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Infrared technology is not new. The remote control we use to change
channels on our TV uses infrared. It does its job well because it
does not need to communicate with any other device and it does not need
to be fast. After all, changing channels or adjusting volume on your
TV is merely simple one-way command transmission.
What makes IrDA infrared different1 from standard TV infrared or infrared
keyboard is that IrDA is now a standarized protocal that enables data transfer
between 2 different devices in relatively high speed. Essentially, any
PC, peripheral, or portable electronics equipped with an IrDA infrared
port can transfer data in high speed to each other.
IrDA stands for Infrared Data Association. It is founded on 1993
to develop a set of hardware and software standards that allow for the
transfer of data between two devices using infrared. The original IrDA
standard, called IrDA 1.0, allowed for the transfer of data at up to 115.2kbps
(kilobits per second) at a range of up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) plus or
minus 15 degrees. In 1996 an extension to this standard was adopted (called
IrDA 1.1) which allowed for data transfers up to 35 times faster than the
original specification. This extension calls for data rates up to 4Mbps
(megabits per second) but retains compatibility with the original (115.2kbps)
specification. Achieving the 4Mbps transfer rate not only requires
all hardware involved to be IrDA 1.1 complaint, but the software that is
running to facilitate the data transfer may need to be modified to support
the extension.
Currently, IrDA members include most major companies including all of
the major computer, telecommunications, printer, and PDA companies in the
world such as,
3COM, Acer,
Alpha Peripherals, AMP, Apple Computer, Canon, Casio Computer, Citizen
Electronics, Citizen Watch, CMD Technologies, Compaq Computer, Dell Computer,
Eastman Kodak, Ericsson, Fuji Photo Film, Fujitsu, Funai Electric, Hewlett-Packard,
Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Inventec, JVC, Kawasaki Steel, Linux-IrDA Project,
Logitech, Matsushita/Panasonic, Microsoft, Minolta, Mitsubishi, Motorola,
National Semiconductor, NEC, New Japan Radio, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo,
NTT/Nippon Tel & Tel, Philips, Phoenix Technologies, Ricoh, ROHM, Sanyo,
Scientific Atlanta, Sharp Electronics, Sony, , Texas Instruments, Toshiba,
USB, Winbond, ZiLOG ...... etc.
As with most successful technologies, IrDA infrared port
equipped products are growing rapidly. Currently, virtually all notebooks
and Palm PCs are equipped with an IrDA port. Even non-PC IrDA equipped
devices are growing rapidly including:
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