US4581646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television receiver
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-15
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Granted: 1986-04-08
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Expires: 2003-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A television receiver is provided with two or more input terminals for receiving respective RF input signals from an antenna and an auxiliary device, such as a personal computer or a video game, and a terminal selector for selecting one of the input terminals. The antenna may receive a plurality of broadcast signals having different frequencies characteristic of respective channels and, for selecting either one of such broadcast signals received at a first input terminal or the auxiliary signal received at a second input terminal and which also has a characteristic frequency, the television receiver has a plurality of manually actuable channel selecting switches and a manually actuable terminal selecting switch mounted on the cabinet of the receiver, and the receiver is tuned for the signal frequency corresponding to the actuated switch. An interlock arrangement insures that only one switch at a time is actuated and enables the operator to select a channel or the auxiliary device in a single actuation. The actuation of the terminal selecting switch is readily indicated to avoid inadvertent actuation thereof. Further, the terminal selector may include a coupling member which, when the terminal selecting switch is actuated to select the second input terminal, actuates a tuning control switch for effecting tuning of the receiver to the signal applied at that selected input terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadao Kubodera
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/436; H04N21/43615; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4113; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04N5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
471 words
A television receiver comprising: at least a first input terminal for receiving a plurality of antenna input signals corresponding to a plurality of channels, and a second input terminal adapted for connection to an auxiliary input device for receiving an auxiliary input signal from the latter; tuning means for tuning said receiver to a selected one of said antenna input signals and said auxiliary input signal; channel selection means including a plurality of manually actuable channel selection switches respectively corresponding to said channels and each having operative and inoperative positions, each of said channel selection switches causing said tuning means to tune the receiver to the antenna input signal of the corresponding one of said channels when in said operative position of the respective channel selection switch; input terminal selection means including a manually actuable input selection switch also having operative and inoperative positions corresponding to said second and first input terminals, respectively, said input selection switch causing said tuning means to tune the receiver to said auxiliary input signal in said operative position of said input selection switch; and interlock means responsive to the actuation of any one of said channel and input selection switches to its operative position for returning the remainder of said channel and input selection switches to their respective inoperative positions; said channel and input selection switches having respective actuators each with first and second coupling means corresponding respectively to said operative and inoperative positions of the respective selection switch, and spring means urging each of said actuators to said inoperative position of the respective selection switch; said interlock means including a locking member having a plurality of third coupling means corresponding respectively to said actuators for the selection switches, and means mounting said locking member for movement between an engaging position in which each of said third coupling means is selectively engageable with said first and second coupling means of the corresponding one of said actuators for establishing said operative or inoperative position, respectively, of the respective selection switch and a disengaging position in which all of said third coupling means are disengaged from said coupling means of the corresponding actuators; and each of said actuators having a transition portion engageable with said locking member during displacement of the respective selection switch from its inoperative position toward its operative position for moving said locking member to said disengaging position, whereby, in the course of the displacement of any one of said selection switches to said operative position thereof, any other one of said selection switches previously held in its operative position by the engagement of the respective first coupling means by said corresponding third coupling means is released for return to said inoperative position of the respective selection switch by said spring means in response to movement of said locking member to said disengaging position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
471 words
A television receiver comprising: at least a first input terminal for receiving a plurality of antenna input signals corresponding to a plurality of channels, and a second input terminal adapted for connection to an auxiliary input device for receiving an auxiliary input signal from the latter; tuning means for tuning said receiver to a selected one of said antenna input signals and said auxiliary input signal; channel selection means including a plurality of manually actuable channel selection switches respectively corresponding to said channels and each having operative and inoperative positions, each of said channel selection switches causing said tuning means to tune the receiver to the antenna input signal of the corresponding one of said channels when in said operative position of the respective channel selection switch; input terminal selection means including a manually actuable input selection switch also having operative and inoperative positions corresponding to said second and first input terminals, respectively, said input selection switch causing said tuning means to tune the receiver to said auxiliary input signal in said operative position of said input selection switch; and interlock means responsive to the actuation of any one of said channel and input selection switches to its operative position for returning the remainder of said channel and input selection switches to their respective inoperative positions; said channel and input selection switches having respective actuators each with first and second coupling means corresponding respectively to said operative and inoperative positions of the respective selection switch, and spring means urging each of said actuators to said inoperative position of the respective selection switch; said interlock means including a locking member having a plurality of third coupling means corresponding respectively to said actuators for the selection switches, and means mounting said locking member for movement between an engaging position in which each of said third coupling means is selectively engageable with said first and second coupling means of the corresponding one of said actuators for establishing said operative or inoperative position, respectively, of the respective selection switch and a disengaging position in which all of said third coupling means are disengaged from said coupling means of the corresponding actuators; and each of said actuators having a transition portion engageable with said locking member during displacement of the respective selection switch from its inoperative position toward its operative position for moving said locking member to said disengaging position, whereby, in the course of the displacement of any one of said selection switches to said operative position thereof, any other one of said selection switches previously held in its operative position by the engagement of the respective first coupling means by said corresponding third coupling means is released for return to said inoperative position of the respective selection switch by said spring means in response to movement of said locking member to said disengaging position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A television receiver according to claim 1; wherein said terminal selection means further includes coupling means movable between a first position released from said input selection switch and a second position for urging and holding said input selection switch in said operative position independently of said interlock means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A television receiver according to claim 2; wherein said terminal selection means further includes a terminal selecting switch coupled with said coupling means to select said second input terminal when said coupling means is moved to said second position from said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A television receiver according to claim 1; wherein said manually actuable selection switches are mounted on a front wall of said television receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A television receiver according to claim 1; wherein said selection switches have respective push buttons for actuating the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A television receiver according to claim 5; wherein one of said push buttons corresponding to said input selection switch has a long operating stroke for change-over of said input selection switch from said inoperative position to said operative position thereof; and said push buttons corresponding to said channel selection switches have short operating strokes for change-over of said channel selection switches between said inoperative and operative positions of said channel selection switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A television receiver according to claim 1; wherein said auxiliary device is a computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A television receiver according to claim 1; wherein said auxiliary device is a video game.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS52678A
Cited
GB1533371A
Cited
US4139865A
Cited
US4396941A
Cited
GB2037109A
Cited
GB2105539A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |