SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) YEAR 1989

THE SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 is a 28 Inches color Digital Television from SCHNEIDER.

Model reference is DIGITECH 2000 Series

It's full multistandard with teletext and stereo sound plus remote and PIP feature.

It has even full osd feature.

The set features first time the SCHNEIDER DTV2 CHASSIS.

The  SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) is a DIGITAL Colour television receiver or set , are known in which the majority of signal processing that takes place therein is carried out digitally. That is, a video or television signal is received in a conventional fashion using a known analog tuning circuit and then, following the tuning operation, the received analog television signal is converted into a digital signal and digitally processed before subsequently being converted back to an analog signal for display on a colour cathode ray tube.

In a conventional television receiver, all signals are analog-processed. Analog signal processing, however, has the problems at the video stage and thereafter. These problems stem from the general drawbacks of analog signal processing with regard to time-base operation, specifically, incomplete Y/C separation (which causes cross color and dot interference), various types of problems resulting in low picture quality, and low precision of synchronization. Furthermore, from the viewpoints of cost and ease of manufacturing the analog circuit, a hybrid configuration must be employed even if the main circuit comprises an IC. In addition to these disadvantages, many adjustments must be performed.

In order to solve the above problems, it is proposed to process all signals in a digital form from the video stage to the chrominance signal demodulation stage. In such a digital television receiver, various improvements in picture quality should result due to the advantages of digital signal processing.

Therefore digital television signal processing system introduced in 1984 by the Worldwide Semiconductor Group (Freiburg, West Germany) of International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation is described in an ITT Corporation publication titled "VLSI Digital TV System--DIGIT 2000." In that system color video signals, after being processed in digital (binary) form, are converted to analog form by means of digital-to-analog converters before being coupled to an image displaying kinescope. The analog color video signals are coupled to the kinescope via analog buffer amplifiers and video output kinescope driver amplifiers which provide video output signals at a high level suitable for driving intensity control electrodes of the kinescope.

Digital Signal Processing DIGVISION ITT in Brief:

 FOR several years now the use of digital techniques in television has been growing. A considerable impetus came initially from the need for high -quality Tv standards conversion. The IBA's DICE (Digital Intercontinental Conversion Equipment) standards converter came into operational use in 1972. It's success demonstrated convincingly the advantages of processing video signals in digital form - digital signals are neither phase nor level dependent. The trend since then has been towards the all - digital studio: digital effects generators have been in use for some time, and digital telecines were announced earlier this year. An earlier example of the application of digital techniques to television was the BBC's sound-in-syncs system, in which the sound signal is converted to digital form so that it can be added to the video signal for network distribution. The sound-in-syncs system first came into use in 1969, and is was  widely employed in pay tv systems alongside with video scrambling methods in the 80's.  Digital techniques have already appeared on the domestic TV scene. The teletext signals are digital, and require digital processing. In modern remote control systems the commands from the remote control transmitter are in digital form, and require digital decoding and digital - to -analogue conversion in the receiver before the required control action can be put into effect. Allied to this, digital techniques are used for the more sophisticated channel tuning systems. The basic TV receiver itself continues to use analogue techniques however. Are we about to see major changes here? 
ITT Semiconductors in W. Germany have been working on the application of digital techniques to basic TV receiver signal processing since 1977 with the supervision of the Engineer Micic Ljubomir, and at the recent Berlin Radio Show presented a set of digital chips for processing the video, audio and deflection signals in a TV receiver. The set consists of a' couple of l.s.i. and six v.l.s.i. chips - and by very large scale integration (v.l.s.i.) we're talking about chips that contain some more 200,000 transistors. What are the advantages? 
For the setmaker, there's reduction in the component count and simpler, automated receiver alignment - alignment data is simply fed into a programmable memory in the receiver, which then adjusts itself. Subsequently, the use of feedback enables the set to maintain its performance as it ages. From the user's viewpoint, the advantages are improved performance and the fact that extra features such as picture -within -a -picture (two pictures on the screen at the same time) and still pictures become relatively simple to incorporate. The disadvantage of course is the need for a lot of extra circuitry. Since the received signals remain in analogue form, analogue -to -digital conversion is required before signal processing is undertaken. As the c.r.t. requires analogue drive signals, digital -to -analogue conversion is required prior to the RGB output stages - the situation is somewhat different in the timebase and audio departments, since the line drive is basically digital anyway and class D amplifier techniques can be used in the field and audio output stages. In between the A -D conversion and the various output stages, handling the signals in digital form calls for much more elaborate circuitry - hence those chips with 200,000 or so transistors. The extra circuitry is all incorporated within a handful of chips of course, but the big question is if and when the use of these chips will become an economic proposition, taking into account reduced receiver assembly/setting up costs, compared to the use of the present analogue technology - after all, colour receiver component counts are already very low. With the present digital technology, it's not feasible to convert the signals to digital form at i.f. So conversion takes place following video and sound demodulation. Fig. 1 shows in simple block diagram form the basic video and deflection signal processing arrangement used in the system devised by ITT Semiconductors. Before going into detail, two basic points have to be considered - the rate at which the incoming analogue signals are sampled for conversion to digital form, and the number of digits required for signal coding. Consider the example shown in Fig. 2. At both (a) and (b) the signals are sampled at times Ti, T2 etc. In (a) the signal is changing at a much faster rate than the sampling rate. So very little of the signal information would be present in the samples. In (b) the rate at which the signal is changing is much slower, and since the sampling rate is the same the samples will contain the signal information accurately. In practice, the sampling rate has to be at least twice the bandwidth of the signal being sampled. Once you've got your samples, the next question is how many digits are required for adequate resolution of the signal, i.e. how many steps are required on the vertical (signal level) scale in Fig. 2 The use of a four -digit code, i.e. 0000, 0001 etc., gives 16 possible signal levels. Doubling the number of digits to eight gives 256 signal levels and so on. ITT's experience shows that the luminance signal requires 8 bits (digits), the colour -difference signals require 6 bits, the audio signal requires 12 bits (14 for hi-fi quality) while 13 bits are required for a linear horizontal scan on a 26inch tube. These digital signals are handled as parallel data streams in the subsequent signal processing. Returning to Fig. 1, the A -D and D -A conversion required in the video channel is carried out by a single chip which ITT call the video codec (coder/decoder). A clock pulse generator i.c. is required to produce the various pulse trains necessary for the digital signal processing, and a control i.c. is used to act as a computer for the whole digital system and also to provide interfacing to enable the external controls (brightness, volume, colour etc.) to produce the desired effects. In addition, the control i.c. incorporates the digital channel selection system. The video codec i.c. uses parallel A-D/D-A conversion, i.e. a string of voltage comparators connected in parallel. This system places a high premium on the number of bits used to code the signal in digital form, so ITT have devised a technique of biasing the converter to achieve 8 -bit resolution using only 7 bits (the viewer's eye does some averaging on alternate lines, as with Simple PAL, but this time averaging luminance levels). The A -D comparators provide grey -encoded outputs, so the first stage in the video processor i.c. is a grey -to -binary transcoder. As Fig. 3 shows, the processes carried out in the video processor i.c. then follow the normal practice, though everything's done in digital form. The key to this processing is the use of digital filters. These are clocked at rates up to 18MHz, and provide delays, addition and multiplication. The glass chroma delay line required for PAL decoding in a conventional analogue decoder consists of blocks of RAM (random-access memory) occupying only three square millimeters of chip area each. As an example of the ingenuity of the ITT design, the digital delay line used for chroma signal averaging/separation in the PAL system is used in the NTSC version of the chip as a luminance/chrominance signal separating comb filter. Fig. 4 shows the basic processes carried out in the deflection processor i.c. This employs the sorts of techniques we're becoming used to in the latest generation of sync processor i.c.s. Digital video goes in, and the main outputs consist of a horizontal drive pulse plus drives to the field output and EW modulator circuits. The latter are produced by a pulse -width modulator arrangement, i.e. the sort of thing employed with class D output stages. The necessary gating and blanking pulses are also provided. A further chip provides audio signal processing. One might wonder why the relatively simple audio department calls for this sort of treatment. The W. German networks are already equipping themselves for dual -channel sound however, and the audio processor i.c. contains the circuitry required to sort out the two -carrier sound signals. These chips represent a major step in digitalizing the domestic TV receiver. It seems likely that some enterprising setmaker will in due course announce a "digital TV set". The interesting point then will be whether the chip yields, and the chip prices as production increases, will eventually make it worthwhile for all setmakers to follow this path (in 1984).




The  SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A)  Is a multistandard set and relates to a digital multistandard decoder for video signals and to a method for decoding video signals.
Colour video signals, so-called composite video, blanking and sync signals (CVBS) are essentially composed of a brightness signal or luminance component (Y), two colour difference signals or chrominance components (U, V or I, Q), vertical and horizontal sync signals (VS, HS) and a blanking signal (BL).

The different coding processes, e.g. NTSC, PAL and SECAM, introduced into the known colour television standards, differ in the nature of the chrominance transmission and in particular the different systems make use of different colour subcarrier frequencies and different line frequencies.
The following explanations relate to the PAL and NTSC systems, but correspondingly apply to video signals of other standards and non-standardized signals.
The colour subcarrier frequency (fsc) of a PAL system and a NTSC system is fsc(NTSC) = 3.58 MHz or fsc(PAL) = 4.43 MHz.
In addition, in PAL and NTSC systems the relationships of the colour subcarrier frequency (fsc) to the line frequency (fh) are given by fsc(NTSC) = 227.50 * fh or 4•fsc(NTSC) = 910 • fh fsc(PAL) = 283.75 * fh or 4•fsc(PAL) = 1135 • fh so that the phase of the colour subcarrier in the case of NTSC is changed by 180°/line and in PAL by 270°/line.

In the case of digital video signal processing and decoding the prior art fundamentally distinguishes between two system architectures. These are the burst-locked architecture and the line-locked architecture, i.e. systems which operate with sampling frequencies for the video signal, which are produced in phase-locked manner to the colour subcarrier frequency transmitted with the burst pulse or in phase-locked manner with the line frequency, respectively.

The principal advantage of the present invention is a color television receiver is provided having a fully digital color demodulator wherein the luminance signal and the chrominance signals are separated and digitally processed prior to being converted to analog signals in that the all-digital signal processing largely eliminates the need for nonintegratable circuit elements, i.e., particularly coils and capacitors, and that the subcircuits can be preferably implemented using integrated insulated-gate field-effect transistor circuits, i.e., so-called MOS technology. This technology is better suited for implementing digital circuits than the so-called bipolar technology.

 The  SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) is a multisound tv digital sound processing.

It has a DTI.(dti digital transient improvement pertains to a circuit for steepening color-signal transitions in color television receivers or the like particularly in DIGIVISION DIGIT2000 . ) circuit arrangement designed for use in digital color-television receivers or the like and contains for each of the two digital color-difference signals a slope detector to which both a digital signal defining an amplitude threshold value and a digital signal defining a time threshold value are applied. At least one intermediate value occurring during an edge to be steepened is stored, and at the same time value of the steepened edge, it is "inserted" into the latter.

The bandwidth of the color-difference channel is very small compared with the bandwidth of the luminance channel, namely only about 1/5 that of the luminance channel in the television standards now in use. This narrow bandwidth leads to blurred color transitions ("color edging") in case of sudden color-signal changes, e.g., at the edges of the usual color-bar test signal, because, compared with the associated luminance-signal transition, an approximately fivefold duration of the color-signal transition results from the narrow transmission bandwidth.

In the prior circuit arrangement, the relatively slowly rising color-signal edges are steepened by suitably delaying the color-difference signals and the luminance signal and steepening the edges of the color-difference signals at the end of the delay by suitable analog circuits. The color-difference signals and the luminance signal are present and processed in analog form as usual. This circuit arrangement is designed for use in digital color-television receivers or the like and contains for each of the two digital color-difference signals a slope detector to which both a digital signal defining an amplitude threshold value and a digital signal defining a time threshold value are applied. At least one intermediate value occurring during an edge to be steepened is stored, and at the same time value of the steepened edge, it is "inserted" into the latter. This is done by means of memories, switches, output registers, and a sequence controller.

ADVANTAGE - Increased picture sharpness and highly improved signal-to-noise ratio.


The SCHNEIDER STV707 here shown has PIP (Picture in Picture) feature with additional Unit already mounted in the chassis.
The Tv set here shown features a PIP  picture-in-picture (PIP or pix-in-pix) feature; in a digital television system having a picture-in-picture (PIP or pix-in-pix) feature, two images from possibly unrelated sources are displayed simultaneously on the TV screen as a single composite image. The composite image includes a small picture (defined by an auxiliary video signal, for example, from a VCR) displayed as an inset within a large main picture (defined by a primary video signal, for example, from the TV antenna). The output signal of one tuner or of other TV signal sources in the base band are digitized and stored in a part of a memory. After automatic switching over to another TV-channel, this new signal is stored in another part of the memory and so on. The whole memory is then read out continuously and produces the displayed multipicture on the screen.
More specifically, the present invention pertains to a television receiver with a multipicture display.
In a television receiver with multipicture display a single video signal can be reproduced simultaneously in two or more subareas, or two or more different video signals can each be reproduced in associated subareas. Each of the subareas can display either a reduced-size picture or a part of the picture supplied by a video-signal source. A digital signal-processing circuit converts the signals from the video-signal source to picture data consisting of luminance and color data for each picture element. A random-access memory (RAM) holds the picture data of the entire screen. A control unit controls the writing of the picture data into an area of the RAM depending on the number of video signals to be reproduced and the line-by-line readout, with only selected lines being transferred from the video-signal source into the associated memory area. A digital-to-analg converted which is furnished with the picture data read from the RAM delivers the analog red, green, and blue signals.
A television receiver of this kind is described in a printed publication by Intermetall Semiconductors ITT, "VMC Video Memory Controller", August 1985.
That television receiver circuit uses random-access memories (RAMs). For the multipicture display, the screen is divided into up to nine equal-sized subareas which each contain a part of a picture of normal size or a complete picture of reduced size. In that mode, successively produced "snapshots" of up to nine different video signals can be displayed simultaneously. The switching of the video signals takes place manually.
Offenlegungsschrift DE No. 24 13 839 A1 describes a circuit for a television receiver with a facility for simultaneously reproducing two or more programs. In a part of the picture of the directly received main program, the secondary program, received with a single switchable tuner, is stored in a memory with a reduced number of lines and is called up line by line when the electron beam of the picture tube sweeps across the predetermined part of the picture. The disadvantage of this method lies in horizontal grating-like interference in the main picture which results from the fact that lines of the main picture are missing at regular intervals when the tuner has been switched to the secondary program, and which can only be incompletely compensated.
Accordingly, the problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a circuit of the above kind with which the grating-like interference caused during reproduction using the above-described single-tuner switching method is eliminated.
The output signal of one tuner or of other TV signal sources in the base band are digitize and stored in part of a memory. After automatic switching over to another TV-channel, this new signal is stored in another part of the memory and so on.
The whole memory is then read out continuously and produces the multi-picture display on the screen. Another advantage consists in the fact that, for the construction of the whole screen picture, all picture data are withdrawn from the RAM, so that the usual picture-improvement techniques can be applied. By fast readout from the memory rows, the displayed picture is freed from both line flicker and background flicker.
By changing the sampling rates of the different video-signal sources, it is readily possible to monitor the latter, nearly up to the still picture. In an arrangement in accordance with the invention digital picture processing and digital storage are used thereby permitting the circuit to process analog or digital signals,from video signal sources.


Model reference is DIGITECH 2000 Series because It features the DIGIVISION ITT CHIPSET DIGIT2000 for Digital video and audio digital processing.

For a complete reference on the DIGIVISION ITT CHIPSET DIGIT2000 you may refer HERE
or even HERE !

Even in this poor cabinet conditions, the SCHNEIDER STV707 here in collection is still functional !!!!

One more comment about digital in 2000..............

Over the years we have learnt that one of the most important things in video/ TV technology is selecting the best system to use. We have also seen how difficult this can be. Prior to the start of the colour TV era in Europe there was an great to-do about the best system to adopt. The US NTSC system seemed an obvious choice to start with. It had been proved in use, and refine- ments had been devised. But alternative, better solutions were proposed - PAL and Secam. PAL proved to be a great success, in fact a good choice. 

The French Secam system seems to have worked just as well. Apart from the video tape battles of the Seventies, the next really big debate concerned digital TV. When it came to digital terrestrial TV (DTT), Europe and the USA again adopted different standards. 

One major difference is the modulation system used for transmission. Coded orthogonal frequency   division multiplexing (COFDM) was selected for the European DVB system, while in the USA a system called 8VSB was adopted. COFDM uses quadrature amplitude modulation of a number of orthogonal carriers that are spread across the channel bandwidth. Because of their number, each carrier has a relatively low bit rate. 

The main advantage of the system is its excellent behaviour under multipath reception conditions. 8VSB represents a rather older,  pre phase modulation technoogy: eight  state amplitude modulation of a single carrier, with a vestigial sideband. The decision on the US system was assigned to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), reporting to the FCC. The system it proposed was approved by the FCC on December 26th, 1996. The curious date might suggest that there had been a certain amount of politicking. In fact there had been an almighty row between the TV and computer industries about the video standard to adopt, the two fearing that one or other would gain an advantage as the technologies converged. It was 'resolved' by adopting a sort of   "open standard"  we are talking about resolution and scanning standards here - the idea apparently being that the technology would somehow sort itself out.

 There seems to have been rather less concern about the modulation standard. 8VSB was adopted because it was assumed to be able to provide a larger service area than the alternatives, including COFDM, for a given transmitter power. Well, the USA is a very large place! But the US TV industry, or at least some parts of it, is now having second thoughts. Once the FCC had made its decision, there was pressure to get on with digital TV. In early 1998 there were announce- ments about the start of transmissions and broadcasters assured the FCC that DTT would be available in the ten areas of greatest population concentration by May 1999. Rapid advances were expected, with an anticipated analogue TV switch -off in 2006. So far however things have not gone like that. At the end of 1999 some seventy DTI' transmitters were in operation, but Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association estimates suggest that only some 50,000 sets and 5,000 STBs had been sold.

 There have been many reports of technical problems, in particular with reception in urban and hilly areas and the use of indoor aerials, also with video/audio sync and other matters. Poor reception with indoor aerials in urban conditions is of particular concern: that's how much of the population receives its TV. The UK was the first European country to start DTI', in late 1998 - at much the same time as in the USA. The contrast is striking. ONdigital had signed up well over 500,000 subscribers by the end of 1999, a much higher proportion of viewers than in the USA. Free STBs have played a part of course, but it's notable that DTT 's reception in the UK has been relatively hassle -free. In making this comparison it should also be remembered that the main aim of DTT technology differs in Europe and the USA. 

The main concern in Europe has been to provide additional channels. In the USA it has been to move to HDTV, in particular to provide a successor the NTSC system. There have been plenty of channels in the USA for many a year. For example the DirecTV satellite service started in mid 1994 and offers some 200 channels. Internationally, various countries have been comparing the US and European digital systems. They have overwhelmingly come down in favour of the DVB system. There have been some very damaging assessments of the ATSC standard. The present concern in the US TV industry results from this poor domestic take up and lack of international success. Did the FCC make a boob, in particular in the choice of 8VSB? Following compara- tive tests carried out by Sinclair Broadcasting Group Inc., the company has petitioned the FCC to adopt COFDM as an option in the ATSC standard. Not only did its tests confirm poor reception with indoor aerials: they also established that the greater coverage predicted for 8VSB failed to materialise in practice. Could the USA have two DTT transmission standards? It seems unlikely. It would involve dual standard receivers and non  standardisation of transmitters. In the all important business of system selection, it looks as if the FCC got it wrong.

              ....................................   It is obviously wasteful to duplicate terrestrial TV transmissions in analogue and digital form. Sooner or later transmissions will all be digital, since this is a more efficient use of spectrum space. The question is when? It would suit some to switch off the analogue transmitters as soon as possible. 2006 has been suggested as a time to start, with ana- logue transmissions finally ending in 2010. All very neat and tidy. Whether it will work out in that way is another matter. Strong doubts are already beginning to be aired. 

 The government has, quite properly, laid down conditions to be met before the switch off occurs. Basically that the digital signal coverage should equal that achieved for analogue TV, currently 99.4 per cent of the population, and that digital receiving equipment should be available at an affordable price. The real problem is that there is a difference between a coverage of 99.4 per cent and 99.4 per cent of the population actually having digital receiving equipment. Why should those who are interested in only free - to -air channels go out and buy/rent a digital receiver? It is already becoming evident that this represents a fair chunk of the population. 

The ITC has warned the government that the 2006-2010 timetable is in jeopardy. Peter Rogers, the ITC's chief executive, has said "we need to persuade people only interested in watching free -to -air television to switch to digital. "

Unless we do, there will be no switch - over." Well not quite, because the analogue receivers will eventually wear out and have to be replaced. But that could take a long, long time. Meanwhile many people will expect to be able to continue to watch their usual TV fare using their existing analogue receivers. 

Research carried out by Culture Secretary Chris Smith's department has established that between forty and fifty per cent of the population expects the BBC licence to cover their TV viewing, which means what they get at present in analogue form. A substantial percentage of the population simply isn't interested in going digital. In fact take up of integrated receiver -decoders, as opposed to the free digital set -top boxes, has so far been very slow. 

Of five million TV sets sold in the UK year 1999 , only 10,000 were digital. There are important factors apart from overall coverage and how many people have sets. There is the extension of coverage, which becomes more difficult to achieve eco- nomically as the number of those not covered decreases. There is the problem of reception quality. And there is the question of domestic arrangements and convenience. Extending coverage to the last ten fifteen per cent of the population by means of conventional terrestrial transmitters will be expensive. Mr Smith's department seems to have conceded that other methods of signal delivery may have to be adopted - by satellite, by microwave links or by cable. The latter has of course never been economic where few households are involved. 

The frequency planners have been trying to find ways of increasing coverage even to well populated areas. There are so many areas where problems of one sort or another make the provision of DTT difficult. Satellite TV is the obvious solution. 

The time may well come when it is wondered why anyone bothered with DTT. Signal quality is becoming an increasingly important factor as the digital roll out continues. In areas where the signal is marginal, viewers could experience the extreme irritation of picture break up or complete loss like even todays. This is quite apart from the actual quality of the channel, which depends on the number of bits per second used. There is a maximum number of bits per multiplex, the total being shared by several channels. The fewer the bits, the poorer the picture in terms of definition and rendering. 

There have already been complaints about poor quality. The question of domestic arrangements is one that has not so far received adequate public attention. Most households 2000 nowadays don't have just one TV set that the family watches. They have a main one, probably, almost certainly one or more VCRs, and several other sets around the house to serve various purposes. What 'the percentage of households that have digital TV' should really mean is the percentage willing to replace all this equipment. It will be expensive, and people would not be happy if they were told to throw away their other equipment when they get a single nice new all  singing all dancing widescreen digital TV set. It fact there would be uproar. The move from analogue to digital is not like that from 405 to 625 lines, which went fairly smoothly.

In those days few people had video equipment or a multitude of sets. The transition to digital is not going to be smooth, and the suggestion of a switch off during 2006-2010 already looks totally unrealistic. Unless the government subsidises or gives away digital TV sets - and why should it? - people will expect their existing equipment to continue to be usable.  

So it's likely that analogue TV will be with us for many years yet. But that would be the end of analogue too. 

.............................Indeed...............................

Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG HISTORY
The company has it's roots in a company founded by Felix Schneider in 1889 in Türkheim in Swabia, Germany, that manufactured industrial woodworking machinery. The company entered the audio business in 1965 by starting the manufacture of radios cabinets etc. and moved into the manufacture of other Brown Goods soon thereafter and became in particular associated with music systems in the 70's and 80's. The Schneider company was unusual for West German companies at the time in that they focused squarely on the manufacture of low budget & value products, while the rest of the electronics sector was increasingly focused on higher priced products in response to the ever increasing valuation of the German Mark. Entered the computer market in 1984 when they started marketing Amstrad computers under their own name in central Europe, initially with notable success, but split up with Amstrad in 1987 when they rejected to distribute the AT compatible computers that the latter company was introducing at the time as they thought they where unsellable, but rather decided to hire the entire European design team from Commodore that had been responsible for designing the PC compatible designs Commodore had introduced a couple of years earlier in addition to the Amiga 2000. This resulted in the introduction of the Euro-PC line of computers in late 1988, an interesting designs in some respects, for instance the first PC compatible that had all hardware I/O and set-up functions controlled by the BIOS configuration program rather than having to open the computer and move jumpers around, another unusual BIOS related feature is that you could start the configuration program anytime, even when the OS was running, although innovative this line was not a resounding success but it did pave the way for Schneider to become one of the larger European computer OEM's in the 1990's. The company bought the trademark, product lines and factories of the Dual company from Thomson in 1988, this was not primarily to get the product lines but rather it appears to be in response to the need for a new trademark for some European markets, notably France, were the Schneider brand was either owned by local companies or there where very well known companies with that name operating in other business sectors. The old Dual factory in St. Georgen was closed down in 1993 after sales of turntables tumbled and the manufacture of the turntable lineup was taken over by Alfred Fehrenbacher but they are located in the same town as the original Dual Co., the Dual trademark was licensed to the Karstad retail chain in 1996 but by that time Schneider was only using the trademark in France one on hand and for record players internationally. The company's name was changed to Schneider Electronics AG at some time in the 1990's and different operations where organised into independently run divisions. In the latter years it was perhaps best known locally as a manufacturer of low and mid range televisions and video recorders but they had started manufacturing those in 1983 but in the early 1990's the Schneider Technologies AG subsidary developed some innovative TV's for professional usage, the most interesting of these being the laser TV which was based around a solid state RGB laser gun developed in conjunction with Jenoptik, this allows for huge screens without the usual multi screen/projector setups or the lack of brightness usually associated with projectors. Worsening trade conditions in the late 90's however meant that the company declared itself bankrupt on January 26 2002, TCL International Holdings bought production facilities, stocks and trademarks for 8,2 million € in September 2002 and used those to form a new company called Schneider Electronics GmbH.

Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG
 Bernhard Schneider died at the age of 84. He was one of the pioneers of consumer electronics and the PC age.
 
Bernhard Schneider died at the age of 84. He was one of the pioneers of consumer electronics and the PC age.
The community of Türkheim mourns the loss of an outstanding entrepreneurial personality who has left its mark on entrepreneurs and people in the community of Valais and throughout the Lower Allgäu: Bernhard Schneider, co-founder of Schneider-Werke in Türkheim, died in 2019 at the age of 84.

The funeral took place  Friday at the wish of the deceased in the closest circle in Türkheim. Throughout his life Bernhard Schneider was not one who pushed himself into the public eye. Until the end he lived in seclusion with his family, which was always the most important thing for him. People who met Bernhard Schneider describe him as an absolute family man. And that's exactly how he ran the company together with his brother Albert: like a family. The success story of the Schneider plants in Türkheim began with wood washing machines.

The history of Schneider-Rundfunkwerke AG goes back to 1859. It started when Felix Schneider made wood washing machines in Türkheim. Chance helped the Schneiders, who initially made their money with 40 employees in Eppishausen with the production of clothes lockers for the Bundeswehr and wooden housings for music chests and relocated to Türkheim in 1960. The company and senior manager Leo Schneider then switched to the production of consumer electronics in 1965. When the long-established radio factory "Emud" closed down in 1972 and shortly afterwards the office machine manufacturer "Walther" filed for bankruptcy and the factory gates closed, the Schneider brothers took decisive action and acquired a functioning radio factory. Right from the start, the Schneiders had a feel for the wishes of broad groups of buyers.
They opted for inexpensive compact systems in which records and CD players as well as radio receivers and amplifiers were integrated. The brothers had expanded the Schneider factories into a German flagship company until the 1990s and formed it into a company with a worldwide reputation. Legendary some products that could hardly be missing in a German living room: the music showcase with record changer from the 1960s, the "Schneider Powerpack" set a benchmark in terms of design and price as a hi-fi system in the 1970s.

