Bradley R Sparks

US Patent:

6363213, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Mar 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/029135

Inventors:

Bradley Alan Sparks - Carmel IN
John Joseph Nigborowicz - Carmel IN

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing S.A. - Boulogne Cedex

International Classification:

H04N 5775

US Classification:

386112, 386109, 386 95

Abstract:

The absence of MPEG processing in a consumer digital recorder player may preclude on-screen message display of recorder status. Various methods are disclosed which facilitate the on-screen display of recorder player status messages. A first embodiment returns a reproduced decoded, analog video signal ( ) to the digital recorder player ( ) for insertion of status messages. In a further embodiment recorder messages data ( ) is coupled to the digital signal decoder ( ) for inclusion with the decoded analog video signal ( ). In a another embodiment a recorder message command (TAG/CMD) is coupled to the decoder ( ) to access recorder specific graphical messages. In yet a further embodiment, recorder message data ( ) is tagged and coupled to the decoder ( ) to select recorder messaged data. In yet another embodiment, digital or analog operating mode determines recorder ( ) message display timing with respect to a reproduced decoded video signal.

US Patent:

7239793, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

May 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/864672

Inventors:

Bradley Alan Sparks - Carmel IN, US
Harold Blatter - Tucson AZ, US
John Joseph Nigborowicz - Carmel IN, US
Michael Joseph McLane - Indianapolis IN, US

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing - Boulogne-Billancourt

International Classification:

H04N 5/445
H04N 5/91

US Classification:

386 46, 348564, 348569, 386109, 386 33, 386 1, 386 45, 386125, 386126, 386 95

Abstract:

A digital apparatus for reproducing a digital video representative signal stored on a recorded medium is connected to a receiving device including a decoder. The apparatus comprises a processing means for the digital video representative signal stored on the recorded medium to produce an output compressed digital video signal bit stream for decoding by the decoder. A status message generator generates a message data signal indicative of an operating mode of the apparatus. A display message combiner has a first input coupled to the message data signal and a second input coupled to receive a decoded digital video signal from the decoder, for combining the message data signal with the decoded digital video signal for display on a video monitor.

US Patent:

7599603, Oct 6, 2009

Filed:

Aug 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/649975

Inventors:

Harold Blatter - Indianapolis IN, US
Michael Joseph McLane - Indianapolis IN, US
Bradley Alan Sparks - Carmel IN, US

Assignee:

Thomson Licensing - Boulogne-Billancourt

International Classification:

H04N 5/91

US Classification:

386 95, 386112

Abstract:

A digital television receiver comprises a receiving means having selectable first and second inputs. The first input receives a broadcast digital television signal and the second input receives a digital television signal from a reproduction apparatus, and generates a video signal for display. A generating means is coupled to the receiving means for generating a display message responsive to display message data derived from the selected input and combining the display message with said video signal.

US Patent:

51073412, Apr 21, 1992

Filed:

Apr 30, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/515493

Inventors:

Gene K. Sendelweck - Indianapolis IN
Bradley A. Sparks - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thompson Consumer Electronics, Inc. - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

H04N 974
H04N 964

US Classification:

358 22

Abstract:

A color television receiver includes a picture-in-picture processor and a variable filtering circuit for imparting a "slope type" filtering characteristic to the chrominance component of displayed signals when the main picture being displayed is from a tuner video source and for imparting a "hay-stack" type filtering characteristic to the chrominance component when the main picture picture being displayed is from an auxiliary video source thereby providing an effective reduction in the visibility of chrominance signal sideband amplitude errors when displaying picture-in-picture images from different types of sources.

US Patent:

49439618, Jul 24, 1990

Filed:

May 5, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/190437

Inventors:

Bradley A. Sparks - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

RCA Licensing Corporation - Princeton NJ

International Classification:

G11C 1300

US Classification:

365228

Abstract:

A memory retention system for an electronic apparatus having several logic devices driven by a common oscillator includes a capacitor for retaining a voltage on at least one of the logic devices and means for stopping the oscillator during a power failure. The logic devices have respective oscillator input terminals which are connected together and to the input terminal of the oscillator rather than to the output terminal of the oscillator to reduce current drain from the capacitor.

US Patent:

51444410, Sep 1, 1992

Filed:

Mar 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/327880

Inventors:

Bradley A. Sparks - Indianapolis IN
Robert E. Morris - Indianapolis IN

Assignee:

Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

H04N 563

US Classification:

358190

Abstract:

A receiver comprises a tuner circuit for detecting a selected input signal and an audio circuit for reproducing the audio content in the detected signal. The tuner circuit includes a local oscillator, a prescaler, a phase detector and an integrator, and has a tendency to uncontrollably detune during AC power interruption responsive to a spurious tuning control signal generated in the tuner circuit and generate audible noise during the detuning. The audible noise is introduced into the audio content of the detected signal. An AC power interruption detector monitors a run power supply and generates a power loss control signal when the run supply falls below a predetermined threshold. A control circuit responsive to the power loss control signal, absent a user command, first disables normal operation of the tuner circuit and then disables the audio circuit, thereby reducing the audible noise. The tuner circuit may be disabled by decoupling the output of the phase detector from the input to the integrator, enabling the input to float.

US Patent:

60347384, Mar 7, 2000

Filed:

Mar 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/029787

Inventors:

Bradley Alan Sparks - Carmel IN

Assignee:

Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

H04N 5445
H04N 591

US Classification:

348564

Abstract:

The absence of MPEG processing in a consumer digital recorder player may preclude on-screen message display of recorder status. Various methods are disclosed which facilitate the on-screen display of recorder player status messages. A first embodiment returns a reproduced decoded, analog video signal (102) to the digital recorder player (200) for insertion of status messages. In a further embodiment recorder message data (221) is coupled to the digital signal decoder (100,117,520) for inclusion with the decoded analog video signal (102). In a another embodiment a recorder message command (TAG/CMD) is coupled to the decoder (100,510) to access recorder specific graphical messages. In yet a further embodiment, recorder message data (221) is tagged and coupled to the decoder (100,510) to select recorder specific graphical messages if available or to display recorder message data. In yet another embodiment, digital or analog operating mode determines recorder (200) message display timing with respect to a reproduced decoded video signal.