Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5452109 | Digital image signal processing apparatus and method for accumulating blocks of signal data from an imager A CCD linear imager signal processor is dynamically controlled on a pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line basis by means of programmably variable control word bit maps to control the number of range and size of blocks of imaging pixel data that are accumulated ... | 09/19/1995 |
| 5442465 | Apparatus and method for controlling a linear imaging device A CCD linear imager is dynamically controlled on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a line-related map of control words stored in memory with individual control words addressed by a pixel counter operating in synchronism with processing of each imaging pixel in th... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5404463 | Method and apparatus for transferring data in portable image processing system A microprocessor system, including a central processing unit (CPU), data source device and data destination device electrically interconnected by first data bus lines, address bus lines and control bus lines of a system bus, is implemented with a transfer... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5394217 | Method and apparatus for determining line frequency and detecting variable frequency light sources A line frequency is determined by interleaved sampling of ambient light to obtain analog voltage samples at predetermined sampling rates associated with two or more line frequencies. Where there are two line frequencies, one method separates the first sam... | 02/28/1995 |
| 5390053 | Circuit for controlling the overall upper cutoff frequency of an amplifier stage The circuit according to the invention comprises a circuit for receiving an input signal, the amplitude of which is proportional to the frequency of input signal; amplifier for providing an amplified output signal; bandwidth tracking located between input... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5351101 | Photographic camera and film cartridge with double exposure prevention A photographic film cartridge has one or more resistive elements formed on the exterior surface of the cartridge with associated visual indicator elements to indicate exposure status of film in the cartridge. The camera is provided with a drive circuit to... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5349406 | Camera and method for bypassing fogged photographic film A method of bypassing film that is inadvertently fogged in a pre-wind camera includes detecting the opening of the camera back, storing the frame number corresponding to the opening of the camera back, determining which frames are fogged, and bypassing th... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5347334 | Film cassette with bar-coded film spool and provision for film double exposure prevention A photographic film cassette is provided with a radial bar coded disk having first and second arcuate segments of differing radial lengths to form a gap between the disk and a circumferential lip of the cassette housing. When the cassette is removed from ... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5321455 | Camera apparatus and method for film double exposure prevention Camera apparatus operative with a film cartridge having a rotatable radial bar coded data disc thereon positioned at predetermined angular settings corresponding that indicate the condition of film in the cartridge, i.e. exposed, unexposed, partially expo... | 06/14/1994 |
| 5311240 | Technique suited for use in multi-zone autofocusing cameras for improving image quality for non-standard display sizes and/or different focal length photographing modes Exposure control apparatus, and various accompanying methods, for use in a photographic camera for improving the overall quality of photographed images, i.e. increasing the number of acceptable and higher quality images, that are produced by the camera fo... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5305149 | Zoom lens drive mechanism A zoom lens drive mechanism, for translationally driving and positionally locating a lens subgroup of a zoom lens to a zooming position along an optical axis of the zoom lens, comprises a base ring member having an aperture concentrically defined about th... | 04/19/1994 |
| 5302984 | Device for moving a slide into a slide gate and for receiving a lens mount In a device for moving a slide from a slide tray via a slide chute (3) into a slide gate, an integral component (1) is provided which includes the slide chute (3), a support means for a motor-driven cam (15) and support means for a slide lifter (22), slid... | 04/12/1994 |
| 5300381 | Color image reproduction of scenes with preferential tone mapping A system and method of image reproduction in color with preferential tone mapping in which the image reproduction is subjected to a scene parameter transformation which when taken in conjunction with untransformed characteristics of the image reproduction... | 04/05/1994 |
| 4954825 | Self clocking binary data encoding/decoding method A method for modulating binary data into a format suitable for encoding and decoding information, that employs a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) technique. The modulating method includes: defining within a recording medium an event-cell as the time between two a... | 09/04/1990 |
| 4951049 | Self clocking binary information encoder An electrical circuit suitable for encoding binary information, in accordance with a novel modulation method, is provided. The encoder circuit includes: a clock driver; an n-phase counter driven by the clock driver for producing a succession of event-cell... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4920419 | Zoom lens focus control device for film video player A device (10) controls the focus in a film video player (11) for projection of at least a portion of a film image (F) onto a sensor (16) that generates a corresponding video signal from the sensor image. The film video player (11) has a fixed focal length... | 04/24/1990 |
| 4602337 | Analog signal translating system with automatic frequency selective signal gain adjustment An automatic equalizer and oscillation suppressor system utilizing phase lock loop circuits to detect oscillation candidates at identified frequencies and a low cost microprocessor to process corrective band gain action. Oscillation candidates are initial... | 07/22/1986 |
| 4376807 | Treatment of formaldehyde laden wood panels to reduce excess formaldehyde A substantial reduction of free excess formaldehyde in formaldehyde laden wood panels is achieved by coating at least one side of the panel with a salt solution containing an ammonium cation such as a 10-15% aqueous solution of ammonium bicarbonate. After... | 03/15/1983 |
| 4360154 | Rail joint bar bolt nut locking assembly Track rail joint assemblies with nut and bolt fasteners are disclosed in which a nut restraining plate is interposed on the bolt between the nut and the joint bar. The plate is provided with one or more bendable tabs adjacent the bolt of hole which are be... | 11/23/1982 |
