Abstract: When an anomaly occurred in an optical system or light sources of a rear projection TV in which laser beams are employed as a light source, the anomaly is detected by sensors, the detected anomaly is transmitted to a microcomputer, and according to a signal from the microcomputer a laser light source control portion controls the laser beams from the laser light sources so as to stop or decrease generation of the laser beams. Thereby, danger is prevented in advance from being afflicted on a viewer.

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit, in which a horizontal synchronizing signal is separated from an input analog video signal by a synchronism separating circuit, whether a “H” period of the horizontal synchronizing signal continues for more than a prespecified period of time or not is checked by a synchronizing signal monitoring counter, and power supply to an A/D converter is controlled thereby according to a result the confirmation.

Abstract: Techniques for quantitatively assessing the visual quality of information displays are described. A group of flat panel displays are tested to produce quantitative visual test data to allow an assessment of the visual quality of each of the flat panel displays. In one aspect, eight key photometric indices of visual quality are produced. Additionally, composite indices composed to two or more individual photometric indices are provided.

Abstract: A digital image processor includes an input buffer for storing raster-scanned data. A slice-buffer memory is coupled to the input buffer to store a portion of a vertical slice of said raster-scanned data. The vertical slice is processed by a vertical slice processor having an input coupled to the slice-buffer memory. The vertical slice processor reassembles the vertical slices into processed raster-scanned data in an output buffer that is coupled to the output of the vertical slice processor. The digital image processor preferably utilizes multiple sequential processing stages and processes the raster-scanned data along the horizontal axis of the vertical slices.

Abstract: In order to reduce memory requirements in a chip for demodulating digital video broadcast signals, symbol data values stored for a channel equalisation process have their scattered pilots removed, to achieve a 9% reduction in memory space required. This is achieved by providing a write pointer and a read pointer, the write pointer being arranged to exclude carriers carrying scattered pilots, and the read pointer being arranged to read the stored symbol data, but to add nominal data values at positions of excluded scattered pilots.

Abstract: Multiple channel maps are embedded in a television transmission and the appropriate channel corresponding to the particular television service used by the viewer is downloaded for use with the television receiver. Each channel map is accompanied by a channel map identifier which identifies the source of the television transmission and a geographic identifier. The source of a television transmission is automatically detected by monitoring the radio-frequency spectrum allocations of telecast stations. The geographic area identifier is determined by comparison with a user inputted geographic area identifier. The channel map having a channel map identifier corresponding to the detected television transmission source and the user inputted geographic area identifier is downloaded and stored for future use.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a received signal strength includes means for detecting a received signal strength of a signal received at an antenna. Coupled to the detecting means are means for automatically generating a display signal indicative of the received signal strength. The means for generating is configured to provide the display signal whenever the received signal strength is below a preset threshold. Coupled to the means for generating the display signal are means for displaying the display signal. The display signal may comprise a bar graph which is shaded according to the received signal strength. The bar graph is automatically displayed on the display means when the received signal strength is below the threshold.

Abstract: Anode voltages A′ and B′ corresponding to video signals A and B are switched by a first switch and supplied to an anode. Cut-off voltages A and B corresponding to the video signals A and B are switched by a second switch and added to a video signal by an adder. A resultant signal is supplied to a cathode. In a CRT, the luminance rises in association with the step-down of the cut-off voltage and the step-up of the anode voltage and the resolution rises in association with the step-up of the cut-off voltage and the step-up of the anode voltage. The first and second switches are switched in accordance with the format of the input video signal respectively, thereby properly selecting the anode voltage which is applied to the CRT and the cut-off voltage. The video image can be displayed by the CRT at the luminance and resolution according to the video signal without changing a driving voltage.

Abstract: In a method of controlling a memory (5) to allow for a display of at least two images, write and read speeds of writing image data into and reading image data from the memory (5) are measured (9-15) to predict a crossing where a write action overtakes a read action or reversely, where a new field of said image data is written (13, 3) into the memory (5) from a same initial position as from which a previous field of the image data was written into the memory (5) if no crossing is predicted, and the new field of said image data is written (13, 3) into the memory (5) from an end position in the memory (5) at which an end of the previous field of the image data was written into the memory (5) if a crossing is indeed predicted, the memory (5) having a size being larger than that needed for one field but less than that needed for two fields of the image data at its largest read-out size.

Abstract: In a projection CRT, an image of high brightness is displayed on a screen as an electron beam emitted from an electron gun is scanned according to an image driving signal. The image is magnified and projected through a lens unit. Here, voltage of a direct current component of the image driving signal is lower than threshold voltage of the screen for scan time and also lower than threshold voltage of the electron gun for retrace time.

Abstract: Receiving apparatus for digital television signals digitizes a final intermediate frequency signal supplied from a triple-conversion radio receiver and synchrodynes the digitized final intermediate frequency signal to baseband. The triple-conversion radio receiver selects one of a plurality of digital television signals for upconversion to that portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum above the channels that are used for television broadcasting, amplifies a first intermediate-frequency signal in a first intermediate frequency band generated by that upconversion, amplifies a second intermediate-frequency signal in a second intermediate frequency band generated by downconverting the amplified first intermediate-frequency signal, and supplies a third intermediate-frequency signal in a third intermediate frequency band generated by downconverting the amplified second intermediate-frequency signal.

