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US 4,200,850 AGranted
Combination VHF and UHF tuner arrangement
AssigneeSarkes Tarzian, Inc.
InventorAlarico A. Valdettaro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeSarkes Tarzian, Inc.
InventorAlarico A. Valdettaro
Estimating the term…
A combination VHF and UHF tuner is provided in which a common station selector shaft may be rotated a number of revolutions to cover the seventy stations in the UHF band. The common selector shaft is provided with twenty-four detent positions per revolution and in alternate positions of the shaft the twelve VHF stations in the VHF band are received. As the common selector shaft is rotated through several revolutions the VHF stations are repeatedly received but are interspersed with different individual stations in the UHF band. Accordingly, no matter what UHF station is being received, all of the VHF stations are always within one turn of the common selector shaft. In many mixed UHF-VHF reception areas a single turn of the common selector shaft is sufficient to select all of the UHF stations as well as all of the VHF stations which are broadcasting in that area. Also, any UHF station anywhere in the UHF band is selected with the same ease of selection as the interspersed VHF stations so that true comparability between VHF and UHF reception is achieved. A single readout window is provided which displays alternately and sequentially each individual channel number, whether UHF or VHF, in numerals of identical size and legibility. A common fine tuning shaft for both UHF and VHF is provided concentric with the common station selector shaft. VHF fine tuning may be either of the memory or nonmemory type.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a combined VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing twenty-four equally spaced positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means operative in alternate ones of said positions to receive signals from different VHF television stations, UHF tuner means having a main tuning shaft rotation of which is effective in less than one revolution to receive signals from all of the television stations within the UHF band, means operative in the positions between said alternate positions for enabling said UHF tuner means, and means interconnecting said station selector shaft and said main tuning shaft so that rotation of said station selector shaft a plurality of revolutions causes said UHF tuner means to receive signals from all of the television stations within the UHF band, said VHF tuner means being operative repeatedly to receive the same VHF stations in said alternate positions during successive rotations of said station selector shaft.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft,
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft,
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft,
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft,
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft,
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in both the VHF and UHF television bands, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said common selector shaft, VHF tuner means for receiving television stations in the VHF band, UHF tuner means for receiving television stations in the UHF band, and control means responsive to rotation of said common selector shaft for selectively controlling said VHF tuner means and said UHF tuner means to receive signals in a predetermined sequence in which the same VHF stations are received during different rotational increments of movement of said common selector shaft but are interspersed with different groups of UHF stations during said different rotational increments of said common selector shaft.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals comprising, a common input shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said input shaft, UHF tuner means having a continuously variable main tuning shaft rotation of which is effective selectively to receive signals from all television stations in the UHF television band, gear means interconnecting said input shaft and said main tuning shaft so that said main tuning shaft is moved less than the width of one UHF channel when said input shaft is moved from one detent position to the next, VHF tuner means controlled by said common input shaft and operative to select different VHF stations in predetermined positions of said input shaft at which said UHF main tuning shaft is positioned between two adjacent UHF stations, and means for enabling said VHF tuner means to receive VHF stations and said UHF tuner means to receive UHF stations in a predetermined sequence in which said UHF tuner means is enabled when said main tuning shaft is positioned to receive each UHF station and said VHF tuner means is enabled when said main tuning shaft is positioned between two adjacent UHF stations, whereby all of the UHF stations in the UHF band may be received by rotating said input shaft a plurality of revolutions and the twelve VHF stations are repeatedly received during said plurality of revolutions of said input shaft.