Television signal switching apparatus

• US 4,312,016 A
• Filed: 02/02/1979
• Issued: 01/19/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jerrold Electronics Corp. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Glaab, Joseph B., Jeffers, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Richard
• Application Number:
  US06/009,286
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 358/188, 358/181, 358/83, 358/93, 358/142, 358/86
• US Class Current: 348/706
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/166 Passage/non-passage of the television signal, e.g. jamming, band suppression scrambling and descrambling H04N7/167

Abstract

Switching apparatus for selectively applying either video game signals or conventional television program signals to a television receiver includes a pair of complementary filters to respectively pass and block the transmission of signals within a selected game-display channel. A switch may be selectively placed in either a game-playing mode or a program-receiving mode. In the latter mode the switch connects an input cable to the receiver. Correspondingly, when used for video games, the switch passes the incoming cable signal through one of the filters to a video game-playing adaptor and player which, in turn, are connected back to the receiver through the other of the filters.

Claims

1. In combination in television game switching apparatus, circuit terminal means for receiving a signal ensemble including at least one standard television program and at least one video game program instruction set, said program instruction set signal component occupying a predetermined frquency band, a cable, a television game player connected to one end of said cable and adapted to supply said cable with a video game radio frequency signal in a game video frequency band distinct from said predetermined frequency band, adaptor means connected to said cable one end for receiving said video game program instruction set signal component and for storing said program instruction set signal, output terminal means adapted for connection to a standard television receiver, and switching and filter means connecting said circuit terminal means, output terminal means and a second end of said cable, said switching and filter means including means for connecting said circuit terminal means and said output terminal means when said switching means resides in a first state, said switch and filter means further including first filter means for blocking said game video frequency band and for passing said instruction set predetermined frequency band connecting said circuit terminal means and said second cable end and game video passing means connecting said output terminal means and said second cable end when said switching means resides in a second state.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said game video passing means comprises a series pass filter tuned to said game video frequency.

3. A combination as in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a television receiver, and means connecting said television receiver and said output terminal means.

4. A combination as in claim 1 or 2 wherein said switching and filter means includes a double-pole double-throw switch.

5. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said first filter means comprises a band pass filter tuned to said predetermined frequency band for passing said video program instruction set.

6. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said first filter means comprises a band stop filter tuned to said game video frequency band.