Abstract: Noise reduction of a signal such as a video signal is effected by averaging a plurality of relatively delayed replica signals, e.g. with line or field delays therebetween, in a decoding processor, the highly redundant information content of the signal being reinforced by the averaging while random noise undergoes a partial cancellation. In order to overcome the problem of signal changes caused by the decoding processor, the signal is encoded prior to application to the noise-introducing signal channel by a complementary encoding processor in which one or more replica signals are subtractively combined with one or more other replica signals. In both processors a variable combining means is employed to exclude from the combination replica signals which have a non-small difference from the replica signals in the combination, thereby to avoid smearing of the information content (with consequent picture smearing in the case of a video signal) when the signal is changing, e.g. because of movement in a picture.

Abstract: The invention concerns a dynamic range compressor type encoder or expander type decoder, in which a main signal component in a main path is boosted or bucked by a further signal component derived from a point in the main path by a further path having the characteristics of so restricting the further signal component that the boosting or bucking action is only appreciable below a low level threshold. In the present invention the further signal component is a difference signal formed between a direct signal derived from a point in the main path and a delayed version of either the same signal or of another signal derived from another point in the main path. At the frequency equal to the reciprocal of the delay, and at harmonics of this frequency, the direct and delayed signals cancel. The compressor or expander action, and hence noise reduction action, takes place only at intervening frequencies.