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NAME | DESCRIPTION | IOCTL COMMANDS | FEATURES | BUGS | SEE ALSO | COLOPHON |
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lirc(4) Kernel Interfaces Manual lirc(4)
lirc - lirc devices
The /dev/lirc* character devices provide a low-level bidirectional
interface to infra-red (IR) remotes. Most of these devices can
receive, and some can send. When receiving or sending data, the
driver works in two different modes depending on the underlying
hardware.
Some hardware (typically TV-cards) decodes the IR signal
internally and provides decoded button presses as scancode values.
Drivers for this kind of hardware work in LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE mode.
Such hardware usually does not support sending IR signals.
Furthermore, such hardware can only decode a limited set of IR
protocols, usually only the protocol of the specific remote which
is bundled with, for example, a TV-card.
Other hardware provides a stream of pulse/space durations. Such
drivers work in LIRC_MODE_MODE2 mode. Such hardware can be used
with (almost) any kind of remote. This type of hardware can also
be used in LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE mode, in which case the kernel IR
decoders will decode the IR. These decoders can be written in
extended BPF (see bpf(2)) and attached to the lirc device.
Sometimes, this kind of hardware also supports sending IR data.
The LIRC_GET_FEATURES ioctl (see below) allows probing for whether
receiving and sending is supported, and in which modes, amongst
other features.
Reading input with the LIRC_MODE_MODE2 mode
In the LIRC_MODE_MODE2 mode, the data returned by read(2) provides
32-bit values representing a space or a pulse duration. The time
of the duration (microseconds) is encoded in the lower 24 bits.
Pulse (also known as flash) indicates a duration of infrared light
being detected, and space (also known as gap) indicates a duration
with no infrared. If the duration of space exceeds the inactivity
timeout, a special timeout package is delivered, which marks the
end of a message. The upper 8 bits indicate the type of package:
LIRC_MODE2_SPACE
Value reflects a space duration (microseconds).
LIRC_MODE2_PULSE
Value reflects a pulse duration (microseconds).
LIRC_MODE2_FREQUENCY
Value reflects a frequency (Hz); see the
LIRC_SET_MEASURE_CARRIER_MODE ioctl.
LIRC_MODE2_TIMEOUT
Value reflects a space duration (microseconds). The package
reflects a timeout; see the LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT_REPORTS
ioctl.
LIRC_MODE2_OVERFLOW
The IR receiver encountered an overflow, and as a result data
is missing (since Linux 5.18).
Reading input with the LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE mode
In the LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE mode, the data returned by read(2)
reflects decoded button presses, in the struct lirc_scancode. The
scancode is stored in the scancode field, and the IR protocol is
stored in rc_proto. This field has one the values of the enum
rc_proto.
Writing output with the LIRC_MODE_PULSE mode
The data written to the character device using write(2) is a
pulse/space sequence of integer values. Pulses and spaces are
only marked implicitly by their position. The data must start and
end with a pulse, thus it must always include an odd number of
samples. The write(2) function blocks until the data has been
transmitted by the hardware. If more data is provided than the
hardware can send, the write(2) call fails with the error EINVAL.
Writing output with the LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE mode
The data written to the character devices must be a single struct
lirc_scancode. The scancode and rc_proto fields must filled in,
all other fields must be 0. The kernel IR encoders will convert
the scancode to pulses and spaces. The protocol or scancode is
invalid, or the lirc device cannot transmit.
#include <linux/lirc.h> /* But see BUGS */
int ioctl(int fd, int cmd, int *val);
The following ioctl(2) operations are provided by the lirc
character device to probe or change specific lirc hardware
settings.
Always Supported Commands
/dev/lirc* devices always support the following commands:
LIRC_GET_FEATURES (void)
Returns a bit mask of combined features bits; see FEATURES.
If a device returns an error code for LIRC_GET_FEATURES, it is
safe to assume it is not a lirc device.
