Universal automotive electronic radio with display for tuning or time information

• US 4,268,915 A
• Filed: 09/20/1979
• Issued: 05/19/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parmet, Bernard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bookbinder, Marc E.
• Application Number:
  US06/077,201
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 235/92 T, 235/92 TF, 340/309.1, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 340/721, 340/745, 58/23 R, 58/35 W, 58/50 R, 58/152 R, 455/154-159, 455/181, 331/64, 331/DIG. 2, 358/192.1
• US Class Current: 455/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 1/00 Demodulation of amplitude-modulated oscillations H03D5/00, H03D9/00, H03D11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 3/00 Demodulation of angle-, frequency- or phase- modulated oscillations H03D5/00, H03D9/00, H03D11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 5/00 Circuits for demodulating amplitude-modulated or angle-modulated oscillations at will H03D9/00, H03D11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/048 with digital indication using a microprocessor H03J1/0016
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/00 Continuous tuning H03J7/00, H03J9/00 take precedence; combination of continuous and discontinuous tuning other than for bandspreading H03J5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/0272 the digital values being used to preset a counter or a frequency divider in a phase locked loop, e.g. frequency synthesizer
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/18 Automatic scanning over a band of frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/005 adapting radio receivers, transmitters andtransceivers for operation on two or more bands, i.e. frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0092 using a wideband front end
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/88 Stereophonic broadcast systems multiplex system in general H04J

Abstract

Selected radio circuits are fabricated on modules which plug into a "mother" board located in the radio chassis. The circuitry includes a plurality of RF front ends (including at least one AM and one FM front end), each tunable over a selected radio band by tuner circuitry. The AM front end includes a saturable core reactor whose tuning inductance varies as a function of the tuning current provided to it by a voltage-to-current converter in the tuner.

Both AM and FM signals are translated by a frequency synthesizer to a common IF frequency, namely 10.7 MHz. The synthesizer employs a quartz crystal controlled oscillator feeding a phase lock loop whose frequency is varied via the tuning control. Quartz crystal filters for AM, and ceramic filters for FM provide required selectivity. As all signals are at the same IF, a common IF amplifier is employed. Further, a single phase lock loop is adapted to demodulate both AM and FM signals.

The resultant demodulated signals are amplified, and tone shaped, via D. C. voltage controlled audio processor circuitry. The audio circuitry is adapted to accept auxiliary inputs, such as the output of a tape player.

A digital display senses tuner status providing frequency read out. Additional provisions allow switching the display to read out tape player status, or to provide a time display from an electronic clock.

Claims

1. A radio/clock combination comprising:

a radio which produces an output signal representative of the frequency to which the radio is tuned, and

a clock which produces an output signal representative of the time of day,

wherein the improvement comprises;

control means selecting either the radio output or clock output signal including means for predeterminedly scaling and processing the selected signal to activate selected readout drivers,

readout devices coupled to corresponding drivers which, when activated, produce a desired display,

oscillator means producing an output signal of predetermined frequency,

means processing the oscillator output signal to tune the radio, and

means processing the oscillator output signal to activate the clock,

whereby the readout selectively displays either the frequency to which the radio is tuned or the time of day.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the oscillator is crystal controlled.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the display is a digital display.

4. In a radio/clock combination wherein radio tuning is accomplished by varying of a tuning signal and wherein the time of day is derived from a predetermined time base signal, the improvement comprising:

oscillator means for producing a predetermined frequency signal;

tuning means for predeterminedly processing said oscillator produced signal to provide the radio tuning signal;

timing means for predeterminedly processing said oscillator produced signal to provide the time base signal;

digital display means for displaying a sequence of digits; and

display control means for selectively sensing the tuning of the radio or the time of the clock and, in response thereto, driving said digital display means for displaying only the corresponding one of the frequency to which the radio is tuned and the time of day.

5. In a radio/clock combination:

oscillator means for generating an oscillator signal;

tuning means coupled to said oscillator means for receiving and processing said oscillator signal and developing a signal for tuning the radio;

clock means coupled to said oscillator means for receiving and processing said oscillator signal and developing at least one signal indicative of the time of day;

digital display means for displaying a sequence of digits adapted for displaying either the time of day or the frequency to which the radio is tuned; and

manual control means coupled to said tuning, clock and digital display means for selecting, and causing said display means to indicate, only one of either the time of day or the frequency to which the radio is tuned.

6. In a radio device, the combination including:

first circuit means for generating a substantially fixed frequency oscillator signal;

second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for receiving and processing said fixed frequency oscillator signal and developing an adjustable frequency signal for tuning the radio;

third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for receiving said fixed frequency oscillator signal and developing in response thereto at least one signal indicative of information other than the frequency to which the radio device is tuned;

fourth means coupled to said third circuit means for receiving said at least one indicative signal and displaying said information, wherein said fourth means is adapted for visually displaying either the frequency to which the radio is tuned or said information; and

control means coupled to said second circuit, third circuit and fourth means for selecting and causing said fourth means to indicate only one of either the frequency to which the radio is tuned or said information.

7. The radio device combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said fourth means provides a visual display.

8. The radio device combination as recited in claim 7 which includes an R.F. tuning mixer stage which receives said adjustable frequency signal.

9. The radio device combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said information corresponds to the magnitude of a predetermined condition other than the strength of signals received or transmitted by said radio device.

10. The radio device combination according to any of claims 6-9 wherein said fourth means comprises a digital display means for displaying a sequence of digits for indicating at least one of the frequency to which the radio is tuned and said information.

11. The radio device combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said control means comprises manually controllable panel switch means.

12. The radio device combination as recited in claim 11 wherein said first circuit means corresponds to a crystal controlled oscillator.

13. The radio device combination as recited in any of claims 6-9 wherein said information corresponds to the time of day.

14. In a radio device, the combination including:

first circuit means for generating a substantially fixed frequency oscillator signal;

second circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for receiving and processing said fixed frequency oscillator signal and developing an adjustable frequency signal for tuning the radio;

third circuit means coupled to said first circuit means for receiving said fixed frequency oscillator signal and developing in response thereto at least one signal indicative of information other than the frequency to which the radio device is tuned and indicative of information unrelated to the phase and/or frequency of said adjustable frequency signal; and

fourth means coupled to said third circuit means for receiving said at least one indicative signal and displaying said information.

15. The radio device combination as recited in claim 14 wherein said fourth means provides a visual display.

16. The radio device combination as recited in claim 15 which includes an RF tuning mixer stage which receives said adjustable frequency signal.

17. The radio device combination as recited in claim 16 wherein said information corresponds to the magnitude of a predetermined condition other than the strength of signals received or transmitted by said radio device.