Patents Assigned to North American Philips Corporation
  • Patent number: 5296761
    Abstract: An IF amplifier/log detector with a modular architecture includes a plurality of voltage amplifiers, a plurality of rectifiers, a plurality of voltage-to-current converters and a current summing circuit. Each amplifier has a first differential transistor pair driven by a first current proportional to the temperature to fix the gain. Each converter includes a second differential transistor pair driven by a current proportional to the temperature and inversely proportional to a process parameter, and a third differential transistor pair driven by a third current inversely proportional to the process parameter. In this manner a circuit having improved performance with variations in temperature and process parameters is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Fotowat-Ahmady, Nasrollah S. Navid
  • Patent number: 5297185
    Abstract: For identifying a preamble or other pattern in a binary bit stream, containing data coded to have a different average number of ones to zeroes from the pattern in question, a pattern detection circuit includes a shift register, a unitary adder and a comparison circuit. The shift register has a sufficient length that there is at least a high probability that the number of ones stored therein is different for the pattern in question from the range of number of ones found in that length of the data stream. The unitary adder counts the number of ones in the register, and this value is compared with the range of values which that length of the pattern should contain. If the pattern to be detected is a preamble used for bit synchronization, and the data are coded in a way which may lead to possibility of synchronization to a subharmonic, a ones-average detector may be used to disable the synchronization circuit for a local clock until the preamble is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Donald T. Best, Alvin Schultz, Richard C. Carickhoff
  • Patent number: 5295127
    Abstract: The beginning of a segment within a track of a record carrier, having a plurality of frames in each segment, is identified by detecting the presence of a control mark at a given position near the beginning of a frame, and the absence of a control mark at an adjoining position at which a control mark will be found in all other frames of the segment. The other frames of each segment are free from a mark at the given position. The next bit position containing a mark, after the given position and its adjoining position, is the clock bit position used for bit clock synchronization. An apparatus for reading these marks may include a qualification circuit for evaluating the magnitude of the difference in detector output at the given bit position and the adjoining bit position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes J. Verboom, Fred N. Wamble
  • Patent number: 5293074
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure with a p-type ZnSe layer has an improved ohmic contact consisting of a layer of Hg.sub.x Zn.sub.1-x Te.sub.a Se.sub.b Sc where x=0-1 with x being 0 at the surface of the ZnSe layer and increasing thereafter, a, b and c each =0-1 and a+b+c=1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil R. Taskar, Babar A. Khan, Donald R. Dorman
  • Patent number: 5293016
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed having a toggle mechanism in which a desired overlap between the cam link and the sear pin is conveniently, and automatically, achieved. The toggle mechanism also exhibits a relatively small eccentricity, resulting in a circuit breaker which is significantly more sensitive to overcurrents than previous such circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Ramesh G. Nar
  • Patent number: 5291289
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating and demodulating an MCM television signal is described which is particularly useful in proposed "simulcast" HDTV terrestrial broadcasting. The MCM spectrum of the television signal is shaped using weighting coefficients which are derived from either an idealized NTSC signal or an actual NTSC co-channel signal. These coefficients are used to shape the respective MCM carriers to provide an energy distribution in the MCM signal which provides greater degree of robustness with a minimum degree of co-channel interference to and from an NTSC co-channel signal. The instant invention further takes advantage of the interference characteristics of composite television signals described above, to position the placement of the MCM carriers in frequency, to minimize interference with an NTSC co-channel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Samir N. Hulyalkar, David A. Bryan, Carlo Basile
  • Patent number: 5289287
    Abstract: A projection television system which adapts automatically between from screen projection and rear screen projection upon insertion of the projector into a rear screen cabinet. A compact projection unit has a quick-disconnect electric connector and optical aligner which mate with connection elements in a projection cabinet upon insertion of the projector into an opening in the front of the cabinet. The cabinet has a two-mirror optical relay which inverts the projected picture. Upon completion of insertion, the electric connections automatically invert the image being projected by the projector. In another embodiment, insertion also automatically connects to audio equipment in the rear screen cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Dargis, Larry S. Brown, Jeffrey L. Sharp
