To implement IrDA-1.0 external adapters to be attached to the RS232 serial port, the challenge is to reach a long distance with reliable IR connection sustainable at 115.2Kbps baud rate, using only the limited current supplied from the RS232-port signal lines. This current is typically in the range of 10mA which needs to be booted up to around 21mA average current at 115.2Kbps rate in order to provide reliable IR communication at distance of 1 meter. ACTiSYS has successfully accomplished this with their ACT-IR220L serial adapter which offers 2.4 meter reliable IR link distance in most applications using no external power. For the Japanese market where ASK- IR modulation and protocol specification has long been used in consumer electronic devices like organizers, etc. It is very desirable to have both IrDA and ASK dual modes in the IR interface device. One example is the ACTiSYS ACT-IR200L dual- mode serial adapter. It also maintains the company tradition of long IR communication distance using only RS232-port signal power and no external power source. For implementing IrDA-1.0 external adapter for printer and other peripherals, compact IrDA protocol stack needs to be built into the adapter. Some examples are ACTiSYS's ACT-IR100X and IR100M printer adapters.
To implement IrDA-1.1 (1.152M and/or 4M bps) external serial adapter, RS232 port is too slow. There are four options: internal add-on card, special IrDA connector, enhanced parallel port, special serial port like Universal Serial Bus (USB), etc. All these options are being explored by many of the current IrDA adapter suppliers. Example is ACTiSYS's ACT-IR2000 series.
To implement IrDA-1.1 external adapters for printers, peripheral devices or wired LAN, the appropriate IrDA protocol stacks need to be built into the adapters. Examples are the LAN adapter from Extended Systems and ACTiSYS (ACT- IR1000M and IR6000N).