Using the MCP2150 To Add IrDA Standard Wireless Connectivity

The MCP2150 encodes an asynchronous serial data stream, converting each data bit to the corresponding infrared (IR) formatted pulse. IR pulses that are received are decoded, and then handled by the protocol handler logic. The protocol handler will then send the appropriate data bytes to the host controller in UART formatted serial data. The encoding/decoding functionality of the MCP2150 is designed to be compatible with the physical layer component of the IrDA standard. This part of the standard is referred to as “IrPHY”. A detailed discussion of this standard is beyond the scope of this application note, but a discussion regarding the encoding and decoding is in order. More detailed information is available from the IrDA standard website (www.IrDA.org).