Auxiliary interface apparatus

• US 20080002275A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Fiori Jr
• Original Assignee: Precision Interface Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Fiori, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/13 radio data system/radio broadcast data system [RDS/RBDS]

Abstract

An auxiliary interface device, comprising an electronic circuit to interface to the signal output of a signal source, said signal source developing or receiving more than one signal, and providing for the user selection of at least one of the signals in deference to the others so that said apparatus provides for the selection of at least one special signal having predetermined characteristics, a detector which recognizes the presence of the at least one said special signal when present or part of a signal developed by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is connected, said detector being able to distinguish between said at least one special signal and other signals ordinarily present or developed by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced, a signal switch to substitute at least one auxiliary signal in place of a signal output by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface is interfaced, said signal switch being configured to substitute said at least one auxiliary signal for the signal normally developed by said apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced when said detector recognizes the presence of the at least one special signal in the signal normally developed by said apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced.

Claims

1. An auxiliary interface device, comprising:

an electronic circuit to interface to the signal output of a signal source, said signal source developing or receiving more than one signal, and providing for the user selection of at least one of the signals in deference to the others so that said apparatus provides for the selection of at least one special signal having predetermined characteristics,

a detector which recognizes the presence of the at least one said special signal when present or part of a signal developed by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is connected, said detector being able to distinguish between said at least one special signal and other signals ordinarily present or developed by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced,

a signal switch to substitute at least one auxiliary signal in place of a signal output by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface is interfaced,

said signal switch being configured to substitute said at least one auxiliary signal for the signal normally developed by said apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced when said detector recognizes the presence of the at least one special signal in the signal normally developed by said apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced.

2. The interface device according to claim 1, whereas said switch operates to restore said signal normally developed by or present in the apparatus when said detector no longer recognizes the presence of the at least one special signal.

3. The Interface Device, according to claims 1, further comprising

at least one signal detector capable of estimating at least one parameter of at least one signal altering process applied by said signal source apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced;

and

at least one auxiliary processor to apply a signal altering process to said at least one auxiliary signal, said signal altering processing applied having at least one parameter specified in relation to said estimate of the at least one parameter of said at least one signal altering process applied to said signal ordinarily altered by the signal source apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced.

4. The Interface Device, according to claim 1, further comprising at least one detector circuit interfaced to said apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced, and capable of estimating at least one parameter of at least one signal altering process applied by the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced, whereas said estimate is used to specify a parameter used by said auxiliary device to determine or specify at least one function of said auxiliary device.

5. The Interface Device of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency transmitter to modulate said special signal in so that it possible for said signal source apparatus, furthering corresponding radio receiver capability to receive and select said special signal so modulated.

6. The interface device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one pre-recorded special signal function on a recording media for said signal source apparatus to either select or reproduce.

7. The interface device, according to claim 1 further comprising:

a detector circuit to indicate more than one parameter representative of one or more signal altering processes applied by said signal source apparatus; and

at least one auxiliary processor able to apply at least one signal altering process to said at least one auxiliary signal, said signal altering process being applied in accordance with said more than one parameter.

8. The interface device, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detector circuit to develop an indication of at least one parameter indicator of at least one signal altering process applied by said signal source apparatus; and

a media navigation function responsive to said at least one parameter and which is further responsive to the at least one signal altering process applied by said signal source apparatus.

9. The interface device, according to claim 3, further comprising signal altering circuits which respond to the detection of at least one of said parameters as determined while said special signal is present, which then further act upon the signal provided by said signal source apparatus when said special signal is no longer present.

10. The interface device, according to claim 1, wherein at least one signal interface carrying signals to or from said signal source apparatus and said interface device further provides ground circuit isolation.

11. The interface device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one signal interface carrying signals to or from said signal source apparatus incorporates at least one buffer amplifier powered by a power supply, so as to increase isolation between it and any other connected device, and providing a constant current with respect to differences in common mode voltage potential between the ground reference potential used by said interface device and at least one device to which it is connected.

12. The Interface device comprising:

electronic circuitry to interface to a signal output of a signal source apparatus, said signal source apparatus generating or receiving of a plurality of signals and permitting for the user selection of one of those signals, such that said apparatus allows for selection of a plurality of special signals,

at least one detector to recognize and distinguish between each of said plurality of special signals to which said auxiliary interface device is interfaced,

a plurality of switches operated in accordance with said at least one detector configured to substitute at least one auxiliary signal from among a plurality of auxiliary signals according to the presence of the special signal, and corresponding to said at least one special signal in place of a signal normally developed by or present in the apparatus to which said auxiliary interface is interfaced, said plurality of switches being operated so as to substitute one or more of said plurality of auxiliary signals when said detector recognizes the presence of one or more of said corresponding special signals.

13. The interface device of claim 12, wherein said plurality of switches are operated so as to restore said signal normally developed by the apparatus, in place of said at least one auxiliary signal when said detector no longer recognizes the presence of the at least one of special signal.

14. The interface device, according to claim 13, wherein at least one function of said auxiliary device is specified in relation to the detection or measurement of at least one of a plurality of special signals.

15. The Interface Device, according to claim 14, further comprising:

a textual information display interface associated with at least one special signal provided by said interface device.

16. The Interface Device, according to claim 15, wherein said textual information is supplied by a FM radio frequency transmitter in accordance with RDBS FM broadcast standard.