When it came to infrared, we had a few basic criteria:

• handle a wide range of IR protocols and frequencies, given the diverse range of devices the M1 might interact with.
• ensure reliable communication over varying distances and in different environments (a highly sensitive IR receiver would be beneficial).
• filter out and reject interference from other electronic devices or sources of noise is crucial for reliable communication.
  

So, we looked at the Vishay IR Receiver Modules. Specifically the tsop753 and its sensitivity around the 38kHz band-pass center frequency. This was necessary to guarantee that our device's IR transmitter is in harmony with the TSOP753's reception capabilities. A cool thing about the TSOP753 is its improved immunity against ambient light. It also has a low profile of 2.35mm, which helps with a compact device like ours. It’s reliable and widely available. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Working with IR receivers and components, here's what we further considered:

• pay close attention to the modulation frequencies of IR signals; they're crucial for accurate signal detection.
• factor in the duty cycle because it directly influences signal clarity and how the receiver interprets it.
• Familiarization with the unique sequence of pulses and spaces for each IR protocol, ensuring our system interprets commands correctly.
• Pay mind to protocol-specific starting or ending sequences, as they help in distinguishing signals.