and it might be a diagnostic tool to put into a port to see if it gives you the correct pattern for some hardware they were testing. Thats common for programmers to make it so there is a visible trace for fast trouble shooting, but if its IR it seems like a communication device, or maybe its something to connect to a chemical test equipment (PH meter download, etc), part of a larger DAQ system for facilities maintenance or whatever, so they can upload logs at the end of the day (i.e. daily check to verify room temperature is correct, or that fume hoods are working, plating tank is not contaminated, stuff like that).
If I ran a facility I would consider that kind of thing to homogenize the QA process between different equipment, because you always get screwed by things that have custom drivers, different file formats, etc. I.e. if you have gossen, fluke, extech, cole-parmer and 3 more companies equipment floating around all the time. Windows update = facility shutdown.
The serial number on it makes me think that its not a toy/hobby project/etc (their usually kinda cute, no one would put a random ass part number on a DIY project, people would think you took it out of something).