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US4209805A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video signal processing circuit including lock-out prevention means for the intermediate frequency amplifier thereof

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-29
•
Granted: 1980-06-24
•
Expires: 1998-06-29
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Abstract

Abstract A video signal processing circuit adapted for use in TV receivers. The circuit includes an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit having signal amplifying transistors, a synchronous detection circuit adapted to produce the carrier signal and to produce a detection signal by making use of the reproduced carrier signal, a first gain control circuit adapted to deliver a gain control signal to the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit in accordance with the level of the detection signal and a second gain control circuit adapted to deliver a gain control signal to the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit in accordance with the level of the output from the latter. The second gain controller circuit is adapted to function to lower the gain of the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, so as to recover the ordinary operating condition of the circuit, when the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit is undesirably locked at the full-gain condition during receiving of a broadcasting wave of a large electric field strength.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tsuneo Ikeda
  • 👤 Kenichi Tonomura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 00:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/52; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3052; H03G3/3068

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A video signal processing circuit comprising: an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, for amplifying an input intermediate frequency signal, incorporating a signal amplifying transistor; a synchronous detection circuit for reproducing a video carrier signal in accordance with the signal output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, and for producing a detection signal by making use of the reproduced carrier signal; a first automatic gain control circuit for delivering a first gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the detection signal upon receipt of the detection signal from said synchronous detection circuit; and a second automatic gain control circuit for delivering a second gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, wherein said second gain control signal lowers the gain of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit only when the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit becomes excessively high so as to force said signal amplifying transistor to function at its saturation region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A video signal processing circuit comprising: an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, for amplifying an input intermediate frequency signal, incorporating a signal amplifying transistor; a synchronous detection circuit for reproducing a video carrier signal in accordance with the signal output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, and for producing a detection signal by making use of the reproduced carrier signal; a first automatic gain control circuit for delivering a first gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the detection signal upon receipt of the detection signal from said synchronous detection circuit; and a second automatic gain control circuit for delivering a second gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, wherein said second gain control signal lowers the gain of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit only when the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit becomes excessively high so as to force said signal amplifying transistor to function at its saturation region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 178 words
A video signal processing circuit comprising: an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, for amplifying an input intermediate frequency signal, incorporating a signal amplifying transistor; a synchronous detection circuit for reproducing a video carrier signal in accordance with the signal output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, and for producing a detection signal by making use of the reproduced video carrier signal; a first automatic gain control circuit for delivering a first gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the detection signal upon receipt of the detection signal from said synchronous detection circuit; and a second automatic gain control circuit for delivering a second gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, including means for determining when the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, exceeds a predetermined level, and means for lowering the gain of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit with said second gain control signals only when the determining means indicates that the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit has exceeded said predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 178 words
A video signal processing circuit comprising: an intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, for amplifying an input intermediate frequency signal, incorporating a signal amplifying transistor; a synchronous detection circuit for reproducing a video carrier signal in accordance with the signal output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, and for producing a detection signal by making use of the reproduced video carrier signal; a first automatic gain control circuit for delivering a first gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, in accordance with the level of the detection signal upon receipt of the detection signal from said synchronous detection circuit; and a second automatic gain control circuit for delivering a second gain control signal to said intermediate frequency amplifier, including means for determining when the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit, exceeds a predetermined level, and means for lowering the gain of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit with said second gain control signals only when the determining means indicates that the level of the output from said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit has exceeded said predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A video processing circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said predetermined level corresponds to an output signal level of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit at which said signal amplifying transistor operates in its saturation region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said first and second gain control signals are combined at a terminal and then delivered to a gain control input terminal of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit produces a pair of difference signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second automatic gain control circuit includes a transistor having a base coupled to one of said difference signals and an emitter coupled to the other of said difference signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 6, wherein said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit consists of more than two stages of amplifier units arranged in a cascade connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transistor of said second automatic gain control circuit is rendered conductive when the voltage difference between the difference signals exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
A video signal processing circuit as set forth in claim 8, wherein said predetermined value of said voltage difference corresponds to the output signal level of said intermediate frequency amplifier circuit at which said signal amplifying transistor operates in its saturation region.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2756327A Cited
US2889400A Cited
US3251938A Cited
US3301951A Cited
US3511930A Cited
US3665317A Cited
US3838210A Cited
US3898380A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-06-24 1983-12-24 1984-06-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-06-24 1987-12-24 1988-06-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-06-24 1991-12-24 1992-06-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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