Broadcast receiver system for a car, comprising a plurality of receivers, with decoding of supplementary data contained in the broadcast programme

p0001The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving system, in particular an RDS radio receiver system with an input / output unit having a plurality of associated receiver units and a method for receiving broadcasts using this radio receiver system. There are radio receiver known as so-called A-tuner devices that a single tuner unit, a control unit, a signal processing unit and a single exhibit in a housing / output unit. The received through the antenna and the antenna cable to the radio receiver supplied antenna signal is demodulated in the tuner unit and evaluated according to the quality, adapted to the signal conditioning unit to Klangeinstellparametern and amplified and sent to the outputs, especially the speakers. In addition, received data such as the program identification tag or other data to the signals in the display of the input / output unit are also displayed in the broadcast signal. If, in a A--tuner AUTOBEST Rundfunkempfängsgerät the signal received by the one tuner part broadcasting signal worse than an intrinsic quality, so an attempt is made by the control unit to set a different frequency on the same station, which has a better signal. During this time, the signal processing is interrupted by the signal processing unit, as for this time no broadcasting reception is supplied to a defined frequency with sufficient quality. This leads to interruptions - so-called mute breaks - in the output audio signal. These interruptions are the more disturbing the more often an attempt is made to find a better signal and switch the tuner unit to this frequency. Apart from the unpleasant to the listener interrupts playback, the A tuner device may prove quite large, since they need to be installed in a vehicle at least the 1-DIN slot to accommodate the necessary functional units in the vicinity of the user.

p0002Furthermore, so-called double or multiple-tuner devices are known. In these known devices, two or more parts with a tuner control unit, a signal processing unit are housed in a housing which is associated with a common antenna. These double- or multiple-tuner devices each tuner parts are switched on several alternative frequencies and set the same transmitter. Here the best tuner signal controlled by the control unit is directed to the signal conditioning unit, which ensures the audio signal output via the output unit. These devices are due to the interaction of the different tuner parts with a common antenna to control very complex, because it is always determine which tuner part at a given moment receives the best signal and must therefore be switched through to the signal processing unit and which of the other of these must be separated. Since the various functional units interact with each other, they require a huge organizational effort, since the problems of having all functional units of the double or multiple-tuner receiver more difficult in a single housing. Thus, the advantage of these devices to ensure a achieved by the simple switching of two identical received radio signals of different frequencies mute-free switching, accompanied by a number of electrical, physical and organizational disadvantages.

p0003Furthermore, radio receiver with antenna diversity arrangements are known. Such arrangements can show a radio receiver having at least one tuner part and a plurality of antennas, one of which can be switched by a switch on the antenna input of the radio receiver, respectively. Such radio receivers with antenna diversity arrangement have when used in motor vehicles acquired a special significance, since the selection of the best antenna and thus the best received signal depends on the orientation and the position of the vehicle. In this known antenna diversity arrangements, the selection of the antenna according to the quality of the antenna signal is always determines a set frequency. These receiving systems exhibit a satisfactory to good reception quality, as long as an antenna on the selected frequency provides a good to very good antenna signal. However, if the case that none of the antennas on the selected frequency provides a sufficiently strong signal, either the selected frequency with the poor reception signal to the tuner and will therefore directed to the output unit, which leads to a poor playback signal, or it must be the receiver be interrupted - mute breaks - and at this time selected an alternate frequency and switched to this. It is therefore clear that such antenna diversity arrangements are capable of only limited to ensure interference-free reception

p0004The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a broadcast receiving system and a method for operating such a radio receiver system which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

p0005This object is solved by the radio receiver system with the features of claim 1 and the method of operating such a radio receiver system with the features according to claims 7 or eighth

