Remote audio and brightness control circuit for television

• US 4,229,765 A
• Filed: 01/05/1979
• Issued: 10/21/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winston D. Sanger
• Original Assignee: Winston D. Sanger
• Inventors: Sanger, Winston D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US06/001,220
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 358/188, 358/189, 358/194, 358/198, 358/168, 358/165, 325/389, 325/390, 325/391, 325/392, 325/393, 325/395
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/02 Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote control switching circuit is provided for enabling a person watching and listening to television to edit out unwanted portions of a television program. Thus, while watching television, when an unwanted portion appears, the watcher uses a remote control device for actuating switches which provide for replacing the audio of the television set with the audio of an alternate sound source and for simultaneously dimming the picture on the tube of the television set so that it is only faintly discernible. Then, by viewing the picture tube, the watcher can see by observing the faint image on the screen when to use the remote control device to again actuate, i.e., reverse, the switches for returning to the audio of the program of the television set in place of the audio of the alternate source and for simultaneously brightening the picture on the tube for normal viewing.

Claims

1. A switching system for television comprising:

a television set having an audio output and a picture tube with an adjustable brightness control circuit;

an alternate sound system having an audio output; and

bistable switching means having contacts connected to the audio output and the brightness control circuit of said television set and the audio output of said alternate sound system;

whereby, while said television set is turned on for viewing, said switching means provides for eliminating undesired portions of a broadcast by switching the audio output of said alternate sound system in place of the audio output of said television set, and switching the brightness control circuit of the picture tube so that the picture thereon is just barely discernible.

2. A remote control switching system as defined in claim 1 wherein said bistable switching means includes a remote control device having a button which provides for reversing said switching means on each depression thereof.

3. A remote control switching circuit for television comprising:

a television set having an audio output and a picture tube with an adjustable brightness control circuit;

an alternate sound system having an audio output; and

remotely controlled bistable switching means having contacts connected to the audio output and the brightness control circuit of said television set and the audio output of said alternate sound system;

whereby when an undesirable portion of a program is being received on said television set a viewer can actuate said bistable switching means to switch the audio output of said alternate sound system in place of the audio output of the television set and adjust the brightness control circuit to dim the picture on the picture tube; and

whereby when the viewer notices by observing the picture tube that the desired program is to resume he can again actuate the bistable switching means to switch back to the audio output of the television set and adjust the brightness control circuit to brighten the picture tube for normal viewing.

4. A remote control circuit comprising:

a television set having an audio output, a loudspeaker, and a picture tube with an adjustable brightness control circuit;

an alternate sound system having a power input and an audio output;

bistable switching circuit means having contacts connected to the audio output and the brightness control circuit of said television set and the audio output and power input of said alternate sound system; and

a remote control device for actuating said bistable switching circuit means;

whereby when an undesirable portion of a program is received on said television set a viewer can use said remote control device to actuate said bistable switching circuit means to switch power to the power input of said alternate sound system, switch the audio output of said alternate sound system of the loudspeaker of said television set in place of its audio output, and switch the adjustment of the brightness control circuit so that the picture tube is just barely discernible; and

whereby when the viewer notices by observing the picture tube that the desired portion of the program is to resume he can use the remote control device to actuate said bistable switching circuit means to switch off the power to said alternate sound system, switch the audio output of said television set back to its loudspeaker, and switch the adjustment of the brightness control circuit so that the picture on the picture tube is again at its normal brightness for viewing.

5. A remote control circuit for a television set having a loudspeaker, an audio output transformer, and a picture tube with an adjustable brightness control circuit, and an alternate sound system having a power input and an audio output transformer, said circuit comprising:

a remote transmitter including a hand held remote control device having a button for radiating a signal when depressed; and

a receiver including a pickup microphone and a bistable relay for operating first, second, third, and fourth single-pole double-throw switches, said pickup microphone sensing the signal radiated by said remote control device for actuating said bistable relay to reverse the settings of said switches;

said first and second single-pole double-throw switches selectively connected for switching the audio output transformer of said alternate sound system and the audio output transformer of said television set to said television loudspeaker;

said third single-pole double-throw switch selectively connected for adjusting the brightness control circuit of the picture tube to dim the picture thereon when said first and second single-pole double-throw switches are conditioned to connect the audio output of said alternate sound system to the television loudspeaker; and

said fourth single-pole double-throw switch selectively connected for supplying power to turn on said alternate sound system when said first and second single-pole double-throw switches are conditioned to connect the audio output of said alternate sound system to the television loudspeaker.

6. A switching system for television comprising:

a television set having an audio output;

an alternate sound system having an audio output; and

bistable switching means having contacts connected to said television set and said alternate sound system;

whereby, while said television set is turned on for viewing the video, said switching means provides for eliminating undesired accompanying audio portions of the broadcast by switching the audio output of said alternate sound system in place of the audio output of said television set.

7. A remote control circuit for television comprising:

a television set including an audio output, a loudspeaker having an input, and a picture tube having an adjustable brightness control circuit;

an alternate sound system having a power input and an audio output;

bistable switching means including

first switch means for selectively connecting the input of said loudspeaker to the audio output of said television set and the audio output of said alternate sound system;

second switch means simultaneously operable with said first switch means for selectively adjusting the brightness control circuit to dim the picture on the picture tube when said first switch means is conditioned to connect the audio output of said alternate sound system to the input of said loudspeaker; and

third switch means simultaneously operable with said first switch means for selectively applying power to energize said alternate sound system when said first switch means is conditioned to connect the audio output of said alternate sound system to the input of said loudspeaker; and

a remote control device for actuating said bistable switching means.