IR receiver using IR transmitting diode

• US 20010033404A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marcus Escobosa, Thomas M. Salsman
• Original Assignee: Marcus Escobosa, Thomas M. Salsman
• Inventors: Escobosa, Marcus, Salsman, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,701,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Circuitry using infra-red (IR) diodes in remote control units. In one embodiment an IR LED is used both as a transmitter diode and also as a receiver diode responsive to light to thereby develop photocurrents and/or voltages for use by external circuitry. In a second embodiment an improved amplifier circuit is provided for an IR LED and IR photo detector diode which is mounted behind, and receives light through, the transmitter IR LED.

Claims

1. A learning type remote control, comprising:

a single voltage supply; and

a infrared circuit comprising;

an infrared diode adapted to provide an output infrared signal and to generate photocurrents/voltages in response to a received infrared light; and

a switch responsive to the presence of an infrared drive signal to connect the infrared diode to the single voltage supply to produce the output infrared signal and responsive to the absence of the infrared drive signal to disconnect the infrared diode from the single voltage supply wherein the infrared diode generates photocurrents/voltages in response to the received infrared light only when the switch disconnects the infrared diode from the single voltage supply and wherein the infrared circuit draws substantially no power when the switch disconnects the infrared diode from the single voltage supply.

2. A learning type remote control, comprising:

a remote control case;

a circuit board carried within the remote control case;

a transmitting diode mounted on the circuit board so as to extend outside of the remote control case;

a photo detector diode mounted on the circuit board behind the transmitting diode whereby infrared signals generated from a teaching transmitter can radiate through the transmitting diode to reach the photo detector diode; and

a memory for storing a representation of the infrared signals received by the photo detector diode from the teaching transmitter whereupon the stored representation of the infrared signals can be used in connection with the transmitting diode to transmit learned infrared command codes to a device to be controlled.