Abstract: A game board comprising a playing surface having indicia thereon defining an oval race track, with toy vehicles adapted to be moved around respective lanes of the track, and additional indicia on the playing surface for advancing vehicle positions, for indicating the number of laps completed by each vehicle, and for determining any of various troubles encountered during the race. Player-actuated wheelies, and means for launching same, cooperate with the indicia on the playing board, to determine the movement forward or backward of each vehicle, generally in response to the degree of skill of the player.

Abstract: An improved joint transform correlator system frequency multiplexes two input signals to reduce the resolution along a single optical axis by one half, and uses full input transducer resolution in the other axis to provide a 20% increase in overall system performance. The two input channels are combined by summing baseband channel 1 information with reference channel 2 information which is frequency shifted using single sideband modulation techniques. The resultant signal is used to drive an input transducer of an optical system. The input transducer spatially modulates the light from a laser. A frequency plane is produced by the input optics, where the spatially separated channels may be observed. An interferometer is used to further process the signal information by combining the two channels at the joint transform plane. The combined signals are then written onto an optical-to-optical transducer where the joint transforms are multiplied together through a detection process.

Abstract: A servo system provides phase locked servo control of the rotational speed and phase of one, two, or more, disk packs by operating the disk pack, or packs, approximately 2% faster than desired, and then applying a control current to an existing eddy current brake in the disk pack via a servo circuit to reduce the speed to that desired. The servo circuit regulates the servo control current to the brake via two loops; a phase loop which establishes a pack position relative to an external reference pulse, and a velocity loop which provides compensation to enhance lock-up time and improve overall stability. The summed outputs of both loops provide a composite error signal corresponding to the servo control current.

Abstract: Data for providing spatial and shading error correction signals during the operating mode of a television camera, are taken from a two dimensional array of correction points distributed across a television image during the camera setup mode and are stored as 8 bit words. The error correction signals extend smoothly (linearly) between the correction points. The smoothing is performed by selectively interpolating selected reference points on each video line to provide values which vary smoothly from one row of correction points to the next. A vertical interpolation circuit performs a vertical interpolation on a line-by-line basis, by adding signals produced by a multiplying D/A converter when loaded with the two values to be interpolated and weighted by factors related to the distance from each correction point.

Abstract: Time base errors in PAL subcarrier reference bursts, created in part by the operation of a video tape recorder, are detected by the recorder and used for detecting the phase shift error in PAL phase angle switching between bursts on adjacent video signal lines which existed before the video signal was recorded. The video tape recorder timing errors detected on the PAL bursts are first detected after the 90.degree. phase angle between successive PAL bursts has been eliminated. Two sample and hold units then are alternately strobed, each at a point in time during a given tape recorder head pass wherein the error signals are normally most accurate, such that a first burst timing error is retained in one such unit and a next burst timing error is retained in said second unit. The outputs of these two sample and hold units are filtered and combined in an integrator for generating a voltage control signal whose amplitude varies as a function of the pre-existing burst shift error.

Abstract: A vertical-rate sawtooth waveform amplitude modulates a train of horizontal-rate pulses. Positive and negative pulse clippers receive the pulse train. One generates a clipped waveform during the last half and a zero output for the first half, of a television field. The other generates a clipped waveform during the first half and a zero output the last half of the field. A pair of AC coupled integrators, driven by respective clipped waveforms, generate horizontal-rate sawtooths which are linearly modulated, one from a maximum at the beginning of the field to zero at the center thereof, and one from zero at the center to a maximum at the end of the field. Two pairs of clippers separate the two sawtooths into four half-sawtooths, wherein each is active in a time interval corresponding to respective quadrants of the picture raster. Potentiometers are used to vary the respective waveforms to allow independent correction of the scan in any corner.

