WO2001015356A2

WO2001015356A2 - Car radio with a memory for audio signals

Info

Publication number: WO2001015356A2
Application number: PCT/DE2000/002681
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Coon; Friedhelm Broeckel
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 2000-08-10
Publication date: 2001-03-01
Also published as: JP2003507836A; WO2001015356A3; DE19939320A1; EP1210783A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a car radio with a memory in which audio signals can be stored. Said memory is configured in the form of a hard disk. An audio signal memory in the form of a hard disk offers the advantage of high storage capacity - the hard disks of approximately 8 Gbytes usually used today provide around 15 hours of CD - quality audio signals- with a small construction size and low production costs.

Description

Car radio with a memory for audio signals

State of the art

The invention is based on a car radio with a memory in which audio signals can be stored, according to the preamble of the independent claim.

Car radios with a memory in which audio signals can be stored are, for example, in the form of car radios with a memory for recording

Traffic announcements known from an ongoing radio program. Such a car radio is, for example, the device type "New York RDM 127" from Blaupunkt-Werke GmbH, Hildesheim, which is described in the brochure with the title "The plus in the car. Mobile communication 1999." is described. The memory of the device mentioned is designed for recording up to four traffic announcements with a total duration of up to four minutes. Due to the low sampling rate for the audio signal, the memory is only suitable for voice recordings. The said device also instructs

Compact disc (CD) player with which standard audio CDs can be played.

Next are, for example from the magazine "Plus", issue 6/99, so-called CD burner for connection to staff Known computer, by means of which the user can play, for example, pieces of music on so-called blank CDs (CD-R's or CD-RW's), for which purpose special software is used on the PC. The CDs described by the user can be played in a conventional manner as well as pre-recorded music CDs in a conventional CD player. To copy at least individual pieces of music on an audio CD onto a CD-R or CD-RW, the software creates a so-called image file on the hard disk of the personal computer, which contains the pieces of music to be copied. The music data contained in the image file are then transferred to a CD, but can also be played back on the PC.

Furthermore, for example from the magazine "Plus", issue 6/99, the possibility is known of compressing audio signals, in particular pieces of music, in digital form by means of the MPEG1 Layer 3 (MP3) standard, ie reducing their data volume Playback devices for audio data compressed according to the MP3 standard, for example in the form of portable playback devices or also a PC equipped with appropriate decoding software, on the hard disk of which the audio data can be stored, are known from the magazine mentioned.

Finally, a device is known, for example from the magazine "Plus", issue 7/99, in the form of the Auto PC from Clarion described there, which combines the functionality of a car radio and that of a computer in one housing. The device has both a slot for

Compact Flash cards as data carriers, as well as a CD-ROM drive, via which additional software can be loaded and music CDs can be played. Advantages of the invention

The car radio according to the invention with the features of the independent claim has the advantage that a memory with a particularly large recording capacity is available with a hard disk as a memory for audio, in particular music signals.

Even without special data compression processes, music data with a total duration of a good 15 hours can be stored in CD quality on a conventional computer hard disk with the currently usual 8 gigabyte storage capacity with a data volume of around 8.8 megabytes per minute, which is common for CDs. The use of a hard drive as an audio signal memory for a car radio thus has the advantage that with the vast majority of all necessary car journeys, a change of the data carrier, as is usual with CDs approximately every hour or with cassettes approximately every one and a half hours, i.e. after the complete playback of the data carrier is unnecessary. This eliminates the

Distraction of the driver and thus a potential danger to the driver himself and other road users by changing a data carrier while driving.

This applies all the more when using a

Compression method, such as MP3, for storing the audio data in the memory of the car radio; in the case of MP3, the capacity of the hard drive increases by a factor of 10 to 150 hours of music data, which means the capacity of approximately 128 CDs with an assumed average playing time of 70 Minutes per CD. An entire audio CD collection, or at least considerable parts of such a collection, can thus be stored on a conventional hard disk. The change of Storage may become completely unnecessary.

Another advantage is the fact that a commercially available hard disk has smaller external dimensions than a conventional CD drive. This results in less effort when integrating the memory into a car radio with its small external dimensions that are customary today and that are specified for accommodating the radio in a standardized installation slot.

The hard disk solution also has the advantage of being significantly less than an externally connectable so-called CD changer known for car radios, a CD player for several CDs inserted into a magazine

Size with at least comparable or, in the case of MP3-compressed audio data, considerably larger capacity. Furthermore, a hard disk can be manufactured more cost-effectively than a CD changer and is less susceptible to wear due to a smaller number of mechanical components.

For storing audio data in the memory of the car radio, it is advantageous if the latter, for example in the manner of a removable hard disk known from PCs, can be removed from the car radio or disconnected from it and connected to a data source, for example a PC or a home audio system.

It is also advantageous for the storage of audio data in the memory of the car radio if the latter comprises a reading device for further storage media, which is connected to the memory for transferring audio signals stored on another storage medium into the memory. In this case, the hard disk can remain in the car radio at all times, or remain connected to it when placed externally. This is particularly advantageous if the hard disk is either permanently installed in the car radio or is permanently installed at another location in the vehicle, for example behind an interior paneling.

