Vehicle Broadcast Receiver Dynamic Reception Path Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing broadcast receivers in vehicles face challenges in dynamically assigning reception paths due to varying signal qualities, leading to inefficient use of resources and poor reception quality, especially in moving vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dynamically determining the number of reception paths based on vehicle speed and position, using sensors and databases to optimize signal playback, prioritizing channels for reliable interference-free reception, and reallocating resources for background scans when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of reception paths is increased to improve reception quality in moving vehicles, then reception quality is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoidnumber of reception paths
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic assignment of reception paths based on vehicle speed. The system continuously monitors vehicle speed and adjusts the number of reception paths assigned to each playback device in real-time. At low speeds, fewer reception paths are allocated, while at high speeds, more reception paths are allocated to compensate for multipath effects and maintain reception quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of reception paths based on vehicle speed thresholds. When vehicle speed exceeds predefined thresholds, the system increases the number of reception paths allocated to playback devices. This parameter change allows the system to adapt reception resources to actual reception conditions without permanently increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If reception paths are dynamically reassigned based on vehicle speed, then resource utilization is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic reassignment of reception paths based on vehicle speed measurements. The control unit continuously monitors vehicle speed and reallocates reception paths between playback devices and background scans according to speed-based thresholds. This dynamic approach optimizes resource utilization by allocating more reception paths to playback when vehicle speed is low and more to background scans when vehicle speed is high.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring vehicle speed and using this information to adjust reception path allocation. The control unit receives speed information, compares it against predefined thresholds, and automatically adjusts the number of reception paths assigned to each function. This feedback mechanism enables automatic optimization without requiring complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple reception paths are combined for a playback device, then reception quality is improved, but the availability of reception paths for background scans is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoidbackground scan capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic allocation of reception paths between playback devices and background scan functions based on vehicle speed. At low vehicle speeds, more reception paths are allocated to background scans to enable comprehensive station searching and database updates. At high vehicle speeds, more reception paths are allocated to playback devices to maintain reception quality despite increased multipath effects. This dynamic balancing resolves the contradiction between playback quality and background scan availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10182249B2Method for receiving broadcast radio signals in a vehicle, and broadcast radio receiver
Publication Date: 2019.01.15 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • US10182249B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for receiving broadcast radio signals in a vehicle, particularly in a motor vehicle, and a broadcast radio receiver that is set up to perform the method are described. The method involves multiple reception paths of a broadcast radio receiver being available in order to receive and computationally process broadcast radio signals separately from one another. In addition, the method involves multiple reproduction appliances being connectable to one or more respective reception paths in order to reproduce received broadcast radio signals, wherein multiple reception paths can be combined for a reproduction appliance in order to improve the reception quality. Provision is additionally made for the speed of the vehicle to be ascertained and for the number of reception paths that are combined for a reproduction appliance to be prescribed on the basis of the speed of the vehicle.