Abstract: In an apparatus for reproducing video or other information signals recorded in successive parallel tracks extending obliquely on a magnetic tape or other record medium which is adapted to be longitudinally advanced, and in which a magnetic head or transducer is movable in the direction generally along the tracks for reproducing the signals recorded therein and is mounted or supported by a bi-morph leaf or other transducer deflecting device which is operative, in response to the reception of an electrical drive signal, for deflecting the transducer or head in a direction transverse to the direction along the tracks, a head movement detector is attached to the transducer deflecting device for providing a head movement signal in correspondence to deflections of the head in said transverse direction, a dithering signal or oscillation is included in the drive signal along with a head position and track selection control signal, and the envelope of the signals reproduced by the head is synchronously detected for ge

Abstract: Three double talk detectors (DTD) are used in combination with an echo canceller having an adaptive filter and a center clipper. First and second double talk detectors are used in the presence of double talk to selectively freeze the adaptive filter correction loop and to disable the center clipper. The third double talk detector is used to detect the initial adaptive period of the echo canceller. Control of the adaptive filter and clipper is effectively transferred from the first to the second double talk detector upon termination of the initial adaptive period as determined by the third double talk detector. The third double talk detector also detects a false double talk condition (where the distant talker pauses in speech) and overrides the second double talk detector in order to maintain the clipper in an active state.

Abstract: An operating mode change-over apparatus in a tape recorder includes: a plunger-solenoid having a stationary iron core and a movable iron core movable from a first position in contact with, and a second position spaced from, the stationary iron core; an electric motor; a pinion driven by the electric motor; a rack engageable with and disengageable from the pinion; an operating mode change-over member driven by the rack; a locking lever driven by the movable iron core and holding the engaged condition of the rack and pinion; and a spring for pressing the movable iron core to the stationary iron core, wherein, while the movable iron core is pressed to the stationary iron core, the plunger-solenoid is energized, and the electric motor is driven.

Abstract: A telephone has a built-in answering device comprising an outgoing message store and a control system programmable by pushbuttons for controlling the operational condition and sequence of the answering device. The advantages are compactness and ease of operation.

Abstract: When operation mode is switched from recording to pause mode, a magnetic tape on which signals were recorded previously is slightly rewound backward by a predetermined length and is maintained in the pause mode operation state. When the pause condition is released, reproducing operation is performed to detect a phase difference between the reproduced control signal and a control signal of a video signal to be newly recorded. The tape speed is rapidly changed in accordance with the detected phase difference, so that the phase difference between the reproduced control signal and the control signal to be recorded is reduced to zero. Then, when a discontinuous scene recording is performed by switching from pause to recording operation mode, the phase coincidence has been achieved thereby enabling the phase-coincidence recording of video signals. Thus, upon reproducing, a clear picture with no disturbance can be presented even at the interconnection of signals for different scenes.

Abstract: A bilateral current source operates as a two-wire to four-wire converter circuit for an intercom system. The circuit provides a high impedance current driver for putting a local voice signal on the common line connecting the intercom stations. The same circuit acts as a buffer amplifier for connecting voice signals received on the same line to a listening device such as a speaker. The circuit suppresses any sidetones by preventing the local voice signal from being coupled to the listening device.

Abstract: An optical data recording system in which during recording the image of the acoustic pulse at the writing surface is made to move at the same relative velocity with respect to the recording medium whereby motion blur is minimized or reduced. The writing beam, such as that generated by a laser, is incident on acousto-optic device (such as a Bragg cell) and may be diffracted (deflected) at an angle determined by the frequency of a source applied to the device. By selecting the system magnification between the device and the recording medium such that the magnification, in one embodiment, is substantially equal to the ratio of the velocity of the recording medium to the velocity of the sound wave in the acousto-optic device; the image of the acoustic pulse follows the surface of the recording medium and permits imaging of the video signal to the recording medium without blurring.

Abstract: A wall telephone cradle assembly comprised of a housing having a cup shaped pocket on a front face thereof, arranged to hold a hand-held telephone instrument therein. Mounting structures located within the housing are disposed to mount the assembly to a two pin wall telephone receptacle plate.

Abstract: A telephone handset having a magnifying reading glass lens built into the housing along with an electric light bulb positioned to illuminate the field of view of the lens. The end of the handset housing opposite the cord is elongated to accommodate the lens and light bulb, and a pressure operated switch for controlling the light is also mounted in the handset housing. The light bulb is supplied with current via the switch by wires contained within the telephone cord or cable.

Abstract: A memory which is selectively operable either as a read-write volatile memory or as a non-volatile memory includes an array of memory cells with each cell comprising a volatile secion and a non-volatile section. The volatile section includes a volatile storage element which can be easily, quickly and repeatedly switched to either binary state. The non-volatile storage section includes a programmable non-volatile electrically alterable storage element and a switching transistor whose conductivity is controlled by the difference between the potential on a word line associated with the cell and one of the operating voltages applied to the volatile section of the cell. The switching transistor when "on" electrically connects the non-volatile section in circuit with the volatile section and when "off" electrically decouples the two sections. When the switching transistor is ON, information can be transferred between the volatile section and the non-volatile section.

