Abstract: The invention relates to an entertainment system having a playback device for retrieving data from a recording medium and for generating a signal corresponding to the data, wherein the playback device includes a transparent door which covers the recording medium. The system further includes a speaker for converting the signal into acoustical energy and a display device for displaying operational information regarding the system, such as the track number of the selection being played back, time remaining, track title, volume level, the sound and/or CD play mode which has been selected and others, on the door.

Abstract: Receiver control circuitry of a receiver automatically detects, selects, and enables a priority signal provided to the receiver from a plurality of audio and/or visual source devices. Upon the user starting a source device that serves as a potential source of audio and/or visual input signals to the receiver, the receiver control circuitry automatically determines whether the receiver should switch to the source device as its source of audio and/or visual information. Additionally, the receiver control circuit will automatically turn on the receiver if it is not powered-up so that this will not have to be done by the user of the receiver.

Abstract: A two way messaging terminal includes a transmitter and a receiver. A voice message is encoded using a CODEC after which the resulting data is compressed in non-real time prior to transmission. On receipt the compressed message is first decompressed in non-real time prior to decoding and playing back.

Abstract: The present invention uses a hologram superimposed on a traditional picture such as a photograph or printed picture. The hologram is more viewable at certain angle ranges than at others. This allows the hologram image, the picture or a combination of both to be seen at different angles, thus allowing different visual effects. In a preferred embodiment a pre-made multi-channel hologram is superimposed over a user's portrait photograph taken in a photo booth. The multi-channel hologram is aligned with the photograph so that by varying the viewing angle of the combined picture and hologram an interesting, entertaining or educational effect, such as transforming, or "morphing," the user's face into another face or image, is seen. For example, a portrait photograph of the user can morph into an animal's face, a skeleton, a scary beast, etc. The morphing, or transformation, effect is easily achieved by insuring that the hologram image is substantially aligned with the portrait photograph.

Abstract: A person receiving a telephone call to identifies a caller in advance of answering the telephone call by means of a image associated with the caller's Caller ID. The image is displayed on a telephone display device, television set, personal computer or other display coupled to the telephone system. The calling party may define the image to be associated with their Caller ID. The calling party transmits a image over the telephone line prior to, or concurrently with, a telephone call intended to be answered by the receiving party. The image is stored in a storage device coupled to the receiving party's telephone system along with an indication of the Caller ID of the calling party. The next time that the calling party calls the receiving party the previously stored image is accessed and displayed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ion emitter tip metals and alloys for ionizing the molecules of a gas which concurrently produces small diameter and very low numbers of unwanted particles. Specifically, the invention discloses ion emitter tip materials which, when subjected to normal operating electrical conditions of between about 0.1 and 100 microamperes per emitter tip, produces about 1 particle or less having a diameter of about 0.5 microns or less per cubic foot. Useful ion emitter tip materials include zirconium, titanium, molybdenum, tantalum, rhenium or alloys of these metals. In a specific embodiment, the metal alloys comprise zirconium and rhenium, titanium and rhenium, molybdenum and rhenium, or tantalum and rhenium. Silicon coated metal emitter tips, particularly titanium-silicon coated are disclosed. The emitter tip materials are useful to obtain Class 1 clean room standards in static air or flowing air environments used, for example, in semiconductor manufacture.

Abstract: A multimedia method and apparatus is able to digitally mix audio signals to produce combined audio output signals. Prior to digital mixing, the audio input signals are de-formatted using a digital de-formatter, volume adjusted using digital volume controllers and converted to a common sampling rate utilizing a digital interpolator or decimator.

Abstract: A transistor circuit is formed on a substrate having source and drain electrodes and multiple current-controlling gates. The two current-controlling gates are separated by spacer oxide material. The first gate is an metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate that is insulated from the substrate by a layer of gate oxide. The second gate is a junction field effect transistor (JFET) gate contiguous to the MOS gate that is insulated from the MOS gate by a layer of spacer oxide.

Abstract: A system for detecting and eliminating viruses on a computer network includes a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) proxy server, for controlling the transfer of files and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) proxy server for controlling the transfer of mail messages through the system. The FTP proxy server and SMTP proxy server run concurrently with the normal operation of the system and operate in a manner such that viruses transmitted to or from the network in files and messages are detected before transfer into or from the system. The FTP proxy server and SMTP proxy server scan all incoming and outgoing files and messages, respectively before transfer for viruses and then transfer the files and messages, only if they do not contain any viruses.

Abstract: A lighting fixture includes one or more corner structures for connecting adjacent panels at their adjacent real or virtual corners or edges at predetermined angles to each other. The corner structures include sockets of which at least one includes a single flange member for adhering support on one side of lighting fixture panels with the other sockets each including at least a single flange member for adhering support on one side of lighting fixture panels. Adjacent ones of the sockets are attached to each other at cantilevered ends or at the bases of the flange limbs, or at combinations thereof. The corner structure can be fabricated from sheet metal by cutting and stamping the corner structure according to a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A single or multi-tier lighting fixture includes intra-tier and inter-tier corner structures for connecting adjacent panels at their adjacent corners at predetermined angles to each other, within and across one or more horizontal tiers. The corner structures include sockets including flange members for straddling connection to opposite sides of the panels being connected. The adjacent ones of the sockets are attached to each other for connecting the adjacent panels in a single or multi-tier lighting fixture, and tiered structures include the corner structures which are adhesively connected to the panels in the lighting structure. The tiers of panels may be structurally supportable by rods and struts connecting tier support plates, or rings, and selected corner structures of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling smooth free-form shapes using B-splines over irregular meshes, in a simple and efficient manner, to generate a display of aesthetically pleasing shapes is disclosed. A low degree parametric polynomial representation is generated. As a result, techniques for surface-surface or ray-surface intersection are faster and more robust than possible with existing techniques. In accordance with the present invention, an input mesh M.sup.0 is initially simplified by isolating irregularities and constraining geometry. First, the input mesh M.sup.0 is subjected to general refinement, whereby a new mesh M.sup.1 is constructed, which in turn is subjected to constrained refinement, whereby another new mesh M.sup.2 is constructed. After the general and constrained refinement steps, the mesh M.sup.2 is broken up into a set of "quad-nets" corresponding to each of its vertices. Finally, these quad nets are used as local geometry, over which, 4 cubic Bezier triangles are constructed.

Abstract: A system for changing the display characteristics of a drawing has one model style, a top graphics table memory for storing a top graphics table, a chart table memory for storing a chart table, a default box graphics table memory for storing a default box graphics table, and a level table memory for storing level tables, display routines for displaying the drawing on a display device, and model routines for changing the model style of a drawing. The model routines, when changing the model style, retrieve a model style from a model style library. The model routines re-configure the chart table, the default box graphics table, and the level tables according to the retrieved model style. The system includes a set of filters that control the application of a model style. As the model routines re-configure the chart table, the default box graphics table, and the level tables, the model routines analyze the filters.