Patents Assigned to Thomson-Brandt
  • Patent number: 6024314
    Abstract: In recorders, in particular video recorders, the use of various sizes of cassette is intended and is already customary. For this purpose, the size of the cassette must be identified and the hubs of the transport drive changed appropriately. A mechanical coupling between the winding adjustment and the loading drawer during the loading operation, has no influence on the winding adjustment if a large cassette is inserted, whereas the identification and adjustment, formed by a lever, come into mechanical contact with the winding adjustment in the case of a small cassette. The mechanical coupling is formed by a U-shaped lever, the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Bernadette Dannegger, Fritz Weisser
  • Patent number: 6016233
    Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus for the recording and reproduction of signals, including a magnetic tape having plural data tracks running parallel to an edge of the tape; a multi-track reading device including a multi-track playback head configured to read simultaneously plural of the tracks and output signals corresponding to data recorded on the plural tracks; and a housing in which the tape and the reading device are permanently disposed; wherein the tape is adapted for simultaneous recording of data onto plural data tracks of the tape via external recording heads upon the apparatus being connected to an external recording facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Scholz, Werner Bachnick, Wulf-Christian Streckenbach, Bernd Wessolly, Walter Voessing, Hartmut Peters, Ernst F. Schroeder, Friedrich Timmermann, Paul-Louis Meunier, Max Artigalas
  • Patent number: 6009399
    Abstract: A method for encoding a digitized audio signal which includes the step of selecting one of two or more psycho acoustic model provided for generating masking thresholds used in a data reduction process. The selecting criterion is the available data rate for the encoded bit stream. Each one of the two or more psycho acoustic models is adapted to a specific data rate of the encoded bit stream. In a second embodiment, the method includes the step of combining two or more masking thresholds resulting from different psycho acoustic models, thereby leading to a more accurate calculation of a masking threshold for the data reduction process. Further, there are appropriate apparatuses for the encoding of digitized audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Spille
  • Patent number: 6005946
    Abstract: The reproduction of mono audio signals leads to an unpleasant sound impression because of the lack of any spatial character. It is therefore desirable to produce a two-channel signal electrically from the single-channel input signal. Some of the known single-band methods are very costly and provide only an inadequate impression of a spatial character. In the case of the invention, a plurality of signals of different types are first of all formed from the mono input signal by filtering, and virtual single-band stereo signals are then generated separately for each of these signals of different types. These stereo signals are subsequently combined to form two output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Imre Varga, Jurgen Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6005735
    Abstract: A temperature monitoring process and device for controlling the operation of an recording and playback device in such a way that overheating is avoided. A temperature threshold is provided above which an economical operation mode is switched in, reducing power consumption and further heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Gleim, Hermann Link, Friedrich Heizmann
  • Patent number: 6002225
    Abstract: A method of breaking a motor includes the step of applying a pulse width modulated signal to the winding of the motor. A switching voltage is used to intermittently reverse the poles of the motor for selected time periods. The time periods are separated by pauses the duration of which is dependent upon the breaking force needed to stop the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Gleim, Hermann Link, Michael Bildl, Friedrich Heizmann
  • Patent number: 5999377
    Abstract: A head carrier plate is pressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the videotape by spring force against stops. The audio control head bears with its lower edge on a support which simultaneously serves as a tape guide of the lower edge of the videotape and as a pivotal support for the audio control head. Only two setting screws are then necessary, with which the head carrier plate can be set in terms of the angle of inclination with respect to the capstan shaft and in terms of the angle of inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the videotape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Erhard Lauble, Klaus Oldermann, Fritz Weisser
  • Patent number: 5995460
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for a vibration-resistant playback device, in which uninterrupted and undisturbed reproduction of information is assured despite vibrations, by use of a "shock-proof memory" by arrangement of a buffer between an EFM demodulator, and a de-interleaving and error correction unit, which provides the digital audio information. The buffer can be made of an ARAM (audio RAM), which is less expensive than a DRAM. The ARAM can be partially defective, and its use is made possible by the arrangement before the error correction unit. Subcode information is preferably used to synchronize the data in the buffer following an interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Hirohito Takagi, Richard Rutschmann
