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United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 5,361,405

Ramsey 45 Date of Patent: Nov. 1, 1994
54 AIRCRAFT BAND RADIO RECEIVER 4,419,766 12/1983 Goeken et al....................... 455/226
WHICH DOES NOT RADATE 4,520,507 5/1985 Moon ........... ... 455/131
INTERFERING SIGNALS 4,569,084 2/1986 Takahama ........ ... 455/131
4,726,072 2/1988 Yamashita et al. ... 455/315
75) Inventor: John G. Ramsey, Pittsford, N.Y. 4,727,594 2/1988 Ruppel ..... ... 455/209
73) Assignee: Ramsey Electronics, Inc., Victor, 4,893,316
93,316 1/1990
1/1990 JJanc ettal.
a ........................... 455/324
55/
N.Y. Primary Examiner-Curtis Kuntz
Assistant Examiner-Lisa Charouel
21 Appl. No.: 619,830 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-M. Lukacher
22 Filed: Nov.30, 1990 57 ABSTRACT
Related U.S. Application Data A broadband radio receiver monitors transmissions
- MV over a broadband of frequencies, and especially over
(63) Continuation of Ser. No. 407,005, Sep. 14, 1989, aban- the aircraft band, between aircraft and control towers
doned. or between the cockpit and ground stations at an air
51 Int. Cl............................ A04B 1/22, H04B 7/00 port. The radio utilizes an earphone having a lead
52 U.S. C. ................................... 455/1501;455/270
455/66 which provides an antenna. The lead is AC coupled to
an amplifier having band-pass filters connected to the
58 Field of Search ............... 45.5/131, 150,270, 280, input and to output thereof to provide selectivity while
455/169, 161, 74,98, 95, 1501, 169.1, 1692, passing the entire band. An AM detector is connected
R
1611, 1612,161.3.381/14 to the output filter and produces an audio signal which
is coupled, via an RF blocking inductor, to the ear
56) References Cited phone by way of the earphone lead. A miniaturized
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS self-contained radio is therefore provided which does
not utilize a local oscillator or other radiating signal
i.e. A: ychfarth et al. ................. E. generator and may be used on board or nearby aircraft
2.36626 10/1944 setchell. ... 455/270 without violating regulations for the use of electronic
2,535,063 12/1950 Halstead .............................. 455/270 equipment.
4,290,144 9/1981 Webb .................................... 455/63
4,398,304 8/1983 Fathauer et al..................... 455/168 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets

QK RF/AUDIO
DECOUPLNG
8-36 MHz AM
4.

EARPHONE
ANTENNA
LEAD
U.S. Patent Nov. 1, 1994 Sheet 1 of 2 5,361,405
U.S. Patent Nov. 1, 1994 Sheet 2 of 2 5,361,405

