Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Other

Kenichiro Toyoshima

Peter Rae Shintani

David Boyden

Hirofumi Usui

A modular interface allows new functionalities to be added to a television receiver. A module can be added to the television receiver through the interface that will enable additional functionalities on the television. The interface allows copy protection of digital video and audio content by incorporating HDCP technology, thereby also allowing the manufacturer of the interface to control the access to the interface.

Hardware module for adding functionality to television

A bi-directional communications interface includes a source multiplexer for connecting to a video source. The source multiplexer includes a source multiplexer input port for receiving an analog video signal from the video source, a source multiplexer output port for driving the video source with an upstream data signal, and a source multiplexer bi-directional port for coupling the analog video signal from the source multiplexer input port to the video cable and for coupling the upstream data signal from the video cable to the source multiplexer output port.

Method and apparatus for bi-directional communication between analog and digital devices

A controlled impedance bus includes a pair of bus traces that carry a transmission minimized differential signal (TMDS). Two or more buffer output terminals. Each output terminal includes a pair of pads connected to the pair of bus traces such that unused pads create minimal stubs on the pair of bus traces. Two or more buffer input terminals are provided. Each of the buffer input terminals includes a pair of connector traces that extend substantially perpendicular to the bus traces. At least one connector is connected to a first end of the pair of connector traces of one of the buffer input terminals. At least one buffer device is connected to a second end of the pair of connector traces and to the pair of pads of one of the buffer output terminals. The buffer device provides signals on the pair of bus traces when enabled by an enable input.

Controlled impedance bus with a buffer device

In a television signal receiver having two or more tuners, initial channel mapping can be expedited by simultaneously using all tuners in parallel to map the receivable channels. A processor controls the application of television signals from one or more sources to the two or more tuners and controls the channel mapping function of both tuners simultaneously.

Method and apparatus for decreasing the time required to generate a channel map in a television signal receiver

An autoprogrammer is provided for a television receiver capable of receiving conventional analog (NTSC) channels and DTV (8VSB) channels. First, conventional analog channels are identified and then skip channel data for each of the channels is stored in a memory. Subsequent executions of the autoprogramm function map DTV channels. Skip channel data is entered in the memory for these additional DTV channels. Mapping DTV channels occurs without deletion or overwrite of previous channel mapping information. Additionally information is stored in the skip channel memory giving antenna location for mapped DTV stations. DTV autoprogramming can be carried out at different channel positions.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Kenichiro Toyoshima