Solid state television tuner

Claim 2

An all channel television tuning system (9) for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range, comprising: a UHF television tuner (12) for selecting and converting a UHF television signal into a modulated IF signal of a first amplitude range having a power input, and an output at which the modulated IF signal is presented; a VHF television tuner (10) having: a housing (11), a VHF television signal input into said housing, a preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (A) in said housing and coupled to said VHF television signal input, an RF amplifier in said housing and coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the signals emphasized thereby, an interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (B) in said housing coupled to said RF amplifier for emphasizing certain signals amplified thereby, a mixer stage in said housing and coupled to said interstage tuned circuit and including an amplifier device (12), an IF amplifier stage in said housing and coupled to said Mixer stage for amplifying the output therefrom and forming with said Mixer stage a cascaded amplifier, an IF output from said housing coupled to the IF amplifier stage and at which the modulated IF signal of a predetermined range is presented, an oscillator stage in said housing including an amplifier device (190) and an oscillator solid stage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (C) for producing an oscillatory signal, which signal is coupled to said mixer stage, means for the input of tuning voltage into said housing, that input means being coupled within said housing to said preselector voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit to apply selectively variable tuning voltage thereto and to thereby tune these three voltage variable capacitance-tuned circuits in common, and power input means (80, 132, 180) to said housing for applying operating power thereto; a source (282) of selectively variable tuning voltage; means (274) for coupling said tuning voltage source to said tuning voltage input of said; a power source; means for selectively applying said power source to said VHF tuner while not applying it to said UHF tuner and alternatively, applying it to one part of said VHF tuner and said UHF tuner while not applying it to the rest of said VHF tuner; and means for selectively coupling said output of said UHF tuner to to said mixer stage of said VHF tuner thereby said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stage may alternatively serve to translate the UHF IF output signal to said IF output at the predetermined amplitude range, said VHF television tuner includes means for altering the overall gain of the cascaded amplifier formed by said mixer stage and said RF stage when the system is switched between VHF and UHF operation.

Claim 3

The all channel tuning system for selectively translating, and converTing a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means for altering the overall gain comprises a first operating bias voltage input which forms part of said power input means and which is permanently connected to a source of direct current bias potential, and a second operating bias voltage input which is connected to a source of direct current bias potential only when said system is operated in its UHF mode of operation, and a voltage dividing network connected between said first input, said second input, ground potential and the IF amplifier device so as to establish one operating bias level for said IF amplifier device in VHF mode and another operating bias level in UHF mode.

Claim 4

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating, and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 2 wherein: said UHF tuner is a voltage-tuned tuner having a tuning voltage input; and said means for coupling said tuning voltage includes switching means for alternatively coupling said tuning voltage source with said VHF tuner tuning voltage input in the VHF mode of operation and with said UHF tuner tuning voltage input in the UHF mode of operation.

Claim 5

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 1, wherein: a fourth solid stage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit is provided between said RF amplifier and said mixer stage which fourth tuned circuit is coupled together with said interstage tuned circuit forming a double tuned circuit, said fourth tuned circuit being also coupled to said tuning voltage input of said VHF tuner for control thereby.

Claim 6

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 4 wherein: each of said four VHF tuner tuned circuits, namely said preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said fourth solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, are electrical homogens of each other; said VHF tuner further includes a band switching voltage control input into said housing coupled to each of said four tuned circuits; each of said four tuned circuits includes first inductance, solid state voltage controlled capacitor coupled to said first inductance, second inductance, and solid state means for switching said second inductance into and out of circuit with said first inductance whereby changing the operation frequency of said each tuner circuit from one band to another band, said switch means being coupled to said VHF band switching voltage control input for operation thereby; and the double tuned circuit formed by said interstage and said fourth tuned circuits has provision for injecting additional signals to said mixer stage during operation of said tuned circuits in one of the bands.

Claim 7

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 5 wherein: said housing includes an internal shielding wall dividing the interior of said housing into a first and a second zone with said RF amplifier in said first zone and said oscillator in said second zone, with said interstage tuned circuit being substantially in said first zone and said fourth tuned circuit being substantially in said second zone; with said tuning voltage input being into one of said zones and being connected to the tuned circuits of the other zone by means of the connection between sAid interstage tuned circuit and said fourth tuned circuit.

