Abstract: A video recording and reproducing system provides an operator with the ability to view the status of all operating conditions of a system at one time. When it is desired to view the status, an operator generates a request for a display mode. In this mode, all of the operating conditions are displayed on the television signal monitor in place of normal television signal image information. Information regarding the status of each condition is presented to a character generator, which causes the appropriate status to be placed next to each condition listed on the monitor. All of the information relating to the configuration of the system is thereby provided to an operator at once, and can be viewed not only at the location of the system itself, but also at any remotely located monitors, such as those found in a control booth.

Abstract: A time base corrector including a frame memory and a memory control. The memory control is microprocessor based and calculates the starting addresses of memory areas at which video data will be written to or read from the frame memory and the starting times of those sequences. The memory control receives information concerning the configuration of the time base corrector, the input video field sequence,the desired output video field sequence, timing components of the input and reference clock signals, TV standard, and operator commands to make these calculations. The results of the control are time base corrections for horizontal and vertical phase errors, horizontal and vertical positioning control, color frame sequencing, color correction of chroma phase, configuration delay adjustment, and other advantageous operations.

Abstract: The tendency of a CMOS circuit to latch up is reduced by implanting ions of germanium or tin into the source and drain regions of the circuit. The low energy gap of these ions lowers the band gap of the source and drain regions, which in turn inhibits their ability to inject carriers into the substrate and well.

Abstract: In the fabrication of bipolar transistors by the single poly process, polysilicon sidewalls are formed along portions of a polysilicon layer that functions as a device contact. The sidewalls serve both as dopant sources which determine the width of underlying base and emitter regions, and as contacts to those devices. Since the thickness of the polysilicon sidewalls, and hence the width of the underlying device regions, are precisely controllable through conventional polysilicon deposition techniques, relatively relaxed design rules can be employed while making possible the formation of emitters having widths less than one-half of a micron.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an ECL gate using switchable load impedance means to allow the gate to be placed in a low power-consumption mode while preserving the logic state existing at the outputs of the gate at the time it is switched into the low-power mode. N-channel or P-channel MOS transistors are used as the switchable load impedances. The gates of these transistors are coupled to a MODE control signal which causes the MOS transistors to switch between high-impedance and low-impedance states. Another MOS transistor having its gate coupled to the same MODE control signal is used as the current source for the bias current to the conventional ECL current mirror. When low-power mode operation is desired, all the MOS transistors are switched to their high-impedance states. This reduces the bias current flowing through the ECL gate, thereby reducing its power consumption.

Abstract: A photomask for use in manufacturing integrated circuits is fabricated by coating a thin film of organic material, generally a solution of a thermally decomposable hydrocarbon, onto a glass plate and heating it in a reducing atmosphere to convert it into carbon. The carbon layer is masked and etched; for example, in an oxygen plasma, to produce the mask.

Abstract: A new automatic tracking method is disclosed for the accurate positioning of a magnetic head with information previously recorded on the magnetic tape. If a moveable magnetic head is used, the position thereof is first normalized. Thereafter tracking is automatically adjusted based on a repetitive sampling process in which the results are mathematically averaged to determine a precise center position. Finally, new video material is physically positioned on the magnetic track according to a single offset error measurement and this single offset error is stored and used in all subsequent edit operations.

Abstract: A deposition reactor system is described for producing a coating containing a predetermined component on a substrate from a plasma containing such component in an ionized state. The substrate is supported on a susceptor within a reactor chamber to which is introduced a gas containing the predetermined component. A radio frequency field is inductively coupled to the gas, forming a plasma in the reactor chamber in the region of the susceptor. The susceptor is maintained at ground potential in the radio frequency field.

Abstract: In a quadrature amplitude modulator, two binary, synchronous data signals representing four possible phase states of a carrier signal are sampled and respectively fed into two shift registers comprising part of a finite impulse response lowpass filter. The samples in each corresponding pair of stages in the shift registers are multiplexed at twice the carrier frequency. Each multiplexer output is then added modulo-two to a binary signal at the carrier frequency using exclusive-OR gates. The gate outputs are weighted in a desired fashion and summed and converted to an analog signal which exhibits a preferred spectral shape. This approach enables the quadrature amplitude modulation function to be included within the structure of the finite impulse response lowpass filter. The binary synchronous nature of the input data enables the structure of the filter to be simplified and the number of multiplexers and modulo-two adders to be reduced to a number equal to the number of bits stored from the input sequences.

Abstract: An improved reel servo for a recording and reproducing machine is disclosed. The reel servo as well as other servos in the machine are controlled by a single microprocessor which results in greater inherent communication between such servos and significantly improved operating capabilities. The reel servo itself is adapted to have the supply and take-up reels operate in different kinds of close loop servo control during various operating modes. The servo circuitry provides instantaneous information to the microprocessor for determining the diameter of tape that is wrapped on each of the reels. The reel servo has the capability of performing high speed shuttle and cueing operations without engaging the capstan and the tensioning arm can be positioned to provide the appropriate tape tension during shuttling in both the forward and reverse directions. An acceleration loop controls the supply reel so that the tape tension is maintained within predetermined upper and lower limits.

Abstract: In a system for comparing the ratio of two numbers to a threshold, the bits of each number are compared in groups comprising less than the total number of bits. The most significant group of bits are first compared, and if they contain sufficient information to make the comparison, the result thereof is indicated. If the most significant group of bits does not contain sufficient information, the comparison is made based upon the next higher order group of bits that does contain sufficient information. In some situations, it is desirable to obtain information about the next lower order group of bits in order to verify whether a determination is correct. Each of these situations has a unique address in a memory unit dedicated to the next lower order group of bits.

