MSP430F5438A Universal IR remote controller

old_cow_yellow said:

Hence if the remote-control uses a code that violate the above, your recording will be distorted and you reply your replay will not work.

I'm not sure about the sub-carrier of the AC remote control but this is a good way of thinking, the "TSOP382" is working with some devices (assume it uses 38KHz) and not working with others (assume it works with different frequencies).

I need a real universal remote control that works with ALL IR devices so maybe I can do one of the following:

1) use other IR receiver other than "TSOP382", then I need an advice of a good part number

2) since our assumption is about the frequency, then, I can use several IR receivers one for each frequency and store the code with its frequency, (during programming, I'll try to with each IR receiver and play back the signal, store the best working one), I need support on best part number I should use (if "TSOP382" is not good enough)

3) use an IR diode to receive the carrier itself and write some code to let the MC to determine the envelop as well as the frequency, BUT I need a good part number of an IR diode (receiver)

Please support me in which path of the above three should I go, or do you suggest better way to solve the problem.

Thank you very much for the support, I appreciate your time and efforts

Mina

Come to think of it, you may be able to use the so-called "IrDA Transceiver" instead. Vishay, some Taiwan and Japaneses companies make them. The big question is where can you get it. If you find a source, I can help you on the technical side.

Reading about an universal infrared remote control, the one I use comes in mind as reference for a good design of this kind of device. it's the Sunwave SRC-7000. I really love it. It replaces all my IR remotes. The touch screen area is freely programmable with labels and buttons, and besides just reproducing IR codes, either from the large internal table or captured ones, it can also play sequences, including delays. Great for things like 'all devices on/off' or typical configurations or repeating tasks. (p.s.: it is of course easier to program it on PC - especially as this allows designing your own icons -  than with the touch screen, but both is possible)

Maybe reading the manual gives you some ideas for features to add to your project.

old_cow_yellow said:

That is what I would do.

..............

Sorry, I do not know a good part number for IR diodes. You probably need an amplifier as the output is very small.

Thank you, You're directing me to achieve my target.

First This selection was my first choice, and I was expecting to receive a repeatable time durations for 1s and 0s during the frequency output "Mark period"and a long time duration during the "space period", I did a circuit, write code that include a huge array of type "int" and of length of 6000 word, the output is attached here, it was NOT logical.

In the attached file you can see the 38KHz modulation frequency, with "high" time of about 10 counting units and "low" time of about 89 counting units (counting units is 0.5 uSec), the following problems appeared:

1) I calibrated the output timer against my oscilloscope, to make sure that the oscillator settings is correct and the microcontroller is working properly

2) The measured values (99 x 0.5uSec) indicates a frequency of about 20KHz not 38KHz

3) Scrolling down in the array you'll find strange time duration such as 300 which is about 3 pulses in the modulation frequency, so it is not supposed to be "space period" also I didn't find any reason of why it happened

So I assumed that the Photodiode I'm using is of bad quality, I couldn't get better at the current time from the local market.

>>>>You probably need an amplifier as the output is very small<<<<

Mentioning the amplifier, let me check again, the Circuit I built was like a voltage divider with only one resistor and one Photodiode, then an analog comparator to compare the voltage from the divider against a preset voltage value, maybe this is a wrong circuit or not the best configuration I don't know, please advice .

I used a PT3401B-M-3B photodiode from the local market, I'm not sure it is an original part or a Chinese copy.

I'm intending to order "PD15-21B/TR8" from Digikey, PN: 1080-1365-1-ND

old_cow_yellow said:

Come to think of it, you may be able to use the so-called "IrDA Transceiver" instead. Vishay, some Taiwan and Japaneses companies make them. The big question is where can you get it. If you find a source, I can help you on the technical side.

I didn't think about IrDA as I know that it was designed for short range data communication, so by some how it is not the correct thing for my issue.

In fact I don't know much about the IrDA, so I may be wrong and this is a great idea from you.

I searched "Digikey" and I found the "TFBS4711-TR3" PN "751-1067-1-ND" looks to be good from the point of range 1 meter.

Please advice which detector I should order, the IrDA receiver or the photodiode and it'll be great if you can advice about the proper connection of the potodiode.

