Abstract: A method for processing ultrasonic signals includes: controlling a plurality of emission transducers for L successive emissions of ultrasonic waves; controlling N reception transducers to simultaneously receive and for a predetermined time, for each successive emission, N measurement signals; obtaining an array of ultrasonic time signals of size L×N, each coefficient Ki,j(t) of this array representing the measurement signal received by the j-th reception transducer due to the i-th emission; and denoising the time signal array by removing some of the singular values and associated singular vectors obtained from a singular value decomposition of a frequency signal array obtained by transforming this time signal array, and by reconstructing a denoised time signal array based on unremoved singular values and singular vectors.

Abstract: An adaptive stepped gain amplifier, for example for use in broadband receivers, has a step size which is dynamically compensated (for each received frequency) to cope with step error caused by frequency dependence of the amplifier performance.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing geometry of an object surface via echographic probing, using an ultrasound probe including plural transducers, the method including: controlling the transducers to transmit towards the surface ultrasound waves having initial transmission delays between them; executing at least once a cycle of operations including receiving from the transducers intermediate measurement signals, correcting transmission delays of the transducers using intermediate measurement signals, and controlling the transducers to transmit towards the surface ultrasound waves having the corrected transmission delays; receiving from the transducers final measurement signals resulting from reflection of a wavefront received simultaneously on the surface; determining specular travel times between each transducer and the surface based on the final measurement signals and the corrected transmission delays; and perform geometric reconstitution of the surface based on the determined specular travel times.

Abstract: A method for controlling ultrasonic transducers of an ultrasonic probe for inspecting an object includes: iterated at least twice, receiving from the transducers new measurement signals; measuring echoes due to reflections of ultrasonic waves on the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from initial emission delays and all complementary emission delays determined previously; determining new complementary emission delays from the new measurement signals; controlling the transducers so they emit ultrasonic waves to the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from the initial emission delays and all the complementary emission delays determined previously.

Abstract: An adaptive stepped gain amplifier, for example for use in broadband receivers, has a step size which is dynamically compensated (for each received frequency) to cope with step error caused by frequency dependence of the amplifier performance.

Abstract: A receiver (400; 500) comprising an amplifier (406; 506) having an input (408) and an output (410). The input (408) of the amplifier is configured to receive a signal. The receiver also comprises a feedback path (412; 512) between the output (410) and the input (408) of the amplifier (406; 506), wherein the feedback path (412; 512) includes a filter (402; 502) and a buffer amplifier (414; 514) in series. The input of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the output (410; 510) of the amplifier (406; 506). The output of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the input of the filter (402; 502). The output of the filter (402; 502) is connected to the input (408; 508) of the amplifier (406; 506). The filter (402; 502) is configured to pass signals having a desired frequency.

Abstract: A method for controlling ultrasonic transducers of an ultrasonic probe for inspecting an object includes: iterated at least twice, receiving from the transducers new measurement signals; measuring echoes due to reflections of ultrasonic waves on the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from initial emission delays and all complementary emission delays determined previously; determining new complementary emission delays from the new measurement signals; controlling the transducers so they emit ultrasonic waves to the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from the initial emission delays and all the complementary emission delays determined previously.

Abstract: The invention relates to a programmable filter for a radiofrequency receiver, embodiments disclosed including a filter (600) comprising an input (601) for receiving a radiofrequency signal, an output (602) for providing a filtered version of the input radiofrequency signal and a plurality of filter paths (603a-c) connected in parallel between the input (601) and output (602), each filter path comprising a buffer (604a-c) connected between the input (601) and one or more polyphase filters (605a-f), wherein each of the plurality of filter paths (603a-c) is configured to be individually selectable by providing an enable signal to a corresponding one of the buffers (604a-c).

Abstract: A process and a device for detecting aircrafts circulating in an air space surrounding an airplane is disclosed. The device (1A) comprises means (2, 3) for detecting an aircraft circulating in the air space surrounding the airplane and, in case of a detection, for determining a first position and a second position of the aircraft with respect to the airplane, and means (8A) for comparing said first and second positions so as to check whether they match.

Abstract: A process and a device for automatically determining meteorological conditions in the vicinity of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a meteorological radar (2), able to determine the meteorological information associated with a primary geographical area ahead of an aircraft, and means (3, 4A, 4B) for automatically determining the meteorological conditions associated with a geographical area being extended with respect to the primary geographical area.

