Automatic Frequency-centering Circuit Patents (Class 334/16)
  • Patent number: 9236747
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device capable of supplying desired electric power to a load so as to operate the load even in a case where charged power is minute and a voltage increase rate of a capacitor, which increases by charge, is low. The electronic device includes: a power source which has supply power less than consumption power of the load; a capacitor to be charged with the supply power; and a charge/discharge control circuit which controls charging of the capacitor and consumption of charged power of the capacitor by the load, and the charge/discharge control circuit includes: a first node to which the supply power of the power source is supplied; and a circuit which charges the capacitor with the supply power from the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Fumiyasu Utsunomiya, Takakuni Douseki, Ami Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7821362
    Abstract: In a signal communication device, a frequency-selective filter has at least one component that is biased by a control signal to establish a center frequency of the frequency-selective filter. A closed-loop bias generator is provided to generate the control signal and to adjust the control signal based, at least in part, on a comparison of the control signal and a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Telegent Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel W. Sheng, Michael Khitrov
  • Patent number: 7501919
    Abstract: In a signal communication device, a frequency-selective filter has at least one component that is biased by a control signal to establish a center frequency of the frequency-selective filter. A closed-loop bias generator is provided to generate the control signal and to adjust the control signal based, at least in part, on a comparison of the control signal and a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Telegent Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel W. Sheng, Michael Khitrov
  • Patent number: 7427907
    Abstract: In a signal communication device, a frequency-selective filter has at least one component that is biased by a control signal to establish a center frequency of the frequency-selective filter. A closed-loop bias generator is provided to generate the control signal and to adjust the control signal based, at least in part, on a comparison of the control signal and a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Telegent Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel W. Sheng, Michael Khitrov
  • Patent number: 4326296
    Abstract: An improved tuning system for a color television receiver embodying a varactor tuner having a controller functioning as a potentiometer to provide a preselected tuning voltage for channel selection. The system includes a tuning voltage supply having a low impedance drive which is serially connected at its output with the controller. The voltage supply applies a preselected source voltage to the controller which is substantially independent of changes in the resistive value of the controller. The tuning voltage supply is combined with automatic fine tuning correction circuitry connected between the automatic fine tuning system and the varactor tuner. The automatic fine tuning correction circuitry applies a correction voltage to the varactor tuner for temperature compensation, fine tuning errors of 500 KHZ or less, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Magnavox Consumer Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Patrick M. Rafter, James E. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 4263675
    Abstract: An automatic fine tuning (AFT) circuit includes a frequency discriminator for discriminating an intermediate frequency signal, a capacitor supplied with the discriminated intermediate frequency signal to produce an AFT voltage thereacross, a comparator circuit for comparing the AFT voltage with a reference voltage, a first switching transistor controlled by the comparator circuit and which supplies and charges the capacitor with the reference voltage during a channel selection operation when the AFT voltage is less than the reference voltage, a second switching transistor controlled by the comparator circuit and which connects the capacitor to ground to discharge the same during a channel selection operation when the AFT voltage is greater than the reference voltage, and a third switching transistor for rendering the comparator circuit operative during a channel selection operation and inoperative during an AFT operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Hongu, Shigeru Ohmuro, Masaharu Tokuhara
  • Patent number: 4234961
    Abstract: By using a optical switch, which can be operated by the tuning knob of a receiver, signals can be obtained which accurately correspond to the operation of the tuning knob for switch-over of the receiver to a continuous manual tuning mode and for suppressing the automatic tuning correction during tuning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Arnoldus Garskamp
  • Patent number: 4211988
    Abstract: A search tuning type channel detector system for television receivers. When AFC voltage of a tuner has attained a first predetermined voltage level, frequency sweeping direction for tuning is reversed and stopped thereby to tune the tuner at an optimum tuning frequency. Means are provided to allow the inversion as well as stoppage of the frequency sweeping only when AFC voltage has attained a second predetermined voltage level, thereby to exclude possible erroneous operation due to noise or the like spurious signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Matsuura, Eisaku Akutsu, Hiroshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 4127819
