This section provides an overview for remote control as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 remote control manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked remote control companies as of November, 2024: 1.Alan Manufacturing, Inc., 2.Danfoss Industrial Automation, 3.Remote Control Technology.
Table of Contents
A Remote Control is a unit that receives optical signals from remote control transmitters used to control various devices in various situations, including AV equipment such as TVs.
Specifically, it receives optical signals from remote control transmitters, converts them into electrical signals, amplifies the signals, and converts them into digital signals. This signal is output and sent to a microcontroller or other device control device incorporated in a subsequent stage.
Remote controls are used in pairs with remote control transmitters and are widely used in home appliances and audio equipment. Typical examples of such applications are AV equipment such as TVs, Blu-ray and HDD recorders and players, audio equipment such as AV components, and home appliances such as air conditioners and lighting fixtures.
In the case of a typical TV, almost all functions of the device can be controlled by the remote control transmitter, such as power on/off, volume control, channel selection, input switching, menu display and selection, and so on. Therefore, these functions are converted from optical to electrical signals by the remote control in order to output signals from the transmitter to the microcontroller for control of the TV unit.
The principle of the remote control is that it receives modulated optical signals transmitted from the remote control transmitter and, after demodulation, converts the received optical signals into digital signals for output to transmit control signals to the microcontroller at a later stage.
The wavelength of the light emitted to the remote control receiver unit is usually near-infrared light of 940 nm or 960 nm. The remote control transmitter transmits the original signal modulated at 37.9 KHz to limit the signal ON period to a few percent in order to extend the battery life of the remote control. It is this modulated light that is received by the remote control.
The remote control receives the light at the light receiving element, amplifies this signal, demodulates the modulated wave at 37.9KHz, and outputs it as a digital signal of 3 to 6V. This is to match the operating voltage of the power supply voltage of the microcontroller, etc. connected in the subsequent stage. The microcontroller receiving the remote control signal analyzes the contents of the signal and controls the device according to the results.
There are several types of data formats used in remote control signals. All of these formats use similar light wavelengths and modulation frequencies, but they have different data structures so that they do not interfere with each other's signals and cause malfunctions.
The items listed as features of a remote control often refer to a receiver circuit corresponding to Band I as specified by the EIAJ, but may also include one corresponding to Band III. The output of a photo diode that receives near-infrared modulated light sent from a remote control transmitter becomes a weak signal when it detects reflected light from a long distance or from a wall, but becomes a very large signal when operated from close range of the equipment.
Therefore, the amplification circuit that receives the signal is required to have a wide dynamic range of 80 dB or more, which is achieved by the built-in AGC. Since light emitted by lighting fixtures can have an adverse effect as noise, the photo diode is covered with a resin that has visible light cutoff characteristics (near-infrared light is transmitted) to eliminate the effect of lighting fixture light.
Furthermore, a bandpass filter with a steep pass-through characteristic is provided to avoid the influence of inverter fluorescent lamps, which blink at high frequencies. The output terminal of the remote control is typically an open collector to match the power supply voltage of the processor that receives the output signal, and a pull-up resistor is provided at the processor's input terminal to receive the signal.
If the environment in which the remote control is used contains noise sources (e.g., ambient light noise from inverter fluorescent lamps, power supply ripple, electromagnetic noise from power supply circuits, etc.), the remote control receiving distance may be shortened by such noise sources. Therefore, it is necessary to devise ways to avoid them.
While power supply ripple and noise contamination of the power supply circuit can be addressed in the circuit design, preventing the effects of fluorescent lamps requires structural innovations such as blocking light from the ceiling direction.
The remote control has a very high gain, so it is sensitive to noise. Therefore, if the remote control has a shield case, it is important to connect it to the GND securely.
Most remote control modules are designed to be used indoors. When used outdoors, the current output of the photodiode becomes extremely large when sunlight shines on it, saturating the amplifier circuit that receives it and making it impossible to receive near-infrared light from the remote control transmitter.
Therefore, for equipment used outdoors (e.g., cameras and other photographic equipment), a remote control with specifications to prevent saturation by sunlight should be used.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Danfoss was founded in 1933 in Nordborg, Denmark where it remains today. The company serves automotive, food & beverage, energy & natural resources, wastewater, and mobile hydraulics industries as a manufacturer of power systems and industrial hydraulics. The company operates through three business segments: Danfoss Power Solutions, Danfoss Climate Solutions, and Danfoss Drives. Danfoss Power Solutions produces electronic controls, hydraulic power units, and cylinders. Climate Solutions produces heat exchangers, burner components, hydraulic heating, and sight glasses. Drives produce gear motors, low and medium voltage drives, and various software solutions for operating drives.
