Abstract: A multilingual display device is provided with a plurality of video signal processors for processing a video signal according to a broadcasting system, and a plurality of sound multiplex processors for processing an audio signal according to a sound multiplex mode. A microcomputer automatically generates OSD signals in a language of a broadcast receiving area by means of broadcasting system information and sound multiplex mode information provided from the plurality of video signal processors and the plurality of sound multiplex processors, thereby providing the advantage of interchangeability with respect to output of OSD signals in a television. This can be used in a television having an OSD function.

Abstract: An incoming television signal to a television receiver is switched to either NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) processing circuitry (130) or ATV (Advanced Television) processing circuitry (140) as determined from power measurements in each of two separate sub-bands of the power spectrum of the incoming signal. The first power measurement is obtained from a sub-band (204) wherein the NTSC power spectrum has significant spectral energy, whereas the second power measurement is obtained from another sub-band (205) wherein the NTSC power spectrum has minimal spectral energy. If the first measurement exceeds the second measurement by a prescribed value, the television signal is processed by the NTSC circuitry; otherwise, the ATV circuitry effects processing of the incoming signal.

Abstract: A video system that avoids disruption of a displayed scene. A scene from a first data stream is held on a display while a second scene from a second data stream is being built up. A first embodiment includes a transition memory for holding the first scene and a frame memory for building up the second scene. Once the second scene is built up, it is displayed. A second embodiment includes a memory in which the first scene is held and displayed on the display while the second scene is also being built up in the memory.

Abstract: In order to reduce nonuniform deterioration of a display screen, such as a fluorescent screen, an image reproducing system such as a television receiver is so arranged that the position of a small picture is shifted automatically. The small picture may be a picture displayed on a larger display screen with blank margins, or a sub-picture displayed in a larger picture, or an image of alphanumeric data items. For example, a 4:3 aspect ratio picture is displayed in a 4:3 center section of a 16:9 wide aspect ratio screen between left and right blank margins. In this case, the system comprises a control section, such as a microcomputer, for determining whether a special display mode to display a small picture is selected or not, each time the power supply is turned on, and for shifting the position of the small picture in the larger screen when the special display mode is selected.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus includes circuitry for discriminating a transmission rate of received image data. Control circuitry is also provided for controlling a display process of the received image data in accordance with the transmission rate determined by the discriminating circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display can receive and adjust to image signals from one of a plurality of image signal formats such as those of the HDTV and NTSC systems, and includes plural shift registers, a sampling and holding (S/L) circuit and a Y driver. When receiving an image signal in the HDTV system, the shift registers receive and shift that image signal in series, and supply each bit data shifted thereby in a horizontal period to the S/L circuit. When receiving an image signal in the NTSC system, the shift registers are functionally divided into one for shifting that image signal and the other for shifting another image signal provided for displaying some pattern, and each bit data of these image signals is supplied to the S/L circuit. The S/L circuit provides the received data for driving data electrodes of the display, while the Y driver drives scanning electrodes of the display.

Abstract: An adaptive scan format converter (14, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) at a transmitter/encoder of a video signal processing system such as a high definition television (HDTV) system, as a function of what format is desired for coding and transmission via an output channel. Similarly, at a receiver, a received scan format is automatically converted (36, FIG. 1; FIG. 2) to a desired format for display as needed. For example, a received interlaced signal (I) will be automatically converted to progressive (P) format to be compatible with a progressive scan display device (39). A received progressive signal will be passed to the display device without format conversion. Automatic scan conversion is performed seamlessly so that, for example, the conversion between progressive main television program material and interlaced commercial material is produced without artifacts and is essentially invisible to a viewer.

Abstract: A system for receiving and decoding digital signals in accordance with two image definition levels. The system includes a transmission channel decoding sub-assembly; a source decoding sub-assembly for decoding signals of a higher definition level or signals of a lower definition level; a device for displaying the decoded signals available at the output of this sub-assembly; at a second output of the sub-assembly, a device for detecting errors during source decoding, followed, in series, by a decision circuit for controlling the switch in accordance with the output signal of said error detection device, as well as for controlling the change-over of the decoding sub-assembly from one of the two source decoding modes to the other.

