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User channel selection control for a video reciever RF modulator

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1. uosa2oud LNdNI FUNDA 5 541 671 Sheet 2 of 2 Jul 30 1996 U S Patent 04 09 T3NVd AVI1dSIO LINN T1OH LNOO H3JAI3O3H O3GIA dus JLOWJY 99 HOVJHZLNI WALSAS uOSS3D2O0HdOH2IN Oc H3QIAIG dOO1 eee ASVHd HOLVTII2SO NOILVOIAl Tdi V 103130 GATIOHLNOO ADVLIOA NOILVSN3dWO2 Pica ae pee aes Fee RM ED J Sv 3ounos 3 0c HOLVINGOW indino du 5 941 671 1 USER CHANNEL SELECTION CONTROL FOR A VIDEO RECIEVER RF MODULATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is related to the field of video signal receiving apparatus In particular the invention concerns a system for selecting an RF modulator output channel in a direct broadcast satellite receiver for example BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Video signal receivers such as direct broadcast satellite receivers and video cassette recorders VCRs provide video output signals as Radio Frequency RF modulated signals to a television receiver for example The carrier frequency selected for this RF modulation in the United States for example is usually the broadcast channel 3 or channel 4 cable television CATV carrier frequency Selection of one of these channels is typically accomplished by means of a user operated manual switch This switch is usually located on the VCR or satellite rec
2. e g if a chosen main channel is forgotten In another recovery mode the operator may automatically recall from memory previously set modulator main channel In accordance with a feature of the invention the operator may select the default channel from a range of discretely selectable channels In accordance with another feature of the invention a visual display indication of the selected modulator channel is provided BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawing FIG 1 shows an adjustable RF modulator for a video receiver according to the invention FIG 2 shows an adjustable RF modulator for a video receiver according to the invention involving a remote control unit and a modulator channel display DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A satellite video signal receiver modulator stage 12 incor porating the principles of the invention is shown in the block diagram of FIG 1 A received video signal after processing by an input processor 14 is modulated onto a carrier frequency Fc by modulator 50 Modulator 50 receives the carrier frequency from a Phase locked Loop PLL network 20 and provides an RF modulated output signal to a televi sion receiver 52 The PLL output carrier frequency Fc is determined by a microprocessor 15 and by a reference frequency provided by a source 45 Microprocessor 15 selects the channel that is used as the modulator channel by controlling the carrier frequency Fc that is output by PLL 20
3. mode may cause the satellite receiver to revert to a main channel previously selected by the operator using the selection menus In another recovery mode a third position may cause the satellite receiver to automatically select a manufacturer pre set default channel Other switch positions may provide additional manufacture set default channels 5 541 671 5 This result would also be useful when the operator has forgotten the previously set modulator main channel In this case the default channel provided would be known to the operator from the instruction manual or it may be displayed for example by means of a display panel 70 shown in FIG 2 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG 2 In FIG 2 the default channel selection and the main channel selection are both accomplished using a remote control unit 60 In FIG 1 in contrast a manufacturer pre set default channel is selected using switch network 10 and modulator main channels are selected by the operator using menu display control 16 The system of FIG 2 includes viewer operated infra red remote contro unit 60 a receiver infra red remote control interface network 65 and a representation of a satellite receiver display panel 70 which are not present in the system of FIG 1 Other elements in FIG 2 correspond to similarly labeled elements in FIG 1 Units 60 and 65 are of conventional infra red type design but could also be a different design type such as units t
4. the satellite receiver unit and are accessible to the operator In order to restore the satellite receiver to a predetermined modulator default channel set by the manufacturer the operator presses the three pushbuttons of network 10 in a prescribed sequence Both this prescribed sequence and the actual channel used as the default channel may be disclosed to the operator in the owner s instruction manual or by printed instruction on the satellite receiver unit itself More than one default channel may be available for selection using differ ent pushbutton sequences This improves the likelihood that the operator can select a default channel that is unused in his local broadcast area The operator may prefer to manually select the modulator default channel using switch network 10 if selecting the modulator channel from a displayed menu obtained by using control 16 is more complicated Pushbutton activation of the switches in network 10 is detected by microprocessor 15 which periodically monitors 10 15 20 25 35 45 50 55 65 4 the status of switch network 10 The pushbuttons are arranged so that they provide on activation a change in the logic state of digital signals which are periodically read by microprocessor 15 Alternatively for example these signals may be coupled to the microprocessor interrupt inputs In this case pushbutton activation interrupts the operation of microprocessor 15 so that microprocessor
