Television – Image signal processing circuitry specific to television – Switching
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-04
2001-09-18
Eisenzopf, Reinhard J. (Department: 2614)
Television
Image signal processing circuitry specific to television
Switching
C348S705000, C348S706000, C348S734000, C348S553000, C348S569000, C348S555000, C725S133000, C725S131000, C725S141000, C725S151000, C725S153000, C725S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292230
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for distributing signals from a plurality of signal sources to an output device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for coupling a selected one of a plurality of signal sources to a video display device in response to a remote control code associated with the selected signal source.
2. Related Art
Modern television sets often include a plurality of input connections to accept a variety of signal formats from various signal sources. One such format is the S-VHS format which splits a video signal into a luminance component (“Y”) and a chrominance component (“C”) to provide an overall higher video resolution display. In recent years many video devices that use the S-VHS format have become available, including, VCRs, camcorders, digital satellite receivers, and Digital Video Disc (“DVD”) players
However, most television sets usually include a limited number of S-VHS input connections, usually one or two. The limited number of S-VHS input connections can be an annoying problem for a user who has a plurality of devices that provide S-VHS formatted signals. When the user wants to switch from one S-VHS source to another, the user may be required to manually ensure that the desired S-VHS source is connected to an S-VHS connection. In the case of a single S-VHS connection, the user may be required to manually disconnect any currently connected S-VHS source and connect the desired S-VHS source. As video input connections are often located on the back of a television set, having to connect and disconnect the various S-VHS signal sources to the S-VHS connections each time the user wishes to change S-VHS signal sources can be time consuming and burdensome.
One solution to the above-described problem is connecting the various S-VHS signal sources to the television set through a switching device. Such a switching device comprises a plurality of inputs, each input being coupled to a S-VHS signal source, and an output coupled to the S-VHS input connection on the television set. The user can then select the desired S-VHS source by controlling the switching device. Such a device offers the ease of connecting the S-VHS signal sources to a central device, which device can be controlled to select the S-VHS signal source to be coupled to the television set.
However, currently available S-VHS switching devices only allow the user to select the desired S-VHS signal source either by manually operating a set of switches disposed on the switching device or by using a dedicated remote control device associated with the switch device. A disadvantage of the dedicated remote control solution is that the dedicated remote control device will control only the S-VHS switching device, but not the S-VHS signal sources or the television set. This solution may be undesirable in terms of increasing remote control clutter because such a solution adds yet another remote control device that the user must learn to use and keep track of
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of S-VHS signal sources to be coupled to a display device by operating a universal remote control device or a remote control device associated with the selected S-VHS signal source. Using a universal remote control device or a remote control device associated with the desired S-VHS signal source to control a signal distribution, or switching, apparatus obviates the above-noted problem.
The object is accomplished by providing a signal switching apparatus that is capable of leaning remote control codes and thereafter responding to remote control codes associated with the various S-VHS signal sources. The remote control codes may be transmitted from a universal remote control device that allows a user to select one of a plurality of signal source devices or a dedicated remote control device associated with a particular S-VHS signal source. The remote control codes are transmitted in the form of IR signals, or similarly suitable signal transmission methods. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal switching apparatus stores the designated remote control codes, and thereafter compares a detected remote control signals with the stored remote control codes. The apparatus couples a desired signal source to a video display device when the user presses a device key associated with the desired signal source on the universal remote control device or a POWER/ON button on a dedicated remote control device associated with the desired signal source.
In particular, the present invention provides a signal distribution apparatus comprising: a switching arrangement, coupled to a plurality of signal sources and an output, for selectively coupling one of the signal sources to the output; a signal receiver for receiving remote control codes; a memory for storing a plurality of remote control codes associated with ones of the plurality of signal sources; a controller for controlling the switching arrangement in response to a received remote control code, the controller comparing the received remote control code with the remote control codes stored in memory to associate a signal source with the received remote control code, the controller controlling the switching arrangement to couple the associated signal source with the output.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4463382 (1984-07-01), Pellegrini et al.
patent: 4623887 (1986-11-01), Welles, II
patent: 4807052 (1989-02-01), Amano
patent: 4841367 (1989-06-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 4905279 (1990-02-01), Nishio
patent: 4937672 (1990-06-01), Anderson
patent: 4996597 (1991-02-01), Duffield
patent: 5028919 (1991-07-01), Hidaka
patent: 5081534 (1992-01-01), Geiger et al.
patent: 5134483 (1992-07-01), Imbert et al.
patent: 5237319 (1993-08-01), Hidaka et al.
patent: 5253044 (1993-10-01), Lamy
patent: 5264929 (1993-11-01), Yamaguchi
patent: 5287210 (1994-02-01), Sefidvash
patent: 5364108 (1994-11-01), Esnouf
patent: 5386251 (1995-01-01), Movshovich
patent: 5416535 (1995-05-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5418527 (1995-05-01), Yashiro
patent: 5572263 (1996-11-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5572317 (1996-11-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5576773 (1996-11-01), Itagaki et al.
patent: 5578999 (1996-11-01), Matsuzawa et al.
patent: 5600382 (1997-02-01), Won
patent: 5691710 (1997-11-01), Pietraszak et al.
patent: 5790202 (1998-08-01), Kummer et al.
patent: 5808702 (1998-09-01), Yoshinobu et al.
patent: 5828417 (1998-10-01), Itagaki et al.
patent: 5982456 (1999-11-01), Smith, Jr. et al.
Andrews Nathan William
Shui Lisa Yi
Eisenzopf Reinhard J.
Kiel Paul P.
Natneal Paulos
Thomson Licensing S.A.
Tripoli Joseph S.
LandOfFree
Signal distribution apparatus with learning function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Signal distribution apparatus with learning function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Signal distribution apparatus with learning function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2469126