The EUROPHON CTV 16000 TLC is a 16 inches (37cm) portable color tv set with 16 programs with VST search system.
The EUROPHON CTV 16000 TLC is featured with Infra red remote control system and a circuit device for a television receiver having a tuner device with a tuner memory operable to control the tuning of the receiver to stations selected by a user, in which there are further provided means for automatically adjusting the controls of the receiver whenever the station to which the receiver is tuned is changed, this means comprising one or a plurality of random access memories addressed by signals from the tuner memory which are characteristic of each individual station, the output signal from the RAM, (or the enabled RAM if there are a plurality of them) representing the contents thereof at the location addressed, is fed to a digital-to-analogue converter which produces an output voltage signal for adjusting the associated receiver control; changes to the content of the RAM can be made by means of an associated counter controlled to count up or down by a push button panel.
The invention relates to a circuit device for effecting and memorising adjustments to the setting of the controls of a television signal receiver, especially of a colour television receiver; such controls as the volume, brightness, contrast, colour saturation etc. must often be adjusted when changing stations in order to obtain optimum setting of the controls for each station to which the receiver can be tuned in order to account for differences in the signals from each station. Conventionally, television controls are mechanical control systems using potentiometers inserted into the path of the electric signal to be controlled (direct control) or else supplying a D.C. voltage by means of which electronic voltage control is effected (indirect control).
Such mechanical systems have considerable disadvantages, not only from the point of view of durability, since the potentiometers, being mechanical, are subject to wear, but also from that of performance due to non-linearity and discontinuity in the response. Moreover, such mechanical systems are not easily adaptable to the use of remote controls.
This latter system eliminates many of the disadvantages of the conventional mechanical controls but it is still not wholly satisfactory because, since each station to which a receiver can be tuned usually has modulation characteristics which are different from those of the others, with every change of station it is necessary to readjust, systematically, the controls of the receiver, that is the volume, brightness, contrast (and colour controls in the case of colour transmission).
In fact at present it is possible in many places to receive a large number of transmitter stations (in some cases more than twenty), and hence television receivers have to allow changeover from one station to another with the greatest simplicity. The technical problem which this invention seeks to solve is the provision of a circuit device which is able to effect adjustment of the controls of a receiver upon changes in the tuning thereof to receive signals from different transmitters, which does not suffer from the disadvantages of known systems.
VST Tuning and remote.Varactor-type tuning circuits are well-known in the art and particularly have been adopted for tuning tuners including both UHF and VHF sections. Such tuning circuits incorporate a varactor diode whose capacitance is dependent upon a tuning voltage applied thereto. There are known methods of developing such tuning voltages, including the so-called automatic tuning in which a sweep is stopped when a predetermined intermediate-frequency signal is produced by applying voltages to the varactor diode from a voltage sweep circuit. A tuning voltage generating apparatus of a voltage synthesizer type comprises a voltage converter which converts into a reference voltage a voltage level of an input pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to a frequency to be received and a low-pass filter which converts the pulse signal voltage converted by the voltage converter into a direct current voltage which is withdrawn as a tuning voltage.More specifically, the present invention relates to a tuning voltage generating apparatus of a voltage synthesizer type for supplying a tuning voltage to a tuner employing a variable reactance element as a tuning element.
The set is a first in featuring a new set of PAL decoder chips which has been introduced by Siemens, the TDA2560/TDA2522/TDA2530. The first two of these second -source the latest Philips/Mullard decoder i.c.s, with the TDA2560 as luminance and chrominance signal amplifier and the TDA2522 as the reference oscillator/chrominance demodulator. Interesting features of this set up are the fact that the burst signal passes through the chrominance delay line and the fact that the reference oscillator operates at 8.86MHz, a digital divider providing exactly 90° phase displaced 4.43MHz outputs without the need for a phase shift coil. The first UK produced chassis to use these i.c.s is the Tandberg CTV3, the larger UK setmakers staying for the time being with the TBA560C/TBA540/TCA800 combination. The third i.c. from Siemens is the TDA2530 which supersedes the well known TBA530 luminance/colour-difference signal matrix- ing i.c. The TDA2530 contains a negative feedback driver amplifier and internal clamping in addition to the matrixing network.
