KR20040072742A - Automatic radio frequency setting apparatus of a car audio and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and a method for tuning automatically a radio frequency of a car audio system are provided to tune automatically the radio frequency regardless of traveling regions by storing local reception frequencies in local frequency groups according to each broadcasting channel. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for tuning automatically a radio frequency of a car audio system includes a reference sensitivity storage unit, a received frequency storage unit, a reception sensitivity measurement unit, and a CPU. The reference sensitivity storage unit(910) stores a reference sensitivity value. The received frequency storage unit(920) stores local reception frequencies in local group units according to each broadcasting channel. The reception sensitivity measurement unit(930) measures a reception sensitivity value according to an output signal of an AM/FM tuner. The CPU(940) is used for controlling operations of each unit according to a key input signal, comparing the reception sensitivity with the reference sensitivity and tunes automatically a corresponding frequency according to a mobile region.

Description

AUTOMATIC RADIO FREQUENCY SETTING APPARATUS OF A CAR AUDIO AND METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a radio frequency automatic setting device and method of the car audio, and in particular, the reception frequency for each region according to each radio broadcasting channel is stored in advance for each group, and when the vehicle moves to another region by using this, the movement according to the same broadcasting channel The present invention relates to a radio frequency automatic setting device for car audio and a method for automatically setting a reception frequency of a region so that a vehicle can continuously listen to a designated broadcast even when moving to another region.

In general, a car audio system mounted on an instrument panel of a vehicle is an audio system that allows a user to listen to high-quality music in a car in order to meet the demands of modern people whose lives are generalized. And a cassette deck are provided. In addition, a compact disk player (CDP) or the like may be provided as an option to listen to various music while driving according to the driver's taste.

In order to listen to the radio broadcast in the car audio system configured as described above, the driver turns on an automatic search key (not shown) that automatically searches for a broadcast channel transmitted from a broadcasting station at the current driving position. The radio tuner performs tuning according to the electronic tuning method and is synchronized with a preset tuning frequency among broadcast frequencies that can be received, for example, FM 87.5 [MHz] to 108 [MHz], and exceeds a predetermined electric field strength. Retrieves the received broadcast frequency and stores it in a specific key

On the other hand, such radio broadcasting uses different frequencies for each broadcasting channel due to mutual interference between the transmitting stations relaying the broadcasting signals.

That is, in case of KBS2 FM broadcasting, it receives 89.1MHz in Seoul / Gyeonggi area, 102.1MHz in Daejeon area, and 90.5MHz in Gwangju area. By transmitting at a different frequency, listeners listen to radio broadcasts on different frequencies, depending on the region.

However, vehicles provide more maneuverability to people, and not only move within one area, but often move from one area to another. Accordingly, the driver must change the broadcasting frequency again whenever the radio transmission station moves to another area, and if the channel memory function is used to memorize frequently-listed stations, the memory channel is useful only in one area and the other area. Because it is impossible to receive in, it is inconvenient to manually adjust the frequency again.

As such, since the radio frequency of the vehicle is operated in accordance with the main operating region frequency, for example, when the radio frequency is moved to another region, the radio frequency is reset or the memory is impeded. There is a problem that can cause an accident.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to store the reception frequency for each region according to each radio broadcast channel in advance by group, by using this to move the vehicle according to the same broadcast channel when moving to another region By automatically setting the reception frequency of the region, it is to provide a radio frequency automatic setting device of the car audio that can continuously listen to the specified broadcast when the vehicle moves to another region.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the radio frequency automatic setting device of the car audio of the present invention includes a key input unit, an AM / FM tuner, and an electronic volume control unit so as to capture AM / FM broadcast radio waves so that a user can listen to a desired broadcast channel. And a radio module unit including a speaker; A reference sensitivity storage unit for storing a reference sensitivity value for determining whether broadcast reception is possible; A reception frequency storage unit for storing a reception frequency for each region according to each broadcasting channel for each group; A reception sensitivity measurement unit for periodically measuring a reception sensitivity value by the signal output from the AM / FM tuner unit, and controlling the operation of each unit according to a key input signal provided from the key input unit; A central processing unit for comparing and determining the reception sensitivity value measured from the reference sensitivity value, and changing each local frequency of the same broadcast channel grouped in the reception frequency storage unit one by one so as to automatically set the reception frequency suitable for the mobile area. It is made, including.

