Abstract: An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor and a radio frequency remote control device. The remote control device has a pointing device and a plurality of keys on top of the device and a trigger-like button mounted on the bottom of the device which functions as a mouse selection button.

Abstract: A data collision avoidance circuit is utilized in a memory write control circuit of an image signal processing apparatus for preventing the write and read clocks of a FIFO memory from colliding. The circuit contains a write enable signal generating unit, a window pulse section set up unit, and a write enable signal control unit. The write enable signal generating unit generates a write enable signal in response to the write control odd/even field signal to write the data into the FIFO memory. The window pulse section set up unit generates a window pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width. The time interval of the predetermined pulse width is designed to be greater than a time interval during which write and read clocks of the FIFO memory can potentially collide, and the window pulse signal is generated in response to a read control odd/even field signal.

Abstract: A method and circuit for reducing distortion of low level signals by efficiently separating noise and signal components using correlativity between respective red (R), green (G) and blue (B) channels and the amplitudes of the detail components. The detail enhancement method includes extracting detail components, determining signal/noise, cancelling noise or enhancing details and outputting a detail-enhanced image signal. Even if a high-pass frequency component of the input signal is smaller than a critical value, the input signal is accurately separated as a signal component or a noise component. The signal is cancelled only when the input signal is classified as a noise component.

Abstract: A composite electronic apparatus consisting of a video and audio signal processing portion including image displaying circuits for displaying images based on a video signal and sound reproducing circuits for reproducing a sound based on an audio signal, a position detecting portion for conducting positional detection to produce position data representing a detected position, a data reproducing portion operative to read information from a record medium and to reproduce map data or video or audio data on the basis of the information read from the record medium, a data processing portion for causing the position data and the map data to be subjected to predetermined data processing, a video signal transmitting portion operative to produce a video signal for image display on the basis of the position data and the map data subjected to the predetermined data processing and to transmit the video signal for image display to the image displaying circuits so that images displayed by the image displaying circuits, and

Abstract: A universal remote control unit for controlling a television and videocassette recorder including a data input mechanism securable to a telephone line for receiving signals from an external supplier representing television programing schedule items; a display mechanism for displaying television programing schedule items and television and videocassette operating functions in a hierarchy of textual and scrollable selection lists; a user-operable selector mechanism for allowing a user to scroll through the lists and then select television programing schedule items or television and videocassette functions; another user-operable selector mechanism for allowing a user to generate billing signals signifying a payment to be made in response to the receipt of the television programming schedule items from the external supplier; a data output mechanism securable to a telephone line for transmitting the billing signals representing a payment made to the external supplier; a processor mechanism for controlling operatio

Abstract: A television signal receiver for processing an HDTV signal transmitted in a vestigial sideband (VSB) format with a one-dimensional data constellation includes a first carrier recovery network (18), an equalizer (20), and a second carrier recovery network (22, 30, 62). A multiple stage quantizer network (50, 66) exhibiting progressively finer resolution is associated with the operation of the equalizer for providing blind equalization without need of a "training" signal. The second carrier recovery network includes a phase detector (30) wherein a one-symbol delayed (312) input signal and a quantized (310) input signal are multiplied (316), and an unquantized input signal and a quantized (310) one-symbol delayed (314) input signal are multiplied (316), and an unquantized input signal and a quantized (310) one-symbol delayed (314) input signal are multiplied (318). Signals produced by the multiplication are subtractively combined (320) to produce an output signal representing carrier phase error.

Abstract: A double-wide television set is integrated together with a double-deck videocassette recorder and a CD-OK system. Selection of operating modes and flow of signals among portions of the integrated system is complex. Apparatus and a method of operation are provided to simplify the complex process of controlling the double-wide television set using a graphic-remote controller are provided. The graphic-remote controller is displayed on a sub-screen of the television set in response to an input from a special graphic-remote controller key on a simplified remote control. Using the selection keys on the simplified remote control to manipulate the images of the on-screen graphic-remote controller and its various control command graphics, the various possible operations of the television set may be manipulated by the user. Selection of control commands on the displayed control command graphics is accomplished by a pointing device such as a cursor.

Abstract: An information signal editing system comprises a plurality of information signal editing apparatuses and a network for interconnecting the plurality of information signal editing apparatuses and providing a bidirectional communication capability to transfer information signals between the editing apparatuses. Each editing apparatus edits at least one of a plurality of information signals entered asynchronously, the information signals containing synchronization information. Each editing apparatus is composed of a synchronization information detecting section and an editing section. The synchronization information detecting section detects the synchronization information from the entered information signals. The editing section performs editing processing on at least one of the entered information signals based on the synchronization information detected by the synchronization information detecting section.

Abstract: A high-speed video switch uses a current-mode switch to switch between a first input video signal and a second input video signal. Each of the first and second input video signals are input to the video switch through clamping circuits which clamp a blank level of the input video signals to a predetermined constant level. Preferably, the blank level of the first and second input video signals are clamped to two volts. An output signal is output by the video switch which represents one of the input video signals. The video switch receives two control signals from the video system. The two control signals control which one of the input video signals is represented by the output signal. A back-to-back diode configured isolation circuit is used to isolate the one of the two input video signals which is not represented by the output signal.

Abstract: A remote receiver is disclosed that accepts command signals from infrared transmitters and radio frequency transmitters and that combined the command signals into a final non overlapping command signal according to a preselected priority among the command signals.

