U.S. Philips Corporation

Thorn Emi Plc

Richard W Burton

Ulrich Greb

Martin C Steel

Simon R Saunders

A diversity receiver for receiving digital signals, particularly, but not exclusively, digital private mobile radio signals, comprises first and second reception branches (10,12) which frequency down convert respective input signals to the zero IF signals which are digitized and combined in a maximal ratio combiner (22) and the result is applied to a digital demodulator (23). The first and second branches are asymmetrical with the first branch (10) being fully specified and the second branch (12) being deliberately degraded relative to the first branch (10).

Diversity receiver

A discharge tube arrangement comprises an excitation device and a discharge tube made of a light-transmissive dielectric material and containing a fill. The excitation device is suitable, when energized with radio frequency (r.f.) power, for exciting surface waves in the discharge tube. The excitation device includes a launcher and a plurality of electrical components associated with the supply of r.f. power to the launcher and constituting at least one of an impedance matching network and a part at least of means to generate r.f. power. This plurality of electrical components is positioned in the launcher between its inner and outer tubes.

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Ely, United Kingdom

Richard W Burton