Abstract: An inactive state termination tester for determining the number of terminators connected to a bus when the bus is inactive. The termination tester monitors the bus for determining when it is inactive. During the periods of bus inactivity, the termination tester senses the bus to determine the number of terminators connected to the bus. The termination tester then displays how many terminators were detected.

Abstract: A switch mode power converter having an overload protection system is disclosed. The system includes an input stage having an input voltage source. A switching circuit for coupling said input source to an output stage is provided. The output stage further includes a first filter circuit providing an output current to a load circuit. A second filter circuit is coupled to the output stage providing a voltage proportional to the output current and to internal temperature of the switch mode converter. An error amplifier responsive to the voltage derived by a second filter and a reference voltage, generates an error signal proportional to the difference of the voltage applied to the error amplifier. The error signal adjusts the operating parameters of the switching circuit.

Abstract: A data slicer for extracting auxiliary video data from a video signal adapts a data slicing level to the amplitude of the data signal as indicated by the average value of a run-in clock (RIC) signal that is included in the video signal. Control of the slicing level occurs during a window interval that spans a portion of the RIC signal. A comparator compares the video signal to a slicing level established at the output of a digital to analog converter. A digital system monitors the output of the comparator during the RIC window to determine both the existence of auxiliary video data and the accuracy of the slicing level. The slicing level is adjusted in response to the comparator output to establish a slicing level related to the RIC signal amplitude.

Abstract: A charge storage capacitor is coupled to an ultor electrode of a cathode ray tube for supplying a beam current when video loading variations occur. A relatively small resistor coupled in series with the capacitor develops an AC feedback signal that is indicative of beam current variations. The AC feedback signal developed in the resistor is coupled to a control input of a high voltage regulator in a negative feedback manner to compensate for the beam current variations. An ultor voltage is developed across a voltage divider. A DC feedback signal is coupled from a terminal of the voltage divider to the control input of the regulator. The DC feedback signal is low-pass filtered via a first low-pass filter. The AC feedback signal is low-pass filtered via a separate low-pass filter that provides less extensive low pass filtering than the first low-pass filter.

Abstract: A screen grid voltage or a focus voltage for a cathode ray tube is controlled via a digital-to-analog converter. The voltage variation range of the screen grid or focus voltage that can be obtained for the entire variation range of an output signal of the digital-to-analog converter is not significantly larger than that required for the type of cathode ray tube that is utilized.

Abstract: A diagnostic testing apparatus for testing an automotive IAC motor normally controlled by pulse signals from the electronic control module (ECM) of an automotive electrical system, which apparatus is coupled between the ECM and the IAC motor circuits and provides first circuits re-establishing a normal signalling communication therebetween, and second circuits comprising parallel test circuits including indicators and switches constructed and arranged for indicating faults in the component.

Abstract: A current switch for high-speed and high-resolution digital to analog converters (DACs) employs MOSFET devices to control the current switch output in response to binary input signals at logic level voltages. The current switch reduces ringing of the output current that occurs when switching takes place to improve DAC high speed performance by protecting current steering MOSFET transistors against application of the full swing voltage of the binary input signal by applying lower voltage switching signals in place of the full swing logic level voltages. Furthermore, the current switch compensates for parasitic capacitances within the current steering MOSFET transistor that drives the output current.

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: A method and apparatus for performing color compression uses human factors to weight a distance metric in order to select a set of k presentation colors to represent n colors in an original image, where n>k. This same distance metric is used as part of a process to select an optimal mapping of the original image pixels to the presentation colors. The presentation colors are selected based upon a data clustering scheme in which clusters of colors are selected based upon their respective distance from each color within a given cluster and from colors in other clusters. Colors in different clusters are required to be farther apart than colors in the same clusters. This accounts for colors with high importance in accurately presenting the presentation image but having low overall occurrence in the image file.

Abstract: A test system 100 for performing electrical testing in a high voltage or inhospitable or inconvenient environment 150 electrically isolates a measurement detector 130 located within the environment from an externally located measurement result display and selector 110. Electrical isolation is accomplished using a non-conducting fiber optic link 120 for communicating the measurement results.

Abstract: A television receiver system includes an HDTV tuner, and an NTSC tuner. In response to the entering of a channel number, a CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN command, or a channel label, in a channel selection mode, a controller searches a "paired channel" table for associated HDTV and NTSC channels. If an HDTV channel is associated with that channel number or channel label, the HDTV tuner is controlled to select the HDTV channel. If no HDTV channel is associated with that channel number or channel label, the NTSC tuner is controlled to select the corresponding NTSC channel. In another embodiment, the controller determines if HDTV signals are actually being received. If not, the controller causes the NTSC tuner to select the corresponding NTSC channel. In yet another embodiment, the "paired channel" data is sent via an Extended Data Services (EDS) transmission and automatically loaded into memory.

