Abstract: A motion adaptive television signal processing system is disclosed. An image change estimator estimates the image change over an image time interval. A television signal processor adaptively processes the signal in response to a control signal. A control signal generator is coupled between the image change estimator and the adaptive television signal processor. The control signal generated exhibits a function substantially described by: K=Ae.sup.-b/x where K is the value of the control signal, A is the maximum value the control signal can attain, x is the estimated image change, and b is a constant. In a second embodiment, a second estimator estimates a parameter of the television signal. The relationship of the control signal to the estimated image change is varied as a function of the estimated parameter.

Abstract: A motion detector for detecting motion in a picture contained in a television signal includes a filter that extracts a portion of the frequency spectrum of the television signal. The amplitude of the sidebands of the television signal in this portion of the frequency spectrum is indicative of motion in the picture scene. The signal from the filter is coupled to a peak detector that produces a motion indicative signal. The amplitude of the motion signal is proportional to the absolute value of the amplitude of the sidebands in this portion of the spectrum.

Abstract: A flat-field television image having reduced visibility of horizontal scan lines is generated by receiving first and second fields of interlaced video and progressively generating a scanned image within a time for one incoming field. The progressive scanned image is formed from "real" and interpolated lines of luminance. In this arrangement the interpolated line is formed by weighting samples from time-successive lines. To improve the vertical detail of a progressively scanned image vertical detail information which may be obtained from the chrominance channel is combined with both "real" and interpolated lines, or one to the exclusion of the other, to enhance the image displayed.

Abstract: The television receiver displays the picture information of an interlaced signal, such as a baseband NTSC signal, in a non-interlaced scanning format. The NTSC signal is comb filtered in a line comb filter to extract a luminance representative component signal. When no motion occurs in the picture scene, vertical detail is added and substracted, respectively, from the luminance representative component signal to form first and second enhanced luminance signals, respectively. During each horizontal line interval of the NTSC signal, the corresponding portions of the first and the second signals contain luminance information capable of being displayed in consecutive non-interlaced scan lines, respectively, of the interlaced display. When motion is detected, vertical detail enhancement is diminished so that artifacts that may be more pronounced in the presence of motion, become less visible.

Abstract: In a television receiver, apparatus for non-linearly processing a vertical detail signal includes a plurality of cascaded amplifier stages responsive to an input vertical detail signal and which exhibit linear and limiting operating regions. Vertical detail signals from the amplifiers are translated and combined with a linear version of the input vertical detail signal. The combined vertical detail signal exhibits a characteristic wherein small amplitude excursions within a first amplitude range are cored, moderate amplitude excursions within a second amplitude range are amplified with a given non-zero gain, and large amplitude excursions within a third amplitude range are pared (attenuated).

Abstract: A flat-field television image having reduced visibility of horizontal scan lines is generated by receiving first and second fields of interlaced video and progressively generating a scanned image within a time for one incoming field. The progressively scanned image includes interpolation and double-rate translation in the luminance channel and double-rate translation only in the chrominance channel. In one embodiment the two-times translation (each line repeated) is applied to the chrominance channel after separation from the luminance but prior to demodulation. In another embodiment the chrominance signal is two-times translated prior to demodulation thus requiring demodulation after double-rate translation.

Abstract: A processor, for providing a double line-rate video signal comprising alternating received lines and interpolated lines, comprises a triad of memories. As each incoming video signal is stored in one of the three memories, the remaining two are read at double the write clock rate. An output circuit interleaves a non-interpolated time compressed line of video obtained from one of the two memories being read with a time-compressed line of video obtained by interpolation from both of the two memories being read to provide a processed video output signal. The write-one read-two memory organization enables concurrent interpolation and speed-up of the video signal thereby minimizing potential clock timing problems inherent in progressive scan systems of the type where interpolation is provided separately either before or after video speed-up.

Abstract: In a video signal processor for a progressive scanning system, an interlaced composite video signal, repeating at an f.sub.H line rate of approximately 16 KHz, is coupled to a comb filter. Separated luminance and chrominance signals are developed at respective output terminals of the comb filter. The chrominance signal is demodulated to develop color mixture signals. The luminance and color mixture signals are applied to a color matrix for generating a first set of R, G, B color signals, with each signal repeating at the f.sub.H line rate. A time compression circuit is coupled to the output of the color matrix for time compressing the R, G, B color signals to generate a comparable set of three time compressed and processed color signals, with each time compressed signal repeating at a double line rate of 2f.sub.H. The video signal processor is also capable of converting f.sub.H line rate, interlaced R, G, B signals, obtained from an external video source, into double line rate, non-interlaced signals.

Abstract: A flat-field television image having reduced visibility of horizontal scan lines is generated by receiving first and second fields of interlaced video and progressively generating a scanned image within a time for one incoming field. The progressive scanned image is formed from "real" and interpolated lines of luminance. In this arrangement the interpolated line is formed by weighting samples from time-successive lines. To improve the vertical detail of a progressively scanned image vertical detail information which may be obtained from the chrominance channel is combined with both "real" and interpolated lines, or one to the exclusion of the other, to enhance the image displayed.

