Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Is there any way to amplify the IR signal that we get from our remote.?

We use a standard remote control

thanks alot Team #1577 SteamPunk Meet you all in atlanta

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

what we did was add like 5 more IR LED's to our remote and add IR recievers around our robot. so we have more range and 360 degrees of range. i didnt do this my self so i cant really tell you more details about it. but im sure another person can chime in and tell you how to do this.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Do you meen you have more than 1 IR board or you connected more recievers to that board? thank's alot

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

you could have 2 recievers OR you you hard wire in more if those black things on the IR boards that recieve the lights. thats what we did.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

How did using the IR board work for you at your regionals? We planned on using it but never got the code and everything worked out. Did you have problems with interferience? or just not recieving the signal?

We are wanting to use it more in Atlanta, but dont really have time to rewire the thing or get another one so we have more coverage. So any suggestions on a simple way to increase the recievability of it? Or should just one IR board be fine if we aim the remote right at the thing?

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

We use our IR receiver to tell the robot which position our alliance color's trackball is occupying on the overpass. It only needs to get a signal at the very start of the match, so we aren't worried about range.

But we discovered that the remote controls we are using have a relatively narrow beam width. If you're too close to the receiver, correct aim is incredibly important. We also discovered that the IR beam from the remote isn't necessarily pointing straight forward. One of our two remotes is skewed enough to the left to affect the aim significantly.

We determined this by using a camera phone to watch the IR LED on the front of the remote while waving the remote around. You can easily tell where the beam intensity is greatest.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

We use regular TV remote, a couple of transistors, and a 12 volt battery to drive a big array of IR LED's.

We cut out the LED on the remote and used that signal to source the step up.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

You guys should post a picture. It's a total beast.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Ok. I'll take a photo of the practice rig this weekend.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Our students built a 60 LED array with a magnifier all jammed into a 5-inch PVC pipe so that it looks like a bazooka. Sorry I don't have a picture handy but you can look for it at Nationals! They mounted the remote on top so it could be triggered like a bazooka too. BTW, it worked like a charm when we used it. We had to turn it off a few times because it was jamming our alliance partners too????

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I've seen a couple of setups like this before, and I've noticed that sometimes they can cause interference and other adverse effects. Do you know what circuit your team used?

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I am also interested in the circuits that teams have used to pick off the IR drive signal and send it to several IR LEDs.

I have an idea to use an Op Amp, but surely there's a simpler circuit out there?

Thanks,
Don

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I believe it is called a MOSFET.

Seriously, take a look at the beacons from the 2004 KOP. Also, look at Kevin's 2004 page. Everything you need to know is there, including this schematic.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

My team was thinking about doing this exact same thing since when we make a left turn, the ir board no longer faces the robocoach and we loose communication. Is it as simple as soldering on more of those black receivers in parallel? Or did you have to design a circuit to amplify or isolate the sensors to prevent the signal that is supposed to go into the ir board from bleeding out of the additional sensors?
We would like to order parts and do this once we get to Atlanta so any pictures or details would be appreciated.
Thanks

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

do like ti tv be gone kit and have 2 wide angle high power ir led's and 2 narrow angle high power led's

also, you can reduce interference by placing a roof over your ir sensor(s) this decreases interference.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I saw one of these at Boilermaker and the team thought it worked pretty well. However, I have heard some students say that want to take a lens out of a slide projector to narrow the beam. Some of the lenses are designed to absorb IR. Be sure to check the output with the lens out and then again with the lens in place. However, with 60 LEDs, I bet it will heat your hand if you put in front of the output side.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

That sounds about right. Our EE mentor built a circuit for us containing 8 IR LEDs, that were powered off 12 volts, and 650 mA each.
The standard 2 in the remote were powered off of 3 volts, and about 30? mA each.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, the new thing is stylish, and is about 300 times more powerful. We got its range out to 20x the other one, and gave up testing the limits (we ran out of hallway). If I can scan the schematic in the next week or so I'll post it.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

You don't need an op amp. You have two options.

