Sony Electronics Inc

Sony Corporation

Sensormatic Electronics Corporation

Sony Corporation of America

Michael A Zampini

Alan Flum

Donald E Davis

Joseph J Dombrowski, Jr

Sean Stevens

David C Schmidt

Thomas James Frederick

William R Accolla

Steven W Embling

Fadi E Ayoub

Fujio Yasuda

William Jeffreys

Joseph S Dombrowski

Masahiro Fujita

John W Taylor

Ronald Alterio

Norman A Allum

Steven Embling

Automatic tuning of an EAS antenna pedestal without the use of special tools or advanced training is provided. The capacitance of the antenna circuit is adjusted to tune the resonant frequency to the desired frequency. Measurement of the current level is used to validate that the antenna is resonant at the desired frequency. If the current level indicates that the antenna is not resonant at the specified frequency, LEDs located on a capacitor tuning board light to indicate where jumpers should be placed to add or remove capacitance from the circuit. Alternately, the capacitance values can be electronically added or removed from the circuit.

Intelligent power pack assisted pedestal tuning for electronic article surveillance

An electronic article surveillance system responsive to the distance to a target within an interrogation zone is provided. The interrogation zone is defined by an electromagnetic field generated with a known level and transmitted by at least one antenna. A target within the interrogation zone can be any object, such as a person or shopping cart, within the interrogation zone. The target may include an EAS marker securable to an article for passage through the interrogation zone. The EAS marker is detectable at a frequency when in the electromagnetic field, and is detected by EAS detection equipment, as known in the art. The target within the interrogation zone is detected, and the distance from the antenna to the target is measured. The level of the electromagnetic field is controlled according to the distance to the target within the interrogation zone. The output level is adjusted to according to the distance to the target. The EAS system can include multiple antennas each producing an electromagnetic field that in combination define the interrogation zone. A ranging transducer is mounted near each antenna, or at opposing ends of the interrogation zone to measure the distance to a target within the interrogation zone. The output level of each electromagnetic field transmitted by each antenna can be individually controlled according to the distance from that antenna to the target. Multiple targets can be detected, and the power level of each electromagnetic field is adjusted accordingly. The electromagnetic field can be switched off and on by detection of the target in the interrogation zone. The direction of motion of the target can also be detected and used as a factor in alarm activation decisions.

Electronic article surveillance transmitter control using target range

Disclosed is a recorder/editor apparatus for recording and editing digital audio data. A single digital signal processor (DSP) is used to control processing of digital audio data which corresponds to up to eight simultaneous audio channels. A plurality of buffers and a direct memory access controller (DMA) are provided such that the digital audio data may be recorded and played back from a magneto optical (MO) disk drive via a SCSI.

Single digital signal processor to record digital audio data on a

An EAS system employing a central station having a central processing unit and a local station having a microcontroller and in which the functions necessary for detecting EAS tag signals and generating alarms are shared by the central station and the local station. A switch is further provided at the local station for automatically reconfiguring the receiver antennas based on antenna configuration instructions generated at the central station responsive to certain conditions at the location being monitored.

EAS system employing central and local stations with shared functions

A method and apparatus for recording onto or playing back from a magneto optical disk eight channels of digital audio data. Eight channels of serial audio data, for example in a AES/EBU format is converted to parallel data and provided to one or more buffers via a DMA controller. After buffering, the data may be recorded onto a MO disk via an SCSI.

Recording eight digital audio channels on a single magneto optical disk

Disclosed is an audio follow video mixer apparatus having a circuit which indicates the position of an adjustable depth of fade control member. When the depth of fade control member is adjusted to a position which does not permit full attenuation of an audio signal according to a FADE control signal, a depth of fade LED indicator is illuminated. According to one embodiment, the LED is driven by a Schmidt inverter directly coupled to the FADE control signal line. According to an alternative embodiment, the depth of fade control member is a dual element fader having a first element in the FADE signal path and a second element biased to drive the depth of fade LED indicator according to the position of the depth of fade control member.

Depth of fade indicating LED

Disclosed is an audio follow video mixer incorporating a manual cross fade learn feature. According to the invention, an operator may set the mixer so that a crossfade operation performed manually is stored in memory. The stored crossfade operation can thereafter be recalled and performed in an AUTO mode and an EDITOR mode. Also disclosed are LED indicators to visually indicate the status of the mixer, including which channel is active.

Manual cross fade learn feature for an audio follow video mixer

Disclosed is an improved XLR connector which automatically terminates at least two of the matable connecting terminals of the XLR connector when the XLR connector is not attached to another XLR connector. The XLR connector includes a spring-biased switching member which opens and closes depending on whether the XLR connector is attached to another XLR connector. According to a first embodiment of the invention, an internal resistor is provided in the XLR connector which has a resistance that matches the impedance of the signal lines coupled to the XLR connector. According to a second embodiment, two additional terminals are provided on the XLR connector which are coupled together through the switching member. Thus, the state of the XLR connector may be detected by detecting the potential difference between the two additional terminals.

Self-terminating XLR connector device

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for configuring an audio follow video mixer used to process audio signals input from several multi-channel devices, such as VTRs. Input modules of the audio follow video mixer include a selection button for choosing the number of a VTR coupled to the mixer module and an LED display for visually indicating the VTR number to a user. The input modules also include buttons for selecting the audio channel of the selected VTR, as well as the preview bus for the selected audio channel.

VTR configuration of a modular audio follow video mixer

Disclosed is an audio follow video mixer incorporating a manual crossfade learn feature. According to the invention, an operator may set the mixer so that a custom crossfade operation performed manually is stored in memory. The custom crossfade can then be uploaded to a video editor unit where it may be stored in the edit decision list. Thereafter, the stored custom crossfade may be downloaded from the video editor.

Uploadable/downloadable manual crossfade learn feature

A audio mixer is disclosed in which selection of audio monitor signals is accomplished by an edit select switch and a plurality of monitor select switches on a monitor select portion of the mixer display. When the edit select switch is enabled, selection of audio monitor source signals is controlled by an editor. When the edit select switch is not enabled, audio monitor signals may be selected by the plurality of monitor select switches. Selection of audio monitor signals is achieved regardless of whether or not the mixer is under general crossfade control by an editor.

Edit select switch for monitor source select

An audio follow video mixer is disclosed which has a display that provides a plurality of monitor indicator LEDs corresponding to a selected audio channel. These LEDs visually indicate which channels are currently being monitored, including playback channels and line out channels. This invention permits an operator to determine which channel is being monitored during a preview operation.

Monitor select indicator for an audio follow video mixer

Disclosed is an apparatus for configuring an audio follow video mixer used to process audio signals input from several multi-channel devices, such as VTRs. Configuration of the audio follow video mixer system can be achieved either through several input modules which couple the multi-channel devices to the mixer, or preset configurations can be provided to the input modules and remotely located devices, such as a video editor, through a serial interface module.

Up and down-loadable VTR configuration for an audio follow video mixer

An audio mixer system using a serial editor interface is disclosed. Use of a microprocessor control circuit is disclosed to control various functions a plurality of multiple channel VTRs under the control of a mixer. Serial control signals are supplied from a video editor to a serial interface which includes a microprocessor. These control signals are decoded, and the appropriate controls of the VTRs are implemented. These controls include crossfading as well as PREVIEW/REVIEW monitoring.

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Michael A Zampini