Optional Commands
Some lirc devices support the commands listed below. Unless
otherwise stated, these fail with the error ENOTTY if the
operation isn't supported, or with the error EINVAL if the
operation failed, or invalid arguments were provided. If a driver
does not announce support of certain features, invoking the
corresponding ioctls will fail with the error ENOTTY.
LIRC_GET_REC_MODE (void)
If the lirc device has no receiver, this operation fails
with the error ENOTTY. Otherwise, it returns the receive
mode, which will be one of:
LIRC_MODE_MODE2
The driver returns a sequence of pulse/space
durations.
LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE
The driver returns struct lirc_scancode values, each
of which represents a decoded button press.
LIRC_SET_REC_MODE (int)
Set the receive mode. val is either LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE or
LIRC_MODE_MODE2. If the lirc device has no receiver, this
operation fails with the error ENOTTY.
LIRC_GET_SEND_MODE (void)
Return the send mode. LIRC_MODE_PULSE or
LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE is supported. If the lirc device cannot
send, this operation fails with the error ENOTTY.
LIRC_SET_SEND_MODE (int)
Set the send mode. val is either LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE or
LIRC_MODE_PULSE. If the lirc device cannot send, this
operation fails with the error ENOTTY.
LIRC_SET_SEND_CARRIER (int)
Set the modulation frequency. The argument is the
frequency (Hz).
LIRC_SET_SEND_DUTY_CYCLE (int)
Set the carrier duty cycle. val is a number in the range
[0,100] which describes the pulse width as a percentage of
the total cycle. Currently, no special meaning is defined
for 0 or 100, but the values are reserved for future use.
LIRC_GET_MIN_TIMEOUT(void)
LIRC_GET_MAX_TIMEOUT(void)
Some devices have internal timers that can be used to
detect when there has been no IR activity for a long time.
This can help lircd(8) in detecting that an IR signal is
finished and can speed up the decoding process. These
operations return integer values with the minimum/maximum
timeout that can be set (microseconds). Some devices have
a fixed timeout. For such drivers, LIRC_GET_MIN_TIMEOUT
and LIRC_GET_MAX_TIMEOUT will fail with the error ENOTTY.
LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT (int)
Set the integer value for IR inactivity timeout
(microseconds). To be accepted, the value must be within
the limits defined by LIRC_GET_MIN_TIMEOUT and
LIRC_GET_MAX_TIMEOUT. A value of 0 (if supported by the
hardware) disables all hardware timeouts and data should be
reported as soon as possible. If the exact value cannot be
set, then the next possible value greater than the given
value should be set.
LIRC_GET_REC_TIMEOUT (void)
Return the current inactivity timeout (microseconds).
Available since Linux 4.18.
LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT_REPORTS (int)
Enable (val is 1) or disable (val is 0) timeout packages in
LIRC_MODE_MODE2. The behavior of this operation has varied
across kernel versions:
• Since Linux 5.17: timeout packages are always enabled
and this ioctl is a no-op.
• Since Linux 4.16: timeout packages are enabled by
default. Each time the lirc device is opened, the
LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT operation can be used to disable
(and, if desired, to later re-enable) the timeout on the
file descriptor.
• In Linux 4.15 and earlier: timeout packages are disabled
by default, and enabling them (via LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT)
on any file descriptor associated with the lirc device
has the effect of enabling timeouts for all file
descriptors referring to that device (until timeouts are
disabled again).
LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER (int)
Set the upper bound of the receive carrier frequency (Hz).
See LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE.
LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE (int)
Sets the lower bound of the receive carrier frequency (Hz).
For this to take affect, first set the lower bound using
the LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE ioctl, and then the upper
bound using the LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER ioctl.
LIRC_SET_MEASURE_CARRIER_MODE (int)
Enable (val is 1) or disable (val is 0) the measure mode.
If enabled, from the next key press on, the driver will
send LIRC_MODE2_FREQUENCY packets. By default, this should
be turned off.
LIRC_GET_REC_RESOLUTION (void)
Return the driver resolution (microseconds).
