tessel-apple-remote

An event-emitter interface to an Apple IR Remote using the Tessel IR Module

This module takes the burden off of processing the infared byte buffers and extends the events from ir-attx4 to provide a higher-level API for programming against Apple remotes. This module supports both the first and second generation of remotes.

usage

var tessel = require('tessel');
var port = tessel.port['A'];
var apple = require('tessel-apple-remote')(port);

apple.on('menu', function() {
    console.log('menu');
});

events

Simple button presses:

• menu
• center
• up
• down
• right
• left
• play

Each event name has a corresponding [name].long event for long presses:

• menu.long
• center.long
• up.long
• down.long
• right.long
• left.long
• play.long

NOTE: both play and play.long only apply to the 2nd Generation remote.

id

Each Apple Remote sends along a simple remote ID between 0-255 (0xFF). To differentiate between remotes, you can prefix both the command events and continuation events with that id. For example, if your remote had the ID of 50

apple.on('50.menu', function() {
    console.log('my remote clicked "menu"');
});

To enable discovery on the fly of remote IDs, an id event is emitted, with a value of the new id. This event will only be emitted the first time that ID is encountered.

apple.on('id', function(id) {
    console.log('a new challenger appears', id);
});

To test this, you can either use two remotes, or you can first press a button on the remote, notice the id event fires, then change your remote's ID by pressing and holding the menu + center buttons for about 10 seconds. After your remote's ID is changed, another id event will be emitted on the next button press. See examples/lockout.js for an example of how to isolate your code to the first remote to send an event.

data

The standard data event is unmodified.

apple.on('data', function(data) {
    // access to the low-level duration stream
    console.log(data.toString('hex'));
});

error

The standard error event is unmodified.

apple.on('error', function(error) {
    console.log(error);
});

examples

1. Plug the IR module into Port A on your Tessel, then connect via USB
2. tessel run [script] to test scripts in examples folder.
3. Click buttons on your remote and commence mad science.

notes

Helpful reference material on the implemenation:

• https://github.com/tessel/ir-attx4#api-infrared-on-data-callback-data-Emitted-when-an-infrared-signal-is-detected
• http://techdocs.altium.com/display/FPGA/NEC+Infrared+Transmission+Protocol
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Remote#Technical_details
• https://github.com/squeed/AppleRemoteSender/blob/master/AppleRemoteSender.cpp
• https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/apple-aluminum-remote/

hardware

You need:

• a Tessel
• an IR module
• either a first-generation (white) Apple remote
• or a second-generation (silver) Apple remote