Abstract: A system for transmitting an audio signal in pulse width modulated form on a video signal is disclosed. The audio signal is modulated by varying the time occurance of at least one edge of a pulse as a function of the voltage level of said audio signal at a selected time. The pulse is then added to the video signal during each horizontal blanking interval. Upon receipt of the transmitted signal, the video signal is processed to reform said edge varying pulse. An output pulse is then generated for each varying edge of said pulse, whose pulse width is a function of the time of occurance of said edge with respect to a stable reference edge. This output pulse is then used to generate a voltage signal whose level is determined by the pulse width of said output pulse. The successively generated voltage levels comprise the reformed audio signal.

Abstract: A test control circuit includes a channel selector circuit and input and output buffers, which cooperate with input/output buses and respective latches of the multichannel apparatus, to allow an operator to select one or more input buses, and one or more output buses, of a respective channel or channels of the multichannel apparatus. Thus the circuit allows selectively applying an input test signal to one or more channels via the front of the apparatus, while selectively monitoring the resulting output signal from the channel or channels also via the front of the apparatus. An exemplary purpose of the test control system is to facilitate the channel alignment and head azimuth adjustment of, for example, a multichannel audio tape recorder.

Abstract: The conventional vertical drive sawtooth is modified, during the camera setup mode, to halve the slope thereof for a given field time interval, or intervals, and to double the slope for the remaining field time interval. It follows that the speed of vertical scan is halved and doubled respectively, in the corresponding field time intervals. In the interval of double scan speed, blooming occurs and twice the usual beam current is required to successfully discharge the picture. Thus when the beam set circuit is in operation as during the setup mode, the beam current is increased until the blooming existing in the double scan speed interval just subsides. The beam current has then been set at 200% of typical beam level.

Abstract: To provide measurement of horizontal and vertical spatial errors, as well as shading errors, the active video picture is divided horizontally into 13 equal blocks, and vertically into 14 bands of checkers. During the setup mode, the signal from a selected camera is fed to an A/D converter in the video signal path, and to sync and pattern validation circuits which provide control and timing signals and an electronic test pattern signal. Horizontal error measurement is provided via a horizontal adder/memory loop whereby selected samples within the blocks of successive horizontal lines are selectively summed to provide successive pairs of summed horizontal digital data. Vertical error measurement is done simultaneously by a vertical adder/memory circuit whereby selected adjacent samples of alternate checkers are selectively delayed and added, to provide successive pairs of summed vertical digital data.

Abstract: The checkered black/white test pattern used during a television camera setup mode for the automatic correction of spatial registration, shading, and gamma errors, is also used to obtain digital data for automatically focusing the camera. The system detects the variation of the optical and the electrical focus by detecting the corresponding variation in the risetime of the signal generated as the electron beam spot scans across a transition in the test pattern. At an optimum focus condition the digital data is at a maximum value, i.e., the risetime is at a maximum rate. The focus data is stored for subsequent use during the camera operating mode.

Abstract: A mechanically operated trap includes a tubular housing with a movable trap door at either end for trapping an insect therein. One end of the housing is shaped for use in corners, and the other end is flat for use against walls, floors, ceilings, etc. The trap doors are actuated, or actuation is initiated, by various user operated means and are maintained in the closed or open positions by various friction, spring, etc., arrangements. Extension handle means may be included to allow reaching normally-inaccessible insects. The trapped insect may be removed to the outdoors, or otherwise disposed of.

Abstract: The process provides practical manufacture of a two-piece, dielectric filled, ferrite toroid assembly while providing optimum electromagnetic characteristics presently not consistently available by manufacturing the toroid in a pressed one-piece configuration. A pair of complementary ferrite blanks of selected shapes are machined to dimension, and the mating surfaces thereof are selectively lapped. The complementary ferrite parts are then permanently assembled about a pre-machined dielectric insert, and the composite toroid is secured together by a selected adhesive selectively disposed therein.