    Abstract: A frequency discriminator having a bandwidth variable from a relatively narrow range to a very wide range in which the center frequency is simultaneously tunable over an extremely wide frequency range. The discriminator is insensitive to amplitude variations of the input signal and is capable of demodulating low level signals. The frequency discriminator is particularly useful for microwave frequency applications wherein the basic discriminator element is a ferrimagnetic resonator. The frequency discriminator forms a portion of several preferred embodiments including devices for the frequency control of signal sources, frequency measurement of signal sources, demodulation of frequency modulated signals and frequency tracking control for other ferrimagnetic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1978
    Inventor: William J. Keane
  • Patent number: 4125863
    Abstract: Automatic frequency control (AFC) circuitry compensating for the nonlinear tuning voltage sensitivity characteristics of voltage-controlled tuners is shown. The circuit uses a nonlinear device, such as a zener diode, to develop an amount of error correction voltage that increases with increasing tuning voltage. In addition, through the use of a VHF Bandswitch voltage, the circuit controls an impedance in a network that combines the tuning voltage with the voltage developed by the AFC system in response to tuning errors. As a result, a greater amount of AFC error correction voltage is developed on Low Band VHF channels than on High Band channels. In this manner, substantially constant AFC pull-in range is maintained both within and among High and Low Band VHF and UHF channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1978
    Assignee: GTE Sylvania Incorporated
    Inventor: Rangaswamy Arumugham
  • Patent number: 4122493
    Abstract: Circuitry compensating for inherent nonlinearities in the tuning voltage sensitivity of varactor tuners, thereby providing relatively constant AFC pull-in range throughout the band of operating frequencies, is shown. In both the VHF and UHF bands, the AFC system develops an error correction voltage in proportion to the tuning voltage. With respect to reception of VHF channels, a gain switching circuit operates to reduce the proportion of AFC error correction voltage developed on a High Band VHF channel, thereby compensating for increased tuning voltage sensitivity on High Band VHF. With respect to reception of UHF channels, a tuning voltage sensing circuit operates to effect an error correction voltage that is a greater proportion of the tuning voltage when the tuning voltage is above a pre-determined value corresponding to approximately channel 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: GTE Sylvania Incorporated
    Inventors: Rangaswamy Arumugham, George Hager Kam
  • Patent number: 4107615
    Abstract: By using a double potentiometer one of which is used for tuning and the other for adjusting a level whose variation suppresses an automatic tuning correction, a great freedom can be obtained in designing the tuning section of a receiver with automatic tuning correction suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Arnoldus Garskamp
  • Patent number: 4079320
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for tuning an AFT-controlled channel selecting apparatus of the type having a storage device for storing digital representations corresponding to predetermined channel frequencies from which a selected representation is read out and converted to a control voltage which is applied to a controllable tuning element included in an electronic tuner. When the control voltage is applied, generally it experiences a gradual increase in magnitude until its predetermined control voltage level is attained. The automatic fine tuning (AFT) circuit may pull in a frequency corresponding to the instantaneous level of the control voltage during the gradual increase in magnitude thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Mogi
  • Patent number: 4079420
    Abstract: In a channel selecting apparatus for a television receiver having an electronic tuning tuner for changing the receiving frequency in accordance with an analog control signal applied thereto; a memory has a plurality of addresses for storing respective digital codes each identifying a respective channel and which are selectively activated so as to effect read out of the respective channel identifying digital code to a digital-to-analog converter which converts the same into a respective analog control signal for the tuner. A deviation of the receiving frequency, as established in response to the analog control signal, from the correct receiving frequency for the channel identified by the digital code then being read out of the memory is detected, and, in response to a detected deviation within a pull-in range of an automatic fine tuning (AFT) circuit, the latter changes the digital code applied to the converter in the sense for removing such deviation and thereby achieving the correct tuned condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Mogi, Hisao Okada
  • Patent number: 4031491
    Abstract: A tuning apparatus using a voltage-dependent reactance element comprising a tuning circuit including a voltage-dependent reactance element as a tuning element, a voltage sweep circuit for generating a sweep tuning voltage to be applied to the voltage-dependent reactance element, an operational circuit for converting the tuning voltage to a reference voltage which linearly varies in proportion with a tuning frequency and a voltage comparator circuit for comparing an output of the operational circuit with a predetermined standard voltage, an output of the voltage comparator circuit being used to control the sweep of the voltage sweep circuit to produce a predetermined tuning frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 3996540
    Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a tuned frequency of a tuner of a radio or television receiver, said tuner comprising a tank circuit employing a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode as a circuit element, which diode is supplied in a reverse direction with a scanning control voltage from a solid state potential memory device, which control voltage is set as a result of tuning of said tuner, said indicating apparatus comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a line, each illuminating the corresponding frequency indicating region out of a plurality of divided frequency indicating regions of a frequency band to be received by said receiver, said regions being arranged in succession to cover said frequency band, and a corresponding plurality of drivers responsive to said control voltage for energizing the corresponding light emitting diode for illuminating the corresponding frequency region to which said tuned frequency pertains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamada, Kazuyoshi Tsukamoto, Yoshiaki Sakauchi, Kazufumi Ushijima, Hisao Kanou
