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:
Mar. 16, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1999
Henry S. Landgraf, Cherry Hill, NJ (US);
Anthony Troiano, Princeton Junction, NJ (US);
Dipakkumar R. Patel, Hatboro, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
A monaural and stereo audio signal control system for use in cable-signal set-top boxes selects signal processing paths as a function of the monaural and stereo nature of the incoming audio component of the television signal and an indication as to whether the audio component is a “clear” or “masked” signal. A clear audio signal is a signal that conforms to a NTSC or BTSC standard that can be processed by a conventional television receiver while a “masked” signal is one in which the carrier frequency has been changed or otherwise modified so that a conventional television receiver cannot extract the audio content. A signal-processing path is provided for conventional clear monaural and stereo audio and for a masked monaural signal and for a masked stereo signal. Monaural clear and masked processing is addressed by microprocessor controlled switching in accordance with control information provided in the television signal and stereo masked processing is addressed by the presence or absence of energy corresponding to the masked stereo carrier.