US 3,943,451 AGranted

TV channel selector assembly

AssigneeGTE Laboratories Incorporated

InventorJames C. Stoddard

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A TV channel selector assembly includes a keyboard having ten keys corresponding to the decimal numbers zero through nine, inclusive. The desired channel may be selected merely by activating the appropriately numbered keys, there being no other keys required to be activated to effect a channel change. After activation of the first key, which may be either a units digit channel or the tens digit of a two digit channel, a delay circuit defines a timed interval of about two seconds. Each keyboard output is encoded into a four digital word. A control device transfers the first digital word to a units channel input if a second key is not activated during the timed interval. If a second key is activated during the timed interval, the first digital word is transferred to a tens channel output, and the second digital word is transferred to the units channel output.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A TV channel selector assembly of the type providing an output to a TV receiver, the output effective to select any VHF or UHF channel, including:

a. a keyboard having ten keys each of which corresponds to one of the decimal numbers zero through nine inclusive, the keyboard providing a defined output corresponding to the particular one of the keys which is activated,
b. delay means responsive to the activation of any key for defining a first timed interval commencing after the activation of any key, and
c. control means responsive to the keyboard output and the delay means for allocating the keyboard output as a units channel if a second key activation does not occur during the timed interval and for allocating the keyboard output as a tens channel if a second key activation occurs during the timed interval, the second key activation forming a second keyboard output which is allocated as a units channel, the assembly selecting and changing channels by activating the numbered keys corresponding to the desired channel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/590,752Filed 26 Jun 1975
Granted: 9 Mar 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04N 21/47
Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof: end-user…
H03J 5/0245
With variable tuning element having a number of predetermined settings and adjustable to a desired one of these settings: discontinuous tuning…
H04N 21/42204
Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]: user interfaces…
H04N 5/50
Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards: tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control