Abstract: A telemetry and control system is disclosed for use in direct current power wiring applications, such as those used in automobiles or other vehicles. The system includes a master transmitter which encodes data as a train of current pulses which modulate the d.c. supply voltage. A slave receiver at another location, connected to the same power source through pre-existing wiring, amplifies the supply voltage modulation, recovers the data waveform, and decodes it, to effect an action or display a measurement or status indication. A second transmitter combined with the slave receiver may transmit data similarly for reception by a second receiver combined with the master transmitter, to enable two-way communication therebetween. Applications of the system include an emergency battery booster, an anti-theft battery disconnection device, a distress alert system, activation and reception of data from outboard devices, and remote measurement of fluid levels, temperatures and pressures.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a device which receives control signals and is selectively capable of serially controlling an auxiliary device. According to one aspect of the invention, the controlling device is operable in a first mode where control signals are used to control the device itself, in a second mode where the device uses the control signals to serially control the auxiliary device and in a third mode where the control signals are used to control both the device and the auxiliary device. According to one aspect of the invention, the device may be a multi-track recorder and the auxiliary device may be a video tape recorder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically focusing cameras. An auto focus circuit detects highly bright objects contained within an image frame of a scene. If highly bright objects are not detected, an auto focus processor adjusts the focus of the camera to maximize high spatial frequency components of the image frame. The auto focus processor focuses on the highly bright objects by minimizing a count function that indicates the number of pixels having greater magnitude than a threshold reference.

Abstract: A non-intrusive optical transmission liquid monitoring system that detects bubbles in a transparent liquid flowing through a transparent tubing. The system dynamically compensates for changes in optical transmission efficiency of the monitored liquid and distinguishes between the transition from liquid to air and air to liquid. A system comprising a light transmitter and a light sensitive receiver secured on opposite sides of a transparent tubing. The output of the receiver is fed into a self-referencing and drift compensation circuit. The integrated output is connected to circuitry sensitive to a change in the integrated output and triggers one of two possible alarms to indicate a detected transition from liquid to air, or air to liquid.

Abstract: An inverter power control circuit for a high-frequency heating apparatus of a half-bridge type which comprises an inverter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating and performing statistical capability analysis of a pick-and-place machine comprise loading a glass fiducial plate onto a workholder of a pick-and-place machine, loading a glass slide onto a part placement nozzle of the pick-and-place machine, and placing the glass slide onto the plate. Alignment of a chrome fiducial on the fiducial plate with a chrome target window on the slide is examined. Responsive to the alignment of the target and the fiducial, key calibration codes in calibration software of the pick-and-place machine are adjusted. Once calibration is complete, multiple placement cycles using the glass fiducial plate and glass slides are performed to determine the statistical placement capability of the pick-and-plate equipment.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention provides an interface between a testing device and a random access memory (RAM). The RAM comprises two types of RAM, a TAG RAM and a data RAM. In normal operation, the TAG RAM is not coupled to any devices external to the RAM. Thus, to test the TAG RAM, means must be provided to couple the testing device with the RAG RAM. One possible configuration for interface the TAG RAM with the testing device is to dedicate a line from the testing device to the TAG RAM for each output pin of the testing device, which significantly increases the size of the chip. To reduce this increase in size, according to the present invention, the write lines from the testing device share the bus used by the TAG RAM during normal operation. A multiplexer selects between the testing data and normal address data to insure the integrity of data over the bus.

Abstract: A sonar system includes an interactive sonar viewing apparatus for facilitating operator selection of a variety of features. The interactive sonar viewing apparatus can include a screen display for displaying a graphical representation of characterization data representative of the predetermined signal characteristics of each of the transducers. The characterization data can include data representative of the predetermined orientation and predetermined cone angle of each of the transducers. Based upon the graphical representation of the characterization data, the operator can select the specific transducers to be activated. Thus, the operator can selectively reconfigure the sonar system. Alternatively, the interactive sonar viewing apparatus can include a screen display which displays a graphical representation of orientation data representative of a number of display frames.

Abstract: The remote control comprises a microprocessor including a CPU and memory, a keypad including keys for operating the remote control coupled to the microprocessor, signal outputting circuitry, driver circuitry coupled to the microprocessor for driving the signal outputting circuitry, hardware and software, including the microprocessor, for generating output signal data which is supplied to the driver circuitry, a signal coupling transducer, such as a pick-up coil, in the remote control for picking up electro-magnetic signals from an electro-magnetic signal emitting or transmitting device, such as a telephone handset, coupling circuitry for coupling the signal coupling transducer to the microprocessor and decoding software in the microprocessor for decoding the electro-magnetic signals picked up into bits and/or bytes of output signal data and storing same in the memory.