  • Patent number: 5986585
    Abstract: A device for converting a mechanical deflection into a corresponding electrical variable which can be used to produce deflection. A cost-effective, energy-saving and good-resolution position measuring device, indicating transmitter or desired position value transmitter. One end of a pair of sliding contacts is driven by electrical drive signals over at least two contact surfaces, the other end of the pair of sliding contacts is displaced over conductor tracks led in parallel, as a result of which drive signals are transmitted via the contacted conductor tracks as evaluation signals. The device is usable in open-loop and closed-loop control technology, for example cursor control on a screen via an infrared remote control transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Pusch
  • Patent number: 5986898
    Abstract: Switched-mode power supplies require a power factor correction circuit in order to comply with anticipated regulations for the harmonic load on the line network. In its second current path, which produces a connection between a rectifier element and a tap on the primary winding of a transformer, the switched-mode power supply contains a capacitor which produces current limiting for an inductance in this current path. When the switching transistor is in the switching mode the inductance is charged, when the switching transistor is switched on, in the sense of an energy store until the capacitor is charged. When the switching transistor is switched off, the inductance and the capacitor are discharged via a diode in the direction of an energy-storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Meitzner, Jean-Paul Louvel
  • Patent number: 5986989
    Abstract: A method is specified for processing the output signals A to F of an optoelectronic scanner (3) in a replay or recording appliance for replaying from or recording onto an optical recording medium having the following method steps: as well as an appliance with a corresponding input circuit of a digital servo controller: first of all, the output signals A to F are supplied directly to an A/D converter (2) without the interposition of a low-pass filter, and are digitized with n-times oversampling. The digitized output signals are then supplied to a k-th order comb filter (4) by means of which undersampling of the signals to the normal sampling frequency (44.1 kHz) is carried out. After this, the undersampled output signals A' to F' of the comb filter (4) are supplied to a trimming and correction circuit (6) in which trimming and correction, of OFFSET and BALANCE are respectively carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Hirohito Takagi, Heinrich Schemmann
  • Patent number: 5982417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displaying a sequence of 3D images on the basis of a first sequence of source images corresponding to the left eye and of a second sequence of source images corresponding to the right eye of an observer, said source images being conveyed respectively by a video signal S.sub.1 and by a video signal S.sub.2 of respective luminous intensities E.sub.1 and E.sub.2. The device includes a first means of calculation (6) intended to generate from said video signals S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 a luminous signal S having an overall luminous intensity E calculated as a function of the luminous intensities E.sub.1 and E.sub.2, said means of calculation (6) co-operating with a second means of calculation (8) in such a way as to split, for each pixel, the overall luminous energy E in proportion to the luminous intensities E.sub.1 and E.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Laurent Blonde
  • Patent number: 5982115
    Abstract: A non-switched, DC coupled vertical deflection circuit includes a source of a first DC supply voltage that is coupled to a first end terminal of a vertical deflection winding. An amplifier is energized by a second DC supply voltage having twice the magnitude of the first DC supply voltage and the same polarity. An output voltage of the amplifier having the same polarity of each of the first and second DC supply voltages is developed at a second end terminal of the deflection winding. The amplifier produces a deflection current at opposite polarities, during corresponding portions of a vertical trace interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Koblitz
  • Patent number: 5982910
    Abstract: In the case of the storage or transmission of moving images, it is frequently necessary to reduce the large number of information items by means of suitable compression methods. In order to estimate the movement, the image to be coded is in this case split into blocks, and each of these reference blocks R is compared with blocks of the same size of the preceding image, and a movement information item is derived. Conventional methods for movement estimation in this case use all the pixels in the reference block R and in the search area S. Since this very complicated method requires very fast, and thus expensive, hardware, the so-called quincunx undersampling is applied to the search area S. In the case of the reference block R, one quincunx undersampled pixel is used for even parity of the movement vector and the other quincunx undersampled pixel is used for odd parity, depending on which position is being investigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Drexler, Marco Winter
  • Patent number: 5978188
