JPH04167610A - Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a channel selection operation by comparing identification data stored in first and second storage means when the reception electric field strength of a broadcast station with reception frequency stored in the first storage means is less than a reference value, detecting broadcast stations comprising the same network, and receiving selectively the frequency of the broadcast station with the highest reception electric field strength. CONSTITUTION:Memory 17, an input device 18, and a display device 19 are provided, and the first storage means 17a which stores the reception frequency of a specific broadcast station decided in advance and the identification data, and the second storage means 17b which stores the reception frequency, the identification data, and the reception electric field strength at every received broadcast station are provided at the memory 17. When the reception electric field strength of the broadcast station with reception frequency stored in the first storage means 17a is less than the reference value, the broadcast stations comprising the same network are detected by comparing the identification data stored in the first storage means 17a and the second storage means 17b, respectively with each other, and the reception frequency of the broadcast station with the highest reception electric field strength is received selectively. Thereby, it is possible to easily receive the broadcast stations comprising the same network at another area, and to simplify the selective operation of a receiver.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Overview Broadcasting stations in Europe, including West Germany, use frequency modulation broadcasting (FM) called RDS (Radio Data System), which simultaneously transmits various data signals along with audio signals.
Broadcasting) is taking place. By using the data signal, a listener can easily select and receive a desired broadcast station or program.

Furthermore, receivers having a preset function have been commercially available. The preset function is a function that stores a predetermined reception frequency corresponding to a preset button, and when the preset button is pressed, reads out the stored reception frequency and receives the reception frequency. This saves the listener the trouble of selecting a channel.

The receiver of the present invention is a receiver that selects a broadcast station by combining the above-mentioned RDS and preset function. The preset memory, which is the first storage means, stores reception frequencies of broadcast stations receivable in a predetermined specific area and identification data.

The second storage means stores reception frequencies, identification data, and reception field strengths of broadcast stations that can currently be received by the receiver. Therefore, in the predetermined specific area, for example, by operating a preset button, the corresponding reception frequency is read out from the first storage means and received. In addition, if the receiver is installed in a car or the like, and the reception area varies depending on the movement of the car, in other words, if the received electric field strength of the broadcasting station of the reception frequency stored in the first storage means is below the reference value. At this time, the identification data of the first and second storage means are compared to detect broadcasting stations forming the same network, and the reception frequency of the broadcasting station with the strongest received electric field strength is selected and received.

Therefore, broadcast stations forming the same network as receivable broadcast stations in a specific area can be easily received in other areas, and the channel selection operation of the receiver becomes simple.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a receiver that receives a broadcast in which a data signal representing information regarding broadcast content is superimposed on an audio signal.

2. Description of the Related Art Receivers equipped with a preset function have been commercially available in order to simplify the tuning operation for listeners. In this receiver, a reception frequency is stored in correspondence with a preset button, and when the preset button is pressed by a listener, the corresponding reception frequency is read out and received. This saves the listener the trouble of turning a tuning dial, for example, when selecting a radio broadcast.

Furthermore, in Europe, including West Germany, frequency modulation broadcasting (FM broadcasting) called RDS (Radio Data System), which superimposes data signals representing various information regarding the broadcast content with audio signals, has been carried out. ing.

The data signal includes a code signal called an AF code. The AF code is data representing the frequency of another broadcasting station, a so-called network station, broadcasting the same broadcasting content as that broadcasting station. Therefore, for example, if a radio receiver is installed in a car or the like, and the reception condition of the radio broadcast deteriorates as the car moves, the same broadcast content as that currently being received will be broadcast based on the AP code. You can listen to the broadcasting stations in order and select the frequency with the best reception.

