Abstract: A ball grid array is formed by mounting and electrically connecting one or more electronic devices to a substrate in which vias are formed to interconnect electrically conductive traces formed in a surface of the substrate to solder ball pads formed at an opposite surface of the substrate. The vias are formed by mechanical or laser drilling. Solder balls are formed on each of the pads and are reflow-attached to, for instance, a printed circuit board. The electronic components can include one or more integrated circuit chips, as well as passive components. The electronic components are attached to the substrate using wirebonding, TAB or flip chip connection. An encapsulating material is applied to encapsulate the electronic devices.

Abstract: A broadband optical fiber coupler comprising at least three continuous optical fibers fused at a region of coupling, at least one of the continuous optical fibers being dissimilar to others of the continuous optical fibers in the region of coupling, the region of coupling being of a length and the dissimilarity being of a degree to provide broadband response over a predetermined range of wavelengths. A related method for making a broadband optical fiber coupler is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power supply for a television apparatus, comprises a first source of unregulated DO run voltage operable only in a run mode of operation and a second source of unregulated DO voltage operable in a standby mode and in the run mode of operation. A first regulator responsive to the first source unregulated DO run voltage produces a first regulated voltage. A second regulator responsive to the second source of unregulated DO voltage produces a second regulated voltage. First and second integrated circuits are energized respectively by the first and second regulated voltages. At least one of the integrated circuits has a signal output coupled to a signal input of the other of the integrated circuits. A controller is operable in the run mode and responsive to variations of one of the regulated voltages for adjusting the other of the regulated voltages to follow the variations. Each of the regulators may comprise a series pass transistor and a control transistor coupled to a base of the series pass transistor.

Abstract: An adjustable equalizer network has a series chain of N all pass amplifier stages driving N+1 scaling circuits connected to a final summing circuit that includes circuitry to adjust the frequency response at M+1 frequency control points to obtain a predetermined ripple free minimum phase shift frequency response over a given frequency range. The scaling circuits have scaling coefficients, of magnitude and sign determined by Fourier analysis and an appropriate truncation function, such that the filter has a pass band representative of M+1 contiguous bands conjointly encompassing the frequency range. Calculation of the scaling coefficients and control of the scaling circuits is accomplished through digital computation and manipulation. Some embodiments may use passive circuits or linear analogue circuits as scaling circuits, controlled manually or by a computing device.

Abstract: A power supply for high voltage, low current gas discharge tubes such as neon, argon, and mercury vapor. A free running, flyback oscillator, converts D.C. voltage energy into radio frequency energy by means of a compact, ferrite transformer and associated circuitry. The primary winding is tuned by a resonant capacitor and driven by a power transistor. A high voltage, centertapped winding of a ferrite transformer drives the gas tube load directly. A feedback winding arranged across the transistor base and emitter junction sustains oscillation and controls the drive level of the transistor by means of a regulating circuit which controls the amplitude of the current. Oscillator starting is achieved by means of an on-off switch which supplies a single starting pulse to the power transistor or by means of a time delayed starting pulse.

Abstract: A two stage interpolation system provides greater bandwidth for signals compressed and expanded by interpolation, for example video signals displayed in a zoom or enlarged mode. A finite impulse response filter generates from a first signal of digital samples a second signal of digital samples representing signal points between the samples of the first signal. The first signal is delayed, but otherwise substantially unmodified. The second signal and the delayed first signal are interleaved, for example by a multiplexer, to produce a third signal of digital values having a sample density twice that of the first signal. A compensated variable interpolator derives from the third signal a fourth signal of digital samples in which the frequency content of information represented by the first signal has been changed.

Abstract: An amplitude-shift-keyed (ASK) optical transmitter is described for generating an ASK modulated infrared signal from a light-emitting-diode (LED). The transmitter includes a DC powered microcircuit for generating an ASK modulation signal. A pair of mosfet devices are connected in series with one or more LED's between the mosfets. An oscillator signal used to operate the microcircuit is also employed as a carrier signal to activate one mosfet while the ASK modulating signal is coupled to operate the other mosfet. Input capacitances of the mosfets are used to tune the oscillator signal and smooth the leading and trailing edges of the ASK modulation signal. Several embodiments are described.

Abstract: A television receiver powered by an alternating current power source includes an electrically conductive chassis coupled to one side of the AC source, a radio frequency tuner coupled to the chassis, and a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer shielding conductor for supplying filtered radio frequency signals to the tuner. The outer conductor is comprised of an electrically conductive housing circumposing the inner conductor for at least a portion of its longitudinal length, and providing electrical connection and mechanical support for the cable assembly. Filtering of the signal is provided by one or more ferrite beads disposed about the outer conductor, and capristor/capacitor devices.

Abstract: A switch assembly that can vary at least two controllable parameters and can vary the upper, lower and any intermediary limits of the switch assembly. The switch assembly has a pair of nested coaxial rotary knobs each attached by shafts to sensors that determine the radial position of a reference point on each knob. The knobs rotate with respect to each other and are constructed to allow rotation of the knobs with one hand. The sensors are attached to the controls of the parameters, such that rotation of the knobs varies the output of the parameters. The sensors are coupled to a magnetic clutch that engages and prevents rotation of one of the knobs, when the knob is rotated into a predetermined radial position. A computer can be connected to the magnetic clutch and sensors. The computer receives input signals from the sensors and produces an output signal to the clutch, to engage the clutch and prevent rotation of the knob in accordance with a computer program.

