EEVblog #505 - IR Learning Remote Control Hack

[EEVblog]

Dave wires up an Arduino (Freetronics Eleven) to control his video camera via a learning IR remote control matrix keypad.
NOTE: this is NOT an optimised solution, nor a tutorial on the best way to do this, it's a quick rudimentary hack while showing a few traps.

[EEVblog]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

[mickpah]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

all ways does,
I often use quick and dirty scripting languages to automate repetitive boring jobs that might only have to be done a few times - a favorite is autoit.
It's guaranteed I'll get bagged that it should have been done in a "real programming language" - Why? it gets the job done and it's disposable.

I did something simlar last year with an arduino and these remote power points to control christmas lights , http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_homeauto-pwr-pt-cntrl-kambrook-4pce-indoor-inc-remote-rf3672_P7030054.aspx
30 mins working hacking and moved on to more important things - worked a treat better & cheaper than 3 timers spread around the house

[madires]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

Since you're asking for it so politely ... :-)

I guess, I would record the RC signal with a DSO, add an IR LED to the Arduino and let the Arduino send the RC directly.
 

[nitro2k01]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

M-hm, signing in. This should still be easy to do with a bipolar transistor and common ground. If you figure out the polarity of the output side of the matrix, you can choose an NPN or PNP and hook it up so that the base emitter junction doesn't allow the transistor to turn when that row isn't being scanned.
The base would go to the external control, the emitter would go to the matrix output in question and the collector would go the matrix input in question. The type of the transistor would be decided by the polarity of scanning.

No, not complaining about the video, but hopefully we can still discuss better solutions here.

[Alana]

MiniDCC command station has the same kind of matrix keyboard as this pilot. This guy uses 4066 to short out keys in matrix keyboard controlled from RC reciever chip. Schematics: http://www3.telus.net/HarrisFamily/MiniDCC.html

[Mikey]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

Indeed, I have done exactly this thing too... But all I needed was a resistor and an IR led, besides the arduino itself.

[lgbeno]

Thought provoking video, I'll throw my idea out there.

"Hack" is a good name for this but that's the spirit, quick and dirty.  Optos would work, relays would work but I was thinking that perhaps you could also use a logic buffer with an output enable.  Figure out what pin is being driven by the scan controller, attach that to the OE pin.  Output to the other pin and input to the MCU.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[free_electron]

You should have recorded the pulse stream using that 200k$ agilent scope , loaded it in that PFANG and played it back from there... Arduino .. Pfoeh ..

Camera doesnt have LANC ? It's a canon, it should have one... Get a cheap lanc controller , you will have much finer control over the camera.

[Citizen]

Ehm, i dont understand it.

Say i have a dev. Board connected to the USB port, and a second board is connected to the floating voltage.How can both? boards communicate without having common GND reference? So logic '1' of the dev Doard wouldn't be logic '1' for the other...or am i wrong somewhere?

[synapsis]

I've done this same type of thing with just an Arduino using this library.

http://www.righto.com/2009/08/multi-protocol-infrared-remote-library.html

All the remotes in my house have the IR protocol they use written on the back in Sharpie. I need to find a cheap remote like Dave's. My learning remote is from 1998 and is a pain to teach.


I would like a little more explanation about the ground connection issue. I've run into similar issues with other projects, but I'm so new that I'm not entirely sure what's going on. Which also makes it hard to know what to type into Google.

[DavidDLC]

This one will of course bring out the "you should have done this", "you could have done this", "why didn't you do this" crowd. 

Which is a good learning experience for people, I can learn from this type of feedback.

[SeanB]

I think I must post a few photos of one I did a few years ago ( last century actually) of a computer controlled remote control.

[filip_cro]

Why are there small holes on wide traces?
You can see them on PCB at 11:30.

[Smokey]

http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/USB_Infrared_Toy

[EEVblog]

Sometimes I don't think people actually listen to my videos...
I mentioned IR direct with a library, I mentioned cmos switches, optos, relays, and external transistors, yet people will still comment on those as if I missed the obvious 

LANC is not an option, I want wireless. And before someone tells me, yes I know you can do LANC wirelessly too if you really want, but that would be silly when IR is available.

[NickS]

Sometimes I don't think people actually listen to my videos...

Clearly you aren't a Slashdot reader. Don't you know that people start commenting as soon as they the title?
Some don't even bother with the description text.

[EEVblog]

Some don't even bother with the description text.

Yeah, description test is almost pointless it seems, just for SEO 

[TerminalJack505]

Yes, a lot of people really just want to hear themselves talk.  I'm sure there are certain personality types where a person's primary satisfaction comes from engaging with the community--as opposed to watching the video and learning.

For some of these people the video is just an excuse to spout off.  "Look at me!"  "Look what I know."  "You're an idiot and I'm smarter than you!"  "I know something you don't."

Note that I'm not suggesting that this is the only reason that a person engages with the community.  Obviously, there are less selfish reasons.

[EEVblog]

"I know something you don't."

I see that a lot, and I don't mind it at all, in fact I like when they point out stuff I didn't know (which is a lot BTW ).
But as a content producer it does grate a lot when I've mentioned something in the video, so clearly I'm aware of that and have considered it, yet they will comment on it anyway. Or worse, call me blah blah for not doing that or discussing that etc Ok, the first few times, but when you get it day after day...
Oh the joys of producing content for the masses 

[ptricks]

Dave, of course the IRToy can send IR commands, it is one of its major functions.
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/USB_IR_Toy:_IRIO_raw_receive/transmit_mode

oops, forgot they did away with the above in a firmware update in favor of something better:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/USB_IR_Toy:_Sampling_mode

[EEVblog]

Dave, of course the IRToy can send IR commands, it is one of its major functions.
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/USB_IR_Toy:_IRIO_raw_receive/transmit_mode

Yes, but only when it's hooked up to the PC, not standalone. Unless I'm mistaken?

[ptricks]

The IRtoy has 95% of the hardware , the other 5% would be buttons or keypad  to trigger what you want sent. There are about 5 unused pins on the board that could be used for buttons . The eeprom also has plenty of space for commands. Someone just  needs to take the time to write the code, the source is easy to read and add to. I may do that myself when I get time.

[EEVblog]

The IRtoy has 95% of the hardware , the other 5% would be buttons or keypad  to trigger what you want sent. There are about 5 unused pins on the board that could be used for buttons . The eeprom also has plenty of space for commands. Someone just  needs to take the time to write the code, the source is easy to read and add to. I may do that myself when I get time.

Yeah, I was sure the IRtoy could do that, but I searched and could not find a ready made and easy solution to automatically program in and replay the received command with the button. It's a bit of a shame, but as you say, just needs some more code. I contemplated doing it, but it would have taken the same time to do it directly on the Arduino itself I guess. Then I found the learning IR remote.

[free_electron]

LANC is not an option, I want wireless. And before someone tells me, yes I know you can do LANC wirelessly too if you really want, but that would be silly when IR is available.

ah, didn't catch that requirement. sorry.

With lanc you can actually control things like zoom speed. My underwater housing uses an IR led in the grips. this sends commands through a lightpipe into the housing where it is received by a custom board. that then sends the appropriate lanc commands to the camera using a cable.