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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFTCF,
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`INVENTOR:
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`IRA MARLOWE
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`TITLE:
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`AUDIO DEVICE INTEGRATION SYSTEM
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`SPECIFICATION
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. More specifically,
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`the present invention relates to an audio device integration system for integrating after-market
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`components such as satellite receivers, CD players, CD changers, MP3 players. Digital Audio
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`Broadcast (DAB) receivers, auxiliary audio sources, and the like with factory-installed (OEM) or
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`after-market car stereo systems.
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`20 RELATED ART
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`Automobile audio systems have continued to advance in complexity and the number of
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`options available to automobile purchasers. Early audio systems offered a simple AM and/or
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`FM tuner, and perhaps an analog tape deck for allowing cassettes, 8-tracks, and other types of
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`tapes to be played while driving. Such early systems were closed, in that external devices could
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`not be easily integrated therewith.
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`With advances in digital technology, CD players have been included with automobile
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`audio systems. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) often produce car stereos having CD
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`players and/or changers for allowing CDs to be played while driving. However, such systems
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`often include proprietary buses and protocols that do not allow after-market audio systems, such
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`as satellite receivers (e.g., XM satellite tuners), digital audio broadcast (DAB) receivers, MP3
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`players, CD changers, auxiliary input sources, and the like, to be easily integrated therewith.
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`Thus, automobile purchasers are frequently forced to either entirely replace the OEM audio
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`system, or use same throughout the life of the vehicle or the duration of ownership. Even if the
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`OEM radio is replaced with an after-market radio, the after-market radio also frequently is not
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`operable with an external device.
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`A particular problem with integrating after-market audio systems with existing car
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`stereos is that signals generated by the car stereo is in a proprietary format, and is not capable of
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`being processed by the after-market system. Additionally, signals generated by the after-market
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`system are also in a proprietary format that is not recognizable by the car stereo. Thus, in order
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`to integrate after-market systems with car stereos, it is necessary to convert signals between such
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`systems.
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`It known in the art to provide one or more expansion modules for OEM and after-market
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`car stereos for allowing external audio products to be integrated with the car stereo. However,
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`such expansion modules only operate with and allow integration of external audio products
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`manufactured by the same manufacturer as the OEM / after-market car stereo. For example, a
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`satellite receiver manufactured by PIONEER, Inc., cannot be integrated with an OEM car radio
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`manufactured by TOYOTA or an after-market car radio manufactured by CLARION, Inc. Thus,
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`existing expansion modules only serve the limited purpose of integrating equipment by the same
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`manufacturer as the car stereo. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that
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`allows any audio device of any manufacture to be integrated with any OEM or after-market radio
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`system.
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`Moreover, it would be desirable to provide an integration system that not only achieves
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`integration of various, audio devices that are alien to a given OEM or after-market stereo system.
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`but also allows for information to be exchanged between the after-market device and the car
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`stereo. For example, it would be desirable to provide a system wherein station, track, time, and
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`song information can be retrieved from the after-market device, formatted, and transmitted to the
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`car stereo for display thereby, such as at an LCD panel of the car stereo. Such information could
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`be transmitted and displayed on both hardwired radio systems (e.g., radios installed in
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`dashboards or at other locations within the car), or integrated for display on one or more software
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`or graphically-driven radio systems operable with graphical display panels. Additionally, it'
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`would be desirable to provide an audio integration system that allows a user to control more than
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`one device, such as a CD or satellite receiver and one or more auxiliary sources, and to quickly
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`and conveniently switch between same using the existing controls of the car stereo.
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`Accordingly, the present invention addresses these needs by providing an audio
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`integration system that allows a plurality of audio devices, such as CD players, CD changers.
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`MP3 players, satellite receivers, DAB receivers, auxiliary input sources, or a combination
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`thereof, to be integrated into existing car stereos while allowing information to be displayed on.
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`and control to be provided from, the car stereo.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. One or more after-
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`market audio devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver (e.g., XM
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`tuner), digital audio broadcast (DAB) receiver, or auxiliary input source, can be connected to and
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`operate with an existing stereo system in an automobile, such as an OEM car stereo system or an
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`after-market car stereo system installed in the automobile. The integration system connects to
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`and interacts with the car stereo at any available port of the car stereo, such as a CD input port, a
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`satellite input, or other known type of connection. If the car stereo system is an after-market car
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`stereo system, the present invention generates a signal that is sent to the car stereo to keep same
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`in an operational state and responsive to external data and signals. Commands generated at the
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`control panel are received by the present invention and converted into a format recognizable by
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`the after-market audio device. The formatted commands are executed by the audio device, and
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`audio therefrom is channeled to the car stereo. Information from the audio device is received by
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`the present invention, converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo, and forwarded to
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`the car stereo for display thereby. The formatted information could include information relating
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`to a CD or MP3 track being played, channel, song, and artist information from a satellite receiver
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`or DAB receiver, or video information from one or more external devices connected to the
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`present invention. The information can be presented as one or more menus, textual, or graphical
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`prompts for display on an LCD display of the radio, allowing interaction with the user at the
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`radio. A docking port is provided for allowing portable external audio devices to be connected
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`to the interface of the present invention.
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`In an embodiment of the present invention, a dual-input device is provided for integrating
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`both an .external audio device and an auxiliary input with an OEM or after-market car stereo.
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`The user can select between the external audio device and the auxiliary input using the controls
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`of the car stereo. The invention can automatically detect the type of device connected to the
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`auxiliary input, and integrate same with the car stereo.
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`In another embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided for integrating a
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`plurality of auxiliary input sources with an existing car stereo system. A user can select between
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`the auxiliary sources using the control panel of the car stereo. One or more after-market audio
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`devices can be integrated with the auxiliary input sources, and a user can switch between the
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`audio device and the auxiliary input sources using the car stereo.
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`Devices connected to the
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`auxiliary input sources are inter-operable with the car stereo, and are capable of exchanging
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`commands and data via the interface.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`These and other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the
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`following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying
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`drawings, in which:
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the audio device integration system of the present
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`invention.
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`FIG. 2a is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player is integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a MP3 player is integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2c is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a satellite or DAB receiver is integrated with
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`a car radio.
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`FIG. 2d is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a plurality of auxiliary input sources are
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`integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2e is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the audio device
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`integration system of the present invention, wherein a CD player and a plurality of auxiliary
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`input sources are integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2f is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein a satellite or DAB receiver and a plurality of auxiliary input source are integrated with a
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`car radio.
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`FIG. 2g is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`10 wherein a MPS player and a plurality of auxiliary input sources are integrated with a car radio.
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`FIG. 2h is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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`wherein a plurality of auxiliary interfaces and an audio device are integrated with a car stereo.
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`FIG. 3a is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player or an auxiliary input source with a car radio.
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`FIG. 3b is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating both a CD player and an auxiliary input source with a car radio, wherein the CD
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`player and the auxiliary input are switchable by a user.
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`FIG. 3c is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 3d is a circuit diagram showing a device according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4a is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4b is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a MP3 player with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4c is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite receiver with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4d is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a plurality of auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4e is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4f is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a satellite or DAB receiver and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car radio.
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`FIG. 4g is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`integrating a MPS player and one or more auxiliary input sources with a car stereo.
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`FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`allowing a user to switch between an after-market audio device and one or more auxiliary input
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`sources.
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`FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing logic according to the present invention for
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`determining and handling various device types connected to the auxiliary input ports of the
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`invention.
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`FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a docking station according to the present invention for
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`retaining an audio device within a car.
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`FIG. 7b is an end view of the docking station of FIG. 7a.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to an audio device integration system. One or more after-
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`market audio devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, MPS player, satellite receiver, digital
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`audio broadcast (DAB) receiver, or the like, can be integrated with an existing car radio, such as
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`an OEM car stereo or an after-market car stereo. Control of the audio device is enabled using the
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`car radio, and information from the audio device, such as channel number, channel name, artist.
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`track, time, and song information, is retrieved form the audio device, processed, and forwarded
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`to the car radio for display thereon. The information channeled to the car radio can include video
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`from the external device, as well as graphical and menu-based information. A user can review
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`and interact with information via the car stereo. Commands from the car radio are received.
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`processed by the present invention into a format recognizable by the audio device, and
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`transmitted thereto for execution. One or more auxiliary input channels can be integrated by the
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`present invention with the car radio. The user can switch between one or more audio devices and
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`one or more auxiliary input channels using the control panel buttons of the car radio.
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`As used herein, the term "integration" or "integrated" is intended to mean connecting one
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`or more external devices or inputs to an existing car radio or stereo via an interface, processing
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`and handling signals and audio channels, allowing a user to control the devices via the car stereo.
