irda receiver with demodulator
A remote control receiver isn't well suited to get a defined sensitivity, you have no option to adjust the proximity switch. But for applications, that require maximum sensitivity only, this isn't an issue.
Generally any receiver get's saturated at a certain DC light intensity. I'm not sure, if an remote control receiver can operate with direct sunlight exposure, but it ís basically possible with a photodiode, if necessary. A photodiode with ambient light filter (as the remote control receivers also have) will already absorb a large part of sunlight intensity. Unfortunately, incandescent lamps are scarcely filtered, they are very likely to saturate a remote control receiver if strong enough.