Abstract: An image-processor system for compensating for accumulated phase-and-gain errors incurred during transmission of a video signal over a communications channel. The image-processor system comprises an initial-video processor, an input-video processor, a feature-video processor, a frame buffer, an RGB-output processor, an output-video processor, and a control processor. The initial-video processor generates a composite video signal. The input-video processor converts the composite video signal into digital-component signal information. The feature-video processor processes the digital-component signal information as processed component video information. The frame buffer re-establishes broadcast timing standards in the processed component video information to generate time-base corrected digital information. The RGB-output processor decodes the time-base corrected digital information into RGB analog and digital outputs. The analog RGB outputs are output directly.

Abstract: A multistage linear receiver for extracting data embedded in a received spread-spectrum signal having a plurality of channels using a direct sequence code division multiple access system. The multistage receiver comprises an initial plurality of spread-spectrum detectors, a plurality of detector weighting devices, a first plurality of product devices, a first combiner, a first plurality of spread-spectrum detectors, a first plurality of weight-product devices and an output combiner. The initial plurality of spread-spectrum detectors despreads and delays the plurality of channels to generate a plurality of detector-output signals. The detector weighting devices weight the plurality of detector-output signals with a plurality of detector weights as a plurality of weighted-detector signals.

Abstract: A collapsible shoe tie apparatus including a mounting plate, a brace and a foot plate. The mounting plate is vertically disposed for mounting to a wall. The brace is pivotally connected to the mounting plate. The foot plate is pivotally connected to the upper end of the mounting plate. The foot plate has at least one slot slidably connected to the brace. The foot plate folds against the mounting plate. In use the foot plate extends pivotally from the upper end of the mounting plate with the brace slidably extending along the slot for supporting the foot plate.

Abstract: An extended cordless telephone system for communicating information signals from a plurality of telephone lines through a telephone exchange, including a central station and a plurality of remote units. The plurality of remote units may be radio telephone handsets, data sets, and the like. The central station includes a plurality of transceivers, a power combiner, a duplexer, a power divider, and a plurality of radiax cables. The plurality of transceivers transmits and receives the information signals as ACSB signals. Alternatively, the plurality of transceivers may transmit and receive the information signals as spread spectrum signals, using frequency hopping and FSK modulation. The power combiners include a plurality of combiner striplines for impedence matching the plurality of transceivers to an output of the power combiner.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an intercept signal having spread spectrum modulation, having a first antenna, a second antenna, a first channelizer, a second channelizer, parametric encoders, a spread hopper processor and a nonspread hopper processor. The first antenna outputs a first sample of the intercept signal. The second antenna outputs a second sample of the intercept signal. The first channelizer channelizes the spectrum of the first sample of the intercept signal into a first plurality of spectrum segments, with each spectrum segment having a corresponding segment signal, respectively. The second channelizer channelizes the spectrum of the second sample of the intercept signal into a second plurality of spectrum segments having the same center frequencies and bandwidths as the first plurality of spectrum segments. Each spectrum segment of the second plurality of spectrum segments has a corresponding segment signal, respectively.

Abstract: A highway self-restoring channelizing device that is placed along the traveled way to guide motorists through temporary construction zones. The self-restoring channelizing device comprises a foam rubber body encased in a reinforced rubber outer casing that is attached to a rigid base. The base is in turn adhered or anchored to highway pavement. The self-restoring channelizing device has a shape that when viewed in elevation from the side has a wide base sloping upward to a narrow almost vertical upper portion. When viewed from the direction of traffic the self-restoring channelizing device has a tall rectangular shape. The self-restoring channelizing device will not displace and immediately restores to its original shape when impacted or run-over by a vehicle. The self-restoring channelizing device is quickly adhered to pavement and can be removed using a scraper type tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an intercept signal having spread spectrum modulation, having a first antenna, a second antenna, a first channelizer, a second channelizer, parametric encoders, a spread hopper processor and a nonspread hopper processor. The first antenna outputs a first sample of the intercept signal. The second antenna outputs a second sample of the intercept signal. The first channelizer channelizes the spectrum of the first sample of the intercept signal into a first plurality of spectrum segments, with each spectrum segment having a corresponding segment signal, respectively. The second channelizer channelizes the spectrum of the second sample of the intercept signal into a second plurality of spectrum segments having the same center frequencies and bandwidths as the first plurality of spectrum segments. Each spectrum segment of the second plurality of spectrum segments has a corresponding segment signal, respectively.

