Patent US3968440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3968440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Solid state television channel selection system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-25
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1994-09-25
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses various embodiments of solid state television channel selection systems. The systems provide sequential and/or parallel access of television channels by operation of simple pushbutton or sense touch switches on the control panel of the television set, as well as sequential or parallel access of the channels through operation of remote control units. The system enables selected television channels to be skipped during the sequential access mode. The system enables the operator to selectively choose which VHF and UHF channels may be selected by the system.
Inventors
- 👤 George John Ehni, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/0245; H03J5/0254; H03J5/0263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A broadcast receiver tuning system comprising: a memory for storing digital tuning words, means responsive to said digital tuning words for tuning said receiver to a desired position, programming switches operable to change the stored digital tuning words in said memory, and speed control means operable in response to said switches for providing fine tuning of said receiver by slow progressive change of said words in said memory for a preset time interval and thereafter providing course tuning of said receiver by faster progressive change of said words in said memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A broadcast receiver tuning system comprising: a memory for storing digital tuning words, means responsive to said digital tuning words for tuning said receiver to a desired position, programming switches operable to change the stored digital tuning words in said memory, and speed control means operable in response to said switches for providing fine tuning of said receiver by slow progressive change of said words in said memory for a preset time interval and thereafter providing course tuning of said receiver by faster progressive change of said words in said memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tuning system of claim 1 wherein said broadcast receiver comprises a television set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tuning system of claim 2 wherein said speed control means provides different tuning speeds for VHF channel tuning than for UHF channel tuning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A television tuning system comprising: means on the exterior of a television set for selecting desired channels, address generator means responsive to said means for selecting for generating digital address signals, memory means storing digital tuning words and responsive to said address signals for outputting selected ones of said tuning words, means for converting said digital tuning words into analog tuning control signals, programming switches on the exterior of the television set for changing the stored digital tuning words in said memory means, and speed control means operable in response to initial actuation of said programming switches to provide fine tuning by slowly changing said stored digital tuning words in said memory means during a preset time interval and for thereafter providing coarse tuning by rapidly changing said stored digital tuning words in said memory means until said programming switches are deactivated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A television tuning system comprising: means on the exterior of a television set for selecting desired channels, address generator means responsive to said means for selecting for generating digital address signals, memory means storing digital tuning words and responsive to said address signals for outputting selected ones of said tuning words, means for converting said digital tuning words into analog tuning control signals, programming switches on the exterior of the television set for changing the stored digital tuning words in said memory means, and speed control means operable in response to initial actuation of said programming switches to provide fine tuning by slowly changing said stored digital tuning words in said memory means during a preset time interval and for thereafter providing coarse tuning by rapidly changing said stored digital tuning words in said memory means until said programming switches are deactivated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tuning system of claim 4 wherein said programming switches comprise: up and down switches, and skip circuitry responsive to actuation of both said switches to cause a predetermined television channel to be skipped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tuning system of claim 5 wherein said skip circuitry is operable to store logic zeroes at a memory location in said memory means to cause skipping of a channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tuning system of claim 4 wherein said speed control means provides slower fine and coarse tuning speeds for UHF channel selection than for VHF channel selection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tuning system of claim 4 wherein said speed control means again provides fine tuning when said programming switches are deactivated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |