Abstract: A signal processor circuit which stabilizes a clamp processing of black levels even in an endoscope system of an all-pixels readout type and prevents image qualities from being degraded at a stage to shift from a still image to a moving image in particular. In this signal processor circuit, video signals of all picture elements obtained with a single exposure are read out of a CCD, odd line data is stored into a first memory, even line data is stored into a second memory, and mixed picture element signals are generated by a mixer circuit, whereafter a predetermined image processing is performed by a first DVP. A clamp circuit and an A/D converter are disposed at stages preceding the first and second memories, a through video signal output from the A/D converter is input into the first DVP by way of a selector circuit on the basis of an optical black pulse and a black level clamp signal generated on the basis of the through video signal is fed back to the clamp circuit.

Abstract: An electronic convergence device system, such as a PC/TV adapted to operate in a computer mode and a TV mode. When switching and/or operating in TV mode the top-most windows from the computer mode applications are inhibited from interfering with the TV mode experience.

Abstract: A system for performing beam convergence in video displays. The system is implemented through one or more convergence sensors, which are exposed to two distinct convergence test patterns. The first test pattern partially overlaps with one or more of the sensors to define a first covered area for each overlapped sensor, the portion of each sensor that is not overlapped defining a first uncovered area. The second test pattern overlaps the entirety of the first uncovered area for each sensor, the portion of each sensor that is not overlapped, therefore being the first covered area for each sensor. The output of the sensors when exposed to the first test pattern and the output of the sensors when exposed to the second test pattern are used to perform beam convergence calculations. The test patterns are selected in such a manner as to reduce the dynamic range requirement for the sensor output A/D converter(s).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are shown for superimposing an overlapping image signal on an original image signal while preserving the original image. An embodiment of a method according to the present invention includes generating a color difference signal for a shape of the overlapping image responsive to a color difference signal of the original image and a signal which includes a gain coefficient for a magnitude of a color difference to be expressed in an edge of the overlapping image and generating a color difference signal for the edge of the overlapping image responsive to a signal which includes a magnitude and phase of the color difference of the edge of the overlapping image.

Abstract: A communication system (10), having dynamic nodes such as satellites (12) communicate information from a calling party to a called party or subscriber unit (26). When adjacent interfering structures (100) obstruct a communication path, information is unable to pass therebetween. A message control center (27) allows a caller to leave a message for subsequent delivery to a subscriber unit (26). Message control center (27) calculates an enhanced delivery region (105) about a last-know location of subscriber unit (26) and determines satellite orbits that pass over the enhanced delivery region. This enhanced delivery region is serviced by satellites passing at near overhead elevation angles. Message control center (27) prioritizes the ground-tracks contained within an enhanced delivery region (105) and selects one for use in message delivery. A delivery time is calculated corresponding to the selected ground-track and message control center (27) schedules delivery of that message.

Abstract: A video distribution system with an optical-to-radio frequency conversion device that can be configured to reduce the amount of insertion loss introduced into the system and the number of hardware connections needed for the system's operation. A jumper module replaces protection fuses within the conversion device and isolates two of the device's output signal ports from the internal low frequency supply used to operated the device. The isolation permits the use of a single power inserter apparatus that provides the electrical power to downstream signal driving devices receiving the converted signal from the device.

Abstract: An image pickup device is provided with a phototaking optical system for guiding light from an object to an image sensor which produces image information from the received light; a dividing unit for dividing the image information from the image sensor into plural blocks; an extraction unit for extracting from the plural blocks divided by the dividing unit, those with a relatively high content of high-frequency components; a detection unit for detecting focus information relating to the focus state of the phototaking optical system based on frequency information relating to the frequency components of the blocks extracted by the extraction unit; and a driving unit for driving the phototaking optical system according to the focus information.

Abstract: Movies are distributed and stored within a movie on demand or near movie on demand system having a number of levels of interconnectivity between and including at least one headend and at least one hub serving a plurality of end users. Distribution is determined as a function of the storage cost of a movie at each level of the system, a connection cost of each level to an end user, and a selection probability of each of the movies. Distribution of the movies between the various servers in the cable system is performed in accordance with the calculated optimal distribution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a homodyne cellular base station. A cellular antenna is coupled to both a conventional signal channel receiver a homodyne receiver. The conventional single channel receiver is configured to receive the control channel from a cellular band signal. The homodyne receiver utilizes a quadrature downconverter and local oscillator to receive the voice channels. The local oscillator is tuned to the frequency of the control channel to limit all DC offsets to the control channel within the homodyne receiver. All DC offsets and the control channel frequency are filtered from the homodyne receiver signal and, the filtered signal is then digitized and digitally processed to separate the signal into each of the traffic channels.

Abstract: A disk player for an optical disk on which recorded are many data blocks having video data and audio data with multi-audio channels. The player includes an audio channel selector for selecting from the multi-audio channels a specific audio channel specified by a system controller The audio data of the selected audio channel is input, via an audio demodulator, to a gain-controlled amplifier whose gain is set by a gain control signal supplied from the system controller. When a request for switching from a first audio channel to a second channel is generated during reproduction of the first audio channel, the system controller controls to fade out the audio output of the first channel and, thereafter, to fade in the audio output of the second channel upon completion of the fading-out of the first audio channel.

Abstract: A signal processor for amplitude and frequency limiting of a multiplex FM composite signal is described. To maximize the amount of available bandwidth and minimize the generated distortion, the disclosed signal processor employs multiple low-distortion amplifying and clipping subsystems. The subsystems include a stereophonic pilot signal protection circuit which protects the 19 khz pilot signal from the composite FM signal processing, an adjustable limiting circuit, and an adjustable dual low-pass filter/overshoot compensation circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting and scaling non-interlaced VGA signal to interlaced TV signal suitable to be displayed on a TV video screen is disclosed. The apparatus includes an analog to digital converter, a vertical scaling down device, a vertical scaling up device, a horizontal scaling down device, a horizontal scaling up device, a memory unit, a memory controller, and a digital to analog converter. The apparatus is capable of scaling the non-interlaced VGA signal to interlaced TV signal with any desired scaling size both in horizontal direction and in vertical direction to meet the requirement of displaying operation of the TV screen.

Abstract: Data on multiple stories or scenes are recorded on a recording medium so as to reduce the physical distance moved by a pickup at playback time and to suppress breaks or disturbances in reproduced video. A multi-scene program having a plurality of optionally selectable branch stories B0, B1, B2, B3, etc., is recorded between a branch point X and a connection point Y. The preceding main story of a video program, made up of video, sound, text and the like, branches off at branch point X to the branch stories, and at connection point Y connects to the succeeding main story in the video program. The recorded state between the branch point X and the connection point Y is such that the branch stories are each divided into multiple cells and the cells of the respective branch stories are recorded time-division multiplexed.

Abstract: While television broadcast signals are reproduced by a mechanism, if a commercial starts, the user operates a remote controller to set the VCR to cue mode. Thereafter, a black frame detecting portion detects a black frame included in the reproduced signals between the commercial and a main program, whereby microcomputer switches the VCR to standard playback mode at the time point of detection.

Abstract: A Y/C separation apparatus separating a luminance signal and a chrominance signal from a composite color television signal includes a high band level detection circuits for detecting a high band level of each input signal and a judge circuit for controlling Y/C separation and selects one of filters to pass the input signal according to the high band levels detected by the high band level detection circuits and controls a separated chrominance signal component. As a result, when the high band level is small, a horizontal BPF is selected and even when the input signal is a black or white video signal without chrominance signal, dot interference is not conspicuous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and radio system for controlling a subscriber station (MS1) operating on a direct mode channel in a radio system, said radio system comprising a radio network (SwMi) with at least one base station (BS) and subscriber stations (MS1), and further, at least one repeater station (RS), which forwards traffic between said at least one base station (BS) and the subscriber stations (MS1) operating on the direct mode channel. To control the subscriber stations operating on the direct mode channel, information on the identifiers of subscriber stations operating on the direct mode channel in the coverage area of the repeater station (RS) is maintained in said repeater station (RS).

Abstract: A television signal distribution network includes respective distributor cables for signals from respective satellite antennas, one of such cables also being coupled to a terrestrial signal source and serving as a dual distribution cable for both satellite and terrestrial signals. A switching unit permits each user terminal to be selectively connected to any of the distributor cables for reception of a selected satellite signal. The user terminals are also all coupled to the dual cable via a filter which only passes the terrestrial signal band, whereby the terrestrial signal is distributed to all terminals from only a single cable, independently of the setting of the switching unit. Another of the distributor cables also serves as a return cable for upstream signals from the user terminals. The return path includes a filter which only passes an upstream frequency band below that of the terrestrial and satellite signals.

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.

Abstract: First and second images are separated into luminance and chrominance components to generate a first signal, in which the luminance components of the two images are sequentially located in the 1 H period and a second signal in which the chrominance components of the two images are located in the same. The second signal is delayed by (1/2) H period. The first signal and the delayed second signal are used to generate a third signal in which the luminance and chrominance components of the first image are sequentially located in the 1 H period and a fourth signal in which the luminance and chrominance components of the second image are located in the same. The third and fourth signals are vertically expanded with arbitrary expansion ratios.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing unnecessary data in communication networks and used in a television transmitting and receiving devices of a cable television system and the like is disclosed. In a television receiving device capable of carrying out data communications, if an unnecessary data such as an address change command is contained in the data stream transmitted from the transmitting device to the receiving device, the unnecessary data is removed in advance. That is, in the present invention, if an unnecessary data is contained in a command, then a CRC error is forcibly generated, so that the receiving device can ignore a data stream containing the unnecessary data, thereby removing unnecessary data. In this manner, the damages to the software or hardware of the receiving device can be prevented.