Automatic tuning circuit arrangement with switched impedances

• US 4,339,827 A
• Filed: 11/25/1980
• Issued: 07/13/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Inventors: Henderson, John G. N., Torres, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gensler, Paul L.
• Application Number:
  US06/210,247
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 334/3, 334/15, 358/191.1, 455/191, 455/193, 455/195, 455/280, 455/289, 455/291, 455/188, 455/286, 455/290, 343/702, 343/748
• US Class Current: 455/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/005 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 3/185 with varactors, i.e. voltage variable reactive diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/244 using electronic means

Abstract

Tuning circuitry for a VHF television (TV) antenna tunes such antenna for signals corresponding to the TV channel selected and couples those signals to the tuning system of a television receiver. An antenna has a pair of signal terminals across which the tuning circuitry connects to form a resonance circuit therewith for tuning the antenna. A variable capacitance responds to a control voltage to develop the appropriate value of tuning capacitance. Impedances, e.g. inductors or capacitors or resistors, are coupled to the resonance circuit at least at selected times by switches. An amplifier couples signals from the resonance circuit to the tuning system of the TV receiver.

Claims

1. A tuning circuit arrangement for a receiving loop antenna of a receiver having a tuning system comprising:

first and second input signal terminals to which said loop antenna is coupled and an output signal terminal for coupling said tuning circuit arrangement to said tuning system;

resonance circuit means coupled to said first and second input signal terminals for tuning said loop antenna over a range of frequencies responsive to a first control potential, which first control potential is of first polarity at selected times and which is of second polarity opposite to the first polarity at times other than said selected times, including

variable capacitance means for developing a variable capacitance responsive to said first control potential at said selected times when said first control potential is of said first polarity, and for developing a low impedance compared to that of its variable capacitance at said times when said first control potential is of said second polarity, said variable capacitance means being coupled in circuit with said first and second input signal terminals,

at least one other impedance means for exhibiting an impedance, and

switch means for coupling said other impedance means to said resonance circuit means at least at selected times; and

amplifying means having an input connection to which said resonance circuit means is coupled, and having an output connection coupled to said output signal terminal.

2. In the arrangement of claim 1 wherein said loop antenna receives television signals over a range of frequencies, which range has lower and upper portions, each of said lower and upper portions including a plurality of channels,

means for generating said first control potential of said first polarity when signals in the lower portion of said range are selected to be received, and for generating said first control potential of said second polarity when signals in the upper portion thereof are selected to be received.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 including means for determining the selected times at which said switch means is rendered conductive and nonconductive, said determining means rendering said switch means conductive when signals associated with predetermined channels in said lower portion are selected to be received, and rendering said switch means nonconductive when signals associated with channels in said lower portion other than said predetermined channels are selected to be received.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises:

diode means having anode and cathode electrodes, one of which electrodes is coupled to said impedance means;

means for applying a substantially constant potential to one of said anode and cathode electrodes; and

means for applying a second control potential selectively having first and second predetermined magnitude ranges to the other of said anode and cathode electrodes, which second control potential is of said first predetermined magnitude range to make the anode electrode of relatively positive polarity with respect to the cathode electrode for rendering said diode means conductive, and is of said second predetermined magnitude range to make the anode electrode of relatively negative polarity with respect to the cathode electrode for rendering said diode means nonconductive.

5. In the arrangement of claim 4 wherein said loop antenna receives television signals over a range of frequencies, which frequency range has lower and upper portions, each of said lower and upper portions including a plurality of channels,

means for generating said second control potential of said first predetermined magnitude range when signals associated with predetermined channels in said lower portion are selected to be received, and for generating said second control potential of said second predetermined magnitude range when signals associated with channels in said lower portion other than said predetermined channels are selected to be received.

6. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said variable capacitance means is coupled between said first input signal terminal and the input connection of said amplifying means, and

said other impedance means and said diode means are serially coupled between said first and second input signal terminals.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said other impedance means includes an inductance, an end of which connects to one of the anode and cathode electrodes of said diode.

8. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said variable capacitance means is coupled between said first input signal terminal and the input connection of said amplifying means, and

said other impedance means and said diode means are serially coupled between the input connection of said amplifying means and said second input signal terminal.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said other impedance means includes a capacitance, an end of which connects to one of the anode and cathode electrodes of said diode means.

10. The arrangement of claim 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein said second control potential is responsive to said first control potential.

11. A tuning circuit arrangement for a receiving loop antenna of a receiver having a tuning system comprising:

first and second input signal terminals to which said loop antenna is coupled and an output signal terminal for coupling said tuning circuit arrangement to said tuning system;

resonance circuit means coupled to said first and second input signal terminals for tuning said loop antenna over a range of frequencies responsive to a first control potential including

variable capacitance means for developing a variable capacitance responsive to said first control potential when said first control potential is of first polarity, and for developing a low impedance compared to that of its variable capacitance when said first control potential is of second polarity opposite to the first, said variable capacitance means being coupled in circuit with said first and second input signal terminals,

at least one other impedance means for exhibiting an impedance,

impedance transformation means having first and second output circuits for exhibiting first and second transformation ratios, respectively, with respect to an input circuit thereof, and

switch means for coupling said other impedance means to said first and second output circuits at least at selected times responsive to a second control potential; and

amplifying means having an input connection to which said resonance circuit means is coupled, and having an output connection coupled to said output signal terminal.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said impedance transformation means includes:

transformer means having a first winding for serving as the input circuit of said transformation means, and having second and third windings for respectively serving as the first and second output circuits thereof, each of which second and third windings exhibiting a predetermined transformer turns ratio with respect to the first winding; and

wherein said switch means includes;

first diode means for coupling said second winding to said other impedance means at a node, which first diode means is poled for conduction in a first direction sense with respect to said node;

second diode means for coupling said third winding to said other impedance means at said node, which second diode means is poled in a second direction sense opposite to the first; and

means for applying said second control potential to said node, which second control potential is selectively of first and second respective levels for rendering a respective one of said first and second diode means conductive, and the other one thereof nonconductive, respectively.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said variable capacitance means is coupled serially with said first winding between said first and second input signal terminals.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 wherein said first winding has first and second ends and a center tap connection therebetween, and

said variable capacitance means includes first and second variable capacitance diodes each having respective anode and cathode electrodes, said first variable capacitance diode being coupled between said first input signal terminal and the first end of said first winding, said second variable capacitance diode being coupled between said second input signal terminal and the second end of said first winding;

each of said first and second variable capacitance diodes being poled so that like ones of their respective anode and cathode electrodes are proximate the respective ends of said first winding; and

said first control potential is applied between the center tap connection of said first winding and other like ones of the respective anode and cathode electrodes of said first and second variable capacitance diodes remote from the respective ends of said first winding.

15. The arrangement of claim 12 further including

further switch means for coupling said second winding to the output connection of said amplifying means at further selected times responsive to a third control signal.

16. In the arrangement of claim 15 wherein said loop antenna receives television signals over a range of frequencies, which range has lower and upper portions, each of said lower and upper portions including a plurality of channels,

means for generating said first control potential of said first polarity when signals in the lower portion of said range are selected to be received, and for generating said first control potential of said second polarity when signals in the upper portion thereof are selected to be received;

means for determining the selected times at which said first diode means is conductive to render said first diode means conductive when signals associated with predetermined channels in said lower portion are selected to be received;

means for determining the selected times at which said second diode means is conductive to render said second diode means conductive when signals associated with channels other than said predetermined channels are selected to be received; and

means for determining the further selected times at which said further switch means is conductive to render said further switch means conductive when signals associated with channels in the upper portion of said range are selected to be received.

