Abstract: The receiving device contains at least two television channel selection devices to convert high-frequency signals into intermediate-frequency signals, at least two video demodulation devices to convert the intermediate-frequency signals into picture signals, at least two audio demodulation devices to convert the intermediate-frequency signals into audio signals, and one intermediate-frequency switching device to switch the audio- and video-demodulation devices to the television channel selection devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in-car computer system which comprises a control device 12 for displaying a main menu and plural sub-menus, each containing at least one selectable menu item, an operating unit 12 for selecting and activating a menu item within the main menu or sub-menu, and a switching member 20. A repeated operation of the switching member 20 causes the control device to activate the individual menu items HM1–HM4 of the main menu in a predetermined order.

Abstract: A method for voice recognition, wherein a diagram method with integrated unequivocal syntax restriction is combined with an N-gram voice model with statistical word sequence evaluation in such a way that alternative recognition methods can be used in different segments of a word sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method with which speech is captured in a noisy environment with as high a speech quality as possible. To this end, a compact array of, for example, two single microphones is combined to form one system through signal processing methods consisting of adaptive beam formation and spectral subtraction. Through the combination with a spectral subtraction, the reference signal of the beam former is freed from speech signal components to the extent that a reference signal of the interference is formed and the beam former produces high gains.

Abstract: An audio system for a vehicle that includes a system for allowing an occupant of the vehicle to adjust a balance setting of each audio source (116). The audio system includes a plurality of audio sources (102) that are connected to an amplifier (104). The amplifier is connected to a head unit (106) that adjusts the balance setting of each audio source based on predetermined parameters or user preferences (112). Audio output signals from the audio sources are thus reproduced with different balance settings.

Abstract: A telephone system for a motor vehicle includes a transmit/receive unit that transmits data over a wireless communication channel, and receives data over the wireless communication channel and provides a received signal. The system also includes a control unit that communicates with the transmit/receive unit; a first memory device; and a computing device. The computing device receives the received signal and automatically stores the received signal data in the first memory device when the telephone system is configured in a stand-by mode, which allows incoming data to be stored in the memory device while selectively preventing the transmission of outgoing calls originated by the control unit to the transmit/receive unit. Data can be sent to the motor vehicle telephone system and can be stored there for retrieval by the operator when he returns to the vehicle. The data may include audio and/or video data.

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system (100; FIG. 1) that includes a route calculation module (204; FIG. 2) that is operable to use marked diversions to avoid traffic events. The navigation system includes a simulation module (212) that is used to simulate traffic events that may occur along a route to a trip destination. A diversion module (214) is used to calculate a plurality of marked diversions that avoid the traffic events that may occur along the route. If a traffic event occurs along the route, the route calculation module only searches roads that contain a marked diversion to determine an alternative route around the traffic event.

Abstract: To facilitate the operation of an in-vehicle navigation system and to shorten the time required for the otherwise time-consuming entering of the destination by crosshairs by reducing the operating steps required, a general map and an enlarged portion of the general map are displayed simultaneously on a screen. A navigation computer calculates the routes. Map data from general maps and detail maps are stored in a memory. A main computer calculates the portion selectable for example by crosshairs and shown on an enlarged scale, from the data stored in the memory. The general map and the enlarged portion can be moved synchronously with one another on the screen by a graphic control unit.

Abstract: A method for a recognition system, for example for recognizing a location name according to a preset, spelled voice entry, in order to shorten the reaction time for a new start of a system in which data must first be transferred from a reading memory into a working memory via a connection at a low data rate. According to the method, the data are grouped in data blocks, corresponding to successive structural levels, with the data content being arranged in the manner of a branched tree structure, and with the data blocks in the hierarchical sequence of the associated structural branch levels being consecutively transferred from the reading to the working memory. The recognition has already begun, on the basis of the still-incomplete data set, after a plurality of levels is present, and is continued in real time with the transfer of further data blocks. The average processing time can be reduced further through an advantageous structuring and grouping of the data.

Abstract: Data indicative of an instantaneous location, a destination and a route from the instantaneous location to the destination are transmitted from a motor vehicle navigation unit to a central unit. Traffic information about the route between the instantaneous location and the destination are transmitted from the control unit to the vehicle unit. The received traffic information data are used by the vehicle unit to determine a desirable route between the instantaneous location and the destination given the traffic information. The data of the route thus determined are made available to the vehicle driver, so that he is able to steer toward his desired destination along this specified route.

