Patents Assigned to Thomson-CSF
  • Method for interconnecting semiconductor chips in three dimensions, and component resulting therefrom
    Patent number: 5637536
    Abstract: A method and component resulting from interconnecting wafers in three dimensions, where the wafers include chips and the chips include pads. Steps in the method include connecting leads to the pads; stacking the wafers; embedding the stack by a selectively removable material; treating faces of the stack in order to reveal the leads; forming connections on the faces of the stack for interconnecting the leads; and removing the selectively removable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Christian Val
  • Optical interconnection system
    Patent number: 5636047
    Abstract: An optical interconnection circuit includes a fixed number (N) of interconnected circuits (C1 to C16). Each circuit has an optical emitter (E1 to E16) and at least one optical receiver (R1, R16). The emitter outputs an optical wavelength which is specific to the circuit on which it is located. An optical coupler (CE) connects the emitter in each circuit to all receivers in the other circuits and each circuit (C1 to C16) has an address for identifying that particular circuit. The value of this address is applied to the emitter to adjust the optical wave length at which the emitter operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Pierre Lagoutte, Luigi D'Auria
  • Wall for radomes, and radomes thus obtained
    Patent number: 5631663
    Abstract: The invention relates to walls that are used for constructing radomes, in particular radomes for aircraft radars, as well as radomes using such walls.According to the invention, the inner and outer layers of said wall are separated by a central core including a central portion made of dielectric material flanked by two lateral portions made of the same dielectric material but with a recess, the aggregate of said portions being obtained by juxtaposition of elemental dominoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre David, Bernard Estang, Patrice Bossuet
  • Analogue-to-digital converter and analogue-to-digital conversion system embodying said converter
    Patent number: 5629699
    Abstract: An N-bit analogue-to-digital converter can increase the resolution by 3 bits, by very precise coding of the differential phase at the output of the electro-optic phase modulator controlled by the electric signal to be converted. The optical signals obtained are processed by an electro-optic device that outputs electric signals that are functions of the sine and cosine of the phase. A coding device uses the symmetry of the trigonometric circle partitioned into four consecutive sectors between 0 and 27.pi. in order to convert the absolute values of the electric signals obtained on (N-3) bits, independently of the home sector of the phase. A transcoding device uses the value of the sine and cosine coded on (N-3) bits, to output a value V of the electric signal, on N bits, as a function of the home sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jean Chazelas, Guy Le Parquier, Fran.cedilla.ois Renault
  • Method for the making of surface-emitting laser diodes with mechanical mask, the apertures having inclined flanks
    Patent number: 5627100
    Abstract: A method for making a set of surface-emitting laser diodes comprises the making of reflectors by the epitaxial growth of at least one semiconductor material through a mask having apertures with inclined flanks. This method leads to the obtaining of the Bragg reflectors obtained in situ, removing the need for the ion etching of a semiconductor substrate followed by a phase for the conditioning of the surface of the sample before the preparation of the desired laser structure.Application: optical power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Maurel, Jean-Charles Garcia, Jean-Pierre Hirtz
  • Static infrared panoramic watching device with multiple matrix detectors
    Patent number: 5627374
    Abstract: It is sought to obtain efficient detection and tracking capacity by a particular form of organization including a micro-scanning device common to all the detectors. In one embodiment, the disclosed device includes of a frame with a shape generated by revolution around an elevation axis. This frame bears afocal optical sets coupled respectively to optical focusing sets to project the light fluxes coming from the scenes observed and to form images on fixed detectors. Prisms, with a predetermined angle at the vertex and a predetermined orientation, are distributed in a circle on a rotational drum with an axis that is identical with the elevation axis so that, during the rotation of the drum, each prism intercepts the observation flux in the form of parallel beams and deflects it so as to prompt a virtual shift of the sensors of each detector corresponding to a micro-scanning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Georges Couderc, Fran.cedilla.ois Micheron
  • Electronic micro-component self-sealed under vacuum, notably diode or triode, and corresponding fabrication method
    Patent number: 5625250
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns the making of microcomponents belonging to the family of vacuum tubes of the diode, triode and electroluminescent component type. The goal thereof is notably to resolve problems of fabrication under vacuum, and of precise anode-cathode spacing. This goal is achieved by means of a microcomponent of the stacked structure type wherein the anode is made in the form of a metallic layer for the sealing of said cavity under vacuum containing the microcathode, and wherein at least one solid dielectric layer provides for the spacing between said anode and said microcathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Didier Pribat, Jean-Pierre Le Pesant
