Abstract: A system and method for automatically improving the picture quality of television or other video based images, based upon picture content, using improved rule based picture analysis and compensation techniques. The distribution of facial and non-facial tones in a television picture are determined and used to control of picture color quality using neural network techniques. A preferred embodiment of the invention adjusts the brightness, contrast and color saturation of a displayed picture based upon selected portions of the received picture signal. These controls are adjusted every 1/60th of a second (i.e. at the end of each field) to provide an improved visual display. Analysis of the video signal in one field of a frame provides the information for adjusting the picture quality of the subsequent field of that frame.

Abstract: A bi-level control system includes a plurality of slave units, each for connection to a respective ballast and HID lamp of a plurality of HID lighting fixtures, and a common control unit. Each slave unit includes a switched capacitor and a slave relay which has one input connectable to a common line of an AC power supply branch circuit powering the fixtures and another input adapted for receiving a line voltage signal. The control unit includes an output connected to the control inputs of each of the slave units by a single control line and switchably connected to line voltage. Dimming of the HID lamp is accomplished by switching line voltage to the output of the control unit which causes the slave relay to switch the slave capacitor into circuit with the HID lamp and ballast. Use of a single control line connecting each of the slave units to the control unit greatly reduces wiring over known systems.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge (HID) lamp includes a resistive fuse for overcurrent protection of its associated ballast, which fuse is connected electrically in series with the discharge vessel of the lamp and continuously dissipates power during lamp operation. The resistive fuse is heated by passage of the operating current through the discharge vessel during lamp operation to a temperature substantially controlled by the operating current. In response to an increase in the operating current to a predetermined overcurrent, the resistive fuse reaches a temperature such that it breaks and disconnects the discharge vessel from its source of electric potential within a predetermined time period. The fuse passes short-term high starting currents and does not disconnect the discharge vessel during each lamp start-up at least until the operating current reaches the predetermined over-current during lamp life.

Abstract: An ignition scheme for a high intensity discharge ballast. The ballast includes a down converter for producing a varying level of current during the glow stage of the lamp. The level of current available at the time of lamp ignition is equal to or greater than any other level of current produced during at least takeover of the lamp. The need for building up the level of current during at least takeover is eliminated thereby minimizing the need for re-ignition of the lamp.

Abstract: A diagonally oriented LCD panel is used in a rear screen LCD projection television to reduce moire fringes on the display.

Abstract: a mass loader (10) stores a plurality of cartridges (14) for loading a selected one of the cartridges (14) into an optical disk reader (12). The loader (10) comprises a magazine carrier (18) and a cartridge loading apparatus (28). The cartridges (14) are stored in a vertical and parallel orientation within slots in a magazine (16) which is then inserted into the magazine carrier (18). The magazine carrier (18) depends from a follower nut (52) which travels along a lead screw (50) in a direction transverse to the parallel orientation of the cartridges (14). As the leadscrew (50) turns, the follower nut (52) travels therealong to move the magazine (16) into the correct position to load the selected one of the cartridges (14) into the reader (12). After the magazine is properly positioned, another lead screw (30) is driven to propel another follower nut (32) therealong. The follower nut (32) has a loading pin ( 40) protruding therefrom which engages the selected one of the cartridges (14) for loading.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the parallel processors of a multiple instruction stream multiprocessor employs a limited number of register channels, which may be re-used, for enforcing cross-stream data or event dependencies by passing data or event notifications in a synchronizing fashion. Cross-stream dependencies which by virtue of identified "synchronization redundancey" do not require enforcement by register channels are passed by writing to and reading from ordinary shared memory. A compiling method schedules the instructions into parallel instruction streams by reference to a directed acyclic graph (DAG), in a manner to minimize the production of cross-stream dependencies. The scheduling is determined beginning from the highest nodes in the DAG and proceeding to nodes in order of descending node height in a manner tending and tends to assign whole sub-graphs of the DAG to different processors.

Abstract: A program-controlled processing device includes a multiport memory circuit providing a plurality of storage locations. First and second data ports of the memory circuit provide parallel access to different locations in accordance with first and second addresses encoded in the program instructions. Bypass means is provided for coupling the second data port to the first data port to simulate parallel access to the same location when desired. The bypass means is controlled directly by the program instructions, by means of a separate bypass control field or by a special value of one of the two addresses. There is thus no need for a run-time comparison of addresses before each memory access, leading to a faster operation of the memory circuit.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp in combination with a high frequency DC-AC converter includes a rectifier circuit and a buffer capacitor coupled between a source of low frequency AC voltage and the converter. A feedback capacitor couples a high frequency feedback signal corresponding to the converter output signal to the buffer capacitor via the rectifier circuit so as to improve the power factor of the combination.

Abstract: A stepper motor of the permanent-magnet sheet-metal type is constructed of a number of modules, simplifying assembly. The modular parts include a stator having integrally-molded winding bobbins and pole pieces. A rotor mounted in the stator includes a barrier member which separates a plastic, threaded hub molded interiorly from a permanent magnet molded exteriorly. A shaft having a first threaded end rotatably engaged with the interior of the rotor hub has a rectangular central portion extending through a rectangular opening of the stator to convert rotary motion of the rotor to linear motion of the shaft. An opposite end of the shaft includes a molded head and a tubular shield extending from the head. This shield and a tubular portion of the stator molding define a labyrinthal passage which inhibits the passage of contaminants into the rotor. A housing of the motor and a rotatably attached flange include engagable portions to lock the flange at a desired angular position.

