Interface system for a television receiver

• US 6,151,077 A
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• 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 D., Lukkarila, Jeffrey Reed, Vogel, Jon Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/996,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 348/553, 348/554, 348/563, 348/564, 348/552, 348/468, 348/725, 348/734, 348/565, 348/13, 348/12
• US Class Current: 348/553
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An interface system for a television receiver includes an interface connector having a plurality of 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. A particular embodiment of one of the circuit boards includes circuitry for connecting the television receiver to an interconnecting network and for enabling a user to send and receive electronic mail messages using a remote control transmitter for the television receiver.

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 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 microcomputer for controlling said television receiver, and wherein said standard bus means includes leads connected to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises;

an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;

an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;

coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding the outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding incoming message signals;

a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys for generating messages;

a microprocessor coupled to said keyboard and said coding means for generating said outgoing message signals from the messages from said keyboard, and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said microcomputer via said plug means and said connector means, whereby depending on the messages from said keyboard, said microprocessor sends the message signals through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals from the interconnecting network, and said microprocessor causes the message signals to be displayed.

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 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 means includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises;

an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;

an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;

coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding the outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding incoming message signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to said coding means for supplying said outgoing message signals and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to said microcomputer and said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and wherein said remote control transmitter is arranged to transmit an ID code associated with the particular remote control transmitter, and to transmit a message coupled to an ID code of an intended recipient, whereby depending on remote control signals received by said remote control receiver, said microprocessor sends message signals with said recipient ID code through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals having recipient ID codes coupled thereto from the interconnecting network, said microprocessor storing said message signals coupled with said recipient ID codes in said second memory, and, depending on the ID code sent by said remote control transmitter, said microprocessor causes the message signal coupled to said ID code to be displayed.

3. An interface system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit board means further comprises on-screen display means coupled to said microprocessor for generating alpha-numeric characters for display in response to said message signals.

4. An interface system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote control transmitter comprises a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys, a message key and a send key;

a further microprocessor for scanning said keys and for forming signals depending on which of said keys have been depressed;

a memory coupled to said further microprocessor, said memory having stored therein said ID code;

an encoding circuit coupled to an output of said further microprocessor for encoding said signals; and

transmitting means for transmitting said encoded signals.

5. An interface system as claimed in claim 4, wherein when said message key is depressed, said further microprocessor sends a signal including said ID code.

6. Circuit board means for use in a television interface system including a 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, said interface system comprising:

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; and

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

wherein said circuit board means includes;

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 means includes leads connected to said remote control receiver and to said microcomputer,

characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means comprises;

an interface connector for connecting the circuit board means to an interconnecting network;

an interface circuit coupled to said interface connector for applying outgoing message signals to said interconnecting network, and for receiving incoming message signals from said interconnecting network;

coding means, coupled to said interface circuit, for encoding said outgoing message signals and for detecting and decoding said incoming message signals; and

a microprocessor coupled to said coding means for supplying said outgoing message signals and for processing said incoming message signals, said microprocessor having a first memory coupled thereto for storing an operating program, and a second memory coupled thereto for temporarily storing data signals, wherein said microprocessor is coupleable to said microcomputer and said remote control receiver via said plug means and said connector means, and wherein said remote control transmitter is arranged to transmit a unique ID code associated with said remote control transmitter, and to transmit a message coupled to an ID code of an intended recipient, whereby depending on remote control signals received by said remote control receiver, said microprocessor sends message signals coupled with said recipient ID code through said coding means and said interface circuit to said interconnecting network, and whereby said coding means detects and decodes message signals having recipient ID codes coupled thereto from the interconnecting network, said microprocessor storing said message signals coupled with said recipient ID codes in said second memory, and, depending on the ID code sent by said remote control transmitter, said microprocessor causes the message signal coupled to said ID code to be displayed.

7. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 6, wherein said circuit board means further comprises on-screen display means coupled to said microprocessor for generating alpha-numeric characters for display in response to said message signals.