  • Illumination device and application to a display device
    Patent number: 5621547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device in which a holographic device (HP.sub.i) separates the polarizations of an incident beam. The resulting polarized beam is transmitted to a holographic device (HL.sub.i) focusing the beam at various points of a screen. This screen may be a liquid-crystal screen (LCD).Applications: Liquid-crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Brigitte Loiseaux, Jean-Pierre Huignard, Christophe Nicolas, Claude Puech
  • Thermal detector comprising a thermal insulator made of expanded polymer
    Patent number: 5618737
    Abstract: A thermal detector with a monolithic structure comprises a layer of material sensitive to infrared radiation and an insulating layer constituted by a thermostable polymer that can be deposited as a thin layer and has a microporous structure. This insulating layer enables the thermal decoupling of the sensitive layer from the substrate comprising reading circuits with which the detector is provided. The performance characteristics of currently used monolithic infrared detectors can thus be substantially improved through the notable reduction of the thermal losses in the sensitive layer. This is achieved through the greatly reduced thermal conductivity of the layer of dielectric polymer. Application to infrared imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Robin, Jean-Marc Bureau, Fran.cedilla.ois Bernard, Hugues Facoetti
  • Process for deinterlacing the frames of a moving image sequence
    Patent number: 5619272
    Abstract: In this process the frames are composed of frames with parity of a first type (1, 2) interlaced with frames with parity of a second type. It consists in interpolating the missing lines in the direction of the motion (3) on the one hand, by vertical intra-frame linear filtering (6) on the other hand, and in switching between these two values (8) depending on the confidence accorded to the motion vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Salmon, Bertrand Chupeau
  • Automatic gain control method and device for receiving circuits
    Patent number: 5617240
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic gain control in a receiver. The input signal to the receiver includes both a DC component and a signal component. Filters are used to separate the two components. The DC component modulates a pilot signal and is then added to the signal component. The combined signal is then amplified to produce an output signal. The output is also filtered and subjected to a synchronous detector to produce a gain control level for the amplifier. The synchronous detector utilizes the filtered output signal to modulate the same pilot signal which is then compared to a reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Stephane Hergault, Patrick Hardy
  • Compact optical source based on the frequency doubling of a laser and self-stabilized by the depletion of the pump
    Patent number: 5615042
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact optical source capable of emitting wavelengths (notably in the blue spectrum) which it is difficult for standard laser diodes to achieve. This source has a laser (or laser diode) emitting at a wavelength .lambda.oi, a non-linear medium (NLM) in which the phase matching condition is achieved at a wavelength .lambda.o.sub.a belonging to the set of .lambda.o.sub.i values, a mirror M.sub.l transparent at .lambda.o.sub.i /2 and reflective at .lambda.oi placed at output of the medium (NLM) By reinjecting wavelengths .lambda.oi.noteq..lambda.oa into the laser, it is possible to lock the emission of the laser to .lambda.oa and thus set up a high-powered optical source .lambda.o.sub.a /2. Application: blue sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Dominique Delacourt, Michel Papuchon, Eric Lallier, Thierry Debuisschert
  • Device for securing an information system used in microcomputers
    Patent number: 5615262
    Abstract: A device for the securing of information systems, notably for a system used in the field of microcomputers, comprising at least one SCSI port having means for the enciphering of confidential information travelling through the system and comprising a peripheral communicating with the information system by an SCSI bus that has an interface between the SCSI bus and a bus internal to the peripheral, placing information management and storage means in a state of communication with the enciphering means contained in the peripheral as well as with an interface between a user and the peripheral, making it possible to provide the security services for the confidential information travelling through the peripheral, independently of the standards of the bus and operating system used by the information system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Antoine Guy, Pierre Romenteau
  • Control device for a hydraulic slide valve
    Patent number: 5611518
    Abstract: A device for the control of a hydraulic slide valve. The hydraulic valve being put into motion by a motor and by a draw-back spring, the device including structure for controlling the rotational direction of the motor as a function of its positional error, the control structure being, in turn, controlled by a signal given by a correction circuit, the transfer function (K(s)) of which corrects a jet effect that is exerted on the slide valve. The device has application to hydraulic systems requiring large passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Christian Menard
