Abstract: An echo canceller designed to cancel an echo signal [g(t)] generated in a send path (7) by a signal [f(t)] applied to a receive path (1) contains a subtractor (9) whose positive terminal receives a signal derived from the echo signal and whose negative terminal receives the output signal from a transversal filter (10) provided with means (12) for adjusting the filter coefficients in such a way that the component due to the echo signal is cancelled at the output of the subtractor (9).This echo canceller comprises a delta encoder (14) for encoding at a sampling rate 1/T the signal f(t) entering the receive path (1) and for supplying at the input of the transversal filter (10) a delta-encoded signal (.DELTA.F.sub.n), a circuit (22) for forming at the sampling rate 1/T the difference signal (d.sub.

Abstract: An anti-Larsen circuit for a telephone station in which the listening channel comprises an automatic listening level control circuit, suitably of the type comprising a variable attenuator circuit, a pulse-width modulator and a threshold detector which supplies compression pulses. The transmission channel comprises a circuit for rendering the transmission channel operative or inoperative and also a control circuit. Actuation takes place above a sound-level threshold S.sub.1 and a de-activation below a sound-level threshold S.sub.2 which is smaller than S.sub.1.

Abstract: A current mirror circuit for weighting a plurality of input currents and for forming their sum, the weighting coefficients of the input currents each being determined by the ratio between the value of first resistors present between an input terminal and a power supply terminal, and the value of a second resistor. Such circuits are suitable for use in subscriber line interface circuits in which the weighted sum is to be formed of the currents entering and leaving the subscriber's line with a precise adjustment of the weighting coefficients.

Abstract: "Hands free" telephone sets in which there is connected in parallel with the terminals (A) and (B) of a first path (C.sub.1) comprising the coupling circuit of the telephone set in series with a controllable amplifier (11) of the receiving path (6), a second path (C.sub.2) comprising a controllable amplifier (12) which is controlled by a linear regulator (13) which keeps its output signal constant. The gains of the two amplifiers (11) and (12) respond to each other. A device is provided so as to ensure that the gain in the second path remains higher than the gain in the first path. A third controllable amplifier (5) is provided between the microphone (4) and the input terminal (A) which is used in common by the first and second paths; the said means (14) are adjusted in such a way that the electro-acoustic loop which is closed by the second path (C.sub.2) is permanently the source of non-annoying oscillations.

Abstract: Circuitry for avoiding sustained oscillations in a closed-loop system, particularly a loud-speaking telephone set. The object is to avoid sustained annoying oscillations in a looped system, such as a looped electro-acoustic system or a control system. The circuitry comprises a variable-gain amplifier (11) incorporated in a first path (C.sub.1) which forms part of the loop. Connected between the input terminal (A) and the output terminal (B) of the said first path is a second path (C.sub.2) having at least one part which is separate from the first path. A device is provided to ensure that the gain in the second path remains higher than the gain in the first path in the overall frequency band where the oscillations are liable to be produced.

Abstract: In this subscriber line interface circuit which comprises a pair of amplifiers whose outputs are connected to the subscriber's line, the input terminals of these amplifiers receive by means of negative feedback voltages having opposite phases depending on the transversal current I produced by the line interface circuit and independent of the longitudinal currents I accidentally produced on the subscriber's line. The two load impedances, which are connected between the supply terminals of the amplifiers and the terminals of a d.c. voltage supply source are controlled by means of their control terminals by voltages which have the same characteristics as the voltages applied to the input terminals of the amplifiers but which in addition have been shifted with a certain shift voltage V.sub.z. Consequently, the amplifiers of the line interface circuit operate completely independent of the longitudinal currents.

Abstract: This arrangement comprises a controllable attenuation circuit of the voice signal received, a pulse-duration modulator which produces pulses the duration of which is modulated by the voice signal supplied by the controllable attenuation circuit, an overshoot detection circuit which produces from the modulated pulses a compression pulse each time it is detected that the amplitude of the modulated voice signal reaches a certain threshold, the compression signal produced by the said overshoot detection circuit being applied in the attenuation circuit to an integrating circuit which produces the attenuation control signal. The amplifier of the loudspeaker receives the modulated signal.

Abstract: For feeding a telephone subscriber's line without the use of a transformer, this junctor comprises a symmetrical amplifier whose two input terminals receive two negative feedback voltages derived from a weighted sum current of the currents entering and leaving the subscriber's line. To form this weighted sum current, use is made of a current mirror whose summing and input terminals are connected respectively to one terminal of the supply source and to the corresponding supply terminal of the amplifier, and a voltage divider connected between the output of the current mirror and the other terminal of the supply source and whose intermediate terminal is connected to the other supply terminal of the amplifier. The voltage ratio of the voltage divider is equal to the current ratio of the current mirror. The voltage at the ends of the voltage divider is applied to a voltage follower which is regulated to provide the weighted sum current with the desired amplitude.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the closure of a subscriber's telephone line in the presence of an alternating ringing voltage superimposed on a direct voltage comprises circuitry for producing a unidirectional current from the combined alternating and direct voltages. When the line is open no direct current will flow and hence the peak value of successive half cycles will be equal whereas when the loop is closed and direct current flows the peak values of successive peaks will be different. A capacitor (26) is charged by a voltage (U.sub.1), which is proportional to the combined voltage, through a transistor (24), provided that the voltage (U.sub.1) is greater than the voltage across the capacitor, and discharged through a resistor (27). The time constant of the discharge circuit is selected so that when the line is looped the smaller peak is lower than the voltage to which the capacitor is discharged and hence charging current flows into capacitor (26) on alternate peaks of the voltage (U.sub.1) only.

