Abstract: An apparatus and method for conducting exclusive and inclusive metadata searches to identify and select multimedia programs. The apparatus of the invention including a metadata search controller that compares user specified search words with metadata words to find programs that meet user specified search criteria. The metadata search controller executes an inclusive metadata search to search for matches between a user specified search word and a metadata word that is related to the user specified search word in a word pair contained within a word pair database. The metadata search controller calculates a rank value for each program that is found by a metadata search and creates a ranked list of such programs.

Abstract: A method of limiting the number of presentations or observations of information items, such as advertising images, that are repetitively distributed among a plurality of transmitted materials is presented. In accordance with the principles of the invention, information items are compared, using identifiable properties, to similarly identified information items that have been previously received and stored in a dynamically created and updated data base of information items. When a count of number of the occurrences of a selected information item with same, or substantially similar, identifiable properties achieves a selectively set threshold value, the selected information item is precluded from being presented or observed in subsequent transmissions or broadcasts.

Abstract: For use in a video image upconversion unit of the type that uses motion compensation to generate an interpolated field using motion vectors, an improved method of motion compensation is disclosed. The method performs motion compensation on a pixel and determines whether a motion vector assigned to the pixel is correct or incorrect. If the motion vector is incorrect, the method sets the value of the pixel to a previously recorded pixel value. The previously recorded pixel value is obtained by calculating for the pixel the difference between the value of a corresponding motion compensated pixel from a previous frame and the value of a corresponding motion compensated pixel from a next field. The difference is then compared with a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and device for determining whether an incorrect recording occurred on a recording device. Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information is used to select a program to be recorded. Corrected EPG data is sent after the recording and compared to the time, channel and length of recording to determine if an incorrect recording took place due to a change in scheduling. If so the recording device searches the EPG data for another showing of the program and if found records the next showing.

Abstract: A method for placing overlay elements in images of a digital video so that desirable viewing areas of the images are not occluded by the overlay element, the method includes extracting frames from the video, each of the frames defining an image which may have one or more desirable viewing areas. For each frame, an area is selected in the image for placing an overlay element and the percentage the overlay element overlaps the desirable viewing areas is determined for the selected area. The overlay element is placed in the selected area if the percentage is below a maximum allowed predetermined percentage of overlapping. If it is not, one or more other areas in the image are selected and/or the size, shape, aspect ratio of the overlay element is changed until a position and/or size, shape, aspect ratio is found which minimizes occlusion of the desirable viewing areas in the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scanning device (17) for scanning an information carrier (9), such as a CD or DVD. The scanning device comprises a radiation source (31), a lens system (43) with an optical axis (45) for focussing a radiation beam (47) supplied by the radiation source into a scanning spot (55) on the information carrier, and a focussing actuator (65) for displacing the lens system with respect to a base part (29) of the scanning device in a direction parallel to the optical axis. The lens system is elastically suspended with respect to a suspension member (63) of the scanning device, said suspension member being arranged next to the lens system, viewed in a direction transverse to the optical axis.

Abstract: For use in a digital television receiver, there is disclosed a system for receiving audio and video digital signals. The system comprises a digital network interface coupled to a digital main board for receiving baseband audio and video digital signals and a digital video decoder coupled to the digital network interface for decoding audio and video digital signals from the digital network interface. The digital video decoder sends the decoded signals to the digital main board. The system also comprises an analog television chassis having an input that is capable of receiving audio and video analog signals. The digital main board digitizes the analog signals into a digital transport stream prior to processing.

Abstract: The space required for an apparatus with a motor-driven lid, such as a CD player, is minimized. The lid is guided by an internal gear under the lid, and a follower wheel under the lid. The wheel rides in a guide groove at the rear of the apparatus housing. A drive motor rotates a pinion which engages a short rack and moves the lid straight rearwards while the follower wheel rides in a horizontal groove portion. The rack merges into an internal gear, so that continued pinion rotation raises that part of the lid while moving it rearward. At the same time, the follower wheel rides along a downwardly extending curved groove portion, so that the rear edge of the lid moves to a lower position while the front of the lid moves up and rearward, exposing an opening in the housing for access to the interior.

Abstract: A method and device are described for detecting whether a flash (F) has occurred in the high voltage part of a combined high voltage and horizontal deflection circuit (100) in an apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube (CRT), such as for instance a television set, a monitor, etc. The possible flash is detected by checking the fly-back pulse (70) of the horizontal deflection circuit (16) for deviations that reflect the occurrence of a flash. One possible distortion indicative for the occurrence of a flash is bouncing of the fly-back pulse. Another possible distortion indicative for the occurrence of a flash is collapse of the fly-back pulse. Another possible deviation indicative for the occurrence of a flash is a substantial decrease of the storage time (&tgr;S) of the line deflection transistor (30).

