FM output portable music player with RDS capability

• US 20080153418A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Inventors: Melanson, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/207 with an audio or audio/video bus for signal distribution H04B1/205 takes precedence

Abstract

A FM output portable audio player is provided for digitally coupling audio signals generated therein to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, such as an automobile radio. The audio player includes an audio signal source for generating digital audio output signals. Digital audio interface circuitry is coupled directly to the digital audio output signals and includes a digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for modulating the digital audio output signals on a RF carrier to produce a modulated audio signal. An internal antenna is coupled to the digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer. The portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting the modulated signal to the radio receiver system. The digital audio interface circuitry is formed of integrated circuit chips which provides for lower cost, a compact size, and a higher audio quality. A radio data signal is also multiplexed by the digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer to generate the modulated signal having the radio data signal centered about a 57 kHz suppressed carrier.

Claims

1. A FM output portable audio player for digitally coupling audio signals generated therein to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, said portable audio player comprising:

an audio signal source for generating digital audio output signals;

digital audio interface circuitry coupled directly to said digital audio output signals and including a digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for modulating said digital audio output signals on a RF carrier to produce a modulated audio signal;

an internal antenna being coupled to said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer; and

said portable audio player being capable of wirelessly transmitting said modulated signal to a radio receiver system.

2. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 1, wherein said audio signal source for generating said digital audio output signals includes a microprocessor.

3. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital audio interface circuitry further includes a digital controlled oscillator coupled to said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for receiving said modulated signal.

4. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 3, wherein said digital audio interface circuitry further comprises a frequency multiplier having its input coupled to said digital controlled oscillator and having its output coupled to an input of a RF amplifier.

5. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 4, wherein said RF amplifier has its output coupled to said internal antenna for wirelessly transmitting said modulated signal.

6. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a radio data signal being multiplexed by said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer to generate said modulated signal having FM stereo audio signals and the radio data signal centered about a 57 kHz suppressed carrier.

7. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 6, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting to said radio receiver system that includes a radio/RDS receiver for demodulating said FM stereo audio signals to produce an audio output and for recovering said radio data signal.

8. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 7, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting to said radio/RDS receiver that includes a display for viewing said radio data signal.

9. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 8, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting said radio data signal contains song data such as an artist name and a name of a song being played.

10. A FM portable audio player as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver system is an automobile radio receiver system.

11. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 10, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting to said automobile radio receiver system that includes a radio/RDS receiver for demodulating said FM stereo audio signals to produce an audio output and for recovering said radio data signal.

12. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 11, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting to said radio/RDS receiver that includes a display for viewing said radio data signal.

13. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 12, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting said radio data signal contains song data such as an artist'"'"'s name and a name of a song being played.

14. A method for digitally coupling audio signals generated in a FM output portable audio player to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, said method comprising the steps of:

generating digital audio output signals from an audio signal source;

modulating the digital audio output signals on a RF carrier through a digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer to produce a modulated audio signal; and

providing said portable audio player a capability to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal to a radio receiver system through an internal antenna coupled to the digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer.

15. A method for digitally coupling audio signals as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the step of multiplexing a radio data signal by said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer to generate the modulated signal having FM stereo audio signals and the radio data signal centered about a 57 kHz suppressed carrier.

16. A method for digitally coupling audio signals as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of providing further comprises the step of providing said portable audio player the capability to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal to the radio receiver system which demodulates the FM stereo audio signals by a radio/RDS receiver to produce an audio output and which recovers the radio data signal.

17. A method for digitally coupling audio signals as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of providing further comprises the step of providing said portable audio player the capability to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal to the radio receiver system which displays the radio data signal on the radio/RDS receiver'"'"'s display.

18. A FM output portable audio player for digitally coupling audio signals generated therein to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, said portable audio player comprising:

means for generating digital audio output signals;

digital audio interface circuit means coupled directly to said digital audio output signals and including digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer means for modulating said digital audio output signals on a RF carrier to produce a modulated audio signal;

an internal antenna being coupled to said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer means; and

said portable audio player being capable of wirelessly transmitting said modulated signal to a radio receiver system.

19. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for generating said digital audio output signals includes a microprocessor.

20. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 19, wherein said digital audio interface circuit means further includes digital controlled oscillator means coupled to said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for receiving said modulated signal.

21. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 20, wherein said digital audio interface circuit means further comprises frequency multiplier means having its input coupled to said digital controlled oscillator means and having its output coupled to an input of RF amplifier means.

22. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 21, wherein said RF amplifier means has its output coupled to said internal antenna for wirelessly transmitting said modulated signal.

23. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a radio data signal being multiplexed by said digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer means to generate said modulated signal having FM stereo audio signals and the radio data signal centered about a 57 kHz suppressed carrier.

24. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 23, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting said modulated signal to said radio receiver system that includes a radio/RDS receiver having a display for viewing said radio data signal.

25. A FM portable audio player as claimed in claim 18, wherein said radio receiver system is an automobile radio receiver system.

26. A FM output portable audio player for digitally coupling audio signals generated therein to be broadcast through a radio receiver system, said audio portable player comprising:

a FM transmitter for transmitting audio signals less than ten meters;

a control panel coupled to said FM transmitter; and

a RDS transmitter coupled to said control panel in which said RDS transmitter has a digital FM stereo/RDS multiplexer for modulating a RDS signal.

27. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 26, wherein said portable audio player is capable of wirelessly transmitting said RDS signal to a FM stereo radio/RDS receiver for demodulating said RDS signal so as to retrieve RDS data for viewing on a display of said radio/RDS receiver.

28. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 26, wherein said RDS signal includes song data such as an artist name and a name of a song in which said RDE signal is adapted to be received through a radio receiver system.

29. A FM output portable audio player as claimed in claim 26, wherein said portable audio player includes user controls for interfacing with said portable audio player to enable said RDS signal having song data adapted to be received through a radio receiver system and to be displayed on a display of said radio receiver system.