Abstract: In a video recorder with a rotary head drum, a lower drum (1) and drum base (2) are joined together by laser welding to simplify assembly and reduce manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A circuit (10) for reducing errors due to adjacent pixel interdependence in a liquid crystal display includes a decomposer (12) for dividing an input signal into a plurality of signals having at least a high brightness signal and at least one low brightness signal, a delay match circuit (14) for the high brightness signal to provide a delay high brightness signal, one or more transient conditioner circuits (16 and/or 18) for processing the at least one low brightness signal to provide at least one transient conditioned low brightness signal, and a combiner (20) for combining the delay matched high brightness signal with the at least one transient conditioned low brightness signal to provide an output signal having reduced sparkle artifacts.

Abstract: A novel CRT and method of making the CRT are disclosed. The CRT comprises an internal neutral density filter that lies between the phosphor deposits and the interior surface of the faceplate panel. The filter enhances the contrast of the CRT without compromising center to edge brightness ratio of the CRT. The filter comprises very fine particles, wherein the particles are black, gray, or a mixture of black and gray. The filter reduces the absorption of the faceplate by 25 to 75%. The invention is particularly useful for substantially flat CRTs. The method of producing the novel CRT comprises the steps of preparing a suspension of well-dispersed light-absorbing, carbon-containing particles which are 0.05 to 2 microns in aqueous media and applying the suspension onto the interior surface of the faceplate panel prior to applying at least one phosphor deposit. The suspension may also include suitable organic and inorganic binders and dispersing and wetting agents.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes an automatic gain control apparatus for a spread-spectrum receiver, including a received signal strength indicator, an analog amplifier in signal communication with the received signal strength indicator, an analog-to-digital converter in signal communication with the analog amplifier, a digital automatic gain control loop in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter in signal communication with the digital automatic gain control loop for providing a signal indicative of a digital gain to the analog amplifier; where the corresponding method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes receiving an analog signal, measuring the strength of the received analog signal, deriving a first analog gain in correspondence with the measured strength, applying the derived first analog gain to an analog amplifier, deriving a second analog gain from a pilot

Abstract: Deflection yoke for a cathode-ray tube has at least one pair of saddle-shaped coils. The saddle-shaped coils form an asymmetric field in the vicinity of a front conductor assembly. The field asymmetry is produced by an inclusion near the front conductor assembly of at least a metal piece. The purpose of this asymmetry is to minimize the effects of an orthogonality defect between the deflection fields created by the horizontal and vertical deflection coils on the geometry of the image.

Abstract: A telecommunication system and method are disclosed for employing a directory service or voicemail retrieval service over a telecommunication network. The telecommunication system includes a telecommunication device having a display for viewing textual information, the telecommunication device being connected to a digital subscriber line (DSL) telephone network. A database application includes directory information, and the database application is remotely disposed relative to the telecommunication device. A mechanism is coupled to the telecommunication device such that when the mechanism is activated, a user is provided with access, through the DSL network, to directory information on the data base application. The directory information is provided to the display of the telecommunication device in response to user entered information.

Abstract: Variable bit rate information is transmitted across a transmission link (20) at a constant bit rate by multiplexing individual variable bit rate elementary data streams (161 and 162) into a composite data stream (18) having a constant bit rate. A receiving device (22) receives the constant bit rate stream but delays processing thereof by an interval typically a fraction of the transmission interval. Following the delay interval, the receiving device processes the data at a rate that is independent of, but typically not greater than, the constant bit rate.

Abstract: Device comprising: matrices of reflecting elements which can be electrically driven, and means for deconstructing a beam of polychromatic light and means for reconstructing complementary reflected beams, comprising two dichroic filters with a gradient where, for at least one of these filters, the direction of the gradient HOG, H?OG? makes an angle of inclination of non-zero gradient ?, ?? with a plane (DOE, D?OE?) orthogonal to the reflecting surfaces of the matrices. By virtue of the inclination of the gradient, the chromatic performance of the device is substantially improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing the audio-visual synchronization problems (e.g.—“lip sync” problems) in corresponding audio and video streams by adapting a statistical distribution of temporal errors to create a new statistical distribution of temporal errors. The new statistical distribution of temporal errors being substantially within an acceptable synchronization tolerance window which is less offensive to a viewer/listener.

Abstract: A user (121, 122) can gain access to a Local Area Network (LAN) (20) on a fee basis without the risk of having to transmit an un-encrypted PIN at upon initial access. The user initially sends a request to the LAN identifying a Billing Agent (26) that maintains an account associated with the user for payment of LAN access charges. In practice, the account can take the form of a pre-paid account identified only by a PIN known to the user. After the user has identified the Billing Agent, the LAN queries the Billing Agent for its digital certificate, which the LAN forwards to the user. The user utilizes the certificate to encrypt a PIN for transmission via the LAN to the Billing Agent for authentication. Upon successful authentication, the Billing Agent authorizes the LAN to grant access to the user, thus allowing the user to obtain a connection via the LAN to a private network (14) or a public network (16).