p0006Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

p0007According to the radio receiver system is designed as a decentralized system having an input / Ansgabeeinheit and several of these remote receiving units. Each of the receiving units is a control unit, a tuner part u nd a signal processing unit with a digital interface, and at least one its associated antenna. The receiver units are connected to the input / output unit via a connecting line for digital signals through decentralization succeeds in a particularly advantageous way to arrange the individual units to the appropriate for their functional positions of the vehicle where not like in the console of the vehicle due the required operability for the user for a variety of devices always an enormous space shortage the decentralization succeeds now, no longer having to point this attention to the space requirement and thereby be able to form effective solutions in particular as regards Störeinstrahlfestigkeit, temperature stability and good stable frequency responses what previously had to be in favor of a smaller design. Thereby the sensitivity of the radio receiver system is significantly reduced against failure or malfunction due to external influences or disturbances external devices by the radio receiver system itself.

p0008By assigning a tuner part to each receiving unit succeeds, that one and the same radio receiver system without additional hardware alone by appropriately controlling both the frequency diversity system, as well as antenna diversity system as well as a combination of antenna and frequency diversity system can work. In frequency diversity system, the receiving units operate with the associated antennas at different frequencies from the same transmitter, wherein the one receiving unit receives the privilege, which can give the best quality signal from the same transmitter to the input / output unit. In antenna diversity mode, the receiving units operate with the associated tuner parts at the same frequency, whereby the fundamental differences in the orientation and position of the antennas make an impact and thus the most suitable for the receiving antenna can be selected. But since it is not only to select the best frequency, ie the tuner itself or the antenna itself, but the combination of tuner part and antenna, so the system according to the invention proves to be optimized radio receiver system for both the frequency and also the antenna diversity operation. In both modes, the reciprocal influences of tuner parts and the antennas are taken into account when assessing the quality of information provided to the output unit signal, whereby the really best signal comes to play. In the described radio receiver system so all significant influencing factors of the tuner section and the antennas are also considered.

p0009It does not matter in which the receive mode, the radio receiver system operates, whether in the exclusive frequency diversity operation, the, exclusive antenna diversity mode or in an operating mode, which is a mixture of the two types of operation, in which a part of the reception units are operated as a diversity antenna group at a single frequency of a transmitter and one or more other units, including antenna diversity group are operated at different frequencies and the same transmitter. In both the particular advantages of Summary of the tuner parts with associated antenna to a receiving unit are recognizable

p0010According to the invention the receiving units and the input / output unit are interconnected via a connecting line for digital signals. This digital connecting line, in addition to the control signals between the input / output unit and the receiving units, as well as under the receiving units, for example, replaced as a Qualitatsinformationen to the signals received or transmitted, also transmit the digitized audio, or digital intermediate frequency signals. By using such interconnections for digital signals and transmitting the signals between the components in the form of digital signals, the influence of noise on the transmission path between the components let reduce significantly as can be corrected by various correction mechanisms possibly resulting transmission errors. It is particularly advantageous that the frequency of Übertragunsfehler largely independent of the length of the transmission line and thus the reduction of transmission errors by choosing the form of transfer directly and through the possibility of using the appropriate correction mechanisms almost regardless of the dezentraliesten Stuktur the radio receiver system particularly effizeint given is.

p0011Each receiving unit receives the one or by different ones of the antennas associated with an antenna signal, which is processed by the respective tuner part and evaluated according to its quality. The conditioned signal is digitized together with the signal quality and transmitted to the communication line for transmission to the respective other receiver units or to the input / output unit via the digital interface. The control of each receiver unit is provided by a separate control unit. This control unit ensures in addition to controlling the receiver via the tuner part quality assessment and the digitization of processed data, as well as the delivery of the digitized data to the connecting line or the reception or the handdown received from another receiving unit digital data. The hatches will always be the case if the quality of data of the received signals are better than the processed in the own tuner part signals. In this case, the own received signals are not passed on to the input / output unit. Overloading the receiving system by unnecessary data on the connecting line is thereby prevented in a simple and safe manner.

p0012By the broadcast receiving system described a secure receiving at a high reception quality is with optimized space allocation ensured, because it is possible that the broadcast receiving system, both the advantages of frequency diversity system, and the antenna diversity system can use at the same time, the respective advantages are exacerbated by the real quality factors come into play, and not, as in the prior art, only the quality factors alone individual predictors thereof.

