Interface system for a television receiver

Abstract

An interface system for a television receiver includes an interface connector having a plurality contacts connected to various component circuits in the television receiver. In order to provide various functions for the television receiver, the interface system includes various circuit boards each having a plug connectable with the interface connector. The plug includes a number of contacts equal to or less than the plurality of contacts in the interface connector. Depending on the desired function, the circuit board further includes circuits for providing the function, these circuits being interconnected and connected to the appropriate contacts in the plug for connecting with the appropriate component circuits in the television receiver. The interface system allows the television receiver functions to be modified and/or updated without the need for opening the television and modifying the circuits and/or the wiring to the circuits.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interface system for a television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, characterized in that said interface system comprises: standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one;   connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means; and   circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver, said circuit board means having plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M, and circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, said circuit means, when connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, modifies the operation of said at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, whereby additional features are provided for the user.   
     
     
       2. An interface system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, characterized in that said standard bus means includes leads separately connected to said remote control receiver and said microcomputer, said remote control receiver and said microcomputer being connected to said circuit board means by said connector means and said plug means so that said remote control signals may be processed by said circuit means on said circuit board means, and said circuit means on said circuit board means being controlled by said microcomputer. 
     
     
       3. An interface system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface system provides a source for a further television signal, and wherein said video signal processing circuit includes a picture in picture (PIP) circuit for processing said further television signal as a PIP signal, characterized in that the circuit means on said circuit board means includes a further tuner connected to an RF input on said circuit board means for tuning to said further television signal, a PIP IC coupled to an output of said further tuner, and a DRAM connected to said PIP IC, said further tuner and said PIP IC having power and control inputs connected to contacts in said plug means which in turn connect with contacts in said interface connector means connected to said power supply circuit and a microcomputer in said television receiver, and said PIP IC having signal inputs and outputs connected to contacts in said plug means which, in turn, connect with contacts in said interface connector means connected to signal outputs of said video signal processing circuit and signal inputs of said PIP circuit, whereby, under control of said microcomputer, said further television signal being tuned by said further tuner is inserted into a main video signal, tuned by said tuner in said television receiver and supplied by said video signal processing circuit, as a PIP signal, and the combined video signal is sent to the PIP circuit in the video signal processing circuit such that the video signal tuned by said tuner and the further television signal tuned by said further tuner appear in a same picture frame. 
     
     
       4. An interface system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface system provide ghost cancellation for said television receiver, and said television receiver further includes a microcomputer for controlling functions of the television receiver, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means include a ghost cancellation IC having power and control inputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said interface connector means connected to said power supply circuit and said microcomputer in said television receiver, said ghost cancellation IC further having signal inputs and outputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said interface connector means connected to outputs and inputs, respectively, in said video signal processing circuit, whereby under control of said microcomputer, said video signal processing circuit provides a video signal to said ghost cancellation IC and said ghost cancellation IC provides a ghost-free version of said video signal back to said video signal processing circuit. 
     
     
       5. An interface system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface system enables said television receiver to receive and process compressed digital video signals, and said television receiver further includes a microcomputer for controlling functions of said television receiver, characterized in that the circuit board means includes an RF input for receiving said compressed digital video signals modulated on RF carriers, a further tuner coupled to said RF for tuning in one of said RF carriers, a front end coupled to an output of said further tuner for processing said RF carrier and for providing said compressed digital video signals, a transport coupled to an output of said front end for selectively unscrambling said compressed digital video signals, a decompression circuit coupled to an output of said transport for decompressing said compressed digital video signals, and an encoder coupled to an output of said decompression circuit for providing separated luminance and chrominance component signals, said circuit board means further including an audio interface coupled to outputs of said decompression circuit for providing digital audio signals, a descrambling circuit coupled to inputs and outputs of said transport circuit for descrambling the compressed digital video signals, and a further microcomputer coupled to said descrambling circuit for controlling the descrambling circuit, and coupled to a graphics control circuit for generating graphics for display, said graphics control circuit being connected to an input of said encoder, said circuit board means further including a modem coupled to said RF input for transmitting signal from said further microcomputer, each of said elements having power and control inputs connected to contacts of said plug means for connecting with contacts in said interface connector means connected to said power supply circuit and said microcomputer, and said audio interface and said encoder include signal outputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said interface connector means connected with inputs in said audio signal processing circuit and said video signal processing circuit. 
     
