Abstract: Described herein is a main board serial AT attachment (SATA) connector and SATA adapter that permits the assembly or disassembly of a STB (set-top box) and HDD (hard disk drive) dock without requiring that the unit be opened by a skilled technician. The SATA connector and SATA adapter may be keyed to prevent tampering or unauthorized connection of an external hard drive. Alignment and guide features may be included for easy assembly of the STB and HDD dock. The connector and adapter may be designed in such a way as to allow for simple modifications to correspond with various STB and HDD dock designs by adjusting the mating height of the connector and adapter.

Abstract: Described herein is a main board serial AT attachment (SATA) connector and SATA adapter that permits the assembly or disassembly of a STB (set-top box) and HDD (hard disk drive) dock without requiring that the unit be opened by a skilled technician. The SATA connector and SATA adapter may be keyed to prevent tampering or unauthorized connection of an external hard drive. Alignment and guide features may be included for easy assembly of the STB and HDD dock. The connector and adapter may be designed in such a way as to allow for simple modifications to correspond with various STB and HDD dock designs by adjusting the mating height of the connector and adapter.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a sufficiently accurate clock signal for reconstruction of an image from a video signal can function with or without receiving an incoming video signal containing clock data. In this way, a clock signal for supporting an on-screen display can be created in the absence of an incoming video signal. Control data used to control a voltage controlled oscillator generating a clock signal is recorded when the control logic of the oscillator is locked to the timing data in an incoming video signal. In the absence of an incoming video signal, the recorded control data is retrieved and resubmitted to the control logic so that the oscillator can be made to output an appropriate clock signal even in the absence of an input video signal.

Abstract: A circuit connected between an audio signal receiver and an audio output unit can prevent an audio pop from being emitted by a speaker associated with the audio output unit. The circuit interrupts the output of the signal receiver when the DC voltage level of the system suddenly changes, e.g. when a different audio signal is selected or when the receiver is powered on or off. The output of the receiver is shunted through a resistor to ground until a blocking capacitor between the receiver and audio output unit can charge to the new DC voltage level.