Abstract: An artificial reverberation apparatus for audio frequency signals, comprises a first delay device preceded by an adder. A feedback circuit couples the output of the delay device to an input of the adder to give a loop signal gain of less than unity. The adder is preceded by a second delay device with the same delay time as said first-mentioned delay device. The signal to be delayed is applied to the input of said second delay device and also to the adder via a transmission path. The ratio of the signal gain of the transmission path to the signal gain of said second delay device is equal to but of opposite sign to said loop signal gain. Preferably the signal gain of the transmission path is equal to but of opposite sign to the signal gain of said feedback circuit. Furthermore, a plurality of apparatuses can be connected in cascade with the delay devices of the different apparatuses all having different delays.

Abstract: A tone responsive disabling circuit for disabling prior to the transmission of data on a telephone transmission line a device which is connected to the line for improving voice transmission on the line. The disabling circuit operates in response to the transmission on the line of a tone signal whose frequency falls within a predetermined band width and which also has a predetermined amplitude and minimum duration. The disabling circuit processes the signal transmitted on the line to generate two control signals. One of the control signals is a function of the transmission line signal. The other is a function of the energy contained in the transmission line signal which lies in a predetermined frequency band which is not the tone frequency band. When the control signal which is a function of the transmission line signal is greater in amplitude than both a reference signal and the energy related control signal, a phase locked loop is enabled to capture the tone signal and disable the voice improving device.

Abstract: The video and audio information is recorded along at least one track of the tape, which track, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, consists of discontinuous track segments oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tape, with portions of audio information alternating with portions of video information. At least the audio information is recorded in time compressed form.

Abstract: A wall mounting adaptor for a telephone set is arranged for attachment to a wall outlet, releasably latched thereto, and the telephone set releasably attached to the adaptor. The telephone set can be a set normally for use as a desk set and can be attached to and detached from the adaptor at will, leaving the adaptor in place. Provision is made for both a line cord and a power cord, and storage means can be provided for excess line cord.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reading optical discs containing information in the form of tracks of high-spacial-frequency, phase-modulating marks (e.g., depressions or pits) includes means for directing the zero and one first diffraction order of read light returned from the scanned track into superimposed relation on a photodetector and means for predeterminedly masking a portion of the zero diffraction order light so that its magnitude is more equal to that of the first diffraction order light.

Abstract: Equalizer circuitry for a wideband signal recording/playback system, in particular a home video system, comprises a pre-emphasis and a de-emphasis circuit in the recording channel and the playback channel respectively. In an advantageous embodiment, the pre-emphasis and de-emphasis circuits are of the second-order type. In the preferred embodiment of the circuitry, in each of said channels there is provided a circuit for group-delay equalization, preferably an all-pass filter which comprises at least one substantially symmetrical transistor stage provided with a bridge circuit consisting of at least one reactive impedance and ohmic resistance and located between emitter and collector. Practical embodiments of the bridge circuit comprise several series-connected parallel LC sections and one ohmic resistance. Advantageously, conventional filter stages in the channels may be at least partially included in said circuit for group-delay equalization.

Abstract: The position of the tape in a magnetic tape recorder is obtained by counting the pulses derived from the revolutions of a reel or spool. The ratio of the number of revolutions per minute of the reels and the total number of turns is determined by means of a test run; the counting process is linearized by means of these values.

Abstract: In a reading and recording device comprising a read head consisting of a plurality of image information read elements and a record head consisting of a plurality of image information record elements, those read elements and record elements are connected to each other, forming a plurality of element pairs, and to a drive circuit which can be shared by the read head and the record head. Both at the reading and recording of image information, the same drive circuit can be used. The read head and the record head are integrally formed in one wiring board, constituting a reading and recording device which can be employed in a facsimile apparatus or an I/O device for a computer.

Abstract: The invention relates to recordings in the form of disks and to the reading devices making it possible to repetitively read a still with its sound accompaniment.The invention relates to a recording where the video and audio data form interlaced blocks located in equal sectors of the same turn. The repetitive reading device utilizes buffer stores in which are loaded the video and audio data blocks. The reading of the buffer stores takes place at a reduced speed in order to reconstitute uninterrupted sequences of video and audio data.The invention is more particularly applicable to the storage of pictures on disk with their sound accompaniment with a view, for example, of giving programmed audio-visual instruction or teaching.

Abstract: A helical scan video tape recorder suitable for slow and fast motion modes of operation is disclosed. A plurality of video fields are recorded in each video track extending across the video tape such that the burst of noise produced when the magnetic head crosses over the guard band between separate video tracks during the slow or fast mode of operation of the video recorder is encountered in only one of the field regions in the video track. This burst of noise is utilized to control the television monitor circuit so that the video field region which is free of noise is reproduced on the monitor while the video field region which contains the noise is blanked out from the monitor. As the noise progresses from one field region to the succeeding field region in the video track, means is provided for automatically switching to display of the noise-free field region.