Patents by Inventor Thomas Schwanenberger
Thomas Schwanenberger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9454931Abstract: A luminous display includes pixels arranged in rows and columns. Control signals that are used for controlling first switches for measuring parameters of pixel cells in a first row are also used to control second switches for programming pixel cells in a second row. In this way it is possible to use a single control signal for selecting one pixel cell for programming and simultaneously selecting another pixel cell for measuring. Programming and measuring are thus performed in a time staggered manner, while the addressing is moved to the respective next row. The programming is preferably voltage programming. In one embodiment the current through the pixel cell that is currently programmed is interrupted. In another embodiment the measuring is performed only after the transient current into signal holding means coupled to current control means has set.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Publication number: 20140361963Abstract: A luminous display includes pixels arranged in rows and columns Control signals that are used for controlling first switches for measuring parameters of pixel cells in a first row are also used to control second switches for programming pixel cells in a second row. In this way it is possible to use a single control signal for selecting one pixel cell for programming and simultaneously selecting another pixel cell for measuring. Programming and measuring are thus performed in a time staggered manner, while the addressing is moved to the respective next row. The programming is preferably voltage programming In one embodiment the current through the pixel cell that is currently programmed is interrupted. In another embodiment the measuring is performed only after the transient current into signal holding means coupled to current control means has set.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: THOMSON LICENSINGInventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Patent number: 8816942Abstract: A luminous display includes pixels arranged in rows and columns. Control signals that are used for controlling first switches for measuring parameters of pixel cells in a first row are also used to control second switches for programming pixel cells in a second row. In this way it is possible to use a single control signal for selecting one pixel cell for programming and simultaneously selecting another pixel cell for measuring. Programming and measuring are thus performed in a time staggered manner, while the addressing is moved to the respective next row. The programming is preferably voltage programming. In one embodiment the current through the pixel cell that is currently programmed is interrupted. In another embodiment the measuring is performed only after the transient current into signal holding means coupled to current control means has set.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Patent number: 8368671Abstract: A driving circuit for a display with display elements in rows and/or columns has a shift register, through which tokens are shifted. The shift register's parallel outputs are latched and enable switch cells depending on the tokens. Control signals are supplied to the switch cells which control the output signal in terms of pulse width and/or signal shape. Buffers output the signals to a connected display. Individual or groups of buffers are connected to different supply voltages. The shift register may have more than one input in order to allow for shifting tokens in parallel, e.g. to every second output, using only one clock cycle. Further, inputs are provided for inverting the travelling direction of the tokens, inverting the shape of the signal that is output or switching all outputs to a predetermined state.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Patent number: 8199075Abstract: In illuminated displays with lighting elements which are driven by means of a control voltage, the voltage drop on a supply line, which supplies two or more lighting elements, is compensated for. The currents for all of the light elements, which are connected to a supply line, and the known resistances are used to calculate the potential profile of the supply line for this purpose. The control voltages for the light elements are changed such that the actual potential on the supply line for each element is taken into account. Fluctuations in the brightness of the illuminated display resulting from potential differences are avoided. One element of an illuminated display has a current control means, a signal retaining means, a light emitting means and means for interrupting the current flow through the light emitting means. The control voltage is adjusted with the current flow interrupted, so that no potential differences exist on the supply line.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2005Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Thilo Marx, Heinrich Schemmann, Thomas Schwanenberger
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Patent number: 8073982Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting an operating parameter in a peripheral IC. In this method, the operating parameter is transmitted from a central IC via a bus connection to the peripheral IC. The method is characterized in that the operating parameter is initially buffered in a preregister in the peripheral IC, and in that the buffered operating parameter is transferred into a working register only if a transfer signal is sent from the central IC via the bus connection. This method has the advantage that, for example in the case of rapidly changing receive conditions in a send/receive unit, adjustment of the send or receive gain setting is very flexible, and it is easy to avoid an incorrect setting due to a detected signal fluctuation. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2002Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Friedrich Heizmann, Thomas Schwanenberger, Patrick Lopez
