JPS5911080A - Video tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record and reproduce the scrambled TV signals with a simple operation, by supplying selectively the signal sent from an RF input terminal to a tuner either directly or via a descrambler. CONSTITUTION:The signal supplied from an input terminal 11 is supplied to a mobile contact of a changeover switch 21. The signal of a fixed contact at one side of the switch 21 is supplied to a distributor 12, and at the same time the scramble signal of a fixed contact at the other side of the switch 21 is supplied to an output terminal 22. The signal sent from the terminal 22 is supplied to a descrambler 4, and the descrambled signal is supplied to a descramble signal input terminal 23. The signal sent from the terminal 23 is supplied to the distributor 23 through a switch 24. A turner, an RF converter and a TV picture receiver are shown by 13, 15 and 3 respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to a video tape recorder, and more particularly, to a video tape recorder capable of effectively recording and playing back scrambled pay television.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS VHF television broadcasting in the United States, for example, is carried out using 2 to 13 channels as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in cable television (CATV) broadcasting, l' is KvI (A in the blank area of F TV broadcasting) as shown in Figure 1B.
-W channel is used. And in CATV broadcasting, this person ~ W channel CATV broadcasting signal,
Channels 2 to 13 of VI (F TV broadcasting signals) are sent together through coaxial cables.

In this type of CATV broadcasting, a special broadcast is performed on a certain channel, and general viewers cannot receive the special broadcast, but viewers who wish to receive it can receive it.
There is a system that does this. This special broadcast is called a pay channel, and in order to receive this pay channel special broadcast, a receiving adapter is lent to the viewer, and this receiving adapter is called a descrambler. Note that this descrambler descrambles the input signal and at the same time converts the signal into a specific empty channel (for example, 3 or 4 channels in America) and outputs the signal.

By the way, special broadcasts like this are recorded on videotape (
Recording and playback is performed using a VTR). In this case, conventional VTRs do not take into account the descrambler as described above, and therefore require complicated operations. That is, FIG. 1 shows the input circuit of v'rrt,
In the figure, for example, a signal from a CATV cable terminal (1) is supplied to the RF input terminal (H of V i"r (2). A signal from this terminal port is supplied to a distributor (121) and One of the distributed signals is supplied to the tuner 03), and the other signal is supplied to the antenna selector switch (03).
14) is supplied to one of the fixed contacts.

In addition, the signal from the tuner 03) is supplied to the RF conversion circuit 05) through a normal VTR circuit such as a recording/playback system, and is converted into a 3 or 4 channel signal, which is an empty channel in the United States. is the switch (1
41 is supplied to the other fixed contact. The signal from this switch 04) is then taken out to the RF output terminal 06) and supplied to the television receiver (3).

In this circuit, by switching the switch circle, the distributor O
A signal equivalent to the signal from the cable terminal 2 (11) and a signal from the RF conversion circuit a9 are switched and supplied to the television receiver (3).

However, when trying to record a pay channel program using this circuit, it is necessary to connect the disc run Y (4) between the cable terminal (1) and the input terminal aυ, and for this purpose it is necessary to connect the cable. This requires various complicated operations such as changing the parts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention enables recording and playback of scrambled television signals with a simple operation.

Summary of the Invention The present invention includes a built-in RP input terminal to which a standard television signal and a scrambled television signal are supplied, a descrambler connection terminal, a changeover switch, and a tuner. A video tape characterized in that the video tape is configured to select whether to supply the signal from the RF input terminal directly to the tuner or to supply the signal from the RF input terminal to the tuner via the descrambler. This is a recorder that can record and play back scrambled television signals with simple operations.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the signal from the input terminal 0υ is supplied to the movable contact of the changeover switch (21), the signal from one fixed contact of this switch eυ is supplied to the distributor 02), and the signal from the other fixed contact is supplied to the distributor 02). The signal of the contact is supplied to the scramble signal output terminal (22). The signal from this output terminal (22) is supplied to the descrambler (4), and the descrambled signal is supplied to the descramble signal input terminal (231). The signal from this input terminal Q3) is supplied to the distributor Q2+ through the switch C4.Others are the same as in FIG.

In this circuit, the switch (21) is switched to the distributor 02) side, and the switch c! 4), the signal from the cable terminal (1) is supplied to the tuner α3) and the switch 04), and the switch (2I) is turned off to the terminal (04).
By switching to the 221 side and turning on the switch (2), the signal descrambled by the descrambler (4) is supplied to the tuner 031 and the switch (14).

Therefore, according to this circuit, when recording a pay channel program, it is only necessary to operate the switch 0υ, (24), and these switches can be operated, for example, using the operation buttons provided on the front surface of the VTR (2). It is possible to perform linked operations, making the operation extremely simple.

