Patents Represented by Attorney Eugene M. Whitacre
  • Patent number: 4921727
    Abstract: A method of surface-treating dry-powdered phosphor particles to control the triboelectric charge characteristics thereof includes the steps of providing the phosphor particles with a first coating of silica, dissolving a coupling agent selected from the group consisting of silanes and titanates in a suitable solvent to form a mixture, surface-coating the silica-coated phosphor particles with the mixture to provide a second coating of the coupling agent on the phosphor particles, filtering the surface-treated particles, rinsing the surface-treated particles with the solvent, and drying the surface-treated particles. The resultant dry-powdered surface-treated phosphor particles are used to make a luminescent viewing screen for a CRT. The coupling agent overlying the silica coating controls the triboelectric charging characteristics of the phosphor particles during the electrophotographic manufacturing of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Pabitra Datta, Ronald N. Friel
  • Patent number: 4921767
    Abstract: The method of electrophotographically manufacturing a screen assembly on a substrate for use within a CRT, according to the present invention, includes the steps of sequentially coating a substrate with a conductive layer and an overcoating of a photoconductive layer, establishing an electrostatic charge on the photoconductive layer, and exposing selected areas of the photoconductive layer to visible light to affect the charge thereon. Then the photoconductive layer is developed with a charged screen structure material. The improved process utilizes a dry-powdered screen structure material having at least a surface charge control agent thereon to control the triboelectrical charging of the screen structure material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Pabitra Datta, Ronald N. Friel
  • Patent number: 4905187
    Abstract: Time-keeping apparatus includes a microcomputer having a normal, relatively high power consumption mode of operation and a standby relatively low power consumption mode of operation. The AC power supply includes energy storage providing standby power for operation during power interruption. A controllable delay arrangement causes the microcomputer to operate in a cyclical mode with a relatively long duration in the standby mode of operation and a relatively short duration in the normal mode of operation. The time period of the relatively long duration, having been previously stored in memory, is utilized for incrementing the time-keeping during the relatively short duration in the normal mode until the end of the power interruption ends the cylical mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: RCA Lincensing Corporation
    Inventor: Billy W. Beyers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4890044
    Abstract: A signal suppression component such as a ferrite shield bead includes a cylindrical magnetically permeable element that has a passage formed through it. The passage is filled with an elastic silicone rubber compound. When the component is placed on a conductor or component lead, the elastic material forms a dampening layer between the conductor and the permeable element to prevent audible vibration of the element due to current flow in the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Randall C. Clayburn
  • Patent number: 4868892
    Abstract: A television tuning system includes control apparatus for changing the frequency of a local oscillator signal during a search and a comparator arrangement for determining when an AFT signal traverses first and second threshold values corresponding to first and second frequencies in respective "hump" regions of the AFT signal. The frequency of the local oscillator is set to the average of the first and second frequencies in order to set the frequency of the IF picture carrier closer to the nominal value than the first and second frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Juri Tults, William J. Testin, Mark F. Rumreich
  • Patent number: 4864481
    Abstract: A switching-type power supply for a video apparatus includes regulating circuits that respond to both voltage and current information in order to generate pulse width modulated signals for the power supply switching device. The regulating circuits are electrically nonisolated from the output load circuits to provide direct feedback from one of the load circuit voltage supplies in order to effect accurate regulation of the supply voltage. Primary current flow information is provided via an electrically isolated winding such that all regulation circuitry is electrically nonisolated from the load circuit supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Peter D. Osman
  • Patent number: 4864485
    Abstract: In a switched mode power supply, an output switch is coupled to the primary winding of a transformer and to an input supply voltage derived from the AC mains voltage. A driver stage is coupled to the output switch and to a switched control voltage for producing on-off switching of the output switch between conduction and cutoff to generate a pulse voltage in a secondary winding of the transformer. A supply circuit including a rectifier is coupled to the pulse voltage for generating an operating voltage. A control circuit, responsive to the feedback of the output voltage, modulates the control voltage in a manner that varies the on-off switching of the output switch to stabilize the operating voltage. A bias voltage, derived from the AC mains voltage, and available during a startup interval of the power supply, is coupled to the driver stage during the startup interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gerard Rilly, Jose Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 4859226
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube comprises a first (upper) stem mold assembly and an improved second (lower) stem mold assembly. The improved second stem mold assembly includes a universal second (lower) stem mold having a plurality of lead-in conductor receiving openings formed therethrough. At least one removable stem mold plug is disposed and retained within one of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Hale
  • Patent number: 4851798
    Abstract: A unitary tuning structure of a UHF tuner includes an inductance loop, an inductance adjustment element attached to a top portion of the inductance loop so as to be foldable with respect to the inductance loop about an axis parallel to the printed circuit board to which the inductance loop is attached and a capacitance adjustment tab attached to a side portion of the inductance loop so as to be foldable with respect to the inductance loop about an axis perpendicular to the printed circuit board. In another form of the unitary tuning structure, a second inductance loop can be attached within the first loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander W. Hietala, Max W. Muterspaugh
  • Patent number: 4849066
    Abstract: A method for preparing an integral cathode substrate and support includes the steps of placing formed metal parts on a pin holder, masking selected surface portions of the formed metal parts, etching the unmasked surface portions, and then removing the mask. The present method is an improvement over prior methods since the parts are arranged in a staggered array to increase the turbulence of the etchant during the etching step. The turbulence provides additional oxygen to increase the rate and uniformity of the etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel B. Deal, Donald W. Bartch, Wayne R. Poff
  • Patent number: 4845562
