Telecommunications – Receiver or analog modulated signal frequency converter – Signal selection based on frequency
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-09-11
Legree, Tracy (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Receiver or analog modulated signal frequency converter
Signal selection based on frequency
C455S154100, C455S154200, C455S157100, C455S158400, C455S161100, C455S161300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289207
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to radio receivers and, more particularly, to the integration of radio receiver functions in a computer such as a personal computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently available radio receivers include those which are dedicated and specially constructed for domestic, shortwave listening, scanning, amateur radio, and professional applications.
Domestic receivers usually have limited capabilities and performance. Shortwave receivers have better (but still limited) capabilities and performance, at a higher price. Many scanning receivers cover a wide range of frequencies, as much as 500 kHz to 512 MHz or more, and usually include a variety of scanning capabilities. However they are either limited to discrete frequency steps of approximately 5 kHz (which greatly reduces their ability to receive non-channelized signals), or else have mediocre RF performance, or both.
Amateur receivers have medium to high performance, but except for a few expensive units, have a limited frequency range. Professional receivers have high performance and capabilities, but are very expensive and outside the reach of all except professional and government users.
No receivers, which are generally available to the public, are capable of decoding received signals and making intelligent decisions based on the content of those signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio receiver having functions and capabilities which incorporate features from better quality radio receivers which are generally available to the public, including those intended for shortwave, scanning, and amateur applications and which can utilize a computer for user interface.
It is a further object to provide a radio receiver having a system for user control which can be readily understood and operated
Furthermore, a preferred object is to provide a radio receiver capable of decoding received signals into a form recognizable by a computer, and of utilizing the computer to process and store such signals.
Further preferred objects include:
(a) the receiver is comparable to currently available high quality and high performance scanners;
(b) the receiver can operate in conjunction with a DOS PC or Apple Macintosh computer;
(c) the receiver can comprise a card installed in a PC expansion slot;
(d) the receiver can include means for decoding digitally encoded signals such as morse code and radio teletype;
(e)the receiver should be able to be priced less than conventional radio receivers having similar capabilities.
According to the present invention there is provided a radio receiver comprising:
an RF tuner which is operative to receive an input RF signal from an antenna, the tuner including a frequency selector for determining the current selected frequency so that the tuner produces an output signal derived from the selected RF frequency and which can be supplied to a peripheral output device;
a control system coupled to the tuner so as to control the operation thereof including operation of the frequency selector;
a display screen coupled to the control system, the control system being operative to control the presentation of data and the presentation of user selectable inputs by the display screen;
an input peripheral device coupled to the control system and by means of which the user can input data or information or commands to the control system;
the control system including:
a tuner frequency display control operative to cause display on the display screen in real time of the current frequency being passed by the tuner; and
a tuner frequency select control responsive to input of a frequency change command by the user via the input peripheral device to cause the frequency selector of the tuner to change the current selected frequency of the tuner in accordance with the frequency change command.
Preferably the control system further includes:
a scan control selectively operable to cause the frequency selector of the tuner to change the current selected frequency of the tuner by a first desired incremental frequency step size; a receiver operating mode control operative to cause display on the display screen in real time of the current mode of operation of the tuner, the mode of operation including at least the current frequency band of the tuner operation;
a stepping size memory for storing a magnitude of the first frequency step size by which the tuner frequency is to be changed when the scan control is operating and for storing a second desired incremental frequency step size by which the tuner frequency is to be changed when the user inputs the frequency change command to step up or to step down from the instantaneous selected tuner frequency; and a mode and step size switch responsive to the tuner frequency select control and/or to the scan control and operative if the current selected frequency enters a different band when it is being changed to automatically change the tuner to the appropriate mode of operation for the different band and to automatically retrieve from the stepping size memory the appropriate first or second frequency step size for the different band for use in controlling incremental frequency changes of the current selected frequency. These features of the preferred embodiment help make the operation of the receiver simple for the user.
The tuner frequency select control is preferably operative to cause display on the display screen of an image of a user selectable tuner frequency modifier, the control system being operative, firstly, in response to user selection of the tuner frequency modifier image via the input peripheral device, to cause the frequency selector of the tuner to change the current selected frequency of the tuner in accordance with the user selection, the tuner frequency modifier image comprising an image of an analogue tuning dial having markings to indicate a simulated rotational position of the dial and, secondly, when the user selects the dial and inputs the frequency change command via the input peripheral device to cause the frequency selector of the tuner to change the current selected frequency, the tuner frequency select control causes display on the display screen in real time of an animation of rotation of the dial for as long as the frequency change command is being input. Also, the control system preferably further includes a stepping size memory for storing a desired incremental frequency step size by which the tuner frequency is to be changed when the user inputs the frequency change command to step up or to step down from the instantaneous tuner frequency. These features give the user interface by which the user operates the radio receiver a natural operating feel.
The control system may further include:
a scan control selectively operable to cause the frequency selector of the tuner to change the current selected frequency of the tuner by scanning through different frequencies; a scan mode control operative to cause display on the display screen of an image of a user selectable scan mode modifier, the control system being operative, in response to user selection of the image of the scan mode modifier via the input peripheral device to enable the frequency selector of the tuner to commence to automatically scan through frequencies different from the current selected frequency of the tuner when the scan control is operated, the scanning occurring according to a mode of scanning selected by the user from the modes:
(i) a first mode consisting of scanning of the frequency up or down from the current selected frequency in steps of a first desired incremental frequency step size,
(ii) a second mode consisting of scanning of the frequency through a defined range of frequencies, and
(iii) a third mode consisting of scanning of the frequency through a number of specific frequencies stored in a frequency memory; and a stepping size memory for storing a magnitude of the first desired incremental frequency step size by which the tuner frequency is to be changed when the scan control is ope
Grove Bob
Hudecek Milan
Carver Stephen D.
Davis Temica M.
Legree Tracy
Rosetta Laboratories Pty. Ltd.
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