Abstract: To produce a simulated airbrush spray pattern comprising a random pattern of pixels in a video image, multiple source arrays defining random variations of one or more video image parameters are created. Each time that an airbrush spray pattern is to be generated on a video display, the source arrays are individually retrieved and used to control the characteristics of corresponding pixels in the video image. The arrays are varied on a regular basis to create a random pattern in the image that simulates the effects of an airbrush spray. Various modifications can be used to create particular effects and position dependent textures, such as the short, random streaks that are produced by chalk.

Abstract: A pantographic head mount includes a pair of generally parallel flexible arms each solidly based at an inboard end and solidly affixed at an outboard end to a rigid structure that carries a magnetic head and is driven by an electromagnetic motor positioned to hold the head continuously normal to a recording medium while traversing across the medium. The structure is particularly adapted to resist torsional deformation. The two arms may be structured to have different resonant frequencies, and beating resonance between the arms during high-speed operation is avoided. However, in such case, the structures of the two arms are carefully matched to ensure that they still maintain the head continuously normal to the recording medium. In another embodiment, the arms have differently reticulated structural configurations to present incongruent but equal-area cross-sections at various points along the arm lengths.

Abstract: Magnetic record media are described that have an overlying or underlying magnetically saturable high permeability keeper layer in addition to a high coervicity magnetic layer in which magnetic signals are stored. These media are used in magnetic signal processing devices whose transducers are capable of generating a keeper layer-saturating bias flux. In signal reproduction the bias flux magnetically forms a saturation zone in the nature of virtual gap in the keeper layer that directs signal flux between the media and the transducer.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic array memory affords relatively high packing densities while avoiding the problem of magnetic domain creep through the use of thin films of superconducting material disposed on the work lines of the memory. The superconducting films shunt magnetic fields generated by currents carried within the word lines and prevent these fields from adversely affecting adjacent memory cells in the array. By constraining the magnetic fields with the use of the superconducting films, the word lines can be packed close to one another in the array structure, thereby increasing the amount of information that can be stored in a unit area of the array.

Abstract: A multi-channel rotary optical coupler incorporates a multi-element lens assembly formed of a coplanar plurality of annular convex lens elements, with each lens element of the assembly having a substantially constant annular width and a discrete optical axis, with each optical axis of each lens element radially displaced about a central rotational axis of the coupler. Each lens element receives an output from a respective data modulated light source and provides discrete data channels for the continuous transmission of discrete data signals through the lens elements to respective similarly radially displaced optical detectors of a detector array.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer and manufacturing method, where a transducer core is made from a composite block of magnetic material. The composite block has a first portion made of a first magnetic material, and a second portion made of a second magnetic material, the two block portions being integrally joined at corresponding planar surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the first magnetic material is selected to have high granular density and other physical and magnetic properties which are necessary to obtain excellent transducing gap definition. The second magnetic material is selected to obtain high transducer performance. The composite block is machined around a periphery thereof at surfaces extending at oblique angles to said joined surfaces to provide a magnetic core having its first portion reduced to a wedge shaped portion.

Abstract: A time base corrector including a frame memory and a memory control. The memory control is microprocessor based and calculates the starting addresses of memory areas at which video data will be written to or read from the frame memory and the starting times of those sequences. The memory control receives information concerning the configuration of the time base corrector, the input video field sequence, the desired output video field sequence, timing components of the input and reference clock signals, TV standard, and operator commands to make these calculations. The results of the control are time base corrections for horizontal and vertical phase errors, horizontal and vertical positioning control, color frame sequencing, color correction of chroma phase, configuration delay adjustment, and other advantageous operations.

Abstract: Transmission of one or more electrical signals from a rotatable to a stationary member is provided along one or more channels, with an array of optical emitters positioned in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotatable member. A concentric array of facing optical detectors on the stationary member is coaxially spaced from the emitters. As the rotatable member is rotated, the optical detectors are sequentially switched in sync with the corresponding rotation of the respective emitter which is transmitting the signal. The direction of transmission may be reversed by reversing the location of the emitters and detectors to the stationary and rotatable members, respectively. In an alternate configuration, a concentric cylindrical embodiment with a cylindrical surface having emitters or detectors thereon rotates within a concentric stationary cylindrical surface having a circular configuration of facing detectors or emitters, respectively, thereon.

Abstract: An ultra small track width magnetic transducer and manufacturing method. The transducer has two coplanar confronting magnetic poles provided by a thin film layer of magnetic material. The thickness of the layer defines a track width. A transducing gap is etched in the magnetic layer by utilizing focused ion beam milling technology. The thusly obtained gap has a predetermined length and depth and it separates the magnetic layer into two confronting coplaner magnetic poles. A layer of non-magnetic material is deposited over the magnetic layer to fill the transducing gap. The transducing gap may be etched in a plane extending orthogonally to the plane of the magnetic core layer. Alternatively, the transducing gap plane may extend at an oblique angle to the magnetic core layer to obtain a transducing gap useful in aszimuth recording/playback.

Abstract: A color field 1 detector includes analog and digital processor sections, wherein the analog processor section receives a video signal input and provides the digital signals necessary to drive the digital processor section. A timing generator receives a free-running reference clock and supplies an internal reference signal of subcarrier frequency starting at the falling edge of composite sync. A burst phase comparator compares the incoming color burst phase to the internal reference signal phase and generates logic signals indicative of the phase relationships therebetween to thus indicate whether the color burst is in phase, 180.degree. out of phase, or if any phase error exists. A state machine receives the logic signals and detects the sequence of occurrence of the states of the color burst relative to the internal reference signal. The sequence is indicative of the subcarrier-to-composite sync phase of the video signal input for the particular color television standard.