Claim 8

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 1, wherein: said means for altering the overall gain of the cascaded amplifier formed by said mixer stage and said IF stage when the system is switched between VHF and UHF operation, includes, as part of said power input means, a first operating bias input (132) which is connected to a source of operating bias in both VHF and UHF modes of operation of the system, and a second operating bias input (180) which is connected to operating bias in one of the VHF and UHF modes but not connected thereto in the other; said first operating bias input having a first bias establishing resistive network (269,140,126,122) connected between it and said mixer amplifier and ground; and also a second operating bias establishing resistive network (163,156,154,178a) between it and said IF amplifier device; and said operating bias second input having a first resistance (130'') connected between it and said mixer amplifier device and a second resistance (164'') connected between it and said IF amplifier, whereby said first and second operating bias establishing networks establish different operating bias for said mixer amplifier device and said IF amplifier when bias is connected to said second operating bias input.

Claim 9

An all channel television tuning system (9) for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range, comprising: a UHF television tuner (12) for selecting and converting a UHF television signal into a modulated IF signal of a first amplitude range having a power input, and an output at which the modulated IF signal is presented: a VHF television tuner (10) having: a housing (11), a VHF television signal input into said housing, a preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (A) in said housing and coupled to said VHF television signal input, an RF amplifier in said housing and coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the signals emphasized thereby, an interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (B) in said housing coupled to said RF amplifier for emphasizing certain signals amplified thereby, a mixer stage in said housing and coupled to said interstage tuned circuit and including an amplifier device (12), an IF amplifier stage in said housing and coupled to said Mixer stage for amplifying the output therefrom and forming with said Mixer stage a cascaded amplifier, an IF output from said housing coupled to the IF amplifier stage and at which the modulated IF signal of a predetermined range is presented, an oscillator stage in said housing including an amplifier device (190) and an oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (C) for producing an oscillatory signal, which signal is coupled to said mixer stage, means for the input of tuning voltage into said housing, that input means being coupled within said housing to said preselector voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit to apply selectively variable tuning voltage thereto and to thereby tune these three voltage variable capacitance-tuned circuits in common, and power input means (80, 132, 180) to said housing for applying operating power thereto; a source (282) of selectively variable tuning voltage; means (274) for coupling said tuning voltage source to said tuning voltage input of said; a power source; means for selectively applying said power source to said VHF tuner while not applying it to said UHF tuner and alternatively, applYing it to one part of said VHF tuner and said UHF tuner while not applying it to the rest of said VHF tuner; and means for selectively coupling said output of said UHF tuner to said mixer stage of said VHF tuner thereby said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stage may alternatively serve to translate the UHF IF output signal to said IF output at the predetermined amplitude range, said VHF tuner includes only three tuned circuits, being said preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, and each of said three tuned circuits are electrical homogens of each other.

Claim 10

An all channel television tuning system (9) for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range, comprising: a UHF television tuner (12) for selecting and converting a UHF television signal into a modulated IF signal of a first amplitude range having a power input, and an output at which the modulated IF signal is presented: a VHF television tuner (10) having: a housing (11), a VHF television signal input into said housing, a preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (A) in said housing and coupled to said VHF television signal input, an RF amplifier in said housing and coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the signals emphasized thereby, an interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (B) in said housing coupled to said RF amplifier for emphasizing certain signals amplified thereby, a mixer stage in said housing and coupled to said interstage tuned circuit and including an amplifier device (12), an IF amplifier stage in said housing and coupled to said Mixer stage for amplifying the output therefrom and forming with said Mixer stage a cascaded amplifier, an IF output from said housing coupled to the IF amplifier stage and at which the modulated IF signal of a predetermined range is presented, an oscillator stage in said housing including an amplifier device (190) and an oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (C) for producing an oscillatory signal, which signal is coupled to said mixer stage, means for the input of tuning voltage into said housing, that input means being coupled within said housing to said preselector voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit to apply selectively variable tuning voltage thereto and to thereby tune these three voltage variable capacitance-tuned circuits in common, and power input means (80, 132, 180) to said housing for applying operating power thereto; a source (282) of selectively variable tuning voltage; means (274) for coupling said tuning voltage source to said tuning voltage input of said; a power source; means for selectively applying said power source to said VHF tuner while not applying it to said UHF tuner and alternatively, applYing it to one part of said VHF tuner and said UHF tuner while not applying it to the rest of said VHF tuner; and means for selectively coupling said output of said UHF tuner to said mixer stage of said VHF tuner thereby said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stage may alternatively serve to translate the UHF IF output signal to said IF output at the predetermined amplitude range, said VHF tuner includes only three tuned circuits, being said preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, and each of said three tuned circuits are electrical homogens of each other.