Abstract: An entertainment system has a personal computer as the heart of the system with a large screen VGA quality monitor as the display of choice. The system has digital satellite broadcast reception, decompression and display capability with multiple radio frequency remote control devices which transmit self identifying signals and have power adjustment capabilities. These capabilities are used to provide context sensitive groups of keys which may be defined to affect only selected applications running in a windowing environment. In addition, the remote control devices combine television and VCR controls with standard personal computer keyboard controls. A keyboard remote also integrates a touchpad which is food contamination resistant and may also be used for user verification. Included in the system is the ability to recognize verbal communications in video signals and maintain a database of such text which is searchable to help identify desired programming in real time.

Abstract: The device includes systems for picking up (1), acquiring (2) and digitizing (3) a distorted source image (SI), a system for processing digital images (4, 47) for constructing a distortion-corrected target image (TI) corresponding to the source image (SI), this system including a first sub-assembly (4) for predetermining, on the basis of the data of a distorted TEST source image (SG.degree.), an optical center (OC.sup.n) and a polynomial function (F.sub.n) for correcting radial distortions around this optical center, and a second sub-assembly (47) which applies the polynomial correction function to each address of the pixel of the target image (TI) for furnishing the address of a point in the distorted source image (SI) in which an intensity data is present which is applied to the initial address in the target image. The method includes the computation, in a TEST source image (SG.degree.), of an optical center (OC.sup.n) at the center of optical distortions, and of a polynomial function (F.sup.

Abstract: An equalization apparatus for use in a television system includes a equalizer filter having a plurality of equalizer coefficients and an updating circuit. In the updating circuit, the equalizer coefficients are adjusted by using two computational terms: a CMA term; and a Cauchy term in order to effectively make the equalizer to converge to the global minimum of the coarse MSE function all the time. Both terms decrease to zero as the equalizer coefficients approach to a minimum, but in different ways: the first CMA term decreases to zero monotonously; and the value of the second Cauchy term fluctuates up and down, depending on the selected value for the Cauchy distribution function and thus temporary increases, although contained, are allowed during the process. A combination of the two terms with a proper choice for the weight factors prevents the equalizer coefficients from converging to a local minimum of the coarse MSE function and makes them converge to the global minimum thereof all the time.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for selecting channels on a television system by theme.

Abstract: In a demodulator for a complex-value vestigial sideband signal, a Nyquist slope filter which consists of two subfilters (Ra, Ia) is used, a filter device (FBASTP) being connected downstream of, or also capable of being integrated in, the said Nyquist slope filter, in order to suppress subcarriers, specifically in such a way that the real parts (Ra) and imaginary parts (Ia) of the sub-filters can be combined in each case.

Abstract: An automatic video signal identification system uses zero-mean normalized reference signals that are cross-correlated with an input video signal. The input video signal is stored in an acquisition memory and then cross-correlated with a plurality of reference signal templates, each template representing a particular video signal to be identified. The cross-correlation process provides a corresponding plurality of maximum correlation outputs. The largest maximum correlation output is determined, and the corresponding template identified. If not already normalized, the largest maximum correlation .output is normalized to produce a correlation coefficient. Based upon the identified template the correlation coefficient is tested to determine the validity of the match, i.e., whether the video signal is identified or whether the video signal is unknown.

Abstract: Apparatuses (1,2,3) of an audio/video system convey user commands to one another via a serial control bus (4). The user commands convey key activations on a remote handset (18a), whose keys include both "normal" keys such as "mute/unmute", and "repeat" keys such as "volume up" and "volume down". To convey a repeat key activation, a first control means (12) within one apparatus addresses a key activation message to a second control means (32) within another apparatus. The second control means (32) synthesises locally a repetitive series of user commands, until a key release message is received. The need for repetitive user command messages to be sent via the control bus is thereby eliminated, and the frequency of repetition can be defined locally to give consistent response to user commands. The second control means (32) can also implement a de-bouncing function, disregarding duplicate user command messages sent by a third apparatus (2) which also responds to the handset (18a).

Abstract: A tuner selects one of channels at different locations in a frequency band used for transmitting VSB HDTV signals including symbol codes descriptive of digital signals. The tuner also includes mixers for performing plural conversion of the selected channel to a final intermediate-frequency signal, which is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter. A phase tracker, operative on narrow-bandpass filtered portions of the digitized final intermediate-frequency signal centering on its carrier frequency, suppresses an imaginary portion of the final intermediate-frequency signal, arising from multipath distortion or from phase incoherence in local oscillations used during frequency conversion(s).

Abstract: A system for transforming coordinate systems in an automated video monitor alignment system includes a camera and computer to capture an image of the display bezel surrounding the cathode ray tube and of the image displayed on the CRT. Three dimensional models of the CRT tube and display bezel are used to compute and compensate for camera perspective. Camera pixel data can then be transformed to `flat plane` coordinates. When the relative orientation of the camera and CRT are corrected, the effects of parallax can be eliminated, allowing more accurate inspection, measurement, and lower cost fixturing on the production line. Thus, an accurate coordinate transformation from a camera-referenced coordinate system to a monitor-referenced coordinate system is made. Correction factors for correcting errors due to refraction can also be generated empirically in accordance with the present invention. Slope coordinate data is generated for a sample monitor for predetermined slope coordinate locations on the tube face.

Abstract: Control circuits for the cut-off and drive control of video equipment. A first control device includes a cut-off control circuit and drive control circuit for use in conventional modes. A second control device includes a cut-off control circuit for mode switching and a drive control circuit for mode switching, independent of the first control device. The cut-off and drive adjustments made for every mode switching operation are unnecessary, and the mode switching based on off set data is possible.