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US4047223A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Frequency scanning automatic phase control system

Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
•
Filing: 1976-01-16
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Granted: 1977-09-06
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Expires: 1996-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract A frequency scanning automatic phase control includes a phase detector, a local oscillator and an APC filter. A coincidence detector includes an AND gate responsive to the horizontal retrace and reference synchronizing pulses. A lock detector also responsive to the retrace and reference sync pulses produces an output signal when a predetermined interval of non-coincidence has existed. An AND gate responsive to both the lock detector and coincidence detector gates a current sink which unbalances the phase detector producing a ramp-like error voltage across the APC filter. A threshold detector coupled to the APC filter activates a discharge circuit also coupled to the filter when the filter voltage exceeds the threshold. The oscillator responds to the variations of error voltage and changes frequency accordingly. Once coincidence occurs frequency variation ceases and is resumed only if non-coincidence returns.

Inventors

  • 👤 Judson A. Hofmann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/04; H04N5/12; H04N5/126

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
In a television receiver including signal means recovering picture, audio and scansion synchronizing information from a received signal; a picture tube; automatic gain control means maintaining the recovered picture information at a substantially constant level, horizontal scansion means producing a high amplitude retrace signal and vertical scansion means developing a raster on said display means and horizontal scansion synchronization means including an oscillator and automatic phase control operative thereon synchronizing the horizontal scansion of said display with said synchronizing information, the improvement comprising: coincidence means detecting coincidence between said retrace pulse and said scansion synchronization information; lock detecting means determining the existence of an out-of-sync condition by comparing the relative durations of intervals of coincidence and non-coincidence; and configuring means responsive to said coincidence means and said lock detecting means causing cyclic variation of said oscillator frequency only if an out-of-sync condition and non-coincidence simultaneously occur.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
In a television receiver including signal means recovering picture, audio and scansion synchronizing information from a received signal; a picture tube; automatic gain control means maintaining the recovered picture information at a substantially constant level, horizontal scansion means producing a high amplitude retrace signal and vertical scansion means developing a raster on said display means and horizontal scansion synchronization means including an oscillator and automatic phase control operative thereon synchronizing the horizontal scansion of said display with said synchronizing information, the improvement comprising: coincidence means detecting coincidence between said retrace pulse and said scansion synchronization information; lock detecting means determining the existence of an out-of-sync condition by comparing the relative durations of intervals of coincidence and non-coincidence; and configuring means responsive to said coincidence means and said lock detecting means causing cyclic variation of said oscillator frequency only if an out-of-sync condition and non-coincidence simultaneously occur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 1, wherein said automatic phase control includes a filter and wherein configuring means include: charge means, causing said automatic phase control to produce an error voltage of increasing amplitude within said filter; and discharging means, abruptly reducing said error voltage when it exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 57 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 2, wherein said lock detecting means include: a hold capacitor; increase means charging said hold capacitor during non-coincidence; decrease means discharging said hold capacitor during coincidence; and threshold means, coupled to said hold capacitor, producing an output signal when the voltage on said hold capacitor exceeds a predetermined potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 3, wherein said increasing and decreasing means comprise a pair of oppositely poled current sources responsive to said synchronizing information and wherein said lock detecting means include: a switch coupled to said increasing and decreasing means and said hold capacitor responsive to coincidence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 4, wherein said coincidence means include: an AND gate having inputs responsive to said synchronizing information and said retrace signal producing an output signal in the absence of coincidence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 69 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 5, wherein said configuring means includes: an AND gate having a first input coupled to the output of said coincidence means, a second input coupled to the output of said lock detecting means, and an output coupled to said charge means producing an output signal during the simultaneous occurrence of output signals from said coincidence means and said lock detecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
A television receiver as set forth in claim 6, wherein said increasing means are coupled to said hold capacitor and wherein said switch coupled said decreasing means to said hold capacitor during coincidence causing discharge of said hold capacitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 97 words
In an automatic phase control system including an oscillator producing a pulse signal, a phase detector and filter synchronizing the output of said oscillator with a source of synchronizing pulse information, the improvement comprising: coincidence means detecting coincidence between said oscillator pulse and said synchronizing pulse information; lock detecting means determining the existence of an out-of-sync condition by comparing the relative durations of intervals of coincidence and non-coincidence; and configuring means responsive to said coincidence means and said lock detecting means causing cyclic variation of said oscillator frequency only if an out-of-sync condition and non-coincidence simultaneously occur.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 97 words
In an automatic phase control system including an oscillator producing a pulse signal, a phase detector and filter synchronizing the output of said oscillator with a source of synchronizing pulse information, the improvement comprising: coincidence means detecting coincidence between said oscillator pulse and said synchronizing pulse information; lock detecting means determining the existence of an out-of-sync condition by comparing the relative durations of intervals of coincidence and non-coincidence; and configuring means responsive to said coincidence means and said lock detecting means causing cyclic variation of said oscillator frequency only if an out-of-sync condition and non-coincidence simultaneously occur.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
An automatic phase control as set forth in claim 8, wherein configuring means include: charge means, causing said phase detector to produce an error voltage of increasing amplitude within said filter; and discharge means, abruptly reducing said error voltage when it exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 59 words
An automatic phase control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said lock detecting means include: a hold capacitor; increase means charging said hold capacitor during non-coincidence; decrease means discharging said hold capacitor during coincidence; and threshold means, coupled to said hold capacitor, producing an out-of-sync signal when the voltage on said hold capacitor exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 53 words
An automatic phase control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said increasing and decreasing means comprise a pair of oppositely poled current sources responsive to said synchronizing information and wherein said lock detecting means include: a switch coupled to said increasing and decreasing means and said hold capacitor responsive to coincidence.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
An automatic phase control system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said coincidence means include: an AND gate having inputs responsive to said synchronizing information and said retrace signal producing an output signal in the absence of coincidence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 71 words
An automatic phase control system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said configuring means include: an AND gate having a first input coupled to the output of said coincidence means, a second input coupled to the output of said lock detecting means, and an output coupled to said charge means producing an output signal during the simultaneous occurrence of output signals from said coincidence means and said lock detecting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 41 words
An automatic phase control system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said increasing means are coupled to said hold capacitor and wherein said switch couples said decreasing means to said hold capacitor during coincidence causing discharge of said hold capacitor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2833923A Cited
US3370252A Cited
US3715499A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-09-05 1981-03-07 1981-09-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-09-05 1985-03-07 1985-09-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-09-05 1989-03-07 1989-09-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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