  • Compact optical source based on the frequency doubling of a laser
    Patent number: 5610759
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact and coherent optical source using a laser that emits an incident wave at a wavelength .lambda.o.sub.i, a non-linear medium (NLM) in which the phase matching condition is verified at the wavelength .lambda.o.sub.a belonging to the set of .lambda.o.sub.i values. This optical source furthermore has two dichroic mirrors M1 and M2 at the points of entry into and exit from the non-linear medium that are highly transparent at the wavelengths .lambda.o.sub.i and highly reflective at the wavelengths .lambda.o.sub.i /2. Such a configuration advantageously enables the locking of the emission of the laser into the wavelength .lambda.o.sub.a, the recovery of a light wave at .lambda.o.sub.a /2 and, thus, the amplification of the emitted power at .lambda.o.sub.a /2. Application to blue sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Dominique Delacourt, Michel Papuchon
  • Method of recalibrating a battery energy management processor
    Patent number: 5608325
    Abstract: The method of recalibrating an energy management processor of a battery of accumulators consists, at the end of a defined period of time, in initiating a process of recalibration of evaluation of the quantity of electrical energy contained in the battery, in completely recharging the battery, in detecting the end of the complete recharge of the battery, in performing a partial discharge of the battery, in measuring the quantity of electricity extracted during this discharge, in leaving the battery to rest for a defined time, in totally discharging the battery at a low current while measuring the quantity of electricity thus extracted from the battery, in adding the said two quantities of electricity measured in order to obtain the value of the maximum capacity of the battery at the moment of the recalibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Chabbert, Alain Chatenay, Christian Menard, Dominique Meux
  • Method for obtaining composite materials based on cross-linked polymer and fluid molecules, comprising a step of drying in supercritical phase
    Patent number: 5605727
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for obtaining composite material comprising a network of cross-linked polymer and fluid molecules. Such materials, using molecules of liquid crystal, are notably used in display screens. The originality of the disclosure lies in the drying, in supercritical phase, of the molecules that have enabled the preparation of the network. Generally, the operation of evaporation drying of the solvent leads to a deterioration of the network structure. With the method according to the invention, the network keeps its initial structure, making it possible to obtain high performance characteristics in scattering of light. Application to display screens and protection for detectors.No abstract figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Laurent Bouteiller
  • Process and device for bite-rate reduction for the recording of images on a video recorder
    Patent number: 5604602
    Abstract: A method comprising breaking an image down into sub-bands, performing a pre-analysis of the image in image blocks, recursively and adaptively assigning the available bit-rate to each pixel in the sub-bands, selecting a quantizer determined by the source probability density and a calculation of the minimum quantizing error variance, and coding each pixel of each signal component in every sub-band according to the selected quantizer. The method is applicable to HDTV digital VCRs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Guillotel, Philippe Tourtier
  • Dispersive optical delay line and use thereof for the compression/expansion of laser pulses
    Patent number: 5602677
    Abstract: A dispersive, optical delay line for frequency modulated light wave pulses, especially laser waves, comprises a first optical grating and a second optical grating that are parallel to each other, separated by a distance d and localized with a pitch a on the surface of a material that has an index N and is transparent to light waves. An incident wave .SIGMA. is diffracted at an angle .theta.' greater than the limit angle of refraction by transmission through the first and second optical gratings, the angle of emergence from the second grating being also equal to .theta.'. The values of the parameters N, .theta.', a and d are chosen so that a variation in delay time .DELTA.t.sub.R of the pulse through the line corresponds to a modulation bandwidth .DELTA.f of the pulse in a quasi-linear domain. Application to compression/expansion to obtain high-power or very short laser pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Pierre Tournois
  • Absorbent passive acoustic antenna
    Patent number: 5600609
    Abstract: An absorbent passive acoustic antenna, designed to be attached to the hull of a ship, is made in the form of a stack of layers of polyurethane having different types of composition to obtain absorbent and/or reflective characteristics so as to minimize the parasitic signals received by the hydrophones and achieve the maximum absorption of the signals coming from the active sonars external to the vessel on which these antennas are placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Patrick Vacher