KR20050026291A - Automatic radio broadcasting setting apparatus of a car audio and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for automatically tuning a radio broadcast of a car audio are provided to improve convenience by using radio channel data containing preference radio channel classified in days and time. A radio module unit includes a key input unit(400), an AM/FM(Amplitude Modulation/Frequency Modulation) tuner(150), an electronic volume controller(250), and a speaker(350). A clock(500) outputs days and time data. A data storing unit(550) stores a frequency of a present channel and the day and time data as a grouping data according to a key input signal provided from the key input unit(400). A controller(600) controls each unit according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit(400). The controller(600) compares present day and time data provided from the clock(500) with the day and time data stored in the data storing unit(550) to control a tuning operation to automatically seek a broadcast channel corresponding to the grouping data.

Description

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio broadcasting automatic tuning apparatus for car audio, and a method thereof. In particular, a frequency of a radio broadcasting channel that the user enjoys listening to is pre-stored for each day and time zone, and the user can save the frequency according to each time zone of each day. The present invention relates to a radio broadcasting automatic tuning device for car audio and a method of automatically tuning a frequency of a favorite radio broadcasting channel so that a user can easily listen to a favorite radio broadcasting.

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 modernized people. A tuner, cassette deck and the like 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) for automatically searching for a broadcast channel transmitted from a broadcast station at the current driving position. The radio tuner performs a 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 above a predetermined electric field strength. Search for the received broadcast frequency and store it in a specific key.

However, for users who frequently listen to radio broadcasts, in order to listen to their favorite radio stations by day and time zone, the frequency of the favorite radio channel must be memorized in each time zone on each day of the week, and manually Because of the need to tune the frequency of, not only is it inconvenient to use, but also interferes with the safe operation, especially when driving on the highway there is a problem that can cause serious accidents.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to store the frequency of the radio broadcast channel that the user enjoys in advance for each day and time zone, by using the user according to each time zone of each day The present invention provides a radio broadcasting automatic tuning apparatus for car audio, which automatically tunes frequencies of favorite radio broadcasting channels so that users can easily listen to their favorite radio broadcasting.

In order to achieve the above object, the car audio automatic tuning device for car audio of the present invention includes a key input unit, an AM / FM tuner unit, and an electronic volume control unit so as to capture AM / FM broadcast wave so that a user can listen to a desired broadcast channel. And a radio module unit including a speaker; A clock unit configured to output current day and time data; Operation of each part according to the data storage unit for grouping and storing the frequency of the currently tuned broadcast channel according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit and the day and time data corresponding thereto, and the key input signal provided from the key input unit. And a controller for comparing the current day and time data provided from the clock unit with the day and time data grouped in the data storage unit one by one to automatically tune to the frequency of the corresponding broadcasting channel. Is done.

In the above-described configuration, the key input unit is a specific storage key for grouping and storing the frequencies of a certain radio broadcasting channel by day and time zone, and automatic tuning for automatically tuning the frequencies of radio broadcasting channels stored in advance according to each time zone of each day of the week. It is preferred to include the key.

In the audio broadcasting automatic tuning method of car audio according to the present invention, in the audio broadcasting automatic tuning method of car audio, (a) when the radio power of the car audio is turned on, it is determined whether the automatic tuning key of the key input unit is input. Doing; (b) searching and tuning a frequency of a broadcast channel desired by a user when the automatic tuning key is not input as a result of the determination in step (a); (c) when a specific storage key of a key input unit is input, grouping the frequencies of the tuned broadcast channel together with the current day and time data and storing them in the data storage unit; (d) continuously receiving and returning the frequency of the tuned broadcast channel; and (e) when the automatic tuning key is input as a result of the determination in step (a), the day of the week stored in advance in the data storage unit; And sequentially changing the time data to compare the current day of the week and the time data, and tune and return the frequency of the corresponding broadcast channel.

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 functional block diagram schematically illustrating an apparatus for automatic radio broadcasting of car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the car audio automatic tuning device for 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 150 that separates radio waves of a desired frequency from radio waves captured by the antenna 100; A signal processing unit 200 for separating a voice signal from radio waves separated by the AM / FM tuner unit 150; An electronic volume control unit 250 for adjusting amplification degree of the audio signal output from the signal processing unit 200 by a volume control key (not shown); A power amplifier 300 that amplifies the voice signal according to the amplification degree controlled by the electronic volume controller 250; A speaker 350 converting and outputting the voice signal amplified by the power amplifier 300 into sound waves so that a user can hear the sound signal; A key input unit 400 for receiving various key operation signals for controlling the operation of the car audio from the driver; A display unit 450 which displays an operating state of the car audio so that the driver can easily see the car audio; A clock unit 500 for outputting current day and time data; A data storage unit 550 for grouping and storing the frequency of the broadcast channel selected by the key input unit 400 and the day and time data corresponding thereto; The operation of each unit is controlled according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit 400, and the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500 is compared with the day and time data stored in the data storage unit 550. A control unit 600 for controlling the automatic tuning to the frequency of the corresponding broadcast channel; It includes a power supply unit 650 for supplying the operating power to each of the parts.

