IR problems

[Snap]

I would like a clean crisp voltage drop to give my pic a definite 0 or 5 volt difference. the problem is that if I am using an IR transistor (which I need to use) I can dim the led (with a comparitor circuit) by slowly covering the ir reciever (collector). My question is this.. can I create a circuit that will not dim a led ( meaning not a definat on or off) when I need a digital high or low signal... and I have already tried the 741 op amp comparitor. It dims the led as much as the straight transistor does. Could it be the resistors involved?
all I want is a way of telling the pic that I have a high (5 v)or low (<1.5v)signal. I think it is called hysteria,, Would a shmit trigger work?
Thank You For The Great Work
Snap

[keithdoxey]

I would like a clean crisp voltage drop to give my pic a definite 0 or 5 volt difference. the problem is that if I am using an IR transistor (which I need to use) I can dim the led (with a comparitor circuit) by slowly covering the ir reciever (collector). My question is this.. can I create a circuit that will not dim a led ( meaning not a definat on or off) when I need a digital high or low signal... and I have already tried the 741 op amp comparitor. It dims the led as much as the straight transistor does. Could it be the resistors involved?
all I want is a way of telling the pic that I have a high (5 v)or low (<1.5v)signal. I think it is called hysteria,, Would a shmit trigger work?
Thank You For The Great Work
Snap

It would be helpful if you could describe the application more clearly.

What are you trying to make ?

If it is an IR receiver then using a dedicated IR Receiver module is by ar the most reliable.

If it is some form of beam break device then again I would use a dedicated IR receiver module but you would need to modulate the IR source with a 38kHz carrier.

[Bruce]

Most PICs have a few Schmitt Trigger inputs. Some have comparators. So
you can probably make it work without any additional hardware. Just use a
pin with a Schmitt Trigger input buffer, or the built-in comparator.

In the PIC data sheet, the port block diagrams show which pins have Schmitt
Trigger input buffers.

The Electrcal Specifications section of the data sheet shows what the min
and max input levels are for high/low signals on different input types.

As Keith mentioned, the simplest way would be to just use an IR module with
a built-in band-pass filter of 38 or 40kHz, and modulate your IR LED at the
band-pass frequency of the module.

These respond pretty fast with a low-going signal when the IR LED is on, and
high-going signal when it's off. They work pretty much the same on TTL or
Schmitt Trigger inputs.

They are also less sensitive to ambient light than most IR photo transistors,
and have built-in filters to block light outside the IR wavelength.

So you save a ton of board space, use fewer parts, and save yourself a little
hysteria..;}

[Snap]

I am making a simple beam breaker. I have an infra red emitter and detector (photo transistor) but need to get the signal into the pic (16f84a). I was just wondering how to start with the cleanest signal I could (0 or 5 volts not 1.2 or 2.3 volts) I perfer not going with the pre-made units because I am trying to understand how it works. All of the circuits I find involve op amps and technically the out put should but just that (0 or 5volts) or pretty darn close. I set it up and if I break the beam very slowly you can see the led dimly start to light before it comes fully on. I played around with lots of resistor combinations but it does not seem to make a difference. I want a relay type of instantanious change.
Thanks again for your help and sorry for the Hysteria I am a big Def Lepard fan and I can't find the spell checker on this thing.

[Bruce]

Here's one example using a comparator. http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/ATDetIR.html

[mackrackit]

Here is one I am using for a "Laser Fence". It will also work for IR.

And the simple code to go with it.

DEFINE OSC 4

Asm
    ERRORLEVEL -306
Endasm

include "modedefs.bas"

ANSEL=%00000000
CMCON=7

PAUSE 2000

TRAIN	VAR BYTE

TRAIN=$55
CNT	VAR BYTE
LP	VAR BYTE

START:
COUNT PORTC.1,100,LP
IF LP <> 1 THEN CHECK
HIGH PORTC.5
PAUSE 50
LOW PORTC.5
PAUSE 50
GOTO START

CHECK:
COUNT PORTC.1,100,LP
IF LP <> 1 THEN BREACH
GOTO START

BREACH:
FOR CNT = 1 TO 5
SEROUT PORTC.4,T2400,[TRAIN,TRAIN,TRAIN,TRAIN,TRAIN,9,3]
HIGH PORTC.5
PAUSE 100
NEXT
GOTO START

END

R2 will adjust the sensitivity of the Photo Diode. Ambient light does need to be shielded. Have used the same with IR but R2 was a fixed 10meg. (Total darkness for a parts counter on a conveyor)

Using 3 volts because of the radio transmitter.