Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to control the buffering of encoded video data organized as frames or fields. This method involves determining the picture number of each incoming decoded frame, determining the expected presentation number at any time and marking any buffer as ready when its picture number is on or after the presentation number.

Abstract: An improved method for operating an optical disc system having a focusing mechanism, a tracking mechanism, and a lens. The method includes the steps of impinging light upon a disc to be read, moving the lens to a first position by driving an actuator, monitoring a Quad Sum signal, moving the lens away from the first position toward the disc being read while looking for a maximum of the Quad sum signal, moving the lens away from the disc, determining, during the monitoring, when Quad Sum signal is above one-half the maximum, processing a focus error signal in a digital processing circuit having a transfer function providing a frequency notch at a mechanical resonance of the actuator. The digital processing circuit produces zero crossings corresponding to focus conditions method further includes searching for a first of the zero crossings after the Quad sum signal exceeds the one-half of the maximum, and closing focus when the first zero crossing is detected.

Abstract: An interferometer includes a beamsplitter for splitting a source beam into a test beam and a reference beam, an imaging device for detecting an interference pattern, a mirror disposed in a path of the test beam for reflection of the test beam toward the imaging device, a micromirror disposed in a path of the reference beam for reflection of a portion of the reference beam toward the imaging device, and a focusing mechanism disposed for focusing the reference beam on the micromirror. The micromirror has a lateral dimension not exceeding the approximate lateral dimension of a central lobe of the reference beam focused thereon by the focusing mechanism. A spatial filter for reducing effects of aberration in a beam includes a reflector disposed upon a transparent base wherein the reflector has a lateral dimension not exceeding the approximate lateral dimension of a central lobe of the spatial intensity distribution of the beam focused upon the reflector.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an actuator lens within a baseplate using a beam of radiant energy. The actuator lens has an actuator optical axis and an actuator optical center and the apparatus includes a frame, a cradle, a tower assembly, a lever assembly, and a gripper assembly. The cradle assembly is employed to hold the baseplate and is mounted to the frame with at least one degree of freedom of motion. The tower assembly defines a tower axis and is also mounted to the frame. The cradle and tower assemblies are positioned to receive the beam of radiant energy along the tower axis and analyze a spot profile of the beam. The lever assembly is rotatably mounted to the frame and the gripper assembly is mounted to the lever assembly.

Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for accessing Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) to store and retrieve data words associated with a two dimensional image. The DRAM includes two separate banks, a first bank and a second bank. Each bank is capable of operating in page mode to read and write the data words. The two dimensional image is organized in a two dimensional grid pattern of cells, each cell containing an M by N matrix of pixels. The words associated with each cell occupy one page or less of a bank. Each cell is assigned a particular one of the two banks so that all data words associated with that particular cell are read from and written to one particular page of that particular bank. The assignment of banks to cells is done such that each cell is associated with a different bank than any bordering cell which is also either in the same row or in the same column.

Abstract: An improved system for recording and playing back digital information in a special pulsed length modulation format on a disc-shaped record. The digital information is stored in a succession of alternating marks and spaces, both having lengths that are discretely variable in accordance with a succession of multi-bit binary code blocks.

Abstract: The mechanism for loading and unloading a disk cartridge uses two sliders (one on each side of a base plate), which move in opposite directions under the influence of a tiller. Each slider has a slot to receive one of the two lifting pins provided on the cartridge receiver. The movement of the sliders drives the lifting pins along the slots, thereby raising or lowering the cartridge receiver depending upon the direction of rotation of the tiller. The sliding motion of the lifting pins engaged in the S-shaped slots thus unloads a disk from or, alternatively, loads the disk onto the drive spindle. As the lifting pins travel along their respective slots, the lifting and lowering of the disk is accomplished in such a manner that the disk hub is peeled from the spindle magnet rather than being lifted vertically off the spindle. This reduces the peak force required to break the magnetic clamp force between the spindle magnet and the disk hub.

Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for reducing the width of a mark written in optical media. When forming a long mark, the prior art recording methods typically cause blooming at the edges of the mark, resulting in a wide mark pattern which may be sensed by the read focused spot reading an adjacent track causing increased adjacent track crosstalk (ATC). However, by removing every other pulse from the write pulse waveform, the cooling sequence of the writing process is sufficiently increased to allow for additional cooling between pulses. When forming marks with less pulses, the effects of blooming are substantially reduced. Thus, because of the reduction in the effect of blooming, the problems associated with ATC, whereby adjacent track information is recorded, is substantially reduced.

Abstract: In a traceback unit for an M-step Viterbi decoder for a convolutionally encoded data stream, each of the traceback stages has a group of K input wires representing K possible candidate states. A bank of K multiplexers selects one of 2.sup.M of the input wires according to M bits of traceback data. The K multiplexer outputs feed a succeeding traceback stage. M groups of K wires carry the traceback data, with each wire being connected to a selection line of each multiplexer. At the output of the traceback unit an identification circuit identifies a subgroup of the K possibilities which has a maximum number of candidate states remaining therein. The arrangement obviates the need for retiming between every traceback stage.

Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in select stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stages to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystems circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a cell culture system has a cell death accelerator comprising one or more cell death inducing substances, including serum albumin, hemoglobin, glycine and glutamic acid. In a second embodiment a cell death inhibitor comprises one or more kinds of cell death inhibiting substances which include mercapto group containing amino acids, other mercapto group containing compounds and tryptophan. In a third embodiment a cell death inhibitor comprises an inhibitor of RNA or protein synthesis, optionally augmented with a thiol. The system can be applied to selectively induce death of cultured cells, such as neoplastic cell lines, or to inhibit death of other cells, such as neoplastic cell lines or non-neoplastic cells such as brain cells.

Abstract: The present invention allows the light beam of an optical disc storage device to radially move between different information tracks of an optical disc while the storage device tracking servo loop remains in a continuous closed loop mode of operation. The invention operates to radially move a light beam from one information track to another during a closed loop mode of operation by activating two control signals introduced into the closed tracking servo loop to create a phantom track center that radially moves across the optical disc. Because the tracking servo loop is in a closed loop mode of operation, the tracking servo operates to keep the light beam centered on the point that the tracking servo considers to be the center of an information track; in this case the phantom track center. Therefore, the tracking servo causes the light beam to radially move across the disc in a closed loop mode of operation by keeping the light beam centered on the moving phantom track center.

Abstract: Control apparatus and method are disclosed for shifting focus on a multilayered optical medium using closed loop servo operation. The outputs of an astigmatic optical pickup are independently modified by a control signal generator according to a predetermined time varying pattern to produce a deceptive error signal that changes the apparent focal offset seen by a servo circuit. While in closed loop mode, the servo tracks the shifting apparent focal plane from a first information layer of the medium toward a second information layer. Thereafter the control signals are removed, and the servo locks focus on the second information region.

Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a carriage assembly from an initial position to a target position relative to a storage medium rotating at a circumferential velocity. The apparatus includes a suspended body having a center of mass and a lens defining an optical axis. The center of mass being disposed substantially on the optical axis. The carriage assembly suspends the suspended body and has a center of mass on the optical axis proximate the center of mass of the suspended body. A drive producing a plurality of balanced and symmetrical forces moves the carriage assembly from the initial position to the target position. A processor determines a velocity trajectory relative to the radial distance of the initial position and the target position to the center of the medium, the circumferential distance between the initial position and the target position, and the initial circumferential velocity of the medium.