Abstract: A robotic game apparatus comprises a CRT display. A robot has a photo detector which faces a screen of the CRT display and detects an image on the screen. On the screen of the CRT display, images which differ, for example, in brightness or the like are formed in response to different codes. The photo detector of the robot generates a code signal responding to a change in image brightness or the like. This code signal is decoded, and motors or the like are controlled to cause corresponding movements of the arms and body of the robot.

Abstract: A television game apparatus according to this invention reads white picture data from a program ROM (6) to transfer it to a video RAM (8) and displays, on a television monitor (11), the white picture data, together with target or other data read from a character ROM (9). When a pistol (4) is leveled at a target on the screen of the television monitor (11) and the trigger is pulled, a switch (44) is closed to produce a trigger signal, on the basis of which black picture data is read from the program ROM (6) and displayed on the television monitor (11). Immediately after the black picture was displayed, the white picture is displayed in the next frame in the position where the target was displayed just before and/or around the periphery thereof. The light from this white picture is detected by a phototransistor (41), whose detection signal, when extracted by a filter (45, 46), is used as a detection signal from the target.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically braids a plurality of rope forming strands onto a center core member in a braiding pattern that causes the resulting rope to have a generally square shaped cross section. The braiding strands are fed to a braiding point on the center core member from a plurality of eight strand feed assemblies which are transported on a mechanism in two distinct but crossing orbits that encircle the center core member. The constituent strands are themselves formed by prebraided or pretwisted substrands or filaments to cause the resulting rope to exhibit pronounced ribs along the corners of the square cross section for a secure hand-to-rope grip.

Abstract: A printed circuit board capable of preventing electromagnetic interference comprises a base plate composed of an insulating material. On the main surface of the base plate, a first electric conductive layer is formed by etching copper foil, which includes a signal electrode portion and a ground electrode portion. On the first electric conductive layer, an insulating layer such as a solder resist film is formed except for a part of the ground electrode portion, and on this layer, a second electric conductive layer is formed by screen-printing a copper ink so as to cover almost all of the first electric conductive layer. A part of the second electric conductive layer is connected to the ground electrode portion of the first electric conductive layer so that the second electric conductive layer acts as an electromagnetic shield. The copper ink is a mixture of copper powder, binder and other materials. A solder layer may be formed on the second electric conductive layer composed of the copper ink.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the authenticity of computer software when used with a main processor unit. The software is stored in an external memory which may, for example, be in the form of a ROM cartridge, floppy disk or the like. The main processor unit is operated according to a program contained in the external memory. To verify that the external memory is authentic, duplicate semiconductor devices, for example microprocessors, are separately mounted with the external memory and in the main unit, respectively. The semiconductor associated with the external memory device acts as a key device and the duplicate device mounted in the main unit acts as a lock device. The key device and the lock device are synchronized with each other, executing the same arithmetic operation according to the same program. The results of these operations are exchanged between devices, and compared.

Abstract: An electronic source synthesizer that employs frequency modulation. Wave-form data of both a fundamental wave and a modulated wave are stored in a RAM as 6-bit digital data. A sine wave signal is produced by modulation wave frequency data and the wave-form data from the RAM. The sine wave signal is multiplied with amplitude data of the modulation wave to obtain the modulation index data (J(t)). The frequency data (w.sub.c) of the fundamental wave and the modulation index data are multiplied. A result of the multiplication provides a read out address of the RAM for storing the wave-form data of the fundamental wave, thereby changing the read out speed of the RAM. The digital data read out from the RAM is converted to an analog sound signal by a D/A converter. Amplitude data (A) of the fundamental wave is pulse-width modulated, and the digital data from the RAM is gated by the modulated pulse. Thus the output of the D/A converter is activated and, forms a sound signal represented by the equation e=A sin J(t) w.

Abstract: A spring loaded arm mechanism is incorporated into a baseball home plate support for tossing a regulation or practice baseball, from ground level, upwardly into the batter's strike zone. A ball launching arm, arm bias spring, arm latch and a release are all arranged in a compact, low-profile unit flush with or just slightly protruding above the home plate support. The arm is cocked, using an arm engaging hand tool, by rotating a ball launching arm end downwardly against the biasing into a latched position. After positioning the baseball, the latch is released, either by the batter or by another via a remotely actuated release, to cause the sprung arm to rotate with great force through a limited arc, propelling the baseball vertically up into the strike zone. A practice embodiment includes a lever arm release actuated by the operator's bat and may further include an elastic ball return tethering cord having an in-line swivel to relieve line twisting.