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals comprising, a VHF tuner having a main tuning shaft, detent means for establishing an even number of equally spaced detent positions for said main tuning shaft, said VHF tuner having tuning means effective in alternate detent positions of said main tuning shaft selectively to receive different VHF stations, a UHF tuner having a continuously variable rotor shaft rotation of which is effective selectively to receive all of the seventy UHF stations, means interconnecting said main tuning shaft and said rotor shaft and having a step-down ratio such that said rotor shaft is moved a distance equal to the width of one UHF channel when said main tuning shaft is moved a predetermined number of detent positions, and means for enabling said UHF tuner to receive UHF television signals in the detent positions of said main tuning shaft, other than said alternate positions, whereby all of the seventy UHF stations may be selectively received by rotating said main tuning shaft a plurality of revolutions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, a common VHF and UHF fine tuning shaft concentric with said selector shaft and movable from a forward UHF fine tuning position to a rear VHF fine tuning position, VHF fine tuning means responsive to rotation of said common fine tuning shaft when in said rear position for fine tuning the VHF station to which said VHF tuner is tuned in said alternate detent positions, and UHF fine tuning means responsive to rotation of said common fine tuning shaft when in said forward position for fine tuning the UHF station to which said UHF tuner is tuned in said detent positions between said alternate detent positions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, first automatic frequency control means for said VHF tuner means, second automatic frequency control means for said UHF tuner means, means for supplying an AFC control voltage to said first and second automatic frequency control means, a common AFC defeat switch for said first and second automatic frequency control means, and means for actuating said common switch to a disabling position when said selector shaft is moved from one of said detent positions to the next.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, first automatic frequency control means for said VHF tuner means, second automatic frequency control means for said UHF tuner means for said UHF tuner means, means for supplying an AFC control voltage to said first and second automatic frequency control means, a disc member carried by said selector shaft and having a series of notches in the periphery thereof corresponding to said equally spaced detent positions, a switch actuating member biased into engagement with the notched periphery of said disc, and a common AFC defeat switch controlled by said actuating member for alternately disabling said first and second automatic frequency control means as said selector shaft is rotated.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, first automatic frequency control means for said VHF tuner means, second automatic frequency control means for said UHF tuner means, means for supplying an AFC control voltage to said first and second automatic frequency control means, a common AFC defeat switch for said first and second automatic frequency control means, fine tuning means for said VHF tuner means and including a knob which is movable from a forward to a rear position for fine tuning said VHF tuner, and means for actuating said common switch to a disabling position in response to movement of said knob to said rear position.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals comprising, a UHF tuner having a housing within which is positioned a continuously variable main tuning shaft, tuning elements carried by said main tuning shaft so that rotation of said main tuning shaft is effective selectively to receive all of the seventy UHF stations, said UHF tuner having mixer means for developing an IF signal and connected to UHF IF terminal on one wall of said UHF tuner housing, VHF tuner means for selectively receiving any one of the twelve VHF stations and including a VHF antenna input circuit normally connected to an input stage of said VHF tuner means, VHF housing means including at least a portion of said one wall of said UHF tuner housing for electrically shielding said VHF tuner means, and means positioned entirely within said VHF housing means for selectively connecting said IF terminal to said input stage of said VHF tuner means in place of said VHF antenna input circuit.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals comprising, a UHF tuner having a housing within which is positioned a continuously variable main tuning shaft, tuning elements carried by said main tuning shaft so that rotation of said main tuning shaft is effective selectively to receive all of the seventy UHF stations, said UHF tuner having mixer means for developing an IF signal and connected to a UHF IF terminal on one wall of said UHF tuner housing, VHF tuner means for selectively receiving any one of the twelve VHF stations and including a VHF antenna circuit normally connected to an input stage of said VHF tuner means, VHF housing means including at least a portion of said one wall of said UHF tuner housing for electrically shielding said VHF tuner means, said VHF tuner means having a main tuning shaft, detent means for establishing an even number of equally spaced detent positions for said VHF main tuning shaft, means for enabling said VHF tuner means selectively to receive VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said VHF main tuning shaft, and switching means for selectively connecting said IF terminal to said input stage of said VHF tuner means in place of said VHF antenna input circuit when said VHF main tuning shaft is in detent positions other than said alternate positions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, a common VHF and UHF fine tuning shaft concentric with said selector shaft, and means responsive solely to rotation of said common fine tuning shaft for performing a VHF fine tuning operation on said VHF tuner means when said common selector shaft is in one of said alternate detent positions and a UHF fine tuning operation on said UHF tuner means when said common selector shaft is in a detent position between said alternate detent positions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, said UHF tuner means including a transistor oscillator having a base and a collector, means for continuously supplying a unidirectional supply voltage to said collector, and means for connecting said base to ground when said common selector shaft is in said alternate detent positions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, said