Autoprogramming tuner apparatus

• US 4,860,380 A
• Filed: 01/19/1989
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mengel, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US07/298,856
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 455/161, 455/164, 455/165, 455/168, 455/185, 455/186, 455/197, 455/343, 455/151, 358/190, 358/193.1, 358/194.1
• US Class Current: 455/186.2
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0008 using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor digital tuning in general H03J5/0245
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/0263 the digital values being held in an auxiliary non erasable memory

Abstract

A system for automatically programming an inexpensive volatile memory in an RF tuner with data relating to receivable active channels, upon activation of the receiver by a user after a power failure. Since the system is responsive to the application of standby power after a power failure, an automatic autoprogramming sequence does not occur each time the receiver is turned on by a user.

Claims

1. In a receiver having autoprogramming means for performing an autoprogramming function of sequentially tuning a receiver through a range of channels and storing data related to achieve channels in memory means, apparatus for automatically controlling said autoprogramming means comprising:

a source of operating power energized when said receiver is turned on by a user;

a source of standby power having an energized state when said receiver is connected to a main source of AC power, and having a deenergized state when said receiver is not connected to said main source of AC power;

means coupled to said source of standby power for detecting a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state;

said data stored in said memory means being maintained when said source of operating power is deenergized;

means coupled to said source of operating power for detecting energization of said receiver by a user; and

means coupled to said standby power transition detector means and to said receiver energization detection means for automatically causing the start of said autoprogramming function in response to the sequence of said detection of said transition of standby power and said first energization of said receiver by said user after said detection of said transition of standby power, and for preventing the automatic start of said autoprogramming function until after the next occurrence of said transition of standby power.

2. A system for automatically tuning a receiver through a range of channels and storing tuning data related to active channels in memory means comprising:

user-operable switch means for selectively causing said receiver to be energized;

a source of operating power coupled to said switch means and activated when said receiver is caused to be energized in response to the operation of said switch means by a user;

a source of standby power having an energized state when said receiver is connected to a main source of power and having a deenergized state when said receiver is not connected to said main source of power;

said data stored in said memory means being maintained when said source of operating power is deenergized;

tuning means having an autoprogramming control input and being responsive to an autoprogramming control signal applied to said autoprogramming control input for automatically scanning said range of channels and programming said memory means with said active channel data; and

automatic autoprogramming control means responsive to the sequence of a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state and the first energization of said receiver in response to the operation of said switch means by said user for automatically generating said autoprogramming control signal.

3. A system for performing an autoprogramming function of autoprogramming tuning a receiver through a range of channels and storing tuning data related to active channels in memory means, comprising:

a source of operating power activated when said receiver is turned on;

a source of standby power having an energized state when said receiver is connected to a main source of power and having a deenergized state when said receiver is not connected to said main source of power;

said data stored in said memory means being maintained when said source of operating power is deenergized;

tuning means for tuning a selected channel of a plurality of channels;

said turning means having an autoprogramming control input and being responsive to an autoprogramming control signal applied to said autoprogramming control input for automatically scanning said range of channels and programming said memory means with said active channel data; and

autoprogramming control means including,

detector means coupled to said source of standby power for producing a detection signal upon detecting a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state;

storage means having a first input coupled to said detector means, a second input coupled to said source of operating power, and an output coupled to said autoprogramming control input of said tuning means;

said storage means being responsive to said detection signal for producing and storing said detection signal representing the detection of a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state, said storage means being thereafter responsive to the first application of said operating power to said second input to produce said autoprogramming control signal;

said turning means being responsive to said autoprogramming control signal to perform said autoprogramming control function.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said storage means comprises a flip flop circuit.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said detector means comprises:

a first resistor having a first end coupled to said source of standby power;

a first capacitor coupled between the second end of said first resistor and a source of reference potential; and

a first transistor having a base electrode coupled to the junction of said first resistor and said first capacitor, an emitter electrode coupled to said source of standby power and a collector electrode coupled to said first input of said storage means.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said autoprogramming control means further comprises:

delay means coupled between said source of operating power and said storage means for delaying the production of said autoprogramming control signal for a predetermined time interval.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said delay means comprises a second resistor and a second capacitor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said autoprogramming control input comprises first and second terminals and said autoprogramming control means further comprises a second transistor having a base electrode coupled to said storage means and emitter and collector electrodes coupled to said first and second terminals, respectively, for receiving said autoprogramming control signal and applying said autoprogramming control signal to said tuning means by forming a low impedance path across said first and second terminals.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said detector means and said storage means are connected together at a junction point and further comprising a diode coupled between said source of standby power and said junction point for coupling standby power to said detector means and said storage means.

10. In a receiver having an autoprogramming means for sequentially tuning a receiver through a range of channels and storing data related to active channels in memory means, apparatus for automatically controlling said autoprogramming means, comprising:

a source of operating power energized when said receiver is turned on by a user;

a source of standby power having an energized state when said receiver is plugged-in to a source of AC power and having a deenergized state when said receiver is not plugged in to said source of AC power;

said data stored in said memory means being maintained when said source of operating power is deenergized; and

control means having a first input coupled to said source of operating power, a second input coupled to said source of standby power and an output coupled to said autoprogramming means for

(a) detecting the first energization of said source of operating power following a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state;

(b) thereafter automatically controlling said autoprogramming means to being said tuning of said range of channels and said storing of said active channel data; and

(c) thereafter preventing said automatic autoprogramming of said memory means of said receiver until after another occurrence of said transition of standby power.

11. In a tuning system having an autoprogramming means for performing an autoprogramming function of sequentially tuning said system through a range of channels and storing data related to active channels in memory means, apparatus for automatically controlling said autoprogramming means comprising:

switch means switchable operable for switching said system between an on-state and off-state;

a source of operating power energized when said system is switched to said on-state by a user;

a source of standby power having an energized state when said system is connected to a main source of power and having a deenergized state when said system is not connected to said main source of power;

said data stored in said memory means being maintained when said source of operating power is deenergized;

means coupled to said source of standby power for detecting a transition of standby power from said deenergized state to said energized state;

means for detecting when said system is in said on-state; and

means coupled to said standby power transition detector means and to said on-state detection means for automatically causing the start of said autoprogramming function in response to the sequence of said detection of said transition of standby power and the first detection of said system being in said on-state after said detection of said transition of standby power, and for preventing the automatic start of said autoprogramming function until after the next occurrence of said transition of standby power.