Claim 11

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating, and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 8, wherein: said VHF tuner includes means for altering the overall gain of the cascaded amplifier formed by said mixer stage and said IF stage when the system is switched between VHF and UHF operation, said gain altering means comprising a pair of power inputs as part of said power input means and switching means for alternatively supplying and not supplying power to one of said pair of power inputs.

Claim 12

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating, and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 9, wherein: said VHF tuner further includes: a band switching voltage control input into said housing, coupled to said three tuned circuits and each of said three tuned circuits includes a first inductance coupled permanently to said solid state voltage controlled capacitance and a second inductance that is effectively electrically coupled or decoupled in parallel to said first inductance in response to said band switching voltage by means of a solid state voltage responsive switch so that said three tuned circuits resonant frequencies are shifted between different VHF frequency bands; a band switching voltage source, coupled to said band switch voltage control input of said VHF tuner, that selectively produces alternatively a first voltage signal to cause said solid state switch means to couple and a second voltage signal to cause said solid state switch means to decouple said second inductances into circuit with said first inductances; and said VHF tuner further includes as the means for coupling said mixer state to said interstage tuned circuit a coupling inductor inductively coupled to said first inductance of said interstage tuned circuit.

Claim 13

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 8, wherein: said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stages are coupled together solely by means of inductive coupling between a first coupling inductance coil (139) connected in circuit with the amplifier device of said mixer stage and a second coupling inductance coil (143) connected in circuit with the amplifier device of said IF amplifier stage.

Claim 14

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range as defined in claim 11 wherein: said first coupling inductor forms part of a first fixed tuned circuit; and said second coupling inductor forms part of a second fixed tuned circuit, where both said circuits are tuned so as to form together a double tuned circuit to pass with approximately equal amplitude signals in the preselected IF signal band and to shunt out signals without that band.

Claim 15

The all channel tuning system for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined Amplitude range as defined in claim 8, wherein: said amplifier device of said IF amplifier is a field effect transistor.

Claim 16

An all channel television tuning system (9) for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range, comprising: a UHF television tuner (12) for selecting and converting a UHF television signal into a modulated IF signal of a first amplitude range having a power input, and an output at which the modulated IF signal is presented; a VHF television tuner (10) having: a housing (11), a VHF television signal input into said housing, a preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (A) in said housing and coupled to said VHF television signal input. an RF amplifier in said housing and coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the signals emphasized thereby, an interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (B) in said housing coupled to said RF amplifier for emphasizing certain signals amplified thereby, a mixer stage in said housing and coupled to said interstage tuned circuit and including an amplifier device (12), an IF amplifier stage in said housing and coupled to said Mixer stage for amplifying the output therefrom and forming with said Mixer stage a cascaded amplifier. an IF output from said housing coupled to the IF amplifier stage and at which the modulated IF signal of a predetermined range is presented, an oscillator stage in said housing including an amplifier device (190) and an oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (C) for producing an oscillatory signal, which signal is coupled to said mixer stage, means for the input of tuning voltage into said housing, that input means being coupled within said housing to said preselector voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit to apply selectively variable tuning voltage thereto and to thereby tune these three voltage variable capacitance-tuned circuits in common, and power input means (80, 132, 180) to said housing for applying operating power thereto; a source (282) of selectively variable tuning voltage; means (274) for coupling said tuning voltage source to said tuning voltage input of said; a power source; means for selectively applying said power source to said VHF tuner while not applying it to said UHF tuner and alternatively, applying it to one part of said VHF tuner and said UHF tuner while not applying it to the rest of said VHF tuner; and means for selectively coupling said output of said UHF tuner to said mixer stage of said VHF tuner thereby said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stage may alternatively serve to translate the UHF IF output signal to said IF output at the predetermined amplitude range, said system includes a source of AGC signals; said UHF television tuner includes an AGC input; and means coupled to said source, and said AGC input for selectively switching the AGC signals between the UHF and VHF television tuners when said system is switched from operation between the UHF and VHF modes.

Claim 17

An all channel television tuning system (9) for selecting, translating and converting a received television signal into a modulated IF signal of a predetermined amplitude range, comprising: a UHF television tuner (12) for selecting and converting a UHF television signal into a modulated IF signal of a first amplitude range having a power input, and an output at which the modulated IF signal is presented; a VHF television tuner (10) having: a housing (11), a VHF television signal input into said housing, a preselector solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (A) in said housing and coupled to said VHF television signal input. an RF amplifier in said housing and coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the signals emphasized thereby, an interstage solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (B) in said housing coupled to said RF amplifier for emphasizing certain signals amplified thereby, a mixer stage in said housing and coupled to said interstage tuned circuit and including an amplifier device (12), an IF amplifier stage in said housing and coupled to said Mixer stage for amplifying the output therefrom and forming with said Mixer stage a cascaded amplifier. an IF output from said housing coupled to the IF amplifier stage and at which the modulated IF signal of a predetermined range is presented, an oscillator stage in said housing including an amplifier device (190) and an oscillator solid state voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit (C) for producing an oscillatory signal, which signal is coupled to said mixer stage, means for the input of tuning voltage into said housing, that input means being coupled within said housing to said preselector voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit, said interstage voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit and said oscillator voltage variable capacitance tuned circuit to apply selectively variable tuning voltage thereto and to thereby tune these three voltage variable capacitance-tuned circuits in common, and power input means (80, 132, 180) to said housing for applying operating power thereto; a source (282) of selectively variable tuning voltage; means (274) for coupling said tuning voltage source to said tuning voltage input of said; a power source; means for selectively applying said power source to said VHF tuner while not applying it to said UHF tuner and alternatively, applying it to one part of said VHF tuner and said UHF tuner while not applying it to the rest of said VHF tuner; and means for selectively coupling said output of said UHF tuner to said mixer stage of said VHF tuner thereby said mixer stage and said IF amplifier stage may alternatively serve to translate the UHF IF output signal to said IF output at the predetermined amplitude range, said system includes a source of AGC signals; said UHF television tuner includes an AGC input; and means coupled to said source, and said AGC input for selectively switching the AGC signals between the UHF and VHF television tuners when said system is switched from operation between the UHF and VHF modes.

Claim 18

A VHF television tuner comprising: a shielding housing; an input into said housing for receiving impressed VHF television signals; a capacitance tuned preselector tuned circuit in said housing coupled to said VHF television signals input for emphasizing signals in a selected channel portion of the VHF television signal range while attenuating signals and noise without of the selected channel portion; a RF amplifier mounted in said housing including as its amplifying device a RF transistor, said transistor being inductively coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the emphasized signaLs in the selected channel thereof and producing the amplified signals at an output; a capacitance tuned interstage tuned circuit in said housing inductively coupled to the output of said RF housing inductively coupled to the output of said RF amplifier for receiving therefrom an amplified signal and for further emphasizing the signals of the selected channel and further attenuating signals and noise without of the selected channel; a mixer in said housing including a mixer transistor primarily inductively coupled to said interstage tuned circuit for receiving therefrom the amplified and emphasized selected channel signals and mixing them with a local oscillatory signal; a local oscillator in said housing for producing the local oscillatory signal, coupled to said mixer transistor and including a transistor and a capacitance tuned oscillator tuned circuit for determining the oscillatory frequency of said local oscillator; a IF amplifier in said housing coupled to said mixer transistor through a IF filter circuit and including a transistor as its amplifying device, for amplifying the output of the mixer, an IF output from said housing inductively coupled to the IF amplifier transistor; said preselector tuned circuit and said interstage tuned circuit and the oscillator tuned circuit of said local oscillator each comprising: a first inductor, a solid state voltage variable capacitance diode connected in effective RF parallel circuit with said first inductor, a second inductor, and a switching diode connected between said second inductor and the junction of said first inductor and said capacitance diode for effectively adding or removing said second inductor from RF parallel circuit arrangement with said first inductor and said capacitance diode, with said solid state capacitance diode of each of said tuned circuits being matched to each other in electrical characteristics; a tuning voltage input into said housing connected to said solid state voltage variable capacitance diode of each of said preselector, interstage and oscillator tuned circuits; a switching voltage input into said housing connected to said switching diode of each of said preselector, interstage and oscillator tuned circuits, and means for connecting operating DC bias to said RF amplifier transistor, said mixer transistor, said IF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor, said VHF tuner including an IF input provided through said housing and coupled to said mixer transistor; a switching diode provided in said housing for alternatively shutting out signals from the IF input or allowing those signals to reach said mixer transistor; said operating DC bias means including first input means for establishing the operation bias for said RF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor and second input means for establishing the operational bias for said mixer transistor and said IF amplifier transistor, whereby said RF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor may be biased into a non-operable state when a signal is present at said IF input while said mixer and IF amplifier transistor are biased into operable state to amplify IF input signals from said IF input and to present the amplified signals at the IF output; and said operating DC bias means includes means for altering the amplification factor of said mixer and IF amplifier when said oscillator and RF amplifier are not operating.

