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 )