Interface system for a television receiver

• US 5,621,482 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry, Gardner, Timothy J., Bournias, Spyros
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Application Number:
  US08/556,692
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/553, 348/565, 348/571, 348/718, 348/719, 348/725, 348/836, 348/843, 379/142
• US Class Current: 348/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43607 Interfacing a plurality of external cards, e.g. through a DVB Common Interface [DVB-CI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/211 Ghost signal cancellation H04N23/81 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

An interface system for a television receiver includes an interface connector having a plurality contacts connected to various component circuits in the television receiver. In order to provide various functions for the television receiver, the interface system includes various circuit boards each having a plug connectable with the interface connector. The plug includes a number of contacts equal to or less than the plurality of contacts in the interface connector. Depending on the desired function, the circuit board further includes circuits for providing the function, these circuits being interconnected and connected to the appropriate contacts in the plug for connecting with the appropriate component circuits in the television receiver. The interface system allows the television receiver functions to be modified and/or updated without the need for opening the television and modifying the circuits and/or the wiring to the circuits.

Claims

1. An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above circuits, wherein said interface system comprises:

standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;

connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; and

circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and said standard bus includes leads connected to said microcomputer, said microcomputer being connected to said circuit board by said connector means and said plug means so that said circuit means on said circuit board means are controlled by said microcomputer, wherein said interface system provides separate red, green and blue inputs for said television receiver, characterized in that the circuit means on said circuit board means includes red, green and blue signal amplifiers for amplifying red, green and blue signals applied to inputs on said circuit board means; and

a blanking circuit having inputs connected, respectively, to outputs said red, green and blue amplifiers, said blanking circuit having red, green and blue outputs coupled to three contacts of said N contacts of said plug means, for connecting to corresponding three contacts of said M contacts of said interface connector means, said corresponding three contacts of said M contacts of said interface connector means being connected to said video signal processing circuit.

2. An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above circuits, wherein said interface system comprises:

standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;

connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; and

circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and said standard bus includes leads connected to said microcomputer, said microcomputer being connected to said circuit board by said connector means and said plug means so that said circuit means on said circuit board means are controlled by said microcomputer, wherein said interface system provides a Caller-ID function for said television receiver, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means include a telephone line interface circuit for connection to a telephone line;

a Caller-ID decoder for decoding Caller-ID data included in a telephone signal on said telephone line;

a microcomputer coupled to an output of said Caller-ID decoder and to an output of said telephone line interface circuit for receiving decoded Caller-ID data from said Caller-ID decoder when said telephone line interface circuit indicates the receipt of said Caller-ID data; and

a memory coupled to said microcomputer for storing said decoded Caller-ID data, said microcomputer having outputs connected to contacts of said N contacts in said plug means which are, in turn, connected to respective contacts of said M contacts in said interface connector means, said respective contacts being connected to said microcomputer in said television receiver, whereby said microcomputer on said circuit board means applies the decoded Caller-ID data to said microcomputer in said television receiver which, in turn, selectively applies the Caller-ID data to the video signal processing circuit for application to the display.

3. An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above circuits, wherein said interface system comprises:

standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;

connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; and

circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for recieving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and said standard bus includes leads connected to said microcomputer, said microcomputer being connected to said circuit board by said connector means and said plug means so that said circuit means on said circuit board means are controlled by said microcomputer, wherein said interface system provides scan conversion for said television receiver, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means includes a scan converter having RGB inputs for receiving separate red, green and blue (RGB) signals, a synchronizing signal input for receiving a synchronizing signal associated with said RGB signals, horizontal and vertical synchronizing signal inputs for receiving horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals from said deflection circuit in said television receiver via said interface connector means and said plug means, and RGB outputs coupled to inputs of said video signal processing circuit via said interface connector means and said plug means; and

a microcomputer coupled to said scan converter for controlling operations of said scan converter, said microcomputer being coupled to the microcomputer in said television receiver via said interface connector means and said plug means, whereby said scan converter causes said television receiver to underscan the signals applied to the display.

4. An interface system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means further includes separate red, green and blue amplifiers also coupled to receive said RGB signals, said red, green and blue amplifiers having outputs connected to outputs of said circuit board means.

5. An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above circuits, wherein said interface system comprises:

standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;

connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; and

circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and said standard bus includes leads connected to said microcomputer, said microcomputer being connected to said circuit board by said connector means and said plug means so that said circuit means on said circuit board means are controlled by said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means includes a further microcomputer, and a memory having a plurality of video sequences stored therein coupled to said further microcomputer, said further microcomputer being coupled to said microcomputer in said television receiver, whereby said further microcomputer on said circuit board means selectively accesses one of said video sequences stored in said memory and applies said selected video sequence to said microcomputer in said television receiver for application to said video signal processing circuit for display on said display.