Abstract: A method is provided for transcoding between video signals in two standards, DV and MPEG-2, each standard including discrete cosine transform (DCT) compressed signals. The each of the signals have macroblocks containing a plurality of DCT blocks. The DCT blocks are quantized according to respective quantization methods defined by the standards. The coefficients in each block are zigzag scanned, run-length coded and variable-length coded. The process variable-length decodes the coefficients and translates the quantized coefficients in the DV standard into quantized coefficients in the MPEG standard without fully dequantizing at least some of the DV coefficients and without performing an inverse DCT operation on any of the DCT coefficients. DV blocks that are encoded in a 248 format are translated into an 88 format before they are converted to MPEG-2 blocks. A method for transcoding from MPEG-2 to DV is also described.

Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.

Abstract: A two-piece caddy and vacuum cleaner accessory assembly is provided. The caddy includes first and second body sections that are connected together without the use of a separate independent fastener. The first body section includes first, second and third accessory receptacles. The second body section includes first, second and third accessory engaging clips. The receptacles and clips function to hold various vacuum cleaner tools and accessories such as an extension hose, a wand, a crevice cleaning tool and a nozzle brush.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly having a nozzle cavity and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. A dust bag is carried by the canister assembly. A dirty air pathway provides fluid communication between the nozzle cavity and dust bag. A suction generator generates a vacuum for drawing dirt and debris from the nozzle cavity, through the dirty air pathway to the dust bag. The dirty air pathway includes dual suction ports carried on the nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the nozzle cavity, a splitter carried on the canister assembly, dual suction hoses in fluid communication between the dual suction ports and the splitter, a removable bag mount carried on the canister assembly and a feed conduit on the canister assembly which provides fluid communication between the splitter and the removable bag mount.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly, a canister assembly pivotally mounted to said nozzle assembly, a suction fan and drive motor and a biaser. The biaser has a first end that engages the nozzle assembly and a second end that engages the canister assembly. The biaser provides a positive downforce urging the forward end of the nozzle assembly toward the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator is carried on one of the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a telescoping handle assembly including an elongated handle received in a slot for sliding movement relative to the canister assembly, a projecting guide pin carried on the elongated handle, a cooperating guide channel in the canister assembly for receiving the guide pin and a latch carried on the canister assembly for selectively engaging any one of the longitudinally spaced apertures formed in the elongated handle.