Digital pushbutton tuning for signal-controlled receiver

Claim 2

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuning frequency, further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, and in which said modifying means comprises a plurality of impedance elements, said selecting means comprising means effective to selectively operatively connect different numbers of said impedance elements to said tuning element.

Claim 3

The tuner of claim 1, in which the values of said impedance elements and the action of said selecting means are such that the voltage profile defined by the voltage levels applied to said tuning element as said selecting means is actuated substantially conforms to the voltage-reactance profile of said tuning element over the range involved.

Claim 4

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, and further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, in which said signal level establishing means comprises a plurality of impedance means connected in parallel across a voltage source, said terminals comprising two sets of contacts, the contacts of one set being connected to interMediate points on the first and subsequent impedance means counting from said source, the contacts of said other set being connected to intermediate points on the second and subsequent impedance means, counting from said source.

Claim 5

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, and further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, in which said signal level establishing means comprises a plurality of impedance means connected in parallel across a voltage source, said terminals comprising two sets of contacts, the contacts of one set being connected to interMediate points on the first and subsequent impedance means counting from said source, the contacts of said other set being connected to intermediate points on the second and subsequent impedance means, counting from said source.

Claim 6

The tuner of claim 3, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising second means effective to vary the impedance of said tuning impedance means.

Claim 7

The tuner of claim 3, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect a predetermined portion of said tuning impedance means between said selected contacts of said two sets of contacts.

Claim 8

The tuner of claim 5, in which said variable impedance means comprises a plurality of impedance elements, said connecting means comprising means effective to selectively operatively connect different numbers of said impedance elements to said tuning element.

Claim 9

The tuner of claim 6, in which the values of said impedance elements and the action of said selecting means are such that the voltage profile defined by the voltage levels applied to said tuning element as said selecting means in actuated, substantially conforms to the voltage-reactance profile of said tuning element over the range involved.

Claim 10

In the tuner of claim 5, a compensating impedance, said selecting means comprising means for connecting said compensating impedance between the higher numbered contact to which said variable tuning impedance means is connected and the contact of the next higher number counting from said source.

Claim 11

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising second means effective to vary the impedance of said variable tuning impedance means, in which said means effective to vary the impedance of said variable tuning impedance means is manually actuatable independently of said means for connecting a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element.

Claim 12

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising second means effective to vary the impedance of said variable tuning impedance means, in which said means effective to vary the impedance of said variable tuning impedance means is manually actuatable independently of said means for connecting a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element.

Claim 13

The tuner of claim 9, in which said modifying means comprises a plurality of impedance element, said selecting means comprising means effective to selectively operatively connect different numbers of said impedance elements to said tuning element.

Claim 14

The tuner of claim 10, in which the values of said impedance elements and the action of said selecting means are such that the voltage profile defined by the voltage levels applied to said tuning element as said selecting means is actuated, substantially conforms to the voltage-reactance profile of said tuning element over the range involved.

Claim 15

The tuner of claim 9, in which said signal level establishing means comprises a plurality of impedance means connected in parallel across a voltage source, said terminals comprising two sets of contacts, the contacts of one set being connected to intermediate points on the first and subsequent impedance means couNting from said source, the contacts of said other set being connected to intermediate points on the second and subsequent impedance means, counting from said source.

Claim 16

The tuner of claim 12, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising second means effective to vary the impedance of said tuning impedance means.

Claim 17

The tuner of claim 12, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect a predetermined portion of said tuning impedance means between said selected contacts of said two sets of contacts.

Claim 18

In the tuner of claim 14, a compensating impedance, said selecting means comprising means for connecting said compensating impedance between the higher numbered contact to which said tuning impedance means is connected and the contact of the next higher number counting from said source.

Claim 19

In the tuner of claim 12, in which said modifying means comprises a network of impedance elements adapted to be connected between selected contacts of said two sets of contacts, said network having an intermediate node, the voltage at said intermediate node nominally having a different known voltage value depending upon the particular contacts between which said network is connected, and means actuated by said selecting means and effective to provide at said intermediate node a voltage having substantially the value as said known voltage value corresponding to said selected set of contacts.

Claim 20

The tuner of claim 16, in which said selecting means comprises means effective to selectively operatively connect different numbers of said impedance elements to said tuning element.

Claim 21

In the tuner of claim 16, a compensating impedance, said selecting means comprising means for for connecting said compensating impedance between the higher numbered contact to which said fine tuning impedance means is connected and the contact of the next higher number counting from said source.

Claim 22

In the tuner of claim 16, in which said means effective to vary the impedance of said tuning impedance means is manually actuatable independently of said means for connecting a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element.

Claim 23

In the tuner of claim 16, in which the values of said impedance elements and the action of said selecting means are such that the voltage profile defined by the voltage levels applied to said tuning element as said selecting means is actuated substantially conforms to the voltage-reactance profile of said tuning element over the range involved.

Claim 24

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, comprising an output node adapted to be operatively connected to the tuning element, a first node and a second node, means operatively connecting said modifying means to said first and second nodes, said first mentioned selecting means comprising means effective to connect said selected one of said terminals to said first Node and to operatively connect said second node to a subsequent one of said terminals following the selected one of said terminals, thereby to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected and said subsequent terminals.

