Patent GB-458585-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the transmission of electrical signals having a direct current component
IPC: H03B5/22
Filed: 1935-03-20
Abstract: 458,585. Valve circuits. BLUMLEIN, A. D., 32, Audley Road, Ealing, London. March 20, 1935, No. 8739. [Classes 40 (iii) and 40 (v)] Picture signals and synchronizing signals are applied to an " observing" valve, normally biassed to cut-off, but which is rendered conducting by an impulse derived from the synchronizing signals, so that correcting signals appear in its output. The correcting signals are then utilized for the insertion of lost directcurrent components in the original signals or to compensate for varying attenuation. The invention is applicable to any transmission having recurrent check signals. Generation of impulse for rendering " observing " valve conducting. The received signals are rectified by the diode 6, Fig. 4, to obtain the signal train of Fig. 1 which is applied to valve 11. This valve is biassed to cut-off for " blacker than black impulses. During reception of the synchronizing signals, the condenser 13 therefore charges over resistance 15, and during a long frame impulse 5, Fig. 1, accumulates a charge sufficient to unblock valve 16. The resulting current through valve 16 lowers the potential of the screen grid of valve 19. Valves 19, 20 have cross connections from the anode of one to the grid of the other so that normally valve 19 is conducting and valve 20 is blocked. The lowering of the screen grid potential of valve 19 blocks the valve and an impulse is applied over condenser 21 and resistance 23 to valve 20 to render it conducting. The impulse applied over condenser 22 to the grid of valve 19 leaks away over the resistance 24 so that when condenser 13 is discharged at the end of a frame impulse, valve 19 becomes conducting and valve 20 is blocked again. An impulse 32, Fig. 2, occurring during the reception of a frame impulse can thus be taken from either of points 27, 28. Alternatively, the impulse may be obtained from the trailing edge and not the leading edge of the synchronizing signal. Synchronizing signals of the kind shown in Fig. 8, but with the impulses 2 lasting longer than the black intervals B are separated by valve 82, Fig. 11, as disclosed in Specification 422,824. They are differentiated by the resistance-capacity combination 83, 84 and the pulse due to the trailing is of positive sign, while that due to the leading edge is of negative sign. The positive pulse causes the anode current of valve 86 to increase to lower the potential of the screen grid of valve 87 which is cross-coupled to valve 88 similar to that of Fig. 4. The pulse from point 89 then occurs for line synchronizing impulses and may be broadened by a low pass filter to extend over the black interval B. When receiving signal trains of the kind shown in Figs. 8, 9, the synchronizing signals may be isolated and delayed and used to replace the impulse of Fig. 2. Development of correcting signals. The received signal is rectified by a diode 6, Fig. 5, and applied to the second grid of an hexode " observing " valve 29 biassed to be normally blocked. The impulse taken from 27 or 28, Fig. 4, or 89, Fig. 11, is applied to the first grid to unblock the valve at the moment when synchronizing signals arrive. When the circuit of Fig. 4 is being used, the output of valve 29 shown in full lines in Fig. 3 comprises only the frame impulse which is transmitted at constant amplitude. When the synchronizing signals do not correspond to zero carrier, the valve 29, Fig. 5, is biassed so that it is carried well below cut-off by the synchronizing signals so that the anode current is then independent of the magnitude of the picture signals and is dependent only on picture black. When the signal trains of Figs. 8, 9 are being received they may be converted to that of Fig. 1 by superimposing the signal of Fig. 2 and then limiting the amplitude. When the synchronizing impulses of Figs. 8 and 9 are isolated and delayed to replace the impulse of Fig. 2, the valve 29, Fig. 5, is rendered conducting only for the portions B, E of the signals. Alternatively, the synchronizing signals are isolated by valve 92, Fig. 12, and fed to one grid of valve 93 directly and to another grid over a delay network 94, 95, so that valve 93 is conducting for a part of the black interval B immediately after each synchronizing impulse. The impulse for unblocking the " observing " valve may require to be phased correctly with respect to the received signals and delay networks may then be placed in the path of the received signals. Compensating variable attenuation. The correcting signal, Fig. 3, may be smoothed and used as a variable bias potential, or the alternating current component may be utilized by applying it to the rectifier 44, Fig. 6, the biassing potentials being taken from 50. Insertion of direct current components. In a receiver, the signal of Fig. 1 is applied at 37, Fig. 5, over a condenser, the first grid being connected to the cathode over a leak resistance. The anode resistance 34 is connected between the cathode and negative H.T. and is shunted by a condenser. The cathode is coupled over a grid leak to the grid of a further valve which has the received rectified signal also applied to its.grid. As a result, the output of this valve is corrected for direct current components loss. At a transmitter, signals having no direct current components are corrected as disclosed in Specification 422,906 by components 53, 54, 55, Fig. 7, and are applied to the modulating valve 52 which is directly coupled to radiofrequency amplifying valves 60. Should the voltage of battery 57 or of the sources supplynig amplifiers vary, the absolute level of the signals will vary. This is corrected by applying the output of the amplifiers to such circuits as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and applying the potential from 50, Fig. 6, to the point 56, Fig. 7, or to the synchronizing signal amplifier before mixing. Where the synchronizing signals cannot be corrected before mixing, the whole signal corrected for direct current component loss is applied to two valves 74, 75, Fig. 10, of which valve 75 is biassed to pass only the synchronizing impulses and valve 74 has its characteristic straightened by a resistance 78 between cathode and earth. The control voltage from 50, Fig. 6, is applied at 77 to vary the amplitude of the synchronizing impulses by altering the bias on valves 74, 75. A radio-relay station may employ the correcting means more than once. The received signal may be compensated for fading, and the synchronizing signals corrected and if necessary converted to a different form (e.g. from those of Fig. 8 or 9 to those of Fig. 1), the corrected signal being transmitted and the signal level corresponding to " black " may be corrected. Specification 422,904, [Group XXXVI], also is referred to.