Abstract: An intensified charge-coupled image sensor comprises an image intensifier section and a header assembly. The header assembly includes a charge coupled device and an insulative header for retaining the charge-coupled device. An imaging aperture having a sidewall is formed in the insulative header. The imaging aperture is disposed about an optical axis of the image sensor. A conductive layer for preventing electrostatic charge buildup resulting from the impingement of photoelectrons emitted from a photoemissive cathode is provided on a first major surface of the header and on the sidewall bordering the imaging aperture. The header includes an electrode surface having a plurality of discrete contact pads thereon. A header input member has a substantially rectangular portion attached to a first major surface of the insulative header and an annular portion attached to the image intensifier section of the image sensor.

Abstract: An adaptive median filter system is disclosed. Circuitry is arranged to produce successive sets of samples from an input signal which may possibly include noise. An adaptive median filter filters the samples in response to a control signal. Further circuitry estimates the relative density of the noise in the input signal to generate the control signal supplied to the adaptive median filter.

Abstract: A hanging dot detector for a video signal processor including a comb filter is disclosed. The respective phases of the signals in the band of frequencies normally containing color representative information of both the comb filtered chrominance and luminance signals are detected. The magnitude of the changes of the respective comb filtered luminance and chrominance phase angle signals over a given time period are compared. A control signal is generated in response to the comparison of the changes over the period of time of the respective phases. A signal coupling unit couples the comb filtered luminance signal to the luminance processing channel. In response to the control signal, the signal coupling means alters the frequency composition of the comb filtered luminance signal so as to eliminate the color representative information. A further embodiment is disclosed to process a complementary-color vertical transition condition.

Abstract: A circuit comprises P-channel and N-channel field effect transistors. A conduction electrode, such as a drain, of one of the transistors is coupled to a conduction electrode of the other transistor. Means are provided for ensuring that the currents in the transistors when changing state, and hence the rise and fall times of an output signal of the transistors, are substantially equal. Preferably, the ensuring means comprises the channel length of the P-channel transistor being smaller than that of the N-channel device. Alternately, either the doping level or the width of the P-channel device can be greater than that of the N-channel device.

Abstract: Line and field deflection circuits generate line and field deflection currents in respective line and field deflection windings to scan a raster on the phosphor screen of a square-planar picture tube having an aspherical faceplate. The asphericity of the faceplate subjects the scanned raster to gullwing distortion. A gullwing distortion correction circuit is responsive to signals repeating at line and field rates, respectively, for modulating the field deflection current during a line deflection period within the field deflection trace interval in a manner that corrects gullwing distortion of a corresponding raster scan line.

Abstract: In a wideband video signal processing system, a video signal is capacitively coupled to a kinescope via a signal path. A video signal clamping diode is coupled from the video signal path to a low impedance point in a feedback path of a keyed switching transistor. Parasitic capacitances associated with the clamping diode and with the output of the switching transistor are decoupled from the video signal path by means of a first decoupling resistor, and a second decoupling resistor included in the feedback path, respectively.

Abstract: A so-called "solar-blind" photomultiplier tube includes an envelope having a sidewall and an input faceplate formed from an ultraviolet transmitting filter. A photoemissive cathode is disposed within the envelope for providing photoelectrons in response to radiation incident thereon. The cathode has an intrinsic responsivity extending from the near-ultraviolet portion through the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; however, the filter faceplate transmits only the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum to the photoemissive cathode. The combination of the filter faceplate and the photoemissive cathode therefore limits the tube to a responsivity within the wavelength range of about 300 to less than 400 nanometers.

Abstract: A speed-up memory doubles the field rate of a video input signal by repeating each field to reduce flicker when the double field rate signal is displayed. Read/write clocks for controlling the memory are locked to the color subcarrier of the video input signal thereby tending to produce visual artifacts in the displayed image due to clock skew relative to sync when non-standard video signals are processed. The skew errors are corrected by circuitry which measures the skew of the read and write clocks and delays the video signal as a function of a difference between the clock skew measurements.

Abstract: A comparator for sensing a small voltage differential at, or close to, the operating voltage rails includes first and second means for producing first and second currents and for producing a third current which is indicative of the difference between the first and second currents. The first current varies as a linear function of first (e.g. V.sub.IN) and second (e.g. V.sub.O) voltages, the amplitude of the first current being proportional to that one of said first and second voltage having the largest amplitude. The second current varies exponentially as a function of the difference between the first and second voltages. Comparator means embodying the invention are particularly useful in circuits where a transistor-switch couples an input voltage (V.sub.IN) to an output terminal and the transistor-switch is to be turned-off when V.sub.IN drops below the voltage (V.sub.O) at the output terminal.

