How do remote control devices work/?

Question

Any good websites that help someone with very basic science knowledge?

Answer 1

Point it at the telly & press the button.

Answer 2

Your remote control generates an infra red beam which is modulated (switched on and off very rapidly). The sequence of the on/offs (or 1 and 0 in digital speak) forms a code which the receiver (in the tv) picks up and decodes. This is similar in principle to the familar Morse Code except that each 'pulse' is the same length and it's the order in which the pulses are sent that carries the message.

Varying sequences are sent which are translated by the receiver to make it do things like change channel etc.

Each manufacturer uses a unique code (sequence of variable rate on/off) so that their devices don't work with other people's.

Microchip manufacturer Zilog (they used to make the chip used in the old Sinclair Spectrum computers) have produced an information sheet. It's a bit technical but have a read anyway.

Answer 3

Well, at its basis, remote control devices work just like any wireless network. For a remote control device, you are just sending wirless data from a controller to a controlled device using some standard of wirless communication (so that the receiver knows how to decode the transmitted signal). This could be done a variety of ways: one easy way would be infared like most TV remotes use:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/remote-control1.htm

All you have to do is have a controller capable of parsing data onto an infared beem and a receiver capable of decoding the signal.

Getting even more complex, a wireless router/networking card could be used to remote control something using one of the 802.11 standards. The same could be true using Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.

Answer 4

Basically, there are two kinds of remote control system:
1. Infrared: this kind uses infrared light modulated in pulses. Each sequence of pulses represent one operation. This kind is used mainly to operate TV, radios, etc. This kind is extremely directional, i.e, you must point the remote control to the point where is the receiver.

2. Radio frequency: this kind uses a radio transmitter, generally with frequencies around 300-500MHz. This frequency is modulated using the same techniques used in the infrared kinds. This kind is mainly used to control gates, doors, etc. This kind is not directive, i. e, you can point the remote control to any point and even so it operates.

Answer 5

remote control is more than infra red. A remote can be hard wired, hydraulic, sound, r.f., motion sensor, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_control

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/gear/2005-10-25-remote-human-control_x.htm

Answer 6

Wireless, radio waves or MAGIC.

Answer 7

Remotely ha, ha.