Abstract: A technique for reproducing an image in a set of grey scale steps is disclosed including: providing a plurality of superpixels for providing an output representative of an image; providing a set of threshold levels for each pixel in a superpixel, which set is different from each of the sets of threshold levels of the other pixels in that superpixel and different from the set of greyscale steps; identifying the position of a given pixel in a superpixel and designating a particular set of threshold levels corresponding to the position of that given pixel; comparing the output of the given pixel with its particular set of threshold levels; and indicating the greyscale step in the set of greyscale steps in response to the output of the given pixel equal to or in excess of at least one of the threshold levels in the set of threshold levels corresponding to that pixel position.

Abstract: An image pickup device comprises a main image pickup body, and a holding part provided angularly rotatable on one side surface of the main image pickup body. The holding part is mounted to rotate angularly in a plane other than a plane which is parallel to a vertical plane, where this vertical plane includes a center of gravity of the image pickup device and an optical axis or a straight line parallel to the optical axis of the image pickup device. The holding part is separated by a predetermined distance from the one side surface of the main image pickup device at an accommodated position thereof where the holding part extends along the one side surface of the main image pickup body, and a free end of the holding part lies substantially within the above vertical plane at a fully rotated position thereof where the holding part is drawn out in front of the main image pickup body.

Abstract: An active repeater for a star configured communications network includes a threshold detector for collision detection. Whenever two or more terminals simultaneously feed data into the repeater, a threshold sensitive collision detector is triggered to logically isolate the data from the output of the repeater and to logically substitute a predetermined collision signal therefor, thereby causing the competing terminals to reset to retry the transmissions at randomly selected later times.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital system including circuitry for imaging items passing on a conveyor belt through an X-ray fan beam. The circuitry of the present invention enables detection of the items as soon as the X-ray beam is pierced and an image of the items is maintained on a monitor following removal of the items from the X-ray beam. This enables detection of all items entering the X-ray beam, and subsequent inspection of the items.

Abstract: Apparatus providing a magnified picture display for a television receiver employs a reduced-size digital memory which stores only the digitized video signal components necessary to generate video signals to produce the magnified picture display. A simplified user-controlled picture positioning arrangement generates write and read addressing signals for the digital memory representative of both the picture area of the magnified picture display and of the normal picture display therein which is to be magnified. Writing of the digitized video signal components of the normal picture display into the digital memory is accomplished in "real time" whereas reading of the stored data from the memory and signal processing to develop interpolated digitized video signal components of the magnified picture is accomplished at a reduced processing rate on a line-by-line basis in between memory write cycles.

Abstract: The television set which includes a separate modular video screen and a separate receiver both of a generally flat configuration with the video screen pluggable (connectable) at a plurality of outlets in the receiver wherein it is generally perpendicular to the receiver or in tandem therewith.

Abstract: The illusion of three-dimensional images is achieved by having a first video camera oriented to view the subject from one point of origin, a second video camera oriented to view the subject from another point of origin, a switching device for alternately coupling first and second series of composite picture frames to a display device including a viewing surface for converting the signals at the output terminal into a visual display on the viewing surface. A composite picture frame includes a first field corresponding to the output of the first video camera and a second field corresponding to the output of the second video camera. A special effects generator can be included to mix the output of the switching device with either the output of the first camera or the second camera to generate a image having a substantial and continuously present component of the images produced thereby.

Abstract: A scheme for digitizing a stationary video image is disclosed. The amplitude of a video signal, representing said video image, is sampled at a plurality of points along the time axis and is compared with the count in a counter. If the amplitude equals the count at a particular point on the time axis, the count is stored in a memory in a location corresponding to said particular point. The process is repeated until a count in the counter is stored in said memory in locations corresponding to all of said plurality of points along the time axis of said video signal. If two or more counters are used, each counting from a different initial value, and if two or more corresponding comparators are used to make the above comparison, the time required to digitize said stationary video image may be reduced. Consequently, the time required for the video image to remain stationary is reduced.

Abstract: A character segmenting apparatus has an optical scanner for scanning the surface of an article of mail. The scan is in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement between the optical scanner and the mail article. The scan generates a pattern signal which is then recurrsively compressed and updated in the width of a black picture element contained in the pattern signal. A character segmenting signal is produced when no black picture element exists in a portion of the pattern signal, delivered from the optical scanner, which corresponds to the black picture element contained in the compressed pattern signal. Size and position information of a whole segmented character is developed in response to the character segmenting signal.

Abstract: The television set which includes a separate modular video screen and a separate receiver both of a generally flat configuration with the video screen pluggable (connectable) at a plurality of outlets in the receiver wherein it is generally perpendicular to the receiver or in tandem therewith. The video screen being capable of fitting into different positions with respect to the receiver due to the connection therebetween.

Abstract: A dot-matrix printer is adapted to include an optical scanner for opto-electrically sensing the optical intensity levels of an image-bearing medium in order to provide a digitized representation of the image. The sensor can be mounted on a housing in the printer for continuous linear movement across the image while the sensor is scanning. Sampling means responsive to the printer strobe command signal is provided for sampling the output of the sensor at predetermined intervals. This output is loaded line by line into a memory buffer. Means for processing the sampled output of the sensor into a form compatible with a dot-matrix printer is also provided. A method of generating a digitized representation of an image using a dot-matrix printer adapted to include an optical scanner for opto-electrically scanning the optical intensity levels of an image-bearing medium is also provided. The representation can have either bilevel or gray-scale quality.

Abstract: A system for measuring the black matrix on the faceplate of a color television picture tube provides measurements of the matrix line widths, the transparent space widths and the periods of the color barwidths formed by the lines and spaces.

Abstract: The raster scanned by a television receiver deflection circuit is subject to an increase in size resulting from a decrease in high voltage level caused by increasing electron beam current. The receiver comprises a switched mode power supply producing a voltage supply that is used to power the deflection circuit and generate the high voltage. The voltage supply level incorporates an ac ripple component caused by loading on the supply due to increasing beam current. A peak detector senses the peak level of the voltage supply and applies it to a regulator control circuit which maintains the peak level of the supply voltage constant. Increasing beam current loads the supply, decreasing the average dc voltage level applied to the deflection circuit, thereby decreasing the electron beam scan to compensate for a reduction in high voltage level.

Abstract: An arrangement for a television receiver is disclosed which facilitates the coupling of synchronization signals to an on-screen display integrated circuit of the receiver. The receiver includes sources of periodic vertical and horizontal rate pulses. A composite timing signal generator combines the vertical and horizontal rate pulses so as to form a composite timing signal in which the horizontal rate pulses are absent during the duration of each vertical rate pulse. The composite timing signal is coupled via a single conductor path to an input terminal of the on-screen display circuit. The composite timing signal can be readily decoded by a simple digital counter to provide separate horizontal and vertical rate pulses for the on-screen display circuit.

Abstract: An image formation system has a plurality of devices which output image data such as an original reader or a general purpose computer, a semiconductor laser to record an image on a photosensitive drum, a sorter with bins to store the recording medium from the laser, an image memory control, and a sensor for sensing and storing the recording medium in a bin of the sorter corresponding to the original reader or the general purpose computer. The system is capable of sorting the output recording media in accordance with the original reader or the general purpose computer. The output recording media need not be resorted manually.

Abstract: A facsimile communication system for carrying out communication between a transmitter and a receiver, whether it is inside or outside of a particular group, is provided. The receiver comprises a facsimile reception system, a first memory for storing information as to terminal numbers and designated communication time of prearranged transmitter terminals, a second memory for storing information as to terminal numbers and temporarily designated communication time of transmitter terminals which are not prearranged, a reception allowable terminal memory to which the terminal number is supplied when the corresponding designated time is reached and a comparator for comparing the terminal number transmitted from the transmitter and the terminal number in the allowable terminal memory, the comparator supplying a reception allowable signal when the two terminal numbers are matched, while, a reception rejection signal when the two terminal numbers are mismatched.

Abstract: An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing the image data photographed and recorded on a recording medium by use of an electronic camera, comprising a processing mechanism for processing the image data based on image reproduction signal processing data recorded on the same recording medium on which the image data is recorded by use of the same electronic camera. The image reproduction signal processing data include compensation data for compensating for color temperature, address of defective picture element or the like, instruction data for instructing whether to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium or not, or the like.

Abstract: A postal code distinguishing apparatus extracts characters from an address code appearing on a mail article, forms words from the extracted characters, stores in a memory a set of key words (i.e., "ATTN", "TEL", "P.O. BOS", etc.) which indicate that a numeric code on the same line is not a postal code, compares the key words with the extracted words, and sorts the mail articles accordingly. In this manner, the various lines of the address code are "eliminated" such that the numeric code on the remaining line is automatically read out as the postal code.

Abstract: A thermal target display system and method is disclosed by which thermal radiation patterns simulating the thermal "signature" of selected "real-scene" objects such as vehicles, buidings, and personnel, can be readily generated. The system utilizes a plurality of individually controlled, active heat-radiating thermal elements disposed in an array to form a thermal screen or target. The thermal screen is interfaced with a video system and is energized in response to a video image representing the real-scene object in the infrared spectrum. In the preferred embodiment, the gray scale representations of the individual video image pixels are converted into signals which define desired temperature differentials of each of the individual radiating elements of the thermal screen or target, these signals controlling the energization of the thermal elements so that the thermal screen generates a radiation pattern which corresponds to a particular video frame.

Abstract: A scanning control apparatus includes motor driving circuits and a control circuit. The motor driving circuit drives a motor in a backward direction for a predetermined time counted by a counter. Then, the motor driving circuit drives the motor in a forward direction until the forward velocity of the motor becomes constant before enabling the output from a line scanner.