Abstract: In a picture-in-picture television receiver, the subpicture signal is A-D converted; the converted digital subpicture signal is latched in response a subpicture clock in synchronism with a subpicture synchronizing signal; the latched signal is latched again and stored in an image memory in response to a main picture synchronizing signal; and the latched signal is read from the image memory in synchronism with the main picture synchronizing signal, in order that the subpicture can stably be inserted in a predetermined area of the main picture by eliminating the unstable data duration during which variation in the subpicture signal is different for each bit signal thereof.

Abstract: A dark signal component below a predetermined level of a video signal is varied such that a dark peak level is made to coincide with a pedestal level by feedback control. According to this configuration, a signal component toward a white level side above the predetermined level is not changed by dark restoration, thus obtaining stable color reproduction and stable brightness which are not affected by the dark restoring operation.

Abstract: A television sound receiver having an input terminal for receiving a television sound signal, a tuner including a local oscillator connected to the input terminal, an intercarrier sound demodulating circuit connected to the tuner, a split-carrier sound demodulating circuit, including a limiter amplifier connected to the tuner, a sound signal output terminal, and a switching device for selectively and operatively connecting either the intercarrier or split-carrier sound demodulating circuits between the tuner and the sound signal output terminal.

Abstract: A synchronous detector for detecting an information signal modulated onto a carrier, such as a video IF signal, is disclosed in which there are provided a circuit for supplying the modulated information signal in the form of a vestigial sideband signal, a filter circuit coupled to the supplying circuit which includes a tuning circuit tuned to the frequency of the carrier on which the information signal is modulated, an emitter follower circuit connected to the output of the filter circuit, a limiter circuit connected to the filter circuit, for producing a switching carrier, and a multiplier having first and second input terminals coupled to the output of the limiter circuit and to the supplying circuit, for multiplying the modulated information signal and the switching carrier to obtain said information signal.

Abstract: A synchronous detector suitable for use in a color television receiver detects both a video signal and an audio IF signal, but in a fashion in which these two signals do not interfere with one another. In the detector, a tuner provides an IF signal in which the video signal and audio or sound IF signals are modulated on a carrier; a signal generator, such as a phase-locked loop, provides both a detecting signal synchronized with the carrier of the IF signal, and a comparing signal having the same frequency as the carrier of the IF signal but phase-shifted .pi./2 therefrom; a synchronous detecting circuit for synchronously detecting the IF signal by the detecting signal to produce the video signal; and a phase comparator for phase comparing the IF signal with the comparing signal to provide the sound IF signal. In one arrangement, the phase comparator provides a filtered version of the sound IF signal as an AFT control signal to control the fine tuning of the tuner.

Abstract: In a system in which an intermediate frequency signal is synchronously detected using an intermediate frequency carrier signal derived from the intermediate frequency signal by means of a tuned circuit and a limiter circuit to remove amplitude variations therefrom, an automatic fine tuning signal is derived in a phase detector to which are fed the intermediate frequency carrier signal after its phase has been shifted 90 degrees in a phase shifter and either the intermediate frequency signal or the intermediate frequency carrier signal. When the intermediate frequency carrier signal is used in the phase detector, a second tuned circuit is used therein and buffering between the two tuned circuits prevents interaction therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic fine tuning (AFT) circuit includes a frequency discriminator for discriminating an intermediate frequency signal, a capacitor supplied with the discriminated intermediate frequency signal to produce an AFT voltage thereacross, a comparator circuit for comparing the AFT voltage with a reference voltage, a first switching transistor controlled by the comparator circuit and which supplies and charges the capacitor with the reference voltage during a channel selection operation when the AFT voltage is less than the reference voltage, a second switching transistor controlled by the comparator circuit and which connects the capacitor to ground to discharge the same during a channel selection operation when the AFT voltage is greater than the reference voltage, and a third switching transistor for rendering the comparator circuit operative during a channel selection operation and inoperative during an AFT operation.

