Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a new hybrid system designed to support AM radio in electric vehicles through a remote entertainment server. According to the patent, the system would stream content from a remote server when traditional radio reception is unavailable. This innovative solution aims to solve the issue of AM radio interference in electric vehicles, which has been a concern for some time.
The system, as described in the patent, relies on a remote vehicle entertainment server to deliver content to the vehicle. When a traditional tuner is “unresponsive to a first radio transmission medium,” the vehicle sends a “radio content request” to the remote server, which receives the station content and stores it in a staging memory before transmitting it to the vehicle. This process, also known as streaming, would allow for the continuous delivery of live feed content to the vehicle.
Additionally, the patent outlines that the system can dynamically switch sources if the quality of the content from the first source degrades. This means that the system can adapt to changing network conditions and adjust the content source accordingly. Furthermore, the patent notes that the system may support standards such as ATSC broadcast, which suggests broader applications for digital radio delivery.
The motivation for this new technology comes as a response to public and regulatory pressure after Ford removed AM radio functionality from its 2023 F-150 Lightning edition due to concerns over AM radio interference with the drivetrain of electric vehicles. However, following public outcry, Ford reversed its decision and restored AM radio to its 2023 and 2024 lineup. This new patent represents a potential long-term solution to mitigate AM radio interference in future electric vehicles while still offering access to AM content.
Overall, this innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize the way AM radio content is delivered in electric vehicles, addressing concerns over interference while providing seamless access to AM radio stations.