Abstract: It is herein recognized that in an audio signal processing system, a DRAM chip for storing digitized audio signals and selected to include at least one inoperative memory location, is acceptable for use as a storage medium in that no noticeable error is produced on playback of the recorded signal due to the sampling rate of the audio signal and due to the relatively low rate of defects allowed. Furthermore, the use of a less-than-perfect DRAM chip for storing audio information is acceptable due to the substantially non-critical nature of audio signals, as opposed to the extremely critical nature of computer data.

Abstract: It is desirable that a cordless telephone system include a single base unit and at least two remote handunits. With such a system, two users may maintain participation in a three-way conversation while being free to move about within reasonable transmitting distance to and from the base unit. Circuitry is provided in which the signal received from one handunit is transmitted to the other handunit, and sidetone from one handunit is transmitted back to that handunit. The base unit comprises first and second double conversion intermediate frequency arrangements with respective first IF frequency portions being tuned away from a nominal frequency value by a substantially equal amount in opposite directions.

Abstract: An on-screen display generator for use in an image display system is disclosed. The on-screen display generator includes a main image signal source, and an auxiliary image signal source which includes a controller for varying the perceived brightness of the image represented by the auxiliary image signal in response to a first control signal. A video signal processor, coupled to the main image signal source and the auxiliary image signal source, includes circuitry for combining the main and auxiliary image signals to produce a combined image signal. The video signal processor further includes a controller for varying the perceived brightness of the image represented by the combined image signal in response to a second control signal. A control signal generator generates the first and the second control signals in such a manner that the perceived brightness of the auxiliary image signal remains substantially constant when the perceived brightness of the main image is varied.

Abstract: In a remote control unit, a controller is coupled to first and second pluralities of keys for determining which of the keys is depressed at any given time. The first plurality of keys is coupled between a group of drive lines and a group of sense lines. The second plurality of keys is coupled between the sense lines and to an interrupt input port of the controller. A key pressed in the first plurality of keys causes a first kind of interrupt, and a key pressed in the second plurality of keys causes a second kind of interrupt. In response to one of the first and second interrupts, the controller interrogates the keyboard to determine which key is pressed.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a single tuner for tuning both television channels and broadcast FM stations. The tuner serves as the first conversion stage of a double conversion FM receiver, wherein the mixer of an FM radio integrated circuit serves as the second conversion stage. A single discriminator circuit is employed for tuning FM radio signals having a first deviation, such as broadcast FM radio signals, and FM radio signals having a second deviation, such as signals of the National Weather Service. Circuitry for amplifying the output signal of the discriminator circuit exhibits a first gain when amplifying FM signals having the first deviation, and exhibiting a second gain when amplifying FM signals having the second deviation.

Abstract: In a television receiver including a feature allowing a user to select a color temperature at which whites will be produced on a display screen, circuitry is provided for altering the gain of the red and blue kine driver stages and simultaneously automatically altering the gain of the R-Y and B-Y color difference signal amplifier, to correct for errors which would otherwise be introduced by adversely altering the B-Y/R-Y ratio.

Abstract: A known system derives information from the VPS- and Teletext signals and displays the title of the current program and the network name on screen for a few seconds, each time a new channel is selected. The VPS- and Teletext signals contain more program-related information than mentioned above. The present invention concerns deriving the end-time and/or the remaining duration of the current program as well as the starting-time of the next program for display on-screen.

Abstract: A VCR or laserdisc player includes circuitry for detecting a code provided by VCR tapes, tape cassettes, or laser videodiscs, which indicates that the material recorded on the videotape or videodisc has been recorded in a compressed fashion to enable proper playback on a 16.times.9 television receiver. In response to detection of this code, the VCR or laserdisc player applies a DC signal to the chrominance output terminal of its S-Video connector. Circuitry in the television receiver detects the DC signal on the chrominance terminal of its S-Video input connector, and controls a wide-screen processor to expand the image by displaying it over the entire width of the 16.times.9 display screen.

Abstract: A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission means for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. In one embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed.

