Infrared communication frequency

By frequency of transmission, we mean how many times the signal goes to a logical HIGH and LOW within just 1 second.

The most common frequency to transmit IR signals is 38 KHz (Kilo Hertz), in other words, the IR LED will be triggered 38,000 times in 1 second by the microcontroller. In response to the microcontroller pulses, the IR LED will also emit quick and short IR waves 38,000 times in 1 second. These 38,000 IR waves will be carried through the air and received by the IR receiver hardware.

Apart from the 38 KHz frequency there are other frequencies also in use in the industry. We will learn using IR communications with Arduino using this most commonly used and implemented 38 KHz frequency.

On the receiver side, usually there is an IR receiver module, with in-built hardware, that receives and de-modulates the incoming IR signals. The de-modulated IR signals are made available on an output pin of the IR receiver. This output pin is attached to a microcontroller that can read, via IR driver software, the IR signals.

In the case of the Arduino, the IR driver software for sending and receiving IR signals is available in the form of an Arduino library that we will learn to use in the following sections of this chapter.

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Infrared communication frequency