Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for a multiple light path, which may be used for a wireless optical audio and/or video communication system.Known systems use a direct wireless infrared connection. It has been found that such a connection is not reliable enough. It is the object of this invention to realise a reliable infrared connection between different devices. This is realised by a two path connection. A first path is realised by a wireless connection and a second path is realised by a transmission at least partially through an optical fiber. Furthermore this invention presents a special lens and a special photo light emitting diode for the realisation of the two path infrared connection.The invention can used e.g. for the connection between a television set and a video cassette recorder.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a CRT (10) having a tension mask (24) and support frame assembly (35). The support frame assembly (35) is rectangular and has two long sides that parallel a central major axis thereof and two short sides that parallel a central minor axis thereof The mask (24) has a substantially cylindrical contour, being curved along the major axis and straight along the minor axis. The frame assembly (35) includes two first members (36, 38; 136, 138) that parallel the major axis and two second members (40, 42), attached to the ends of the first members, that parallel the minor axis. Each of the first members (36, 38; 136, 138) includes a rigid section (50; 150) and a compliant section (52; 152) cantilevered from the rigid section (50; 150). The compliant sections (52; 152) have a distal end (54; 154) and a proximal end (56; 156). The mask (24) is attached to the distal ends (54; 154) of the compliant sections (52; 152).

Abstract: A switching circuit for a television set is coupled to the television microprocessor and associated power supply on one end, and to the standby power supply portion of a T-chip on the other end. The T-chip is not powered during the "off" times of the television thus reducing the power consumption of the circuit. The switching circuit operates to enable the standby power supply of the T-chip upon receipt by the microprocessor of an "on" command after which the T-chip will enable the horizontal drive circuits upon the receipt of a further "on" command.

Abstract: A video recording and playback device has a control track recorder for recording a control track signal including timing edges recorded on a tape or other storage medium together with the video program. A decoder is coupled to the control track signal and to the tape drive for switching among a forward play mode, a forward skip mode and a rewind mode, as a function of play, skip and rewind codes inserted into the control track as phase variations of edges other than those used for timing, or preferably as pulses with sloping edges distinct from the timing edges. In addition to selectively skipping sections of the video program preceded by a skip code and followed by a play code, such as commercial breaks, the device permits user editing of play and skip codes and selective multiple replays of sections of the video program preceded by a play code and followed by a rewind code.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for an auxiliary power supply in an apparatus having run and standby modes of operation. The auxiliary power supply is energized by raw B.sup.+ voltage and operates in a switched mode, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of loading. A switching circuit, also energized by the raw B.sup.+ voltage, changes the auxiliary power supply between operational and non operational modes responsive to an on/off signal. The on/off signal is indicative of the run and standby modes of operation of the apparatus, for example a run supply voltage generated by another power supply in the apparatus. The switching circuit includes a switch optically coupled to a voltage threshold detector. The switch interrupts the feedback signal, for example by shunting to ground, in a manner which inhibits operation of the switching controller during the standby mode of operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A simplified serial data bus provides interconnection between equipment such as computers, imaging apparatus, and consumer electronic devices. The simplified bus utilizes the cable and connectors of a data bus standard. An apparatus for data communication comprises a connector for receiving a plurality of signal carrying conductors. A control circuit is coupled to the connector for supplying a control signal to one of the plurality of conductors. A detector is coupled to the connector for detecting a voltage source on the one of the plurality of conductors. The control signal is inhibited responsive to detection of the voltage source.

Abstract: A power sensor circuit for use in a convergence system which comprises a convergence circuit for generating a convergence correction signal. The power sensor circuit receives at least one supply voltage and generates an output signal having a magnitude selected in accordance with whether the at least one supply voltage is above a first threshold. The output signal is coupled to the convergence circuit, which enables or disables the convergence correction signal in response to the magnitude of the output signal.

Abstract: Program Guide information is formed suitable for incorporation in a video program datastream and for storage on a storage medium or for broadcast in variable broadcast encoding formats. A method of formatting video data to be suitable for output on one of a plurality of output channels and in one of a plurality of encoding formats is employed. The method involves forming program guide information including a channel map associating an output channel with a video program. The program guide information also associates the channel map with an encoding format. The program guide information and the video data are incorporated into a datastream and the datastream is provided to an output channel. The method may also involve generating a parameter indicative of an encoding format and combining the encoding format parameter and the channel map in the program guide.

Abstract: A receiver system automatically adaptively tunes to broadcast signals that are variable in the number of channels that are transmitted, their signal coding type and their modulation format. A system receives a digital bitstream representing video information encoded in one of a plurality of different formats, and transmitted on one of a plurality of transmission channels. The system includes a processor for identifying and capturing program guide information including a plurality of channel maps. A channel map associates a transmission channel with a video channel output and the channel map is also associated with an encoding format. The system also includes an adaptive decoder for decoding the bitstream to provide the video channel output in response to the program guide information.

Abstract: A timing recovery system for a digital signal receiver receives a signal, representing successive symbols, from a transmitter. The symbols are subject to exhibiting multiple symbol rates. The system derives a sample enable signal from the received input signal and employs a single, fixed frequency oscillator. A source of samples representing the received signal are sampled at a fixed frequency. An interpolator is coupled to the sample source and is responsive to a control signal. The interpolator produces samples taken at times synchronized to the successive symbols from the transmitter. A phase error detector is coupled to the interpolator, detects a phase error between the sample times of the transmitter synchronized samples produced by the interpolator and times of the successive transmitter symbols, and supplies a phase error signal. The phase error signal is coupled to one input terminal of a summer and a source of a nominal delay signal is coupled to the other.

Abstract: In a videocassette recorder including "VCR PLUS+.TM." videocassette recorder programming system capability and TIMER PROGRAMMING capability, it is herein recognized that the respective menu for programming in each of the two available systems should automatically be selected in response to the pressing of the PROGRAM key by a user, and in response to which of the two systems was last used for programming the VCR.

Abstract: A method of error-free, simple programming of a data decoder for the purpose of recording desired data programs is achieved when a data guide table, generated at the transmitter end, for programming the recording, and a data status table for signaling the data programs currently running are evaluated. In addition to date, time, broadcasting company, identifying number and length of the files, the data guide table contains information on the hardware and software configurations, which is required for receiving, for decoding and for outputting the desired data program, and further information for automatically reloading software possibly missing at the receiver end. In this way, it is possible as early as during programming of a data program to carry out a check of the system configuration required at the receiver end and to output an error message or warning to the user if his own system is not suitable for receiving, decoding or outputting the desired data program.

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.