The "German response to cheap Asian imports" came from the Schneider plants in Türkheim The first Schneider television set from 1983 is still considered the "German answer to cheap Asian imports". Even in 1984, when the home computer market was completely new, Schneider made an exclamation mark with the Amstrad CPC646, which made the Commodore 64 a serious competitor. At the end of the 1980s, it was the Schneider Euro-PC, which for the first time also reached a broad range of buyers with a price of 1300 Deutschmarks.

Bernhard Schneider and his brother Albert were visionaries like there were very few even in inventive Germany. Proof of this: The Schneider “Ökovision” was the first TV set that was fully recyclable - and that as early as 1992. Step by step, the Schneider plants grew quietly into one of the largest employers in the region. Up to 850 employees found a job here during the company's heyday. At the height of the company's success, the brothers retired from the management.

The company had high hopes for laser technology, but they could never be realized. Then everything went downhill rapidly: The Schneider plants could no longer keep up with the development of computer technology. Bernhard and Albert Schneider had to register for bankruptcy in 2002 and sell their trademark rights to the Chinese electronics company "TCL" after they had made the jump to the stock exchange and to the top of the German hi-fi equipment manufacturers.

It also incorporated the French Thomson plants in 2004 and became one of the world's largest manufacturers of TV sets with the fully acquired “Joint Venture TCL Thomson Electronics (TTE)”. The Chinese also ceased production at the end of 2005. The business park A 96 of Finsterwalder Transport & Logistik was later built on the company premises. The end of their company was also a severe personal blow for both brothers.

Above all, Bernhard Schneider took the fate of his employees to heart, to whom he had always felt committed. Financially, the downfall of the Schneider factories is said to have hit hard on the former stock billionaires: After the fall in the price of the Schneider paper, the stock packages were no longer worth much.

Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG  The end of an era......... The last television set rolled off the assembly line in Türkheim in 2005. The former manager talks about the end for Schneider Rundfunkwerke:

Ackermann remembers. The brothers Bernhard and Albert Schneider had to register for bankruptcy and sell their trademark rights to the Chinese electronics company "TCL" after they had quietly made it to the stock exchange and to the top of the German hi-fi equipment manufacturers. It also incorporated the French Thomson plants in 2004 and became one of the world's largest manufacturers of TV sets with the fully acquired “Joint Venture TCL Thomson Electronics (TTE)”.

Like the Schneider brothers, for whom the cheap competition from the Far East had ultimately put a spanner in the works, the Chinese ultimately also failed and ceased production at the end of 2005. The remaining 120 employees were sitting on the street. After that, the banks were in charge. "They used managers who had no idea about blasting and blowing and only pulled money from the company," criticizes Ackermann, who saw ten board members from 1990 to 1998, but who did the work with the tailors, "even if it was sometimes very hard and required full commitment, ”was always a lot of fun. "I still have a good relationship with Bernhard and Albert Schneider, who live in Türkheim," assures the former company boss.

From flower to bankruptcy. Michael Ackermann knows the history of Schneider-Rundfunkwerke AG dating back to 1859 like the back of his hand. It started when Felix Schneider made wood washing machines in Türkheim. Chance helped the Schneiders, who initially made their money with 40 employees in Eppishausen with the production of clothes lockers for the Bundeswehr and wooden housings for music chests and relocated to Türkheim in 1960. The company and senior manager Leo Schneider then switched to the production of consumer electronics in 1965.

When the long-established Swabian radio factory "Emud" closed down in 1972 and shortly afterwards the office machine manufacturer "Walther" declared bankruptcy and the factory gates closed, the Schneider brothers took a quick decision and acquired a functioning radio factory for a sandwich. Similar to their Fürth competitor Max Grundig, the Schneiders had a feel for the desires of large groups of buyers from the start. They opted for inexpensive compact systems in which records and CD players as well as radio receivers and amplifiers were integrated. “Department stores like Quelle and Karstadt, but also the Gütersloh book club giant Bertelsmann were among our customers,” recalls former manager Ackermann. The company placed high hopes in laser technology. "They never came true, we were put off from year to year," Ackermann is still angry today. "Our management team were not electronics engineers and therefore fully relied on the promises of the development company in Gera," he chats out of the box. Ackermann also sees a major reason for the bankruptcy in the rapid development of computer technology, “with which Schneider could no longer keep up”.

 Die SCHNEIDER Technologies Aktiengesellschaft (vormals Schneider-Rundfunkwerke AG) war ein Hersteller von Unterhaltungselektronik und Computern in Türkheim.

Die Geschichte der Schneider-Rundfunkwerke AG geht zurück auf das Jahr 1889. Felix Schneider begann in Türkheim im Unterallgäu mit der Fabrikation von Holzwaschmaschinen.

Unterhaltungselektronik:
Werbesticker der „Schneider Computer Division“ aus den 1990ern

Auf die Produktion von Unterhaltungselektronik stellte die Firma unter Firmenchef Leo Schneider 1965 um, als die ersten Musikschränke produziert wurden. Weitere Meilensteine in der Produktentwicklung waren 1971 Musik-Kompaktanlagen und 1983 TV-Geräte mit eigenem Chassis. Weitere Innovationen wie ein 500-Seiten-Speed-Videotext, der Prime Timer und Laser-TV folgten. Im Sommer 1996 stellte Schneider die Produktion im Zweigwerk in Nersingen-Straß ein.
Im Glanz vergangener Tage kann sich die deutsche Unterhaltungselektronik nicht mehr sonnen. Die Gegenwart ist ernüchternd. Heute kommen nicht einmal zehn Prozent der Fernseher, die hierzulande verkauft werden, aus deutschen Werken. Den Markt dominieren Firmen wie Samsung und LG. Vor zehn Jahren haben die Asiaten die Branche mit Flachbildschirmen revolutioniert, während die Deutschen noch an der Röhre festhielten. Nun setzen sie mit Billigpreisen Maßstäbe – auch weil sie unter viel günstigeren (Lohn-)Bedingungen produzieren. Ein Standortvorteil, der deutsche Herstellern wie ein Keulenschlag trifft. Markengeräte mit einem Meter Bildschirmdiagonale, die in Elektromärkten für 369 Euro verkauft werden, sind keine Seltenheit.
Insolvenz:

2002 stellte Schneider einen Insolvenzantrag, und im Oktober 2002 wurden die Produktionsanlagen in Türkheim, Warenbestände und die Schneider-Markenrechte an den chinesischen Elektronikkonzern TCL verkauft. 2004 fusionierte dann TCL mit dem französischen Thomson-Konzern zum weltgrößten Hersteller von TV-Geräten. Als Ende Januar 2005 die Produktion eingestellt wurde, arbeiteten noch 120 Mitarbeiter im Werk Türkheim.

Martin Runge kritisierte als wirtschaftspolitischer Sprecher der GRÜNEN-Landtagsfraktion den zuständigen Minister Wiesheu:

    "...Die „Sanierungsaktivitäten" von Staatsregierung und LfA, der landeseigenen Förderbank, waren so angelegt, dass sie von Anfang an keinen Gewinn für das Unternehmen und seine Mitarbeiter bringen konnten. Im Gegenteil: Staatsregierung und LfA sind mitverantwortlich am Niedergang und an der Zerschlagung der Schneider Technologies AG und ihrer Töchter Schneider Electronics AG und Schneider Laser Technologies AG... "

Das ehemalige Werksgelände in Türkheim wurde von einem Speditionsunternehmen aufgekauft, und im Sommer 2006 wurde mit der Demontage des Schneider-Schriftzuges die Ära der Schneider-Rundfunkwerke AG in Türkheim endgültig beendet.

  Some References:

"China's TV Maker Buys Bankrupt German Schneider", www.china.org.cn, 9 October 2002
"Defunct Audio Manufacturers - Sa to Se", audiotools.com, Schneider Rundfunkwerke AG

"Schneider Electronics GmbH.", investing.businessweek.com, Bloomberg, retrieved 17 July 2011

Einzelnachweise:

Das Ende einer Ära, Augsburger Allgemeine, 17. April 2015
Historie, Finsterwalder Transport & Logistik, abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

Walther, Die Firma und Ihre Rechner, abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

Mitbegründer der Türkheimer Schneider Werke ist tot, Augsburger Allgemeine, 25. März 2019

Schneider Gesamtkatalog 1981/82, Seite 4 bis 6, abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

Schneider Gesamtkatalog 1983/84, Seite 22 bis 23, abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

Schneider Gesamtkatalog 1993, abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

Dual Geschichte, Dual-Plattenspieler.de abgerufen 1. Juni 2019

 

 

R.I.P. GERMANY

 

SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 INTERNAL VIEW..

The SCHNEIDER CHASSIS DTV2 is the successor of the DTV1 first Schneider Digital television.

IT'S THE MOST INTEGRATED DIGITAL TV CHASSIS AT THE TIME TOGHETHER WITH LOEWE'S C9000 SERIES.

The main differences are in improvements related in power panel which result in minor heating and better reliability and performance / The SMPS Transformer is bigger and better built / cooling  is bettered.

In the digital panel were implemented a faster version of the DIGIVISION ITT DIGIT 2000 CHIPSET and better reliability and performance.

The SCHNEIDER CHASSIS DTV2 corrects some imperfections which were in DTV1 cause of faults expecially produced by hot parts in Power/deflection panel board.

The SCHNEIDER CHASSIS DTV-2 features the DIGIVISION ITT DIGIT 2000 CHIPSET.

It's divided in two fundamental panels.

The digital board (Video and audio digital processing + CPU) DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) 

The power board (Power supply and deflections + EHT)

Was also used in: Schneider STV7206 / DUAL STV6156, TV1155, TV1163, TV1170, TV150, TV1551, TV160, TV170, TV4155, TV4163, TV4170, TVM4155, TVM4163, TVM4170, TVM4185 / TEAC CT-M10 / STV7158


Micom - CCUS7916 (ITT)
Memory - ITT MDA2062-21 & MDA2062-32
DRAM - KM4164B-15
SMPS - Thomson TEA2164 & BUV70
TR Chopper - VOGT XN 545 39 00100 3234-38391
SAW -
Secam - SPU2243 (ITT)
Delay -
Video - VCU2136A & PVPU2204 (ITT)
VIF - TDA4453 & TDA4455 (TFK)
Vertical - LM393 & BD683
Teletext - TPU2732 (ITT)
Sound - TDA2009 (Thomson)
SIF - U2829 (TFK)
Stereo - ADC2311E & APU2471 (ITT)
Tuner - 2001DHC
TV/AV -
Tube - Videocolor / ITT / PHILIPS
FBT - DST85B243C 472 941-02 3243-31692
HOT - BU508A (PHILIPS)
RGB Amp. - BC558B, BF422S, BF423, BF871

IC remote -
PLL - MEA2901 (ITT)
Digital Transient Improvement - DTI2223 (ITT)
Clock Generator - MCU2600-53 (ITT)
Deflection - DPU2553 (ITT)
Other ICs - U353M (TFK)




















































CHASSIS DTV2 Detaile Power / deflection Panel board.

Power supply and deflections panel board.

- Power supply with TEA2164, line synchronized.

- E/W Correction with SSEWC circuit (Switched Synchronous E/W correction)

- Frame deflection with SSVD circuit (Switched Synchronous vertical deflection) with 1 transistor.

This ,SCHNEIDER DTV2,  chassis was also used in models: DUAL STV4255, TV1155, TV1163, TV1170, TV150, TV160, TV170, TV4155, TV4163, TV4170, TV4270, TV4570, TVM4155, TVM4163, TVM4170, TVM4185 FISHER FTMS163 HANSEATIC DTV7032-11 SCHNEIDER 33413-38395, 9028FINALE, CTV2706, S6156, STV1056VT, STV5540M, STV6056, STV6058SAT, STV6156NICAM, STV6157FEDIV, STV6216, STV6555, STV6556NICAM, STV7023, STV7027, STV7050, STV7056NICAM, STV706, STV7156NICAM, STV7158SAT, STV7166NICAM, STV7306M, STV9028, STV9163VT

SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2
TEA2164 /2165 SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY PRIMARY CIRCUIT

.POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE OUTPUT CURRENT
UP TO 1.2AAND – 1.7A .A TWO LEVEL COLLECTOR CURRENT LIMITATION
.COMPLETE TURN OFF AFTER LONG DURATION
OVERLOADS .UNDER AND OVER VOLTAGELOCK-OUT .SOFT START BY PROGRESSIVE CURRENT
LIMITATION .DOUBLE PULSE SUPPRESSION .BURST MODE OPERATION UNDER STANDBY
CONDITIONS
DESCRIPTION
In amaster slave architecture, the TEA2164control
IC achieves the slave function. Primarily designed
for TV receivers and monitors applications, this
circuit provides an easy synchronizationand smart
solution for low power stand by operation.
Located at the primary side the TEA2164 Control
IC ensures :
- the power supply start-up
- the power supply control under stand-by conditions
- the process of the regulation signals sent by the
master circuit located at the secondary side
- directbasedrive of the bipolarswitching transistor
- the protection of the transistor and the power
supply under abnormal conditions.

II. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In a master slave architecture, the TEA2164 Control
IC, located at the primary side of an off line
power supply achievesthe slave function ;whereas
the master circuit is located at the secondary side.
The link between both circuits is realized by a small
pulse transformer

In the operation of the master-slave architecture,
four majors cases must be considered :
- normal operating
- stand-bymode
- power supply start-up
- abnormal conditions : off load, short circuit, ...
II.1. Normal Operating (master slave mode)
In this configuration, the master circuit generatesa
pulse widthmodulatedsignal issued from themonitoring
of the output voltage which needs the best
accuracy (in TV applications : the horizontal deflection
stagesupplyvoltage).Themaster circuit power
supply can be supplied by another output.
The PWM signal are sent towards the primary side
through small differentiating transformer. For the
TEA2164 positive pulses are transistor switchingon
commands ; and negative pulses are transistor
switching-offcommands (Figure 4). In this configuration,
only by synchronizing the master oscillator,
the switching transistor may be synchronized with
an external signal.
II.2. Stand-by Mode
In this configuration the master circuit no longer
sends PWM signals, the structure is not synchronized
; and the TEA2164 operates in burst mode.
The average power consumption at the secondary
side may be very low 1W 3 P 3 6W (as it is
consumed in TV set during stand by).
By action on the maximum duty cycle control, a
primary loop maintains a semi-regulation of the
output voltages.Voltage on feed-back is applied on
Pin 9.
Burst period is externally programmedby capacitor
C1.
II.3. Power Supply Start-up
After the mains have been switched-on, the VCC
storage capacitor of the TEA2164 is charged
through a high value resistor connected to the
rectified high voltage.When Vcc reaches VCC start
threshold (9V typ), the TEA2164 starts operatingin
burst mode. Since available output power is low in
burst mode the output power consumption must
remain low before complete setting-up of output
voltage. In TV application it can be achieved by
maintaining the TV in stand-by mode during startup.

Overvoltage Protection
When VCC exceeds VCC max, an internal flip-flop
stops output conduction signals. The circuit will
start again after the capacitor C1 discharge ; it
means : after loss of synchronization or after Vcc
stop crossing (Figure 7).
In flyback converters, this function protects the
power supply against output voltage runaway.

SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) Synchronized switch-mode power supply:

In a switch mode power supply, a first switching transistor is coupled to a primary winding of an isolation transformer. A second switching transistor periodically applies a low impedance across a second winding of the transformer that is coupled to an oscillator for synchronizing the oscillator to the horizontal frequency. A third winding of the transformer is coupled via a switching diode to a capacitor of a control circuit for developing a DC control voltage in the capacitor that varies in accordance with a supply voltage B+. The control voltage is applied via the transformer to a pulse width modulator that is responsive to the oscillator output signal for producing a pulse-width modulated control signal. The control signal is applied to a mains coupled chopper transistor for generating and regulating the supply voltage B+ in accordance with the pulse width modulation of the control signal.

Description:

The invention relates to switch-mode power supplies.

Some television receivers have signal terminals for receiving, for example, external video input signals such as R, G and B input signals, that are to be developed relative to the common conductor of the receiver. Such signal terminals and the receiver common conductor may be coupled to corresponding signal terminals and common conductors of external devices, such as, for example, a VCR or a teletext decoder.

To simplify the coupling of signals between the external devices and the television receiver, the common conductors of the receiver and of the external devices are connected together so that all are at the same potential. The signal lines of each external device are coupled to the corresponding signal terminals of the receiver. In such an arrangement, the common conductor of each device, such as of the television receiver, may be held "floating", or conductively isolated, relative to the corresponding AC mains supply source that energizes the device. When the common conductor is held floating, a user touching a terminal that is at the potential of the common conductor will not suffer an electrical shock.

Therefore, it may be desirable to isolate the common conductor, or ground, of, for example, the television receiver from the potentials of the terminals of the AC mains supply source that provide power to the television receiver. Such isolation is typically achieved by a transformer. The isolated common conductor is sometimes referred to as a "cold" ground conductor.

In a typical switch mode power supply (SMPS) of a television receiver the AC mains supply voltage is coupled, for example, directly, and without using transformer coupling, to a bridge rectifier. An unregulated direct current (DC) input supply voltage is produced that is, for example, referenced to a common conductor, referred to as "hot" ground, and that is conductively isolated from the cold ground conductor. A pulse width modulator controls the duty cycle of a chopper transistor switch that applies the unregulated supply voltage across a primary winding of an isolating flyback transformer. A flyback voltage at a frequency that is determined by the modulator is developed at a secondary winding of the transformer and is rectified to produce a DC output supply voltage such as a voltage B+ that energizes a horizontal deflection circuit of the television receiver. The primary winding of the flyback transformer is, for example, conductively coupled to the hot ground conductor. The secondary winding of the flyback transformer and voltage B+ may be conductively isolated from the hot ground conductor by the hot-cold barrier formed by the transformer.

It may be desirable to synchronize the operation of the chopper transistor to horizontal scanning frequency for preventing the occurrence of an objectionable visual pattern in an image displayed in a display of the television receiver.

It may be further desirable to couple a horizontal synchronizing signal that is referenced to the cold ground to the pulse-width modulator that is referenced to the hot ground such that isolation is maintained.

A synchronized switch mode power supply, embodying an aspect of the invention, includes a transfromer having first and second windings. A first switching arrangement is coupled to the first winding for generating a first switching current in the first winding to periodically energize the second winding. A source of a synchronizing input signal at a frequency that is related to a deflection frequency is provided. A second switching arrangement responsive to the input signal and coupled to the second winding periodically applies a low impedance across the energized second winding that by transformer action produces a substantial increase in the first switching current. A periodic first control signal is generated. The increase in the first switching current is sensed to synchronize the first control signal to the input signal. An output supply voltage is generated from an input supply voltage in accordance with the first control signal.

THOMSON  TEA2162 / TEA2164 / TEA2165  WORKING OF A CHOPPED POWER SUPPLY CONTROL CIRCUIT WITH AUTOMATIC START-UP:

 

 

Inventors: De Sartre, Jean (Meylan, FR) ; Thomson-csf (Paris, FR) 

 

 The invention provides an integrated chopped power supply control circuit intended to receive regulation control signals and to produce square waves for enabling a switch. It comprises automatic start up means producing, in the absence of regulation signals, bursts of start up attempts with a very low recurrence period. Each burst lasts about 10% of this period and is followed by a rest time.

  1. A chopped power supply control circuit intended to receive periodic regulation control signals and to produce periodic square waves enabling a main switch of the power supply, the square waves having a variable width as a function of their regulation control signals, which circuit comprises:

means for detecting the presence of regulation control signals,

a very low frequency oscillator controlled by the detection means, this oscillator producing, in the absence of regulation signals, a succession of very low frequency periodic cycles, the oscillator being inhibited by the regulation control signal detection means,

a high frequency oscillator producing chopping signals palliating the absence of regulation signals for producing enabling square waves,

an inhibition means for allowing transmission of the chopping siganls to the switch only during a first phase of each very low frequency periodic cycle and for preventing such transmission during the rest of the cycle, the first phase of each cycle having a duration which is long compared with the period of the high frequency oscillator and short compared with the period of the very low frequency oscillator.


2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said high frequency oscillator has a free oscillation period slightly greater than the period of the regulation control signals and it is synchronized by these signals when they are present.

3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulation control signals comprise a positive pulse followed by a negative pulse, one of them being used for synchronizing the high frequency oscillator, the positive pulse being transmitted through the inhibition means to a set input of a flip flop for triggering off the beginning of conduction of the main switch, and the negative pulse being transmitted to a reset input of the flip flop for causing stopping of the conduction of the switch.

4. The control circuit according to claim 1 further comprising:

a threshold comparator for receiving a signal measuring the current in said switch and for outputting a signal stopping the conduction of said switch when a threshold is exceeded;

means for varying the threshold of said comparator including a means for producing a first threshold value during normal operation of said circuit, a means for producing a second threshold value at the beginning of said first phase of said very low frequency cycle, said second threshold corresponding to a current in said switch which is lower than during said normal operation, and a means for producing a gradually decreasing threshold during said first phase of said very low frequency cycle.


5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said very low frequency oscillator is a relaxation oscillator delivering a saw tooth signal and the means for varying the threshold is driven by the output of the very low frequency oscillator.

6. The control circuit as claimed in one of claims 4 and 5, wherein another threshold converter is provided receiving a signal of measurement of the current in the main switch and delivering a signal for complete inhibition of enabling of the switch when the current in the switch exceeds a third threshold value higher than the first value.

7. The control circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein said inhibition signal delivered by the other comparator is cancelled out when the circuit, after having partially or totally ceased to be supplied with power, is again normally supplied.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to stabilized power supplies called chopped power supplies.

A chopped power supply operates in the following way: a transformer primary winding receives a current which comes for example from a rectifier bridge receiving the power from the AC mains. The current in the transformer is chopped by a switch (for example a power transistor) placed in series with the primary winding.

A circuit controlling the transistor establishes periodic square waves for enabling the transistor. For the duration of the square wave the current is allowed to pass; outside the square wave, the passage of the current is prevented.

On one (or more) secondary windings of the transformer an AC voltage is then collected. This voltage is rectified and filtered so as to obtain a DC voltage which is the DC output voltage of the chopped power supply.

To stabilize the value of this DC voltage, the cyclic periodic conduction ratio of the switch is adjusted, that is to say the ratio between the conduction time and the disablement time in a chopping period.

2. Discussion of Background

In a chopped power supply architecture proposed by the applicant and shown in FIG. 1, two integrated circuits are used. One of the circuits, CI1, serves for controlling the base of a power transistor Tp for applying thereto periodic enabling and disabling control signals. The space control circuit CI1 is placed on the primary winding side (EP) of the transformer (TA) for reasons which will be better understood further on in the description. The integrated circuit, regulation circuit CI2, is on the contary placed on the secondary side (winding ES1) and its serves for examining the output voltage Vs of the power supply for elaborating regulation signals which it transmits to the first integrated circuit through a small transformer TX. The first integrated circuit CI1 uses these regulation signals for modifying the cyclic conduction ratio of the switching transistor TP and thus for regulating the output voltage Vs of the power supply.

We will come back in more detail hereafter to the circuit shown in FIG. 1.

Numerous problems arise during designing of a chopped power supply, and the problems with which we will be particulary concerned here are problems of starting up the power supply and problems of safety should over voltages or over currents occur at different points in the circuit. The first problem which is met with is that of starting up the power supply : on switching on, the regulation circuit CI2 will tend to cause the base control circuit CI1 to generate square waves of maximum cyclic ratio until the power supply has reached its nominal output voltage. This is all the more harmful since there is then a heavy current drain on the side of the secondary windings which are connected to initially discharged filtering capacitors. There is a risk of destruction of the power transistor through over-currents during the start-up phase.

Progressive start-up circuits have already been proposed which limit the duration of the enabling square waves during a start-up phase, on switching on the device; the U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,714 describes such a circuit in which charging of a capacitor from switch-on defines initially short square waves which gradually increase in duration until these square waves reach the duration which the regulation circuit normally assigns thereto. The short square waves have priority; but, since they become gradually longer during the start-up phase, after a certain time they cease to have priority; this time is defined by the charging time constant of the capacitor.

Another problem which arises is the risk of accidental overcurrents, or sometimes overvoltages which may occur in the circuit. These over-currents and over-voltages may cause damage and often result in the destruction of the power transistor if nothing is done to eliminate them. In particular, a short circuit at the output of the stabilized power supply rapidly destroys the power transistor. If the short circuit occurs on start-up of the power supply, it is not the gradual start-up system with short square waves which gradually increase which will allow the over-currents resulting from this short circuit to be efficiently accomodated.

Finally, another problem, particularly important in an architecture such as the one shown in FIG. 1, is the risk of disappearance of the regulation signals which should be emitted by the regulation circuit CI2 and received by the base control circuit CI1: these signals determine not only the width of the square waves for enabling the power transistor but also their periodicity; in other words, they serve for establishing the chopping frequency, possibly synchronized from a signal produced on the secondary side of the transformer. The disappearance of these signals causes a particular disturbance which must be taken into account.

Furthermore, the architecture of FIG. 1, in which the secondary circuits have been voluntarily separated galvanically from the primary circuits, is such that the base control circuit may function rapidly after switch on, as will be explained further on, whereas the regulation circuit CI2 can only function if the chopped power supply is in operation; consequently, at the beginning, the base control circuit CI1 does not receive any regulation signals and this difficulty must be taken into account.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an attempt to resolve as well as possible the whole of these different problems which relate to safety against accidental disturbances in the operation of the power supply (initial start-up being able to be considered moreover as transitory disturbed operating phase), the present invention proposes an improved chopped power supply control circuit which accomplishes a function of gradual start-up of the power supply on switch-on and a function of passing to the safety mode should a malfunction occur such as a disappearance of appropriate regulation signals: the safety mode consists of a succession of very low frequency periodic cycles, each cycle consisting in a gradual start-up attempt during a first phase which is short compared with the period of the cycle and long compared with the chopping period of the chopped power supply, the first phase being followed by a pause at the end of the cycle, and periodic cycles succeeding each other until normal operation of the power supply is established or re-established; a very low frequency oscillator establishes these cycles when the power supply is not normal operating conditions (start up or malfunction); this oscillation is disabled when normal operation is ascertained; a high frequency oscillator generates a burst of chopping signals palliating the absence of regulation signals; these signals are transmitted solely during the first phase of each cycle; they are inhibited during the second phase.

According to a very important characteristic of the invention; gradual start-up operates not by limiting the duration of the square waves from the charging of a capacitor with a fixed time constant, but by limiting the current in the power transistor to a maximum value, this maximum value increasing gradually during the start-up phase, overshooting of this current value causing interruption of the power transistor.

Thus, even in the case of a quasi short circuit, the value of a current in the transistor is limited, which was not the case in gradual start-up circuits of the prior art.

More precisely, the chopped power supply control circuit, intended to receive periodic regulation control signals and to produce periodic square waves for enabling a main switch of the power supply, the square waves having a variable width depending on the regulation control signals; comprises:

a means for detecting the presence of regulation control signals,

a very low frequency oscillator controlled by the detection means, this oscillator establishing, in the case of absence of regulation signals, a succession of very low frequency periodic cycles, the oscillator being inhibited by the detection means when regulation control signals are present,

a high frequency oscillator producing chopping signals palliating the absence of regulation signals for producing enabling square waves,

an inhibition means only allowing chopping signals to be transmitted to the switch during a first phase of each very low frequency periodic cycle and for preventing such transmission during the rest of the cycle, the first phase of each cycle having a duration which is long compared with the period of the high frequency oscillator and short compared with the period of the very low frequency oscillator.

Preferably, the high frequency oscillator has a free oscillation period slightly greater than the period of the regulation control signals and it is synchronized by these signals when they are present.

The regulation control signals may comprise a positive pulse followed by a negative pulse, one of them serving for synchronizing the high frequency oscillator, the positive pulse being transmitted through the inhibition means to a set input of a flip flop for enabling the switch, whereas the negative pulse is transmitted to the reset input of this flip flop for disabling.

