![Serial Port IR Receiver Using AVR](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_H0Rc8nxHNKXA43Qyip8PZ32ycaVeqQaJuNaq-VKhizMfdyYge8Dwt_doVrVcWzk7l3Manifn_hqUYNubBVimA0uih-tcBbC4NBLhWLya5-a433Ilf2EcKzL3kYVTE6Pr2Nsjf3EiyBW/s400/avr-IR-serial.jpg)
1. it uses an Atmel AVR RISC microcontroller (an AT90S2313) instead of the usual PIC microcontroller and
2. it uses a Maxim MAX232 for the generation of valid RS232 levels.
Advantage 1 is, of course, only valid for all those AVR addicts which have this device (and the corresponding programmer) ready at hand and don't care about PICs and PIC programmers. Advantage 2 comes into play if the IR receiver has to placed at a great distance from the computer; the MAX232 is more likely to deliver valid signals over bigger distances than cheaper solutions.
[Link]