This allows listeners of radio receivers to, for example, turn the tuning dial to determine whether the received broadcasts are the same broadcast or not, even if the reception of radio broadcasts deteriorates as they move from region to region. This can save you the trouble of selecting channels.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, by using the preset function and the AP code in RDS, it becomes easier to select a radio broadcasting station, and it also becomes possible to automatically follow a broadcasting station. However, the automatic tracking can only be performed with respect to the broadcasting stations that were being received by the receiver when moving regionally. Therefore, for example, when you move to another area while listening to a specific broadcasting station from among a plurality of preset broadcasting stations, automatic tracking of the specific broadcasting station being received based on the above-mentioned AP code, i.e. , it is possible to receive other broadcast stations that make up the same network, but even if you move to another area and select a broadcast station by pressing the preset button corresponding to another preset station, that broadcast station will not be received. and other broadcast stations that make up the network could not be received.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a receiver that can select and receive reception frequencies of other broadcast stations in a network that includes a predetermined specific broadcast station.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a network in which a plurality of broadcasting stations constitute a network, each broadcasting station constituting the same network has a different carrier frequency, and has identification data indicating that it is the same broadcast and belongs to the same network. and receives the broadcast and identification data, the receiver comprises: a first storage means for storing the reception frequency and identification data of a predetermined specific broadcast station; and a reception frequency and identification data for each received broadcast station. and a second storage means for storing the received electric field strength; and when the received electric field strength of the broadcasting station of the reception frequency stored in the first storage means is below the reference value, the received electric field strength is stored in the first and second storage means. receiving means for detecting broadcasting stations composing the same network by comparing respective identification data, and selecting and receiving the receiving frequency of the broadcasting station with the strongest received electric field strength. It is a machine.

According to the present invention, the first storage means stores, for example, reception frequencies of broadcast stations receivable in a predetermined specific area;
identification data is stored.

Further, the second storage means stores the reception frequency of the broadcast station received by the receiver, identification data, and reception electric field strength.

Therefore, in a predetermined specific area, the corresponding reception frequency is read out from the first storage means and received. In addition, if the receiver is installed in a car or the like and the reception area differs depending on the movement of the car, in other words, the received electric field strength of the broadcasting station of the reception frequency stored in the first storage means is less than the reference value. In this case, the respective identification data stored in the first and second storage means are compared to detect broadcasting stations configuring the same network, and among them, the receiving frequency of the broadcasting station with the strongest received electric field strength is selected. and receive it.

Therefore, broadcast stations forming the same network as receivable broadcast stations in a specific area can be easily received in other areas, and the channel selection operation of the receiver becomes simple.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a vehicle-mounted radio receiver 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention. antenna 2
The received signal is input to the detection circuit 4 via the front end circuit 3 and demodulated into an audio signal and a data signal. The audio signal is given to a speaker 6 via a low frequency amplifier 5 and converted into sound.

Further, the data signal is an AF signal in the RDS decoder 11.
It is commonly applied to the code decoder 12 and the PI code decoder 13, and the data decoded by these decoders 12 and 13 is input to a processing circuit 14 implemented by a microcomputer or the like.

An S meter detection circuit 15 is provided in association with the front end circuit 3, and this S meter detection circuit 15 receives an intermediate frequency output from the front end circuit 3, and performs DC detection on the intermediate frequency output. and outputs it to the processing circuit 14 as a detection output. The processing circuit 14 performs a phase-locked loop (hereinafter referred to as PL) based on the S meter output.
It is abbreviated as L. ) Data such as the N value is output to time B16, and the front end circuit 3 is caused to select a desired broadcasting station or to sweep the reception frequency.

In relation to the processing circuit 14, a memory 17 serving as first and second storage means, an input device W 18, and a display device 19 are provided.
and is provided. In the memory 17, an input device 18 is provided.
The receiving frequency preset by the input operation from the receiver is stored, and the AF code, PI code, PTY code, PS code, etc. obtained when receiving at that receiving frequency are also stored.

In response to the read operation from the input device 18, the processing circuit 14 reads information such as the N value and each code from the memory 17, causes the front end circuit 3 to perform a channel selection operation, and displays the display device. On one side, the receiving frequency, broadcasting station name, program type, etc. are displayed.

