Abstract: Disclosed is a bit-detection arrangement able to convert an analog signal (AS) having an amplitude into a digital signal (DS) representing a bit sequence from which the analog signal (AS) is derived. The bit-detection arrangement has a phase detector which detect the phase difference between a quantized analog signal and a clock signal C2. The phase difference is sampled by an AD converter. The AD converter can sample at a relatively slow rate as the phase difference is a low frequency signal. The sampled phase difference is fed to a digital PLL which outputs a phase signal PHI. The phase signal and the quantized analog signal are used to recreate the digital signal (DS).

Abstract: A trench-gate semiconductor device, for example a MOSFET or IGBT, of compact geometry is manufactured with self-aligned masking techniques in a simple process with good reproducibility. The source region (13) of the device is formed by introducing dopant (63) into an area of the body region (15) via a mask window (51a), diffusing the dopant to form a surface region (13b) that extends laterally below the mask (51) at a distance (d) beyond the masking edge (51b) of the window (51a), and then etching the body (10) at the window (51a) to form a trench (20) for the trench-gate (11) with a lateral extent (y) that is determined by the etching of the body (10) at the masking edge (51b) of the window (51a). A portion of the surface region (13b) is left to provide the source region (13) adjacent to the trench (20).

Abstract: Paths are planned for one or more actors, through at least two dimensions of time or space, to identify rendezvous locations meeting a global criterion. At least two scenarios are defined, including at least one for each actor, and a configuration space is created for each of these scenarios. A scenario includes identification of the actor, a source direction for planning, a set of states identifying the source or obstacle locations, and the respective cost metrics for each possible transition between a configuration state in the corresponding configuration space, and its neighbors. Cost waves are propagated in each configuration space, to generate a cost-to-source for each state. A Boolean evaluation is then made of configuration states, according to a global criterion, to identify all possible rendezvous states. Finally, the actors are controlled to travel to that rendezvous chosen according to optimization criteria, or the candidate rendezvous states are displayed for further evaluation or use.

Abstract: A method and system for effectively and efficiently constructing a development environment for graphical user interfaces for an electronic consumer product. The basic aim of the invention tool is to automatically generate an interface in the authoring environment for customer specific target control components. This is done so by automatically creating a host platform control component (in the format of an OCX) from an existing target platform control component (in the format of a C header file). After running the invention once for every control component, a designer can then write on the host, for instance Visual Basic application code that performs calls to properties and methods of these generated control components.

Abstract: An apparatus uses a computer-controlled algorithm that enables production of high-quality layouts and charge maps or set-ups for arbitrary printed circuit boards for electronic component placement machines alone or as one of many in a production line. A class of algorithms known as genetic algorithms employing an initial population of chromosomes are used. Each chromosome represents a set of parameters that control how a layout and charge maps are generated. Problem descriptors, based on one time code are generated. An adaptive searcher searches parameters and generates trial solutions as chromosomes and a heuristic layout generator interprets these chromosomes to generate the layout and charge maps using the problem descriptors.

Abstract: To achieve a high passband attenuation, a switchable bandpass filter for a multiband tuner, includes at least a capacitance diode for frequency-tuning of at least a resonant circuit of the bandpass filter, and a switching diode arranged at the input and the output, this switching diode being switchable to either the blocked state or to the conducting state by DC voltages. The capacitance diode is additionally usable for blocking the bandpass filters and is integrated in the resonant circuit of the bandpass filter in such a way that, in dependence upon a switching potential, the capacitance diode couples the resonant.

Abstract: Connector switch apparatus which can provide either a cable or satellite television signal or a ghost-free off-air television signal. The apparatus obtains the cable or satellite television signal from a cable or satellite tuner, which can be included in the apparatus; and includes a television tuning device for producing a ghost-free off-air television signal, and a switch which provides either of those signals. The television tuning device employs use of antenna directionality control and ghost cancellation to produce a ghost-free off-air television signal. In particular, the television tuning device obtains an off-air television signal from a antenna, which may or may not be included therein, whose directionality can be changed to change reception quality of a received off-air television signal; and includes a baseband ghost cancellation unit which can perform baseband ghost cancellation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screening housing (10) for electrical components (11) arranged in the interior, which housing has a housing opening (13) which is closed with a lid (14) and which comprises a circumferential housing edge (15) which is flanged inwards, while outwardly projecting tongues (19) of the lid (14) defined by recesses (18) grip below inwardly extending projections (16) of the housing edge (15). To simplify such a screening housing construction, it is suggested thatthe tongues (19) of the lid (14) and the projections (16) of the housing edge (15) are arranged at two mutually opposed sides,the tongues (19) of the lid (14) lie in the same plane as the lid (14) itself,ledges (17) bent inwards and into a lower plane are provided for supporting the lid (14) next to the projections (16), andthe two edges (14a, b) of the lid (14) not having tongues (19) grip below the two corresponding housing edges (15c, d).

Abstract: In a receiver, both an A/D conversion (ADC) and a phase-split (PSF) is carried out on an input signal (R) to obtain a pair of digital signals (Xd,Yd) which are mutually phase shifted. The pair of digital signals (Xd,Yd) is processed (VSP) as a vectorial signal with a frequency-characteristic which is asymmetrical with respect to zero frequency. In order to make the receiver better suited for relatively low A/D conversion sampling frequencies (Fs), the phase-split (PSF) is carried out prior to the A/D conversion (ADC).

