Abstract: A linerless thermal label is produced by disposing a thermosensitive layer into a substrate and allowing the thermosensitive layer to dry, said thermosensitive layer comprising a color former causing the thermosensitive layer to remain color stable. A protective layer is applied on top of the thermosensitive layer and exposes the protective layer to a temperature and a time sufficient to dry the protective layer but not cause the thermosensitive layer to a change color. A heat curable silicone mixture is disposed on said protective layer and thereafter cured to form a release layer without causing color change in the thermosensitive layer. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied on an opposite side of the substrate which is exposed to a temperature for a time sufficient to dry the pressure-sensitive adhesive without causing color change in the thermosensitive layer, and the substrate is then rolled in a manner causing the pressure-sensitive adhesive to contact the release layer.

Abstract: A partial response Trellis decoder that performs trellis coded modulation in a high definition television (HDTV) having a specific and detailed configuration and includes a distance mapper for calculating first, second, third and fourth Euclidean distances between the input signal and a reference value; a Viterbi decoder for Viterbi decoding the first, second, third and fourth Euclidean distances calculated by the distance mapper; a first delay for delaying and outputting the Yiterbi decoded data for each Euclidean distance; a ruler selector for selecting a ruler type signal based on the signals output by the first delay; and a slicer for slicing the selected ruler type signal and the input signal.

Abstract: A random access audio/video processor having multiple outputs is disclosed. The random access audio/video processor includes a main control unit having an analog video back panel, an analog audio back panel, an analog input/output (I/O) board. An audio processing board, a video processing board, a video effects board, a syncronization board, and a system board (containing the main CPU). The video processing board includes a compressor for compressing input video signals, and a triple transfer buffer, 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 four digital signal processors for audio compression, decompression, and effects processor.

Abstract: A video signal compressor includes apparatus for generating motion vectors for respective blocks of video data. Motion vectors, other than those which provide direction to co-located blocks in other frames, are determined to be candidates for conversion to vectors which do provide direction to co-located blocks. However, conversion is precluded if the vector is determined to be correlated with one of the neighboring motion vectors.

Abstract: A pointing device, such as a mouse, for a computer system detects when a pointer controlled by the mouse is within a control zone of a display (e.g., and icon). When it is, the speed factor for the mouse is reduced making it easier for the user to hit an icon.

Abstract: An improvement in an End-of-Train (EOT) monitor system allows the continuity of the brake pipe of a train to be verified. Obstructions in the brake-pipe, such as, for example, closed angle cocks, kinks, blockages, or breaks, adversely affect brake safety. A pressure sensor is installed in the Locomotive Cab Unit (LCU) to sense brake application. If the brake pipe is intact, a brake application initiated from the locomotive should correspondingly result in a drop in pressure at the EOT unit. The time require for the drop to propagate through the train is a function of train length. If a pressure drop is not sensed at the EOT unit within a predetermined period of time, it is assumed to be due to either a corrupted brake pipe or a communications failure between the LCU and EOT unit. A Microprocessor in the LCU initiates a communications check by interrogating the EOT unit from the LCU. If no reply is received, an alarm sounds warning the engineer of a communications failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an input data character stream into a variable length encoded data stream in a data compression system. The data compression system includes a history array. The history array has a plurality of entries and each entry of the history array is for storing a portion of the input data stream. The method for converting the input data character stream includes the following steps. Performing a search in a history array for the longest data string which matches the input data string. If the matching data string is found within the history buffer, the next step includes encoding the longest matching data string found by appending to the encoded data stream a tag indicating the longest matching data string was found and a string substitution code.

Abstract: An attenuator for use with a current transformer. The attenuator includes an input voltage terminal, an input ground terminal, an output voltage terminal, an output ground terminal, an input resistive arm, a shunt resistive arm, an output resistive arm, and a compensation circuit. The input and output ground terminals are coupled together. The input resistive arm has a first end coupled to the input voltage terminal and a second end. The output resistive arm has a first end coupled to the output voltage terminal and a second end coupled to the second end of the input resistive arm. The shunt resistive arm has a first end coupled to the input and output ground terminals and a second end coupled to the second ends of the input and output resistive arms. The shunt resistive arm has a shunt resistance and an intrinsic inductance effectively in series with the resistance.

Abstract: A memory card comprises a metallic top cover, metallic bottom cover and frame housing a PC board and electrical connector. The top and bottom covers are joined by mechanical attachment to the frame and are grounded together by electro-mechanical connection and provide for grounding between the PC board and the covers. Mechanical latching mechanism provides for easy assembly of frame and covers by all vertical assembly. Integral spring tabs provide grounding of PC board and provide frictional pressure against PC board to provide stability of assembly.