The set has a switching power supply. Switching regulators serve as efficient and compact power supplies for instruments such as television receivers. A switching regulator may typically comprise a power transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input voltage source and to a power switch and a secondary winding coupled to a rectifier arrangement for developing a DC supply voltage for the instrument. A regulator control circuit generates pulse width modulated control signals that control the duty cycle of the power switch. A power switch is coupled to an inductance and a source of input voltage. A control circuit is coupled to the power switch for producing the switching thereof to transfer energy from the input voltage source to a load circuit coupled to the inductance. The control circuit is responsive to control voltages for varying the duty cycle of the power switch to control the transfer of energy to the load. A first control voltage representative of a variation in an energy level of the load circuit is developed to control the duty cycle in a manner that regulates the energy level.
It features a TOSHIBA BlackStripe CRT TUBE, and has a completely modular chassis design well dimensioned even for a bigger screen format tv set.
The set is build with a Modular chassis design because as modern television receivers become more complex the problem of repairing the receiver becomes more difficult. As the number of components used in the television receiver increases the susceptibility to breakdown increases and it becomes more difficult to replace defective components as they are more closely spaced. The problem has become even more complicated with the increasing number of color television receivers in use. A color television receiver has a larger number of circuits of a higher degree of complexity than the black and white receiver and further a more highly trained serviceman is required to properly service the color television receiver.
Fortunately for the service problem to date, most failures occur in the vacuum tubes used in the television receivers. A faulty or inoperative vacuum tube is relatively easy to find and replace. However, where the television receiver malfunction is caused by the failure of other components, such as resistors, capacitors or inductors, it is harder to isolate the defective component and a higher degree of skill on the part of the serviceman is required.
Even with the great majority of the color television receiver malfunctions being of the "easy to find and repair" type proper servicing of color sets has been difficult to obtain due to the shortage of trained serviceman.
At the present time advances in the state of the semiconductor art have led to the increasing use of transistors in color television receivers. The receiver described in this application has only two tubes, the picture tube and the high voltage rectifier tube, all the other active components in the receiver being semiconductors.
One important characteristic of a semiconductor device is its extreme reliability in comparison with the vacuum tube. The number of transistor and integrated circuit failures in the television receiver will be very low in comparison with the failures of other components, the reverse of what is true in present day color television receivers. Thus most failures in future television receivers will be of the hard to service type and will require more highly qualified servicemen.
The primary symptoms of a television receiver malfunction are shown on the picture tube of the television receiver while the components causing the malfunction are located within the cabinet. Also many adjustments to the receiver require the serviceman to observe the screen. Thus the serviceman must use unsatisfactory mirror arrangements to remove the electronic chassis from the cabinet, usually a very difficult task. Further many components are "buried" in a maze of circuitry and other components so that they are difficult to remove and replace without damage to other components in the receiver.
Repairing a modern color television receiver often requires that the receiver be removed from the home and carried to a repair shop where it may remain for many weeks. This is an expensive undertaking since most receivers are bulky and heavy enough to require at least two persons to carry them. Further, two trips must be made to the home, one to pick up the receiver and one to deliver it. For these reasons, the cost of maintaining the color television receiver in operating condition often exceeds the initial cost of the receiver and is an important factor in determining whether a receiver will be purchased.
Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a transistorized color television receiver in which the main electronic chassis is easily accessible for maintenance and adjustment.
The contrast knob is located rear side above the lid.
Europhon SpA has been established in 1949 in Milan. During the 60's it was one of the main European manufacturer of pocket transistor radios. Record players, stereo systems and television sets were added to the product line later. Between 1949 and 1961, few years after its founder Andrea Zenesini passed away, the Europhon SpA was phased out.
Main manufacturing plants in mid '60s: Milan, Quistello (Mantua), Bozzolo (Mantua) and Trino Vercellese.
Brands: Euronic, Eurostar, Kosmophon, Phonomatic and (after 1965) Superla.
EUROPHON HISTORY:
It was founded in Milan in 1949 by Andrea Zenesini, and began its activity with the production of radio. In the following years the company gained momentum in the market for radio and extended its production to other types of devices such as televisions.
During the first sixty years, the company expanded and created other establishments in Quistello, Cocoon (MN), Castelleone (CR) and Trino (VC), arriving to count to 1,100 employees and a monthly output of 125,000 pieces. In addition, the company marketed its products Lombard with other smaller brands like Euronic, Eurostar, Kosmophon, Phonomatic and Superla. Also present on foreign markets in 1970 also opened a sales office in Germany, as Europhon Service GmbH in Ottobrunn.
