Abstract: A CCD imager of frame-storage type has a frame storage register operable as a recirculating serial memory. The output ends of the parallel charge transfer channels in the image register are separated from respective ones of the input ends of the parallel charge transfer channels in the frame storage register by respective ones of the successive charge transfer stages of a line register. After the frame storage register charge packet contents are converted to serial format and sensed during selected field scan intervals, corresponding charge packets are clocked serially into the line register, then parallelly entered into the frame storage register.

Abstract: A system for the automatic insertion of auxiliary video information into a television signal received at a local station from a network distribution system is provided which inserts a trigger signal into the television signal before its distributed to the local stations. The trigger signal indicates the desired timing of the insertion of the auxiliary video information. At the local stations, means are provided for generating a television signal including the auxiliary video information synchronously with the received television signal. A switch is responsive to detection of the trigger signal for providing at an output the received television signal including the desired auxiliary video information inserted therein.

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: Switch apparatus including first and second signal switch paths for coupling signal between one of first and second input ports and an output port. Each switch path includes a pair of series-coupled oppositely-poled diodes and a shunt diode having one electrode coupled to the junction of the diode pair, each diode being coupled to the junction by an electrode of like conductivity type. A biasing means selectively biases one of the diode pairs into conduction for coupling signal between one of the input ports and the output port concurrently with the biasing into conduction of the shunt diode coupled to the junction of the other of the diode pairs for biasing the other diode pair into non-conduction, thereby decoupling signal between the other of the input ports and the output port.

Abstract: Two or more CCD imagers, which have random defects are optically coupled to form a single image. The CCD's are in registry. Because of the random nature of the location of the defects, the defective photosensors of one imager are aligned with good photosensors of another. Memories keep track of which locations of which CCD are defective. The imagers are operated synchronously and the signals from good photosensor locations are summmed for improved signal-to-noise ratio. When a location is addressed at which one imager has a defective photosensor, the respective memory decouples it from the good photosensor of the other imager. The signal level is restored for that pixel by increasing the gain of a preamp by the correct amount. If the imagers are made from the same mask, they may have almost identically corresponding defective photosensors. Then one imager is mounted upside-down relative to the other and scanned backwards so the defects do not coincide.

Abstract: When PAL chroma signals U and V are respectively recorded in channels with bandwidths intended for NTSC chroma signals I and Q, distortion will result to one of the U or V signals due to the narrow bandwidth Q channel. To equalize this distortion between the U and V signals, they line to line alternate between the two channels. To avoid a line crawl, signals above the Q channel cut-off frequency are averaged.

Abstract: A television camera-recorder combination includes an imager which forms a signal representative of the image during an integration interval. The integration interval is followed by a pull-down interval during which the integrated signal is transferred out of the photoresponsive region. Streaking of an image displayed from the signal results from light falling on the photoresponsive region during the pull-down interval. A mechanical shutter periodically prevents light from falling upon the photoresponsive region of the imager. The shutter is synchronized with the pull-down interval. The synchronization and drive arrangement of the video recorder portion is mechanically coupled to the shutter to provide a common drive. In another embodiment, a color wheel associated with the viewfinder of the camera is mechanically coupled to the video recorder drive arrangement for common mechanical drive.

Abstract: An adaptive error concealment system uses either a horizontal or vertical average as a replacement pixel for an erroneous pixel. The choice is dependent upon the amount of horizontal information in at least one adjacent horizontal line. This avoids errors if certain horizontal or vertical stripe patterns are present in the video signal.

Abstract: When tape in a VTR moves in the same direction as the direction of peripheral motion of a headwheel across which the tape passes, release of one end of the tape during rewind may cause the tape to whip around the headwheel and jam. The tape accumulation resulting from the motion is accommodated by a tapered open-ended tunnel. After accumulation in the tunnel, the tape is reeled in by the take-up reel.

Abstract: A transcoding arrangement transcodes signals sampled at a first frequency into second signals clocked at a second frequency. The first and second frequencies are selected so that their quotient is the ratio of integers. This results in recurrent blocks of samples having integer numbers of input samples and new output samples. A transcoder uses delay elements to form successively delayed samples of the input signal. Subtractors form difference signals representing the amplitude difference between successive delayed samples. Multipliers coupled to the subtractors multiply the difference signals by a running variable multiplicand to form weighted difference signals. The running variable is related to the effective position of the new sample being formed within a transcoding block of samples. The weighted difference signals are summed in an adder to form the new sample values.

Abstract: An arrangement for suppressing the audible effects of operating supply voltage transients developed when a sound reproducing system including a gain controlled audio amplifier is initially energized and de-energized. A control path supplies the amplifier with a gain (volume) control voltage of positive and negative senses corresponding to maximum and minimum sound volume. A first capacitor is coupled between the control path and a source of positive operating voltage from which the gain control voltage is derived. A normally non-conductive threshold conduction device and a second capacitor are coupled in series with the first capacitor between the control path and ground. The threshold device is biased to be rendered conductive for coupling positive-going supply voltage transients away from the control path via the second capacitor when the system is initially energized, thereby suppressing the audible effects of the positive transients.

Abstract: First and second sound channels are provided for processing audio signals. Each sound channel includes means responsive to a D.C. control voltage for controlling the volume of the audio output signal of the channel. A volume control potentiometer is coupled across two terminals of a source of supply voltage and a D.C. volume control potential is developed at a tap of the potentiometer. The volume control potential is applied to a control electrode of a controlled current path. The controlled current path includes the parallel combination of a first voltage divider and a second, variable voltage divider. A tap of the first voltage divider is coupled to the D.C. control input of the first sound channel, and a tap of the second voltage divider is coupled to the D.C. control input of the second sound channel. By adjusting the second, variable voltage divider, the control voltage provided by the second voltage divider may be set to equalize the D.C. volume control characteristics of the two sound channels.

Abstract: A stereophonic sound synthesizer system is presented which utilizes a phase splitter in the form of a transformer to develop two oppositely phased audio signals from an applied monaural signal. One of the two oppositely phased signals is applied to a transfer function circuit of the form H(s), which modulates the intensity of a monaural signal as a function of the frequency. The intensity modulated H(s) signal may be applied to an amplifier for subsequent amplification and reproduction. The H(s) signal is also combined with the other of the two oppositely phased signals to produce a difference signal which is the complement of the H(s) signal. The difference signal may be applied to an amplifier for subsequent amplification and reproduction. No differential amplifier is necessary to produce the difference signal because the necessary selective phase opposition of the signals combined in that channel is provided by the use of the oppositely phased transformer output signals.

Abstract: A watch circuit arrangement for conserving battery power includes a feedback connection between the crystal oscillator of the watch circuit and the display voltage generator which is responsive to the crystal oscillator output to develop sufficient output voltage for the watch display. Specifically, the output of the display voltage generator, which may be a voltage multiplier, is sensed by a display voltage sensing circuit which controls the gain of the crystal oscillator. Initially, when battery power is applied to the watch circuit, the voltage multiplier has zero output voltage, which conditions the crystal oscillator to have a sufficiently high gain to start the oscillator. After several cycles of oscillator signal, the voltage multiplier output increases, which conditions the crystal oscillator to have a lower gain for reducing power consumption while sustaining oscillation.