U.S. Philips Corporation

Derk J Wassink

Theodorus H Van Deursen

Frans A Westra

Heinz W Wetsels

A method of processing and reproducing a coded message, which message is divided into a first and a second part, the first part including information which briefly characterizes the message. The first part is reproduced acoustically and the second part is reproduced visually. By acoustically reproducing only a part of the message, a user is distracted only briefly and need not listen to the entire message if this message is not relevant to the user. If the message is relevant to the user, the user can consult the display for the rest of the message.

Method of and receiver for processing and reproducing a message

The disclosed audio amplifier arrangement includes a first amplifier stage for influencing the signal strength of the received audio signal for at least part of the frequency spectrum of an audio signal received through an input. An output amplifier stage amplifies the signal influenced by the first amplifier stage. A detection present in the output amplifier stage detects overloads of the output amplifier stage (3). A control circuit causes, in response to the detection signal, an adjustment to be made of the influence caused by the first amplifier stage if the overload signalled by the detection signal transgresses a certain limit. This limit depends on the magnitude of the adjustment already carried out, so that the degree of overload corresponding to the limit increases when the extent of the adjustment increases.

Audio amplifier arrangement

Microprocessor-controlled apparatus, for example, a car radio whose microprocessor (5) is one-time programmable by the manufacturer of the apparatus. An external non-volatile memory (7) comprises a security variable (VAR) indicating whether the protection means is operational. In addition to a security code (SC), an arbitrary code series (KEY) of, for example, 20 bits is stored in the internal memory (51) of the microprocessor. Unauthorized disabling of the protection means by external interrogation of the non-volatile memory is only possible by assigning a value which corresponds to the code series to the security variable. However, the code series is inaccessible and can only be traced with great difficulty by means of trial and error methods.

Microprocessor-controlled apparatus with improved disabling

A broadcast receiver such as a car radio has an electronic tuning circuit and a memory for storing preset stations. The strongest receivable transmitters in the surroundings are searched and stored in the memory by means of an automatic storage program. Subsequently the stored transmitters can be selected in a given sequence by means of successive program keys. To improve convenience of operation, the control circuit in the broadcast receiver further comprises an interchange program 21 so as to interchange the tuning values of preset stations stored in the memory. The stored stations can be subsequently selected by means of the successive program selection keys in a sequence desired by the user.

Broadcast receiver for radio or television signals with storage and

A stand-alone utility device for perceptible reproduction of signals, for example a radio receiver or a TV receiver, is protected from theft because the reproduction quality of the signals is disturbed in the case of unauthorized use by regular suppression of the signal, by generating bleeps or by a combination of both.

Stand-alone utility device with antitheft code with method for its use

In a receiver for FM-signals, more specifically a car radio, the tuning data for those FM-transmitters which transmit the same program are stored in addressable memory locations of a first memory field. In order to be continuously tuned to the best receivable transmitter a second memory field is provided, which comprises in each of the addressable locations a status code word which is unambiguously associated with a tuning datum. These status code words are produced by a status circuit to which the intermediate-frequency signal is applied. A control circuit starts at regular intervals an up-date cycle during which the receiver is tuned to a number of transmitters whose tuning data are stored in the first memory field. In each tuning action a new status code word is determined to replace the original status code word. Thereafter the new status code words are checked against a predetermined criterion and the receiver is tuned to that transmitter whose associated status code word satisfies that criterion to the highest extent.

Receiver for FM signals with transmitter status code storage

In a receiver having a search tuning circuit with which a group of data (39 or 41) which corresponds to certain transmitters can be searched by means of a group selection switch (43, 45) a field strength behaviour-depending starting delay circuit (61) is used to delay the start of a search action relative to both decreases in field strength and the frequency of the decreases to prevent a too frequent start of a search action (FIG. 1).

Receiver having a search tuning circuit

To render a setting circuit more suited to the use of a microprocessor, the frequency of pulses applied by a setting shaft are periodically measured and the value found is multiplied by a weighting factor which depends on the speed of rotation of the setting shaft. The weighted, measured values are integrated and the integrated value can be used to tune a receiver or to set the time display of a clock.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Derk J Wassink