IrDA Ratifies High-Speed Extension

The Infrared Data Association (IrDA; Walnut Creek, CA) has approved a high-speed extension to its infrared (IR) protocol that allows transmission rates of up to 16 Mb/s. The new extension, dubbed very fast infrared (VFIR), will deliver higher-speed communication to wireless phones, notebook computers, and handheld PCs (HPCs).

The new standard is based on a joint proposal from Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP; Palo Alto, CA), IBM Corp. (Armonk, NY), and Sharp Corp. (Osaka, Japan), and incorporates several new features. The first feature is the increased data rate.

VFIR provides a 16 Mb/s data rate that is fully backward compatible with previous implementations of IrDA. Through the standard, engineers can achieve this data rate with a latency to 100 µs, a minimum link distance of 1 m, and a ±15 deg. field of view.

The new standard also improves encoding in IrDA systems and the IrDA link access protocol. The encoding capabilities have been enhanced to optimize efficiency, duty cycle, and duty cycle variation. On the IrLAP side, IrDA has defined a new data rate bit for 16 Mb/s operation and increased window size from 7 to 127.

Optical components that support the VFIR specification have been demonstrated by the HP and Sharp at link distances more than 1 m using commercially available light emitting diodes (LEDs). Optical transceivers are expected to be available by the end of 1999 at a price less than $5.

Microsoft plans to support VFIR in the next version of the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system. According to IrDA, this will enhance the VFIR adoption in desktop PC and notebook for applications that require faster throughput such as LAN access and port replication.

IrDA is a non-profit corporation established in 1993 and headed by a board of directors with a membership of more than 160 companies representing PCs, telecommunications hardware, software, components, and adapter markets. The association focuses on providing IR standards to ensure the quality and interoperability.