IR Keyboard+Mouse Emulator

Electronic project for use a IR Remote Control to control a Home Theater PC (HTPC) based on Arduino PRO Micro.
Schematics diagram + PCB diagram (KiCAD 9) and case 3D model (Blender) are also provided.

This project comes in two versions: Allways On and Low Power.
Very important: the current status of the Low Power version is not working, maybe I'll give it another try in the future.

• The Allways On version provides an immediate response when a remote control button is pressed.
  However, the gadget will constantly draw approximately 35-40mA from the USB port.

• The Low Power version automatically powers down the device after 30 seconds of inactivity, and it powers back on upon receiving an IR signal.
  This allows the gadget's power consumption to drop 99% of the time to ~1mA (the consumption of the IR sensor, the only component that remains powered on).
  However, due to the power-up time and the wait for the PC to recognize the device, there is a slight delay before it can be used.
  A high-side topology is used to power down the Arduino.

  • Hardware Variant A: External connection with a USB-A cable to J1 (USB-A socket).
    Use a 2-strand cable from J2 (2-pins header) to the USB jack of Arduino for data only (D+/D-).
  • Hardware Variant B: External connection with a USB-B mini/micro cable to Arduino.
    Cut the VCC wire of USB-B cable and pass it through J1 (2-pins header).

 

General commands:

• Key Lock/Unlock (to avoid collition with regular TV usage).
• Key Esc
• Key Close (close current program)
• Mouse Change Speed
• Mouse Left Click
• Mouse Right Click
• Mouse MoveUp
• Mouse Move Right
• Mouse MoveDown
• Mouse MoveLeft

Media commands

• Media Player (open VLC media player)
• Media Play/Pause
• Media Stop
• Media Forward (moves forward 10 seconds)
• Media Rewind (moves backwards 10 seconds)
• Media Previous (moves forward 1 minute)
• Media Next (moves backwards 1 minute)
• Media Volume Mute
• Media Volume Up
• Media Volume Down

Miscellaneous commands

• MyPC (opens MyPC)
• Calculator (open Calculator);

Features:

• Dump of IR Codes (protocols: RC5, RC6, NEC, SONY, PANASONIC, LG, JVC, WHYNTER)

Benchmarks:

Arduino PRO Micro	Tipical consumption
Normal mode	37-38 mA
ADC + SPI + TWI disabled	35-36 mA
USB detach + Clock @2 MHz	19-20 mA
USB detach + SLEEP_MODE_PWR_DOWN	4-5 mA

I am currently working on incorporating a hardware low-power version.

 

The Allways ON version uses the following electronic components:

• 1 x Arduino PRO Micro
• 1 x IR Receiver VS1838
• 1 x LED 3mm
• 1 x 1k ohm resistor

The Low Power version uses the following electronic components:

• 1 x Arduino PRO Micro
• 1 x IR Receiver VS1838
• 1 x LED 3mm
• 1 x 1k ohm resistor
• 1 x 47k ohm resistor
• 2 x 10k ohm resistor
• 1 x 100k ohm resistor
• 2 x 4.7k ohm resistor
• 3 x 1N4148 schottky diode
• 1 x 10uF electrolitic capacitor
• 3 x BC547 PNP transistor
• 2 x BC557 NPN transistor
• 1 x USB Type-A female connector
• 1 x Bornier 2-pins / JST connector 2-pins

 

Version Allways On

Breadboard	Assembly

Schematics Diagram	PCB Diagram

PCB Render 3D	PCB Render 3D

Case 3D Model	Project Final

 

Version Low-Power-B

Breadboard	Assembly

Assembly	Assembly

Schematics Diagram	PCB Diagram

PCB Render 3D	PCB Render 3D

Case 3D Model	Project Final

See 'Rescources' sub-folder for more pictures & videos of the project.

 

Version History

v1.00 (2025.12.18) - Initial release.
v1.01 (2025.12.19) - Adding case 3D model.
v1.02 (2025.12.22) - Update schematics and PCB.
v1.03 (2025.12.29) - Firmware refactor for code clean-up.
v1.04 (2026.01.02) - Adding Low-Power-A version protoboard & schematics.
v1.05 (2026.01.03) - Adding Low-Power-A version firmware.
v1.06 (2026.01.04) - Adding Low-Power-A version PCB.
v1.07 (2026.01.04) - Adding Low-Power-A case 3D model.
v1.08 (2026.01.06) - Minor fixes on Low-Power-A case 3D model.
v1.09 (2026.01.09) - Minor fixes on Low-Power-A PCB.
v1.10 (2026.01.14) - Adding Low-Power-B version schematics & PCB.
v1.11 (2026.01.15) - Adding Low-Power-B 3D model.
v1.12 (2026.01.18) - Minor fixes on Low-Power-B 3D model.

 

This source code is licensed under GPL v3.0
Please send me your feedback about this project: [email protected]