Abstract: A combination driver/summing circuit for rail-to-rail operation of a differential amplifier includes a differential amplifier input stage that amplifies an input signal and a current control circuit that regulates the operating currents through the active elements of the differential amplifier input stage. A summing circuit divided into first and second segments and supplied with current from a single common floating current source combines internal currents supplied by the differential amplifier input stage. A class A-B driver/output stage is coupled to the summing circuit to derive at least one output signal representative of the input signal and which is operative over nearly the full rail-to-rail supply voltage range.

Abstract: The staircase artifact appearing in Magnetic Resonance Angiography boundaries between flowing blood and stationary tissue is eliminated by using a variable local interpolation direction which is determined based on comparing local intensity patterns. This technique of local directional interpolation is applied either to a three dimensional array of voxels prior to projection or to a two dimensional array of pixels after projection. In the case of interpolating lines of further pixels between consecutive lines of original pixels, a window of n.sub.1 pixels in a present line is compared to successive groups of n.sub.1 pixels in a search window of n.sub.2 .gtoreq.n.sub.1 pixels which groups are successively shifted in position in the search window. A match measure is formed by either a correlation or a root mean squared error (or a combination thereof) between the window and groups compared. The best match with respect to a threshold determines corresponding pixels.

Abstract: The capacitance of a pixel of an active matrix liquid crystal light valve is increased without reducing its optical transparency by adding polysilicon islands under the adjacent gate lines, degeneratively doping the islands to render them conductive under operating conditions, thermally oxidizing the islands to form dielectric layers, depositing gate lines over the dielectric layers to form extra capacitors, and connecting the islands to the adjacent pixel electrodes. Such active matrix displays are advantageously employed in a color projection TV to produce the separate red, blue and green components of a full color display.

Abstract: Using the interferometer technique, a laser light beam is split into two beams one of which is directed along a first light path having a fixed length and the other is directed along a second light path having a variable length. The length of the second light path is varied by a mirror assembly mounted on a piezoelectric block, the length of which is controlled by a modulation signal corresponding to the desired information signal. When the two light beams are recombined at the ends of the first and the second light paths, the varying of the length of the second light path results in a variable phase of the second light beam with respect to the first light beam that is modulation signal dependent at the precise point of recombination of the first and second light beams. The effect of the variable phase combination of the first and second light beams is a vectorial phase addition, the resultant laser light beam after this vectorial combination being intensity (amplitude) modulated by the modulation signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby identification information can be encoded onto a plurality of circuit dice on a wafer to enable each of them to be distinguished from one another. An array of electrically readable identification elements, such as resistors, is disposed on each of the circuit dice during the circuit fabrication process. A first mask is then positioned over the each of the dice which completely covers all but the identification elements. A step and repeat mask is then selectively positioned over a particular element or elements in the array which identify a circuit die by its location on the wafer. The die is then exposed using a conventional step and repeat photolithographic process so that only the selected identification element or elements in the array will remain. The second mask is then stepped over the next circuit die on the wafer but is positioned over a different identification element or elements in the array.

Abstract: An inner vessel having a truncated triangular volume is spaced from an outer housing of similar shape to form a chamber therebetween. A thermally conductive strap is connected at one end to the vessel at its other end to a cold finger tube extending into the chamber. The vessel contains liquid nitrogen and is secured in spaced relationship from the outer housing by a fiberglass liquid nitrogen fill tube. An electronic assembly for processing signals generated by the detector cooled by the cold finger are aligned with the cold finger external the dewar housing. The dewar accommodates entry port angles between zero and 60.degree. for different microscopes without physical interference with the microscope housing and attachments.

Abstract: Method for compiling program instructions to reduce instruction cache misses and instruction cache pollution. The program is analyzed for instructions which result in a non-sequential transfer of control in the program. The presence of branch instructions and program loops are identified and analyzed. The instructions are placed in lines, and the lines are placed in a sequence to minimize potential misses.

Abstract: A position sensing apparatus is provided for magnetically sensing the angular positon of a shaft about an axis. The apparatus includes first and second magnetic assemblies which are rotatable relative to each other. Each of these assemblies has spaced-apart magnetic members which are magnetically coupled to each other. The members in one of the assemblies are coupled through a Hall cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and thin film transistor having a linear doping profile between the gate and drain regions. This is constructed in a particular manner in order to achieve a thin film transistor having a significantly high breakdown voltage of the order of 700 to 900 volts, much greater than that achieved in the prior art.

Abstract: A stepper motor of the permanent-magnet sheet-metal type is constructed of a number of modules, simplifying assembly. The modular parts include a stator having integrally-molded winding bobbins and pole pieces. A rotor mounted in the stator includes a barrier member which separates a plastic, threaded hub molded interiorly from a permanent magnet molded exteriorly. A shaft having a first threaded end rotatably engaged with the interior of the rotor hub has a rectangular central portion extending through a rectangular opening of the stator to convert rotary motion of the rotor to linear motion of the shaft. An opposite end of the shaft includes a molded head and a tubular shield extending from the head. This shield and a tubular portion of the stator molding define a labyrinthal passage which inhibits the passage of contaminants into the rotor. A housing of the motor and a rotatably attached flange include engagable portions to lock the flange at a desired angular position.