Method and arrangements for the digital control of operating functions, radio and television receivers

Claim 2

A command signal receiver for use in a remote control system of the type that controls a number of operating functions in a remote apparatus by transmitting a command signal having a frequency selected from a number of predetermined frequencies, each of said predetermined frequencies corresponding to one of said operating functions to be controlled, said receiver comprising: command signal receiving means for receiving said command signal and providing an output signal in response thereto; tuning means associated with said receiving means for tuning said receiving means successively and periodically to said predetermineD frequencies, whereby the amplitude of the said output signal changes significantly when said receiver is tuned to the frequency of the command signal; amplitude filter means for receiving the output signal from the command signal receiving means and in response to said changed amplitude provides an amplitude signal at a filter output; a number of output means each associated with an operating function for providing an output to said operating function; and switch means connected to said filter output and associated with said tuning means and responsive thereto for successively connecting said filter output to each of said output means so that the filter output is connected to the output means associated with the operating function corresponding to the frequency to which the receiving means is tuned, whereby the amplitude signal is provided as periodic amplitude signal pulses for the digital control of the operating function corresponding to the selected frequency of the command signal.

Claim 3

A command signal receiver for use in a remote control system of the type that controls a number of operating functions in a remote apparatus by transmitting a command signal having a frequency selected from a number of predetermined frequencies, each of said predetermined frequencies corresponding to one of said operating functions to be controlled, said receiver comprising: command signal receiving means for receiving said command signal and providing an output signal in response thereto; tuning means associated with said receiving means for tuning said receiving means to said predetermined frequencies, whereby the amplitude of said output signal changes significantly when said receiver is tuned to the frequency of the command signal; amplitude filter means for receiving the output signal from said command signal receiving means and in response to said changed amplitude provides an amplitude signal at a filter output; a number of output means each associated with an operating function for providing an output to said operating function; and electronic rotary switch means connected to said tuning means for control thereof to successively and periodically tune said receiver means to each of said predetermined frequencies and for successively connecting said filter output to each of said output means so that the filter output is connected to the output means associated with the operating function corresponding to the frequency to which the receiving means is tuned, whereby the amplitude signal is provided as a periodic amplitude signal pulse for the digital control of the operating function corresponding to the selected frequency of the command signal.

Claim 4

A command signal receiver for use in a remote control system of the type that controls a number of operating functions in a remote apparatus by transmitting a command signal having a frequency selected from a number of predetermined frequencies, each of said predetermined frequencies corresponding to one of said operating functions to be controlled, said receiver comprising: command signal receiving means for receiving said command signal and providing an output signal in response thereto; tuning means associated with said receiving means for tuning said receiving means to said predetermined frequencies, whereby the amplitude of said output signal changes significantly when said receiver is tuned to the frequency of the command signal; amplitude filter means for receiving the output signal from said command signal receiving means and in response to said changed amplitude provides an amplitude signal at a filter output; a number of output means each associated with an operating function for providing an output to said operating function; and electronic rotary switch means connected to said tuning means for control thereof to successively and periodically tune said receiver means to each of said predetermined frequencies and for successively connecting said filter output to each of said output means so that the filter output is connected to the output means associated with the operating function corresponding to the frequency to which the receiving means is tuned, whereby the amplitude signal is provided as a periodic amplitude signal pulse for the digital control of the operating function corresponding to the selected frequency of the command signal.

Claim 5

A command signal receiver as described in claim 2, wherein said tuning means comprises a fixed capacitor and a plurality of additional capacitors adapted to be connected in parallel with the fixed capacitor by said electronic rotary switch.

Claim 6

A command signal receiver as described in claim 3, wherein there are n additional capacitors for tuning to 2n different frequencies.

Claim 7

A command signal receiver as described in claim 4, wherein each additional capacitor has a capacitance equal to twice the capacitance of the next lower capacitor.

Claim 8

A command signal receiver as described in claim 2, wherein the electronic rotary switch includes: means for providing a clock pulse chain; and a binary frequency divider connected to receive said clock pulse chain and including an n stage binary divider portion for providing n signal outputs, said signal outputs being provided to said tuning means for successively tuning said receiver means to 2n different command signal frequencies.

Claim 9

A command signal receiver as described in claim 6, wherein said tuning means comprises a fixed capacitor and n additional capacitors adapted to be connected in parallel with said fixed capacitor by said electronic rotary switch.

Claim 10

A command signal receiver as described in claim 3, wHerein the electronic rotary switch means additionally comprises electronic switch means connected in series with each of said additional capacitors for connecting said capacitors in parallel with said fixed capacitor.

Claim 11

A command signal receiver as described in claim 8, wherein each electronic switch means comprises: a transistor; a diode connected anti-parallel with said transistor, said transistor connected to receive a current at the base thereof so that the transistor is rendered conductive during a positive phase of the oscillator voltage of the tuning circuit and the diode is rendered conductive during the negative phase of the oscillating voltage to thereby connect the additional capacitor in parallel with said fixed capacitor, the diode being so dimensioned so that in the switched off state of the transistor, the oscillating voltage of the tuning circuit is rectified to generate a reverse voltage on the diode thereby blocking the diode.

Claim 12

A command signal receiver as described in claim 4, wherein the electronic rotary switch includes: means for providing a clock pulse chain; and a binary frequency divider connected to receive said clock pulse chain and including an n stage binary divider portion for providing n signal outputs, said signal outputs being provided to electronic switch means for connecting said n additional capacitors in parallel with said fixed capacitor for successively tuning said receiver means to 2n different command signal frequencies.

Claim 13

A command signal receiver as described in claim 6, wherein said electronic rotary switch additionally comprises: inverting means for receiving the n signal outputs and for providing n inverted signal outputs; a diode matrix for receiving the n signal outputs, the n inverted signal outputs and the amplitude signal pulses and in response thereto for connecting said filter output to the output means associated with the operating function corresponding to the frequency to which the receiving means is tuned.

Claim 14

A command signal receiver as described in claim 11, additionally comprising means for extending the duration between amplitude signal pulses provided to the output means whereby the rate of change of the operating function is made compatible with human reaction time to prevent overshooting the desired setting of the operating function.

Claim 15

A command signal receiver as described in claim 12, wherein the means for extending the duration includes a binary encoded counter.

Claim 16

A command signal receiver as described in claim 11, additionally including: additional dividing stages between said means for providing a clock pulse chain and the n stage binary divide portion for providing a pulsed output having a frequency m times greater than the highest frequency output than the n stage binary divider portion; means, receiving said amplitude signal pulses, for blocking said pulses for a period equal to 1/m of the duration of the amplitude signal pulses; and gate means for receiving the pulsed output from the additional dividing stages and the partially blocked amplitude signal pulse and for providing in response thereto a burst of m-1 pulses which burst is connected through said electronic rotary switch to an output means for effecting a single backwards step in an operating function having m stepped positions.