Abstract: A system of the present invention for signaling panic braking of a vehicle at or above a preset rate. The vehicle has a brake pedal movable from a nondepressed position to a depressed position for braking the vehicle. The nondepressed and depressed positions correspond to open and closed positions, respectively, of a brake light switch. The vehicle energizes at least one brake light when the brake light switch is in its closed position. The system of the invention includes a mercury switch for detecting a deceleration rate of the vehicle and generates a signal representative of panic braking when the deceleration rate of the vehicle reaches or exceeds the preset panic braking rate.

Abstract: A clockspring interconnector comprising a housing defining a chamber and a rotor cover attached to the housing. A coiled flat cable carded within the chamber surrounding the rotor cover. The flat cable having a first end attached to a first connector location of the rotor cover and a second end attached to a second connector location of the housing. The rotor cover includes an inner wall defining a central aperture having a top opening and a bottom opening. The inner wall having integral flanges extending from the rotor cover adjacent to the bottom opening. The housing having a center hole having a rim at its external diameter. The rotor cover snap fits to the housing via the flanges having angled surfaces to slide past the rim and a protruding surface to engage the rim of the housing. The first and second end of the flat cable including a backbone to receive the end of the flat cable. A backbone protrudes from the rotor cover at a first connection location and a second connection location.

Abstract: A high speed compare circuit includes a plurality of bit compare block circuits (0 through N) which are coupled in a wired OR configuration to a match line. Each bit compare block (0 through N) includes a compare circuit for receiving a bit and its complement from word A and a corresponding bit and its complement from word B. The compare circuit includes an output line which is normally maintained high to indicate that a match exists. The output line is coupled to a common mode dip filter which is comprised of N and P channel transistors. The output line of the compare circuit is coupled to the gates of a first and a second P channel transistor. The first P channel transistor is coupled to V.sub.cc, and the second P channel transistor is coupled in series to the first P channel transistor. The output line from the compare circuit is also coupled to the gate of an N channel transistor coupled in series with the first and second P channel transistors. The N channel transistor is also coupled to ground.

Abstract: A logic device having a state machine for serially transferring data between an AT-compatible mother board and a keyboard having a microcontroller for scanning the keyboard matrix, without the need for a microcontroller on the mother board. A timer is provided to signal a transmission time-out error, and to indicate the start delay before beginning to transfer data when transmitting to the keyboard. Transmission to the keyboard begins by asserting the clock and serial data bit to the keyboard, and waiting for the start delay to expire. The state machine has a chain of 22 states for transferring an 11-bit data frame, the state transitions occurring after the clock from the keyboard or mouse changes polarity. A time-out error state is entered if a timer indicates that a 32 ms period of time has elapsed. Both transmit and receive operations may time-out with the same delay, and enter the same error state.

Abstract: An improved squeegee holder for screen printing. A squeegee with a diamond or square shaped portion is clamped between two clamping plates inside V-shaped grooves in the clamping plates. Corner relief portions are provided within the clamping plates so that the corners not in use are not damaged. The clamping plates are aligned by two alignment pins and screwed together by a threaded rod with a handle. A spring surrounds each of the alignment pins urging the two clamping plates apart so that they separate when the screw handle is loosened.

Abstract: A base insert, a wireless floating horn switch including an insulated insert, and a steering wheel assembly including the wireless floating horn switch are provided. The wireless floating horn switch is constructed so that it operates in association with an air-bag assembly to actuate a horn circuit including an insulated base insert, a horn circuit connector, an attaching assembly for uniting an air-bag mounting bracket with the insulated base insert, a spring for urging the mounting bracket away from the insulated base insert, a contact and an activator for urging the contact to complete the horn circuit.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for making copper metal powder from copper-bearing material, comprising: (A) contacting said copper-bearing material with an effective amount of at least one aqueous leaching solution to dissolve copper ions in said leaching solution and form a copper-rich aqueous leaching solution; (B) contacting said copper-rich aqueous leaching solution with an effective amount of at least one water-insoluble extractant to transfer copper ions from said copper-rich aqueous leaching solution to said extractant to form a copper-rich extractant and a copper-depleted aqueous leaching solution, said extractant comprising (i) at least one oxime characterized by a hydrocarbon linkage with at least one --OH group and at least one .dbd.