Abstract: A device includes a backup power supply configured to provide power to an external system upon loss of primary system power. The backup power provided by at least one capacitor. While the capacitor is available as a backup power supply to the external system, a transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential is created above an upper predetermined operating potential of the capacitor. Measurements of a capacitor's output voltage are obtained during the transient elevation of the capacitor's stored potential. A capacitance of the capacitor is determined from the measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitates playing an electronic game using a group of game devices. A sequence of musical melody notes are generated forming a melody after all players have previously received on their game devices a recognition sequence of certain musical notes which form a portion of the musical melody notes. Stop signals on one or more of the game devices are then generated. Incrementally quantifying reaction time signals are generated relative to the playing of the last musical note corresponding to the recognition sequence for each game device. A score for each game device may be generated for each round in response to the reaction time signal.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus and method of using are disclosed for controlling an electronic appliance such as a television set, radio, computer, or other. The remote control apparatus may include a hand held housing, a wireless transmitter for sending signals to the appliance, and a manually operated rotary controller for causing operation adjusting signals to be generated and supplied to the transmitter.

Abstract: An impulsive communication activated device for connection to a computer input port for controlling a computer, is disclosed. The disclosed device includes an output connector for communicating with the computer input port, and includes a sensor for detecting an impulsive communication such as a hand clap or other predetermined input, to generate an impulsive signal. The disclosed device includes a comparator for responding to both a reference signal and to the impulsive signal, and to determine if the impulsive signal differs substantially from the reference signal to generate a start signal. The disclosed device includes a logic circuit responsive to the start signal for generating a predetermined computer command signal to control the computer.

Abstract: An animated light source and method are provided. The light source may include a plurality of solid-state emitters and a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of the emitters individually to from a beam of light along an axis. The emitters may be selectively energized to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus and method of using are disclosed for controlling an electronic appliance such as a television set, radio, computer, or other. The remote control apparatus may include a hand held housing, a wireless transmitter for sending signals to the appliance, and a manually operated rotary controller for causing operation adjusting signals to be generated and supplied to the transmitter.

Abstract: An animated light source and method are provided. The light source may include a plurality of solid-state emitters and a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of the emitters individually to from a beam of light along an axis. The emitters may be selectively energized to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first device and a bus interface. The first device may be configured to present one or more control signals in response to one or more input instructions. The bus interface may be configured to (i) receive the one or more control signals and (ii) provide power to the device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of the present invention improve the method and apparatus for producing multi-color changeable patterns of multi-colored lights, by using an intelligent circuit to create the drive signals. According to certain disclosed embodiments of the invention, the appearance of the light patterns are changed automatically or in response to external influences.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising one or more storage elements. The one or more storage elements may be configured to switch an input/output between a first domain and a second domain in response to one or more control signals.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an output circuit and a control circuit. The output circuit may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a frequency in response to a control signal. The control circuit may be configured to generate the control signal in response to (i) a frequency of said input signal when in a first mode and (ii) a stored value when in a second mode.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of the present invention improve the method and apparatus for producing multi-color changeable patterns of multi-colored lights, by using an intelligent circuit to create the drive signals. According to certain disclosed embodiments of the invention, the appearance of the light patterns are changed automatically or in response to external influences.

Abstract: An electrically illuminated attention-attracting device and a method of using it, relate to using a device emitting alternatingly at least two different colored lights. The device is turned on and off alternatingly to emit alternatingly the different colored lights. The device is moved to produce a visually perceptible light pattern comprising a sequence of alternating multicolored light images where the length of each one of the colored light images varies with the speed of movement of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus geometrically makes correction in an optical computer input system.

Abstract: An intelligent display system presentation projection arrangement and method include the conversion of presentation display information into portable document format information for supplying it to an intelligent display system, which subsequently converts the portable document formation information to presentation display information. A controller responds to the converted information for controlling a projection display unit for causing the display presentation images to be projected onto a remotely located viewing surface. The intelligent display system of the arrangement replaces the separate computer with a unit which is either connected to the projection display unit, or incorporated therein. By utilizing the conversion to portable document format information, any computer platform may be employed, and the information is displayed at the highest resolution available to the projection display unit.

Abstract: A novelty device and method of using it, include at least three lamp sockets, and at least three lamps, which are each capable of producing at least three different colored lights, such as red, green and orange light. The lamps are housed in opaque translucent enclosures or housings, to prevent their colors from being known until they are illuminated by a set of at least three corresponding manually operable switches. When the switches are actuated, the lamps each emit a different colored light to provide the appearance that each lamp is of a different color. A control device in the form of a microprocessor secretly enables the user to cause the lamps to emit the desired color even after the lamps are removed from the sockets, mixed, and then re-inserted.

Abstract: A new and improved display control system which includes a logic arrangement for causing auxiliary light information projected from a hand held light generating device upon a projected primary image to be integrated into the primary video image upon command from a user. A display control circuit causes the underlying primary image to be altered to include an accentuating image indicative of the path of travel followed by a spot of auxiliary control light as it is directed by a user via the hand held light generating device. A color control circuit responsive to user input commands enables the accentuating image to be displayed in one of at least eight primary colors. An erase control circuit also responds to user input commands to enable the user entered accentuating images to be deleted selectively individually or in total simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and optical system auxiliary input calibration arrangement accurately and reliably discriminate between a user generated image and a video source generated image, such as one produced by a computer. The calibration arrangement includes amplifier devices for increasing the strength of a video information signal indicative of the video generated image, and a user generated auxiliary input signal indicative of an auxiliary input light image, without increasing spurious ambient light signals. A discrimination circuit generates a detection signal whenever the amplified information signals are greater than a predetermined reference level signal. A microprocessor calculates the appropriate predetermined reference level signal based upon ambient lighting conditions, the strength of that portion of the information signal indicative of the video image, the type of optical system and the distance the optical system is disposed away from a viewing surface.

Abstract: An optical input arrangement and method includes an optical device for sensing a projected image and for detecting the presence of a high intensity optical input signal light by discriminating it from the entire projected image and the ambient light reflecting from a viewing surface. A determination is made as to when the differences in intensity of sequentially measured pixel intensity values of the light reflected from the viewing surface exceeds a positive threshold amount and substantially immediately thereafter decreases more than a negative threshold amount, to facilitate an even more precise discrimination between the input signal image and the overall projected image. An alignment device generates an optical signal for facilitating the alignment of the arrangement to capture the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface.

Abstract: The optical auxiliary input arrangement for an optical system projecting computer generated images includes an image processing unit and communication interface for detecting the speed at which two high intensity auxiliary light images flash onto the projected computer image, to interpret the images as a mouse double click feature. The optical auxiliary input arrangement accurately and reliably discriminates between user generated double click information without the need of the user being so steady of hand as to cause the auxiliary light information beam to illuminate the same precise location on the viewing surface during the double click operation. The image processing unit and communication interface cooperate together to permit both a low speed mouse and the high speed light generating device to communicate with the system.