Abstract: A video effects system having a video channel with a recirculating loop for incoming video including means for processing or cutting the video signal during each recirculation, and separately processing video information from the recirculation loop to a combiner at the data output, so that the data output video may be different from the recirculated video.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for encoding information of one class into the parity for main data of another class. One such method and apparatus fundamentally takes one member A.sub.x of a limited first class of data called attribute data and concatenates it with main data. Parity is then calculated on the concatenate word. After the main data and parity is transmitted or recorded, the selected member of the first class of data may be recovered by comparing the received parity to the parity P" generated on the receiver side using the main data and each member of the first class of data to generate a plurality of syndromes. The first all zero syndrome identifies the member of the first class which was encoded into the parity of the main data. Another method and apparatus are similar except that the transmitter side calculates parity P.sub.ax for the selected member of the first class and then encodes that parity into the parity calculated for the main data.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer and manufacturing method are described, where a transducer core is made from a composite block of magnetic material. The composite block has a first portion made of a first magnetic material, and a second portion made of a second magnetic material, the two block portions being integrally joined at corresponding planar surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, the first magnetic material is selected to have high granular density and other physical and magnetic properties which are necessary to obtain excellent transducing gap definition. The second magnetic material is selected to obtain high transducer performance. The composite block is machined around a periphery thereof at surfaces extending at oblique angles to said joined surfaces to provide a magnetic core having its first portion reduced to a wedge shaped portion.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer of the erasing type, in which the coil is pre-wound to achieve greater manufacturing economy; and in which for the same reason, and also for electromagnetic operating efficiency, the core is laminated with each lamination being of one-piece fabrication. However, the single transducing gap in the core is too small to permit threading the coil thereon. Therefore, the core is formed of flexible material so that the gap can be enlarged to accept the coil during assembly. Alternatively, the core can be fabricated initially with an enlarged gap, and the flexible core is then bent to provide a desired gap length after the coil is assembled thereon. A variational form of the invention has two erase gaps and one record-play gap with a separate coil therefor.

Abstract: The decision feedback decoder of the invention receives sequentially digital values corresponding to a data stream transmitted by a signal transmission channel. The decoder has two parallel signal paths. The first path has a first logic circuit which receives every other digital value corresponding to every other data bit of the transmitted data stream, and it provides and outputs subsequent decisions determining the values of these corresponding bits. The second path has a second logic circuit which receives sequentially all the digital values corresponding to all the data bits of the stream. During the time of providing each decision by the first logic circuit, the second logic circuit provides two subsequent decisions determining the respective values of two subsequent bits, but it outputs only every other decision, which alternates with the decisions provided by the first logic circuit.

Abstract: A technique for concealing large data losses such as the 50% data loss experienced when a data channel of, for example, a two channel composite SECAM digital video apparatus is lost. The digitized video samples are grouped and the groups are distributed into alternate channels of the two digital channels. Upon receiving the data, a channel multiplexer reassembles the groups of samples. If a data channel is lost, the sample distribution pattern cooperates with selected algorithms in a compromise which allows the system to recover sufficient luminance and chrominance information to provide acceptable concealment of the lost data.

Abstract: At the input to a video signal time base corrector, the phase error is sampled during each burst interval and is used to control the operation of an analog-to-digital convertor to compensate for phase errors at the start of each line. Progressive phase errors are predicted during each line and compensated. Any residual phase error at the start of a line is detected and applied to a phase error compensator for eliminating the residual phase error. The residual phase error and the video signal are processed through separate signal paths, and the frequency and phase characteristics of the residual phase error path are adjusted to those of the video signal path.

Abstract: A carriage mechanism operable with a picker assembly mounted at the face of a bin structure having discrete bin locations within that structure for storing cassettes, the picker assembly moveable along the face of the bin structure and between bin locations, the carriage mechanism operable to extract a cassette from a first bin location, and load it into a cassette-receiving envelope of the carriage mechanism at a selected stored position of the envelope for transport to a second bin location remote from the first location. A bumper element mounted on the carriage mechanism at a fixed reference point is provided to move cassettes out of interferring relation with the carriage mechanism, by sweeping all X-Y coordinates of the face of the bin structure with the picker assembly to displace misaligned cassettes.

Abstract: Magnetic transducer-keeper combination embodiments of the invention are described. Each has a magnetic core defining a physical gap and a thin magnetic keeper arranged in close proximity of the core to bridge the gap. A magnetic flux from the gap saturates the keeper inan area bridging the gap, thereby forming a signal transducing zone in the keeper. The keeper is maintained stationary and the core moved or scanned with respect to the same, thereby moving or scanning the transducing zone in the keeper.

Abstract: A video special effects mixer including an improved recirculating frame store is disclosed. The mixer receives several inputs one of which is from the recirculating frame store and provides several outputs one of which goes to the recirculating frame store. The recirculating frame store includes two field recirculation loops and an interpolator. The real field is mixed with the previous interpolated recirculated field and the interpolated field is mixed with the previous real recirculated field. The output alternates between the two mixed fields. The recirculating frame store receives a key signal indicating relative gain, and has a key processor that reduces the gain of the recirculating key such that the combined gain is no more than unity.