Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
basic stamp, ir instead of serial port ? — Parallax Forums

basic stamp, ir instead of serial port ?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-07-25 20:52 in General Discussion
Is is possible to use the ir port of a laptop to send instructions
and code to the stamp instead of the serialport?

can i use the ir buddies to do that. I am using a BOE.

Thanks.

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-07-25 13:42
    For an overview of the IRBuddy, see:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/message/33184

    You can search the Group on "IRBuddy", and get
    comments on earlier askings of this question.
    Basically, it lets you send PHILLIPS RC-5
    IR Remote keypresses, and receive IR Remote
    keypresses. 320 Bits/Second max data rate.
    It's very useful for what it does.

    If you're trying to replace the BS2 programming
    interface with IR, I don't think so. I believe
    Parallax makes an RF based gizmo to do this --
    see their web-site, and look for RF stuff.

    The Maxim 3100 and 3110 chip will provide an
    SPI port to the BS2, which talks 'IR' to your
    laptop or palmtop -- but you'll have to write
    the send/receive code yourself.

    And if your laptop does not HAVE a serial
    port, you can use a USB to serial adapter.
    This uses your laptop's USB port to provide
    a high-speed 232 link.

    Keyspan makes a nice unit, and the Parallax
    site has one they recommend. Stay away from
    Belkin, as they don't properly implement the
    handshake signals you need.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "nestlerv" <nestlerv@a...> wrote:
    > Is is possible to use the ir port of a laptop to send instructions
    > and code to the stamp instead of the serialport?
    >
    > can i use the ir buddies to do that. I am using a BOE.
    >
    > Thanks.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-07-25 16:29
    Hmmmm,

    Thanks for the info. The situation is, I have an old thinkpad laptop
    i am using. It has a serial port and an infrared, but no usb. I would
    like to use the ir port to control a bot that i am building and then
    use the serial port for other things. Right now I am typing ascii
    characters via the serial port that the stamp interprets as
    directional control. (ie w is forward, s is backward...)

    So I guess the question is, can i get ir to recieve ascii characters
    from the laptops ir port and interpret them as commands for the bot?





    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    wrote:
    > For an overview of the IRBuddy, see:
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/message/33184
    >
    > You can search the Group on "IRBuddy", and get
    > comments on earlier askings of this question.
    > Basically, it lets you send PHILLIPS RC-5
    > IR Remote keypresses, and receive IR Remote
    > keypresses. 320 Bits/Second max data rate.
    > It's very useful for what it does.
    >
    > If you're trying to replace the BS2 programming
    > interface with IR, I don't think so. I believe
    > Parallax makes an RF based gizmo to do this --
    > see their web-site, and look for RF stuff.
    >
    > The Maxim 3100 and 3110 chip will provide an
    > SPI port to the BS2, which talks 'IR' to your
    > laptop or palmtop -- but you'll have to write
    > the send/receive code yourself.
    >
    > And if your laptop does not HAVE a serial
    > port, you can use a USB to serial adapter.
    > This uses your laptop's USB port to provide
    > a high-speed 232 link.
    >
    > Keyspan makes a nice unit, and the Parallax
    > site has one they recommend. Stay away from
    > Belkin, as they don't properly implement the
    > handshake signals you need.
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "nestlerv" <nestlerv@a...>
    wrote:
    > > Is is possible to use the ir port of a laptop to send
    instructions
    > > and code to the stamp instead of the serialport?
    > >
    > > can i use the ir buddies to do that. I am using a BOE.
    > >
    > > Thanks.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-07-25 20:52
    The problem with the IR ports on most laptops,
    palm-tops, etc is they are VERY limited in
    distance (10 feet), so this is not very
    likely to work. Plus, the 'standard' they
    use requires you to add too much hardware
    (an IR Reciever diode and a MAX3100 chip,
    with oscillator and two capacitors).

    It sounds like what you want to do is put an
    IRBuddy on the Robot. It very easily interfaces
    with the BS2. Then, get a very simple $10.00
    Radio Shack universal remote, set it for
    Phillips RC-5 code. Now, you can write code
    for the BS2 to respond to the IRBuddy
    receiving signals from the hand-held remote.

    BUT, this still uses up your serial port on
    the PC if you want the PC to control the
    Robot under program control. You can put
    a second IRBuddy (they come in pairs)
    on the serial port (with a
    simple interface board and MAX-232 chip)
    but that still uses up your serial port.

    With USB, this would be solvable, since with
    it you can put up to 16 232 ports on a PC.
    You could perhaps add a small PC card with
    serial ports on it? You could perhaps build
    a parallel to serial interface to talk to the
    second IRBuddy? I think you're out of simple
    answers. Sorry.





    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "nestlerv" <nestlerv@a...> wrote:
    > Hmmmm,
    >
    > Thanks for the info. The situation is, I have an old thinkpad
    laptop
    > i am using. It has a serial port and an infrared, but no usb. I
    would
    > like to use the ir port to control a bot that i am building and
    then
    > use the serial port for other things. Right now I am typing ascii
    > characters via the serial port that the stamp interprets as
    > directional control. (ie w is forward, s is backward...)
    >
    > So I guess the question is, can i get ir to recieve ascii
    characters
    > from the laptops ir port and interpret them as commands for the bot?
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    > wrote:
    > > For an overview of the IRBuddy, see:
    > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/message/33184
    > >
    > > You can search the Group on "IRBuddy", and get
    > > comments on earlier askings of this question.
    > > Basically, it lets you send PHILLIPS RC-5
    > > IR Remote keypresses, and receive IR Remote
    > > keypresses. 320 Bits/Second max data rate.
    > > It's very useful for what it does.
    > >
    > > If you're trying to replace the BS2 programming
    > > interface with IR, I don't think so. I believe
    > > Parallax makes an RF based gizmo to do this --
    > > see their web-site, and look for RF stuff.
    > >
    > > The Maxim 3100 and 3110 chip will provide an
    > > SPI port to the BS2, which talks 'IR' to your
    > > laptop or palmtop -- but you'll have to write
    > > the send/receive code yourself.
    > >
    > > And if your laptop does not HAVE a serial
    > > port, you can use a USB to serial adapter.
    > > This uses your laptop's USB port to provide
    > > a high-speed 232 link.
    > >
    > > Keyspan makes a nice unit, and the Parallax
    > > site has one they recommend. Stay away from
    > > Belkin, as they don't properly implement the
    > > handshake signals you need.
    > >
    > > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "nestlerv" <nestlerv@a...>
    > wrote:
    > > > Is is possible to use the ir port of a laptop to send
    > instructions
    > > > and code to the stamp instead of the serialport?
    > > >
    > > > can i use the ir buddies to do that. I am using a BOE.
    > > >
    > > > Thanks.
Sign In or Register to comment.