  • Patent number: 3986154
    Abstract: An automatic tuning apparatus comprising a tuner having a tank circuit employing a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode as a circuit element, which diode is supplied in the reverse direction with a scanning control voltage from a solid state potential memory device, which control voltage is varied under the control of a scanning voltage control circuit to scan the frequencies in the frequency band by the tuner and is set by a scan stop signal obtained from the tuner as a result of tuning of the tuner to a certain frequency, and a pair of manual switches for upward and downward scanning, a first flip-flop to be reset by the closing of either manual switch and to be set by the scan stop signal, a second flip-flop to be set and reset by the closing of the downward and upward scanning switches, respectively, a third flip-flop to be set and reset by the closing of both manual switches and caused to be reversed in the storing state thereof when the scanning voltage reaches the maximum or minimum value ther
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamada, Kazuyoshi Tsukamoto, Yoshiaki Sakauchi, Kazufumi Ushijima
  • Patent number: 3968437
    Abstract: Switching off the automatic tuning correction of a receiver during tuning is accomplished with a signal derived from a level variation caused by a level adjusting circuit coupled to a tuning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1976
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Kan Kie Ong
  • Patent number: 3968442
    Abstract: A tuning circuit in which when the field strength of a received signal drops out, a tuning voltage from a switch can be applied to a capacitor so that the circuit stays tuned to the received signal. The voltage at the capacitor can further be controlled from a finding signal generator so that a station finding action which is independent of the inertia of the servo control can take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1976
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Arnoldus Garskamp
  • Patent number: 3967057
    Abstract: An automatic tuning apparatus, such as an automatic channel selector as incorporated in a television receiver, comprising a tuner using a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode such that the variable capacitance thereof constitutes a portion of a tuning circuit of the tuner for changing the tuning frequency, and a solid state electrochemical potential memory devices an output voltage of which is clamped as selected by selective manual operation, the resultant voltage being applied to the capacitance diode in a reverse direction, which memory device is controlled so as to be charged or discharged in response to selective manual operation until an increased or decreased terminal voltage thereof decreases or increases the capacitance across the diode and thus increases or decreases the tuning frequency of the tuner and a particular frequency is tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tsukamoto, Yoshiaki Sakauchi, Yukio Saito, Kazufumi Ushijima
  • Patent number: 3965288
    Abstract: An automatic tuning apparatus, such as an automatic channel selector as incorporated in a television receiver, comprising a tuner using a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode such that the variable capacitance thereof constitutes a portion of a tuning circuit of the tuner for changing the tuning frequency thereof, and a solid state electrochemical potential memory device, an output voltage of which is applied to the capacitance diode in a reverse direction, which memory device is controlled so as to be charged or discharged in response to selective manual operation until an increased or decreased terminal voltage thereof decreases or increases, respectively the capacitance across the diode and thus increases or decreases, respectively the tuning frequency of the tuner and a particular frequency is tuned. An intermediate frequency output, obtained as a result of tuning, is used to disable the abovementioned charging or discharging operation of the potential memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamada, Kazuyoski Tsukamoto, Yoshiaki Sakauchi, Takashi Tamura, Yukio Saito
  • Patent number: 3959728
    Abstract: A local oscillation circuit for a tuner having a reduced inter-channel deviation in AFC sensitivity. The local oscillation circuit comprises a resonance circuit capable of varying a tuning frequency by means of a variable capacitive element additionally provided with a variable capacitive diode which is applied with a control voltage in dependence upon variation in the frequency detected from the output signal of the tuner, thereby to effect an automatic frequency control. A single variable capacitive diode is coupled to the variable capacitive element of the resonance circuit in a parallel and a series connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1976
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamazaki, Takeshi Saitoh, Yoshio Miura
  • Patent number: RE31335
    Abstract: A search tuning type channel detector system for television receivers. When AFC voltage of a tuner has attained a first predetermined voltage level, frequency sweeping direction for tuning is reversed and stopped thereby to tune the tuner at an optimum tuning frequency. Means are provided to allow the inversion as well as stoppage of the frequency sweeping only when AFC voltage has attained a second predetermined voltage level, thereby to exclude possible erroneous operation due to noise or the like spurious signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Matsuura, Eisaku Akutsu, Hiroshi Miyamoto