     
       6. An interface system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said encoder alternatively provides analog RGB signals which are applied to separate contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said interface connector means connected with analog RGB inputs in said video signal processing circuit. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  A television receiver for use in a television interface system, said television interface system comprising said television receiver and circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver for connection to said television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, and a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, and said circuit board means comprising circuit means for connecting to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver for modifying the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for the user, characterized in that said television receiver further comprises: standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one; and   connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means, for connecting said television receiver to said circuit board means..Iaddend..Iadd.8. A television receiver as claimed in claim 7, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, characterized in that said standard bus means includes leads separately connected to said remote control receiver and said microcomputer, thereby enabling said circuit means on said circuit board means to process said remote control signals, and said circuit means to be controlled by said microcomputer..Iaddend..Iadd.9. Circuit board means for use in a television interface system, said television interface system comprising a television receiver and said circuit board means accessible by a user of said television receiver for connection to said television receiver, said television receiver comprising a tuner for receiving and selectively tuning to a television signal, a deflection circuit coupled to said tuner for generating deflection signals from synchronization signals contained in said television signal, an audio signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing an audio signal contained in said television signal, a video signal processing circuit coupled to said tuner for processing a video signal contained in said television signal, a display coupled to said deflection circuit and said video signal processing circuit for displaying said video signal in dependence on said deflection signals, a power supply circuit for supplying operating power to each of the above components, standard bus means having M leads separately connected to said audio signal processing circuit, said deflection circuit, said video signal processing circuit and said power supply circuit, where M is an integer greater than one; and connector means having M contacts connected, respectively, to said M leads in said standard bus means, characterized in that said circuit board means comprises:   plug means connectable to said connector means, said plug means having N contacts corresponding, respectively, to at least some of the M contacts in said connector means, where N is an integer less than or equal to M; and   circuit means connected to said N contacts in said plug means, whereby when said circuit means is connected through said plug means, said connector means and said standard buss means to at least one of the audio signal processing circuit, the video signal processing circuit, the deflection circuit and the power supply circuit in the television receiver, said circuit means modifies the operation of said television receiver thereby providing additional features for a user of the television receiver..Iaddend..Iadd.10. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said television receiver further comprises a remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals from a remote control transmitter, and a microcomputer for controlling said television receiver at least partly in response to signals from said remote control receiver, and wherein said standard bus means includes leads separately connecting said remote control receiver and said microcomputer to contacts in said connector means, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means are connectable through said plug means, said connector means and said standard bus to said remote control receiver and said microcomputer such that remote control signals may be processed by said circuit means, and said circuit means are controllable by said microcomputer..Iaddend..Iadd.11. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interface system provides a source for a further television signal, and wherein said video signal processing circuit includes a picture-in-picture (PIP) circuit for processing said further television signal as a PIP signal, characterized in that the circuit means on said circuit board means includes a further tuner connected to an RF input on said circuit board means for tuning to said further television signal; a PIP IC coupled to an output of said further tuner; and a DRAM connected to said PIP IC, said further tuner and said PIP IC having power and control inputs connected to contacts in said plug means which, in turn, are connectable with contacts in said connector means connected to said power supply circuit and a microcomputer in said television receiver, and said PIP IC having signal inputs and outputs connected to contacts in said plug means which, in turn, are connectable with contacts in said connector means connected to signal outputs of said video signal processing circuit and signal inputs of said PIP circuit, whereby, under control of said microcomputer, said further television signal tuned by said further tuner may be inserted into a main video signal, tuned by said tuner in said television receiver and supplied by said video signal processing circuit, as a PIP signal, the combined video signal being sent to the PIP circuit in the video signal processing circuit such that the video signal tuned by said tuner and the further television signal tunable by said further tuner may appear in a same picture frame..Iaddend..Iadd.12. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interface system provides ghost cancellation for said television receiver, and said television receiver further includes a microcomputer for controlling functions of the television receiver, characterized in that said circuit means on said circuit board means includes a ghost cancellation IC having power and control inputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said connector means connected to said power supply circuit and said microcomputer in said television receiver, said ghost cancellation IC further having signal inputs and outputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said connector means connected to outputs and inputs, respectively, in said video signal processing circuit, whereby, under control of said microcomputer, said video signal processing circuit may provide a video signal to said ghost cancellation IC and said ghost cancellation IC may provide a ghost-free version of said video signal back to said video signal processing circuit..Iaddend..Iadd.13. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 9, wherein said interface system enables said television receiver to receive and process compressed digital video signals, and said television receiver further includes a microcomputer for controlling functions of said television receiver, characterized in that the circuit board means includes an RF input for receiving said compressed digital video signals modulated on RF carriers; a further tuner coupled to said RF input for tuning in one of said RF carriers; a front-end circuit coupled to an output of said further tuner for processing said RF carrier and for providing said compressed digital video signals; a transport circuit coupled to an output of said front-end circuit for selectively unscrambling said compressed digital video signals; a decompression circuit coupled to an output of said transport circuit for decompressing said compressed digital video signals; and an encoder coupled to an output of said decompression circuit for providing separated luminance and chrominance component signals, said circuit board means further including an audio interface coupled to outputs of said decompression circuit for providing digital audio signals; a descrambling circuit coupled to inputs and outputs of said transport circuit for descrambling the compressed digital video signals; and a further microcomputer coupled to said descrambling circuit for controlling the descrambling circuit, said further microcomputer also being coupled to a graphics control circuit for generating graphics for display, said graphics control circuit being connected to an input of said encoder, said circuit board means further including a modem coupled to said RF input for transmitting signal from said further microcomputer, each of said elements having power and control inputs connected to contacts of said plug means for connecting with contacts in said connector means connected to said power supply circuit and said microcomputer, and said audio interface and said encoder include signal outputs connected to contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said connector means connected with inputs in said audio signal processing circuit and said video signal processing circuit..Iaddend..Iadd.14. Circuit board means as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said encoder alternatively provides analog RGB signals which are applied to separate contacts in said plug means for connecting with contacts in said connector means connected with analog RGB inputs in said video signal processing circuit..Iaddend.