Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Frederick A. Wein
  • Radiowave antenna system
    Patent number: 5625368
    Abstract: An antenna system for receiving radiowaves includes a Lundeburg-type lens which reflects radiowaves to a focal point of the lens. A helical primary feed is located in the proximity of the focal point. Electronic circuitry for processing the radiowaves in a desired manner and the primary feed are supported in a hollow support structure in the proximity of the focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Christopher Howson, Masahiro Fujimoto, Patrice Fremanteau, David Harrison
  • Switch mode power supply circuit
    Patent number: 5621632
    Abstract: In a switch mode power supply of a video apparatus, a capacitor develops a supply voltage that is coupled to a main current conducting electrode of a driver transistor. The driver transistor drives a switching power transistor. An arrangement charges the charging capacitor when the video apparatus operates in standby mode. A delay circuit introduces a delay time between a time when the capacitor begins to be charged and the time when a switching control signal is applied to the driver transistor for operation in a run mode. Consequently, the capacitor develops sufficient voltage that insures sufficient base current to turn on the power transistor in to saturation prior to the time the switching control signal is applied to the driver transistor. Thus, a possible damage to the power transistor is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Kian P. Hoh, Chun H. Wu
  • Double tuned RF circuit with balanced secondary
    Patent number: 5619283
    Abstract: A band switchable double tuned circuit having a balanced secondary is presented. A primary tunable tank circuit with a plurality of first inductances is tuned to a first frequency by a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the first inductances. A secondary tank circuit with a plurality of second inductances inductively coupled to ones of the first inductances has a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second inductances for tuning the secondary to the first frequency. The DC reference potential for the secondary circuit, is coupled to a nodal junction of the plurality of second inductances with the secondary tank circuit providing a balanced signal output. At least one of the plurality of first inductances and the second inductances are switchable for bandswitching the tuning of the primary and secondary tank circuits to a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Pugel
  • Method and apparatus for reducing conversion artifacts
    Patent number: 5610662
    Abstract: When film is transmitted by television, the same frame of film is used to generate both interlace television fields. This results in the information carried by the second field being temporally displaced from the original by 20 ms. This displacement gives rise to judder and double image artifacts in the received image. To overcome these defects the intermediate fields are generated from the original film frames by double sided motion compensated interpolation wherein the motion information is calculated using double sided block matching. The invention may be applied either in a television receiver or video signal decoder or in the television studio before the television signal is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics S.A.
    Inventor: Andrew Hackett
  • Signal regenerator for binary signals
    Patent number: 5602871
    Abstract: A signal regenerator for binary signals includes a signal equalizer having an input filter and an integrator. An amplitude detector and a period detector are arranged to receive the output signal of the equalizer. A high pass filter is included in a feedback loop to feed the output signal of one of the detectors back to the equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Scholz
  • Bus aligned quadrature FM detector
    Patent number: 5596298
    Abstract: In a quadrature FM detector, demodulation is performed by a product detector which multiplies an amplitude limited FM modulated information signal by a version of the amplitude limited FM modulated information signal which has been phase shifted by a phase shifting network including a single tuned LC circuit. In order to assure that the LC circuit is tuned to the carrier frequency of the FM signal, the LC circuit is tuned by a variable impedance device in response to a control signal generated by a bus controlled DAC. The control signal is coupled to the variable impedance device at the same pin of an integrated circuit where the LC circuit is coupled to the demodulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick W. Miller, Daniel M. Hutchinson
  • Radio broadcast transmission system and receiver for incompatible signal formats, and method therefor
    Patent number: 5584051
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an analog and/or digital radio broadcast transmission system and radio receiver therefor, which includes a control signal having an item of control information concerning another, different type of transmission/receive system. The receiver is a hybrid receiver able to receive both types of signals. When the same program material is available on both of the different systems, the control signal is used for switching the different systems so that the receiver receives the program on the system which provides the best reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Sales GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Goken