Abstract: A method for producing images for display by a television receiver wherein each image is in the form of a bitmap. Each of the bit mapped images is resolved into an array of dynamically redefinable characters (DRCs). Each of the DRCs forming the image to be displayed is stored in non-volatile memory. Under the control of the microprocessor, the array of DRCs for each image is copied from the non-volatile memory, into a display RAM, in order to create a bit mapped image and to display each of the bit mapped images in turn.

Abstract: For use by an emulation circuit, a non-special-custom microcontroller multiplexes a port among user data and program store addresses. It has a multistate machine cycle with plural clock pulses per state. Various additionally provided emulation pins allow for outputting to an emulation circuit any or all of the following signals:a start-of-cycle pulse indicating non-sleep modea state-wise recurrent signal signalling progress of said states during non-sleep modea signal discriminating between idle and reseta multiplexed signalization among any or all of the following:that a next-following machine cycle is the first of a next instruction;that presently an interrupt is being processed;that an external program memory access is forthcoming;that an external data memory access occurs;that an external data memory write access occurs.

Abstract: The method of intimately joining a hard magnetic part to a soft magnetic part in the manufacture of an electrical machine comprising polishing the joining surfaces such that the surface roughness hight is about less than or equal to two nanometers and joining the parts by direct bonding.

Abstract: A quadrature coil system which includes the following elements. (1) First and second electric main conductors which are situated at a distance from one another in a first plane and a second plane, respectively, and each of which is formed as a loop with an opening, the main conductors having mainly the same orientation. (2) First and second connection conductors, each of which constitutes an electric connection between the free ends of the first and second main conductors, which free ends are situated to corresponding sides of the opening. (3) An electric connection device which is connected to the conductors so that first and second sets of turns are formed which are suitable to generate and/or receive first and second magnetic fields, respectively, which are mutually orthogonally directed.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for powering a two-phase asynchronous motor having two windings which each have one end connected to one anode and both have another end connected to a third node, the nodes each being arranged to receive one of three alternating voltages whose sinusoidal fundamental waves at least substantially correspond in frequency. In this circuit arrangement, the power dissipation in the switching circuit connected to the third node is reduced by the alternating voltage applied to the third node having constant levels in periodically recurring time intervals so as to obtain a more economical dimensioning without a deterioration of the operating characteristics, particularly the loadability.

Abstract: A television receiver comprising an improved interface circuit which automatically activates a PIP display of an auxiliary input (for example a videocassette or videodisc) when such an input is detected.

Abstract: A method is described, in which a self-test is controlled in a subsystem of a data processing system. Control patterns are transported by the data processing system via a shift register and are then passed to the subsystem via connections used for normal control in the non-testing condition. A characterization of the test result is then loaded again into the shift register via connections also intended for normal use and is subsequently transported by the data processing system. A subsystem suitable for a self-test according to this method is controllable in the self-test condition from a shift register without it being necessary that it is provided with special test connections.

Abstract: Switched-mode power supplies in which a series arrangement of a bipolar transistor and a MOS field effect transistor is used are known and referred to as cascode circuits. In these circuits the bipolar transistor is switched (with the MOS field effect transistor) via the emitter instead of with the base. Since the collector current of the bipolar transistor may vary over a large range, the base should be proportionally driven to prevent the bipolar transistor from getting either above or below its normal operating range. By making use of an extra winding on a transformer arranged in series with the cascode circuit, a non-dissipative proportional drive of the base of the bipolar transistor is obtained. The extra winding is coupled to the base via an inductance.

Abstract: A differential amplifier with common-mode rejection has input transistors (T1, T2) whose drains are coupled to a first output terminal (10) and a second output terminal (12), respectively, and to the drains of current-source transistors (T3, T4) whose sources are each connected to a supply terminal (18) via a parallel arrangement of two control transistors (T5A/T6A, T5B/T6B) in order to reject the common-mode component at the output terminals (10, 12). Of each pair of control transistors the gate of the one transistor (T5A, T5B) is coupled to the first output terminal (10) and the gate of the other transistor (T5B, T6B) is coupled to second output terminal (12).

Abstract: The choke coil comprises a bead of a soft-magnetic material in which a number of ducts extend in parallel. An electrically conductive wire comprising fee ends is accommodated in the ducts. The choke coil comprises means for shielding a portion of the turn which extends outside the ducts. To this end, for example an electrically insulating housing is arranged around the bead. The housing consists of two approximately cylindrical portions, each of which comprises a substantially closed end face which is situated on a first end portion. The cylindrical portions are axially slid over the bead with their second open end portion fitting one into the other. In each end face there is provided at least one opening for feeding out the wire. When the choke coil is also provided with electrically insulating caps having a wire passage in the prolongation of the axis of the bead, the wire fed out will be oriented along said axis.