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  • Ep 0932939

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    Satellite Receiver Patent

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    Satellite Receiver Patent

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    2 Ansichten13 Seiten

    Ep 0932939

    Hochgeladen von

    smswamy
    Satellite Receiver Patent

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Als PDF herunterladen oder online auf Scribd lesen
    Markieren Sie unangemessene Inhalte
    von 13
    EP 0 932 939 B1 a oH Seer MN UAE Otice européen des brevets om) P0932 939 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (61) Int cl7; HO4B 1/08 ofthe grat ofthe pton 201.2008 Bulletin 200301 (86) itomational application number pousernseze (21) Application number: $7939812.0 (87) Intomational publication number. (22) Date of fling: 05.09.1997 Wo 98/038749 (09.09.1998 Gazette 1998/35) (64) SATELLITE BROADCAST SYSTEM RECEIVER ‘SATELLITENRUNDFUNKEMPFANGER RECEPTEUR POUR SYSTEME DE RADIODIFFUSION PAR SATELLITE (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: BRISKMAN, Robert, D. DEFRGBIT Bethesda, MD 20852 (US) (80) Priorty: 26.02.1997 US 805619 (74) Representative: Mather, Belinda Jane et al Redadle & Grose, (43) Date of publication of application 16 Theobalds Road 04.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/91 London WC1X BPL (GB) (73) Proprietor: Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (66) References cited Washington, DC 20037 (US) DE-A- 4 006 933 P-A- 58.019 782 US-A- 5 155 494 US-A-5.919716 US-A- 5 408 699 Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition tothe European palent granted, Notice of opposition shall be fled in ‘a wition reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been fled until the opposition fee has been paid. (Ar. 99(1) European Patent Convention), i EP 0 932 939 Bt 2 Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The use of satolites to broadcast radio pro- grams for reception in automobiles, trucks, vans and other mobil platforms has been widely proposed forim: plementation (see Report and Order, Federal Commu- nications Commission, GEN Dacket No. 90-357, Re: leased Jan, 18, 1995). The transmissions from the sat- elites containing the radio programs are today at fre- quencies between about 300 MHZ and about 4000 MHZ ‘which are much higher in frequency than those used to day for transmission of radio programs such as ampl- ‘ude modulation (AM) transmission or frequency modu: lation (FM) transmission. The satelite transmission may be from one or more satelites and from one or more torrestrial ropeators ofthe satallto transmission in areas. ‘where the terrain or man-made structures prohibit good visibility trom the automobiles to the satellites) [0002] To recoive the satelite and terrestrial transmis: sions in the mobile platforms (|e, automobiles, trucks, etc), the mobile platform requires an appropriate radio nti his relatively now satelite transmission service bo. ‘comes widely used, which wll require saveral years, au: tomobile manufacturers are unlikely to provide the ca: pabilty to receive such satelit/repeater transmissions in radios delivered with new cars. This means that po- tential customers with old cars and with future factory dolivered cars desiring such now transmission services must replace their existing radios with new radios which Include the capability to recelve these transmissions, ‘This is expensive and time consuming, since the remov- al ofthe old radio and installation of the new radio must be done by trained technicians at a technical facilty This invention provides a system to add a sateliteter restial repeater transmission receiver to existing mobile platform radios quickly and easily by anyone, [0003] The invention is, in part, related to inventions disclosed and claimad in . S. Pat. No. 6,278,863 which Issued on January 11, 1994 and U. S. Pat, No, '5,919,673 which issued on June 7, 1994, both patents entiled "RADIO FREQUENCY BROADCASTING SYS- ‘TEMS AND METHODS USING TWO LOW-COST GE- OSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITES", US, Pat. No, 15,485,485 which lesued on January 16, 1996 entitled "RADIO FREQUENCY BROADCASTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING TWO LOW-COST GEOSYN. CHRONOUS SATELLITES AND HEMISPHERICAL COVERAGE ANTENNAS", and U.S. Pat. No, 5,592,471 which issued on January 7, 1997 entitled “MOBILE RADIO RECEIVERS USING TIME DIVERS! TY TO AVOID SERVICE OUTAGES IN MULTICHAN- NEL BROADCAST TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS" ‘SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The