interface with irDA transceiver

[overmindxp]

http://www.vishay.com/ir-transceivers/list/product-84671/
we ordered this irDA module from the website above.but the pins are too tiny to plug into regular PCB.
we will use the irDA transceiver as shown below:
irda <---->  encoder decoder <---> micro-controller

Could anyone suggest how we can wire the IrDA to En/Decoder?

Thanks!

[Admin]

You'll have to make a PCB, or use a different IrDA module:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/electronics_irda_tutorial.shtml

[Soeren]

Hi,

[...] the pins are too tiny to plug into regular PCB.

Could anyone suggest how we can wire the IrDA to En/Decoder?

It is an SMD, so either make a regular PCB    or solder a thin magnet wire or wraThis will only work if you're making one or a few, it won't look all that nice, but it cen be made to work just fine.

(I guess you were thinking on some kind of 0.1" matrix board).

[overmindxp]

You'll have to make a PCB, or use a different IrDA module:

http://www.societyofrobots.com/electronics_irda_tutorial.shtml

Thanks. Actually I have read the tutorial before asking.

I think I do not have the tools to build a custom PCB.(it's a small project, we have 3 arduino+6 IrDA at hand) Most of the off-the-shelf IrDA transceivers I found are SMD. Do you have any suggestion? like company who sells non-SMD transceiver, or better yet IrDA integrated into En/Decoders?

[rbtying]

If you had $90.00 to get three Arduinos, you have the capital to make a custom PCB - they're not that expensive.  Moreover, using thin magnet wire, like Soeren mentioned, would work for your purposes. These days, it's not so easy to find through-hole parts - it's better to learn how to deal with SMD parts now rather than later.

[overmindxp]

If you had $90.00 to get three Arduinos, you have the capital to make a custom PCB - they're not that expensive.  Moreover, using thin magnet wire, like Soeren mentioned, would work for your purposes. These days, it's not so easy to find through-hole parts - it's better to learn how to deal with SMD parts now rather than later.

I have 0 experience in design a custom PCB. What hardware/software is needed?  or is there any good website that has such service?

Thanks!

[rbtying]

Eagle's good for beginners.  If you understand schematics and can read datasheets, you're around 75% of the way there already.

Sparkfun Eagle tutorial: http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/108

There are a number of websites which will take a Gerber CAM export from Eagle to make a PCB: BatchPCB is popular, but slow (it is cheap and easy, however); SeeedStudio is the cheapest, but it's over in China and can have random delays; I've used Sunstone circuits before (fast but expensive).  You can of course find more by searching these forums, or the Arduino ones.

[Soeren]

Hi,

I have 0 experience in design a custom PCB. What hardware/software is needed?  or is there any good website that has such service?

I could make you a layout for an adapter board, converting it to a thru.hole mount if that helps.
Then you can either make it yourself or order it at a PCB house.

[overmindxp]

We are finally able to wire the IrDA with a breakout board. After reading the datasheet, we still don't know how to interface IrDA with En/Decoder.

Here is our current connection:
Pin1 -- +5V
Pin3 -- en/decoder Tx
Pin4 -- en/decoder Rx
Pin6 -- +5V
Pin8 -- 0V

We are not getting any readable data from UART on arduino. Is this the right way to interface? Do we need to connect other pins?

-- Related datasheet and info --
IrDA Vishay TFDT4500 : http://www.freeweb.hu/bat21/irda/tfd_4.pdf
En/Decoder MCP2120 : http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/21618b.pdf

IrDA pin layout
[Pin 1] IRED Anode IRED anode, should be externally connected to VCC2
[Pin 2] IRED Cathode IRED cathode, internally connected to driver transistor
[Pin 3] Txd Transmit Data Input
[Pin 4] Rxd Received Data Output, open collector.
[Pin 5] NC Do not connect
[Pin 6] VCC1 / SD Supply Voltage / Shutdown
[Pin 7] SC Sensitivity control
[Pin 8] GND Ground

[Soeren]

Hi,

Here is our current connection:
Pin1 -- +5V
Pin3 -- en/decoder Tx
Pin4 -- en/decoder Rx
Pin6 -- +5V
Pin8 -- 0V

We are not getting any readable data from UART on arduino. Is this the right way to interface? Do we need to connect other pins?

IrDA pin layout
[Pin 1] IRED Anode IRED anode, should be externally connected to VCC2
[...]

For starters, the datasheet reads (for pin 1): "IRED anode, should be externally connected to VCC2 through a current control resistor"

When you have installed the resistor and a new IrDA device (you probably zapped the LED in the one you tried), it's time to break out the 'scope and start measuring, if it still won't work.