Alan Manufacturing Inc. was founded in the year 1952 and has been involved in producing products in the HVAC industry. They reside in the United States of America in the state of Ohio in the city of Wooster. The products the company provides are parts for HVAC equipment such as dampers as well as products for ducts. They cater to their customers needs and provide products based on their specifications.
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (Vishay) was incorporated in 1962 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The company serves the industrial, automotive, telecommunications, consumer products, and medical end markets and sells its products under numerous brand names inlcuding Siliconix, Draloric, Beyschlag, UltraSource, and Applied Thin-Film Products. The company manufactures and sells discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components in globally while operating in six market segments: MOSFETs, diodes, optoelectronic components, resistors, inductors, and capacitors.
Actuonix Motion Devices was founded in 2004 and is now headquartered in Saanichton, British Columbia. The company is a manufacturer of micro linear actuators and linear servos for several markets including robotics, aerospace, automotive, medical, and radio control. The company offers custom micro linear actuators to OEMs globally. The company’s additional product types include limited switch actuators, PLCs, stepper motor actuators, control boards, and accessories. The company provides an actuator selector tool to assist customers to choose models that meet their needs.
EVERLIGHT, established in 1983 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of LED products for diverse industries. The company offers LED lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor illumination, including bulbs, tubes, downlights, and streetlights. Additionally, the company provides LED backlighting for LCD displays used in TVs, monitors, laptops, and tablets. Its product portfolio extends to displays for information and images, mobile enhancements such as flash LEDs and camera modules, and automotive lighting for improved safety and performance. These solutions find application across sectors including home appliances, communication, and consumer electronics in the development of various systems and machines.
BATSI Solutions S.L., established in 1999 and headquartered in Torrefarrera, Lleida, Spain, is a manufacturer of industrial electronic and electric components and equipment. The company specializes in producing electronics that improve machinery productivity. Its BATSI product line includes remote controls, electrical controllers for spotlights, and controllers for the management of unified trailers and swathes. It also offers a universal electronic joystick for controlling all types of machinery. The company also offers the production of custom equipment and information modules.
LEDidea, founded in 1996 in Taiwan, is a manufacturer and supplier of quality LED lighting solutions. The company's main products include LED bulbs, tubes, strips, and modules used in various applications, including residential, commercial, and industrial lighting.LEDidea's LED lighting products offer energy-efficient and long-lasting illumination, contributing to energy conservation and sustainability. With an aim of research and development, LEDidea continuously introduces new LED lighting solutions to cater to the evolving needs of the lighting industries. The company is customized to providing good and affordable LED lighting solutions that enhance the lighting experience for its customers.
Kodenshi Corp. is an ISO 14001 and IATF 16949-certified manufacturer of optical devices that was established in 1972 in Kyoto, Japan. The company’s product lineup includes photointerrupters for sensing motion or positioning, photodiodes for converting light into electrical currents, and phototransistors for amplifying currents generated by photodiodes. It also offers encoders for converting motion into digital signals, and photo couplers for noise reduction or signal isolation. The company’s products are commonly used within the private security and transportation sectors, and have additional applications in the automotive industry.
Conductix-Wampfler, established in 1902 and based in Weil am Rhein, Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in energy and data transmission systems. The company’s product portfolio includes conductor rails, cable festoon systems, and compressed air and electric supply systems. These products are used in various industries, including automotive, wind power generation, and the oil and gas industry. The company provides services including the installation of products at customers’ sites, training, and maintenance. It exports its products to various countries, including the United States, Australia, and China.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Alan Manufacturing, Inc. |
22.2%
|
2 | Danfoss Industrial Automation |
15.0%
|
3 | Remote Control Technology |
11.5%
|
4 | Actuonix Motion Devices |
10.6%
|
5 | BATSI SOLUTIONS, S.L |
8.5%
|
6 | Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., |
8.3%
|
7 | IDEA, Inc. |
6.9%
|
8 | EVERLIGHT Electronics Co., Ltd. |
6.7%
|
9 | Conductix-Wampfler |
4.8%
|
10 | KODENSHI CORP. |
3.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the remote control page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 60.0% |
Canada | 1 | 20.0% |
Taiwan | 1 | 20.0% |
8 products are listed.
Hokuyo Electric
60+ people viewing
It is an industrial optical remote control with 4 points/15 points and a distance of 10m. Since light is used, it is resistant to radio disorders a...
Hokuyo Electric
110+ people viewing
It is an industrial optical remote control with 4 points/15 points and a distance of 10m. Since light is used, it is resistant to radio disorders a...