Abstract: A wander gamut display for perturbation analysis is created by determining from a periodic input data signal and a reference clock a frequency offset and frequency drift rate for the input signal. The frequency offset and frequency drift rate are input to respective orthogonal axes of a Cartesian display together with a wander limit bounding box that defines the wander gamut. Values that fall outside the bounding box on the display indicate wander that may result in data errors.

Abstract: An improved power-off, loop-through return-loss characteristic for a current feedback operational amplifier is provided by adding a positive feedback capacitor between the input and output of the operational amplifier. The positive feedback capacitor results in a negative capacitance input impedance for the operational amplifier that cancels stray capacitances at the input.

Abstract: An improved power-off, loop-through return-loss characteristic for a current feedback operational amplifier is provided by adding a positive feedback capacitor between the input and output of the operational amplifier. The positive feedback capacitor results in a negative capacitance input impedance for the operational amplifier that cancels stray capacitances at the input.

Abstract: An artistic color gamut display is generated by obtaining maximum and minimum values for an RGB signal. The maximum and minimum values are used as X and Y values for an XY plot. A triangular graticule, or Spearhead display, is generated for the XY plot having a first side representing Lightness, a second side representing saturation and a third side representing Value. The area within the Spearhead display represents valid color gamut. The Spearhead display may be combined with more traditional displays, such as Vector or Arrowhead displays, to provide a completely three-dimensional analysis of the RGB signal in terms of the artistic parameters of Hue, Saturation and Value or Lightness.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a watermark decoder with a watermark encoder uses a spatio-temporal (3D) synchronization pattern added to a data pattern to produce a watermark pattern for embedment into a signal. The spatio-temporal synchronization pattern is formed by multiplying a spatial (2D) synchronization pattern with a pseudo-noise sequence for a block of signal frames having a duration of N frames. Quadrature carrier modulation may be used to increase detectability of the watermark pattern at the watermark decoder. The watermarked signal is correlated with the spatial synchronization pattern to recover a temporal synchronization signal that is used to determine a temporal offset between the watermark encoder and watermark decoder. The temporal offset is then used to synchronize the watermark decoder with the watermark encoder.

Abstract: A method of measuring MPEG PCR jitter, frequency offset and drift rate uses a selectable, constant measurement bandwidth over non-uniform PCR arrival times and a variable PCR rate. The selectable, constant measurement bandwidth is fixed at a frequency that demarcates between jitter and wander. For each received PCR value a PCR interval is determined from the arrival time of the current PCR value and the arrival time of the preceding arrival time. The PCR values, intervals and the fixed bandwidth are input to a set of difference equations, derived either from a hybrid digital-analog PLL model where the frequency offset, drift rate and jitter are extracted from various points in the PLL feedback control system or from a linear filtering approximation to a least mean square (LMS) frequency offset and an LMS drift rate estimator of a simple second order time equation for the PCR values.

Abstract: An automated lip sync error corrector embeds a unique video source identifier ID into the video signal from each of a plurality of video sources. The unique video source ID may be in the form of vertical interval time code user bits or in the form of a watermark in an active video portion of the video signal. When one of the video signals is selected, the embedded unique video source ID is extracted. The extracted source ID is used to access a corresponding delay value for an adjustable audio delay device to re-time a common audio signal to the selected video signal. A look-up table may be used to correlate the unique video source ID with the corresponding delay value.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a watermark decoder with a watermark encoder uses a spatio-temporal (3D) synchronization pattern added to a data pattern to produce a watermark pattern for embedment into a signal. The spatio-temporal synchronization pattern is formed by multiplying a spatial (2D) synchronization pattern with a pseudo-noise sequence for a block of signal frames having a duration of N frames. Quadrature carrier modulation may be used to increase detectability of the watermark pattern at the watermark decoder. The watermarked signal is correlated with the spatial synchronization pattern to recover a temporal synchronization signal that is used to determine a temporal offset between the watermark encoder and watermark decoder. The temporal offset is then used to synchronize the watermark decoder with the watermark encoder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparently embedding data into a video signal modulates a particular carrier frequency with a randomized pattern representing the data. The randomized pattern may be a combination of the data with the output from a pseudo-random binary sequence generator, or the data may be converted first into a bi-orthogonal pattern selected from among a plurality of such patterns and then randomized. The resulting modulated carrier frequency is then amplitude modulated based upon a human visual model so that the modulated carrier frequency amplitude is greater in areas of high image complexity and lower in areas of low image complexity. The subliminal data represented by the modulated carrier frequency is added to the video signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transparently embedding data into a video signal modulates a particular carrier frequency with a randomized pattern representing the data. The randomized pattern may be a combination of the data with the output from a pseudo-random binary sequence generator, or the data may be converted first into a bi-orthogonal pattern selected from among a plurality of such patterns and then randomized. The resulting modulated carrier frequency is then amplitude modulated based upon a human visual model so that the modulated carrier frequency amplitude is greater in areas of high image complexity and lower in areas of low image complexity. The subliminal data represented by the modulated carrier frequency is added to the video signal.

