Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for writing to or reading from optical recording media which have data tracks for recording or reading out information. It has a scanning means for scanning the data tracks, a detection means which emits a signal which is modulated in accordance with the information stored on the optical recording medium and a track detector, which generates a mirror signal by means of a reference value transmitter, which mirror signal indicates whether the scanning means is scanning a data track or the region between two tracks. The device is capable of forming a reliable mirror signal without a high outlay. For this purpose, the reference value transmitter is designed as an adaptive reference value transmitter to which the mirror signal is fed as input variable.

Abstract: Tracking error signal in an optical read/write device, such as a CD ROM, are fine tuned for deviations in the positions of the lens structure normal to the recorded medium to provide more precise tracking control. Track error signal is developed by means of DPD-TE circuitry, using for example, signals from a four quadrant photodetector. Selected pairs of the signals from the photodetector are summed and the sums are differenced to develop an intermediate signal. The intermediate signal is amplified with a gain proportional the reciprocal of the intensity of light received by the photodetector, and thereafter combined with the track error signal to provide a corrected track error signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for constructing a valid OSD message bitstream from a plurality of stored character bitstreams. Each character of the OSD font set is initially scaled into a fixed block size, e.g., a block size of 16.times.16 pixels. Each character is then encoded into a "character bitstream" using the intra macroblock coding syntax. The character bitstream is stored within a storage medium. When a frame of OSD messages needs to be encoded, the character bitstreams are read from the storage medium and cascaded to form a valid OSD message bitstream which represents the frame of OSD messages.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for acquiring a program from a packetized signal in response to ancillary information included in the packetized signal. The packetized signal includes a plurality of program signals and ancillary information associated with the plurality of program signals. The apparatus includes means for identifying the ancillary information from the packetized signal, the ancillary information including master guide information for use in identifying and acquiring special guide information, and special guide information for use in acquiring program information associated with the plurality of program signals. The program signals may be acquired using identifier information that may be derived from the ancillary information. The apparatus includes means responsive to the ancillary information for acquiring a selected program from the packetized signal.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the picture tube in a television receiver. In order to generate a high peak white on the screen of the picture tube, it is desirable to drive the output amplifiers at full output. Because of tolerances, for example in the cutoff calibration, the transparency of the picture tube glass, fluctuations in the input signal etc., driving the video output stages to full output may drive the output stages into saturation and disturbances in the form of so-called smears can occur in the picture. The present invention permits the output stages to be driven to full output as far as the highest peak white without the output amplifiers going into saturation and causing disturbances in the form of smears in the picture.

Abstract: A VCR includes apparatus for controlling a cable converter unit. In a preferred embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed. An LED assembly holds the LEDs in a predetermined orientation and provides first and second IR ports through which different amounts of IR signals are transmitted.

Abstract: Recording or playback devices for optical recording carriers have a servo control circuit which controls the tracking and the focus of an optical scanning unit 1 with reference to an error signal. According to the invention, the error signal is non-linearly amplified upstream of the servo controller, in order to process strong external mechanical effects, normally referred to as shocks, in such a way that the tracking and the focus are retained or adjusted. If there is a defect, such as a scratch on the disc etc., a defect detector and a linear amplifier connected in parallel with the non-linear amplifier are additionally used, the linearly amplified or non-linearly amplified error signal being fed to the servo controller as a function of the output signal of the defect detector. The sign of the error signal, which includes direction information, is retained in the case of the non-linearly amplified error signal.

Abstract: A telecommunications device having a remote controller, which device contains a circuit arrangement for automatic identification of additional information in a program channel by means of which circuit arrangement a transmission of the program channel is classified into a first type for a desired transmission and into a second type for additional information. An additional button on the remote controller gives a user of the remote controller the capability to correct an incorrect classification of the transmission by means of the circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement can be equipped with automatic-learning logic which, when a button is operated, revises previous decisions relating to the classification and redefines its criteria for the correct changeover time.

Abstract: Videotext data or data transmitted through a telephone network is displayed by: receiving and decoding the data by a receiver/decoder device disposed in a television receiver, a video cassette recorder, or connected to the television receiver or the video cassette recorder; transmitting the data from the television receiver or the video cassette recorder to a control device for the television receiver or the video cassette recorder; and, receiving and displaying the data on a display device of the control device. The data may be displayed on a tactile sensitive screen of the control device, for example liquid crystal or plasma displays. The television receiver or the video cassette recorder may be programmed responsive to tactile stimulation of the screen.

Abstract: An amplification circuit comprising a device for compensating for its input current. The amplification circuit includes an amplifier and a capacitor located on the input side of the amplifier. The input-current compensation device consists of a current generator, generating a current Ig, a switch and a device for measuring the average current charging or discharging the capacitor during the time that the switch is open. The current Ig is such that: Average current=Ia-Ig, where Ia is the input current of the amplifier. The value of the average current is close to zero. The value of the current Ig which the current generator must output, so as to make the average current close to zero, is calculated using the device for measuring the average current. The invention particularly applies to a circuit for restoring the DC component of a video signal.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for a vibration-resistant playback device, in which uninterrupted and undisturbed reproduction of information is assured despite vibrations, by use of a "shock-proof memory" by arrangement of a buffer between an EFM demodulator, and a de-interleaving and error correction unit, which provides the digital audio information. The buffer can be made of an ARAM (audio RAM), which is less expensive than a DRAM. The ARAM can be partially defective, and its use is made possible by the arrangement before the error correction unit. Subcode information is preferably used to synchronize the data in the buffer following an interruption.