LIRC_SET_TRANSMITTER_MASK (int)
Enable the set of transmitters specified in val, which
contains a bit mask where each enabled transmitter is a 1.
The first transmitter is encoded by the least significant
bit, and so on. When an invalid bit mask is given, for
example a bit is set even though the device does not have
so many transmitters, this operation returns the number of
available transmitters and does nothing otherwise.
LIRC_SET_WIDEBAND_RECEIVER (int)
Some devices are equipped with a special wide band receiver
which is intended to be used to learn the output of an
existing remote. This ioctl can be used to enable (val
equals 1) or disable (val equals 0) this functionality.
This might be useful for devices that otherwise have narrow
band receivers that prevent them to be used with certain
remotes. Wide band receivers may also be more precise. On
the other hand, their disadvantage usually is reduced range
of reception.
Note: wide band receiver may be implicitly enabled if you
enable carrier reports. In that case, it will be disabled
as soon as you disable carrier reports. Trying to disable
a wide band receiver while carrier reports are active will
do nothing.
the LIRC_GET_FEATURES ioctl returns a bit mask describing features
of the driver. The following bits may be returned in the mask:
LIRC_CAN_REC_MODE2
The driver is capable of receiving using LIRC_MODE_MODE2.
LIRC_CAN_REC_SCANCODE
The driver is capable of receiving using
LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE.
LIRC_CAN_SET_SEND_CARRIER
The driver supports changing the modulation frequency using
LIRC_SET_SEND_CARRIER.
LIRC_CAN_SET_SEND_DUTY_CYCLE
The driver supports changing the duty cycle using
LIRC_SET_SEND_DUTY_CYCLE.
LIRC_CAN_SET_TRANSMITTER_MASK
The driver supports changing the active transmitter(s)
using LIRC_SET_TRANSMITTER_MASK.
LIRC_CAN_SET_REC_CARRIER
The driver supports setting the receive carrier frequency
using LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER. Any lirc device since the
drivers were merged in Linux 2.6.36 must have
LIRC_CAN_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE set if
LIRC_CAN_SET_REC_CARRIER feature is set.
LIRC_CAN_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE
The driver supports LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE. The lower
bound of the carrier must first be set using the
LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER_RANGE ioctl, before using the
LIRC_SET_REC_CARRIER ioctl to set the upper bound.
LIRC_CAN_GET_REC_RESOLUTION
The driver supports LIRC_GET_REC_RESOLUTION.
LIRC_CAN_SET_REC_TIMEOUT
The driver supports LIRC_SET_REC_TIMEOUT.
LIRC_CAN_MEASURE_CARRIER
The driver supports measuring of the modulation frequency
using LIRC_SET_MEASURE_CARRIER_MODE.
LIRC_CAN_USE_WIDEBAND_RECEIVER
The driver supports learning mode using
LIRC_SET_WIDEBAND_RECEIVER.
LIRC_CAN_SEND_PULSE
The driver supports sending using LIRC_MODE_PULSE or
LIRC_MODE_SCANCODE
Using these devices requires the kernel source header file lirc.h.
This file is not available before Linux 4.6. Users of older
kernels could use the file bundled in ⟨http://www.lirc.org⟩.
ir-ctl(1), lircd(8), bpf(2)
⟨https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/userspace-api/media/rc/lirc-dev.html⟩
This page is part of the man-pages (Linux kernel and C library
user-space interface documentation) project. Information about
the project can be found at
⟨https://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/⟩. If you have a bug report
for this manual page, see
⟨https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/docs/man-pages/man-pages.git/tree/CONTRIBUTING⟩.
This page was obtained from the tarball man-pages-6.10.tar.gz
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⟨https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/docs/man-pages/⟩ on
2025-02-02. If you discover any rendering problems in this HTML
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man-pages@man7.org
Linux man-pages 6.10 2024-09-01 lirc(4)
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HTML rendering created 2025-02-02 by Michael Kerrisk, author of The Linux Programming Interface. For details of in-depth Linux/UNIX system programming training courses that I teach, look here. Hosting by jambit GmbH. |
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