The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1981
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1980
Akio Tanaka, San Francisco, CA (US);
Zenith Radio Corporation, Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
An indirect frequency synthesis, microcomputer-controlled tuning system utilizing a frequency stepping process to tune to a selected channel frequency is disclosed. AFC discriminator information relating to a predetermined frequency range around the correct nominal frequency for the selected channel and the tuning direction toward the nominal frequency is provided to the microcomputer for frequency-stepping the tuner along the AFC discriminator curve in tuning to the selected channel. Vertical sync verification of the detected carrier signal provides more reliable carrier signal detection with the frequency-stepping procedure resumed upon invalid carrier detection. If a limit of the tuning range is reached, tuning is immediately switched to the other limit with the frequency-stepping procedure resumed in the original direction following a predetermined system stabilizing period.