Abstract: A speech dialog system wherein a process for automatic control of devices by speech dialog is used applying methods of speech input, speech signal processing and speech recognition, syntatical-grammatical postediting as well as dialog, executive sequencing and interface control, and which is characterized in that syntax and command structures are set during real-time dialog operation; preprocessing, recognition and dialog control are designed for operation in a noise-encumbered environment; no user training is required for recognition of general commands; training of individual users is necessary for recognition of special commands; the input of commands is done in linked form, the number of words used to form a command for speech input being variable; a real-time processing and execution of the speech dialog is established; and the speech input and output is done in the hands-free mode.

Abstract: A microphone shield system is disclosed. The microphone shield system includes an impervious elastic membrane stretched over and covering a microphone on substantially all sides. The impervious elastic membrane is adapted to pass a selected acoustical frequency range. The selected acoustical frequency range excludes a frequency range of noise from environmental effects, such as wind and rain.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes a housing having several shelves for receiving multimedia modules. Each module and each shelf is equipped with a plug connector element. The plug connector elements of the modules and of the shelves are compatible and are preferably designed as plugs and sockets. The plugs and the sockets can be designed in the same way so that each module can be plugged into each shelf, or they can be module-specific so that only a module designed for a particular shelf can be plugged into it. When a module is inserted into the shelf of the housing, the plugs are inserted into one another so that the module is now connected to the first bus line, which connects the plug connector elements of the shelves with one another. Over the second bus line other modules situated outside the housing or the rack can be connected to this first bus line. The first and the second bus line together form a common bus line, which is preferably designed as a ring line.

Abstract: A video signal processing system for processing a video data VIN and graphic data D&mgr;P includes a filter unit, which receives the video data VIN. The filter unit filters the video data VIN to convert the video data VIN into video pictures formated with a different number of columns and/or lines, and provides a filtered video signal indicative thereof. The filter unit buffers individual pixels and/or lines in a first memory device. A second memory device receives and stores the graphic data D&mgr;P and the filtered video signal and provides stored signals indicative thereof. A third memory device is connected to the second memory, and stores data received from the second memory device. A mixing unit receives and mixes the stored graphic data and the stored filtered video data to provide a video output signal VOUT.

Abstract: A navigation unit, especially for vehicles, with a data bus, a data memory on which a plurality of map information items and navigation data are stored, with a navigation computer, connected to the data bus, for route planning, with a data processing unit, connected to the data bus, for processing the data into picture information, the data processing unit containing a picture memory for storing the picture information, with a monitor, connected to the data processing unit, on which the picture information can be displayed, with a communication block with a control unit for entering the start location, intermediate destination, and/or final destination of a trip, such that the data processing unit contains a map memory for storing road map information.

Abstract: To demodulate the RDS signal, the stereo-multiplex signal is multiplied in a first branch by the in-phase component of an oscillator filtered by a low-pass filter while decimated in its sampling rate and filtered by a high-pass filter while in a second branch it is multiplied by the quadrature component of the oscillator filtered by a low-pass filter decimated in its sampling rate, and filtered by a high-pass filter. An error signal to control the oscillator is calculated from the high-pass-filtered signals and the RDS bit clock. A clock generator generating the RDS bit clock is controlled by the first high-pass-filtered signal and by the oscillator. An RDS decoder, to whose input the first high-pass-filtered signal is applied. and an arithmetic unit which calculates the error signal from the high-pass-filtered signals and from the PDS bit clock are both clocked by the clock generator. The RDS data are retrievable from the output of the RDS decoder.

Abstract: An audio decoding device for decompressing an audio signal that was compressed in accordance with a given compression method having a program-controlled signal processor which receives the compressed audio signal and from it produces a decompressed audio signal under the control of a decompression program; a loadable program memory that is connected to the signal processor for storing the decompression program; and a management device which is connected to the program memory and is controlled by the compressed audio signal, and which manages decompression programs corresponding to at least two different compression methods in order to determine the respectively used compression method from the compressed audio signal, to select the pertinent decompression program and to load the pertinent decompression program into the program memory.