5. 15 does not need to periodically read switch network 10 Microprocessor 15 both detects and decodes the sequence of pushbutton activation Upon recognizing a prescribed sequence microprocessor 15 instructs PLL 20 to output the default channel carrier frequency to the carrier frequency input of modulator 50 The default channel setting is stored in non volatile memory of microprocessor 15 Preferably the default channel is hard coded in microprocessor 15 by the manufacturer PLL 20 is a conventional programmable phase locked loop composed of a phase frequency detector 30 a compensation and amplification network 35 a voltage controlled oscillator VCO 40 and a programmable fre quency divider 25 A logic control value is written by microprocessor 15 into a register in programmable divider 25 to determine the PLL output carrier frequency Fc pro vided by VCO 40 to modulator 50 The PLL output frequency is divided by programmable divider 25 and compared by detector 30 to a frequency reference from source 45 The division performed by divider 25 is determined by the logic control value written to a register within divider 25 by microprocessor 15 An output voltage of detector 30 representing the phase frequency error is amplified and compensated by unit 35 to provide an oscillation frequency control signal to VCO 40 The ampli fication and compensation provided by unit 35 ensures the stability of the PLL The compensation may be in the form of
6. 65 70 for operator selection of the modulator output channel frequency of the satellite receiver The opera tor may select a modulator main channel or an alternative manufacturer pre set modulator default channel In a first recovery mode the operator may automatically replace an existing modulator channel with a manufacturer pre set default channel e g if a chosen main channel is forgotten In another recovery mode the operator may automatically re establish a previously selected modulator main channel recalled from memory 5 Claims 2 Drawing Sheets MODULATOR RF INPUT INPUT OUTPUT TELEVISION SIGNAL MODULATOR SIGNAL PROCESOR RECEIVER 50 52 REFERENCE 12 FREQUENCY SOURCE Fc RR p nes MESS 5 PHASE COMPENSATION VOLTAGE DETECTOR AND CONTROLLED AMPLIFICATION OSCILLATOR PHASE LOCKE LOOP 20 SWITCH NETWORK 10 e 1 N DIVIDER MICROPROCESSOR SYSTEM 15 5 541 671 Sheet 1 of 2 Jul 30 1996 U S Patent 91 Sl V Id SIC dJOHANOO NNAW H3Sfl WALSAS HOSS3OOHdOH IN N L HOJVTIIOSO NOILVOIJlTdWV 10413 JOVLIOA NOLLVSN3dWOO ASVHd Pelee ee ee ge EE MR i 94 8 7 09 HOLVINGOW METEREN r 8 HOLWINGOW NoiSIA3131 1nd1no 1 0l HOLIMS 0c 4001 33901 ASVHd
7. Microprocessor 15 selects the modulator channel in response to inputs received from an operator usable switch network 10 and an operator menu control and display 5 541 671 3 network 16 The operator may use menu control 16 to select a main non default channel as the modulator channel only when the satellite receiver and the television receiver are compat ibly tuned to the same modulator channel frequency so that a valid image is displayed by the television receiver which displays the menu As an alternative to selecting the main channel as the modulator channel using control 16 the operator may select a predetermined manufacturer set default channel as the modulator channel using switch network 10 The operator in using menu control 16 of the satellite receiver to select the modulator channel sets the modulator output channel frequency Fc for the satellite receiver This new frequency may be a manufacturer pre set default channel frequency or a main non default channel frequency If a main channel is chosen a problem may arise if the operator forgets the channel if another operator changes the main channel or if the main channel is forgotten by the system e g in the case of an electrical fault In order to recover from these situations it is desirable to return the system to a known modulator channel configuration In a first recovery mode this may be done by selecting a manu facturer pre set default channel to override th
8. United States Patent Pugel TT A 05005 NN 54167 Patent Number Date of Patent 11 45 5 541 671 Jul 30 1996 154 USER CHANNEL SELECTION CONTROL FOR A VIDEO RECIEVER RF MODULATOR 75 Inventor Michael A Pugel Noblesville Ind 73 Assignee Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc Indianapolis Ind 21 Appl No 384 299 22 Filed Feb 6 1995 51 Int secet isa sente H04N 5 40 32 GS CL sse ioi 348 724 358 335 58 Field of Search 358 335 348 569 348 730 734 724 731 1561 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 336 555 6 1982 Wine 358 335 4 717 970 1 1988 Long 358 335 5 029 015 7 1991 Baxter 348 731 X 5 467 141 11 1995 Ligertwood 348 724 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS Owner s Instruction Manual for the Samsung 5 330 Video Cassette Recorder Cover and pp 7 8 and 11 12 Owner s Instruction Manual for the Samsung XD 3500 8 mm Video Cassette Recorder Cover and pp 5 6 and 17 18 Primary Examiner Victor R Kostak Assistant Examiner Nathan J Flynn Attorney Agent or Firm Joseph S Tripoli Eric P Her rmann Ronald H Kurdyla 57 ABSTRACT A satellite video receiver 12 for providing output signals to a television signal receiver 52 includes apparatus 10 15 16 20 45 60
9. e a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver said video receiver including apparatus comprising means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequen cies within a band of television channel frequencies and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manu ally selecting a generated channel carrier second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected avail able channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means wherein said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier means having an input coupled to said output of said generating means for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal means for automatically replacing a channel carrier selected by said first means with said manufacturer preselected channel carrier and means for automatically re establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said first means by
10. e current modulator channel selection by means of switch 10 for example In a second recovery mode this may be done by recalling a previous main channel selection from memory An operator may use switch network 10 to manually select a predetermined manufacturer set default modulator channel without having to scroll option menus using control 16 displayed by the television receiver An operator may also use switch network 10 without having to obtain a valid television picture display This is important because both of these actions may be impossible if there is an incompatibil ity between the satellite receiver and television receiver modulator channel settings This means that the possibility such an incompatibility caused a television receiver picture loss cannot be eliminated without operator intervention The operator intervenes under the direction of the operator s instruction manual by selecting the modulator default chan nel using switch network 10 as part of a set up or fault diagnosis procedure The procedure directs the operator to first select a satellite receiver modulator default channel and then to select the same channel on the television receiver By this procedure the operator restores the receiver equipment to a known usable state with both the satellite receiver and television receiver compatibly tuned to the same channel Switch network 10 illustratively comprises three multi function pushbuttons that are mounted on