Claim 25

A tuner for use in a communication receiver comprising a tuning element having a predetermined correspondence between its tuned frequency and the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, said tuner comprising a series of terminals, means effective to establish a different predetermined signal level at each of said terminals, the difference between the signal levels at each adjacent pair of terminals in said series of terminals being such as to cause the tuned frequency of said tuning element to vary in substantially equal increments when signals at said levels are applied thereto, and selecting means effective when actuated to operatively connect a selected one of said terminals to said tuning element, thereby to cause said tuning element to have a desired tuned frequency, further comprising signal modifying means for selectively tuning said tuner to frequencies within said increments said selecting means comprising means effective to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected one of said terminals and to said tuning element, comprising an output node adapted to be operatively connected to the tuning element, a first node and a second node, means operatively connecting said modifying means to said first and second nodes, said first mentioned selecting means comprising means effective to connect said selected one of said terminals to said first Node and to operatively connect said second node to a subsequent one of said terminals following the selected one of said terminals, thereby to operatively connect said modifying means to said selected and said subsequent terminals.

Claim 26

The tuner of claim 21, in which said modifying means comprises a variable tuning impedance means, said selecting means comprising second means effective to vary the impedance of said fine tuning impedance means.

Claim 27

The tuner of claim 21, in which said signal level establishing means comprises a plurality of impedance means connected in parallel across a voltage source, said terminals comprising two sets of contacts, the contacts of one set being connected to intermediate points on the first and subsequent impedance means counting from said source, the contacts of said other set being connected to intermediate points on the second and subsequent impedance means counting from said source.

Claim 28

The tuner of claim 22, in which said signal level establishing means comprises a plurality of impedance means connected in parallel across a voltage source, said terminals comprising two sets of contacts, the contacts of one set being connected to intermediate points on the first and subsequent impedance means counting from said source, the contacts of said other set being connected to intermediate points on the second and subsequent impedance means, counting from said source.

Claim 29

In a communication receiver having the capability of receiving signals within first and second discrete frequency bands, a tuning stage comprising a first tuner for receiving signals at said first frequency band, a second tuner for receiving signals at said second frequency band, each of said tuners comprising a tuning element having a reactance value proportional to the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, a source of operating potential, first and second tuning circuits each comprising a plurality of sources to tuning signals, and frequency selecting means effective when in a first operating mode to operatively connect a selected one of said tuning signal sources in said first tuning circuit and said potential source to said first tuner and to disconnect said potential source from said second tuner, thereby to actuate and tune said first tuner and deactuate said second tuner, and effective when in a second operating mode to operatively connect a selected one of said tuning signal sources in said second tuning circuit and said potential source to said second tuner, and to disconnect said potential source from said first tuner, thereby to deactuate said first tuner and actuate and tune said second tuner, in which said frequency selecting means comprises sets of units and tens digital switches, actuation of a first predetermined number of switches corresponding to a selected channel within said first frequency band being effective to establish in said tuner said first operating mode and to connect to said first tuner said tuning signal of said first tuning circuit corresponding to the selected channel in said first band, actuation of a different number of switches corresponding to a selected channel within said second frequency band being effective to establish in said tuner said second operating mode and to connect to said second tuner said tuning signal of said second tuning circuit corresponding to the selected channel in said second band.

Claim 30

In a communication receiver having the capability of receiving signals within first and second discrete frequency bands, a tuning stage comprising a first tuner for receiving signals at said first frequency band, a second tuner for receiving signals at said second frequency band, each of said tuners comprising a tuning element having a reactance value proportional to the level of a tuning signal applied thereto, a source of operating potential, first and second tuning circuits each comprising a plurality of sources to tuning signals, and frequency selecting means effective when in a first operating mode to operatively connect a selected one of said tuning signal sources in said first tuning circuit and said potential source to said first tuner and to disconnect said potential source from said second tuner, thereby to actuate and tune said first tuner and deactuate said second tuner, and effective when in a second operating mode to operatively connect a selected one of said tuning signal sources in said second tuning circuit and said potential source to said second tuner, and to disconnect said potential source from said first tuner, thereby to deactuate said first tuner and actuate and tune said second tuner, in which said frequency selecting means comprises sets of units and tens digital switches, actuation of a first predetermined number of switches corresponding to a selected channel within said first frequency band being effective to establish in said tuner said first operating mode and to connect to said first tuner said tuning signal of said first tuning circuit corresponding to the selected channel in said first band, actuation of a different number of switches corresponding to a selected channel within said second frequency band being effective to establish in said tuner said second operating mode and to connect to said second tuner said tuning signal of said second tuning circuit corresponding to the selected channel in said second band.

Claim 31

The tuner of claim 25, in which said frequency selecting means comprises a plurality of selectively actuatable switch means each operatively connected to said tuning signal sources of both said first and second tuning circuits and effective when actuated to connect said sources to said tuning circuits, and an additional switch means actuatable between first and second positions and effective to establish in said tuner said first and second modes of operation respectively.

Claim 32

The tuner of claim 25, in which said ''''tens'''' set of switches comprises a first contact and a plurality of other contacts, and sAid units switches comprise first and second groups of contacts, the selective actuation of said first contact of said ''''tens'''' switches and said first group of units switches defining said first operating mode, and the selective actuation of said first contact of said ''''tens'''' switches and a number of switches from the class consisting of said second group of units switches and any of said other of said ''''tens'''' switches independent of said units switches defining said second operating mode.