Abstract: A 1-chip color video camera which provides a frequency characteristic that exhibits relatively little attenuation up to a high frequency range for a (green) signal and has a highest degree of contribution to brightness, and hence provides high resolution. The 1-chip color video camera has a color separation circuit for processing signals obtained from a solid-state image sensor wherein primary color filters of R(red), G and B(blue) are arranged mosaic-wise for respective pixels. Color signal components at a central portion of a pixel block consisting of four pixels of two rows by two columns on the solid-state image sensor are generated by interpolating color signal components of a plurality of neighboring pixels.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing a full service cable television system. The cable system incorporates a digital and analog transmission architecture capable of delivering a high number of high quality television programs, advanced cable services, and online services to a subscriber's home. The cable system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal incorporates a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry.

Abstract: A color CCD solid-state image pickup device having a color filter array such that it is not possible to mix pixels adjacent in the column direction. Even rows and odd rows of pixels arrayed in a matrix respectively have the same filter arrays and it is thereby made possible for signal charges of light-receiving parts in pixels of a Kth row (K being a positive integer) and signal charges of light-receiving parts in pixels of either of the K.+-.th rows to be mixed and vertically transferred in the vertical shift registers.

Abstract: A circuit for peaking video signals, which can be developed by combining a video signal with a peaking signal having a preshooting and a overshooting potion that are respectively controlled in peaking levels thereof. The circuit includes a delay circuit for delaying a luminance signal for a first predetermined time in order to generate a first delayed signal and for delaying the first delayed signal for a second predetermined time in order to generate a second delayed signal. An adder adds the second delayed signal to a current video signal in order to generate an added signal. A variable amplifying section amplifies the added signal in response to a first control signal from an exterior in order to generate a first variable amplified signal, and amplifies the added signal in response to a second control signal from the exterior in order to generate a second variable amplified signal.

Abstract: An image processor having a circuit for holding data on features of registered specific images, a circuit for determining the degree of similarity between features of an input image and the held features of each of the specific images, and a circuit for updating the held content of the holding circuit from the outside through a line. The image processor also has a judgment circuit for determining the degree of similarity between an input image and each of the specific images according to tint distributions of these images, and a circuit for registering data on the tint distribution of each specific image.

Abstract: Subtitle encoding and decoding apparatus and corresponding method are operable to encode and decode multiple subtitle signals representing multiple subtitles to be superimposed on a video image. Each received subtitle signal is encoded (in the encoding apparatus only) and stored in a buffer memory. An address list including data nodes therein is generated from the received subtitle signals wherein each data node in the address list corresponds to a respective subtitle stored in the buffer memory. Each data node includes data corresponding to the time and position at which a respective subtitle is to be superimposed on a video image, as well as buffer memory address information which identifies the location in the buffer memory at which the respective subtitle is stored. Each data node further includes pointer data that identifies another data node that corresponds to a successively positioned subtitle in the display.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for browsing through a motion picture in order to locate desired segments in the motion picture, frames are selected from sequential parts of the motion picture according to predetermined sampling critera, e.g., "by time", "by tag" or "by change". Each selected frame is reduced in size such that the screen can accommodate the simultaneous display of "n" frames. The frames are displayed sequentially at "n" sequential locations on the screen according to a predefined closed loop, each frame being displayed in its respective location for a time interval starting with a time delay "t.sub.D " after the start of the display of the frame at the preceding location in the loop and continuing until the loop has been completed with another frame displayed in its respective location. Thus, only the selected frames need be viewed in order to locate a desired segment, but each selected frame may be viewed for an extended time interval, equal to "nt.sub.D ".

Abstract: An optical detector includes a charge-coupled device (CCD). The CCD comprises an active cell for receiving a narrow beam of incident illumination and generating photoelectrons in response thereto, and a first stage readout register comprising a row of N transfer cells, where N>1. A first stage gate structure transfers charge packets consecutively from the active cell into the first stage readout register, whereby N successive charge packets are read into the N cells respectively of the first stage readout register. N second stage readout registers each comprise M transfer cells, where M>1, and a second stage gate structure transfers N charge packets from the N cells of the first stage readout register into respective first cells of the second stage readout registers and subsequently shifts the N charge packets from the respective first cells of the second stage readout registers to respective Mth cells thereof.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a picture-display-region discriminating means for discriminating whether or not any picture is displayed on a specific region on a screen of the television receiver, by utilizing a luminance signal of a composite video signal which is received by the television receiver and corresponds to the specific region. A signal in a frequency band which is unnecessary for the video signal is eliminated, and then it is discriminated whether or not any picture is displayed on the specific region, by utilizing the luminance signal and a carrier chrominance signal contained in the video signal.

Abstract: A digital camera is designed to capture images and transfer the captured images to a host computer. The camera includes an image sensor exposed to image light for capturing the images and generating image signals; a timing generator, incorporating a line request control signal, for controlling the readout of lines of photosites from the image sensor; an A/D converter for converting the image signals into digital image data; a digital memory for storing at least one line of digital image data; and a digital interface for providing the digital image data read from the digital memory to the host computer. By initiating a new line readout in response to the line request control signal indicating the fullness of the digital memory, the camera is able to use the image sensor as an analog frame memory, instead of having a full digital frame memory in the camera, so that only a small line store is required.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend. At the distribution hub and headend, a switch is provided for each return cable and the switches are coupled to one another. At a distribution hub, data messages having a destination address corresponding to one of the other switches at the hub are routed to the corresponding switch.