Abstract: In cumulative wire-drawing machines comprising a plurality of dies for successively reducing a diameter of a wire and blocks downstream of each one of the dies for pulling the wire through the dies, the speed of the motor driving the blocks can be automatically controlled by a wire accumulation detection device that detects changes in the amount of wire accumulated on the double-block. Specifically in the context of a double-block type machine, the blocks each comprise a lower segment being driven by the motor to pull the wire through the die, an upper segment for providing the wire to a downstream double-block through a downstream die, and a sheave carried on a ring for transferring the wire from the lower segment to the upper segment. The wire accumulation detection device in this case comprises a cam on the ring and a proximity detection device mounted to the housing of the wire-drawing machine that detects the rotation of the ring by detecting a distance to a surface of the cam.

Abstract: An automatic thermostat which automatically reprograms itself after a power outage without the need of a backup battery or other storage device includes a temperature sensor, a set temperature potentiometer, a setback temperature potentiometer and an ambient light sensor. The thermostat also includes a microprocessor which is responsive to signals from the temperature sensor, the set and setback temperature potentiometers and the ambient light sensor. The microprocessor controls a display which displays the set temperature, the setback temperature and the actual temperature. A power outage detector detects when there is a power outage and triggers the microprocessor to reprogram itself by rereading the signals from set temperature potentiometer and the setback temperature potentiometer. A relay is controlled by the microprocessor to selectively provide power to a heating or air conditioning unit.

Abstract: A digital television system receives transmitted television information in the form of a stream digital packets representing video and audio information in compressed form. A packet transport unit routes the digital packets to respective digital video and audio signal processing sections according to header information contained in the packets. The digital processing sections decode and decompress the respective packets to form sequences of digital words which are subsequently converted to analog form. Apparatus for providing audible messages, such as operating instructions and status information, in tone or voice form includes a memory for storing digital representations of the audible messages in the same compressed form which the transmitted audio packets have, and a controller for selectively directing the digital representations to the packet transport unit when it is desired to provide the audible messages.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a luminescent screen assembly on an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 for a color CRT 10 includes the steps of uniformly applying a solution of a material to form an organic conductive (OC) layer and overcoating the OC layer with a solution to form an organic photoconductive (OPC) layer, on the interior surface of the faceplate panel. The OPC layer 34 is conditioned by directing a stream of dry gas thereon to warm the OPC layer to a preheat temperature, while maintaining the panel at a panel temperature less than the preheat temperature. The OPC layer is exposed to IR radiation to rapidly increase the temperature of the OPC layer to a curing temperature, greater than the preheat temperature, to remove some of the volatilizable constituents from the OPC layer, without substantially increasing the temperature of the panel.

Abstract: Jitter of an overlay display with respect to the primary display of a television receiver is avoided by assuring that the vertical and horizontal blanking signal components are sufficiently time spaced by preventing the number of clock pulses occurring between the horizontal and vertical components of the blanking signal from going below a selected number. The number of clock pulses between the negative going transition of the vertical blanking signal and the positive going transition of the first horizontal blanking signal is tracked and when the number of pulses fails to exceed a reference value the number of pulses is changed to effectively shift the transitions with respect to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for resetting all of the cells in a random access memory (RAM) during one clock cycle without requiring ancillary drivers. At the start of the reset cycle, each column in the memory array is selected to receive the reset value and then each data line in the array is driven low while the inverse of the data line is driven high. After a first predetermined delay, each word line is driven high and all of the memory cells are thus reset. The word lines are then driven low and after a second predetermined delay, the data lines are driven back to a high value. In this manner, each cell in the memory array is reset during one clock cycle.

Abstract: A telephone-line dedicating apparatus which is connected between an external telephone-line and a specified telephone-line utilization apparatus such as a telephone-set, facsimile machine or the like and which upon energization causes one or more other telephone-line utilization apparatus to be unable to function connected to said external telephone-line is disclosed. Specially, when said specified telephone-line utilization apparatus is a facsimile machine, any influence on said facsimile machine which is in use, due to noises from the other equipments connected to the same external telephone-line can be prevented.

Abstract: In a video signal processor including a motion compensated predictive coding data compression system, three adjacent image frames (1, 2, 3) are analyzed to detect a luminance gradient such as is typically associated with image fading. The frames are similarly divided into several segments (A . . . L). The sum of the absolute pixel value differences between corresponding segments from adjacent frames is obtained for each of two pairs adjacent frame segments (DIFF.sub.1-2 ; DIFF.sub.2-3). The ratio of the two frame differences (S) is obtained for each segment. Fading is indicated if the ratio remains substantially constant for all or a predetermined number of regions. If fading is detected, any motion vectors generated by the motion coder are assigned a zero value and are not coded.

Abstract: A video system is disclosed including a receiver that generates a remote identifier setup display on a television monitor and further including a remote control unit having a radio frequency transmitter and an infrared transmitter. The video system enables a user to enter a remote control identifier for the radio frequency transmitter through the remote identifier setup display using the infrared transmitter. The receiver initially ignores remote command signals received from the radio frequency transmitter until the remote control identifier is entered.