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`and displaying data from the devices on the radio. Thus, for example, integration of a CD player
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`20 with a car stereo system allows for the CD player to be remotely controlled via the control panel
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`of the stereo system, and data from the CD player to be sent to the display of the stereo. Of
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`course, control of audio devices can be provided at locations other than the control panel of the
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`radio without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Further, as used herein,
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`the term "inter-operable" is intended to mean allowing the external audio device to receive and
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`process commands that have been formatted by the interface of the present invention, as well as
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`allowing a car stereo to display information that is generated by the external audio device and
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`processed by the present invention.
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`Additionally, by the term "inter-operable," it is meant
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`allowing a device that is alien to the environment of an existing OEM or after-market car stereo
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`to be utilized thereby.
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`Also, as used herein, the terms "car stereo" and "car radio" are used interchangeably and
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`are intended to include all presently existing car stereos and radios, such as physical devices that
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`are present at any location within a vehicle, in addition to software and/or graphically- or
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`display-driven receivers.
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`An example of such a receiver is a software-driven receiver that
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`operates on a universal LCD panel within a vehicle and is operable by a user via a graphical user
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`interface displayed on the universal LCD panel. Further, any future receiver, whether a
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`hardwired or a software/graphical receiver operable on one or more displays, is considered
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`within the definition of the terms "car stereo" and "car radio," as used herein, and is within the
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`spirit and scope of the present invention.
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the audio device integration (or interface) system of
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`the present invention, generally indicated at 20. A plurality of devices and auxiliary inputs can
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`be connected to the interface 20, and integrated with an OEM or after-market car radio 10. A
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`CD player or changer 15 can be integrated with the radio 10 via interface 20. A satellite radio or
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`DAB receiver 25, such as an XM radio satellite receiver or DAB receiver known in the art, could
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`be integrated with the radio 10, via the interface 20. Further, an MP3 player could also be
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`integrated with the radio 10 via interface 20. Moreover, a plurality of auxiliary input sources.
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`illustratively indicated as auxiliary input sources 35 (comprising input sources 1 through n, n
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`being any number), could also be integrated with the car radio 10 via interface 20. Optionally, a
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`control head 12, such as that commonly used with after-market CD changers and other similar
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`devices, could be integrated with the car radio 10 via interface 20, for controlling any of the car
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`radio 10, CD player/changer 15, satellite/DAB receiver 25, MP3 player 30, and auxiliary input
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`sources 35. Thus, as can be readily appreciated, the interface 20 of the present invention allows
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`for the integration of a multitude of devices and inputs with an OEM or after-market car radio or
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`stereo.
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`FIG. 2a is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the audio device interface
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`system of the present invention, wherein a CD player/changer 15 is integrated with an OEM or
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`after-market car radio 10. The CD player 15 is electrically connected with the interface 20, and
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`exchanges data and audio signals therewith. The interface 20 is electrically connected with the
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`car radio 10, and exchanges data and audio signals therewith. In a preferred embodiment of the
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`present invention, the car radio 10 includes a display 13 (such as an alphanumeric,
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`electroluminescent display) for displaying information, and a plurality of control panel buttons
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`14 that normally operate to control the radio 10. The interface 20 allows the CD player 15 to be
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`controlled by the control buttons 14 of the radio 10. Further, the interface 20 allows information
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`from the CD player 15, such as track, disc, time, and song information, to be retrieved therefrom.
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`processed and formatted by the interface 20, sent to the display 13 of the radio 10.
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`Importantly, the interface 20 allows for the remote control of the CD player 15 from the
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`radio 10 (e.g., the CD player 15 could be located in the trunk of a car, while the radio 10 is
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`mounted on the dashboard of the car). Thus, for example, one or more discs stored within the
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`CD player 15 can be remotely selected by a user from the radio 10, and tracks on one or more of
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`the discs can be selected therefrom.
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`Moreover, standard CD operational commands, such as
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`pause, play, stop, fast forward, rewind, track forward, and track reverse (among other
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`commands) can be remotely entered at the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10 for remotely
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`controlling the CD player 15.
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`FIG. 2b is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein an MP3 player 30 is integrated with an OEM or after-market car radio 10 via interface
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`20.
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`As mentioned earlier, the interface 20 of the present invention allows for a plurality of
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`disparate audio devices to be integrated with an existing car radio for use therewith. Thus, as
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`shown in FIG. 2b, remote control of the MP3 player 30 via radio 10 is provided for via interface
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`20. The MP3 player 30 is electronically interconnected with the interface 20, which itself is
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`electrically interconnected with the car radio 10. The interface 20 allows data and audio signals
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`to be exchanged between the MP3 player 30 and the car radio 10, and processes and formats
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`signals accordingly so that instructions and data from the radio 10 are processable by the MPS
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`player 30, and vice versa. Operational commands, such as track selection, pause, play, stop, fast
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`forward, rewind, and other commands, are entered via the control panel buttons 14 of car radio
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`10, processed by the interface 20, and formatted for execution by the MP3 player 30. Data from
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`the MPS player, such as track, time, and song information, is received by the interface 20,
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`processed thereby, and sent to the radio 10 for display on display 13. Audio from the MP3
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`player 30 is selectively forwarded by the interface 20 to the radio 10 for playing.