Thank you "old_cow_yellow" I appreciate your time and efforts.

Jens-Michael Gross said:

Reading about an universal infrared remote control, the one I use comes in mind as reference for a good design of this kind of device

Thank you "Jens-Michael Gross" for your opinion, it is good to know your feed back about this product and use its manual to get some more ideas or enhance my product. I appreciate it.

old_cow_yellow said:

If it were me, I would use the receiver of an IrDA Transceiver to do the “learning”.

Thank you, I'll follow your recommendation and order some of the IrDA transceivers, I'll place also an order to some photodiodes, try to make a good amplifier design (after searching or consulting) also I'll be able to compare the quality of the received signal using the two methods and put the best in my upcoming product.

The points that I got is:

1) it is a waste of time to use receiver module such TSOP382 as this way will never lead me to make a real universal remote controller

2) The IrDA transceivers may work also but in short distance, and I have to be careful during soldering.

3) Getting ore data is the most efficient way to get the frequency and commands, it will work will ALL protocols including the ones that is not invented yet, thus making a real universal remote controller.

so Thank you "old_cow_yellow" for your support.

Mina

Mina,

You are welcome.

I am an old hobbyist. Enjoy sharing what I know with others. I think I know a lot about IR-remote. If you have other questions or problems down the road, I will be glad to answer them.

--OCY

Mina Anton said:

2) The IrDA transceivers may work also but in short distance, and I have to be careful during soldering.

The point is that you shall use just receiver part of it. Transmit using IR LED as usual.

Yes, "Transmit using IR LED as usual" (quoting llmars), can be optimized to fit your specific needs. But if you are already using the receiver part of an IrDA transceiver, it is worthwhile to consider using the transmit part too. This is not optimal, but may be an acceptable compromise.

According to the data-sheet ( http://www.vishay.com/doc?82633 ) of the IrDA transceiver you are going to use, one of the FEATURES is "Remote control - transmit distance up to 8 m".

BTW, I found an old application note from Vishay ( http://www.vishay.com/doc?82606 ) it is very relevant to what you are doing.

--OCY

old_cow_yellow said:

BTW, I found an old application note from Vishay ( http://www.vishay.com/doc?82606 ) it is very relevant to what you are doing.

The suggested document is very useful and it gives hope to minimize the solution size, enhance the performance.

I didn't observe the transmit distance in the datasheet since I was focused on the receiver part of the IrDA module, and this information [8m] gives a lot of hopes

old_cow_yellow said:

I am an old hobbyist. Enjoy sharing what I know with others. I think I know a lot about IR-remote. If you have other questions or problems down the road, I will be glad to answer them.

I appreciate your support, efforts and your time to write to me, in fact I wish to share more information with you about this product, I'll be happy if I can return the support to you one day or if we can develop something together one day.

the Order from DigiKey usually takes about 10 days (I'm located in Egypt and the customs are too slow and ...). I didn't place the order as they charge me about 80USD for shipping and it is non sense to pay 80USD shipping for few dollars goods, I'm preparing a large order that I'll place within a couple of days.

have a nice day

Mina

This is my working code for IR Decode using the "TSOP328XX"

//ccs6 written by David Whitfield

//The program decodes an IR signal with the TSOP32438

#include "msp430.h"

#define LED0 BIT6 //red LED

#define LED1 BIT7 //green LED

#define relay1 BIT5 //relay1 for light 1

#define relay2 BIT4 //relay2 for light 2

#define relay3 BIT3 //relay3 for light 3

#define relay4 BIT2 //relay4 for light 4

#define IRrec BIT1 //connected to IR receiver for interrupt on rising edge of pulse

#define IRrec1 BIT0 //connected to IR receiver for interrupt on falling edge of pulse

int bit =0; //single bit to transmit

int bitt =0; //single bit used to switch bits to descending order

int count =0; //timer used to see delay between rising edge and falling edge of pulse

int resetcount =0; //timer to reset the loopcount, modify this to change how fast bits can be read

int loopcount=0; //the bit being decoded clocked by IR receiver edges

int loopcountMAX=0; //max loop count, should be 66 or increase reset count timing

int one =0; //check to see first decode value (used for debug)

int two=0; //check to see second decode value (used for debug)

int three =0; //check to see third decode value (used for debug)

int four=0; //check to see fourth decode value (used for debug)

int five=0; //check to see fifth decode value (used for debug)

int six=0; //check to see sixth decode value (used for debug)

int seven=0; //check to see seventh decode value (used for debug)

int eight =0; //check to see eigth decode value (used for debug)

int ledcount =0; //led off timer

int odd=0; //used to read IR data

unsigned long realdata =0; //complete data

unsigned long rxdata =0; //uncomplete data

void main(void){

  WDTCTL = WDTPW + WDTHOLD;                            // Stop watchdog timer

  P1DIR |= (relay1 + relay2 + relay3 + relay4 + LED1 + LED0);     //output direction                       // Set all pins but RXD to output

  P1OUT =0;

  P1IE |= IRrec; // P1.3 interrupt enabled

  P1IES &= ~IRrec; // P1.3 interrupt enabled

  P1IFG &= ~IRrec; // P1.3 IFG cleared

  P1IE |= IRrec1; // P1.3 interrupt enabled

  P1IES |= IRrec1; // P1.3 interrupt enabled

  P1IFG &= ~IRrec1; // P1.3 IFG cleared

  TA0CCTL0 |= CCIE;                             // CCR0 interrupt enabled

  TA0CTL = TASSEL_2 + MC_1 + ID_2;           // SMCLK/8, upmode

  TA0CCR0 =  20;                                                                                  //count up to 20

    __enable_interrupt(); // enable all interrupts                                   // Enable CPU interrupts

  while(1)

  {

    _delay_cycles(100);

    if(resetcount == 200)

    {

      loopcountMAX=loopcount;

      loopcount =0;

      realdata = rxdata >> 1;

    }

    if(realdata != 0) //signal present

    {

      P1OUT |=LED1;

      P1OUT &=~LED0;

      ledcount=0;

    }

    if(realdata == 0xFF17943) //remote 1 code

    {

      P1OUT ^=relay1;

      realdata =0;

    }

    else if(realdata == 0xFF46731) //remote 2 code

    {

      P1OUT ^=relay2;

      realdata =0;

    }

    else if(realdata == 0xFF9993) //remote 3 code

    {

      P1OUT ^=relay3;

      realdata =0;

    }

    else if(realdata == 0xFF9913) //remote 4 code

    {

      P1OUT ^=relay4;

      realdata =0;

    }

    if(ledcount ==2000)

    {

      P2OUT |=LED0;

      P2OUT &=~LED1;

    }

    if(ledcount == 4000)

    {

      P2OUT &=~LED0;

      P2OUT &=~LED1;

    }

    ledcount++;

    if(ledcount >5000)

    {

      ledcount =5000;

    }

    resetcount++;

    if(resetcount >1000)

    {

      resetcount =999;

    }

    if(count >1000)

    {

      count =999;

    }

  }

}

#pragma vector=PORT1_VECTOR

__interrupt void Port_1(void)

{

  TA0CTL |= TACLR;

  if(loopcount == 0)

  {

    rxdata =0;

  }

  if (loopcount == 50)

  {

    one = count;

  }

  else if (loopcount ==51)

  {

    two = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount ==52)

  {

    three = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount ==53)

  {

    four = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount == 54)

  {

    five = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount == 55)

  {

    six = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount == 56)

  {

    seven = count;

  }

  else if(loopcount == 57)

  {

    eight = count;

  }

  odd = (loopcount & 0x1);

  if(odd == 0)

  {

    if(count >13 && count < 24)

    {

      bit = 1;

    }

    else

    {

      bit = 0;

    }

    rxdata += bit;

    rxdata<<=1;

  }

  loopcount++;

  count=0;

  resetcount=0;

  P1IFG &= ~IRrec; // P1.3 IFG cleared

  P1IFG &= ~IRrec1; // P1.3 IFG cleared

}

#pragma vector = TIMER0_A0_VECTOR

__interrupt void Timer0_A0 (void)

{

  count++;

}