Abstract: A device for amplifying and converting current signals into voltage signals for processing The current signals are delivered by sensors, e.g. optical transducers, magnetical heads. The current signals are first amplified using a current to current amplifier, the amplified current signals are then transported using electrical conductors and eventually amplified using a current to voltage amplifier. The invention may find application in consumer electronic devices, cars, planes, industrial machines.

Abstract: A disc speed control device for use in a disc player and/or recorder having a pick-up for reading/recording data. The device comprises an inner loop which regulates a determined disc rotation speed value received at its input and an outer loop which delivers this speed value depending on a frequency at which data is read by the pick-up. The present invention is particularly useful in multistandard disc drives which need to adjust to different disc speed modes, for example, constant angular velocity, or constant linear velocity.

Abstract: A production system automates the control of production devices used to produce and broadcast a show. The system automation allows a video director to pre-produce, preview, and produce the live show from a single user interface. In an embodiment, a processing unit displays graphical controls for the production devices. A video director interacts with the graphical controls to thereby remotely control the production devices from one location. In an embodiment, a video director defines a set of production commands or instructions (i.e., “transition macro”). Upon execution, each production command directs the processing unit to transmit in series and/or parallel one or more control commands to one or more of the production devices. Production commands can be included to enable the show to be broadcast live or recorded for on-demand access. Live and/or on-demand productions are distributed over traditional television mediums and/or a computer network, including the Internet.

Abstract: In a stereophonic expansion circuit, the (L+R) sum signal is spectrally modified by increasing the bass and treble frequencies relative to the midrange so as to compensate for a midrange frequency boost in the (L?R) difference signal. The stereophonic expansion effect and manipulation of the signal parameters are produced by active matrixing amplifiers.

Abstract: A cathode structure for an electron gun of a cathode-ray tube having a reduced size and providing a fast cathode start-up time and excellent thermal efficiency. The cathode comprises a closed chamber consisting of a cap supporting an emitting part of the cathode and a dish-shaped skirt having an internal surface which is concave so as to reflect, by radiation, the thermal energy stored in the skirt walls, towards that region of the cap supporting the emitting part. The cathode structure also comprises filament supply leads which pass through the side walls of the skirt and connect to the filament heater contained in the closed chamber.

Abstract: A process for detecting black bands in a video image within a luminance range corresponding to low luminance values comprises the steps of: calculating, for each line situated in a location in which a black band can be expected to be found if present in said video image, a value relating to a maximum number of occurrences of points having the same luminance value; averaging said value over said lines in said location; calculating a threshold dependent on said average; and, comparing said value relating to said maximum number of occurrences obtained for a new line with said threshold. Applications relate, for example, to the detection of the “letterbox” format.

Abstract: A process for synchronizing an MPEG decoder, characterized by the process of calculating an actual instant of presentation Tpres of the video of an image, this instant relating to a local clock LSTC, further calculating an offset STOC between Tpres, being the calculated instant of presentation and the PTS label corresponding to the instant of presentation desired by the coder for the video of this image, so as to define a virtual clock VSTC=STCO+LSTC, the presentation of the video corresponding to this image being made at the PTS dates relating to the virtual clock VSTC, wherein this process relates to satellite decoders, MPEG decoders, as well, as digital TV receivers, utilizing a hard disk for recording coded data.

Abstract: An ACC system includes a controllable amplifier having an input coupled to receive a chroma input signal and an output for providing an chroma output signal of controllable amplitude. A first feedback path, including a cascade connection of means for providing a signal representative of a measured burst amplitude, means for providing an error signal representative of the difference between a desired burst amplitude and the measured burst amplitude, and an integrator, is coupled between the output of the controllable amplifier and a gain control input of the controllable amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a process for motion-compensated recursive filtering and a corresponding coding system. The device comprises in particular a blockwise motion estimation module [(2)], means [(3)] for determining a recursivity noise level (?rec), a module (4) for calculating a prediction error (?), a module [(5)] for calculating a recursivity coefficient (?) as a function of the recursivity noise level and of the prediction error, means [(6)] for calculating a motion-compensated image and means of filtering [(7, 8)] producing a weighting, by the recursivity coefficient, of the current input image and of a filtered and motion-compensated image stored previously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring a correct satellite signal connection. Specifically, a user selects a satellite signal via an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) from at least one satellite, and the IRD sends a command signal to a selector switch to acquire and lock onto said satellite signal. The IRD repeats transmission of the command signal to the selector switch once the IRD has acquired and locked onto said information signal. Thus, in the event that the selector switch failed to switch to a low noise block converter (LNB) corresponding to the initial command signal, then the repeated command signal helps to ensure that the selector switch switches to the LNB corresponding with the latest command signal sent by the IRD.