Abstract: Recordable/erasable optical storage media are disclosed. More particularly, it provides a method and apparatus for recording and erasing information on an optical storage medium. The medium of the present invention generally includes a rigid substrate and an active region or layer adjacent to the substrate. The active region is a single polymer layer that functions as both an expansion layer and a retention layer. Reflective and protective layers may or may not be present. Additionally, methods for writing and erasing on these media are described.

Abstract: A system and method for erasing data on an optical storage disk of the type which is responsive to light of first selected characteristics to produce a detectable physical change in the disk and is further responsive to light of second selected characteristics to reverse the physical change. Erasure is effected by rotating the disk proximate a linear light source capable of projecting a curtain of light having said second selective characteristics onto the disk. Uniform erasure of the data may be obtained by modifying the light flux which is delivered to the disk as a function of distance from the center of the disk. In particular, by increasing the flux or flux density which strikes the disk proximate its periphery relative to that which strikes near the center, the unit dosage received by any portion of the disk may be equalized.

Abstract: A discrete wire discriminator for identifying each terminal position of a connector to be terminated to a multiconductor cable comprising a plurality of identical, unmarked, insulated conductors is described. The conductors of the first end of the cable are randomly terminated. After the second end of the cable is placed in the apparatus, each wire at the second end is selected at random and its correct terminal position identified by the apparatus, in addition, the selected wire is simultaneously tested for short or open circuits.

Abstract: A cassette device for cleaning portions of a video cassette recorder is provided. The cassette device includes a first fluid applicator and a second fluid applicator, the second fluid applicator positioned to wet a portion of tape spaced from the portion wetted by the first applicator. Preferably, the second applicator also acts to position the tape to be spaced from the scanner in one circumferential portion of the scanner. A device is provided for contacting the tape along a defined circumferential portion of the first applicator to assure substantially continuous rotation of the first applicator without direct-driving the first applicator.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for providing improved data mark formation on an optical disc is disclosed. The amplitude of a laser write beam in an optical recording system is varied during application of the mark. Additionally, the illumination period of the laser is adjusted to account for differences between the actual length of a formed data mark and the desired length of a data mark.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Abstract: A system for maintaining the contrast of an LCD at a constant level despite variations in temperature of the liquid crystal medium includes a temperature sensor and digital circuitry for generating a correction voltage that offsets the change in contrast level caused by the change in operating temperature.

Abstract: A system for providing keystroke data to an application program without utilizing a keyboard that simultaneously displays application program graphics and a keyboard representation on different segments of a screen. Keys are selected by touching the screen at the location of the graphic representation of the key on the screen. The system is transparent to the application program.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Abstract: A magnetic head cleaner (2, 42) includes a strip of homogeneous (non-layered) plastic material having one or both of the following cleaning attributes: a matte finish (8) with a particular surface roughness and a series of transverse and longitudinal grooves (12, 14) of a chosen size. The average surface roughness of the matte finish and the size of the grooves are choosen to both remove contaminants and hold the removed contaminants on the cleaning surface. The head cleaner cleans magnetic heads well without the problems associated with layered cleaning tapes, including the high abrasive qualities of magnetic coatings or the drawbacks found with fabric type cleaning tapes. The cleaner can be used wet or dry, that is with or without a cleaning liquid (30).

Abstract: An optical storage medium is disclosed. In general, the storage medium includes a substrate, with a first, expansion layer, a second, reflective layer bonded to the first layer, and a third, retention layer bonded to the second layer, opposite the first layer. An opto-electronic system for recording data is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the storage medium.

Abstract: A breakout panel (6) is situated within a breakout opening (8) in a molded part (2). The breakout panel and opening define circumferentially extending corners (16, 18) positioned adjacent one another. The two corners touch at a line of intersection (21) having substantially no width to create a zero landed intersecting edge. Physical connection between the breakout panel and the body is provided by several small frangible pads (22) at the line of intersection. The frangible pads are sized to permit the breakout panel to be broken away from the body in a frangible manner to expose the breakout opening. The frangible pad intersects the body along the inside surface (20) of the body so that when the breakout panel is broken away, the resulting scars (38) at the locations of the frangible pads are not visible from the outside of the part.

Abstract: An intercom system for use in combination with a multi-line telephone system wherein the intercom system utilizes the same wire pair for communications between intercom units that is used for normal telephone communications. The intercom system transmits voice signals on two or more frequency modulated channels over a wire pair of a local telephone network. Each intercom unit includes a microprocessor which controls communication activity and protocol in each unit and communicates with other intercom unit miroprocessors via a separate frequency modulated digital signal channel.

Abstract: The invention provides means for detecting errors in the transmission of protocol data words between the handset station and base station of a cordless telephone set. Assuming the protocol data words are eight bits in length, a sixteen bit security code word is provided which consists of a high security byte and a low security byte. At the transmitting station (either the hand set or base), the protocol data byte is exclusive-ored with both the high security byte and the low security byte. The two resulting bytes are appended to the original protocol data byte to form a twenty-four bit error detection code. This error detection code is transmitted to the receiving station. The receiving station takes the unaltered protocol byte portion of the three byte word and exclusive-ors it with both of the other bytes of the received word. If there were no transmission errors, the sixteen bit security code should be generated by the exclusive-oring step.

Abstract: A discrete wire discriminator for identifying each terminal position of a connector to be terminated to a multiconductor cable comprising a plurality of identical, unmarked, insulated conductors is described. The conductors of the first end of the cable are randomly terminated. After the second end of the cable is placed in the apparatus, each wire at the second end is selected at random and its correct terminal position identified by the apparatus. In addition, the selected wire is simultaneously tested for short or open circuits.

Abstract: The entire data content of a thermally erasable optical memory medium is erased simultaneously by irradiating the entire signal-retaining layer of the medium with light in such a manner that the signal-retaining layer is preferentially heated over other layers in the medium, particularly other thermo-optically active layers if any are present. The irradiation is most effectively achieved with a flash of light at high intensity and short duration.

Abstract: A multifunctional cleaning tape (2) is used as part of a video cassette (7) for cleaning the magnetic head of a VCR (12) and providing diagnostic/instructional information to the user. The tape includes a first, non-magnetic cleaning segment (4) for cleaning the magnetic head followed by a magnetic diagnostic/instructional segment (6) containing prerecorded diagnostic/instructional information which is played to the user. The diagnostic/instructional information includes information relating to the cleanliness of the magnetic head and for adjusting the VCR for improved visual and audio output and tape tracking. The transition to the diagnostic/instructional segment is hidden be recording electronic noise at the initial portion (26) of such segment.

Abstract: Optical data storage media of various technologies, particularly those with multiple layers of varying absorptivities of light include at least one polymer layer and a metal reflective layer. The metal reflective layer is constructed of an elemental metal or metal alloy having the desired reflective properties and which also softens or melts or both at, near or below the temperature reached by the polymer layer during recordation.