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AVR 8-bit Microcontrollers

AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on


tinyAVR and megaAVR
APPLICATION NOTE

Introduction
Use of IR (infrared) light as a method for wireless communication has
become popular for remote control applications. There are a number of
different standards for such communication. In this application note the
widely used RC5 coding scheme from Philips will be described, and a fully
working remote control solution will be presented. This application will use

the Atmel ATtiny28 AVR microcontroller for this purpose. This powerful unit
contains a hardware modulator, a high current LED driver, and interrupt
options, which makes it especially well suited for these kinds of applications.

Features

Utilizes ATtiny28 special HW modulator and high current drive pin


Size efficient code, leaves room for large user code
Low power consumption through intensive use of sleep modes
Cost effective through few external components
Complementary of AVR410 RC5 IR Remote Control Receiver on

Atmel tinyAVR and megaAVR

Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................1
Features.......................................................................................................................... 1
1. RC5 Coding Scheme................................................................................................. 3
2. ATtiny28: The Ideal Solution for Intelligent Remote Control Systems....................... 4
3. Implementation.......................................................................................................... 5
4. Low Cost Implementation.......................................................................................... 6
5. Software.....................................................................................................................7
6. Summary..................................................................................................................11
7. Revision History.......................................................................................................12

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

1.

RC5 Coding Scheme


The RC5 code is a 14-bit word bi-phase coded signal as seen in the figure below. The first two bits are
start bits, always having the value 1. The next bit is a control bit, which is toggled every time a button is
pressed on the remote control transmitter. This gives an easy way of determining whether a button is
pressed and held down, or pressed and released continuously.
Figure 1-1.RC5 Frame Format
S t1 S t2 Ctrl S 4 S 3 S 2 S 1 S 0 S 5 S 4 S 3 S 2 S 1 S 0

Five system bits hold the system address so that only the right system responds to the code. Usually, TV
sets have the system address 0, VCRs the address 5, and so on. The command sequence is six bits
long, allowing up to 64 different commands per address. The bits are transmitted in bi-phase code (also
known as Manchester code) as shown below, along with an example where the command 0x35 is sent to
system 5.
Figure 1-2.Bi-phase Coding
1

Figure 1-3.Example of Transmission

Note that the figures above show the signal that enters the Atmel ATtiny28 hardware modulator. The
actual signal emitted by the IR-LED will be modulated with a certain carrier frequency as shown in the
figure below.
Figure 1-4.Signal Before and After Modulation

HM
1

Ca rrie r
Fre q uenc y

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

2.

ATtiny28: The Ideal Solution for Intelligent Remote Control Systems


ATtiny28 is a low-cost, high-performance 8-bit AVR RISC microcontroller with a number of features that
makes it well suited for remote control applications. The built-in hardware modulator eases the task of
generating the carrier frequency on which a data signal can be modulated. Frequency and duty-cycle are
both easily changed by modifying the value residing in the Modulation Control Register MODCR. The
high current driver on pin two of port A (PA2) is capable of driving an LED with a minimum of external
components. This reduces size and system cost. In Power-down mode, the microcontroller can be
configured to wake up on a low level from any pin on Port B. This provides an easy solution for waking
up, scanning the keyboard, sending the command, and returning to Power-down mode. This application
implements an easy keyboard scanning routine using Port B and Port D.

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

3.

Implementation
The figure below shows the complete schematics for a remote control transmitter. See the table for
component descriptions. The 455kHz resonator gives the application a reliable and flexible clock base.
The external LED driver circuit provides a constant current for the IR-LED. Resistor R3 determines the
driver strength, and is in this application chosen to 7 giving a drive capability of approximately 100mA.
Higher resistor values will reduce current, and lowering the resistor value will increase driver strength.
The diodes, D1 and D2, are present to ensure a close to constant driving current and to compensate for
temperature variations in the transistor.
Figure 3-1.RC5 Transmitter
VCC
VCC
R1
VCC

D1

RES ET

IL
R3

P ORT B
C1

D2

XTAL1

R2

ATtiny28

PA2

Q1

XTAL1

C2

P ORT D
GND

Table 3-1.Components

Type

Comment

R1

3k

External pull-up resistor is present to make the system less


susceptible to external noise. Without this component, noise might
reset the microcontroller.