  • Dual voltage voltage regulator with foldback current limiting
    Patent number: 5578916
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is switchable between a lower regulated DC output voltage and a higher regulated DC output voltage. Foldback current limiting is actuated in response to the current drawn by the load when a current limiting threshold is exceeded. The current limiting threshold is determined by the voltage relationship at respective taps of a pair of voltage dividers, with said relationship being effected by the voltage appearing across a current sensing resistor coupled in series with the load. The current limiting threshold is adjusted to be approximately the same for both the lower and the higher regulated DC output voltages. This adjustment is accomplished with a non-linear voltage dependent device, which is coupled to one of the voltage dividers, and is actuated in the higher output voltage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Max W. Muterspaugh
  • Voltage regulator having complementary type transistor
    Patent number: 5563500
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a voltage regulator wherein the series pass transistor and an amplification transistor are of complementary types. Supply current flows from the DC supply source through the emitter-collector path of the series pass transistor to the load. The amount of this current is controlled by a negative feedback control signal coupled from the regulated output voltage to the base electrode of the amplification transistor, which in turn drives the base of the series pass transistor. The emitter electrode of the amplification transistor is coupled to a voltage which is less than the regulated DC output voltage so that drive requirements for the pair of transistors is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Max W. Muterspaugh
  • Oscillator and modulator arrangements on a circuit board
    Patent number: 5561403
    Abstract: A printed circuit board includes an oscillator and a modulator. The oscillator includes a first printed inductor and a capacitive diode which are printed on one side of the printed circuit board. The modulator includes a second printed inductor coupled to the first printed inductor and printed on the same side of the printed circuit board as the oscillator. A conductive surface at a reference potential is arranged the other side of the printed circuit board and in the vicinity of the oscillator and the modulator and electrically coupled to the oscillator and the modulator using conductive through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Bertram Fischer, Joachim Lange, Gerhard Maier
  • Vertical deflection circuit for a television receiver
    Patent number: 5548191
    Abstract: It is the object to create a vertical deflection circuit which is suitable, in particular, for a symmetric deflection with a sinusoidal deflection current and a free-running horizontal deflection circuit not synchronised by the input signal.A vertical pulse derived from the received signal and a horizontal pulse (H*) derived from the horizontal deflection circuit are applied to the synchronising inputs of the vertical deflection circuit in such a manner that the vertical deflection in each case begins with the first horizontal pulse following an edge of the vertical pulse (V) derived from the received signal and ends in a wait position preceding the next vertical pulse (V).Suitable, in particular, for television receivers with a symmetric free-running horizontal deflection not synchronised by the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Gangolf Hirtz
  • Negative feedback control circuit having a common line for input and output signal
    Patent number: 5535443
    Abstract: A television receiver having an electronically controlled tuner is presented. A controlled local oscillator provides a local oscillator signal for the mixer. The controlled local oscillator includes an first input terminal for receiving a control signal for controlling its frequency and a first output terminal for providing an output local oscillator signal. A phase-locked loop includes a second input terminal for receiving the local oscillator signal and a second output terminal for providing a signal back to the first input terminal of the controlled local oscillator for controlling its frequency. At least a portion of the coupling between the first output terminal and the second input terminal, and the second output terminal and the first input terminal, have a common line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventor: Leroy S. Wignot
  • Circuit for the continuous zoom adjustment of the picture width in a television receiver
    Patent number: 5530488
    Abstract: In a television receiver, having the ability to display differing image formats, the image width is capable of being continuously adjustable in the manner of a zoom effect. The ability to continuously adjust the image width is accomplished without any perceptible effect on the horizontal scan output. In that circuit, a tangent capacitor is coupled to a second capacitor with a switch being connected for switching the second capacitor into and out of the circuit. The switch is closed for an adjustable period beginning at the line center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventors: Gerard Rilly, Daniel Lopez
  • Method and circuit for an automatic, high precision frequency fine tuning
    Patent number: 5524289
