Peter's electronic projects

Computer controlled infrared transmitter based on PIC

2002/06/16
updated on 2012/09/02
designed by Peter JAKAB

NOTE for beginners: PICs are general purpose microcontrollers which have to be programmed before you can use them in the actual circuit! Check out this link to learn more.

description

This is a programmable infrared (remote control) transmitter, which can be controlled from a computer serial port. It is capable of sending many remote control formats, including the Philips RC-5 standard. Exact formats with the timing parameter names are shown on the pictures:

operation

The controller will accept commands on a serial port. Settings are: 19200 bps, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stopbit, no flow control (XON/XOFF or RTS/CTS). Commands consist of hex coded bytes and must be written on the port as ASCII characters separated by space, terminated by ENTER (ASCII char 0x0d). The list of commands is here:

ir_T is given in 10 usecs, all other timing values are given in ir_T steps

You can use a terminal emulator program to test out the circuit (for example minicom on linux, NC terminal on DOS, or hyperterminal on windows). Line editing is not supported, only the backspace key works.

source code

Download source code and the HEX file here. The default modulation frequency is defined in the source: pwm_freq EQU d'36000' - adjust it as required. The default PWM duty cycle is 50%.

examples

line sent	explanation
55 38 10 8 1 1 1 3 1 1	SETPARAMS ir_T=0x38=56d head_H=0x10=16d head_L=8 bit0_H=1 bit0_L=1 bit1_H=1 bit1_L=3 tail_H=1 tail_L=1 This command will set these PDM parameters: T=56*10=560 usec, header pulse=16T, header gap=8T. bit0 pulse=1T, bit0 gap=1T, bit1 pulse=1T, bit1 gap=3T, tail pulse=1T
56 31 ce 01 fe	SENDPDM 0x31 0xce 0x01 0xfe This command will transmit a header, 32 data bits given as parameter and a tail pulse as seen:
55 59 2 8 f8 65	SETPARAMS ir_T=0x59=89d skipbits=2 togglebits=8 firstbyte=0xf8 rc5tail=0x65=101d This command will set these RC5 parameters: T=89*10=890 usec, skipbits=2 (16-2=14 bits IR code sent), firstbyte=0xf8, tail gap=101T=89.89 msec
58 1c 1c	SETPWM pwm_T=0x1c=28d dc_T=0x1c=28d This command will set PWM modulation to period time = 28 usecs (f = 35714 Hz), duty cycle = 28 * 0.25 usecs = 7 usecs = 25%
57 c	SENDRC5 0x0c This command will transmit a total of (16-skipbits)=14 bits. The first 6 bits are from firstbyte bit#5-#0: 1 1 0 0 0 0. Second 8 bits are <secondbyte>=0x0c: 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
57 c	SENDRC5 0x0c Repeating a SENDRC5 command will transmit an IR command with the toggle bit(s) updated. bit#3 from firstbyte is toggled from 0 to 1: 1 1 1 0 0 0. Second 8 bits: 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
57 c c c	SENDRC5 0x0c 0x0c 0x0c Repeating the same <secondbyte> in one SENDRC5 command will transmit the same IR command multiple times, without changing the toggle bit between repetitions. This is the behaviour when a remote control button is held.

obtaining the protocol for your remote

The easiest is if you find the specification of your remote. Good pages to start are: the SB projects IR introduction and the HP48 remote control program page. If you have no success, you need to measure the signal timings yourself. If you don't have a storage oscilloscope, here is a cheap trick: connect an IR receiver module to your soundcard line input and record the demodulated waveform of the remote with a sound editor program.  Use this small circuit to connect the receiver module to the sound card line input:

Here is a waveform example for the ITT 3520 video recorder remote, which is the same waveform used in the previous SENDPDM example:

You can measure the signal length of header, bit0, bit1 and the tail pulse in a sound editor and decode the bits by hand. The yellow bars on the picture show the decoded bits. The last 16 bits contain the button code. The actual code calculated from the bits is "31 ce 01 fe", and will control the video to step one channel up. Another example for the Panasonic remotes POWER button digitized is here:

The encoding scheme is quite similar, with the difference being only in the header/bit pulse/gap times. The capture shows the sequence 02 20 90 00 3d ad.

Recommended link: check dangerous prototypes - it contains lots of IR and remote control related articles and circuits.

schematic diagram

The controller and the IR transmitter parts: V+ input voltage is +8-12VDC, LED1 is an infrared LED. The preprogrammed microcontroller can be a PIC16F627, PIC16F627A, PIC16F628 or PIC16F628A.

The serial adapter is a voltage level translator, which converts the TTL voltages to/from RS232 levels of the serial port. An USB to serial converter board can be used instead of this adapter. Such adapters are based on PL2303, FT232RL, CP21xx, CH340, MCP2200 chips. If you choose an USB to serial circuit,

• only connect GND, TTL_TX and TTL_RX lines of the two circuits, and connect an external 8-12VDC power at V+
• or connect all four lines of the two circuits, and power the whole controller from the USB port. In this case, don't connect an external power source at V+, disconnect the U2 regulator and short its IN-OUT pins together.
  

references

• RC-5 protocol by Philips
• Dangerous Prototypes IR Toy
• SB projects IR introduction
• SB projects IR decoders
  
• HP48 remote control