Adafruit Building an Infrared Transmitter and Receiver Board User Manual

Building an Infrared Transmitter and Receiver Board

Created by Chris Young

Last updated on 2021-04-06 12:58:23 PM EDT

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Guide Contents

Guide Contents
Overview

The Transmitter and Receiver Board

Parts List
Assembly Instructions

Standard Assembly
Optional Components and Features

Current Limiting Resistors vs Jumpers
Receiver Configuration

Supply Voltage Options
Pinout Information

Using the Device

Installing Software
Receiving Example
Sending Examples
Frequency Detection

Downloads

Schematics

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Overview

Most remote controls for your TV, cable box, Blu-ray player or other consumer electronic devices use
infrared signals. IR is also an inexpensive and effective way to control a variety of maker projects. IR is
especially useful in creating assistive technology devices for the disabled, such as mouse and keyboard
emulators.

In another tutorial, we describe how to use an open source library called "IRLib" which allows you to
decode or encode a wide variety of standard protocols used by consumer electronic devices. This IR
breakout board help you get the most out of IRLib. Here is a tutorial on how to use IRLib.

Using an Infrared Library on Arduino (https://adafru.it/vxc)

The Transmitter and Receiver Board

This board is also an integral component in an assistive technology device called the "Ultimate Remote"
which is documented in another tutorial here (https://adafru.it/FCu). (Coming soon)

The device consists of 2 infrared LEDs driven by 3 transistors as well as a TSOP38xxx receiver chip and a
TSMP58000 learner chip. We've even thrown in some extra ground and power pins that makes it easier
to integrate this board into your project.

It can handle 5v or 3.3v power input and the transmit and receive portions of the board can be
independently powered at either voltage.

The board is completely open source and there are Eagle CAD files provided as well as links to PCB
manufacturers who can create the raw board for you. A complete price list is provided. Most of the parts
are available from Adafruit.

The design is flexible and has many options such as including or not including current limiting resistors,
the orientation of the receiver chips, and power supply options. Each of these options is described in the
assembly instructions of this tutorial.

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© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/building-an-infrared-transmitter-and-receiver-board Page 4 of 20

Parts List

The circuit board is completely open source under GPL license and is provided on GitHub as Eagle CAD
and Gerber files at this repository.

IRIO3 Infrared Breakout Board on GitHub. (https://adafru.it/FCv)

It is also available for order.

Order this board at PCBWay.com (https://adafru.it/FDY)
Order this board at OSHPark.com (https://adafru.it/FDZ)

Most of the parts you will need are available from Adafruit. Some that are not available at Adafruit are
available from a variety of suppliers. At the end of this list will give you a complete parts list from Digi-Key.

First, we will need 2 IR LEDs. We prefer to use a combination of wide-angle and narrow-angle LEDs. This
narrow 20° angle LED is available from Adafruit. A 40° wide-angle LED is available from Digi-Key. See the
Digi-Key parts list at the end.

Super-bright 5mm IR LED

Infrared LEDs are used for remote controls (they're the little LED in the part you point at your TV) and
'night-vision' cameras, and these little blue guys are high powered...
$0.75
In Stock

You will also need an NPN transistor and 2 PNP transistors. Here Adafruit has a combo pack of five of
each or you can buy them separately in packs of 10.

Add to Cart

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Bipolar Transistor Kit - 5 x PN2222 NPN and 5 x PN2907 PNP

Transistors are powerful little electronic switches, and we really like these NPN and PNP transistors
whenever we need to control medium-power electronics, such as small motors,...
$1.95
In Stock

You will need a 1K ohm resistor and optionally you may need two 33 ohm resistors. Adafruit carries the 1K
variety but if you need the 33 ohm see the Digi-Key parts list at the end of the page. We will explain later
why you may or may not need the 33 ohm resistors.

Add to Cart

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