Abstract: A technician set-up unit is described for cable television converter installation and address assignment, and a method for using the unit with an addressable television converter. The set-up unit and method permits address assignments to be made in a convenient and easy manner by the CATV operator, thus avoiding address assignment during manufacture. The technician set-up unit, which is portable, forms a hardware link between the converter and addressing computer. Using the technician set-up unit as an intermediary device, data can be downloaded to the converter by the addressing computer to define the converter address and to establish the appropriate level of service. The benefit of the invention also permits the technician set-up unit to verify proper converter installation.

Abstract: A cabinet and antenna assembly for a television set includes an antenna which is selectively mountable at different locations on a cabinet to accommodate different signal receiving environments. When the cabinet is sitting on a lower support, the antenna is mounted at one location on the cabinet to accommodate the antenna in a position extending upward above a cabinet top surface. When the cabinet is suspended under an upper support, the antenna is mounted at a different location on the cabinet to accommodate the antenna in a position extending downward below a cabinet bottom surface.

Abstract: A telephone unit is adapted for mounting in either a vertical or a horizontal mode. In the vertical mode, the telephone cradle includes an upwardly extending hook member which projects into the space occupied by the handset to engage a downwardly facing recess in the handset to support the handset in a fixed position. In the horizontal mode, the hook member is retracted from the space occupied by the hook member, and a movable wall is positioned to bias the handset into the same fixed position relative to the cradle.

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 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: A radio cabinet includes a compartment for three AAA size batteries. The compartment includes a housing having integral means for holding contacts which are intended to engage the batteries only when the batteries are placed in the housing in a predetermined way. The contacts are connected to provide a series-aiding arrangement of the batteries. If any one or more of the batteries is improperly inserted into the housing, electrical continuity is prevented by said integral means.

Abstract: An AM superheterodyne radio receiver has an RF filter which includes a biased varactor for providing a trimming capacitance and provides an AGC signal when it is tuned to a broadcast AM signal. The AGC signal and a derived time derivative signal are used to provide binary signals which drive a logic circuit and the logic circuit controls a generator which biases the varactor. The biased varactor fine tunes the RF filter towards the carrier frequency of the broadcast AM signal.

Abstract: In differential amplifier circuits of the type having first and second transistors, the emitter of each transistor is connected to a different current source and the emitters are coupled by a ceramic filter tuned to 455 KHz. In one embodiment, wherein the transistors have symmetrical resistive loads, an inductor is connected across the filter to tune out capacitance across the terminals of the filter. In another embodiment, the circuit includes an unbalanced and complex load. In yet another embodiment, the circuit has active load circuitry and an inductor is connected across the filter to tune out capacitance across the terminal of the filter.

Abstract: An FM receiver includes a varactor tuned RF filter to which is applied a bias voltage and a 20 Hz sinusoidal signal for varying the varactor capacitance and the resonant frequency of the filter. As a result, an FM broadcast signal in the pass-band of the filter is phase-modulated by the filter. The second harmonic of the phase modulation is recovered and coupled to a synchronous detector driven at a 40 Hz rate to provide an error voltage. The bias voltage is related to the integral of the error voltage. A difference between the frequency about which the tuned circuit periodically varies and the carrier frequency of the FM signal cause the bias voltage to vary so as to reduce the magnitude of the difference, thereby fine-tuning the receiver.

Abstract: A toaster-oven appliance has a control circuit which enables a user to program the operation of the appliance through a keyboard with audible feedback and which includes functional keys for selecting one mode of operation from available BAKE, BROIL, SLOW COOK, TIMER and TOAST modes, and numerical keys for entering a temperature, time interval and toast color. The BAKE and BROIL functions may be used with the TIMER function to provide TIME-BAKE and TIME-BROIL functions. An interactive digital display is provided to display a user selected function, temperature, time interval, or an error indication in the event that an impermissible entry is made. In the presently preferred embodiment that is described, the control circuit includes microprocessor-based programmable digital logic. The microprocessor operates under the direction of a master program.

