Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus is arranged to process a composite information signal which is formed by multiplexing first and second information signals having different frequency bands. When the composite information signal recorded on a recording medium is reproduced, the first information signal is extracted from the reproduced composite information signal and a first detection signal is obtained by subjecting the extracted first information signal to a detection process. The second information signal is also extracted from the reproduced composite information signal and a second detection signal is obtained by subjecting the extracted second information signal to a detection process. The first and second detection signals are compared with each other. A correction process is performed on the composite information signal reproduced from the recording medium according to the result of comparison. The reproduced composite information signal can be adequately corrected by virtue of the arrangement.

Abstract: An image signal processor for processing both high definition image signal with a high resolution and standard image signal with a resolution lower than that of the high definition image signal in which the high definition image signal is decomposed into a plurality of subband signals and the standard image signal, when input, is converted into a subband signal having a low subband. Each subband signal is encoded and recorded in a predetermined area of a disk. The subband signal recorded is read out and decoded for each subband and the low subband signal is reproduced as the standard image signal by converting the width of the low subband signal into the width of the standard image signal.

Abstract: A system and method for recording video signals onto analog magnetic tape, and for the playback of those recorded signals. Such a system includes a digital luminance signal generator, a first digital chrominance signal, and a second digital chrominance signal compatible with a predetermined composite television signal standard. The chrominance signals are sample rate reduced by a sample rate reduction circuit, and then all three signals are multiplexed to generate a digital time division multiplexed video signal. This signal is frequency modulated, and then converted to an analog signal for recording onto an analog magnetic tape. This process is reversed for the playback of prerecorded signals. The signals recorded by and recovered by the present invention should be free of most artifacts related to composite television signal recording, have increased dynamic range, and have noise immunity comparable to other FM recording methods. Performance should also be independent of the type of magnetic tape used.

Abstract: A crosstalk detector for detecting the crosstalk of signals optically read from a recording medium having a plurality of tracks. A changeover circuit selects one of first and second signals generated by first and second oscillators. The amplitude of a signal of a predetermined center frequency is extracted from the selected signal and RF signal and that amplitude is compared with a control signal that inverts at every horizontal synchronizing period of a video signal demodulated from the RF signal.

Abstract: A video cassette recorder (VCR) automatically controlled by the "G Code" ("Plus Code") and a television set for monitoring purposes each have their own tuner. A user is able to monitor on the TV set a program designated by the "G Code," even though the VCR does not operate because no videotape has been loaded into the VCR. On the other hand, when a videotape is loaded into the VCR, the user is also able to monitor on the TV set the program, which is being recorded on the VCR, without manually operating the TV set, or monitor on the TV set a program on a channel different from that of the VCR by changing the channel of the tuner for the TV set.

Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.

Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.

Abstract: Both a sharp print image and a natural reproduced move image can be obtained from a signal recorded on a recording medium. A recording signal, read from the recording medium, is converted into digital data and is delayed by one field. Data representing the current image in the n-th field and data representing an image in the (n-1)-th field one field ahead of the current image, are applied to a subtracting circuit, to extract a component representing moving image portions. An interpolated image for making movement correction is created from the extracted component representing the moving image portions by an interpolating circuit. Data representing the interpolated image and the data representing the current image in the n-th field are synthesized by a synthesizing circuit, to output composite data as data representing an image which has been subjected to movement correction.

Abstract: In a video tape recorder of the color under recording type, in which a low frequency band converted carrier chrominance signal is recorded together with an FM luminance signal, another FM modulator is provided for modulating a wide band chrominance signal. An additional head records the FM chrominance signal on at least a part of a track on which video signal has been recorded in the color under recording. In reproduction, it is checked whether the FM chrominance signal is reproduced or not for selecting the FM chrominance signal or the color under recorded carrier chrominance signal as a reproduced chrominance signal output.