Especially in the case of a hard disk that cannot be removed from the car radio or can only be decoupled from it, or only with considerable effort, it is particularly advantageous if a bait is used between the reading device and the memory

Compression of audio data read from a storage medium for storing it in the memory can be switched. In this case, if the audio data are stored in the memory in compressed form, the storage media to be evaluated by the reading device need not necessarily contain data in an already compressed form. Rather, the compression can take place in the car radio, so that conventional audio CDs can also be used as data carriers. Also, the reading device does not have to be suitable for reading storage media with compressed audio data; a conventional CD player, for example, is therefore sufficient.

A decoder downstream of the memory for converting the MP3-encoded audio data enables their conversion into reproducible audio signals.

drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and are explained in more detail below. The same reference numerals in the figures identify the same elements. Show it

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the part of an inventive car radio that is essential to the invention,

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a memory for recording audio data with an upstream bait for data compression, and

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a memory for recording audio data with a decoder which can be connected in series to convert audio data stored in compressed form into reproducible audio signals.

Description of the embodiments

An advantageous exemplary embodiment of a car radio 1 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 1 in the form of a block diagram.

The car radio 1 according to the invention comprises a radio receiver 20 which is known per se and therefore not explained in more detail and which comprises the means required for receiving a radio signal and for demodulating it. At the output of the radio receiver 20, a radio program signal obtained from a received radio transmission frequency by demodulation is available in the form of a stereo multiplex signal, which contains audio signals for the left and right audio channels.

The radio program signal, that is to say the audio signal to be reproduced, is fed to a first input of a controllable switch 60. With a suitable control of the switch 60 by a control signal, this is Broadcast program signal at the output of the controllable switch 60 removable.

The output of the controllable switch 60 is connected to a playback device 50, known per se, for audio signals. This includes, in a manner known per se, the means required for reproducing an audio signal, such as a stereo decoder for isolating the left and right channels of the audio signal from the stereo multiplex signal, a sound influencing device for influencing the frequency response of the audio signal, for example in the form of an equalizer Volume control, one or more low-frequency amplifiers and loudspeakers for playing back the audio signal.

The car radio further comprises an operating unit 40 with operating elements 45, for example in the form of pushbuttons, rotary knobs or cursor control keys, for operating its functions, and a display unit 70 for displaying its operating state, for example the name of a radio program currently received by the radio receiver. In the case of cursor control of the car radio by means of cursor keys 45, the display unit 70 also serves to display a cursor in front of the

Background of a one- or multi-dimensional selection list, from which functions and parameters of the car radio can be selected or set by selecting them with the cursor.

Finally, the car radio according to the invention comprises one

Memory 10 for audio data in the form of a hard disk. The audio data stored on the hard disk can be read out on a corresponding control signal and can be fed to the second input of the controllable switch 60. When a corresponding control signal is present at the switch 60, this switches a connection between its second input and its output and thus with the playback unit 50 so that the audio signals read out from the memory 10 are played back. The hard disk can be integrated into the car radio or connected to the car radio as an external device.

The elements 10, 20, 40, 50, 60, 70 mentioned are connected to a controller 30 for controlling the functions of the device. The control is used, for example, to convert user inputs on the operating unit 40 into control processes for controlling the named elements of the device, for recording operating states of individual components of the device and for generating operating state information that can be displayed on the display unit 70, i.e. for MMI functions of the device , as well as to control internal processes and functions of the car radio 1.

Functions controlled by the controller 30 are, for example, after the user has selected a desired radio program via the control unit 40, the determination of a program and the program

Frequency memory assigned to the radio frequency and setting the transmission frequency as the reception frequency at the radio receiver 20, in the event of deterioration in reception of a set reception frequency, determining an alternative, more receivable radio transmission frequency via which the same program is broadcast, and setting this transmission frequency as the reception frequency at the radio receiver, displaying the received radio program in Dependence on RDS data or the set frequency, Generation of a control signal for the switch 60 as a function of an input by the user via the control unit 40, or during a

Standby operation for traffic radio reception in the event of playback of an audio signal from the memory 10, when a traffic announcement is found in the received radio program for priority playback of the traffic announcement before the playback of the audio signals from the memory 10, - on a corresponding input by the user via the control unit 40, generation of control signals for the memory 10 for storing audio data in the memory or for reading audio data from the memory, generating control signals for influencing the playback volume or the frequency response for an audio signal to be reproduced by means of the volume control or the equalizer of the playback unit 50 upon corresponding inputs by the user on the Control unit 40.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the memory 10 of the car radio 1 according to the invention is designed as a hard disk which can be removed from the car radio, for example in the manner of a removable hard disk known from personal computers. For this he is detachable

Terminals 12 and 13 for connection to the controller 30 and the second input of the controllable switch 60 are provided, which are advantageously arranged in a plug contact strip such that when the hard disk 10 is inserted into the car radio 1, the connection terminals 12 and 13 automatically with corresponding mating contacts of the car radio 1 Establish electrical connections.

