Integrated digital radio module

• US 7,587,167 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Timothy, Zerod, Richard D., Bator, Philip M., Tidmarsh, Neil A., King, Jack H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SIMON
• Application Number:
  US11/370,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455132-133, 455/140, 455/152.1, 4551832-1861, 455/272, 455344-351, 4555521-5531, 455/569.2, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02

Abstract

An audio entertainment system having a primary circuit board with a processor in communication with an antenna input, an audio output and a connector. The processor is configured to detect the presence of the digital audio circuit board and to output an audio signal to the audio output based on the wireless signal. The wireless signal may be an AM, FM or digital satellite signal.

Claims

1. An audio entertainment system, the system comprising:

a primary circuit board having a processor in communication with a first antenna input and a second antenna input and an audio output, the first antenna input being configured to receive a first wireless signal having at least one channel and the second antenna input being configured to receive a second wireless signal having at least one channel;

a tuner in communication with the processor and the audio output;

a connector in communication with the second antenna input, the audio output and the processor, the connector being configured to engage a corresponding connector of a digital audio circuit board, the processor being configured to detect when the digital audio circuit board is connected to the connector;

the audio output being configured to receive a first audio signal from the tuner and to receive a second audio signal from the digital audio circuit board; and

the processor configured to instruct the tuner to output the first audio signal to the audio output, the first audio signal being based on the at least one channel of the first wireless signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor being configured to prevent the outputting of the first audio signal to the audio output when the second audio signal is being outputted to the audio output.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the digital audio circuit board being in communication with the second antenna input, the audio output and the processor via the connector, the digital audio circuit board also being configured to receive the second wireless signal from the second antenna input and to output the second audio signal to the audio output, the second audio signal being based on the at least channel of the second wireless signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor being configured to prevent the outputting of the first audio signal to the audio output when the second audio signal is being outputted to the audio output.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor of the primary circuit board further comprises a control signal output and the digital audio circuit board further comprises a control signal input, the control signal output being connected to the control signal input by the connector;

the processor being configured to output a channel selection signal to the digital audio circuit board via the control signal output, whereby the digital channel selection signal instructs the digital audio circuit board to output to the audio output a specific channel of the second wireless signal;

the processor being configured to a output cancelling signal to the digital audio circuit board via the control signal output, whereby the cancelling signal instructs the digital audio circuit board to not output any channel of the second wireless signal to the audio output.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a casing substantially encapsulating the digital audio circuit board;

a housing surrounding the primary circuit board and the digital audio circuit board, the housing having a wall portion in proximity to the digital audio circuit board;

the casing being in thermal communication with the wall portion, whereby heat generated by the digital audio circuit board is transferred to the wall portion via the casing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless signal is at least one of an AM radio signal and a FM radio signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless signal is a satellite radio signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector is a 44 pin connector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary circuit board further comprises a digital to analog converter in communication with the audio output, whereby the digital to analog converter converts to an analog signal the second audio signal.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a speaker system being in communication with the first and second audio signals whereby the speaker system converts the analog signal to an audible sound.

12. A vehicle audio entertainment system, the system comprising:

a primary circuit board to be located within the vehicle, the primary circuit board having a processor in communication with a first antenna input and a second antenna input and an audio output, the first antenna input being configured to receive a first wireless signal having at least one channel and the second antenna input being configured to receive a second wireless signal having at least one channel;

a connector in communication with the second antenna input, the audio output and the processor;

a digital audio circuit board removeably connected to the connector and in communication with the second antenna input, the audio output and the processor via the connector, the digital audio circuit board being configured to receive the second wireless signal from the second antenna input and to output the second audio signal to the audio output, the second audio signal being based on the at least channel of the second wireless signal;

a tuner in communication with the processor and the audio output;

the processor being further configured to detect if the digital audio circuit board is connected to the connector;

the audio output being configured to receive a first audio signal from the tuner and a second audio signal from the digital audio circuit board; and

the processor being configured to output the first audio signal to the audio output, wherein the first audio signal is based on the at least one channel of the first wireless signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor being configured to prevent the outputting of the first audio signal to the audio output when the second audio signal is being outputted to the audio output.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor of the primary circuit board further comprises a control signal output and the digital audio circuit board further comprises a control signal input, the control signal output being connected to the control signal input by the connector;

the processor being configured to output a channel selection signal to the digital audio circuit board via the control signal output, whereby the digital channel selection signal instructs the digital audio circuit board to output to the audio output a specific channel of the second wireless signal; and

the processor being configured to a output a canceling signal to the digital audio circuit board via the control signal, whereby the cancelling signal instructs the digital audio circuit board to not output any channel of the second wireless signal to the audio output.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a casing substantially encapsulating the digital audio circuit board;

a housing surrounding the primary circuit board and the digital audio circuit board, the housing having a wall portion in proximity to the digital audio circuit board, wherein the casing is in thermal communication with the wall portion and heat generated by the digital audio circuit board is transferred to the wall portion via the casing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first wireless signal is at least one of an AM signal and a FM signal.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the second wireless signal is a digital satellite signal.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the connector is a 44 pin connector.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the primary circuit board further comprises a digital to analog converter in communication with the audio output, whereby the digital to analog converter converts the at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to an analog signal.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a speaker in communication with the digital to analog converter, the speaker configured to convert the analog signal to an audible sound.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is installed in a vehicle.