Abstract: It is known in the transmission of facsimile pictures to transmit the black-white data represented by one binary position per picture element via a run length coding. For the transmission of pictures in which the individual picture elements are represented by binary words having a plurality of binary positions, the individual binary positions of all the binary words are now always subjected picture line-sequentially to a run length coding and are transmitted. When a hierarchic code is used for the representation of P.E. values a compatability with the conventional facsimile receivers is simultaneously provided, which then processes only the most significant binary positions. In addition, measures for the preprocessing of the scanning values are described, so as to obtain a smoothed sequence which can more effectively be transmitted by means of run length coding.

Abstract: In a method of encoding a television signal in accordance with a plurality of operations each providing another distribution of temporal and/or spatial distribution, at least one of said operations including estimation of motion vectors for first frames out of pairs of television frames and/or estimation of pointers to motion vectors for second frames out of said pairs of television frames, said method further comprising encoding a digitally assisting signal into binary codewords comprising informations about said motion vectors, said pointers and/or according to which one of said plurality of operations the television signal is encoded, a Hamming-distance between a first codeword indicating an operation providing a maximum spatial resolution, and a second codeword indicating an operation providing a maximum temporal resolution, is at least one half the number of bits of each codeword, so that a fail-safe and efficient method is obtained.

Abstract: A programmable digital signal processor usable in a variety of configurations and controlled by stored coefficients and control words which are addressable to be provided to a plurality of processing sections as often as once per clock cycle. The processor arrangement is suitable for use as a decoder of multiple analog component (MAC) television signals.

Abstract: This arrangement comprises at least a processing block (2) provided with mean value calculating members for calculating for each picture element different mean background values (16, 18, 20), a contrast measuring member (22) for producing a deviation value between the mean values and the luminance L(i, j) of the picture element to be processed, a comparator (30) for producing the indication of the contrasting object by comparing the different deviation values to at least one predetermined threshold value and a background value assigning member (55) for assigning a background value for each picture element on the basis of said mean values.

Abstract: A motion estimator for high definition television transmission comprises a device which operates after motions have been estimated for an image (51), when the motions in a following image (53) are to be estimated. This device associates with a part (R) examined in an image (53) a group (5) of a plurality of parts of the preceding image (51) which group contains the part occupying, in the image, the same position as the examined part and likewise the adjacent parts, and investigates whether one of the nine motions determined for the nine parts of the said group (5) can be applied to the part R. If this is the case, the operation of the estimator is terminated for the part (R) examined and, moreover, the transmission of the motion for this part is then effected not by transmitting the value of the motion, but by designating that one of the parts of the group (5), the motion of which is appropriate.

Abstract: In a receiver for a high-definition television system a complicated motion compensated interpolation circuit for the chrominance can be dispensed with; in the event of small motions the interferences caused thereby are so small as to be disregarded, in the event of larger motions disturbing differences between the motion compensated luminance and the non-motion compensated chrominance can be prevented by switching to a processing operation which provides a lower spatial resolution for the chrominance. Herein, use is made of the fact that the eye is less sensitive to short-comings in (the resolution of) the chrominance signal than for short-comings in (the resolution of) the luminance signal. The render such a receiver possible, the television signal must be adequately processed at the transmitter end.

Abstract: Use is made of a digitally assisted DATV to effect a bandwidth reduction encoding and bandwidth reduction decoding, in addition to MAC-coding and MAC-decoding, of at least three picture signal channels (PC) each having a different picture signal refresh period equal to, for example, 80, 40 and 20 ms which are coupled via a time-division multiplex circuit (MUX). For with the diversity of picture signal sources, it was found that distinguishing during the picture signal processing between a film mode (SW1, T40) and a non-film mode (SW1, T20) results in a significantly improved high-definition picture resolution. This distinction is expressed at the DATV by one information bit (FM'). During the non-film mode (SW1, T20) three Y-liminance channels (PC11, PC13 and PC12) of 80, 40 and 20 ms and two U and V-chrominance channels (PC21 and PC22) of 80 and 20 ms are operative. During the film mode (SW11, T40) the Y-channels (PC11 and PC13) and the U and V-channels (PC21 and PC23) of 80 and 40 ms are only operative.

Abstract: An active matrix addressed liquid crystal display system suitable for TV purposes, driven by applying to one of the conductors associated with each display element drive signals comprising a selection signal portion for setting a display condition followed by a sustain signal portion for sustaining that condition for an interval prior to receipt of the next selection signal, the magnitude of the sustain signal is decreased over its duration, thereby avoiding vertical cross-talk problems or the need to increase the number of diode structures. The sustain signal is decreased gradually, either continuously or in steps, so as to minimise the mean voltage across the non-linear element, and preferably in accordance with the decay time constant of the liquid crystal material of the display element.

