Abstract: A sealed and thermally insulating tank has a thermally insulating barrier and a sealing membrane. The tank has a channel extending in a longitudinal direction along the sealing membrane. The thermally insulating barrier forms a bottom of the channel. The tank further has a closure member that is a flexible film. The flexible film has a first fastening zone extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the channel and fastened to the bottom of the channel and a second fastening zone extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the channel and fastened to the sealing membrane. The flexible film has a closure portion interposed between the first fastening zone and the second fastening zone. The closure portion closes the channel in order to create a loss of pressure in the channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulating tank for storing fluid, comprising, from the outside to the inside of the tank, a secondary thermally insulating barrier and a secondary sealing membrane, the secondary sealing membrane being secured to the secondary thermally insulating barrier, a primary thermally insulating barrier resting against the secondary sealing membrane and a primary sealing membrane resting against the primary thermally insulating barrier, the tank comprising a duct that extends along a longitudinal direction, the duct being delimited on one hand by the secondary thermally insulating barrier and on the other hand by the secondary sealing membrane, a bottom of the duct being at least in part formed by the secondary thermally insulating barrier, the tank further comprising a pressure-drop stopper that is arranged in the duct and extends between the bottom of the duct and the sealing membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to programming a remote control comprised of storing in a memory, data for control of a population of appliances, the data being sufficient to allow a remote control to remotely control functions of any of the population of appliances; selecting which appliances are to be controlled by the remote control; transmitting to the remote control data for control of the selected appliances; storing the transmitted data in the remote control; whereby the remote control is programmed to control the selected appliances.

Abstract: A video sync control circuit for controlling the stable synchronization of the display of locally generated signals on a TV screen in the presence or in the absence of a received signal which includes a sync signal. The circuit is comprised of apparatus for receiving an video input signal, apparatus for detecting the presence of an input sync signal which is part of the video input signal, and the absence of the sync signal during all or part of a sync interval of the video input signal, apparatus for locally generating a replacement video signal containing a video display which extends over a predetermined time interval, which is in sync with a local clock, apparatus for phase locking the local clock with the input sync signal, and apparatus for switching the input video signal to an output line during time other than during the time interval, and switching the replacement composite video signal to the output line during the time interval.

Abstract: A two-way CATV network which in the preferred embodiment uses gating upstream narrowband filters in the distribution lines and/or trunks to substantially reduce upstream noise gathering. The filters sense the upstream signal energy and open in the event the energy exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A two-way CATV network which in the preferred embodiment uses gating upstream narrowband filters in the distribution lines and/or trunks to substantially reduce upstream noise gathering. The filters sense the upstream signal energy and open in the event the energy exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A bidirectional cable communication system comprising a head and, a bidirectional transmission network connected to the head end for transmitting signals downstream from the head end to a plurality of subscriber stations and for transmitting data signals upstream to the head end from the subscriber stations, means at the head end for detecting collisions between signals received from the subscriber stations and for generating a collision signal, means at the head end for transmitting downstream on the transmission system status bits of data signal indicative of the collision, whereby upon detection thereof by a subscriber station it can be enabled to cease transmission.