demodulator
- Decodes 36KHz modulated IR
Infrared frequency detector
- This new part in v2 adds the ability to measure the raw frequency of the signal
- Most Remote controls are at 36-38KHz and work with the demodulator, but some are 56KHz and others.
- Now can measure and even clone remotes that don't work with the demodulator
- Very sensitive - hold RC very close (1-2cm) for best results. Sunlight from a window can mess up the reading.
Infrared transmitter
- Transmits infrared signals, with or without modulation.
- New transmitter designed to provide 100mA constant current without needing a large throgh-hole current limiting resistor.
- calculatons
- parts
Breakout area
- unused and main IR signals are broken out to a pin header.
PCB
We used the freeware version of Cadsoft Eagle to make the schematic and PCB.
- Project downloads
- SMD0603. Diodes are hard to solder
Partslist
Click for a full size placement image.
| Part | Quantity | Value | Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 1 | 0.1uf | C603 |
| C2,C4,C7 | 3 | 0.22uF | C603 |
| C5,C6 | 2 | 27pf | C603 |
| C8 | 1 | 1.0uF | C603 |
| D1 | 1 | BAS16J | SOD2514X100N |
| D2,D3 | 2 | BAS16J | DO323 |
| I | 1 | LED | CHIP-LED0805 |
| IC1 | 1 | PIC18F2550_28W | SO28W |
| ICSP | 1 | 1X05 | |
| J1 | 1 | CON-USB-MINI-BUSB1 | CONN_USB_MINI-B |
| JP1 | 1 | 2X06 | |
| Q1 | 1 | 20Mhz | HC49UP |
| R1 | 1 | 10K | R603 |
| R2 | 1 | 2K7 | R603 |
| R3,R6 | 2 | 390R | R603 |
| R4 | 1 | 6R8 | M1206 |
| R5 | 1 | 3K6 | R603 |
| RX | 1 | TSOP34838 | TSOP18XX |
| RX2 | 1 | QSE159 | QSE15X |
| S1 | 1 | SMD_TACT_SMALL | TACT_SWITCH_SMALL |
| T1 | 1 | BC81840MTF | SOT23-BEC |
| TX | 1 | 100mA IR LED | LED5MM |
| UART | 1 | 1X04 |
Firmware
IR Toy v2 uses the same firmware a v1
The firmware is written in C and compiled with the free Microchip C18 compiler.
We used the Microchip USB stack to run the 18F2550 as a virtual serial port. Microchip's code is open but not redistributable. If you want to compile the source, download the stack from Microchip, then drag the source code into the install directory. See the detailed instructions in the PIC compiler how-to.
.inf driver installation
The virtual serial port (CDC) is an open standard, it should work on any modern operating system.
You don't need a driver, but you will need a .inf file to tell Windows how to use the device. A suitable .inf is included in the project archive.
Bootloader
IR Toy v2 can be upgraded over USB. It uses the Diolan bootloader, which appears as a USB HID device.
Taking it further
The QSE159 sensor and rising cost of PIC 18F2550 chips increased the price of IR Toy v2 by more than $2. We’ll try to get the cost back down by using a cheaper 3.3volt PIC 18F25J50 in v3.
Firmware updates are posted on the blog. You can also join the discussion in the forum.
Get one!
You can get one for $19.50. Worldwide shipping is only $2.85 more.
Your purchases at Seeed Studio keep the open source project coming, we sincerely appreciate your support!
Links
License
- Hardware:CC-BY-SA
- Firmware:CC-BY-SA
- Bootloader:GPL