Abstract: A monlinear speed control for special motion reproducing of a video recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is of the type which has an automatic scan tracking servo which controls the position of the reproduced heads carried by the scanning drum which are of the type which can be transversely moved relative to the longitudinal direction of recorded tracks so as to accurately follow the tracks during variable speed special effect reproducing modes. The nonlinear control controls the longitudinal tape speed through the capstan servo and provides vernier control where it should be desirably located so that the operator can accurately control the special effect speeds. The nonlinear control also automatically compensates for changes in the speed and introduces a delay in the response to rapid changes that may occur at high speed special motion reproducing so that visually disturbing rapid changes in the video image will not be experienced by a viewer.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled multiple servo system adapted for use with a recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The system controls all servo systems for a magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus, including a capstan servo, a reel servo, a scanning drum servo and an automatic scan tracking servo which controls the position of reproduce heads carried by the scanning drum which are of the type which can be transversely moved relative to the longitudinal direction of recorded tracks so as to accurately follow the tracks during special effect reproducing modes, such as slow motion, stop motion and fast motion reproducing. The microprocessor controls all of the servos in a way which permits interaction between the various servo systems and enables more accurate and powerful functional operation of the entire apparatus.

Abstract: An improved microprocessor controlled scanning drum servo adapted for use in a recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The scanner servo includes a velocity loop as well as a position loop, and by virtue of the fact that it is controlled by a microprocessor in a unique way, has extraordinary accuracy because the resolving power of the servo is essentially that of the microprocessor itself. The interrupts to the microprocessor occur in sequence with a first interrupt causing the microprocessor to cease current activity, store all required information in a stack register and thereafter wait until a subsequent interrupt occurs which enables it to immediately act to perform control operations with respect to the scanner servo. This enables the velocity loop to perform the vast majority of the work required by the servo and as a result of this, the phase closed servo loop operates as a positioning loop in the true sense.

Abstract: A universal interface unit for providing output signals in any one of a plurality of different signal formats stores information relating to each of the different available formats. When signals are to be provided to a particular device, personality data regarding the device enables the particular signal format requirements of the device to be read from the stored information. A signal processor responsive to this information generates output signals in that format. The output signals are transmitted to the device through a switching circuit that is appropriately connected to the device to provide the proper polarity.

Abstract: A pipe press having a main press section and at least one end press section aligned with the main section for movement with and independently of the main section. The press is designed to accommodate elongate heavy gauge steel pipe blanks having lengths varying between the length of the main section and the combined composite length of the main and end sections. Because of the independence of the end section relative to the main section, the main section is loaded uniformly, even though a blank may be of a length less than the combined composite length of the press. The end press section is free to move axially relative to the main press section to accommodate elongation of a blank during operation of the press. Actuating cylinders for the press are arranged in paired sets extending transversely of the press dies to provide increased load capacity, without resorting to the use of extraordinarily large cylinders.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of optical surfaces on an optical lens precursor, desirably a "soft" contact lens button or blank, to yield a lens adapted for proximate or intimate contact with an eyeball and defined by at least one posterior surface, an edge and at least one anterior surface, is comprised of forming a precision lens precursor, assembling the precursor in a microsurface generating apparatus, ultra-precisely forming the curves or geometry comprising the posterior surface and a portion of the edge to yield a semi-finished lens, blocking the semi-finished lens on an adhesively coated lens block fixture having an ultra-precisely preformed face for intimate precision mating with the posterior surface of the semi-finished lens, reassembling the semi-finished lens/fixture in the microsurface generating apparatus, ultra-precisely forming the curves or geometry comprising the anterior surface and another portion of the edge, and demounting a finished, ultra-precision lens from the blocking fixture.

Abstract: In a digital tester for evaluating electronic components, a local memory unit for each data channel in the tester is loaded with test vector information only in the locations of the memory relating to transitions that take place in the operation of the data channel. In addition, a transition bit is stored in each memory location to signify whether the vector information in that location represents valid transition data. The transition bit is used to control the reading of information from the memory into a register that controls the flow of information in the data channel, so that only the valid transition vectors are fed into data channel control circuitry. This procedure substantially reduces the amount of data that must be loaded into the memory, and hence reduces the total time necessary to thoroughly test a circuit.

Abstract: A pipe facing machine performs cutting, bevelling and deburring operations on an end of a pipe that is stationarily held in the same position during all three operations. A tool head that rotates about the pipe carries knives for performing the various operations. Initially, two diametrically opposed cutting knives are advanced in a radially inward direction to engage the pipe while the tool head is rotating to cut it at a predetermined location. Thereafter, as the cutting knives are being withdrawn, a bevelling knife and a deburring knife are advanced radially inward to a point where the bevelling knife provides a desired bevel on the cut edge of the pipe. During the radially inward motion of the deburring knife, it is maintained at an axially displaced position where it does not engage the pipe.

Abstract: A random number selector has a compartment that accommodates balls of two contrasting colors, e.g., black and white. Overlying the compartment is a window on which are marked indicia to be selected, e.g., numbers. The indicia also are black. Certain of the numbers are masked and rendered invisible by the black balls located behind them. The numbers to be selected are highlighted by the color-contrasting white balls.