Abstract: An "Anti-Piracy" system and method are disclosed which includes an FSK modulator at the head end CATV transmitting location which, in response to data from an addressing computer, randomly issues Anti-Piracy commands (APC) which are transmitted to the set-top converters in the system. The converters are programmed to anticipate an interrupt in the FSK RF signals following the reception of an APC signal. The system and method are designed to curtail piracy by the use of audio recording techniques which have been used to obtain unauthorized service.

Abstract: A television receiver which includes an automatic deghosting system synchronously demodulates IF television signals to generate baseband signals representing the in-phase and quadrature phase modulation components of the IF signals. A signal representing the phase difference between the carrier of the signal as broadcast and the carrier of the received signal, which may include ghosts, is generated from the in-phase and quadrature signals. This signal is applied to circuitry which develops signals proportional to the sine and cosine of the phase angle separating the broadcast carrier phase and the received carrier phase. The demodulated in-phase and quadrature phase baseband signals are multiplied by the sine and cosine signals in a complex multiplier to correct distortion resulting from the synchronous demodulation using the carrier of the received signal.

Abstract: A digital television receiver, having a line-locked clock, includes a partly digital, partly analog phase locked loop. This phase locked loop regenerates two quadrature phase related subcarrier signals that are used to synchronously demodulate the chrominance signal components of the composite video signals into two color informaiton signals. The phase locked loop includes an analog voltage controlled oscillator which generates a signal that is independent of any frequency instability in the line locked clock signal. An analog-to-digital converter digitizes this signal to provide one of the subcarrier signals. This subcarrier signal is applied to a read-only memory to generate the second subcarrier signal. The two color information signals are obtained by multiplying the chrominance signals by the first and second subcarrier signals.

Abstract: An automatic deghosting system synchronously demodulates IF television signals to generate baseband composite video signals. A strong RF ghost signal having a carrier phase that differs from that of the desired signal may cause demodulation phase errors, causing quadrature distortion in the baseband video signals. The circuitry shown in this disclosure synchronously demodulates the quadrature component of the IF television signals and develops a signal proportional to the difference between the values of the baseband quadrature signal immediately before and immediately after the leading edge of the vertical sync pulse. This signal, which is proportional to the demodulation phase error, is used to control a phase locked loop that regenerates the in-phase and quadrature carrier signals used by the synchronous demodulators to substantially eliminate any demodulation phase error.

Abstract: A digital television signal deghosting system includes an IIR filter responsive to the in-phase and quadrature-phase components of modulated television signals for cancelling ghost signals irrespective of their phase. A double-conversion tuner develops modulated composite video signals having a 3f.sub.c carrier frequency. An analog-to-digital converter responsive to a two-phase 3f.sub.c clock signal develops digital samples which alternately represent the baseband in-phase and quadrature-phase components of the modulated video signals. These samples are separated to develop digital signals representing the in-phase and quadrature-phase components of the modulated television signals.

Abstract: A frame comb type composite video decoder which does not require motion adaptive processing circuitry generates low frequency luminance signal components from one field of composite video signal. The high frequency luminance component is derived from two lines of composite video signal from each of two fields disposed before and after the field from which the low frequency luminance signals is developed.

Abstract: A binary subtracter stage for subtracting single bit binary numbers includes a first exclusive OR gate to which the numbers to be subtracted are applied. The output of the exclusive OR gate is connected to one input of a second exclusive OR gate which has a second input connected to a borrow input signal. The output of the second exclusive OR gate provides the difference between the single bit binary numbers. A borrow output signal is generated with the combination of a pass transistor coupled between the borrow input and borrow output terminals and a three state logic circuit which has its output termial connected to the borrow output terminal. The pass transistor is controlled by the output of the first exclusive OR gate and the three state logic circuit is controlled by the single bit binary numbers to be subtracted.

Abstract: Apparatus for estimating noise in an electrical signal having substantially redundant recurring intervals includes circuitry for producing difference samples corresponding to signal differences between the recurring redundant intervals. A number of difference samples are averaged, and ones of the difference samples contributing to each average are subtracted from the averages. Magnitude values are extracted from the differences between the averages and the difference samples. A predetermined number of the magnitude values are averaged to produce a noise estimate signal.

Abstract: A system for measuring spaces in a periodic matrix includes a plurality of light sources for simultaneously illuminating the matrix with light at a plurality of discrete locations. A plurality of linear photodiode arrays simultaneously receive the respective light/shadow images from the matrix at the discrete locations, and associated control and quantizer circuits produce signals representative of the spaces and areas therebetween. RETICON interface circuits are coupled, respectively, to the control and quantizer circuits for simultaneously converting the signals for each location into data values and transmitting the data values in parallel to respective RAMs. RAM interface control circuits are coupled, respectively, to the RAMs for sequentially addressing the respective RAMs for seriatim transfer of the data values to a computer.

