Abstract: An AM radio receiver includes search tuning such as seek or scan tuning features whose stop thresholds for locking onto a received frequency are adapted to environmental conditions. In the preferred embodiment, wideband signal strength, preferably derived from the automatic gain control of the radio frequency amplifier, provides a representative signal to the microprocessor for adapting the thresholds used during search tuning. The thresholds are increased when significant energy is present in the AM band and proportioned to the level of that energy. The decision logic of the microprocessor adapts thresholds according to the tuned signal strength, to wideband signal strength, to nighttime operation during which ionosphere conditions increase transmissibility of distant radio signals, and to intermediate frequency (IF) count validity to reduce the probability of stopping on audibly noisy frequencies when the RF signal environment is noisy.

Abstract: An FM radiowave receiver includes a diversity antenna system responsive to signal strength and noise levels. The signal strength and noise detectors generate representative signals that are compared with a threshold value for determining the input to a control for the antenna switch alternately connecting two or more antennas to the front end of the FM receiver. The present invention provides an adaptive threshold for each of the signal strength and noise signals so that the switching is limited to significant changes in signal strength and noise levels. In the preferred embodiment, the noise level threshold is adapted as a function of the modulation level of the audio composite signal delivered from the FM detector to the FM stereo decoder of the receiver.