Abstract: An isolation circuit is disclosed for isolating ground interference from a wideband transmission signal. The ground isolation circuit of the present invention is constructed using a pair of matched mixer circuits, each of which receives a carrier signal from the same oscillator circuit. The first mixer circuit also receives the baseband signal input after appropriate conditioning, and modulates the baseband signal onto the carrier signal. In the preferred embodiment, the carrier signal has a predetermined frequency which is at least two times the frequency of the baseband signal. The modulated signal (which preferably comprises an rf signal) is transmitted via an rf transmission line to the second mixer, which demodulates the rf signal to recover the baseband signal. Each port of the mixer circuits connects to an isolation transformer to insure isolation from ground interference.

Abstract: A compact film player has a picture reproducing unit and an information reading unit capable of reading a photographing information on each frame of the film. When a developed film is fed in an inlet of the picture reproducing unit in a prescribed direction, a scan mirror scans a picture provided on the film perpendicularly to the feed direction, so that a line sensor takes the picture every line. The line sensor and the scan mirror read two-dimensional pictures provided on the film. When the picture of the frame previously read is on display, the scan of the next frame is effected.

Abstract: An imaging circuit includes a solid state imaging device, an A/D converter for converting light receiving signals outputted from the solid state imaging device to digital signals, and a driving unit for supplying clock signals to the solid state imaging device and the A/D converter. The solid state imaging device has a first mode in which the light receiving signals on two adjacent scanning lines arranged in the vertical direction are added to each other and outputted, and a second mode in which the light receiving signals on one scanning line are sequentially outputted in units of scanning lines, the first and second modes being optionally selectable in accordance with a predetermined mode selection signal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reproducing digital video signals in which every one-frame data of the digital video signals are recorded on n tracks of a recording medium by an inclined azimuth recording system are varying speed reproduced by a rotary head having n heads with a varying playback speed such that A=a(t.multidot.m.+-.1)/n, where a is a constant equal to 1 or 2 and m is a constant which is an integer other than 0. A picture corresponding to the digital video signals read out with the varying playback speed S is displayed on the screen. In this manner, non-continuous lines caused by temporal difference in neighboring macro-blocks during varying speed reproduction may be rendered less obtrusive for improving the picture quality of the varying speed reproduced picture.

Abstract: A single-polysilicon active pixel, methods for operating and making same, and an imaging device employing same are disclosed. The single-polysilicon active pixel comprises a photo site located on a substrate for generating and storing charge carriers, the charge carriers being generated from photonic energy incident upon the photo site and semiconductor substrate, a photo gate, a transfer transistor and output and reset electronics. The gate of the transfer transistor and the photo gate are defined in a single layer of polysilicon disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The source of transfer transistor is a doped region of substrate, referred to as a coupling diffusion, which provides the electrical coupling between the photo gate and the transfer transistor. The coupling diffusion allows for the transfer of a signal stored in a photo site under the photo gate to the output electronics for processing. A plurality of such single-polysilicon active pixels can be arranged to form an imaging system.

Abstract: A gain variance and ingress reduction system reduces the overall ingress of interferers for an entire CATV system return transmission path and allows a reduction in subscriber terminal return transmitter power. The system places a calculated loss at each subscriber tap location. By placing these losses at each subscriber location, the headend receives a more consistent return transmission path gain thereby reducing the terminal return transmitter power range requirement. In addition, the losses reduce return transmission path ingress.

Abstract: Upon NTSC broadcasting, switches are respectively electrically connected to the N sides and a three-dimensional comb filter is made up of memories, a subtracter, etc., whereby a carrier chrominance signal is separated from a video signal in accordance with a frame-to-frame process. In this case, the video signal is divided into two signals, which are in turn written into the memories. Upon EDTV2 broadcasting, the switches are respectively electrically connected to the E sides and a three-dimensional comb filter is made up of the memory and the subtracter, whereby a composite signal obtained by combining a carrier chrominance signal and a horizontal resolution supplementary signal is separated from the video signal. The switch is electrically connected to the E side and a three-dimensional comb filter is made up of the memory, a subtracter, etc., whereby a horizontal resolution supplementary signal is separated from a composite signal in accordance with a field-to-field process.

Abstract: This invention relates to customized electronic identification of desirable objects, such as news articles, in an electronic media environment, and in particular to a system that automatically constructs both a "target profile" for each target object in the electronic media based, for example, on the frequency with which each word appears in an article relative to its overall frequency of use in all articles, as well as a "target profile interest summary" for each user, which target profile interest summary describes the user's interest level in various types of target objects. The system then evaluates the target profiles against the users' target profile interest summaries to generate a user-customized rank ordered listing of target objects most likely to be of interest to each user so that the user can select from among these potentially relevant target objects, which were automatically selected by this system from the plethora of target objects that are profiled on the electronic media.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system for a still video camera has a light detector for outputting an image signal corresponding to an intensity of light which is incident on the light detector. An image signal is output for each of a plurality of colors of light that are incident on the light detector. The autofocusing system also includes a processor for determining the value of an AF signal corresponding to the focus condition of each of the image signals. A controller executes the autofocus operation. The AF signal having the highest value is used by the controller to execute the autofocus operation.