Abstract: The invention relates to social activities typically based on physical manipulation of objects to achieve an objective common to the participants or to allow participants to engage in distinct activities on a shared field of play, part of which is physical and part of which is virtual and rendered on one or more displays. The invention provides a system and method to enable multiple participants (users) to engage in the activity sequentially or simultaneously, based on the context and objectives of the game. The activity includes one or many shared physical environments modeled on a computing system and displayed, in high fidelity, by one or more projectors or screens.

Abstract: A sport exercise device; for use with a sport stick, the sport stick having a head and a shaft. The device comprises a face, edge and attachment means. In one approach, the edge is adapted and arranged to surround the stick's head. The attachment means allows attachment of the device's face to hold an independently provided weight with respect to the head. The attachment means may allow attachment of the device's face to close the stick's net sufficient to prevent out-passage of a ball within the net.

Abstract: A card shuffler and dealing module shuffles eight decks of cards (or less) and delivers Baccarat hands (or other games) to a dealer. Cards are randomly selected from two pre-shuffle bins and delivered to a connected or integral dealing module. The card shuffler initially selects and delivers four cards (the minimum number needed for a hand of Baccarat) to a dealing area of the dealing module. Two additional cards (the maximum number of additional cards needed for a hand of Baccarat) are then selected and delivered to the dealing module rear of the four initial cards. Accordingly, up to six cards are available to be dealt during the Baccarat hand. The smart card shuffler tracks the rank of the cards and discerns the future outcome of the Baccarat game and adjusts the cards made available to the dealer via an automatic dealing module cover and card transport mechanism.

Abstract: A game lighting and scorekeeping assembly for use when playing toss games is provided. The assembly includes an upright support structure adapted to support a scorekeeping device (preferably illuminated), an illumination system for providing light onto one or more gameboards, a cup holding assembly, an audio speaker system, a bottle opener assembly, and other elements. Both the scorekeeping device and the illumination system each emit amplified light with the illumination system emitting focused light at higher lumens, and as such, the game lighting and scorekeeping assembly is designed to minimize the interference between the light emitted by the scorekeeping device and the light emitted by the illumination system. In this regard, the scorekeeping device is positioned at a higher elevation on the game lighting and scorekeeping assembly above the illumination system.

Abstract: A delay tracker for a signal processing system, which delay tracker utilizes a special code or pulse on the active portion of the tracked signal with the system including a pulse detector later in the system subsequently recognizing the special code or pulse in order to identify such signal and ascertain any delays associated with the signal for use by the system including possible resynchronization of the tracked signal with another signal associated therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a communication signal modulated with a composite video signal without the need for a synchronizing device. Samples are taken of an intermediate signal derived from the received communication signal that represents the power spectrum of the communication signal at different instants of time. From a priori knowledge of the spectral characteristics of the communication signal modulated with a composite video signal, predetermined features of the communication signal are identified based on the relative values of the samples collected over a period of time equal to an entire frame of the composite video signal. The sample with the maximum value of a plurality of sample values collected for one frame is coincident with the occurrence of a vertical synchronization pulse of the composite video signal, which occurs when no modulation is present, and therefore is representative of the power of the communication signal at the visual carrier frequency.

Abstract: A closed-caption broadcasting and receiving method and apparatus. According to the closed-caption broadcasting method and apparatus, character information and control information are inputted, and a control code of 2 words and a character code of 2 words including a syllable character completion type code are produced. The control code is obtained by combining the control information with a mode control bit and a parity bit, and the character code is obtained by combining the character information with a mode control bit and a parity bit. A digital-modulated caption signal is produced by inputting the control code and the character code, and is coded on a scanning line which does not affect a television video signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit in which nearly 100% of a largest possible dynamic range can be used, desired contrast is obtained, and desired brightness characteristics are obtained by an increasing in luminance of a screen. The circuit has an RGB amplifier which amplifies three primary color video signals R, G, and B by a predetermined gain and in which the gain is controlled by a gain control signal, A/D converters for converting analog three primary color video signals which are generated from the RGB amplifier into digital signals respectively, inverse gamma correcting circuits for effecting an inverse gamma correction to the three primary color digital video signals respectively, an OR circuit and a peak holding circuit for detecting peak levels of the analog three primary color signals, and a gain control signal generator for generating a gain control signal in accordance with the peak levels.

Abstract: A joint spatial-temporal alignment of video sequences uses a subsampled version of a reference video sequence for correlation with a corresponding subsampled version of a test video sequence in an iterative manner. The subsampled reference video sequence is obtained by detecting a temporal transition field in the reference video sequence, and then selecting a pair of fields from the reference video sequence that straddle the transition field separated by a given number of fields (time interval). Then starting from a current field of the test video sequence a pair of fields is selected separated by the same number of fields and correlated with the subsampled reference video sequence. If the correlation criteria are not satisfied, the current field in the test video sequence is incremented by one and the correlation process repeated until spatial-temporal alignment is achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for system and method for testing and aligning a CRT which can sequentially perform all of the tests needed to precisely align the CRT and provide real-time feedback for operator adjustments. The system can integrate each of the measurements and automatically verify measurements previously performed as required. An improved color CCD camera is also provided which can maintain focus irrespective of variations in the thickness and glass curvature of the CRT screen. Further, photodiode optical filter and lens assemblies and wobulator assemblies can be incorporated into the system to further improve the testing and aligning of the CRTs.