The data signal in RDS is composed of the following four main codes.

■PI code: The nationality and service area of the broadcasting station, and whether the station is a so-called local station that only broadcasts regional programs, or a so-called key station that broadcasts programs common to a relatively wide area. Indicates whether it is a network station.

■AF code: Represents the frequency of a so-called internet station that broadcasts the same broadcast content as that broadcast station.

■Represents the type of program such as PTY code, news, sports, music, traffic information, etc.

■PS code: represents the name of a broadcasting station using a so-called ASCII code.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the input device 18. Input device 18
There are preset buttons PRI to PR6, a memory key 1 to be operated when storing the received frequency in the preset buttons, and a 2 key to manually select a broadcasting station. 3 and 3 are arranged.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the stored contents of a preset memory 17a, which is a first storage means included in the memory 17. The preset memory 17a includes a plurality of individual areas A1 to A6.
is set. Individual areas Al to A6 correspond to the aforementioned preset buttons PRI to PR6, respectively.

A reception frequency storage column and a PI code storage column are set in each individual area.

The presetting operation in the radio receiver 1 will be briefly explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 [2I mentioned above. 2 on the dial key. After operating 3 to receive the desired broadcast station, press 1 on the memory key to select individual area A1.
In the reception frequency storage column of , the reception frequency of the broadcasting station currently being received, actually the N value given to the PLL circuit 16 from the processing circuit 14, is stored. At this time, the station that is currently being received, that is, the broadcasting station that has preset registration, is the broadcasting station that is transmitting data signals based on RDS (hereinafter referred to as RDS).
station), the PI code is stored in the PI code storage field.

By repeating the same operation as above, the individual area A2
~ Even for A6, the receiving frequency and its broadcasting station are RD
If it is an S station, the PI code is also stored. In this way, the preset registration of the receiving frequency in the preset memory 17a is completed. Thereafter, by pressing a desired preset button, the reception frequency (N value) is read out from the corresponding individual area, and the desired broadcast station is received.

412th! 1 is a diagram showing the stored contents of a frequency memory 17b, which is a second storage means included in the memory 17. FIG. A plurality of individual areas B1 to Bn are set in the frequency memory 17b. Each individual area has the reception frequency type and PI
A code field, an AP code field, and a received field strength field are each set.

Such a frequency memory 17b stores reception frequencies (N values) of RDS stations received by RDS search, which will be described later.
, PI code, AF coat, and received electric field strength are stored.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the radio receiver 1. In step a1, it is determined whether the broadcast station selected by the preset button PR is an RDS station.

If it is an RDS station, the process advances to step a2, and it is determined whether the RDS search is completed based on the RDS search completion flag. If not completed, step a3
Proceed to. In step a3, it is determined whether this is the first RDS search. If it is the first time, proceed to step a4 and radio reception fl! The N value that determines the tuning frequency of 1 is set to a predetermined lower limit value.

The second lower limit value corresponds to the smallest frequency in the predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band is the frequency band in which the RDS station is broadcast, that is, the frequency band of FM broadcast in a specific field or area. For example, in European countries, 87.5MHz to 108.0M
It is Hz.

In step a5, broadcast stations are received while changing the N value. When a broadcast station is received, in step a6, the N value (reception frequency), PI code, AF code, and reception field strength of the broadcast station currently being received by the radio receiver 1 are stored in the frequency memory described above. 17b.

Thereafter, in step a7, the N value is restored, and the broadcasting station corresponding to the preset button operated in step a1 is received.

In step a8, it is determined whether the received electric field strength of the broadcast station received by operating the preset button is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength. If the electric field strength is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength, the process returns to step a1, and if the electric field strength is less than the reference electric field strength, the RDS search completion flag is reset to, for example, 70'' in step a9, and the process returns to step a1.

