This instructable intends to show you how to create a small & simple infrared (IR) receiver for your computer. The configuration of the software is beyond the scope of this instructable, but I use this receiver with LIRC (Linux Infrared Remote Control) in Linux. You can read more about LIRC and see the circuit diagram I used to build this at http://www.lirc.org/
Note that --I did not design this circuit-- and I wasn't the first to put the circuit into a D-sub connector... but I was the first to post an instructable on it, so hopefully someone will benefit from this : )
My total cost was about $1.50 because I had to purchase an IR receiver, but everything else I had lying around because I'm a computer guy/electronics geek.
Note that --I did not design this circuit-- and I wasn't the first to put the circuit into a D-sub connector... but I was the first to post an instructable on it, so hopefully someone will benefit from this : )
My total cost was about $1.50 because I had to purchase an IR receiver, but everything else I had lying around because I'm a computer guy/electronics geek.
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Signing UpStep 1: Parts Needed
Here are the parts I used, all of them were cannibalized from old projects or scavenged from the engineering lab except the IR receiver that I ordered from Mouser.
Parts List:
Vishay TSOP1138 IR Receiver
50v 4.7uF capacitor
4001 Diode
4.7K resistor
7805 voltage regulator (5 volts)
Parts Discussion
TSOP1138 IR Receiver: Most people use the Vishay TSOP 1738, but Mouser was out of those when I ordered and the 1138 is comparable... and it worked, so who cares : )
4.7uF capacitor: I used an axial 50v barrel (electrolytic) capacitor because I had one available and didn't want to spend 75 cents at Radio Shack. But, if you've got a 4.7uF ceramic disc capacitor, it would be a lot easier to fit inside the D-sub housing we're going to use. Also, since I used a 50v capacitor and we're only pushing 5v, it's going to have a pretty long rise time but it shouldn't affect the performance of our device too much.
7805 voltage regulator: I used a big one made by Motorola in the first one of these receivers I made and I had to clip the pins very short and clip and grind the top pole in order to get it to fit in the D-sub (see pictures of completed project). However, when I was digging around for pieces today, I came across a surface mount 7805 that I got from Texas Instruments as a sample years ago. It's tiny and perfect for this project. I'll definitely use it the next time I build one of these as it will cut the footprint of the circuit down tremendously. Both the large and small 7805's are labeled in the electronics closeup picture.
Parts List:
Vishay TSOP1138 IR Receiver
50v 4.7uF capacitor
4001 Diode
4.7K resistor
7805 voltage regulator (5 volts)
Parts Discussion
TSOP1138 IR Receiver: Most people use the Vishay TSOP 1738, but Mouser was out of those when I ordered and the 1138 is comparable... and it worked, so who cares : )
4.7uF capacitor: I used an axial 50v barrel (electrolytic) capacitor because I had one available and didn't want to spend 75 cents at Radio Shack. But, if you've got a 4.7uF ceramic disc capacitor, it would be a lot easier to fit inside the D-sub housing we're going to use. Also, since I used a 50v capacitor and we're only pushing 5v, it's going to have a pretty long rise time but it shouldn't affect the performance of our device too much.
7805 voltage regulator: I used a big one made by Motorola in the first one of these receivers I made and I had to clip the pins very short and clip and grind the top pole in order to get it to fit in the D-sub (see pictures of completed project). However, when I was digging around for pieces today, I came across a surface mount 7805 that I got from Texas Instruments as a sample years ago. It's tiny and perfect for this project. I'll definitely use it the next time I build one of these as it will cut the footprint of the circuit down tremendously. Both the large and small 7805's are labeled in the electronics closeup picture.
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You can see here : http://www.vishay.com/docs/82006/tsop11xx.pdf
That the receiver has some extra innards (preamp, diode, etc) compared to a simple IR detector.
