How to Learn Infrared Codes using UCM

[slychiu]

The UCM/ETH03 and UCM/USB is able to learn most Infrared signals from handheld remote controllers to be saved in the Infrared code library in Comfort. The IR Codes in the library can be sent to any Output connected to an Infrared Transmitter IRM01, IR01W, IR03W. See Output actions at http://www.comfortforums.com/forum92/4291.html


This information is also found in the UCM Manual

Definitions
Ifr file
A .ifr file contains the encoded infrared data for the commands for a specific appliance. For example, a TV file may have On/OFF, Channel 1, Channel 2, Mute, etc.. Each  command in the ifr file can be assigned as an IR Transmit code and downloaded to  Comfort via Comfigurator to be sent to any output using Infrared Command

The commands in an ifr file can be learned with the infrared learner software in Comfigurator. The .ifr files are contained in the ifr sub directory in the Comfigurator directory.


Specification

• Infrared Carrier Frequency: 35 kHz to 50 kHz
• Learning distance: 5 to 10 cm.
• Angle for reception: +/- 25 degrees
• Encoding: ifr format

Limitations
Some infrared signals cannot be captured or encoded by the software algorithm or used by Comfort because of limitations in the encoding system. The IR learner captures and encodes the IR signals, while Comfort decodes the encoded signals to transmit from any programmed output. The process of encoding and decoding will introduce errors between the reconstructed signal and the original signal. This works well in the majority of remote control signals tested, but not for all possible remote controls.

[slychiu]

Operation
Run the infrared learning program by Comfigurator > Tools > Infrared Utility



To start learning IR signals for a new device which is not in the IR code library (in the ifr sub directory), press New... You will be asked for the Brand, Device and Model number as in the screen below;




Press OK to confirm. This defines the filename for the ifr file which is to be generated. You can now start to learn new functions using the remote control.
To add new IR codes for devices currently in the ifr directory click on the arrow to the side of the window and select from the dropdown list of appliances shown.



The above screen example for Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioner shows the learned commands for this device in the bottom screen.


Rename
You can rename the function by selecting it with the cursor and pressing the Rename button.

Remove
You can delete the function by selecting it and pressing the Remove button.

Add
To learn a new infrared code, click on the Add... button



Enter the Function Name for the command, e.g. Play, Stop, On, Off etc.. The UCM Connection field will be taken from Comfigurator\'s UCM Connection setting i.e. it will show Serial (with its COM port number), USB (with USB serial number) or Network (with the IP address) depending on what kind of UCM is connected.
Click on \"Start\" to start the capture.
Always use new batteries on the remote control, as this gives the best chance of successfully capturing the signal.



When the screen above appears, point the remote control directly at the IR receiver LEDs U8 and U9 about 5 to 10  cm away. Do not place the remote control too close to the UCM board because the exact  location of infrared transmitting LED of the remote control behind the lens may not be known. Press and release the button on the remote control which is to be learned. Do not keep pressing the button unless it is required, e.g. for dimming lights.
The BUSY1 Red LED should turn on when the UCM is ready to learn an infrared signal.  If the BUSY1 LED is not on, click Back and try again.
If a valid infrared signal is not received within 20 seconds, the screen will time-out.
If the capture is complete, the BUSY2 Red LED will blink, followed by the D12 Red LED (to indicate that the information was sent to Comfigurator) and the following screen will appear.



This shows the waveform of the captured IR code. The numbers on the horizontal scale show the time in milliseconds.

Resolution
The Resolution window on the top right allows you to specify different scales to observe the infrared signal. The selection does not change the signal in any way, just the magnification of the signal on the screen.



Tolerance
The Tolerance window allows you to specify the tolerance which the encoding algorithm uses. The IR signal is encoded in the Comfort ifr format, so that the space required in Comfort\'s memory is minimized. In encoding the signal using the IR learner and decoding the encoded code in Comfort, there will be differences between the original IR signal and the reconstructed signal transmitted from Comfort. These differences are in the length of the pulses and the gaps in the captured waveforms as well as the carrier frequency. Specifying a larger tolerance may allow the algorithm to encode the signal more efficiently, resulting in fewer bytes required for the signal. Comfort imposes a limit on the size of the encoded IR signal due to memory limitations. For Comfort II ULTRA firmware the limit is 4096 bytes while for OPTIMUM firmware, the limit is 540 bytes. Specifying a larger tolerance may result in a code which is less than the limit allowed.  However, applying too large a tolerance could result in incorrect encoding of the signal.

Encode
Press the ENCODE button to initiate the encoding process. The screen below shows a typical result;





The number of encoded bytes is shown at the end of the data in the above window. To save the code into the .ifr file, click on the YES button. The encoded data is saved as an ifr file. The file name is automatically generated from the equipment type, manufacturer, and model number which were entered earlier.
Clicking on the No button will return to the previous screen where a different tolerance can be specified.
Extended IR EncodingThis triggers an extended IR encoding algorithm that can work better on UCM Firmware 7.XXX

Crop
The Crop button on the waveform display screen allows you to delete the last part of the signal in order to achieve a code size within the limit. Some IR codes have single or repeated pulses at the end of the signal which may not be needed to achieve the function. The presence of these pulses defeats the algorithm which looks for repetitions of patterns in the signal. If a pattern is repeated in the signal, but followed by some pulses which are part of the pattern, then the entire signal cannot be coded as a repetition. To crop a signal, click on the point in the signal after which the signal is to be cropped. The remaining part of the signal before the cursor will be acted upon by the encoding algorithm.

Save to File
This button saves the waveform in .raw format. This file can then be sent to Cytech Technology (email: support@cytech.biz with full details) for analysis in case of problems with encoding. This does not save the encoded file in the .ifr format
The IFR folder can be found in ProgramDataCytechComfiguratorifr


After learning the Infrared code, the IR signal can be sent to any Comfort output. See http://www.comfortforums.com/forum126/4395.html

[slychiu]

Infrared Learning Errors

\"Infrared Signal is too long\"
If this message appears before the remote control button is pressed during learning, it means that random IR signals are being received. This could be due to certain types of fluorescent lights. Try again with the lights off or in another room.
If the error message is seen after the infrared signal is sent, it means that the signal being learned is too long for the system to encode, probably because it has an unusual format.
This may also be caused by pressing and holding the remote control button. Try again after clicking the \"Start\" button, by pressing and releasing the button. Note that a small percentage of infrared signals are really too long to be learned by the UCM. The UCM is not able to encode all types of remote controls.

\"Erroneous signal or Out of Frequency Range Detected\"
This message may be received if the remote control is not pointed directly at the receivers or is too far away. The remote control should be pointed directly at the infrared receivers U8 and U9 at a distance of 5 to 10 cm away.
Some remote controls operate outside the frequency range of 35 to 50 kHz in which the receiver can not detect. Such infrared signals cannot be learned by the UCM.

\"Error Encountered during Encoding - Exceeded Bytes\"
This message is received when the infrared signal is not one of the known formats which requires too many bytes to encode. Such infrared signals cannot be learned by the UCM

[slychiu]

Common Problems with Learned IR Codes

Sometimes, the infrared signals can be captured and encoded successfully, but when transmitted through an infrared transmitter LED connected to an output, it does not activate the device. The possible causes and solutions are:

Encoding Errors
The UCM may encode the signal incorrectly if the remote control is not pointed correctly at the receivers. The remote control should be pointed directly at the infrared receivers U8 and U9 at a distance of 5 to 10 cm away. The remote control should not be too close to the receivers because the actual location of the transmitter LED behind the infrared lens is not known. The transmitter may not be at the center of the lens so it may be pointing at the wrong angle. Positioning the remote control 5 to 10 cm away will reduce the effect of the uncertainty of the location of the transmitter.

Programming Errors
The infrared code is sent to any output using Action 129 (or using the Response Wizard in Comfigurator). Check that the correct infrared code number is sent to the designated output. A useful diagnostic tool is to plug in a Test Lamp terminal Block into the output header.



This consists of two 12V DC lamps which light up when the output is turned on. When an infrared signal is sent to the output, the lamp  will briefly blink. It should not be permanently turned on. This shows that the output is receiving an infrared signal, but it does not mean that the IR signal is the correct one. A useful tool in any installation where infrared transmission is needed is a long length of wire, about 30 meters with an IRM01 transmitter on one end and a terminal block on the other. This can be quickly connected to any output and the transmitter pointed at the appliance to operate it. This will show if the programming is correct.


Wiring Errors
The most common cause of infrared signals not working is wiring errors. The infrared transmitter IRM01 may not be connected to the designated output, or the polarity of the IRM01 may be reversed. Use the long length of wire with IRM01 at one end and a terminal block at the other to determine if the programming is correct or the wiring is correct.

[slychiu]

How to send Infrared Codes to any Output 


http://www.comfortforums.com/forum126/4395.html