Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!wupost!usc!rpi!bray1b.its.rpi.edu!reinej
From: reinej@bray1b.its.rpi.edu (John Theodore Reine)
Subject: RE remote controls
Message-ID: <z9b20g@rpi.edu>
Nntp-Posting-Host: bray1b.its.rpi.edu
Reply-To: reinej@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1992 18:44:14 GMT
Lines: 34


i did a science fair project on infrared remote controls in high school
(last year).  
There are two different types of remote controls, one that i have laballed
the term "continuose" and the other "one shot"  
a "continuose" remote control sends a stream of pulses of light.  For
both types, it is the spacing between the pulses that make up the code.
There is either a large or small spacing.  For a "continuose" remote
there is a pattern that is repeated again and again as long s you hold 
down the button on the remote.
A "one shot" remote sends code that is generally longer, but only once when
you press down the button.  after it sends the initial code that tells
the component what button was pressed, if you keep pressing the remote
a much smaller trailing signal is emmitted telling the component
that the remote is still pressed, thus rewind on some vcr's
   the difference from one shot and continuose remote can be determined
at home by playing with the remote control.  But the timing in between the pulses
and the pattern is best deciphered by attatching an infrared detctor
to an oscilloscope.  What works best is the one in the small silver box
from the shack that screens any noise and keeps the output signal at a constant
strength.
	I have done much research into the code, but it would not be 
efficient to exlain it here.  I will say one thing, though.  In testing
the pattern of many remotes, for every remote control there is a base pattern
that they all have in common, no matter what the brand name.
	I spent two years of scence fair projects on simply this feild.
 I went to the state science fair  both years at mit (massachusetts) and did wuite well both years.  If you would like a detailedreport on the actual code and what i found please email me and i will get back to you.
	What I hope to do is be able to control everything in the house by
my tv remote control, Including the small robot i am building w/miniboard
this spring.  I can not wait to see the possibilities of miniboards on different
robots communicating to each other via infrared light....
Keywords: remote control, infrared light