Abstract: To enable a serial data signal to be sampled reliably through a longer time period, the data signal is applied to a data slicer with a dynamically variable slice level. The slice level is dynamically adjusted in dependence upon a feedback of the sliced signal. A track-and-hold circuit, with control feedback from a low pass filter and peak detectors, provides for a design which is tolerant of timing variations. Also disclosed are circuits for reducing the effects of cochannel and other interferences.

Abstract: A transmitter-receiver system and a method for transmitting and receiving MCM signals, whereby any frequency offset and timing mismatch can be determined and corrected simultaneously, prior to demodulating the received signal. A plurality of single tone signals are transmitted prior to the transmission of the symbols corresponding to the desired information. The receiver is outfitted with a Frequency Offset and Timing Estimator for receiving theme plurality of single tone signals, estimating any frequency offset and timing mismatch and correcting the sampler and sampled signal accordingly, prior to demodulating the sampled signal.

Abstract: Device of the phase-locked loop type for demodulating a frequency-modulated signal. Device for frequency demodulation, using a phase-locked loop. According to the invention, for linearizing the variation of the frequency of a local oscillator (11) as a function of its control signal (Vb), a variable capacitance (Cv) is formed by an electronic module (20) which supplies the equivalent of a capacitance whose variation as a function of the control voltage (Vb) has a linearity deviation which is established for compensating the linearity deviation of the frequency of the oscillator as a function of the value of the capacitance (Cv).

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus (1) which accepts two different sizes of magnetic-tape cassettes (15, 16) each having two juxtaposed reels (21, 22, 23, 24) comprises four drive devices (25, 26, 27, 28) mounted stationarily in the apparatus and each comprising a reel spindle (31, 32, 39, 40) and a reel disc (33, 34, 41, 42). Both the reel spindles (31, 32, 39, 40) and the reel discs (33, 34, 41, 42) are axially movable and, when a magnetic-tape cassette (15, 16) is loaded into the apparatus (1) in its operating position, the reel spindles (39, 40, 31, 32) and the reel discs (41, 42, 33, 34) which are not adapted to enter into driving engagement with the inserted magnetic-tape cassette (15, 16) are moved into an area situated outside the area occupied by the inserted magnetic-tape cassette (15, 16).

Abstract: An information system including a record carrier and a playback apparatus. Information has been recorded on the record carrier in the form of variations of a first physical parameter. The playback apparatus scans the record carrier by means of a transducer which is responsive to the variations of the first physical parameter. An information recovering circuit recovers the information from a detection signal received from the transducer. The record carrier also exhibits second variations of a second physical parameter, which differs from the first physical parameter, but which second variations are of a type that are detectable by the transducer. A detection circuit detects the presence of the second variations or a predetermined property thereof (e.g., that they exhibit a predetermined variation pattern) on the basis of the detection signal received from the transducer.

Abstract: A television receiver including a teletext decoder for receiving and displaying teletext pages for signalling that a requested teletext has been changed or not changed with respect to the previous consultation of the relevant page. To this end the receiver forms a checkword upon reception of a teletext page, which checkword is representative of the contents of the page, and compares this with the checkword stored upon previous display of the page.

Abstract: A record carrier, a playback apparatus and a system including the record carrier and the playback apparatus. Information has been recorded on the record carrier in the form of variations of a first physical parameter. The playback apparatus scans the record carrier by means of a transducer which is responsive to the variations of the first physical parameter. An information recovering circuit recovers the information from a detection signal received from the transducer. The record carrier exhibits second variations of a second physical parameter, which differs from the first physical parameter, but which second variations are of a type that are detectable by the transducer. A detection circuit detects the presence of a predetermined property of the second variations (e.g., that the second variations exhibit a modulation pattern representing a code) on the basis of a detection signal received from the transducer.

Abstract: A system for transmitting a series of images of a full motion video scene in a digital format whereby the series of images is divided into a number of sub-series which, when interleaved, represent the original series. A ranking order of increasing magnitude is allocated to consecutive sub-series. Each image of a sub-series is converted into an image data block, while images from one or more sub-series having a lower order of precedence are considered for this conversion. A packet header indicating the ranking order of the sub-series with which the corresponding image is associated is added to each image data block. A display apparatus is adapted to select those image data blocks which have predetermined packet headers and to subject the image data blocks thus selected to a decoding process. The number of different packet headers which is selected determines the temporal resolution of the scene to be displayed.

Abstract: An automatic gain control strategy for zero IF receivers in which the gain of low pass filters (20,22) is altered whilst keeping their bandwidths substantially constant. The low pass filters (20,22) are implemented as gyrator filters, each of which comprise at least one pair of transconductors, the ratio of the transconductances of which are adjustable in such a manner as to maintain the product of their transconductances constant. An electronic signal for adjusting the ratio of the transconductances is derived from an estimate of the instantaneous signal amplitude of the received signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging a battery (5) includes a battery compartment for accommodating the battery in a manner such that its electrical terminals are in contact with a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connectable to respective poles of a controllable source of electrical energy. A resistive strain gauge (15) for monitoring mechanical deformation of the battery is attached to an elastic surface within the battery compartment, against which surface the battery is pressed when it is located in the battery compartment. In a particular embodiment, one of the electrodes (9) is a sprung metallic sheet and the elastic surface is located on this sheet.

Abstract: A system for providing testing capability of individual submodules on an integrated circuit module. A test bus having a plurality of conductors is connected to selected internal ports of said submodules through three-way analog switches. Each three-way analog switch provides the capability to observe and control an internal port through combination of the ON/OFF status of two transmission gates. Test patterns for controlling the transmission gates may be provided by onboard D flip-flops which are externally programmed to control or observe ports of an individual submodule.