In the above-described configuration, the key input unit 400 includes a channel selection key for selecting a radio broadcasting 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 particular, although not shown in the key input unit 400, a specific storage key for storing the frequency of any radio broadcast channel grouped by day and time zone; It is equipped with an automatic tuning key for automatically tuning the frequency of a radio broadcasting channel stored in advance according to each time zone of each day.

The key input unit 400 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 450 is preferably implemented as a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD), but is not limited thereto. The display unit 450 may be implemented as an LED display panel or a plasma display panel (PDP). May be

The clock unit 500 outputs a clock signal representing the current day and time to designate the current day and time of the day and time of the week. At this time, the clock unit 500 outputs the day and time by counting a predetermined unit time every one week. Here, the counting unit time is preferably made in units of 1 hour (hour).

The data storage unit 550 may be implemented as a flash memory capable of continuously storing data even when the power is cut off, as well as 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 data stored in the data storage unit 550 stores the frequencies of the broadcast channels according to each time zone of each day in order.

For example, Monday (8: 00-MBC FM 91.9MHz, 11: 00-KBS1 AM 711KHz, 14: 00-SBS FM 107.7MHz, 17: 00-CBS FM 93.9MHz, 20: 00-KBS2 FM 89.1MHz), Tuesday (7-KBS1 FM 93.1 MHz, 9 o'clock-MBC FM 95.9 MHz, 16 o'clock-PBC FM 105.3 MHz, 19 o'clock-KBS1 AM 711KHz, 24 o'clock-MBC FM 95.9 MHz), Wednesday (8 o'clock-MBC FM 91.9 MHz, 10 o'clock-PBC) FM 105.3 MHz, 14:00-SBS FM 107.7 MHz, 18:00-KBS2 FM 89.1 MHz, 22:00-MBC FM 95.9 MHz), Thursday (8-KBS1 AM 711KHz, 12-SBS FM 107.7 MHz, 15:00-KBS1 FM 93.1MHz, 19: 00-MBC FM 91.9MHz, 23: 00-CBS FM 93.9MHz, Friday (6 pm-MBC FM 91.9MHz, 9 pm-KBS1 FM 93.1MHz, 14: 00-KBS1 AM 711KHz, 13: 00-SBS FM 103.5 MHz, 21: 00-MBC FM 95.9 MHz), Saturday (1 AM-KBS1 FM 91.3 MHz, 6 AM-MBC FM 91.9 MHz, 14: 00-KBS1 AM 711KHz, 16: 00-SBS FM 107.7 MHz, 20 PM-MBC FM 95.9MHz), Sunday (7 am-MBS FM 95.9MHz, 12 am-SBS FM 107.7MHz, 15: 00-KBS2 FM 89.1MHz, 17: 00-CBS FM 93.9MHz, 22: 00-KBS1 FM 93.1MHz) do.

In addition, the controller 600 may be implemented as a conventional one-chip microcomputer (MICOM), that is, a microprocessor.

In addition, the control unit 600, when there is a key input signal from the specific storage key, the data storage unit 550 grouping the frequency of the currently listening broadcast channel with the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500 The corresponding day and time data stored in the data storage unit 550 and the current day and time data stored in the data storage unit 550 when there is a key input signal from the automatic tuning key. Control the frequency of the tuner automatically.

The power supply unit 650 is preferably provided in the vehicle to use a conventional battery (Battery) power source for operating the electric / electronic components of the vehicle, but is not limited to this, it is also possible to use a battery power provided separately.

In addition, the power supply unit 650 is preferably configured so that power is always supplied to the clock unit 500 even when the vehicle is turned off.

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 600 which reproduces the audio signal stored in the cassette tape under the control of the control unit 600. A compact disc player (CDP) for reproducing the audio signal recorded on the disc may be provided.