Claim 19

A VHF television tuner comprising: a shielding housing; an input into said housing for receiving impressed VHF television signals; a capacitance tuned preselector tuned circuit in said housing coupled to said VHF television signals input for emphasizing signals in a selected channel portion of the VHF television signal range while attenuating signals and noise without of the selected channel portion; a RF amplifier mounted in said housing including as its amplifying device a RF transistor, said transistor being inductively coupled to said preselector tuned circuit for amplifying the emphasized signaLs in the selected channel thereof and producing the amplified signals at an output; a capacitance tuned interstage tuned circuit in said housing inductively coupled to the output of said RF housing inductively coupled to the output of said RF amplifier for receiving therefrom an amplified signal and for further emphasizing the signals of the selected channel and further attenuating signals and noise without of the selected channel; a mixer in said housing including a mixer transistor primarily inductively coupled to said interstage tuned circuit for receiving therefrom the amplified and emphasized selected channel signals and mixing them with a local oscillatory signal; a local oscillator in said housing for producing the local oscillatory signal, coupled to said mixer transistor and including a transistor and a capacitance tuned oscillator tuned circuit for determining the oscillatory frequency of said local oscillator; a IF amplifier in said housing coupled to said mixer transistor through a IF filter circuit and including a transistor as its amplifying device, for amplifying the output of the mixer, an IF output from said housing inductively coupled to the IF amplifier transistor; said preselector tuned circuit and said interstage tuned circuit and the oscillator tuned circuit of said local oscillator each comprising: a first inductor, a solid state voltage variable capacitance diode connected in effective RF parallel circuit with said first inductor, a second inductor, and a switching diode connected between said second inductor and the junction of said first inductor and said capacitance diode for effectively adding or removing said second inductor from RF parallel circuit arrangement with said first inductor and said capacitance diode, with said solid state capacitance diode of each of said tuned circuits being matched to each other in electrical characteristics; a tuning voltage input into said housing connected to said solid state voltage variable capacitance diode of each of said preselector, interstage and oscillator tuned circuits; a switching voltage input into said housing connected to said switching diode of each of said preselector, interstage and oscillator tuned circuits, and means for connecting operating DC bias to said RF amplifier transistor, said mixer transistor, said IF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor, said VHF tuner including an IF input provided through said housing and coupled to said mixer transistor; a switching diode provided in said housing for alternatively shutting out signals from the IF input or allowing those signals to reach said mixer transistor; said operating DC bias means including first input means for establishing the operation bias for said RF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor and second input means for establishing the operational bias for said mixer transistor and said IF amplifier transistor, whereby said RF amplifier transistor and said oscillator transistor may be biased into a non-operable state when a signal is present at said IF input while said mixer and IF amplifier transistor are biased into operable state to amplify IF input signals from said IF input and to present the amplified signals at the IF output; and said operating DC bias means includes means for altering the amplification factor of said mixer and IF amplifier when said oscillator and RF amplifier are not operating.