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IR receiver for Infrared (IR) BoosterPack

The Infrared (IR) BoosterPack Plug-in Module is shipped with an IR receiver TSOP58438 from Vishay. While this IR receiver has good noise immunity and can handle some of the IR remote modulation schemes, it may not be suitable for other usage­­­­s.

One variable is the sub-carrier frequency. The last 2-digit of the said Vishay part number indicates that it is designed for frequencies near 38 kHz. Other choices are 30, 33, 36, 40 and 56 kHz.

Another variable is the characteristics of the built-in AGC circuit. The third digit of the said Vishay part number indicates that it has AGC4. Other choices are AGC1, AGC2, AGC3 and AGC5. These designations have to do with the tradeoffs between noise immunity and limits of burst length and duty cycle in the modulation scheme of the remote control code.

For code learning (as oppose to receiving and decoding of known scheme), I recommend the Vishay Part TSMP58000.

  • Hi,

    Thanks for your comments about the IR receiver module on IR BoosterPack.

    Yes. TSMP58000 is good choice for the code learning. It has no band pass so that it can receive all the frequencies 20 ~ 60kHz.

    But the Infrared (IR) BoosterPack is mainly to demo the feature of normal IR remote control. In market, most IR remote control is using 38kHz and TSOP58438 is popularly used. For MCU on the LaunchPad, TSOP58438 output is demodulated signal so that the firmware is simple. If using TSMP58000, MCU needs to add function for software demodulation.

    Code learning is nice to have feature for the IR BoosterPack. TSOP58438 can also work with most remote controller's code learning since 38kHz is popularly used.

    But you are right, the IR BoosterPack IR receiving has 38kHz carrier frequency limitation. An workaround is: If users want to have code learning with other carrier frequency, they can replace the TSOP58438 with TSMP58000 directly on the board since TSOP58438 and TSMP58000 are pin compatible, and then to update the firmware to add the demodulation.

    Thanks,

    Lixin

  • Lixin Chen1 said:
    TSOP58438 can also work with most remote controller's code learning since 38kHz is popularly used.

    But sub-carrier frequency aside, the AGC scheme used in the receiver is also important. I said earlier that:

    Another variable is the characteristics of the built-in AGC circuit. The third digit of the said Vishay part number indicates that it has AGC4. Other choices are AGC1, AGC2, AGC3 and AGC5. These designations have to do with the tradeoffs between noise immunity and limits of burst length and duty cycle in the modulation scheme of the remote control code.

    Here is part of what Vishay said about data format code compatibilities of different AGCs:

  • Good point. I think the test for the IR BoosterPack learning mode is just for 38kHz NEC code continuous data frames since this protocol is popular in the air conditioner and TV IR remote control. If user wants to test the learning mode with other protocol or other frequency than 38kHz, it is better to change to TSMP58000 as you suggested.

    Thanks,

    Lixin

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