Abstract: A method of picture motion measurement in which two pictures are correlated to determine correlation as a function of displacement to determine peak correlation values corresponding to motion vectors. In the method a maximum sample point (P) associated with a peak in a correlation surface is located and a second sample point (D) of those immediately surrounding said point (P) selected having the steepest gradient with respect to the said point (P). The difference (d1) in magnitude between these points is determined as is the corresponding difference (d2) between the said point (P) and a point (H) colinear therewith. A comparison of these differences (d1 and d2) is used to determine the location of the peak to an accuracy better than the interval between adjacent sample points.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving a high definition television signal with characteristics which are determined in part at the receiver. The system transmits an AM signal formed by frequency multiplexing a number of components derived using an HDMAC-60 encoder.

Abstract: A composite video signal each line of which comprises a line synchronizing pulse, a front and a back porch and a vision portion, the synchronizing pulse of which may contain a burst of pulsed additional information is applied to an input terminal (1) which is connected to the input of a first signal path (T1, T2) whose output is connected to a current source (I1) and to an output terminal (8). A second signal path (T3, T4) has its input connected to a reference voltage input (5) and its output connected to the current source (I1) and the output terminal (8). A switching circuit (T5, T6) alternately enables the first and second signal paths (T1, T2; T3, T4) under the control of a switching signal at a connection (10) such that the output terminal (8) produces a composite video signal in which the synchronizing pulse at the input terminal is replaced by a pulse or level. The replacement does not contain the burst of pulsed additional information when present in the applied signal.

Abstract: A system for generating high definition television signals. An augmentation signal is provided for supporting the transmission of additional panel information, increasing the aspect ratio of an NTSC compatible main television signal component. Line differential information, as well as high frequency luminance and high frequency chrominance are transmitted in the augmentation signal super line time interval without frequency interleaving components. The high definition augmentation signal is derived by subsampling the high definition image produced by an HDTV source along the diagonal direction of its two dimensional frequency spectrum. The horizontal frequency bandwidth of the HDTV image is perserved without an objectionable loss of resolution to the human visual system.

Abstract: An SPS charge coupled device memory is described which is useful for storing video pictures. The memory avoids accumulation of charge below the de-interlacing electrodes controlling the transfer of data to the series output register by using two different procedures for generating the de-interlacing clocks for the odd channels and for the even channels of the parallel section. These procedures are carried out sequentially with an adjustable difference in time.

Abstract: A system for transmitting an interlaced source signal, for example 1050 lines, 2:1 interlaced, via a MAC signal, and decoding and receiving same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing identification signals in a data signal (teletext signal) which is cyclically repeated within a television signal and which can be displayed in the form of single still television pictures (teletext pages), whereby the manual entry of numbers for selecting the teletext pages is superfluous and the desired teletext pages can be selected in a simple and flawless way by searching a part of the teletext signal constituting at least a part of the contents of a selected teletext page for signal sequences representing three-digit, natural numbers, which sequences are separated as identification signals and are stored as signals assigned to the selected teletext page.

Abstract: A graphics system comprising a screen processor which separately formulates the requests for access to a single word and the requests for access to a plurality of consecutive words, a bus arbitrator to arbitrate the requests for access to a single word and to select a request, and a DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory, controller to arbitrate the requests for a plurality of words and the refresh requests. The DRAM controller preferably comprises an automatic system which directly generates line and column control signals. The automatic system is preferably constructed in the form of a PLA (Program Logic Array).

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for a picture display device for generating an essentially sawtooth-shaped line deflection current with a trace and a retrace through a deflection coil, which circuit arrangement comprises a series circuit of a trace capacitor, the line deflection coil and a bidirectionally conducting, line frequency-controlled switch which is conducting during the trace time and is not conducting during the retrace time, in which retrace time the deflection coil and a retrace capacitor are part of a resonant network. The series circuit also comprises a voltage source, while the losses in the series circuit are so low that the sum of the DC components of the voltage of the source and of the voltage across the trace capacitor is many times higher, at least 5 times, than the amplitude of the AC component of the source. The deflection current is given a desired variation by means of three controls.

Abstract: A UHF bandpass filter, comprising resonators, each of which is arranged in a respective cavity and which are coupled to one another via tracks etched on a printed circuit.

Abstract: In a picture display device suitable for receiving and processing an incoming video signal which comprises horizontally scanned picture information and for displaying pictures which are composed of fields each of which comprises a given number of lines, a scanning section for generating line and field scanning signals for forming the lines and fields, respectively, is adapted to scan the lines in the vertical direction, a number of vertical lines constituting a field and the vertical line frequency being many times higher, at least 200 times, than the horizontal field frequency. A video signal processing section for processing the picture information which is present in the video signal comprises a scan direction transposition circuit for receiving the picture information and for sequentially assigning picture information to elements of the vertically scanned lines.

Abstract: A stand-alone utility device for perceptible reproduction of signals, for example a radio receiver or a TV receiver, is protected from theft because the reproduction quality of the signals is disturbed in the case of unauthorized use by regular suppression of the signal, by generating bleeps or by a combination of both.