Abstract: Disclosed is an amplifying connector. The amplifying connector comprises (a) a connector body; (b) an op amp forming an amplifier mounted to the connector body; (c) a power supply circuit mounted to the connector body and coupled to the amplifier; (d) a connector output on the connector body coupled to an amplifier output of the amplifier; and (e) a connector input on the connector body coupled to an amplifier input of the amplifier. An input electrical signal on the connector input is buffered by the amplifier to generate an output electrical signal on the connector output to reduce effects caused by an impedance of the cable. The amplifier may be powered by a power supply circuit powers that draws a portion of the current or voltage from the input signal of a source electronic device, or by an on-board dedicated low power battery power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing thermal switches is disclosed including modulating the temperature of a receiver in thermal contact with a thermal switch at a first rate within a range containing the nominal switch temperature of the thermal switch. A first temperature at which the switch changes state is recorded. The temperature is then modulated at a second rate and a second temperature at which the switch again changes state is recorded. The temperature may be modulated at a third rate slower than the second rate to determine a third temperature. The first, second, and third switch temperatures are then processed and output to an operator. The first, second, and third rates may be determined according to an exponentially decreasing function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing thermal switches is disclosed including modulating the temperature of a receiver in thermal contact with a thermal switch at a first rate within a range containing the nominal switch temperature of the thermal switch. A first temperature at which the switch changes state is recorded. The temperature is then modulated at a second rate and a second temperature at which the switch again changes state is recorded. The temperature may be modulated at a third rate slower than the second rate to determine a third temperature. The first, second, and third switch temperatures are then processed and output to an operator. The first, second, and third rates may be determined according to an exponentially decreasing function.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: A stylus that operates utilizing magnetic fields, wherein a permanent magnet is disposed within a passive stylus that is detectable by a plurality of magnetic sensors that remove the magnetic field of the stylus from the earth's relative magnetic field to thereby obtain vectors that are used in a triangulation equation to determine the location of the stylus in two or three dimensions, depending upon the number of magnetic sensors that are used, wherein one set of magnetic sensors can be used as a reference for earth's magnetic field, and wherein each of the magnetic sensors includes a polarizing coil to change direction of sensitivity, a null coil and a flipping coil.

Abstract: Individual pixels in a display formed of a plurality of pixels are controlled using a plurality of mixers, with each mixer having first and second inputs and an output. The mixers are connected to correspond to a matrix of rows and columns. The first inputs of all mixers corresponding to a particular, individual row in the matrix are connected to a common row lead, there being an equal number of row leads to the number of rows in the matrix. The second inputs of all mixers corresponding to a particular, individual column in the matrix are connected to a common column lead, there being an equal number of column leads to the number of columns in the matrix. A distinctive alternating signal is fed to each of the row leads, wherein the signal fed to one row lead differs from any signal fed to any other row lead by a predetermined, set frequency.

Abstract: An off premises CATV system is disclosed. A headend transmits programming including pay-per-view programming and a cable distribution system distributes the programming. An off premises unit is coupled to the cable distribution system for supplying the programming to at least one subscriber. A subscriber terminal is coupled to the off premises unit over a communication link. The subscriber terminal including an input device for inputting subscriber-supplied signals indicative of a pay-per-view event to generate a message. A transmitter responsive to the subscriber-supplied signals transmits the message to the off premises unit over the communication link. The message is transmitted at a plurality of random times within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for providing a cable TV system with the ability to issue information from a system manager, determine whether the information is intended for a set top designed to receive out-of-band information or in-band information, send the information to the appropriate circuitry. Reformatting of some information is necessary and is performed by a format translator. For in-band information, information may be sent over one or more of a plurality of data streams. Certain types of information are sent over one or more data streams based on the type of information and characteristics of the data streams. It is further disclosed that for efficiency, similar information intended for several addresses is grouped together in a database manager so that the information may be sent to plural addresses at one time. Scramblers are employed with the capability of inserting data onto nonscrambled channels.

Abstract: Equipment for use in CATV lines and a system for distribution of CATV signals and for power to operate CATV line equipment having active devices which require power is described. The system distributes CATV signals to subscribers who have ordered different levels of service (basic service without premium channels or different groups of premium channels). Housings are located in proximity to the premises of both actual subscribers and potential subscribers, and have like covers which contain tapping electronics (a directional coupler, line equalizers and power bypassing circuit). The cover has ports at opposite ends and an additional port at one end. The tapping electronics is located on a seizure board having seizure blocks spaced from each other along one edge of the board. The seizure board is rotatable ninety degrees (90.degree.