In so far as limiting the current to a gradually increasing value during the start-up cycles is concerned, a threshold comparator (92) is preferably provided receiving a signal for measuring the current in the switch in order to generate a signal for disabling the switch should the threshold be exceeded and a means (90) for causing the threshold of the comparator to vary in the following way:

under normal operating conditions the threshold is fixed at a first value;

at the beginning of the first phase of each very low frequency periodic cycle, the threshold passes suddenly from the first value to a second value corresponding to a lower current in the switch;

during the first phase of each cycle the threshold passes gradually back from the second value to the first one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general chopped power supply diagram using two integrated circuits placed respectively on the primary side and on the secondary side of a transformer,

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of an integrated circuit for controlling the power transistor placed on the primary side,

FIGS. 3 to 6 show timing diagrams of signals at different points of the circuit, and

FIG. 7 shows a circuit detail for producing a variable threshold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring again to FIG. 1, which represents a chopped power supply architecture given by way of example illustrating the utility of the invention, the line of the public electric mains has been designated by the reference 10 (mains at 100 or 220 volts, 50 or 60 hertz). This line is connected through a filter 12 to the input of a rectifier bridge 14 whose output is connected on the one hand to a primary electric ground, shown throughout by a black triangle pointing downward and, on the other hand, to one end of the primary winding EP of the power transformer TA.

A filtering capacitor 16 is placed in parallel across the outputs of the rectifier bridge 14. The other end of the primary winding is connected to the collector of a switching transistor TP whose emitter is connected to the primary ground through a small current measuring resistor 18.

The transformer has several secondary windings which are preferably isolated galvanically from the mains and connected for exmaple to a secondary electric ground isolated galvanically from the primary ground.

Here, each of the secondary windings has one end connected to the secondary ground. The other end feeds a respective low pass filtering capacitor through a respective rectifier diode.

The description hereafter will refer to a single secondary winding ES1, connected by a diode 20 to a capacitor 22. The DC output voltage of the chopped power supply is the voltage Vs at the terminals of the capacitor 22; but of course other DC output voltages may be obtained at the terminals of the other filtering capacitors connected to secondary windings. These output voltages forms stabilized power supply voltages for user circuits not shown. By way of example, a secondary winding ES2 supplies a stabilized voltage of a few volts for the integrated regulation circuit CI2, which has already been discussed. It can be verified therefore in this connection that this circuit is not fed with power and cannot therefore deliver signals as long as the chopped power supply is not operating.

The same goes a priori for the integrated circuit CI1 controlling the base of the power transistor TP, which circuit is supplied with a stabilized voltage delivered from a secondary winding ES3, a diode 24 and a capacitor 26 (it will be noted in passing that this winding, although a secondary winding, is connected to the primary ground and not to the secondary ground, for the very simple reason that the integrated circuit CI1 is necessarily coupled galvanically to the primary).

However, since start-up of the chopped power supply must be ensured, it is provided for the power supply terminal 28 of the integrated circuit CI1 to be also connected directly to the mains through a high resistor 30 and a diode 32; this is possible since the integrated circuit CI1 is connected to the primary gorund; this is not possible for the integrated circuit CI2 which must remain galvanically isolated from the mains. As soon as the chopped power supply is operating normally, the stabilized DC voltage delivered by winding ES3 and diode 24 take precedence over the voltage from the mains and diode 32; this diode 32 is disabled and the direct supply from the mains no longer occurs after the initial start-up phase.

The role of integrated circuits CI1 and CI2 will now be described.

The regulation circuit CI2 receives, from a divider bridge 34 placed at the terminals of the capacitor 22 that is to say at the output of the stabilized power supply, information concerning the value of the voltage to be stabilized Vs.

This information is compared with a reference value and applied to a pulse width modulator which produces periodic square waves of variable width depending on the value of the output voltage Vs; the lower Vs the wider the square waves.

The square waves are produced at the chopping frequency of the chopped power supply. This frequency is therefore established on the secondary side of the circuit; it is generated either inside circuit CI2, or outside in a circuit not shown, in the form of a saw tooth voltage at the chosen chopping frequency. This saw tooth voltage is used in a way known per se for obtaining width modulation.

The variable width square waves, at the chopping frequency, are applied to a primary winding 36 of a small transformer TX whose secondary winding 38, isolated galvanically from the primary, delivers positive and negative pulses at the rising and falling fronts respectively of the variable width square waves.

It is these pulses, whose position and frequency are determined by the regulation circuit CI2, which form regulation signals applied to an input 40 of the base control circuit CI1.

Transformer TX is formed by a few turns wound on a ferrite rod, the turns of the primary and the turns of the secondary being sufficiently spaced apart from each other for complying with the standards of galvanic isolation between primary circuits and secondary circuits in the chopped power supply.

The integrated base control circuit CI1 comprises different inputs among which have already been mentioned a power supply input 28 and a regulation signal input 40; a current measuring input 44 is connected to the current measuring resistor 18; an inhibition input monitors the magnetization condition of a transformer. Finally, inputs may be provided for connecting elements (resistors, capacitors) which should form part of the integrated circuit itself but which, for technological reasons (space) or for practical reasons (possiblities of adjustment by the user) are mounted on the outside.

The integrated circuit CI1 finally comprises an output 46 which is intended to be coupled by direct galvanic coupling to the base of the power transistor Tp. This output delivers square waves for enabling and disabling the transistor Tp.

FIG. 2 shows the general architecture of the integrated circuit CI1, limited to the elements which relate more particularly to the invention.

The output 46 of the circuit is the output of a push-pull amplification stage designated as a whole by the reference 48, this stage comprising preferably two separate amplifiers one of which receives enabling square waves and the other of which receives disabling signals formed by enabling square waves inverted and delayed by a few microseconds. Such amplifiers are now well known.

The enabling signals are delivered by a logic flip flop 50 having a set input 52 and a reset input 54. The set input causes the power transistor to be enabled. The reset input causes it to be disabled.

The set input 52 receives the pulses which pass through a logic AND gate 58, so that enabling only occurs if several conditions are simultaneously satisfied; one unsatisfied condition will be sufficient to inhibit enabling.

The reset input 54 receives the pulses which pass through a logic OR gate 60, so that disabling (after enabling) will occur as soon as a disabling signal is present at one of the inputs of this gate.

In the diagram of FIG. 2, the AND gate 58 has three inputs. One of these inputs receives periodic pulses from an output 62 of a high frequency oscillator 64; the other inputs serve for inhibiting the transmission of these pulses.

The oscillator defines the periodicity of the chopping of the power supply (20 kilohertz for example). Under normal operating conditions, the oscillator is synchronized by the regulation signals; under start-up conditions, it is self oscillating at a free frequency defined by the values of a resistor Ro and a capacitor Co external to the integrated circuit CI1 and connected respectively to an access terminal 66 and an access terminal 68. The free frequency fo is in theory slightly lower than the normal chopping frequency.

Oscillator 64 is a relaxation oscillator which produces at an output 70 a saw tooth whose zero return is caused by the appearance of a positive pulse arriving at terminal 40. This is why oscillator 64 is shown with one input connected to an output 72 of a separation and shaping circuit 74 which receives the regulation signals from terminal 40 and shapes them while separating the positive pulses from the negative pulses. The shaping circuit 74 has two outputs; 72 for the positive pulses, 76 for the negative pulses (the notation of positive pulses, negative pulse will be kept for distinguishing the enabling pulses and the disabling pulses even if the shaping circuit produces pulses of the same sign at both its outputs 72 and 76).

Oscillator 64 has two outputs: one output 70 delivering a saw tooth and one output 62 delivering a short pulse at the time of the zero return of the saw tooth.

A pulse width modulator 78 is connected on the one hand to the output 70 of the oscillator and on the other to a reference voltage adjustable by means of a resistor R1 external to the integrated circuit and connected to a terminal 80 giving access to the circuit. Modulator 78 delivers periodic square waves synchronized with the signals of the oscillator, these square waves defining a maximum conduction duration Tmax beyond which the power transistor must be disabled in any case for safety reasons. These square waves and modulator 78 are applied to an input of the OR gate 60. The duration Tmax is adjustable by means of the external resistor R1.

The elements which have just been described ensure the essential part of the operation under normal conditions of the integrated circuit CI1. The following elements are more specifically provided for controlling abnormal operation or start-up of the power supply.

A very low frequency oscillator 82 is connected to an external capacitor C2 through an access terminal 86. This external capacitor allows the very low frequency oscillation to be adjusted. The frequency may be 1 hertz for example.

Oscillator 82 is a relaxation oscillator delivering a saw tooth. This saw tooth is applied on the one hand to a threshold comparator 88 which causes periodic square waves to be produced synchronized with the very low frequency saw tooth of the oscillator. These square waves have a brief duration compared with the period of a saw tooth; this duration is fixed by the threshold of comparator 88; it may be for example be 10% of the period; it must be long compared with the free oscillation period of the high frequency oscillator 64 so that a burst of numerous pulses from the high frequency oscillator may be emitted and used during this 10% of the very low frequency period; this burst defines at start-up attempt during the first part of a start-up cycle; it is followed by a pause during the rest of the period, i.e. during the remaining 90%.

The oscillator only serves at start up; it is inhibited when regulation signals appear at terminal 40 and indicate that the chopped power supply is operating. This is why a control has been shown for inhibiting this oscillator, connected to the output 72 of the shaping circuit 74 through a flip flop 89. This flip flop switches under the action of the pulses appearing at the output 72. It is brought back to its initial state by the output 62 of oscillator 64 when there are no longer any pulses at output 71.

The saw teeth of the very low frequency oscillator are further transmitted to a circuit 90 producing a variable threshold whose purpose is to produce a threshold signal (current or voltage) having a first value Vs1 under normal operating conditions, and a threshold cyclically variable between a first value and a second value under start-up conditions. The method of varying this threshold will be described further on, but it may already be noted that the variation is driven by the very low frequency saw tooth.

The threshold signal produced by circuit 90 is applied to an input of a comparator 92 another input of which is connected to the terminal 44 already mentioned, for receiving at this input a signal representative of the amplitude of the current flowing through the power switch. The output of comparator 92 is applied to an input of the OR gate 60. It therefore acts for disabling the power transistor Tp, after it has been enabled, disabling occurring as soon as overshooting of the threshold (fixed or variable) defined by circuit 90 has been detected.

Another threshold comparator 94 has one input connected to the current measuring terminal 44 whereas another input receives a signal representing a third threshold value Vs3. The third value Vs3 corresponds to a current in the switch higher than the first value Vs1 defined by the circuit 90. The output of comparator 94 is connected through a storage flip flop 96 to an input of the AND gate 58 so that, if the current in the power switch exceeds the third threshold value Vs3, disabling of transistor Tp is not caused (such disabling being caused by the comparator 92) but any new enabling of the transistor is inhibited. Such inhibition lasts until the flip flop 96 is switched back to its initial state corresponding to normal operation.

In theory, this resetting will only take place when the integrated circuit CI1 has ceased to be supplied normally with power and is again switched on. For example, resetting of flip flop 96 is caused through a hysteresis threshold comparator 98 which compares a fraction of the power supply voltage Vcc of the circuit (taken from terminal 28) with a reference value and which resets the flip flop when Vcc first passes above this reference after dropping below another reference value lower than the first one (hysteresis).

Finally, it may be stated that the output of the flip flop 89 (which detects the presence of regulation signals at terminal 40 therefore normal operation of the power supply), is connected to an input of an OR gate 100 which receives at another input the output of comparator 88 so that the output of comparator 88 ceases to inhibit enabling of transistor Tp (inhibition during 90% of the very low frequency cycles) as soon as operation of the power supply has become normal.

OPERATION OF THE BASE CONTROL CIRCUIT

This operation will be described by illustrating it with voltage wave forms inside the chopped power supply and inside the integrated circuit CI1.

(a) Start-up on switching on

At the outset, the integrated circuit is not supplied with power at all.

The voltage at the power supply terminal 28 increases from 0 to a value Vaa which is not the nominal value Vcc but which is a lower value supplied by diode 32 and resistor 30 (cf. FIG. 1) as long as the chopped power supply does not deliver its nominal output voltage Vcc at terminal 28. Vaa is a voltage sufficient for ensuring practically normal operation of all the elements of the circuit CI1. Vaa is also sufficient for reinitializing the flip flop 96 which, as soon as that happens, no longer inhibits enabling of the power transistor Tp.

There are no regulation signals at the input 40. Consequently, the high frequency oscillator oscillates with its free frequency and the very low frequency oscillator also oscillates (it is not inhibited by the flip flop 89 since this latter does not receive any regulation signals from the output 72 of the shaper circuit 74).

The very low frequency oscillator 82 and comparator 88 define periodic cycles of start-up attempts repeated at a very low frequency.

Each cycle comprises a first part defined by the square waves of short duration at the output of comparator 88, and a second part formed by the end of the very low frequency period; the first part is an effective attempt at start-up. The second part is a pause if the effective attempt has failed. The pause lasts much longer than the effective attempt so as to limit power consumption.

During the first part of the cycle, the enabling signals delivered by the high frequency oscillator 64 are allowed to pass through the AND gate 58. They are then prevented from passing. Each pulse from the output 62 of the oscillator 64 enables the transistor Tp. There is therefore a burst of enabling pulses which is emitted for about 10% of the very low frequency period.

During start-up, the current intensities in the transistor tend to be very high. It is essentially comparator 92 which causes interruption of the conduction, after each enabling pulse delivered by oscillator 64, as soon as the current exceeds the threshold imposed by the variable threshold elaboration circuit 90. If comparator 92 does not cause enabling, modulator 78 will do so in any case at the end of the time Tmax.

The threshold elaboration circuit, which delivers to the comparator 90 a first fixed threshold value Vs1 under normal operating conditions (i.e. when the very low frequency oscillator 82 is disabled by the flip flop 89), delivers a variable threshold as a function of the saw tooth of the very low frequency oscillator in in the following way:

at the initial outset of a start-up attempt cycle (beginning of the saw tooth or zero return of the preceding saw tooth), the threshold passes suddenly from the first value Vs1 to a second value Vs2 corresponding to a lower current than the first value, then this threshold increases gradually (because driven by the very low frequency saw tooth) from the second value to the first. The growth time coincides preferably with the duration of a start-up attempt square wave (i.e. about 10% of the very low frequency period).

Then the threshold is stabilized at the first value Vs1 until the end of the period, but in any case if the circuit has not started up at that time, comparator 88 closes gate 58, through the OR gate 100 and inhibits any further enabling of the power transistor during the rest of the very low frequency period (90%). It is then the second part of the start-up attempt cycle which takes place: a pause during which the pulses of oscillator 64 are not transmitted through the AND gate 58.

Thus, the start-up cycles act from two points of view: on the one hand, a burst of enabling pulses is emitted (10% of the time) then stopped (90% of the time) until the next cycle; on the other hand, during this burst, the current limitation threshold passes gradually from its second relatively low value to its normal higher value.

Consequently, if the peak amplitude of the current in transistor Tp is observed during the start-up bursts, it can be seen that in practice it increases linearly from the second value to the first. Thus gradual start-up is obtained by a much more efficient action than that which consists simply for example in causing the duration Tmax to increase from a low value to a nominal value.

If start-up is not successful, a new burst of enabling pulses is transmitted during the first part of the next cycle (it will be recalled that this cycle is repeated about once per second and that the burst may last 100 milliseconds).

If start-up is successful, regulation signals appear at terminal 40. These signals are shaped by circuit 74. They cause the very low frequency oscillator 82 to be stopped by the flip flop 89 which prevents the zero return of the saw tooth. Furthermore, flip flop 89 sends through the OR gate 100 a signal for cancelling out the inhibition effect imposed by the comparator 88. Finally, as soon as start-up is successful, the regulation signals cause the high frequency oscillator 64 to be synchronized.

FIG. 3 illustrates the high frequency signals during the start-up period:

line a: saw tooth at the output 70 of the oscillator 64 (free oscillation at frequency fo, period To),

line b: pulses for enabling the transistor Tp : these pulses coincide with the zero return of the saw tooth signal (output 62 of oscillator 64);

line c: output square waves from modulator 78 defining the maximum cyclic conduction time of the transistor,

line d: pulses delivered comparator 92 when the current in the switch exceeds the threshold (gradually increasing during start up) defined by the circuit 90.

The conduction of transistor Tp, after being enabled by a pulse from line b, is stopped either by the square waves of line c if the current threshold is not exceeded, or by an output pulse from comparator 92.

FIG. 4 shows the very lwo frequency signals during the start-up cycles. The diagrams are not to the same time scale as in FIG. 3 since it will be recalled that an example of the frequency of the high frequency oscillator 64 is 20 kilohertz whereas an example of the very low frequency of oscillator 82 is 1 hertz. The high frequency pulses have however been shown symbolically in FIG. 4, in number more limited than in reality for facilitating the representation.

line e: saw tooth output of the very low frequency oscillator (frequency f2, period T2),

line f: output of comparator 88 showing the first phase (start-up attempt by allowing conduction of transistor Tp) and the second phase (pause by inhibiting the conduction of each very low frequency start up cycle,

line g: pulses delivered by the freely oscillating high frequency oscillator,

line h: bursts of enabling pulses at the output of the AND gate 58,

line i: diagram of the cyclic variation of the threshold produced by circuit 90 during the start-up cycles: fixed value Vs1 in theory, sudden drop to Vs2 at the beginning of the very low frequency saw tooth, and gradual rise from Vs2 to Vs1, driven by the linear growth of the saw tooth, during the start-up burst.

(b) Operation of the power supply under normal established operating
conditions

The very low frequency oscillator is not operating.

The high frequency oscillator is synchronized by the regulation signals.

The zero return of the high frequency saw tooth, coinciding with the positive pulses of the regulation signals, causes enabling of transistor Tp (no inhbition by the AND gate 58 during normal operating conditions). The negative pulses cause disabling, through the OR gate 64, except if such disabling has been caused:

either by overshooting of the first current threshold value, detected by the comparator 92,

or by the modulator 78 if the time interval between the positive pulse and the negative pulse which immediately follows it is greater than the maximum duration Tmax which is allowed.

FIG. 5 shows the high frequency signals under normal operating conditions,

line j: alternate positive and negative pulses received at the input 40 of the circuit (these are the regulation signals defining the times at the beginning and end of conduction of the power transistor Tp),

line k: shaped pulses at the output 72 of the separation and shaping circuit 74: they correspond to the positive pulses only of the regulation signals,

line l: saw tooth at the output 70 of oscillator 62; the saw tooth is synchronized with the regulation signals in that its zero return coincides with the pulses of line k,

line m: pulses at output 62 of oscillator 64; these pulses are emitted during zero returns of the saw tooth of line l,

line n: output square waves of modulator 78 further defining the maximum conduction time of the power transistor;

line o: pulses from the output 76 of the separation and shaping circuit 74: these pulses correspond to the negative pulses of the regulation signals,

line p: as a reminder, pulses have been shown at the output of comparator 92 in the case where the current in the power transistor exceeds the threshold corresponding to Vs1.

The conduction of transistor Tp, after being enabled by a pulse of line k, is normally stopped by the pulse from line o which immediately follows it, or, more exceptionally by the pulses from line p if the threshold Vs1 is exceeded before the apearance of the pulse of line o, or else, by the square waves of line n if the threshold is not exceeded and if the pulse of line o appears after the beginning of a square wave of line n.

FIG. 6 shows the very low frequency signals at the time of passing over from start-up conditions to normal operating conditions (same scale as FIG. 4).

line q: regulation signals at the input 40; these signals are initially absent and appear at a certain moment,

line r: output of the flip flop 89 indicating the absence then the presence of regulation signals,

line s: very low frequency saw tooth which rises to its high level and does not drop again if the output o the flip flop 89 is at the high level (indicating the presence of regulation signals)

line t: output of the OR gate 100 showing initially a square wave of short duration, delivered by comparator 88 and causing a start-up burst (cf. FIG. 4), then blocking at the high level which prevents subsequent inhibition of the AND gate 58 by the comparator 88.

(c) Safety mode in the case of a malfunction

The safety mode consists in fact in establishing start-up cycles as during switch on.

These cycles are triggered by start up of the very low frequency oscillator 82 when the regulation signals disappear at input 40.

Flip flop 89 returns to an intial state when it no longer receives pulses from the output 72 of the separation and shaping circuit 74. Thus, oscillator 82 will be able to oscillate again and the above described cycles are established.

(d) Serious incident: very high over current

Whatever the operating conditions, normal or start-up, over-currents in transistor Tp are detected by the comparator 92 and cause interruption of the conduction. But if there is for example a short circuit at the output of the power supply, an over-current may occur such that the current continues to increase before the conduction has time to be completely interrupted. In this case, it is provided for the threshold comparator 94 to deliver an order inhibiting the enabling when the current in transistor Tp exceeds a third threshold value which is for example greater by 30% than the first value. This inhibition order is stored by flip flop 96 which switches under the action of the comparator and disables the AND gate 58; flip flop 96 can only come back to its initial state when the integrated circuit, after having partially or totally ceased to be supplied with power, is again normally supplied. For example, the power supply must be switched off and switched on again to allow pulses to pass again for enabling the transistor Tp.

To finish this description, there has been shown in FIG. 7 one example of the circuit 90 which produces a variable threshold for the comparator 92: the very low frequency saw tooth deliveredy by the oscillator is applied to a voltage/current converter 102 which produces a saw tooth current increasing from 0 to a maximum value.

This current is applied to a series assembly of a voltage source 104 (value Vs2) and a resistor 106. A voltage clipper, represented by a Zener diode 108 (value of the conduction threshold: Vs1) is connected in parallel across the assembly 104, 106. The junction point between the output of the converter 102, resistor 106 and the voltage clipper 108 forms the output of circuit 90 and is connected to the input of comparator 92. Thus, when the saw tooth returns to zero, the output voltage of circuit 90 is Vs2. Then it increases as the current in the resistor 106 increases (linearly). When the voltage at the terminals of resistor 106 reaches and exceeds the value Vs1-Vs2, the voltage clipper conducts and diverts the current surplus so that the output voltage remains limited to Vs1.

 

 

 

  THOMSON  TEA2162 / TEA2164 / TEA2165  WORKING OF CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A CHOPPED POWER SUPPLY WITH PROGRESSIVE START UP :

A chopped power supply control circuit is provided intended to receive regulation control signals and to produce square waves for enabling a switch. A current comparator measures the current in the switch and opens the switch when the threshold is exceeded. Under normal operating conditions the threshold is fixed. Under start-up conditions of should a malfunction occur a threshold variation circuit causes the threshold to vary gradually from a low value to its normal value. Thus the risk of over-current at start-up is reduced.

Inventors: De Sartre, Jean (Meylan, FR)  ;  Maige, Philippe (Syssinet Pariset, FR) Thomson-csf (Paris, FR)

 1. A chopped power supply control circuit intended to receive regulation control signals and to produce square waves for enabling a mains switch of the power supply, wherein said square waves having a variable width depending on the signals received, said circuit comprising:

a current limiting circuit including a threshold comparator receiving at one input a signal and at another input a threshold signal;

a means for said comparator to generate a signal for disabling the switch when the threshold is exceeded, in order to ensure gradual start-up of the chopped power supply at the beginning of its operation and in the case of a disturbance of operation;

a means for establishing a variable threshold signals in response to circuit means which

establish a first fixed threshold value under normal established operating conditions,

establish periodically a threshold variation cycle in the opposite case, this cycle comprising

means to cause the threshold to pass to a second value at a time representing the beginning of a periodic threshold variation cycle, the second threshold value corresponding to a lower current in the switch,

means to bring the threshold gradually back from the second value to the first in a first part of the threshold variation cycle,

means for maintaining the threshold at the first value until the end of the current cycle,

means to begin a second start-up cycle again at the end of the current cycle if regulation control signals are still not received at the end of the first cycle,

means for stopping the establishment of threshold variation cycles when regulation control signals are received.


2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first part of each periodic cycle corresponds to a short time compared with the period of the cycle and a long time compared with the switching period of the chopped power supply.

3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a very low frequency oscillator is provided for defining the periodic two phase threshold variation cycles, said oscillator being inhibited by the reception of appropriate regulation control signals.

4. The control circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said very low frequency oscillator is a relaxation oscillator delivering a saw tooth signal driving the threshold establishment means for establishing:

a sudden variation of the threshold at the time of the zero return of the saw tooth,

a slow linear increase of the threshold at the beginning of the saw tooth.


5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein a high frequency oscillator is provided producing chopping signals palliating the absence of regulation signals for the production of square waves enabling the switch and an inhibition means for allowing transmission of these signals only during the first phase of each periodic cycle.

6. The control circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said high frequency oscillator has a free oscillation period slightly greater than the period of the regulation control signals and it is synchronized by these signals when they are received.

7. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second threshold comparator is provided for receiving a signal representative of the current in the switch and delivering a signal completely inhibiting enabling of the switch in the case where the current in the switch exceeds a third threshold value greater than the first value, the signal only ceasing when the circuit, after having partially or totally ceased to be supplied with power, is again normally supplied.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stabilized power supplies called chopped supplies.

A chopped power supply operates in the following way: a primary transfer winding receives a current which is for example delivered by a rectifier bridge receiving the power of the AC mains. The current in the transformer is chopped by a switch (for example a power transistor) placed in series with the primary winding.

A circuit for controlling the transistor produces periodic square waves for enabling the transistor. A current is allowed to pass for the duration of the square waves; outside the square wave, the current cannot pass.

On one (or more) secondary windings of the transformer, an AC voltage is collected. This is rectified and filtered so as to obtain a DC voltage which is the output DC voltage of the chopped power supply.

For stabilizing the value of this DC voltage, the cyclic period conduction ratio of the switch is adjusted, that is to say the ratio between the duration of conduction and the duration of non conduction in a chopping period.

In chopped power supply architecture proposed by the applicant and shown in FIG. 1, two integrated circuits are used. One of the circuits CI1, serves for controlling the base of a power transistor Tp for applying thereto periodic enabling and disabling control signals. The base control circuit CI1 is placed on the primary winding side (EP) of the transformer (TA) for reasons which will be better understood in the rest of the description. The other integrated circuit, regulation circuit CI2, is on the contrary placed on the secondary side (winding ES1) and it serves for examining the output voltage Vs of the power supply for forming regulation signals which it transmits to the first integrated circuit through a small transformer TX. The first integrated circuit CI1 uses these regulation signals for modifying the cyclic conduction ratio of the switching transistor Tp and thus regulating the output voltage Vs of the power supply.

We will come back further on in more detail to the circuit of FIG. 1.

Numerous problems arise during the design of a chopped power supply, and here we will consider more particularly the problems of starting up the supply and the problems of safety in the case of over voltages or over currents at different points in the circuit.

The first problem which is met with is that of starting up the power supply: at switch on, the regulation circuit CI2 will tend to cause the base control circuit CI1 to generate maximum cyclic ratio square waves until the power supply has reached its nominal output voltage. This is all the more harmful since there is a high current drain on the side of the secondary windings which are connected to initially discharged filtering capacitors. There is a risk of destruction of the power transistor through an overcurrent during the start up phase.

Circuits for gradual start up have already been proposed which limit the duration of the enabling square waves during a start up phase, on switching on the device; the U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,714 describes such a circuit in which charging of a capacitor from switch-on defines initially short square waves of gradually increasing duration until these square waves reach the duration which the regulation circuit normally assigns to them. The short square waves have priority; but, since they become gradually longer during the start up phase, they cease to have priority after a certain time; this time is defined by the charging time constant of the capacitor.

Another problem to be reckoned with is the risk of accidental over-currents, or sometimes over-voltages which may occur in the circuit. These overcurrents and over-voltages may be very detrimental and often result in the destruction of a power transistor if nothing is done to eliminate them. In particular, a short circuit at the output of the stabilized power supply rapidly destroys the power transistor. If this short circuit occurs on switching-on of the supply, it is not the gradual start up system with short and progressively increasing square waves which can efficiently accomodate the over-currents which result from this short circuit.

Finally, another problem particularly important in an architecture such as the one shown in FIG. 1, is the risk of disappearance of the regulation signal which should be emitted by the regulation circuit CI2 and received by the base control circuit CI1: these signals determine not only the width of the square waves enabling the power transistor but also their periodicity; in other words, they serve for establishing the chopping frequency, possibly synchronized from a signal produced on the secondary side of the transformer. The appearance of these signals causes a particular disturbance which must be taken into account.

