Adafruit TSMP96000 "Code Learning" Infrared IR Receiver Breakout

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

2mm pitch

Pitch is the distance between the centres of neighbouring pins on a connector. A 2mm pitch header is smaller than the common 2.54mm breadboard spacing, so you need matching cables and headers rather than standard breadboard jumper leads.

38 kHz IR

Infrared light that is switched on and off 38,000 times per second, a common carrier frequency used by IR remotes and beam sensors. Matching this frequency matters because the receiver is tuned for it and will ignore much of the steady or random infrared light in the environment.

breakout

A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.

JST PH

A small keyed plug-and-socket connector with 2 mm pin spacing, often used for low-power electronics connections. You need the correct JST PH cable, and its current rating limits how much power should be passed through it.

LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

modulated IR

Infrared light that is pulsed in a controlled pattern instead of being left on continuously. Using modulation helps the sensor distinguish the intended IR source from sunlight, room lighting, and other background infrared.

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline a liquid is, on a scale where 7 is neutral. For a water monitoring kit, pH tells you about water chemistry and whether the included probe matches the range and accuracy your project needs.

STEMMA

A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.