US4142157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tuning system equalized with the slope factor of the tuning curve
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1977-04-28
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Granted: 1979-02-27
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Expires: 1997-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A tuning system for a television receiver includes a channel number generator coupled to nominal tuning memories, fine tune memories and slope factor memories. The memory outputs are coupled to a corresponding plurality of comparators which are also coupled to counters for deriving pulse-width modulated (PWM) signals corresponding to tuning information stored in the memories. The PWM signals are supplied to a tuning voltage generator where they are combined to produce the tuning voltage for the tuner. The information in the slope factor memories is based upon the slope of the tuning curve corresponding to the selected channel number. The final tuning voltage consists of the nominal tuning voltage combined with the product of the fine tune voltage and slope factor.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:12
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J7/00; H03J7/02; H03J7/04; H03J7/06; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/0245; H03J5/0254; H03J5/0263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of compensating a non-linear bias voltage-versus-frequency characteristic of a voltage-controlled tuner to produce substantially equal frequency excursions for similar information increments comprising the steps of: developing first information corresponding to a nominal bias voltage for a selected area of said characteristic; developing a scale factor related to the slope of said characteristic in said area; proportioning second information with said scale factor; combining said first information with said proportioned second information; and generating a tuning voltage for said tuner from said first information and said proportioned second information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
The method of compensating a non-linear bias voltage-versus-frequency characteristic of a voltage-controlled tuner to produce substantially equal frequency excursions for similar information increments comprising the steps of: developing first information corresponding to a nominal bias voltage for a selected area of said characteristic; developing a scale factor related to the slope of said characteristic in said area; proportioning second information with said scale factor; combining said first information with said proportioned second information; and generating a tuning voltage for said tuner from said first information and said proportioned second information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said voltage controlled tuner is provided with memory means storing said first information and said scale factor for different areas of said characteristic, said developing step including the step of interrogating said memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said voltage controlled tuner is in a television receiver and said interrogating step is performed by using channel numbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the proportioned second information is restricted to a predetermined change in frequency on said bias voltage-versus-frequency characteristic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said first information relates to nominal tuning of said television receiver and said second information relates to fine tuning of said television receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said memory means are electronic and have a plurality of digitally accessible channel number addresses at which said first information and said scale factor are stored.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a tuning system including a voltage-controlled tuner having a non-linear bias voltage versus frequency characteristic, means for producing substantially equal frequency excursions for similar information increments comprising: means developing first information corresponding to a nominal bias voltage for a selected area of said characteristic; means producing a scale factor related to the slope of said characteristic in said area; means proportioning second information with said scale factor; means combining said first and said proportioned second information; and means generating a tuning voltage from said combined first and proportioned second information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a tuning system including a voltage-controlled tuner having a non-linear bias voltage versus frequency characteristic, means for producing substantially equal frequency excursions for similar information increments comprising: means developing first information corresponding to a nominal bias voltage for a selected area of said characteristic; means producing a scale factor related to the slope of said characteristic in said area; means proportioning second information with said scale factor; means combining said first and said proportioned second information; and means generating a tuning voltage from said combined first and proportioned second information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tuning system of claim 7, further including: memory means storing said first information and said scale factor for different areas of said characteristic; and means interrogating said memory means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tuning system of claim 8 wherein said tuning system is part of a television receiver capable of receiving a plurality of transmitted television signals bearing FCC allocated identifying channel numbers, and wherein said memory means are responsive to channel numbers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tuning system of claim 9 wherein said first information relates to nominal tuning of said television receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tuning system of claim 10 wherein said proportioned second information is limited as to the amount of frequency change that may be generated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tuning system of claim 11 wherein said frequency change corresponds to less than one channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tuning system of claim 12 wherein said second information relates to fine tuning of said television receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an all-electronic television receiver including a voltage controllable tuner having a non-linear tuning voltage-versus-frequency characteristic; the method of operating said tuner to produce equalized tuning for all receivable channels comprising the steps of: developing first tuning information indicative of a first tuning voltage for a selected channel; proportioning second tuning information with a scale factor related to the slope of said tuning voltage characteristic in the vicinity of said selected channel and indicative of a second tuning voltage; and generating the tuning voltage for said tuner from said first tuning information and said proportioned second tuning information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an all-electronic television receiver including a voltage controllable tuner having a non-linear tuning voltage-versus-frequency characteristic; the method of operating said tuner to produce equalized tuning for all receivable channels comprising the steps of: developing first tuning information indicative of a first tuning voltage for a selected channel; proportioning second tuning information with a scale factor related to the slope of said tuning voltage characteristic in the vicinity of said selected channel and indicative of a second tuning voltage; and generating the tuning voltage for said tuner from said first tuning information and said proportioned second tuning information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said first tuning information relates to a nominal tuning voltage corresponding to said selected channel, further including a memory, accessible by channel number, storing said first tuning information and said scaling factor and including the further step of: addressing said memory with channel numbers to yield information about the nominal tuning voltage and scale factor corresponding to the selected channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said memory means includes alterable fine tuning memory means, including the further step of: altering said fine tuning memory means for change in said second proportioned tuning information in accordance with viewer preferences.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
A television receiver including a voltage-controlled tuner for tuning to any of a plurality of channels in a television band with equal ease and effect comprising: first means developing first tuning information indicative of a first tuning voltage for the selected one of said plurality of channels; scaling means producing a scale factor related to the slope of the tuning voltage-frequency curve of said tuner in the region of said selected channel; second means proportioning second tuning information with said scale factor, indicative of a second tuning voltage for said selected channel; and means producing a tuning voltage for said tuner from said first tuning information and the proportioned second tuning information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
A television receiver including a voltage-controlled tuner for tuning to any of a plurality of channels in a television band with equal ease and effect comprising: first means developing first tuning information indicative of a first tuning voltage for the selected one of said plurality of channels; scaling means producing a scale factor related to the slope of the tuning voltage-frequency curve of said tuner in the region of said selected channel; second means proportioning second tuning information with said scale factor, indicative of a second tuning voltage for said selected channel; and means producing a tuning voltage for said tuner from said first tuning information and the proportioned second tuning information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The television receiver of claim 17, further including: memory means for storing said first tuning information and said scale factor; and means accessing said memory means with channel numbers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The television receiver of claim 18 wherein said means producing a tuning voltage include means combining said first tuning information and said proportioned second tuning information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The television receiver of claim 19 wherein said second means are restricted in the amount of frequency change affected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The television receiver of claim 20 wherein said amount of frequency change corresponds to less than a one channel deviation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The television receiver of claim 21 wherein said second tuning information corresponds to fine tuning of said receiver.
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) | 1982-02-26 | 1982-08-28 | 1983-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-26 | 1986-08-28 | 1987-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-26 | 1990-08-28 | 1991-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |