Abstract: A complexity determining apparatus is disclosed which comprises a source of a data signal and a subsampler system, coupled to the data signal source, for producing a subsampled signal representing the data signal. A variable bit rate (VBR) encoder is responsive to the subsampled signal and produces an encoded signal representing the subsampled signal. A counter accumulates the number of bits in the encoded signal and produces a complexity representative signal corresponding to the accumulated number of bits.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a complexity measure of a data signal is disclosed which includes an encoder, having an input terminal responsive to a data input signal and a data output terminal producing a coded output signal representing the data input signal at a constant bit rate. The encoder includes a variable quantizer, responsive to the data input signal, for producing a quantized signal, representing the data input signal, having a quantizing step size defined in response to a quantizing step size control signal. A bit rate regulator produces the quantizing step size control signal in response to the bit rate of the coded output signal and a quota input signal. A complexity analyzer generates a complexity representative signal related to the quantizing step size and the bit rate of the coded output signal.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) sparkgap utilizing one or more surface mount devices (SMDs) wherein the conductive ends and solder fillets of the SMDs form one or more conductive electrodes of the spark gap and the SMDs help absorb electrical and thermal energy during an arc-over.

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube includes a tension mask attached to a rectangular support frame assembly that has two long sides paralleling a central major axis thereof and two short sides paralleling a central minor axis thereof. The frame assembly includes two first members, having oppositely disposed ends, paralleling the major axis, and two resilient U-shaped second members, having a first leg and a second leg attached to the oppositely disposed ends of the first members, paralleling the minor axis. Each of the first members has a compliant portion and a base portion. The mask is attached to the distal ends of the compliant portion. A detensioning rod assembly is disposed between the first and second legs of each of the second members to facilitate varying the tension of the mask.

Abstract: An adaptive decoder generates a program representative datastream, in selectable, encrypted or decrypted form. A method for adaptively processing input encrypted program data with an associated encryption code provides either an encrypted or a decrypted program output. In an encrypted mode, encrypted program data and an associated encryption code is exported to an output port. In a decrypted mode, input encrypted program data is decrypted using an encryption key derived from the encryption code to provide decrypted program data. The decrypted program data is exported to the output port. Non-encrypted program data is exported to an output port in a selectable non-encrypted mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for displaying text information include a scrolling feature having a modulated scroll rate. Previously undisplayed text information stored in the buffer memory is accessed and scrolled into the display at a rate related to the amount of previously undisplayed text information stored in the buffer memory. Scrolling involves a pause in the movement of the displayed text after each complete row of text information is displayed. The pause duration is related to the amount of previously undisplayed text stored in the buffer memory. The text information may include closed caption information, teletext information, and text information associated with moving message displays.

Abstract: A CAP signal is processed by a QAM demodulator network. The QAM network causes the CAP signal to rotate about its center frequency, which rotation is removed prior to conveying the CAP signal to utilization networks. In an analog implementation, the CAP signal is frequency upconverted to be centered at Fad/4 so that the QAM processor can use the usual 1, 0, -1, 0 demodulation sequence to bring the CAP signal to baseband. Alternatively, using digital techniques, frequency upconverting is not needed and the 1, 0, -1, 0 demodulation sequence is replaced with a Numerically Controlled Oscillator and full multiplier to allow the QAM processor the bring the CAP signal to baseband.