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`FIG. 2c is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention,
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`wherein a satellite receiver or DAB receiver 25 is integrated with an OEM or after-market car
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`radio 10 via the interface 20.
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`Satellite/DAB receiver 25 can be any satellite radio receiver
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`known in the art, such as XM or Sirius, or any DAB receiver known in the art. The
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`satellite/DAB receiver 25 is electrically interconnected with the interface 20, which itself is
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`electrically interconnected with the car radio 10. The satellite/DAB receiver 25 is remotely
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`operable by the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10. Commands from the radio 10 are
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`received by the interface 20, processed and formatted thereby, and dispatched to the
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`satellite/DAB receiver 25 for execution thereby. Information from the satellite/DAB receiver 25,
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`including time, station, and song information, is received by the interface 20, processed, and
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`transmitted to the radio 10 for display on display 13.
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`Further, audio from the satellite/DAB
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`receiver 25 is selectively forwarded by the interface 20 for playing by the radio 10.
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`FIG. 2d is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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`wherein one or more auxiliary input sources 35 are integrated with an OEM or after-market car
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`radio 10. The auxiliary inputs 35 can be connected to analog sources, or can be digitally coupled
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`with one or more audio devices, such as after-market CD players, CD changers, MP3 players.
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`satellite receivers, DAB receivers, and the like, and integrated with an existing car stereo.
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`Preferably, four auxiliary input sources are connectable with the interface 20, but any number of
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`auxiliary input sources could be included.
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`Audio from the auxiliary input sources 35 is
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`selectively forwarded to the radio 10 under command of the user. As will be discussed herein in
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`greater detail, a user can select a desired input source from the auxiliary input sources 35 by
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`depressing one or more of the control panel buttons 14 of the radio 10. The interface 20 receives
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`the command initiated from the control panel, processes same, and connects the corresponding
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`input source from the auxiliary input sources 35 to allow audio therefrom to be forwarded to the
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`radio 10 for playing. Further, the interface 20 determines the type of audio devices connected to
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`the auxiliary input ports 35, and integrates same with the car stereo 10.
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`As mentioned previously, the present invention allows one or more external audio
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`devices to be integrated with an existing OEM or after-market car stereo, along with one or more
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`auxiliary input sources, and the user can select between these sources using the controls of the
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`car stereo. Such "dual input" capability allows operation with devices connected to either of the
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`inputs of the device, or both.
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`Importantly, the device can operate in "plug and play" mode.
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`wherein any device connected to one of the inputs is automatically detected by the present
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`invention, its device type determined, and the device automatically integrated with an existing
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`OEM or after-market car stereo. Thus, the present invention is not dependent any specific device
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`type to be connected therewith to operate. For example, a user can first purchase a CD changer.
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`plug same into a dual interface, and use same with the car stereo. At a point later in time, the
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`user could purchase an XM tuner, plug same into the device, and the tuner will automatically be
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`detected and integrated with the car stereo, allowing the user to select from and operate both
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`devices from the car stereo. It should be noted that such plug and play capability is not limited to
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`a dual input device, but is provided for in every embodiment of the present invention. The dual-
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`input configuration of the preset invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2e-2h and described below.
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`FIG. 2e is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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`wherein an external CD player/changer 15 and one or more auxiliary input sources 35 are
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`integrated with an OEM or after-market car stereo 10. Both the CD player 15 and one or more of
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`the auxiliary input sources 35 are electrically interconnected with the interface 20, which, in turn,
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`is electrically interconnected to the radio 10. Using the controls 14 of the radio 10, a user can
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`select between the CD player 15 and one or more of the inputs 35 to selectively channel audio
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`from these sources to the radio. The command to select from one of these sources is received by
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`the interface 20, processed thereby, and the corresponding source is channeled to the radio 10 by
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`the interface 20. As will be discussed later in greater detail, the interface 20 contains internal
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`processing logic for selecting between these sources.
