Image signal selector for television receiver combined with video cassette recorder

Claim 1

A switching device for use with an interconnected assembly of a VCR, a TV receiver and an external apparatus, each of which is operative to generate an image signal, said assembly further comprising selection means for selecting one of said image signals, said switching device comprising: VCR and external image signal controls for respectively generating signals in response to selection of one of the VCR image signal and the image signal of the external apparatus; first and second integrated circuits, each said integrated circuit comprising first, second and third inputs, first and second outputs, a first internal switch for completing a circuit between the first output and a selected one of said first and second inputs, a second internal switch for selectively completing a circuit between said second output and said third input and first and second control terminals for controlling the first and second internal switches respectively; VCR input means for selectively delivering the VCR image signal to the first input of the first integrated circuit; first muting means connecting the external image signal control and the VCR input means for selectively muting the VCR image signal; external input means for selectively delivering the image signal from the external apparatus to the second input of first integrated circuit; second muting means connecting the second output of the first integrated circuit and the external input means for selectively muting the image signal of the external apparatus; control circuit means connecting the control terminals of the first integrated circuit to the image signal controls of the VCR and external apparatus and to the first muting means; an image signal insulation means connecting the first output of the first integrated circuit and the second input of the second integrated circuit for receiving signals from a selected one of the VCR and the external apparatus in accordance with orientation of the first internal switch of the first integrated circuit, the image signal insulation section being operative to amplify the selected signal; TV input means for delivering the TV image signal to the first and third inputs of the second integrated circuit; image output means for delivering a selected signal from the first output of the second integrated circuit and to the TV receiver; photocoupler means connecting the VCR and external image signal controls to the control terminals of the second integrated circuit for controlling the internal switches of the second integrated circuit; whereby upon selection of the TV image signal, the first control terminal of the second integrated circuit operates the first internal switch thereof for completing the circuit between the first input and the first output thereof and thereby completing the circuit between the TV input means and the image output means; and whereby upon selection of one of the VCR image signal and the external image signal, the VCR and external image signal controls operate the first internal switch of the first integrated circuit to complete the circuit between the selected one of the VCR and external inputs and the first output thereof thereby completing a circuit from the selected input and the image signal output.