One, if the remote's LED driver has a lot of muscle behind it, just hook up additional LEDs in parallel.

Two, if the LED driver isn't as strong (more likely), add in a transistor buffer integrated circuit (IC) to pull power directly from the remote's power supply.

There are a few ways to do this. Two inverters in series would work, as would a specialized buffer IC. Or even a tri-state buffer.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Just an FYI...

If you are trying to get more distance out of your remote, then making the remote more powerful will help.

But, if you are trying to stop interference from other remotes, making it more powerful won't help.

Since the IR signal is a series of pulses, it relies on an ON state, and an OFF state to send those pulses.

So, even if your ON state can be seen on the moon, when your remote is in the OFF state (your IR LED not illuminated), other remotes could be in an ON state and transmitting IR which would also be picked up by your receiver... This would be still seen as a signal from you...and would confuse your receiving system.

There is very little you can do to help with this...besides totally different transmitting and receiving systems.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I am trying to rig up an LED array for my team but so far, I'm having some troubles. I want to make a 20 IR LED array but I know the transistor I will need to use to boost the signal voltage of the remote I'm using. Here's my schematic thusfar (sorry for crude ASCII drawing. -|>- is an LED and -/\/\/- is a resistor. The circuit is four parallel groups of five LEDs in series)

+----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 15 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 15 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 15 ohms
+----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|----|>|---/\/\/----+ R = 15 ohms

I've heard that I can use a 2N3904 transistor. Would that be what I'm looking for?

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I believe the 2N3904 may be a little under rated for this unless you use one per leg of your circuit.
Alternatives are: the IRL3103 MOSFET (One of these can handle the entire circuit without breaking a sweat. It's continuous drain current rating is 40A.) and the ZTX603 Darlington (continuous current rating is 1A).

If you can get the IRL3103, you will be in good shape. The ZTX603 is lower rated, but will do just fine if you do the math right.

So, for the math:
What voltage will be driving this beast?
What is the Vf of each LED?
How much current does each LED require to turn on fully?

Find this information out and the math is as simple as E/R=I.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

I was looking at the 2N2222 which seems to be the same as the 2N3904 except rated at 1A but I will definitely look into the suggestions you made. :D

I designed the circuit for a plain 9V battery. All the math works out for 1.5V, 100mA LEDs but I'm going to see if I can make it even less power-consuming. The Vf for the LEDs will be either 1.5 or 1.2 with a forward current of either 100mA or 20mA. My first choice would be the 1.2, 20mA LEDs but I need to see if I could get them delivered before our team goes to Atlanta.

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Bob,
You need to check the ratings on the LEDs. It is unusual to have a stock LED listed at 100 ma unless it is a multi LED in a single package. Second, I usually use a 2 volt Vf as a rule of thumb unless I am dealing with a special device of known specs. So using a 9 volt battery will not allow 5 LEDs in series. I actually question the need for this much output. However, 3 LEDs in series with a 120 ohm resistor in each string should work fine. The 2N2222 is fine for this service as well. If it seems that the transistor is getting too warm, you can use two transistors by paralleling the base of each transistor. Although you do not show the transistor in your diagram, normal operation uses the emitter tied back to the negative terminal of the battery. You would then tie the left side of your diagram to battery positive and each of the resistors to the collector of the transistor. When you use multiple transistors, do not tie the collectors in parallel. Tie one or two LED strings to each collector and you should be fine. Build up a driver board with several transistors and terminals for each collector. Then add a string and see if that gives you the desired result. Add a string and try again. No current will flow in an open circuit collector. Battery drain is going to be significant but you should have enough reserve in a 9 volt battery for a weekend of fun. You could even add a "power" switch to turn on the strings. i.e. 1, 2, 3, and "ludicrous power!"

Re: Amplify Remote control IR signal
 

Thank you so much! Hopefully with your help, I'll be able to make a working array.