Abstract: Frame comb filters effectively separate the chrominance and luminance components of composite video signal but produce undesirable image distortion when interframe motion occurs. Luminance cross components introduced into the comb filtered chrominance signal component during interframe motion intervals contribute to the image distortion. The luminance cross components are eliminated from the comb filtered chrominance signal by successively filtering the chrominance signal with a chrominance bandpass filter and an interline chrominance comb filter.

Abstract: Motion induced image distortion resulting from processing video signals in a frame-to-frame comb filter is substantially reduced by extracting motion induced luminance cross components in frame combed chrominance signal and reinserting them in the frame combed luminance signal. The chrominance signal is applied to a low pass filter to extract luminance components for reinsertion in the combed luminance signal. Higher frequency luminance cross components required to completely compensate the combed luninance signal are rejected by the low pass filter, however, to account for the missing high frequency luminance cross components, the combed luminance signal is selectively low pass filtered during interframe motion intervals before reinsertion of the cross components.

Abstract: A charge transfer device (CTD) delay line comb filter for separating the frequency interleaved luminance and chrominance components of a composite video signal is provided wherein signal charges representative of the composite video signal within first and second delay lines are effectively subtracted one from the other by alternately passing them under a common, periodically clamped, normally floating sense electrode. This eliminates the need for a phase inverter, which causes imperfect separation due to having a non-zero time delay and not having exactly unity gain.

Abstract: A frame-to-frame comb filter for separating chrominance and luminance signals from composite video signals produces objectionable double images around the edges of moving objects. The double images are substantially removed by low pass filtering the combed chrominance signal and combining the low pass filtered chrominamce signal with the combed luminance signal.

Abstract: A signal separation system is provided which includes a plurality of serially-coupled signal transfer stages. A video information signal is applied to an input stage and is delayed by at least the time interval of one horizontal television line (1-H) as it passes through the stages. Various ones of the stages which are 1-H apart in time include outputs, which are combined by weighting function and summing or difference circuits to produce bandwidth-limited transversal filter output signals. These signals are additively and subtractively combined to produce a combed band passed chrominance signal and a fully restored and combed luminance signal, thereby obviating the need for subsequent filtering before the signals are further processed. The bandwidth-limited signals may also be combined to provide a user adjustable peaking control signal for the luminance information channel.

Abstract: First 1-H type comb filter provides an output representative of the sum of current line video signals and preceding line video signals, which is delivered to an adder via a wideband signal path, as a wideband combed luminance signal input occupying a given band of frequencies. Second 1-H type comb filter provides an output representative of the difference between current line video signals and preceding line video signals which is delivered to said adder, via a signal path with a pass band restricted to only a low frequency portion of the given band, as a restricted band vertical detail signal input.

Abstract: A television receiver having circuitry for reducing the effects of impulse noise in the video signal is controlled by impulse noise detection circuitry responsive to the accompanying sound signal. Since impulse noise is relatively broadband it will occur simultaneously in both the broadcast picture and accompanying sound signals. Amplitude variations of the frequency modulated sound signal are indicative of the presence of noise, which variations are detected and utilized to generate a control signal whenever the noise amplitude exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An audio distortion elimination circuit is provided which eliminates the effects of periodic decreases in signal amplitude of an audio signal. A comb filter includes an undelayed signal path, a signal path including a delay line and a combining circuit coupled between a source of audio signals and an audio output circuit. The combining circuit combines the delayed and undelayed audio signals to provide a response for the comb filter which is a function of the delay of the delay line and exhibits periodically recurring points of maximum attenuation at the fundamental frequency of the periodic decreases in signal amplitude and at harmonics thereof. The comb filter may be made adaptive so that comb filtering is provided only during reception of a distorted signal.

Abstract: A television signal ghost eliminator is described, including a transversal filter having an input terminal, an output terminal at which a processed video signal is produced, a plurality of signal processing stages serially coupled between the input and output terminals, and a plurality of input taps coupled to the signal processing stages. A detected video signal is applied to the input terminal of the transversal filter and is transferred through the serially coupled stages. A circuit is responsive to the processed video signal for developing a plurality of weighting function signals which are applied to the input taps. The weighting function signals applied to the taps are combined with the detected video signal as it appears at the tapped stages, resulting in reduction in ghost signal components in the processed video signal which is produced at the output terminal of the transversal filter.

Abstract: Frequency multiplier includes common-emitter input amplifying stage receiving fundamental frequency input signals at input transistor base. Output amplifying stage has output transistor with its base linked to input transistor collector, and with its collector coupled to narrow band load circuit tuned to a selected harmonic frequency. Emitter circuit of output transistor includes parallel resonant circuit tuned to input signal fundamental frequency. Non-linear negative feedback path between output transistor emitter and input transistor base includes capacitor in series with paralleled, oppositely poled diodes.

Abstract: Means are provided for detecting departures of the relative velocity between a signal pickup and the information track of a video disc from a predetermined value. Signals recovered when relative motion is established between the track of the disc and the signal pickup are subjected to a delay in a charge transfer delay line. The line delay is made to vary in response to the output of the detecting means so as to compensate for signal time base errors engendered through departures of said relative velocity from the predetermined value. Non-linearities of the time delay of the delay line with respect to the output of the detecting means, which are due to large changes in the output frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator utilized for controlling the operation of the delay line, are compensated for by means of a linearizing feedback loop for the oscillator.