Abstract: In a system according to the invention, fine image data 2 created and output by a personal computer 1 is input to an image processing/dividing section 4. The image processing/dividing section 4 determines, on the basis of parameters stored in a projector arrangement storage 5, which portion of the fine image data 2 is output to which projector, thereby performing a predetermined processing. Digital signals from the image processing/dividing section 4 are input to a plurality of D/A converters 6, respectively, where the signals are converted to analog signals. Images in the form of the analog signals are projected onto a screen 8 from projectors 7a-7d. Thus, the image projected on the screen 8 is constituted of accurately positioned images, and hence is a very fine image.

Abstract: An contour correcting circuit for correcting the contour without deterioration of image quality of the video signal, comprising a first HPF for extracting the high frequency signal component of the video signal supplied from an input terminal Tin, a second HPF for differentiating the output of the first HPF additionally, and a correlator for synthesizing the output signals of the output and the inverted output of said first HPF, and the output of the second HPF to form a signal having a predetermined signal waveform, wherein the correlator forms a signal waveform of the preshoot portion and overshoot portion with the first order differential output which is relatively static at the inflection point of the video signal, synthesizes a second order differential waveform so as to be a sharp signal waveform at the middle portion, and performs sharpness processing of the video signal by use of the contour correction signal.

Abstract: A video intermediate-frequency signal processing device capable of receiving FM broadcasts, includes a first FM detecting unit for demodulating an intermediate-frequency signal from a sound intermediate-frequency detecting unit using a phase-locked loop, and for furnishing a demodulated FM signal, a second FM detecting unit for detecting or demodulating a reference signal applied to generate a reference DC voltage, a comparator for obtaining a difference between the modulated FM signal from the first FM detecting unit and the reference DC voltage from the second FM detecting unit, and for furnishing, as a sound signal, a signal having a value corresponding to the difference, and a feedback unit for, when receiving FM broadcasts, filtering the output of the comparator, and feeding the filtered output back to a low-pass filter of a phase-locked loop included in a video detecting unit.

Abstract: A soft scrolling method and apparatus of closed-caption words whereby caption information which is encoded in a horizontal line of each field of a television broadcasting signal which does not affect the broadcasting signal is displayed on a display screen of a receiver, as being scrolled line by line by selection of a viewer. According to the method, whether or not the present mode is a soft scroll mode is discriminated, and if so, character data is read out from a display memory, in which decoded caption information is stored, for a line or several lines at predetermined intervals into which a one-row scrolling time is equally divided. The readout character data is converted into a video signal to be displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic electronic replacement of a billboard in a video image including an automatic camera orientation measurement apparatus including motion measurement means operative to measure the Field of View (FOV) of the TV camera relative to a known reference position.

Abstract: A communication system easy to be operated upon as to the display method of images generated by image generating units of a plurality of communication terminals and as to the control of each image generating unit.

Abstract: Recent circuit concepts inject measurement lines, for cutoff and drive control of the cathode current, into each color channel during the vertical frame blanking period. Owing to the physically dependent exponential beam current characteristic profile as a function of the cathode control voltage VK, the exponent &ggr; of the characteristic profile and the ratio of two cathode components IK1 and IK2 may be used to form control reference values for cutoff and drive control, this process being started in each case from a fixed value of the exponent &ggr; or of the ratio of the two cathode currents IK1 and Ik2. However, it has been found that, if a fixed value is assumed for the exponent &ggr; or for the ratio of the two cathode currents IK1 and IK2, it is not possible to achieve an optimum result for displaying monochrome pictures. Thus, according to the invention, the exponent &ggr; is defined as a function of the color tube 1. The aim in this case is to reduce a &ggr;-dependent DC voltage offset u0f to zero.

Abstract: A circuit for moiré suppression detects the Nyquist frequency in an input video signal. Based on detected alternating structures indicative of the Nyquist frequency, the circuit fades between outputting the input video signal and a low-pass filtered version of the input video signal. When the output signal is applied to a video display, moiré is suppressed.

Abstract: In an image signal input apparatus that performs high-speed input processing of an image signal and, in particular, a brightness signal, a video signal is processed by a clamping circuit so as to achieve a constant reference level, and then input to an A/D converter. The A/D converter samples the video signal synchronously with a clock signal of a frequency 4fsc. The output of the A/D converter is input to a selector directly or via a 4-data arithmetic mean circuit. The 4-data arithmetic mean circuit obtains an arithmetic mean of every four consecutive data output from the A/D converter. The obtained 4-data arithmetic mean data correspond to the brightness signal. After the 4-data arithmetic mean data is stored in a memory through a DMA controller, the data is output to a personal computer via a Centronics® interface, thereby reducing the amount of data memory necessary for input processing to a quarter of the normal amount.

Abstract: An ATV receiver is provided with a 16-state trellis decoder to achieve improved performance in the presence of NTSC co-channel interference. In one embodiment, the ATV receiver comprises a tuner, a comb filter, and a trellis decoder. The tuner is configured to downmix a selected channel frequency signal to an intermediate frequency signal, where the comb filter is configurable to screen out most of the NTSC co-channel interference. The intermediate frequency receive signal is modified by the comb filter to resemble a partial response signal. The trellis decoder the demodulates the partial response signal in an improved fashion taking into account the state of the trellis encoder and the partial response channel. The trellis decoder may have a 16 state trellis comprised of four 4-state butterflies wherein each edge in the trellis is a single transition.