Abstract: In a television system, including a standby power supply coupled directly to an AC power input and a main power supply coupled via an on/off switch to the AC power input, a source of light is illuminated at a first brightness level in response to the standby power supply being connected to an AC source and illuminated at a lower brightness level in response to the main power supply being connected to the AC power source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of electrophotographically manufacturing a phosphor screen 22 comprising a multiplicity of color-emitting screen elements arranged in color groups on an interior surface of a faceplate panel 12 of a color CRT 10. The multiplicity of screen elements is exposed to a source 35 of UV radiation to stimulate the screen elements to emission. The emission from the screen elements is utilized to determine, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, a first emission characteristic of each color group of screen elements. Then, a subsequent manufacturing step (58, 62) is performed that affects the screen elements, and the multiplicity of screen elements is re-exposed to the source of UV radiation to stimulate the screen elements to emission. The resultant emission is utilized to determine, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, a second emission characteristic from each color group of screen elements.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube may utilize a focus mask color-selection structure. The focus mask structure is susceptible to localized, transient short circuit events, or breakdown events. These events may be caused by conductive particulates that become free within the cathode ray tube and provide a short circuit between first and second layers of the focus mask. The breakdown events are undesirable because they may result in cross-strand currents causing mask strand magnetization that can interfere with a video image on the screen of the cathode ray tube. A transformer rapidly senses random changes in a voltage or a current supplied to the second layer of the focus mask. A pulse waveform generator is coupled to the transformer and provides a pulse waveform responsive to the sudden change in voltage or current.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, shown in FIG. 3, a method of electrophotographically manufacturing a phosphor screen, comprises the steps of coating 44 an interior surface of a viewing faceplate panel to form a volatilizable organic conductive (OC) layer and overcoating 46 the OC layer to form a volatilizable organic photoconductive (OPC) layer. The OPC layer is electrostatically charged 48 and selected areas of the OPC layer are exposed to light to form a charge image 50. The charge image is developed with at least one phosphor material 52 which is fixed 58 to the OPC layer by spraying a fixing solution comprising two solvents, having substantially different rates of evaporation onto the phosphor material on the OPC layer to affect the solubility thereof and to make the OPC layer tacky. At least a portion or all of the solvent with the higher rate of evaporation is allowed to evaporate while the solvent with the lower rate of evaporation retains the tackiness of the OPC layer.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit and method for generating a focus voltage having a predetermined waveform and magnitude for application to an electron beam focus means of a cathode ray tube having a display surface. A horizontal deflection current having a predetermined waveform and a frequency which is selectable over a predetermined range of frequencies is used to generate substantially horizontal scan lines on the display surface of the cathode ray tube by causing at least one electron beam to sweep across the display surface. The circuit has an input for receiving a signal having a current waveform representative of the waveform and frequency of the horizontal deflection current. In response to the received signal, the circuit produces a focus voltage output, the waveform and magnitude of which remain substantially constant over the range of selected frequencies of the horizontal deflection current.

Abstract: A distributed computer system is disclosed which comprises a source of a continuous data stream repetitively including data representing a distributed computing application and a client computer, receiving the data stream, for extracting the distributed computing application representative data from the data stream, and executing the extracted distributed computing application.

Abstract: A satellite signal receiver includes an input demodulator followed by a Viterbi decoder and a Reed-Solomon decoder. A received signal is encoded with information including error-representative information, and exhibits an error correction code rate which is a function of the power level of a satellite transmitted signal. The demodulator produces control signals representing the presence or absence of synchronism with the received signal, and signal quality (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio). The Reed-Solomon decoder produces a control signal indicating whether or not error detection and correction is occurring properly. These control signals are sensed by a control network to change the code rate of the Viterbi decoder if necessary.

Abstract: A television system utilizes a common signal processing unit (e.g., a common chrominance demodulator) for processing a combined video signal suitable for coupling to a display device for producing an image having a portion attributable to a main video signal and a portion attributable to an auxiliary video signal. If the common signal processing unit relies upon the color information (e.g., color burst) contained in the main video signal, and the main signal is either non-existent or lacking such color information, then a substitute color information signal will be generated so that the combined video signal may be processed to roduce a color auxiliary image, and a monochrome (or non-existent) main image.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying still video images related to video content in an interactive broadcast television system. The system and method of the present invention may also be used for simulating an Internet home page on an interactive television system. The present invention thus supports hyperlinked web-like navigational capabilities in an interactive television system. According to the method of the present invention, the video delivery system provides or broadcasts one or more audio/video channels each comprising video content and also provides or broadcasts at least one still image channel comprising a plurality of still video images, preferably MPEG-2 compressed still images. The user or viewer can select options displayed on the television screen to view desired information.