Furthermore, the architecture shown in FIG. 1, in which the secondary circuits have been voluntarily separated galvanically from the primary circuits, is such that the base control circuit may operate rapidly after switch-on, as will be explained further on, whereas the regulation circuit CI2 can only operate if the chopped power supply is operating; consequently, at the beginning, the base control circuit CI1 does not receive any regulation signals and this difficulty must be taken into account.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To try and overcome as well as possible all these different problems which relate to security against accidental disturbances in the operation of the power supply (the initial start up being more-over considered as a transitory disturbed operating phase), the present invention provides an improved chopped power supply control circuit which provides a function of gradual start-up power supply on switch on and a function of passing to a safety mode in the case of an operating defect such as a disappearance of appropriate regulation signals; the safety mode consists of a succession of periodic cycles at a very low frequency, each cycle consisting of a gradual start-up attempt during a first phase which is short in comparison with the period of the cycle and long compared with the chopping period of the chopped power supply, the first phase being followed by a pause until the end of the cycle, and periodic cycles succeeding each other until normal operation of the power supply is established or re-established; a very low frequency oscillator establishes these cycles when the power supply is not operating under normal conditions (start-up or operating defect); this oscillator is disabled should normal operation be ascertained; a high frequency oscillator generates a burst of chopping signals palliating the absence of regulation signals; these signals are transmitted solely during the first phase of each cycle; they are inhibited during a second phase.

According to a very important characteristic of the invention, the gradual start up operates not by limiting the duration of the square waves from the charging of a capacitor with a fixed time constant, but by limiting the current in the power transistor to a maximum value, this maximum value increasing progressively during the start up phase, over-shooting of this current value causing interruption in the conduction of the power transistor.

Thus, even in the case of a quasi short circuit, the value of the current in the transistor is limited, which was not the case in the gradual start up circuits of the prior art.

More precisely, the chopped power supply control circuit of the invention is intended to receive regulation control signals and to produce square waves for enabling a main switch of the power supply, the square waves having a variable width depending on the signals received, and this circuit comprises a current limiting circuit including a threshold comparator receiving at one input a signal representative of the current flowing through the switch and at another input a threshold signal, the comparator generating a signal for stopping the switch from conducting should over shooting of the threshold occur; furthermore, in order to ensure gradual start-up of the chopped power supply at the beginning of its operation and should this operation be disturbed, the control circuit comprises a means for producing a variable threshold signal for the comparator, this means being adapted for:

establishing a first fixed threshold value under normal operating conditions,

establishing a periodic threshold variation cycle outside normal operating conditions, this cycle consisting in:

causing the threshold to pass suddenly from the first value to a second value, at a time representing the beginning of the cycle, the second value corresponding to a lower current in the switch,

bringing the threshold gradually back from the second value to the first in a first part of the threshold variation cycle,

holding the threshold at the first value until the end of the current cycle,

beginning again a second threshold variation cycle at the end of the current cycle,

stopping the production of threshold variation cycles when normal operating conditions have again been established.

Normal operating conditions will in general be defined by the presence of appropriate regulation signals and by the absence of an over-current in the switch.

The periodic cycle is at very low frequency (for example 1 hz), and the duration of a first part of the cycle is preferably small with respect to the period of the cycle (for example a tenth of this period, followed by a pause during the nine remaining tenths); it is long with respect to the chopping period of the power supply.

In order to provide even more complete safety, a second threshold comparator is preferably provided receiving at one input a signal respresentative of the measurement of the current in the switch and at another input a third threshold value corresponding to a current greater than that of the first threshold value, the comparator delivering a signal for complete inhibition of the switching of the power switch should over-shooting of this third value occur, the inhibition only ceasing when the circuit, after having partially or completely ceased to be supplied with power, is again normally supplied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will be clear from reading the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general chopped power supply diagram using two integrated circuits placed respectively on the primary side and on the secondary side of a transformer,

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the integrated control circuit of the power transistor placed on the primary side,

FIGS. 3 to 6 show timing diagrams of signals at different points on the circuit, and

FIG. 7 shows a detail of a circuit for elaborating a variable threshold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a chopped power supply architecture given by way of example and well illustrating the utility of the invention, the electric mains line has been designated by the reference 10 (mains at 110 to 220 volts, 50 or 60 hertz). This line is connected through a filter 12 to the input of a rectifier bridge 40 whose output is connected on the one hand to a primary electric ground, represented everywhere by a downward pointing black triangle, and on the other hand to one end of the primary winding EP of the power supply transformer TA.

A filtering capacitor 16 is placed in parallel across the outputs of the rectifier bridge 14. The other end of the primary winding is connected to the collector of a switching transistor TP whose emitter is connected to the primary ground through a small current measuring resistor 18.

The transformer has several secondary windings which are preferably isolated galvanically from the mains and connected for example to a secondary electric ground isolated galvanically from the primary ground.

Here, each of the secondary windings has one end connected to the secondary ground. The other end feeds a respective low-pass filtering capacitor through a respective rectifier diode.

We will be concerned in what follows with a single secondary winding ES1, connected by a diode 20 to a capacitor 22. The DC output voltage of the chopped power supply is the voltage Vs at the terminals of the capacitor 22; but of course, other DC output voltages may be obtained at the terminals of the other filtering capacitors connected to the secondary windings. These output voltages form stabilized power supply voltages for user circuits not shown. By way of example, a secondary winding ES2 supplies a stabilized power supply voltage of a few volts for the integrated regulation circuit CI2 already mentioned. It can therefore be seen in this connection that this circuit is not supplied with power and cannot therefore supply signals as long as the chopped power supply is not operating.

The same goes a priori for the integrated circuit CI1 controlling the base of the power transistor TP, which circuit is supplied with a stabilized voltage delivered by a secondary winding ES3, a diode 24 and a capacitor 26 (it will be noted in passing that this winding, although being a secondary winding, is connected to the primary ground and not to the secondary ground, for the very simple reason that the integrated circuit CI1 is necessarily coupled galvanically to the primary).

However, since start up of the chopped power supply must be provided, the power supply terminal 28 of the integrated circuit CI1 is also connected directly to the mains through a high resistor 30 and a diode 32; this is possible since the integrated circuit CI1 is connected to the primary ground; it is not possible for the integrated circuit CI2 which must remain galvanically isolated from the mains. As soon as the chopped power supply is operating normally, the stabilized DC voltage from winding ES3 and diode 24 takes precedence over the voltage coming from the mains and from diode 32; this diode 32 is disabled and the direct supply by the mains only takes place after the initial start up phase.

The role of the integrated circuits CI1 and CI2 will now be described.

The regulation circuit CI2 receives from a divider bridge 34, placed at the terminals of capacitor 22, i.e. at the output of the stabilized power supply, information concerning the value of the voltage to be stabilized Vs.

This information is compared with a reference value and applied to a pulse width modulator which forms periodic square waves of variable width depending on the value of the output voltage Vs: the lower Vs the wider the square waves will be.

The square waves are established at the chopping frequency of the chopped power supply. This frequency is therefore established on the secondary side of the circuit; it is generated either inside the circuit CI2, or outside in a circuit not shown, in the form of a saw tooth voltage at the chosen chopping frequency. This saw tooth voltage is used in a way known per se for providing width modulation.

The variable width square waves, at the chopping frequency, are applied to a primary winding 36 of a small transformer TX whose secondary winding 38, isolated galvanically from the primary, delivers positive and negative pulses at the rising and falling fronts respectively of the variable width square waves.

It is these pulses, whose position and frequency are determined by the regulation circuits CI2, which form regulation signals applied to an input 40 of the base control circuit CI1.

The transformer TX is formed by a few turns wound on a ferrite rod, the turns of the primary and the turns of the secondary being sufficiently spaced apart from each other for complying with standards of galvanic isolation between primary circuits and secondary circuits of the chopped power supply.

The integrated base control circuit CI1 comprises different inputs among which have already been mentioned a power supply input 28 and a regulation signal input 40; a current measuring input 44 is connected to the current measuring resistor 18; an inhibition input for monitoring the magnetization condition of a transformer. Finally, inputs may be provided for connecting elements (resistors, capacities) which should form part of the integrated circuit itself but which for technological reasons (space limitation) or for practical reasons (possibilities of adjustment by the user) are mounted outside.

The integrated circuit CI1 finally comprises an output 46 which is intended to be connected by direct galvanic coupling to the base of the power transistor Tp. This output delivers square waves for enabling and disabling the transistor Tp.

FIG. 2 shows the general architecture of the integrated circuit CI1, limited to the elements which more especially concern the invention.

The output 46 of the circuit is the output of a push-pull amplification stage designated as a whole by the reference 48, this stage comprising preferably two separate amplifiers one of which receives enabling square waves and the other receives disabling signals formed by the inverted enabling signals delayed by a few microseconds. Such amplifiers are now well known.

The enabling signals are provided by a logic flip flop 50 having a set input 52 and a reset input 54. The set input causes enabling of the power transistor. The reset input causes disabling.

The set input 52 receives the pulses which pass through a logic AND gate 58, so that conduction only occurs if several conditions are satisfied simultaneously; one unsatisfied condition, will be sufficient to inhibit enabling of the conduction.

The reset input 54 receives the pulses which pass through a logic OR gate 60, so that stopping of the conduction (after enabling) will occur as soon as a stop signal is present at one of the inputs of this gate.

In the diagram of FIG. 2, the AND gate 58 has three inputs. One of these inputs receives periodic pulses from an output 62 of a high frequency oscillator 64; the other inputs serve for inhibiting the transmission of these pulses.

The oscillator defines the periodicity of the chopping of the power supply (20 kilohertz for example). Under normal operating conditions, the oscillator is synchronized by the regulation signals; under start-up conditions it is self-oscillating at a free frequency defined by the values of a resistor Ro and a capacitor Co external to the integrated circuit CI1 and connected respectively to an access terminal 66 and an access terminal 68. The free frequency fo is generally slightly lower than the normal chopping frequency.

Oscillator 64 is a relaxation oscillator which produces at an output 70 a saw tooth whose return to zero is caused by the appearance of a positive pulse at terminal 40. This is why oscillator 64 is shown with one input connected to an output 72 of a shaping and separation circuit 74 which receives the regulation signals from terminal 40 and shapes them while separating the positive pulses from the negative pulses. The shaping circuit. 74 has two outputs: 72 for the positive pulses, 76 for the negative pulses (the notation positive pulse and negative pulse will be kept for distinguishing the pulses causing conduction and the pulses stopping conduction even if the shaping circuit establishes pulses of the same sign at both its outputs 72 and 76).

The oscillator 64 has two outputs: one output 70 delivering a saw tooth and one output 62 delivering a short pulse during the zero return of the saw tooth.

A pulse width modulator 78 is connected on the one hand to the output 70 of the oscillator and on the other to a reference voltage adjustable by means of a resistor R1 external to the integrated circuit and connected to a terminal 80 giving access to the circuit. Modulator 78 supplies periodic square waves synchronized with the signals of the oscillator, these square waves defining a maximum conduction time Tmax beyond which the power transistor must be disabled in any case for safety's sake. These square waves of modulator 78 are applied to one input of the OR gate 60. The time Tmax is adjustable by means of the external resistor R1.

The elements which have just been described ensure the essential part of the operation under normal conditions of the integrated circuit CI1. The following elements are more specifically provided for controlling the abnormal operation or start-up of the power supply.

A very low frequency oscillator 82 is connected to an external capacitor C2 through an access terminal 86. This external capacitor allows the very low oscillation frequency to be adjusted. The frequency may be 1 hertz for example.

Oscillator 82 is a relaxation oscillator delivering a saw tooth. This saw tooth is applied on the one hand to a threshold comparator 88 which allows periodic square waves to be established synchronized with the very low frequency saw tooth of the oscillator. These square waves have a very short duration compared with the period of the saw tooth; this duration is set by the threshold of the comparator 88; it may for example be 10% of the period; it must be long compared with the free oscillation period of the high frequency oscillator 64 so that a burst of numerous pulses from the high frequency oscillator may be emitted and used during this 10% of this very low frequency period; this burst defines a start-up attempt during the first part of a start-up cycle; it is followed by a pause for the rest of the period, i.e. during the remaining 90%.

The oscillator only serves at start-up; it is inhibited when regulation signals appear at terminal 40 and indicate that the chopped power supply is operating. This is why an inhibition control of this oscillator has been shown connected to the output 72 of the shaping circuit 74 through a flip flop 89. This flip flop changes state under the action of the pulses appearing at output 72. It is brought back to its initial state by the output 62 of oscillator 64 when there are no longer any pulses at output 72.

The saw teeth of the very low frequency oscillator are further fed to a variable threshold elaboration circuit 90 whose purpose is to establish a threshold signal (current or voltage) having a first value Vsl under normal operating conditions, and a cyclically variable threshold between the first value and a second value under start-up conditions. The mode of variation of this threshold will be described further on, but it may already be noted that the variation is driven by the very low frequency saw tooth.

The threshold signal produced by circuit 90 is applied to one input of a comparator 92, another input of which is connected to the terminal 44 already mentioned, for receiving at this input a signal representative of the amplitude of the current flowing through the power switch. The output of comparator 92 is applied to an input of the OR gate 60. It operates then for causing the power transistor Tp to be disabled, after being enabled, disablement occurring as soon as overshooting of the threshold (fixed or variable) defined by circuit 9 has been detected.

Another threshold comparator 94 has one input connected to the current measuring terminal 44 whereas another input receives a signal representing a third threshold value Vs3. The third value Vs3 corresponds to a current in the switch higher than the first value Vsl defined by circuit 90. The output of comparator 94 is connected through a storage flip flop 96 to one input of the AND gate 58 so that, if the current in the power switch exceeds the third threshold value Vs3, transistor Tp is not disabled (such disablement is caused by comparator 92) but the transistor is inhibited from being enabled again. This inhibition lasts until the flip flop 96 is brought back to its initial state corresponding to normal operation.

In theory, such re-setting will only take place when the integrated circuit CI1 has ceased to be normally supplied with power and has again power applied thereto.

For example, re-setting of flip flop 96 takes place through a hysteresis threshold comparator 98 which compares a fraction of the supply voltage Vcc of the circuit (taken from terminal 28) with a reference value and which re-sets the flip flop the first time that Vcc passes above this reference after a drop of Vcc below another reference value lower than the first one (hysteresis). Finally, it should be mentioned that the output of the flip flop 89 (which detects the presence of regulation signals at terminal 40 so normal operation of the power supply), is connected to one input of an OR gate 100 which receives at another input the output of the comparator 88 so that the output of comparator 88 ceases to inhibit the re-enabling of transistor Tp (inhibition during 90% of the very low frequency cycles) as soon as the operation of the power supply has become normal.

OPERATION OF THE BASE CONTROL CIRCUIT

This operation will be described by illustrating it with voltage wave forms within the chopped power supply and within the integrated circuit CI1.

(a) Start-up on switching on

At the beginning the integrated circuit is not at all supplied with power.

The voltage at the power supply terminal 28 increases from 0 to a value Vaa which is not the nominal value Vcc but which is a lower value supplied by diode 32 and resistor 30 (compare FIG. 1) as long as the chopped power supply does not deliver its nominal output voltage Vcc at terminal 28. Vaa is a sufficient voltage for ensuring practically normal operation of all the elements of the circuit CI1. Vaa is also sufficient for reinitializing the flip flop 96 which, from then on, no longer inhibits the enabling of the power transistor Tp.

There are no regulation signals at the input 40. Consequently, the high frequency oscillator oscillates at its free frequency and the very low frequency oscillator also oscillates (it is not inhibited by the flip flop 89 since this latter does not receive any regulation signals from the output 72 of the shaping circuit 74).

The very low frequency oscillator 82 and the comparator 88 define periodic cycles of start-up attempts repeated at very low frequency.

Each cycle comprises a first part defined by the square waves of short duration at the output of the comparator 88, and a second part formed by the end of the very low frequency period; the first part is an effective attempt at start-up. The second part is a pause if the effective attempt has failed. The pause lasts much longer than the effective attempt so as to limit power consumption. During the first part of the cycle, passage of the enabling signals from the high frequency oscillator 64 is allowed through the AND gate 48. Then it is prohibited. Each pulse from the output 62 of the oscillator 64 triggers off the enabling of transistor Tp. There is then a burst of triggering pulses which is emitted for about 10% of the verylow frequency period.

During start up, the current intensities in the transistor tend to be high. It is essentially the comparator 92 which causes interruption of the conduction, after each enabling pulse supplied by oscillator 64, as soon as the current exceeds the threshold imposed by the variable threshold elaboration circuit 90. If the comparator 92 does not trigger off interruption of the conduction, the modulator 78 will do it in any case at the end of the duration Tmax.

The threshold elaboration circuit which supplies the comparator 90 with a first fixed threshold value Vs1 under normal operating conditions (i.e. when the very low frequency oscillator 82 is disabled by the flip flop 89), delivers a variable threshold as a function of the saw tooth of the very low frequency oscillator in the following way:

at the initial time of a start-up attempt cycle (start of the saw tooth or return to zero of the preceding saw tooth), the threshold passes suddenly from the first value Vs1 to a second value Vs2 corresponding to a smaller current than for the first value, then this threshold increases progressively (because driven by the very low frequency saw tooth) from the second value to the first one. The duration of the increase coincides preferably with the duration of a start-up attempt square wave (namely about 10% of the very low frequency period).

Then the threshold stabilizes at the first value Vs1 until the end of the period but, in any case, if the circuit has not started up at that time, the comparator 88 closes gate 58 through the OR gate 100 and inhibits any subsequent enabling of the power transistor for the rest of the very low frequency period (90%). It is in this case the second part of the start up attempt cycle which takes place: a pause during which the pulses of the oscillator 64 are not transmitted through the AND gate 58.

Thus the start up cycles act on two levels: on the one hand a burst of enabling pulses is emitted (10% of the time) then stopped (90% of the time) until the next cycle; on the other hand, during this burst, the current limitation threshold passes progressively from its second relatively low value to its normal higher value.

Consequently, if we observe the peak amplitude of the current in transistor Tp during the start-up bursts, it can be seen that it increases practically linearly from the second value to the first value. Therefore gradual start-up is obtained by a much more efficient action than that which consists simply for example in causing the time Tmax to increase from a low value to a nominal value. If start up is not successful, a new burst of enabling pulses is transmitted during the first part of the next cycle (it will be recalled that this cycle is repeated about once per second and that the burst may last 100 milliseconds).

If start-up is successful, regulation signals appear at terminal 40. These signals are shaped by circuit 74. They cause the very low frequency oscillator 82 to stop through the flip flop 89 which prevents the zero return of the saw tooth. Moreover, flip flop 89 sends through the OR gate 100 a signal for cancelling out the inhibition effect imposed by the comparator 88. Finally, as soon as start-up is successful, the regulation signals synchronize the high frequency oscillator 64.

FIG. 3 illustrates the high frequency signals during the start-up period:

line a: saw tooth at the output 70 of the oscillator 64 (free oscillation at frequency fo, period To),

line b: pulses for enabling the transistor Tp : these pulses coincide with the zero return of the saw tooth signal (output 62 of oscillator 64),

line c: output square waves from modulator 78 defining the maximum cyclic conduction time of the transistor,

line d: pulses delivered by the comparator 92 when the current in the switch exceeds the threshold (gradually increasing during start-up) defined by circuit 90.

Conduction of transistor Tp, after being triggered by a pulse from line b, is stopped either by square waves of line c if the current threshold is not exceeded, or by an output pulse from comparator 92.

FIG. 4 shows the very low frequency signals during the start up cycles. The diagrams are not to the same time scale as in FIG. 3 since it will be recalled that an example of the frequency of the high frequency oscillator 64 is 20 kilohertz whereas an example of the very low frequency of oscillator 82 is 1 hertz. The high frequency pulses have however been shown symbolically in FIG. 4, in a more limited number than in reality for facilitating the representation.

line e: saw tooth output of the very low frequency oscillator (frequency f2, period T2),

line f: output of the comparator 88 representing the first phase (start-up attempt by causing transistor Tp to be enabled) and the second phase (pause through inhibiting such enabling) during each very low frequency start-up cycle,

line g: pulses from the freely oscillating high frequency oscillator,

line h: bursts of enabling pulses at the output of the AND gate 58,

line i: diagram of the cyclic variation of the threshold elaborated by circuit 90 during the start up cycles: fixed value Vs1 in theory, sudden drop to Vs2 at the beginning of the very low frequency saw tooth, and gradual rise of Vs2 to Vs1, driven by the linear growth of the saw tooth, during the start-up burst.

(b) Operation of the power supply under normal established operating conditions

The very low frequency oscillator is not operating.

The high frequency oscillator is synchronized by the regulation signals.

The zero return of the high frequency saw tooth, coinciding with the positive pulse of the regulation signals, causes transistor Tp to be enabled (no inhibition by the AND gate under normal operating conditions). The negative pulses cause disablement, through the OR gate 64, unless such disablement has been caused:

either by an overshoot of the first current threshold value, detected by comparator 92,

or by the modulator 78 if the time interval between the positive pulse and the negative pulse which immediately follows it is greater than the maximum duration Tmax which is permitted.

FIG. 5 shows the high frequency signals under normal operating conditions.

line j: alternate positive and negative pulses received at the input 40 of the circuit (these are the regulation signals defining the times at which the power transistor Tp is enabled and disabled),

line k: shaped pulses at the output 72 of the separation and shaping circuit 74: they correspond to the positive pulses only of the regulation signals,

line l: saw tooth at the output 70 of oscillator 64; the saw tooth is synchronized with the regulation signals n so that its zero return coincides with the pulses of line k,

line m: pulses at the output 62 of oscillator 64; these pulses are emitted during zero returns of the saw tooth of line 1,

line n: output square waves of modulator 78, again defining the maximum duration of conduction of the power transistor,

line o: pulses coming from the output 70 of the separation and shaping circuit 74: these pulses correspond to the negative pulses of the regulation signals,

line p: as a reminder, pulses have been shown at the output of comparator 92 in the case where the current in the power transistor overshoots the threshold corresponding to Vs1.

Transistor Tp after being enabled by a pulse from line k is normally disabled by the pulse from line o which immediately follows it, or, more exceptionally by the pulses from line p if the threshold Vs1 has been exceeded before the appearance of the pulse from line o, or else, by the square waves of line n if the threshold has not been exceeded and if the pulse from line o appears after the beginning of a square wave of line n.

FIG. 6 shows the very low frequency signals at the time of going over from start-up conditions to normal operating conditions (same scale as in FIG. 4).

line q: regulation signals at the input 40; these signals are initially absent and appear at a certain moment,

line r: output of the flip flop 89 indicating the absence or the presence of regulation signals,

line s: very low frequency saw tooth which rises to its high level and does not drop again if the output of the flip flop 89 is at the high level (indicating the presence of regulation signals),

line t: output of the OR gate 100 showing initially a square wave of short duration, coming from comparator 88 and allowing a start-up burst (cf. FIG. 4), then blocking at the high level which prevents subsequent inhibition of the AND gate 58 by the comparator 88.

(c) Safety mode in the case of a malfunction

The safety mode consists in fact in establishing start-up cycles as for switching on.

These cycles are triggered off by starting up the very low frequency oscillator 82 when the regulation signals disappear at input 40.

The flip flop 89 goes back to an initial state when it no longer receives pulses from the output 72 of the separation and shaping circuits 74. Thus oscillator 82 will be able to oscillate again and the above described cycles are established.

(d) Serious malfunction: very high over current.

Whatever the operating conditions, normal or start-up, the over-currents in the transistor Tp are detected by the comparator 92 and cause interruption of the conduction.

But if there is for example a short circuit at the output of the power supply, an over-current may occur such that the current continues to increase before the conduction can be completely interrupted. In this case, it is provided for the threshold comparator 94 to supply an enabling inhibition order when the current in transistor Tp exceeds a third threshold value which is for example higher by 30% than the first value. This inhibition order is stored by the flip flop 96 which switches under the action of the comparator and disables the AND gate 58; the flip flop 96 can only come back to its initial state when the integrated circuit, after having partially or totally ceased to be supplied with power, is again normally supplied with power. For example, the power supply must be switched off and switched on again to again allow the passage of pulses for enabling the transistor Tp.

To finish this description, there has been shown in FIG. 7 an example of circuit 90 which elaborates a variable threshold for the comparator 92: the very low frequency saw tooth delivered by the oscillator is applied to a voltage/current converter 102 which produces a current increasing in saw tooth fashion from zero to a maximum value.

This current is applied to a series assembly of a voltage source 104 (value Vs2) and a resistor 106. A voltage clipper, shown by a Zener diode 108 (value of the conduction threshold: Vs1) is placed in parallel across the assembly 104, 106. The junction point between the output of the converter 102, the resistor 106 and the voltage clipper 108 forms the output of circuit 90 and is connected to the input of comparator 92. Thus, at zero return of the saw tooth, the output voltage of circuit 90 is Vs2. Then it increases as the current in resistor 106 increases (linearly). When the voltage at the terminals of resistor 106 reaches and exceeds the value Vs1-Vs2, the voltage clipper conducts and diverts the current surplus so that the output voltage remains limited to Vs1.

 

 

 

SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) Switch-mode power supply with burst mode standby operation:

In a switch mode power supply, a first switching transistor is coupled to a primary winding of a transformer for generating pulses of a switching current. A secondary winding of the transformer is coupled via a switching diode to a capacitor of a control circuit for developing a control signal in the capacitor. The control signal is applied to a mains coupled chopper second transistor for generating and regulating supply voltages in accordance with pulse width modulation of the control signal. During standby operation, the first and second transistors operate in a burst mode that is repetitive at a frequency of the AC mains supply voltage such as 50 Hz. In the burst mode operation, during intervals in which pulses of the switching current occur, the pulse width and peak amplitude of the switching current pulses progressively increase in accordance with the waveform of the mains supply voltage to provide a soft start operation in the standby mode of operation within each burst group.

Description:

The invention relates to switch-mode power supplies.

In a typical switch mode power supply (SMPS) of a television receiver the AC mains supply voltage is coupled to a bridge rectifier. An unregulated direct current (DC) input supply voltage is produced. A pulse width modulator controls the duty cycle of a chopper transistor switch that applies the unregulated supply voltage across a primary winding of a flyback transformer. A flyback voltage at a frequency that is determined by the modulator is developed at a secondary winding of the transformer and is rectified to produce DC output supply voltages such as a voltage B+ that energizes a horizontal deflection circuit of the television receiver and a voltage that energizes a remote control unit.

During normal operation, the DC output supply voltages are regulated by the pulse width modulator in a negative feedback manner. During standby operation, the SMPS is required to generate the DC output supply voltage that energizes the remote control unit. However, most other stages of the television receiver are inoperative and do not draw supply currents. Consequently, the average value of the duty cycle of the chopper transistor may have to be substantially lower during standby than during normal operation.

Because of, for example, storage time limitation in the chopper transistor, it may not be possible to reduce the length of the conduction interval in a given cycle below a minimum level. Thus, in order to maintain the average value of the duty cycle low, it may be desirable to operate the chopper transistor in an intermittent or burst mode, during standby. During standby, a long dead time interval occurs between consecutively occurring burst mode operation intervals. Only during the burst mode operation interval switching operation occurs in the chopper transistor. The result is that each of the conduction intervals is of a sufficient length.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, burst mode operation intervals are initiated and occur at a rate that is determined by a repetitive signal at the frequency of the AC mains supply voltage. For example, when the mains supply voltage is at 50 Hz, each burst mode operation interval, when switching cycles occur, may last 5 milliseconds and the dead time interval when no switching cycles occur, may last during the remainder portion or 15 milliseconds. Such arrangement that is triggered by a signal at the frequency of the mains supply voltage simplifies the design of the SMPS.

The burst mode operation intervals that occur in standby operation are synchronized to the 50 Hz signal. During each such interval, pulses of current are produced in transformers and inductances of the SMPS. The pulses of current occur in clusters that are repetitive at 50 Hz. The pulses of current occur at a frequency that is equal to the switching frequency of the chopper transistor within each burst mode operation interval. Such qurrent pulses might produce an objectionable sound during power-off or standby operation. The objectionable sound might be produced due to possible parasitic mechanical vibrations as a result of the pulse currents in, for example, the inductances and transformers of the SMPS.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the change in the AC mains supply voltage during each period causes the length of the conduction interval in consecutively occurring switching cycle during the burst mode operation interval to increase progressively. Such operation that occurs during each burst mode operation interval may be referred to as soft start operation. The soft start operation causes, for example, gradual charging of capacitors in the SMPS. Consequently, the parasitic mechanical vibrations are substantially reduced. Also, the frequency of the switching cycles within each burst mode operation interval is maintained above the audible range for further reducing the level of such audible noise during standby operation.

A switch mode power supply, embodying an aspect of the invention, for generating an output supply voltage during both a standby-mode of operation and during a run-mode of operation includes a source of AC mains input supply voltage. A control signal at a given frequency is generated. A switching arrangement energized by the input supply voltage and responsive to the first control signal produces a switching current during both the standby-mode of operation and the run-mode operation. The output supply voltage is generated from the switching current. An arrangement coupled to the switching arrangement and responsive to a standby-mode/run-mode control signal and to a signal at a frequency that is determined by a frequency of the AC mains input supply voltage controls the switching arrangement in a burst mode manner during the standby-mode of operation. During a burst interval, a plurality of switching cycles are performed and during an alternating dead time interval no switching cycles are performed. The two intervals alternate at a frequency that is determined by the frequency of the AC mains input supply voltage.
  TEA2164/TEA2165 EXTENDED OVERLOAD PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR A SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY HAVING CYCLE DETECTOR, MEMORY AND FLIP-FLOP INHIBITION:

 

 A protection device for switch mode power supplies includes a main switch controlled by the output signals of a flip-flop. The flip-flop input receives regulation control signals. A first protection circuit supplies priority signals with respect to the regulation signals on the reset input of the flip-flop. The protection device also includes a cycle detector of the first protection circuit, a memory for accumulating at each cycle a value proportional to the duration between a signal of the detector and the set signal associated with the regulation cycle of the following cycle, and inhibiting of the flip-flop when the memory has accumulated a signal higher than a predetermined threshold.

 

 

Inventors:Maige, Philippe (Syssinet Pariset, FR) Thomson-csf (Paris, FR) 

 

 

 1. A device for protection against long duration overloading in switch mode power supplies comprising a main switch controlled by output signals from a first flip-flop, the set and reset inputs of which receive regulation control signals, a first protection circuit supplying on the reset input priority signals with respect to the regulation signals when the current in the main switch exceeds a predetermined threshold, further comprising a second protection circuit itself comprising:

means for detecting cycles for which the first protection circuit is active and interrupts the on state of the main switch prior to the arrival of the order for the off state of the regulation signal;

memorization means accumulating at each cycle a value proportional to the duration between a signal from the detection means and the set signal associated with the regulation signal of the following cycle; and

inhibition means for inhibiting the set input of the flip-flop when the memorization means has accumulated a signal higher than a predetermined threshold;

wherein the means for detecting includes a second flip-flop, a third flip-flop and an AND gate, the second flip-flop receiving at its reset input the starting output of the regulation signal, the set input of the second flip-flop receiving the output of the AND gate and the output of the second flip-flop controlling the memorization means; the third flip-flop having its set input connected to the reset input of the second flip-flop, the reset input of the third flip-flop connected to the reset regulation signal and the output of the third flip-flop connected to a first input of the AND gate; the second input of the AND gate being connected to the output of the first protection circuit.


2. A device for protection according to claim 1, wherein the memorization means comprise a capacitor permanently discharged by a discharging means and temporarily charged by a charging means only when the detection means supplies a signal.

3. A device for protection according to claim 2, wherein the charge and discharge means are current supplies and the charge current supply is connected to the capacitor through a controlled switch actuated by the output of the second flip-flop of the detection means.

4. A device for protection according to claim 1, wherein the inhibition means comprise a comparator comparing the signal accumulated by the memorization means with a reference value, the output signal of this comparator inhibiting the set input of the first flip-flop when the memorized signal becomes higher than a reference value.

5. A device for protection according to claim 4, wherein the output of said comparator is connected to the set input of a fourth flip-flop of which the output is connected to the set input of the first flip-flop through an AND gate of which the other input receives the sginal for triggering the regulation signal.

6. A device for protection according to claim 5, wherein the AND gate connected to the validation input of the first flip-flop receives other inhibition signals issuing from other switch mode power circuits, such as automatic starting control circuits.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns stabilized power supplies known as "switch mode power supplies".

A switch mode supply functions in the following manner: a primary transformer winding receives a current that is, for example, issuing from a rectifying bridge receiving power from the alternating power mains. The current in the transformer is chopped by a switch (for example a power transistor) placed in series with the primary winding.

A control circuit of the transistor establishes periodic square pulses to turn on the transistor. During the square pulse period current passage is authorized; outside of this square pulse period current passage is prohibited.

On one (or several) secondary winding(s) of the transformer, an alternating voltage is thus received. This voltage is rectified and filtered in order to produce a direct voltage that is the output direct voltage of the switch mode supply.

In order to stabilize the value of this direct voltage, the duty cycle of the switch is modified, i.e. the ratio between the conduction duration and the blocking duration in a chopped period.

FIG. 1 represents by way of example a switch mode power structure manufactured by the applicant in which two integrated circuits are used. One of the circuits, CI1, acts to control the base of a power switching transistor Tp for applying thereto periodic control signals for putting under conduction and blocking control. This base control circuit CI1 is placed on the side of the primary winding EP of the transformer TA for reasons which will become apparent from the description given herein-below. The other integrated circuit, regulation circuit CI2, is on the contrary placed on the side of the secondary winding ES1 and is used to examine the output voltage Vs of the power supply in order to produce regulation signals that it transmits to the first integrated circuit through a small transformer TX. The first integrated circuit CI1 uses these regulation signals to modify the duty cycle of conduction of the switching transistor Tp and thus of adjusting the output voltage Vs of the power supply.

FIG. 1 shows the line of the public electric distribution mains under reference 10 (local supply circuit or mains at 110 or 220 volts, 50 or 60 hertz). This line is connected through a filter 12 to the input of a rectifying bridge 14, the output of which is connected on the one hand to a primary electric mass, represented throughout by a black triangle pointing downwards, and on the other hand to one end of the primary winding EP of the supply transformer TA.

A filtering capacitor 16 is placed in parallel on the outputs of the rectifying bridge 14. The other end of the primary winding is connected to the collector of the switching transistor Tp, the emitter of which is connected to the primary mass through a small current measuring resistance 18.

The transformer is provided with several secondary windings that are preferably galvanically insulated from the mains and connected for example to a secondary electric mass galvanically insulated from the primary mass.

In the present description, each of the secondary windings has one end connected to the secondary mass. The other end supplies a respective low-pass filtering capacitor through a respective rectifying diode.

Reference in the following description will be made to a single secondary winding ES1, connected by a diode 20 to a capacitor 22. The direct output voltage of the switch mode supply is the voltage Vs at the terminals of the capacitor 22; but it is well understood that other direct output voltages can be obtained at the terminals of the other filtering capacitors connected to the secondary windings. These output voltages constitute stabilized power supplies for utilization circuits (not represented). By way of example, a secondary winding ES2 supplies a stabilized power voltage of several volts for the regulation integrated circuit CI2 to which reference was made herein-above. It is thus checked that the circuit is not powered and therefore cannot supply signals as long as the switching does not function.

The same is true a priori for the base control integrated circuit CI1 of the power transistor Tp, which circuit is powered by a stabilized voltage supplied from a secondary winding ES3, from a diode 24 and from a capacitor 26 (it will be noted that this winding, although being a secondary winding is connected to the primary ground and not to the secondary mass, this for the very simple reason that the integrated circuit CI1 is necessarily galvanically connected to the primary).

However, as it is necessary to ensure starting of the chopped power supply, it has been foreseen that the power terminal 28 of the integrated circuit CI1 is also directly connected to the mains through a high resistance 30 and a diode 32; this is possible since the integrated circuit CI1 is connected to the primary ground; it is not possible for the circuit CI2 which must remain galvanically insulated from the mains. Once the switch mode power supply functions normally, the stabilized direct voltage issuing from the winding ES3 and from the diode 24 has priority over the voltage issuing from the mains and from the diode 32; this diode 32 is blocked and the direct power supply through the mains no longer intervenes after the initial starting phase.

The role of the integrated circuits CI1 and CI2 will now be defined.

The regulation circuit CI2 receives from a divider bridge 34, placed at the terminals of the capacitor 22, i.e. at the output of the stabilized power supply, data as to the value of the voltage to be stabilized Vs.

This data is compared with a desired value and applied to a pulse width modulator that establishes periodic square pulses having variable width in function of the value of the output voltage Vs; the lower is Vs the larger will be the width of the square pulses.

The square pulses are established at the switching frequency of the switch mode supply. This frequency is thus established on the side of the secondary of the circuit; it is generated either inside the circuit CI2, or outside in a circuit (not shown) in the form of a saw-tooth shaped voltage at the selected switching frequency. This saw-tooth voltage is used in a manner known per se to perform the width modulation.

The variable width square pulses, at the switching frequency, are applied to a primary winding 36 of a small transformer TX, the secondary winding, 38, of which is galvanically insulated from the primary, supplies positive and negative pulses to the rising and descending edges, respectively of the variable width square pulses.

It is these position and frequency pulses determined by the regulation circuit CI2, which constitute regulation signals applied to an input 40 of the base control circuit CI1.

The transformer TX is constituted by several coil turns wound on a ferrite rod, the turns of the primary and the turns of the secondary being sufficiently spaced apart from one another to respect the galvanic insulation standards between primary circuits and secondary circuits of the switch mode supply.

The base control integrated circuit CI1 comprises various inputs among which have been mentioned herein-above a power input 28 and a regulation signal input 40; a current measuring input 44 connected to the current measuring resistor 18; and an inhibition input allowing to check the magnetization state of a transformer. Furthermore, inputs can be provided to connect the elements (resistors, capacitors) that should form part of the integrated circuit itself but which for technological reasons (of bulk) or for practical reasons (possibilities of adjustment by the user) are externally mounted.

The integrated circuit CI1 furthermore comprises an output 46 which is intended to be connected by a direct galvanic connection to the base of the power transistor Tp. This output supplies square pulses for bringing the transistor Tp to the on or off state.

FIG. 2 represents partially the general structure of the integrated circuit CI1.

The output 46 of the circuit, intended for the base control of the transistor Tp, is the output of a push-pull amplification stage designated by the reference 48, this stage preferably comprising two separated amplifiers one of which receives square pulses which are inverted and delayed by several microseconds for to producing to the on state. Such amplifiers are well known.

The signals for switching to the on stae are issued from a logic flip-flop 50 having a set input 52 and a reset input 54. The set input triggers the on state of the power transistor. The reset input triggers the off state.

The set input 52(S) receives the pulses that pass through an AND gate 58, so that the triggering of the on state only occurs when several conditions are simultaneously satisfied; if a single condition is not satisfied, this is sufficient to inhibit the triggering of the on state.

The reset input 54(R) receives the pulses which pass through an OR gate 60, so that the interruption of the on state (after triggering of the on state) occurs once a halt signal is present on one of the inputs of this gate.

On the diagram of FIG. 2, the AND gate 58 has three inputs. One of these inputs receives periodic pulses issuing from an output 62 of a high frequency oscillator 64; the other inputs act to inhibit the transmission of these pulses.

The oscillator defines the switching period of the power supply (20 kilohertz for example). In normal operating state the oscillator 64 is synchronized by the regulation signals. In starting state it is self-oscillating at a free frequency defined by the values of a resistor Ro and of a capacitor Co outside the integrated circuit CI1 and respectively connected to an access terminal 66 and an access terminal 68. The free frequency Fo is as a rule slightly lower than the normal switching frequency.

The oscillator 64 is a relaxation oscillator that produces on an output 70 a saw-tooth, the reset to zero of which is set by the appearance of a positive pulse arriving at the terminal 40. This is the reason why the oscillator 64 is represented with an input connected to an output 72 of a separation and shaping circuit 74 that receives the regulation signals from the terminal 40 and shapes them by separating the positive pulses from the negative pulses. The shaping circuit 74 has two outputs: 72 for the positive pulses, 76 for the negative pulses (the notation of positive pulse and negative pulse will be retained in order to distinguish the triggering pulses for the on state and the triggering pulses for the off state even if the shaping circuit establishes pulses of a single sign on its two outputs 72 and 76).

The oscillator 64 has two outputs; an output 70 supplying a saw-tooth signal and an output 62 supplying a short pulse when the saw-tooth is reset to zero.

A pulse width modulator 78 is connected on the one hand to the output 70 of the oscillator and on the other hand to an adjustable reference voltage through a resistor R1 outside the integrated circuit and connected to an access terminal 80 to the circuit. The modulator 78 supplies periodic square pulses synchronized with the oscillator signals, these square pulses defining a maximal duration of the on state Tmax beyond which the off state of the power transistor must be triggered in any case as a matter of security. These square pulses of modulator 78 are applied to an input of the OR gate 60. The duration Tmax is adjustable through the external resistor R1.

The elements that have been described herein-above ensure the essential of the operating at normal condition of the integrated circuit CI1. The following elements are more specifically provided for controlling the anomalous operating or the starting of the power supply.

A very low frequency oscillator 82 is connected to an external capacitor C2 through an access terminal 86. This external capacitor adjusts the very low oscillation frequency. The frequency can be 1 hertz, for example.

The oscillator 82 is a relaxation oscillator supplying a saw-tooth signal which is applied on the one hand to a threshold comparator 88 which establishes periodic square pulses which are synchronized on the saw-tooth at a low frequency of the oscillator. These square pulses have a brief duration compared to the saw-tooth period. This duration is fixed by the threshold of the comparator 88. It can be for example of 10% of the period. It must be long with respect to the free oscillation period of the high frequency oscillator 64 so that a burst of numerous pulses of the high frequency oscillator can be emitted and utilized during this 10% of the period at very low frequency. This burst defines an attempt at starting during the first part of a starting cycle. It is followed by a pause during the remainder of the period, i.e. during the remaining 90% of the period.

The oscillator 82 only functions for the starting. It is inhibited when the regulation signals appear on the terminal 40 and indicate that the switch mode supply is functioning. This is the reason why an inhibition control of this oscillator has been represented, connected to the output 72 of the shaping circuit 74 through a flip-flop 89 which changes its condition under the effect of the pulses appearing at the output 72. It is returned to its initial condition by the output 62 of the oscillator 64 when there are no more pulses on the output 71.

The saw-tooth signals of the oscillator at very low frequency are furthermore transmitted to a circuit 90 for producing a variable threshold whose function is to establish a threshold signal (current or voltage) having a first value Vs1 in normal operating condition, and a cyclically variable threshold between the first value and a second value at starting condition.

The threshold signal established by the circuit 90 is applied to an input of a comparator 92, the other input of which is connected to the terminal 44 already mentioned, in order to receive on this input a signal that is representative of the amplitude of the current flowing through the power switching device. The output of the comparator 92 is applied to an input of the OR gate 60. It thus triggers the off state of the power transistor Tp, after an on state firing, the off state occuring, when exceeding the threshold (fixed or variable) defined by the circuit 90 has been detected.

Another threshold comparator 94 has an input connected to the current measuring terminal 44 while another input receives a signal representing a third threshold value Vs3. The third value Vs3 corresponds to a current in the switch which is higher than the first value vs1 defined by the circuit 90. The output of the comparator 94 is connected through a latch 96 to an input of the AND gate 58 whereby if the current in the power switch exceeds the third threshold value Vs3, an interruption of the on state of the transistor Tp is not triggered (this interruption is triggered by the comparator 92) but an inhibition of any firing of the transistor. This inhibition lasts until the flip-flop 96 is reset to its initial state corresponding to a normal operating.

As a rule, this return will only occur when the integrated circuit CI1 will have ceased to be normally supplied with power and will be again set under voltage. For example, the return of the latch 96 occurs through a hysteresis threshold comparator 98 which compares one fraction of the power supply voltage Vcc of the circuit (drawn off from the terminal 28) with a reference value and which resets the latch during the first passage of Vcc above this reference after a drop of Vcc below another reference value that is lower than the first one (hysteresis).

Moreover, it can be specified that the output of the flip-flop 89 (which detects the presence of regulation signals on the terminal 40 thus the normal operating of the power supply) is connected to an input of an OR gate 100 which receives on another input the output of the comparator 88 so that the output of the comparator 88 ceases to inhibit the firing of the transistor Tp (inhibition during 90% of the very low frequency cycles) once the operating of the power circuit becomes normal.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in the device previously manufactured by the applicant and described in detail herein-above, particular procedures for the starting phases and particular protective procedures in the case of functioning incidents are foreseen.

The present invention aims at further improving the operating safety by detecting operating deficiencies over a longer period of time than was the case with circuits of the prior art. Although the invention presents a novel and distinct contribution with respect to the process of the prior art, the prior device has been described in full detail herein-above in order to render apparent the numerous restrictions which are imposed during production of a novel safety device which must take into account all the possible types of operating foreseen in an already existing circuit without introducing deficiencies or blockages in the normal operating of the circuit in its differnt modes. Consequently, any novel contribution to a complex structure such as that described herein-above requires numerous selections and very numerous attempts between various solutions that could appear a priori as simple must be carried out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention provides a device for protection against extended overloading in switch mode power supplies comprising a main switch controlled by output signals from a flip-flop of which the inputs for setting to 1 and for resetting to zero receive regulation control signals, a first protection circuit supplying on the input for resetting to zero signals which have priority with respect to the regulation signals when the current in the main switch exceeds a predetermined threshold, further comprising a second protection circuit itself comprising:

means for detecting cycles for which the first protection circuit operates and interrupts the on state of the main switch prior to the arrival of the switching off order of the regulation signal;

memorization means accumulating at each cycle a value proportional to the duration between a signal of the detection means and the setting to 1 signal associated to the regulation signal of the following cycle; and

inhibition means for inhibiting the set input of the flip-flop when the memorization means have accumulated a signal higher than a predetermined threshold.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the detection means comprise a second flip-flop, a third flip-flop and an AND gate:

the second flip-flop receiving at its reset input the output for starting the regulation, the set input of this flip-flop receiving the output of the AND gate and the output of this flip-flop controlling the memorization means;

the third flip-flop having its set input connected to the reset input of the second flip-flop, its reset input connected to the reset signal of the regulation signal, and its output connected to a first input of the AND gate,

the second input of the AND gate being connected to the output of the first protection circuit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the memorization means comprise a capacitor permanently discharged by discharging means and temporarily charged by charging means only when the detection circuit supplies a signal.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the inhibition means comprise a comparator comparing the signal accumulated by the memorization means with a reference value, the output signal of this comparator inhibiting the set input of the flip-flop when the memorized signal becomes higher than a reference value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These objects, features and advantages and others of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiment given by way of non-limitative illustration with reference to the appended drawing in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a switch mode power supply according to the prior art and have been described herein-above;

FIG. 3 is a simplified representation of a protection circuit against the overloading of a switch mode power supply according to the prior art;

FIG. 4 illustrates the protection circuit against overloads of long duration according to the present invention for switch mode power supplies; and

FIGS. 5-a to to 5-b are time charts intended to illustrates the functioning of the circuits represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 once again represents in a simplified manner the essential components of the circuit represented in FIG. 2 constituting a protection circuit against the excess currents in the main transistor Tp. The on state in the transistor Tp is normally controlled by a signal available on a terminal 40, resulting from a pulse width modulation circuit which controls a flip-flop 50 through a shaping circuit 74. The flip-flop 50 energizes the base of the power transistor Tp through a preamplification circuit (driver) 48 and an access terminal 46. When the current in the power transistor exceeds a given threshold, the voltage at the terminals of a resistor 18 available at the terminal 44 is compared with a threshold voltage Vs by a comparator 92 and, should this voltage exceed the threshold, the reset input R of the flip-flop 50 is energized through an OR gate 60, the other input of which receives an output signal from the shaping circuit 74.

This protection device effectively protects the switch Tp against a current overloading but does not always allow good protection of the power supply, for example in the case of long duration overloading. In fact, there is no protection against excessive heating of the transformer TA or of the rectifying diodes 20 (cf. FIG. 1) or of other components of the circuit connected to the secondary of the main transformer and it is generally necessary to over-size these components in order to take into account long duration overloadings which could occur as a result, for example, of short-circuiting on the secondary winding.

The invention which will be described herein-below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 concerns a device which, added to the conventional current limitation circuit described herein-above, provokes the total and definitive shut down of the power supply in the case of long duration functioning of the current limitation system. Expensive over-sizing of certain components is thus avoided and the operating safety of the power supply is as a whole increased.

The restarting of the power supply can be obtained by the momentary setting out of voltage of the system or at least of the device concerned.

As represented on FIG. 4, the present invention comprises a circuit 100 for detecting the operating of an overload circuit, comprising flip-flops FF2 and FF3 and an AND gate 101, and a circuit 102 for memorization and inhibition of the switch mode power supply. The circuit 102 operates the above described base current control flip-flop 50 through an AND gate 58.

The memorization and inhibition circuit 102 comprises a capacitor 103, a discharge system constituted by a current supply 104 functioning permanently, a system for charging this capacitor constituted by a current supply 105 controlled in all or nothing by a switch 107 receiving the output of the detection circuit 100. When the detection circuit 100 indicates that the current limitation circuit in the power switch Tp does not function, only the discharge system 104 functions and the capacitor 103 remains discharged. When the current limitation system 100 is energized, the charge system (current supply 105) is activated. The ratio between the discharge current and the charge current is selected so that overall the capacitor 103 is charged. When the voltage at the terminals of the capacitor reaches a determined value, fixed by a comparator 106, a flip-flop FF4 is triggered which definitively inhibits the on state of the switch Tp.

In the circuit 100 for detecting the functioning of the current limitation circuit, the flip-flop FF2 has its reset input R2 connected to the output 72 of the form shaping circuit 74, its set input S2 connected to the output of the AND gate 101 and its output Q2 connected to the control terminal of the switch 107 of the circuit 102. The second flip-flop FF3 has its set input S3 connected to the output 72 of the shaping circuit 74, its reset input R3 connected to the output 76 of this shaping circuit and its output Q3 connected to a first input of the AND gate 101 of which the other input is connected to the output of the comparator 92 detecting the excess currents in the power transistor Tp.

FIG. 5 indicates a time chart of the signals appearing in different points of the circuit in four particular operating cases. In FIG. 5

the line a indicates the signals present at the terminal 40 or more exactly the control signals from which result the signals at the terminal 40 following the action of the insulating transformer TX (cf. FIG. 1). Those signals correspond to more or less long square pulses according to the error signal detected;

the line b indicates the signal present at the output 76 of the shaping circuit 74, normally provoking the setting to 1 of the flip-flop 50;

the line c indicates the signal at the output 76 of the shaping circuit 74, normally controlling the reset of the flip-flop 50;

the line d indicates the signal at the output Q2 of the flip-flop FF2 controlling the switch 107;

the line e indicates the signal Q3 at the output of the flip-flop FF3;

the line f indicates the signal at the input R of the flip-flop 50, i.e. the signal at the output of the OR gate 60. This signal corresponds to the rising edge of the pulse at the output 76 of the shaping circuit 74 or at the output of the comparator 92;

the line g indicates the current in the power transistor that corresponds to the signal present on the input 44 of the comparator 92;

the line h indicates the signal at the output of the comparator.

The operating of this circuit in four possible functioning modes will now be studied.

1. Normal operating without overloading

No signal is supplied to the output of the comparator 92 and it is the outputs 72 and 76 (signals of lines b and c) that control the inputs S and R of the flip-flop 50. The circuit 102 not receiving any output signal from the circuit 100 supplies to the output Q4 of the flip-flop FF4 a high level signal and the AND gate 58 is validated thereby allowing the output signal 72 of the shaping circuit 74 to reach the input S of the flip-flop 50.

2. Functioning in lower overloading limit

As shown by line g of FIG. 5, it concerns the case where the reset pulse of the flip-flop 50 tends to bring the switch Tp at the off state prior to an overloading detection (current in Tp higher than I Max) occuring, but where an overloading occurs between the off state order and the effective off state of the power transistor. This delay is due to the blocking period or storing time ts of the switch which is not nil in particular in the case where a high voltage bipolar transistor is utilized. The current limitation comparator 92 is thus energized. However, the output signal of the comparator 92 does not reach the flip-flop FF2 to supply an output signal Q2 since the flip-flop FF3 has been previously reset by the signal 76 and blocks the AND gate 101. the flip-flop FF2 thus remains at zero and as in the preceding case, the circuit 102 is not energized and the regulation circuit continues to operate normally. It would in fact be inconvenient to shut down the operating of the chopping power supply in this particular case.

3. Operating in moderate overloading

As in the previous case, it is the output signal 72 of the shaping circuit 74 that provokes the bringing to the on state of the power transistor but, as shown by line g, the overload level of the power transistor Tp is reached prior to the normal off state signal of the transistor (line c) occuring. In this case, the comparator 92 supplies a signal which is transmitted through AND gate 101 enabled by the flip-flop FF3 to the flip-flop Q2 which is set to 1. The switch 107 of the memorization and inhibition circuit 102 is thus closed and the charge process of the capacitor 103 begins.

It will be noted that the signal Q2 (line d) remains at high level until the triggering pulse of the following cycle (bringing of the output 72 at high level). Therefore, the earlier overloading arrives in the cycle, the more the signal Q2 is present during a long period. After several functioning cycles, the voltage accumulated on the capacitor 103 will be higher than the reference voltage VRef applied to the second terminal of the comparator 106. Subsequently, the flip-flop FF4 supplies a signal at low level to its output Q4 and the AND gate 58 invalidates the input S of the flip-flop 50. This occurs only if the overloading lasts over a certain number of cycles. Thus, the functioning of the switch mode power supply is definitively brought to the off state indicating an operating failure of the device, for example a short-circuiting of a secondary winding of the transformer TA (cf. FIG. 1). To start up again the switch mode power supply, it is necessary to apply a new signal to the input R4 of the flip-flop FF4. This input can for example be connected to an initialization device when the whole of the switch mode power supply is powered.

4. Operating under strong overloading

This operating mode is illustrated on the right side of FIG. 5. It is as a whole identical to the case of a moderate overloading but it has been represented only to show the elongation of the pulses Q2 when the overloading occurs very early in an operating cycle of the switch mode power supply.

The various advantages of the present invention thus become apparent. On the one hand; the operating delay time is easily programmable by means of a single component, for example the value of the capacity of the capacitor 103. On the other hand, automatically, due to the elongation of the pulse Q2 when the overloading occurs early in a cycle, the action delay is modulated in function of the intensity of the overloading. Therefore, the greater is the overloading, the shorter is the operating delay time.

Another advantage lies in the perfect simultaneity of the triggering of the timing of the device according to the invention and of the operating of the conventional limitation of the current as described in the description of the prior art. This results in very good operating security. The risk of spurious triggering of the device close to the lower current limit is thus prevented.

On the other hand, as has been seen, the device according to the invention operates well with a power switch constituted by a bipolar transistor in which the storage time is relatively long, but this circuit is perfectly adaptable to a switch of which the off state delay tends towards zero such as a MOS power transistor.

Similarly, accordng to another advantage of the invention, this circuit is perfectly compatible with the other protection and starting assistance circuits which utilized the circuits according to the prior art. Indeed, it will be noted that the components of the circuit according to the invention are perfectly compatible with the components of the current limitation circuit described herein-above. Furthermore, the AND gate 58 that has the circuit at the off state when it is not operating bears the same reference as the AND gate 58 described in relation with FIG. 2. In fact, it can be the same gate comprising simply a supplementary input. Herein lies another advantage of the invention, i.e. it is perfectly compatible with the automatic starting circuit described in relation with FIGS. 1 and 2. In this automatic starting mode, which may be called burst mode, it is also desired to be able to detect and stop the power supply in the case of overloading. However, as mentioned herein-above in the initial burst method, the circuit operates only with a duty cycle of about 10%. In this case, the capacitor 103 risks to be insufficiently charged during this brief action period and to discharge during the 90% of non-operating. To overcome this, it is foreseen according to the present invention to inhibit the discharging of the capacitor 103 by providing a controlled switch (not represented) in series with the discharge current supply 104 and energized by a signal indicative of the fact that operating is taking place in the burst mode. Therefore, in the case of overloading in the burst method, the capacitor is charged a little at each burst and retains its voltage between the bursts. It is therefore possible to reach the voltage VRef after a certain number of burst. 

SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) Switched vertical deflection circuit with bidirectional power supply:
A switched vertical deflection circuit derives vertical deflection current from horizontal deflection energy. A single switching element operates during both horizontal trace and retrace intervals. Conduction of the switching element is controlled by a vertical control circuit to provide the desired vertical deflection current. Feedback to the control circuit is referenced to ground potential to eliminate nonlinearity caused by voltage supply variations. The vertical circuit voltage supply is adapted to sink as well as supply current, thereby stabilizing the supply.



1. A field deflection circuit for a video display apparatus, comprising:
a source of voltage;
a field deflection winding coupled to said source of voltage;
energy storage means coupled to said field deflection winding for providing field deflection current in said field deflection winding;
a source of line deflection rate energy incorporating a switching transistor;
means for applying a predetermined amount of said line deflection rate energy from said line deflection rate energy source to said energy storage means during a first portion of each line deflection interval and for removing a predetermined amount of energy from said energy storage means during a second portion of each line deflection interval; and
unidirectional current control means for completing a current path from said field deflection winding to a source of reference potential during a portion of a field deflection interval in response to switching of said transistor, said current path including said switching transistor.


2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said means for applying and removing line rate energy comprises a field effect transistor and an antiparallel diode.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1, wherein said unidirectional current control means comprises a diode.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 1, wherein said source of voltage comprises a transformer winding and a capacitor and wherein said source of line deflection rate energy comprises a diode for providing damper action for said source of line deflection rate energy.

5. A field deflection circuit for a video display apparatus, comprising:
a source of direct voltage;
a field deflection winding coupled to said source of direct voltage;
energy storage means coupled to said field deflection winding for providing field deflection current in said field deflection winding;
a source of line deflection rate energy;
means for applying a predetermined amount of said line deflection rate energy from said line deflection rate energy source to said energy storage means during a first portion of each line deflection interval and for removing a predetermined amount of energy from said energy storage means during a second portion of each line deflection interval; and
first and second unidirectional current control means coupled to said source of direct voltage for clamping the level of said direct voltage within a predetermined range independent of said field deflection current.


6. A field deflection circuit for a video display apparatus, comprising:
a source of voltage;
a field deflection winding coupled to said source of voltage;
energy storage means coupled to said field deflection winding for providing field deflection current in said field deflection winding;
a source of line deflection rate energy;
means for applying a predetermined amount of said line deflection rate energy from said line deflection rate energy source to said energy storage means during a first portion of each line deflection interval and for removing a predetermined amount of energy from said energy storage means during a second portion of each line deflection interval; and
first unidirectional current control means for completing a current path from said source of voltage to said field deflection winding for supplying current to said field deflection winding and second unidirectional current control means for completing a current path from said field deflection winding to said source of voltage for sinking current from said field deflection winding.


7. A field deflection circuit for a video display apparatus, comprising:
a source of direct voltage;
a capacitor;
a field deflection winding coupled to said source of direct voltage and to said capacitor;
energy storage means coupled to said field deflection winding for providing field deflection current in said field deflection winding, said deflection current generating an ac ripple component on said capacitor;
a source of line deflection rate energy;
means for applying a predetermined amount of said line deflection rate energy from said line deflection rate energy source to said energy storage means during a first portion of each line deflection interval and for removing a predetermined amount of energy from said energy storage means during a second portion of each line deflection interval; and
unidirectional current control means coupled to said source of direct voltage for reducing the magnitude of said ac ripple component.

Description:

This invention relates to deflection circuits for television receivers and, in particular, to vertical deflection circuits which derive power from horizontal deflection energy.
Synchronous switched vertical deflection circuits operate by storing a portion of the horizontal trace or retrace energy each horizontal deflection cycle. This energy is applied to the vertical deflection winding in order to provide the desired vertical deflection current in the deflection windings. The amount of horizontal rate energy that is stored each horizontal interval is carefully controlled in order to provide the correct amount of vertical deflection current.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,544 discloses a switched vertical deflection circuit in which a pair of SCRs are selectively rendered conductive in order to permit portions of positive and negative polarity horizontal retrace pulses to charge a capacitor. The capacitor is connected to the vertical deflection windings and discharges through the winding to provide the desired vertical deflection current. The gating signals for the SCRs are provided by pulse width modulating circuits.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art circuit which utilizes a single switch comprising a thyristor and diode combination, such as an ITR, and a single storage coil L _s to effect horizontal-rate charge and discharge of a storage capacitor C _y which supplies vertical deflection current. In the circuit shown in FIG. 1, the supply capacitor 15 charges through the vertical deflection winding V _y . This causes a large amount of vertical parabola voltage to be superimposed on the 23 volt supply. This may disrupt the operation of other receiver circuits operating from the 23 volt supply. Also, if a circuit malfunction should cause the thyristor to fail to turn on, capacitor 15 will charge via the ITR diode to a level greater than the 23 volt power supply, which may damage the vertical control circuit or other receiver circuits. This requires the use of a protection circuit 16 to disable the receiver if the level of the 23 volt supply increases.
The present invention is directed to a switched vertical deflection circuit that advantageously incorporates only one switching element yet provides more economy and greater reliability as compared to the single element switched vertical deflection circuit of FIG. 1.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a vertical deflection circuit for a video display apparatus comprises a vertical deflection winding and a capacitor connected to the vertical deflection winding for providing vertical deflection current to the winding. A source of horizontal deflection rate energy incorporates a switching transistor. A switch applies a predetermined amount of horizontal rate energy to the capacitor during a first portion of each horizontal deflection interval and removes a predetermined amount of energy from the capacitor during a second portion of each horizontal deflection interval. Unidirectional current control means completes a current path from the vertical deflection winding to a source of reference potential by way of the transistor in response to switching of the transistor.
In the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1 is a schematic and block diagram of a switched vertical deflection circuit of the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a schematic and block diagram of a switched vertical deflection circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate waveforms associated with the circuit of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a practical embodiment of the switched vertical deflection circuit of the present invention.
The prior art switched vertical deflection circuit shown in FIG. 1 incorporates a single switching element, such as an ITR, which has its conduction controlled by a vertical control circuit 10. During the horizontal retrace interval, current flows from ground, through the diode of the ITR, winding 11 of a high voltage transformer 12, storage coil L _s and charges capacitor C _y . The charge on capacitor C _y then causes a deflection current to flow from C _y through the vertical deflection winding V _Y and the sampling resistor R _s . The voltage developed across sampling resistor R _s is sensed by vertical control circuit 10 which in turn controls the conduction of the SCR element of the ITR.
The SCR is conductive during a portion of the horizontal trace interval. During conduction of the SCR, current flows from the +23 volt supply through deflection winding V _y , coil L _s , winding 11 and the SCR to ground. Controlling the conduction of the SCR by shifting the occurrence of the SCR trigger pulses during the horizontal trace interval provides the desired sawtooth vertical deflection current in deflection winding V _y .
In the prior art circuit of FIG. 1 the voltage across sampling resistor R _s is determined by the deflection winding voltage and the level of the +23 volt supply. The +23 volt supply is generated via a winding 17 of a high voltage transformer 12. Load variations of other receiver circuits may cause variations or modulation of the +23 volt supply via the flyback transformer 12. This may in turn alter the voltage developed across sampling resistor R _s , causing nonlinearity distortion in the vertical deflection current. A possible solution would require a common mode rejection input circuit for the feedback input 13 and power input 14 of the vertical control circuit 10, which would compensate for variations in the +23 volt supply level.
Vertical parabola voltage (ripple) developed across the storage capacitor 15 may be superimposed on the +23 volt supply, thereby disrupting the operation of other circuits connected to this supply. Also, in the prior art circuit of FIG. 1, failure of the SCR to trigger causes capacitor 15 to charge to a level much higher than the +23 volt supply via the diode of the SCR. This increased voltage may damage the vertical control circuit or other receiver circuits, thereby necessitating protection circuit 16, which illustratively disables the receiver if the voltage across capacitor 15 increases beyond a predetermined level.
FIG. 2 illustrates a power supply and vertical or field deflection circuit in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. A vertical control circuit 20 provides width modulated horizontal or line rate switching signals to a switching element 21, illustratively shown as comprising a Darlington transistor 18 and an integrated antiparallel diode 19. Transistor 18 may comprise a power field effect transistor which is advantageous when multiple horizontal rate deflection circuits are provided, such as are used with computer monitor or video display terminals. Switching element 21 is coupled via a winding 23 of high voltage transformer 24 and storage coil 25 to a capacitor 26. Capacitor 26 is coupled to one terminal of a vertical deflection winding 27. The other terminal of vertical deflection winding 27 is coupled to a voltage supply designated +V ₁ . The +V ₁ supply is generated via a winding 30 of transformer 24, rectifying diode 31 and filter capacitor 32. The +V ₁ supply may also be used to power other receiver circuits.
A horizontal output transistor 33 is switched at the horizontal deflection rate by signals applied to its base from horizontal oscillator and driver circuits 34. The collector of transistor 33 is coupled to a voltage supply designated +V ₂ via a winding 35 of transformer 24. Transistor 33 is also coupled to a horizontal deflection winding 36, an S-shaping capacitor 38, and a resonant retrace capacitor 37. A diode 40 is coupled in series with diode 31 between winding 30 and the collector of transistor 33.
During the horizontal retrace interval, transistor 33 is cut off by horizontal oscillator and driver circuit 34, causing a resonant retrace pulse to be formed across winding 35, as shown in FIG. 3A. This in turn causes a similar pulse to be formed across windings 30 and 23. With transistor 18 of switching element 21 turned off by vertical control circuit 20, a horizontal rate current will circulate from winding 23 through energy storage coil 25, capacitor 26 and diode 19 back to winding 23. As a result, capacitor 26 charges to a level greater than the +V ₁ level, causing a negative deflection current component of i ₂₇ to flow through winding 27 and resistor 22. When transistor 18 is rendered conductive by signals from vertical control circuit 20, shown in FIG. 3B, a horizontal rate current component circulates from winding 23 through transistor 18, capacitor 26 and energy storage coil 25. As a result, a positive current component of i ₂₇ flows from the +V ₁ source through winding 27 and resistor 22 to ground. The deflection current i ₂₇ is shown in FIG. 4C. The current through winding 23 and switching element 21 is shown in FIG. 3C at the horizontal deflection rate and in FIG. 4A at the vertical deflection rate. The positive current represents current flow through transistor 18, while the negative current represents current flow through diode 19.
Conductor 28, carrying drive signals for transistor 18, and feedback conductor 29 are of high impedance, as is deflection winding 27, so that horizontal rate current circulates only through winding 23, coil 25, capacitor 26 and switching element 21. Deflection winding 27 represents too high an impedance for horizontal rate currents. The horizontal rate current loop is controlled by vertical control circuit 20 and forms a variable voltage battery having terminals across capacitor 26. The horizontal rate voltage across capacitor 26 is such that the desired vertical deflection current i ₂₇ passes through capacitor 32, deflection winding 27, the circulating horizontal rate current loop and sampling resistor 22. The horizontal rate components are integrated by the large inductance of winding 27. It can be further seen that the current through resistor 22 is equal to the deflection current i ₂₇ . The voltage developed across resistor 22 is proportional to i ₂₇ , the vertical deflection current.
FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the dynamic operation of the circuit. The switching of Darlington transistor 18 is controlled by width modulated base drive current pulses shown in FIG. 3B. The turn-on time is modulated between times t ₁ and t ₃ . The turn-off time is common at time t ₄ , the end of the horizontal trace interval. Turn-off of transistor 18 is not only provided by the base drive signal but also by the inverting retrace voltage across winding 23. At the beginning of the vertical trace interval at the top of the screen, transistor 18 is rendered conductive between times t ₃ and t ₄ . The positive portion of current i ₂₃ is much smaller than the negative one resulting in a positive voltage across capacitor 26, as shown in FIG. 3D and in a negative deflection current i ₂₇ , as shown in FIG. 4C. Vertical control circuit 20 advances the turn-on time of transistor 18. At time t ₂ , the center of the vertical trace interval, the positive and negative portions of i ₂₃ are equal, the voltage across capacitor 26 equals +V ₁ , and the deflection current i ₂₇ is zero. A further advance of the turn-on time of transistor 18 toward t ₁ , near the bottom of the screen, results in increasing positive portions and decreasing negative portions of current i ₂₃ . The voltage across capacitor 26 decreases and deflection current i ₂₇ increases in a positive direction. During the vertical retrace interval, transistor 18 is cut off. Deflection winding 27 and capacitor 26 resonate for one half cycle via resistor 22 and capacitor 32. This produces a large vertical retrace voltage pulse, as shown in FIG. 4B, and reverses the deflection current i ₂₇ . At the beginning of the vertical trace interval, the voltage across capacitor 26 and the deflection current i ₂₇ are of the proper magnitude and polarity and must only be maintained by current i ₂₃ . The amplitude of the positive current component of i ₂₃ through transistor 18 also modulates the negative current component of i ₂₃ through diode 19. This occurs because the di/dt of current i ₂₃ during the interval t ₄ - t ₅ is determined by the storage coil 25. Therefore, a high transistor current causes a low diode current (bottom) and conversely a low transistor current permits a high diode current (top).
At the beginning of the vertical trace interval, transistor 18 is conductive for only a short period of time, so that the voltage across capacitor 26, shown at the horizontal deflection rate in FIG. 3D and at the vertical deflection rate in FIG. 4B, will be of such a polarity that deflection current, shown in FIG. 4C, flows from capacitor 26 through deflection winding 27 in the +V ₁ supply. The vertical rate current path is completed through capacitor 32. The additional charge on capacitor 32 from deflection current i ₂₇ is fed back to the high voltage transformer 24 via winding 30 and diode 40. Diode 40 is rendered conductive by horizontal output transistor 33. Diodes 31 and 40 act also as damper diodes for the horizontal deflection output circuit. The presence of diode 40 therefore allows the +V ₁ supply to sink current, thereby eliminating the need for a protection circuit as shown in the prior art arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1. The level of the +V ₁ supply is clamped bidirectionally by diodes 40 and 31 to the horizontal trace voltage across winding 30, thereby stabilizing the +V 1 supply. This arrangement also reduces the amount of voltage ripple that appears across capacitor 32, as shown in FIG. 4D. The current flow in winding 30 is shown at the horizontal and vertical deflection rates in FIGS. 3E and 4E, respectively. The positive current represents current flow in diode 31 while the negative current represents current flow in diode 40. The unequal current amplitudes occur because of other load circuits coupled to the +V ₁ supply. The presence of these load circuits increases current through diode 31 and decreases current through diode 40.
As previously described and as shown in FIG. 3B, at the beginning of the vertical trace interval transistor 18 is conductive for only a short time. This results in capacitor 26 being charged above the level of the +V ₁ supply, as shown in FIG. 4B, causing deflection current to flow from capacitor 26 through vertical deflection winding 27 to the +V ₁ supply. During the vertical trace interval, vertical control circuit 20 progressively advances the conduction of transistor 18 each horizontal trace interval, as shown in FIG. 3B, so that transistor 18 conducts for a progressively greater length of time. This causes the net charge on capacitor 26 to progressively decrease through the vertical trace interval, thereby resulting in the desired vertical deflection current through winding 27, as shown in FIG. 4C.
The voltage developed across deflection current sampling resistor 22, as shown in FIG. 4F, is produced by deflection current i ₂₇ and provides feedback to vertical control circuit 20. This feedback provides information to vertical control circuit 20 to enable the driving of transistor 18 into conduction at the appropriate time each horizontal interval to generate the desired vertical deflection current. The feedback resistor 22 is referenced to ground potential so that supply loading variations by other receiver circuits will not adversely affect the feedback voltage. A common mode rejection circuit in vertical control circuit 20 is therefore not required. This reduces the cost and simplifies the construction of vertical control circuit 20.





FIG. 5 illustrates a particular embodiment of a power supply and switched vertical deflection circuit in accordance with the present invention, illustratively for use with a kinescope having a 110° deflection angle. Components corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are designated with the same reference numerals. Representative component values are also given. A CA339 quad comparator is used as the basis for the vertical control circuit, which operates in the following manner. Resistor 50, along with capacitors 51 and 52, and emitter follower transistor 53 form a conventional vertical sawtooth generator. Comparators 54 and 55, incorporated within integrated circuit 56, combine with the sawtooth generator to form a vertical rate oscillator. During the vertical trace interval, capacitors 51 and 52 are charged positively via resistor 50 until the emitter voltage of transistor 53 applied to pin 8 of integrated circuit 56 reaches the voltage present at pin 9. When this occurs, comparator 54 switches low and causes the voltage levels at pin 9 and pin 11 to go low. Comparator 55 then switches low and discharges capacitors 51 and 52 to the low voltage level at pin 9. The output collectors of comparators 54 and 55 then open and a new charge (trace) cycle begins. Hold control resistor 60 determines the high voltage level at pin 9 and therefore determines the length of the charge cycle. Vertical sync pulses are integrated by capacitor 61 and differentiated by capacitor 62. The positive transient of the processed vertical sync pulse sits on the vertical ramp and switches comparators 54 and 55 prior to switching by the emitter voltage of transistor 53.
Comparator 63 serves as a vertical blanking pulse generator. During the vertical trace interval the voltage across capacitor 64 at pin 4 is higher than the voltage at pin 5 because of the voltage drop across resistor 65. Switching of comparator 54 discharges capacitor 64, causing comparator 63 to open. Comparator 63 remains open until capacitor 64 becomes charged to a voltage level higher than the voltage at pin 5. Blanking time is adjustable by varying the value of capacitor 64. Comparator 66 serves as a pulse width modulator. The vertical sawtooth ramp is fed via the height control resistor 67, coupling capacitor 70 and resistor 71 to pin 7 of comparator 66. Resistors 72 and 73 determine the dc bias on pin 7. Resistor 71 determines the amplitude of the vertical ramp voltage applied to pin 7. Capacitor 70 provides the deflection current S-shaping at the beginning of vertical trace.
Horizontal retrace pulses via resistor 74 charge capacitor 75 to obtain a horizontal ramp which is compared with the vertical sawtooth. The output of comparator 66 at pin 1 short circuits to ground the voltage at the junctions of resistors 76 and 77 to provide base drive to transistor 21. Capacitor 80 is required to switch the base voltage below ground because the emitter of transistor 21 is floating on the sampling resistor 22 and swings between ±1 volt. Centering control resistor 81 adjusts the dc bias on pin 6. Illustratively, vertical deflection winding 27 has an inductance of 25 mH, and a resistance of 9.5 ohms.
The previously described switched vertical deflection circuit is desirably utilized at vertical deflection rates of 100 Hz or greater, such as could be provided by progressive scan systems or in digital deflection circuits.

IF VIDEO SOUND APMPLIFIER AND DETECTOR UNIT
33413-31620

- TDA4445A QUASI PARALLEL SOUND PROCESSING WITH QUADRATURE INTERCARRIER DEMODULATOR





















- TDA4453

Video IF Amplifier for Multistandard TV Receiver and VTR
Appliances
Technology: Bipolar
Features
Interference suppression
Standard B/G-L suitable, processes negatively and
positively modulated IF-signals with equal polarity of
the output signal
Ultra white inverter and ultra black limiter for
reducing transmission interference
Internally noise protected gain control, no flyback
pulses required
Expanded video frequency response allows the
demodulation of amplitude modulated MAC signals
High input sensitivity
Minimal intermodulation interference
Fast AGC by controlled discharge of the
AGC capacitor
Standard L mode: AGC acting on peak white level,
capacitor discharge control by averaged video signal
Standard B/G: AGC acting on the sync. pulse peak
Small differential error
Constant input impedance
Video output voltage with narrow tolerance
Adapted output for insertion of ceramic transducers as
intrinsic sound trap
Connecting and basic circuitry compatible to the
TEMIC video IF type programme - permits building
block system for video IF module

- U2829B

 
2. Features of the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 and CCU 2070

 With the proliferation of low cost microprocessors and microprocessor controlled devices, television (TV) receivers are being designed to utilize digitized signals and controls. There are many advantages associated with digital TV receivers, including uniformity of product, precise control of signal parameters and operating conditions, elimination of mechanical switches and a potential for reliability that has been heretofore unknown. Digital television receivers include a high speed communication bus for interconnecting a central control unit microprocessor (CCU) with various TV function modules for processing a TV signal. These modules include a deflection processing unit (DPU), a video processing unit (VPU), an automatic phase control (APC), a video codec unit (VCU), an audio analog to digital converter (ADC) and an audio processing unit (APU). The CCU has associated with it a non-volatile memory, a hardware-generated clock signal source and a suitable interface circuit for enabling the CCU to control processing of the TV signal throughout the various TV function modules. The received TV signal is in analog form and suitable analog to digital (A/D) converters and digital to analog (D/A) converters are provided for converting the digital and analog signals for signal processing and for reconverting them after processing for driving a cathode ray tube (CRT) and suitable speakers. The CCU microprocessor is heavily burdened because of the high speed timing required to control the various TV function modules. 

Central Control Units All three types, differing only in their ROM and RAM capacity, are the unprogrammed versions and are programmed during production according to the customer's specifications. For programming, an emulator board is available. The programmed versions have the type designations CCU2031, CCU 2032 and so on. Combined with peripheral hardware, CCU 2030, CCU 2050 and CCU 2070 offer the following features: infrared remote control ~ front-panel control with up to 32 commands — tuning by frequency synthesis (PLL) and band switching non-volatile program storage LED display for channel indication, max. 4 digits, directly driven storage of alignment information during production generation and recognition of various signals control of the digital signal processors for video, audio, teletext and deflection via a serial bus (IM bus) The CCUs are produced in N-channel HMOS technology, are housed in a 40-pin Dil plastic package, and contain on one chip the following functions (Fig. 4): 8049 8-bit

microcomputer remote-control decoder Ports P2 and P3 for connecting a maximum of 32 keys and 4-digit seven-segment LED channel indication PLL tuner circuit for VHF and UHF IM bus interface for inputting and outputting control signals and for inputting alignment instructions crystal-controlled clock oscillator which also serves as reference for the PLL circuit mains flip-flop and reset circuit This specification is restricted to the hardware aspects of the CCU 20.0 Central Control Unit. Many functions are defined in detail by the microcomputer’s ROM code and are thus described in the program specifications of the individual applications. For understanding the operation of the CCU, the following texts are useful: IM bus specification (section 11.) and the manual of the 48-series microprocessor family (see sections 12. and 13.).


3. Functional Description
The CCU 20.0 Central Control Unit provides an efficient interface between user and TV set. Their programmability enables different set makers to design receivers according to their own specs. The CCU has the main functions: — processing of user’s settings — control of the digital signal processors for video, audio, Teletext and deflection By means of the MDA 2062 non-volatile memory (EE-PROM) which has a capacity of 128 x 8 bits, the CCU controls storage and output of factory alignment values that have been programmed during production of the TV set.

10. Description of the Connections and Signals
Pin 1 — XTAL: Oscillator Crystal The internal configuration of this in/output is shown in Fig. 8. For normal use, a 4 MHz crystal is connected to this oscillator pin and to GND. The input is self-biasing to ap- prox. 3.5 V, input DC resistance is approx. 350 kQ. The output signal is the 4 MHz clock signal of the CCU. It may be fed to other circuits, but maximum load configurations have to be observed as loading affects oscillation start-up after power-on of the ST.BY supply (see section 8.).

Pin 2 — S: Single-Step Input
The internal configuration of this input is shown in Fig. 9. Via this input, the CCU can be put into the single-step mode (see section 12.2.2.). The inactive low level is 0 to +5 V and the required, active high level is +12 V. The input contains a pull-down device (about 30 pA to GND) which allows to leave the input unconnected for normal operation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin 3 - Osc Out: fos./4096 Output
‘The internal configuration of this output is shown in Fig. 10. This output provides the memory clock signal for the MDA 2062 EEPROM (1 kHz). The drive capability of pin 3 is one TTL gate. The frequency is selected by a mask option (see section 14.).

Pin 4 — Reset: Reset Input The internal configuration of this input is shown in Fig. 11. An active low level at this pin provides normalization for uC and peripheral circuits. An inactive high level is fed to the uC and peripheral circuits depending on the state of the mains flip-flop and the setting of the reset options (cf. sec- tions 4.6. and 14.). The input circuit is of a Schmitt trigger configuration and provides some noise immunity. In critical applications, however, an additional ceramic capacitor, connected between this pin and GND, may be necessary to increase noise immunity.

Pin 5 — Mains: Mains Switch Input/Output The internal configuration of this in/output is shown in Fig. 12.

Pin 5 represents the output of the mains flip-flop with a resistive pull-up. The output is active low (mains on). By shorting this pin to GND momentarily, the mains flip-flop is set to the active, low state via the input circuitry of this pin. The resistive pull-up provides drive for a PNP transistor connected emitter to ST.BY, base via a resistor to pin 5, and collector to the mains relay. A detailed functional de- scription of the mains flip-flop and reset circuit is given in section 4.6.

Pin 6 — EA: Test Enable Input The internal configuration of this input is shown in Fig. 9. Pin 6 is a test input providing external access to the uC (cf. sections 5. and 12.2.4.). For normal operation, an inactive low level is required at this pin (GND). Pin 7 to 9 — Data, Ident, Clock: IM Bus Connections The internal configurations of these pins are shown in Figs. 12 and 13. By means of these pins, the CCU links with peri- pheral devices. The IM bus is described in detail in section 11. Please note that the resistive pull-ups for all open-drain outputs connected to the IM bus are situated within the CCU.

Pins 10 and 11 — Up and Down: Tuning Voltage Outputs The internal configuration of these pins is shown in Fig. 13. Active high levels on these outputs indicate whether the tuner frequency should be increased (Up) or reduced (Down) and represent the output signals of the phase- locked loop circuit of the CCU (cf. section 4.4.). The out- puts contain resistive pull-ups.

Pin 12 — IR: Remote-Control Input The internal configuration of this pin is shown in Fig. 14. Via an external coupling capacitor of 10 nF, the remote-control signal, amplified by the TBA 2800 preamplifier IC, is fed to the remote-control decoder contained in the CCU (cf. sec- tion 4.2.). The input is self-biasing to approx. 1.4 V, and the input DC resistance is approx. 150 kQ. For highest input sensitivity, this pin must not be loaded resistively.

Pin 13 — LO: Local Oscillator Input The internal configuration of this input is shown in Fig. 14. Via an external coupling capacitor of at least 1 nF, the tuner oscillator frequency (signal), divided by 64 by a prescaler device, is fed to the PLL circuit contained in the CCU, thereby providing feedback from the tuner oscillator (cf. section 4.4.). The input is self-biasing to approx. 1.7 V, and the input DC resistance is approx. 200 kQ. For highest in- put sensitivity, this pin must not be loaded resistively.

Pin 14 to 19, 21 and 22 — Port P3, Bits 0 to 7 The internal configuration of these outputs or test in/out- puts is shown in Fig. 15. During normal use, these open- drain outputs provide multiplexed drive for LED display and keyboard (cf. section 4.3.). The voltage handling capability is limited to Vpp. During test operations (EA at or above 5 V, cf. section 5.), these pins give access to the nC bus port DBp to DB7 which also connects to peripheral circuits as PLL, IM bus interface, remote-control decoder etc. Drive capability of the bus port via P3 is very limited (external CMOS bidirectional buffers required).
Pin 20 — GND: Ground, 0 This pin must be connected to the negative of the supply. It may also be designated Vsgg. Please note that current on this pin is total Vpp and ST.BY supply current plus currents flowing into outputs (Port P3) and may amount to more than 300 mA.

Pins 23 to 26 and 36 to 39 — Port P2, Bits 0 to 7
The internal configuration of these in/outputs or test out- puts is shown in Fig. 16. Direct data transfer with the uC can be executed via this port (cf. sections 12.2.12. and 4.3.). The outputs drive one TTL gate. Open-drain outputs with a 5 V rating may be specified on each single pin of this port as an option (cf. section 14.). During test operations (EA at or above 5 V, cf. section 5.), P24, to P27 give access to the C output signals RD, WR, ALE and PSEN which al- so connect to peripheral circuits as PLL, IM bus interface, remote-control! decoder etc. Drive capability of the uC con- trol signals via connections P2, to P27 is very limited (exter- nal CMOS buffers required). Pin 27 — ST.BY: Standby Supply Voltage This pin must be connected to the positive of the 5 V standby supply. it powers the crystal oscillator, the mains flip-flop and reset circuits, the remote-control decoder and a specific portion of the 1.C-resident RAM. From standby operation, an infrared signal may activate the mains flip-flop and thus awake the system to full operation.