Abstract: An automatic fine tuning loop in a television receiver is controlled by phase comparison between a video intermediate frequency signal and a reference oscillator signal. The reference oscillator signal is used in synchronous detection of the video intermediate frequency signal. The frequency of the reference oscillator is controlled by a phase locked loop, of which it is a part, and which includes a low-pass filter having selectable high and low cut-off frequencies. A lock-out detector selects the high cut-off frequency for rapid correction when lock-out is detected and selects the low cut-off frequency for frequency stability when lock-in is detected. An AFT disable switch disables the automatic fine tuning loop during manual tuning. In one embodiment, a disable switch ganged with the AFT disable switch selects the high cut-off frequency in the low-pass filter to prevent hunting.

Abstract: A muting circuit for a television or AM signal receiver which uses a synchronous detector.The muting circuit includes an input terminal for receiving an amplitude modulated signal, a synchronous detector for detecting such AM signal, a circuit for supplying a reference signal having a predetermined frequency and phase to the synchronous detector, an amplifier, a circuit path for delivering to the amplifier the detected signal produced by the synchronous detector, a level detecting device connected to the output of the synchronous detector for producing an excess signal when the detected signal exceeds a predetermined level, an integrator for producing a muting signal in response to the production over an extended period of time of the excess signal, and a switching device connected to the amplifier for muting the signal produced by the amplifier in response to the production of the muting signal.

Abstract: A synchronous detector adapted to detect a modulated information signal, such as a video IF signal. The modulated information signal is provided in the form of a vestigial sideband signal. A band-pass filter including a tuned circuit tuned to the frequency of the carrier on which the information signal is modulated has a pass band which is less than the frequency spectrum of the vestigial sideband signal so as to limit the frequency spectrum of the signal passed by the filter to a double sideband signal. A limiter is coupled to the band-pass filter to receive the double sideband signal and for deriving a switching carrier therefrom, the frequency of the switching carrier being equal to the frequency of the carrier on which the information signal is modulated. An emitter-follower circuit is connected between the band-pass filter and the limiter so as to couple the double sideband signal from the filter to the limiter.

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit includes an amplifier with a circuit connected to it to emphasize the amplification of some frequencies relative to others. A non-linear circuit is also connected to the amplifier and comprises a capacitor connected in series with non-linear elements that change the amplification of positive and negative overshoots of the signal relative to the middle amplitude range. The result is non-linear modification of emphasis and can be used to pre-emphasize video signals before using them to modulate the frequency of a carrier and, in the playback section to de-emphasize the signals to minimize FM noise. Use of the capacitor prevents direct current from flowing and thus affecting the threshold levels of the non-linear elements. Component values can be selected to effect temperature compensation.

Abstract: An oscillating circuit provides first and second reference signals having a phase difference of 90.degree. with respect to each other. The oscillating circuit includes an oscillator providing the first reference signal at an output thereof, a voltage-to-current converting circuit, which may incorporate a common-base transistor, and a capacitor connected between the output of the oscillator and an input of the converting circuit. The output of the converting circuit then provides the second reference signal which differs in phase by 90.degree. from the first reference signal. The oscillator may include differentially connected transistors and an LC resonant circuit.

Abstract: A variable delay device for delaying an electrical signal includes a bar-shaped magnetostrictive member to be a transmitting path of a supersonic wave, an input transducer for converting an electric signal into a supersonic wave and an output transducer for converting a supersonic wave into an electric signal, the input and output transducers being provided at at opposite end portions of the magnetostrictive member, and a magnetic field producing device provided between the input and output transducers for supplying the magnetostrictive member with a magnetic field which varies in intensity along the elongated direction of the magnetostrictive member. The magnetic field supplied to the magnetostrictive member is controlled by a control signal applied to the magnetic field producing device to vary the Young's modulus of the magnetostrictive member. As a result, the velocity of the supersonic wave being transmitted therein is varied, to thereby control the delay time of the electric signal.