Abstract: A front loading apparatus typically installed in a data processing machine for receiving a memory cartridge. The apparatus includes a frame disposed within the machine, and a tray pivotally mounted to the frame for rotation between a loading and an operating position. It also includes a spring biasing the tray toward the loading position and a releasable lock for retaining it in the operating position. A low insertion force edge connector is mounted to the frame for electrically interconnecting a printed circuit board in the cartridge with a second printed circuit board mounted in the machine.

Abstract: A displaying apparatus using a raster scanning type display such as a CRT, wherein vertical and horizontal positions are addressed respectively by an address counter for displaying an image stored in a character memory containing a matrix of horizontal and vertical dot information. Start address data, for locating the position of the image on the display, is loaded into vertical address and horizontal address counters which are then incremented by a carry output from horizontal and vertical adders respectively associated with the horizontal and vertical counters. The adder for the vertical address counter repeats adding operations according to predetermined addend data four times in one horizontal blanking period and twice in one vertical blanking period. The adder for the horizontal address counter repeats adding operations according to predetermined addend data at intervals selected to be a fraction, e.g. 1/4th, the usual horizontal dot interval.

Abstract: In order to edit commercial messages from an off-the-air video recording of a television signal, method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically operating a video tape recorder (VTR) so that it alternates between a normal forward record mode, and a rewind or backscan mode in response to the detection of audio and video fade conditions in the television signal which occur at the beginning and end of each commercial message. A fade detection circuit receives the television signal, while it is being recorded on the VTR, and develops a control signal in response to each detected fade transition such that a single commercial interruption in the television program will be accompanied by a first and then a second fade transition control signal marking the beginning and end of the interruption. Two consecutive commercial messages are accompanied by a first, second, and then a final or third fade control signal.

Abstract: An RF switch comprises a housing in which a board is contained. To the board, two input ends connected respectively to an F-connector and an RCA plug and one output end connected to an antenna terminal of a TV receiver by an F-plug are connected. On the board, high-pass filters connected in a cascade fashion are formed, of which input is connected to one input end connected to the F-connector. The filter in each stage is earthed at the output side thereof through corresponding switching transistors. When a power switch of a main unit of a picture processing apparatus is turned on, a superposed signal of a DC signal and an RF signal is given to the remaining input end from the main unit through the RCA plug and a coaxial cable. In the RF switch, the DC signal is taken out from the superposed signal, thereby respective switching transistors are turned on.

Abstract: A robotic game apparatus comprises a CRT display. A robot has a photo detector which faces a screen of the CRT display and detects an image on the screen. On the screen of the CRT display, images which differ, for example, in brightness or the like are formed in response to different codes. The photo detector of the robot generates a code signal responding to a change in image brightness or the like. This code signal is decoded, and motors or the like are controlled to cause corresponding movements of the arms and body of the robot.

Abstract: In a prosthetic foot constructed to store strain energy as the foot reacts to the load of the amputee's body during walking, running, jumping, etc., and then to release the stored energy to create foot lift and thrust which complements the user's natural stride, a monolithic cantilever beam made of a hardened polymer is provided as the keel of the foot with an ankle attachment fitting for connection to a standard upper prosthesis. A flexible foamed polymer is molded about the keel, in the shape of a natural foot, to transfer horizontal loads to the keel and to serve as a cosmetic cover.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit (20) includes a main housing (21), a mirror housing (22) and a sub housing (23) which are successively connected with each other in a rotatable manner. The main housing (21) is provided on both sides with a pair of rearwardly extending arms (24 and 25), so that engaging projections (27) of the sub housing (23) are slidably engaged with sliding guide grooves (28) of the arms (24 and 25). Thus, the display unit (20) can be selectively brought into a folded condition in which the mirror housing (22) and the sub housing (23) are superposed along the arms (24 and 25) with the engaging projections (27) slid frontwardly and an opened condition in which the mirror housing (22) is downwardly inclined and the sub housing (23) is opened from the mirror housing (22). The sub housing (23) is provided with a liquid crystal display panel (38) adapted for transmission of light.