Thomson Licensing

Rca Inc.

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Rca Licensing Corporation

Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings

Thomson Licensing Dtv

Shenzhen Tcl New Technology Ltd.

Interdigital Madison Patent Holdings

William John Testin

Juri Tults

John Barrett George

Mark Francis Rumreich

Mark Nierzwick

Joseph Wayne Forler

Michael P French

Max Ward Muterspaugh

Aaron Hal Dinwiddie

Mickey J Hunt

Darin Bradley Ritter

Paul D Henry

Brian Albert Wittman

Eric Stephen Carlsgaard

Thomas D Gurley

Ronald Thomas Keen

Daniel Mark Hutchinson

James Wolter Ernst

John Frederick Teskey

William Patrick McCarthy

Gene Harlow Johnson

John E Nicholson

Roger L Richards

John Ryan Schnellenberger

Scott Allen Rottler

Mickey Jay Hunt

Dale Wayne King

David Gene Novak

Dinesh Ambravaneswaran

John Edward Nicholson

Early power failure (EPF) detection circuit applies a rectified, unfiltered periodic waveform, at the frequency of the mains supply voltage to a threshold detector. During each cycle of the periodic waveform, the threshold detector produces a pulse voltage having a leading edge when the periodic waveform begins to exceed a threshold level associated with the threshold detector and a trailing edge when the periodic waveform ceases to exceed the threshold voltage. A microprocessor measures the length of the interval between the leading and trailing edges for indirectly measuring the magnitude (for example, RMS or peak) of the mains supply voltage. When the indirectly measured magnitude decreases below a minimum permissible, second threshold magnitude, a controlled power shutdown of the apparatus is initiated, such as by, for example, programs interrupt routine in the microprocessor.

Early power failure detection circuit

An apparatus and method for providing operational status for multiple communication networks is described. The apparatus includes a first transceiver circuit configured to communicate with first devices using a first communication network medium and including a visual indicator representing the status of communication, a second transceiver circuit configured to communicate with a plurality of second devices using a second communication network medium, and a controller determining the status of communication between the apparatus and the plurality of second devices and providing the status to the visual indicator. The method includes determining if a device is operating in a first communication network, determining if the device is operating in a second communication network, and displaying a visual indication that the device is operating in the first communication network using a visual indicator on the device, the visual indicator being shared by the first communication network and the second communication network.

Apparatus and method for providing operational status for multiple communication networks

An RF interference suppressor for satellite receivers and more specifically those that employ the MOCA standard is provided. The RF interference suppressor shields the connection point of the center conductor of the F-connector to the PC board from spurious signals emanating from the high speed digital portions of the receiver. In addition, the RF interference suppressor shield includes a tab portion that encompasses the threaded portion of the F-connector and operates to shield the path for RF interference resulting from the gap between the F-connector body and the inner shield wall of the receiver.

RF interference suppressor

A method and apparatus configures a power level for a device able to receive audio, video, and data signals. An input signal is received by a receiver capable of receiving broadcast data signals and digital home networking signals. The system determines if the receiver is operating in a first mode having a first power level or a second mode having a second power level based on a type of input signal received by the receiver. A control signal is generated for modifying at least one setting on a first circuit for configuring the first circuit to operate according to the first power level if the input signal is a first type of input signal. The control signal is provided to the first circuit and the first circuit is configured to operate according to the first power level based on the control signal.

System and method for conserving energy in a digital home networking device

There is provided a system and method for powering down particular circuits in an electronic device based on the usage habits of the user. An exemplary method comprises collecting usage data for a plurality of device functions of the electronic device, and reducing power consumption by circuitry associated with at least one of the plurality of device functions when the electronic device is in use if the usage data for the at least one of the plurality of device functions indicates that the at least one of the plurality of device functions is used less than at least another of the plurality of device functions.

System and method for power management in an electronic device

A television apparatus includes a front panel keyboard having first and second keys, and a controller for detecting a type of operational logic of the front panel keyboard. The controller applies a keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard according to the detected type of operational logic. If the controller determines that the type of operational logic is negative, the controller applies the keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard. Otherwise, if the controller determines that the type of operational logic is positive, the controller applies no keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard.

Apparatus in a TV receiver for automatically detecting the type of keyboard attached thereto

An apparatus and method therefor wherein instead of applying a high bias voltage 100 per cent of the time to leads susceptible to dendrite formation, the bias voltage is switched from a low bias voltage to a high voltage bias mode when the leads () are to be read or scanned by a microprocessor (), and the bias voltage is then switched back to a low bias voltage mode when the lines are not being read, e.g., at other times, thereby greatly reducing the high bias 'on' time and dramatically reducing the probability of dendrite formation. The reduction of high bias voltage 'on' time is accomplished by programming the microprocessor () to switch the applicable input ports () to be output ports when the leads () are not to be read. As output ports, the output impedance and output voltage of the microprocessor are low as opposed to a high input impedance when the terminals are input terminals. When the leads are configured as output leads, the voltage division of the microprocessor low output impedance, in combination with a large valued pull-up resistor () which provides the high bias voltage when the leads are input leads, makes the voltage bias on the leads low, thus greatly reducing the probability of dendrite formation.