Abstract: A method of encoding video display data, after that data has been previously converted from a film frame rate to a faster video frame rate, such as by 3:2 pulldown. The data is first re-converted to the film frame format, as progressive frames (21). This progressive frame data is processed to determine where scene cuts occur (22). The data is then encoded consistent with MPEG encoding techniques, but with the scene cut information being used to begin groups of pictures (GOPs) at scene cuts and to determine where intrapictures, predicted pictures, or interpolated pictures shall occur (23).

Abstract: A video control system, comprises a deflection system having a dimensionally adjustable raster, a circuit for detecting a letterbox video signal source and a circuit for dimensionally controlling the raster of the deflection system responsive to the detecting circuit. The detecting circuit and the control circuit are operable automatically. The detection circuit can comprise a circuit for measuring video luma levels of the video signal source in at least two regions of each video field and a circuit for comparing the luma levels from each of the regions to respective threshold levels. In an alternative, the detection circuit comprises a circuit for comparing respective minimum and maximum luminance values for a plurality of successive video lines, a circuit for storing minimum and maximum luminance values for the plurality of video lines, a circuit for generating gradients indicative of the stored values and a circuit for comparing the gradients to threshold values.

Abstract: An automatic receiving channel setting method of the receiver having a receivable signal strength, judges whether or not the detected channel is included within the frequency zone allotted only to the CATV, sets the receiving mode, and searches and memorizes the channel according to the allotted channel plan of the CATV or sets the receiving mode of the receiver to the TV receiving mode of the ground wave and searches and memorizes the channel according to the allotted channel plan of the TV broadcast of the ground wave.

Abstract: A broadcasting mode name display apparatus is disclosed. A broadcasting mode detector selects the broadcasting channel and detects the broadcasting mode of a video signal. A mode converter converts a conventional broadcasting mode into a high definition mode. If the mode converter receives a high definition mode signal instead, it is passed as it is. A recorder records the video signal, together with a mode identification signal representing the correspondingly detected broadcasting mode, on a recording medium. A reproducer and detector reproduces the video signal from the recording medium and simultaneously detects the mode identification signal. A switching portion selectively outputs the video signal from either the mode converter or the reproducer and detector according to a control signal. A microprocessor supplies the control signal, the value of which is based on the operation mode of the apparatus, to the switching portion.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus wherein image signals of plural kinds transmitted in different TV systems can selectively be reproduced, to provide an image signal processing apparatus wherein image signals of plural kinds transmitted in different systems can selectively be reproduced with simple construction, high cost-effectiveness, and high practicability. The apparatus has a sync signal generating unit for performing arithmetic operation processing for extracting a sync signal component from an input image signal, by changing a processing program in accordance with a transmission system of the input image signal, and a decoding unit for decoding the input image signal on the basis of a sync signal generated by the sync signal generating unit.

Abstract: A television transmitter for transmitting a television signal representing a series of scenes, the series of scenes having a non-program-content characteristic. The transmitter includes a processor for processing the series of scenes so as to retain a non-program-content characteristic of the series of scenes, means for inserting identification information into the television signal, the identification information being indicative of the non-program-content characteristic retained in the processed series of scenes, and a signal transmitter for broadcasting the television signal. Also disclosed is an advanced video system for receiving, processing and displaying received source material having non-program-content characteristics.

Abstract: A television receiver for receiving and decoding a transmitted television signal, wherein the television signal comprises a succession of encoded image frames encoded in transmission formats selected from a set of transmission formats, the set comprising at least two transmission formats that differ from each other in at least two non-program-content characteristics; wherein the receiver comprises: display means for displaying the television signal; means for receiving format identification information transmitted with the encoded image frames identifying the transmission format of the received frames; means for decoding the identification information to determine the transmission format of the encoded image frames being received; and means for using the identification information to decode the encoded image frames for any of the transmission formats.

Abstract: In order to display a video signal having an aspect ratio of 4 to 3 on a video display screen having a 16 to 9 aspect ratio a nonlinear vertical deflection signal is used to compress the video image along the top and bottom edges of the 16 to 9 aspect ratio screen. The video image is compressed only along the top and bottom edges of the screen because it has been found that motion of the point of view of the viewer relative to the displayed image is generally horizontal but is infrequently vertical. One approach to providing the non-linear vertical deflection waveform is to detect whether the input video signal for display on a 16 to 9 aspect ratio screen is a 4 to 3 aspect ratio signal and, if so, to read out special, non-linear data from a memory. This special waveform data is used to generate the non-linear vertical deflection waveform.