  • Patent number: 5288255
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp having a translucent sintered aluminum oxide discharge envelope is produced by a method that includes providing a ceramic end plug having an aperture for a current lead-in member in an end of the envelope, sintering the end plug to the envelope and passing the current lead-in member through the plug so as to extend into the envelope, forming a thin disc-shaped sealing member formed of magnesium oxide containing glass frit and having an aperture for the lead-in member on the outer surface of the plug, positioning a thin barrier member having an aperture for the lead-in member on and extending over the outer surface of the sealing member and heating the assembly so as to cause the sealing member to melt and form a glass bond between the lead-in member and the plug and the barrier member to melt and bond to the glass seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Brabham, Geert van Bockstal
  • Patent number: 5286337
    Abstract: Indium tin oxide films deposited on substrates are subjected to reactive ion etching in a plasma containing dissociated hydrogen bromide or a mixture of dissociated hydrogen bromide and dissociated boron tinchloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Len Y. Tsou
  • Patent number: 5284116
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for starting and accelerating a vehicle through a range of vehicle speeds during which the vehicle internal combustion engine is operated in a plurality of different operating modes is disclosed. Different operating modes are available during normal operation. Under high demand conditions, the engine may be run as a conventional inefficient but effective throttled engine or converted to operation in a fourth mode as a two-stroke cycle engine. The vehicle management system includes a first read only memory for storing a fixed table of engine operating parameters corresponding to various engine conditions, and a random access second storage means for storing a table of engine operating parameters corresponding to various engine conditions with the second table being initially the same as the first table. The system responds to sensed engine conditions to modify the parameters in the second table and controls the vehicle in accordance with the parameters stored in the second table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Richeson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5283650
    Abstract: A system for improved ghost cancellation for use in particular in television receivers. The system featuring a superior ghost cancellation reference (GCR) signal which exhibits improved performance in noisy environments and which exhibits the flat and wide bandwidth necessary for effective channel characterization which also exhibiting a higher and more evenly distributed amplitude versus time characteristic than that provided by known, non-cyclic ghost cancellation signals. The GCR signal is encoded a selected television line of an eight field sequence of lines however the polarity of the GCR signal is reversed selectively from field to field prior to inserting it in respective television lines. At a decoder or television receiver incorporating the invention, the selected television lines are combined in a manner which provides for both a robust received GCR value and cancellation of the effects of pair-wise constant television line signals on the GCR signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: David Koo, Craig B. Greenberg, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 5281889
    Abstract: A reflector lamp has a glass reflector body and a separate neck body which mates with the reflector body. A light-source capsule is insertable into a bore of the reflector body from its base end. A positioning member holds the light-source capsule and is clamped between the neck and reflector bodies to secure the light-source capsule in the reflector body. The reflector and neck bodies have surfaces which cooperate with the positioning member to position the light source capsule at the focus of the reflector when the reflector body, capsule and positioning member, and neck body are stacked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Larry R. Fields, Chris Venicx
  • Patent number: 5281933
    Abstract: A device for tapping the line power of a cable television distribution system. The device is intended for connection to a standard port of a cable tap. The device includes a threaded portion for connection to the port, a housing and an output connector mounted to the housing. Disposed within the housing is a module containing electronics forming a low pass filter to remove the line power from the RF television signal. The module is slidably mounted to extend out of the housing and is biased into engagement with the hot side of the port. The mounting of the electronics within a slidable module permits the low pass filter to be in close proximity to the port so as to eliminate interference with the television signal. The slidable housing also permits the device to be used with ports which differ in depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Chamberlin
  • Patent number: 5280240
