Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a power control circuit that comprises a run mode controller configured to operate the power control circuit in a run power mode and a standby mode controller configured to operate the power control circuit in a standby power mode. The power control circuit also comprises a delay circuit adapted to control a transistor, the transistor being coupled between the run mode controller and the standby mode controller, wherein the transistor is configured to isolate the run mode controller from the standby mode controller until the run mode controller is initialized.

Abstract: A system as described herein enables a user to access auxiliary information when viewing an enhanced performance television signal or program. Particularly, a television signal system is operative, configured, and/or enabled to allow a user to access and/or utilize auxiliary information when viewing a high definition or progressive-scan television signal. Briefly, an exemplary television signal system receives the auxiliary information/data (e.g. closed caption data) on a selected interlaced standard definition input, processes the auxiliary data, and combines or overlays the auxiliary data with a television (video) signal received on a selected input that does not have its own embedded auxiliary information/data.

Abstract: A system as described herein enables a user to access auxiliary information when viewing an enhanced performance television signal or program. Particularly, a television signal system is operative, configured, and/or enabled to allow a user to access and/or utilize auxiliary information when viewing a high definition or progressive-scan television signal. Briefly, an exemplary television signal system receives the auxiliary information/data (e.g. closed caption data) on a selected interlaced standard definition input, processes the auxiliary data, and combines or overlays the auxiliary data with a television (video) signal received on a selected input that does not have its own embedded auxiliary information/data.

Abstract: A reset signal generator includes circuitry for detecting conditions indicating that a reset signal is necessary and generating a reset signal in response. Such conditions may include low power supply voltage (i.e., "brown out") or the presence of transient signal spikes. Circuitry is provided for extending the duration of the reset signal after power is initially applied, because at this time associated digital circuitry may not be fully powered-up, and may require a longer than normal reset pulse. In contrast, a reset pulse of a normal duration is generated when the digital circuitry is fully powered-up and a transient signal spike is detected. Isolating circuitry is coupled between the detecting circuit and the extending circuit to isolate the detecting circuit from the extending circuit when there is no power-on condition, (i.e. when normal operating voltage is present) in order to prevent the duration of the reset pulse from being extended.

Abstract: A bus-controlled signal processing system includes a serial data bus having first and second bus lines for coupling various slave processors to a master control processor. The slave devices require more than one data bus protocol. Each slave device has a bus clock terminal and a bus data terminal. The slave devices dedicated to one protocol have their clock terminals connected to the first bus line and their data terminals connected to the second bus line. The slave devices dedicated to the other protocol have their data terminals connected to the first bus line and their clock terminals connected to the second bus line. The control processor changes the protocol being used to generate bus transmissions as required, and changes the function of the two bus lines when switching between bus protocols to prevent certain bus conflict conditions from occurring.

Abstract: A power supply for a television apparatus, comprises a first source of unregulated DO run voltage operable only in a run mode of operation and a second source of unregulated DO voltage operable in a standby mode and in the run mode of operation. A first regulator responsive to the first source unregulated DO run voltage produces a first regulated voltage. A second regulator responsive to the second source of unregulated DO voltage produces a second regulated voltage. First and second integrated circuits are energized respectively by the first and second regulated voltages. At least one of the integrated circuits has a signal output coupled to a signal input of the other of the integrated circuits. A controller is operable in the run mode and responsive to variations of one of the regulated voltages for adjusting the other of the regulated voltages to follow the variations. Each of the regulators may comprise a series pass transistor and a control transistor coupled to a base of the series pass transistor.

Abstract: A standby/run power supply and control circuit for a television apparatus comprises first and second sources of DC voltage, one of which is unswitched and available during a standby mode of operation and the other one of which is switched and available only during a run mode operation. A voltage regulator has an input coupled to both DC sources and has an output for supplying a regulated DC voltage at a first power level during the standby mode and at a second power level during the run mode. A first control circuit, such as a CMOS integrated circuit, is coupled to the regulated voltage output and operable in both the standby and run modes. A second control circuit, such as a second CMOS integrated circuit, is interconnected with the first control circuit, for example by a common control bus. The second control circuit is also coupled to the regulated voltage output, but is operable only during the run mode.

Abstract: A remote control system for a television receiver includes provisions for delaying a predetermined time duration before responding to a new remote control comman after a previous remote control command to prevent undesired toggling of toggle control functions (e.g., power application and muting) due to momentary interruptions of remote control transmissions which may occur when a user unintentionally points the transmitter away from the television receiver. It also includes provisions for sampling the envelope of the remote control transmission to determine if an interruption corresponds to an intended termination of transmission to provide rapid repeated response (i.e., "machine-gunning") to commands such as "channel up" or "channel down".

