What is IrDA ?

Background Introduction
Portable computing has become synonymous with the rapidly changing world of technology in today's work environment. Every company recognizes that in order to compete they must keep pace, as well as deploy and manage this new technology in order to maintain their competitive edge. New economic trends in the global economy will continue to push companies to find new ways to enhance productivity and maintain flexibility among their employees.
In fact, portable computing according to recent studies is poised for some very dramatic growth. Many estimates suggest that the number of portable computers sold in 1996 will double from the 5.6 million units sold in 1993. A trend that is likely to continue as companies deploy their workforce to a more "mobile office concept". One obstacle to achieving the goal of mobile connectivity has always been the limitation of the cable connection. Whether you are connecting to the printer, your network or exchanging data with the desktop, the cable connection is viewed as a hindrance to the effective and efficient use of the portable computer. In an effort to achieve a wireless connection to a full range of peripheral devices without the hassle of cable, infrared technology was born.

About IrDA
In 1993 leaders from both the communication and computer industry formed the Infra-red Data Association (IrDA) with the sole purpose of creating a standard for infrared wireless data transfer. Infrared Data Association ® is an International Organization that creates and promotes interoperable, low cost infrared data interconnection standards that support a walk-up, point-to-point user model. The Infrared Data Association standards support a broad range of appliances, computing and communications devices.

International in scope, IrDA is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and led by a Board of Directors which represents a global voting membership. As a leading high technology standards association, IrDA is committed to developing and promoting infrared standards for the hardware, software, systems, components, peripherals, communications, and consumer markets. Now the IrDA association has over 130 members worldwide. It includes some of

the most recognized companies in the world, such as: Apple, AT&T, ACTiSYS, Canon, Compaq, Hitachi, Intel, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Motorola NTT, Sony, Toshiba and many others.

IrDA Standard
By 1995, many IrDA compliant products are already in the end users' hands. This include IR equipped notebook PCs, PDAs, printers, as well as IR adapters for PCs, printers, etc. According to BIS Strategic Research, by 1996, 85% of the new notebook PCs will have IrDA capability built into the systems. Unlike the earlier IR predecessors which use proprietary protocols, this new crop of IrDA compliant equipments are inter-operative across applications, across manufacturers, and across platforms. The key features of IrDA standard are:
• A worldwide standard for wireless, directed, point-to-point connectivity
• Safe in any environment
• No electromagnetic noise
• Simple and low cost implementation
• Low power requirement
• Efficient and reliable data transfer
The IrDA standard has successfully progressed from IrDA-1.0 (115.2Kbps) to IrDA-1.1 (4Mbps) in the short two and half years. There are many components, adapters, software and mobile systems available for the IrDA-1.0 standard on the market now. The same will happen soon for IrDA-1.1 standard with the optoelectronic, analog and digital interface ASIC components already on the market.

Connecting with IR
Once two infrared devices are within range of each other, Windows 95 will automatically detect the device and display its signature on the screen. An audible alert will also sound indicating a connection has been made. If for any reason the beam is interrupted Windows 95 will again signal audibly and attempt to re-establish the link for up to 45 seconds. No data loss will occur if the link is re-established at that time.

Future Outlook
IrDA featured devices are predicted to be widespread for the business and mobile environments in future homes and offices. Future PC bus architectures will allow many connected devices to be accessed via a single IrDA access point. Widespread adoption of infrared is driven by the low cost of implementing the cordless convenience feature in new products. Some of the consumer applications available today and in the future include printing a document directly from a notebook, synchronizing electronic telephone books and schedulers, exchanging business cards between handheld PC's, sending and receiving faxes or email directly from a notebook PC through a cellular or traditional public telephone. Industrial and service data collection applications will expand dramatically utilizing mobile IrDA enabled devices to improve control, documentation and docking procedures in the workplace. Future devices will be able to access home entertainment, security, and automated environment control systems. New applications software development will provide the ability to exchange data files between many types and brands of Information Appliances and devices such as desktop and notebook PC's, printers, fax machines, network nodes, data modems, telephones, watches, toys, electronic books, digital capture devices, handheld mobile units (PDA's), electronic organizers, and many other devices.

Tekram Infrared Adapter
Tekram Infrared Adapter is some kind of easy-to-install SIR/FIR Infrared Adapter, which is to be connected to the serial(COM)/USB port of the PC to add the Wireless Infrared feature to the system. It provides Wireless data transfer between desktop PCs and mobile computing devices that have an IrDA Infrared port built in.
  Key Features:
• Meets IrDA Physical Specification Version 1.0, 1.1, 1.3
• Supports Speeds: 4 Mbps (FIR), 115.2 Kbps (SIR)
• Infrared Effective Distance: 1cm ~ 100cm in the normal evironment
• Operating Temperature: 0 ¡æ ~ 70 ¡æ
• Upgrades PCs with wireless transmission ability to communicate with mobile computing devices that have an IrDA Infrared port