You could certainly use a regular IR detector, but you'd need to work out the rest of the requirements. And, the receivers run about $1 so it may not be worth the hassle - unless you just want the challenge : )
which remote control should be used to this RS-232 Infrared Receiver in a Serial Connector (LIRC) Computer Remote Control.
is it a universal Infrared Receiver
please reply me
Personally, I've used this receiver with an RCA Universal Remote (model RCR815) the most and it works great. I've also tested it with the remote that came with my Logitech PC speakers (5.1 with 10" sub... I forget the model number), my old Sanyo DVD player remote, and a few other remotes from various devices in my home. They've all worked (in that the receiver picked up a signal) but I didn't bother to map the output from the remote to an action in LIRC on all of them... I just wanted to see if they'd pick up. The RCR815 is the one that I've used the most and is the only remote that actually gets used in my house.
Remember that you'll have to configure your receiver software to make it actually "do stuff" but that the receiver will pick up the signal from a ton of different remotes/input devices.
Good luck!
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There are USB alternatives, but they're a little more complicated because you have to interface with the USB controller... which is trickier than the serial controller. Because of that, you'll have to have some type of IC or MC to do the communication between the IR receiver and the USB bus. And, with the added hardware, your cost will raise a bit. Of course, I built my serial receiver for about $1.50 ... so "rising cost" may come up to $5, probably less than $10... depend on the IC/MC you use.
Check out these projects for more info, and for a schematics/plans:
USBTiny : http://www.xs4all.nl/~dicks/avr/usbtiny/
USB-IR-Boy : http://usbirboy.sourceforge.net/
I'm sure there's probably a few more projects out there, but these are the two I hear about the most often.
DCD to red wire
RTS to white or Green wire
GND to Black wire
DCD to red wire
RTS to white or Green wire
GND to Black wire
If you're in windows, you may need to scan for hardware changes. Or, the receiver software you're using may be able access it directly... I'm not sure about Windows, I'm a Linux guy.
On Linux, you just plug it in and then point LIRCD to the correct port (after proper configuration) and alls well.
I had used a 4148 zener on a different version of the same circuit and must have gotten them mixed up when I wrote the instructable. I'll get that fixed.
Thanks catching that!
a. either diode can be used
and
b.does it work with windows 7
B) It should work with Windows 7 as long as there is software that is supported on Windows 7 to handle IR transactions from a serial port. Unfortunately, I don't know much about what's available for Windows because I'm a Linux geek. So, I'm not too much help there except to say that the hardware should be fine, but you may have to seek out some appropriate software.
1. Is there a general discussion forum for these devices where I can post these questions or is this it?
2. I used the following receiver: The RPM1700 series from jaycar: http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=ZD1952 How does this stand up to the TSOP1738? I noticed the RPM1700 does not filter out flurorescent light and it seems to be having trouble consistently reading the signals from my Panasonic remote but this may lay in other parts of the cirucuit.
3. Is there a list of compatible remotes or frequencies so I can see if my remote is actually compatible?
4: I used a 10K pull up resistor instead of the 4.7K, I can't see how this could cause any problems, is this true?
5. Does it matter if the diode I used is not the same as the reccomended one? I used one which was made for slightly higher currents because it was the only one I had
Good luck.
-darc
38khz
4.5v - 5v
supply current : 1.5 mA
output current : 5 mA
I looked around Mouser a little bit for IR receivers (optoreceivers) and found a TSOP-2238 which looks comparable.
Datasheet : http://www.vishay.com/docs/82095/tsop22xx.pdf
Specs :
38khz
4.5 V - 5.5 V
Supply Current : 1.5 mA
Output Current : 5 mA
Looks like that matches up perfectly and should work for you. The structure of the receiver itself is a little different from the one in this instructable - it looks shorter and fatter in the data sheet. However, all the specs are the same, including the viewing angle (90) so the only difference will be how to fit the receiver into your D-sub - you may have to do a little more cutting.
They're $1.10 each and here's the link :
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=PCUyrf2vwzUS3rMJXHv9nQ%3d%3d
Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions.
Link:http://www.instructables.com/id/PC-remote-control/
However you will have problems to find the IR Tsop
Thanks Darc for your project