I am a hundred percent sure you will agree that one of the most genius electronic inventions is a remote control. Yes, a remote control! A remote control is a common CIR (consumer infrared) component of electronic such television sets and stereo systems. This handheld device allows us to operate electronics wirelessly at a line-of-sight distance, approximately 30 feet or 10 meters. To the other parts of the world, a remote control is called a clicker, flipper, the turner, or the button. It was in 1956 when the first wireless television remote control unit was developed. It was Zenith Space Command’s brainchild. From then on, further developments were established by several electronics manufacturers, enhancing the capabilities of a remote control and extending its usage for other functions.
Amidst the brilliance of its convenience to television viewers, have you ever thought of how does a TV remote control work? Well, we must know first the fundamental works to fully appreciate this device.
Basically, we press on a button on a remote control to demand a command from the controlled device. At present, the well-used technologies to carry out commands in a remote control are the infrared electromagnetic spectrum and LED. When we want to change the channel on the television screen, we push a button that comes in contact with the circuit board which can be found in the interiors of a remote control. The usual scenario inside the remote control is, the integrated circuit detects the command and passes it to the LED emitter which then passes the information to the LED receiver in the television or stereo system through the infrared. In the final step, the receiver responds to the command.
On the other hand, I’m sure you’ve heard—or even have used—a universal remote control. That is a different story. As we all know, remote controls come in package with specific brands. You cannot use a Sony Bravia remote control to decrease the volume of your Samsung TV. But, to make this cross-platform possible, you need a universal remote control. This device requires the brand code of the electronic which the circuit board will detect and transmit to the IR pulses that match the brand of television. It is similar to putting a password to access a controlled device.
You see, there are so many specific electrical details to discuss the flow of command but I have mentioned to you a simpler forms for you to see the summarize representation of how the process happens.