Abstract: A process and apparatus for synchronizing the block counter of an RDS radio data receiver is described. According to the process, the bits stored in a 26-bit shift register, are cycled at least n times in said register, n being the number of allowable offset words, and the shift register content is X-OR gated with another offset word in a given sequence for each cycle. The gating result is received by a syndrome detection circuit, which triggers a sync pulse when the zero syndrome is detected, and the sync pulse resets the bit counter to zero and sets the block counter to the address counter status assigned to the offset word in the offset word generator.

Abstract: A device for synchronization of a block counter in an RDS receiver, the decoder of which, after synchronization has been effected, is capable of performing an error correction in the received bits. The process steps which can lead to synchronization of the block counter are integrated into the process steps for error correction, and are repeated in each bit period.

Abstract: In a device for controlling the volume of a car radio as a function of driving noise, an acceleration sensor can be mechanically connected with the body of the motor vehicle, to generate a signal dependent on driving noise.

Abstract: A method for producing a plated-through hole on a printed-circuit board, whereby the printed-circuit board is initially bored, catalyzed, and patterned. The plated-through hole is then fashioned in an electrochemical deposition process so as to make it functional for the through-hole mounting of electrical components. The plating process is preferably carried out with nickel or nickel compounds, so that no additional corrosion protection is required. A direct bonding to the contact lands can be achieved by coating the contact lands with gold or palladium.

Abstract: A process and a means for automatic assembly of the top and bottom sides of circuitboards with SMDs is described. The SMD assembly machine in this means has two parallel pickup stations for conveyor belts for the circuitboards for this purpose.

Abstract: In a circuit for deriving at least one quality signal that is dependent on the quality of a received signal, where the received signal is demodulated, a first auxiliary signal which is dependent on the field strength, and a second or further auxiliary signal, are derived from the demodulated signal. The auxiliary signal and the second or further auxiliary signal are combined to derive the quality signal.

Abstract: A device is described for automatically populating the top and bottom side of printed-circuit boards with SMD components, synchronously controllable switching points being arranged in the entry and outlet of the SMD (surface mounted device) insertion device.

Abstract: A radio receiver is provided having digital signal processing, a first and a second auxiliary signal derived from a received stereo multiplex signal, the first auxiliary signal being dependent upon the existence of signal components, whose frequency lies above the fundamental frequency range of the stereo multiplex signal, and the second auxiliary signal being dependent upon the symmetry of the sidebands of the stereo subcarrier. The first and the second auxiliary signal are combined to form an interference signal indicating the existence of interference. At least one control signal is derived from the interference signal to influence the audio signals acquired by decoding the stereo multiplex signal.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for recognizing adjacent channel interference in a stereo radio receiver, in which a stereo multiplex signal is present. An adjacent channel interference signal is obtained as a function of a direct voltage portion of the stereo multiplex signal and as a function of the spectral components of the stereo multiplex signal above 60 kHz.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for deriving the signal indicating noise in a received stereo multiplex signal, wherein the stereo multiplex signal is present as a digital signal with a first sampling rate that is substantially higher than twice the upper limit of the useful frequency range of the stereo multiplex signal, and the received stereo multiplex signal is passed through a low-pass filter. The low-pass filtered signal and the received stereo multiplex signal are subjected to decimation to a second sampling rate, which is higher than twice the upper limit of the useful frequency range of the stereo multiplex signal. The two stereo multiplex signals with the second sampling rate are subtracted from one another.

Abstract: In a circuit for suppressing short-lived noise phenomena in a digital audio signal, in particular during a temporary test reception of another transmitter, the audio signal is multiplied by a factor which, prior to the appearance of the noise phenomenon, is brought from a maximum value to a minimum value in accordance with a predetermined time function, and at the end of the noise phenomenon, is returned to a maximum value. The invention has special application to the Radio Data System defined by the European Broadcasting Union, and the testing of "Alternative Frequencies" in that system.

Abstract: In a radio receiver with digital signal processing, a stereo multiplex signal received and the useful signals derived therefrom are processed in digital form at a first sampling rate. The subsidiary signals derived from the stereo multiplex signal are at least partly processed at a second sampling rate that is smaller than the first sampling rate. The sampling rate of the processed subsidiary signals are reduced to the first sampling rate with the processed subsidiary signals, acting as control signals with the first sampling rate, affecting the stereo multiplex signal and the useful signals.

