DIY IR Droid Module - 3.5mm to Infrared - Breadboard Prototype

Hey guys, I figured since I had grabbed so much great information from you all  I might try my luck with a little more! ;-)

I have built this on my breadboard, powered with 6V 150mAh AC-DC converter. First connect saw at least one of the LEDs flicker dark orange and then go out. Assuming this means I burned it out, as afterwards I didn't notice any response.

To prevent burning IR LEDs, I'll use visible LEDs, but I'm still concerned that my breadboard has a mistake. I'm pretty much worthless (but willing to learn, at least outside of the classroom setting!) at Phys II, so the debugging is foreign to me.  Pulling out the multimeter... What process should I be using to confirm that everything is powered correctly? The schematic is attached if you would like to customize your response to the hardware, but a general guide to debugging amplified LED circuits would be much appreciated as well!

Additionally, if amplification the best way to go? How about a relay? Does that not offer the same (not Phys II...) amplitude? Smaller the better!

Source List:
- Schematic - Attached PDF
- PCB Creation - http://www.instructables.com/id/Extreme-Surface-Mount-Soldering/
- Mounting plan - http://www.instructables.com/id/LEGO-Nikon-IR-Remote/

Thanks in advance!
Andrew

Oh, and I'll post a picture of it within the week to get another set of eyes. I must confess, it is a little ratty...

Comments

[gbakalski]

Somebody forgot to mention that the Schematic was taken from http://www.irdroid.com which is a remote control module for Android wright?

[JustUnicycle]

Yes. Open-Hardware. Not trying to claim as my own. My apologies, just trying to get her running!

Man, electricity is awesome, but its not easy! Pretty sure I'm gonna have to put yours on my X-Max list! -- Oh, I should mention they are for sale now... after I go and learned how to make it myself... breadboard and all..

[iceng]

Is it for Left and Right audio channels ?

[JustUnicycle]

I'm thinking it is using both, but outputting mono...

[iceng]

To use both you need to create a middle virtual audio ground.
Just one Op-Amp and two 47K 1/8 W resistors in a follower configuration..

A

[steveastrouk]

No current limiting resistor to LEDs = bad idea.

What, exactly, are you trying to do ?

Steve

[JustUnicycle]

LOL... Umm. Yea... Maybe with batteries it must play nice. I want power source flexibility! Let's add one. (Maybe 2? Most suggest using one for each in parallel.)

Resistance and power Resistor Values:
Resistance = (Vtotal - Vled forware) / Current
Power = Voltage * Current

I'll probably want to operate the LEDs underpowered, since 6V, 100mAh is giving me over 1/2 watt. on a SMD device, I want to keep it well below that to use 0805 parts.

RadioShack doesn't give real details, but 100mAh, Vled forward = 1.28V

So... since these are in inverse parallel I'm really confused about how this effects the voltage. (It is my understanding that this allows the pulses to add to each other, or something about additive frequencies, or amplitudes or something.

Making progress, at least I think so. Just running a few more sets of numbers... Thanks for the start!

[steveastrouk]

Like I said, what's it FOR. Once I know that, I can make some more suggestions.

[JustUnicycle]

Pulses the LEDs based on the headphone jack output. Basically add a "soundboard" and you have a remote. I think 38kh? cant recall standard freq, but it should do any.

[steveastrouk]

So square wave ?

Steve

[JustUnicycle]

Sorry for the delay, for some reason "Holiday" translates to "Let's assign our group projects right before this and make it a grueling week" at my school.

In any case, thanks for your help and let's see if I can be of any.

Yes.

Attempting to solve my problem without this schematic (and applying what little I know if Phys II, having failed it 2x) I would do it differently. Thus, if I may, submit a new schematic design for conceptual approval:

If I'm not crazy all I need is a battery source that fully powers my LEDs to a brightness I like, with of course a limiting resistor. (Put a pot on if you want crazy range; this schematic claims 30m on an ir remote!)

For 3.5mm input I just take the pos ground end to a relay and hook it into my circuit.

+ 3.5mm
-- {Relay}
-- 3.5mm

+ Battery
-- {Relay}
+ LED
-- LED
-- Battery