R2

3k

R3

C1

100pF

Resonator dependent

C2

100pF

Resonator dependent

D1

1N4148

Small signal diode

D2

1N4148

Small signal diode

Q1

BC807-40TD

XTAL

455kHz

= 0.5,

2 =
3 =

min 1.4

2
0.7

Resonator

= 250 600

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

4.

Low Cost Implementation


For cost sensitive applications with high tolerance on accuracy, a solution utilizing the internally calibrated
RC Oscillator of the ATtiny28 could be used. The high current drive capabilities of PA2 can sink the LED
directly giving a solution with only a few external components as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4-1.Low Cost RC5 Transmitter

VCC

VCC

VCC

D3

P ORTB[0..7]

PA2

P ORTD[0..3]
GND

By using an external resonator and a driver circuit for the IR LED, a more flexible solution is achieved.
The main advantage is higher driver capabilities and higher frequency stability over voltage range. If
however the receiver is self-synchronized, it will adapt to the changing frequency of the transmitter, and a
solution using the internal RC Oscillator could be used with good results.

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

5.

Software
The assembly code found in the AVR415.ASM file contains the latest RC5 Transmitter software. The
program execution can be divided into two routines. Both of them are interrupt driven, and use different
Powerdown modes to reduce power consumption. The program is designed to use only one level of
hardware stack, leaving two levels for user code.
Main
The main program loop is shown in the figure below. First all registers are initiated. The hardware
modulator is configured for correct frequency and duty-cycle. In this application 38kHz is used as the
carrier frequency. This differs from the RC5 standard, which specifies 36kHz for the carrier wave. The
RC5 signal will, however, be the same, and most standard RC5 Receivers should have no problem
receiving and decoding the signal. Once the I/O modules are initialized the purpose of the main loop is to
decide what sleep mode to use after the next wake-up.
Figure 5-1.Main Loop Flowchart
S ta rt

Init Re gis te rs.


Init Port P ins to Idle S ta te.
Ena ble IR Drive r.
Ena ble Ha rdwa re Modula tor.

Exe cute
Inte rrupt Code

Is La s t
Tra ns mis s ion
Finis he d?

No

Ye s

Ena ble Low Leve l Inte rrupt.


Ena ble Powe r-down

Ena ble Idle


Mode

Ena ble Inte rrupts.

Ente r S le e p

The program execution can roughly be divided into two states; Transmitting a RC5 code and Waiting
for a key to be pressed. While waiting for a key to be pressed, the ATtiny28 is put in Power-down mode.
In this mode the current consumption for the device is at a minimum, and the wake-up time is slightly
longer than for the Idle mode. Since the wake-up condition is caused by physically pressing a key, the
longer wake-up time will not cause a noticeable delay in the system.

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

Low Level Interrupt


When the ATtiny28 is in Power-down mode, a low level on any of the Port B pins will generate a Low
Level interrupt, waking the device and executing the code illustrated by the flowchart in the figure below.
The main purpose of this routine is to scan through the keyboard, and determine if a valid key is pressed.
If two or more buttons are pressed simultaneously the routine returns the value 0xFF indicating an error.
The checksum ensures that 63 of 64 combinations of row and column lines are high that only one
unique combination, representing the key, is low. If only one key is pressed, the column and row bit
pattern is decoded into a pointer, which is used to perform a look-up in the Command table. Further, the
Low Level interrupt also controls the toggling of the control bit, indicating if a new instance of a
command is present, or if the same command should be re-transmitted. At the end of this routine, the
hardware modulator is started preparing the transmission.

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

Figure 5-2.Low Level Interrupt Flowchart


Low Le ve l Inte rrupt

Dis a ble Low Le ve l


Inte rrupts

Loa d Addre s s to S ta rt of Ta ble .