invention in its various aspect is set forth 0 in the independent claims below to which reference should now be made. Advantageous features are set forth in the appendant claims. [0005] Satelite systems are being implemented Which transmit multichannel radio broadcast programs directly to mobile platforms, Radios In the platforms ‘must be modified or augmented to accept such trans: ‘missions. The invention permits the addition ofa receiv ‘er unit to an existing radio allowing installation to be ac- ‘complished by any platform owner or user without spe- cial training and without wiring or rewiring of the mobile platform. The receiver augmentation system includes a receWver unit whichis inserted in an existing mobile plat- form radio's tape cassette player or Compact Disk (CD) player slot, and an antenna unit which can be mounted ‘on the platform or ean replace an existing cellular an- tena. [0006] The receiver augmentation system permits the platform (automobile, truck, RY, boat, light plane, etc) ‘operator to install adational equipment in the existing platform's radio which allows it to recoive transmissions {rom satelite radio broadcasting systems, typically op- crating inthe radio frequency range of about 300 MHZ te about 4000 MHZ, and preferably inthe range of about 1800 MHZ to about 4000 MHZ, as wall as the normal AM ‘and FM transmissions at lower radio frequencles, The satelite radio broadcasting system's transmissions may ‘come from ene or more satelites andor from one oF more terrestrial repeaters of the satelite transmissions. The augmentation system can be installed on any ex- isting platform radio which includes an internal ape cas- sete or CD player. The installation requires ne wiring or rewiring to any vehicle subsystem and can be done by all platform operators without the need for training, 10007] The receiver unt includes an element insert bie into the tape cassette slot or the CD slot ofan exist ing platform racio. Extending from the insertable ele- ‘ment is a connector, preferably a thin, small cylinder, Which extends from the slot and terminates in a display, praferably an LOD display, that shows program data ‘such as channe! number, ype of music, name of com position, composer, etc. Some of this data may be ‘shown sequentialy. A few controls, such as channel se- lection, may also be mounted on the display. The di play's size, distance from slot and orientation are cho- ‘sen so that access ta most controls on the existing radia is unobstructed, The insertable element preferably 1e- ‘sombles either a tape cassette or CD. In the tape cas- sette version, the display portion can be rotated 80° at the connector interface with the insertable element to ‘accommodate both front-loading and side-loading cas- sette players. [0008] Tho receiver unit receives satellite system broadcast transmission(s) as are-transmission trom the ‘antenna unit, described below, at atranslated frequency Via an internal antenna in the frame of the display. Be: hind the display are one or more electronic chips which ‘amplify, demodulate and control the received signals), 3 EP 0 932 939 Bt 4 28 woll as provide data and electronic drives for the dis: play, Alternatively, some orallof the chips can be mount- ed on or inthe insertable element. One primary output signal from the chips isthe audlo,elther musie or voice which, in the cassette caso, drives a magnetic coil that, couples to an existing magnetic head in the platform's ‘apo cassette player and, in the CD case, drives an op: tical device that couples to the existing laser reader in the platform's CD player. In both cases, the audio signal then passes through the existing radio's audio api: cation subsystem to the existing loudspeakers. [0009] The receiver unt activates when the insertable Lnitis inserted into the cassette or CD slot as is custom: ary with existing cassette or CD internal players in plat- {orm radios. Power forthe receiver units suppl from Internal contact with terminals within the players, from a generator ctiven by the player spindle or from a plug- In connector to the cigarette lighter [0010] The antenna unit consists of an element which receives the satelite system's broadcast transmissions, anampitier, a radio frequency translator and.an element which re-radiates the amplified signal to the receiver Unit. The antenna unitis preferably mounted on the out- cr surface of the mobile platform. For a metal car, tho mounting is normally made tothe outer surface of a win dow. One contiguration would be a silver dollar-sized disk for receiving satelite systern transmissions atop @ collular telephone, rear window-mounted antenna, Be: low