Abstract: A digital control circuit enables/disables the feedback of serial transmissions of an UART receive signal when the G-LINK output port is short circuited in a particular operational mode. In a conventional operational mode, the digital control circuit monitors the state of the UART's Tx output and during an UART transmission, the Rx line normally is used for statistics feedback to set to a high state and eliminate unnecessary or unwarranted UART interrupts generated by the G-LINK circuit. The digital control circuit thus enables the G-LINK signal feedback to the UART when required, thereby maintaining a functionality to identify the unit's operational mode and allows the serial ports of the G-LINK to be configured and utilized during conventional operational modes.

Abstract: A system for processing data packets comprising a plurality of data processing blocks and a controller, which allows the configuration parameters used in processing the data blocks to be updated in each data processing blocks at the data packet boundary. The present invention involves a system that utilizes a handshaking method for synchronously exchanging data between data processing blocks, wherein the data processing blocks update configuration parameters based on the type of networking standard used. Each data processing block identifies a first data block in the data packet and transmits a first data signal along with a first output data block of the data packet, wherein the block updates the configuration parameters from the controller only when the first data signal is present. In this manner, the first data signal, which is indicative of the data packet boundary, is propagated along the sequence of data processing blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for a replay or recording appliance for optical recording media having an inclination control system for vertical alignment of the scanning beam with respect to optical recording media. In order to exclude other factors which, in addition to the inclination of the scanning beam, influence the radio-frequency signal which is detected by the recording medium, without any additional inclination sensors from the disadvantageous influence of the inclination control, an inclination control system is provided which uses the lower envelope curve signal of a radio-frequency signal which is detected by the optical recording medium and represents the dark value of the detected radio-frequency signal.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a television signal receiver includes first and second circuit boards. The first circuit board includes a first device such as a memory, and control circuitry for controlling at least one function of the apparatus. The second circuit board is operably coupled to the first circuit board via control lines. The second circuit board includes a controller for generating first and second control signals. The control lines transmit the first control signals from the controller to the first device when the apparatus is in a first operational state, and transmit the second control signals from the controller to the control circuitry when the apparatus is in a second operational state.

Abstract: A peak to peak detector circuit for use in an audio system comprises a first amplifier having an input terminal for receiving an L+R AC audio signal and an output terminal which is serially coupled to a resistor in series with a capacitor for generating a variable dc voltage having a time vs. amplitude relationship corresponding to the input L+R AC audio signal. A clamping diode having a cathode electrode coupled to a reference potential and having an anode electrode coupled to the capacitor operates to limit negative amplitude excursions associated with the variable dc voltage to a predetermined minimal value. A rectifying diode having a cathode electrode coupled to the anode electrode of the clamping diode, and an anode electrode coupled to a second capacitor to charge the second capacitor responsive to the amplitude of said variable dc voltage operates to produce a dc output signal proportional to the peak to peak amplitude of said L+R audio signal.

Abstract: A video processing system is described for providing an image having more than one region on a display (DISPLAY). The system has a control means which can determine, for each region, the type (e.g., graphics, text, computer programs, broadcast TV video, etc.) of the image material being displayed in the region. The system also has a video driver coupled to the display for providing image signals having contrast and brightness characteristics. The control means generates a control signal for causing said video driver means to adjust said contrast and brightness characteristics of said image signals according to the type of material being displayed in said region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for receiving signals transmitted by N satellites, the said device comprising means for focusing the beams corresponding to the said signals. The device comprises several source antennas, the said source antennas being printed antennas made on a single substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for compensating asymmetry in a reproduction signal DRSO from an optical recording medium, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media using such method. It is an object of the invention to propose a method for compensating an offset in an asymmetric reproduction signal DRSO capable of compensating the offset even if the amplitude of the shortest run-length components is smaller than the asymmetry of the reproduction signal DRSO. This object is achieved by a method for compensating an offset in an asymmetric reproduction signal, whereby an offset compensation signal OFS is subtracted from the reproduction signal DRSO, the offset compensation signal OFS being generated by an offset compensator 11, comprising the steps of: detecting a binary data signal NRZ from the asymmetric reproduction signal DRSO; and using the binary data signal NRZ for obtaining the offset compensation signal OFS.

Abstract: The power voltage supply for a power amplifier is switched between an operational full power mode and a reduced power mode by the switching of a dual state impedance device connected in series between the power amplifier and the power supply. A control circuit detects the level of a signal to be amplified by that amplifier and switches the impedance states thus reducing the power output capability of the power amplifier and placing the power amplifier into a reduced power mode. In one embodiment, the signal is produced by spectrally filtering with a low pass filter, with the cross-over frequency being adjustable. Additionally, the gain of the amplifier can be reduced for high level signals.

Abstract: Voltage level translators are presented, inter alia, for operating an operational amplifier integrated circuit designed for operation with a single ended power supply, to operate with a split level power supply having a center tapped ground. A first polarity power supply terminal of a operational amplifier integrated circuit is coupled to a first polarity of the of the split level power supply, and a second polarity power supply terminal of the operational amplifier integrated circuit is coupled to a second polarity of the power supply, with a positive signal input terminal of the operational amplifier being coupled to a center tapped ground of the split level power supply.

