Channel selecting apparatus automatically detecting different modes of television signals

Claim 2

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals of a 5-channel and a 6-channel band in each of a TV, STD, HRC and IRC mode, respectively; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band on the basis of said searching; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when said signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, and for judging an IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to a 69-channel band; means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable TV (CATV) channel other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present on the basis of said seeking signals in said CATV channel band; means for searching signals within a predetermined frequency band in a signal having channels based on said seeking said signals when said CATV signals are present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal at the time of searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present by using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal when searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; and mode judging means for judging a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode when an IRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no IRC signal and no HRC signal are present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 3

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals within a predetermined band of a 5-channel and 6-channel band in each of a TV, STD, HRC, and IRC mode, respectively; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band on the basis of said searching said signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are determined to be present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and when no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, for judging and IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and for judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channel band by said first and second seeking means; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band when no CATV signal is present; means for searching signals within a predetermined frequency band in a signal having channels based on said seeking said signals when a CATV signal is present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present by using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; mode judging means for judging a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode when an IRC signal is present and a CATV signal is not present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and no CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no IRC signal and HRC signal are present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 4

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals within a predetermined band of a 5-channel and 6-channel band in each of a TV, STD, HRC, and IRC mode, respectively; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band on the basis of said searching said signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are determined to be present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and when no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, for judging and IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and for judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channel band by said first and second seeking means; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band when no CATV signal is present; means for searching signals within a predetermined frequency band in a signal having channels based on said seeking said signals when a CATV signal is present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present by using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; mode judging means for judging a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode when an IRC signal is present and a CATV signal is not present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and no CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no IRC signal and HRC signal are present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 5

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals of a 5-channel and 6-channel band in each of a TV, STD, HRC and IRC mode, respectively; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel based based on said searching said signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, judging an IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channel band by said first, second and third seeking means; means for determining whether the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present; a means of searching signals having channels within a predetermined frequency band on the basis of the results of seeking said signals when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal at the time of searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; and mode judging means for determining a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode or HRC mode according to the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is not of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no HRC is present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 6

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals of a 5-channel and 6-channel band in each of a TV, STD, HRC and IRC mode, respectively; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel based based on said searching said signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, judging an IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channel band by said first, second and third seeking means; means for determining whether the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present; a means of searching signals having channels within a predetermined frequency band on the basis of the results of seeking said signals when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal at the time of searching said signals while said CATV signals are present; and mode judging means for determining a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode or HRC mode according to the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is not of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no HRC is present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 7

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals within a predetermined frequency band in a 5-channel and 6-channel band; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel and 6-channel bands based on said searching signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, judging an IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channels by said first and second seeking means; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band of the TV when no CATV signal is present; means for determining whether the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present; means for searching signals within a predetermined frequency band in a signal having channels on the basis of the results of seeking said signals when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal at a time of searching said signals if the CATV signals are present; and mode judging means for judging a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode or HRC mode according to the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means if the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is not of an STD signal and a CATV signal is present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 8

