Remote Tuner Module for Vehicle Entertainment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive radio systems face significant wiring costs and weight due to the need for extensive RF cabling between antennas and head units, with limited and inflexible options for adapting radio functionality remotely.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a remote tuner module and a head unit connected via a link, where the remote tuner module includes multiple tuners and demodulator circuits to process RF signals, and the head unit includes a SoC and audio processor to handle the processed signals, allowing for flexible distribution of radio functionality processing both statically and dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensive RF cabling is used to connect antennas and head units, then reliable RF signal transmission is achieved, but wiring costs and system weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radio system into a remote tuner module (containing RF front end and demodulator) and a head unit (containing audio processing), connected via digital bus instead of RF cabling. This segmentation allows the RF processing to be separated from the audio processing, eliminating the need for heavy RF coaxial cables while maintaining reliable signal transmission through digital communication protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote portions of the vehicle use antennas, then comprehensive RF signal coverage is achieved, but expensive and heavy coaxial cables are required to connect to the head unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical RF cable system with an electrical digital communication system. Instead of using coaxial cables to transmit RF signals from remote antennas to the head unit, the system uses a digital bus (such as CAN bus or LIN bus) to transmit processed audio and control data, significantly reducing wiring costs and complexity while maintaining adaptability for multiple antenna locations.
3Reliability
If amplifiers such as low noise amplifiers are included in the signal path, then signal quality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the amplification and signal processing functions from the traditional RF signal path and relocates them to the remote tuner module. The demodulator in the remote module processes RF signals locally and outputs digital audio data, eliminating the need for complex amplifiers in the head unit while maintaining signal quality through digital processing techniques.
4Speed
If radio functionality is implemented fully in hardware, then processing speed is improved, but adaptability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid architecture where the remote tuner module uses hardware for RF processing (providing fast processing speed) while the head unit and digital bus enable software-configurable audio processing and control (providing adaptability). The system can be dynamically reconfigured through software to support different radio formats, protocols, and features without hardware changes, achieving both speed and flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a remote tuner module includes: a first tuner to receive, process and demodulate a first radio frequency (RF) signal to output an analog audio signal, and to receive and process a second RF signal to output a first downconverted modulated signal; a second tuner to receive and process the second RF signal to output a second downconverted modulated signal; a demodulator circuit coupled to the first and second tuners to demodulate and link the first and second modulated signals, to output a linked demodulated signal. The remote tuner module may further include a gateway circuit coupled to at least the demodulator circuit to output the analog audio signal and the linked demodulated signal.