Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in program viewing apparatus and methods, some of which are now commonly referred to as personal video recorder (PVR) and program guide features in television sets, set top boxes and other video devices. The invention provides for a user display such as a flat panel program display device, a user remote for the user to control operations and features, program data storage for storing programs and related information, removable data storage for storing programs and related information on removable storage media. Also included is a data manager which functions include response to the user's desires via the user remote to control receiving and storing programs and select received or stored programs to be displayed on the user display device. The data manager may also be responsive to receive, store and display other services such as programming guide services to provide enhanced program viewing and storage management as directed by the user.

Abstract: An invention for measuring, maintaining and correcting synchronization between signals which suffer varying relative delays during transmission and/or storage is shown. The preferred embodiment of the invention finds particular use in measuring the relative delay between multiple audio signals and an associated video signal of a television type program which is compressed via MPEG or other compression for a transmission and/or storage system. The invention marks the video signal at a time when a particular event in the associated audio occurs. The mark is carried with the video throughout the video processing. After processing the same event in the audio is again identified, the mark in the video identified, the two being compared to determine the timing difference therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for electronic signal monitoring and conversion to differing form. The preferred embodiment includes automatic selection of an audio signal from a plurality of input signals which may be in differing form, and conversion and processing of the selected signal to place it into one or more desired form to be output for further use. Further operations include delaying and mixing a plurality of signals may take place automatically or under operator control. Visual and/or audible monitoring of the signal(s) is also shown.

Abstract: A portable baby wipe warmer and container comprising a container for storing baby wipes, a heat source thermally coupled to the container, and a temperature regulating component coupled to the heat source for regulating the heat provided to the container by the heat source.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for digital processing of television like signals and in particular the use of oversampling and interpolation to achieve improved resolution of the digital version of such signals as compared to a digital version obtained by the use of simple A/D conversion or processing at the desired sample rate. The preferred embodiment utilizes oversampling, interpolation and various filtering in recursive and nonrecursive form to provide output video signals wherein the artifacts and distortion of the video are kept to low levels.

Abstract: An invention for measuring, maintaining and correcting synchronization between signals which suffer varying relative delays during transmission and/or storage is shown. The preferred embodiment of the invention finds particular use in measuring the relative delay between multiple audio signals and an associated video signal of a television type program which is compressed via MPEG or other compression for a transmission and/or storage system. The invention marks the video signal at a time when a particular event in the associated audio occurs. The mark is carried with the video throughout the video processing. After processing the same event in the audio is again identified, the mark in the video identified, the two being compared to determine the timing difference therebetween.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for processing television signals and in particular high quality video type signals in analog or digital form. The preferred embodiments utilizes digital storage along with oversampling, interpolation and various filtering in recursive and nonrecursive form to provide fixed or variably delayed output video signals wherein the artifacts and distortion of the video is kept to low levels.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for delaying video type signals along with one or more secondary signals having a timing relationship to the video type signal. The delay maintains the timing relationship between the video type signal nd secondary signals. Operation to mute or otherwise modify the secondary signals upon the loss or corruption of the video type signal is shown. The selection of one of a plurality of reference signal candidates is shown along with the use of the input signal to provide a fixed delay.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for use in stabilizing images. The invention operates to sense the position of a locating symbol having a known relationship to the image to be stabilized, compare the position of the locating symbol to a reference to determine a displacement value responsive thereto and changing a correction element located in the conveyance path of the image in response to the displacement value to cause a compensating displacement of the image. The invention is particularly useful in reducing gate weave in film projectors.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for synchronization high quality video like signals. The preferred embodiment is described to synchronize a plurality of mutually unsynchronized video signals as well as passing one or more associated secondary signal with each video signal with a corresponding delay. The selection of one of a plurality of reference signal candidates is shown along with the use of the input signal to provide a fixed delay.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for displaying relatively higher resolution image using a lower resolution display element. The preferred embodiment of the invention operates to display a high resolution image by use of a plurality of frames of lower resolution images, with the lower resolution frames being shifted relative to one another by use of an optical element which alters the light path of the display.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method to reduce unwanted spraying of fluids from hose nozzles. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a hole filled cover is attached over an open end of the nozzle of the hose. When the hose is in a position where unwanted spray is unlikely to take place the spray stream passes through the cover unaltered. If the nozzle moves to a position where unwanted spray is likely to take place, the cover deflects over the liquid stream causing it to be disbursed or scattered rather than sprayed over a long distance. The invention finds particular application in the prevention of spraying of water from the high pressure cleaning nozzle in swimming pool cleaners onto nearby objects or persons.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for use in stabilizing images. The invention operates to sense the position of the image to be stabilized, compare the position of the image to a reference to determine a displacement value responsive thereto and change a correction element located in the conveyance path of the image in response to the displacement value to cause a compensating displacement of the image.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for synchronization high quality video like signals. The preferred embodiment is described to synchronize a plurality of mutually unsynchronized video signals as well as passing one or more associated secondary signal with each video signal with a corresponding delay. The selection of one of a plurality of reference signal candidates is shown along with the use of the input signal to provide a fixed delay.

Abstract: The present invention provides distortion compensating of an analog signal which is quantized by an A/D converter. A dither device processes a clock signal from a clock signal generator to provide an output signal with a known dither pattern. The output signal with the dither pattern has a plurality of different frequencies that are periodically repeated. In addition, the same frequency of respective cycles of the dither pattern has different phases. The dither signal is superimposed on the analog signal, thus, distortion of the analog signal is compensated or reduced subsequent to A/D conversion. In particular, this dithered analog signal may be converted into a digital signal in response to the clock signal which is used to generate the dither so that the digital signal approximates to the analog signal much more closely than if the equivalent digital signal were obtained by conventional analog to digital conversion.

Abstract: The apparatus and method describes herein shows a system of digitizing analog or digital electronic or optical signals with very high single bit serial digital data streams which digitizing is suitable to automatically adapt the transmission of multiple types of analog and digital signals. The system is especially well suited for allowing the coupling and transmission of signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides distortion compensating of an analog signal. A dither device processes a clock signal from a clock signal generator to provide an output signal with a dither pattern. The output signal with the dither pattern has a plurality of different frequencies that are periodically repeated. In addition, the same frequency of respective cycles of the dither pattern has different phases. The dither signal is further superimposed on the analog signal. Thus, distortion of the composite analog signal is compensated. In particular, this dither analog signal may be converted into a digital signal in response to the clock signal so that the digital signal approximates to the analog signal much more than the digital signal obtained by conventional analog to digital converting.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for use in stabilizing images. The invention operates to sense the position of the image to be stabilized, compare the position of the image to a reference to determine a displacement value responsive thereto and change a correction element located in the conveyance path of the image in response to the displacement value to cause a compensating displacement of the image.

Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for identifying and separating the synchronizing signal component of video like signals by identifying or detecting the arrangement or sequence of the known occurances of events or patterns of the sync. The invention also provides for establishing data slicing references in response to the levels of known portions of the sync component.

Abstract: The apparatus and method described herein shows a system of determining the delay of a delayed version of a sequence of images with respect to a relatively undelayed version in a system which creates an output image signal from a plurality of input signals. The invention is also useful for comparing a given image to other images to determine the closest match, and thus the one of the plurality of input image sources from which an output image is taken.