Mini IR Theremin

           The Theremin first came around in the 1920's and provided us with a host of spooky, creepy sounds and so naturally being able to make one at home with standard electronics is a must. A standard Theremin uses two antennae for pitch and volume control. For this project, we will ignore controlling the volume and just look at controlling pitch.
           IR sensors used to detect the distance between the sensor and an object are a perfect fit for a DIY Theremin because they are low cost and they are reliable enough to get the project working. The idea here is that instead of using antennas, we'll use infrared proximity and be able to play an instrument, the IR Theremin!




Mini IR Theremin: Being Used

Mini IR Theremin: Turned On

Purpose & Overview of this project
           The purpose of this project is to build a simple but working theremin that can play the base notes (no sharps or flats) from one octave to another, specifically C4 to C5. The IR proximity sensor will detect how far away your hand or an object is from it and produce a specifc pitch for that distance.
           The PIC's internal Analog-to-Digital converter will be in charge of translating the IR proximity sensor feedback data which the PIC will translate into a usable distance number. A fast timer interrupt circuit will be created inside the PIC to constantly be playing the tone for the last distance detected. If nothing is within the 'playing field' of this IR theremin, no note should be played.