Infrared repeater

• US 5,602,664 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Doyle, Albert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): BACARES, RAFAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/467,121
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/143, 359/144, 359/145, 359/146, 359/147, 359/148, 359/174, 359/175, 359/176, 359/177, 340/825.71, 340/825.24, 455/352, 455/20, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 398/126
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/29 Repeaters

Abstract

An IR repeater is disclosed which is resistant to CFL interference. The IR repeater includes a receiver section for receiving an IR light signal representing a coded signal modulated by a modulating signal, and for detecting the coded signal. An oscillator generates a transmitter modulating signal, and a transmitter section, coupled to the receiver section and the oscillator, generates an IR light signal representing the detected coded signal modulated by the transmitter modulating signal.

Claims

1. An IR repeater comprising:

a receiver section, for receiving an IR light signal representing a coded signal modulated by a modulating signal;

a first IR detector coupled to said receiver section for detecting said IR light signal and generating a signal representing said coded signal;

a fixed-frequency oscillator, for generating a transmitter modulating signal, said fixed-frequency oscillator generating said transmitter modulating signal at a predetermined frequency independent of the frequency of the received modulating signal; and

a transmitter section, for generating an output IR light signal representing said detected coded signal modulated by said transmitter modulating signal.

2. The IR repeater of claim 1 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency within a range of frequencies, wherein said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency substantially in the middle of said range of frequencies.

3. The IR repeater of claim 1 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency between about 32 kHz and about 56 kHz, wherein said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency of about 45 kHz.

4. The IR repeater of claim 1 wherein said IR detector is resistant to interference generated by compact fluorescent lights.

5. The IR repeater of claim 1 further including a second IR detector, each of said first and second detectors detecting the IR light signal and generating a signal representing said coded signal.

6. The IR repeater of claim 5 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency within a range of frequencies having a lower end frequency and an upper end frequency, wherein:

said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency substantially near said lower end frequency; and

said second IR detector is tuned to a center frequency substantially near said upper end frequency.

7. The IR repeater of claim 5 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency between about 32 kHz and about 56 kHz, wherein:

said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency of about 38 kHz; and

said second IR detector is tuned to a center frequency of about 56 kHz.

8. The IR repeater of claim 5 wherein each one of said first and second IR detectors is resistant to interference generated by compact fluorescent lights.

9. The IR repeater of claim 1 wherein said receiver section is resistant to interference generated by compact fluorescent lights.

10. The IR repeater of claim 1 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency within a range of frequencies, wherein said predetermined frequency of the oscillator is substantially in the middle of said range of frequencies.

11. The IR repeater of claim 10 in which said range of frequencies runs from about 32 kHz to about 56 kHz, wherein said predetermined frequency of the oscillator is substantially 47 kHz.

12. The IR repeater of claim 1 in which said coded signal is a pulse coded signal having one of a first and a second state, wherein said oscillator selectively generates the transmitter modulating signal when said coded signal has said first state, and does not generate said transmitter modulating signal otherwise.

13. The IR repeater of claim 12 wherein said receiver section functions as a switch for said oscillator.

14. The IR repeater of claim 1 wherein said oscillator generates a square wave signal.

15. The IR repeater of claim 1 wherein said oscillator is a multivibrator.

16. The IR repeater of claim 1 in which the coded signal is a pulse coded signal having one of a first and a second state, wherein said repeater further comprises a signal gate, coupled between said oscillator and said transmitter section and responsive to said detected coded signal, for passing said transmitter modulating signal from said oscillator to said transmitter section when said detected coded signal has said first state, and blocking said transmitter modulating signal when said detected coded signal has the second state.

17. The IR repeater of claim 1 wherein said transmitter section comprises:

an amplifier coupled to said oscillator; and

an IR light emitter coupled to said amplifier.

18. An IR repeater comprising:

a receiver section, for receiving an IR light signal representing a coded signal modulated by a modulating signal;

a first IR detector coupled to said receiver section for detecting said IR light signal and generating a signal representing said coded signal;

an oscillator, for generating a transmitter modulating signal; and

a transmitter section, for generating an output IR light signal representing said detected coded signal modulated by said transmitter modulating signal;

further including a second IR detector, each of said first and second detectors detecting the IR light signal and generating a signal representing said coded signal;

said received modulating signal has a frequency within a range of frequencies having a lower end frequency and an upper end frequency;

said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency substantially near said lower end frequency; and

said second IR detector is tuned to a center frequency substantially near said upper end frequency.

19. The IR repeater of claim 18 in which said received modulating signal has a frequency between about 32 kHz and about 56 kHz, wherein:

said first IR detector is tuned to a center frequency of about 38 kHz; and

said second IR detector is tuned to a center frequency of about 56 kHz.