Abstract: A color coding filter is combined with a single area-imaging charge-coupled-device (CCD) to form a color television camera. Three-phase CCD of frame transfer type provides a 2:1 interlace scanning format, and the color filter is designed for compatibility with this format. The filter is formed from a plurality of different color transmissivity areas arranged in a specific grid-like pattern to provide the distinct filter characteristics required for each of the two interlaced fields. With this filtering, the CCD generates a continuous luminance and two line-sequential chrominance (color difference) signals.

Abstract: A color video disc is disclosed in which at least two field synchronizing signals and color video signals are recorded on a track in a line sequence manner. In this case, the first color video signal component in each field is selected to be the same color.An apparatus for making the above color video disc is also described with which the synchronizing signals and color video signals derived from signal producing circuit are recorded on the color video disc with a cutter device and in which a 1/3 counter is provided. The 1/3 counter serves to supply therethrough an output signal from a synchronizing signal generator to a line sequence signal generator and the output signal is applied to the signal producing circuit.A reproducing apparatus for the color video disc is described in which the signal reproduced from the color video disc is applied to a signal processing system. This signal processing system does not include a pilot signal extracting circuit which is required in the prior art.

Abstract: A solid-state video camera employing a plurality of image sensing means in the form of charge coupled device chips which are arranged in such a manner that the video image cast on respective chips are displaced by distance equal to .tau.H/N where .tau..sub.H is the reciprocal of the image sampling frequency, also referred to as the alignment pitch of the picture elements in the horizontal direction and N is the number of charge coupled chips. After converting the images into electrical signals, read-out timings of given picture elements of respective chips are shifted in time in accordance with the shift in distance between the images on the respective chips prior to mixing the output signals. In this way a video output signal having a wide-band width is obtained. In addition, color video information is possible by the use of color filters which may be disposed in front of the respective charge coupled chips.

Abstract: A special effect generation system in an image pickup system e.g. for television and more particularly to a special effect generation system in an image pickup system wherein there is provided, between a taking lens forming a part of the image pickup system and an image receiving medium, an optical device for reflecting light beam passing through the taking lens and the image receiving medium, having a portion which is displaced whereby the incident light beam to the image receiving medium changes with the displacement to generate a special effect.

Abstract: An equipment for recording and reproducing color television signals or VTR (video tape recorder) is combined with a color television receiver as a single unit in such a way that some of their circuits are used in common with both the VTR and receiver, whereupon the circuit design as well as operation may be greatly simplified. The VTR and receiver are operatively coupled to each other through a switch for selecting a recording or reproducing mode. In recording mode, the video signal, which is received and detected by the receiver, passes through the mode selction switch to the luminance signal processing circuit and the carrier chrominance signal processing circuit in the receiver. The separated luminance and chrominance signals are applied to the input terminal of the VTR so that they may be recorded while one is watching the picture on a picture tube.

Abstract: In a video disc player, an FM signal recovered from the disc is subject to frequency demodulation to obtain a composite color video signal. In the composite signal, chrominance information appears in the form of a modulated subcarrier buried in spectrum troughs in the midband of a wider band luminance signal. The composite signal is applied to a modulator to develop amplitude modulated carrier waves, which serve as the "normal" signal input to a 1H delay line. Comb filter circuits respond to the delay line input and output to obtain separated chrominance and luminance signal components, which are suitably processed for delivery to color image display apparatus (e.g., color television receiver). The amplitude modulated carrier wave output of the delay line is also utilized as a "substitution" signal input to the delay line, replacing the normal signal input when a defect detector, monitoring the output of the FM demodulator, indicates the onset of a picture defect.