In step a3, if the RDS search is not the first time, it is determined in step alO whether the N value is the upper limit value. The upper limit value corresponds to the highest frequency of the frequency band. If the N value is not the upper limit value, the process moves to step a5, where an RDS search is performed and the RDS
When a station is received, the N value, P■ code, AF code, and received field strength of the received broadcasting station are stored in the frequency memory 17b in the same manner as described above. Step al.

If the N value is the upper limit value in step a11, the RDS search completion flag is set to, for example, "rl", and the process returns to step a2.

If the RDS search is completed in step a2, detection of the same network station is performed in step a12. This detection operation is performed based on the PI code stored in the PI code storage column of the preset memory 17a and the PI code stored in the PI code column of the frequency memory 17b. In other words, if the P1 codes match, it is a same-power network station. In step a13, among the broadcast stations detected in step a12,
Select and receive the reception frequency of the broadcasting station with the strongest reception field strength.

As a result, even if a broadcast station cannot be received at the receiving frequency of the broadcast station registered in the preset memory 17a,
By performing an RDS search, the radio receiver 1 can search for RDS stations that are currently receivable, compare the PI codes, and select and receive reception frequencies of other broadcasting stations that constitute the same network. .

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step a8, and the operations of step a8, step a1, step a2, step a12, and step a1B are repeatedly executed.

During this operation, when the received electric field strength becomes equal to or less than the reference electric field strength in step a8, the RDS search is executed again to update the stored contents of the frequency memory 17b. As a result, even if the broadcast reception condition deteriorates due to movement of a car or the like in which the radio receiver 1 is installed, it is possible to select and receive the reception frequency of another broadcast station that broadcasts the same broadcast content. . Therefore, broadcasts can always be received in good reception conditions.

The frequency memory 17b also stores all reception frequencies of radio broadcasting stations that can be received by the radio receiver 1 at the time when the RDS search is executed, and the RDS transmitted by the broadcasting stations.
data is stored in the preset memory 17.
If the broadcasting station registered in a is an RDS station, even if the reception area changes, it is possible to select and receive other broadcasting stations that constitute the same network.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the currently received RD
Not limited to S stations, but any receiving area (service area) as long as it is an RDS station registered in the preset memory 17a.
Even in this case, a desired broadcast can be received simply by pressing the preset button PR. This simplifies the tuning operation for the listener of the radio receiver 1, which is particularly effective when the radio receiver 1 is mounted on a car or the like.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, for example, broadcast stations that constitute the same network as receivable broadcast stations in a specific area can be easily received in other areas, and the selection of receivers is simplified. Station operations become easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a radio receiver 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the input device 18, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the preset memory 17a.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the frequency memory 17b, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the reception operation of the radio receiver 1. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Radio receiver, 2... Antenna, 3... Front end circuit, 4... Detection circuit, 5... Low frequency amplifier, 6... Speaker, 11... RDS decoder,
12... AF code decoder, 13... PI code decoder, 14... processing circuit, 15... S meter detection circuit, 16... phase lock loop circuit, 17.
...Memory, 17a...Preset memory, 17b...
・Frequency memory, 18... Input device, 19... Display device, PRI to PR6... Preset button Agent Patent attorney Number of strokes Keiichi Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of broadcast stations constitute a network, and each broadcast station constituting the same network uses a different carrier frequency,
In a receiver that transmits the same broadcast and identification data indicating that it is the same network, and receives the broadcast and identification data, a first storage means for storing the reception frequency and identification data of a predetermined specific broadcast station. and a second storage means for storing a received frequency, identification data, and received electric field strength for each received broadcasting station, and a received electric field strength of a broadcasting station with a received frequency stored in the first storage means is a reference value. In the following cases, the respective identification data stored in the first and second storage means are compared to detect broadcasting stations that constitute the same network, and the receiving frequency of the broadcasting station with the strongest received electric field strength is selected. A receiver characterized in that it includes a receiving means for receiving the information.