schumacher@chips.DEC (One arbitrary thing is as good as another.) (01/07/86)
> Can someone out there give a simple explaination of how infrared >remote controls work? How hard would it be to build your own? Is there >a "programmable, one unit imitates anything" one of these on the market? >(Hmmmm, new product idea....) > > My cable decoder, TV and VCR all have infrared remote and I think >it would be fun to build something capable of controlling all three. While I was working at General Electric C.R.&D. a friend of mine developed an infrared remote control which mimics other infrared remote controls. To program it, you point the 2 remote controls at each other, push a key on the programmable version, and then a key on the no-programmable remote control. Now those two keys are equivalent (they both emit the same infrared code). Once the entire no-programmable remote control keyboard is 'stored' in the programmable version, you can then place it in its 2nd mode, and procede to mimic your next remote control. I can't remember how many remote controls it can mimic at once, nor can I remember how many keys are on the programmable control. This is now a product which is sold by General Electric. I have yet to find a store which sells it (the price is approx. $170), but I have seen ads for it, and talk of it in magazines. I believe there was mention of it in 'Stereo Review' in an article of new products. Possibly other USENET contacts will let you find one. Dan Schumacher Digital Equipment Corp. 75 Reed Road, Hudson, MA 01749-2895