Abstract: An infotainment/telematics system includes a fixed base unit and a portable communication device. The fixed base unit may include a plurality of base unit devices cooperating with a base unit processor to execute a set of stand-alone infotainment/telematics functions. The portable communication device may include a one or more PCD devices cooperating with a portable communication device processor to execute a one or more stand-alone infotainment/telematics functions. The fixed base unit and the portable communication device may be connected for intelligent communication with one another to share and/or control a base unit device and/or a PCD device. Multiple portable communication devices may be connected to a single base unit to share the infotainment/telematics devices of the portable communication devices with the base unit and/or between the multiple portable communication devices. The fixed base unit may be fixed in a vehicle.

Abstract: An infotainment/telematics system includes a fixed base unit adapted to execute a set of stand-alone infotainment and/or telematics functions and a portable communication device adapted to execute a stand-alone infotainment and/or telematics function. The fixed base unit includes a user interface that is updated when the fixed base unit and the portable communication device are connected for intelligent communication with one another. Additionally, or in the alternative, the portable communication device may include a user interface that is updated when the fixed base unit and portable communication device are connected for intelligent communication with one another.

Abstract: An apparatus determines an optimal antenna and frequency combination by selecting the optimal antenna from among a plurality, N, of antennas associated with a receiver and also selects the optimal frequency from among a plurality, M, of alternative receiving frequencies transmitted from a transmitter. This is achieved by determining all N×M possible antenna/frequency combinations, by determining the received signal quality at each combination, by comparing the N×M received signal qualities, and by selecting the one antenna/frequency combination having the optimal received signal quality.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a tuner stage, a selective filter stage connected to the tuner stage, and a intermediate-frequency stage connected to the selective filter stage. A field-strength-detection stage is also provided, which generates a field strength signal proportional to the field strength of the received signal. The selective filter stage includes a transfer function that is modifiable by a control signal derived from the field strength signal.

Abstract: A vehicle multimedia system simplifies a user's interaction with the system. A user may access a specific media unit by actuating a switch corresponding to a media unit. A preference unit detects the user's selection of the media unit and selects an end item based on a programmed criterion. The preference unit may automatically activate the end item. The preference unit may be overridden by the user when a switch corresponding to the selected media unit is actuated multiple times. The preference unit may also manage data lists and data packets that store the information used for the criterion comparison.

Abstract: A navigation system for use in a motor vehicle receives starting position data and destination position data and computes driving directions between the starting and destination positions. The navigation system includes a first memory unit that stores a basic navigation database including road map information, and a receiver that receives supplemental navigation data including digital road maps, and provides received supplemental navigation data that is stored in a second memory unit. A navigation computer computes driving directions between the starting position and the destination position using information from the basic navigation database and the received supplemental navigation data, and outputs driving directions for presentation to a user.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a tuner stage, a selective filter stage connected to the tuner stage, and a intermediate-frequency stage connected to the selective filter stage. A field-strength-detection stage is also provided, which generates a field strength signal proportional to the field strength of the received signal. The selective filter stage includes a transfer function that is modifiable by a control signal derived from the field strength signal.

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: To adjust an antenna and frequency diversity receiving apparatus comprising n antennas (A1-An) and using m receiving frequencies to the best antenna frequency combination each of the n antennas (A1-An) there is assigned an IF stage (Z1-Zn). A quality signal (Q1-Qnm) representing the receiving quality will be generated for each of the n×m possible antenna frequency combinations within the IF stages (Z1-Zn). A digital signal processor (DS) determines by comparing the best antenna frequency combination out of the n×m quality signals (Q1-Qnm). The selected antenna (A1) will be switched to the digital signal processor (DS) via a multiplex switch (M), and the assigned IF stage (Z1) is tuned to the determined receiving frequency.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a tuner stage, a selective filter stage connected to the tuner stage, and a intermediate-frequency stage connected to the selective filter stage. A field-strength-detection stage is also provided, which generates a field strength signal proportional to the field strength of the received signal. The selective filter stage includes a transfer function that is modifiable by a control signal derived from the field strength signal.

Abstract: A navigation system for use in a motor vehicle receives starting position data and destination position data and computes driving directions between the starting and destination positions. The navigation system includes a first memory unit that stores a basic navigation database including road map information, and a receiver that receives supplemental navigation data including digital road maps, and provides received supplemental navigation data that is stored in a second memory unit. A navigation computer computes driving directions between the starting position and the destination position using information from the basic navigation database and the received supplemental navigation data, and outputs driving directions for presentation to a user.

