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Re: Mobile Sensorium [was Re: Time for Serious GPS Application]

From: "Matt Carlson" <>
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2001 00:51:44 -0600

> I didn't think that the IrDA transceivers on the Visor
> would be compatible with the radio shack IR decoder
> (which is actually a Sharp GP1U52X), but ...
>

Take a look at
http://www.pacificneotek.com/
they make a product called 'OmniRemote'

Also take a look at
http://www.arsrobotica.com/display.php3?blogid=165
according to this page the IR decoder is no longer the Sharp GP1U52X but
really an Everlight IRM-8100 with slightly different characteristics.

> > I've seen several programs for the PalmOS that allow
> > you to use the IR port as a universal remote.
>
> Interesting, I didn't think that was possible. They
> must be modulating at the same frequency (~38kHz) and
> filtering out the same ranges. If that's the case
> then perhaps you can make it work.

I'm guessing thats it.  The last time I took a look at OmniRemote it was
beta software, and didn't cost $20 to register.  I'm not finding any
competing versions, so it's probably not as easy as I'd hoped it would be.
But it is possible.

> A quick test would be to attach power and ground to the
> GP1U52X IR Decoder, and attach the output pin to one of
> the ports on the microcontroller. Then open up that pin
> at 893 baud 8N1, start listening for incoming  bytes,
> and send the above codes from the Visor.
>
I did a similar test just to see how the thing worked.  I don't have a
microcontroler, so I just hooked it up to 4.9 volts (3 AA batteries) and my
mulitmeter.  Didn't really know what I was looking for, but what I found
kind of supprised me.  When I pointed my VCR remote at it and hit a button
it went from a steady 4.7v to 0.3v then back again.. if I held down a button
on the remote it sat on about 3.?v (can't remember off the top of my head).
I expected it to work the other way around (to send out the High voltage on
receiving a signal and low other wise.  I'm still not sure why it sat at
3.?v when it got a fast repeating signal.

Next I'm going to hook it up again and test with the free trial version of
OmniRemote and see what happens.

> > From what I've seen I think my idea is possible.. if
> > not I'll learn some more and do it again :)
>
> That's the only way: build, tear down, and rebuild.

I love this stuff.. you have to or it's a damn silly thing to keep doing
isn't it :-)

M@

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