    Abstract: A tape recorder and/or a playback device for a multitrack tape utilizes a magnetic head having active parts for recording and/or reading microtracks with the active parts being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix within a substantially planar surface of the magnetic head. A pressure device assures contact between the microtracks and the active parts by acting on a backside surface of the tape opposite to the front side surface containing the magnetic head. A structure allows for positioning the magnetic head in front of either one of at least two macrotracks which bundle addressed microtracks. A portion of the tape surface is supported adjacent to the macrotrack bundling the addressed microtracks to prevent unwanted tape deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt
    Inventors: Jurgen Kaaden, Klaus Oldermann
  • Patent number: 5978516
    Abstract: A method is proposed for checking convergence in fractal image coding. In this case, a digitized image is divided into a number of range blocks (R.sub.i, R.sub.i+1) and into a number of domain blocks (D.sub.j, D.sub.k). A similar domain block is determined in relation to each range block. If necessary, in this process a transformation of a domain block is undertaken in order to map the domain block onto a range block. The assignment of the domain block to the range block including the transformation parameters represents the fractal code for the image. A reduced transformation matrix is set up to check convergence of the fractal code. The largest absolute eigenvalue of the transformation matrix is determined approximately. The entire method can be carried out in this case hierarchically. In a first approximation step, at least the row sum norm of each row of the reduced transformation matrix is checked. In further steps, further rows are combined to form square matrices of higher dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Dickopp, Peter Siepen
  • Patent number: 5973940
    Abstract: The switched-mode power supply comprises a secondary winding and four diodes for producing two rectified voltages of the same polarity, one of which can be regulated. A connection of the unregulated voltage has connected to it a variable Zener diode as an error amplifier for transmitting a regulating signal to the primary side. The driver stage provides a pulse-width-modulated square-wave signal for driving the switching transistor which is arranged at a high potential between the operating voltage on the input side and a first connection of the primary winding. The second connection of the primary winding is connected with a Zener diode and provides a stabilized voltage for the driver stage. Arranged between the driver stage and the control electrode of the switching transistor there is a differentiating element which produces positive and negative switching voltages for controlling the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Rehm, Thomas Riesle, Gerard Rilly, Jose I. Rodriguez-Duran
  • Patent number: 5973584
    Abstract: There is disclosed a high voltage transformer for a television receiver, comprising a coil former in which there are situated auxiliary windings, a primary winding over the auxiliary windings, and a high voltage winding over the primary winding. A first sleeve forms a flat base for the primary winding, and is arranged on the auxiliary windings. The primary winding is wound from a plurality of layers of solid wire, each layer disposed directly over the other, and a further sleeve made of a dielectric inserted between two of the plurality of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Goseberg
  • Patent number: 5973753
    Abstract: In analog color television transmission methods, the transmitted CVBS signal comprises luminance and chrominance signals which have to be separated from one another in a television receiver in order to permit separate further processing. Comb filters can be used for this, a picture contents-dependent controller frequently being worked with which switches over between different filter algorithms, that is to say different line combinations, as a function of the respective chrominance signals. In the case of conventional comb signals, the CVBS signal is split into the luminance signal and a chrominance signal which is still to be demodulated into the two color difference signals. In this case, the identification of color edges, in particular, is not always carried out in a manner free from errors. This can lead to only incomplete separation of the luminance and chrominance signals, so that cross effects cannot fully be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Huetter
  • Patent number: 5970397
    Abstract: Various methods for terrestrial transmission of digital broadcast signals as DVB, HDTV-T and DAB signals are known. One of these methods is the OFDM method, where the transmitted signal includes a multiplicity of modulated carriers. These carriers are separated in the receiver by means of a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). Before being transposed in the frequency domain by the FFT, the analog signal must be sampled. For this purpose a local oscillator controls the timing in front of the FFT. Oscillator imperfections like jitter and frequency offsets can degrade the accuracy of the sampling operation and therefore introduce intercarrier interferences after the FFT. A feedback loop combining the AFC and CPEE process has been designed in order to correct frequency deviations and to reduce jitter of the signal without introducing significant phase noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Klank, Dominique Madeleine