Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Daniel E. Sragow
  • Patent number: 6683395
    Abstract: A connector with a limited ampacity supplies a load which draws more current than the ampacity of the connector. A buck converter changes the power passing through the connector to a higher current at a lower voltage to energize the load. Alternatively, if the load is intermittent, the current passing through the connector may charge a large capacitor which is able to supply a larger current to the intermittent load. The capacitor may also be used to power a continuous load, such as a memory, during failure of a power supply feeding the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: William John Testin, James Wolter Ernst, John Ryan Schnellenberger
  • Patent number: 6671007
    Abstract: A degaussing coil is retained on the conical portion of a cathode ray tube by a resilient clip which snaps over a lug which is used to mount the cathode ray tube in its associated cabinet. The clip can be snapped over its respective mounting lug after the cathode ray tube has been mounted in its associated cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Richard May, Darin Bradley Ritter
  • Patent number: 6515873
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply has a storage capacitor, a transformer with a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, and also a switching transistor which is connected in series with the primary winding. The primary winding is subdivided into sub-windings with at least one tap. A capacitance is disposed in parallel with each sub-winding, as a damping network. The numbers of windings of the sub-windings and the values of the capacitors disposed in parallel with the sub-windings are selected in such a way that the oscillations occurring when the switching transistor becomes blocked have different resonant frequencies and thereby partially cancel each other. This results in an effective damping of the resonant voltage over the switching transistor. Since the capacitors are connected in series, the effective total capacitance is low, so that the resulting discharge current at the time when the switching transistor becomes conductive is comparably low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Reinhard Kögel, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Patent number: 6507131
    Abstract: The high-voltage transformer comprises a core, a primary winding, a high-voltage winding arranged in a coil former, and a housing, whereat the primary winding is arranged at the outside of the housing. The housing is preferably cylindrical with wall-like juts between which the primary winding is wound, said juts especially placed at each side of the housing. The primary winding can be arranged as a dense winding at the outside of the housing which covers essentially the high voltage winding to shield the high voltage winding electrically. Auxiliary windings for providing low supply voltages can be placed also outside together with the primary winding. The transformer comprises only two plastic parts which requires less production steps and less material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Malfroy, Daniel Goudey, Samuel Nguefeu
  • Patent number: 6433952
    Abstract: A method for tracking control of a head unit with respect to data tracks on a magnetic tape determines a first tracking signal and a second tracking signal from control tracks recorded on the tape. The data tracks are divided into successive data sections, each of which is subdivided into an initial region and a useful region. A first control track extends over the entire length of the data section. In addition to this, a second control track is provided in the initial region of each data section. A first tracking signal is generated from the first control track and a second tracking signal is generated from the first and second control track. A difference signal is generated and stored, which is based on a comparison of the first and second tracking signal. A tracking control signal applied to an actuator adjusting the head unit is generated from the second tracking signal when the second tracking signal is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Jürgen Kaaden, Peter Mahr
  • Patent number: 6400521
    Abstract: Magnetic tape recording apparatus comprising a plurality of recording heads for recording digital signals onto a magnetic tape, the recording heads being arranged in a matrix-type structure; and a control unit for electrically compensating for different magnetic properties of the recording heads, the control unit comprising controllable current sources connected to each of the recording heads; at least one non-volatile memory in which is permanently stored individually determined and pre-set magnetizing current values individually corresponding to a particular recording head; and common controller circuit for selectively activating the current sources and the current values stored in the non-volatile memory in dependence on the digital signals to be recorded, wherein upon selection the recording heads are supplied with the stored values of the magnetizing current assigned to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Kaaden
  • Patent number: 6356390
    Abstract: A projection light valve system comprises a ring of light sources directed toward a parabolic reflector. The reflector reflects the light to a point of focus. An optical means, such as a lens, directs the light to a beam expander which expands the beam to irradiate a light valve. Multiple arrangements can be used to obtain a multicolor image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventor: Estill Thone Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6329768
    Abstract: To facilitate the adjustment of the S correction in apparatus comprising cathode-ray tubes (televisions, monitors), the process consists in displaying visual marks on the screen, at the location of the picture points which remain stationary as the amplitude of the S correction which is applied to the sawtooth current flowing through the deflection coils of the cathode-ray tube is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Giard
  • Patent number: 6307334
    Abstract: In a television receiver comprising a horizontal deflection circuit (2) associated with a flyback transformer (9), the horizontal deflection circuit comprises a switch (6) which is controlled by a control signal (Hdrive) generated by a deflection control circuit (1). The deflection control circuit generates a phase difference signal (Vcomp) which is a function of the phase difference of a horizontal synchronisation pulse and a flyback pulse and generates the control signal (Hdrive) as a continuous function of the phase difference signal (Vcomp). The deflection circuit is further arranged to generate at least one discrete phase jump of the control signal (Hdrive) when the phase difference signal (Vcomp) lies outside of a range of preset values (Vlow, Vhigh).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson multimedia S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Giard, Serge Hembert
  • Patent number: 6300730
