IR communication between PICs

Overview

Using serial communication, two PICs can easily communicate with one another. A basic extension, IR communication can easily be set up for a microcontroller (PIC) by using an IR Encoder/Decoder (Endec) and an IR Transceiver. The endec and transceiver used in this example support Serial IR (SIR) data rate, ranging from 9.6 kpbs - 115.2 kpbs. The typical range of the transceiver is nominally between 2in to 2ft, extending upwards of 12ft. The PIC, endec, and transceiver used all support bidirectional use. However, due to the fact that when a transceiver is transmitting, it essentially blinds its receiver and therefore cannot attain true full-duplex communication, only half-duplex, taking turns transmitting and receiving.

When transmitting, the PIC sends the serial format data to the endec, who receives this serial data and encodes (or modulates) it bit by bit. This encoded data is then output as electrical pulses to the transceiver. The transceiver will then convert these electrical pulses to IR light pulses. On the receiving side, the transceiver receives IR light pulses (data), which are outputted as electrical pulses. The endec decodes (or demodulates) these electrical pulses, with the data then being transmitted by the endec UART back to the receiving PIC. This modulation/demodulation method is performed in accordance with the IrDA standard.

Both the PIC and the endec used in this example were DIP packages, making them easy to prototype and inspect. The transceiver, however, was a surface mount chip with an uncommon pin configuration (.95 mm pitch), requiring a different approach. We initially attempted to etch a copper-clad board for our circuit (see image). Another possible solution for our transceiver is to use a SchmartBoard. These boards are more general and prefabricated for use with surface mount ICs (with a particular pitch or pin seperation). Both solutions will allow for connections to a solderless breadboard.

Circuit

The circuit diagram is shown below of a complete half-duplex IR communication circuit. This circuit can either be used together with an identical circuit to communicate, with only one PIC transmitting at a time. This circuit can also be used with an remote control. The software on the PIC can be used to respond depending on the button or command sent by the remote. The electrical characteristics of the power supply and discrete components are given immediately below. Some of the ranges for the IR circuitry are also given below in the parentheses.

In the circuit, there are two interfaces: the serial interface and the IR interface. The serial interface is that between the PIC and the endec. The transmit (TX) and receive (RX) pins need to be connected between both ICs with a common ground. The data passing between the two components on these lines have the standard 8-N-1 serial data format. There is also a 16XCLK signal going to the endec from the PIC used to control the baud rate of the endec; that signal is a square wave pulse train at a frequency of 16*(the baud rate) and is generated in software. The 'RESET signal on the endec could also be control with software but is simply held high since the endec need not be reset. The second interface, the IR interface, is between the endec and the transceiver. That interface is straightforward with the TXIR and RXIR pins of the endec connecting to the TXD and RXD pins of the transceiver respectively, also with a common ground. The signals between these two components conforms to the IrDA physical layer standard. When a logic high or '1' is to be transmitted, a logic low will be sent to the transceiver. When a logic low or '0' is to be transmitted, a logic high will be pulsed after 7-8 cycles of the 16XCLK signal for 3 cycles of the 16XCLK signal but no longer than 4 µs.

Circuit Diagram

Electrical Characteristics

Microcontroller (Microchip PIC18F4520)

• V_DD = 5.0V
• C₁ = 1µF
  • V_DD - Pin 11 & 32
  • GND - Pin 12 & 31
  • TX - Pin 25 (C6)
  • RX - Pin 26 (C7)
  • 16XCLK - Pin 17 (C2/CCP1)

IR Encoder/Decoder (Microchip MCP2122-E/P)

• V_DD = 5.0V (1.8V-5.5V)
• C_BYP = 0.01µF

IR Transceiver (Vishay TFDU4300)

• V_cc1 = 5.0V (2.4V-5.5V)
• V_cc2 = 5.0V (-0.3V-6.0V)
• V_logic = 5.0V (1.5V-5.5V)
• R₂ = 47Ω
• C₂ = 0.1µF

Surface Mount Prototyping

Copper-Clad Board with IR Transceiver

• Transceiver lead pitch = 1.2mm/0.95mm/0.50mm/0.45mm?
• Multiple options for installation
  • Schmart board
  • Digikey board (need to find)
  • Copper-clad board etching
  • Funky pin adapter thing Prof. Peshkin gave us
  • Funky adapter thing #2 Prof. Peshkin gave us

Limitations

• Transceiver cannot simultaneously transmit and receive

Code

Example code for a simple IR communication circuit w/o the use of a transceiver:

/*
  ircomm.c Jennifer Breger, Brian Lesperance, Dan Pinkawa 2008-02-05
  Using the PIC's built-in UART, a counter continually is sent to one IR encoder/decoder.  Then
  the first IR encoder/decoder feeds its TXIR to the RXIR of a second IR encoder/decoder.  The 
  second IR encoder/decoder then transmits back to the PIC what it is receiving.  When the
  transceiver circuit is properly mount and inserted into the circuit, this code can be adapted
  for half-duplex communication w/ another IR communications circuit.
*/

#include <18f4520.h>
#fuses HS,NOLVP,NOWDT,NOPROTECT
#use delay (clock=20000000)
#use rs232(baud=9600, xmit=PIN_C6, rcv=PIN_C7, stream=com_a) // Initializes the UART to 9600 bps 
                                                             // (up to 115,200 bps)

// timed_getc() checks whether data is ready to be read.  If it's not the function returns a null
// character.  If you simply use getc(), the PIC might get slowed up if the data isn't ready right
// away.
char timed_getc(void){
   long timeout;
   int timeout_error = FALSE;
   timeout = 0;
   while(!kbhit() && (++timeout<50000))
      delay_us(10);
   if (kbhit())
      return(getc());
   else {
      timeout_error = TRUE;
      return(0);
   }
}

// Main program
void main(void){
   int i;
   char rx;

   setup_timer_2(T2_DIV_BY_1, 32, 16); // Provides a 151.3 kHz clock for the Encoder/Decoder, in   
   setup_ccp1(CCP_PWM);                // order for it to know the baud rate of the UART. Should be 
   set_pwm1_duty(16);                  // closer to 16 * 9600 = 153.6 kHz but the error is tolerable

   while(TRUE){
      for(i=0;i<16;i++){      // Counts up from 0 to 15 and transmits to the first Encoder/Decoder.
         putc(i);             // Listens to the second Encoder/Decoder, which is simply the original
         rx = timed_getc();   // message from the PIC, and displays the value on the LEDs/Port D.
         output_d((int8) rx);
         delay_ms(1000);
      }
   }
}

External Links and Further Reading

• IR Transceiver Data Sheet
• IR Encoder/Decoder Data Sheet
• Schmartboard (Prototyping boards for SMT)

Relevant Technical Articles

• Infrared communication
• Serial communication
• Surface mount technology
• UART