For this project, we hope to use the basic idea of InfraRed (IR) communication for our television in ES103. In ES103, we have a Sony large-screen television that we hope to communicate with. However, for those that cannot communicate with this device, demonstrating communication through our logic analyzer would be sufficient for proper scoring of the project. Because the project uses all the ideas discussed throughout the class, it is important that all students make an attempt to come to lab every week and be diligent about finishing the project. It does require a sufficient amount of work and effort, therefore, it is important for students to work consistently on the project, employ the use of the Teaching Assistants (TAs) skills, and communicating with us of any problems that they encounter.
We plan on using Sony's SIRC protocol in transmitting data. It utilizes a Light-Emitted Diode (LED) that can transmit data. Your TAs can provide you with the LED for your project. It works exactly the same as LEDs discussed in class and used in earlier labs. The LEDs basically turn data on and off by transmitting infrared communication through the LED. This data is transmitted via pushing data high and low. To simplify data movement in communication with digital devices, typical data is called Mark (M) for High signals and Space (S) for Low signals. Even video is transmitted this way. Mark and Space is just a way to denote which way Voltage is applied to data, such as a Logic 1 or Logic 0, respectively.
The data is transmitted with an educated sequence of transmission. That is, data is sent with a signal that indicates the start of a transmission followed by data and command structure that enables the television to indicate what to modify and when to change. However, the basic structure revolves around sending data via a carrier frequency of 40 kHz. Table 1 indicates the basic information of a data packet and its associated values: