Patents by Inventor Brian C. Johnson

Brian C. Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5034907
    Abstract: A programmable digital signal processor usable in a variety of configurations and controlled by stored coefficients and control words which are addressable to be provided to a plurality of processing sections as often as once per clock cycle. The processor arrangement is suitable for use as a decoder of multiple analog component (MAC) television signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. Johnson, Carlo Basile, Amihai Miron, Neil H. E. Weste, Christopher J. Terman, Judson Leonard
  • Patent number: 4542407
    Abstract: A method for scrambling and descrambling television programs in which the horizontal synchronizing information is suppressed at a CATV supplier's head-end and then regenerated at the subscriber's converter. The pulse frequency is multiplied by a factor N/M, in which N and M are integers thereby generating a synthesized pulse stream which is, in turn, encoded with data identifying the values for N and M. This encoded pulse stream is modulated onto the audio subcarrier wave in the TV video signal and transmitted to the converter. The converter then demodulates and recovers the encoded pulse stream, decodes the same to recover the identifying data, using this data to obtain the correct values for N and M which have been transmitted separately on a digital data channel. The converter then multiplies the synthesized pulse stream by M/N regenerating the horizontal synchronizing pulse stream and inserts the same into the TV video signal at the proper phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Cooper, Brian C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4493032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing very precise incremental motion of a numerically controlled machine tool, or other similarly controlled object, along a circularly arced path. For a mutually perpendicular X and Y coordinate system, X and Y indices are determined based on certain prescribed input information related to the parameters of the circular path and the relative rate of motion between the machine tool and the workpiece, and on immediate, continuously recomputed, coordinates of the tool or object. The indices are each scaled by a modulus related to the radius of the arc to generate incremental distances .DELTA.X and .DELTA.Y according to which the next move is to be made. The process is reiterated until the desired circular path is complete. In both method and apparatus, only integer values of .DELTA.X and .DELTA.Y are used for implementing each increment of motion. Non-integer values are carried forward to the next iteration of the process to prevent error accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4465970
    Abstract: A programmable time-of-use metering system is disclosed for metering electrical energy consumption at multiple rates depending on the time of day, time of week and time of year in which the energy is being consumed. A method for registering total energy consumed by a metered system as well as energy consumed during preselected time intervals is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald V. DiMassimo, John B. May, Brian C. Johnson, Jeffrey L. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4393501
    Abstract: In a communication system, a line protocol format with a variable bit rate and low bit overhead provides for the high integrity, synchronous exchange of digital signal information between master and slave processing units, with master processing unit controlling the line protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Kellogg, John B. May, Brian C. Johnson