Abstract: In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which has a respective scan list, a controller links the lists to form a single scan list with a single wrap-around point, and separates the linked list into separately accessible scan lists in response to a user-entered command. As the user scans through the channels and changes from one linked scan list to another, the appropriate RF input connector is automatically selected.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, a separate mixer-oscillator converts the FM radio sound IF to 4.5 MHz for processing in the television receiver's sound channel. A single discriminator circuit is employed for tuning FM radio signals having a first deviation, such as broadcast FM radio signals, and FM signals having a second deviation (i.e., the television sound signals), and FM radio signals having a third deviation, such as signals of the National Weather Service.

Abstract: In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, and each scan list having an associated Last Tuned Channel register, and having a common Current Channel register, there is provided a Previous Channel and RF Input register. The Previous Channel and RF Input register and the Current Channel register both hold tuning information and RF input terminal information which allow retuning of a formerly tuned channel regardless of which RF input provides the signal for that channel. In one embodiment of the invention, the scan lists are linked providing an easy way to scan through the channels of all scan lists, and an easy return to a previously tuned channel from any RF input via operation of a Previous Channel (PC) key.

Abstract: A "channel guide" system, including a picture-in-picture processing unit for displaying an array of images corresponding to respective channels or auxiliary televisions signals on a display screen is automatically activated when the video signal currently being processed by the receiver no longer contains program information (e.g., either does not contain valid video information, or represents a uniform screen). In a VCR, the "channel guide" system is automatically initiated in response to the detection of the end of tape.

Abstract: A sleep timer function for consumer electronics equipment automatically turns off the equipment after a predetermined time interval. During the final two minutes of the sleep time interval, the sleep timer circuitry gradually decreases the volume or provides a visual indication that automatic turn off is imminent. The reception of any modulated infrared (IR) signal, transmitted from any source, during the timer period is interpreted by the sleep timer function controller as an indication that the use is still awake. In response, the controller resets the count of the sleep timer to the maximum period, thus deferring the automatic turn off of the equipment.

Abstract: A television receiver having a video memory receives a small number of lines of a second low motion content video program transmitted during the vertical blanking interval of a first normal video program, stores and accumulates the lines of the second video program in video memory, and displays the image of the second video program when it is fully assembled. Audio for the second video program is conveyed via a second audio program (SAP) channel. In this manner two video programs, each of which is encoded in a standard television format (i.e., NTSC, PAL, or SECAM) can be received by a single tuner tuned to a single channel. In an embodiment utilizing picture-in-picture processing circuitry, the second video program can be displayed in an inset area of the screen.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner is operated at a fixed gain setting in FM reception mode. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The arrangement operates at a specific and non-arbitrary first IF frequency. The FM receiver is also capable of automatically receiving National Weather Service broadcasts on that one of NWS's seven allocated frequencies which is operating in a listener's area. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. The receiver provides an on-screen display of the currently tuned FM channel number. Circuitry is provided for interrupting the path of signals from the tuner to the IF amplifier stage of the television receiver when the receiver is in FM radio signal reception mode, to prevent the FM radio signals from adversely affecting the television synchronizing signals during the display of the FM channel number.

Abstract: The digitized video image data stored in a video RAM in a pix-in-pix television receiver is modified by the addition of digital data from an external computer via a computer interface circuit under control of the pix-in-pix controller. The computer interface circuit is coupled to the internal controller of the television receiver via an external input terminal. The additional digital data received from the external computer may be representative of either text or graphics to be merged into the stored video image.

Abstract: The stored digitized video image data stored in a video RAM is transferred from the video RAM in a pix-in-pix television receiver to an external computer via a computer interface circuit under control of the pix-in-pix controller. The computer interface circuit is coupled to the internal controller of the television receiver via an external terminal. The external terminal receives digital control data from the external computer and conveys the stored digitized video image data signals from the video RAM to the external computer.

Abstract: A tuning system for a television receiver produces a tuning bar for display on a display screen. The horizontal position of the tuning bar is controlled in response to the tuning voltage. The tuning bar is segmented into a large portion and one or more smaller portions. The number of smaller portions of the tuning bar is representative of the band being tuned.

Abstract: In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, the channel numbers of respective scan lists are displayed in respective colors to indicate to the viewer which RF input terminal and associated scan list is selected. In one embodiment of the invention, the RF input terminals and the antenna selection keys of a user-operable keyboard are color-coded to correspond to the color-coded channel numbers.

Abstract: A controller copies a single subroutine from a ROM memory into a RAM memory and modifies the subroutine to enable it to access all locations of a number of irregularly sized matrices by changing the addresses contained in the subroutine in accordance with a list of addresses stored in ROM.

Abstract: A picture-in-picture system including panning and scrolling capability moves an inset image about a display in synchronism with the vertical field rate in order to provide smooth movement from one display position to another.

Abstract: A decoding arrangement for decoding audio signals previously encoded in accordance with the dbx format, includes a wideband expander instead of a full dbx expander. The wideband expander employs a relatively simple, and therefore inexpensive, peak detector in place of the true RMS detector of a full dbx expander, and does not include apparatus for spectral expansion of the audio signal. Although the decoding is noncomplementary with respect to the encoding, the stereo audio reproduction as perceived by a listener, is surprisingly good.