Abstract: A CCD imager is used in a television camera which generates signals for use with a particular television standard, such as the proposed U.S. HDTV production standard. The imager includes a light-sensitive A register which generates signal in the form of charge during an integrating interval, a B charge storage register into which the charge is transferred during a pull-down interval, and a horizontal shift register coupled to the last row of the B register, into which the charges are simultaneously coupled, and serially read. The video signals produced by the imager are subject to distortion caused by incomplete charge transfer in the pull-down interval and crosstalk noise resulting from gating the clock signals to the horizontal shift register on and off. Vertical transfer distortion is reduced by reading the horizontal lines from the horizontal shift register with reduced intervals between the active portions, which allows the pull-down interval to be increased.

Abstract: A dither-controlled automatic scan tracking system for television signal playback includes a field-store memory for storing a scan track control signal related to the average amplitude-tune "shape" of the transducer deflection control signal. The memorized scan track signal is added to a wideband scan track feedback signal to produce a composite signal which improves tracking error. Anomalous errors can result from memorizing signals which are systematic but unrelated to transducer or head deflection from the track. The errors are reduced by reversing the dither phase each television field, thereby allowing those signals unrelated to deflection to be identified and cancelled. The dither phase reversal can be switched or a continous phase progression.

Abstract: A servo loop for an automatic scan tracking arrangement for a helical-scan videotape playback machine includes a wideband relatively low-gain portion for fast acquisition and correction of mistracking errors. In order to provide high gain for reducing mistracking which recurs from scan to scan, a second path in the servo loop in parallel with the wideband path includes a commutating filter which accumulates the average error signal generated by the wideband system in a commutating filter and reinserts the averaged error to provide adaptive systematic correction having a comb-like response. This reinsertion reduces the magnitude of the systematic errors which the wideband portion of the servo must correct, and therefore reduces the amount of closed-loop mistracking which repeats from scan to scan.

Abstract: An automatic tracking system for a VTR has playback heads having widths smaller than the recorded track widths. At least two tracks are simultaneously reproduced. If mistracking occurs, the amplitude of the reproduced signal from one head decreases, while the amplitude of the signal from the other head remains constant. This is detected and used to generate a bimorph control signal to correct the tracking.

Abstract: A television standards converter uses a VTR. The capstan speed is that of the video signal recorded on the tape, however, the drum speed is that of the standard to which it is desired to convert. Thus the reproduced signal has the original line rate but the new field rate. A line rate converter converts the reproduced signal to the new line rate, the signal is now totally in the new standard.