RADIO WITH AUTOMATIC TUNING TO MODULATED AUDIO DEVICE

• US 20090047919A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Kalinowski, Shaun, Whikehart, J. William
• Application Number:
  US11/838,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20090047919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/164.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/29 Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services

Abstract

A system and method for automatically tuning an entertainment system to interface with a modulated audio device includes a processor in communication with a tuner, an audio output device and a memory unit containing processor executable instructions. The processor executable instructions of the memory unit configure the processor to tune the tuner to a predetermined frequency, determine if a signal is present at the predetermined frequency and output an audio signal based on the predetermined frequency to the audio output device if a signal is present at the predetermined frequency.

Claims

1. An entertainment system, the system comprising:

a tuner in communication with an antenna;

a processor in communication with the tuner, the processor being configured to instruct the tuner to tune into one or more radio frequencies;

an audio output device in communication with the processor, the audio output device configured to output an audio signal based on the one or more radio frequencies received by the tuner;

a memory unit in communication with the processor, the memory unit containing a set of processor executable instructions to configure the processor to tune the tuner to a predetermined frequency, to determine a signal is present at the predetermined frequency and to output an audio signal based on the predetermined frequency to the audio output device when the signal at the predetermined frequency is present.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a portable audio device outputting an audio device signal;

a modulator in communication with the portable audio device, the modulator configured to output a radio wave transmitting at the predetermined frequency based on the audio device signal.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processor, the user interface being configured to receive a frequency identifier corresponding to the predetermined frequency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the entertainment system is in a tuning mode or a non-tuning mode, the entertainment system being in a tuning mode when the audio output device is outputting an audio signal based on the one or, more radio frequencies received by the tuner, the entrainment device being in a non-tuning mode when the audio output device is not outputting an audio signal based on the one or more radio frequencies received by the tuner.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to check the predetermined frequency at periodic intervals when in the tuning mode.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to tune and remain tuned to the predetermined frequency when in the non-tuning mode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment system is installed in an automobile.

8. A method for automatically tuning an entertainment system to interface with a modulated audio device, the method comprising the steps of:

tuning a tuner of the entertainment system to a predetermined audio frequency of the modulated audio device;

determining if a signal is present at the predetermined audio frequency; and

outputting an audio signal based on the predetermined frequency to an audio output device if the signal is present at the predetermined radio frequency.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of determining if the entertainment system is in a tuning mode or a non-tuning mode, the entertainment system being in a tuning mode when the audio output device is outputting an audio signal based on the one or more radio frequencies received by the tuner, the entrainment device being in a non-tuning mode when the audio output device is not outputting an audio signal based on the one or more radio frequencies received by the tuner.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of tuning to the predetermined frequency at periodic intervals when the entertainment system is in the tuning mode.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of tuning and remain tuned to the predetermined frequency when the entertainment system is in the non-tuning mode.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of selecting the predetermined frequency of the modulated audio device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the modulated audio device includes a portable audio device operatively coupled to a modulator.