RF Remote Control

Extender: Receiver
Ton Giesberts

This circuit works together with a transmit-

ter described elsewhere in this issue to
form a remote-control extender. Due to its
limited bandwidth, the output of the RF
receiver module does not exactly repro-
duce the original pulses from the IR
receiver. That problem is remedied here
by the circuit around T1. The modulator
circuit for the data received from this
stage is active low, so the primary func-
tion of T1 is to invert the received signal.
However, the stage built around T1 also
acts as a pulse stretcher in order to restore
the original pulse length. Capacitor C2, +5V L2

which is connected in parallel with P1, 47µH

charges quickly. The maximum current is C9 C6 C7 C8

limited by R3 to protect T1. The discharge 100µ 10V 220µ 25V 100n 100n
time is determined by P1 and C2, and P1 IC1 16
can be adjusted to compensate for vari- J1
ous deviations and tolerance errors. The CTR14
3
7 1 2
11 !G 5 3 4
timing should be matched to the RC5 9
RCX 4
4 5 6 T2
CX + 5
code with P1 set to approximately its R4
1M
10
RX 6
6 7 8

midrange position. In practice, the pulse X1

C5
CT
7
14
13 11
9 10
12 BC639
8
length also proved to be slightly depend- 15p
9
15 13 14

ent on the signal strength. C3 C4

11
1
2
12
33p 18.432MHz 33p 12 3
CT=0 13
T1 provides the reset signal for a R8 R5

74HC4060 IC (14-stage binary ripple

470Ω

18Ω
8
L1 P1 74HC4060
RX module C2
counter with built-in oscillator). This
counter restores the original modulation 10µH
100n
R3 10k R6 D1
with a frequency of 36 kHz. Each
100Ω

MOD1 47Ω
D3
received pulse starts the oscillator, and a R1
T1
LD271
IR LED
frequency of exactly 36 kHz is present on 10k
R2
SIGNAL
R7
D2
pin 13 (division factor 29) if the crystal C1 BC547B
100Ω
10k

433MHz
frequency is 18.432 MHz. Other oscilla- 100n LD271
IR LED
tor frequencies can also be selected using 054014 - 11
J1, and various combinations are possi-
ble using other division factors (for
36 kHz, connect a jumper between pins
11 and 12 of J1). At frequencies below
12 MHz, C5 must be replaced by a resis- MOD1
tor with a value of 1–2.2 kΩ (fitted verti-
cally). The main reason for including J1 is
to allow the remote control extender to be
used with other modulation frequencies.
C1

R3
C9

The counter output drives a transistor

054014-1 C3
R1

R2

C2

stage (T2) with two IR diodes (type

P1

R4
L1

LD271, but other types can also be used).

T1
C7

C5
C4

The current through LEDs D1 and D2 is

IC1
limited to approximately 90 mA by R18.
L2
0

R6 and R7 are connected in parallel with

+5V

X1

D1 and D2, respectively, to reduce the

(C) ELEKTOR
ROTKELE )C(

054014-1
J1

1-410450

turn-off time. A normal LED (D3) is con-

D3

R8
C6

T2

R5
nected in parallel with the IR LEDs to pro-
R7 R6
vide a supplementary visible indication of
D2

D1

a transmitted signal (IR or RF). C8

The circuit needs nice stiff 5-V supply,
 which means that battery operation is not
suitable (unless a hefty electrolytic capac-
itor is connected across the supply termi-
COMPONENTS LIST Inductors:
L1 = 10µH
Resistors: L2 = 47µH
nals). L1 and L2 ensure that the supply
voltage for the receiver module is as clean R1,R2 = 10kΩ
R3 = 47Ω Semiconductors:
as possible. The quiescent current con- R4 = 1MΩ D1,D2 = LD271
sumption is approximately 1.3 mA, and R5 = 18Ω D3 = LED, red, high-efficiency
it increases to around 8 mA on average R6,R7 = 100Ω T1 = BC547B
R8 = 470Ω T2 = BC639
with a good received signal level.
P1 = 10kΩ preset IC1 = 74HC4060
Assembling the circuit board (see Fig-
ure 2) is straightforward. Naturally, a Capacitors: Miscellaneous:
wire bridge can be used in place of J1 if C1, C7,C8 = 100nF ceramic J1 = 14 (2x7) way pinheader + 1
you only want to use a single IR code. C2 = 100nF MKT jumper
The receiver module is supplied with quite C3,C4 = 33pF X1 = 18.432MHz quartz crystal
C5 = 15pF MOD1 = 433.92MHz AM receiver (RX)
long connection leads and a pre-fitted
C6 = 220µF 25V radial module from set, Conrad Electronics #
antenna. It’s a good idea to shorten the C9 = 100µF 10V radial 130428
antenna slightly. With our modules, the PCB, ref. 054014-1 from The PCBShop
length was nearly 18 cm. In practice, a
length of 15.5 cm is more suitable at a
frequency of 433.92 MHz. a bit further away from the noise gener- experiment with the orientation of the
The circuit board is designed to allow the ated by the IR LEDs and the counter, module and the antenna, since the
receiver module to be fitted to the board, which reduces the interference to signal arrangement proved to be critical in prac-
but we chose to fit it next to the board reception. The module leads are long tice (the RF aspects, that is).
(along its long axis). That puts the receiver enough for this. You will also have to (054014-1)

7-8/2005 - elektor electronics 3