17. A tuning circuit arrangement for a VHF frequency-band loop antenna of a television receiver having a tuning system comprising:

a loop antenna having first and second signal terminals;

amplifying means having an input connection, and having an output connection for coupling to said tuning system;

variable capacitance means for developing a variable capacitance responsive to a first control potential when said first control potential is of first polarity, and for developing a low impedance compared to that of its variable capacitance when said first control potential is of second polarity opposite to the first, said variable capacitance means being coupled between said first signal terminal and the input connection of said amplifying means;

an inductance;

first switch means for selectively coupling said inductance between said first and second signal terminals responsive to said tuning system;

a capacitance; and

second switch means for selectively coupling said capacitance between the input connection of said amplifying means and said second signal terminal responsive to said tuning system.

18. The arrangement of claim 17 wherein each of said switch means includes respective diode means having one of its respective anode and cathode electrodes connected to receive a respective substantially constant potential, and having the other of its respective anode and cathode electrodes connected to receive a respective potential responsive to said first control potential.

19. In the arrangement of claim 17 or 18 wherein the VHF frequency band has a plurality of channels in a lower frequency band thereof, and a plurality of channels in an upper frequency band thereof,

means for rendering said first switch means conductive when signals in a first predetermined group of channels in said lower frequency band are selected to be received, and

means for rendering said second switch means conductive when signals in a second predetermined group of channels different from the first group and in said lower frequency band are selected to be received.

20. The arrangement of claim 18 including means for developing said first control potential of said first polarity when signals in said lower frequency band are selected to be received, and for developing said first control potential of said second polarity when signals in said upper frequency band are selected to be received.

21. A tuning circuit arrangement for a VHF frequency band loop antenna of a television receiver having a tuning system comprising:

a loop antenna having first and second signal terminals;

amplifying means having an input connection, and having an output connection for coupling to said tuning system;

a transformer having first, second and third windings;

variable capacitance means for developing a variable capacitance responsive to a first control potential when said first control potential is of first polarity, and for developing a low impedance compared to that of its variable capacitance when said first control potential is of second polarity opposite to the first, said variable capacitance means being coupled serially with said first winding between said first and second signal terminals;

first diode means for coupling said second winding to the input connection of said amplifying means, which first diode means is poled for conduction in a first direction sense with respect to said input connection;

second diode means for coupling said third winding to the input connection of said amplifying means, which second diode means is poled in a second direction sense opposite to the first; and

means for applying a second control potential to said input connection, which second control potential is of first and second respective values at selected times for rendering a respective one of said first and second diode means conductive, and the other one thereof nonconductive, respectively.

22. In the arrangement of claim 21 wherein the VHF frequency band has a plurality of channels in a lower frequency band thereof, and a plurality of channels in an upper frequency band thereof,

means for rendering said first diode means conductive when signals in a first predetermined group of channels in said lower frequency band are selected to be received, and

means for rendering said second diode means conductive when signals in a second predetermined group of channels different from the first group and in said lower frequency band are selected to be received.

23. The arrangement of claim 21 further including means for developing said first control potential of said first polarity when signals in said lower frequency band are selected to be received, and for developing said first control potential of said second polarity when signals in said upper frequency band are selected to be received.

24. The arrangement of claim 21 further including

further switch means for coupling said second winding to the output connection of said amplifying means at further selected times responsive to a third control signal.

25. In the arrangement of claim 24 wherein said loop antenna receives television signals over a range of frequencies, which range has lower and upper portions, each of said lower and upper portions including a plurality of channels,

means for developing said first control potential of said first polarity when signals in the lower portion of said range are selected to be received, and for developing said first control potential of said second polarity when signals in the upper portion thereof are selected to be received;

means for determining the selected times at which said first diode means is conductive to render said first diode means conductive when signals associated with predetermined channels in said lower portion are selected to be received;

means for determining the selected times at which said second diode means is conductive to render said second diode means conductive when signals associated with channels other than said predetermined channels are selected to be received; and

means for determining the further selected times at which said further switch means is conductive to render said further switch means conductive when signals associated with channels in the upper portion of said range are selected to be received.