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Publication number: 20090278837Abstract: A luminous display includes pixels arranged in rows and columns. Control signals that are used for controlling first switches for measuring parameters of pixel cells in a first row are also used to control second switches for programming pixel cells in a second row. In this way it is possible to use a single control signal for selecting one pixel cell for programming and simultaneously selecting another pixel cell for measuring. Programming and measuring are thus performed in a time staggered manner, while the addressing is moved to the respective next row. The programming is preferably voltage programming. In one embodiment the current through the pixel cell that is currently programmed is interrupted. In another embodiment the measuring is performed only after the transient current into signal holding means coupled to current control means has set.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2006Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Publication number: 20080284688Abstract: In illuminated displays with lighting elements which are driven by means of a control voltage, the voltage drop on a supply line, which supplies two or more lighting elements, is compensated for. The currents for all of the light elements which are connected to a supply line, and the known resistances are used to calculate the potential profile of the supply line for this purpose. The control voltages for the light elements are changed such that the actual potential on the supply line for each element is taken into account. Fluctuations in the brightness of the illuminated display resulting from potential differences are avoided. One element of an illuminated display has a current control means, a signal retaining means, a light emitting means and means for interrupting the current flow through the light emitting means. The control voltage is adjusted with the current flow interrupted, so that no potential differences exist on the supply line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2005Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Thilo Marx, Heinrich Schemmann, Thomas Schwanenberger
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Patent number: 7356110Abstract: The method is applicable to a receiver (1) of signals corresponding to packets of digital data transmitted in bursts, which comprises an analogue pickup subassembly (3) connected to a digital processing subassembly (8) by means for converting analogue signals into digital signals (7). Gain adjustment means (5) act on the amplification means (5) in order to alter the power of signals supplied to the conversion means. The method provides a preadjustment of the gain, in the absence of a burst, for detecting the arrival of signals even if they are weak, and an adjustment of the gain as a function of a power value of the signal determined from burst start symbols, as obtained after conversion. This adjustment is dependent on the recognition of symbols scheduled at the start of a burst, it is carried out during a time scheduled for a symbol otherwise left unexploited by the method.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Patrick Lopez, Thomas Schwanenberger, Samuel Guillouard
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Publication number: 20060022908Abstract: A driving circuit for a display with display elements in rows and/or columns has a shift register, through which tokens are shifted. The shift register's parallel outputs are latched and enable switch cells depending on the tokens. Control signals are supplied to the switch cells which control the output signal in terms of pulse width and/or signal shape. Buffers output the signals to a connected display. Individual or groups of buffers are connected to different supply voltages. The shift register may have more than one input in order to allow for shifting tokens in parallel, e.g. to every second output, using only one clock cycle. Further, inputs are provided for inverting the travelling direction of the tokens, inverting the shape of the signal that is output or switching all outputs to a predetermined state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Thomas Schwanenberger, Heinrich Schemmann, Thilo Marx
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Publication number: 20050096755Abstract: The invention relates to a method for setting an operating parameter in a peripheral IC. In this method, the operating parameter is transmitted from a central IC via a bus connection to the peripheral IC. The method is characterized in that the operating parameter is initially buffered in a preregister in the peripheral IC, and in that the buffered operating parameter is transferred into a working register only if a transfer signal is sent from the central IC via the bus connection. This method has the advantage that, for example in the case of rapidly changing receive conditions in a send/receive unit, adjustment of the send or receive gain setting is very flexible, and it is easy to avoid an incorrect setting due to a detected signal fluctuation. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2002Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: Friedrich Heizmann, Thomas Schwanenberger, Patrick Lopez
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Publication number: 20030108131Abstract: The method is applicable to a receiver (1) of signals corresponding to packets of digital data transmitted in bursts, which comprises an analogue pickup subassembly (3) connected to a digital processing subassembly (8) by means for converting analogue signals into digital signals (7). Gain adjustment means (5) act on the amplification means (5) in order to alter the power of signals supplied to the conversion means.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Patrick Lopez, Thomas Schwanenberger, Samuel Guillouard
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Patent number: 6370370Abstract: It is known for a signal-strength detection unit to be used to detect the ratio of the input signal to the wanted signal obtained after it. A disadvantage in this case is that interference elements, which are also amplified, not only corrupt the output signal of the signal-strength detection unit, but can also adversely affect the quality of the wanted signal. The invention is based on the object of providing a method for improving the wanted signal in the receiving unit of a communications system.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Inventors: Sabine Roth, Heinrich Schemmann, Thomas Schwanenberger