Patents Assigned to Thomson-LGT
  • Patent number: 5369794
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the changing of frequencies. The mixing of a signal at a frequency Fe and of the signal of a local oscillator gives a resultant signal that comprises a first component at the useful frequency, a second component at the frequency of the oscillator and a third component which is an image of the first component with respect to the second one. A filtering highly attenuates the third component. A servo-control makes a part of the signal from the oscillator undergo variations in amplitude and phase before adding it to the resultant signal to be filtered; the variations are made so as to obtain a minimum energy from the second component before filtering. Application to the changing of frequencies with suppression of the component at the frequency of the local oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Didier Martineau
  • Patent number: 5361039
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the linear power amplification, in a single channel, of a composite signal formed by two independent signals. In a single channel formed by correction means followed by a linear preamplifier followed by a saturated amplifier, the filtering and symmetry effect produced, both in the correction means and in the saturated amplifier, is advantageously used to compensate for clipping of the composite signal due to the amplifier. This makes it possible to obtain an undistorted output signal whose amplitude exceeds the level of saturation of the saturated amplifier. The compensation makes it necessary for the transfer characteristic of the correction means to have a given slope between two points beyond which the saturation appears in the saturated amplifier and a slope that is substantially thrice the given slope on each side of these two points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Jean Michel
  • Patent number: 5357213
    Abstract: A high-frequency wideband power amplifier, of the type comprising an amplifier stage with at least two transistors mounted as a differential stage, coupled at input and at output to a matching circuit further comprises, in order to convey each bias voltage to the amplifier stage, at least one high-frequency transmission line section with a length close to a quarter of the wavelength of the carrier of the signal to be amplified, the impedance of which, brought in parallel on each transistor, is negligible with respect to the high frequencies and the series impedance of which is negligible in the baseband of the signal to be amplified; the line sections conveying the bias voltages to the input of each transistor are identical to one another in length and in impedance, and the same is the case for the line sections conveying the bias voltages to the output of each transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Thomson-Lgt Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventors: Jean Michel, Jean-Claude Combe, Herminio de Faria
  • Patent number: 5309167
    Abstract: The receiving antenna comprises at least two sectors or sections of paraboloids focusing the radiation onto their axes at points F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 respectively offset by a whole number of wavelengths of the received radiation. Each sector or section is associated with a helicoidal source located in its focal zone and having the same axis as that of the corresponding sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignees: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications, Telediffusion de France S.A.
    Inventors: Claude Cluniat, Jean-Jacques Delmas
  • Patent number: 5276904
    Abstract: A system intended for the simultaneous reception of several TV channels retransmitted by satellites. This system comprises a multi-frequency microwave frequency head, installed in an external unit, whose inputs are connected to the satellite antennas. Wide band demodulation is made possible by a microwave frequency source controlled by a synthesizer. Digital signals transmitted by a link cable ensure programming of the synthesizer and therefore of the selected TV channels. A remodulation in amplitude modulation is performed for supplying signals in the 40-860 MHz band, carried by an existing link cable for terrestrial antennas. The system finds particular application to the simultaneous reception of several TV channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignees: Thomson Composants Microondes, Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Mutzig, Claude Cluniat, Alain Bert
  • Patent number: 5270814
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and correcting nonlinearities in a transmission system which transmits a modulated wave having a maximum peak level N.sub.C and with a frequency band [F.sub.1, F.sub.2 ]. The system transmits a composite signal having a carrier frequency proximate to one end of the frequency band, modulated by a low frequency signal having a level varying between zero and the peak level N.sub.C. The composite signal also has two other signals with carrier frequencies proximate to the other end of the band and having frequencies differing by an intercarrier frequency. The composite transmitted signal is received and analyzed for the presence of a signal at the intercarrier frequency which varies in amplitude with the nonlinearity of the system. Linearity of the system is obtained when the signal at the intercarrier frequency is zero or less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Thomson-Lgt Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Jean Michel
  • Patent number: 5212493
    Abstract: The antenna system for direct broadcasting satellite reception is formed by a parabolic reflector associated with source means, the reflector being positioned and held by means of a supporting foot formed by a hollow, tubular body fixed at its upper part to the rear central zone of the reflector and hinged at its lower part to a pedestal around a horizontal axis to define the elevation of the antenna. The pedestal includes a rotationally movable part to define the azimuth of the antenna. The tubular body of the pedestal supports a section sufficient to contain all the circuits associated with the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General Des Telecomm.