UHF tuner means including a transistor oscillator having a base and a collector, means for continuously supplying a unidirectional supply voltage to said collector, said VHF tuner means including a fixed stator member carrying a plurality of stator contacts, means carried by said main tuning shaft for supporting a plurality of VHF tuning panels each of which includes a plurality of tuning coils which are connected to said stator contacts in said alternate detent positions of said common selector shaft, means permanently connecting the base of said transistor oscillator to a first one of said stator contacts, means connecting a second one of said stator contacts to ground, and means carried by each of said tuning panels for electrically connecting said first stator contact to said second stator contact in said alternate detent positions of said common selector shaft, thereby to disable said oscillator in said alternate detent positions of said common selector shaft.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means connected to said selector shaft and effective to receive any one of the seventy UHF stations in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions upon rotation of said selector shaft through a plurality of revolutions, said UHF tuner means including a transistor oscillator having a base and a collector, means for continuously supplying a unidirectional supply voltage to said collector, means for supplying an enabling bias potential to said base in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions, and means for reducing said bias potential so that said oscillator is disabled in said alternate detent positions.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving signals in the VHF television band, comprising means defining a tuner housing having a front wall, a VHF channel selector shaft rotatably mounted in said front wall, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, a fixed stator member mounted in said housing and carrying a plurality of stator contacts, means positioned on said selector shaft for supporting a plurality of tuning panels individually arranged to be connected to said stator contacts in said detent positions of said selector shaft, said tuning panels each having a rotatable fine tuning adjustment member carried thereby, a VHF fine tuning shaft concentric with said selector shaft and positioned outside said front wall, VHF fine tuning means responsive to movement of said fine tuning shaft and operative through said front wall to rotate the fine tuning adjustment member on each one of said panels when said one panel is connected to said stator contacts, a first gear mounted on said selector shaft behind said front wall and positioned outside the path of movement of said fine tuning adjustment members on said panels as said selector shaft is rotated, and chhanel indicator means including a second gear in engagement with said first gear for indicating the channel numbers of VHF stations received by said VHF tuner means as said selector shaft is rotated.
A UHF tuner arrangement comprising, a continuously variable main tuning shaft rotation of which is effective selectively to receive signals from all stations in the UHF band, a station selector shaft positioned perpendicular to said main tuning shaft and offset from the axis thereof, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, a worm gear connected to said main tuning shaft and rotatable therewith, a worm connected to said selector shaft and in engagement with said worm gear, whereby rotation of said selector shaft through a number of revolutions is effective selectively to position said main tuning shaft to receive signals from any UHF station in the UHF band, a fine tuning shaft concentric with said selector shaft, and means responsive to rotation of said fine tuning shaft for producing relative movement between said worm and said main tuning shaft, thereby to provide a fine tuning adjustment of said main tuning shaft when said station selector shaft is restrained by said detent means.
A television tuner arrangement for receiving both VHF and UHF television signals, comprising a common VHF and UHF station selector shaft, detent means for establishing a plurality of equally spaced detent positions for said selector shaft, VHF tuner means for selecting different VHF stations in alternate detent positions of said selector shaft, UHF tuner means including a continuously variable main tuning shaft rotation of which is effective selectively to receive signals from all stations in the UHF band, a worm gear connected to said main tuning shaft and rotatable therewith, a worm connected to said selector shaft and in engagement with said worm gear, said worm and worm gear providing a sufficiently large step-down ratio between said common selector shaft and said main tuning shaft that all of the stations in the UHF band are covered by rotating said selector shaft a plurality of revolutions, and means for enabling said UHF tuner means in the detent positions between said alternate detent positions.
A UHF tuning system, comprising a UHF tuner having a main tuning shaft and including an oscillator tunable in response to rotation of said main tuning shaft, said oscillator also including a fine tuning oscillator coil for varying the frequency of said oscillator independently of said main tuning shaft, a selector shaft, gear means interconnecting said selector shaft and said main tuning shaft, detent means for said selector shaft, a fine tuning shaft positioned outside said selector shaft and concentric therewith, a fine tuning element mounted for movement about an axis parallel to but offset from said selector shaft and having an end portion which affects the tuning of said oscillator coil when said element is rotated about said axis, and means responsive solely to rotation of said fine tuning shaft for rotating said element about said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.