In addition, a method of automatically setting radio frequency of car audio, the method comprising: (a) searching for and setting a receivable frequency of a broadcast channel desired by a user when the vehicle is powered on; (b) receiving a sensitivity value of a reception frequency of the set broadcast channel measured periodically; (c) determining whether a received sensitivity value of the received frequency is greater than a pre-stored reference sensitivity value; (d) if the received sensitivity value of the received frequency is greater than the reference sensitivity value as a result of the determination in step (c), continuously receiving and returning the frequency of the current broadcast channel; and (e) the step ( As a result of the determination in c), when the received sensitivity value of the received frequency is smaller than the reference sensitivity value, the reception frequency of another region for the same broadcast channel stored in advance is sequentially changed and returned to the step (b). And receiving the sensitivity value of the reception frequency of the changed area periodically measured.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for automatically setting radio frequency of car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically setting radio frequency of car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols on main parts of drawing ***

100: antenna, 200: AM / FM tuner unit,

300: signal processing unit, 400: electronic volume control unit,

500: power amplifier, 600: speaker,

700: key input unit, 800: display unit,

900: control unit, 910: reference sensitivity storage unit,

920: reception frequency storage unit, 930: reception sensitivity measurement unit,

940: central processing unit, 950: power supply

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is presented by way of example only.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for automatically setting radio frequency of car audio according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for automatically setting radio frequency of car audio according to the present invention includes: an antenna 100 for capturing AM / FM broadcast radio waves transmitted from a broadcasting station; An AM / FM tuner unit 200 that separates radio waves of a desired frequency from radio waves captured by the antenna 100; A signal processor 300 for separating a voice signal from radio waves separated by the AM / FM tuner 200; An electronic volume control unit 400 for adjusting amplification degree of the audio signal output from the signal processor 300 by using a volume control key (not shown); A power amplifier 500 that amplifies the voice signal according to the amplification degree controlled by the electronic volume controller 400; A speaker 600 for converting and outputting the voice signal amplified by the power amplifier 500 into sound waves so that a user can hear it; A key input unit 700 which receives various key operation signals for controlling the operation of the car audio from the driver; A display unit 800 which displays an operating state of the car audio so that the driver can easily see the car audio; A controller 900 for controlling the entire system according to a key input signal provided from the key input unit 700; It includes a power supply unit 950 for supplying the operating power to each of the parts.

In the above-described configuration, the key input unit 700 includes a channel selection key for selecting a radio broadcast channel transmitted from the antenna 100, although not shown in the drawing; A memory key provided with a plurality of memory keys for storing the selected radio reception channel in a specific numeric key; A volume key for adjusting a signal size of a received broadcast channel and an auto search key for automatically searching a broadcast channel for a broadcast frequency band that can be received at a current location are provided.

In this case, the automatic search performed is the frequency of the broadcasting channel transmitted from each broadcasting station. For example, for FM broadcasting in Seoul, the MBC radio broadcasting channel is 91.9 MHz, the traffic broadcasting (TBS) is 94.5 MHz, and the SBS radio broadcasting is 107.7. Scanning is sequentially performed whether there is a broadcast signal received from a preset broadcast channel such as MHz.

The key input unit 700 may also be provided with a plurality of operation keys for operating other devices (eg, a cassette deck and a compact disc player) of the car audio system.

The display unit 800 is preferably implemented as a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD), but is not limited thereto. The display unit 800 may be implemented as an LED display panel or a plasma display panel (PDP). May be

The control unit 900 includes a reference sensitivity storage unit 910 for storing a reference sensitivity value for determining whether broadcast reception is possible; A reception frequency storage unit 920 in which a reception frequency of each region according to each broadcast is grouped and stored; A reception sensitivity measuring unit 930 which periodically measures a reception sensitivity value by a signal S-Meter signal output from the AM / FM tuner unit 200; The operation of each unit is controlled according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit 700, and the reception sensitivity storage unit 930 compares the reception sensitivity value measured by the reception sensitivity measurement unit 930 with the reference sensitivity value. And a central processing unit 940 for controlling each local frequency of the same broadcast channel stored in 920 to be automatically set to a reception frequency suitable for a mobile area.

