Abstract: A system for sensing the amplitude and phase of an RF current flowing in an antenna element of a directional antenna system that uses a sampling device such as a current sample loop that is connected to an antenna monitor with fiber optic cable. The system uses an interface at the current sample loop on each of the antenna elements to convert an RF current sample to an optical signal. The fiber optic cable transmits the optical signal to the antenna monitor where it is converted back to an electrical signal for appropriate phase and amplitude comparison with the RF currents sampled from other antenna elements in the directional antenna system.

Abstract: A system for sensing the amplitude and phase of an RF current flowing in an antenna element of a directional antenna system that uses a sampling device such as a current sample loop that is connected to an antenna monitor with fiber optic cable. The system uses an interface at the current sample loop on each of the antenna elements to convert an RF current sample to an optical signal. The fiber optic cable transmits the optical signal to the antenna monitor where it is converted back to an electrical signal for appropriate phase and amplitude comparison with the RF currents sampled from other antenna elements in the directional antenna system.

Abstract: Cloud cover information over a selected portion of the earth, such as that obtained from a satellite (10) is converted into digital form and stored in a picture memory RAM (40). The memory can be interrogated and displayed on a television monitor (100) or transmitted by a television station (110). Geographical information, such as the location of water bodies and land masses, stored in a map memory ROM (50), and this memory is interrogated at the same time as the picture memory to generate a color subcarrier which is added to the video from the picture memory. The hue of the combined picture is varied according to the intensity of the video signal from the picture memory by means of a combinational logic circuit (60).

Abstract: A radial sweep generator circuit generates a series of radial sweep lines in succession to simulate a rotating sweep line which extends from the center of a video display to the periphery of the display. The display consists of a rectangular matrix of display positions arranged in lines and columns which are scanned in a raster scanning format. A vector number generator generates a vector number signal corresponding to one of the radial sweep lines which is to be displayed. A vector origin counter determines the display position on the periphery of the matrix from which the sweep line is to originate. A vector line generator is responsive to the vector number generator and to the vector origin counter for providing video display pulses.

Abstract: Facsimile weather radar information (800 lines/frame) is stored, every third line, in a solid state RAM 35, capacity 256 three bit words per line, 256 lines. Subdivision of digital information from A/D converter 30 into digital words is accomplished using division by seven of television horizontal sync. The RAM is read at TV line rate (15.75 KHz) and lines of digital information clocked out of RAM at 1.59 MHz under control of a 14.3 MHz master oscillator which can be locked to external TV sync. Digital RAM output is processed into an analog signal, then through colorizer and blanking circuits (42 and 45) which insert synchronizing and color burst information, producing a broadcast compatible composite television output, presentable on color TV receivers with blue background and clouds, precipitation, etc., varying intensities of yellow.

Abstract: A character generator system suitable for creating a character display on the screen of a standard TV receiver is disclosed. The character generator system includes a sync generator which generates timing and synchronizing signals that create a 263 line, non-interlaced, roster. The character generator system also includes a character generator adapted to receive binary signals that define the character display. The character generator is timed and synchronized by the sync generator so as to create a charater video signal suitable for creating the character display as the screen of the TV receiver is scanned. Color is added to the character video signal by a chroma generator in a manner such that the background is in one color and characters are in another color. The 263 line raster (non-interlaced) results in a color display without color fringing.