Abstract: An electronic device protecting apparatus and associated methods of manufacturing provide protection for electronic devices which receive power for their operation at least in part from a storage battery. In a preferred embodiment, an electronic device protecting apparatus has a battery voltage sensor, an engine start sensor, and an electronic device decoupler. The electronic devices are decoupled from the battery when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined level, and when the engine is being started.

Abstract: A thermally actuated deflector structure for automatically varying the air discharge pattern of a ceiling diffuser in response to a sensed change in the temperature of air being delivered to the diffuser includes a multi-bladed damper assembly positioned over a central outlet portion of the diffuser and having a frame portion secured to the diffuser. The blades in the damper assembly are drivable between a cooling orientation in which they block the central diffuser portion and preclude supply air flow downwardly therethrough, and a heating orientation in which they uncover the central diffuser portion and permit supply air flow downwardly therethrough. A coiled bimetallic actuating strip is positioned above the damper assembly and has an inner end anchored to the damper frame, and an outer end secured to a drive member linked to the damper blades.

Abstract: A palette for converting video data encoded in multiple YUV and RGB formats into a configuration suitable for transmission to a display and a multimedia system incorporating the same.

Abstract: A VGA controller having an overlay mode for displaying images formed from selective components of multiple image planes. A first image and a second image overlaying the first image are interleaved into three of four bit planes of a dynamic random access memory. When displaying the image, the controller will simultaneously read from the first and second images. If the value of the second image is non-zero, then the second image is displayed. Otherwise, the first image is displayed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus within a multimedia system for digitally decoding video pixel data. The pixel data is decoded to 24 bits per pixel from a compressed 8 bits per pixel format. The compressed pixel data is deformatted into its separate luminance and chrominance components. The components are then differentially expanded and assigned to associated pixel elements. Predominant color transitions are designated to determine the pixel location where the chrominance components change. An interpolated chrominance component may be inserted at these color change locations to smooth out the color transitions.

Abstract: A method for merging first and second digital video signals generated by first and second video controllers, respectively, for merged transmission to a digital video decoder. The first video controller transmits the first digital video signal to the decoder while monitoring the signal to detect a luminance component which designates the boundary between a first image constructable from the first video signal and a second image constructable from the second video signal. When the luminance component is detected, a colorkey signal is generated by the first video controller and transmitted to the second video controller to initiate transmission of the second digital video signal to the decoder in place of the first digital video signal. The first video controller continues to monitor the first video signal until the absence of the luminance component is detected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for encoding full color video data signals and a protocol for encoding the same in a storage medium. Each pixel of a full color video image is converted into a single 8 bit luminance and multiple 8 bit chrominance components. The 8 bit luminance component is differentially compressed into 5 bits while the chrominance components are subsampled for every four pixels of the video image before being differentially compressed. The differentially compressed subsampled chrominance components and the differentially compressed luminance components are then assembled into a video data signal related to the full color image.