Multiband RDS radio receiver

• US 20040038663A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Jong, Frits De, Lecomte, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/334
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

A radio receiver having an FM band tuner, an AM band tuner, a controller coupled to both said tuners, and a radio data (RD) decoder for providing radio data. The RD decoder is coupled for receiving radio data from at least one of the tuners which is tuned to a radio program. The RD decoder is coupled to the controller for switching the radio receiver from FM band to AM band or vice versa based on radio program frequency correspondence data included in the radio data. The radio receiver is advantageous since it allows for automated cross switching between different frequencies whereon a same radio program is broadcast. This is particularly advantageous if the radio receiver, such as placed in a car, leaves the broadcast coverage area. User intervention is thus obviated.

Claims

1. A radio receiver, comprising:

an FM band tuner;

an AM band tuner;

a controller coupled to the FM and AM tuners; and

a radio data decoder to provide radio data, which radio data decoder is coupled for receiving radio data from at least one of the tuners which is tuned to a radio program, wherein

the RD decoder is coupled to the controller to switch the radio receiver from FM band to AM band or from AM band to FM band based on radio program frequency correspondence data included in the radio data.

2. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the AM band tuner is at least one of a LW band tuner and MW band tuner.

3. The radio receiver according to claim 2, wherein the controller is arranged to switch from the FM band to the LW band or the MW band and from the LW band or MW band to the FM band.

4. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the radio receiver comprises a radio data memory coupled to the radio data decoder, which memory at least includes radio program frequency correspondence data.

5. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the FM and AM tuners are configured to provide an audio quality signal for input to and qualification by the controller.

6. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the radio receiver is provided with a cancellation switch coupled to the controller such that the actual radio program frequency is used or disturbed by another program.

8. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the radio receiver receives signals from a tuned radio program, which signals are processed by the radio receiver.

7. A portable or car radio receiver having a radio receiver, the receiver comprising:

an FM band tuner;

an AM band tuner;

a controller coupled to the FM and AM tuners; and

a radio data decoder to provide radio data, which radio data decoder is coupled to receive radio data from at least one of the tuners which is tuned to a radio program, wherein

the radio data decoder is coupled to the controller to switch the radio receiver from FM band to AM band or from AM band to FM band based on radio program frequency correspondence data included in the radio data.