Apparatus and method for reducing electromigration

A variable intensity light device is provided to illuminate front panel user buttons in a television apparatus. The television apparatus allows user control of the level of light intensity preferably via an on-screen menu. Automatic detection circuitry/logic is also provided that detects whether a light such as an LED is present upon initial user set-up. This allows the inclusion of the light device in televisions whose controllers are already designed. Moreover, the light device preferably utilizes a single wire for light presence detection and intensity control. Detection of the light causes the television apparatus to include a light control on-screen menu in the main television on-screen menu. Preferably, the light control menu allows the user selection of at least six different brightness or intensity levels for the light. In one form, the light is a diode that provides blue light though a light pipe.

Variable intensity illumination device with detection and control circuit for a front panel of a television apparatus

A combination heat sink and electromagnetic interference shield device is provided for a point of distribution card of a television receiver. The combination POD card heat sink and EMI shield device includes a combined thermal transfer and electromagnetic conduction portion that provides thermal and EM coupling or contact between an enclosure of the POD card and the metal control module enclosure of a television. Configured metalwork of the combination heat sink and EMI shield device provides conduction of heat from the POD card to provide the heat sink and short circuiting of developed currents to provide EMI shielding. The combined thermal transfer and EM conduction portion provides a low impedance connection between the POD card and the surrounding module metalwork of the television. This low impedance path provides a short for circulating current in the exposed metalwork that diminishes or essentially eliminates EMI. The present invention allows a POD card to operate at room temperature without the need for a cooling fan through the heat sink metalwork.

Electromagnetic interference shield and heat sink apparatus

A system as described herein enables a user to access auxiliary information when viewing an enhanced performance television signal or program. Particularly, a television signal system is operative, configured, and/or enabled to allow a user to access and/or utilize auxiliary information when viewing a high definition or progressive-scan television signal. Briefly, an exemplary television signal system receives the auxiliary information/data (e.g. closed caption data) on a selected interlaced standard definition input, processes the auxiliary data, and combines or overlays the auxiliary data with a television (video) signal received on a selected input that does not have its own embedded auxiliary information/data. More particularly, an exemplary television signal system such as described herein involves using closed caption (CC) data from a standard definition signal, processing the CC data, and overlaying the CC data at a video rate of a higher definition signal selected for viewing that does not carry its own embedded closed caption data.

Video signal processing system with auxiliary information processing capability

A temperature control apparatus is suitable for use in devices such as consumer electronics devices having different thermal characteristics. According to an exemplary embodiment, the temperature control apparatus includes a fan having a field winding (F) and a speed controller for providing a speed control signal to the field winding (F) responsive to a first control signal to control a rotating speed of the fan. First and second terminals of the fan enable operating power to be provided to the field winding (F) and the speed controller. At least one of the first and second terminals is operatively coupled to a first voltage source. A third terminal of the fan provides the first control signal to the speed controller, and is operatively coupled to a second voltage source. The temperature control apparatus further includes a temperature measuring circuit operative to measure a temperature and provide a temperature indicating signal indicating the measured temperature, a processor operative to provide a second control signal responsive to the temperature indicating signal, and control circuitry operative to provide the first control signal to the third terminal of the fan responsive to the second control signal.

Apparatus and method for controlling temperature

An active pull up configuration for data bus lines unaffected by integral pull up resistors within subsystems. The present application generally relates to digital systems comprising a plurality of power supply levels and data buses. More particularly, this invention relates to digital system comprising subsystems connected by common buses that require automatic charging of certain buses or lines. In a television signal processing apparatus using an I2C bus and using the present invention according to a exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a first device operative in a first mode of operation and a second device operative in said first mode of operation and a second mode of operation wherein said first circuit and said second circuit are both connected by the I2C bus wherein said each data bus line requiring an active pull up is connected to a first power supply via a first resistor integrated within the first device and connected to a second power supply via a second resistor integrated within said second device. The first resistor is electrically isolated from the first power supply during the second mode of operation and electrically connected to the first power supply during the second mode of operation.

Active pull up apparatus for a data bus

A system including a processor is energized from a source which is subject to power failure. To allow the state of the system to be restored after the power failure, at least portions of the volatile data of the processor are stored in non-volatile electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Eeprom). In order to effectuate the data transfer, storage capacitors must provide power to the Eeprom and to the processor. In order to minimize the amount of storage capacitance, the processor power is maintained only until the data to be stored is transferred to the buffer of the Eeprom. Eeprom power is maintained until after a later time at which the buffer transfers the data to non-volatile storage of the Eeprom.

Eeprom enable

A remote control is operative to transmit a remote control signal composed of a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are typically a pulse and a space. The pulse has a pulse width of a given duration within a pulse width range, while the space has a space width of a given duration within a space width range. An interrupt signal provided to indicate the end of transmission of the remote control signal is disabled when a space portion requires a space width greater than the space width range. The interrupt signal signaling the end of the remote control transmission is then disabled for a predetermined period of time essentially equivalent to a length of time that the additional space exceeds the space width. During the predetermined period of time, the remote control thus transmits a space. The interrupt signal is then re-enabled after expiration of the predetermined period of time in order to allow for another remote control transmission.

Method and apparatus for remote control transmission

A circuit configuration applicable to systems such as consumer electronics devices enables communication between components such as integrated circuits connected to the bus. According to an embodiment, the RUN power supplies are turned to an OFF state in response to a fault condition. An interface circuit associated with an integrated circuit coupled to the bus controls the loading on the bus caused by the interface circuit and the integrated circuit such that communication between devices on the bus can continue. Therefore, even when a fault condition results in the loss of the RUN power supplies, a command can be transmitted over the bus from a first integrated circuit in a powered state to a second integrated circuit in the powered state while a third integrated circuit connected to the bus is in an unpowered state.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

William John Testin