p0013According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the receiving units and their associated antennas or the associated antenna are disposed in close proximity to each other, ie that the receiving units are preferably positioned in the region of the antenna base. This makes it possible to reduce interference in the path between the antenna and the receiver unit to the tuner portion, thereby increasing the signal quality significantly. This is all the more significant when one considers that the antenna signals of very low signal strength and noise interference of other components of the automobile, for example, by the ignition, can be greatly disturbed. As a preferred embodiment has been found to connect the receiving units and the associated antenna to a spatially compact unit, i.e., preferably, the receiving unit to be integrated in the antenna base. Thus, the interference on the signal from the antenna can be minimized to the receiving unit, which can still be reinforced by the common housing around the antenna to the receiving unit. This housing is preferably formed of electrically conductive material, whereby an increased and improved electromagnetic shield in the manner of a Faraday cage can be achieved. The processed via the antenna and the receiver unit, digitized broadcasting signals are then, as they are largely transmitted without interference via the connecting lines directly or indirectly via other receiving units to an output unit and published there audibly amplifier units and speakers for the user. This leads to an optimized, low noise reproduction of the broadcasting signal.

p0014According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the receiving units and the input / output unit are connected by the connecting line to form a ring. This can be the organizational effort for the management and distribution of digitized data substantially reduce, because each component of the ring relative to the other components in a single unbranched series disposed. Obtaining the input / output unit, so it is ensured by this arrangement that all receiving units have already received this broadcast signal before and passed the signal present on the ring depending Oualität of their own received signal or its own input to the ring have a digital broadcasting signal , In this way it is ensured that always the best reception signal is given for transmission on the ring and finally arrives at the user when the input / output unit for playback.

p0015Due to the optimized form of organization in the form of a ring, the control effort and thus the hardware cost can be significantly reduced, which the vulnerability and susceptibility of the entire system is further reduced. In addition, allows the shortened due to reduced overhead, time necessary for setting the system to new reception conditions a much better reception result, particularly in fast and frequently changing reception conditions as flags in mountains. As advantageous has been found, the connection lines for the transmission

p0016form of optical signals. This can be done by means of optical fibers that are connected to the receiving units and the input / output unit and get irradiated by these digital optical signals and remove it from the optical waveguides. A transmission of digital signals over optical fiber reduces the susceptibility to interference in particular of electromagnetic interference pulses, which in turn the quality of the reproduction benefits.

