Television local wireless transmission and control

• US 5,012,350 A
• Filed: 12/27/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald A. Streck, Jerry R. Iggulden
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Streck, Jerry R. Iggulden
• Inventors: Streck, Donald A., Iggulden, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/457,574
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 358/86, 358/188, 358/310, 358/335, 358/906, 455/39, 455/66, 455/617-619
• US Class Current: 386/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A wireless local television transmission system with related methods, apparatus, and components. There is a source of a video signal to be viewed at a remote location such as a TV camera, cable select box, antenna, or VCR. An up converter is connected to the source for shifting the video signal to a frequency above the normal television bands. A transmitter is connected to the up converter for transmitting the video signal at the shifted frequency. A receiver is disposed at the remote location for receiving the transmitted video signal. A down converter is connected to the receiver for shifting the video signal back down to a frequency within the normal television bands and identified with a known channel. Finally, conventional television set functions are connected to the down converter for processing and displaying the video signal on the known channel. The preferred up conversion shifts the video signal to a frequency in the band of 902-928 MHz and frequency modulates the video signal on a carrier within that band. Provision is also provided for the wireless transmission of control signals provided by a conventional infra red controller/transmitter so that the controller/transmitter can be used at the location of either the VCR or the television set. The preferred embodiment employs a single controller/transmitter for both VCR and television control. An improved cable select box is disclosed employing two tuners and wireless signal transmission. A wireless video camera/recorder system is also disclosed. The disclosure also includes a universal controller/transmitter transmitting IR and RF signals simultaneously as well as a directional antenna to be employed with receiving equipment to reduce interference.

Claims

1. A wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder comprising:

a) video cassette drive means for playing a video cassette to produce a pure audio signal and a pure video signal therefrom;

b) video amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said pure video signal to produce an amplified video signal therefrom;

c) audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said pure audio signal to produce an amplified audio signal therefrom;

d) oscillator means for producing a carrier frequency in the 902-928 MHz band;

e) modulation means connected to said video amplifier means, said audio amplifier means and said oscillator means for modulating said carrier frequency with said amplified video and audio signals to produce a broadcast signal;

f) power amplifier means connected to said modulation means for amplifying said broadcast signal to a power level sufficient for local broadcasting;

g) transmitting antenna means connected to said power amplifier means for transmitting said amplified broadcast signal; and

,

h) power supply means operably connected for supplying power to said video cassette drive means, said video amplifier means, said audio amplifier means, said oscillator means, said modulation means and said power amplifier means.

2. The wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder of claim 1 wherein:

said modulation means frequency modulates said carrier frequency with said amplified video and audio signals.

3. The wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder of claim 2 wherein:

a) said modulation means includes means for selecting between an "A" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 909 MHz and a "B" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 921 MHz; and

,

b) said frequency modulation takes place in the selected "A" or "B" band.

4. The wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

a) function control circuit means operably connected for controlling said power supply and said video cassette drive means;

b) infra red detector means for detecting binary coded infra red energy directed thereon from a transmitter/controller to produce an electrical signal output;

c) preamplifier means connected between said function control circuit means and said infra red detector means for amplifying said electrical signal output by said infra red detector means to a usable level; and

,

d) remote control receiver means connected between said transmitting antenna means and said preamplifier means for receiving and detecting control signals from said transmitting antenna means and inputting said control signals to said preamplifier means;

wherein additionally,

e) said power supply means is operably connected for supplying power to said function control circuit means, said infra red detector means, said preamplifier means and said remote control receiver means.

5. A wirelessly interconnected VCR/television system wherein the VCR and television wirelessly transmit audio, video and control signals between them comprising:

a) a wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder comprising,

a1) video cassette drive means for playing a video cassette to produce a pure audio signal and a pure video signal therefrom;

a2) video amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said pure video signal to produce an amplified video signal therefrom;

a3) audio amplifier means for receiving and amplifying said pure audio signal to produce an amplified audio signal therefrom;

a4) oscillator means for producing a carrier frequency in the 902-928 MHz band;

a5) modulation means connected to said video amplifier means, said audio amplifier means and said oscillator means for modulating said carrier frequency with said amplified video and audio signals to produce a broadcast signal;

a6) power amplifier means connected to said modulation means for amplifying said broadcast signal to a power level sufficient for local broadcasting;

a7) transmitting antenna means connected to said power amplifier means for transmitting said amplified broadcast signal;

a8) first power supply means operably connected for supplying power to said video cassette drive means, said video amplifier means, said audio amplifier means, said (oscillator means, said modulation means and said power amplifier means;

a9) first function control circuit means operably connected for controlling said first power supply means and said video cassette drive means;

a10) first infra red detector means for detecting binary coded infra red energy directed thereon from a transmitter/controller to produce a first electrical signal output;

a11) first preamplifier means connected between said first function control circuit means and said first infra red detector means for amplifying said first electrical signal output by said first infra red detector means to a usable level; and

