light beam angle for Infrared Receiver

[yzche]

Does anyone knows the range and light beam angle for Infrared Receiver and IR Transmitter Assembly Kit on parallax's website?
Infrared Receiver
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=350-00014
IR Transmitter Assembly Kit
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=350-00017

Post Edited By Moderator (sswanson) : 8/9/2004 11:02:21 PM GMT

[Jon Williams]

That will always depend on conditions and how much current you pump through the LED, but you generally expect to detect objects up to about two feet. Don't however, expect to detect a piece of black foam at two feet, and harsh IR conditions (sunlight, some flourescents) will also create trouble.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas Office

[Jim Ewald]

Jon, the beta has started.

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Jim
Parallax IT Dept.

[yzche]

I found this diagram from page 119 in BASIC STAMP Programming Manual 1.9. This seem that it can boost the range of IR. However GP1U52X no longer sold by radioshack. Does anyone knows good replacement?
2n2222·has been discontinued. Does anyone know where I can buy them?

I like to know where can I get the already assembled product·of the diagram? I don't have time to assemble pieces together.

[yzche]

This is the diagram

[Jon Williams]

The purpose of the circuit is to modulate a 1200 baud serial stream for IR transmission. The 555 is the modulator; the IR receiver on the other end demodulates the signal and provides a TTL level serial output. RadioShack stores don't carry many discrete parts anymore, but you can probably find them at radioshack.com or at other online supplies (like Digi-Key and Jameco).

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas Office

[yzche]

I checked radioshack, digikey and jameco website. None of them have GP1U52X. Is there other ways to boost the range of IR? Does anyone have a finished product of the diagram that they don't need anymore?

[Jon Williams]

I don't know that it is possible to boost the range of an IR diode short of running it at its max current (which will shorten its life). Have you considered a laser instead?

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas Office

[yzche]

I think the design of the IR diagram will do the job. However if parts are discontinued and there are not any replacement then I guess I will choose something else. I attach a picture of what I am trying to do. I just want to make my IR to communicate over 10 feets indoors.

[yzche]

Do you know any kind of inexpensive laser?

[Jon Williams]

I'm not sure I'm smart enough to figure out what you're trying to do. It looks like you could simply modulate the IR diode with the BASIC Stamp, using a transistor buffer to handle the extra current (probably any GP transistor will do -- just check the emitter-collector current ratings). The 2N3906, for example, can run 200 mA continuous. This is more than an IR LED can handle, so it would work fine, especially since it will never run continuous duty.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas Office

[yzche]

If you think you don't understand what I am trying to do, I guess it is my fault. I am a software guy, not a eletronic guy. I am having a hard time reading schematic. I attach another pic of what I am trying to do. You should understand this one.

[Jon Williams]

You might consider the IR Buddy.· I've run them indoors at distances over 10 feet.

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28016

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax
Dallas Office

[kb2hap]

If you need distance like that why dont you go rf instead then you even farther than 10 ft

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DTQ

[yzche]

RF sent out signal 360 degree. I want to focus signal at a specific direction. It is not easy to focus RF at a specfic direction.

[kb2hap]

ok understood,· I dont know too much about IR.· but if you cant get that to work properly you could go RF and use a tight angle yagi antenna for the given frequency, a higher frequency say 900MHZ or 1.2GHZ would give you a very small antenna and a very concentrated signal in the given direction you want you could even go 400 mhz

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DTQ

[yzche]

Can you give me a website where I can find out more about·tight angle yagi antenna. Where can I buy a tight angle yagi antenn. I don't know anything about tight angle yagi antenna.

[yzche]

I don't think an antenna can fit on my robot because my robot only about size of a shoe box(size 10). If you know where I can·buy an antenna then let me know. Thanks·

[kb2hap]

Im sure if you did a search you may be able to find alot i know ramsey electronics has some but im not sure if there the size you'd like. but like i said the higher up in frequency you go the smaller the antenna

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DTQ