Abstract: A toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane, having a toll booth. The toll paying system comprises detection means, class determining means, a wallboard, and a vehicle having both a first processor and a transmitter; a toll booth having antenna means, a receiver, a second processor, and camera means. The detection means may be embodied as a plurality of light beams traversing the fast lane with a plurality of light beam detectors. The light beam detectors generate a detection signal in response to a vehicle crossing the light beams. In general, the detection means generates a detection signal in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle in the fast lane. The class determining means may be embodied as an apparatus which determines the class of vehicle passing through the fast lane. The class of vehicle may be a car, truck, or any other type of class desirable for classifying vehicles passing through the toll paying system.

Abstract: An apparatus having a central site and a remote site for customizing advertising for television using a video signal comprising a communications channel, studio processor, scheduling processor, network processor, transmittor, communications processor, video processor, a matrix switch, cue processor, and matric-switch processor. The studio processor generates a plurality of content data signals. The content data signals may include text signals, phototext signals, and/or digital audio signals. The scheduling processor generates a schedule data signal, which includes a unique identifier, accounting, administrative and scheduling data. The network processor generates a communications signal which comprises the plurality of content data signals and the schedule data signals formatted with the video signal. The transmitter transmits the communications signal over the communications channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for adaptive-power control of a spread-spectrum transmitter of a mobile station operating in a cellular-communications network using spread-spectrum modulation. A base station transmits a generic spread-spectrum signal and an APC-data signal. A mobile station has an acquisition circuit for acquiring and decoding the generic spread-spectrum signal, a detector for detecting a received power level of the generic spread-spectrum signal, a decoder for decoding the APC-data signal as a threshold, a differential amplifier for generating a comparison signal by comparing the received power level to the threshold, a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter spread-spectrum signal, an antenna, and a variable-gain device responsive to the comparison signal indicating an increase or decrease for adjusting a transmitter-power level of the transmitter spread-spectrum signal.

Abstract: A surface-acoustic-wave correlator for decoding a spread-spectrum signal having a data signal modulated with a plurality of chip sequences and reciprocal-chip sequences. A tapped-delay-line has a plurality of taps defining a tapped-delay-line structure matched to the chip sequence. In response to a plurality of first chips and second chips embedded in the spread-spectrum signal, the tapped-delay line generates TDL-chip sequences and inverse-TDL-chip sequences. A first transducer is acoustically coupled to the tapped-delay-line. In response to the spread-spectrum signal modulated by the chip sequence, the first transducer correlates a first group of the plurality of TDL-chip sequences and inverse-TDL-chip sequences and outputs a first correlation pulse. A second transducer is acoustically coupled to the tapped-delay-line.

Abstract: An apparatus for adapting to receive a particular path, having the greatest amplitude, of a spread-spectrum signal with multipath. The spread-spectrum signal is modulated by a chip-code. A chip-code generator generates a chip-code signal having the same chip-code as the spread-spectrum signal. A plurality of shift registers shift the chip-code signal by a plurality of time delays. First and second ring counters generate first and second sequencing signals for controlling first and second switching devices. The first switching device successively switches between a plurality of taps of the shift registers in a direction of increasing or decreasing delays for generating the chip-code signal with the first time delay. The second switching device successively switches between the plurality of taps of the shift registers in a direction of increasing or decreasing delays for generating the chip-code signal with a second time delay.

