Lots of good information on full IRDA integrated modules here...

http://www.zilog.com/products/family.asp?fam=205

Another interesting note, whilst the Zilog microcontrollers are not '52/'52 derivatives, they have integrated IRDA support hardware on-board. So all the low cost evaluation kits and boards they sell have the IRDA components already inplace on the boards.

Michael Karas