Here, the control unit 900 may be implemented as a conventional one-chip microcomputer (MICOM), that is, a microprocessor (MicroProcessor).

The reference sensitivity storage unit 910 may be implemented as an external ROM connected to the outside of the control unit 900 or an internal ROM provided in the control unit 600.

In this case, the reference sensitivity value stored in the reference sensitivity storage unit 910 may be represented by a signal-meta signal (S-Meter) output from the AM / FM tuner unit 200, that is, a voltage value changed according to electric field strength. As it is, it is stored as a fixed value of a predetermined criterion for determining that broadcast reception is possible.

The reception frequency storage unit 920 may not only continuously store data even when the power is cut off, but may also be implemented as a flash memory capable of reading or rewriting arbitrary data. That is, the flash memory may include a flash ROM or an electrically erasable ROM, that is, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

At this time, the reception frequency stored in the reception frequency storage unit 920 stores the frequencies for each broadcasting channel in order.

For example, KBS1 FM (Seoul / Gyeonggi 91.3MHz, Busan 92.7MHz, Daegu 89.7MHz, Gwangju 92.3MHz, Daejeon 98.5MHz, Jeonju 100.7MHz, Masan / Changwon 93.9MHz, Chuncheon 91.1MHz, Gangneung 89.1MHz, Wonju 89.5MHz, Cheongju 102.1MHz), KBS2 FM (Seoul / Gyeonggi 89.1MHz, Busan 97.1MHz, Daegu 101.3MHz, Gwangju 90.5MHz, Daejeon 102.1MHz, Jeonju 96.9MHz, Masan / Changwon 91.7MHz, Chuncheon 99.5MHz, Gangneung 98.9MHz, Wonju 95.5MHz , Cheongju 90.9MHz) and the like.

The reception sensitivity measurement unit 930 is preferably implemented in hardware, but is not limited thereto. The reception sensitivity measurement unit 930 may also be implemented in software.

In addition, the central processing unit 940 may be implemented with a typical CPU (CPU). In addition, the central processing unit 940 receives the sensitivity value of the reception frequency of the broadcast channel set by the key input unit 700 in the current region from the reception sensitivity measurement unit 930 and receives the reception sensitivity of the reception frequency of the provided set broadcast channel. Compares a value with a reference sensitivity value previously stored in the reference sensitivity storage unit 910 so that the current reception sensitivity value is smaller than the reference sensitivity value, the other region of the same broadcast channel stored in the reception frequency storage unit 920 is determined. By sequentially changing the receiving frequency one by one, and comparing the received sensitivity value and the reference sensitivity value of the changed reception frequency of the other region with each other, and automatically setting the frequency of the corresponding region, that is, the moving region, when it is larger than the reference sensitivity value. For example, even if a user moves a broadcasting channel that is listening in the current region to another region, the user can continuously listen to it.

The power supply unit 950 is preferably provided in the vehicle to use a conventional battery (battery) power source for operating the electrical / electronic components of the vehicle, but is not limited to this, it is also possible to use a battery power provided separately.

On the other hand, although not shown in the reference drawings of the present invention, the car audio system of the present invention is compact under the control of the cassette deck and the control unit 900 for performing the reproduction of the audio signal stored in the cassette tape under the control of the control unit 900 A compact disc player (CDP) for reproducing the audio signal recorded on the disc may be provided.

Hereinafter, the radio frequency automatic setting method of the car audio of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described in detail.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically setting radio frequency of car audio according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is clarified that the control unit 900 performs the subject.

As shown in FIG. 2, first, the process proceeds to step S10 to determine whether the vehicle power source, that is, the start is ON, and when the vehicle is started, the process proceeds to step S20 to the key input unit 700. ) To manually or automatically search for a reception frequency (89.1 MHz) of a broadcasting channel desired by the user, for example, KBS2 FM, in the current region, for example, Seoul / Gyeonggi-do, and set and listen to it. For example, the user may manually search for and set a broadcast channel desired by the user using the UP / DOWN key, or the user may automatically search for and set a broadcast channel desired by the user using the auto search key. can do.