Abstract: Progressive-scan video signals that are generated from interlaced-scan video signals by interpolation may be subject to temporal distortion when the interstitial interpolated lines have a different time reference than the interlaced lines. This distortion may be mitigated by detecting vertical low-frequency spatial distortion in an interpolated video signal and by generating a compensating signal that, when added to the interpolated video signal reduces that vertical low-frequency spatial distortion. A spatial low-pass filter is applied to corresponding pixels of several adjacent lines of the current field of the original interlaced image. Concurrently, a spatial low-pass filter is applied to corresponding pixels of several interpolated lines that are inserted between the lines of the interlaced image to produce the progressive image. At each pixel position, the low-pass filtered values are compared.

Abstract: A video processing circuit for receiving a video signal from a tuner or a video recording/reproducing apparatus through a first or second input terminal and for outputting the video signal as it is through an output terminal under one condition and outputting a character signal from a signal source thereof instead of the video signal through the output terminal or outputting the video signal with the character signal superimposed thereon from the output terminal under the other condition. In the video processing circuit, among a plurality of circuits interposing from the first and second input terminals to the output terminal, only circuits related to the signal source of the character signal are formed in one integrated circuit (second integrated circuit) and the other circuits are formed in the other integrated circuit (first integrated circuit).

Abstract: Memory requirements in a video processor and display system are reduced by storing in memory processed video signals for a plurality of regions of a picture, processing video signals for additional regions of a picture while stored video signals are retrieved in controlling a display, and then storing the newly processed video signals in the memory space occupied by the retrieved video signals. An entire reconstructed frame of image signals is not needed in order to begin the display of the same frame, certain regions of the frame can be displayed while other regions are still being reconstructed. Overwrite protection is provided for stored image signals until the stored image signals are retrieved for image display.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an address generation circuit for generating an address signal. A memory operates for storing an information signal containing a video signal in response to the address signal. The address signal is periodically updated. A compression processing circuit operates for reading out the information signal from the memory, and subjecting the readout information signal to a compressively encoding process. A head of every frame represented by the information signal is detected. A state of the address signal is stored which corresponds to the detected frame head. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal becomes discontinuous. The updating of the address signal and also the operation of the compression processing circuit are suspended when it is detected that the information signal becomes discontinuous. Detection is made as to whether or not the information signal returns to a normally continuous state after the information signal becomes discontinuous.

Abstract: For an optimal adjustment of the filter frequency of a signal filter, independently of external influences, process spreads and temperature fluctuations, a filter circuit for filtering at least one sound carrier in a composite video signal by at least one signal filter (24) having at least one filter frequency which is adjustable in dependence upon a control signal, is characterized in that the filter circuit (1) includes a reference filter (11) whose filter frequency is adjustable in dependence upon the control signal and which shifts the phase of a reference signal applied thereto by a defined value when tuning the filter frequency to the frequency of said reference signal, in that a phase comparator (14) is provided which receives the output signal of the reference filter (11) and the reference signal, in that the control signal is derived from the output signal of the phase comparator (14) in such a way that the reference filter (11) is tuned to the frequency of the reference signal, and in that an output

Abstract: Apparatus for reproducing data from a selected digital television signal, transmitted in packet form as vestigial-sideband (VSB) amplitude-modulation (AM) of a carrier, has a tuner for selecting a digital television signal and converting it to a final intermediate-frequency signal, which is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter before synchrodyning to baseband in the digital regime. VSB synchrodyning circuitry synchrodynes the digitized final intermediate-frequency signal to baseband in the digital regime to generate in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband signals. The quadrature-phase baseband signal is lowpass filtered to generate an automatic frequency and phase control (AFPC) signal for controlling a local oscillator in the tuner, so that the in-phase baseband signal comprises digitized VSB symbol coding. Symbol decoding circuitry responsive to the VSB symbol coding generates a digital data stream.

Abstract: A display system for concurrently displaying stored display information and received information, having a display monitor, receiver for receiving television signals, and a sub-system having a storage unit and a processor, which sub-system can operate simultaneously with the receiver. The stored display information comprises application information portion and sponsor information portion which may be downloaded via a vertical blanking interval or a portion of the bandwidth associated with digital signals.

Abstract: A method of operating a digital video processor to continuously demultiplex, store and decode audio and video data streams and play back corresponding frames of audio and video. The processor further continuously demultiplexes, stores and decodes a first subpicture data stream and plays back first subpicture data in synchronization with the playback of frames of video data. PTS values associated with SPU's in the first subpicture data stream are continuously stored. The processor then detects a command instructing a transition from a first subpicture data stream to a second subpicture data stream and stores a PTS value associated with a first complete SPU of the second subpicture data stream so that it follows a PTS value associated with a last complete SPU in the first subpicture data stream. The processor then continuously stores PTS values associated with the SPU's in the second subpicture data stream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding video signals for identification, editing, modifying, cuing, routing, distributing, switching, activating and controlling the video signals. One of the many applications is a television program distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, by operating a first signal processing unit connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add patterns of symbols to the television picture such that the symbols are disposed at predetermined locations of the television picture and a plurality of successive patterns constituting a code uniquely identifying the program; and a second signal processing unit connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.