Abstract: An input signal for controlling a television power supply has "power-on" and "power-off" signal states. When the input signal is in the "power-on" state, it couples a clock signal to a primary winding of a transformer causing an alternating current voltage that is conductively isolated from the input signal to be developed across a secondary winding of the transformer. When the input signal is in the "power-off" state, it decouples the clock signal from the primary winding so that no alternating current voltage is developed across the secondary winding. The signal across the secondary winding is demodulated in a demodulator that produces a control signal that is conductively isolated from the input signal. The control signal is coupled to a regulator of the power supply. A power-on state of the control signal occurs when the alternating current voltage is developed at the secondary winding terminal. A power-off state of the control signal occurs when the alternating current voltage is absent.

Abstract: In a radio frequency switch, a pair of diodes is coupled in series with polarities opposed between input and output ports. A shunt diode is coupled between the junction point of the pair of diodes and a point of reference potential. A transistor has its main conduction path coupled between the junction point and the point of reference potential. When the switch is to couple a signal between the input and output ports, a control arrangement applies bias tending to forward bias the pair of diodes, to reverse bias the shunt diode and cut off conduction through the transistor.

Abstract: A relatively stiff piezoelectric translator comprises at least a pair of piezoelectric devices joined together at one end and secured to a fixed support at their other ends in orthogonal directions. Displacement of one device along its longitudinal axis displaces the other devices in a relatively weak direction transverse its longitudinal axis. Stiffness is enhanced by securing both ends of each device in the system.

Abstract: A regulating power supply for a video display apparatus includes a switching transistor that periodically energizes a transformer winding. Input switching pulses for the transistor are varied in width and frequency to optimize power transfer via the transformer. The charge and discharge rates of a capacitor determine the pulse width and frequency. The capacitor charging current is selectively switched to be connected to the capacitor while the capacitor discharge current is controlled in response to a feedback signal derived from the regulated voltage level.

Abstract: A plurality of thin flexible sheet ribs are secured to thin flexible sheet stringer members to form a distortable frame structure. One edge of the ribs lie in a curved surface such as a parabolic cylindrical surface. A thin sheet of boron-silicate glass, preferably formed with a second surface mirror, is annealed and then bent at room temperature to abut the edges of the ribs lying in the curved surface and is retained in place by ribs at opposite edges of the sheet. The inherent strength of the glass under stress, when bent, provides structural rigidity to the combined elements.

Abstract: A family of waveguide branch directional couplers having various coupling values is adapted for using the same housing dimensions for all members of the family. The housing includes a conductive block defining first and second spaced-apart parallel rectangular through waveguides. The block also defines a chamber extending between the through waveguides. One or more further conductive blocks in the form of rectangular parallelepipeds are fastened within the chamber and dimensioned to coact with the chamber dimensions to define at least two rectangular branch waveguides extending between the through waveguides. The dimensions of the further blocks are selected to adjust the branch waveguide dimensions to provide the various coupling values.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant resilient electrically conductive gasket is comprised of a metal-containing conductive elastomer which has had any exposed metal coated with a protective conductive coating. The metal may be silver and the coating may be tin-lead solder applied by immersing the gasket into a molten solder bath.

Abstract: A device for thumping and flushing a kinescope funnel includes a lift member which moves horizontally to engage the funnel and then vertically to raise the funnel to a thump position. A means for centering and orienting the neck moves in unison with the lift member. A thumper is arranged to thump the funnel in the thump position. A probe vertically moves to enter the funnel through the neck and inject a flushing fluid into the funnel while thumping occurs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a frozen television picture are disclosed. Successive fields of picture information are generated by an interpolator which is responsive to a video input signal. These successive fields are applied to the input of a first field store device. The video input signal is applied to the input of a second field store device so that the successive fields of the video input signal correspond in time to the successive fields generated by the interpolator. Lines from the respective field store devices are sequenced repetitively to form a video signal representing the frozen television picture. The interpolator generates fields which, when displayed with corresponding fields of the video input signal, minimizes motion-induced artifacts without unduly degrading vertical resolution.

Abstract: Diagonally disposed line-selection artifacts appear in the video signal from a CCD imager using a line-transfer register, owing to differential delay in a side-loaded CCD shift register used for transferring charge packets from the image sensing array to the charge sensing output stage. The extent of these line-selection artifacts is shortened in the direction of line scan by spatial multiplexing, so they occur entirely within line retrace intervals. The line-selection artifacts are then suppressed by normal line retrace blanking.

Abstract: Variations in topography and material properties of the surface layer of a body are observed in microscopic imaging using a scanning capacitance probe. The acronym SCaM identifying the process and apparatus is derived from the phrase scanning capacitance microscope. The material properties observable by SCaM are the surface-electric property representative of the complex dielectric constant of the surface material and the surface-mechanical property representative of the elastic constant of the surface material.