Electronic switching of tuned circuits

Claim 2

A tuner for tuning to one of a number of discrete fixed frequencies, said tuner having a plurality of tuned circuits, said circuits comprising capacitive means, a plurality of series connected inductors for cooperation with said capacitive means, and a plurality of diodes acting as selectively actuatable switches and having like electrodes connected to points between said inductors, a plurality of first impedance means for returning the other electrodes of said plurality of diodes to a point of reference potential, a source of bias potential, means for selectively connecting said source of bias potential between said other electrodes of one of said diodes and said point of reference potential, for forward biasing said one diode, second impedance means connected between said series connected inductors and said point of reference potential, the voltage developed across said second impedance means when current flows therethrough reverse biasing other ones of said diodes.

Claim 3

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said second impedance means includes a Zener diode.

Claim 4

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said second impedance means includes a resistor.

Claim 5

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of first impedance means includes a resistor.

Claim 6

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of first impedance means includes a capacitor coupled across said resistor.

Claim 7

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said second impedance means includes a Zener diode.

Claim 8

A tuned circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said second impedance means includes a resistor.

Claim 9

In a tuner for tuning to one of a number of discrete fixed frequencies, said tuner including an RF stage, a local oscillator stage and a mixer stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, said second, and said third tunable resonant circuits each including capacitive means, a plurality of corresponding series connected inductors for cooperation with said capacitive means, and a plurality of corresponding diodes acting as selectively actuatable switches and having like electrodes connected to points between said inductors; a plurality of first impedance means for returning the other electrodes of said plurality of corresponding diodes to a point of reference potential; a source of potential; means for selectively connecting said source of potential between said other electrodes of one of said corresponding diodes and said point of reference potential, for forward biasing said selected corresponding diodes; and second impedance means connected between said series connected inductors and said point of reference potential, the voltage developed across said second impedance means when current flows therethrough reverse biasing the nonselected corresponding diodes.

Claim 10

In a tuner for tuning to one of a number of discrete fixed frequencies, said tuner including an RF stage, a local oscillator stage and a mixer stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, said second, and said third tunable resonant circuits each including capacitive means, a plurality of corresponding series connected inductors for cooperation with said capacitive means, and a plurality of corresponding diodes acting as selectively actuatable switches and having like electrodes connected to points between said inductors; a plurality of first impedance means for returning the other electrodes of said plurality of corresponding diodes to a point of reference potential; a source of potential; means for selectively connecting said source of potential between said other electrodes of one of said corresponding diodes and said point of reference potential, for forward biasing said selected corresponding diodes; and second impedance means connected between said series connected inductors and said point of reference potential, the voltage developed across said second impedance means when current flows therethrough reverse biasing the nonselected corresponding diodes.

Claim 11

A system as defined in claim 8 including connecting means for coupling said second impedance means and said tuner such that the voltage developed across said second impedance means provides an operating potential for said tuner.

Claim 12

A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said second impedance means includes a first means coupled between said first and said second tunable resonant circuit series connected inductors and said point of reference potential, and a second means coupled between said third tunable resonant circuit series connected inductors and said point of reference potential.

Claim 13

A system as defined in claim 10 including first connecting means for coupling said first means and said RF stage and said mixer stage such that the voltage developed across said first means provides an operating potential for said RF stage and said mixer stage, and second connecting means for coupling said second means and said oscillator stage such that the voltage developed across said second means provides an operating potential for said oscillator stage.

Claim 14

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first means is a Zener diode.

Claim 15

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said second means is a resistor.

Claim 16

A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first means is a Zener diode and said second means is a resistor.

Claim 17

A system as defined in claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of first impedance means includes a resistor.

Claim 18

A system as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of first impedance means includes a capacitor coupled across said resistor.

Claim 19

In a heterodyne receiver system including an RF amplifier stage, a mixer stage and an oscillator stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF amplifier stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, second and third tunable resonant circuits each including a series of corresponding terminals which when energized will cause each tunable resonant circuit to be tuned to a particular frequency; said first and said second turnable resonant circuits each having at least one additional corresponding terminal in excess of said third tunable resonant circuit which when energized will cause each of said first and said second tuNable resonant circuits to be tuned to a particular frequency; first means interconnecting each of said corresponding terminals associated with said first, said second and said third tunable resonant circuits; second means coupled to said third circuit for establishing a voltage when any one of said third tunable resonant circuit terminals is energized; and third means coupling said second means and said oscillator stage to provide operating potential for said oscillator stage.

