Infrared Repeater System

• US 20100258729A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Core Brands, LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Niles Audio Corporation (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Roxburgh, Alastair, Lenser, Richard, Cawlfield, Bill
• Application Number:
  US12/422,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20100258729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/340
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

An infrared sensor includes a photodiode receiving an infrared signal. A first amplifier is connected to the photodiode. A second amplifier is connected to the first amplifier. A DC servo is connected in a feedback loop between the output of the second amplifier and the positive side of the first amplifier. An analog-to-digital signal converter is connected to the second amplifier. An output driver is connected to the analog-to-digital signal converter. The infrared sensor may receive and retransmit an infrared signal and may be incorporated in an infrared repeater system.

Claims

1. An infrared sensor comprising:

a photodiode receiving an infrared signal;

a first amplifier connected to the photodiode;

a second amplifier connected to the first amplifier;

a DC servo connected in a feedback loop between an output of the second amplifier and a positive side of the first amplifier;

an analog-to-digital signal converter connected to the second amplifier; and

an output driver connected to the analog-to-digital signal converter.

2. The infrared sensor of claim 1, wherein the infrared signal is coded in a high-density code.

3. The infrared sensor of claim 2, wherein the high-density code is a 4-ary code, an 8-ary code or another m-ary code.

4. The infrared sensor of claim 1, wherein the feedback loop includes a resistor provided between the photodiode and the DC servo isolating the photodiode from the DC servo.

5. The infrared sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a low pass filter provided between the first amplifier and the second amplifier; and

an optical bandpass filter receiving the infrared signal before the photodiode.

6. The infrared sensor of claim 1, further comprising an automatic gain control unit connected to the second amplifier.

7. The infrared sensor of claim 1, further comprising a shielded, twisted pair cable connecting the photodiode to the first amplifier.

8. The infrared sensor of claim 1, wherein the output driver outputs to one of an infrared flasher or a twisted pair cable.

9. The infrared sensor of claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor processes a signal with a mark timing of 6 cycles of 36 kHz or 38 kHz.

10. An infrared repeater system, comprising an infrared repeater receiving an infrared signal and re-transmitting the infrared signal, wherein the infrared repeater comprises:

a photodiode receiving the infrared signal;

a first amplifier connected to the photodiode;

a second amplifier connected to the first amplifier;

a DC servo connected in a feedback loop between an output of the second amplifier and a positive side of the first amplifier;

an analog-to-digital signal converter connected to the second amplifier; and

means for transmitting the infrared signal.

11. The infrared repeater system of claim 10, wherein the infrared signal is coded in a high-density code.

12. The infrared repeater system of claim 10, wherein the feedback loop includes a resistor provided between the photodiode and the DC servo isolating the photodiode from the DC servo.

13. The infrared repeater system of claim 10, wherein the infrared sensor processes a signal with a mark timing of 6 cycles of 36 kHz or 38 kHz.

14. A method of repeating an infrared signal, comprising:

receiving the infrared signal at a photodiode;

processing the infrared signal through an amplifier and a DC servo feedback loop between an output of the amplifier and a positive side of the amplifier;

converting the processed infrared signal into a digital signal; and

outputting the digital signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the feedback loop includes components to set the gain and frequency response of the amplifier.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the amplifier comprises first and second amplification stages.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the infrared signal is coded in a high-density code.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the high-density code is a 4-ary code, an 8-ary code, or another m-ary code.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

outputting the digital signal to an infrared flasher.

20. An infrared sensor comprising:

a photodiode receiving an infrared signal;

an amplifier connected to the photodiode;

a DC servo connected in a feedback loop between an output of the amplifier and a positive side of the amplifier;

an analog-to-digital signal converter connected to the amplifier; and

an output driver connected to the analog-to-digital signal converter.