Transmitter and automobile audio apparatus using the same

• US 5,970,390 A
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Koga, Noriyuki, Nakagawa, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, SONNY
• Application Number:
  US09/168,122
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 381/79, 455/6.3, 455/42, 455/66, 455/575, 455/20, 455/516, 455/426, 455/450, 455/99, 455/345
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/003 with radio receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers

Abstract

A transmitter for transmitting an audio signal derived from an audio appliance to an FM (frequency modulation) radio includes a transmitter circuit for converting the audio signal derived from an audio appliance into an FM signal within an FM broadcasting band to thereby transmit the FM signal, a receiver circuit having at least a tuner unit; a display for displaying thereon a frequency; and a control circuit for controlling a transmission frequency of the transmitter circuit and a reception frequency of the receiver circuit. The control circuit causes the receiver circuit to detect an unused frequency within the FM broadcasting band and to set a frequency corresponding to the detected unused frequency to the transmission frequency, and also causes the display to display thereon the set transmission frequency.

Claims

1. A transmitter for transmitting an audio signal derived from an audio appliance to an FM (frequency modulation) radio, comprising:

a transmitter circuit for converting said audio signal derived from said audio appliance into an FM signal within an FM broadcasting band and transmitting said FM signal;

a receiver circuit having at least a tuner unit;

a display for displaying thereon a frequency;

a control circuit for controlling a transmission frequency of said transmitter circuit and a reception frequency of said receiver circuit, wherein

said control circuit causes said receiver circuit to detect an unused frequency within said FM broadcasting band and to set a frequency corresponding to said detected unused frequency to said transmission frequency, and also causes said display to display thereon said set transmission frequency; and

a memory connected to said control circuit for storing said detected unused frequency, so that upon initial operation of said transmitter said transmitter circuit is turned off, said receiver circuit is turned on, and the transmission frequency of said transmitter circuit is set to said detected unused frequency read out from said memory.

2. A transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a power supply of said transmitter is turned ON, said transmission frequency is set and said set transmission frequency is displayed on said display.

3. An automobile audio apparatus, comprising:

an automobile FM radio and a transmitter for transmitting an audio signal derived from an audio appliance to the automobile FM radio, said transmitter comprising

a transmitter circuit for converting said audio signal derived from said audio appliance into an FM signal within an FM broadcasting band and transmitting said FM signal,

a receiver circuit having at least a tuner circuit, said receiver circuit detecting an unused frequency within said FM frequency band,

a control circuit for controlling a transmission frequency of said transmitter circuit by setting a frequency corresponding to said detected unused frequency to said transmission frequency of said transmitter circuit, and

a memory connected to said control circuit for storing said detected unused frequency, so that upon initial operation of said transmitter said transmitter circuit is turned off, said receiver circuit is turned on, and the transmission frequency of said transmitter circuit is set to said detected unused frequency read out from said memory, and

a display for displaying thereon said set transmission frequency; and

channel selecting means for tuning said reception frequency to said transmission frequency displayed on said display.