Abstract: A video display control system comprises: a video display having a wide format display ratio; a letterbox detector for sampling video information in pictures represented by input video signals having a letterbox format and generating a control signal for enlarging the pictures for substantially filling the video display means with active video, the letterbox format pictures sometimes having auxiliary information disposed in a border area; and, a circuit for preventing the letterbox detector from sampling the video information in any portion of the border area in which the auxiliary information can be expected to be disposed, when present. In the case of logos, which are generally disposed near or at the right side of the lower border, a horizontal sampling range will exclude the right side of each horizontal line.

Abstract: A battery charging system which prevents false switching from a fast charge mode to a trickle charge mode due to low frequency voltage aberration signals. The battery charging system includes a battery voltage analyzer and a plurality of battery charging and conditioning units for charging different types and kinds of nickel cadmium batteries. Firmware in the microprocessor rejects low frequency aberrations permitting a desired voltage signal to be produced which is indicative of the actual battery potential for charge switching purposes.

Abstract: A cache memory management unit that performs searches in a cache memory unit that supplements a disc memory that serves a digital computer. When the computer needs to write a chosen data block into, or read a chosen data block from, its disc memory, the unit first performs a search for the tag or identification label for the chosen data block in the cache memory unit, before the computer searches the disc memory. The unit also implements an algorithm that identifies the least recently used and most recently used cache data blocks.

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube comprises an evacuated envelope having a faceplate panel with a sidewall joined to a funnel. A shrinkfit implosion protection band surrounds at least a portion of the sidewall and is in contact therewith. A plurality of openings are formed in the implosion protection band to support a degaussing coil. The implosion protection band is improved over prior bands by providing a cavity in the band around at least three sides of each of the openings. The cavity is directed toward the sidewall of the panel so that the openings in the band are spaced therefrom.

Abstract: A differential amplifier formed by a pair of transistor couples a vertical sawtooth signal to an input side of a vertical deflection amplifier. Nonlinearity of the transistor pair provides linearity or S-correction in the vertical direction. The amplitude of the sawtooth signal is adjusted by way of adjusting a vertical height control signal. To compensate for a change in the S-correction that is introduced by the amplitude adjustment, the vertical height control signal is coupled to the emitters of the transistor pairs for controlling the nonlinearity.

Abstract: A receiver includes a kinescope, a driver amplifier and an integrated automatic kinescope bias (AKB) circuit. A soft start circuit includes a timing capacitor, external to the integrated circuit, and a control circuit within the integrated circuit which limits the AKB current adjustment range during turn-on to a time determined by the external capacitor. The capacitor is effectively isolated from the integrated circuit to prevent discharge thereof by protection diodes of the IC whereby the time constant of the overall AKB circuit is substantially the same for both hot start conditions and cold start conditions thereby avoiding undesirable visual start-up artifacts such as black level and contrast shifts during warm-up of the kinescope for either a cold start condition or a hot start condition.

Abstract: A video display control system comprises: a video display having a wide format display ratio; a letterbox detector for sampling video information in pictures represented by input video signals having a letterbox format and generating a control signal for enlarging the pictures for substantially filling the video display means with active video; and, a first control circuit for restricting operation of the letterbox detector to a vertical range of horizontal lines in each field of the video signal; and, a second control circuit for restricting operation of the letterbox detector to a horizontal range of video data in each of the horizontal lines.

Abstract: In a television receiver including a feature allowing a user to select a color temperature at which whites will be produced on a display screen, circuitry is provided for altering the gain of the red and blue kine driver stages and simultaneously automatically altering the gain of the R-Y and B-Y color difference signal amplifier, to correct for errors which would otherwise be introduced by adversely altering the B-Y/R-Y ratio.

Abstract: Video luminance data from a video signal is selectably compressed and expanded in a first signal path including a first line memory. A second line memory in a parallel signal path processes video chrominance data from the video signal. A control circuit generates respective timing signals for writing data into each of the first and second memories and for reading data from each of first and second the line memories. A timing delay circuit for the control circuit, has video compression and expansion modes of operation. During the compression mode, reading of the second line memory is delayed relative to writing of the second line memory. During the expansion mode, writing of the first line memory is delayed relative to writing of the second line memory or reading of the second line memory is delayed relative to writing of the second line memory. The duration of the timing delays can be selected from a range of values.

Abstract: A cylindrically-symmetrical moving coil linear actuator utilizes axially-magnetized cylindrical magnets to provide flux-focused interleaved magnetic circuits. The moving coil linear actuator includes a cylindrical shell that has a closed end and open end. A magnetic core is disposed within the shell to define an annular air gap between the shell and the core. The core includes a first set of axially-magnetized cylindrical permanent magnets having a first direction of magnetization and disposed in proximity to the closed end of the shell. A second set of axially-magnetized cylindrically permanent magnets has a second direction of magnetization which is opposite of the first direction of magnetization and is disposed in proximity to the open end of the shell. A first ferro-magnetic pole piece is disposed between the first set of magnets and the second set of magnets. A second ferro-magnetic pole piece is disposed between the second set of magnets and the open end of the shell.