Tunable Narrowband IR Receiver for Multi-Frequency Remote Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IR receivers are limited to a single specific frequency, making them incompatible with remote controls transmitting at different frequencies, which is problematic for users with multiple devices requiring different frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A tunable narrowband IR receiver system that includes an IR diode, frequency mixer, and bandpass filter, allowing it to scan across multiple frequency bands, combine IR signals with a local oscillator signal, and filter out non-target frequencies to detect and process signals from remote controls transmitting at various frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional IR receivers use a fixed-frequency design, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the adaptability to different remote control frequencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tunable narrowband IR receiver where the bandpass filter's center frequency can be dynamically adjusted to match different remote control frequencies. This dynamic tuning capability allows the receiver to adapt to various frequencies while maintaining the simplicity and range advantages of narrowband design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the bandpass filter to enable the receiver to operate at different frequencies. By adjusting the center frequency parameter of the narrowband filter, the system achieves compatibility with multiple remote control frequencies without requiring a complete redesign of the receiver architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional IR receivers are tuned to a single specific frequency, then the receiver can maintain high signal quality and reliability at that frequency, but the versatility to receive signals from multiple remote controls with different frequencies deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically tunable bandpass filter that can adjust its center frequency to match the transmission frequency of different remote controls. This dynamic adjustment maintains the narrowband filtering characteristics that ensure high signal reliability while enabling the receiver to adapt to multiple frequencies, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and reliability
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
Enables compatibility with remote controls transmitting at different frequencies, maintaining the range advantage of narrowband receivers while providing flexibility similar to wideband receivers, allowing for effective control of multiple devices.
Implementation Method 1
a frequency mixer that is configured to receive the IR signal from the IR diode and receive a local oscillator signal wherein the local oscillator signal is associated with a frequency band. The frequency mixer may then be configured to combine the IR signal and the local oscillator signal to produce a shifted signal within the frequency band
Implementation Method 2
The tunable narrowband IR receiver may also include a bandpass filter configured to filter the shifted signal by removing, from the shifted signal, signals that are outside of the frequency band to produce a filtered signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are a device, method, and computer-readable device for tuning a tunable narrowband infrared (IR) receiver to be compatible with a number of different remote controls having different frequencies. The tunable narrowband IR receiver may be configured to receive IR signals across a number of frequency bands and processing the IR signals in order to learn remote controls having different frequencies.