Emergency vehicle radio transmission system

• US 4,764,978 A
• Filed: 08/20/1987
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eckert H. Argo, Ralph A. Baglino
• Original Assignee: Eckert H. Argo, Ralph A. Baglino
• Inventors: Argo, Eckert H., Baglino, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US07/087,674
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/89, 455/101, 455/102, 455/124, 455/125, 340/902, 340/905, 455/93, 455/99
• US Class Current: 455/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

Radio transmission apparatus usable for emergency vehicles transmits a radio frequency signal on both standard AM frequencies and FM broadcast frequencies to alert vehicles in the path of the emergency vehicle that the emergency vehicle is approaching. The frequencies are broadcast over the entire frequency spectrum so that vehicles using their radios will receive the signal, regardless of what particular frequency is being tuned by their receivers. A crystal controlled oscillator using frequency dividers generates carrier frequencies that are precisely on each AM and FM frequency.

Claims

1. Emergency vehicle radio transmission system, comprising, in combination:

audio source means for providing an audio output to be broadcast;

audio processor means for processing the output of the audio source means for broadcasting on AM frequencies and on FM frequencies;

AM band comb frequency generator means for generating AM band frequencies;

AM modulator means for modulating the amplitude of the processed audio output on the AM band frequencies;

first amplifier means for amplifying the modulated audio output on the AM band frequencies;

first antenna means for transmitting the amplified audio output on the AM band frequencies;

FM band comb frequency generator means for generating FM band frequencies;

FM modulator means for modulating the processed audio output on the generated FM band frequencies to provide a modulated FM output signal;

second amplifier means for amplifying the FM output signal on the FM frequency band; and

second antenna means for transmitting the amplifier FM output signal on the FM frequency band substantially simultaneously with the transmission on the AM band frequencies.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the AM band comb frequency generator means includes

first oscillator means for providing a first frequency;

divider means for dividing the first frequency, including first divider means to provide a second frequency in the Am band of frequencies, and second divider means to provide a third frequency in the AM band of frequencies; and

mixer means for mixing the second and third frequencies to provide an output signal including substantilly all of the frequencies in the AM frequency band.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the AM band comb frequency generator means further includes AM equalizer means for equalizing the output of the mixer means at all of the frequencies in the AM frequency band.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes first filter means for filtering the output of the equalizer means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further includes second filter means for filtering the output of the first amplifier means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the FM band bomb frequency generator means includes oscillator means connected to the FM modulator means for providing a first FM frequency modulated by the FM modulator means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the AM band comb frequency generator means includes third divider means for providing a third frequency in the AM band of frequencies, and the third frequency is transmitted to the FM band comb frequency generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the FM band comb frequency generator means further includes mixer means for mixing the first FM frequency modulated by the FM modulator means and the third frequency in the AM band of frequencies for providing an output signal including substantially all of the frequencies in the FM frequency band.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the FM band comb frequency generator means further includes FM equalizer means for equalizing the output of the mixer means at all of the frequencies in the FM frequency band.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 which further includes third filter means for filtering the output of the second equalizer means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 which further includes filter means for filtering the output of the second amplifier means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the AM band comb frequency generator means includes

first crystal oscillator means for generating a first frequency;

first decade divider means for dividing the first frequency to provide a second frequency, and the second frequency comprises a primary frequency in the AM frequency band;

second decade divider means for dividing the second frequency to provide a third frequency, and the third frequency comprises an input signal to the FM band comb frequency generator means to provide the frequency interval of the FM frequency band side bands;

third decade divider means for dividing the third frequency to provide a fourth frequency, and the fourth frequency comprises the frequency interval of the AM frequency band side bands for mixing with the second frequency to provide the AM band frequencies.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the FM band comb frequency generator means includes second crystal oscillator means for generating a fifth frequency, and the fifth frequency is modulated by the FM modulator means to provide a modulated frequency output.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which the FM band comb frequency generator means further includes multiplier means for multiplying the modulated frequency output to provide a primary frequency in the FM frequency band.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the FM band comb frequency generator means further includes mixer means for mixing the primary frequency in the FM band and the third frequency from the second decade divider to provide the modulated FM output signal on the FM frequencies of the FM band.