Abstract: A receiver (400; 500) comprising an amplifier (406; 506) having an input (408) and an output (410). The input (408) of the amplifier is configured to receive a signal. The receiver also comprises a feedback path (412; 512) between the output (410) and the input (408) of the amplifier (406; 506), wherein the feedback path (412; 512) includes a filter (402; 502) and a buffer amplifier (414; 514) in series. The input of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the output (410; 510) of the amplifier (406; 506). The output of the buffer amplifier (414; 514) is connected to the input of the filter (402; 502). The output of the filter (402; 502) is connected to the input (408; 508) of the amplifier (406; 506). The filter (402; 502) is configured to pass signals having a desired frequency.

Abstract: A process for evaluating an error in the aircraft positioning as generated by an on-board positioning system is disclosed. The aircraft positioning as generated by the positioning system is recorded through radar means, the presence of at least one group of targets arranged on the ground is detected through said radar means, the position of such a group of targets is measured through said radar means with respect to the aircraft positioning, and the error in the aircraft positioning is evaluated, comparing with at least one threshold value the value of at least one reference magnitude being characteristic of the difference existing between the measured position and a known position of the group of targets with respect to the aircraft positioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a programmable filter for a radiofrequency receiver, embodiments disclosed including a filter (600) comprising an input (601) for receiving a radiofrequency signal, an output (602) for providing a filtered version of the input radiofrequency signal and a plurality of filter paths (603a-c) connected in parallel between the input (601) and output (602), each filter path comprising a buffer (604a-c) connected between the input (601) and one or more polyphase filters (605a-f), wherein each of the plurality of filter paths (603a-c) is configured to be individually selectable by providing an enable signal to a corresponding one of the buffers (604a-c).

Abstract: A process and a device for automatically determining meteorological conditions in the vicinity of an aircraft is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a meteorological radar (2), able to determine the meteorological information associated with a primary geographical area ahead of an aircraft, and means (3, 4A, 4B) for automatically determining the meteorological conditions associated with a geographical area being extended with respect to the primary geographical area.

Abstract: A process and a device for detecting aircrafts circulating in an air space surrounding an airplane is disclosed. The device (1A) comprises means (2, 3) for detecting an aircraft circulating in the air space surrounding the airplane and, in case of a detection, for determining a first position and a second position of the aircraft with respect to the airplane, and means (8A) for comparing said first and second positions so as to check whether they match.

Abstract: A process for evaluating an error in the aircraft positioning as generated by an on-board positioning system is disclosed. The aircraft positioning as generated by the positioning system is recorded through radar means, the presence of at least one group of targets arranged on the ground is detected through said radar means, the position of such a group of targets is measured through said radar means with respect to the aircraft positioning, and the error in the aircraft positioning is evaluated, comparing with at least one threshold value the value of at least one reference magnitude being characteristic of the difference existing between the measured position and a known position of the group of targets with respect to the aircraft positioning.

Abstract: A tunable RF filter, comprising: an emitter follower stage (2); and a common emitter stage (4); the common emitter stage (4) providing feedback to the emitter follower stage (2). The common emitter stage (4) may comprise a first transistor (Ti) being the only transistor of the common emitter stage (4); and the emitter follower stage (2) may comprise a second transistor (T2) being the only transistor of the emitter follower stage (2). A further tunable RF filter provides improved linearity, comprising: an emitter follower stage (22); a joint common emitter and emitter follower stage (24); and a gain stage (26); a common emitter output of the joint common emitter and emitter follower stage (24) providing feedback to the emitter follower stage (22), and an emitter follower output of the joint common emitter and emitter follower stage (24) providing an input to the gain stage (26).

Abstract: A cheese snack (10) includes an extruded annular cheese product (12) and a flavoring core (11) co-extruded within the cheese product. The core is normally flowable at room temperature. The product and core have substantially planar end faces with the core being exposed at the end faces. The cheese snack is processed such that the core does not substantially flow out of the cheese product prior to consumption when the product is stored at room temperature.

Abstract: A cheese snack (10) includes an extruded annular cheese product (12) and a flavoring core (11) co-extruded within the cheese product. The core is normally flowable at room temperature. The product and core have substantially planar end faces with the core being exposed at the end faces. The cheese snack is processed such that the core does not substantially flow out of the cheese product prior to consumption when the product is stored at room temperature.