IR receiver part interchange
Note: It is unlikely that the IR receiver substitution alone will suffice, supporting passive part values may need to be tweaked as well.

The NJL63H400A is an 11 mm aperture, metal cased, top-facing (63H) 40 KHz (400) long-range (A) modulated IR receiver, with optimal reception wavelength of 940 nm +/-50 nm.

In order to find a replacement for that part alone, the casing may be disregarded, as the 5 different types of casing in the series are primarily cosmetic and mechanical variants. This particular one has snap-fit legs besides the 3 pins.

Parameters to match:


Pin-out: Out, Gnd, Vcc needed to fit the existing board design
Carrier frequency: 40 KHz, important if the same remote control is to be used as in the original. If not, the very common 38 KHz receivers are typically cheapest.
IR wavelength: 940 nm is very common, it would actually take effort finding a receiver far off this wavelength
Supply voltage: The original specified part is rated for 6.3 Volts, while 5.5 Volts is a common specification - so it is worth checking what actual supply voltage is used in the existing circuit design.


One of the several Vishay Semiconductor molded IR receivers designed for 40 KHz could be used, if the carrier frequency is to be kept the same as in the service manual. Those have fairly similar lens aperture and operating parameters. For instance, the 40 KHz versions of TSOP4140, TSOP4340, TSOP4540 may be suitable, but not the TSOP21xx, TSOP23xx and others listed in the same datasheet, due to having a different pin-out. 

For greater reception range, use an elliptical lens extended range version (F series) of the receiver, similar in optical angle specification to the original part. The F series is less easily sourced, though.

In general, IR receivers are fairly interchangeable as long as the operating parameters mentioned are met. Of course, if cosmetic / mechanical compatibility is desired, that is a challenge in itself.