Abstract: An improved serial-digital data receiver that receives a scrambled NRZI voltage signal representing a transmitted serial-digital data signal converts the scrambled NRZI voltage signal in the analog domain to a bi-polar or pseudo-ternary voltage signal. The bi-polar voltage signal is then input to a slicer and clock recovery circuit to provide a recovered clock signal and a scrambled NRZ data signal in the digital domain. The scrambled NRZ data signal is then descrambled to recover the transmitted serial-digital data signal. Single bit error identification and limited correction may be included by using a sequential state machine decoder to generate an error flag and by using a "soft-decision" circuit to identify the probable bit error location.

Abstract: A cable loss simulator for a serial digital signal source adapts a constant resistance, bridged-T passive network to simulate the frequency-loss characteristics of a reference coaxial cable. The cable loss simulator is selectively coupled into the output path of the serial digital signal source to simulate the serial digital signal after transmission through the reference coaxial cable. The cable loss simulator has a resistive input section for impedance matching with the serial digital signal source and a bridged-T section with multiple breakpoints to simulate the frequency-loss characteristic of the reference coaxial cable.

Abstract: An in-service cable length and source signal level measurement system uses a simple, zero-IF superheterodyne receiver tuned to only two reference frequencies to generate samples of a serial digital signal at each of the two frequencies. The samples at the two frequencies are input to a processor that calculates the cable length and source signal level as a function of the samples so obtained and cable dependent constants. The samples in units of decibels are subtracted to obtain a loss differential between the samples at the two reference frequencies, and then scaled by a cable dependent scale factor to obtain the length of the cable independent of source signal level and temperature. The source signal level is extrapolated from the loss differential and one of the samples based upon a nominal source amplitude and the cable dependent constants.

Abstract: A composite signal-limit indicator for a component monitor converts an input video signal, such a digital 422 signal or a GBR signal, into composite Y and Mag C component signals The composite Y and Mag C component signals are presented on an X-Y display together with graticules that represent the locus of 100 IRE values and of -20 IRE values. Points of the composite Y and Mag C component signals that fall outside the arrowhead formed by the graticules indicate composite signal level violations for the input video signal. The composite Y and Mag C component signals are combined and compared with the limits represented by the graticules. The results of the comparison are latched for further processing to automatically provide the composite signal-limit indicator. The results of the comparison may also be used to generate a bright-up display on an image monitor that flickers to indicate the locations within the image represented by the input video signal where the composite signal level violations occur.

Abstract: A return-loss detector for a serial digital signal source uses a return-loss bridge circuit to exploit the broadband spectral characteristics of a serial digital signal from the signal source to monitor the termination conditions of a system being driven. A differential pair of serial digital signals from the source are input to the bridge circuit having a reference termination in one leg and the system termination in the other. A broadband detector is used at the output of the bridge circuit to generate an error signal, which is measured by a detector or metering circuit. The measured signal may be displayed as a value in dB or may be input to a comparator to provide an alarm or warning signal to an operator.

Abstract: A password access method/algorithm is effected by generating a pseudorandom array of each letter of the alphabet and the numerals 0 through 9 such that the password entry can be monitored without disclosing the letters or numerals contained in the password. The preferred arrangement is a square matrix of six rows and six columns of characters. The user enters the password by selecting either the row or column containing each letter of a memorized password.

Abstract: A three-dimensional display for characterizing red, green and blue components of a video signal combines the three components to form two pairs of combination signals, one pair combining the green and blue components and the other pair combining the green and red components. The two pairs of combination signals are input alternately to the inputs of a vector display device to provide a symmetrical display about an axis of symmetry where one half characterizes the blue component, the other half characterizes the red component, and both halves characterize the green component. A diamond-shaped graticule is displayed for each half of the symmetrical display to define a color gamut region for the red, green and blue components.

Abstract: A method of detecting bit errors in serial digital video uses a digital demodulator to process a parallel video data signal derived from the serial digital video. The output of the demodulator is converted to analog, lowpass filtered, squared and compared with a threshold value. The result of the comparison produces an error signal when bit errors occur. The bit errors may be counted over a predetermined time period, may be used to switch a data filter into the video data output path to conceal the bit errors, and may be used to map the bit errors to a display for visualization of the location of the errors within a video image represented by the serial digital video.

Abstract: An equivalent time sampler uses an oscillator for sampling an input waveform having a repetitive component. A periodic signal is derived from the input waveform, and an offset frequency is derived from the periodic signal. The periodic signal and offset frequency are input to an offset locked oscillator to generate a sampling frequency that is the combination of the periodic signal and the offset frequency. The sampling frequency is used to obtain a sample of the input waveform for each acquisition cycle of the waveform.

Abstract: A sync vector generator for a composite vectorscope generates a gate from the horizontal sync pulses of a video input signal as a function of a reference signal selected from either the video input signal or an external reference signal. The gate width is equal to an integer multiple of cycles of the subcarrier frequency for the video input signal. A high-Q resonant tank circuit tuned to the subcarrier frequency is activated by the gate to produce a burst signal having a frequency equal to the subcarrier frequency and having a number of cycles equal to the integer multiple. The burst signal is input together with quadrature subcarrier frequency components to the demodulators of a conventional vectorscope to produce an output display that is a measure of horizontal sync jitter and instantaneous SC/H phase.