Hereinafter, the radio broadcasting automatic tuning method of 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 tuning radio broadcasting of car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, first, the process proceeds to step S10 to determine whether the radio power of the car audio is turned on, and when the radio power is turned on, the process proceeds to step S20 so that the automatic tuning key Determine if it is entered.

As a result of the determination in step S20, when the automatic tuning key is not input, the process proceeds to step S30 where the key input unit 400 searches for the frequency of the broadcasting channel desired by the user, for example, KBS2 FM 89.1 [MHz] manually or automatically. The station tunes in and listens. For example, the user may manually search for and tune into the frequency of the desired broadcast channel using the UP / DOWN key, which is not shown, or the frequency of the desired broadcast channel may be automatically searched for using the auto search key. And tune in to listen.

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 process proceeds to step S40 to determine whether the specific storage key is input. If the specific storage key is not input, the process returns to step S20 to determine whether the automatic tuning key is continuously input. On the other hand, when the specific storage key is input, the process proceeds to step S50 to store the frequency of the tuned broadcast channel together with the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500 in the data storage unit 550. .

Next, the flow advances to step S60 to continuously receive and return the frequency of the tuned broadcast channel.

On the other hand, when the automatic tuning key is input as a result of the determination in step S20, the flow advances to step S70 to display the day and time data previously stored in the data storage unit 550 at a predetermined time interval, for example, 1 to 2 [msec. ] It is determined one by one at intervals in order to determine whether it matches the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500.

As a result of the determination in step S70, when the day and time data previously stored in the data storage unit 550 matches the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500, the process proceeds to step S80 and the frequency of the corresponding broadcast channel. Is tuned and returned.

On the other hand, when the determination result in step S70 does not match the day and time data previously stored in the data storage unit 550 and the current day and time data provided from the clock unit 500, the process returns to step S20 to select the automatic channel selection. Continue judging whether a key has been entered.

Accordingly, according to the present invention, an automatic radio broadcasting tuning apparatus for a car audio and a method thereof may store, in advance, the frequency of a radio broadcast channel that the user enjoys, by day of the week and time of day, by using the user according to each time zone of each day of the week. By automatically tuning the frequencies of the favorite radio stations, users can easily listen to their favorite radio stations.

Although a preferred embodiment of the radio broadcasting automatic tuning apparatus for car audio and the method according to the present invention described above has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, but 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 broadcasting automatic tuning apparatus for car audio according to the present invention as described above and the method thereof, the frequency of the radio broadcasting channel that the user enjoys listening to is stored in advance for each day and time zone, and used in each time zone of each day by using the same. Accordingly, by automatically tuning the frequency of the radio broadcast channel that the user enjoys listening, there is an advantage that the user can easily listen to the favorite radio broadcast.

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a radio broadcasting automatic tuning apparatus for car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically tuning radio broadcasting of car audio according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

100: antenna, 150: AM / FM tuner section,

200: signal processing unit, 250: electronic volume control unit,

300: power amplifier, 350: speaker,

400: key input unit, 450: display unit,

500: clock part, 550: data storage part,

600: control unit, 650: power supply unit

Claims (3)

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 clock unit configured to output current day and time data; A data storage unit grouping and storing the frequency of the currently tuned broadcast channel and the day and time data corresponding thereto according to the key input signal provided from the key input unit; The operation of each unit is controlled according to a key input signal provided from the key input unit, and the current day and time data provided from the clock unit and the day and time data grouped in the data storage unit are compared one by one. And a control unit for controlling automatic tuning to a frequency of a corresponding broadcasting channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the key input unit comprises: a specific storage key for storing the frequency of an arbitrary radio broadcasting channel in groups by day and time zone; And an automatic tuning key for automatically tuning a frequency of a radio broadcasting channel stored in advance according to each time zone of each day of the week. In the radio broadcasting automatic tuning method of car audio, (a) determining whether the automatic tuning key of the key input unit is input when the radio power of the car audio is turned on; (b) searching and tuning a frequency of a broadcast channel desired by a user when the automatic tuning key is not input as a result of the determination in step (a); (c) when a specific storage key of a key input unit is input, grouping the frequencies of the tuned broadcast channel together with the current day and time data and storing them in the data storage unit; (d) continuously receiving and returning frequencies of the tuned broadcast channel; and (e) When the automatic tuning key is input as a result of the determination in step (a), the corresponding day and time data stored in advance in the data storage unit are sequentially changed and compared with the current day and time data. Tuning and returning the frequency of the broadcast channel radio broadcasting automatic tuning method for car audio, characterized in that made.