Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Francis A. Davenport
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Patent number: 6829783Abstract: An arrangement for producing television contributions in a studio or in a mobile unit, including at least one picture signal source (19 to 22), devices (11 to 17) for processing the picture signals, and outputs (23 to 26) for the processed picture signals. To simplify elaborate constructions, wiring and reconstruction, the arrangement accomodates the individual picture signal-processing devices (11 to 17) as independent units in a central operation unit (10) and connects the inputs and outputs of the picture signal-processing devices (11 to 17) to a controllable switching device (18) enabling free allocation of the picture signal-processing devices (11 to 17).Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.Inventor: Henrik Fegesh
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Patent number: 6810145Abstract: A process comprises a step (2) of creating histograms of an image representing the occurrences of the luminance values as a function of these values. A further step compares (5) a histogram of an image T(t) with a histogram of a previous image T(t−1), and is characterized in that the step of comparing (5) consists of calculating, for an occurrence histo13 lum (n,t) corresponding to a luminance value n in the image T(t), the absolute differences between this occurrence and the occurrences histo_lum (n+k, t−1) of the previous image, where K is a natural integer and varies from −K to +K. The process is further characterized by choosing the minimum value Min_Diff (n, t) from among these differences, and is characterized further by in summing (6) the minimum values for the set of luminance values of the histogram, and comparing (7) the sum obtained with a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing, S.A.Inventors: Gérard Briand, Jean-Yves Babonneau, Alain Verdier
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Patent number: 6807136Abstract: A device for reading or writing on optical recording media with disk type recognition capability has an optical scanning device and a focus regulating circuit. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which can reliably recognize in a short time the type of the recording medium inserted into the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a corresponding process. These objects are attained in that the disk type recognition capability includes a mirror signal generator, a threshold value generator, a counter and an evaluation unit. The process is based on the utilization of a mirror-signal value of the device for disk type recognition.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Michael Grimm
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Patent number: 6795158Abstract: A method and system for color correcting and completing answerprints in preparation for making final copies of motion pictures for distribution. A light system is provided in which colors of the light projected through a film toward a viewing screen can be individually and incrementally adjusted as desired for use by a color “Timer” who is an individual that selects color corrections on a scene-by-scene basis until a suitable look is achieved. The Timer does this in real time while watching the film scene projected on the screen. The color adjustments are stored and subsequently used to control a motion picture film printer in printing a next version of scenes of the film.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Technicolor, Inc.Inventors: Timothy G. Reynolds, Harold L. Rattray
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Patent number: 6778775Abstract: The invention proposes a camera 1 furnished with a flat screen viewfinder 4 which comprises a specific fixing system. The fixing system essentially comprises a boom 5 for connecting the viewfinder 4 and the camera body 2. The boom 5 is connected on the one hand to the camera body 2 and on the other hand to the viewfinder 4 by fixing means 6 and 7 allowing fine-tuning and positional retention. According to one embodiment, the boom 5 extends towards the rear of the camera 1 so that a possible position of the viewfinder 4 lies in the extension of the lens 3.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Eric Auffret
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Patent number: 6765804Abstract: A circuit board arrangement facilitates a direct connection to a chassis mounted connector. The arrangement comprises a printed circuit board with a first signal conductor terminating at an edge of the printed circuit board. A second signal conductor is disposed adjacent to the first signal conductor and terminates at the edge. A conductive metallic spring clip has a relieved area and is formed to fit over the edge of said printed circuit board. The conductive metallic spring clip is positioned on the edge of said printed circuit board such that the relieved area straddles the first signal conductor and the conductive metallic spring clip grips the second signal conductor for coupling the second signal conductor to the chassis mounted connector.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2002Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S. A.Inventors: Don Richard Hudson, Barry Wynn Albright
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Patent number: 6750921Abstract: A method for determining raster positioning in a video projection display apparatus comprises the steps of detecting illumination by a first edge of a measurement image moving in a first direction. Detecting illumination by a second edge of the measurement image moving in a second direction, and averaging movement values related to the first and second edge illuminations of the detecting steps.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: John Barrett George
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Patent number: 6727939Abstract: Portable cameras are known, and used to gather news, to cover sport events etc. The cameraman/woman who is recording the scene to be recorded frequently has to walk around during recording. By walking in a forward direction he normally does not encounters problems, but by walking in a backward and/or sideward direction accidents frequently occur. The invention provides a solution for this, by adding an auxiliary camera to the portable camera with a viewing angle in the backward and/or sideward direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Michael A. W. Stekelenburg
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Patent number: 6718124Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) for playing data in a digital video disc (DVD) apparatus in which the data was recorded onto a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format. The invention includes the steps of: determining (212) the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium; reading (214) a file structure contained on the non-DVD optical disc medium; and launching (216) a DVD video playback driver if the file structure on the non-DVD optical storage medium is a DVD file structure. In one arrangement, the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium can be determined by checking a focal length in which the focal length is defined by a laser and a reflective surface of the non-DVD optical storage medium. The invention also concerns a DVD apparatus (100) capable of playing data recorded on a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: John Alan Hague
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Patent number: 6717615Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjustment of a line sensor in a film scanner. A glass disk is arranged between each emitting surface of a color separator and the respective line sensor. Said disk may be rotated in two directions, out of a plane lying perpendicular to the beam direction, such that the light emitted from the glass disc is displaced, depending on the angle of the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Rudolf Wulf
