You’re probably holding one right now. Maybe it’s for your TV. Maybe it’s for your AC. Maybe it’s on your car key fob.
The infrared remote control is one of those everyday technologies so common that we forget it’s even technology. Just a click and something happens like magic. But if you asked most people where it came from, you’d get blank stares or half-remembered trivia. Was it Tesla? Zenith? Some guy in Silicon Valley?
The truth is, the real story of the infrared remote is that it is stranger and smarter than most people realize. It involves a flashlight-powered channel switcher, ultrasonic zappers, courtroom standoffs, and patents that quietly shaped how we interact with machines.
In this article, we’ll explain exactly who invented the infrared remote control, how the technology evolved, the patents that made it work, and why it still matters in an era of touchscreens and voice assistants.
Let’s return to where it all started.
The Surprising Origins: From Tesla’s Boat to Zenith’s Flashlight
Before we had sleek remotes with infrared LEDs, we had a boat. In 1898, Nikola Tesla unveiled a radio-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden. It was guided wirelessly with a handheld box, arguably the world’s first remote control. But it used radio waves, not infrared, and wasn’t built for televisions.
Decades later, in 1955, Zenith Electronics debuted something that looked much closer to what we use today: the Flash-Matic. Designed by engineer Eugene Polley, this wireless remote used light beams to trigger photocells placed on the TV’s frame. It could change channels and adjust the volume. But there was one big flaw: sunlight could also trigger the TV.
So, in 1956, Zenith replaced it with a new approach. Engineer Robert Adler invented the “Space Command”, an ultrasonic remote that used high-frequency sound waves. It was inaudible to humans, but enough to control the TV. It clicked, clunked, and worked better indoors. Still, it wasn’t quite the revolution.
That came in the 1980s, when infrared remotes quietly took over, combining the precision of light-based remotes with the reliability of sound-based ones. With that, the way we interact with devices changed forever.
The Infrared Breakthrough: Reliable, Cheap, and Invisible
By the early 1980s, remote controls were common but far from perfect.
Ultrasonic remotes like Zenith’s “Space Command” worked, but they weren’t elegant. The devices were bulky. The clicks were loud. Pets could hear the tones. And sometimes, the signal just didn’t make it to the TV. That’s when infrared took over.
Infrared (IR) light, just below visible red on the spectrum, offered the best of both worlds:
- Directional and reliable, like visible light
- Silent and low-power, like a radio signal
- Cheap to implement in consumer electronics
Early IR remotes began showing up in consumer TVs and VCRs in the early ’80s, including from brands like RCA, Sony, and Philips. Instead of ultrasonic metal rods, these remotes used infrared LEDs to transmit light pulses, encoded with commands, across short distances.
By 1985, infrared had become the dominant standard for remote controls globally. It wasn’t just a technical improvement; it was a manufacturing win. IR circuits were easier to mass-produce, offered better range, and weren’t affected by random noises or barking dogs.
In 1983, patent US4377006A was granted to inventors working with Zenith for an infrared-based system that could operate over a wide range of system variables without needing precise timing hardware. That flexibility made it adaptable across multiple models and use cases.
It wasn’t flashy. It didn’t make a sound. But that’s exactly why it worked. Infrared became the silent language of our devices, and by the late ’80s, almost every home had at least one IR remote.
The Patents That Made IR Remotes What They Are
Infrared remote controls revolutionized how we interact with electronic devices, from TVs to air conditioners, by allowing wireless command transmission through invisible light.
To trace their origin, we used the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool, which semantically matches natural-language tech descriptions to historical patents filed across global databases.
We entered the query: “Wireless control device transmitting commands via infrared light to operate electronics” and analyzed filings between 1950 and 1985.
We chose this period as it would capture the transition from ultrasonic and visible light remotes to commercially viable IR systems. These decades also saw the birth of consumer-friendly infrared circuits, programmable remotes, and IR-based signal protocols, laying the foundation for everything that followed.
Source: GPS
Below is a chronological list of 15 foundational patents and why each was pivotal to the development of infrared remote control systems.
