Switchable signal source module for use with cable television converter

Claim 2

A television system comprising a switchable signal source module and a cable television converter, said cable television converter comprising: an input/output terminal for receiving a television input signal and outputting a relay control signal; means for generating sadi relay control signal and transmitting said relay control signal to said input/output terminal; and television signal output terminal means for outputting a converted television channel signal; and said signal source module comprising: first input terminal means for receiving a first input signal from a first cable television signal source; second input terminal means for receving a second input signal from a second television signal source; an input/output terminal; relay means, having first and second television signal input ports coupled respectively to said first and second input terminal means, having a television signal output port coupled to said input/output terminal of said module, and having a relay control input port coupled to said input/output terminal of said mouule, for selectively coupling said first input terminal means or said second input terminal means to said input/output terminal of said module based on said relay control signal; and wherein said signal source module is mounted to said cable television converter with said input/output terminal of said module being electrically coupled to said input/output terminal of said cable television converter.

Claim 3

A television system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for isolating said relay control input port from said television signal output port of said relay means.

Claim 4

A television system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the isolating means comprises a capacitor connected between said television signal output port of said relay means and said input/output terminal of said signal source module.

Claim 5

A television system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said relay means comprises an actuator coil coupled to said relay control input port, and the first cable television signal, the second television signal, and said relay control signal are the only electrical inputs required by said signal source module.

Claim 6

A television system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cable television converter includes means for generating said relay control signal in response to a command input by a user.

Claim 7

A television system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input/output terminal of said module comprises a recessed, male member, and said input/output terminal of said converter comprises a protruding female member which is mated with said recessed male member.

Claim 8

A television system comprising a switchable signal source module and a cable television converter, said cable television converter comprising: an input/output terminal for receiving a cable television input signal and outputting a relay control signal; means for generating said relay control signal and transmitting said relay control signal to said input/output terminal; and a television signal output terminal for outputting a converted television channel signal; and said signal source module comprising: first input terminal means for receiving an input cable television signal; second input terminal means, coupled to said television signal output terminal of said converter, for receiving said cable television input signal after conversion; output terminal means for coupling to a video appliance; an input/output terminal coupled to said first input terminal means of said module, said signal source module being mounted to said cable television converter with said input/output terminal of said module being electrically coupled to said input/output terminal of said converter; and relay means, having first and second televison signal input ports coupled respectively to said first and second input terminal means of said module, a television signal output port coupled to said output terminal means of said module, and a relay control input port coupled to said input/output terminal of said module, for selectively coupling said first input terminal means or said second input terminal means to said output terminal means based on said relay control signal.

Claim 9

A television system comprising a switchable signal source module and a cable television converter, said cable television converter comprising: an input/output terminal for receiving a cable television input signal and outputting a relay control signal; means for generating said relay control signal and transmitting said relay control signal to said input/output terminal; and a television signal output terminal for outputting a converted television channel signal; and said signal source module comprising: first input terminal means for receiving an input cable television signal; second input terminal means, coupled to said television signal output terminal of said converter, for receiving said cable television input signal after conversion; output terminal means for coupling to a video appliance; an input/output terminal coupled to said first input terminal means of said module, said signal source module being mounted to said cable television converter with said input/output terminal of said module being electrically coupled to said input/output terminal of said converter; and relay means, having first and second televison signal input ports coupled respectively to said first and second input terminal means of said module, a television signal output port coupled to said output terminal means of said module, and a relay control input port coupled to said input/output terminal of said module, for selectively coupling said first input terminal means or said second input terminal means to said output terminal means based on said relay control signal.

Claim 10

A television system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising: a signal splitter having an input leg coupled to said first input terminal means of said module, a first output leg coupled to said first television signal input port of said relay means, and a second output leg coupled to said input/output terminal of said module.

Claim 11

A television system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said relay means comprises an actuator coil coupled to said relay control input port, and said input cable television signal, the coverted input television signal, and said relay control signal are the only electrical inputs required by said signal source module.

Claim 12

A television system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said converter is responsive to a command input by a user to generate said relay conrol signal.

Claim 13

A televison system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising means for isolating said second output leg of said signal splitter from said relay control input port of said relay means.

Claim 14

A television system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the isolating means comprises a capacitor interposed between said second output leg of said signal splitter and said input/output terminal of said module.

Claim 15

A television system as set forth in claim 7 futher comprising a VCR interposed between said second input terminal means of said module and said television signal output terminal of said converter.

Claim 16

A television system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a second converter interposed between said output terminal means of said module and said video appliance.

Claim 17

A television system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said input/output terminal of said module comprises a recessed, male member, and said input/output terminal of said converter comprises a protruding female member which is mated with said recessed male member.

Claim 18

A television system comprising a switchable signal source module and a cable televison converter, said cable television converter comprising: an input/output terminal for receiving a cable television input signal and outputting a relay control signal; means for generating said relay control signal and transmitting said relay control signal to said input/output terminal; and television signal output terminal means for outputting a converted television channel; and said signal source module comprising: first input terminal means for receiving an input signal from a cable television source; second input terminal means for receiving a television signal from a second source; third input terminal means, coupled to said television signal output terminal means of said converter, for receiving said cable television signal after conversion; output terminal means for outputting a television channel signal to a video appliance; an input/output terminal coupled to said first input terminal means of said module, said signal source module being mounted to said cable television converter with said input/output terminal of said module electrically coupled to said input/output terminal of said converter; and relay means, having first and second television signal input ports coupled respectively to said second and third input terminal means of said module, having a television signal output port coupled to said output terminal means of said module, and having a relay control input port coupled to said input/output terminal of said module, for selectively coupling said second input terminal means or said third input terminal means of said module to said output terminal means of said module based on said relay control signal.

Claim 19

A television system comprising a switchable signal source module and a cable televison converter, said cable television converter comprising: an input/output terminal for receiving a cable television input signal and outputting a relay control signal; means for generating said relay control signal and transmitting said relay control signal to said input/output terminal; and television signal output terminal means for outputting a converted television channel; and said signal source module comprising: first input terminal means for receiving an input signal from a cable television source; second input terminal means for receiving a television signal from a second source; third input terminal means, coupled to said television signal output terminal means of said converter, for receiving said cable television signal after conversion; output terminal means for outputting a television channel signal to a video appliance; an input/output terminal coupled to said first input terminal means of said module, said signal source module being mounted to said cable television converter with said input/output terminal of said module electrically coupled to said input/output terminal of said converter; and relay means, having first and second television signal input ports coupled respectively to said second and third input terminal means of said module, having a television signal output port coupled to said output terminal means of said module, and having a relay control input port coupled to said input/output terminal of said module, for selectively coupling said second input terminal means or said third input terminal means of said module to said output terminal means of said module based on said relay control signal.

Claim 20

A television system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said module further comprises: means for isolating said first input terminal means from said relay control input port.

Claim 21

A television system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the isolating means comprises a capacitor interposed between said first input terminal means and said input/output terminal of said module.

Claim 22

A television system as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a VCR interposed between said output terminal means of said converter and said third input terminal means of said module.

Claim 23

A television system as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a second converter interposed between said first input terminal means of said module and said second input terminal means of said module.

Claim 24

A television system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said relay means comprises an actuator coil coupled to said relay control input port, and said input cable television signal from said first source, said television signal from said second source, the converted input television signal, and said relay control signal are the only electrical inputs required by said signal source module.

Claim 25

A television system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said input/output terminal of said module comprises a recessed, male member, and said input/output terminal of said converter comprises a protruding female member which is mated with said recessed male member.