The mi6k, a USB IR transceiver

[<mi...@na...>]

Hi Everybody,

I've recently been working on a project that I thought might interest the
people subscribed to this list. In building a set-top-box system, I was
unsatisfied with the reliability of serial port based IR transceivers.
So, I built my own :)

The "Media Infrawidget 6000", mi6k for short, is a USB peripheral with an
IR receiver, IR transmitter, vacuum-fluorescent display, and two LEDs with
10-bit brightness control. Two versions were produced...

The set-top-box version is what I'm using for the "wasabi" project.
It includes all mi6k peripherals and a power supply for the VFD in
a spacious little metal enclosure. 

A rather mediocre picture of the front:

   http://navi.picogui.org/images/hardware/wasabi/im000925.jpg

The insides:

   http://navi.picogui.org/images/hardware/wasabi/im000927.jpg

The 'portable' version is entirely bus-powered, and lacks the VFD.
The outside, showing the receiver, transmitter diode, and the
two software-controlled LEDs:

   http://navi.picogui.org/images/hardware/wasabi/im000912.jpg

The insides:

   http://navi.picogui.org/images/hardware/wasabi/im000905.jpg

I have written a Linux kernel module for the mi6k that provides an
lirc mode2 compatible /dev/lirc, as well as a device node for accessing
the special power management, LED, and VFD features.

There are still a few bugs to be worked out, but I'm successfully using
my prototype with lircd to control on-screen menus for my set-top-box
system. The schematics, PCB layouts, and source code are available in
a Subversion repository:

   http://navi.picogui.org/svn/misc/trunk/wasabi/hardware/mi6k/

There are also several more pictures of both mi6ks as well as an 8-port
USB video switch/detector at:

   http://navi.picogui.org/images/hardware/wasabi/

Once all the bugs are worked out, if there's enough interest I may
start selling mi6k devices. Of course you're free to build your own,
but not everyone has the facilities to etch PCBs and burn microcontroller
firmware :)

--Micah
   
-- 
Only you can prevent creeping featurism!