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IRSeekerV2 Block

This block measures the strength and direction of an infrared signal, such as that from a HiTechnic IRBall or anIR remote. It returns the reading as a direction number and a five strength values, one from each of the five detector elements.

The direction value ranges from 0 - 9. If the direction value is 0, this indicates that no infrared source can be detected. If it is between 1 - 9, the direction to the infrared source is in the direction indicated in the diagram. 

There is also a boolean output which returns "true" whenever the direction value is non-zero, i.e. a signal is detected, and "false" when there is no signal present.

You must drag at least one output data wire from this block's data hub to another block for any information to be sent.

Display Settings

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  1. The number shows which of your NXT's ports are connected to the IRSeekerV2. You can change this number in the configuration panel if you need to.
  2. The block's data hub will open automatically when the block is placed in the work area. At least one data wire must be dragged from the block's output plug to another block's data hub. (See the Data Hub section below for more information.)

Configuring the IRSeekerV2 Block

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  1. Choose the port where your IRSeekerV2 is plugged in. By default, the block will be set to port 1 for an IRSeekerV2. You can change this selection if you need to.
  2. Chose the Mode.  Two modes are available AC and DC.

AC Mode - The sensor will detect modulated IR signals such as those from the HiTechnic IRBall or some IR remote controls. In AC mode the sensor will filter out most other IR signals to decrease interference from lights and sunshine for example.  The sensor is tuned to square wave signals at 1200Hz.
DC Mode - The sensor will detect unmodulated IR signals such as the older stype IRBall or sunlight.

Configuring the IRSeekerV2 block's Data Hub

You can control the IRSeekerV2 block dynamically by connecting data wires (from other block's data hubs) to the IRSeekerV2 block's data hub.

Open a block's data hub by clicking the tab at the lower left edge of the block after it has been placed on the work area.

Image showing unopened tab on a generic block

Data wires carrying input information to a block are connected to the plugs on the left side of its data hub. Data wires carrying output information are connected to the plugs on the right side.

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[A] Input plug
[B] Output plug
[C] Number data wire (yellow)
[D] Logic data wire (green)
[E] Text data wire (orange)
[F] Broken data wire (gray)

Passing data from the input plug to the output plug

If an input plug has a corresponding output plug (see A above), the input data will pass through from the input plug to the output plug without being changed. In this case, you can only use the output plug if the input plug is connected to an input data wire; connecting an output data wire to such an output plug without a connected input data wire will cause the output data wire to be "broken" (and colored gray).

Data wires carry specific types of data

Each data wire carries a specific type of data between blocks. For example, if a data wire is dragged from a logic plug on a block's data hub, it can only be connected to a logic plug on another block's data hub. The chart below shows what kind of data each plug can accept or send out.

Data wire colors

Data wires are identified with specific colors: wires carrying number data are colored yellow, wires carrying logic data are colored green, and wires carrying text data are colored orange.

"Broken" data wires

If you try to connect a data wire to a plug of the wrong data type, the data wire will be broken (and colored gray). You will not be able to download your program if a data wire is broken.

If you click a broken wire you can read why it is broken in the small help window in the lower right corner of the work area.

Data must be within the possible range of the plug

If an input data wire transmits a value outside the possible range of the plug it is connected to, the block will either ignore the value or change it to a value within its range. For plugs that allow just a few input values (example: just 0, 1, or 2), the plug will ignore the input if a value arrives outside its range.

For plugs that accept larger input ranges (example: 0 - 100), the plug will force any input outside its range to fit. For example, if a Move block's Power plug receives an input value of 150, the block will change the input value to 100 (i.e., a number within the Power plug's range).

IRSeekerV2 block Data Hub plugs

You must click on the Data Hub to open it as shown.

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  1. This plug wires the number of the port that the IRSeekerV2 is connected to.
  2. This plug outputs the direction value.
  3. This plug selects the mode the sensor is operating in.
  4. This plug outputs the source detected logical value.
  5. This plug outputs the Channel 1 signal strength value.
  6. This plug outputs the Channel 2 signal strength value.
  7. This plug outputs the Channel 3 signal strength value.
  8. This plug outputs the Channel 4 signal strength value.
  9. This plug outputs the Channel 5 signal strength value.

The five strength values available make it possible to determine the approximate distance to the infrared source if it is of a known brightness. The five strength values come from five infrared sensors which are oriented to face in the 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 directions. Internally, the sensor will interpolate the readings between these five primary directions to obtain the direction values 2, 4, 6 and 8.

So if you want to obtain the strength for each of the 9 directions, you should use;

Direction Strength Source
1
Channel 1
2
Channel 1 and 2
3
Channel 2
4
Channel 2 and 3
5
Channel 3
6
Channel 3 and 4
7
Channel 4
8
Channel 4 and 5
9
Channel 5

Notes:

Using infrared remote control as a signal source: Most remote controls will be detected by the IRSeekerV2 in AC mode but some remotes may not be detectable, depending on the signal generated.  The IRSeekerV2 is tuned to detect a 1200Hz square wave.

For more information, progam examples, product support and more, visit www.hitechnic.com