Abstract: In the process of generating a compatible 4:3 letterbox format television signal, a wide aspect ration 16:9 progressive scan television signal is vertically transcoded from 575 to 431 image lines, converted to line interlaced form and horizontally compressed. A vertically transcoded interlaced luminance component is converted back to progressive scan form via interpolation, and subtracted from a vertically transcoded original progressive scan luminance component to produce a difference (helper) signal. The difference signal is time compressed and multiplexed into upper and lower edge bar regions of the letterbox format. The compatible letterbox signal also is encoded with additional information including vertical high frequency information and horizontal high frequency information separated during the transcoding and compression processes, respectively. The encoding includes modulating the color subcarrier frequency with luminance information, and intraframe averaging.

Abstract: A compact disc player arrangement in which compact discs are stored in a magazine housing. One above another in a stack. The magazine housing may be removed for the purpose of loading with compact discs, and this magazine housing is replaceable in the compact disc player after having been loaded. A slidable drawer that is movable into and out of the housing forms a single component or unit with the housing. A selected compact disc that is different from the disc stored in the magazine housing, may be held in the slidable drawer and played in any selected sequence, independent of the discs stored in the magazine housing. The arrangement allows compact disc players to be extended from the use of only one-disc-at-a-time devices.

Abstract: Compact disk changer with a playback section and a magazine with compartments for holding compact disks. The playback section and the magazine are moved relative to each other up and down for removing compact disks from the magazine. The compact disks are scanned optically in the magazine compartment to attain a predetermined relative position between the playback section and the magazine for the purpose of removing a selected disk. The compact disks in the compartments are detected by light conductors which extend into the magazine compartments. The disks have peripheral rims that do not reflect light.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a home entertainment unit, including a television receiver and one or more peripheral devices, such as a video recorder, coupled to the television receiver, includes a single remote control transmitter for transmitting a remote control signal to the television receiver, which, in turn, passes on control instructions to the peripheral devices. To allow such a remote control operation, even when one or more of the peripheral devices is produced by a manufacturer different than that of the television receiver and which therefore requires a different remote control code, the television receiver has a memory in which, under the control of a microprocessor, the remote control codes allocated to respective function control keys of the remote control transmitter supplied with a peripheral device are stored during a learning process.

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for correcting a raster distortion in a cathode ray tube, at least one vertical perforated, index strip of a sensor is arranged at a corresponding margin of a picture producing screen of the cathode ray tube. An index signal that is indicative when the electron beam passes the index strip is generated. The index signal is coupled through an enclosure of the cathode ray tube in a nonconductive manner to a second electrode that is located outside the enclosure. A comparator circuit is used for comparing the index signal with a line deflection representative signal to generate a control signal that corrects the raster distortion.

Abstract: A television receiver in which a microcomputer controls an operating part, and a clock generator for the microcomputer is synchronized by synchronization pulses in the television signal transmitted to the receiver. The clock generator is also in the form of a control generator for a switching network part and for the deflection stages of the television receiver. The signal from the clock generator is divided and processed by a pulse-width modulator. This pulse-width modulator emits a control signal for controlling the switching network part.

Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for reducing the prominence of the scanning lines of an enlarged television picture by adding a plurality of scanning lines to an original television picture signal to form a modified picture signal, and supplying each added line with picture information from an adjoining one of the picture lines of the original television picture signal. This technique is applicable to television sets in which the pictures are stretched, in order for pictures having a different size and shape from that of the television screen to be shown in such a way that they fill the screen completely.

Abstract: In a compact-disk changer, the positioning of a playing component (1) in relation to a magazine (4) is controlled for the purpose of removing disks (5) from the magazine in accordance with the invention by an optical link (8-10).

Abstract: A receiver stage for radio or television receiver. A single case enclosing a device comprises inside a tuner, an intermediate frequency amplifier connected to the tuner, a demodulator connected to the intermediate frequency amplifier, and a phase locked loop provision connected to the tunner. The joint case allows joint shielding of all components with shield plates mounted inside the case, avoids unreliable plug connections and reduces the production cost of radio and television receiver sets.