Pins 28 to 35 — Port P1, Bits 0 to 7
The internal configuration of these in/outputs is shown in Fig. 17. Direct data transfer with the 4C can be executed via this port (cf. section 12.2.12.). The outputs are open- drain with a 12 V rating. Pin 40 —- Vpp: Supply Voltage This pin must be connected to the positive of the 5 V supply.

11. Description of the IM Bus
The INTERMETALL Bus (IM Bus for short) has been designed to control the DIGIT 2000 ICs by the CCU Central Control Unit. Via this bus the CCU can write data to the ICs or read data from them. This means the CCU acts as a master whereas all controlled ICs are slaves. The IM Bus consists of three lines for the signals Ident (ID), Clock (CL) and Data (D). The clock frequency range is 50 Hz to 170 kHz. Ident and clock are unidirectional from the CCU to the slave ICs, Data is bidirectional. Bi directionality is achieved by using open-drain outputs with On-resistances of 150 Q maximum. The 2.5 kQ. pull-up resistor common to all outputs is incorporated in the CCU. The timing of a complete IM Bus transaction is shown in Fig. 18 and Table 1.

In the non-operative state the signals of all three bus lines are High. To start a transaction the CCU sets the ID signal to Low level, indicating an address transmission, and sets the CL signal to Low level as well to switch the first bit on the Data line.

 Thereafter eight address bits are transmitted beginning with the LSB. Data takeover in the slave ICs occurs at the High levels of the clock signal. At the end of the address byte the ID signal goes High, initiating the address comparison in the slave circuits. In the addressed slave the IM bus interface switches over to Data read or write, because these functions are correlated to the address. Also controlled by the address the CCU now transmits eight or sixteen clock pulses, and accordingly one or two bytes of data are written into the addressed IC or read out from it, beginning with the LSB. The Low clock level after the last clock pulse switches the Data line to High level. After this the completion of the bus transaction is signalled by a short Low-state pulse of the ID signal. This initiates the storing of the transferred data. It is permissible to interrupt a bus transaction for up to 10 ms. For future software compatibility, the CCU must write a zero into all bits not used at present. When reading undefined or unused bits, the CCU must adopt “don’t care” behaviour.

 

 

 

  VCU 2134 Video Codec
High-speed coder/decoder IC for analog - to-digital and digital-to- analog conversion of the video signal in digital TV receivers based on the DIGIT 2000 concept and having double-scan horizontal deflection. The VCU 2134 is a VLSI circuit in Cl technology, housed in a 40-pin Dil plastic package. One single silicon chip combines the following functions and circuit details (see Fig. 1):

— two input video amplifiers
— one A/D converter for the composite video signal
— the noise inverter
— one D/A converter for the luminance signal
— two D/A converters for the color difference signals
~ one RGB matrix for converting the color difference signals and the luminance signal into RGB signals
— three RGB output amplifiers
— programmable auxiliary circuits for blanking, brightness
adjustment and picture tube alignment
~ additional clamped
 RGB inputs for text and other analog RGB signals
— programmable beam current limiting

1. Functional Description
The VCU 2134 Video Codec Unit is intended for converting the analog composite video signal from the video demodulator into a digital  signal. The latter is further processed digitally in the CVPU 2235 Video Processor, in the PSP 2210 Progressive Scan Processor, and in the DPU 2554 Deflection Processor. After processing in the CVPU and the PSP (color demodulation, comb filtering, line storage for double scanning etc.), the PSP’s output signals (luminance and color difference) are reconverted into analog signals in the VCU 2134. From these analog signals are de- rived the RGB signals by means of the RGB matrix, and, af- ter amplification in the internal RGB amplifiers, the RGB signals drive the RGB output amplifiers of the color TV re- ceiver. In addition, the VCU 2134 carries out the following functions:
— brightness adjustment
— automatic CRT spot-cutoff contro! (black level)
- white balance control and beam current limiting
Further, the VCU 2134 offers direct inputs for text or other analog RGB signals including adjustment of brightness and contrast for these signals. The RGB matrix and RGB amplifier circuits integrated in the VCU 2134 are analog. The CRT spot-cutoff control is carried out via the RGB amplifiers’ bias, and the white balance control is accomplished by varying the gain of these amplifiers. The VCU 2134 is clocked both by a 14 to 20.5 MHz clock signal and a 28 to 41 MHz clock signal supplied by the MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC.

1.1. The A/D Converter with Input Amplifiers and Bit Enlargement The video signal is input to the VCU 2134 via pin 37 which is intended for normal TV video signal and for VCR or SCART video signal respectively. The video amplifier whose action is required, is activated by the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070, via the IM bus by software (see Fig. 9). Video Amp | has the low gain (2 V video amplitude required), and Video Amp Il has the high gain (1 V video amplitude required). The amplification of both video amplifiers is doubled during the undelayed horizontal blanking pulse (at pin 36) in order to obtain a higher digital resolution of the color synchronization signal (burst). The A/D converter is of the flash type, a circuit of 2" comparators connected in parallel. This means that the number of comparators must be doubled if one additional bit is needed. Thus it is important to have as few bits as possible. For a slowly varying video signal, 8 bits are required. In order to achieve an 8-bit picture resolution

using a 7-bit converter, a trick is used: during every other line the reference voltage of the A/D converter is changed by an
amount corresponding to one half of the least significant bit. In this procedure, a grey value located between two 7-bit steps is converted to the next lower value during one line and to the next higher value during the next line. The two grey values on the screen are averaged by the viewer’s eye, thus producing the impression of grey values with 8-bit resolution. The A/D converter’s sampling frequency is 14 to 20.5 MHz, the clock being supplied by the MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC which is common to all circuits for the digital TV system. The converter’s resolution is 1/2 LSB of 8 bits. Its output signal is Gray-coded to eliminate spikes and glitches resulting from different comparator speeds or from the coder itself. The output is fed to the CVPU 2235 and to the DPU 2554 in parallel form.

1.2. The Noise Inverter
The digitized composite video signal passes the noise inverter circuit before it is put out to the CVPU and to the DPU 2554. The noise inverter serves for suppressing bright spots on the screen which can be generated by noise pulses, p. ex. produced by ignition sparks of cars etc. The function of the noise inverter can be seen in Fig. 2.

The maximum white level corresponds with step 126 of the A/D converter’s output signal (that means a voltage of 7 V at pin 37 in the case Video Amp | being selected). If, due to an unwanted pulse on the composite video signal, the voltage reaches 7.5 V (what means step 127 in digital) or more, the signal level is reduced by such an amount, that a medium grey is obtained on the screen (about 40 IRE). The noise inverter circuit can be switched off by software (address 16 in the CVPU, see there). The luminance D/A converter is designed as an R-2R ladder network. It is clocked with the 28.6 MHz clock signal applied to pin 23. The cutoff frequency of the luminance signal is determined by the clock frequency.

1.3. The Luminance D/A Converter (Y)
After having been processed in the CVPU 2235 (color demodulation, comb filtering, etc.) and in the PSP 2210, the different parts of the digitized video signal are fed back to the VCU 2134 for further processing to drive the RGB out- put amplifiers. The luminance signal (Y) is routed to the Y D/A converter in the VCU 2134 in the form of a parallel 8- bit signal with a resolution of 1/2 LSB of 9 bits. This bit range provides a sufficient signal range for contrast as well as positive and negative overshoot caused by the peaking filter (see Data Sheet CVPU).


1.4. The D/A Converters for the Color Difference Signals
R-Y and B-Y In order to save input and output pins at the VCU 2134, CVPU and PSP as well as connection lines, the two digital color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are transferred in time muitiplex operation. This is possible because these signals’ bandwidth is only 2 MHz and the clock is a 28 to 41 MHz signal. The two 8-bit D/A converters R-Y and B-Y are also built as R-2R ladder networks. They are clocked with % clock fre- quency, but the clock for the multiplex data transfer is 28 to 41 MHz. Four times 4 bits are transferred sequentially, giving a total of 16 bits. A sync signal coordinates the multi- plex operations in the VCU 2134, CVPU and PSP. Thus, only four lines are needed for 16 bits.

Fig. 4 shows the timing diagram of the data transfer described. To switch the CO input the VCU 2134 from chroma signal reception to sync signal reception, the information to do this is given by the PSP to pins 10 to 17 of the VCU in the shape of “zero luminance” during horizontal blanking time. To avoid mistakes, a limiter in the PSP ensures that no zero luminance is put out at other times.

1.5. The RGB
 Matrix and the RGB Output Amplifiers In the RGB matrix, the signals Y, R-Y and B-Y are dematrixed, the reduction coefficients of 0.88 and 0.49 being tak- en into account. In addition, the matrix is supplied with a signal produced by an 8-bit D/A converter for setting the brightness of the picture. The brightness adjustment range corresponds to ‘2 of the luminance signal range. It can be covered in 255 steps. The brightness is set by commands fed from the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit to the CVPU via the IM bus. There is available one matrix, called matrix 1, based on the formula: R = 1, + (RY) + 2° (BY) + Y G = g,- (RY) + go: (BY) + Y B = b, - (R-Y) + bp - (BY) + Y
 The three RGB output amplifiers are impedance converters having a low output impedance, an output voltage swing of 6 V (p-p), thereof 3 V for the video part and 3 V for bright- ness and dark signal. The output current is 4 mA.

Fig. 5 shows the recommended video output stage configuration. For the purpose of white-balance control, the amplification factor of each output amplifier can be varied stepwise in 127 steps (7 bits) by a factor of 1 to 2. Further, the CRT spot-cutoff control is accomplished via these amplifiers’ bi- as by adding the output signal of an 8-bit D/A converter to the intelligence signal. The amplitude of the output signal corresponds to one half of the luminance range. The eight bits make it possible to adjust the dark voltage in 0.5% steps. By means of this circuit, the factory-set values for the dark currents can be maintained and aging of the picture tube compensated.
 

 

 

 

 1.6. The Beam Current and Peak Beam Current Limiter The principle of this circuitry may be explained by means of

Fig. 6. Both facilities are carried out via pin 38 of the VCU 2134. For beam current limiting and peak beam current limiting, contrast and brightness are reduced by reducing the reference voltages for the D/A converters Y, R-Y and B-Y. At a voltage of more than +4 V at pin 38, contrast and brightness are not affected. In the range of +4 Vto +3V, the contrast is continuously reduced. At +3 V, the original contrast is reduced to a programmable level, which is set by the bits of address 16 of the CVPU as shown in Table 2. A further decrease of the voltage merely reduces brightness, the contrast remains unchanged. At 2.5 V, the brightness is reduced to zero. At voltages lower than 2 V, the output goes to ultra black. This is provided for security purposes. The beam current limiting is sensed at the ground end of the EHT circuit, where the average value of the beam cur- rent produces a certain voltage
drop across a resistor inserted between EHT circuit and ground. The peak beam current limiting can be provided additionally to avoid “blooming” of white spots or letters on the screen. For this, a fast peak current limitation is needed which is sensed by three sensing transistors inserted between the RGB amplifiers and the cathodes of the picture tube. One of these three transistors is shown in Fig. 6. The sum of the picture tube’s three cathode currents produces a voltage drop across resistor R1. If this voltage exceeds that generated by the divider R2, R3 plus the base emitter voltage of T2, this transistor will be turned on and the voltage at pin 38 of the VCU 2134 sharply reduced. Time constants for both beam current limiting and peak beam current limiting can be set by the capacitors C1 and C2.

 

 1.7. The Blanking
 Circuit The blanking circuit coordinates blanking during vertical and horizontal flyback. During the latter, the VCU 2134's output amplifiers are switched to “ultra black”. Such switching is different during vertical flyback, however, be- cause at this time the measurements for picture tube alignment are carried out. During vertical flyback, only the cathode to be measured is switched to “black” during measuring time, the other two are at ultra black so that only the dark current of one cathode is measured at the same time. For measuring the leakage current, all three cathodes are switched to ultra black. The sequence described is controlled by three code bits contained in a train of 72 bits which is transferred from the CVPU through PSP to the VCU 2134 during each vertical blanking interval. This transfer starts with the vertical blanking pulse. During the transfer all three cathodes of the picture tube are biased to ultra black. In the same manner, the white-balance control is done. The blanking circuit is controlled by two pulse combinations supplied by the DPU 2554 Deflection Processor (“sandcastle pulses”).

Pin 34 of the VCU 2134 receives the combined vertical blanking and delayed horizontal blanking pulse from pin 22 of the DPU (Fig. 7b), and pin 36 of the VCU gets the combined undelayed horizontal blanking and color key pulse from pin 19 of the DPU (Fig. 7a). The two outputs of the DPU are tristate controlled, supplying the output levels max. 0.4 V (low), min. 4.0 V (high), or high impedance, whereby the signal level in the high-impedance mode is determined by the VCU's input configuration, a voltage divider of 3.6 kQ and 4.7 kQ between the +5 V supply and ground, to 2.8 V. The VCU’s input amplifier has two thresholds of 2.0 V and 3.4 V for detecting the three levels of the combined pulses. In this way, two times two pulses are transferred via only two lines.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 1.8. The Circuitry for Picture Tube Alignment
During vertical flyback, a number of measurements are taken and data is exchanged between the VCU 2134, the CVPU via PSP and the CCU. This measurements deal with picture tube alignment, as white level and dark current adjustment, and with the photo current supplied by a photo resistor which serves for adapting the contrast of the picture to the light in the room where the TV set is operated (the latter feature only in connection with the CVPU 2235, see Fig. 5). The circuitry for transferring the picture tube alignment data, the sensed beam currents and the photo current is clocked in compliance with the PSP 2210 by the vertical blanking pulse and the color key pulse. 

 

 

 

To carry out the measurements, a quadruple cycle is provided (see Table 3). The timing of the data transfer during the vertical flyback is shown in Fig. 8, and Fig. 9 shows the data sequence during that data transfer.

A) Video signal during vertical flyback, lines No. 1 to 22.
B) Vertical blanking pulse supplied by pin 22 of the DPU 2554 to pin 34 of the VCU 2134 (tgp), duration is 13 lines and delay with respect to the start of line 4 is tyg = 23 us. With this pulse starts the 72-bit data transfer described in section 1.7., and with the end of pulse starts the picture tube’s cathode current measurement.

C) Internal control pulse for CRT current measurement, generated simultaneously in VCU 2134 and CVPU. The cathode under test is set to black by code bits.

D) Internal control pulse generated in VCU 2134 (pulse B + pulse C). During this pulse the cathodes of the CRT are at ultra black, the D/A converters for chroma and brightness are set to zero output, and Teletext fast blanking is off.

E) Control pulse generated in CVPU and VCU 2134 for CRT spot-cutoff current sensing. During this time, the measured output is set to black level. E’) Control pulse generated in VCU 2134. During this pulse, the output of the Y D/A converter delivers the white- current measuring level. This is achieved by switchi ng off the clock for the D/A converter.

F) Control pulse generated in VPU and VCU for white cur- rent sensing. During this time, the measured output is set to white current measuring level. F’) Control pulse generated in VCU 2134 which sets the Y D/A converter to zero output by setting its reference voltage to zero.

G) Window pulse for 72-bit data transfer from CVPU to VCU as described in section 1.7., duration 4 lines, generated in VCU 2134. The end of this pulse starts the clock hold-off time for the Y D/A converter (diagram E’).

H) Signal at the CO/Msync output of the PSP supplied to the CO/Msync input of the VCU 2134 (pin 21). Normally, via this connection are transferred chroma data and the sync signal. With the begin of the vertical blanking, chroma data transfer is interrupted to enable the trans- fer of 72 clock pulses for 72-bit data transfer.
1) Window pulse for 72-bit data transfer, generated in CVPU, duration 6 lines. The end of this pulse enables Y and chroma data output from CVPU to VCU.

J) Signals at the LO to L7 outputs of the PSP supplied to the LO to L7 inputs (pins 10 to 17) of the VCU 2134. With the begin of vertical blanking, luma data transfer is interrupted and the luminance output of the CVPU supplies white-current measuring level during lines 19 and 20 (see diagram F).

Fig. 9:
Data sequence during the transfer of test results from the CVPU to the VCU 2134. Nine Bytes are transferred, in each case the MSB first. These 9 Bytes, 8 bits each, coincide with the 72 pulses of 4.4 MHz that are transferred during vertical flyback from pin 8 of the PSP to pin 21 of the VCU 2134 (see Fig. 8). ! and m: beam current limiter range k: noise inverter on/off n: video input amplifier switching bit n=0 means Video Amp | selected (input amplitude 2 V) n= 1 means Video Amp II selected (input amplitude 1 V) : clamping mode: S=0 means clamping by color key pulse at pin 36 S=1 means clamping by additional pulse (Fig. 10) R, G, B: code bits p= 1: no doubled gain in the input amplifier during horizon- tal blanking (see section 1.1.) q=1: no changing of the A/D converter’s reference voltage during every other line (see section 1.1.)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.9. The Analog RGB Inputs
The three additional analog RGB inputs are provided for inputting text or other analog RGB signals. They are connected to fast voltage-to-current converters whose output current can be altered in 64 steps (6 bits) for contrast set- ting between 100 % and 30 %. The three inputs are clamped to a DC black level which corresponds to the level of 31 steps in the luminance channel, by means of either the color key pulse or an additional pulse provided by a modified fast switching input. The mode is selected by the shift register (Fig. 9). So, the same brightness level is achieved for normal and for external RGB signals. The output currents of the converters are then fed to the three RGB output amplifiers. Switchover to the external video signal is also fast.

Description: Technical publication for Digit 2000 Digital TV System, ITT Corp., p. 61, FIGS. 3-5. Digit 2000 VLSI Digital TV System, Edition 1984/5, by Intermetall Semiconductors of ITT

The present invention relates to a set of three or more  integrated circuits for digital video signal processing in color-television receivers as is set forth in the preamble of claim 1. An IC set of this kind is described in a publication by INTERMETALL entitled "Eine neue Dimension-VLSI-Digital-TV-System", Freiburg im Breisgau, September 1981, on pages 6 to 11 (see also the corresponding English edition entitled "A new dimension-VLSI Digital TV System", also dated September 1981).

The first integrated circuit, designated in the above-mentioned publications by "MAA 2200" and called "Video Processor Unit" (VPU), includes an analog-to-digital converter followed by a first serial-data-bus interface circuit which, in turn, is followed by a first multiplexer. During the vertical blanking interval, the analog-to-digital converter is fed, via a second multiplexer, with measured data corresponding to the cathode currents of the picture tube flowing at "black" (="dark current") and "white" ("white level") in each of the three electron guns, and with the signal of an ambient-light detector. The processed digital chrominance signals are applied to the first multiplexer.

The second integrated circuit, designated by "MAA 2000" and called "central control unit" (CCU) in the above publications, contains a microprocessor, an electrically reprogrammable memory, and a second serial-data-bus interface circuit. The memory holds alignment data and nominal dark-current/white-level data entered by the manufacturer of the color-television receiver. From these data and the measured data, the microprocessor derives video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube.

The third integrated circuit, designated by "MAA 2100" and called "video-codec unit" (VCU) in the above publications, includes a demultiplexer, an analog RGB matrix, and three analog amplifiers each designed to drive one of the electron guns via an external video output stage. After digital-to-analog conversion, the dark current of the picture tube is adjusted via the operating point of the respective analog amplifier, and the white level of the picture tube is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the respective analog amplifier. The demultiplexer is connected to the first multiplexer of the first integrated circuit via a chroma bus.

As to the prior art concerning such digital color-television receiver systems, reference is also made to the journal "Elektronik", Aug. 14, 1981 (No. 16), pages 27 to 35, and the journal "Electronics", Aug. 11, 1981, pages 97 to 103.

During the further development of the prior art system following the above-mentioned publication dates, the developers were faced with the problem of how to accomplish the dark-current/white-level control of the picture tube within the existing system, particularly with respect to measured-data acquisition and transfer and to the transfer of the operating data to the picture tube.

Another requirement imposed during the further development of the prior art system was that the leakage currents of the electron guns of the picture tube be measured and processed within the existing system. The solution of these problems is to take into account the requirement that the number of external terminals of the individual integrated circuits be kept to a minimum.

The object of the invention as claimed is to solve the problems pointed out. The essential principles of the solution, which directly give the advantages of the invention, are, on the one hand, the division of the measurement to four successive vertical blanking intervals and, on the other hand, the utilization of one wire of the chroma bus at the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval as well as the measurement of the ambient light by means of the light detector and the measurement of the leakage currents during a single vertical blanking interval.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a block diagram of one embodiment of the IC set in accordance with the invention. It shows the first, second, and third integrated circuits ic1, ic2, and ic3, which are drawn as rectangles bordered by heavy lines. The first integrated circuit ic1 includes the analog-to-digital converter ad, which converts the measured dark-current, white-level, ambient-light, and leakage-current data into digital signals, which are fed to the first bus interface circuit if1. The latter is connected via the line db to the first multiplexer mx1, which interleaves data from the first bus interface circuit if1 with digital chrominance signals cs produced in the first integrated circuit ic1, and places the interleaved signals on the chroma bus cb. The generation of the digital chrominance signals cs is outside the scope of the present invention and is disclosed in the references cited above.

The first integrated circuit ic1 further includes the second multiplexer mx2, which consists of the three electronic switches s1, s2, s3, and represents a subcircuit which is essential for the invention. The input of the first switch s1 is grounded through the first resistor r1, and connected to the collectors of the external transistors tr, tg, tb, each of which is associated with one of the electron guns. Via the base-emitter paths of these transistors, the cathodes of the three electron guns are driven by the video output stages ve. The final letters r, g, and b in the reference characters tr, tg, and tb and in the reference characters explained later indicate the assignment to the electron gun for RED (r), GREEN (g), and BLUE (b), respectively. The output of the first switch s1 is connected to the input of the analog-to-digital converter ad.

The input of the second switch s2 is connected to the light detector ls, which has its other terminal connected to a fixed voltage u and combines with the grounded resistor r3 to form a voltage divider. The input of the second switch s2 is thus connected to the tap of this voltage divider, while the output of this switch, too, is coupled to the input of the analog-to-digital converter ad.

The input of the third switch s3 is connected to the input of the first switch s1 via the second resistor r2, while the output of the third switch s3 is grounded. The value of the resistor r1 is about one order of magnitude greater than that of the resistor r2.

For the whole duration of the picture shown on the screen of the picture tube b, and throughout the vertical sweep, the first switch s1 and the third switch s3 are closed, and the second switch s2 is open. During the vertical retrace interval, for the white-level measurement, the switches s1, s3 are closed, and the switch s2 is open; for the dark-current measurement and the leakage-current measurement, the switch s1 is closed, and the switches s2, s3 are open, and for the light-detector-current measurement, the switches s2, s3 are closed, and the switch s1 is open.

The measurements of the dark current and the white level of each electron gun and the measurements of the light-detector current and the leakage currents are made in four successive vertical blanking intervals. One end of the respective cathode is connected to a voltage us for blacker-than-black, and the other end is connected to a voltage ud for black and then to a voltage uw for white, in accordance with the following table:

______________________________________

Measurement in the first at about the Vertical half of the end of the blanking vertical vertical interval blanking blanking Cathode No. interval interval red green blue

______________________________________

1 Leakage cur- Light-detect- us us us rents of the or current cathodes 2 Dark current White level ud/uw us us red red 3 Dark current White level us ud/uw us green green 4 Dark current White level us us ud/uw blue blue

______________________________________

The voltage ud for black is, as usual, a voltage which just causes no brightness on the screen of the picture tube b, i.e., a voltage just below the dark threshold of the picture tube. The voltage us for blacker-than-block is then a cathode voltage lying further in the black direction than the voltage for black. The voltage for white is the voltage for the screen brightness to be measured; the brightness of the screen is generally below the maximum permissible value.

Thus, two measurements are made during each vertical blanking interval, namely one in the first half, preferably at one-third of the pulse duration of the vertical blanking interval, and the other at about the end of the first half. During the four successive vertical blanking intervals, the first measurement determines the leakage currents of the cathodes and the dark currents for red, green, and blue. The second measurements determine the light-detector current and the white levels for red, green, and blue. During the measurement of the cathode leakage currents and the light-detector current, all three cathodes are at the voltage us. During the measurements of the dark current and the white level of the respective cathode, the latter is connected to the respective dark-current cathode voltage ud and white-level cathode voltage uw, respectively, while the cathodes of the two other electron guns, which are not being measured, are at the voltage us.

The second integrated circuit circuit ic2 contains the microprocessor mp, the electrically reprogrammable memory ps, and the second bus interface circuit if2, which is associated with the serial data bus sb in this integrated circuit and also connects the microprocessor mp and the memory ps with one another and with itself. The memory ps holds alignment data and nominal dark-current/white-value data of the picture tube used, which were entered by the manufacturer. From this alignment and nominal data and from the measured data obtained via the second multiplexer mx2 and the analog-to-digital converter ad of the first integrated circuit ic1, the microprocessor mp derives video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube.

The derivation of these operating data is also outside the scope of the invention; it should only be mentioned that with respect to the operating data of the picture tube, the microprocessor performs a control function in accordance with a predetermined control characteristic.

The third integrated circuit ic3 includes the demultiplexer dx, which is connected to the first multiplexer mx1 of the first integrated circuit ic1 via the chroma bus cb and separates the chrominance signals cs and the operating data of the picture tube from the interleaved signals transferred over the chroma bus. While the transfer of measured data from the analog-to-digital converter ad to the microprocessor mp of the second integrated circuit ic2 takes place via the two interface circuits if1, if2 and the data bus sb at an appropriate instant, the video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube b, which are derived by the microprocessor mp, are transferred from the second integrated circuit ic2 via the two interface circuits if1, if2 and the line db to the first multiplexer mx1 at an appropriate instant, and from the first multiplexer mx1 over a wire of the chroma bus cb into the shift register sr of the third integrated circuit ic3 shortly after the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval. To accomplish this, the first interface circuit if1 also includes a shift register from which the operating data are read serially.

During this data transfer into the shift register sr, the cathodes of the picture tube b are preferably at the voltage us in order that this data transfer does not become visible on the screen.

The appropriate instant for the transfer of measured data to the microprocessor mp is determined by the latter itself, i.e., depending on the program being executed in the microprocessor, and on the time needed therefor, the measured data are called for from the interface circuits not at the time of measurement but at a selectable instant within the working program of the microprocessor mp. If the measurement currently being performed should not yet be finished at the instant at which the measured data are called for, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stored data of the previous measurement will be transferred to the microprocessor mp.

As mentioned previously, the operating data for the picture tube b are transferred into the shift register sr at the beginning of a vertical blanking interval. The parallel outputs of this shift register are combined in groups each assigned to one operating value, and each group has one of the digital-to-analog converters dh, ddr, ddg, ddb, dwr, dwg, dwb associated with it. In the figure, the division of the shift register into groups is indicated by broken lines. The shift register sr performs a serial-to-parallel conversion in the usual manner, and the operating data are entered by the demultiplexer dx into the shift register in serial form and are then available at the parallel outputs of the shift register.

The digital-to-analog converter dh provides the analog brightness control signal, which is applied to the RGB matrix m in the integrated circuit ic3. Also applied to the RGB matrix m are the analog color-difference signals r-y, b-y and the luminance signal y. The formation of these signals is outside the scope of the invention and is known per se from the publications cited at the beginning.

The three analog-to-digital converters ddr, ddg, ddb provide the dark-current-adjusting signals for the three cathodes, which are currents and are applied to the inverting inputs--of the analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb. Also connected to these inputs is a resistor network which is adjustable in steps in response to the digital white-level-adjusting signals at the respective group outputs of the shift register sr. The resistors serve as digital-to-analog converters dwr, dwg, dwb and establish the connection between the inverting inputs--and the outputs of the analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb.