Abstract: Diagonally disposed line-selection artifacts appear in the video signal from a CCD imager using a line-transfer register, owing to differential delay in a side-loaded CCD shift register used for transferring charge packets from the image sensing array to the charge sensing output stage. The extent of these line-selection artifacts is shortened in the direction of line scan by spatial multiplexing, so they occur entirely within line retrace intervals. The line-selection artifacts are then suppressed by normal line retrace blanking.

Abstract: A device for thumping and flushing a kinescope funnel includes a lift member which moves horizontally to engage the funnel and then vertically to raise the funnel to a thump position. A means for centering and orienting the neck moves in unison with the lift member. A thumper is arranged to thump the funnel in the thump position. A probe vertically moves to enter the funnel through the neck and inject a flushing fluid into the funnel while thumping occurs.

Abstract: A CATV addressable converter is provided with a multi-purpose bi-directional data port for transmitting and/or receiving serial digital data. A micro-computer provided within the converter is programmed to make the converter responsive to RF commands transmitted over a television distribution system by an addressing computer or to the digital command signals received from an external device through the data port. The micro-computer coordinates the exchange of data between the converter and the external device to implement several converter functions. The data port provides a means by which an external device can read or alter data stored in the converter memory. This facilitates testing during and after manufacture as well as converter installation and address assignment procedures. The converter port can also be used to establish a communication link between two or more converters. The resulting hard-wire link between the converters prevents a form of piracy prevalent in the CATV industry.

Abstract: In a method of detecting blemishes in the phosphor screen on the inside surface of a kinescope faceplate while simultaneously avoiding detecting deposits on the outside surface of the faceplate as blemishes, the faceplate is arranged between a light source and a light detector in an orientation wherein light from the light source passes through the faceplate and subsequently through the phosphor screen prior to reaching the detector.

Abstract: A base for a CRT has an outside diameter which is less than the outside diameter of the tube neck. A plurality of resilient detents are integral with the base and act against the exhaust tubulation to help retain the base on the neck of the tube. A silo is integral with the base and surrounds the high voltage pin. The pins freely pass through pinslots to avoid bending the pins when putting the base onto the neck. The pinslots are configured to facilitate the reception of bent or misaligned pins.

Abstract: An electron injection structure for the beam guide meshes of a flat panel display has apertures with different dimensions to optimize beam focusing for different purposes. The first period of apertures has strong focusing normal to the plan of the guide meshes. A plurality of periods have strong focusing in a direction parallel to the lateral dimension of the guide meshes. Another plurality of apertures matches the beams to the propagation section of the beam guide.

Abstract: An internal magnetic shield disposed within a CRT has a machine-stamped integral bar member formed parallel to a flat surface thereof such that a narrow underpass is formed between the two ends of the bar member. A flat end of a contact spring having a resilient ramp-shaped tongue projecting therefrom is inserted through the underpass sufficiently to allow the end of the tongue to clear the bar member and spring back to contact the edge of the bar member, thereby preventing removal of the spring.

Abstract: A device for locating and orienting objects at a precise location includes a lever pivoted to a fixed support. The lever supports a first urging member arranged at a first preselected distance from the pivot axis. A second urging member is pivoted to the lever at a second predetermined distance from the pivot axis. Pivoting of the lever causes the urging members to urge the object into the desired precise location and orientation.

Abstract: In memory-based video signal processing systems such as frame recursive filters, for example, system performance is dependent upon critical timing relationships between incoming signals and delayed signals produced from the memory. Video signal from various sources, e.g. VTR's, tend to have jittering time bases that generally have prevented the use of such memory-based processing systems. The jittering signals may be standardized, in sampled data format, by effecting adaptive signal delays responsive to a measure of the relative phase of the sampling clock with respect to horizontal synchronizing pulses. The phase measure is used to control an interpolator which combines successive samples in proportions to develop sample values that should have occurred at the sample times had the signal not been jittering.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for controlling the field or frame store signal processing of standard and nonstandard video signals is disclosed. The apparatus includes a nonstandard signal detector which compares the received horizontal sync signals to a horizontal sync signal generated internally be counting down a clock signal having a frequency proportional to the color subcarrier frequency. The detector produces a control signal which is in one state when the horizontal sync signals are substantially in coincidence and in a second state otherwise. This control signal is applied to apparatus which switches from field or frame store signal processing apparatus to alternative signal processing apparatus, which does not include a field or frame memory, to minimize distortion of the image when nonstandard signals are processed.

Abstract: A photodetector array interface circuit includes a pixel counter circuit having a plurality of sequentially numbered counters for counting pulses in a pixel oscillator signal, and a pixel counter gating circuit coupled to the pixel counter circuit for receiving both the pixel oscillator signal and a digital video signal and sequentially selecting the counters to receive the pixel oscillator signal such that the next sequential counter receives the pixel oscillator signal whenever the digital video signal changes. The interface circuit further comprises circuitry for sequentially reading the counters such that a particular counter is read only when the next sequential counter has received the pixel oscillator signal.