,

a12) remote control receiver means connected between said transmitting antenna means and said first preamplifier means for receiving and detecting control signals from said transmitting antenna means and inputting said control signals to said first preamplifier means;

wherein additionally,

a13) said first power supply means is operably connected for supplying power to said first function control circuit means, said first infra red detector means, said first preamplifier means and said remote control receiver means;

b) a television set adapted for receiving wirelessly broadcast local television signals comprising,

b1) receiving antenna means for receiving the wirelessly broadcast local signals;

b2) first tuner means connected to said receiving antenna mean for detecting the television signals;

b3) first demodulator means connected to said first tuner means for demodulating the television signals to produce video and audio signals therefrom;

b4) signal input means for inputting television signals in the television broadcast band connected thereto;

b5) second tuner means connected to said signal input means for detecting VHF television signals input at said signal input means;

b6) third tuner means connected to said signal input means for detecting UHF television signals input at said signal input means;

b7) second demodulator means connected to said second and third tuner means for demodulating said VHF and UHF television signals to produce video and audio signals therefrom;

b8) a speaker;

b9) a monitor;

b10) an audio driver connected between said first, and second demodulator means and said speaker;

b11) a video driver connected between said first, and second demodulator means and said monitor; and

,

b12) second power supply means operably connected for supplying power to said first tuner means, said first demodulator means, said second tuner means, said third tuner means, said second demodulator means, said speaker, said monitor, said audio driver, and said video driver;

b13) second function control circuit means operably connected for controlling second said power supply, said tuners, and said drivers;

b14) second infra red detector means for detecting binary coded infra red energy directed thereon from a transmitter/controller to produce a second electrical signal output;

b15) second preamplifier means connected between said second function control circuit means and said second infra red detector means for amplifying said second electrical signal output by said second infra red detector means to a usable level; and

,

b16) remote control transmitter means connected between said receiving antenna means and said second preamplifier means for transmitting control signals from said second preamplifier means as detected by said second infra red detector means;

wherein additionally,

b17) said second power supply means is operably connected for supplying power to said second function control circuit means, said second infra red detector means, said second preamplifier means and said remote control transmitter means; and

,

c) controller/transmitter means for emitting coded infra red energy as a function of selected manual inputs thereto.

6. The wirelessly interconnected VCR/television system of claim 5 wherein:

a) said controller/transmitter means comprises a single controller/transmitter having a first set of buttons for inputting video cassette recorder control functions and a second set of buttons for inputting television set control functions, said controller/transmitter transmitting unique signals associated with respective ones of said first and second sets of buttons; and

,

b) said first and second function controller means respond to separate and unique sets of signals, whereby said single controller/transmitter can be used to control both the VCR and the television set.

7. The wirelessly interconnected VCR/television system of claim 6 wherein:

a) said controller/transmitter includes logic for appending additional changeable coded information to the infra red signal it sends; and

,

b) said first and second function controller means include logic for rejecting signals without the proper appended additional changeable coded information whereby interference with and from other devices in the area transmitting and receiving binary coded signals is prevented.

8. The wirelessly interconnected VCR/television system of claim 5 wherein:

a) said modulation means frequency modulates said carrier frequency with said amplified video and audio signals; and

,

b) said first demodulation means includes means for frequency demodulating said video and audio signals from said carrier frequency.

9. The wirelessly broadcasting video cassette recorder of claim 8 wherein:

a) said modulation means includes means for selecting between an "A" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 909 MHz and a "B" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 921 MHz;

b) said frequency modulation takes place in the selected "A" or "B" band;

c) said first tuner means includes means for selecting between an "A" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 909 MHZ and a "B" channel carrier band of 12 MHz width centered about 921 MHz; and

,

d) said frequency demodulation takes place in the selected "A" or "B" band.

10. A video recorder for recording wirelessly transmitted video and audio signals comprising:

a) a receiving antenna;

b) a tuner connected to said antenna for selecting signals containing the wirelessly transmitted video and audio signals, said tuner including means for selecting between detection of a first channel comprising FM signals of 12 MHz bandwidth centered about 909 MHz and detection of a second channel comprising FM signals of 12 MHz bandwidth centered about 921 MHz;

c) a demodulator connected to said tuner for removing the video and audio signals from a carrier;

d) an audio driver connected to receive the audio signals from said demodulator;

e) a video driver connected to receive the video signals from said demodulator;

f) cassette drive means connected to said audio and video drivers for holding and driving a video cassette and for recording said video and audio signals thereon; and

,

g) a common power supply supplying power for said tuner, said demodulator, said drivers, and said cassette drive means.