    Abstract: For the purpose of a high precision frequency fine tuning, for example, to a certain television channel, an analog circuit, the frequency of which can be balanced, for example, an demodulator, is balanced in an integrated circuit with the help of a control current. The control current generated in a regulating loop is dependent on a reference frequency with the appropriate accuracy and on a reference frequency with the appropriate accuracy and on a reference capacitancy integrated on the chip. After selecting a frequency, the analog circuit is calibrated and the frequency is subsequently fine-tuned in a measuring mode. Following that, the analog circuit operates in the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventors: Rudolf Koblitz, Martin Rieger, Sabine Roth
  • Bandswitchable double tuned RF circuit with balanced secondary
    Patent number: 5499056
    Abstract: A band switchable double tuned circuit having a balanced secondary is presented. A primary tunable tank circuit with a plurality of first inductances is tuned to a first frequency by a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the first inductances. A secondary tank circuit with a plurality of second inductances inductively coupled to ones of the first inductances has a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second inductances for tuning the secondary to the first frequency. The DC reference potential for the secondary circuit is coupled to a nodal junction of the plurality of second inductances with the secondary tank circuit providing a balanced signal output. At least one of the plurality of first inductances and the second inductances are switchable for bandswitching the tuning of the primary and secondary tank circuits to a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Pugel
  • Mechanism for retaining an electronically readable card in an electronic device
    Patent number: 5455413
    Abstract: A device for retaining an electronically readable card in an electronic device includes a substantially V-shaped resilient retainer dimensioned to engage a portion of the card while the rest of the card remains exposed for electronic reading purposes. The resilient retainer is held in the electronic device by a clip having a first detent member. The retainer includes a second detent member which engages the first detent member as the retainer enters the slit during insertion of the card into the electronic device. The thicknesses of the retainer and the card and the width of the slit are selected so that the resilient retainer is firmly held in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Ramspacher, Thomas E. Freeman
  • Mechanism for mounting a receiving/transmitting horn in a satellite dish
    Patent number: 5448254
    Abstract: A mechanism for mounting a receiving/transmitting horn in a satellite dish includes a casing for supporting the horn and for shielding the coaxial cable connectors and a low noise block from rain, snow, wind and the sun. The casing includes a recessed portion arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing. The recessed portion slides into a feed-arm in a weatherproof manner. The longitudinal axis of the feed-arm is offset from the axis of the satellite dish. The casing, feed-arm, angle and horn support are dimensioned to optimally position the horn at the focal point of the parabolic dish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd R. Schneeman, Robert J. Ramspacher
  • Helical antenna feed element with switches to select end fire and backfire modes and circular polarization direction
    Patent number: 5444455
    Abstract: An antenna system capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation having either right or left helical polarization, and either vertical or horizontal linear polarization includes an energy concentrator which concentrates energy at a focal point. A helical antenna is arranged in the proximity of the focal point. A first switch switches the helical antenna to a backfire mode of operation and a second switch switches the helical antenna to an end fire mode of operation. A control mechanism controls the switches to select the nature of the polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, S.A.
    Inventors: Ali Louzir, Masahiro Fujimoto
  • Television receiver tuning circuit
    Patent number: 5428828
    Abstract: A signal selecting circuit including a first, second and third inductors coupled in series in the order named, a fourth inductor coupled between an output terminal of the third inductor and a reference potential, and varactor diodes responsive to a tuning signal for varying the frequency response of the signal selecting circuit. The signal selecting circuit includes bandswitching circuitry for changing the configuration of the signal selecting circuit in response to the frequency band of the selected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pugel, William L. Lehmann
  • Sound intermediate frequency amplifier for a broadcast receiver
    Patent number: 5426394
    Abstract: In a broadcast receiver, a dc voltage operating source is coupled to an operating voltage terminal of a sound IF integrated circuit via a collector/emitter path of a transistor, and a second source of operating voltage is connected via an RC integrating network to the base of the transistor, with the base of the transistor being connected to ground via a zener diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics S.A.
    Inventor: Huan S. Chiok