Automatic tuning control circuits

Claim 2

Apparatus for selectively stopping a motor at any one of a predetermined number of positions and further for providing an indication of which position said motor is stopped at, said motor having a winding, the energization of which causes said motor to operate, comprising: a. a motor control circuit coupled to said winding for energizing the same to operate said motor, said motor control circuit having an inhibit input terminal which upon application thereto of a predetermined potential will cause said motor control circuit to de-energize said winding and stop said motor, b. a switch having a plurality of contacts each associated with a different one of said predetermined number of positions, c. said switch having a variable arm which can be moved to contact any desired one of said contacts, said variable arm of said switch being coupled to said motor for movement of the same according to the operation of said motor, a d. a of indicating devices each one associated with and coupled to a separate one of said contacts, said devices adapted to receive an energizing potential to provide an indication, e. first means coupled to said variable arm adapted to receive a source of potential to cause said indicating device associated with said contact to provide said indication when said source is applied thereto via said variable arm, f. second means coupling said variable arm of said switch to said inhibiting terminal of said motor control circuit for inhibiting said motor control circuit and stopping said motor when said potential at said variable arm is substantially equal to said indicating device''s energizing potential.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a. a plurality of separate means each one in shunt with a separate one of said indicating devices for selectively shorting out any desired one of said indicating devices to therefore cause the potential at said variable arm when said arm is connected to said indicating device, to be insufficient to inhibit said motor control circuit, thereby causing said motor to continue operation.

Claim 4

Apparatus for automatically controlling the tuning of a television receiver of the type employing a radio frequency amplifier which may be tuned to any one of a plurality of transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of a control voltage applied thereto and necessary to vary the reactance of a variable reactance device associated with said tuner for selecting a frequency corresponding to said any one radio frequency wave, comprising: a. a motor having a shaft coupled thereto and capable of operating in a first or second rotational direction upon the application to said motor of a suitable control potential, b. motor control means coupled to said motor and capable of operating in a first mode for controlling said motor in said first direction and in a second mode for controlling said motor in said second direction, said motor control means further having an inhibit input terminal responsive to a signal for stopping said motor, c. a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to receive at one terminal thereof a predetermined source of potential, each of said potentiometers capable of being adjusted to provide a different control voltage which when applied to said radio frequency amplifier will cause the same to tune to a different one of said transmitted radio frequency waves, d. first switching means having a plurality of first contacts each one of which is solely associated with a different one of said potentiometers, said switching means having a first common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith, whereby any one of said potentiometers and said associated control voltage may be accessed, e. means coupling said first plurality of contacts to said radio frequency amplifier means to control the tuning thereof according to any one of said different control voltages, f. and means coupled to said inhibiting input of said motor control means responsive to the access of one of said potentiometers providing said associated control voltage for inhibiting said control means and therefore stopping said motor to cause said radio frequency amplifier to provide said selected frequency.

Claim 5

Apparatus for automatically controlling the tuning of a television receiver of the type employing a radio frequency amplifier which may be tuned to any one of a plurality of transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of a control voltage applied thereto and necessary to vary the reactance of a variable reactance device associated with said tuner for selecting a frequency corresponding to said any one radio frequency wave, comprising: a. a motor having a shaft coupled thereto and capable of operating in a first or second rotational direction upon the application to said motor of a suitable control potential, b. motor control means coupled to said motor and capable of operating in a first mode for controlling said motor in said first direction and in a second mode for controlling said motor in said second direction, said motor control means further having an inhibit input terminal responsive to a signal for stopping said motor, c. a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to receive at one terminal thereof a predetermined source of potential, each of said potentiometers capable of being adjusted to provide a different control voltage which when applied to said radio frequency amplifier will cause the same to tune to a different one of said transmitted radio frequency waves, d. first switching means having a plurality of first contacts each one of which is solely associated with a different one of said potentiometers, said switching means having a first common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith, whereby any one of said potentiometers and said associated control voltage may be accessed, e. means coupling said first plurality of contacts to said radio frequency amplifier means to control the tuning thereof according to any one of said different control voltages, f. and means coupled to said inhibiting input of said motor control means responsive to the access of one of said potentiometers providing said associated control voltage for inhibiting said control means and therefore stopping said motor to cause said radio frequency amplifier to provide said selected frequency.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3 further including: a. second switch means having a second plurality of contacts of the same number as said first and each one of which is associated with a separate one of said first contacts, said second switching means having a second common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith in synchronism with said first common arm, b. a plurality of indicating devices each one of which is associated with one of said second contacts for providing an indication of the frequency tuned to when said motor is stopped.