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for deriving a signal dependent on the change direction of the incoming signal level in a radio receiver, controllable by a microcomputer, a comparator is provided outside the microcomputer to which a signal representing the respective signal strength and a signal generated by the microcomputer representing the signal strength at an earlier point in time can be supplied. An output signal from the comparator can be supplied to the microcomputer.

Abstract: In a demodulator for a stereo signal transmitted by amplitude and phase modulation of a carrier, a phase signal and a quantity signal are formed. By multiplication of the quantity signal with the tangent of the phase signal reduced by a value to be preset, a difference signal is formed. The value to be preset is generated in such a way as to minimize the direct portion of the difference signal.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a method for adjusting the volume of a vehicle radio to the surrounding noise level, where the audio signal level, sampled downstream of a setting element (2), placed in the path of the audio signal, and a driving noise signal level (FG) are supplied to a control loop (1, 2, V1) that attempts to minimize the difference between the audio signal level and the driving noise signal level. To prevent the signal level from running up during a signal pause and a driving noise level at hand, an audio signal pause recognition is provided which identifies low-signal audio passages as pauses, using a variable threshold, and slowly lowers the audio signal level during these pauses.

Abstract: An improved Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) radio receiver circuit includes a phase detector, either an active loop filter or a set of parallel, alternately selectable loop filters, and a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) whose input is connected to the output of the loop filter. The output of the VCO is fed to frequency divider. The output of the frequency divider and a reference frequency signal form the inputs to the phase detector/comparator. Toggling among the loop filters occurs such that the loop limit frequency, defined by a loop amplification of 1, is altered by this toggling without significantly changing the gradient of the amplification to the frequency, in a frequency range which includes the limit frequency.

Abstract: In a digital circuit which removes ignition noise from a multiplex signal in a radio receiver, especially in a car radio, the multiplex signal is supplied via a high-pass filter (3) and a squaring or absolute value determing circuit (4) as a digital signal with a sampling frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of the pilot tone. The high-pass filtered and squared or absolute value multiplex signal is compared to a short-time mean value of the high-pass filtered and squared (in absolute value) multiplex signal. A control signal S of predetermined duration is formed when deviations occur that are greater than a preset standard. The control signal S controls a correcting circuit in such a manner that sampling values of the multiplex signal occurring during the control signal are replaced with sampling values occurring during the previous period of the pilot tone, thereby masking the ignition noise.

Abstract: In a circuit for a demodulator of a radio data signal in a radio receiver, the multiplex signal in digital form is mixed into the baseband, in two phase positions shifted 90.degree. with respect to each other, after band-pass filtering, together with a reference carrier generated at a sampling clock rate produced in the radio receiver, thus producing a first and a second mix signal. A first and a second auxiliary signal with, respectively, a sine waveform and a cosine waveform are produced. The first mix signal is multiplied by the first auxiliary signal, and the second mix signal by the second auxiliary signal. The results of these multiplications are added together, producing a first output signal. The first mix signal is multiplied by the second auxiliary signal, and the second mix signal by the first auxiliary signal, and the results subtracted from each other, thus producing a second output signal.

Abstract: Radio receivers which scan through a predetermined band of the radio spectrum, in a station-seeking mode, must independently detect whether the currently tuned frequency is the central frequency of the transmitting station and whether this transmitter provides a signal whose strength is sufficient, i.e. whose strength exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Once these two conditions are satisfied, the radio generates a "stop" signal which terminates the station-seeking mode, i.e. keeps the tuning circuit set to the frequency which provided the sufficiently strong signal. The present invention provides an unusually simple way to determine whether these two conditions are satisfied, by using a Finite-Impulse-Response digital filter (2) to extract a d.c. component of the demodulated signal (MPX), for comparison (6) with a predetermined maximum value, and by filtering (10) a field strength signal (FST), for comparison (11) with a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: FM radio receivers, particularly in moving vehicles, are subject to intermittent adjacent-channel interference. It is known to detect such interference and suppress it by narrowing bandwidth in the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal path. However, it is desirable to again broaden the bandwidth once the interference has subsided. An improved system, which automatically and dynamically adjusts the bandwidth, employs first and second signal level evaluation circuits (11, 12), a comparison stage (13) which compares their outputs, and a variable-bandwidth filter stage (6, 14) controlled by the comparison stage. The comparison stage is programmed with a set of signal difference threshold values and corresponding filter bandwidth values, and controls the filter stage (6, 14) to adjust the bandwidth to the appropriate value, indicated by which signal difference threshold value has been exceeded. In a preferred embodiment, a second IF filter (15) does "double duty" as part of the variable-bandwidth filter stage.