Abstract: A television receiver includes a display control device for providing, in a portion of a main screen area adapted for displaying an image for input video signals, a subsidiary screen area adapted for displaying other images than the image by input video signals, and a character signal generator for generating character signals on the basis of control data. The character signals from the character signal generator are supplied to the display control device for displaying the control data on the subsidiary screen area to display a variety of the control data on the subsidiary screen area of the television receiver without obstructing its main screen area to improve operability of the television receiver.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus, such as a television receiver, having broadcasting system identifier displaying capability is capable of receiving both signals of a broadcasting system in which the transmitter scrambles original signals and transmits unintelligible scrambled signals and the receiver unscrambles the scrambled signals to reproduce the intelligible original signals, and signals of a broadcasting system in which the transmitter transmits original signals without scrambling the same and the receiver reproduces the original signal. The electronic apparatus comprises broadcasting system selecting means for selecting a desired broadcasting system, and broadcasting system identifier displaying means capable of displaying universal character representations representing broadcasting system in different colors assigned respectively to the broadcasting systems.

Abstract: A television set has a satellite broadcast receiver which includes a BS converter and a BS tuner. A power supply voltage is selectively supplied from the BS tuner to the BS converter. The BS tuner has a selector switch for selecting an "ON" mode in which the power supply voltage is to be supplied on the BS converter, or an "OFF" mode in which the power supply voltage is not to be supplied to the BS converter. A control unit in the BS tuner displays on a CRT a message indicating that the power supply voltage is not supplied to the BS converter if the selector switch is selecting the "ON" mode and no BS program is being received.

Abstract: A payment control apparatus for a pay television system includes a detector for detecting an advance fee data group transmitted from a center. An advance memory coupled to the detector stores the advanced fee data group. An error check controller coupled to the detector detects errors in the advance fee data group. A display coupled to the error check controller displays error conditions in the advance fee data group.

Abstract: A decoder for a pay television system incorporates a receiver for receiving scrambled programming and control data transmitted from a remote location, with the control data including data corresponding to the program fee and the program status, and a manual switch for selectively descrambling the program data when the program status is a pay-per-view program. The decoder has a storage unit for storing a credit value, transmitted from the remote location, and the decoder has timer apparatus for measuring the time during which a pay-per-view program is being received and for subtracting a program fee periodically from the value stored in the storage unit, during the time of reception of the selected program, provided the switch is operated to descramble the program.

Abstract: A superhigh frequency (SHF) receiver for receiving satellite broadcast signals having different planes of polarization for adjacent or odd- and even-numbered channels, respectively, is operative, upon sequential channel selection, to sequentially select alternate or every other channel, for example, the odd-numbered channels, having a first plane of polarization, and then to automatically switch the receiving plane of polarization of a polarizer and sequentially select the other alternate channels, for example, the even-numbered channels, having a second plane of polarization. Thus, the user does not have to switch the plane of polarization of the polarizer for receiving the satellite broadcast signal and the plane of polarization of the polarizer needs to be changed only once when scanning the full array of channels so that channel selection can be carried out at higher speed.

Abstract: A television signal receiving apparatus is provided having a program schedule display function. The apparatus includes a tuner, a television signal processing circuit connected to the tuner, a digital signal processing circuit connected to the tuner for generating a program schedule display signal based on program schedule data obtained through the tuner, and a switch connected to the digital signal processing circuit for selectively generating a local program schedule display signal based on the Standard Time selected by the switch.

Abstract: A direct broadcasting satellite receiver including an indoor unit for receiving a broadcasting wave transmitted from a stationary artificial satellite through an antenna installed outdoors, a signal input terminal provided at the indoor unit to which the output signal from the antenna is supplied through a signal cable, a demodulating circuit for demodulating the input signal at the input terminal into a television signal, a level detecting circuit for resultantly detecting the signal level at the input terminal and a signal superimposing circuit for superimposing the output signal from the level detecting circuit upon the output signal of the demodulating circuit, whereby the input signal level at the input terminal is displayed on the television picture screen.