Abstract: A method for determining which of pairs of successive video fields have interlace scan characteristics includes generating accumulated differences FD of pixels in successive lines of respective fields of successive pairs of fields and generating accumulated differences FR of pixels in successive lines of interlaced said pairs of fields. The accumulated differences FD and FR are compared and pairs of said fields are classified as interlaced if the ratio of accumulated differences FR/FD is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A Standard identification circuit has a capacitor that is gradually charged in a constant progression direction if the Standard is appropriate and in a reverse progression direction when the voltage across the capacitor reaches a low threshold. The circuit operates symmetrically (the charging and discharging currents of the capacitor have equal value) when the voltage across the capacitor is lower than an intermediate threshold, and operates asymmetrically (the discharging current is higher than the charging current) when the voltage is higher than the intermediate threshold.

Abstract: A signal generating apparatus comprises: a scanning-line number detector (2) for detecting the number of scanning lines with receipt of a sync signal; a convergence memory (3) for storing convergence correction data; an on-screen display memory (5) for storing on-screen display data; an interpolator (4) for performing vertical interpolation of output data derived from the memories (3, 5) according to the detection signal derived from the scanning-line number detector (2); and a frame memory (6) for successively reading data elements corresponding to the individual scanning lines interpolated by the interpolator (4). The apparatus detects the number of scanning lines and generates a correction signal and a character signal through vertical processing of convergence correction data and on-screen character data.

Abstract: A film-to-video format detector (24) for a digital television receiver (10). The detector (24) receives pixel data from a current field and a second preceding field. It determines a set of pixel difference values, sums them to obtain a field difference value, and compares the field difference value to a threshold. These steps are repeated to obtain a series of field difference indicators. This series is analyzed to determine whether it has a pattern corresponding to a film-to-video format.

Abstract: A synchronizing signal front end processor for video monitors includes a synchronizing signal subprocessor which responds to computer generated horizontal and vertical rate scan signals to provide alternative scan signal coupling in the event of interruption or abnormalities of the applied scan signals. The processor also includes horizontal and vertical synchronizing signal subprocessors which produce output signals indicative of the polarity and frequency of the applied selected scan synchronizing signals. In addition, the vertical and horizontal sync subprocessors provide respective sync out of range signals during sync interruption or abnormality which are utilized to stabilize the monitor display scanning process while switching to alternative scan synchronizing signal sources.

Abstract: An automatic converting device of a television broadcasting mode compatibly converts the standard television broadcasting signals such as NTSC, PAL, SECAM, M-PAL and N-PAL. A video memory able to store two fields is employed for standard television signal conversion without using a large number of the field memories.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided which receive and sample an incoming video image signal asynchronously, and then processes the signal to recover the video image, including video format, for conversion into a preselected video format. The apparatus and methods first sample the video signal using a stable (crystal oscillator) time base clock to reconstruct the frequency of the video signal, i.e., to recover the video format and then using a contrast optimization process to determine the video signal pixel clock rate.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus including an input unit for inputting a video signal, a detecting unit for detecting an aspect ratio of the video signal inputted to the input unit, a holding unit for holding aspect information representing the aspect ratio detected by the detecting unit, an abnormal state detecting unit for detecting an abnormal state of the video signal inputted to the input unit, and an output unit for selectively outputting aspect information outputted from the aspect ratio detecting unit and the aspect information held by the holding unit, in accordance with an output of the abnormal state detecting unit.

Abstract: A VCR or laserdisc player includes circuitry for detecting a code provided by VCR tapes, tape cassettes, or laser videodiscs, which indicates that the material recorded on the videotape or videodisc has been recorded in a compressed fashion to enable proper playback on a 16.times.9 television receiver. In response to detection of this code, the VCR or laserdisc player applies a DC signal to the chrominance output terminal of its S-Video connector. Circuitry in the television receiver detects the DC signal on the chrominance terminal of its S-Video input connector, and controls a wide-screen processor to expand the image by displaying it over the entire width of the 16.times.9 display screen.