Abstract: A sample rate converter includes a first interpolator which generates samples intermediate samples provided at a first sample rate. A second interpolator, using the intermediate samples, generates further samples at a second sample rate which are intermediate the intermediate samples. An accumulator which accumulates a value representing the ratio of the first and second sample rates, generates scale factors for performing the interpolations, and a clock signal at the second sample rate.

Abstract: A digital signal proces sing system for receiving and processing a high definition television signal, eg., in a Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) format, includes a filter for rejecting interferer signals such as a narrowband continuous wave NTSC co-channel interferer. In an illustrated embodiment the rejection filter is a digital FIR filter (18) located after a (de)rotator (16) in a carrier recovery network (16, 20, 24, 26, 28). The filter exhibits a zero throughput delay bandpass response with attenuation notches for rejecting NTSC co-channel picture and chrominance baseband carrier frequencies.

Abstract: In an optical recording apparatus light is directed to and reflected from a recording medium to recover recorded information. The intensity of direct and reflected light is measured and the ratio of the measured values is used to control the intensity of the light source to maintain the intensity of reflected light substantially constant.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for formatting executable codes and data, defining interactive applications, with video and audio program material, for reliable and convenient access includes compressing (18, 21) audio and video programs according to a protocol such as MPEG. The compressed audio and video (A/V) programs are segmented (19, 22) into transport packets, with audio transport packets identified by a first service identifier SCID.sub.Ai, and video transport packets identified by a second service identifier, SCID.sub.Vi. Interactive application programs associated with A/V programs are compiled (10) into functional modules and condensed. A module may be executable software or data. A module includes code/data and a header. The code/data portion of each module undergoes cyclic redundancy coding (CRC) over the entire module and CRC check bits are concatenated or appended to the module. Respective modules are segmented (14) into transport packets.

Abstract: A satellite video receiver (12) for providing output signals to a television signal receiver (52) includes apparatus (10, 15, 16, 20, 45, 60, 65, 70) for operator selection of the modulator output channel frequency of the satellite receiver. The operator may select a modulator main channel, or an alternative manufacturer pre-set modulator default channel. In a first recovery mode, the operator may automatically replace an existing modulator channel with a manufacturer pre-set default channel, e.g., if a chosen main channel is forgotten. In another recovery mode, the operator may automatically re-establish a previously selected modulator main channel recalled from memory.

Abstract: In optical playback appliances, such as CD-players, the objective lens sits on a lens-holder that is mounted so as to swivel around an axis and that carries at least one coil. The axis of rotation of the lens-holder is secured to a housing. To allow the lens-holder (LH) to move easily, without being hampered by wires, in the optical scanning device, essentially composed of the lens-holder (LH) and the housing (G), the current required for the coils (S1, S2) flows through respective elastic, electroconductive fastening elements (FO, FU) to both ends (SO, SU) of the axis (N), and from said ends (SO, SU), electrically isolated from each other, to the coils (S1, S2), via respective strip conductors (LPO, LBU) on the lens-holder (LH). This optical scanning device with a lens-holder is useful in CD-players, video disk players, DRAW-disk players and in magneto-optical recorders and players.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing modules in an audio video interactive (AVI) receiver receiving a packet service including a plurality of modules, each module having a name and including time multiplexed transmission units, each transmission unit including a header packet containing the name of the module. First a request to perform a process on a module identified by a name is received and an entry containing the received name and requested process is inserted into a list of entries. A header packet in the packet service is then detected. If the name in the detected header packet matches a name in an entry in the list, packet processing circuitry performs the process in the matching entry and a message is sent indicating that the process has been performed.

Abstract: A method for signal equalization/ghost cancellation with an equalizing filter includes synthesizing a first equalizing filter function (LMS 1) with N (an integer) taps and associated coefficients. The respective coefficients are adjusted to minimize the error between a received reference signal output by the synthesized equalizing filter function and a non-distorted reference signal. The adjusted coefficients are evaluated to determine P (an integer) groups of M (an integer) taps and associated coefficients which contribute to said synthesized equalizing filter function according to a predetermined criterion and wherein P times M is less than N. A second equalizing filter function is synthesized corresponding to the first equalizing filter function with coefficients other than the P groups of M coefficients set to zero, and the P groups to M coefficients are adjusted to minimize the error.

Abstract: In a television receiver, having the ability to display differing image formats, the image width is capable of being continuously adjustable in the manner of a zoom effect. The ability to continuously adjust the image width is accomplished without any perceptible effect on the horizontal scan output. In that circuit, a tangent capacitor is coupled to a second capacitor with a switch being connected for switching the second capacitor into and out of the circuit. The switch is closed for an adjustable period beginning at the line center.

Abstract: An adaptive scan format converter (14, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) at a transmitter/encoder of a video signal processing system such as a high definition television (HDTV) system, as a function of what format is desired for coding and transmission via an output channel. Similarly, at a receiver, a received scan format is automatically converted (36, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) to a desired format for display as needed. For example, a received interlaced signal (I) will be automatically converted to progressive (P) format to be compatible with a progressive scan display device (39). A received progressive signal will be passed to the display device without format conversion. Automatic scan conversion is performed seamlessly so that, for example, the conversion between progressive main television program material and interlaced commercial material is produced without artifacts and is essentially invisible to a viewer.