p0017According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a control unit is provided in the input / output unit, which ensures the global control of the radio receiver system. This global control determines the parent function of the individual receiver units to each other, that is, which receiver unit is subject to the frequency diversity mode or the antenna diversity mode. The control data required is exchanged via the connection line. This case, individual reception units in turn are grouped into groups that have a cross-group control. This cross-group control is still centrally managed by the global control in the input / output unit. This hierarchical structure of the organization a safe, total systemic defined operation of the broadcast receiving system is ensured. For example, the central higher-level control in the input / output unit to recognize whether the receiving units are defective and no longer available. If only a single receiver unit into operation, the central higher-level control will cause that an emergency operating mode takes effect which this realizes the function of an ordinary A tuner Autobest-broadcast radio one remaining receiving unit. Furthermore, this central higher-level control while adding another receiver unit can adapt its reception strategy specific to the new circumstances. This is done by the receiving units regularly or or at least when the system leave your position and your number of input / output unit, which depending selects its reception strategies. This can automatically without mechanical or electrical interference in the system to identify and indicate the location when adding a new receiver unit or in the removal of a receiver unit a the circumstances matched control of the entire receiving system by means of the hierarchical structured management organization be guaranteed. This allows the different reception modes pure antenna diversity mode, choose to pure frequency diversity operation over a mixed operation with possibly varying number of participants in a mode of operation in a preferred manner according to the respective receiving situation without it requires a specifc intervention of the user. According to another preferred embodiment, the receiving units are designed with their control units so that the global control of the entire receiving units, even if they are summarized in part or all in one or more groups, depending on the number, depending on the location of the receiving units or place of the receiving units associated antennas, assume or accept depending on characteristics of the tuner parts and related factors influencing the quality of reception can. In the event that the receiving units have taken over the global control or have held, the control function of the receiving system is made only in the very limited extent by the input / output unit. The control is mainly limited to the processing of the input / output unit via the connection line supplied digital signals, that is, for example, control of sound processing or controlling the gain and the like, as well as control of the man-machine interfaces and the definition and communication of the selected transmitter (eg SWF 3) reference to an exemplary reception frequency, a transmitter identification tag or other identification of the selected channel to the receiver units via the connecting line. In such an embodiment of the invention the receiving units may be identical in particular provided with the same control, thereby creating a very flexible reception system is formed. The receiving units can in this, case independently without the interposition of the input / output unit determine how many receiver units for receiving are available and choose according to this and similar information, the current possibly revised terms matched reception strategy. Especially mixed reception strategieën, emergency strategieën or intergroup strategieën are possible and show the advantages mentioned above. The decentralized control by the receiving units allows also in case of failure of the input / output unit but the whole operation of the receiving units and the output from the input / output unit in accordance with the interference reduced scope. In this case, each of the receiving units adopt alone or in conjunction with one or more of the other receiving units, the global control of the receiving system. This is a defect of a receiving unit is the effect of not directly empfangsverhindernd or receiving disturbing.

