Abstract: An addressable subscription television decoder includes an input stage including an IF amplifier for converting a scrambled RF television signal to a composite baseband video signal. The baseband video signal comprises either a nominal sync component or a sync component having suppressed horizontal sync pulses during video fields and having non-suppressed sync pulses during vertical intervals, the vertical intervals also including selected encoded data signals. An AGC voltage for controlling the gain of the IF amplifier is developed by a circuit exhibiting a relatively short time constant whenever the composite baseband video signal is characterized by nominal level sync pulses, the time constant being increased in response to suppressed horizontal sync pulses. The sync pulses produced during the vertical intervals of the composite baseband video signal are thereby not subjected to excessive IF gain for facilitating processing of the data signals by the decoder.

Abstract: An integrated crystal voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with only two terminals for the crystal network and no additional terminals for decoupling, bypass capacitors, etc., as well as no internal capacitors is disclosed. A negative feedback loop having both AC and DC gain for increased amplification stability as well as a separate positive feedback path having little or no DC gain but sufficient AC gain at the desired oscillating frequency to compensate for the negative feedback are provided in the crystal VCO which is capable of low voltage, e.g., 5 VDC, and high frequency, i.e., greater than 10 MHz, operation and thus is particularly adapted for digital applications utilizing emitter coupled logic (ECL).

Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) in an FM modulator is disclosed. The frequencies of a reference carrier and the VCO are sequentially detected in the same frequency discriminator, sampled and stored for later comparison in generating an error signal representing the average frequency difference between these two signals. This error signal is then summed with detected audio information and provided to the VCO as a correction signal for matching the VCO's frequency with the reference frequency of the carrier. VCO signal instabilities due to system drift are thus eliminated for improved signal processing. A time-based switching approach is utilized for sequentially detecting and sampling the reference carrier and the VCO output. One embodiment of the invention utilizes AC coupling in the correction signal feedback loop eliminating DC signal drift and improving system operating stability.

Abstract: A stabilization network is disclosed which compensates for variable emission characteristics of a cathode in a television receiver's cathode ray tube. During the receiver's vertical interval, a variable gain video amplifier applies a black level D.C. voltage to the cathode. The resulting cathode current is sensed and compared to a low level reference current. If the cathode current does not equal the reference current, a control signal is applied to the amplifier. The amplifier responds to changing its D.C. output voltage until the cathode current is equal to the reference current. The amplifier also responds to the control signal by altering its gain so that, when a video signal is received, the cathode develops peak white currents of a given value in response to peak white portions of the video signal.

Abstract: An automatic CRT tracking circuit for a television receiver includes an amplifier having adjustable gain and offset transfer functions for coupling a video signal to the cathode of the CRT electron gun. Feedback loops are used to adjust both the gain and offset transfer functions of the amplifier, either independently of each other or in a common mode, to compensate for changing cathode voltage versus cathode current characteristics such that a desired video signal versus cathode current relationship is achieved despite variations in the CRT.

Abstract: A mode decision controller is described for actuating a conventional chrominance bandwith enhancement scheme in a color television receiver. A video signal detected by the receiver typically includes a relatively wide band luminance element and a relatively narrow band chrominance element, each of which are processed by the enhancement scheme to develop their first derivatives for use in enhancing the bandwith of the chrominance element. Either of these derivatives may be used as an input to the mode decision controller. The selected derivative is applied to a filter for removing components therefrom which extend above a given frequency range, thereby developing a frequency-limited output signal whose time domain exceeds the time domain of the selected first derivative. A signal processor receives the frequency-limited output signal and compresses its time domain to develop a control signal whose time domain is substantially equivalent to the time domain of the selected first derivative.

Abstract: A luminance signal processing circuit for a television receiver comprises means for separating a full bandwidth luminance signal into a low pass component and first and second derivative components of the low pass component. A differential amplifier is responsive to the component voltage signals for developing first and second current mode signals representing in phase and 180.degree. out of phase combinations of the low pass and second derivative components. The levels of the second derivative components of the first and second current mode signals are selectively adjusted by a peaking signal processor for developing related third and fourth current mode signals whose amplitudes are also selectively adjusted by a picture signal processor for developing an output luminance voltage having selectively controlled contrast and peaking components.