Interface system for a television receiver
First Claim
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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 components, 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 wherein said standard bus includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises;
a telephone line interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to a telephone line;
a modem for receiving incoming signals from said telephone line and for sending outgoing signals to said telephone line;
a further microcomputer coupled to said modem for generating said outgoing signals and for processing said incoming signals, said further microcomputer having a first memory connected thereto having stored therein an operating program, and a second memory connected thereto for temporarily storing data signals; and
audio/video signal generating means coupled to said further microcomputer for generating audio and video signals at least in part from said data signals stored in said second memory and from said received incoming signals;
wherein said further microcomputer is connected to said microcomputer and to said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and said audio/video signal generating means is connected to said audio signal processing circuit and said video signal processing circuit via said plug means and said connector means, whereby said audio/video signal generating means alternatively supplies video signals for said video signal processing circuit and audio signals for said audio signal processing circuit under control of said further microcomputer which, in turn, is controlled by remote control signals received by said remote control receiver from said remote control transmitter.
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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.
44 Citations
10 Claims
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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 components, wherein said interface system comprises:
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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 wherein said standard bus includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises; a telephone line interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to a telephone line; a modem for receiving incoming signals from said telephone line and for sending outgoing signals to said telephone line; a further microcomputer coupled to said modem for generating said outgoing signals and for processing said incoming signals, said further microcomputer having a first memory connected thereto having stored therein an operating program, and a second memory connected thereto for temporarily storing data signals; and audio/video signal generating means coupled to said further microcomputer for generating audio and video signals at least in part from said data signals stored in said second memory and from said received incoming signals; wherein said further microcomputer is connected to said microcomputer and to said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and said audio/video signal generating means is connected to said audio signal processing circuit and said video signal processing circuit via said plug means and said connector means, whereby said audio/video signal generating means alternatively supplies video signals for said video signal processing circuit and audio signals for said audio signal processing circuit under control of said further microcomputer which, in turn, is controlled by remote control signals received by said remote control receiver from said remote control transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Circuit board means for use in a television interface system, said television interface system comprising a television receiver and said circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver for connection to said 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;
a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components;
a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter;
a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver;
standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit, said remote control receiver, said microcomputer and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one; and
connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means, characterized in that said circuit board means comprises;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; 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 circuit means comprises; a telephone line interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to a telephone line; a modem for receiving incoming signals from said telephone line and for sending outgoing signals to said telephone line; a further microcomputer coupled to said modem for generating said outgoing signals and for processing said incoming signals, said further microcomputer having a first memory connected thereto having stored therein an operating program, and a second memory connected thereto for temporarily storing data signals; and audio/video signal generating means coupled to said further microcomputer for generating audio and video signals at least in part from said data signals stored in said second memory and from said received incoming signals; wherein said further microcomputer is connected to said microcomputer and to said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and said audio/video signal generating means is connected to said audio signal processing circuit and said video signal processing circuit via said plug means and said connector means, whereby said audio/video signal generating means alternatively supplies video signals for said video signal processing circuit and audio signals for said audio signal processing circuit under control of said further microcomputer which, in turn, is controlled by remote control signals received by said remote control receiver from said remote control transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal;
Specification
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Current AssigneePhilips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
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Original AssigneePhilips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
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InventorsPrudic, Anthony F., Memory, Joseph W. Jr., Johnson, Larry D.
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Primary Examiner(s)Burgess, Glenton B.
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Application NumberUS08/931,061Time in Patent Office232 DaysField of Search348/552, 348/553, 348/565, 348/571, 348/718, 348/719, 348/725, 348/836, 348/843, 348/544, 379/142, 379/90.01US Class Current348/553CPC Class CodesH04N 21/426 Internal components of the ...H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue ...H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g....H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via ...H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via ...H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the ...
