US3973205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television tuning system indicator
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1974-10-03
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Granted: 1976-08-03
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Expires: 1994-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An all channel television varactor diode tuning system has a presettable counter for deriving the number of the receivable television channel by counting pulses indicative of the tuner local oscillator frequency, which is varied by a voltage ramp circuit under the control of a comparator. The derived channel number is supplied to one input of the comparator, and a channel number selector supplies an encoded desired two digit channel number to the other comparator input and to a frequency band decoder. The band decoder supplies signals to establish appropriate preset counts for the counter in accordance with the frequency band. The channel number selector includes a keyboard coupled to a multi-location tens and units memory for encoding and storing desired channel numbers. The keyboard is also coupled to a function/number decoder which distinguishes between digits and controls the state of a flip/flop in decoder circuitry which subsequently controls a units and tens position display device. The flip/flop, through logic circuitry, enables display of a first digit entered at the keyboard in the tens display position while blanking the units position and enables both display positions only for completed two digit channel number entries.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:49
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J1/00; H03J1/02; H03J1/04; H03J1/045; H03J1/047; H03J1/048; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/0245
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A television tuning system for selectively tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by single and two digit channel numbers, comprising: tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning to said plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels; memory means coupled to said tuning means for storing a desired sequentially entered two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero for a tens digit; display means for displaying the digits of a stored channel number in tens and units display areas; and decode means coupled to said display means enabling the display of the first entered digit of said desired channel number in the tens display area and blanking the units display area and for enabling display of digits in both display areas only after completion of a second digit entry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A television tuning system for selectively tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by single and two digit channel numbers, comprising: tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning to said plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels; memory means coupled to said tuning means for storing a desired sequentially entered two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero for a tens digit; display means for displaying the digits of a stored channel number in tens and units display areas; and decode means coupled to said display means enabling the display of the first entered digit of said desired channel number in the tens display area and blanking the units display area and for enabling display of digits in both display areas only after completion of a second digit entry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The television tuning system of claim 1 wherein said decode means further include means having alternative units and tens states with said alternative states corresponding to the entry of first and second digits respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The television tuning system of claim 2 wherein said means having alternative units and tens states comprises a flip/flop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The television tuning system of claim 3 further including keyboard means coupled to said memory means and to said decode means, said keyboard means comprising 10 digit keys for entry of individual digits of desired channel numbers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The television tuning system of claim 4 wherein said memory means comprise separate first and second memory devices for storing the digits of said desired channel numbers, and wherein said flip/flop is coupled to said separate memory devices permitting access from said keyboard means to said first memory device for tens digit and to said second memory device for units digits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The television tuning system of claim 5 further including a function/number decoder coupled to said keyboard means for changing the state of said flip/flop upon entry of a digit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The television tuning system of claim 6 wherein said keyboard means binary encodes the digits of said desired channel number and said memory means stores said encoded digits in binary form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The television tuning system of claim 7 wherein said memory means includes a plurality of locations, and said keyboard means includes storage and recall switch means, and further including address control means for serially accessing said locations and for conditioning said flip/flop to assume a particular state in anticipation of a digit entry responsive to said storage and recall means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The television tuning system of claim 8 wherein said display means is coupled to said memory means and wherein said decode means are operable during recall of stored channel numbers less than 10 for blanking the tens area zero in said display means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a television tuning system including tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by channel numbers, memory means for storing a sequentially entered desired two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero as a tens digit and display means for displaying the tens and units digits of said desired channel number in tens and units display areas, the method of operating said television tuning system comprising the steps of: storing in said memory means the tens digit of the desired number; displaying said tens digit in the tens display area of said display means and blanking the units display area to indicate a partial channel number entry; storing the units digit of said desired number in said memory means; and displaying the units digit in the units display area of said display means while continuing to display said tens digit to indicate a complete channel number entry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a television tuning system including tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by channel numbers, memory means for storing a sequentially entered desired two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero as a tens digit and display means for displaying the tens and units digits of said desired channel number in tens and units display areas, the method of operating said television tuning system comprising the steps of: storing in said memory means the tens digit of the desired number; displaying said tens digit in the tens display area of said display means and blanking the units display area to indicate a partial channel number entry; storing the units digit of said desired number in said memory means; and displaying the units digit in the units display area of said display means while continuing to display said tens digit to indicate a complete channel number entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of operating the television tuning system of claim 10 wherein said memory means includes a plurality of serially accessible memory locations and is operable for sequentially recalling stored channel numbers for tuning said tuning means, the further step of: blanking the tens area zero in said display means on recall of stored channel numbers less than ten.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
A television tuning system for selectively tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by single and two digit channel numbers, comprising: tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning to said plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels; memory means coupled to said tuning means for storing a desired sequentially entered two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero for a tens digit; display means for displaying the digits of a stored channel number in tens and units display areas; decode means coupled to said display means enabling the display of the first entered digit of said desired channel number in the tens display area and blanking the units display area and for enabling display of digits in both display areas only after completion of a second digit entry; and blanking means for suppressing leading zeros of a complete channel number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
150 words
A television tuning system for selectively tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by single and two digit channel numbers, comprising: tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning to said plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels; memory means coupled to said tuning means for storing a desired sequentially entered two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero for a tens digit; display means for displaying the digits of a stored channel number in tens and units display areas; decode means coupled to said display means enabling the display of the first entered digit of said desired channel number in the tens display area and blanking the units display area and for enabling display of digits in both display areas only after completion of a second digit entry; and blanking means for suppressing leading zeros of a complete channel number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a television tuning system including tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by channel numbers, memory means for storing a sequentially entered desired two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero as a tens digit and display means for displaying the tens and units digits of said desired channel number in tens and units display areas, the method of operating said television tuning system comprising the steps of: storing in said memory means the tens digit of the desired number; displaying said tens digit in the tens display area of said display means and blanking the units display area to indicate a partial channel number entry; storing the units digit of said desired number in said memory means; displaying the units digit in the units display area of said display means while continuing to display said tens digit to indicate a complete channel number entry; and blanking the tens digit display area for zero tens digits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a television tuning system including tuning means responsive to two digit channel number inputs for tuning a plurality of fixed frequency bandwidth television channels identified by channel numbers, memory means for storing a sequentially entered desired two digit channel number including single digit channel numbers having zero as a tens digit and display means for displaying the tens and units digits of said desired channel number in tens and units display areas, the method of operating said television tuning system comprising the steps of: storing in said memory means the tens digit of the desired number; displaying said tens digit in the tens display area of said display means and blanking the units display area to indicate a partial channel number entry; storing the units digit of said desired number in said memory means; displaying the units digit in the units display area of said display means while continuing to display said tens digit to indicate a complete channel number entry; and blanking the tens digit display area for zero tens digits.
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) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |