Infrared encoder/decoder having hardware and software data rate selection

A method for encoding and decoding serial data to and from an infrared transmitter and receiver, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving transmit serial data at a serial clock rate and encoding the transmit serial data into transmit pulses compatible with an infrared transmitter;
• receiving receive pulses from an infrared receiver and decoding the receive pulses into receive serial data at the serial clock rate;
• and
• dividing a clock frequency by a division value to produce the serial clock rate, wherein the division value is a positive integer selected by hardware logic signals or software instructions.

A system for infrared communications between two or more devices, said system comprising:

• first device application logic adapted for sending transmit serial data at a serial clock rate and receiving receive serial data at the serial clock rate;
• an encoder having an input coupled to said first device application logic, said encoder receiving the transmit serial data and encoding the transmit serial data into transmit pulses at an output of said encoder;
• an infrared transmitter coupled to the output of said encoder, said infrared transmitter converting the transmit pulses into infrared light pulses;
• an infrared receiver adapted for receiving infrared light pulses and converting the infrared light pulses into receive pulses;
• a decoder having an input coupled to said infrared receiver and receiving the receive pulses, said decoder decoding the receive pulses into receive serial data at the serial clock rate, said first device application logic adapted for receiving the receive pulses;
• and
• a clock frequency divider adapted for dividing a clock frequency by a division value to produce the serial clock rate, said clock frequency divider having control logic for selecting the division value, wherein the division value is a positive integer selected by hardware logic signals or software instructions.