the diskis a small, cone-shaped electronics housing ‘whose outer surface is also used for the re-transmission antenna. This configuration allows simultaneous collu lar telephone operation and satelite broadcast recep- lion without the need for @ second mobile platform an- ‘enna. Power for the antenna unit ie supplied by its in ternal battery recharged from solar cells or by radiated power from the receiver uni. [0011] The preferred embodiments receive satelite and terrestrial repeater transmissions containing mult program audio material in vehicles having radios with tape cassotto playors. As earilor doscribod, tho inven. lion is also useful in a wide variety of mobile platforms and with ragios having CD players. However, the major: ly of vehicles, e.g, automobiles, in the United States ‘currently contain radios with tape cassette players, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0012] The apparatus and methods of this invention ‘can better be understood by reference to the drawings, In whien. FIGS, 1 and 1B show a schomatic diagram of an embodiment of a receiver unl; FIG. 1 is a side viow and FIG. 1B is a front view; FIG. 1€ shows @ block function diagram of an em- bodiment of ciuitry for use in the receiver unit ‘shown in FIGS. 18 and 1B; FIGS. 2A and 2B show two embodiments of anten 0 na units; FIG. 2C shows a block function diagram of circuitry for use in emoodiments of the antenna units shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B; FIG. 3 shows an ombodiment ofa vehicle radio hav- ing a magnetic cassette player, and, in particular, ‘shows the magnetic coupling botweon an insertable ‘element and the magnetic pick up head ofthe radio; and FIGS. 4A and 4B show an embodiment of an insert fable element suitable for use in vehicle radios that include a compact aise player, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: [0013] The apparatus comprises two units, a receiver, Unit and an antenna unit, FIG. 1 shows recever unt 10, FIG. 1A shows a physical depiction, FIG. 1A boing a side view and FIG. 1B being a front view. The tape cas- sotto or CD insertable clement 11 is physically similar to.a normal tape cassette or CD except, in the cassette configuration, a magnetic head is emplaced where the tape slot reader is standard located for electromagnet: ically coupling the audio output of the receiver unit to the existing radio's magnetic head reader. In the CD Configuration, a fiber optics or lucite ight bar is located ‘onthe bottom of the aisk unning radialy above the track used by the existing radio's laser reader. Also, the cas- sete configuration can be rotated 90° al a pivat where ‘connector 14 meets insertable element 11. This accom: ‘modates tape cassette players whether insertion of the ‘cassette ison the long side or where the insertion of the ‘cassette is on the short side, The front view of receiver unit 10 shows a typical display 12 with three control but- tons 18. The size of display 12 Is determined by the ‘amount of program information to be displayed and by the need to have good visibility rom the driver and front passenger seals, Typically a 10 x 4 em LCD display would be used. Controls 13 can be mounted elsewhore ‘on display 12 and can be of many types including pres- ‘suro sensitive end voice activated, The dimensions of the connector are chosen so the connector and display 0 not block access to the existing radio controls or to ‘surrounding instrument panel controls [0014] Also shown is spring-loaded tab 15 atthe roar ‘end of the cassette and CD, The tab holds the cassette ‘and CD in the radio player slot after ejection has been performed by exerting mechanical pressure against the ‘cassette or CD outer housing lip. This permits thor stor ‘age when notin use. The platform operator may depress the tab and fully remove the receiver unit for storage ‘elsewhere in the vehicle. [0015] _In proferred emoodiments, the bezel ofthe dis- play contains a built-in antenna to receive the re-trans- ‘mission from the antenna unit of FIG. 2, Depending on the frequency chosen for the retransmission, a loop, bowtie or loaded dipole antenna may be used. Like- 5 EP 0 932 939 Bt 6 wise, it energy is radiated from the insertable unit to power the antenna unit, this energy is also radiated by other elements located in the bezel [0016] FIG. 1C shows the electronic contiguration of the insertable unt. As previously noted, the antenna is, Inthe bezel of the display, electronics 16 are on inte- grated circuit chips mounted in the rear of display 12, the magnetic coupler is in the cassette and the optical ‘coupler on the bottom surtace of the CD. [0017] FIG. 1¢ also shows the electronic block dia: {gram where the re-transmission is received by antenna 20, amplified by ampli 21, and down-converted by ‘converter 22 and associated oscillator 23, if required, to the input frequency of demodulators 24 and 25. As dis- ‘cussed bolow, the down conversion may be accom: plished In the antenna unit. FIG. 1 shows the use of wo demodulators following splitter 26 which is typical of satelite radi transmission systems using space, tre: quency or ime diversity diversity is not employed, on ly one demodulator is used, Conversely, more than two domodulators can be used for higher order diversity It Is algo feasible to digitize the incoming signal after am- pitfication and then carry out the electronic functions by digital signal procassing (DSP) [0018] The output of the domodulators in FIG. 1¢ are {ed to demultiplexers 27 and 28, if several programe have been combined in the signal as normally is the ‘case, The desired program channel ie then selected by operator activation of @ control. Signal combination at ‘combiner 29 occurs next, typically using a maximal ratio, combiner or selection by signal strength, followed by ‘conversion at digital to-analog converter 30, ifthe signal is digtal, to analog, Finally, the analog program is fed to magnetic coupler 31 in the cassotto case oro the optical transmitter (e.g. laser) in the CD case. The magnetic ‘and optical pickups inthe existing radio feed the analog program to the existing amplifiers and loudspeakers in the platform, Demultplexers 27 and 28 also remove the program data (ie. channel, music type, composer, etc.) {rom the desirad program channel or from an auxiliary ‘service channel and send the data to the dleplay. [0019] FIG.2A and2B show two mounting configura: lions of antenna units 40 and 41 for automotive vehicies, Numerous mounting configurations are feasible provid: ed that the top portion of the unit has clear visibility of the sky, and the lower portion ofthe unit has visibility of, the receiver unt, FIG. 2A shows a combined cellular tel- ephone and satelite system antenna installation. The right hand configuration shows @ stand-alone satelite ssysiom antenna installation. In both cases, the only in stallation required is to glue the antenna unit to the rear ‘window of the vehicle so that the top ofthe unit is above the vehicle rootine. [0020] Both configurations show a band of solar colls 42 just below the satelite system receiving antenna 43, {or use in embodiments where the antenna units pow: ered by battery 44 and where solar cells 42 are used to recharge battery 44. Below the solar cell bands a con 0 ical housing 48 for the electronics. Elements in the hous: ing surface are used as an antenna to re-radiate the transmissions received from the satoitaterrestrial re- eaters to the receiver unit. [0021] FIG. 2C shows the electronic configuration of the antenna uni, The transmissions from the satellites ‘and terrestrial repeaters are recelved by eatolite system receWving antenna 43 e.g., a patch or planar array circu lar isk, and applied to radio frequency ampltier 46 fol lowed by frequency converter 47 with assoclated osc lator 48 which changes the frequency to that chosen for re-radiation from the antenna unit to the receiver unit. ‘Tho signal is sent to the receiver unit via Titer 50 by re- radiator antenna 49 built into the conical electronics housing. The antenna type depends on the frequency ‘chosen for re-radation, Some useful ypes are sot, he- lx, and loaded dipoles [0022] The antenna units preferably mounted on the rear window of an automobile using en adhesive provid ‘ed with the unit. The adhesive is placed between the ‘outside glass and small plastic mounting plate 51 (soe FIGS. 2A and 2B on the bottom of the antenna unit. In- iil bonding is within a minute and final bonding occurs ‘saveral minutes thereafter. The mountings such that at least the top of the antenna unit containing the satelite receWving antenna le above the metal roof of the auto mobile, FIGS, 2A and B show the antenna unit arm at- tached to the mounting plate by pivot 2, This allows downward rotation ofthe antenna unit soit ies against the window during carwashes or allows its removal by pressure on the pivot joints ears. Altemativaly, a fixed ‘mount can be used. Other embodiments noted eater fare the combination ofthe antenna unit arm with @ cet lular ear antenna which ie normally mounted in a similar position on an automoblie's rear window. [0023] Tho userturns on the antenna unit by inserting ‘battery into the electronics housing cone (see FIG. 2) ‘or by a standard on-off ewitch if a pre-installed battery is used. The baltery Is periodically