Abstract: A control system for an apparatus wherein a keyboard for user selection has a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines coupled to a programmable microprocessor. The keyboard includes a plurality of switch elements arranged to selectively connect a particular one of the plurality of first lines to a particular one of the set of second lines. The control system is disabled while powering-up so that incompatible keyboard selections cannot be entered by the user.

Abstract: A method of accelerating the identification of the type of data carrier when the data carrier is inserted in a multimode player and/or recorder which accepts different types of data carriers Looking up a table of use statistics allows the present method to determine which data carrier type is most often used, thus most probable to be encountered, and to select a parameter or a set of parameters associated with this type to test the data carrier.

Abstract: The process for coding characters and associated display attributes in a video system consists in: coding a first cue of character type in a first word; coding a second cue of display attribute type, a so-called parallel attribute, defining the color or aspect associated with a character, in a second word, comprising at least one selection bit whose value indicates whether the parallel display attribute transmitted is a color attribute or a shape attribute; storing the value of the said parallel display attribute; using, for display of the current character, the color attribute, respectively the shape attribute, transmitted at the same time as the current character, or by default, the color attribute, respectively the shape attribute, stored during transmission of a previous character.

Abstract: In a stereophonic system having sum and difference signals with expanded spatial imaging, localization of center audio materials more towards the center is accomplished by equalization of the (L+R) sum signal. The equalization comprises decreasing the bass response while increasing the treble response of the sum signal with the desired bass reduction being accomplished by the use of a gyrator to economically synthesize an inductance. Additionally, the equalizations in the (L+R) sum signal to reduce the signal at bass frequencies and to increase the signal at treble frequencies are switchable singly or in combination between “ON” and “OFF” modes.

Abstract: Generally, performing sampling-rate conversion from a higher sampling frequency fs1 to a lower sampling frequency fs2 results in aliasing. It is known to use a low-pass filter, known as anti-alias filter, for avoiding this alias distortion. Its effect is to remove spectral contents above fs2/2 from the digital signal. According to the invention these signal parts are suppressed at spectral decoding resulting in a bandwidth of the signal to be re-sampled which is less than half of the second sampling frequency fs2. This can be done for MPEG encoded audio signals by limiting the decoding to a certain number of subbands, for DOLBY AC-3 encoded audio signals by setting certain spectral lines to zero at decoding. The inventive method not only totally removes the processing power needed for calculating an anti-alias filter, but also limits the decoding work needed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dielectric resonator oscillator, comprising a dielectric resonator contained in a resonant cavity in order to generate a signal oscillating at a predetermined central frequency, the dimensions of the resonator and the limiting conditions in the cavity being capable of determining the resonant frequency of the resonator. It comprises means sensitive to acoustic pressure waves capable of modifying the distribution of the electromagnetic fields in the cavity as a function of said acoustic pressure waves. The invention also relates to a voice control device equipped with an oscillator according to the invention. Particular application to remote voice control devices for controlling domestic equipment.

Abstract: A button ball and alignment rib formed to a bezel mates with an aperture on a floating button cluster to align and secure the floating button cluster such that the buttons of the floating button cluster are aligned with their corresponding apertures formed in the bezel. The alignment rib has a tapered rib disposed upon it and upon the tapered rib is formed a semi-spherical ball reinforced by an enlarged post that is formed from the bezel to the semi-spherical ball. A plurality of apertures are formed in the floating button cluster, one of which receives the semi-spherical ball and retains it once it has passed through the aperture.

Abstract: A modular electronic system is provided wherein a first device is powerable by a first rechargeable battery. A connector operationally connects the first device to a second device powerable by a second rechargeable battery. A charge control circuit is included in the first device for determining the condition of charge of the first rechargeable battery and determining the condition of charge of the second rechargeable battery. The charge control circuit includes means for charging the battery with the lower condition of charge from the battery with the higher condition of charge. In this way, by sharing power resources, the cooperative operational life of the devices can be increased.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a recording and reading apparatus constituting a kind of video reservoir in the home of the consumer. Thanks to a large-capacity storing technique with suitable technical means, broadcasters transmit numerous programs via specific channels and the consumer may control the content of his reservoir (by recording, reading and erasing programs). The invention is applicable to on-demand video in the consumer's home with a video reservoir constituting a video-library that is regularly updated by broadcasters and/or by the consumer himself.

Abstract: Clicks in voice and music signals are removed by detecting and interpolating the click. The use of a permanently set threshold value above the peak value of the audio signal is known for detecting the clicks, and interpolation carried out on the basis of the sample values before and after a click is known for filling them in. Disadvantages of these methods are, on the one hand, that many clicks do not have a larger amplitude than the peak signal and therefore remain undetected, and, on the other hand, interpolation is a highly complex procedure and is limited to a maximum click density. The invention provides for an error signal (en) to be determined by adaptive filtering (AF). A sample value is designated as distorted in the input signal (xn) if the absolute instantaneous value in the error signal (en) exceeds a dynamically adapted threshold value.