p0018Preferably, the receiving system is designed so that it in the distribution of tasks between the receiving units in addition to the current, changing conditions, for example due to the position of the vehicle in which the radio receiver system is installed, and basic characteristics of the receiving unit are benücksichtigt with the associated antennas , Without being limited to this example is such a fundamental property of the reception characteristics of an antenna of a certain type. Displays an antenna in the upper half of the FM band particularly good reception characteristics while exhibiting very poor in the lower half, the receiving unit will regularly come up with this antenna only for FM reception frequencies in the upper half of the FM band to use and at the bottom of other receiving units. Any such conditions can result in preferred tasks within a frequency or antenna diversity mode. An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 and will be described in more detail below. The radio receiver system 1 comprises an input / output unit 2 and four receiving units 3, which are connected to the input / output unit 2 via an annular connecting line. 9 Each receiving unit 3 shows a control unit 4 and two digital interfaces 7, one of which is adapted to receive the digital signals of the ring, and for feeding the digital signals from the receiving unit 3 into the connecting pipe 9. Further, the receiving units 3 are each a tuner portion 5, and a signal processing unit 6, which can also be combined into a single unit. Each receiving unit 3 are assigned to one or more antennas eighth By the antennas 8, an antenna signal, which is optionally formed of a plurality of antenna signals is supplied to the tuner unit 5 which this processed together with the signal processing unit 6 to an audio signal and provides a quality evaluation. Depending on the quality review the received and processed signal is given in digital form via the digital interface 7 to the connecting line 9 to be forwarded to the input / output unit 2, when on the connecting line 9 from the others Before Applicable receiving units 3 a worse signal is transmitted. If the signal from the preceding receiving unit better or equally well, so that is via the interface 7 received signal to the other port 7 to be fed into the connecting line 9 to be forwarded to the input / output unit 2 passed. The input / output unit 2 receives the digital signal via its interface 7 and prepares the audio signal controlled by the control unit 10 through the amplifier 12 with associated signal conditioning in the form of balance, fader, treble, bass, pseudo-stereo , equalizer regulations on to it then to the speakers 13, only one of the drawn forward. By the Man-Machine-Interface 11, via which the user of the broadcast receiving system 1 can make its settings as station selection as loudness setting as tone adjustment, or similar, the corresponding these settings digital control commands or digital control data via the control unit 10 of the inputs are / output unit 2 and the interface 7 routed to the receiving units 3 and their control units 4 or the amplifier 12th Accordingly, the digital control data, the addressed by these receiving units 3 or the amplifier 12 to accept a corresponding behavioral patterns. In particular, is determined by this control data which receiving units 3 will work as antenna diversity units on a given common frequency and which to accept the function of frequency diversity receivers. In the context of this operation, the received broadcast signals are processed and added with control data in the form of quality data as digital data into the annular connecting line. 9 According to the quality of data, the digital broadcast data verden on the connecting line 9 in each receiving unit 3 by either there receiving and processed broadcast data replaced or simply passed unchanged to the input / output unit. 2 The control unit 10 takes in the input / output unit 2, the cross-system control of the receiving units 3, while the controls 4 local or may control a group of receiving units 3 with a corresponding or same task is performed in the receiving units. 3 In this way, a hierarchical organization structure is given with a few levels of the hierarchy in the described example, 2 or 3, the organization which simplifies and limits the holding data to be transmitted via the connecting line. 9 Regularly send the receiving units 3 a message to the input / output unit 2 from where they Their presence, their configuration - similar one or more connected antennas, FM or AM tuner part, general reception quality - And their position - third device in the ring or installation trunk - specify. Based on this status data, the controller 10 of the input / output unit 2 is set the reception strategy. Standing a larger number of receiving units available is a mixed antenna / frequency diversity strategy be used in a small number, for example 2 or 3 receiver units is regularly only a pure reception strategy are applied and the failure of all the receiving units 3 to a only remaining active receiving unit 3 is assigned to the emergency strategy of a single-receiver Autobest tuner. In this case will be communicated via the man-machine interface 11 to the user of the failure of the different receiver units 3 preferably with indication of their positions, so that the user can conduct the repair or replacement of the defective receiving units 3 in the way. As the control unit 10 reacts to the failures of receiving units 3 so they recognize on the basis of the status messages adding one or more further receiving units 3 and adjusts the reception strategy to the system-related conditions to. Decisive for a low-interference possible reception is another arrangement of the receiving units 3 with their associated antennas 8 in close proximity, which is indicated in Figure 1 by direct bonding of these elements. This has the consequence that the installation of the receiving unit 3 is determined by the position of one or more associated antennas. 8 Represent the 8 disk antennas antennas is, the corresponding receiving unit 3 is disposed as close to the disc, where appropriate in the context of the disc. Ask the antennas 8 ordinary rod antenna is in the fender area, then housed in the antenna the associated receiver unit, which reduces the length of the antenna line to an absolute minimum. If the antenna furthermore be provided with the receiver unit with a housing according to a Faraday cage, which is not shown in Figure 1, the EMI can be reduced finally to a minimum level. The input / output unit 2 with its man-machine interface 11 is arranged in the region of the console of the vehicle where the user can make the operation of Rundfunkemfangssystem 1 without reducing its attention from the road. Here, the input / output unit 2 take over not only function for the radio receiver system 1 alone but also to other electrical or electronic components in the vehicle, such as air conditioning, navigation, telephone or the like. Not least because of the limited and coveted space in the console in a particularly efficient way for the input and output of information is used by and to the user and therefore not wasted for the processing of antenna signals or the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0019<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>1.</dt><dd>Radio receiver system</dd><dt>. 2</dt><dd>Input / output unit</dd><dt>. 3</dt><dd>receiving unit</dd><dt>. 4</dt><dd>Control unit of the receiving unit</dd><dt>. 5</dt><dd>tuner part</dd><dt>. 6</dt><dd>Signal conditioning unit</dd><dt>. 7</dt><dd>digital interface</dd><dt>8th.</dt><dd>antenna</dd><dt>. 9</dt><dd>connecting line</dd><dt>10th</dt><dd>Control unit of the input / Ansgabeeinheit</dd><dt>11th</dt><dd>Man-Machine Interface</dd><dt>12th</dt><dd>amplifier</dd><dt>. 13</dt><dd>speaker</dd></dl>