Patent ID: 6856798
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing television audio programming to one or more individuals in a mobile vehicle, the audio programming being derived from a television signal that includes an audio signal component and a video signal component, the audio signal component directly corresponding to the video signal component, the apparatus comprising: a transceiver disposed in a first section of the mobile vehicle, the transceiver being adapted to selectively receive one of a plurality of television signals in response to a channel selection signal received at a channel selection input thereof, the transceiver converting the audio signal component of the television signal to a radio signal for reception by a radio receiver that converts the radio signal to an audible audio signal corresponding to the television audio programming; a control module formed as a unit that is physically distinct from the transceiver, said control module being disposed in a second section of said mobile vehicle remote of the transceiver, the control module including the transceiver and control module cooperating to execute an automatic programming mode in which the transceiver scans through a predetermined range of television channels, the automatic programming mode being activated through the user interface of the control module; a relative signal strength indicator circuit adapted to generate a signal strength output signal during the automatic programming mode, the signal strength output signal being indicative of the presence of a television signal on a television channel to which the transceiver is tuned, the relative signal strength indicator operating to detect the presence of a television signal on a channel by detecting the presence of a video horizontal sync signal; electronic memory identifying the channels that have a television signal transmitted thereon as determined by the level of the signal strength output signal of the relative signal strength indicator circuit during the automatic programming mode.