Abstract: A driver circuit especially for driving scan velocity modulation (SVM) coils or similar loads is characterized by low quiescent current loading and high peak output. The driver is coupled to an input signal varying between a quiescent signal level and a peak signal level. A transistor is coupled to a power supply and to the input signal, so as to conduct according to the input signal. A nonlinear element such as a diode is coupled in series with the emitter-collector junction of the transistor, and is biased to a voltage slightly less than a forward biased conducting diode voltage drop. Thus the diode has a higher resistance when the transistor is conducting at the quiescent signal level, and a lower resistance when the transistor is conducting at the peak signal level. The quiescent bias conditions are maintained by resistors in series and parallel with the diode. The driver may be configured as a complementary push-pull stage.

Abstract: A diaphragm is disposed over a cavity formed in a silicon base. A plurality of electrodes are radially disposed about the diaphragm overlying the cavity, and a signal applying circuit applies a signal to the plurality of electrodes so that portions of the diaphragm flex for establishing a net angular momentum (e.g., the flexing of the diaphragm simulates a circumferentially traveling wave). A deformation sensing circuit comprising a plurality of strain gages interconnected to form a corresponding plurality of Wheatstone bridges are disposed about the periphery of the cavity along orthogonal axes for sensing deformation of the structure about the orthogonal axes.

Abstract: An improved color picture tube includes a shadow mask and a dot screen, wherein the mask is rectangular and has two horizontal long sides and two vertical short sides. The long sides parallel a central major axis of the mask and the short sides parallel a central minor axis of the mask. The mask includes an array of apertures arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows. Apertures in one row are in different columns than are the apertures in adjacent rows. The vertical spacing between apertures in the same column is the vertical pitch of the apertures and the horizontal spacing between apertures in the same row is the horizontal pitch of the apertures. The improvement includes the horizontal pitch of the apertures increasing from the minor axis to the short sides of the mask and decreasing from the major axis to the long sides of the mask.

Abstract: A diaphragm is disposed over a cavity formed in a silicon base. A plurality of electrodes are radially disposed about the diaphragm overlying the cavity, and a signal applying circuit applies a signal to the plurality of electrodes so that portions of the diaphragm flex for establishing a net angular momentum (e.g., the flexing of the diaphragm simulates a circumferentially traveling wave). A deformation sensing circuit comprising a plurality of strain gages interconnected to form a corresponding plurality of Wheatstone bridges are disposed about the periphery of the cavity along orthogonal axes for sensing deformation of the structure about the orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A random access audio/video processor having multiple outputs is disclosed. The processor includes a main control unit with analog video and audio back panels, an analog input/output board, audio and video processing boards, video effects board, synchronization board, and a system board (containing the main CPU). The video processing board includes a compressor for compressing input video signals, and triple transfer buffers for intermediate storage of digital video path. The video processing board further includes decompression circuits coupled to each of two triple transfer buffers for decompressing compressed stored video, and providing the decompressed video channels to an effects board for the addition of special effects. The audio processing board contains processors for compression, decompression, and effects, as well as triple transfer buffers. The triple transfer buffers include present, past, and future buffers which jointly operate to minimize discontinuities in the output channels.

Abstract: A digital video signal processing system receives encoded packets of data representing video image information in compressed form. A video decoder and an associated video RAM are used to decode and decompress the video packets to form groups of video image representative digital words. The video decoder also includes an on-screen display (OSD) unit which converts a graphics bit map stored in a section of the video RAM to groups of graphic image representative digital words. The image representative digital words and the graphic representative digital words are multiplexed together under the control of the OSD display unit.

Abstract: An adaptor pin for connection to a printed circuit board includes an elongated electrically conductive pin having an enlarged portion adjacent one end for forming a mechanical interference fit with a hole partially drilled through the circuit board. The pin has an enlarged cross-sectional solder portion intermediate the enlarged portion and the opposite end of the pin so as to limit the extent of penetration of the pin into the hole of the circuit board. The enlarged portion of each pin is electrically connected by soldering to a circuit path on the circuit board. By this arrangement, a rigid mechanical connection between the pin and the circuit board is effected, and thus subsequent reheating of the board for connecting a surface mounted chip to the opposite side of the board will not interfere with the electrical and mechanical connection between the adaptor pin and the circuit board.

Abstract: An electronic module socket is provided having corresponding pairs of contacts wherein the contacts short out and are self-cleaning. A first contact having a semi-circle terminal end portion and a second contact having a J-shaped terminal end portion. The two terminal portions, upon removal of a module, slide past each other in opposite directions. The contacts having board contact points removed from the short out portions of the contacts. The contacts being fabricated in order to provide for gang loading of the contacts within the electronic module socket insulator.