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APPLE_IR(4)           DragonFly Kernel Interfaces Manual           APPLE_IR(4)


NAME

     apple_ir - Apple IR receiver driver


SYNOPSIS

     To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following line in your
     kernel configuration file:

           device apple_ir

     Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the
     following line in loader.conf(5):

           apple_ir_load="YES"


DESCRIPTION

     The apple_ir driver provides support for Apple IR receivers found in Mac
     computers (2006-2011 era).  It supports both Apple Remote controls and
     generic IR remotes using the NEC infrared protocol.

     The driver attaches to the USB HID interface of the receiver and delivers
     key events through an evdev input device at /dev/input/eventX.

     The Apple Remote uses a proprietary 5-byte protocol.  Button presses
     generate key-down reports; the hardware does not send key-up events, so
     the driver synthesizes them via a 125ms timer.  Some buttons (Enter,
     Play/Pause via the middle button) use a two-packet sequence where the
     first packet sets a flag and the second completes the command.

     Generic IR remotes using the NEC protocol are also supported.  The driver
     validates the NEC checksum (code + ~code = 0xFF) and maps known codes to
     evdev key events.

   Apple Remote Keymap
           Button        evdev Code
           menu          KEY_MENU
           play/pause    KEY_PLAYPAUSE
           >>            KEY_FORWARD
           <<            KEY_BACK
           +             KEY_VOLUMEUP
           -             KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
           center        KEY_ENTER

   Generic IR (NEC) Keymap
           Code    evdev Code
           0xe1    KEY_VOLUMEUP
           0xe9    KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
           0xed    KEY_CHANNELUP
           0xf3    KEY_CHANNELDOWN
           0xf5    KEY_PLAYPAUSE
           0xf9    KEY_POWER
           0xfb    KEY_MUTE
           0xfe    KEY_OK

     A low-battery condition is reported once per attach as a kernel message.


HARDWARE

     The apple_ir driver supports Apple IR receivers with USB vendor ID 0x05ac
     and the following product IDs:

     0x8240  Apple IR Receiver (first generation)
     0x8241  Apple IR Receiver
     0x8242  Apple IR Receiver (Mac Mini 2011, MacBook Pro 3,1)
     0x8243  Apple IR Receiver
     0x1440  Apple IR Receiver (slim)


FILES

     /dev/input/eventX      evdev input device node


SEE ALSO

     apple_smc(4), usb(4), loader.conf(5), sysctl(8)


HISTORY

     The apple_ir driver first appeared in DragonFly 6.5.


AUTHORS

     The apple_ir driver and this manual page were written by Abdelkader
     Boudih <dragonflybsd@seuros.com>.

     The Apple Remote protocol was reverse-engineered by James McKenzie and
     others.

DragonFly 6.5-DEVELOPMENT        June 22, 2026       DragonFly 6.5-DEVELOPMENT

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