Grove Infrared Emitter

Quick Answer: The Grove Infrared Emitter is an infrared LED module on a Grove board that sends invisible, coded light signals under microcontroller control. Paired with an infrared receiver, the Grove infrared emitter lets students build their own remote controls and send commands between devices.

Sending Data on Invisible Light

Infrared light has a wavelength just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, so the eye cannot see it. The emitter uses an infrared LED to send it, switching the LED on and off in precise patterns that carry information. Many phone cameras can pick up the flicker, which gives students a quick way to check the emitter is working.

Remote-control signals are not simply on and off. The LED flashes rapidly at a carrier frequency, commonly around 38 kilohertz, and the data is encoded by switching that carrier on and off in bursts of different lengths. The carrier helps the receiver ignore steady infrared from sunlight and lamps. Libraries handle the timing, so students can send the codes of a standard protocol with a single command, then examine the pulse timings to understand how the protocol works.

Infrared needs a clear line of sight, or a surface to bounce from, and does not pass through walls, which keeps it private to a room but limits its range. The Grove Infrared Receiver Module is the natural partner for two-way projects.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Point the Grove Infrared Emitter towards the receiver, as the beam is directional.
• Keep the LED lens clean and avoid bending its legs if it stands proud of the board.
• Test away from strong direct sunlight, which adds infrared noise at the receiver.
• Store it in antistatic packaging with its partner receiver so pairs stay together.

Applications

• Building a programmable remote control for a robot or LED display
• Sending commands between two microcontroller projects
• Capturing a TV remote’s code with a receiver and replaying it through the emitter
• Physics lessons on the electromagnetic spectrum and invisible light

Why Choose LabEquip

Teachers usually order infrared emitters and receivers as pairs so each group can build a complete link. LabEquip lists the emitter in its STEM kits section beside the matching receiver; use the contact page for paired quantities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if the emitter is working?

Look at the LED through a phone camera while it transmits. Many cameras pick up infrared and show it as a faint flicker. If nothing appears, try another camera, since some filter infrared out.

What is a carrier frequency?

It is the rapid on-off flashing of the infrared LED, commonly around 38 kilohertz for remote controls. Data is sent by switching the carrier on and off in timed bursts, and the receiver is tuned to that frequency to reject background light.

Can it control a television?

If the program sends the codes the television expects, yes. Students often capture the codes from the real remote with an infrared receiver and replay them through the emitter.

What range does it have?

Range depends on the LED, its drive current, the receiver and the room. In practice it reaches across a classroom when aimed at the receiver, and less when angled away or in bright sunlight.

Why must the emitter and receiver match?

The receiver responds only to signals near the carrier frequency it is tuned to. An emitter sending a different carrier frequency, or a different code protocol, will not be understood.

Is infrared safe to use in class?

Low-power infrared LEDs of the kind used in remote controls are in everyday use in homes. As a sensible habit, students should still not stare into any LED at very close range.

Last Updated: September 2026