Abstract: A deflection coil driver includes a current driver stage comprising three power transistors, a first power transistor being caused to turn on via a class B transistor stage when an input signal of a first polarity is input to the class B stage, second and third power transistors being caused to turn on via said class B stage when the input signal has an opposite polarity. When turned on, the first power transistor couples current from a positive voltage source to the deflection coil, the second power transistor couples current from a negative voltage source to said coil, and the third power transistor couples said coil to ground. A transistor switch determines whether the second or the third power transistor is on, as a function of the voltage across the deflection coil. The current through the coil is also sensed and provides negative feedback to an input amplifier to ensure that the shape of such current matches the shape of the input signal.

Abstract: An input video processor utilizes the characteristics of a modulator having two differential pairs of transistors with respective gain control terminals, in combination with a switch. The processor performs four distinct functions utilizing the same basic modulator; it provides blanking the video signal from the preamplifier to provide a clean pulse for clamping at a later stage; it clamps the output during black level firmly to ground potential to allow subsequent blanking; it allows the manipulation of the master gain of the three channels in a color television while independently adjusting the gain of the channels, while further maintaining absolute tracking between channels; and it provides an independent gain control input for a white shading control voltage input to perform white shading corrections.

Abstract: A simplified automatic error correction setup system is coupled to the remote control multiplex/demultiplex circuitry in a color camera to generate and store respective error correction control voltages for selected operating parameters during a camera setup mode, with subsequent automatic retrieval of the stored error correction control voltages during camera operation. The automatic control voltages are digitally generated from incoming error signals via a control system loop generally formed of an error selector switch, a digital register, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a random access memory (RAM). The register and/or RAM data are converted to analog control voltages via the DAC for each parameter (i.e., channel) being automatically corrected, which voltages are linearly summed with the corresponding control voltages. During the automatic setup mode, the RAM contents are updated via the register for any existing errors in the specific operating parameters.

Abstract: Precise, point-by-point correction of spatial and shading errors in a camera television picture are performed manually. The errors to be corrected are determined by visually examining a picture on a video monitor, by selecting an area for error correction which area corresponds to the type and extent of the specific error selected for correction. A position command increments or decrements an address by preselected steps to locate a movable "cursor" which, in turn, identifies the area being corrected. A correction command retrieves the data from the area identified, and which contains the error, selectively increments or decrements the data in preselected steps, and stores the new data back in memory. The process continues until the operator is satisfied with the correction results. Correction thus may be made point-by-point, along horizontal or vertical lines or areas, in selected corner areas, etc., of the picture.

Abstract: A horizontal scan linearization circuit generates a linear ramp voltage during the active picture scan interval, which is compared to the non-linear ramp current of a cathode ray tube yoke circuit. The difference signal is fed back to the yoke circuit via a damper diode and is selectively added to the non-linear yoke current to correct the non-linearity.

Abstract: A control circuit generates a variable analog output voltage in response to momentary closure of touch control means by an operator. The control level selected via the touch control means is sampled, digitized, digitally stored and reconverted to the analog output voltage for driving a motor at a commensurate speed. Selection of a different control level generates a correspondingly different digital value and thus a different analog output voltage. The selected control level and the corresponding analog output voltage may be maintained for an extended period of time until a new selection is made, or a different operating mode is entered. A mode change causes an automatic reset to a neutral operating condition (e.g., zero analog output voltage).

Abstract: A total raster error measurement and correction circuitry, using digital memory means in the camera head for the storage of correction data, corrects spatial scan, shading, etc., errors in a television picture in two dimensions. The basic spatial error correction circuit effectively synthesizes horizontal rate waveforms on a number of discrete lines of the vertical scan. On all scanned lines between discrete lines, a linear approximation between the two discrete waveforms is made to form a vertically continuous waveform. Black and white shading errors are measured by comparing the black and white video levels against respective selected black and white D.C. levels with and without a cap on the camera lens. Gamma correction is provided by comparing the peak black and white levels to derive any gray level errors.