Abstract: An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and virtual channel programming.

Abstract: An apparatus for safely and remotely securing in place and spacing building members such as roof trusses or gables. The apparatus is primarily comprised of a spacer having a first truss connector and a second truss connector. A pull-down arrangement is used to remotely engage the apparatus with a truss. In use, the apparatus is attached to a first building member which is then positioned with the apparatus attached. The apparatus is then remotely secured to a second, adjacent building member. A gable brace is provided that may be used alone or with an attached truss connector.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides for automated checking of the program listings data in a database of television program schedule listings used in an electronic program guide ("EPG"). The integrity of the program listings data is verified prior to transmission of the data to a cable or other pay television system (or prior to transmission to viewers). The verification system may be used to check the entire database or a user-defined subset of the database for one or more of the following: missing stations, schedule gaps and overlaps, missing titles, missing copy, missing fields, missing movie ratings, lengthy titles, lengthy copy, editorial errors, and inappropriate language. In this manner, the EPG provider ensures the integrity of the EPG data and substantially reduces the time required to manually check all of the data in the program listings database.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving television program schedule information and promotional information transmitted via satellite, a digital playback system for storing the schedule and promotional information and formatting pages of said information, and a cable television channel modulator for modulating the pages of information onto a cable television system. A data processor in the playback system receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A television receiver is used to display the television program schedule and promotional information by tuning the receiver or cable converter box to the designated channel upon which the signals are modulated.

Abstract: Television programming information comprising an electronic programming guide is compressed by more than fifty percent, and decompressed in environments with only moderate processing power and storage space. The coding scheme of the present invention is based on Huffman coding of characters comprising the electronic programming guide and replacement character strings occurring in the data that have high savings values. A look-up table and binary tree are constructed from the Huffman codes for use in compressing and decompressing the electronic programming guide, and a set-top box for use in the decompression operation is provided.

Abstract: A saw blade possesses a base element onto which boron nitride particles are applied in the cutting region. The boron nitride particles are bonded by means of a metallic bonding layer, which preferably consists of nickel or a nickel alloy with a Vickers hardness of at least 600 HV. The bonding layer is preferably deposited galvanically. The boron nitride particles advantageously possess a particle size of approximately 0.5 to 0.8 mm, preferably approximately 0.6 to 0.7 mm. The saw blade possesses particular advantages for use as a reciprocating saw blade for sawing GGG cast iron pipes with a cement lining and fiber-reinforced cement jacket, resulting in considerably improved cutting performance and service life.

Abstract: A warning or alarm sensor supervision circuit employs varying voltage levels which may vary at random intervals and to random levels.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analogue display timepiece.This timepiece comprises means for processing at least one decimal number having several figures corresponding to a period of time required to elapse before the activation of an alarm, and it is characterized in that it comprises a first display system (S1) cooperating with a first hand (H) to indicate selectively the order or significance of said figures, and a second display system (S2) cooperating with a second hand (MN) to indicate the value of the figure whose order or significance is indicated by the first hand (H).

Abstract: A non-aqueous safe secondary cell is provided. The cell can be repeatedly charged and discharged retaining the excellent safety features. This cell comprises as main components a negative electrode which is Lithium or Lithium alloy, a positive cathode which includes MnO.sub.2 and an electrolyte which is 1,3-Dioxolane with Lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF.sub.6) and a polymerization inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for manufacturing a single piece multi-purpose box from a board blank and a wrap. The process includes a method and machine for score setting the spine of said single-piece box so that the wrap does not separate from the board blank after continued opening and closings of the box. Moreover, the present invention teaches a method of closing said boxes in-line in an upright position which results in ready counting and packing of said boxes.

