Multi-Point Infra-Red Remote Control

MULTI-POINT INFRA-RED REMOTE CONTROL by T. Giffard Much of today"s audiovisual equipment is remote-controlled from a handheld infra-red transmitter. The multi-point control system described here extends the range of these systems, so that, say, a VCR installed in the living room can be controlled from the bedroom, or, when more than one receiver is used, from any place in the home where a "local IR feedpoint" is installed. There is little point in using high-power infra-red emitter devices for extending the range of an IR-based remote control for audiovisual equipment in the home, simply because an infra-red beam travels by line of sight, and can not pass through a wall. None the less, the usable range may be increased by interconnec- ting a number of "local" IR receivers in a network whose output drives a central transmitter pointed at VCR, TV or audio equipment. In this manner, the IR signal from one or more transmitters used at some distance from the equip- ment is picked up lo...