In this case, a method of searching for a receivable frequency of the broadcast channel may be generally realized by using a signal S-Meter, that is, a method in which a voltage is changed according to electric field strength (for example, Korean Patent Publication No. 2000). -0008238, Korean Patent Publication No. 2001-0001798, and the like). Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the flow proceeds to step S30 to receive the reception sensitivity value of the currently set broadcast channel frequency from the reception sensitivity measurement unit 930, and proceeds to step S40 the received reception sensitivity value is previously received in the reference sensitivity storage unit 910. Determine if it is greater than the stored reference sensitivity value.

As a result of the determination in step S40, if the received sensitivity value of the provided current broadcast channel frequency is greater than the reference sensitivity value, the process proceeds to step S50 to continuously receive and return the frequency of the current broadcast channel.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that the received sensitivity value of the received current broadcast channel frequency is smaller than the reference sensitivity value, the process proceeds to step S60 and the same broadcast channel stored in the reception frequency storage unit 920 (KBS2 FM). Change the receiving frequency in different regions by one by one in order of time interval of the small intestine, for example 1 ~ 2 [msec] (for example, Busan 97.1MHz, Daegu 101.3MHz, Gwangju 90.5MHz, Daejeon 102.1MHz, Jeonju) 96.9MHz, Masan / Changwon 91.7MHz, Chuncheon 99.5MHz, Gangneung 98.9MHz, Wonju 95.5MHz, Cheongju 90.9MHz), and step S30 to provide the sensitivity value of the reception frequency of the region changed by the reception sensitivity measurement unit 930. Receive.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the reception frequency of each region according to each radio broadcasting channel is stored in advance by group, and when the vehicle moves to another region, the vehicle frequency is automatically set to the reception frequency of the moving region according to the same broadcasting channel. In addition, the mobile station can not only continuously listen to the designated broadcast when moving to a station, but also, when the driver moves to another area, there is no need to manually adjust the frequency for the broadcasting channel.

Although the preferred embodiment of the radio frequency automatic setting apparatus and method of the car audio according to the present invention described above has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. It is possible to carry out various modifications and this also belongs to this invention.

According to the radio frequency automatic setting apparatus and method of the car audio according to the present invention as described above, the reception frequency for each region according to each radio broadcasting channel is stored in advance for each group, and the same broadcasting channel is used when the vehicle moves to another region using the same. By automatically setting the receiving frequency of the moving area according to the user, the user can continuously listen to the designated broadcasting even when the vehicle moves to another area, and furthermore, when the driver moves to another area, the frequency for the broadcasting channel manually set manually in the past There is no need to adjust, there is an advantage that can be convenient and stable operation.

Claims (2)

A radio module unit including a key input unit, an AM / FM tuner unit, an electronic volume control unit, and a speaker to capture AM / FM broadcast radio waves so that a user can listen to a desired broadcast channel; A reference sensitivity storage unit for storing a reference sensitivity value for determining whether broadcast reception is possible; A reception frequency storage unit for storing a reception frequency for each region according to each broadcasting channel for each group; A reception sensitivity measurement unit for periodically measuring a reception sensitivity value by a signal output from the AM / FM tuner unit; The operation of each unit is controlled according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit, and the reception sensitivity value measured by the reception sensitivity measurement unit is compared with the reference sensitivity value, and stored in a group stored in the reception frequency storage unit. The apparatus for automatically setting radio frequency for car audio, comprising a central processing unit for controlling each local frequency of the same broadcasting channel to be automatically set to a reception frequency for a moving area. In the radio frequency automatic setting method of car audio, (a) searching for and setting a reception frequency of a broadcast channel desired by a user when the vehicle is powered on; (b) receiving a sensitivity value of a reception frequency of the set broadcast channel measured periodically; (c) determining whether a received sensitivity value of the received frequency is greater than a pre-stored reference sensitivity value; (d) continuously receiving and returning the frequency of the current broadcast channel if the reception sensitivity value of the provided frequency is greater than the reference sensitivity value as a result of the determination in step (c); and (e) If the reception sensitivity value of the received frequency is less than the reference sensitivity value as a result of the determination in the step (c), the reception frequency of another region for the same broadcast channel stored in advance is sequentially changed; and (b) returning and receiving the sensitivity value of the reception frequency of the changed region periodically measured.