This article does more than just describe an IR transceiver that you can use with your PC for remote control and data transfer. Based on the successful Elektor Electronics ‘PC Peripheral Design’ series, it also provides information about the principles of the infrared transfer technique used and interface technology, which you can use for your own projects.Infrared data transfer is becoming increasingly more important. Television remote controls use infrared light, but so do PC mice, keyboards, printers and other peripherals. Infrared light is also used in fibre-optic cables. In a sense, the PC infrared transceiver presented here is a practical application that represents a continuation of the series of articles on PC interfaces and Visual Basic that appeared in the ‘PC Serial peripheral Design’ course (Elektor Electronics 9/2000 through 3/2001).