Combining input/output paths for infra-red remote device inputs

Abstract

An electronic device for receiving infra-red inputs from remote units and propagating the inputs to an intelligent controller circuit. In one embodiment, the present invention receives the infra-red energy emitted from different remote units in a single infra-red receiver circuit. This embodiment then generates digital data signals responsive to the infra-red energy, and propagates the digital data signals through a single external single-pin bus to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit contains circuitry therein to decode control signals from a variety of different remote units. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit's internal bus is coupled to the single external single-pin bus. The internal bus is commonly coupled to all remote control decoder circuits within the integrated circuit. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit decodes keyboard digital data signals into keyboard control signals for the intelligent controller unit, mouse digital data signals into mouse control signals for the intelligent controller unit, and remote control digital data signals into remote-control control signals for the intelligent controller unit. By integrating the decoder circuits into a single integrated circuit and by sharing a single external bus for the remote control signals, significant size reductions are provided for set-top-boxes and other electronic devices.