Patents Assigned to Thorn EMI
  • Display device
    Patent number: 4976516
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell comprises first and second substrates located in a substantially parallel relative arrangement to define an active display region therebetween when filled with liquid crystal material. The cell further includes means to effect filling of the active display region with liquid crystal material from at least a part of an edge of the active display rgion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: Andrew N. Carrington
  • Track lighting
    Patent number: 4975071
    Abstract: An adapter for mounting a lamp fitting on a lighting track comprises a hollow body member, a head which can be slid along the track and a pair of resilient contact strips. An electrically insulating separator maintains the contact strips in spaced apart relationship in the body member and respective pairs of grooves formed in the head hold the contact strips so that bowed sections of the contact strips press against supply rails which extend along the side walls of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn Emi plc
    Inventors: Lou Bedocs, Michael C. Eksteen
  • Method of manufacturing a cold cathode, field emission device and a field emission device manufactured by the method
    Patent number: 4969850
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a cold cathode field emission device. The method comprises the steps of:providing a layer of anodised alumina having a plurality of elongate pores which are substantially orthogonal to major surfaces of the layer;filling said pores completely with an electron emission material, and then removing at least a part of said layer to form a defined surface of said layer and to produce a plurality of electron emissive spikes extruding from and at an angle to said defined surface wherein a plurality of electron emissive structures are produced, each structure comprising a plurality of electron emissive spikes inclined to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: James L. S. Wales
  • Display device
    Patent number: 4969732
    Abstract: A display device includes equipment for projecting light onto a surface. The equipment includes a beam-splitter for effecting partial reflection and partial transmittance of an incident beam. On one side of the beam-splitter are a light source for directing light onto the beam-splitter and a mirror for directing back towards the beam-splitter light reflected therefrom. On the other side of the beam-splitter is a louvre for permitting passage therethrough of light of incident angle relative to a normal to the beam-splitter with in a predetermined restricted range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Graham L. Wright, Mark Dempster
  • Microengineered diaphragm pressure switch
    Patent number: 4965415
    Abstract: A microengineered pressure actuated switch includes a domed diaphragm having a snap-action response between defined states (d.sub.1, d.sub.5) of the diaphragm. This response is to an applied pressure differential across the diaphragm. The diaphragm is supported on a substrate of semiconductor material. In a method of making such a switch, a layer of inorganic material is provided on one side of a substrate of semiconductor material. Semiconductor material is removed from the substrate such that a defined region of the layer is not in contact with the semiconductor material, this defined region forming the diaphragm. The layer of inorganic material is so stressed that after semiconductor material is removed, the layer assumes a domed configuration and incorporates a pre-bias in the direction of doming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn Emi plc
    Inventors: Donald C. Young, Philim B. Daniels
  • Projectile
    Patent number: 4957046
    Abstract: A projectile has a nose portion and a body portion. A plurality of winged, fin-stabilized flechettes are releasably mounted in the body portion. Each flechette is mounted with its longitudinal axis at a pre-set pitch to a longitudinal axis of the projectile. In use, with the projectile moving on a projectile trajectory, each released flechette follows a respective trajectory parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the projectile trajectory. The predetermined distance for each flechette is determined by its pre-set pitch to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI Electronics Limited
    Inventor: Michael C. Puttock
  • E.A.S. tag having a control component with selectively magnetizeable regions
    Patent number: 4956636
    Abstract: A tag for use with an electromagnetic identification system includes a magnetic control component 1, having alternating regions 10, 20 of, respectively, high and medium coercivity material, and an element 30 of magnetically soft material. The element 30 may be polarized so as to deactivate the tag by, for example, selectively demagnetizing the regions 20 of medium coercivity, such as by exposing the tag to an alternating magnetic field having an initial field strength which is intermediate between the coercivity of the regions 10, 20, which may be formed as a striped coating or from a number of discrete magnetic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn Emi plc
    Inventors: David J. Sansom, Simon N. M. Willcock, Robert A. Woolley
  • Optical image rotators
    Patent number: 4948228
    Abstract: An optical rotator such as a Pechan rotator is arranged to rotate an image about a given axis. Light entering an input surface of the rotator is subjected to a number (e.g. five) of reflections, alternate reflections being total internal reflections and the intervening ones being mirror reflections. At least one of the surfaces, preferably one at which total internal reflection occurs, bears a layered polarizing material arranged to impart a defined polarization effect as between light entering and exiting the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn Emi plc
    Inventor: Andrew P. Keens
  • Thermal imaging device
    Patent number: 4945240
    Abstract: A pyroelectric film has a pattern of inter-connected electrodes formed on one major surface, and a pattern of discrete electrodes formed on the other major surface. Each discrete electrode has an aperature in which is formed a respective electrically conductive pad. The film is supported by pillars connected to the pads, the pillars also providing a path for electrical signals between the pads and a signal processing means. Each discrete electrode is connected to a respective pad by a respective strip of electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Elvin L. Nix, Stanley Taylor
  • Replication of carriers bearing digitally recorded information
    Patent number: 4943126