The hard disk 10 is in the state removed from the car radio via a further connection terminal 11, hereinafter also known as an input terminal, can be connected to an audio signal system, such as a home stereo system, for transferring audio data to the hard disk. However, it can also be provided that the hard disk 10 is inserted into a PC and there with

Audio data is described. For example, music CDs inserted in a CD-ROM drive of a PC can be read out and the audio data stored on them can be written to the hard disk. In this way, the user of the car radio can, for example, transfer a desired part of his music CD collection onto the hard disk and then listen to it while driving. The transfer of even large amounts of data to the hard disk takes place due to the high reading speeds of today's CD-ROM drives and the high

Write speeds from today's hard drives take up relatively little time.

According to a further embodiment of the car radio, this has a reading device for further storage media, for example in the form of a CD player. Its output is connected to the input of the memory 10, that is to say the hard disk, or can be connected via a connecting terminal 11, so that audio data read from an audio CD inserted into the CD player 80 onto the

Hard disk 10 are dubable. This enables the user of the car radio to, for example, transfer part of his CD collection to the hard disk before starting a journey, which can then be listened to while driving. The transfer of the audio data to the hard drive is accelerated by means of a fast CD player. Fast CD players are available in the form of PC CD-ROM drives with up to 40 times the reading speed. In a further advantageous exemplary embodiment of the car radio according to the invention, explained below with reference to FIG. 2, the memory 10 is preceded or can be preceded by a compression stage 17. This can be in the signal path between further

Terminal 11 of the memory 10 and the hard disk 15 are permanently looped in, or, as in the present case, can be looped into the signal path as required. The compression stage 17 is used to compress audio signal data supplied via the further connection terminal 11 of the memory 10, for example according to the MP3 standard. Audio data is thus stored in compressed form on the hard disk 15 as the actual data memory.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the further connection terminal 11 of the memory 10 is connected to a code detector stage 16, which checks the data signal present at the further connection terminal 11 to determine whether it is already in compressed form. For example, in the case of a PC as

Audio data source which, for example, audio data obtained from the Internet is already available in MP3 format. On the other hand, when audio data is transferred from an ordinary audio CD into memory 10, it can be in uncompressed form. If the audio data is in compressed form, the code detector stage 16 feeds the signal present at the further connection terminal 11 directly to the hard disk 15 for storing it. Otherwise, if the audio data signal present at the further connection terminal 11 is in an uncompressed form, the code detector stage 16 feeds it to the compression stage 17 for its compression and subsequent storage on the hard disk 15 in compressed form. In response to a control command at the control connection terminal 12 of the memory 10, the audio data signal stored in compressed form on the hard disk 15 is read by it and fed to a decompression stage 18. This converts the compressed audio data signal into a decompressed one

Audio data signal, which is removable at the output terminal 13 of the memory and can be fed to the playback device.

In the exemplary embodiment of the memory 10 shown in FIG. 3, it is provided that the audio data signals are both uncompressed, for example originating from a CD player 80, and also compressed, for example, according to the MP3 standard

Input terminal 11 can be fed. These are stored unchanged on the hard disk 15.

In this exemplary embodiment, the hard disk 15 is connected on the output side to a further code detector stage 19 which is comparable to the code detector stage 16 and which checks an audio data signal read from the hard disk 15 to determine whether it is in a compressed or uncompressed form. If the audio data signal is in compressed form, it is fed to a decompression stage 18 for its decompression. The decompressed audio data signal can then be removed at the output terminal 13 of the memory 10. Otherwise, if the audio data are present in uncompressed form on the hard disk 15, they are fed directly to the output terminal 13 of the memory 10 when they are read out by the further code detector stage 19.

Both the code detector stages 16 and 19, as well as the bait and the decoder 17, 18 can, in particular in the case of a memory 10 which can be removed from or decoupled from the car radio 1, as in FIGS. 2 and 3 shown, executed as part of the memory 10 and thus be removable from the car radio together with the memory 10. In this case, the connection terminals 11 and 13 are in the case of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 in the signal path upstream of the code detector 16 or after the decoder 18, in the case of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 in front of the hard disk 15 or after the code detector 19 and the decoder 18 arranged.

It can also be provided that the elements 16 to 19 mentioned are implemented as part of the actual car radio and thus remain in the car radio even when the memory 10 is decoupled. Then the connecting terminals 11 and 13 are arranged between the code detector 16 and the memory 10, which is then identical to the hard disk 15, or between the hard disk 15 and the decoder 18 or further code detector 19.

Claims

claims

1. Car radio with a memory in which audio signals can be stored, characterized in that the memory (10) is designed in the form of a hard disk.

2. Car radio according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory (10) from the car radio (1) can be removed.

3. Car radio according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a reading device (80) for further storage media, which is connected or connectable to the memory for transferring audio signals stored on one or more further storage media into the memory (10).

4. Car radio according to Claim 3, characterized by a bait (17) which can be switched between the reading device (80) and the memory (10) for compressing audio data read from a storage medium for storing it in the memory (10).

5. Car radio according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a decoder (18) for decompression in compressed form in the memory (10) of stored audio signals.

6. Car radio according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memory (10) is integrated in the car radio.