Abstract: A television receiver provides a "favorite channel" selection function for up to ten favorite channels without the addition of a dedicated array of keys. According to the present invention, a user holds-down a digit key for an extended period of time (preferably 3 seconds), and circuitry in the television receiver interprets this "extended keypress" as an instruction to tune favorite channel "N" where "N" corresponds to the digit key pressed. Two digit channel entry can be accomplished as usual by releasing the digit keys in less than the extended period of time (i.e., less than three seconds). An extended keypress of a CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN key is interpreted as a command to store the currently tuned channel in the favorite channel memory in the location specified by the number of the next digit key pressed. CHANNEL UP and CHANNEL DOWN functions can be accomplished as usual by releasing the CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN key in less than the extended period of time (i.e., less than three seconds).

Abstract: A decoding arrangement for decoding audio signals previously encoded in accordance with the dbx format, includes a wideband expander instead of a full dbx expander. The wideband expander employs a relatively simple, and therefore inexpensive, peak detector in place of the true RMS detector of a full dbx expander, and does not include apparatus for spectral expansion of the audio signal. Although the decoding is noncomplementary with respect to the encoding, the stereo audio reproduction as perceived by a listener, is surprisingly good.

Abstract: A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission means for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. In one embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed.

Abstract: In a telephone answering machine, a detector for a automatic disconnect function uses a first amplifier to detect, amplify, and invert small input signal changes, and second amplifier to detect large input signal changes and a logic arrangement responsive to the output signals of the first and second amplifiers to detect the presence of only the small input signal changes.

Abstract: It is herein recognized that it is desirable that a television receiver provide preprogrammed labels for many widely-used television networks. The user has only to select the proper channel and then select a corresponding preprogrammed label from a list in order to associate the channel and label. In one embodiment the preprogrammed label is a graphically-formed logo or service mark of the television network.

Abstract: In CD-players with a memory having A storage positions for the storage of titles recorded on a CD-record it can happen, that more titles C are on the CD-record than storage positions A provided therefore in the CD-record. In order to use the storage space better in these cases and to keep the access times to the single titles low, the difference of the start times of each two consecutive titles are stored, instead of storing the start times of the individual titles. The more titles that are recorded on a inserted CD-record, the better the storage space is used, and the more the access times are reduced.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a drumstick, balanced for juggling, exhibits a center of mass in the range of 58% to 62% of the distance along its length from the butt end. It is herein recognized that such a drumstick is suitable for both juggling and drumming, and supports a drumming performance which includes a juggling portion. In second and third embodiments, a drum mallet and a keyboard mallet, each of which is balanced for juggling, exhibits a center of mass in the range of 58% to 62% along the shaft from the butt end.

Abstract: A low cost tuning bar type display for a television tuner is utilized for providing programming position information by segmenting the tuning bar into a predetermined number of dots, each of which corresponds to a programming position. A selected programming position is indicated by elongating the appropriate dot of the display.

Abstract: An automatic channel sampler system, including a television signal tuner, displays an array of inset pictures on a display screen each time the receiver is turned on. Each inset picture is a still video picture (i.e., freeze-frame) selected by tuning each of the channels in a scan list of channels. Automatic channel sampling is initiated in response to the development of operating power, and is performed while the picture tube is dark during the time in which the picture tube is warming up. A separate user-enterable scan list may be provided for either the automatic channel sampling function, a manually initiated channel sampling function, or both.

Abstract: It is desirable that a television receiver provide a prominent visual indication that it is about to automatically turn off. On-screen display (OSD) circuitry automatically reduces the viewable picture area to a small area before turning off the receiver. Reduction of the viewable area may be performed by displaying and gradually enlarging at least one graphically-generated margin of the OSD display.

Abstract: A non-linear (e.g., "white stretch") processor and a brightness control processor are coupled in cascade between an input for receiving a video input signal to be processed and an output for providing a processed video output signal. A control signal for controlling the transfer characteristics of the non-linear processor is provided by an amplifier having a first input coupled to receive an average picture level (APL) indicating signal derived from the processed video output signal and having a second input coupled to receive a reference level signal supplied thereto. A brightness control signal is applied to a control input of the brightness control processor for controlling the brightness level of the processed video output signal.