Of particular relevance and success were both above the tabletop radio (such as 800) the pocket transistor radio (of which Europhon was one of the largest European manufacturers in the sixties), the turntable, the mangiadischi (such as fonojet 700) stereos. However, the Europhon also produced a good variety of color tv noteworthy that ranged from 14 to 29 inches.
In the seventies, the leadership understood as - yet they do not belong to the world of HIFI ', and being in the competition with Eastern Europe in the field of low-cost products - a winning strategy would be to enter the emerging field of "design "on the one hand, and developing technology to produce hi-fi on the other. The first director was the most 'immediate, thanks to the collaboration of designers level, while maintaining a component within the standards, Europhon able' to market industrial design objects destined to leave a mark in history. Objects often with hybrid functions; remember, for example, the "radiorologio" (RadioClock) , the radiotelevisore (RadioTellye !!) and radiolampada (RadioLamp) drawn by Adriano Rampoldi.
The decline:
At the end of the decade, according to a fate common to many other, Europhon experienced a period of decline more and more, which inevitably led to the crisis in the early eighties. If in the seventies firms in poor conditions came under the unified management of financial GEPI, in the eighties - having regard to the poor results of this - the political forces had set out to create a different rescue, under the forms of public financial REL (Renovation Electronics Spa), born in 1982. This repeats' as performed by GEPI, assuming that the companies - survived the previous decade - now came to an end even: Brionvega Autovox, Seleco, Voxson, SECI. Of Europhon, I note REL 'the 44,36% of the shares, with a cash injection of 15 billion lire..................
.................. between the two decades Europhon began a joint venture with its German subsidiary, which ported a series of technological contributions - a last attempt to excursus into the market for high-fidelity ', launching separate components (which could be combined with rack) objectively superior compared to the past: remember the series Rck 3005, Rck305, Rck2000. Often with minimal changes between them (the metallic exterior colors went from opaque to blacks, following the fashion), a letter after the code that identified the function of the object (if flat plate, tuner, amplifier). It was only in the eighties forwarded - with a delay of over a decade - that Europhon I raise 'standards of its machines to DIN 45500, the quality level that, according to the agreements of 1973 would have to allow manufacturers to mark their equipment as hi-fi. These devices are labeled "Europhon International" to signify the union between Germany and Italy, and mainly produced in Germany. Nevertheless, 'Europhon not shake' never off his reputation as a producer of cheap items.
The Europhon project 'and also produced one of the few cd player made in Italy at the consumer level, realizing the potential' of the product. This was included in the devices to separate components of the brand, even the stereo "all inclusive" living room - that the company produced, in line glue fashion of the decade (such as the Rck185) - were equipped with CD player. Unique Italian brand made in Italy with such features. Europhon produced - always in line with the era - even stereo "beach" (compact with radio, cassette and speakers) such as Jumbo.
the closure and Europhon Topvision
If Europhon had innovative ideas, showing some liveliness' in research and development (the line of modular "micro component T" anticipated the minimalist trends of the decade), government interventions in the capital dell'Europhon had no effects needed to make the new possibility 'products known and distributed. Disappeared for years now the founder and dispersed management, without a full business strategy, with economic lines expensive (compared to oriental products) and products "niche" not credible, Europhon you find 'financial conditions and without any dramatic perspective. Unfortunately, the recovery did not take place and the activities were closed down permanently in 1991, resulting in the dismissal of 350 workers who were still in the workforce in the three plants Quistello, Cocoon and Castelleone.
Almost all of the employees suffered, in the nineties, an odyssey of layoffs, relocations fictitious (copy one at the Antares Florence), and mobility. Just the establishment of Quistello was the only one to offer a continuity ': he became - and still is - home of Topvision (initially Europhon Topvision) which produced color televisions until the advent of technology lcd brand Topvision.
The first TV marked Topvision of 1991 were nothing more than the latest models Europhon (www.topvision.it). Today, renamed only Topvision, continues the production, focusing especially on cards for other assemblers, and no more 'for the consumer.
The German Europhon
The German branch, despite the closure of the Italian parent, continued his activities as a distributor of consumer electronics from other companies, such as the Italian Ultravox. Which subsequently became Europhon Deutschland GmbH, a company that is currently marketed under the same name brand products from the satellite receivers Microelectronic NH, from which it is controlled.
R.I.P. EUROPHON........................
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