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 5,361,405
1. 2
reading of the following description in connection with
AIRCRAFT BAND RADIO RECEIVER WHICH the accompanying drawings in which:
DOES NOT RADIATE INTERFERING SIGNALS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio system for moni
toring aircraft transmission in accordance with the in
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 5 vention; and
407,005, filed Sep. 14, 1989. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the radio system
The present invention relates to radio systems and shown in FIG. 1.
particularly to radio receivers for receiving AM trans Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown an earphone
missions over a predetermined broadband, such as the 10 of conventional design having two leads, one of
aircraft communications band (118 to 136 MHz). which is connected to ground via an inductor (choke)
The invention is especially suitable for use by passen having high reactance at RF frequency. This choke is
gers or other persons who wish to monitor transmis shown at 20 in FIG. 2 and is connected to one side of
sions in the vicinity of an airport or on board commer earphone jack 15 into which the antenna leads are
cial passenger aircraft without violating regulations as plugged via the male part of the jack which is not
to radiated signals. The invention is also applicable 15 shown. The other lead serves as both an audio signal
wherever a predetermined band of frequencies is to be line and as an antenna. It is connected to a broadband
received, particularly where it is not desirable to tune input circuit 12 via a coupling capacitor 14, which
the radio to specific frequencies in the band. passes the RF picked up on the lead 11 from the ear
Anyone waiting for an airplane or trapped in an air phone while blocking audio signals which are applied to
craft sitting on a runway awaiting take off clearance 20 the earphone from the output of the receiver system.
has, at one time or another, become quite anxious as to These audio signals are coupled via another inductor or
the status of the aircraft and as to the possibility of the choke 21 which is also shown in FIG. 2 connected to
aircraft returning to the gate or otherwise interfering the ungrounded side of the earphone jack 15.
with his or her travel plans. Regulations concerning The input circuit 12 has at least one amplifier 16. This
electronic equipment on commercial aircraft forbid the 25 amplifier is a transistor amplifier which is shown in
use of conventional radios, all of which use super detail in FIG.2. In order to pass the broadband of inter
heterodyme circuits with local oscillators of various est and to provide selectivity against interfering signals
types. Moreover, it is desirable to monitor signals, the below and above the band (the FM band on the low end
exact frequency of which is unknown. Therefore, the of the predetermined band (118 to 136 MHz)) and the
need to tune the radio over the band is undesirable and 30 2-way radio and TV bands at the high end of the band
prevents the practical application of conventional ra of interest, a pair of 2-pole band-pass filters each tuned
dios for the purpose. to pass the band of interest (118 to 136MHz) 18 & 19 are
Another requirement of radios which are desired to connected to the input and output of the amplifier 16.
operate to monitor transmissions over a broad band is These band-pass filters 18 and 19 are shown in detail in
that they be extremely small in size and low in cost. 35 FIG.2. In FIG. 2 the values of the capacitors in picofar
Complex electronic circuits which have heretofore ads is shown adjacent to each capacitor. The value of
been used in radio equipment and separate speakers and the resistors in ohms or killiohms is shown adjacent to
antennaes used with such circuits, have made them each resistor. The inductors are designated by numbers
impractical for such purposes. of turns (T) of 28 gauge wire, wound closely spaced to
Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present define " diameter air coils. The presently preferred
invention to provide an improved radio system for re transistors and integrated circuits are also indicated by
ceiving transmissions, particularly AM transmissions type number. It will be appreciated that these values
over a predetermined broadband, such as the band over and arrangement of circuits is presented for purposes of
which aircraft communications is carried out (118 to illustration and not of limitation, and for presentation of
136 MHz). 45 the best mode now known for practicing the invention.
Ancillary objects of the present invention are to pro Changes within the scope of the invention will undoubt
vide an improved radio system in which the above-men edly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and
tioned drawbacks and disadvantages of conventional may be made without departing from the invention.
radios are obviated. The input circuit also includes another buffer ampli
Briefly described, an improved radio system which is 50 fier 23. The output from the amplifier 23 is applied to a
provided in accordance with the invention, is adapted demodulator circuit, the principal elements of which
for receiving AM transmissions over a predetermined are a diode detector 24 and an audio amplifier 26. As
broadband such as the band used for aircraft communi shown in FIG. 2 this audio amplifier may be a two-stage
cations (118 to 136 MHz). The radio has a broadband amplifier having a low power stage 28 and a high power
input circuit tuned to pass the predetermined band and 55 earphone driver stage 30, which is a commercial inte
a demodulator circuit connected to the output of the grated circuit amplifier. The high power stage 30 pro
input circuit for producing an audio signal in response vides the audio signal which is fed through the inductor
to ally such transmissions. Preferably the system utilizes 21 and then to the earphone 10.
an earphone, the lead from which functions both as an It will be apparent that no local oscillators are
antenna and to carry the audio signals which are trans 60 needed, nor is any tuning of the receiver needed in
duced by the earphone into audible outputs. The user of order to receive signals which are broadcast over the
the radio system can then hear communications of the 118 to 136 MHz band. The receiver is operated by a
type which are transmitted between the cockpit of an battery 31. The only controls are an on-off switch 32
aircraft, the control tower and other locations, as well and a potentiometer 34, which provides a volume con
as with personnel in an airport. 65 trol. It will be apparent that the receiver may be pack
The foregoing and other objects, features and advan aged in an extremely small space, for example,
tages of the invention as well as a presently preferred 50X 175X 10 millimeters.
embodiment thereof will become more apparent from a I claim:
 3.
5,361,405
4.
1. A radio system for receiving AM transmissions phone via said one lead which passes said audio signal
over a predetermined broadband of RF frequencies while blocking said RF frequencies, and second means
such as broadcast over an aircraft communications band for coupling a return circuit for said audio signal to the
(118-136 MHz) which comprises a broadband input other of said leads which passes said audio signal while
circuit having circuits which pass or are tuned to pass blocking said RF frequencies.
the predetermined frequencies, a demodulator circuit 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said AC
connected to an output of said input circuit for produc coupling means comprises a capacitor having sufficient
ing an audio signal in response to any such transmis reactance at audio frequencies to block said audio sig
sions, an earphone having two leads, means for AC nal, and said first and second audio signal coupling
coupling one of said leads to said input circuit which 10 means each comprises an inductor having sufficient
passes said RF frequencies and blocks said audio signal, reactance to clock said RF: frequencies.
first means for coupling said audio signal to said ear :k ck sk ck

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