Abstract: An improved valve fitting configured to limit pressure exerted upon a surface of the valve by a sealing surface of the fitting to inhibit the sealing surface from deforming causing the valve to leak is provided. This causes the sealing surface of the fitting to exert a constant pressure upon a sealing surface of a valve body, when the fitting is coupled to the valve body, to form a continuous seal between the fitting and the valve, to inhibit leaks therebetween. When the fitting is coupled to the valve body, the compression member is compressed to limit the pressure that the sealing surface exerts on the valve body, to inhibit the sealing surface from distorting, or deforming, against internal componentry of the valve which can form gaps between the sealing surface and componentry, causing the valve to leak.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a high definition image using both an inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) and an inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) to provide a relatively lower definition image is provided. Image data encoded with a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is decoded using both an IDCT and an IDWT to generate IDCT processed image data and IDWT reduced image data. The IDCT processed image data and the IDWT reduced image data are combined to generate reduced image data that has a relatively lower definition than the image data and a relatively higher definition than the IDWT reduced image data.

Abstract: A system for manipulating a computer generated animation in real time that includes a head mount configured to inhibit relative movement between the head mount and head of a wearer is provided. The head mount is coupled to a computer that processes data generated by the head mount in real time. Data generated by the facial movements of a wearer of the head mount is processed in real time so that an object, such as a cartoon in a virtual reality program, has facial expressions analogous to the facial expressions of the wearer, as the wearer is performing. A plurality of cameras monitor different localized regions of the wearer's face for sensing movements in these regions to generate data indicating movement. The cameras are attached to the head mount with flexible arms for precise positioning of the cameras. The cameras monitor each of the mouth, chin and cheek, and an eyebrow and forehead regions of the wearer's face and one of the wearer's eyes.

Abstract: An improved acoustic horn for loudspeakers is provided. The acoustic horn of the referred embodiment of the present invention includes a one piece body that incorporates damping material within the body. Preferably, the one piece body is slotted and vibration damping material is provided within the slots. The horn is fabricated by casting from suitable metals and metal alloys. In the preferred embodiment, the body comprises four outwardly curved and flared side walls and is generally rectangular. Each wall of a pair of the opposed side walls is cast with a slot. Vibration damping material is provided in each slot to substantially reduce the structural resonances of the one piece body, so that the acoustic horn has enhanced vibration damping. Various vibration damping materials that are flexible relative to the body and have a high loss tangent are used. Suitable materials include hot melt adhesives, epoxy resins, and commercially available elastomeric materials.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A direct access channel bar is arranged on a screen so as to cause the channel boxes to display the number and logo of a selected TV channel when the user directs the pointing device at the point on the direct access bar that represents the selected channel. The direct access channel bar is provided with an absolute cursor position indicator that indicates to the user the numbers of TV channels represented by various points on the direct access channel bar, when the user moves the pointing device over these points.

Abstract: A first-in first-out (FIFO) memory interface is provided by coupling an input register and an output register to a conventional static random access memory (SRAM). The registers and SRAM are coupled to control logic that controls the timing of shift-in (write) and shift-out (read) operations. Upon receipt of a write request signal, input data is received from the requesting device and buffered within the input register. The buffered data is then stored in the SRAM during a write operation. Upon receipt of a read request signal, the data previously buffered in the output register is provided to the requesting device and during an associated read operation the next stored data in the SRAM is retrieved and buffered within the output register. The control logic is programmable and is therefore capable of supporting different SRAM configurations. The control logic can also be implemented in a conventional programmable logic device.

Abstract: A TV GUI is provided to display a program guide that contains information on TV programming for a time period of predetermined duration. The program guide has a time scroll bar that enables a user to scroll a TV program schedule back and forward in time within the selected time period. When the user clicks on a MORE icon on the time scroll bar, the GUI switches into a "more times" mode to offer a menu of time options that represent various preselected time periods of TV programming. A time preset button may be provided on the program guide to enable users to review TV program information covering any preselected time period. A single click on the time preset button causes the GUI to switch to a program guide for the preselected time period.

