IR Remote Receiver Module and Controller Kit

based on MakerBit IR Receiver by 1010Technologies

MakeCode extension for set of IR receiver VS1838B HX1838 and Mini Slim controller (product name can vary depending on the seller - see pictures bellow). Kit usually includes 5mm IR LED for construction of your own transmiter.

IR Receiver VS1838B HX1838

unsoldered components	soldered board

IR receiver chip is focused to use with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, however, works with micor:bit and calliope too. According to VS1838B datasheet, it features:

• [ frequency ] 38 kHz
• [ working voltage ] 2.7 – 5.5 V DC
• [ Receiver Distance ] 22 – 25 m
• [ Size ] 7.4 mm x 6.2 mm x 5.3 mm

Mini Slim infrared remote controller

Some sellers could print their logo on controller, but functionality should be same.

• [ buttons ] 17 function keys; the effective life of 20,000 pressings
• [ frequency ] 38 kHz
• [ effective angle ] 60°
• [ transmission distance ] cca 8 m (specific and surroundings, the receiver sensitivity and other factors)

Documentation

Open this page at https://github.com/BrickHackers/pxt-IR-VS1838

Use as Extension

This repository can be added as an extension in MakeCode.

• open https://makecode.microbit.org/
• click on New Project
• click on Extensions under the gearwheel menu
• search for https://github.com/BrickHackers/pxt-IR-VS1838 and import the IR VS1838 extension

irVS1838.connectIrReceiver

Connects to the IR receiver module at the specified pin.

irVS1838.connectIrReceiver(DigitalPin.P0)

Parameters

• pin - digital pin with an attached IR receiver

irVS1838.connectIrReceiverVisual

Connects to the IR receiver module at the specified pin. Display it on LED matrix. [ NOTE ] Display animation take some time. This function was added for log pin during testing.

irVS1838.connectIrReceiverVisual(DigitalPin.P0)

Parameters

• pin - digital pin with an attached IR receiver

irVS1838.onIrButton

Do something when a specific button is pressed or released on the remote control.

irVS1838.onIrButton(IrButton.Ok, IrButtonAction.Pressed, () => {})

Parameters

• button - the button to be checked
• action- the trigger action
• handler - body code to run when the event is raised

irVS1838.irButton

Returns the code of the IR button that was pressed last. Returns -1 (IrButton.Any) if no button has been pressed yet.

irVS1838.irButton()

irVS1838.onIrDatagram

Do something when a specific button is pressed or released on the remote control.

irVS1838.onIrDatagram(() => {})

Parameters

• handler - body code to run when the event is raised

irVS1838.irDatagram

Returns the IR datagram as 32-bit hexadecimal string. The last received datagram is returned or "0x00000000" if no data has been received yet.

irVS1838.irDatagram()

irVS1838.wasIrDataReceived

Returns true if any IR data was received since the last call of this function. False otherwise.

irVS1838.wasIrDataReceived();

irVS1838.irButtonCode

Returns the command code of a specific IR button.

irVS1838.irButtonCode(IrButton.Num9)

Parameters

• button - the button

MakeCode Example

irVS1838.connectIrReceiver(DigitalPin.P0)

basic.forever(function () {
    if (irVS1838.wasAnyIrButtonPressed()) {
        basic.showNumber(irVS1838.irButton())
    }
})

irVS1838.onIrButton(IrButton.OK, IrButtonAction.Pressed, function () {
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
})

irVS1838.onIrButton(IrButton.OK, IrButtonAction.Released, function () {
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallHeart)
})

License

Licensed under the MIT License (MIT). See LICENSE file for more details.

Supported targets

• for PXT/microbit
• for PXT/calliope