[net.micro] Infrared light as a universal interface?

peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (10/02/83)

With (I assume) the creation of cheap encoder/decoder chips for infrared remote
control, such devices are popping up in a lot of consumer electronics.  VCR's,
televisions, and convertors are the best examples, but I have even seen a
receiver (by Revox) with IR RC.  I don't know the details of the transmission
schemes used, but I wonder if IR light might be used as a universal interface
of sorts.  Imagine a box with IR emitters mounted on a short pole to provide
good coverage of a room, an IR receiver somewhere on the box itself, and an
RS-232 port, all tied together by a Z8 or similar 1-chip micro, to provide a
Smartmodem-like interface.
  Connect the box to your personal computer, running standard terminal
software.  Enter the name of a device and an operation (e.g. "vcr", "play")
and then point the device's remote control at the box, activating the button
for the operation.  The box records what it sees and can play it back whenever
requested.  You could put a timer and a relay to control your computer in
for good measure, possibly along with something to activate the relay should
your phone ring.  One then has access to the programmability of a PC and
doesn't have to worry about the programming limitations of individual
components.  Better interfaces for programming, say, a VCR, could also be
provided (e.g. schedules displayed on a screen).
  If nothing else, this would make an interesting construction project for
BYTE.  It hinges on an assumed universality of codes used in IR RC.  Anyone
know whether such an assumption is valid?
  p. rowley, U. Toronto  utcsrgv!peterr

MCMANIS%USC-ECLC@usc-ecl@sri-unix.UUCP (10/13/83)

From:  Chuck McManis <MCMANIS%USC-ECLC@usc-ecl>


I know that general instruments sells an IR xmtr/rcvr set of IC's that
can generate 256 distinct codes. This is similar to the chip Sony uses
in their 19xx series TV's. You can easily send all of the ascii characters
and another 128 codes! 
				--Chuck
-------

mjs@rabbit.UUCP (10/17/83)

Re: General Instruments' chip set
Does anyone on the net have the numbers on this chip set?  On the face
of it, it seems like a good candidate for household communications to a
computer.
-- 
	Marty Shannon
UUCP:	{alice,rabbit,research}!mjs
Phone:	201-582-3199

flamer@omsvax.UUCP (10/19/83)

I read an article in the Oregonian (the Portland, Oregon and environs
newspaper) in the financial section that said that the Peanut will
have a truly detached keyboard 'connected' to the system base unit
(expansion chassis?  choose your favorite term) via an infrared link.
Also that it would use an 8088 and cost about $800, and may be 
formally announced any day now.

I don't know how much of this to believe, but here it is.

doehring@yale-com.UUCP (Martin S. Doehring) (10/19/83)

That would be the "R/C System II",

    256 command PCM IR transmitter      AY-3-8470   22 pin DIP, +9 volts
	8 bit PCM system plus 8 PCM analog commands.
	4x8 keyboard ( 32x8 w/shifts).

    256 command PCM IR receiver         AY-3-8475   28 pin DIP, +12 volts
	5 bit program output. CPU data bus interface for full 256 functions


at least that is what my copy of their 1983 product portfolio says.


	    Martin Doehring
	    decvax!yale-comix!doehring ( for a little while longer )