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for partially decoding an encoded widescreen, extended definition television signal into a signal that is compatible with existing consumer video cassette recorders (VCRs) and video monitors. The encoded signal is compatible with existing television standards to produce a video image having a conventional 4:3 aspect ratio. Signals representing side panel information, to be appended onto either side of the 4:3 center panel, are encoded in the signal and are not visible in the image produced by a conventional receiver. The disclosed system includes decoding circuitry which recovers the side panel signals, appends them to the center panel signal and changes the time correspondence of the total signal so that it represents an image having a 5:3 aspect ratio. Luminance and chrominance components of the decoded video signal are provided as output signals of the decoder and to input ports of a conventional video cassette recorder (VCR) such as an S-VHS or ED-Beta machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua L. Koslov, Michael A. Isnardi, Robert E. Flory, Edward R. Campbell, III
  • Patent number: 4843285
    Abstract: A regulator coupled to the main supply voltage generates a B+ scan voltage for a horizontal flyback transformer of a horizontal deflection circuit. A supply voltage is developed from a trace voltage in a flyback transformer secondary winding. The supply voltage is indicatiave of the horizontal deflection current amplitude. A decrease in mains supply voltage that cannot be compensated by the regulator, causes a corresponding decrease in the B+ scan and supply voltage and in a horizontal deflection current amplitude. The supply voltage is applied to the series arrangement of first and second resistors and a zener diode. A control voltage developed from the supply voltage, at a junction of the first and second resistors, is applied to a control terminal of a vertical deflection circuit for controlling the amplitude of the vertical deflection current. A decrease in the control voltage produces a greater proportional decrease in the vertical deflection current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lin T. Chin, James A. Wilber
  • Patent number: 4843485
    Abstract: A hierarchy of video standards is provided in a recording format for video record and replay systems to achieve performance flexibility, such as in regard to television studio and portable recording equipment. This recording format divides the tape into a plurality of longitudinal segments with each segment being assigned to tracks in which full raster information is recorded at a fractional resolution equal to the quotient of one divided by the number of the plurality of longitudinal tape segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Glenn A. Reitmeier
  • Patent number: 4839556
    Abstract: A cathode-ray tube includes a shadow mask mounted therein. The mask has curvatures along its major and minor axes. The curvature along the major axis is greater at the sides of the mask than at the center of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Frank R. Ragland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4839728
    Abstract: A picture-in-picture video signal generator includes a source of an auxiliary video signal, and a producer of successive samples representing the auxiliary video signals. A self-sequencing memory includes a data input terminal coupled to the producer of auxiliary video samples; a write address input terminal, for receiving an initial write address; a data output terminal and a read address input terminal for receiving an initial read address. Write control circuitry is coupled to the write address terminal of the self-sequencing memory, and generates initial write addresses in synchronism with horizontal line intervals of the auxiliary video signal. A source of a main video signal is also provided. Read control circuitry is coupled to the read address terminal of the self-sequencing memory, and generates initial read addresses in synchronism with horizontal line intervals of the main video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Robert F. Casey
  • Patent number: 4837627
    Abstract: A programmable auxiliary control unit for a television receiver has switch selectable features which enable it the receiver to interface more easily to a variety of signal sources, by controlling the operating parameters of the television receiver. The controlled parameters are, for example, automatic turn-on, automatic autoprogramming, automatic forcing of the television receiver to a predetermined channel, automatic increasing of the volume at the television receiver, and automatic disabling of the numeric keyboard of the television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Mengel
  • Patent number: 4837527
    Abstract: An integrator of a Sigma-Delta modulator includes an amplifier having an inverting input terminal and an output terminal. AN integrating capacitor is coupled between the input and output terminals. An input signal is coupled via a switched capacitor arrangement to the input terminal. The switched capacitor arrangement includes first and second transmission gates, operating at a first frequency, and a second capacitance that are coupled in series. In each period of the operation of the transmission gates, the first transmission gate is turned off before the second transmission gate for preventing a charge injected by the second transmission gate when the second transmission gate is turned off from being coupled to the input terminal of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Sauer
  • Patent number: 4829214
    Abstract: A degaussing circuit for a video apparatus incorporates circuitry that controls various aspects of the degaussing operation. The control circuitry causes the degaussing current to be terminated after a period of time to eliminate the flow of residual degaussing current. The control circuit also causes the degaussing circuit to be reset, to enable redegaussing to occur. The control circuit also prevents redegaussing from occurring after a brief interruption of power to the video apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery B. Lendaro
  • Patent number: 4825129
    Abstract: A video display apparatus includes a cathode ray tube and a high voltage transformer. The high voltage transformer incorporates a high voltage winding having a tap which provides a focus voltage for the electron gun assembly of the cathode ray tube. The transformer also includes a supply winding which provides power to the electron gun assembly drive circuit. The supply winding is wound to be closely coupled to the portion of the high voltage winding not associated with the generation of focus voltage so that increasing beam current produces nonuniform loading of the high voltage winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Leroy W. Nero
  • Patent number: 4824459
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube comprises a first mold assembly and a second mold assembly for forming the stem therebetween. The glass stem includes a plurality of fillets with a lead-in conductor through less than all of the fillets and at least one dummy fillet without a lead-in conductor therethrough. The first mold assembly includes a universal stem having a mold block with fillet-forming openings therein. A replaceable marker pin is disposed and retained within the openings. The marker pin has a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The first end has a distinctive geometric shape for contacting the dummy fillet and for conveying intelligible information thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Hale