Audio signal section apparatus

• US 4,903,129 A
• Filed: 04/06/1989
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Bell, Issac M., Sendelweck, Gene K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/334,058
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 358/181, 358/182, 358/183, 358/194.1, 358/198, 358/143, 358/86
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

A television receiver having picture-in-picture capability and having multiple electronically selectable auxiliary baseband signal inputs provides automatic selection of the proper audio signal by use of bilevel digital switching circuitry.

Claims

1. A baseband television signal switching system, comprising:

video switch means, having a plurality of video signal inputs for receiving respective baseband video signals, having first and second control inputs for receiving respective first and second switching control signals and having an output terminal for developing a video signal selected from said baseband video signals at said plurality of video inputs in response to said switching control signals;

audio switch means, having a plurality of signal inputs for receiving respective baseband audio signals, having first and second control inputs for receiving said respective first and second control switching signals and having an output terminal for developing an audio signal selected from said baseband video signals at said plurality of audio inputs in response to said switching control signals;

control means for generating said first and second switching control signals at first and second outputs respectively, and generating a third control signal at a third output in response to data signals input by a user; and

additional control means coupled to said control means for substituting an alternate control signal for said first and second control signals at said control inputs of said audio switch means in response to said third control signal.

2. The switching system of claim 1 wherein said alternate control means comprises:

first resistance means coupled in series between said first control input of said video switch means and said first control input of said audio switch means; and

second resistance means coupled in series between said second control input of said video switch means and said second control input of said audio switch means;

said first control signal being coupled to the junction of said first control input of said video switch means and said first resistance means, and said second control signal being coupled to the junction of said second control input of said video switch means and said second resistance means.

3. The switching system of claim 2 wherein said alternate control means also comprises:

first diode means having a first end coupled to the function of said first resistance means and said first control input of said audio switch means, and a second end coupled to receive said third control signal; and

second diode means having a first end coupled to the junction of said second resistance means and said second control input of said audio switch means, and a second end coupled to receive said third control signal.

4. The switching system of claim 1 wherein said alternate control means comprises an AND gate.

5. A television receiver having picture-in-picture capability, comprising:

an RF signal input for receiving a plurality of television RF signals;

television tuner means for selecting a particular RF signal from said plurality of signals in response to a tuner control signal, and producing an IF signal from said selected RF signal;

IF processing and detector means coupled to said tuner means for receiving said IF signal and producing a detected baseband video signal and a detected baseband audio signal therefrom;

control means coupled to said tuner means for generating said tuner control signal and first, second and third selection control signals in response to data signals;

data input means coupled to said control means for generating said data signals in response to activation by a user;

a first auxiliary baseband video signal input terminal for receiving a first auxiliary baseband video signal;

a second auxiliary baseband video signal input terminal for receiving a second auxiliary baseband video signal;

a first auxiliary baseband audio signal input terminal for receiving a first auxiliary baseband audio signal;

a second auxiliary baseband audio signal input terminal for receiving a second auxiliary baseband audio signal;

video signal switch means having first and second signal inputs coupled to said first and second auxiliary baseband video signal input terminals respectively, for receiving said first and second auxiliary baseband video signals, having a third input coupled to said detector means for receiving said detected baseband video signal, having first and second control inputs for receiving said first and second selection control signals, and having an output terminal for developing a video signal selected from said video signals at said inputs in response to said selection control signals;

audio switch means having first and second input terminals coupled to said first and second auxiliary baseband audio signal input terminals for receiving said first and second auxiliary baseband audio signals, having a third input coupled to said detector means for receiving said detected baseband audio signal, having first and second control inputs for receiving first and second control inputs for receiving first and second selection control signals, and having an output terminal for developing a signal selected from said audio signals at said inputs in response to said selection control signals;

picture-in-picture processing means for receiving first and second image signals and combining said signals to form a combined image signal, having a first signal input coupled to said video detector means for receiving said detected baseband video signal and a second signal input coupled to said output terminal of said video switch means for receiving said selected video signal, having a control input for receiving a control signal, and having an output terminal for developing said combined image signal in response to said control signal; and

alternate control means coupled to said control means for substituting an alternate control signal for said first and second control signals at said control inputs of said audio switch means in response to said third control signal.

6. The television receiver of claim 5 wherein when said control means causes said picture-in-picture means to interchange the displaced positions of its first and second image signals, said control means changes the logical state of said third control signal.

7. The television receiver of claim 6 wherein said alternate control means comprises:

first resistance means coupled in series between said first control input of said video switch means and said first control input of said audio switch means; and

second resistance means coupled in series between said second control input of said video switch means and said second control input of said audio switch means;

said first control signal being coupled to the junction of said first control input of said video switch means and said first resistance means, and said second control signal being coupled to the junction of said second control input of said video switch means and said second resistance means.

8. The television receiver of claim 7 wherein said alternate control means also comprises

first diode means having a first end coupled to the junction of said first resistance means and said first control input of said audio switch means, and a second end coupled to receive said third control signal;

and

second diode means having a first end coupled to the junction of said second resistance means and said second control input of said audio switch means, and a second end coupled to receive said third control signal.

9. The television receiver of claim 6 wherein said alternate control means comprises an AND gate.