Contactless vhf tuner

Claim 2

A tuner for use in a communications receiver for selectively tuning to one of a given plurality of available frequencies, said tuner comprising a first tuned circuit means, said given plurality of second tuned circuit means electrically connected to said first tuned circuit means, frequency selecting means for operatively actuating a predetermined number of said second tuned circuit means, said frequency selecting means comprising individual tuning elements for at least some of said individual second tuned circuit means respectively movable from a first to a second operative position respectively operatively Spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, said elements normally being in one of said positions, and control means respectively operatively connected to said tuning elements and effective when actuated selectively to move a predetermined number of said tuning elements, corresponding to the desired one of said available frequencies, from said one of their operative positions into the other while having the others of said tuning elements in said one operative position, thereby to operatively tune said tuner to said desired on of said available frequencies.

Claim 3

The tuner of claim 1, in which said first tuned circuit means comprises capacitance means, and said second tuned circuit means comprises inductance means.

Claim 4

The tuner of claim 2, in which said tuning elements comprise a member which when in its said first position has no appreciable effect on the tuned status of its associated second tuned circuit means, and when in its said second position has such an appreciable effect.

Claim 5

The tuner of claim 3, in which said tuning element member is so related to said second tuned circuit means that the departure thereof from either its said first or said second position over an appreciable range has no effect on the tuned status of said second tuned circuit means.

Claim 6

The tuner of claim 2, in which said tuning element member is so related to said second tuned circuit means that the departure thereof from either its said first or said second position over an appreciable range has no effect on the tuned status of said second tuned circuit means.

Claim 7

The tuner of claim 2, in which said inductance means comprises a core and a coil wound about said core but leaving a space therebetween, said tuning elements being respectively disposed in substantial registration with their associated inductance means when in their first operative position and received in said space and interposed between said core and said coil when in their second operative position.

Claim 8

The tuner of claim 6, in which said tuning element is axially spaced from said inductance means when in its said first position and extending axially beyond said coil in both directions when in its said second position

Claim 9

The tuner of claim 2, comprising a reference point, said inductance means comprising a first plurality of inductors and a second plurality of inductors operatively connected to said first plurality of inductors and defining a junction point therebetween, said control means comprising means effective when appropriately actuated to operatively connect said junction point to said reference point, thereby to operatively disconnect said first plurality of inductors from said capacitance means.

Claim 10

The tuner of claim 8, comprising normally nonconducting switch means operatively connected between said junction point and said reference point, said reference point connecting means comprising means effective when actuated to apply a signal to said switching means, thereby to render the latter conductive.

Claim 11

The tuner of claim 9, in which said switching means comprises a normally nonconductive diode, said signal being effective when applied to forward bias said diode and thus render it conductive.

Claim 12

The tuner of claim 9, in which said control means comprises means effective when appropriately actuated to return all of said tuning elements in their said second position to their said first position and to remove said signal from said switching means.

Claim 13

The tuner of claim 1, in which said tuning elements comprise a member which when in its said first position has no appreciable effect on the tuned status of its associated second tuned circuit means, and when in its said second position has such an appreciable effect.

Claim 14

The tuner of claim 12, in which said tuning element member is so related to said second tuned circuit means that the departure thereof from either its said first or said second position over an appreciable range has no effect on The tuned status of said second tuned circuit means.

Claim 15

The tuner of claim 1, in which said tuning element member is so related to said second tuned circuit means that the departure thereof from either its said first or said second position over an appreciable range has no effect on the tuned status of said second tuned circuit means.

Claim 16

A tuner for use in a communications receiver for selectively tuning to one of a plurality of available frequencies, said tuner comprising a first tuned circuit means, a plurality of second tuned circuit means electrically connected to said first tuned circuit means, frequency selecting means for operatively actuating a predetermined number of said second tuned circuit means, said frequency selecting means comprising a plurality of tuning elements for said individual second tuned circuit means respectively movable between first and second operative positions respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively connected to said tuning elements and effective when actuated selectively to move one or more of said tuning elements from one of their operative positions to the other, thereby to operatively tune said tuner to a given one of said available frequencies, in which said first tuned circuit means comprises capacitance means, and said second tuned circuit means comprises inductance means, and in which said inductance means comprises a core and a coil wound about said core but leaving a space therebetween, said tuning elements being respectively disposed in substantial registration with their associated inductance means when in their first operative position and received in said space and interposed between said core and said coil when in their second operative position.