Abstract: Circuits are disclosed for processing color encoded video signals, encoded per a format wherein a chrominance signal in the form of a modulated subcarrier is buried in spectrum "troughs" in the midband of a wider band luminance signal, an illustrative use of the encoding format being in video disc recording. The processing circuits serve, in use with composite signals developed during video disc playback, to convert an input composite signal of buried subcarrier format to an output composite signal of NTSC format. Carrier waves are amplitude modulated in accordance with composite signals developed during video disc playback, and applied to the input of a 1H delay line. Subtractive combination of the modulated carrier waves from both input and output of the delay line effects a first comb filtering action to develop a chrominance signal output in the highband location desired for output use. The delay line output is applied to an amplitude detector.

Abstract: A recording apparatus extracting and recording for reproduction a video signal of a still-picture out of a received multiple signal, which video signal is divided for every several horizontal scanning lines and inserted in the vertical fly-back period of an ordinary television signal included in the multiple signal, comprises means for extracting and recording sequentially the video signal for a still-picture from out of the vertical fly-back period of the television signal, and means for extracting by detection of that vertical synchronizing signal of the television signal which is the nearest to a position where the vertical synchronizing signal of the video signal for a still-picture should be located, and for recording the extracted vertical synchronizing signal together with the extracted video signal for a still picture.

Abstract: A synchronizing scheme for use in color video recording systems which employs two voltage controlled oscillators, the first being phase locked to the color burst of the incoming video signal in recording, but operating as a freerunning oscillator on playback, and the second being locked to the horizontal sync of the incoming video signal in recording and of the jitter-affected off-tape video signal in playback. The first oscillator, through the medium of frequency dividers, generates the color subcarrier and supplies the motor and servo references to the recorder, and the second oscillator serves as a clock for a sync generator producing a sync pattern. This sync pattern is used for controlling the impressing of fresh sync information on the video signal in recording, and the reinsertion of the color burst in the off-tape signal in playback, and also for providing the trisequential driving pulses required by the trisequential color processing circuitry.

Abstract: An automatic tuning apparatus, such as an automatic channel selector as incorporated in a television receiver, comprising a tuner using a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode such that the variable capacitance thereof constitutes a portion of a tuning circuit of the tuner for changing the tuning frequency, and a solid state electrochemical potential memory devices an output voltage of which is clamped as selected by selective manual operation, the resultant voltage being applied to the capacitance diode in a reverse direction, which memory device is controlled so as to be charged or discharged in response to selective manual operation until an increased or decreased terminal voltage thereof decreases or increases the capacitance across the diode and thus increases or decreases the tuning frequency of the tuner and a particular frequency is tuned.

Abstract: A chrominance signal gain control circuit comprising a band pass amplifier of a gain control type for amplifying a signal including a burst signal and a chrominance signal while the gain thereof is controllable as a function of a control voltage input, a burst amplifier responsive to the output from the band pass amplifier and a burst extracting pulse, such as a flyback pulse, for extracting and amplifying the burst signal, and an automatic color control detecting circuit responsive to the output from the burst amplifier for providing a peak detected output of the burst signal to the band pass amplifier as a control voltage input, whereby an automatic chrominance signal control is achieved, said circuit further comprising means for providing to the band pass amplifier as another control voltage input a pulse signal having a pulse width and a phase time covering the burst signal, the magnitude of which pulse signal is controllable manually or automatically.

Abstract: In a video disc player, apparatus for generating phase error signals between a reference signal recorded on a video disc record and an external reference are utilized to correct both velocity errors in the recorded signal information and phase errors in the recorded reference signal.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus for use in a photographic or television camera having a lens system movable in predetermined incremental displacements in relation to a subject to be photographed in search of the true focus setting. A scanner is provided for scanning the image of the subject and for generating a serial video signal indicative of the image of the subject. This serial video signal is processed by maximum and minimum value detectors which generate signals indicative of the maximum and minimum values of the serial video signal to an extreme value detector through a difference detector. Output from the extreme value detector indicates that the image of the subject is focused in the image plane.

Abstract: Velocity and phase errors in signals derived from a rotating video disc are minimized with the use of a voltage controlled oscillator and an electromechanical transducer. A control circuit employing an active and a passive filter maintains an appropriate frequency response to the voltage controlled oscillator and electromechanical transducer in order to appropriately share a single controlling error signal.

Abstract: An automatic tuning apparatus, such as an automatic channel selector as incorporated in a television receiver, comprising a tuner using a voltage controlled variable capacitance diode such that the variable capacitance thereof constitutes a portion of a tuning circuit of the tuner for changing the tuning frequency thereof, and a solid state electrochemical potential memory device, an output voltage of which is applied to the capacitance diode in a reverse direction, which memory device is controlled so as to be charged or discharged in response to selective manual operation until an increased or decreased terminal voltage thereof decreases or increases, respectively the capacitance across the diode and thus increases or decreases, respectively the tuning frequency of the tuner and a particular frequency is tuned. An intermediate frequency output, obtained as a result of tuning, is used to disable the abovementioned charging or discharging operation of the potential memory device.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method and system for eliminating or deterring the unauthorized duplication or piracy of video program material, including video tape, cable and broadcast television material. A composite video signal is encoded when recording, or upon broadcast by wire or cable, for preventing unauthorized duplication of the video material and without the need for scramblers and unscramblers. The encoding method allows normal playback of the video material on a conventional television receiver or monitor, but prevents the video material from being effectively re-recorded or duplicated on any of a number of commercially available video recorders by eliminating or distorting the video image upon playback of the re-recording to thereby destroy its commercial value. No decoder or unscrambler is required at the television receiver or monitor for normal playback of the encoded video signals.

Abstract: Patterns indicative of the characteristics of contrast, brightness, color and tint are displayed on the picture tube of the television receiver. A plurality of photocells develop corresponding electrical signals responsive to the patterns. The signals drive peak detectors, the outputs of which are sampled at a regular rate. A neutral density filter is between the brightness pattern and its photocell, and when the sampled contrast and brightness outputs are subtracted in a subtractor, a null is obtained at the desired ratio. Color filters are interposed between the tint and color patterns and photocells and at the desired settings, subtraction of their outputs in a subtractor yields zero. A plurality of bi-directional motors are engageable with the receiver contrast, tint, brightness and color level adjustable elements.

Abstract: A demodulation system for use in a vestigial sideband system of an over-modulation type including a sampler for sampling a reduced carrier frequency component from a received modulated wave to be used for demodulation. A discriminator is operative to detect a vertical synchronizing signal portion in a vertical blanking period and thereupon to actuate the sampler, causing a carrier burst signal to build up. The carrier burst signal is subjected to filtering to derive a carrier wave which is supplied to a demodulator. A synchronizing pulse separator is connected to the demodulator to separate horizontal synchronizing pulses from a demodulated output, which pulses are fed back to the sampler to actuate it during the absence of the vertical synchronizing signal.

Abstract: A service switch is provided for a color television receiver of the type including, in the order named, a black level clamping circuit, a brightness control circuit and an amplifier for coupling luminance signals to an image reproducing kinescope. A reserve blanking circuit is coupled to the output of the amplifier for rendering the kinescope inoperative during the vertical retrace-horizontal trace intervals to inhibit the formation of disconcerting horizontal trace lines. In a "raster" position, the service switch is operative to provide a blank raster and to automatically increase the brightness of the raster to a level sufficient to permit purity adjustments. In a "service" position, the service switch is operative to disable the operation of the reserve blanking circuit and to alter the brightness control circuit to permit color temperature adjustments.

Abstract: Generation of a switching signal for the chroma keying of color video signals, in which generation the voltage level of the switching signal becomes a maximum for a selected hue. The switching signal corresponds, when an adjustable voltage level is exceeded, to a specific color saturation of the selected hue. This generation is carried out by means of a first and a second color difference signal derived from primary signals of a color signal source, and by means of a sine-shaped and cosine-shaped variable control signal, the variation of which is a function of the angle of the selected hue in a color spectrum. In this generation, the first color difference signal is multiplied by the sine-shaped control signal, and the second color difference signal is multiplied by the cosine-shaped control signal, and the multiplied signals are added to a first signal component.