How would I make a Infrared Transmitter.

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RealRitzcracker
 
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How would I make a Infrared Transmitter.

Post by RealRitzcracker »

I'm looking to create an IR Transmitter like the tv-b-gone.

Does anyone know what parts or a schematic would look like.

It would blink at 14Hz or 14.33Hz.

Of Course Use IR LEDs or a combo of them.

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

I would look at the TV-B-Gone schematic:
http://www.ladyada.net/make/tvbgone/download.html

The source code can be changed to suit your timing needs.

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

Wouldn't I need to use a timer like a pot or something?

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

A pot is not a timer, it's simply a resistor with a value that can change. If you were to use a timer chip such as a 555 timer, then a pot would probably be a good choice to fine tune your flash rate, but using an AVR chip (like the TV-B-Gone uses), you don't need that, as the microchip handles all of the timing issues.

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

Pretty much my goal is to

Use 12Volts

About 72 IR Leds

And Have Them All Blink At 14Hz or 14.33Hz

How would I do this?

BTW These the LEDs would be for Long Distance and for Data Transmittion.

So I was thinking using 940nm/20 degree LEDs

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

Ummmmm....

Probably use a 555 timer:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/555/555.html
Use T = R*C to find the values needed for the resistors and capacitor... (Described more on that page)

Hook up your LEDs in 3 rows of 24, the rows are need to be in series to get 4V a piece... or 4 rows of 18 to get 3V a piece... Then the 18/24 LEDs in each row will need to be in parallel

And you'll need to use a lot of transistors.


:?
That may or may not work/be the best solution if it does work...

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

The LEDs don't really matter to me.

I'm just going to use this

http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?PageAc ... rodID=9451

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

Yeah, then a 555 would be simple, or an AVR is you're willing to throw down another $16 for a programmer (if you're like me, that will be the best investment you'll ever make)

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Franklin97355
 
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Post by Franklin97355 »

Why not this one and save yourself 9 bucks?
http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?PageAc ... odID=11653

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

Because that one isn't assembled.

And I suck at soldering and soldering 72 LEDs and 12 Resistors isn't worth the 9 bucks to me.

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

Where can I find a programmer?

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

Ooh, I forgot, the kit was updated, it's $22 and you need to solder it, but, believe me, it will be the greatest investment you make:
http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ ... c691a1d68b

Otherwise eBay "AVR programmer", they're as low as $12ish

The one I linked to is by far the best available, though

RealRitzcracker
 
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Post by RealRitzcracker »

I don't know how to program though..

magician13134
 
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Post by magician13134 »

You can't let that stop you. There's a first time for everything. I believe a motivational quote about Edison and lightbulbs would be appropriate here, but I'm too lazy to look it up...

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