Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-28
2004-09-07
Gelin, Jean (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
active
06788955
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to an expansion of the functional capabilities of the radio communication apparatus. The expansion provides for the checking of the various functional settings previously made for performing communication to determine if any of the settings have been modified at a later stage before resumption of the communication, and if so, notification is made to facilitate restoration of the functional settings to their original states.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, most radio communication apparatuses contain a microcomputer circuit therein to allow control of various functions by manipulating switches and dials.
Thus, a plurality of push-button switches and dial knobs are provided for an operation panel of a radio communication apparatus. A lot of radio communication apparatuses employ a system of displaying on their liquid display section settings associated with main functions.
To take an example, as shown in
FIG. 6
, a main unit
1
of an amateur radio transmitter-receiver has a plurality of switches and knobs disposed in a rational manner for ease of operation. Further, several switches are provided in a microphone
2
for enabling quick operation. The specific functions of these switches and knobs are as follows:
(1) An AF volume knob
11
adjusts a received sound volume.
(2) An SQL (squelch) knob
12
is used for eliminating noise in the absence of a signal.
(3) The SQL knob
12
serves as an RF GAIN knob
13
as well. The RF GAIN knob
13
is used to adjust a gain of a receiving section. According to a selected menu mode, switching is performed between the RF GAIN knob
13
and the SQL knob
12
.
(4) A CLAR (clarifier) switch
14
is employed when a SELECT knob
15
is used to perform a CLAR function of changing a receiving frequency alone without changing a transmitting frequency.
(5) The SELECT knob
15
is used to perform functions of setting a frequency, selecting a memory channel, setting an IF shift, clarification, and selecting a menu mode by switching, according to an operation status.
(6) A multifunction switch
16
is used to perform various functions, and the assigned functions to be performed are switched by a FUNC switch
18
.
(7) A DSP (digital signal processor) switch
17
controls a built-in DSP to perform switching between a DSP NR, a DSP AUTO NOTCH, a DSP BPF mode. The DSP NR is a function of canceling a succession of noise in the frequency band, and the DSP AUTO NOTCH is a function of reducing a beat tone of a received signal. The DSP BPF is a function of controlling a lower cut-off frequency a higher cut-off frequency separately in a BPF function of the DSP to remove radio interference and compensate a receiving frequency response, and adjusting a BPF center frequency to follow a BFO pitch in a CW mode.
(8) A FUNC (function) switch
18
switches the assigned functions of the multifunction switch
16
.
(9) UP and DWN (down) switches
19
switches operation bands.
(10) A MODE switch
20
switches emission modes, and each time the switch is turned ON, the mode is sequentially switched from an LSB, a CW, an AM, to an FM mode. Further, each time the switch is continuously pressed for five seconds or longer, the mode is sequentially switched from a USB, a CWR, a DIG, to a WFM mode.
(11) An indicator lamp
21
shows a transmission/reception status. The indicator lamp
21
turns red in a transmit mode and turns green in a receive mode.
(12) Though a DIAL (dial) knob
22
is mainly used to make a frequency adjustment, it also makes various adjustments according to functional settings made by the FUNC switch
18
.
(13) A PWR (power) switch
23
turns power ON or OFF.
(14) A VFO/MR switch
24
performs switching between a VFO scanning function and a memory channel scanning function.
(15) A STEP switch
25
switches steps during the frequency adjustment.
(16) A HOME switch
26
calls various frequencies used frequently.
(17) A LOCK switch
27
locks settings that have been made by using switches and knobs on the operation panel.
(18) A PTT switch
28
sets the transmit mode when turned ON, and sets the receive mode when turned OFF.
(19) UP and DWN (down) switches
29
perform the same control as the UP and DOWN switches
19
in the main unit
1
.
(20) A LOCK switch
30
performs the same control as the LOCK switch
27
in the main unit
1
.
(21) An ACC switch
31
calls a home channel of a frequency band being currently used.
(22) A P switch
32
performs the same control as the VFO/MR switch
24
in the main unit
(23) P1 and P2 switches
33
are used for a shift from a lower frequency band to a higher frequency band in a step set by the STEP switch
25
.
Recently, various functions of a radio communication apparatus are realized or utilized in the above-mentioned manner by manipulation of a single switch or knob or a combination of any of switches and knobs. Essential data in functional settings made by this manipulation is displayed on a liquid crystal display section (indicated by reference numeral
40
in
FIG. 6
) in the form of numbers and icons.
In the case of the amateur radio transmitter-receiver described above, the number of functions set by various manipulations often exceeds one hundred functions, and even if they are confined to the main functions used frequently during normal operation, the number of the main functions often exceeds a dozen.
Accordingly, even a skilled operator seldom correctly grasps all of the functional settings during operation. Let us assume the case where communication has been suspended for a change of operator and then communication is resumed by the former operator. In this case, complete restoration of the original functional setting states is extremely difficult, if any of the modifications in the functional settings has been made after the change of operator.
If the settings made by using the switches and knobs are locked by means of the LOCK switch
27
, the operation by the subsequent operator becomes invalid. Thus, a modification in the functional settings can also be made invalid. However, when communication is made by the subsequent operator, switching of the transmit and receive modes by means of the PTT switch
28
alone becomes valid. Functional settings to other radio modes and frequencies, and communication with a change in the received sound volume, however, cannot be performed.
Further, by means of the HOME switch
26
, the return to several home channels alone can be performed. However, these channels have to be registered in advance, and a channel to be used is changed frequently in a step-by-step manner during practical operation. For this reason, use of the HOME switch is not effective in solving the problem described above.
Further, in automobile-mounted radio communication apparatuses, an unintended erroneous operation tends to occur. To take an example, inadvertent touching on a dial instead of a switching operation to cause a change in frequency can be pointed out.
In such a case, in order to continue the communication that has been being performed so far, it is necessary to urgently restore the functional settings to their original states. However, the operator is not informed of the immediately preceding functional settings, so that in this situation, he is often at a loss as to what to do.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a radio communication apparatus with an expansion of functional features. The expansion is such that, the apparatus can check whether any of the functional settings for a previous communication are modified in a current communication, and if so, notification is made to facilitate restoration of the functional settings to their original states for the previous communication.
The present invention is applied to a radio communication apparatus in which a microcomputer circuit of the
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht
Gelin Jean
Vertex Standard Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Radio communication apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Radio communication apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radio communication apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3237014