    Abstract: An improved AC susceptometer and methodology for its use which is particularly suitable for the characterization of the properties of superconducting materials. Added to the circuitry of a conventional AC susceptometer is frequency domain analytical equipment for measuring the induced magnetic response. The addition of frequency domain measuring equipment permits the determination of the harmonic components of the induced magnetic response. The measurement of the harmonic components of the response also provides novel methodology for studying the phenomena of flux penetration, flux pinning and movement and permits the measurement of parameters such as lower critical field, critical temperatures, and the irreversibility line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Avner A. Shaulov, Rameshwar N. Bhargava, Donald R. Dorman
  • Patent number: 5278872
    Abstract: A circuit architecture suitable for use in a television receiver which effectively performs a ghost or echo cancellation procedure on post echo components and pre echo components occurring within the transmission channel. The apparatus features a filter circuit architecture which can be configured under programmed control so as to partition groups of its filter sections to form IIR filters and FIR filters. The filter architecture is suitable for use in multi-circuit configurations and can be used with clustering algorithms to increase the efficiency and optimize the use of the available circuit architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Craig B. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 5278438
    Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device is provided with at least one stacked poly gate structure formed on the substrate and disposed between a first trench and a second trench. The trenches each having two walls. A first doped area having a first conductivity type extending along the wall of the first trench and a second doped area having a second conductivity type extending along the wall of the second trench. The first doped area and the second doped area having heights greater than widths, the heights being parallel to the trench walls and the widths being perpendicular thereto. The trench walls are lined with a metal silicide to decrease resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Manjin J. Kim, Jein-Chen Young
  • Patent number: 5274237
    Abstract: An X-ray radiation detector is thermally conductively secured to the end of a cryogenically cooled copper cold finger in an evacuated atmosphere. A collimator having a conical radiation conduit at a relatively low evacuated pressure is thermally conductively secured to the end of the cold finger for passing radiation emitted by an electron microscope and reflected from a specimen to the detector in a windowless environment. The collimator and cold finger are at about the same cryogenic temperature. The detector is maintained at a temperature of a few degrees C. above that of the collimator. The collimator conduit radiation ingress aperture is dimensioned to limit gas flow to the conduit to limit moisture flow into the conduit and to the detector, the gas flow being molecular in a low pressure atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Brian W. Gallagher, Robert W. Bergensten
  • Patent number: 5273931
    Abstract: Epitaxial layers of N-doped II-VI semiconductor compounds are grown on GaAs substrates by MOCVD using FME. Separating the growth and doping by alternating introduction of (1) the semiconductor cation and anion and (2) the cation and the dopant increases the level of doping, the level of activation, and the crystal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil Taskar, Babar A. Khan, Donald R. Dorman
  • Patent number: 5274299
    Abstract: A low pressure gas discharge lamp (such as a fluorescent lamp) which includes a wire mesh grid disposed within the lamp envelope so as to intercept the electrons flowing between the lamp electrodes. A lead wire extends from the grid to the outside of the lamp envelope, when the grid is provided with a negative voltage with respect to the surrounding plasma the lamp may switched off. The grid controlled lamp eliminates the need for a solid state power switch in the lamp driving circuitry. As such, the lamp current flows only through the lamp not through the electronic ballast/lamp driving circuitry. With the lamp current removed from the ballast circuitry, power dissipation problems in the driver circuitry is eliminated. The grid controlled lamp design greatly facilitates circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Klaas Vegter
  • Patent number: 5272407
    Abstract: A single-ended electric lamp having an alkali-halide containing light source which produces ultraviolet radiation and is supported within an outer envelope by metallic support structure having an elongate support rod extending past the arc tube. A tubular cover extends over a length L1 of the support rod and the remainder of the support structure remains uncovered. A screen is interposed between the light source and an uncovered portion of the metal support structure to prevent ultra-violet radiation emitted from said light source from directly impinging on said uncovered portion. Preferably, a plurality of screens are arranged within the outer envelope to block the line of sight from the light source to any uncovered portion of the metal support structure and to reduce the quantity of reflected ultraviolet radiation reflected off the inner surface of the arc tube which impinges on uncovered portions of the metal support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy Tillman, Daniel H. Brownell, Dale E. Work