11. eiver unit The operator using a satellite receiver for example is typically directed by an instruction manual to select the broadcast channel 3 or 4 that is not used in the operator s local broadcast area The operator then selects that same channel on the television receiver to ensure that the television receiver is tuned to the same carrier frequency as the satellite receiver RF output A problem may arise when both channel 3 and channel 4 are unavailable for use as modulator channels by the satellite receiver This may occur if one channel is in use in a particular local broadcast area and the other channel is unusable unavailable due to being corrupted by broadcast interference In another situation both channels 3 and 4 may already be in use This may occur for example if the output of the satellite receiver is being combined with a cable television signal In such case one channel may carry a television signal and the other channel may already be used as a modulator channel In these situations the operator may be forced to use a television signal broadcast channel as the satellite receiver output modulator channel As a result the operator loses a television signal broadcast channel since any television signal being transmitted on that channel prior to modulation will be lost in the modulation process To address these situations some advanced video receiv ers use continuously adjustable RF modulators instead of channel 3 4 sw
12. eselected available channel carrier and means for automatically re establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said first means by recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory 5 A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver said video receiver including apparatus comprising means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequen cies within a band of television channel frequencies and having a control input and an output for providing an output channel carrier in response to control signal applied to said control input user operated selection network providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting an output channel carrier with a frequency other than a manufacturer preselected chan nel carrier frequency user operated means for automatically re establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said user oper ated selection network by recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory and providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means to select said output channel carrier and means for modulating said output channel carrier with said received input information to provide said modu lated output signal
13. filtering as known Similarly microprocessor 15 monitors the status of output signals produced by menu control 16 in response to operator selection of a modulator main channel Microprocessor 15 responds to these signals by causing PLL 20 to generate an output carrier signal Fe at the frequency of the modulator main channel selected by the operator using menu control 16 The VCO 40 output frequency determined by micropro cessor 15 is the carrier frequency used by modulator 50 Modulator 50 frequency modulates this carrier frequency with the input signal from source 14 containing the video information to be output by the satellite receiver The output signal from modulator 50 is a frequency modulated RF signal containing the desired video information This output signal is provided to other units as required such as a television receiver The carrier frequency of the satellite receiver output signal is the default channel frequency selected by microprocessor 15 via switch network 10 or the main channel frequency selected via menu control 16 Switch network 10 of FIG 1 may exhibit a variety of configurations in addition to multi function pushbuttons as discussed For example network 10 may use a single dedicated switch with several fixed positions One of these positions may select a manufacturer set default channel as an alternative to a modulator main channel selected from a displayed menu using control 16 A second position in a recovery
14. hat operate at radio frequency for example In the embodiment of FIG 2 the operator selects a main channel or a manufacturer pre set default channel by for example pressing a designated pushbutton or a sequence of pushbuttons on remote control unit 60 A resulting infra red output signal from unit 60 is transmitted to infra red receiver interface network 65 Network 65 decodes the infra red signal and provides a resultant decoded command signal to microprocessor 15 Upon receipt of this command signal microprocessor 15 programs PLL 20 to output the selected channel carrier frequency This is performed in the manner described in connection with the embodiment of FIG 1 Finally also as described in connection with FIG 1 modu lator 50 frequency modulates the selected channel carrier frequency with the video information of the input signal Additional pushbuttons or sequences thereof may provide first and second recovery modes respectively automatically engaging a manufacturer default channel or recalling from memory a previously selected modulator main channel as discussed in connection with FIG 1 The number of the channel selected by microprocessor 15 as the satellite receiver output modulator channel is dis played by satellite receiver display panel 70 This visual indication may be a standard Light Emitting Diode LED type of display and is driven by microprocessor 15 How ever other types of display devices may also be used