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`FIG. 2f is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein
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`a satellite receiver or DAB receiver and one or more auxiliary input sources are integrated by the
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`interface 20 with an OEM or after-market car radio 10. Similar to the embodiment of the present
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`invention illustrated in FIG. 2e and described earlier, the interface 20 allows a user to select
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`between the satellite/DAB receiver 25 and one or more of the auxiliary input sources 35 using
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`the controls 14 of the radio 10. The interface 20 contains processing logic, described in greater
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`detail below, for allowing switching between the satellite/DAB receiver 25 and one or more of
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`the auxiliary input sources 35.
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`20
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`FIG. 2g is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wherein
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`a MP3 player 30 and one or more auxiliary input sources 35 are integrated by the interface 20
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`with an OEM or after-market car radio 10. Similar to the embodiments of the present invention
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`illustrated in FIGS. 2e and 2f and described earlier, the interface 20 allows a user to select
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`between the MP3 player 30 and one or more of the auxiliary input sources 35 using the controls
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`14 of the radio 10. The interface 20 contains processing logic, as will be discussed later in
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`greater detail, for allowing switching between the MP3 player 30 and one or more of the
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`auxiliary input sources 35.
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`FIG. 2h is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
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`wherein a plurality of auxiliary interfaces 40 and 44 and an audio device 17 are integrated with
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`an OEM or after-market car stereo 10. Importantly, the present invention can be expanded to
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`10
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`allow a plurality of auxiliary inputs to be connected to the car stereo 10 in a tree-like fashion.
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`Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 2h, a first auxiliary interface 40 is connected to the interface 20,
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`and allows data and audio from the ports 42 to be exchanged with the car radio 10. Connected to
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`one of the ports 42 is another auxiliary interface 44, which, in turn, provides a plurality of input
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`ports 46. Any device connected to any of the ports 42 or 46 can be integrated with the car radio
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`10. Further, any device connected to the ports 42 or 46 can be inter-operable with the car radio
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`10, allowing commands to be entered from the car radio 10 (e.g., such as via the control panel
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`14) for commanding the device, and information from the device to be displayed by the car radio
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`10.
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`Conceivably, by configuring the interfaces 40, 44, and successive interfaces in a tree
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`configuration, any number of devices can be integrated using the present invention.
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`The various embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in FIGS. 1
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`through 2h are illustrative in nature and are not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the present
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`invention. Indeed, any conceivable audio device or input source, in any desired combination,
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`can be integrated by the present invention into existing car stereo systems.
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`Further, it is
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`conceivable that not only can data and audio signals be exchanged between the car stereo and
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`any external device, but also video information that can be captured by the present invention.
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`processed thereby, and transmitted to the car stereo for display thereby and interaction with a
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`user thereat.
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`Various circuit configurations can be employed to carry out the present invention.
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`Examples of such configurations are described below and shown in FIGS. 3a-3d.
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`FIG. 3a is an illustrative circuit diagram according to the present invention for
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`integrating a CD player or an auxiliary input source with an existing car stereo system. A
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`plurality of ports J1C1, J2A1, X2, RCH, and LCH are provided for allowing connection of the
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`interface system of the present invention between an existing car radio, an after-market CD
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`player or changer, or an auxiliary input source. Each of these ports could be embodied by any
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`suitable electrical connector known in the art. Port J1C1 connects to the input port of an OEM
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`car radio, such as that manufactured by TOYOTA, Inc.
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`Conceivably, port J1C1 could be
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`modified to allow connection to the input port of an after-market car radio. Ports J2A1, X2,
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`RCH, and LCH connect to an after-market CD changer, such as that manufactured by
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`PANASONIC, Inc., or to an auxiliary input source.
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`Microcontroller U1 is in electrical communication with each of the ports J1C1, J2A1,
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`and X2, and provides functionality for integrating the CD player or auxiliary input source
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`connected to the ports J2A1, X2, RCH, and LCH. For example, microcontroller U1 receives
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`control commands, such as button or key sequences, initiated by a user at control panel of the car
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`radio and received at the connector J1C1, processes and formats same, and dispatches the
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`formatted commands to the CD player or auxiliary input source via connector J2A1.
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`Additionally, the microcontroller U1 receives information provided by the CD player or
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`auxiliary input source via connector J2A1, processes and formats same, and transmits the
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`formatted data to the car stereo via connector J1C1 for display on the display of the car stereo.
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`Audio signals provided at the ports J2A1, X2, RCH and LCH is selectively channeled to the car
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`radio at port J1C1 under control of one or more user commands and processing logic, as will be
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`discussed in greater detail, embedded within microcontroller Ul.
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`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller Ul comprises the
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`16F628 microcontroller manufactured by MICROCHIP, Inc. The 16F628