    Abstract: The coils of an astigmatism corrector for an electron beam of a cathode ray tube are positioned on a flexible support. The support is disposed around the neck of the tube and positioned at least partially adjacent the back part of at least one pair of deflection coils, so as to reduce interaction of the fields produced by the astigmatism corrector with the elements of the electron gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Tubes & Displays, S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Perreaut, Bruno Roussel
  • Patent number: 6297600
    Abstract: In order to accurately measure a low current bias in an automatic kine bias (AKB) circuit during several video lines that immediately follow vertical retrace, dynamic focus is interrupted by deactivating a dynamic focus voltage amplifier. The amplifier draws its power from a horizontal flyback transformer. In order to avoid a horizontal transient which may occur when the dynamic focus voltage amplifier is reactivated after being deactivated during a vertical blanking interval, the dynamic focus amplifier draws a current during vertical blanking which approximates the average current drawn during vertical scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventor: John Barrett George
  • Patent number: 6278246
    Abstract: A video imaging apparatus includes a cathode-ray tube including a focus electrode. A source of a first parabolic signal at a frequency related to a deflection frequency, selected from a plurality of frequencies, has an amplitude determined in accordance with the selected frequency. A control circuit has an input coupled to the source of the first parabolic signal for generating an output signal. The output signal is for maintaining the amplitude of the first parabolic signal for the plurality of deflection frequencies. An amplifier, that is responsive to the output signal, is coupled to the focus electrode for amplifying the parabolic signal to generate a dynamic focus voltage at the focus electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Thomas Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: John Barrett George
  • Patent number: 6275359
    Abstract: Head arrangements for appliances for longitudinal multitrack recording and/or replay of signals using a recording medium in the form of tape have stationary multitrack heads which have a large number of individual heads. The head arrangement according to the invention is formed with a first and a second head-mounting device, in which case the first head-mounting device is intended for engagement with the recording medium and has tape guides for the recording medium as well as in each case one recess for the arrangement of a magnetic multitrack head and for the arrangement of the optical scanner of a magneto-optical multitrack head which is arranged in the second head-mounting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Braun, Klaus Oldermann
  • Patent number: 6271888
    Abstract: A method for obtaining line synchronization information items from a video signal is proposed. To that end, the following improvement measures are proposed: a) an accurate determination of the position of a line synchronization pulse is effected by carrying out a convolution operation between the video signal for the video line and a pattern function. The exact position is then established by analysis of the result function (&phgr;sv(k)) of the convolution operation. B) time-domain filtering of the established positions of the line synchronization pulses is carried out, in which a linear or non-linear estimation for the purpose of determining the corrected positions of the line synchronization pulses is carried out in each case. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Deutschethomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Lares, Albrecht Rothermel
  • Patent number: 6208096
    Abstract: In a tape transport for recording and/or reproducing signals by means of a recording medium using separate winding motors for driving the winding plates, the drive of the winding motors servo units is constructed as open-loop control devices and/or closed-loop control devices. Such servo units can advantageously be used for open-loop control and/or closed-loop control of the drive of the winding motor even during a braking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Mahr, Klaus Oldermann
  • Patent number: 6177855
    Abstract: A transformer, comprising: a closed ferrite magnetic circuit having an air gap; a rigid component filling a portion of the air gap; and, a flexible material filling the remainder of the air gap to substantially absorb vibrations of the ferrite. In the case of air gaps greater than approximately 1 mm, the flexible material fills approximately 1 mm of the air gap and the rigid component fills the remainder of the air gap. The rigid component may be of non magnetic, synthetic resin material. The flexible material may be a one component mastic, for example polysulfur, polysulfate polysulphide or polyurethane. The flexible material may also be a silicone type mastic, for example a neutral silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Television Components France
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Bouillot, David Escudero
  • Patent number: 6154111
    Abstract: The storage coil has a core and windings which are arranged as conductor tracks on base layers. The base layers each contain only one winding, whose start and end are each passed out on one or more projections on the outer edge of the base layer. In consequence, the projections project out of an opening in a core, for example an E/I core, on which projections the windings of the base layers make contact with one another and with connections. With suitable dimensioning, losses resulting from the skin effect and eddy current losses can be kept very low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Rehm, Thomas Riesle, Jose-I. Rodriguez-Duran
  • Patent number: 6151224
    Abstract: A switched mode power supply comprises a circuit which, during a stand by mode, reduces the voltage output of the power supply to a minimum necessary to supply a microprocessor of an electronic appliance in which the supply is included. The circuit is included in a feedback loop from a power supply output to control a switching transistor. The effect of circuit is to reduce the ON time of said transistor, leading to a reduction of the output energy of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Siew Mui Lim, Yoon Choy Lim
  • Patent number: 6133698
    Abstract: The disclosure is a stepped rectification high-voltage transformer including a secondary step-up winding in which at least two output diodes connected to two different stages of this secondary winding are located in a same axial level and perpendicular to the potentiometer block forming part of the insulating casing. The invention is applicable notably to the power supply of television cathode ray tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson multimedia S.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Rouhier, Bernard Millot
  • Patent number: D482599
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Richard May, Darin Bradley Ritter