Apparatus and method for infrared communication
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJiro Sakanaka, Astushi Watanabe, Yoichi Mizukoshi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transmission mode selector, for changing a transmission mode selector, and a reception mode selector, for changing a reception mode, are added to an infrared communication circuit that conventionally supports an IrDA; and a UART that controls serial communication, is so set in a given condition where communication can be performed with a home electronic appliance remote controller, that a protocol for the home electronic appliances can be emulated by using the infrared communication apparatus of the personal computer.
Claims12
Apparatus for using a computer IR communication system having a UART to send an IR remote control signal to a home electronic appliance having an IR controller, the IR controller of the home electronic appliance being responsive to a modulated control signal having a predetermined protocol, the modulated control signal having a predetermined modulation period, comprising:
- means for setting the UART to output a predetermined data value at a predetermined bit frequency during enabled intervals, the predetermined data value and predetermined bit frequency being selected so as to form a periodic signal at the output of the UART during enabled intervals, the periodic signal having a period corresponding to said predetermined modulation period;
- and
- means for selectively enabling the UART to output the predetermined data value at the predetermined bit frequency during enabled intervals in accordance with a control signal having the predetermined protocol recognized by the IR controller,
- whereby an IR remote control signal is produced for a home electronic appliance.
A method of using a computer IR communication system having a UART to send an IR remote control signal to a home electronic appliance during a remote control mode of operation, the home electronic appliance having an IR controller responsive to a modulated control signal having a predetermined protocol, the modulated control signal having a predetermined modulation period, comprising the steps of:
- setting the UART to output a predetermined data value at a predetermined bit frequency during intervals in which the UART output is enabled in the remote control mode of operation, the predetermined data value and predetermined bit frequency being selected so as to form a periodic signal at the output of the UART during intervals in which the UART output is enabled in the remote control mode of operation, the periodic signal having a period corresponding to said predetermined modulation period;
- and
- selectively enabling the UART to output the predetermined data value at the predetermined bit frequency during intervals in the remote control mode of operation in accordance with a control signal having the predetermined protocol recognized by the IR controller,
- thereby producing an IR remote control signal for a home electronic appliance in the remote control mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.