Claim 17

A tuner for use in a communications receiver for selectively tuning to one of a plurality of available frequencies, said tuner comprising a first tuned circuit means, a plurality of second tuned circuit means electrically connected to said first tuned circuit means, frequency selecting means for operatively actuating a predetermined number of said second tuned circuit means, said frequency selecting means comprising a plurality of tuning elements for said individual second tuned circuit means respectively movable between first and second operative positions respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively connected to said tuning elements and effective when actuated selectively to move one or more of said tuning elements from one of their operative positions to the other, thereby to operatively tune said tuner to a given one of said available frequencies, in which said first tuned circuit means comprises capacitance means, and said second tuned circuit means comprises inductance means, and in which said inductance means comprises a core and a coil wound about said core but leaving a space therebetween, said tuning elements being respectively disposed in substantial registration with their associated inductance means when in their first operative position and received in said space and interposed between said core and said coil when in their second operative position.

Claim 18

The tuner of claim 15, in which said tuning element is axially spaced from said inductance means when in its said first position and extending axially beyond said coil in both directions when in its said second position.

Claim 19

A tuner for use in a communications receiver for selectively tuning to one of a plurality of available frequencies, said tuner comprising a first tuned circuit means, a plurality of second tuned circuit means electrically connected to said first tuned circuit means, frequency selecting means for operatively actuating a predetermined number of said second tuned circuit means, said frequency selecting means comprising a plurality of tuning elements for said individual second tuned circuit means respectively movable between first and second operative positions respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively connected to said tuning elements and effective when actuated selectively to move one or more of said tuning elements from one of their operative positions to the other, thereby to operatively tune said tuner to a given one of said available frequencies, in which said first tuned circuit means comprises capacitance means, and said second tuned circuit means comprises inductance means, and further comprising a reference point, said inductance means comprising a first plurality of inductors and a second plurality of inductors operatively connected to said first plurality of inductors and defining a junction point therebetween, said control means comprising means effective when appropriately actuated to operatively connect said junction point to said reference point, thereby to operatively disconnect said first plurality of inductors from said capacitance means.

Claim 20

A tuner for use in a communications receiver for selectively tuning to one of a plurality of available frequencies, said tuner comprising a first tuned circuit means, a plurality of second tuned circuit means electrically connected to said first tuned circuit means, frequency selecting means for operatively actuating a predetermined number of said second tuned circuit means, said frequency selecting means comprising a plurality of tuning elements for said individual second tuned circuit means respectively movable between first and second operative positions respectively operatively spaced from and in operative tuning relation with their associated second tuned circuit means, and control means respectively operatively connected to said tuning elements and effective when actuated selectively to move one or more of said tuning elements from one of their operative positions to the other, thereby to operatively tune said tuner to a given one of said available frequencies, in which said first tuned circuit means comprises capacitance means, and said second tuned circuit means comprises inductance means, and further comprising a reference point, said inductance means comprising a first plurality of inductors and a second plurality of inductors operatively connected to said first plurality of inductors and defining a junction point therebetween, said control means comprising means effective when appropriately actuated to operatively connect said junction point to said reference point, thereby to operatively disconnect said first plurality of inductors from said capacitance means.

Claim 21

The tuner of claim 17, comprising normally nonconducting switch means operatively connected between said junction point and said reference point, said reference point connecting means comprising means effective when acTuated to apply a signal to said switching means, thereby to render the latter conductive.

Claim 22

The tuner of claim 18, in which said switching means comprises a normally nonconductive diode, said signal being effective when applied to forward bias said diode and thus render it conductive.

Claim 23

The tuner of claim 18, in which said control means comprises means effective when appropriately actuated to return all of said tuning elements in their said second position to their said first position and to remove said signal from said switching means.