15. itches The adjustable RF modulators allow an unused television channel in the channel 1 125 band for example to be used as the modulator channel Although the satellite receiver may be manufacturer pre set to a certain modulator channel for example channel 65 when delivered to the consumer operator the operator is able to select any of the available channels as the modulator channel The operator may do this by means of a particular menu selection using a remote control device Operator adjustable modulators may present problems One problem that may arise is incompatibility between a video receiver satellite receiver or VCR modulator output channel and the channel to which a television receiver receiving the modulator output is tuned Such an incom patibility may occur if the operator is unaware of the modulator channel setting of the video receiver and sets the television receiver to a different channel Then the televi sion receiver tuner will not be set to the same carrier frequency as the video receiver RF output signal This situation may occur if the operator forgets which modulator channel he has selected if he inadvertently changes the 10 25 30 45 50 55 65 2 modulator channel the modulator channel is changed without his knowledge These situations are more likely to arise with video receivers that use operator adjustable modu lators with a wide continuously adjustable frequency selec tion ra
16. nformation to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver said video receiver including apparatus comprising means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequen cies within a band of television channel frequencies and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manu ally selecting a generated channel carrier second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected avail able channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means and means having an input coupled to said output of said generating means for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal wherein said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier and said second means selects said channel carrier from a plurality of fixed manufacturer preselected channel carriers 2 A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provid
17. nge In such a case there is a greater opportunity for an operator to erroneously set a modulator channel or to forget a previously selected modulator channel The operator may then set the television receiver to an incompatible channel As a result the television tuner will not be set to the carrier frequency of the video receiver modulator and the television receiver will not display a valid picture The operator may interpret this result as an equipment failure SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventor has recognized that it is advantageous for an operator to be able to directly set the adjustable modulator of a video receiver such as a satellite receiver or VCR to a desired channel The inventor has also recognized that it is desirable for one or more manufacturer pre set modulator channels default channels to be individually directly selectable by the operator In a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention a video receiver such as a satellite video receiver provides output signals to a television receiver The video receiver also includes apparatus for operator selection of the modulator output channel frequency of the satellite receiver The apparatus permits the operator to select a modulator main channel chosen by the operator or alterna tively a manufacturer pre set default channel The apparatus also permits the operator to automatically engage a manu facturer pre set default channel in a recovery mode
18. recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory 3 A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output 5 541 671 7 signal compatible with a television signal receiver said video receiver including apparatus comprising means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequen cies within a band of television channel frequencies and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manu ally selecting a generated channel carrier second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected avail able channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means wherein said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier and means having an input coupled to said output of said generating means for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal wherein said second means further includes multi function s
19. such as Liquid Crystal Displays LCDs The operator on view ing the display can immediately determine if there is an incompatibility between the satellite receiver modulator output channel frequency and the channel to which an associated television receiver is tuned If an incompatibility exists the operator can use remote unit 60 to select a default channel or a main channel as the modulator channel If display 70 is not provided in the FIG 2 embodiment the operator cannot visually determine that there is an incompatibility between the satellite receiver and television tuner channels This means that operator intervention is required to determine whether such an incompatibility exists and is responsible for picture loss on the television receiver The operator intervenes by selecting the modulator default channel using remote control 60 under the instruction of the user s manual In the disclosed system both main channel and default channel modulator frequencies are selected from the UHF broadcast television band to facilitate channel tuning In other systems channel selections may be from different 10 20 25 40 45 50 55 65 6 bands in accordance with the requirements of a particular system Also the disclosed modulator output channel selec tion system may be used in a VCR as well as in a satellite receiver What is claimed is 1 A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input i
20. witches and said multi function switches require sequential activation for selecting said manufacturer preselected channel carrier by said second means 4 A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver said video receiver including apparatus comprising means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequen cies within a band of television channel frequencies and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manu ally selecting a generated channel carrier 20 30 35 40 8 second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected avail able channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means means having an input coupled to said output of said generating means for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal wherein said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer pr

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