Abstract: A method is specified for processing the output signals A to F of an optoelectronic scanner (3) in a replay or recording appliance for replaying from or recording onto an optical recording medium having the following method steps: as well as an appliance with a corresponding input circuit of a digital servo controller: first of all, the output signals A to F are supplied directly to an A/D converter (2) without the interposition of a low-pass filter, and are digitized with n-times oversampling. The digitized output signals are then supplied to a k-th order comb filter (4) by means of which undersampling of the signals to the normal sampling frequency (44.1 kHz) is carried out. After this, the undersampled output signals A' to F' of the comb filter (4) are supplied to a trimming and correction circuit (6) in which trimming and correction, of OFFSET and BALANCE are respectively carried out.

Abstract: In analog color television transmission methods, the transmitted CVBS signal comprises luminance and chrominance signals which have to be separated from one another in a television receiver in order to permit separate further processing. Comb filters can be used for this, a picture contents-dependent controller frequently being worked with which switches over between different filter algorithms, that is to say different line combinations, as a function of the respective chrominance signals. In the case of conventional comb signals, the CVBS signal is split into the luminance signal and a chrominance signal which is still to be demodulated into the two color difference signals. In this case, the identification of color edges, in particular, is not always carried out in a manner free from errors. This can lead to only incomplete separation of the luminance and chrominance signals, so that cross effects cannot fully be avoided.

Abstract: A method for the remote control of at least one electronic device (10 to 25) is proposed in which the control data are transmitted from a remote control device (27) to the electronic device (10 to 25). In the method, information data at least regarding the remote control functions of the electronic device (10 to 25) to be controlled are transmitted to the remote control device (27). These information data are stored in the remote control device (27) and called on during a control operation in order to select and transmit the control data necessary for the respective control operation. At least the device identification number (GID) and the device type are transmitted to the remote control automatically, for example after the connection of the electronic device to the power supply system.Furthermore, an apparatus for the remote control of an electronic device is proposed, as well as an electronic device.

Abstract: A device for corrected-focus scanning of information while recording on and/or replaying information from a recording medium is based on a radiation source which provides a scanning beam, a focusing objective lens and a radiation-sensitive detector system. A diffraction element for deriving a focus error signal is arranged in the space between the focusing objective lens and the detector system, at a predetermined, fixed distance, the diffraction element being designed such that two focus planes result which are physically separated from one another. The detector system is located between the separate focus planes such that the size ratios, which change in the event of defocusing, of the symmetrically imaged focus spot can be used to derive the focus error signal.

Abstract: A digital detector circuit for recovering the bit timing of a data stream with a PLL includes a digital phase detector and a digital pulse length detector whose output signals are added and integrated, and the result is used for controlling the oscillator frequency. The output signal of the pulse length detector is determined by a corresponding algorithm, one slow and two fast, with direction-dependent output signals of the pulse length detector being generated.

Abstract: In a videocassette recorder including "VCR PLUS+.TM." videocassette recorder programming system capability and TIMER PROGRAMMING capability, it is herein recognized that the respective menu for programming in each of the two available systems should automatically be selected in response to the pressing of the PROGRAM key by a user, and in response to which of the two systems was last used for programming the VCR.

Abstract: A device for regulating the luminance signal and chromanance signals of a video image to be converted into red, green and blue color signals. The device includes a conversion matrix and a device for regulating an amplitude of the luminance signal, the blue color difference chromanance signal and a red color difference chromanance signal to be modified by a user adjustment control. The device further includes a device for preventing the color signal having the highest value at the output of the conversion matrix from being able to exceed a saturation value substantially equal to a percentage, preferably 70%, of the white level of the image signal when the color signal reaches the saturation value.

Abstract: In a television system, including a standby power supply coupled directly to an AC power input and a main power supply coupled via an on/off switch to the AC power input, a source of light is illuminated at a first brightness level in response to the standby power supply being connected to an AC source and illuminated at a lower brightness level in response to the main power supply being connected to the AC power source.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a circuit for storage of digital tuning data and parameters for a number of television channels in a rewritable memory. The channel search is initialized by pressing a single button to initialize a scan of the reception frequency band. The scanning of the frequency range is interrupted for a preset time-out period .DELTA.t each time a stop-scan signal is generated and resumes automatically until the entire range has been scanned. After each stop-scan pulse, if the single button is pressed during a time-out period, At, the system begins toggling through the possible values of each parameter relating to the station, the current value of the parameter being memorized when the single button is pressed again. The invention also includes a television and video cassette recorder implementing the above method.