Reception system for multiple-tuner television enabling to automatically connect each tuner to at least an antenna, whatever the number of antennae it comprises

• US 7,750,980 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Crespel, Denis, Harzo, Serge, Richard, Yves, Horr, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael; Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US10/466,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,099 Days
• Field of Search: 348/731, 348/730, 348/725, 348/565, 386/83, 455/3.02, 455/3.01, 455/3.03
• US Class Current: 348/731
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A system comprising a first converter linked to a first tuner and optionally, to a second tuner via switching means, optionally a second converter linked to the second tuner means for detecting whether the second converter is in service and means suitable for actuating the switching means in such a way as to link the second tuner to the second converter when one detects that the latter is in service and, in the converse case, to link it to the first converter.

Claims

1. A reception system for television comprising:

a plurality of tuners each furnished with at least one input and one output,

a first RF low signal noise converter connected to an input of a first tuner of said plurality of tuners,

a second RF low signal noise converter,

means for switching the input of a second tuner of said plurality of tuners by choice over to the second converter or over to the first converter,

means for detecting whether the second converter is in service or is not in service, and

means suitable for actuating said switching means in such a way as to connect said input of the second tuner to the second converter when said detection means detect that the second converter is in service and to connect said input of the second tuner to the first converter when said detection means detect that the second converter is not in service.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the second converter being supplied with current when it is in service, the means for detecting whether this second converter is in service or is not in service rely on the detection of a current on the supply circuit of this second converter.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein it comprises a programmable microcontroller suitable for controlling the switching means incorporating software means adapted in such a way that the input of the second tuner is connected:

to the second converter if the value of said detected current exceeds a predetermined threshold,

to the first converter if the value of said detected current is less than or equal to said threshold.