Abstract: An electronic temperature sensing system for toaster appliances and the like which is capable of providing a consistent toast color independent of toast compartment temperature at the initiation of each toasting operation, the condition of the bread to be toasted and bread loading. The system includes principally a temperature sensing device having a varying resistance versus temperature characteristic that is placed in close thermal coupling with the bread to be toasted for developing a voltage Vs as a function of temperature, and integrating means for deriving a voltage Vu that is an integrated function of the voltage Vs and represents a varying reference temperature. The difference between Vs and Vu is obtained and compared to a given voltage corresponding to a given toast color for generating a signal that terminates the toasting operation upon said given toast color being reached.

Abstract: An electronically tunable oscillator comprises a transistor coupled to ground by an emitter resistor. The collector and base of the transistor are interconnected through an inductor which has a tap connected to a bypass capacitor and a B+ voltage source. The source maintains the collector and base at the same DC potential. The collector of the transistor is coupled to a capacitance which cooperates with the inductor to provide a tuned circuit. At least part of the capacitance is provided by a varactor whose value can be controlled to determine oscillator frequency. The magnitude of the oscillator frequency is limited to two times the base to emitter voltage of the transistor and the use of the emitter resistor cooperates to minimize distortion.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing and displaying temperature at a site includes a sensor which provides a first current related to temperature at the site, and a circuit for generating a predetermined current. The apparatus also includes a capacitance responsive to a second current having a value proportional to the difference between the first current and the predetermined current for generating a voltage; and means responsive to the generated voltage for discharging the capacitance to a predetermined voltage level when the voltage exceeds a selected reference level and for providing a signal indicating each time the voltage exceeds the reference level. The signal is periodic with a frequency related to sensed temperature and digital display means responsive to the frequency of the signal provide a numerical indication of temperature sensed.

Abstract: A pulse echo intrusion detection method and apparatus is described wherein a reference parameter is automatically established which is representative of an interval of time elapsed during initial projection and reflection of pulse energy between a source and a receiver. The reference parameter is periodically compared with successive pulse projection and reflection time measurements in order to sense variations indicative of a changed environment such as might be caused by the presence of an intruding object.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the brightness of a vacuum fluorescent display having filament terminals and connected to anode or segment biasing means includes a transformer having a filament winding connected to the filament terminals. The transformer is driven by a 60-cycle power source. An electronic switch, including a transistor, is connected between a center tap of the filament and the anode biasing means (at a common ground) and circuit means open and close the switch at a 60-cycle rate. The ratio of time during which the switch is closed to the time during which the switch is open is variable to control the brightness of the display.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for carrying the method are disclosed which provide for selection by the user of a surface used as a reference in the detection of an intrusion. This is achieved by periodically projecting pulses of acoustical energy from a source towards a reference surface and detecting the reflection of such pulses of acoustical energy at a receiver and providing a first indication or signal representative of the reflected pulses. A second indication or signal is generated which is adjustable and representative of the time elapsed between the projection of a pulse of acoustical energy from the source and the reception at the receiver of the pulse of acoustical energy when reflected from the selected reference surface. The variations between the first and second indications are detected and compared and an alarm is generated when a variation is detected in the indications.

Abstract: An electromechanical lock detects a series of taps on a surface. After converting the taps into a series of electrical signals, processes the signals and compares the tap sequence with a pre-set code.

Abstract: A control device includes a housing having a serpentinely disposed channel and a cover, secured to the housing, which converts the channel into an ultrasonic waveguide. One end of the waveguide is bounded by a stationary reflector and the other end of the waveguide communicates with a bore which holds a piezoelectric device matched to the waveguide so as to provide therein, when actuated, a propagating transverse wave in the ultrasonic frequency range. The cover includes three elongated slots, each of which slidably supports a different reflector unit. Each unit has a reflector extending into the waveguide and can be positioned anywhere along its corresponding slot. Actuation of the piezoelectric transducer by an electrical pulse causes an ultrasonic pulse to propagate down the waveguide and parts thereof are reflected back to the transducer where an electrical group of pulse signals are caused to appear.

Abstract: Alarm devices are provided with circuit means for permitting interconnection of the alarm devices into an alarm system in which each of the alarm devices continually senses for an adverse condition, such as smoke in a smoke detection alarm system, and in which all of the alarm devices signal an alarm in response to the sensing of an adverse condition. The interconnections for the alarm devices are such that the alarm devices not directly coupled to operative sources of electric power will, nevertheless, sense adverse conditions and signal alarms when any one of the alarm devices senses an adverse condition.