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Patent number: 6714255Abstract: A video apparatus has a video source with a luminance output carrying a first luminance signal and a chrominance output carrying a chrominance signal, an OSD circuit generating OSD signals and a fast-blanking signal, and a connector for delivering video signals. A converter outputs a second luminance signal based on the OSD signals and a first switch is controlled by the fast-blanking signal selectively connects the converter or the luminance output to the connector and a second is switch is controlled by the fast-blanking signal selectively connects the chrominance output or a circuit generating a constant chrominance signal to the connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Frank Dumont, Chee Lam Tan, Qing Jin Zhou
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Patent number: 6707506Abstract: In a video mixer (1) in which a video component of the video signal to be mixed and a mixing type are preselectable for performing a mixing operation on said video signal applied to the mixer (1), an additional external function on the video mixer can be controlled in that an additional external function is selectable at the video mixer (1), this function being selectable from predetermined additional external functions, and in that the video mixer (1) generates a control signal during a mixing operation for controlling a selected external function, this control signal changing from a first extreme value to a second extreme value in the course of the mixing operation and serving for controlling the selected external function, an initial value of a variable of the external function being assigned to the first extreme value of the control signal and a final value of the variable of the external function being assigned to the second extreme value of the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Rolf Grzibek
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Patent number: 6707778Abstract: A method and device for editing to a picture a group of pictures (GOP) in a DVD media without decoding and encoding of an MPEG encoded signal. The method includes the steps of: marking a user selected end picture to identify a selected segment of the encoded signal to be edited; automatically identifying an actual end picture for the selected segment based on a position of the user selected end picture relative to at least one other picture within the encoded signal; and performing an edit function on an actual segment delimited by the actual end picture.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Shu Lin, Mark Alan Schultz, Yongmei Cang
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Patent number: 6707509Abstract: A method for adjusting convergence in a projection television receiver, in which a marker contained in a projected image is adjusted by a manipulated variable to illuminate a photosensor arranged adjacent to the projection screen. The method employs two markers which are moved towards the sensor from opposite directions with a varying step size. The sensor supplies an output voltage indicating lighting by the two markers in conjunction with two mutually spaced manipulated variables. A mean value of the two manipulated variables is used as the manipulated variable for the marker.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Jacques Chauvin, Bernhard Malota, Albert Runtze
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Patent number: 6708299Abstract: A first method for acquiring data from a recording on a disk medium, comprises the steps of, successively reading bits defining a data set from different parts of the disk, continuously error correcting the bits to validate at least a part of the data set read from the disk, and, terminating reading upon successful validation of the data set by the error correcting step. A second method for acquiring data from a recording on a disk medium, comprises the steps of reading a data set beginning from a first position on the data recording, reading the data set from a second position radially spaced in a first direction from the first position absent acquisition of an error free data set from the first position; and, reading the data set from a third position radially spaced in an opposite direction beyond the first position absent acquisition of an error free data set from the second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1999Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Jianlei Xie
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Patent number: 6704064Abstract: A convergence method for color television receiver comprises the steps of emitting a test signal from a control circuit to a first convergence channel to generate a current of a predetermined intensity in a convergence coil assigned thereto. The control circuit emitting a zero signal to the other convergence channels to generate zero current in the assigned convergence coils. Measuring and comparing with a reference potential a potential at a reference point of each convergence coil of channels driven by the zero signal. Generating a reference signal responsive to the comparison step b), for each case for the relevant convergence channel and coupling to the control circuit. Repeating steps a) to c) for each convergence channel, the convergence channels being driven in an alternating fashion one after another once in each case by a test signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S. A.Inventors: Günter Gleim, Bernd Rekla
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Patent number: 6678008Abstract: An apparatus for generating a digital video picture is proposed. In this case, the video picture comprises a main picture and a secondary picture. The secondary picture serves to provide information about the status of the apparatus or else for operational guidance. The data of the picture are supplied digitally. Data for the subpicture are additionally contained in the bit stream for the main picture. The subpicture can likewise be displayed together with the main picture and provide information such as, for example, subtitles with respect to the main picture. Decoding apparatuses for the main-picture data and the subpicture data are provided. Also provided is a multiplexing device for the correctly timed outputting of the decoded data and, consequently, of the joint representation of main picture and subpicture. The apparatus has a storage device, in which data for the secondary pictures are stored in coded form.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2000Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Marco Winter
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Patent number: 6671003Abstract: A method of operating a photo sensor in a projection display device comprises the steps of, illuminating the sensor with a projected image. Detecting a signal from the sensor responsive to the illumination by the projected image. Changing a threshold value of the detector until the signal detection ceases. Storing a value representative of the threshold value which terminated detection of the signal from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: John Barrett George, Sean Patrick McPeak, Angela Renee Burnett
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Patent number: 6671004Abstract: A method for convergence correction in a projection television display having a monochromatic tube for each of the three primary colors red, green and blue, whose images can be projected on a screen. Each tube has an associated deflection correction device which comprises a convergence circuit. Convergence correction values are determined by measurement using sensors with screen edge locations which cannot be seen. Convergence correction values are calculated for the entire screen by interpolation between these values.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventors: Albert Runtze, Jacques Chauvin
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Patent number: 6667588Abstract: An image display is operable with video signals having a plurality of scanning frequencies and comprises a cathode ray tube for the display of ones of the video signals. A deflection coil is mounted on the cathode ray tube and a horizontal deflection amplifier is coupled to the deflection coil and generates a deflection current therein. A plurality of retrace capacitors are controllably coupled to the horizontal deflection amplifier in response to a selected scanning frequency to maintain a substantially constant active picture display area with the ones of the video signals having the plurality of scanning frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.Inventor: Florus Bernardus van den Herik