Abstract: A subscriber's connecting network comprising a symmetrical power amplifier which is formed by two pairs of complementary transistors. Resistors having the same values are arranged in collector circuits of the transistors of the symmetrical amplifier for limiting the current in the subscriber's line. In addition, means are present for making the base voltage dependent on the collector voltage of this transistor so that a predetermined voltage is present between these two electrodes in the normal direction of operation. Finally a by-pass capacitor for the speech currents in the subscriber's line is arranged between two input terminals of the symmetrical amplifier. The invention is particularly suitable for a network in which binary signals are used for the generation of ringing signals and metering signals in the subscriber's line.

Abstract: Subscriber line interface circuit for connecting a subscriber's telephone line to, for example, an automatic telephone exchange comprising a pair of amplifiers whose outputs are connected to the wires of the telephone line and which are fed by a d.c. voltage supply source. This supply source provides the telephone line with direct current via the amplifiers. In practice, the telephone line must be terminated by a symmetrical impedance of a prescribed value. To this end the interface circuit comprises means for determining the weighted sum of the current flowing through one and through the other wire of the telephone line such that the sum current is independent of the longitudinal currents in the telephone line. By means of an impedance, two antiphase feedback voltages are generated at the inputs of the amplifiers, these amplifiers then having a symmetrical impedance at their outputs.

Abstract: A device for processing a signal coded by means of delta modulation with a sampling rate F, comprises an analyzer for the delta modulation signal for successively forming data each of which characterizes the number of binary elements of two successive trains formed by different binary elements, each train comprising a binary element or a series of identical binary elements, a store in which said data are entered, and, finally, means for forming from the data entered into the store a sequence of binary elements composed of .lambda. times the two above-mentioned trains with a frequency of the binary elements equal to 2.lambda.F, .lambda. being an integer exceeding one. The device supplies a digital signal, which, after decoding, constitutes an excellent approximation of the analog signal which had been coded.

Abstract: Subscriber's circuit for connecting a subscriber's line to a telephone exchange, comprising a symmetrical amplifier which is arranged between two feed points having different potentials, the amplifier circuit having two input terminals and two output terminals, each one of the output terminals being connected to a wire of the subscriber's line and each input terminal of the symmetrical amplifier circuit being connected to an output of an associated digital-to-analog converter an input of which is connected to the one or to the other feed point by means of a change-over switch, the change-over switches being controlled in phase opposition by a binary digital signal which characterizes a voltage desired for the subscriber's line and which is derived from a digital signal generator under the control of the telephone exchange.

Abstract: Two time division multiplex switches connected to the ends of a time-division multiplex bus are controlled so that they are closed during a periodically repeated time interval. Connected to the terminals of each two-wire line circuit is a capacitor and a switch, which is synchronously controlled with the time-division multiplex switches so that during each time interval the capacitor is charged to a voltage present on the time-division multiplex bus and that during the successive time intervals the discharge time constant of the capacitor is so long that the voltage of the electrodes of the capacitor remains substantially constant. The voltage is connected across the impedance of the corresponding two-wire line circuit.

Abstract: This circuit arrangement, which is connected to a delta modulation encoder operating with a sampling rate F and producing a first delta modulation signal, comprises means for producing the two bits b.sub.2n-1, b.sub.2n-2 which in this first signal precede each of the bits b.sub.2n occurring at the instants 2nT and having a rate F/2, a first flip-flop which is controlled at said instants 2nT for maintaining or not maintaining the state thereof, depending on whether the two above-mentioned bits b.sub.2n-1, and b.sub.2n-2 are identical or not, a second flip-flop to which the output signal of the first flip-flop is applied through a logic circuit, and which assumes either the state of the above-mentioned bit b.sub.2n or the state of the bit b.sub.2n-1, depending on whether the first flip-flop is in the one or in the other state. The output of this second flip-flop produces the desired delta modulation signal.

Abstract: A ringing signal generator for generating a ringing current in a subscriber's line uses a line current inverter controlled by means of a pulse code modulated signal obtained by encoding a sinusoidal ringing signal by means of a delta modulator at a sampling frequency which considerably exceeds the frequency of the ringing current.

Abstract: Electric network for use in a subscriber's loop, comprising at least two connecting terminals for supplying thereto a current flowing in the subscriber's loop, the network comprising the series arrangement of a capacitive element and a switching device and a threshold device coupled to the connecting terminals and the switching device for either coupling or not coupling, depending on the polarity and the value of said current, said capacitive element to the terminals of the network. This results in a network whose pattern of behavior is optimum for the various signals which are exchanged in the loop.