Back to results
US 3,996,521 AGranted
Signal-seeking radio receiver with band tuning and selecting means
AssigneeRegency Electronics, Inc.
InventorKenneth R. Owens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A signal-seeking radio receiver is disclosed which can be programmed to receive 20 different channels in any combination of three bands with a minimum of switching circuitry. Additionally disclosed is tuning circuitry for tuning the receiver in response to the programming to either the upper or lower portion of any given band.
Claims18
In a stepping radio receiver for production of audio signals from radio frequency signals and capable of tuning to several separate channels on a plurality of bands, which radio receiver includes:
- a. a pre-IF section having an RF signal receiving means, mixer means, and an oscillator means;
- said pre-IF section being operable on a plurality of distinct bands;
- b. said RF signal receiving means being for providing sufficient RF signal level for said mixer means;
- c. said mixer means being coupled to the RF signal receiving means;
- d. an audio detection means coupled to said mixer means for producing an audio signal when an RF signal is being received, said audio detection means including squelch means for preventing the production of an audio signal when an RF signal is not being received;
- e. said oscillator means being coupled to said mixers and operable at a given several frequencies, there being one frequency for each channel to which the receiver can tune;
- f. stepping means which is defeatable and which has several outputs which are coupled to said oscillator means for stepping said oscillator means through said given several frequencies;
- g. locking means which is connected to the stepping means for defeating said stepping means as long as an RF signal is being received and allowing resumption of operation of said stepping means when no signal is being received;
- h. a programmable band-selecting means connected to the pre-IF section of the receiver and to the stepping means for determining the band of operation of the receiver;
- i. said programmable band selecting means including a plurality of enabling means, each enabling means being for enabling operation on one of the bands;
- The improvement which comprises:
- a programmable band selecting means having
- 1. several wires and several first type of connecting elements, each wire having at its first end a first type of connecting element and being coupled at its second end to a respective one of the outputs of said stepping means;
- 2. a first plurality of a second type of connecting elements which are of a design which permits them to mate with said first type of connecting elements, each element of said first plurality being
- a. electrically connected to the second end of a respective one of said several wires regardless of any mating with a first type of connecting element and
- b. coupled to a respective one of the outputs of said stepping means regardless of any mating with a first type of connecting element;
- and
- 3. a second plurality of a second type of connecting elements which are of a design which permits them to mate with said first type of connecting elements, said second plurality being distinct and separate from said first plurality, each connecting element of said second plurality coupling regardless of any mating with a first type of connecting element to a respective one of said enabling means for enabling operation on one of the bands.
15 more elements
In a stepping radio receiver for production of audio signals from radio frequency signals and capable of tuning to several separate channels, which radio includes;
- a. a pre-IF section having an RF signal receiving means, a mixer, and an oscillator means;
- b. said RF signal receiving means being for providing sufficient signal level for said mixer;
- c. an audio detection means coupled to said mixer for producing an audio signal when an RF signal is being received, said audio detection means including squelch means for preventing the production of an audio signal when an RF signal is not being received;
- d. said oscillator means being coupled to said mixers and operable at a given several frequencies, there being one frequency for each channel to which the receiver can tune;
- e. stepping means which is defeatable and which has several outputs which are coupled to said oscillator means for stepping said oscillator means through said given several frequencies and
- f. locking means which is connected to the stepping means for defeating said stepping means as long as an RF signal is being received and allowing resumption of operation of said stepping means when no signal is being received.
- The improvement which comprises:
- g. a bandpass filter in said RF signal receiving means which has a variable center frequency which may be set at a plurality of specific center frequencies, and
- h. a programmable patchboard bandpass selecting means connected to the RF signal receiving means of the receiver and to the stepping means for determining the center frequency of said bandpass filter of the RF signal receiving means, said programmable patchboard bandpass selecting means including:
- 1. several wires and several first type of connecting elements, each wire having at its first end a first type of connecting elements, and being coupled at its second end to a respective one of the outputs of said stepping means;
- 2. several of a second type of connecting elements which are of a design which permits them to mate with said first type of connecting elements, there being at least one of said second type of connecting elements corresponding with each of said plurality of specific center frequencies.
8 more elements
In a stepping radio receiver for production of audio signals from radio frequency signals and capable of tuning to several separate channels, which radio includes;
- a. a pre-IF section having an RF signal receiving means, a mixer, and an oscillator means;
- b. said RF signal receiving means being for providing sufficient signal level for said mixer;
- c. an audio detection means coupled to said mixer for producing an audio signal when an RF signal is being received, said audio detection means including squelch means for preventing the production of an audio signal when an RF signal is not being received;
- d. said oscillator means being coupled to said mixers and operable at a given several frequencies, there being one frequency for each channel to which the receiver can tune;
- e. stepping means which is defeatable and which has several outputs which are coupled to said oscillator means for stepping said oscillator means through said given several frequencies and
- f. locking means which is connected to the stepping means for defeating said stepping means as long as an RF signal is being received and allowing resumption of operation of said stepping means when no signal is being received.
- The improvement which comprises:
- g. a bandpass filter in said RF signal receiving means which has a variable center frequency which may be set at a plurality of specific center frequencies and which includes a plurality of separate inputs there being one input for each of said specific center frequencies, and
- h. a programmable bandpass selecting means connected to said plurality of inputs of said bandpass filter and to the stepping means for determining the center frequency of said bandpass filter of the RF signal receiving means, said programmable bandpass selecting means including:
- 1. several first type of connecting elements, each of said first type of connecting elements coupling to an output of said stepping means, and
- 2. several of a second type of connecting elements which are of a design which permits them to mate with said first type of connecting elements, there being at least one of said second type of connecting elements corresponding with each of said plurality of specific center frequencies.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.