Abstract: Demodulating apparatus for a modulated signal comprised of a carrier deriving circuit which is supplied with the modulated signal and which derives an unmodulated carrier therefrom, the carrier deriving circuit including a tuned circuit having a center frequency substantially coincident with the carrier frequency of the modulated signal and a limiter circuit in which the limiter circuit imparts a phase shift to the signal supplied thereto in connection with its elimination of the amplitude fluctuations in the signal produced by the tuned circuit. A synchronous detector receives the modulated signal and the derived carrier so as to detect the modulated signal with the derived carrier.

Abstract: A television receiver has an automatic fine tuning circuit with a first phase-locked loop including a first low pass filter and a synchronous video detector with a second phase-locked loop including a second low pass filter. The cut off frequency of the first low pass filter is selected lower than the cut-off frequency of the second low pass filter, thereby enabling a stable operation of two phase-locked loops simultaneously.

Abstract: A tuner for receiving signals broadcast on two spaced bands, each divided into several channels, has two fixed bandpass filters, one to pass all of the channels in the lower frequency band and the other to pass all of the channels in the higher frequency band. The tuner includes a mixer to which signals of either band are supplied by selective operation of a double-throw switch. A tunable local oscillator supplies a heterodyning signal to the mixer to convert any selected channel of the received signal to an intermediate frequency (i.f.) band chosen to avoid image interference from undesired channels, whether the local oscillator frequency is above or below the selected channel. To ease the constraints on the choice of the i.f. band, different i.f. filters tuned to first and second i.f. bands may be used for the higher and lower received bands. A second double-throw switch ganged with the first switch can then be used to direct the heterodyned signals to the proper i.f. filter.

Abstract: A tuner for receiving signals broadcast on two spaced bands, each divided into several channels, has two fixed bandpass filters, one to pass all of the channels in the lower band between the lowest frequency f.sub.P of the lowest channel and the highest frequency f.sub.S of the highest channel of the lower band, and the other to pass all of the channels in the upper frequency band between the lowest frequency f.sub.T of the lowest channel and the highest frequency f.sub.W in the highest channel of the upper band. The bandwidth of each channel is f.sub.B. The tuner includes an amplifier and a third filter to which signals of either band are supplied by selective operation of a switch. The third filter has a cut-off frequency below the second harmonic of the lowest frequency of the upper band to simplify the avoidance of image interference from second harmonic signals of the band.

Abstract: An amplifier provides a complete video and sound I.F. signal to a synchronous detector switching circuit, and the switching signal to be applied to the switching circuit is obtained from the same amplifier by connecting a grounded base stage, with its emitter impedance, in series with the amplifier load. The grounded base stage has a load tuned to the I.F. carrier frequency, and the filtered signal from the grounded base is the signal applied as the switching signal to the synchronous detector switching circuit.

Abstract: A multivibrator circuit has a main constant current source through which the main portion of the current of the multivibrator circuit is supplied and a by-pass current source through which a portion of the current to be supplied to the main constant current source is supplied, whereby the duty cycle of the multivibrator circuit is controlled. When the by-pass current is changed, the frequency of the multivibrator circuit is changed. The frequency of the multivibrator, when used as the frequency-modulated oscillator in a video tape recorder, may thus be set regardless of the signal clipping level and signal clamping level in a video recording circuit of the video tape recorder.

Abstract: An undesired signal canceller for a composite amplitude modulated signal including an undesired signal delayed by a time .tau..sub.o from a desired signal. The composite signal is supplied to a detector circuit. A carrier signal of the same frequency as that of the amplitude modulated carrier and delayed in phase by the time .tau..sub.o is produced. This carrier signal is amplitude modulated with a signal formed by delaying the output signal from the detector circuit by the time .tau..sub.o, and the amplitude modulated carrier signal is combined with the composite amplitude modulated signal to cancel the undesired signal therefrom.