Abstract: A blind multipath equalizer for a digital communication channel is disclosed. The equalizer includes a sparse digital filter, responsive to a source of a received signal including a digital data signal, and including a plurality of taps, each responsive to a tap coefficient and time displacement, which produces a multipath corrected digital output signal. A filter controller is responsive to the received signal for detecting a multipath signal by calculating the autocorrelation of the received signal, detecting a multipath signal based on the autocorrelation and supplying a tap coefficient and time displacement to one of the plurality of taps to cancel the detected multipath signal.

Abstract: In an MPEG multi-channel audio signal processor, a decoder requires a respective decoder matrix for determining different output channels from coded audio data. Some transmitted information indicates basic parameters of the multi-channel system. This information may be used to address a currently required decoder matrix which is stored in a decoder memory. The storage of a large number of such matrices would be required to enable the decoder to decode all possible channel configurations. Instead of addressing a required decoder matrix stored in decoder memory, initially the current encoder matrix is reconstructed in the decoder using the related transmitted information. The required decoder matrix is then computed from the reconstructed encoder matrix using a matrix inversion technique.

Abstract: An inverse transport processor system for a TDM packet signal TV receiver includes apparatus for selectively extracting desired payloads of program component data and coupling this data to a common buffer memory data input port. A microprocessor associated with the system also couples data to the common buffer memory data input port. The respective component payloads and data generated by the microprocessor are stored in respective blocks of the common buffer memory in response to associated memory address which are applied to a memory address input port by an address multiplexer. A decryption device is included to decrypt payload data according to packet specific decryption keys. In addition a detector is included to detect payloads including entitlement data. Payloads containing entitlement data are directed via the common buffer memory to a smart card which generates the packet specific decryption keys.

Abstract: A digital recorder which includes an A/D converter for converting analog signal to digital form for recording and a D/A converter for converting recovered recorded digital information to analog form, includes switch circuitry for interconnecting the D/A converter and the A/D converter in a manner to perform sample rate conversion of input digital signals to condition the recorder to record digital signals having different sample rates.

Abstract: A blind equalization process (200) for an adaptive equalizer including a plurality of taps, each having a corresponding coefficient, is disclosed which comprises the following steps. Blind equalization (204) is performed on a subset of the coefficients in the adaptive equalizer. Then, if the coefficients have converged (206), a decision directed adaptive equalization process (220) is initiated.

Abstract: In a packet audio/video signal transmission system, program guide information is formed as a master guide and a special guide. The master guide contains programming information for the period of the current several hours. The special guide contains programming information for the next thirty days, for example. The master guide is sent as a service on each carrier or transponder to render it readily available regardless of the carrier frequency to which the receiver is tuned. The special guide is transmitted on only one of the carriers (transponders) to minimize use of system bandwidth.

Abstract: A video signal compressor includes apparatus for generating motion vectors for respective blocks of video data. Motion vectors, other than those which provide direction to co-located blocks in other frames, are determined to be candidates for conversion to vectors which do provide direction to co-located blocks. However, conversion is precluded if the vector is determined to be correlated with one of the neighboring motion vectors.

Abstract: In a combined optical and magneto-optical recorder, data stored in pits and a magnetic layer may be simultaneously detected with an optical scanning device. Reflected light is divided by a polarizer and directed to one of two photodetectors depending on the polarization of the reflected light. A magneto-optic recorded data signal (containing cross-talk) is detected by differencing the signals provided by the two photodetectors. Reflected light is also directed through a .lambda./4 polarizer and a second beam divider to third and fourth photodetectors depending upon the polarization of the light passing the .lambda./4 polarizer. A second difference signal, which essentially conforms to the cross-talk, is generated from the differences of signals provided by the third and fourth photodetectors. The two difference signals are combined to produce a cross-talk free magneto-optic recorded data signal.

Abstract: A resilient scanning or recording head support made of deformable material comprising a resilient molded part being step like shaped and resiliently deformable in at least one direction and/or through an angle. This construction accommodates deflection of the scanning head analogously to a parallel guide, in a straight line as well as through at least one angle deviating from the preferred directions of the parallel guide.

Abstract: In a video signal processor including a motion compensated predictive coding data compression system, three adjacent image frames (1, 2, 3) are analyzed to detect a luminance gradient such as is typically associated with image fading. The frames are similarly divided into several segments (A . . . L). The sum of the absolute pixel value differences between corresponding segments from adjacent frames is obtained for each of two pairs adjacent frame segments (DIFF.sub.1-2 ; DIFF.sub.2-3). The ratio of the two frame differences (S) is obtained for each segment. Fading is indicated if the ratio remains substantially constant for all or a predetermined number of regions. If fading is detected, any motion vectors generated by the motion coder are assigned a zero value and are not coded.