recharged through solar calls mounted near the uppor rim of he elactronies housing cone. Since the electrical power requiredby the antenna unit electronics is vory small i is alternativoly feasible to radiate energy trom the receiver unit to the antenna unit using frequencies such as in the ISM (In ‘dustrial, Scientific, Medical) radio frequency bands. The ISM transmission from the receiver unit is received by ‘elements bull into the wall of electronics housing cone 45 of the antenna unit, the signal routed o a rectifier and the resulting power used by the antenna unit's amplifier land updown frequency converter. [0024] The antenna unit receives the transmissions from the satelite(s) and from terrestrial repeaters of the satelite signal. The satelite system recelving antenna ‘shown in FIG. 2s a disk shaped planar array which pro- vides an approximately hemispherical coverage with typically 2-4 dBi of gain throughout the elevation angles ‘of about 20° to about 60° over all azimuth angles, The ‘output of this antenna is connected toa miniaturized m- 7 EP 0 932 939 Bt 8 ‘crowave monolithic integrated crcult (MMIC) radio am- plier. Such radio amplifiers provide low noise reception (0.8 dB noise figure typicaly) using a surface area less than 48 mm?, The output of the amplifier is sent to a {requency converter which changes the radio frequency of the received sateliterterrestial repeater transmis: sions from that used (e.g. about 300-4000 MHZ) prefer ably about 2882 MHZ, to thal frequency desired for use in sending the transmission from the antenna unit tothe receiver unit, The radio frequency chosen for sending ‘can be set by the up/down frequency converter to any dosiredbandbetween approximately 40-4000 MHZ. For the preferred embodiment, 150 MHZ is llustrated since the frequeney range 100-500 MHZ often eliminates the noed for a frequency converter in the receiver unit. The output power trom the frequeney converter in the anten ra units radiated to the receiver unit by elements em- bedded in the case of the electronics cone and, for long: er wavelengths, in the surface of the arm. The wave: length at 150 MHZ is 2 meters and a suitable radiating antenna is @ loadod, folded quarter-wave dipole. As- ‘suming the separation of the antenna unit and receiver Unit is 4 meters or less, the radiating antenna and re- ‘oiving antenna each have effective gains of only 3 dBi each (6 dBi total), the obstruction and reflection lossos are @ AB, the receiver unit system total noise tempera: ture is 400° Kelvin and the allowed degradation of the satellte/repeater transmission by re-transmision be: tween the antenna unit and receiver unit is 0.1 48, the radio requency power requited from the frequency con vertar in the antenna unit can be calculated as -78.3 dBW (less than a microwatt). Consequently, the elect ‘eal power can be supplied by an internal battery for a long time period, This period can be extended by use of 2 ring of solar cells mounted around the circumference near the top of the antenna unit. The solar cells, when exposed to sunlight, recharge the battery. The antenna Unit can also be electrically powered by radiation from the receiver unt as previously described since its elec- trical powor raquiremants are small [0025] FIG. 3 shows a receiver unit wth an insertable element suitable for vehicle radios having a magnatic cassette player. Recelver units for a cassette player have been disclosed in U. S. Patent No, 6,444,676, ie ‘sued on August 22, 1995, and in U. S, Patent No. 4,734,897, issued on March 29, 1988, FIG. dis rom tho '897 palont where electrical conductor 242 is incorpo- rated into the connection surface. FIG. 3 also shows magnetic coupling coil 240 in a cassette which couples the audio signal to magnetic pickup head 250 In an ex: isting vehicle radio. [0026] FIGS, 4A and B show plan and side elevation viows of a receiver unit wth insertable element 300 sult- able for use in vehicle radios having a CD player, Tho Upper depiction is the bottom of the element showing optical transmitter 301 (e.g. laser) and radial light bar '302 embedded into the disk's surface. The lower depic- tion is a side view of the insertable element showing 0 Clectric generator 303 operating from the CD player spindle, Attachment to the connector and the ejection holding tab are shown in FIG. 1 [0027] The recelver units inserted into the cassette player unttof an existing vehicle radio. The operator first ‘determines whether the vehicle radio has a front or side loading cassette player, and rotates the connector on the insertable element so the display is parallel withthe

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