Dual-mode transmitter

• US 7,110,731 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alert Technologies International
• Original Assignee: Alert Technologies International
• Inventors: Macone, Thomas, Butterworth, Brad R., Derome, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US10/735,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 455103-110, 455/108, 455/421, 455/113, 455/147, 455/59, 455/93, 455/127.4, 455/91, 455/118, 455/116, 455/205, 455/102, 455/521, 455/61, 455/108.3, 455/180.1, 455/404.1, 455/99, 455/124, 455/125, 455/183.1, 340/905, 340/539, 340/902, 340/904, 370/527, 370/529, 370/320, 370/336, 370/342, 370/343, 375/268, 375/270, 375/230, 375/350, 375/300, 375/321, 375/219
• US Class Current: 455/127.4
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/246 Signals or brake- or lighting devices mounted on the road vehicle and controlled from the vehicle or train
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes

Abstract

An emergency and non-emergency transmitter receivable by broadcast band receivers in nearby vehicles, comprising a first signal generator for simultaneously providing a plurality of selectively spaced carriers having frequency spacings corresponding to the individual channels of the band to be covered and selectively providing amplitude modulation when used for the AM broadcast band, and a second signal generator providing an FM modulated signal, which when combined with the signal from the first signal generator, covers various portions of the FM broadcast band to provide complete coverage thereof. A plurality of signals are generated in a portion of a selected band and modulated, according to the selected band mode, with a pre-stored and selectable voice alarm message. An EAS/RDS decoder monitors for emergency transmissions and deactivates the dual-mode transmitter if an EAS/RDS transmission is detected so that radios within the coverage area of the dual-mode transmitter will receive the EAS/RDS transmission.

Claims

1. A transmitter, comprising:

a multi-signal generator for simultaneously providing a plurality of signals within a portion of a selected frequency band and having a center frequency and relative frequency spacing of said simultaneous plurality of signals, wherein said multi-signal generator is a variable multi-signal generator for selectively adjusting said center frequency to cause said plurality of signals to cover a differing of the selected frequency band;

a modulator connected to said multi-signal generator for selectively and simultaneously modulating said plurality of signals;

a control unit for selectively controlling said multi-signal generator center frequency;

a decoder adapted to prevent a transmission of said plurality of signals in response to receipt of an emergency transmission.

2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said multi-signal generator further includes a wave memory for reproducing a selected waveform output signal providing said plurality of signals.

3. The transmitter of claim 2, wherein said wave memory output signal comprises a plurality of signals corresponding to a different portion of said selected band.

4. The transmitter of claim 3, wherein said control unit provides prestored waveforms selectively transferred to said wave memory to provide said plurality of signals on a corresponding portion of said selected band.

5. The transmitter of claim 2, further including a waveform converter connected to receive said reproduced selected waveform output signal and provide a converted output signal.

6. The transmitter of claim 5, further including an audio source comprising one of an audio memory for providing a prestored audio signal selected by said control unit, and a microphone, said audio source being selectively connected to said converter to therein amplitude modulate the waveform output signal.

7. The transmitter of claim 2, further including a programmable signal generator providing a programmable output signal and a mixer receiving said programmable output signal and said converted output signal and providing a mixer output therefrom, wherein said programmable output signal is selectively varied to provide a plurality of signals at different portions of a selected band.

8. The transmitter of claim 7, wherein said programmable signal generator is controlled by said control unit to selectively provide different output signals, which when received by said mixer, provides said plurality of signals corresponding to substantially all of said selected frequency band.

9. The transmitter of claim 8 further including a frequency modulator connected to said programmable signal generator for frequency modulating the output signal thereof according to an audio signal.

10. The transmitter of claim 9 further including an audio source comprising one of an audio memory for providing a prestored audio signal selected by said control unit, and a microphone, said audio source being selectively connected to said frequency modulator to modulate programmable signal generator output signal.

11. The transmitter of claim 10, further including an audio source comprising one of an audio memory for providing a prestored audio signal selected by said control unit, and a microphone, said audio source being selectively connected to said frequency modulator.

12. The transmitter of claim 7, further including a power amplifier selectively receiving from one of said mixer output signal and said converted signal, and providing a transmitter output signal.

13. The transmittal of claim 1 wherein said emergency transmission comprises an Emergency Alert System transmission.

14. The transmittal of claim 1 wherein said emergency transmission comprises a Radio Data Standard transmission.

15. The transmitter of claim 1 wherein said decoder is further adapted to activate a radio in response to receipt of said emergency transmission.

16. A dual-mode transmitter, comprising:

a first signal generator for simultaneously providing a plurality of carrier signals within a frequency band and having a relative frequency spacing, and including an amplitude modulator of said plurality of said plurality of signals according to a modulation signal;

a second signal generator for selectively providing a selectable frequency signal, and including a frequency modulator of said selectable frequency according to a modulation signal;

a mixer receiving the output signals of said first and second signal generators, and providing an output signal;

a power amplifier for selectively receiving said signals corresponding to said plurality of signals from said first signal generator and said mixer output signal, providing a signal to an antenna according to said selectively received signal;

a control means for selectably enabling said first signal amplitude modulator in a first mode, and said second signal generator frequency modulator in a second mode; and

a decoder for detecting an emergency transmission and adapted to disable the dual-mode transmitter so that said signal is not provided to said antenna.

17. The transmitter of claim 16 further comprising an audio source comprising one of an audio memory for providing a prestored audio signal selected by said control unit, and a microphone, said audio source being selectively connected to said amplitude modulator and said frequency modulator.

18. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said first signal generator comprises means for providing a plurality of signals in selected portions of said frequency band according to said control unit wherein said selected portions substantially comprise said frequency band.

19. The transmitter of claim 16, wherein said first signal generator comprises means for providing a plurality of signals in at least one selected portion of said frequency band according to said control unit, and said second signal generator provides said selectable frequency signal according to said control unit, wherein said mixer output signals comprise selected portions which substantially comprise said frequency band.

20. The transmittal of claim 16 wherein said emergency transmission comprises an Emergency Alert System transmission.

21. The transmittal of claim 16 wherein said emergency transmission comprises a Radio Data Standard transmission.

22. The transmitter of claim 16 wherein said decoder is further adapted to activate a radio in response to receipt of said emergency transmission.