Abstract: Apparatus for mounting an electric motor, which is adapted to drive an endless belt at a predetermined tension, to a stationary frame, includes a housing that is adapted to receive the motor. A drive shaft extends from the front end of the housing and is adapted to drive the belt. An elongated base mount is integrally formed on the outside surface of the housing and extends from the front of the housing for pivotally coupling the housing to the stationary frame. The base mount has a first end and a second end, and a bore which extends longitudinally at least partially through the base mount from the first end and the second end of the base mount. A substantially rigid tab is fixedly attached to the cylindrical housing at a substantially opposite side from the base mount. The tension on the belt is set by applying a biasing force on the tab to pivot the motor about the axis of the base mount.

Abstract: A flicker reduction system (20) for an imager (24) having random row access includes a memory (22) coupled to the imager and a controller (26) coupled to the memory and the imager. Preferably, the controller is programmed to interleave stripes (12, 14, 16, 18) of opposing polarity on the imager for a current frame, wherein each stripe has a plurality of horizontal lines and further programmed to overwrite the plurality of horizontal lines in each stripe for a subsequent frame with another plurality of horizontal lines having an opposing polarity to the plurality of horizontal lines for the current frame.

Abstract: A method (400) of aspect ratio conversion for an imager (16) having random row access includes the steps of periodically receiving (402) a predetermined number of input video lines, vertical format converting (404) the predetermined number of input video lines to provide a converted video input having a portion of the predetermined number of input video lines, and periodically multiplexing (406) a black input line with the converted video input during a waiting period during the vertical format converting step. The method can also include the step of presenting (408) on the imager the converted video input along with a plurality of black lines that were periodically multiplexed with the converted video input.

Abstract: A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, comprises a transducerwhich transduces the digitally encoded signal. A memory is coupled to the transducer for storing the digitally encoded signal. A decoder is responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture therefrom. A controller for the memory, wherein a first operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory responsive to a first sequence and in a second operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in a second sequence.

Abstract: A method for reducing sparkle artifacts in a liquid crystal imager, comprises the steps of: low pass filtering only a first lower brightness level signal component of a video signal; and, slew rate limiting only a second lower brightness level signal component of the video signal having the low pass filtered signal component, the video signal having the low pass filtered and the slew rate limited signal components being less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Brightness thresholds for defining the lower brightness level signal components and slew rate limits can be selected in accordance with transitions between lower and higher level gain portions of a gamma table associated with the imager, for example an LCOS imager.

Abstract: A video signal is decomposed into a higher brightness level signal and a lower brightness level signal. The threshold between higher and lower brightness levels is adjustable and related to the transition between lower and higher gain portions of the gamma table for an associated liquid crystal imager. The lower brightness level signal is low pass filtered to reduce the difference in brightness between adjacent pixels. The higher brightness level signal is delayed in time to match the processing delay through the low pass filter. The delay matched signal and the low pass filtered signal are combined to form a modified video signal less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Sparkle reduction processing can be applied to luminance signals and to video drive signals in various combinations, based on independently selectable thresholds.

Abstract: A video signal is decomposed into a higher brightness level signal and a lower brightness level signal. The threshold between higher and lower brightness levels is adjustable and related to the transition between lower and higher gain portions of the gamma table for an associated liquid crystal imager. The lower brightness level signal is slew rate limited to reduce the difference in brightness between adjacent pixels. The higher brightness level signal is delayed in time to match the processing delay through the slew rate limiter. The delay matched signal and the slew rate limited signal are combined to form a modified video signal less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Sparkle reduction processing can be applied to luminance signals and to video drive signals in various combinations, based on independently selectable thresholds.

Abstract: A method for multiplying the frame rate of an input video signal having a line rate fHin and a frame rate fVin, comprising the steps of: propagating the input video signal through just enough memory to delay the input video signal by a fraction of a frame period 1/fVin; speeding up the delayed video signal to a first line rate faster than fHin; speeding up the input video signal to a second line rate faster than fHin; supplying the speeded up video signal and the delayed speeded up video signal sequentially, one line at a time; and, writing the sequentially supplied lines into a liquid crystal display at the faster line rate, thereby writing at least some of the lines multiple times within each the frame period. A corresponding apparatus can comprise: a partial frame memory; two speedup memories; a multiplexer; and, a source of clock and control signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing sparkle artifacts (10) in a liquid crystal imager includes a device (16) for gamma correcting a video drive signal for providing a gamma corrected video drive signal and a slew rate limiter (22) for slew rate limiting the gamma corrected video drive signal. The apparatus also includes a deinterlacer (12) and a color space converter (14) for color space converting a deinterlaced video drive signal, wherein the device for gamma correcting corrects the color space converted video drive signal. One or more of the video drive signals, for example R, G and B, is slew rate limited after gamma correction to limit the difference in brightness levels between adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A circuit for automatically biasing a common electrode of a liquid crystal on silicon imager comprising an imager with a common electrode and a plurality of cells. A varying voltage signal is provided to the plurality of cells. A low pass filter is coupled between the varying voltage signal and a common junction coupled to the common electrode such that a bias voltage is formed at the common electrode having a value that approximates an average of the varying voltage signal.

Abstract: A method (300) of converting interlaced Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video signals to progressive video signals can include receiving an interlaced video signal representing a luma component specifying luma lines and a chroma component specifying chroma lines (310) wherein the chroma component can specify approximately one-half the number of lines of the luma component. The interlaced video signal can be decoded and the number of the chroma lines can be increased to approximately the same as the number of the luma lines (320). The number of chroma lines of the interlaced video signal then can be decreased (340), to substantially reverse the previous increase. The interlaced video signal then can be deinterlaced to produce a progressive video signal (350), which can be processed further (360) as needed.

Abstract: A method (30) of reducing contouring in a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display can include receiving a frame-doubled input signal (32) comprising a positive picture and a negative picture. A first dither (36) specified by a gamma table can be applied to the input signal. The first dither can selectively modify a primary-color gamma value of the negative picture or the positive picture. Also, a second dither (34) can be applied to the input signal at an input of the gamma table. The first and second dither can result in an output signal having reduced brightness level repetition for consecutive input levels.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the display of an up-converted interlaced video frame signal from a received progressive video frame signal (11) comprises the steps of receiving a progressive video frame signal, decoding (12) the progressive video frame signal using an interpolation function (18) to provide an interpolated interlaced video signal, deinterlacing (14) the interpolated interlaced video signal, and deinterpolating (16) the deinterlaced interpolated interlaced video signal to provide an optimized progressive video frame signal (17).

Abstract: A method of displaying a standard definition television signal (20 and 30 or 40) on a high definition matrix display (10) includes the steps of receiving (22) the standard definition television signal to provide a received signal, sampling (24) the received signal to provide a sampled digital video signal, and deinterlacing (26) the sampled digital video signal to provide a progressive line signal. The method further includes the steps of doubling (34 or 42) the progressive line signal to provide a predetermined number of active lines of video in a frame) and displaying (34 or 46) the predetermined number of active lines of video on the high definition matrix display in a shortened vertical interval.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a medium, comprises a transducer for transducing the digitally encoded signal and generating a bit stream therefrom. A processor is coupled to receive the bit stream for controllably processing the bit stream. A memory is coupled to the processor for storing the processed bit stream information. A controller is coupled to control the memory and the processor for controlling identification of information within the bit stream, wherein the controller controls the processor to identify a specific sector type in the bit stream and responsive to the specific sector identification the controller controls the memory for storing the identified specific sector.

Abstract: A yarn for use in a cement mortar matrix, includes a core and a multitude of staple fibers forming a layer which envelopes the core and provides an extended surface area and interstical spaces for infiltration by cement fines and hydrates. The staple fibers are spun around the core and attached to the core, and have sufficient freedom of radial movement to provide said spaces and permit ingress of cement fines and the formation of hydrates in said spaces.

Abstract: In an digital disk player the timely acquisition of requested replay sectors is particularly important during trick mode operation. Delay in a transduced bitstream path is substantially obviated from the process of controlling a transducer position during replay by a method comprising the steps of receiving a first and a second transducer address for controlling the transducer position responsive to a replayed address. Comparing the replayed address with the first transducer address to detect equality therebetween. In response to the detected equality moving the transducer to a new position determined by the second transducer address.

Abstract: Apparatus for displaying a combined image of an auxiliary image and a main image includes a source of a main image signal and a source of samples representing an auxiliary image signal. A quincunx subsampler is coupled to the auxiliary image sample source and the quincunx subsampler. The sample combiner combines the main image signal and a signal representing the quincunx subsampled samples to generate a signal representing a combined image of the main and auxiliary images.

Abstract: A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.