Abstract: A circuit for suppressing the effect of rebounds of a contactor (2) on a control signal (C) produced thereby, wherein the contactor (2) ideally changes from one position to another position and remains in the other position for a predetermined time. The circuit comprises a sampling means (3) for sampling the control signal (C) at a first sampling rate (CLKA) and providing a output signal (C.sub.i) being in either a first or a second state, a detecting means (4) for determining a change of said output signal (C.sub.i) from one of said states to the other state, and a sampling prevention means (5) for preventing the sampling means (3) from sampling the control signal (C) for said predetermined time in response to the change in said output signal (C.sub.i), in order that said output signal (C.sub.i) remains in said other state for at least said predetermined time.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for linking a document with reference information associated therewith comprising a device for receiving an electronic representation of a document image, the document having a portion to be linked to electronic reference information, wherein the portion is designated by a predetermined attribute of the received document image; a device for electronically scanning the electronic representation of the document image to locate said predetermined attribute of the document image; a device for identifying the linked portion of the document based on the location of the predetermined attribute; a device for acquiring the electronic reference information associated with the linked portion; a device for correlating the linked portion of the document with the associated electronic reference information; and a device for providing a pointer from the linked portion in the document to each piece of electronic reference information associated therewith.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automotive vehicle. This vehicle comprises a dashboard (26), steering control handles (28) distanced from the dashboard (26), the dashboard comprising a compartment (32) closed by a flap (34) and in which is arranged a protective bag (36) of supple material at least partially gas-tight, the vehicle further includes a gas source (38), the bag (36) being coupled to the gas source (38) and one or more accelerometers for automatically releasing the gas source (38) in response to abnormal behaviour of the vehicle, in that the bag (36) may assume a folded first state in which it is entirely housed within the compartment (32) and an inflated second state in which it extends out of the compartment (32) and in that the bag comprises a central portion (46) which is arranged so as to spread out, in the inflated state, over substantially the entire area of the dashboard (26).

Abstract: A cane harvester having at least two basecutter assemblies disposed so as to harvest cane stalks from at least two rows simultaneously. The harvester comprises a first basecutter assembly for severing a first row of cane stalks and at least a second basecutter assembly arranged so as to severe cane stalks in a row substantially parallel to the first row of cane stalks. The cane stalks severed by the second base cutter assembly are transported by a conveying means to a position proximate the first row of cane stalks so that the cane stalks can then be fed into the harvester.

Abstract: A chronograph watch comprises time keeping first indicators (H, M, S1) used for displaying the time of day and chronograph second indicators (h, m, S2) used for displaying an interval of time in response to a control arrangement (P1, P2) with the aid of which the chronograph can be started, stopped and reset to zero. The chronograph watch includes instantaneous conversion means for at least one of the second indicators (here the seconds counter S2) into an indicator of another function, for example an indication of the date (Q), when the chronograph is not in use. In such example there is also provided the transformation of the minutes counter (m) into a four-year cycle indicator (BISS) and the hours counter (h) into a months indicator (Mo).

Abstract: A "conversion" device is described that enables a conventional, dedicated copier 4 designed for the singular purpose of making copies to be employed additionally as an electronically-driven printing apparatus, thereby offering a standard issue copier 4 the added functionality of a computer printer or facsimile machine.

Abstract: A "conversion" device is described that enables a conventional, dedicated copier 4 designed for the singular purpose of making copies to be employed additionally as an electronically-driven printing apparatus, thereby offering a standard issue copier 4 the added functionality of a computer printer or facsimile machine.

Abstract: A power tool, especially a handheld sander, is described, possessing a motor-driven drive shaft that can be alternatively coupled either by means of an oscillation drive to an oscillatory tool drive shaft, or by means of a rotary drive to a rotary tool receptacle coaxial with the oscillatory tool drive shaft. Switching is provided by a switching element, in a first switch position of which the drive shaft is driven in an oscillating manner about the lengthwise axis of the oscillatory tool drive shaft, with a small pivot angle and at high frequency, by means of the oscillation drive, which can consist for example of an eccentric element on the tool drive shaft and a pivot element guided slidingly thereon and fastened on the tool drive shaft. In the second switch position of the switching element, however, the working engagement of the oscillation drive is abolished, and the tool receptacle is rotationally driven by the drive shaft by means of a bevel gear linkage.