Abstract: A real time decoder converts received compressed digital video signals to television luma and chroma format for current display. Incoming signals are error checked and corrected and directly stored in compressed format in a memory under control of a digital signal processor. For each video frame to be currently displayed, a current data block is identified and stored in a current block buffer. Data blocks from a previous frame are identified from motion vector data of the current block and accessed from memory to be temporarily stored in one or more buffers. Inverse discrete cosine transformation decodes the data blocks, the resulting data being added to difference data in the current data block, the resulting data fed to a post processor for output as television format signals.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for receiving a compressed video stream and generating a decompressed video signal and closed caption data therefrom employs a video decoder a video decompressor that decompresses the compressed video stream to generate a decompressed video signal. The video decoder has a closed caption data embedder that produces closed caption data contained in the compressed video stream for embedding into a video output signal of the video decoder. A single video signal output port is coupled to the video decompressor and the closed caption data embedder and produces the video output signal which includes the decompressed video signal and the embedded closed caption data.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface (GUI) is provided to produce a multi-layered graphical presentation. The TV GUI operates in a channel changer mode to enable a user to tune to a required TV channel, and in a program guide mode to show TV program information. A memory for storing graphics data is capable of storing two graphics planes that represent upper and lower layers of graphics displayable on a TV screen. A graphics accelerator combines the graphics planes to produce various graphical effects on the screen. In the channel changer mode, the right hand side of the upper layer is made transparent to expose graphical buttons produced in the lower layer of graphics. In the program guide mode, the graphical buttons are partially covered by a program guide produced in the upper layer. When the user moves a cursor to the right hand side of the screen, the right hand portion of the program guide is made transparent to fully expose the graphical buttons in the lower layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the position of an antenna to improve reception at a television includes a signal generator which measures the signal strength received by the antenna. The signal generator sends a low frequency coded signal to a display visible to a person who is adjusting the antenna. The display provides a quantitative indication of the signal strength to the installer of the antenna, allowing precise adjustments to be made in accordance with the displayed value. The signal generator provides the coded signal to the display via the same cable used to carry the received signals from the antenna to a receiver, such as a set-top box.

Abstract: A home network architecture has an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units perform the necessary interfacing between the external and internal networks, and make the entertainment services available to all terminals connected to the internal network. A plurality of set-top electronics that do not have network interface units connect to the internal network and prepare the information in the digital data stream for display, by a television, for example.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the loss of a remote control input device used with a stationary device provides the stationary device with a transmitter and a signal generator that generates signals transmitted by the transmitter. The remote control input device communicates wirelessly with the stationary device, and has a wireless signal receiver that receives the signals from the signal generator, and a distance warning circuit. A distance warning output signal is produced by the distance warning circuit when the input device is beyond a specified distance from the stationary device, as a function of the signals received by the wireless signal receiver. The remote control input device also has an indicator that produces a human-perceptible distance warning signal in response to the production of the distance warning output signal by the distance warning circuit.

Abstract: An error correction arrangement that contains a Viterbi decoder and an RS decoder to provide inner and outer code decoding, respectively. A score keeper is arranged at the output of the Viterbi decoder to form a score for a decoded byte to indicate the number of error bits in the byte. A tie breaker is provided to compare the score with a preset threshold level. If the score is higher than the threshold level, the corresponding error byte is replaced with an erasure supplied to the RS decoder.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool includes a self-contained mechanism to queue, buffer, and transmit tracing information, written to a prescribed address in the address space of a computer system, to a serial port without burdening the computer system. In addition, general purpose outputs are provided for use with logic analyzers and oscilloscopes, and the prescribed address is configurable with switches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a network bootable device provides a bootmode signature on the device to indicate whether a production test is to be performed. If a production test is to be performed, then test software is downloaded over a network from a server to device memory and then executed. If the test is successful, the bootmode signature is updated so that subsequent production tests are not performed. If the production test is not to be performed, then end user software is downloaded from the server to the device and executed.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface (GUI) is provided in a satellite TV system to enable users to create customized channel lists. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. In a regular channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of available TV channels. To create a customized channel list, the TV GUI is switched into a change list content mode, wherein a channel grid is displayed in addition to the channel changer. Using a "drag and drop" procedure, graphical boxes corresponding to selected channel boxes may be moved from the channel changer to cells of the channel grid, to create a customized list of TV channels or to add new channels to an existing list. TV channels may be removed from the list by moving boxes that represent unwanted channels from the grid and placing them outside the grid area.

Abstract: A loudspeaker clamping structure embodying an improved compression driver is provided. The clamping structure is configured to utilize a totality of the air contained within a cover coupled to a magnet structure of a loudspeaker. The clamping structure includes a compression driver that extends about the periphery of a membrane for clamping the membrane to the magnet structure. The cover includes an annular ring configured to engage the compression driver. At least one of the ring and compression driver is configured with a plurality of interstices along its length to provide interstitial gaps when the ring and compression driver are engaged.

Abstract: A system is provided for tracking body movements, including subtle body movements, in a virtual reality system and for integrating data generated therefrom into a virtual reality system in real tine. The system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a data generating body suit having a plurality of movement indicating sensors secured thereto at a number of predetermined positions for determining movements of the wearer. Any movement by the wearer generates data that is transmitted to a computer for processing the data in real time. The data suit includes sensors for determining body position and orientation and sensors for accurately tracking subtle body movements such as movements of the wrist. Bend sensors include elongated portions that traverse an articulation to be monitored.