    Abstract: The holographic manufacture of Compact Discs has three stages namely mastering, production of the sub-master holograms and replication. In the production stage, a holographic plate, spacer and master transparency are positioned against a prism, and then illuminated with split beams from a laser in order to record a hologram, at the plate, of the master transparency. The resultant hologram of the plate is then mass replicated on polycarbonate or photochromic discs to produce compact Discs compatible to conventional Compact Disc players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Anthony Lang, Paul Bloch, deceased
  • Thermal imaging device
    Patent number: 4942301
    Abstract: A pyroelectric film has a pattern of interconnected electrodes formed on one major surface, and a pattern of discrete electrodes and electrically conductive contacts formed on the other major surface. Each discrete electrode is connected to a respective contact by a respective strip of electrically conductive material. Regions of the film each including a contact and part of the associated strip are formed in tongues pulled out of the plane of the film. The contacts are thus able to make electrical contact with respective input terminals of an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI Electronics Limited
    Inventor: Roger Voles
  • Radiation absorber and method of making it
    Patent number: 4942402
    Abstract: An absorber for radiation of frequency of the order of 1 THz is formed of a body of cured silicone-based elastomer containing an inert, powdered siliceous filler. Both the elastomer and the filler are electrically insulating and the surface of the absorber that is exposed to the radiation is preferably profiled to enhance absorption of the radiation. The profiling preferably takes the form of an array of sharp-pointed pyramids having rectangular or triangular bases. A method of moulding such absorbers is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn Emi Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Brian E. Prewer, Brian Milner
  • EAS tag with magnetically structured control element
    Patent number: 4935724
    Abstract: A tag 2 for use in an electronic article surveillance system comprises a magnetically structured component 4 in close proximity to a striplike element 6 of magnetically soft material. The component 4 includes magnetic particles 8 orientated into particular directions in regions 10, 12, preferably at .+-.45.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the tag.The tag 2 can be deactivated by longitudinal wiping with a deactivator providing a magnetic field corresponding to the angle of orientation of the particles 8. Deactivation is, therefore, straightforward for a check out operator but not for a potential thief.The orientated particles 8 can be used to define an interpretable code enabling product inventory with deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: Andrew L. Smith
  • Gas sensitive device
    Patent number: 4931851
    Abstract: A gas sensitive device, for example a gas sensitive MISFET (FIGS. 1 to 3) has a gas-sensitive electrode (15) comprising a catalytically active metal (e.g. Pt or Pd) and a non-metallic material (e.g. SiO.sub.2) mixed with, or deposited at an exposed surface of, the metal to modify the catalytic activity of the metal. The electrode has an enhanced sensitivity to, and selectivity of, certain gases. The composite material is applicable to other gas-sensitive devices, e.g. an optical fibre gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Alastair Sibbald, Brian C. Webb, Ian Robins, John F. Ross, Edward C. Bell
  • Bandwidth reduction system for television signals
    Patent number: 4924308
    Abstract: A bandwidth reduction system for television signals employs three spatial filter circuits capable of imposing respective resolution characteristics on the signals. The filters are selectively switched into the path of the signals in dependence upon the degrees motion occurring in respective spatial portions of the television picture. A relatively high resolution is allowed where virtually no movement is taking place and a relatively low resolution where rapid movement is taking place. Intermediate resolution is imposed where the degree of motion in a given spatial portion of the television picture is finite but less than said rapid movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: David Feuchtwanger
  • Power supply
    Patent number: 4920300
    Abstract: Arc discharge lamps driven at frequencies in excess of 20 kHz may exhibit the phenomenon of `acoustic resonance` in which longitudinal and lateral acoustic waves are supported in the arc tube. This is a problem because the acoustic wave may give rise to an instability in the discharge arc, causing it to stretch or gyrate and invariably to extinguish. In some cases damage may be caused to the arc tube. A power supply suitable for an arc discharge lamp comprises a drive circuit arranged to supply voltage to the lamp and control means for causing a characteristic of the voltage to vary, with time, in accordance with a pseudo random sequence in order to reduce, or eliminate, acoustic resonance in the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: Mark A. Scott
  • Fluorescent lamp discharge tube having electrostatically coated envelope
    Patent number: 4914723
    Abstract: A fluorescent lamp discharge tube has an electrostatically coated envelope. The coating comprises a mixture of 100 parts by weight of phosphor, 0.01 to 3 parts by weight of a fatty acid having a melting point greater than 40.degree. C. or the ammonium, aluminum alkaline earth salts thereof, and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of finely divided aluminum oxide having a grain size smaller than 0.1 micron. The phosphor is applied to the tube by a venturi effect and results in a more uniformly applied coating than is provided using a suspension coating. Uniformity of the coating is measured by the disclosed optical densitometry test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Roger P. Ellerbeck, Leslie J. George, Peter W. Ranby, Peter J. Clewer
  • Ceramic metal halide lamps
    Patent number: 4910432
    Abstract: A ceramic metal halide high pressure discharge lamp has an arc gap separating the discharge electrodes which is not more than 10 mm and a wall loading which is at least 50 W cm.sup.-2. The relatively small arc gap enables a relatively low operating voltage (in the range from 80V to 130V, say) to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Brown, Kevin Hick, Gary K. Caunt, Bruce H. S. Rambaldini
  • Lamp
    Patent number: D306765
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventor: Ernest J. Pavelin
  • Adapter for a track light
    Patent number: D310511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Lou Bedocs, Michael C. Eksteen