| 4344991 | Water-borne topcoat spray method Method and apparatus are disclosed for spraying water-borne emulsion topcoat finish materials with gloss and clarity equivalent to solvent-based topcoat materials irrespective of ambient conditions. One or more secondary water atomizing sprays are positio... | 08/17/1982 |
| 4316364 | Vapor compression refrigerant system monitor A monitor for a vapor compression refrigerant system that accumulates contaminant gases generated in an operating system and provides a readout indicative of the presence of significant amounts of contaminant gases which readout serves to provide an indic... | 02/23/1982 |
| 4283881 | Casement window security guard A security guard for mounting to a frame of a window opening in a building includes an elongated channel bar having a plurality of mounting pins secured to one end thereof and a key actuated lock visible and operable only from the interior of the building... | 08/18/1981 |
| 4221008 | Swimming pool chair lift A device for transporting objects vertically and in a helical pattern into and out of a pool of water or similar liquid including carrier means, hydraulic cylinder means adapted to receive the carrier means and be activated by a selected fluid at a select... | 09/09/1980 |
| 4142766 | Impact reinforcement and repair method for refrigerator cabinet liners A reinforcement for increasing the resistance of the bottom front portion of refrigerator cabinet liners subject to impact damage, including a reinforcing strip secured to the vulnerable liner surface area by means of an adhesive foam strip, securing the ... | 03/06/1979 |
| 4121079 | Minimizing lamp flicker and blower speed variation in a microwave oven employing duty cycle power level control A microwave oven circuit includes a magnetron power transformer and a duty cycle controlled switching element connected to periodically energize the power transformer from an AC power source. Due to the effects of power source loading, the available AC vo... | 10/17/1978 |
| 4114523 | Oscillatory drive means for a rotisserie spit A roasting oven having a broiling element near the top of the oven liner and a rotisserie spit adapted to be supported in an elevated position from a wire frame in a broil pan seated on an oven rack. The spit is provided with a food-supporting wire basket... | 09/19/1978 |
| 4112767 | Clothes dryer variable speed drive system A variable speed drive system for a clothes dryer having a driven rotatable drum wherein the drum may be rotated at high speed, low speed, or no speed during operation of the machine. There is provided an improved mechanism for transmitting torque between... | 09/12/1978 |
| 4114065 | Refrigerator cabinet and method of constructing A single sheet of metal is stamped to provide portions which form the top, side and bottom outer walls of the refrigerator cabinet and portions which form the top, side and bottom inner walls of the cabinet. This single sheet of metal is stamped in the sa... | 09/12/1978 |
| 4114013 | Choke for combined microwave and self-cleaning oven A combined microwave and self-cleaning oven has a choke surrounding the oven liner with the opening of the choke cavity adjacent the lip of the liner. The choke cavity has a rib at each of several groundpoints to trap air within the cavity. This trapped a... | 09/12/1978 |
| 4111011 | Additive dispensing system An improved additive dispensing system for sequentially dispensing a plurality of treating agents into the wash tub of an automatic fabric washing machine at predetermined times during the washing cycle. A plurality of compartments are provided for retain... | 09/05/1978 |
| 4107833 | Structural support for a refrigerator A refrigerator structural support is provided by permitting polyurethane foam reactant material to impregnate a body of fibrous material and to subsequently harden. The result is a third material having desirable stiffening and support characteristics. Va... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4109226 | Disconnect switch with reset mechanism A disconnect switch or hot wire relay for use with a ground fault circuit interrupter in a power circuit to a load, such as an electric range, to provide ground fault protection for any circuit of the range. The switch has normally closed switch contacts,... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4106341 | Linearized thermistor temperature measuring circuit A substantially constant voltage is maintained across a negative temperature coefficient thermistor having an exponential resistance-temperature characteristic. The resultant current through the thermistor is an exponential function of sensed temperature.... | 08/15/1978 |
| 4105063 | Space air conditioning control system and apparatus In an air conditioning system for selectably heating and cooling an enclosed space under control of a room thermostat, dew point temperature of ambient air in the space is maintained below a preselected maximum value by modified use of the heating and coo... | 08/08/1978 |
| 4103192 | Heat dissipating motor mounting arrangement A motor mounting arrangement including a ring motor support member secured to the motor. The motor support member has formed integral therewith a plurality of heat dissipating fins for conducting heat away from the motor. Also formed integral with the mot... | 07/25/1978 |
| 4102391 | Heat pump frost control system The present invention relates to a self-contained air conditioning unit including a reversible refrigeration system and more particularly to a control system having a plurality of sensing means that are effective in maintaining operation of the unit in a ... | 07/25/1978 |
| 4102556 | Rear support structure for a cabinet A rear support structure for a cabinet is disclosed. The support structure includes provision for automatically adjusting the level of the rear of a cabinet to compensate for a supporting surface which slopes from side to side. The support structure compr... | 07/25/1978 |
| 4100092 | Dual temperature thermal energy storage composition for heat pumps A combination thermal energy storage material capable of functioning in two discrete temperature ranges and comprised of two constituents, one of which has a phase change in the low temperature range between about 35° F. and about 55° F., and the other ... | 07/11/1978 |
| 4098481 | Track assembly A track assembly for securing to a wall and receiving shelves. The track assembly includes two spaced, parallel, elongated strips having a plurality of slots along their lengths. There is also provided an adapter member located at one end of each of these... | 07/04/1978 |
| 4096872 | Heat shielding structure for dishwashers A dishwasher is disclosed which includes a tub formed of plastic, such as polypropylene, or other heat-deformable material. A heating element for effecting the final drying of the articles in the dishwasher is disposed near the bottom wall of the tub wher... | 06/27/1978 |