Abstract: A television tuning system includes control apparatus for changing the frequency of a local oscillator signal during a search and a comparator arrangement for determining when an AFT signal traverses first and second threshold values corresponding to first and second frequencies in respective "hump" regions of the AFT signal. The frequency of the local oscillator is set to the average of the first and second frequencies in order to set the frequency of the IF picture carrier closer to the nominal value than the first and second frequencies.

Abstract: A television receiver cable of tuning either "air" channels in an "air" tuning mode or "cable" channels in a "cable" tuning mode includes apparatus for automatically selecting the tuning mode. The auto-tuning mode apparatus operates in conjunction with apparatus for automatically programming a memory for storing tuning information for tunable channels. When the auto-programming mode is selected, the receiver is caused to operate in the cable tuning mode and a search is conducted for active cable channels. If a predetermined number of active cable channels is located, the receiver remains in the cable tuning mode and the memory is programmed with tuning information for all of the cable channels. If the predetermined number of cable channels is not located, the receiver is caused to operate in the air tuning mode and the memory is programmed with tuning information for all of the air channels.

Abstract: In a tuning control system for a television receiver, an analog AFT signal is sampled during blanking intervals when the amplitude of the video carrier is relative constant and therefore cannot affect the amplitude of the AFT signal significantly. This reduces the AFT filtering requirements.

Abstract: A power supply for a television deflection apparatus is turned-on by a user initiated turn-on command. A fault detection circuit samples a voltage derived from the deflection circuit at the end of a predetermined interval that follows the turn-on command. The fault detection circuit issues a turn-off command to immediately shutdown the power supply, if such voltage is below a predetermined level indicative of a fault condition.

Abstract: In a power-up mode, the power supply of a television receiver generates the normal operating level of an energizing voltage. An overload detector generates a first control signal to shutdown the power supply and remove the energizing voltage when an overload condition occurs. A control circuit periodically samples the level of the energizing voltage. When the level is lower than normal, the control circuit generates a second control signal that maintains the power supply in the shut-down mode so as to prevent the power supply from attempting to restart. A third control signal inhibits the generation of the second control signal when an input alternating current voltage that supplies the power to the power supply suffers a voltage drop or blackout for only a short duration.

Abstract: A blanking signal is generated in a television receiver when a channel change selection is made. The blanking signal is low-pass filtered and thereafter controls the muting of the audio channel. Muting and un-muting are thus accomplished gradually, without audio disturbance. The tuning voltage is allowed to change to the new value required only after a delay period following the start of the blanking signal. Muting is therefore substantially complete before tuning transients can occur.

Abstract: The control unit for a display system is partitioned into first and second interconnected control units so as to permit respective separate ground terminals to be utilized. The separate ground terminals allow stable grounding for sensitive circuits in each of the control units without the formation of a continuous, closed ground loop which would be susceptible to disturbances due to ground currents induced from the magnetic field of the deflection unit of the display system. A theshold responsive gate is coupled between the separate ground terminals to inhibit excessively large and potentially damaging voltages due to picture tube discharges from being developed between the ground terminals.

Abstract: In a phase locked loop PLL tuning control system for a voltage controlled oscillator of the type wherein an automatic fine tuning (AFT) voltage is selectively applied to the local oscillator after a PLL configuration has obtained lock at the nominal frequency value for the selected channel so as to accommodate frequency translated RF carriers, an AFT control circuit selectively activated by the average level of composite synchronization pulses indicative of an improper tuning condition caused by certain translated carriers clamps the AFT voltage at a predetermined level. The predetermined level is selected to force the local oscillator frequency to be driven to an offset value at which an offset detector causes reinitiation of PLL control at discrete frequency step from the nominal value for the selected channel so as to properly tune the translated carrier.

Abstract: A television tuning system includes a memory for storing tuning information with first and second groups of memory locations for storing different tuning information for the same group of predetermined channels. A mode switch, in a first mode, allows memory locations in the first group to be addressed when channels in the predetermined group are selected and in a second mode allows memory locations in the second group to be addressed when channels in the predetermined group are selected. Such an arrangement is useful in a motel, hotel or hospital to allow certain channels in a list of channels to be selected when a rental fee has been paid and to exclude those certain channels when the rental fee has not been paid.