Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communication between a remote control and a receiving unit provide power saving modes of operation and enable remote control use of high data generating devices, such as a trackball. A pulse position modulation protocol is provided in which the position of a single pulse, such as an infrared pulse is located in time in one of three or more locations. In the preferred embodiment, the pulse is provided at least in one of eight states, and more preferably in one of sixteen states. In the latter arrangement, a single bit provides for a hex data output by a single pulse. In this way, a single pulse may substitute for what otherwise would have been multiple pulses in a binary protocol. Power savings may be achieved through this method. A time base compensation method is provided in which the remote control provides two detectable events separated by a predetermined time as measured by the remote control time base or clock.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communication between a remote control and a receiving unit provide power saving modes of operation and enable remote control use of high data generating devices, such as a trackball. A pulse position modulation protocol is provided in which the position of a single pulse, such as an infrared pulse is located in time in one of three or more locations. In the preferred embodiment, the pulse is provided at least in one of eight states, and more preferably in one of sixteen states. In the latter arrangement, a single bit provides for a hex data output by a single pulse. In this way, a single pulse may substitute for what otherwise would have been multiple pulses in a binary protocol. Power savings may be achieved through this method. A time base compensation method is provided in which the remote control provides two detectable events separated by a predetermined time as measured by the remote control time base or clock.

Abstract: Systems and method for monitoring and generating key pad status messages in a telecommunications network. A resistor ladder network is provided to generate distinct DC-level analog voltage signals in response to the pressing of any one of a plurality to keys of a key pad. A combiner circuit is employed to combine the DC-level analog voltage signals with an analog voice signal received from an audio transducer to form a composite analog signal, and a coder/decoder circuit is provided to convert the composite analog signal into a composite digital signal. A digital signal processing circuit executes a subtractive sample delta filtering algorithm to determine whether data indicative of a key press is included within the composite digital signal, and generates status messages indicative of a key press upon determining that a key has been pressed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communication between a remote control and a receiving unit provide power saving modes of operation and enable remote control use of high data generating devices, such as a trackball. A pulse position modulation protocol is provided in which the position of a single pulse, such as an infrared pulse is located in time in one of three or more locations. In the preferred embodiment, the pulse is provided at least in one of eight states, and more preferably in one of sixteen states. In the latter arrangement, a single bit provides for a hex data output by a single pulse. In this way, a single pulse may substitute for what otherwise would have been multiple pulses in a binary protocol. Power savings may be achieved through this method. A time base compensation method is provided in which the remote control provides two detectable events separated by a predetermined time as measured by the remote control time base or clock.

Abstract: An on-screen display generator for use in an image display system is disclosed. The on-screen display generator includes a main image signal source, and an auxiliary image signal source which includes a controller for varying the perceived brightness of the image represented by the auxiliary image signal in response to a first control signal. A video signal processor, coupled to the main image signal source and the auxiliary image signal source, includes circuitry for combining the main and auxiliary image signals to produce a combined image signal. The video signal processor further includes a controller for varying the perceived brightness of the image represented by the combined image signal in response to a second control signal. A control signal generator generates the first and the second control signals in such a manner that the perceived brightness of the auxiliary image signal remains substantially constant when the perceived brightness of the main image is varied.