Abstract: A system for interconnecting audio, video and data signals available in compressed form includes a bus having a plurality of channels for transmitting signal. A bus interface is located at respective signal processing devices, which interface includes a decoder to control the respective interface responsive to control signal transmitted in one of the channels. Data is transmitted in the channels in a superpacket structure. Processing devices which generate signal to be applied to the bus, such as a receiver which provides MPEG transport packets, include apparatus to form such superpackets. Respective superpackets include at least a transport packet and a timestamp related to the timing of occurrence of the transport packet. The transport packet and timestamp are located in predetermined positions within respective superpackets.

Abstract: A video input signal to be displayed is applied to an offset clamp circuit which effects a DC offset of blanking and active video portions of each video line. The DC offset or shift is of an amount and in a polarity sense to place the black level of the active portion of an NTSC color standard signal at a level corresponding to blanking level of the NTSC color standard. Advantageously, subsequent clamping at the shifted level enables contrast control without altering the black level of displayed images.

Abstract: A brightness limiter is responsive to a beam current control signal in a predetermined range of beam current operating values with an extended operating threshold for reducing brightness and reducing beam current. Operation of the brightness limiter responsive to certain noise in the beam current control signal during retrace is inhibited, the brightness limiter being otherwise responsive to the beam current control signal at operating values below the threshold. Operation of the brightness limiter may be inhibited by passing the beam current control signal through an AC filter. Alternatively, operation of the brightness limiter may be inhibited during retrace by interrupting propagation of the beam current control signal, or by preventing operation of the brightness limiter, for example, responsive to flyback pulses or pulses in timed relationship to flyback pulses.

Abstract: A contrast control circuit develops a video gain control signal for continuously varying the video gain of a video signal to adjust the contrast of the video signal and limit beam current. The contrast control circuit may comprise an auto contrast control responsive to video signal peaks, a contrast limiter responsive to a beam current control signal related to average picture intensity and a manual control. A brightness modulator is also responsive to the contrast control signal for continuously adjusting the brightness of the video signal inversely with the contrast. The brightness modulation is especially useful as part of a pix-in-pix video control circuit, further comprising video sources for first and second video signals and a selector for alternatively feeding the first and second video signals to a video amplifier to form a primary picture with an inset secondary picture.

Abstract: In a television receiver, an output signal from a binary rate multiplier (BRM) is used to control the amplitude of a video signal and thereby the contrast of a displayed image. Contrast control in response to ambient lighting conditions is accomplished by means of a light dependent resistor which modifies the output pull-up voltage of the BRM.

Abstract: A method and circuit for detecting and removing chrominance signal components from the luminance channel of a television receiver is shown. The luminance channel is separated into distinct subchannels, one of which has a filter providing attenuation at the chrominance subcarrier frequency. A detection circuit operates to select the output of the filtered subchannel whenever a chrominance subcarrier signal appears in the luminance channel. The detection circuit is sensitive to the phase relationship between the chrominance signal and a portion of the luminance signal and is therefore substantially immune to signals other than chrominance subcarriers, including high frequency components of the luminance signal.