Claim 7

Apparatus for automatically controlling the tuning of a television receiver of the type employing a radio frequency amplifier which may be tuned to any one of a plurality of transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of a control voltage applied thereto and necessary to vary the reactance of a variable reactance device associated with said tuner for selecting a frequency corresponding to said any one radio frequency wave, comprising: a. a motor having a shaft coupled thereto and capable of being operated in a first or second rotational direction upon the application to said motor of a suitable control potential, b. motor control means coupled to said motor and capable of operating in a first mode for controlling said motor in said first direction and in a second mode for controlling said motor in said second direction, said motor control means further having an inhibit input terminal responsive to the application of a predetermined signal for stopping said motor, c. a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to receive at one terminal thereof a predetermined source of potential, each of said potentiometers capable of being adjusted to provide a different control voltage each of which when applied to said radio frequency amplifier will cause the same to tune to a different one of said transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of said different control voltage, d. first switching means having a plurality of first contacts, each one of which is solely associated with one of said potentiometers, said switching means having a first common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith, whereby any one of said potentiometers and said associated control voltage may be accessed, e. second switching means having a plurality of second contacts equal in number to said first contacts and each separate one being associated with a separate one of said first contacts, said second switching means having a second common arm controlled by said motor and in synchronism with said first arm, f. means for coupling certain selected ones of said second plurality of contacts associated with certain selected ones of said first contacts together for indicating a range of control voltages for said associated potentiometers indicative of a range of frequencies to be tuned to, g. means coupling said first plurality of contacts to said radio frequency amplifier to control the tuning thereof according to any one of said different control voltages, h. channel indicator means, i. means coupling said second plurality of contacts to said channel indicator means for controlling the indication thereof according to said range of frequencies, and j. means coupled to said inhibiting input of said motor control means responsive to the access of one of said potentiometers providing said associated control voltage for inhibiting said control means and therefore stopping said motor to cause said radio frequency amplifier to provide said selected frequency.

Claim 8

Apparatus for automatically controlling the tuning of a television receiver of the type employing a radio frequency amplifier which may be tuned to any one of a plurality of transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of a control voltage applied thereto and necessary to vary the reactance of a variable reactance device associated with said tuner for selecting a frequency corresponding to said any one radio frequency wave, comprising: a. a motor having a shaft coupled thereto and capable of being operated in a first or second rotational direction upon the application to said motor of a suitable control potential, b. motor control means coupled to said motor and capable of operating in a first mode for controlling said motor in said first direction and in a second mode for controlling said motor in said second direction, said motor control means further having an inhibit input terminal responsive to the application of a predetermined signal for stopping said motor, c. a plurality of potentiometers each adapted to receive at one terminal thereof a predetermined source of potential, each of said potentiometers capable of being adjusted to provide a different control voltage each of which when applied to said radio frequency amplifier will cause the same to tune to a different one of said transmitted radio frequency waves in accordance with the magnitude of said different control voltage, d. first switching means having a plurality of first contacts, each one of which is solely associated with one of said potentiometers, said switching means having a first common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith, whereby any one of said potentiometers and said associated control voltage may be accessed, e. second switching means having a plurality of second contacts equal in number to said first contacts and each separate one being associated with a separate one of said first contacts, said second switching means having a second common arm controlled by said motor and in synchronism with said first arm, f. means for coupling certain selected ones of said second plurality of contacts associated with certain selected ones of said first contacts together for indicating a range of control voltages for said associated potentiometers indicative of a range of frequencies to be tuned to, g. means coupling said first plurality of contacts to said radio frequency amplifier to control the tuning thereof according to any one of said different control voltages, h. channel indicator means, i. means coupling said second plurality of contacts to said channel indicator means for controlling the indication thereof according to said range of frequencies, and j. means coupled to said inhibiting input of said motor control means responsive to the access of one of said potentiometers providing said associated control voltage for inhibiting said control means and therefore stopping said motor to cause said radio frequency amplifier to provide said selected frequency.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first switch means comprises, a. a circuit board having a plurality of copper areas deposited thereon and arranged about the circumference of a circle having a given diameter, each of said copper areas being insulated from the next and having a number equal to the number of said first plurality of contacts, b. a second copper path deposited on said board and having the shape of an annular ring, said second copper path being in close proximity to but isolated from said first copper areas, c. a rotatable member having a first conductive area of a dimension large enough to connect any of said first copper areas to said second copper path, d. means coupling said rotatable member to said motor for rotating the same while causing said conductive area to sequentially connect each of said copper areas to said second copper path, and e. means coupling said second copper path to said radio frequency amplifier.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising: a. automatic frequency control means responsive to said selected frequency for providing a control voltage at an output terminal indicative of a deviation of said frequency from said selected value, b. means coupling said output terminal of said automatic frequency control means to said one terminal of said potentiometers.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 5 further including: a plurality of third contacts deposited on said printed circuit board each one of which is associated with preselected ones of said plurality of first contacts and having a third common arm controlled by said motor for rotation therewith in synchronism with said first and second common arms, a plurality of tuner band switching coNtrol terminals each one of which is associated with one of said third contacts, and means coupling said third common arm to a source of operating potential.