Abstract: An image signal recording apparatus of this invention for recording an image signal on a recording medium, is arranged to divide an image signal corresponding to one picture into k field image signals (k=an integer not less than 3), then multiplex a first index signal indicating that frame reproduction is possible during reproduction with 2n field image signals (n=an integer not less than 1) from among the k field image signals thus formed, while multiplexing a second index signal indicating that no frame reproduction is possible during reproduction with m field image signals (m=a positive integer) from among the k field image signals; and then record the k field image signals, each of which is multiplexed with the first or second index signal, on k tracks of the recording medium, respectively. With this arrangement, it is possible to record on the recording medium an image signal with high image quality compared to conventional arrangements while retaining compatibility with them.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a variable-rate coded signal, generated by compressing a digital input signal using a variable compression ratio and including a signal portion of a predetermined type, for recording on a recording medium. In the apparatus, a circuit generates a flag signal indicating the signal portion of the a predetermined type in the variable-rate coded signal. A signal-type marker generating circuit generates a signal-type marker in response to the flag signal. Finally, a circuit multiplexes the signal-type marker with the variable-rate coded signal to produce a multiplexed signal for recording on the recording medium. The signal-type marker is located adjacent to the signal portion of the predetermined type to indicate the signal portion of the predetermined type in the multiplexed signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording or reproducing a video signal has a user-controlled starting point setting device enabling a user of the apparatus to set a time code representative of a recording starting point. A user-controlled frame number setting device enables the user to set the number of frames to be recorded. A frame memory records an arbitrary one frame of an input video signal. A controller calculates a time code representative of a recording ending point on the basis of the time code of the starting point set by the user and the number of frames set by the user and controls the frame memory so that the video signal written in the frame memory is repeatedly read out and recorded during a period from the recording starting point to the recording ending point.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for effecting at least one of recording of information on and reproducing of information from a recording medium. The apparatus includes an optical system for applying a light beam to a desired track on the recording medium, a tracking and focusing error detection device for detecting tracking and/or focusing error of the light beam relative to the track, a computing unit for (i) receiving respective tracking error and focusing error output signals from the detecting device, (ii) effecting a computation for a selected output signal among the received output signals on the basis of a predetermined program to correct the detected tracking error and focusing error, (iii) calculating tracking and focusing control movement amounts and (iv) outputting a tracking control signal and a focusing control signal corresponding to the tracking control movement amount and the focusing control movement amount, respectively.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval mechanism for a digital image processing system employs a reduced capacity frame store in the playback device. A plurality of photographic images captured on a photographic recording medium are digitized for processing and subsequent display. Digitized images are stored on a compact disc. When the disc is inserted into a playback device for driving a color TV monitor, the playback device decodes header information representative of image orientation, so that the image will be read from the disc and stored in the reduced capacity frame store for subsequent read out and display in an upright orientation. A memory control mechanism employs a decimation/interpolation operator to interface the imagery data from the disc to the frame store.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, which includes: a reproduced level detector for detecting the level of a reproduced signal and a memory for storing the reproduced level detected by the detector; and when recording a video signal, the signal is recorded and reproduced in advance, and this reproduced level is stored in the memory, so that an amount of emphasis of a detail emphasis circuit in a reproducing system and an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer in the recording system can be controlled in accordance with the stored reproduced level; while when reproducing the video signal, the level of a reproduced FM luminance signal is detected by the reproduced level detector, so that an amount of equalization of an FM equalizer, an amount of cancellation of a line noise canceler, and an amount of cancellation of a noise canceler in a reproducing system can respectively be controlled in accordance with the detected reproduced level; whereby the characteristic of a video tape can be controlled in a

Abstract: A video signal recording and reproducing system enables recording and reproducing of a video signal with high quality. The system includes a recording system for recording the video signal on a record medium by a median filter and a reproducing system for reproducing the video signal from the record medium. The recording system separates a brightness signal and a color signal from an interlaced scanning signal. The recording system divides picture elements of each line into two phases by sorting the elements such that an element is put into one phase and the next element into the other. The recording system then carries out two-dimensional subsampling to the brightness signal and the color signal to reduce the amount of data. Then, the recording system compresses and time-division multiplexes the brightness signal and the color signal to provide a video signal to be recorded onto a record medium.

Abstract: A VTR with a monitor-equipped built-in camera includes a monitor/VTR portion and a camera portion. The monitor/VTR portion is integrally formed of a VTR portion holding a removable tape cassette and a monitor portion including a liquid crystal display device. A rotary mechanism attaches the camera portion to the monitor/VTR portion in a relatively rotatable manner. The monitor/VTR portion also includes an invertor for inverting a displayed image on the monitor. In the above configuration, the rotary mechanism includes a flexible connecting member for electrically connecting plural rotatable parts. The connecting member includes a coiling portion and first and second connecting portions. The coiling portion has a vortex structure and is disposed in a central portion of the rotary mechanism. The first and second connecting portions are extracted, respectively, from a starting end and a terminal end of the coiling portion, and extend parallel to a coiling central axis of the coiling portion.

Abstract: A video tape recorder includes a cylinder provided to rotate about its axis. A magnetic tape moves along a portion of the cylinder surface such that the cylinder surface obliquely traverses the magnetic tape. At least one pair of magnetic heads are mounted on the cylinder surface for recording and reproducing video signal on the tape, and another pair of magnetic heads are mounted on the cylinder for recording and reproducing audio signal on the tape.

Abstract: A frequency drop out compensating circuit and method thereof is applicable to the signals of both NTSC and PAL systems. The frequency drop out compensating circuit for NTSC/PAL systems in an optical disk system including an amplifier for amplifying an applied FM signal, a pulse generator for converting the frequency drop out signal detected from the amplified FM signal into a pulse signal and a drop out compensator for compensating the drop out when a frequency drop for the signal generated from the pulse generator is generated, has an integrator for integrating the FM signal generated from the amplifier and an integrating current controller for controlling the integrating current of the integrator according to the applied FM signal. Therefore, drop out can be detected and compensated in signals for both NTSC and PAL systems, by controlling the integrating current in consideration of the FM band utilized.

Abstract: Time warping for video viewing is achieved by providing a random access dynamic buffer for a video signal from a selected video channel. The video signal is continuously written into the dynamic buffer in a recirculating fashion, and may be read out on a random access basis so that the viewer may control the realtime video viewing in the same manner as controlling a video cassette recorder up to the duration of the video signal stored in the dynamic buffer. In addition the viewer may view the video at various speeds and skip to any point in the stored information. Portions of the video signal in the dynamic buffer may be stored in a static buffer or transferred permanently to a video cassette recorder for subsequent manipulation by the viewer. To expand the capacity of the dynamic buffer a compression circuit may be provided for compressing the video signal before being written into the dynamic buffer.