Wireless output input device player

• US 6,782,239 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Neuros Audio LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy Michael, Born, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US10/177,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 455/42, 455/66.1, 455/67.11, 455/99, 455/345, 381/1-6
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits

Abstract

A wireless output input device (WOID) digital audio player for storing and/or receiving digital audio and preserving the digital stream without the inherent distortion of translating the stream to analog prior to modulation and transmission, which includes an FM receiver, and an FM transmitter for transmitting the audio to an external FM radio or receiver. The device automatically and periodically scans a plurality of channels on the FM band to determine the channel having the least amount of interference and then tunes the FM transmitter to the frequency of that channel and displays the channel to which the external receiver should be tuned. A remote control may be provided to selectively transmit signals to the player'"'"'s FM receiver for controlling operation of the player.

Claims

1. A wireless output input device player for storing and/or receiving audio and relaying an analog frequency modulated radio frequency signal from a digital audio source to an external FM receiver capable of receiving a plurality of channel frequencies, said player comprising:

an integrated FM transmitter,

an integrated FM receiver having a stereo audio output,

processing means for digitally decoding audio from said digital audio source and to digitally stereo encode audio to preserve the digital stream prior to stereo modulation at the FM transmitter,

means for converting the digital output of the processing means to an analog signal and relaying the signal to the FM transmitter for transmission to said external receiver,

means for scanning the channel frequencies of the FM receiver for a channel frequency having the least interference,

means for automatically tuning the FM transmitter to said channel frequency,

and means for indicating said channel frequency of least interference on said player,

whereby the external FM receiver may be tuned to said channel frequency for receiving the output of the transmitter.

2. The wireless output input device player of claim 1, wherein said transmitter transmits an FM signal and said external receiver operates in the FM spectrum.

3. The player of claim 2, which further includes means for frequency synthesizing said integrated FM transmitter and said integrated FM receiver.

4. The player of claim 2, wherein said means for scanning includes means for monitoring the audio of the integrated FM receiver for static noise to determine the FM channel having the least amount of interference.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for indicating includes means for producing an audio cue in the event a better FM channel is found.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said means for indicating includes means for producing a visual cue in the event an FM channel of lesser interference is found.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said player can automatically switch FM transmission from monaural to stereo when audio performance is optimal.

8. The player of claim 1, wherein said means for scanning includes a digital signal processor for evaluating the peak to energy ratios and energy levels of the channel frequencies.

9. The player of claim 1, wherein said player further includes means for producing an audio and/or a visual cue in the event an FM channel frequency with less interference is found.

10. The player of claim 1, wherein said player further includes means for transmitting the digital data over the FM band.

11. A wireless output input device player for relaying a digitally synthesized analog frequency modulated radio frequency signal to an external FM receiver, said player comprising:

a digital storage device having means to decode compressed audio using a processor,

said processor having adequate processor power to provide necessary filtering, up sampling, modulation, pilot tone and sub-carrier generation for stereophonic signal generation,

an integrated FM transmitter for modulating the digitally encoded stereo or monaural output of the storage device to said external receiver,

said player having means for digitally stereo encoding audio to preserve the digital stream prior to stereo modulation at the FM transmitter, and

a digital frequency synthesizer under control of said processor providing FM broadcast band coverage.

12. The player of claim 11, which further includes an integrated FM receiver, and a wireless remote control operable to transmit control signals to said integrated FM receiver to control operation of said player.

13. The player of claim 12 wherein said remote control includes a low power CPLD driven by a watch crystal to provide periodic wake-up and transmit functions, a power controlled FM VCO, and means for programming the CPLD.

14. The player of claim 13, wherein said watch crystal is 32.768 kHz.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein means is provided to phase lock the VCO to said crystal.

16. The player of claim 11, which further includes means for transmitting and receiving digital data over the FM band.

17. The player of claim 11, which tuber includes a wireless remote control for sending data to the player using the synthesizer to control operation of the player.

18. The player of claim 11, which further includes means for automatically switching between stereo transmission and monaural transmission upon detecting a predetermined lower volume level or silence of the transmitted audio.

19. A wireless output input device player for relaying a digitally synthesized analog frequency modulated radio frequency signal to an external FM receiver, said player comprising:

a digital storage device having means to decode compressed audio using a processor,

said processor having adequate processor power to provide necessary filtering, up sampling, modulation, pilot tone and sub-carrier generation for stereophonic signal generation,

an integrated FM transmitter for modulating the digitally encoded stereo or monaural output of the storage device to said external receiver,

said player having means for digitally stereo encoding audio to preserve the digital stream prior to stereo modulation at the FM transmitter, and

a digital frequency synthesizer providing FM broadcast band coverage.

20. A wireless output input device player for relaying a digitally synthesized analog frequency modulated radio frequency signal to an external FM receiver, said player comprising:

a digital storage device having means to decode compressed audio using a processor,

said processor having adequate processor power to provide necessary filtering, up sampling, modulation, pilot tone and sub-carrier generation for stereophonic signal generation,

said sampling having a sample rate conversion of 5/2 that is used to up-sample the audio from 44.117 kHz to 110.294 kHz,

an integrated FM transmitter for modulating the digitally encoded stereo or monaural output of the storage device to said external receiver, and

a digital frequency synthesizer under control of said processor providing FM broadcast band coverage.