IR Repeater with Ribbon Cable Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infrared repeaters require complex and damaging installations to transmit IR signals behind obstacles, such as solid doors, due to the need for physical attachment and wire management, which complicates the process and can damage surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A compact IR repeater design where the IR receiver and transmitter are connected via a thin, extendable ribbon cable that serves both as a electrical conduit and a hanger, allowing for easy mounting over a cabinet door, with optional adhesive, magnetic, or other support structures to secure the repeater, ensuring signal transmission without visible installation damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional IR repeaters are installed by physically attaching components to surfaces and managing wires, then reliable IR signal transmission behind obstacles is achieved, but the installation process becomes complex and may damage mounting surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The IR repeater is divided into two separate sections: a receiver section that receives IR signals from the remote control and a transmitter section that sends IR signals to the consumer electronic equipment. These sections can be mounted on opposite sides of an obstacle (such as a cabinet door), allowing the IR signal to be transmitted through the obstacle without requiring complex wire management or damaging mounting surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle (cabinet door or wall) serves as an intermediary structure that the IR repeater spans across. By mounting the receiver section on one side and the transmitter section on the other side of the obstacle, the system enables IR signal transmission through the obstacle without requiring the installer to attach components directly to the obstacle surface or manage wires through it, thus simplifying installation while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional IR repeaters require physical attachment to surfaces, then stable mounting is achieved, but the mounting surfaces may be scarred or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the IR repeater into separate receiver and transmitter sections that can be mounted on opposite sides of an obstacle, the system eliminates the need to attach components directly to the obstacle surface. This approach maintains mounting stability through alternative mounting methods (such as adhesive strips or magnetic mounts on accessible surfaces) while preventing damage to the obstacle's surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle acts as an intermediary that allows the system to mount components on accessible surfaces rather than directly on the obstacle itself. This enables stable mounting without requiring drilling, screwing, or other invasive attachment methods that would scar or damage the obstacle's surface.
3Productivity
If the IR transmitter is placed directly adjacent to the IR receiver in the consumer electronic equipment, then signal transmission efficiency is maximized, but the installation becomes complicated and requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The IR repeater is segmented into separate receiver and transmitter sections that can be mounted on opposite sides of an obstacle. This segmentation allows the system to maintain efficient IR signal transmission (by placing the transmitter close to the receiver in terms of signal path length) while significantly easing installation, as the sections can be mounted on accessible surfaces without requiring precise positioning or complex wire management.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the transmitter and receiver to be in direct adjacency in three-dimensional space, the system uses the obstacle as a spatial separator. The transmitter and receiver are positioned on opposite sides of the obstacle, effectively using the obstacle's thickness as a dimension that allows for easier installation while maintaining signal transmission efficiency through the obstacle material.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy and damage-free installation of IR repeaters, enabling reliable infrared signal transmission behind obstacles by using a cable that supports both components and maintains electrical connectivity, simplifying the setup process while ensuring effective signal repetition.
Implementation Method 1
The IR receiver section of the IR repeater detects the coded IR light signals produced by the remote control unit
Implementation Method 2
The IR transmitter section includes an IR light emitter which is placed so that the emitted IR light impinges on the IR receiver in the consumer electronic equipment
Data Source
AI summary
An IR repeater includes a receiver portion for receiving an IR light signal representing a coded command modulated by a modulating signal and a transmitter portion, electrically coupled to the receiver portion to generate an IR light signal corresponding to the coded signal received by the receiver portion. A mounting structure mounts the receiver portion outside an opaque object and mounts the transmitter portion inside the opaque object.