The Simple Receiver

The first receiver we wil look at is the most simple to build. I found the instructions on Alessio Sangalli's web page. If you want to use this receiver, but don't want to build your own. Buy one from her, she'd appreciate the business. I can't explain the circuit as well as her, so [copy and paste here].

The description of this circuit is rather simple. The RTS line of the serial port gives power to the voltage regulator which fixes it to 5 stable volts. A diode is there to protect the serial port from inverse current. The capacitor helps to keep a stable voltage; all the grounds are bound to the GND line of the serial port. The data output of the IR receiver is connected to the DCD line of the serial port together with a pull-up resistor coming from the power line.