Furthermore, even when recording is not performed in this circuit, a descrambled signal can be supplied to the television receiver (3) by operating the switches 0υ, e4).

Nafu-2ichi (21), CI! 4) is the terminal (I
An on/off switch may be provided between terminals 111 and 221, and signals from terminals 111 and 2 may be selected by a changeover switch.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a pay channel can be scheduled to be recorded using a timer device.
(2 is a timer circuit. This circuit (2 (g) K keyboard t26) is connected, and when setting a reservation, the program start time, channel number, etc. are input from this key (-d). 2!9 is stored in the built-in memory.When the stored start time is reached, the VTR is put into recording mode, and the stored channel number is supplied to the channel selection control circuit (27) to select a predetermined channel number. A control signal is supplied to the tuner 03) to select the stored channel.At this time, the channel number etc. is displayed on the display section (2).
81 is displayed.

In this device, the keyboard 06) is further provided with a bay key (26p), and when setting a reservation, the start time and bay code from this key (26p) are stored in the built-in memory. And when it comes to the memorized start time.

When the VTR is put into the recording mode, the bay code is supplied to the control circuit (27), and a control signal corresponding to the above-mentioned empty channel is supplied to the tuner 03). Further, the bay code is supplied to the switch drive circuit (29), the switch eυ is switched to the terminal (22 side), and the switch (24) is turned on. At this time, rI' indicating the bay program
The letters PJ are displayed on the display section (c).

Furthermore, in this device, the timer device is energized even when the main power of the VTI (VTI) is off. Therefore, in this state, the switch eυ is activated by operating the bake key (26p).
, (2I) toggle.

This allows you to view the Bay Channel at will even when you are not recording.

In addition, in a tuner that has an operation part such as a button lock type channel key where the key position and channel correspond, the key for selecting the above-mentioned Nitrogen channel is the 4th key (26,), and the operation of this key is The switch drive circuit CI! 9) may be supplied with a control signal.

By the way, in all of the above examples, when recording a pay channel, only the signal through the disclancilla (4) is output to the output terminal 061, and so-called counterprograms cannot be viewed.

To solve this problem, do as shown in Figure 4.

In the figure, a signal from input terminal 01] is supplied to a distributor c31) that distributes the signal into three systems, and this distributor C3
The first output of 1) is supplied to the first fixed contact of switch 02. In addition, the second output is supplied to the output terminal (2z), and the signal from the input terminal (231) is supplied to the distributor (to) K. One output of this tray distributor (G; 1) is supplied to the switch C3.
The second fixed contact of 3 is supplied to this switch (the signal from 3 is supplied to the tuner 03). Furthermore, the third output of the distributor (31) is supplied to the first fixed contact of the switch 041, and the other output of the distributor (31) is supplied to the first fixed contact of the switch (31).
41 second fixed contact, this switch (34
) is supplied to one fixed contact of the switch (1a).

In this circuit, the three switches are controlled by the above-mentioned switch drive circuit (29), etc., and the switch (34) is manually switched depending on the program being shown.

As a result, it is possible, for example, to watch a program on the regular channel while recording Bay Channel, or to view a program on the pay channel while recording the regular channel.

However, in this case, when recording and viewing the pay channel, the signal is divided into two distributors C31), (33)
, the S/N may deteriorate due to distribution loss.

In that case, an amplifier I:39 may be provided between the input terminal OD and the distributor c(1) as shown in FIG.

However, if K is used in this way, there is a risk that the signal will be distorted by the amplifier c35) in areas where the electric field strength is high when antenna reception is also used.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, a switch 436+ that is turned on when antenna reception may be provided in parallel with the amplifier (351).

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, an input terminal G7) to which the signal from the antenna terminal (5) is supplied is provided separately, and the signal from this terminal C3n is supplied to the distributor (■).
The switches G2) and 04) have three contacts, and the signal from one distributor (to) is supplied to the third fixed contact of the switch (, 33, C34).

This also results in 0 switch power. By switching (34), it is possible to easily record and view pay channels and regular channels.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it has become possible to record and play back scrambled television signals with a simple operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one example of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are block diagrams of other examples. (11 is the cable terminal, (2) is the VTI, (3) is the TV receiver, (4) is the descrambler, α11,
(23) is an input terminal. (12+ is a distributor, (13) is a tuner, α41,
(21), C2 (a) is a switch, (151u
ILli" conversion circuit, (If31, (22) is the output terminal. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 6 Z Row 1-1 ------- ■

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a built-in I(F input terminal, a descrambler connection terminal, a changeover switch, and a tuner) to which standard television signals and scrambled television signals are supplied. A video tape recorder characterized in that it is possible to select whether to supply a signal directly to the tuner or to supply a signal from the F input terminal to the tuner via the descrambler.