Card-type electronic device for adding a data communication function to an apparatus without hardware modification of the apparatus

• US 6,038,431 A
• Filed: 03/08/1995
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yuichi, Fukutani, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/400,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/66, 455/45, 455/128, 455/344, 455/347, 455/348, 455/349, 455/351, 455/103, 455/260, 455/295, 455/300, 455/301, 455/310, 455/311, 455/312, 348/552, 395/200, 375/327, 375/324, 375/329, 375/344, 375/345, 375/316, 343/877
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/005 in a loop

Abstract

In a card-type electronic tuner, a digital broadcasting is received without need of hardware reconstruction of a personal computer used for the digital broadcasting reception. The electronic tuner includes a signal input terminal, a local oscillator, a mixer, an output terminal, a PLL circuit and a data input terminal. All of these components are packaged in a card-type case. A digital signal processor includes a digital signal extractor and/or an A/D converter and is connected between the mixer and the output terminal. The digital broadcasting is received and the data is applied directly to the personal computer. The electronic tuner in the shape of a card can be used with an expansion slot for a memory card of the personal computer and there is no need of reconstructing a hardware of the personal computer.

Claims

1. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from the signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output of a local oscillator;

an output terminal supplied with an output signal of the mixer;

a PLL circuit having an input port for receiving the output of the local oscillator and a PLL signal output port for connection to an input of the local oscillator;

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage;

a data input terminal for supplying a data signal to said PLL circuit; and

a digital signal processing means including at least one of an extraction means for performing a frequency conversion to extract a signal containing information of an absolute value from a carrier wave in a digitally-modulated output signal from said mixer and for use in digital signal processing of the extracted signal and an A/D converter connected between the mixer and the output terminal;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means; and

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

2. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the single input/output terminal is arranged on one of a lateral side of the case and a longitudinal side of the case, and the data input terminal is mounted on a lateral side of the case.

3. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the single input/output terminal is arranged one of (i) opposite to and (ii) in a vicinity of the lateral side of the case on which the data input terminal is mounted.

4. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a printed board disposed in said case and wherein the PLL circuit is arranged on one side of said printed board, the digital signal processing means is arranged on the other side of said printed board, and said PLL circuit and said digital signal processing means are spaced apart on said printed board.

5. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a partitioning plate mounted between the digital signal processing means and the PLL circuit on the printed board.

6. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising one of a two-sided printed board and a multilayer printed board packaged in the case, and wherein the PLL circuit is arranged on one side of the two-sided printed board or the multilayer printed board and the digital signal processing means is arranged on the other side of said one of the two-sided printed board and the multilayer printed board.

7. A card-type electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a first printed board having the PLL circuit arranged thereon and a second printed board having the digital signal processing means arranged thereon, said first and second printed boards being accommodated in the case.

8. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from said signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output signal from a local oscillator;

extraction means for performing a frequency conversion to extract a signal containing information of an absolute value from a carrier wave in a digitally-modulated output signal from said mixer and for use in digital signal processing of the extracted signal;

an A/D converter supplied with the output signal of said extraction means;

a demodulator supplied with the output signal of said A/D converter;

an output terminal supplied with an output from said demodulator;

a PLL circuit having an input port for receiving an output of said local oscillator

and a PLL signal output port for connection to an input port of said local oscillator;

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage; and

a data input terminal for supplying a data signal to said PLL circuit;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means;

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

9. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from said signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output signal from a local oscillator;

extraction means for performing a frequency conversion to extract a digital signal from a carrier wave in a digitally-modulated output signal from said mixer and for use in digital signal processing of the extracted signal;

a demodulator supplied with an output signal of said extraction means;

an output terminal supplied with an output of said demodulator;

a PLL circuit having an input port for receiving an output of said local oscillator and a PLL signal output port for connection to an input port of said local oscillator;

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage; and

a data input terminal for supplying a data signal to said PLL circuit;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means;

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

10. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from said signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output signal from a local oscillator;

an A/D converter supplied with an output signal from said mixer;

a demodulator supplied with an output signal from said A/D converter;

an output terminal supplied with an output from said demodulator;

a PLL circuit having an input port for receiving an output of said local oscillator and a PLL signal output port for connection to an input port of said local oscillator;

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage; and

a data input terminal for supplying a data signal to said PLL circuit;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means;

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

11. A card-type electronic device according to claim 8, 9, 10, further comprising an error correction circuit inserted between said demodulator and said output terminal.

12. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a first mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from said signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output of a first local oscillator;

a second mixer having an input port supplied with an output signal of said first mixer and another input port for receiving an output of a second local oscillator;

an output terminal supplied with an output signal from said second mixer;

a PLL circuit having an input port for receiving the output of said first local oscillator and a PLL signal output port for connection to an input port of said first local oscillator;

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage;

a data input terminal for supplying a data signal to said PLL circuit; and

a digital signal processing means including at least one of an extraction means for performing a frequency conversion to extract a digital signal from a carrier wave in a digitally-modulated output signal from said second mixer and for use in a digital signal processing of the extracted signal and an A/D converter connected between said second mixer and said output terminal;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means;

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

13. A card-type electronic device for optional use without hardware modification of an apparatus by insertion into said apparatus, said device comprising:

(a) a receiving system for selecting a desired channel from a digitally modulated signal, including;

a signal input terminal supplied with a high-frequency signal;

a mixer having an input port supplied with a signal from said signal input terminal and another input port for receiving an output signal from a local oscillator;

a demodulator supplied with an output signal from said mixer;

a data input terminal;

an output terminal supplied with an output signal from said demodulator;

a PLL circuit connected to a data input terminal for controlling an oscillation frequency of said local oscillator; and

a DC-DC converter connected to a power input terminal, an output of said DC-DC converter being connected to said PLL circuit so as to reduce a load on said apparatus in obtaining a tuning voltage;

wherein said mixer and said local oscillator are arranged in a vicinity of said signal input terminal so as to minimize input level attenuation;

(b) a transmitting system for digitally modulated signal including;

a transmission signal input terminal;

digital modulation processing means connected to said transmission signal input terminal; and

a transmission signal output terminal coupled to said digital modulation processing means;

(c) a card-type case having a protrusion to meet an increased circuit requirement, said receiving system and said transmitting system being packed in said card-type case;

wherein said output terminal, said data input terminal, said power input terminal and said transmission signal input terminal are arranged on a lateral side of said case, and wherein said signal input terminal and said transmission signal output terminal are coupled to a duplexer connected to a single signal input/output terminal so as to prevent an output signal from said digital modulation processing means from circumventing into the receiving system.

14. A card-type electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said demodulator is arranged at a position adjacent to said output terminal.

15. A card-type electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising an A/D converter inserted between said demodulator and said output terminal, said A/D converter being arranged at a position adjacent to said demodulator and said output terminal.

16. A card-type electronic device according to claim 13, wherein a replaceable antenna is mounted on a single signal input/output terminal.

17. A card-type electronic device according to claim 13, wherein said antenna is a bar antenna arranged substantially in parallel to a longitudinal side of said case.

18. A card-type electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising an audio multiplexing circuit inserted between said demodulator and said output terminal.