A channel selecting apparatus comprising: a tuner selectively amplifying a television signal fed to an antenna terminal and converting a frequency thereof; a video intermediate frequency circuit amplifying and detecting a signal from the tuner, and producing an AFT signal and synchronizing signal; a channel selecting circuit selecting a specific television signal for said tuner; an input circuit giving a channel selecting instruction to said channel selecting circuit; memory means for storing data required to select the channel; and operating means for providing channel selecting data to said channel selecting circuit by using said channel selecting instruction from said input circuit and said AFT signal and synchronizing signal from said video intermediate frequency circuit and for commanding storing of said channel data which is indicative of whether signals are present for selecting any channel in said memory means, the television signal to be fed to said tuner being tuned using said AFT signal and synchronizing signal, then a received frequency being confirmed and analyzed, the broadcasting mode of the television signal input into said antenna terminal being judged from characteristics of the received frequency, wherein said operating means comprises: means for searching television signals within a predetermined frequency band in a 5-channel and 6-channel band; means for determining whether signals are present in the 5-channel and 6-channel bands based on said searching signals; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an IRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal when signals are present in the 5-channel/6-channel band; means for provisionally judging an STD signal when no signal is present in the 5-channel/6-channel band and no IRC signal and HRC signal are present, judging an IRC signal when an IRC signal is present and judging an HRC signal when an HRC signal is present; first seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 2-channel to 13-channel band; second seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a cable television (CATV) channel band other than the 2-channel to 13-channel band; means for determining whether a CATV signal is present based on said seeking signals in said CATV channels by said first and second seeking means; third seeking means for seeking signals at a predetermined frequency in a 14-channel to 69-channel band of the TV when no CATV signal is present; means for determining whether the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal when a CATV signal is present; means for searching signals within a predetermined frequency band in a signal having channels on the basis of the results of seeking said signals when the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is of an STD signal; means for determining whether a frequency tuning with an HRC signal is present using said AFT signal and said synchronizing signal at a time of searching said signals if the CATV signals are present; and mode judging means for judging a TV mode when no CATV signal is present, judging an IRC mode or HRC mode according to the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means if the provisional judgment of said provisionally judging means is not of an STD signal and a CATV signal is present, judging an HRC mode when an HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present and judging an STD mode when no HRC signal is present and a CATV signal is present.

Claim 9

A channel selecting apparatus which operates to receive television signals defined by a plurality of broadcasting modes and signals of predetermined channels in the respective modes, comprising: an input circuit for providing a channel selection instructing signal indicative of a commanded channel; a channel selecting circuit receiving channel selection instructing data, for providing a control signal for selecting a signal of a predetermined channel; a tuner receiving said control signal from said channel selecting circuit, and to which television signals defined by any of said modes are input, said tuner amplifying signals of channels selected by said control signal and producing output signals which are converted in frequency; a video signal processing circuit which amplifies and detects said output signals from said tuner, to produce detected signals, automatic fine tuning (AFT) signals and synchronizing signals as an output; a memory means for storing data necessary to select said predetermined channel; and operating means, connected to said memory means and connected between said input circuit and said channel selecting circuit, for: 1) providing said channel selection instructing data to said channel selecting circuit based on the channel selection instructing signal from said input circuit and the AFT signals and synchronizing signals from said video signal processing circuit, 2) varying said channel selection instructing data to said channel selecting circuit, and monitoring said tuner to confirm at which frequencies, within a predetermined first frequency band within which said predetermined channel is located, said television signal exists and, 3) responsive to said varying and monitoring, for determining in which mode among said plurality of broadcasting modes the television signal of the frequency is defined and for using the data stored in said memory means in accordance with a determined mode.

Claim 10

A channel selecting apparatus which operates to receive television signals defined by a plurality of broadcasting modes and signals of predetermined channels in the respective modes, comprising: an input circuit for providing a channel selection instructing signal indicative of a commanded channel; a channel selecting circuit receiving channel selection instructing data, for providing a control signal for selecting a signal of a predetermined channel; a tuner receiving said control signal from said channel selecting circuit, and to which television signals defined by any of said modes are input, said tuner amplifying signals of channels selected by said control signal and producing output signals which are converted in frequency; a video signal processing circuit which amplifies and detects said output signals from said tuner, to produce detected signals, automatic fine tuning (AFT) signals and synchronizing signals as an output; a memory means for storing data necessary to select said predetermined channel; and operating means, connected to said memory means and connected between said input circuit and said channel selecting circuit, for: 1) providing said channel selection instructing data to said channel selecting circuit based on the channel selection instructing signal from said input circuit and the AFT signals and synchronizing signals from said video signal processing circuit, 2) varying said channel selection instructing data to said channel selecting circuit, and monitoring said tuner to confirm at which frequencies, within a predetermined first frequency band within which said predetermined channel is located, said television signal exists and, 3) responsive to said varying and monitoring, for determining in which mode among said plurality of broadcasting modes the television signal of the frequency is defined and for using the data stored in said memory means in accordance with a determined mode.