Infrared (IR) communication is a widely used method for wireless communication in various devices, such as remote controls, televisions, and home appliances. In this article, we will show you how to create a simple IR transmitter/receiver pair using a red visible Light Emitting Diode (LED) to demonstrate the basic principles of IR communication.
To create an IR transmitter, you will need the following materials:
- 1 red visible LED
- 1 IR LED
- 1 resistor (220 ohm)
- 1 Breadboard
- Jumper wires
The IR transmitter circuit can be constructed by connecting the IR LED to a digital output pin of a microcontroller, such as an Arduino, and the red visible LED to a different digital output pin of the microcontroller. The IR LED is connected in series with a resistor to limit the current flowing through the LED.
Here is the circuit diagram for the IR transmitter:
Vcc -- 220 ohm resistor -- IR LED -- GND
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Vcc -- Red LED -- GND
The IR transmitter is controlled by the microcontroller, which sends a signal to the IR LED to turn it on and off. The red visible LED is used as an indicator to show when the IR LED is transmitting data.
To create an IR receiver, you will need the following materials:
- 1 IR Receiver module
- 1 Breadboard
- Jumper wires
The IR receiver circuit is constructed by connecting the IR receiver module to a digital input pin of the microcontroller.
Here is the circuit diagram for the IR receiver:
Vcc -- IR Receiver module -- GND
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Digital input pin of the microcontroller
The IR receiver module detects the IR signals and sends a signal to the microcontroller to indicate when it has received data. The microcontroller can then process the data and take appropriate action, such as turning on or off a device.
To test the IR transmitter and receiver, you can use a remote control that uses IR communication. Point the remote control towards the IR receiver and press a button on the remote control. The red visible LED on the transmitter circuit should turn on, indicating that the IR LED is transmitting data. The microcontroller on the receiver circuit should also detect the signal and process the data accordingly.
It's important to note that IR communication operates at a specific frequency, typically around 38 kHz. It's the standard frequency used in most IR remote controls, but different devices may use different frequencies. So, it's important to check the specifications of the device you're trying to communicate with and match the frequency of the transmitter accordingly.
In conclusion, IR communication is a simple and widely used method for wireless communication, it's used in many devices such as remote controls, televisions and home appliances. We have shown you how to create a simple IR transmitter/receiver pair using a red visible LED, this is a simple demonstration of the basic principles of IR communication.