Abstract: In a wide-aspect television system, apparatus is provided for producing a source television signal for a wide aspect television screen, which source signal has the same horizontal and vertical synchronizing frequencies, but fewer effective scanning lines than a conventional television system. The wideaspect television system further includes apparatus for expanding the time base of the mentioned source television signal in the horizontal direction by a predetermined ratio. Further included is an apparatus for receiving a time base-expanded television signal produced by the expanding apparatus for arranging video information of both side areas of a time base-expanded television signal into top and bottom added scanning lines. A remaining area of the time base-expanded television signal substracted by both mentioned side areas have a horizontal scanning period substantially equal to a horizontal scanning period of the conventional television system.

Abstract: A scrambling apparatus which scrambles a television signal prior to its transmission to prevent interception of the signal by means other than a counterpart descrambler apparatus. The television signal is scrambled by dividing each scan line (a scan line includes its leading sync portion) into first and second portions which are divided by an intermediate picture element. Each line is transmitted as follows: first the intermediate picture element is transmitted followed by the second scan line portion, followed by the first portion which begins with the sync signal and is terminated by retransmission of the intermediate picture element. The position of the intermediate picture element is randomly changed in each successive scan line so that reconstruction of the original television signal becomes exceedingly difficult.

Abstract: A segmented digital transversal filter comprising a first transversal filter 4 that eliminates all frequency components from a signal sequence above half the subsampling frequency, a second transversal filter 11 that convolutes the output of the first filter with a decimated and energy compensated lower band of filter coefficients (HI.sub.1 '), a third transversal filter 22 that convolutes the output of the first filter and a decimated and energy-compensated upper band of filter coefficients (HI.sub.2 '), and a fourth transversal filter 32 that convolutes the original signal sequence and the central band of filter coefficients (HI.sub.3). Delays 21 and 31 are added so that the outputs of the second, third and fourth filters arrive concurrently at an adder 51, the sum being the output of the invention.

Abstract: A chromakey signal producing apparatus is disclosed. A color to be keyed is set as a first reference color and a color not to be keyed is set as a second reference color. A clear chromakey signal is automatically produced by discriminating the difference between the first and second reference colors. According to the invention, even when a part of the TV picture has a color similar to that of the part to be keyed, a clearly discriminated chromakey signal is produced without the need for any complicated sensitivity factor judgment, simply by designating the color of that particular part as the second reference color corresponding to the maximum sensitivity.

Abstract: A tracking system for producing special effects in a television picture by inserting a second television picture into a first television picture. The first and second pictures are represented by first and second video signals. A key signal representing a key frame to be positioned on the first picture is produced and the electrical noise is removed from the key signal. A position signal having two horizontal position signal values and two vertical position signal values is produced and represents the position of a circumscribed frame of the key frame. A compressed second video signal representing a compressed second picture is produced in response to the second video signal and the position signals. The horizontal and vertical position signals produce a frame signal, and the frame signal is applied to the noise removing circuitry. In response to the key signal the first video signal and the second video signal are combined to produce the special effects.

Abstract: A television strobe effects system is described in which a position information signal representing the position of a moving object included in a television picture is extracted from either the input video signal or the sample-to-sample comparison between successive frames or fields of the input video signal. The write-in of the input video signal in a picture memory is controlled in response to the position information signal so that such write-in for each frame of the input video signal is prohibited at those addresses of the memory which correspond to the position of the moving object.

Abstract: An improved phase locking system in which an independently reproduced video signal is coded into a digitized video signal in response to a first clock pulse train, the first clock pulse train being produced from a synchronizing signal and/or a color burst signal contained in the video signal. The digitized video signal is stored and storage location as well as delay prior to storage is controlled in response to the phase difference between the synchronizing signal and a reference signal. The improved phase locking system reduces the frequency of occurence of visual shifts on the reproduced television picture.

Abstract: A noise reduction system for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a color television signal wherein a first television frame portion is recursively added to an immediately subsequent second television frame portion and the addition apparatus is controlled in response to the signal level difference between said first and second frame portions.

Abstract: Digital video effects equipment for providing special effects by controlling the number of quantization levels for each sample of an incoming television video signal. Each video signal sample is converted into a digital signal comprising a predetermined number of binary digits. A gradation modification circuit decreases the gradation represented by the digitized video signal and the decreased gradation signal is reconverted to an analog signal. The resultant special effects gives the video picture an oil-painting-like impression.

Abstract: A frame synchronizer for a television receiver in which the incoming television signal is digitized and stored in a memory, includes a circuit for generating a write-inhibit control signal for inhibiting the write-in of a digitized second television signal into the memory between the switchover from a first television signal to the second television signal and the beginning of a complete frame of the second television signal.

Abstract: Delay compensation apparatus for minimizing the delay differences between a video signal transmitted through a plurality of frame synchronizers, which delay the video signal, and a normally undelayed audio signal, the audio and video signal making up a complete television signal. Combinations of discreet delay intervals are imposed on the audio signal such that delay differences between the audio and video signal are minimized to the extent that the negligible remaining delay difference does not degrade the reproduced television picture.

Abstract: A chroma-key tracking system for electronically compressing a television picture to predetermined dimensions and for moving the compressed picture to a specified area on the television screen where the compressed picture is inserted into a second picture present on the screen. The chroma-key tracking system advantageously operates in the presence of electrical noise associated with the chroma-key tracking signal.

Abstract: A chroma-key insertion technique by which a part of a second television picture, designated by a chroma-key signal produced from a first television picture, is inserted into the first television picture. The second television picture is displayed on a television monitor which is inserted into the chroma-key frame advantageously allowing a television announcer to always face or direct his eyes toward the chroma-key screen in which a picture from a remote video source is to be inserted on a resultant picture.

Abstract: A digital transmission system wherein a signal to be transmitted is represented by a plurality of parallel data bits, each of said data bits having a positional significance ranging from a most significant data bit to a least significant data bit. Each of said data bits are assigned to one of a plurality of data transmission highways based on the positional significance of the data bit. Failure of a particular highway results in a reassignment of the data bits to the highways so that transmission degradation is minimized.

Abstract: A television special effects system which stores a video signal, divides the stored video signal into portions and displays the portions of the video signal, shifted apart from each other, on the television screen.

Abstract: A narrowband stationary-picture transmission system including means for transmitting information representing the position in the picture of a pointer displayed on the picture, and the pattern of such a pointer, and means for providing the pointer on the picture at the receiving end in accordance with the information transmitted. Any pointer pattern can be added to the picture already transmitted without the need of retransmitting the picture and pointer information.

Abstract: A chroma-key tracking system for electronically compressing a television picture to predetermined dimensions and for moving the compressed picture to a specified area on the television screen where the compressed picture is inserted into a second picture present on the screen. The invention advantageously monitors the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height of a picture frame) of the compressed picture and ensures that the compressed and inserted picture maintains a prescribed standard aspect ratio.

Abstract: A memory write-in control system provides for each dot a plurality of color designating bits representing color information for the dot as well as a set of mask command bits corresponding to the respective color designating bits. The memory content is changed in accordance with the color designating bits only when the mask command bits are at one logic level. The memory bit content is unchanged when the mask command bits are at the other logic level irrespective of the color designating bits.

Abstract: A phase locking system locks at least one incoming composite video signal to the synchronizing signals of a second, reference wave. The incoming signal is strobed at a rate dependent upon the incoming color subcarrier into a memory, essentially on a field-by-field basis. Circuitry is provided by grouping the fields on a repeating field-tagged basis (groups of four for the NTSC signal format) to maintain signal integrity.