Microprocessor control system for television receivers

• US 4,318,130 A
• Filed: 08/09/1978
• Issued: 03/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magnavox (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Magnavox (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Heuer, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/932,141
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 358/188, 358/198, 358/191.1, 358/194.1, 455/150, 455/151, 455/177, 455/179, 455/186, 455/352, 455/353, 455/355
• US Class Current: 348/733
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/0263 the digital values being held in an auxiliary non erasable memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A microprocessor control system is described for effecting channel tuning and function selection in a television receiver. The system will respond to commands entered by a set of controls at the television receiver or to remote control commands received at the television receiver. A channel number display is also provided whereby the channel number of a station currently tuned is displayed. A microprocessor within the system is programmed to validate control information received from an operator either by remotely generated commands or by controls located on the television receiver. Operator supplied information is processed and implemented by the microprocessor control system to effect control over the television receiver.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a television receiver having a varactor tuner comprising:

(a) a microprocessor;

(b) control selection means for supplying data signals to said microprocessor indicating specific channels to be tuned on said television receiver;

(c) a memory containing a plurality of tuning words specifying the tuning voltages for said varactor tuner, each of said tuning words having an address associated with a channel number;

(d) said microprocessor operating to recall a tuning word from memory in response to a data signal received from said control selection means and to convert said tuning word into a digital signal representing a tuning voltage for said varactor tuner;

(e) digital to analog conversion means converting each said digital signal into a d.c. voltage which it applies to said varactor tuner; and

(f) a second control means supplying data signals to said microprocessor to cause it to recall each of said tuning words in sequence, whereby each channel associated with a tuning word is tuned in sequence.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising display means operatively coupled to said microprocessor and responsive to said data signals to display the associated channel numbers.

3. A microprocessor controller for controlling the volume on a television receiver comprising:

(a) a volume selection switch providing a contact closure indicating a desired increase in volume level;

(b) a microprocessor having an input port connected to said contact closure, said microprocessor having a program stored within for detecting said contact closure and providing a multibit digital signal the bits of which are determined by the length of time said switch contact is closed; and

(c) digital conversion means connected to said microprocessor output port for receiving said multibit digital signal and producing an output signal comprising a d.c. voltage proportional to said multibit digital word.

4. A microprocessor controller for controlling a television receiver comprising:

(a) keyboard selection means having a first set of keys for generating signals indicating function levels to be changed and a second set of keys for generating signals indicating channels to be tuned;

(b) remote command sensing means for providing a first set of signals indicating channels to be tuned and a second set of signals indicating function levels to be changed;

(c) memory means containing channel tuning data;

(d) a microprocessor having an input port connected to said remote command sensing means and said keyboard selection means, said microprocessor being programmed to operate sequentially to determine the presence at its input port of any signals from said keyboard selection means and said remote command sensing means and to initiate channel changes and function level changes as indicated by such signals;

said microprocessor initiating such channel changes by recalling channel tuning data from said memory means in response to a signal indicating a channel is to be tuned and by converting said channel tuning data into a first set of digital signals corresponding to the tuning voltage for said channel to be tuned;

said microprocessor initiating such function level changes by generating a second set of digital signals corresponding to the new function level in response to a function level change indicated by signals from said keyboard selection means or said remote channel sensing means; and

(e) digital conversion means operably connected to said microprocessor converting each first set of digital signals into a first d.c. voltage for tuning a varactor tuner; and

converting each second set of digital signals into a second d.c. voltage indicating a new function level.

5. A system for controlling a television receiver comprising:

(a) a source of transmitted signals, each having a different frequency associated with a different controllable function of said television receiver;

(b) a microprocessor control system including a data bus and responsive to said transmitted signals for providing different digital signals on said data bus in response to different transmitted signals;

(c) digital to analog conversion means connected to said microprocessor control system and producing d.c. voltages proportional to the different digital signals on said data bus; and

(d) means responsive to said d.c. voltages for controlling and different controllable functions;

(e) said source of transmitted signals including a volume selection switch capable of producing a signal indicative of a desired increase in volume level, said desired increase in volume level being one of said functions, and said means responsive to said d.c. voltages controlling the volume control means of said television receiver.

6. A system according to claim 5, including transducer means receiving each of said transmitted signals and providing in response to each a different signal current having a frequency corresponding to its associated transmitted signal and wherein said microprocessor control system responds to said signal currents for producing said digital signals.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said means responsive to said d.c. voltages controls a varactor tuner and wherein said functions to be controlled also include the tuning frequencies of said television receiver, said d.c. voltages being applied to said varactor tuner for tuning purposes.

8. A system according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein said source of transmitted signals is apparatus remote from said television receiver.

9. A system for remotely controlling a television receiver comprising:

(a) a source of remotely transmitted signals, each having a different frequency associated with a different controllable function of said television receiver;

(b) transducer means for receiving said signals and providing a signal current for each, each having a frequency identical to its corresponding transmitted signal;

(c) a microprocessor control system having an internal program for determining the frequencies of said signal currents, said microprocessor control system including a validation program for continuously sampling said signal currents and determining when a valid signal is being transmitted, said microprocessor control system also including a data bus and being responsive to said transmitted signals for providing different digital signals on said data bus in response to different transmitted signals;

(d) digital to analog conversion means connected to said microprocessor control system and producing d.c. voltages proportional to the different digital signals on said data bus; and

(e) means responsive to said d.c. voltages for controlling said different controllable functions.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said means responsive to said d.c. voltages controls a varactor tuner and wherein said functions to be controlled include the tuning frequencies of said television receiver, said d.c. voltages being applied to said varactor tuner for tuning purposes.