Add P ointe r 2 (Word ta ble )

S e t Che cks um = 193


S e t Column = 1

Loa d Low Byte of Comma nd.


Loa d High Byte of Comma nd.

Activa te Column

S e le ct Ne xt Column

Wa it for S igna l
P ropa ga tion
Ha s Comma nd
Cha nge d?

No

An y Ke ys
P re s s e d ?

Ye s
Inve rt Toggle Bit

Ye s
C h e c ks u m + = 8

S to re C o lu m n
S to re R o w

Tra ns fe r Toggle Bit


to Tra ns mit Byte

De s e le c t C o lu m n

Ne xt C o lu m n
Is b it "1 "?

No

No

Ye s
All C o lu m n s
Te s te d ?

No

S e le ct Ne xt Bit

S ta rt Tra ns mis s ion by


S ta rting Ha rdwa re
Modula tor. Loa d Numbe r
of Bits to Tra ns mit.

C h e c ks u m + = 1
Re s e t Ke yboa rd

Ye s

Ha s Entire Byte
Be e n Te s te d?

S a ve Comma nd P ointe r

Re turn

Lo a d n o Bu tto n
(0 xF F )

No

No

Ye s

Is Only Button
P re s s e d
(Che cks um = 0x00)?

Ye s
P ointe r + = 1

Is LS B of
Row Byte "0"?

S hift Row Byte Right

No

Ye s
P ointe r + = 8

S hift Column Byte Right


Is LS B of
Column Byte
"1" ?

No

Ye s

Timer Interrupt Routine


The figure below shows the flowchart for the Timer Overflow interrupt. The main task of the Timer
Interrupt routine is to keep track of the bit pattern that will be modulated on the IR LED, i.e., make sure
that the transmitted signal is in accordance with the bi-phase coding scheme. Once a complete frame has

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

been transmitted, the routines also generate a necessary delay before a new transmission is to be
started.
Figure 5-3.Timer Overflow Interrupt Flowchart
Time r Inte rrupt

De cre a s e Numbe r
of Bits to Tra ns mit

Ha ve All Bits
Be e n Tra ns fe rre d?

No

R e lo a d Tim e r with
Nu m b e r o f 3 8 kHz
P u ls e s to Tra n s m it

Ye s

Ha s Ho ld o ff
b e twe e n Tra n s m is s io n s
O c c u re d ?

Ye s

No

Is th is
S e c o n d Ha lf o f
Bit S p a c e ?
Dis a b le Mo d u la to r
O u tp u t

Ye s
S h ift C o m m a n d
Le ft (S e le c t Ne xt
Bit to Tra n s fe r)

S to p Tim e r

No

S e t O u tp u t to In ve rt o m
Ne xt In te rru p t (Tra n s m it
S e c o n d Ha lf o f Bit S p a c e )

R e lo a d C o u n te r to
G ive 1 2 m s De la y
No

S e t P o in te r = 0 xF F
(No C o m m a n d )

Ke y P re s s e d ?

S e t Mo d u la to r to
Tra n s m it Bit Va lu e
o n Ne xt In te rru p t

Ye s

R e tu rn Tra n s m is s io n
C o m p le te

R e tu rn Tra n s m is s io n
No t C o m p le te

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

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6.

Summary
This application note describes how to make a simple RC5 Transmitter. Due to the flexible hardware of
the ATtiny28, other IR coding schemes could easily be implemented. It is also possible to change the duty
cycle of the transmitted signal, further decreasing the power consumption and thus extending battery life.
This application note acts as a foundation upon which other features can be implemented to result in a
power efficient Remote Control Transmitter.

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

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7.

Revision History
Doc Rev.

Date

Comments

2534B

08/2016

New template and some minor


updates

2534A

05/2003

Initial document release

Atmel AVR415: RC5 IR Remote Control Transmitter on tinyAVR and megaAVR [APPLICATION NOTE]
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2016 Atmel Corporation. / Rev.: Atmel-2534B-RC5-IR-Remote-Control-Transmitter-on-tinyAVR-and-megaAVR_Application Note-08/2016

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