| Priority Date | Patent Number | Title | Why It’s Foundational |
| 1976-11-05 | CA1101516A | Remote Control System | One of the earliest systems enabling multi-function electronic control using modulated signals with time intervals; paving the way for command differentiation in IR remotes. |
| 1977-04-11 | CA1102872A | Self-powered Remote Electric Switch | Pioneered the concept of a remote switch with integrated control and power; relevant for low-power infrared-based systems. |
| 1977-04-28 | IT1155810B | Low Power Infrared Information Transmission System | Introduced compact, battery-powered IR transmitters using pulse modulation; core to IR remote design for consumer electronics. |
| 1978-01-02 | US4206444A | Remote Power Controller Utilizing Communication Lines | Showed remote switching over data lines; laid foundational concepts later adapted for wireless IR signal relays. |
| 1978-03-07 | US4215349A | Remote Control System for Electrical Apparatus | Implemented binary-coded command transmission and automatic recognition; early inspiration for digital IR command formats. |
| 1980-01-11 | CA1105559A | Motor Driving System for Remote Controlled Mobile Toys | Applied frequency-modulated control signals, influencing IR control for motion-based systems like toys and robots. |
| 1981-11-26 | JPS5892742A | Remote Control Device of Air-conditioner | Practical IR implementation for consumer home appliances; showed use of reflectors to optimize signal targeting. |
| 1981-12-21 | JPS60259029A | Transmission Controller | Enabled control of multiple appliances from one IR remote via a shared communication line; important for universal remotes. |
| 1982-01-17 | JPS57119530A | Infrared-ray Remote Controller | Introduced diffusion plate for wider signal reception; critical for effective IR coverage in domestic spaces. |
| 1983-01-05 | US4644147A | Method for Deflection of Optical Rays | Allowed a single IR detector to monitor wide angles; key in developing motion-activated lighting and presence-sensing systems. |
| 1983-06-24 | CS233907B1 | Electromagnetic Control Device | Early programmable remote switch prototype; formed the basis for flexible IR-based actuation systems. |
| 1983-11-11 | DE3340775A1 | IR Signal Reception with Interference Suppression | Focused on filtering noise in IR signals; essential for reliable performance in complex environments. |
| 1984-10-09 | IT1182321B | Remote Starting of Combustion Engines | Demonstrated non-contact remote engine start; integrated IR with electromechanical activation, relevant for automotive use. |
| 1985-02-15 | US4647788A | Infrared Radiation Bi-level Electric Control | Used IR sensing for ambient light control with multi-level brightness; a foundation for smart lighting systems. |
| 1985-10-09 | FR2588402A1 | Infrared Remote Control for Multiple Devices | Introduced memory-based IR profile storage; paving the way for learning remotes and programmable controllers. |
From low-power IR signal transmission to interference suppression and signal reflectors, these patents laid the groundwork for today’s universal remotes and smart home controllers.
While infrared might seem like “old” tech in the age of apps and voice assistants, it continues to evolve quietly. Many smart TVs, streaming devices, and HVAC systems still rely on IR due to its simplicity, low cost, and widespread compatibility.
And behind that click? A portfolio of silent, powerful patents.
Patent Battles You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Most people wouldn’t expect it, but remote controls have been at the center of major patent disputes in the past two decades. Quiet, high-stakes, and often overlooked, these battles shaped the way IR technology is licensed, embedded, and even sold across global markets. Here are some notable ones:
#1. Roku vs. Universal Electronics (2021)
In one of the more recent flashpoints, Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), claiming that Roku was importing streaming devices that infringed on UEI’s remote-control patents.
The ITC ruled UEI’s favor and barred Roku from importing certain models. Roku worked around the issue by modifying later versions to avoid infringement.
#2. HTC and Smart Remote Interface Patents (2018)
HTC Corporation was targeted in a U.S. lawsuit for allegedly infringing on patents related to user interfaces in universal remotes. The case focused on how IR signals were structured and interpreted via touchscreen-based apps and smart remotes.
HTC successfully defended the case, but it highlighted growing tension between traditional IR patent holders and mobile device makers adapting the tech.
#3. Logitech vs. Universal Electronics (2011)
Even Logitech, maker of the famous Harmony remotes, found itself in legal friction with UEI. UEI accused Logitech of infringing on patents related to remote setup, control methods, and signal processing.
Logitech publicly disputed the claims and signaled that it would defend itself aggressively. The case was eventually settled out of court.
These disputes didn’t make headlines, but they shaped how IR technology could be bundled, adapted, or extended. And they show a clear pattern: even a “mature” technology like infrared is still a battleground for intellectual property.
That’s why tools that can trace patent lineage, feature claims, and licensing history, like Global Patent Search, have become more essential than ever.
Want to Untangle the Patent Maze Behind Your Remote?
Infrared remotes may seem simple, but behind every click is a dense web of innovation, litigation, and patent filings that span decades.
There’s no centralized patent pool. No global licensing body. Just thousands of individually owned ideas filed across time, covering everything from IR signal processing to power-saving techniques to universal learning features.
That’s where Global Patent Search comes in.
Unlike traditional tools, GPS doesn’t ask you to memorize classification codes or dig through endless PDFs. Instead, it lets you describe the technology in your own words, like “an IR remote that learns commands from other remotes” or “a handheld device that sends invisible light signals to control electronics.”
Its AI-powered engine understands your query, maps it to relevant global patents, and helps you:
- Find prior art based on feature-level descriptions.
- Explore patents before and after a key innovation.
- Understand the evolution of a technology without needing to know the exact patent number.
Whether you’re tracing the past, evaluating what’s patentable, or understanding how old tech fuels new ideas, GPS helps you cut through the noise and find what actually matters. Try the tool today – Global Patent Search.