    Inventors: Claude Cluniat, Maurice Loiseau, Guy Bastard, Jean-Jacques Lombard
  • Patent number: 5204688
    Abstract: The disclosed antenna is designed notably for the emission of television and radio broadcast signals in the decimetrical wavebands. It comprises:a vertical, central supporting tube,a plurality of identical radiating networks evenly distributed around the central tube, each consisting of a vertical bifilary line symmetrically supplying, supporting and coupling a plurality of horizontal dipoles evenly distributed along this bifilary line, and,a system for the distribution of equiphase, equal power, identically and simultaneously supplying the radiating networks through a single coaxial supply line. The antenna has a reflector thus substantially reducing its weight and its windward surface as compared with standard antennas with panels generally used in this band. Advantageously, these antennas are superimposed and enclosed in a sealed radome which is substantially cylindrical and self-supporting and superimposable. This antenna gives an omnidirectional diagram with 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventors: Maurice Loiseau, Guy Bastard
  • Patent number: 5194835
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy coupling device which can be used with metrical and decimetrical waves. To distribute, equipotentially and in equiphase, towards n users, the energy coming from m equipotential sources in equiphase, a 90-degree of 3 dB hybrid circuit is connected at the output of each source. This circuit distributes the power equally and with a 90-degree, aperiodic phase shift, towards two equipotential distributors in equiphase, with m inputs and n outputs, having one and the same input/output phase shift. The two distributors are connected, respectively, to the two ports of a pair of conjugated ports of n 90-degree 3 dB hybrid circuits. The powers recombined in these n circuits are respectively delivered to n users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Michel Destrade
  • Patent number: 5025207
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns automatic measuring stands. The automatic measurement of the amplitude of an intermodulation line at the output of a TV transmitter is difficult to achieve because this line is often drowned in a cloud of noise formed by the spectra of lines due to the numerous frequencies of the line frequency. The standard way to make the measurement is to do a visual interpretation. When the measurement is done automatically, this visual interpretation is not possible. The method according to the invention uses the a priori knowledge of the existence of a steady level at the peak of the line to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Dominique Gauthier
  • Patent number: 4767952
    Abstract: A circuit for high speed control a field effect power transistors. This circuit has a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding transmits control signals to gates of the field effect power transistors. An energy storage structure is coupled to the transformer, and stores energy required for controlling the gates of the field effect power transistors. This energy is stored during an inactive phase of the control signal. A transmission structure is coupled to the transformer, and is fed with energy stored in the energy storage structure. In this way, the transmission structure uses energy stored in the energy storage structure to supply the control signals to the gates of the field effect power transistors. Therefore, the secondary of the transformer is not loaded during this time. At other times, the transmission structure isolates the output of the transformer from the rest of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Thomson-Lgt Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Michel Nollet
  • Patent number: 4751628
    Abstract: An automatic symmetry correction circuit is provided for a symmetrical current chopper. This structure includes two current channels controlled alternately by two signals of frequency f.A resonant LC circuit is tuned to the frequency f and energized by the currents passing through each of the two channels.A control circuit is coupled to the resonance circuit for adjusting the symmetry between the amplitudes of the currents flowing through each of the two channels as a function of the amplitude of the oscillations of frequency f generated by the resonance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventor: Michel Nollet
  • Patent number: 4672585
    Abstract: A device for stopping the running of programs being executed in a microprocessor prior to the disappearance of the power supply voltage of the microprocessor comprising a differentiator circuit shunted across the power supply line VA of a microprocessor for inhibiting the access circuit to the internal RAM in the microprocessor and for reinitializing the internal circuits of the microprocessor as soon as the power supply voltage level VA begins to decrease from a predetermined decrease threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Thomson-Lgt Laboratoire General des Telecommuications
    Inventor: Michel Nollet
  • Patent number: 4672452
    Abstract: A device for the automatic precorrection of non-linearities of a power amplification chain in a common channel television transmitter. The device has a first circuit for detecting the component to be corrected prior to amplification and addition of the components to be simultaneously amplified, a circuit for selecting the same components after amplification in a common channel, an attenuator of the latter component having an attenuation coefficient equal to the linear part of the amplification chain gain, a second detection circuit, an analog divider receiving the two detected components, whereof the output is coupled to the precorrection control input of a precorrection circuit upstream of the first precorrection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT Laboratoire General des Telecommunications
    Inventors: Philippe Corbel, Michel Allanic
  • Patent number: 4660003
    Abstract: The device for limiting the transmission power of radiowave transmitters comprises a limiting stage for attenuating the signal to be amplified before applying it to the input of the amplifying chain. A coupler collects part of the signal in order to apply it to the input of control means. A delay device is coupled between the coupler and the limiting stage and delays the signal to be amplifed before applying it to the input of the limiting stage. The control means block the limiting stage in order to prevent transmission of the signal to be amplified to the input of the amplifying chain when the level of the signal to be amplified overshoots a predetermined amplitude and hold the limiting stage in the blocked state after the level of the signal to be amplified has fallen back below the predetermined threshold during a sufficient period of time which is calculated so as to prevent any power overshoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT
    Inventors: Claude Cluniat, Michel Allanic
  • Patent number: 4610030
    Abstract: The invention concerns a frequency modulation broadcasting transmitter in which the output oscillator at the transmission frequency is modulated not directly by the audiofrequency signal but through the intermediary of a phase locking loop comprising a phase comparator supplied, on the one hand, by the output signal filtered from a picture or image frequency rejection mixer. This mixer receives, on the one hand, a modulated intermediary frequency signal from a modulator and, on the other hand, the output signal of the oscillator at the transmitting frequency F.sub.S, the reference frequency F.sub.o1 being determined as a function of the central transmitting frequency and of the intermediary frequency F.sub.o1 =F.sub.S -F.sub.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Thomson-LGT
    Inventors: Mariano Dominguez, Daniel Artaud