Claim 20

In a heterodyne receiver system including an RF amplifier stage, a mixer stage and an oscillator stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF amplifier stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, second and third tunable resonant circuits each including a series of corresponding terminals which when energized will cause each tunable resonant circuit to be tuned to a particular frequency; said first and said second turnable resonant circuits each having at least one additional corresponding terminal in excess of said third tunable resonant circuit which when energized will cause each of said first and said second tuNable resonant circuits to be tuned to a particular frequency; first means interconnecting each of said corresponding terminals associated with said first, said second and said third tunable resonant circuits; second means coupled to said third circuit for establishing a voltage when any one of said third tunable resonant circuit terminals is energized; and third means coupling said second means and said oscillator stage to provide operating potential for said oscillator stage.

Claim 21

A system as defined in claim 17 including fourth means coupled to said first and said second tunable resonant circuits for establishing a voltage when any one of said first and said second tunable resonant circuit terminals is energized; and fifth means coupling said fourth voltage establishing means and said RF amplifier stage and said mixer stage to provide operating potential for said amplifier and said mixer stages.

Claim 22

In a heterodyne receiver system including an RF stage, a mixer stage and an oscillator stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, second and third tunable resonant circuits each including a series of corresponding terminals which when energized will cause each tunable resonant circuit to be tuned to a particular frequency; said first and said second tunable resonant circuits each having at least one additional corresponding terminal in excess of said third tunable resonant circuit which when energized will cause each of said first and said second tunable resonant circuits to be tuned to a particular frequency; first means interconnecting each of said corresponding terminals associated with said first, said second and said third tunable resonant circuits; a source of potential; means for selectively connecting said source of potential to one of said interconnected corresponding terminals; a Zener diode coupled to said first and said second tunable resonant circuit for establishing a first voltage when current flows therethrough when one of said first and second tunable resonant circuit interconnected terminals is energized; impedance means coupled to said third tunable resonant circuit for establishing a second voltage when current flows therethrough when one of said third tunable resonant circuit interconnected terminals is energized; first connecting means for coupling said Zener diode and said RF stage and said mixer stage such that said first voltage provides an operating potential for said RF and mixer stages; and second connecting means for coupling said impedance means and said oscillator stage such that said second voltage provide an operating potential for said oscillator stage.

Claim 23

In a heterodyne receiver system including an RF stage, a mixer stage and an oscillator stage, a system comprising: a first tunable resonant circuit coupled to said RF stage; a second tunable resonant circuit coupled to said mixer stage; a third tunable resonant circuit coupled to said oscillator stage; said first, second and third tunable resonant circuits each including a series of corresponding terminals which when energized will cause each tunable resonant circuit to be tuned to a particular frequency; said first and said second tunable resonant circuits each having at least one additional corresponding terminal in excess of said third tunable resonant circuit which when energized will cause each of said first and said second tunable resonant circuits to be tuned to a particular frequency; first means interconnecting each of said corresponding terminals associated with said first, said second and said third tunable resonant circuits; a source of potential; means for selectively connecting said source of potential to one of said interconnected corresponding terminals; a Zener diode coupled to said first and said second tunable resonant circuit for establishing a first voltage when current flows therethrough when one of said first and second tunable resonant circuit interconnected terminals is energized; impedance means coupled to said third tunable resonant circuit for establishing a second voltage when current flows therethrough when one of said third tunable resonant circuit interconnected terminals is energized; first connecting means for coupling said Zener diode and said RF stage and said mixer stage such that said first voltage provides an operating potential for said RF and mixer stages; and second connecting means for coupling said impedance means and said oscillator stage such that said second voltage provide an operating potential for said oscillator stage.

Claim 24

A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said impedance means is a resistor.

Claim 25

An electric circuit comprising: inductor means having a plurality of junctions; a plurality of diodes acting as selectively actuatable switches and having like electrodes connected to said junctions; a plurality of first impedance means for returning the other electrodes of said plurality of diodes to a point of reference potential; a source of bias potential; means for selectively connecting said source of bias potential between said other electrode of one of said diodes and said point of reference potential for forward biasing said one diode; and second impedance means connected between said inductor means and said point of reference potential, the voltage developed across said impedance means when current flows therethrough reverse biasing other ones of said diodes.

Claim 26

An electric circuit comprising: inductor means having a plurality of junctions; a plurality of diodes acting as selectively actuatable switches and having like electrodes connected to said junctions; a plurality of first impedance means for returning the other electrodes of said plurality of diodes to a point of reference potential; a source of bias potential; means for selectively connecting said source of bias potential between said other electrode of one of said diodes and said point of reference potential for forward biasing said one diode; and second impedance means connected between said inductor means and said point of reference potential, the voltage developed across said impedance means when current flows therethrough reverse biasing other ones of said diodes.