Abstract: A dual-framing-bit-alignment apparatus having a communications channel, a data device, an encryptor, a framing-bit device, a decryptor, a first framing-bit repositioner, and a second framing-bit repositioner. The first data device generates a first data-bit sequence having a first framing-bit sequence. The encryptor encrypts the first data-bit sequence as an encrypted-bit sequence. The framing-bit device substitutes on the encrypted-bit sequence, a second framing-bit sequence, thereby generating a framed-encrypted-bit sequence. The decryptor decrypts the framed-encryped-bit sequence as a second data-bit sequence. The second data-bit sequence contains errors due to the second framing-bit sequence. A second framing-bit repositioner detects in the second data-bit sequence, the first framing-bit sequence and the errors. In response to detecting the errors and the first framing-bit sequence, the first framing-bit repositioner aligns the first framing-bit sequence with the second framing-bit sequence.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus including a minitrampoline, a frame, a first pole, a second pole, a first hydraulic shock, and a second hydraulic shock. The frame supports the minitrampoline above a floor. The first and second poles have handles, and are pivotally mounted to the frame. The first and second hydraulic shocks are pivotally connected to the frame and are clamped to the first and second poles, respectively. The frame may connect to a wall for stabilizing the exercise apparatus. A person exercises on the minitrampoline while holding onto the handles, with the first and second hydraulic shocks absorbing energy imparted by the person through the first and second poles.

Abstract: A wireless alarm system using spread spectrum transmitters, fast frequency shift keying, spread spectrum receivers and computer with a display. The spread spectrum transmitter includes an oscillator coupled to a microprocessor with chip code generation means, preamble register, address register and data register. The spread spectrum receiver acquires synchronization of the spread spectrum signal using a microprocessor coupled to the quieting, signal strength or baseband output of the receiver, with a two step algorithm. The steps comprise achieving a coarse lock and a fine lock to the spread spectrum signal.

Abstract: A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the mesages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from the previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.

Abstract: An enhanced cinema system for use with a movie screen using a fog-like gas released from a plurality of retractable shafts having slits. The plurality of shafts may spin to generate a fog effect with the fog-like gas escaping from the slits. A movie projector may project a movie onto the movie screen, and signals may cause a laser beam of light to interact with the movie and fog-like gas in front of the movie screen. Programmable lighting panels may be mounted on the side walls of the movie theater and in response to a lighting signal from the movie projector, activate lights in the programmable lighting panels during a movie. The enhanced cinema system may further include a remote location coupled to the enhanced cinemas, for distributing programs through a communications channel or other medium, for having a globally controlled system for various movies and effects.

Abstract: A latch hook frame comprising a harp, a plurality of pegs, left and right tray supports and a tray, left and right legs and a main brace. The harp is characterized by a rectangular frame including a left member, a right member, three lateral members connected to the left member and to the right member, and a flat surface attached to the underside of the middle and front laterals. The plurality of pegs attach to the back lateral member of the harp and projecting therefrom, for holding the canvas. The left and right tray supports attach to the left and right members of the harp. The tray is connected pivotally to the left and right tray supports. The left and right legs are connected pivotally to the left and right members of the harp. The main brace connects to the left and right legs, and the left foot connects to left leg and the right foot connects to the right leg.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a received spread spectrum signal having a data signal modulated with a pseudo-noise code and transmitted as an RF spread spectrum signal. A first reference register holds a first pseudo-noise signal, a second reference register holds a second pseudo-noise signal, and a receive-register holds a received spread spectrum signal. A first modulo adder adds each chip of the received spread spectrum signal with each respective chip of the first pseudo-noise signal, thereby generating a first plurality of chip-comparison signals. A first summer adds the first plurality of chip-comparison signals, generating a first correlation signal. The comparator compares the correlation signal to an upper-threshold level and a lower-threshold level, and respectively generates a first data-symbol signal or a second data-symbol signal.

Abstract: A home video system comprising a headend system, a transmission channel, a trap, a converter, descrambling equipment, receiving equipment, and requesting equipment. The headend equipment includes program equipment, interface equipment, protection equipment, scrambling equipment, and processor equipment. A transmission channel has a large capacity for a broadcast signal. The broadcast signal includes a plurality of standard signals occupying a first set of channels and a plurality of special signals occupying a second set of channels. The program equipment originates the braodcast signal. The interface equipment is coupled between the program equipment and the transmission channel, and interfaces the broadcast signal from the program equipment with the transmission channel. The protection equipment prevents recording of a first set of special signals. The scrambling equipment scrambles a second set of special signals. The processor tracks pay-per-view subscriber usage of the home video system.