In an arrangement according to the invention which has proved good in practice, each of the three dark-current-adjusting signals is a seven-digit signal, and each of the three white-level-adjusting signals and the brightness control signal are five-digit signals. The voltages us and ud/uw of the three cathodes are assigned a three-digit identification signal in accordance with the above table, which signal is also fed into the shift register sr in the implemented circuit. Finally, a three-digit contrast control signal is provided in the implemented circuit for the Teletext mode of the color-television receiver. These nine data blocks are transferred in the implemented circuit from the demultiplexer dx to the shift register sr in the following order, with the least significant bit transmitted first, and with the specified number of blanks: identification signal, white-level signal blue, three blanks, white-level signal green, three blanks, white-level signal red, one blank, dark-current signal blue, one blank, dark-current signal green, one blank, dark-current signal red, contrast signal Teletext, and brightness control signal. These are seven eight-digit data blocks which are assigned to 56 pulses of a 4.4-MHz clock frequency, which is the frequency of the shift clock signal of the shift register sr.

It should be noted that the data sequence just described does not correspond to the order of the groups of the shift register sr in the figure. The order in the figure was chosen only for the sake of clarity.

The outputs of the three analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb are coupled to the inputs of the video output stage ve, whose outputs, as explained previously, are connected to the bases of the transistors pr, tg, td, so that the cathodes of the picture tube b are driven via the base-emitter paths of these transistors.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the measurement performed during a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the previous measurement has been transferred into the microprocessor mp. In this manner, no measurement will be left out.

It is also possible to omit the digital-to-analog converter dh if the analog RGB matrix m is replaced with a digital one.

One advantage of the invention is that the use of the chroma bus for the transfer of operating data facilitates the implementation of the third integrated circuit ic3 using bipolar technology, because an additional bus interface circuit, which could be used there, would occupy too much chip area.

VCU 2136

The VCU 2136 and VPU 2204 represent further developments of the VCU 2133 and VPU 2203 that are suitable for S-VHS. This application note describes the modifications that were necessitated for these ICs by the S-VHS. lt should be read as an addendum to data sheets VCU 2133/5E and VPU 2203/1E. Some improvements have been made in the luminance filters to get better frequency response and therefore better picture quality. See the part "New filters” in VPU 2204. With S-VHS the luma and chroma information is transmitted in parallel channels. The luma and chroma data are converted by the VCU 2136 A/D converter and are transmitted in the time multiplex via the digital bus. It is important that a corresponding demultiplex takes place in the PVPU and that the SPU 2223 is able to separate the chroma information from the multiplexed data. Furthermore, the DTI 2223 is able to compensate group delay difference between the luma and chroma data.

Fig. 1 illustrates the timing
 of the data: the analog signals at the inputs V1 at pin 35 and V2 at pin 37 of the VCU 2136 are taken over in time multiplex and an A/D conversion is performed. As the timing diagram (fig. 1) shows, the data 1 (luma in S-VHS operation) are taken over with the rising edge and the data 2 with the falling edge of the clock signal. The data rate is doubled in comparison to the VCU 2133 (Double Data Stream DDS).
 Changes from the VCU 2133 to the VCU 2136: With the help of two control bits, three possible VCU operation modes "Composite Video”, "VHS” and "S-VHS” can be set. First, these two bits are entered into register 16 of the VPU 2204 by the CCU. During the vertical blanking interval this information is passed on from the VPU to the VCU inside the 72 bit data stream. Composite Video, VHS and S-VHS operation mode of the VCU only differ in the setting of the input operation multipliers 1 and 2 (see fig. 2). The function of the input multiplexer remains unchanged. The following constellations are possible. Refer to the VPU 2203/1E data sheet, table 3: "Data transfer between Address no. 16, high byte, bit 6=1, Address no. 16, high byte, bit 5=0 "S-VHS mode” Pin 35: Analog Luma, 2.0V max. 1 V input is also possible if high byte bit 5 = 1 in address 16 Pin 37: Analog Chroma, 0.3V max. for burst. Address no. 16, high byte, bit 6=0, Address no. 16, high byte, bit 5=0: "Composite Video” mode Amplification during color
burst key x 2 Pin 35: Analog Composite Video, 2.0V max. Pin 37: Analog Composite Video, 2.0V max. only the data on pin 35 is processed in this mode.
 

 Address no. 16, high byte, bit 6=0 Address no. 16, high byte, bit 5=1: "VHS" mode. Amplification during color burst key x 2 Pin 35: Analog Composite Video, 1.0V max. Pin 37: Analog Composite Video, 1.0V max. Only the data on pin 37 is processed in this mode. Note: The VCU 2136 does not contain the noise inverter that was incorporated in the VCU 2133 any longer. Address no. 16, high byte bit 6 is the former bit "noise inverter”. Changes from the VPU 2203 to the VPU 2204: - on the input side, a demultiplexer was inserted to separate the luma and chroma data in the double data stream and to distribute them into the luma and chroma channels of the VPU (see fig. 3). — the colour trap was conceived to be switched off for the S-VHS operation mode. — Two additional control bits were introduced (refer to the VPU 2203/1E data sheet table 3: "Data transfer between ...”), that is: Address no. 15, low byte, bit 2 "S-VHS on” (see fig. 2): bit 2=0: S-VHS off VPU works on the V1 data only. Luma and chroma data are
separated with the help of chroma trap and chroma filter. bit 2=1: S-VHS on demultiplex of the sequential luma and chroma data, no chroma x 2 during color burst. Address no. 15., low byte, bit 1 (see fig. 3): bit 1=0: chroma trap on. bit 1=1: chroma trap off. New filters in the VPU 2204 To improve frequency response and picture quality some changes in the luminance- and peaking filter part of the VPU have been made. The old filter characteristics are still available. New features are: the S-VHS characteristics without chroma trap the “enhanced” Munakami filter without ringing the “broad” version. For SECAM the broader chroma trap can be switched off to the same chroma trap as for PAL.
 

 

 DPU 2553, DPU 2554, DPU 2555 Deflection Processors.
 

During the past few years, digital circuit technology has come into se in television receivers, including color television receivers, for processing the received signal and for generating the deflection signal required to control the movement of the electron beam. During the research for and the development and implementation of these digital circuit systems, the course traced ou by conventional analog signal processing was followed, and the known individual problems were solved by means of digital rather than analog circuits.

By contrast, the present invention is predicated on the realization that, against the background of digital signal processing in television receivers, the constraints resulting from conventional analog technology, particularly with respect to predetermined signal waveforms, can be eliminated, thus making it possible to cope with difficult problems better than with conventional analog and/or digital technology. One of those difficult problems is still the geometric distortions introducted by the nonspherical curvature of the tube screen during reproduction. To eliminate these distortions, a considerable amount of circuitry is required both with conventional analog technology and more recent digital technology; an example is the great number of pincushion-correcting circuits.

The fundamental idea of the invention as claimed is to abandon the rigid dependence on the commonly used sawtooth signal for ohorizontal deflection and vertical deflection, which both have a very short retrace period in comparison with the trace period, and to make the individual pixels of the video signal visible on the screen when the two deflection signals have moved the electron beam to the point intended on the transmitter side.

In the present invention, therefore, the deflection signals are no longer generated by a sawtooth generator of long-known analog or more recent digital design, but a deflection processor is provided which generates horizontal and vertical deflection signals with freely selectable waveforms.

The video signal, after being digitized by means of a clock signal, is written into a random-access memory and is read ou in such a way that the individual pixels occupy the intended positions on the screen. The memory has a suitable controller associated therewith, of course. The digital signals read out of the memory must be applied to a compensating stage for correcting picture tube errors before they drive the picture tube via digital-to-analog converters.

 Deflection Processors
1. Introduction These programmable VLSI circuits in N-channel MOS technology carry out the deflection functions in digital color TV receivers based on the DIGIT 2000 system and are also suitable for text and D2-MAC application. The three types are basically identical, but are modified according to the in- tended application: DPU 2553 — normal-scan horizontal deflection, standard CTV receivers, also equipped with Teletext and D2-MAC facility

DPU 2554 -— double-scan horizontal deflection, for CTV receivers equipped with double-frequency horizontal deflection and double-frequency vertical deflection for improved picture quality. At pow- er-up, this version starts with double horizontal frequency.

DPU 2555 — normal scan horizontal deflection as DPU 2553, but with an extra flag for the IM bus, so that one DPU 2553 and one DPU 2555 may be operated simultaneously in one CTV receiver as is required for Teletext or Viewdata operation if increased deflection frequency is intended for high-quality text display. In this case, the DPU 2553 acts as sync separator for the received Teletext or Viewdata signal, whereas the DPU 2555 is used as deflection processor for the displayed page, or viceversa. 

1.1. General Description The DPU 2553/54/55 Deflection Processors contain the following circuit functions on one single silicon chip: video clamping horizontal and vertical sync separation horizontal synchronization normal horizontal deflection east-west correction, also for flat-screen picture tubes vertical synchronization normal vertical deflection sawtooth generation text display mode with increased deflection frequencies (18.7 kHz horizontal and 60 Hz vertical) — D2-MAC operation mode and for DPU 2554 only: -— double-scan horizontal deflection - normal and double-scan vertical deflection In this data sheet, all information given for double-scan mode is available with the DPU 2554 only.

Types DPU 2553 and DPU 2555 start the horizontal deflection with 15.5 kHz according to the normal TV standard, whereas type DPU 2554 starts with 31 KHz according to the double-scan sys- tem.
The only difference between types DPU 2553 and DPU 2555 is in the function of the flag IMS which enables and disables the IM bus interface of the respective deflection processor. With this, it is possible to operate both types in parallel on the same IM bus, as is required for the Teletext or Viewdata display mode with increased deflection frequencies. The following characteristics are programmable: ~ selection of the TV standard (PAL, D2-MAC or NTSC) - selection of the deflection standard (Teletext, horizontal and vertical double -scan, and normal scan) — filter time-constant for horizontal synchronization — vertical amplitude, S correction, and vertical position for in-line, flat-screen and Trinitron picture tubes — east-west parabola, horizontal width, and trapezoidal correction for in-line, flat-screen and Trinitron picture tubes — switch over characteristics between the different synchronization modes — characteristic of the synchronism detector for PLL switching and muting.

1.2. Environment
Fig. 1-1 shows the simplified block diagram of the video and deflection section of a digital TV receiver based on the DIGIT 2000 system. The analog video signal derived from the video detector is digitized in the VCU 2133 Video Codec and supplied in a parallel 7 bit Gray-coded . This digital video signal is fed to the video section (VPU, CVPU, SPU and DMA) and to the DPU 2553/54/55 Deflection Processor which carries out all functions required in conjunction with deflection, from sync separation to the control of the deflection power stages, as described in this data sheet.

. Pin Connections

1. Ground
2. @TMM  Main Clock Input
3. Output for Single-Scan Vertical Blanking Pulse
4. Clamping Output 2
5. Reset Input
6. Input for the D2-MAC Composite Sync Signal and Output for the Separated Composite Sync Signal
7. 1H and 2H Skew Data Output
8. Vsup Supply Voltage
9. V6  Video Input (MSB)
10. V5  Video Input
11. V4  Video Input
12. V3  Video Input
13. V2  Video Input
14. V1  Video Input
15. VO Video Input (LSB)
16. IM Bus Clock Input
17. IM Bus Ident Input
18. IM Bus Data Input/Output
19. Combined Output for the Color Key Pulse and the Undelayed Horizontal Blanking Pulse
20. Ground
21. Clamping Output 1
22. Combined Output for the Delayed Horizontal Blanking Pulse and the Vertical Blanking Pulse
23. Horizontal Flyback Input
24. Undelayed Horizontal Blanking Output
25. Vertical Flyback Safety Input
26. Vertical Flyback Output
27. Vertical Sawtooth Output
28. East-West Parabola Output
29. Horizontal Output Polarity Select Input and Start Oscillator Pulsewidth Select Input
30. Ground
31. Horizontal Output
32. Vsup Supply Voltage
33. External Standard Selection Input
34. Start Oscillator Clock Input
35. Start Oscillator Supply Voltage
36. Start Oscillator Select Input
37. Control Switch Output for the Horizontal Power Stage
38. Test Pin, leave vacant
39. Interlace Control Output
40. Vsup Supply Voltage

2.3. Pin Descriptions
Pins 1, 20 and 30 — Ground These pins must be connected to the negative of the supply.
Pins 2— @M Main Clock Input (Fig. 2-4) By means of this input, the DPU receives the required main clock signal from the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Gen- erator IC.

Pin 3 — Single-Scan Vertical Blanking Output (Fig. 2-11) In vertical double-scan mode, this pulse is also required by the CVPU 2235 Comb Filter Video Processor.

Pins 4 and 21 — Clamping Outputs 2 and 1 (Fig. 2-10) These pins supply pulses for clamping the video signal at the VCU 2133 or VCU 2134 during the back porch.

Pin 5 — Reset Input (Fig. 2-2) This pin is used for hardware reset. At low level, reset is actuated, and at high level the DPU is ready for communication with the CCU via the IM bus.

Pin 6 — Input for the D2-MAC Composite Sync Signal and Output for the Separated Composite Sync Signal This pin (Fig. 2-9) is the input for the D2-MAC composite sine signal and the output for the separated composite sync signal.

Pin 7 — Skew Data Output (Fig. 2-10) This pin delivers the 1H and 2H skew data stream required by the PSP 2210 or PSP 2032 Progressive Scan Processor and the TPU 2732 or TPU 2733 or TPU 2740 Teletext Processor or others for adjusting the phase of the double- scan video signal and for information about vertical sync.
Pins 8, 32 and 40 — Vsyp Supply Voltage These pins must be connected to the positive of the supply.

Pins 9 to 15 — V6 to VO Video Inputs (Fig. 2-3) Via these pins, the DPU receives the digitized composite video signal from the VCU 2133 or VCU 2134 Video Codec in a parallel 7-bit Gray-coded . With a standard signal, the sync pulse resolution is 6 bits.

Pins 16 to 18 — IM Bus Connections These pins connect the DPU to the IM bus. It is via the IM bus that the DPU communicates with the CCU. Pins 16 (IM Bus Clock Input) and 17 (IM Bus Ident Input) have the con- figuration shown in Fig. 2-2. Pin 18 (IM Bus Data Input/Out- put) is shown in Fig. 2-9.

Pin 19 — Combined Output for the Color Key Pulse and the Undelayed Horizontal Blanking Pulse (Fig. 2-11) his output is tristate-controlled. In conjunction with the in- put load represented by the VCU, the three-level key and blanking pulse is produced which is also needed by the other DIGIT 2000 processors.

Pin 22 - Combined Output for the Delayed Horizontal Blanking Pulse and the Vertical Blanking Pulse (Fig. 2-11) This pin is a tristate-controlled output. In conjunction with the input load represented by the VCU, the three-level combined blanking pulse is produced which is also needed by the other DIGIT 2000 processors. Pin 23 — Horizontal Flyback Input (Fig. 2-5) Pin 23 requires horizontal flyback pulses which must be clamped by a diode to the +5 V supply.

Pin 24 — Undelayed Horizontal Blanking Output (Fig. 2-11) This output supplies undelayed horizontal blanking pulses. These pulses are for keying of the IF amplifier and are key- ing pulses for the VCU.

Pin 25 — Vertical Flyback Safety Input (Fig. 2-5) To protect the picture tube from damage by burn-in in the event of a malfunction of the vertical deflection, an ac- knowledge pulse derived from the vertical deflection yoke is fed to pin 25. If this pulse exceeds the 2.5 V threshold during vertical blanking, the blanking pulse will be terminated. If it is planned to operate without this picture tube protection, pin 25 must be connected to +5V.

Pin 26 — Vertical Flyback Output (Fig. 2-12) This pin supplies the same pulse width-modulated sawtooth signal as pin 27, but only for 350 us from the start of the vertical flyback. During the remaining time, pin 26 is at high impedance. The signal supplied by pin 26 is used for fast charge-reversal of the integration capacitor.

Pin 27 ~ Vertical Sawtooth Output (Fig. 2-12) This pin supplies the signal, in pulse width-modulated form, for driving the vertical output stage. To produce the analog sawtooth signal, this signal must be integrated externally, e. g. by an RC network. By way of the IM bus interface and the HSP processor, it is possible for this sawtooth to be varied by the CCU.

Pin 28 — East-West Parabola Output (Fig. 2-12) This pin supplies the vertical-frequency parabola signal for the east-west correction in pulse width-modulated form. Via the IM bus and the HSP processor, the east-west parabola can be adjusted by the CCU.


Pin 29 — Horizontal Output Polarity and Pulse width Select Input (Fig. 2-6) This pin serves for selecting the polarity and the pulse width of the output pulses of pin 31 as described in section 3.4. This pin must be connected to ground or to +5 V.

Pin 31 — Horizontal Output (Fig. 2-10) This output supplies the driving pulses for the horizontal output stage. The output pulse polarity can be selected by means of pin 29.


Pin 33 — External Standard Selection Input (Fig. 2-7) This input is used for selecting the horizontal frequency standard, as shown in Table 3-2. If pin 33 is +5 V, the DPU operates only with the NTSC standard. If it is connected to ground, however, the DPU is set for the PAL or SECAM standard, and the horizontal standard can only be changed by the CCU command between PAL/SECAM and Text dis- play mode. If pin 33 is unconnected, all standards can be selected by the CCU via the IM bus. Furthermore, when pin 33 is unconnected, the horizontal protection circuit is in ef- fect, and for this a 4 MHz signal is required at pin 34. In this case, the output pulse at pin 31 is limited to a maximum du- ration of 30 us for all standards. The phase resolution of the trailing edge of this pulse is reduced to 250 ns, if the output pulse is set to more than 30 ys pulse width.

Pin 34 — Protection Circuit Clock Input (Fig. 2-8) When pin 33 is left unconnected, a 4 MHz clock signal is required at pin 34 for the horizontal protection circuit. The 4 MHz clock can be fed to pin 34 via a capacitor, and is available, e. g., at pin 1 of the CCU at no added cost. If the 4 MHz signal is not present and pin 33 is not connected, the horizontal output pin 31 is undefined.

Pin 35 — Start Oscillator Supply
Via this pin it is possible with minimum current consumption to operate the horizontal protection circuit as a starting oscillator. For this purpose only the 4 MHz signal at pin 34 is required. Pin 36 must be connected to pin 35.

Pin 36 — Start Oscillator Select Input (Fig. 2-6) if the start oscillator function is required (see Table 3-2), pin 36 must be connected to pin 35. If the start oscillator function is not used, pin 36 has to be connected to ground. In this mode, the horizontal output pin 31 is switched off (at high level) as long as the Reset input pin 5 is Low.

Pin 37 — Control Switch Output for the Horizontal Power Stage (Fig. 2-11) This pin serves for switching over the horizontal output
stage to another frequency.

Pin 38 — Test pin This pin is an input/output of the type shown in Fig. 2-9. It is used for testing the DPU during production and should be left unconnected in normal operation.

Pin 39 — Interlace Control Output (Fig. 2-10) This pin is for controlling an AC coupled vertical power stage for interlace-free mode.


3. Functional Description


3.1. Block Diagram

The DPU 2553, DPU 2554 and DPU 2555 Deflection Processors perform all tasks associated with deflection in TV sets: — sync separation — generation and synchronization of the horizontal and the vertical deflection frequencies — the various east-west corrections, - vertical sawtooth generation including S correction as described hereafter. The DPU communicates, via the bidirectional serial IM bus, with the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit and, via this bus, is supplied with the picture-correction alignment information stored in the MDA 2062 EEPROM during set production, when the set is turned on. The DPU is normally clocked with a trapezoidal 17.734 MHz (PAL or SECAM), or 14.3 MHz (NTSC) or 20.25 MHz (D2-MAC) clock signal supplied by the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC. The functional diagram of the DPU is shown in Fig. 3-1. 3.2. The Video Clamping Circuit and the Sync Pulse Separation Circuit The digitized composite video signal delivered as a 7-bit parallel signal by the VCU 2133 or

VCU 2134 Video Codec is first noise-filtered by a 1 MHz digital low pass filter and, to improve the noise immunity of the clamping circuit, is additionally filtered by a0.2 MHz low pass filter before being routed to the minimum and back porch level detectors (Fig. 3-2).

The DPU has two different clamping outputs, No. 1 and No. 2, one of which supplies the required clamping pulses to the video input of the VCU as shown in Fig. 3-1. The following values for the clamping circuit apply for Video Amp. I. Since the gain of Video Amp. Il is twice that of Video Amp I, all clamping and signal levels of Video Amp II are half those of Video Amp | referred to +5 V. After the TV set is switched on, the video clamping circuit first of all ensures by means of horizontal-frequency cur- rent pulses from the clamping output of the DPU to the coupling capacitor of the analog composite video signal, that the video signal at the VCU’s input is optimally biased for the operation range of the A/D converter of 5 to 7 V. For this, the sync top level is digitally measured and set to a constant level of 5.125 V by these current pulses. The horizontal and vertical sync pulses are now separated by a fixed separation level of 5.250 V so that the horizontal synchronization can lock to the correct phase (
see section 3.3. and Figs. 2-17 and 3-2). With the color key pulse which is now present in synchro  with the composite video signal, the video clamping circuit measures the DC voltage level of the porch and by means of the pulses from pin 21 (or pin 4), sets the DC level of the porch at a constant 5.5 V (5.25 V for Video Amp ll). This level is also the reference black level for the VPU 2203, CVPU 2233 or CVPU 2235 Video Processors. When horizontal synchronization is achieved, the slice level for the sync pulses is set to 50 % of the sync pulse amplitude by averaging sync top and black level. This ensures optimum pulse separation, even with small sync pulse amplitudes (see application notes, section 4.).
 

 

 SPU 2220 SECAM Chroma Processor



SECAM Chroma Processor Digital real time signal processor for processing SECAM video chroma signals in combination with the VPU 2203 Video Processor which processes the luminance information at the same time. The SPU 2220 is an N-channel VLSI MOS circuit, housed in a 40-pin Dil plastic package and contains on a single silicon chip the following functions: — a code converter — a digital SECAM bell filter — a switchable IF spectrum compensation filter ~ a digital FM de modulator with DC offset correction, de emphasis and de multiplexer — a digital Red-/Blue-line identification - a digital standard recognition circuit — a color saturation multiplier with multiplexer for the color difference signals — the IM bus interface circuit which provides the communication with the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit via the bidirectional IM bus — chroma outputs (pins 23 to 26) can be disabled by means of pin 22

1. Functional Description
The SPU 2220 digitally processes the SECAM color signals supplied in digital form as a parallel 7-bit -Gray-coded signal by the VCU 2133 Video Codec. Acting in parallel with the VPU 2203 Video Processor (Fig. 2),

the SPU 2220 separates the color information from the digital video signal, performs the bell filter function and the IF spectral compensation before submitting the 17.734 MHz sampled signal to the digital algebraic demodulator. The demodulator produces an 8-bit signal, sampled at 4.43 MHz, whose amplitude is proportional to the frequency of the incoming frequency-modulated color difference signal. After demodulation, the color difference signals undergo digital deemphasis before being demultiplexed using a 64 us delay line. After passing the saturation multiplier the co- lor difference signals are multiplexed in a form compatible to that used in the VPU 2203. The SPU 2220 also includes automatic SECAM identification logic as well as Red-/Blue-Line detection and synchronization. Since the signal-
processing delay in the performance of SECAM decoding is greater than that experienced during PAL or NTSC decoding, the SPU 2220 compensates for this delay by delaying the digital video signal supplied to the VPU 2203 by a corresponding amount (5.5 us) in SECAM operation.

1.1. The Code Converter The 7-bit digital video signal supplied by the VCU 2133 Video Codec in the Gray-coded is initially converted into 7-bit two’s complement binary code for further processing.


1.2. The 5.5 us Delay Line This part of the SPU 2220 delays the digital video signal supplied by the VCU 2133 to be delivered to the VPU 2203. In this way the difference in processing time between the VPU 2203 (luminance channel) and the SPU 2220 (chrominance channel) in SECAM operation is compensated. The color key pulse for the VPU 2203 passes the Aux Delay block of the SPU 2220 in order to provide the same delay as for the video signal delayed in the 5.5 us delay line.

1.3. The SECAM Bell Filter This filter which has the same function as the conventional LC bell filter hitherto used, removes the luminance information and compensates the anti-bell response of the transmitter. Center frequency and frequency response of the bell filter are fixed and cannot be altered externally. The response of the SECAM bell filter is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

1.4. The IF Spectrum Compensation Filter Since the FM color information in the SECAM system covers a range of frequencies from 3.9 to 4.75 MHz (unlike the single frequency with its AM color information in the PAL and NTSC systems), the slight spectral distortion resulting from the tuner and IF section of the TV set should be compensated. For this, the 14-bit output of the bell filter passes the IF spectrum compensation filter which gives a compensating frequency response of about 4 dB/MHz. This filter can be switched on and off by the CCU via the IM bus using address 107 (see Table 2). Fig. 4 shows the various filter responses of the bell and IF compensation filter with the latter switched on and off.

 CVPU 2233 NTSC Comb Filter Video Processor

 
Article "Color Decoding a PCM NTSC Television Signal" by J. P. Rossi, Jun., 1974, Journal of the SMPTE, vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 489-495.
Article "Digital Television Image Enhancement" by J. P. Rossi, 1975, Journal of the SMPTE, vol. 84, at pp. 545-551.
Text "Theory and Application of Digital Signal Processing" by Rabiner and Gold, (Prentice-Hall, 1975), p. 550.
Paper "Nonrecursive Digital Filters with Coefficients of Powers of Two" by A. Tomozawa, in the IEEE Int'l. Conf. on Comm., pp. 18D-1 through 18D-5.
Paper "Colour Demodulation of an NTSC Television Signal Using Digital Filtering Techniques" by A. G. Deczky, 1975 IEEE Int'l. Conf. on Comm., vol. II, pp. 23-6 through 23-11.
U.S. patent application filed Aug. 31, 1981 in the name of H. G. Lewis, Jr., Digital Color Television Signal Demodulator, Ser. No.: 297,556.
An Approach to the Implementation of Digital Filters by L. R. Jackson, reprinted from IEEE Trans. Audio Electroacoust., vol. AU-16, pp. 413-421, Sep. 1968.
W. Weltersbach et al., "Digitale Videosignalverarbeitung im Farbfernsehempfanger", Fernseh und Kino-Technik, 35 Jahrgang, Nr. 9, Sep. 1981, pp. 317-323, (with translation).
T. Fischer, "Digital VLSI Breeds Next-Generation TV Receivers", Electronics, Aug. 11, 1981, pp. 97-103.
T. Fischer, "Fernsehen Wird Digital", Elektronik, No. 16, 1981, pp. 27-35, (with translation of pp. 30-31).
ITT Intermetall, A New Dimension-VLSI Digital TV System, Sep. 1981, pp. 1-23.

In a conventional television receiver, all signals are analog-processed. Analog signal processing, however, has the problems at the video stage and thereafter. These problems stem from the general drawbacks of analog signal processing with regard to time-base operation, specifically, incomplete Y/C separation (which causes cross color and dot interference), various types of problems resulting in low picture quality, and low precision of synchronization. Furthermore, from the viewpoints of cost and ease of manufacturing the analog circuit, a hybrid configuration must be employed even if the main circuit comprises an IC. In addition to these disadvantages, many adjustments must be performed.

In order to solve the above problems, it is proposed to process all signals in a digital form from the video stage to the chrominance signal demodulation stage. In such a digital television receiver, various improvements in picture quality should result due to the advantages of digital signal processing.

NTSC Comb Filter Video Processor Digital real-time signal processor for processing the video signals digitized by the VCU 2133 Video Codec Unit in digital color TV receivers according to the NTSC standard.

The CVPU 2233 is an N-channel MOS circuit, is housed in a 40- pin Dil plastic package and contains on a single silicon chip the following functions:
— a code converter
— an NTSC comb filter
— the chroma band pass filter
— the luminance filter with peaking facility
— a contrast multiplier with limiter for the luminance signal
~- all color signal processing circuits such as automatic color control (ACC), color killer, identification, decoder and hue correction
~ a color saturation multiplier with multiplexer for the color difference signals
— the IM bus interface circuit for communicating with the CCU 2030 or CCU 2050 Central Control Unit ~ circuitry for measuring dark current (CRT spot-cutoff), white level and photo current, and for transferring this data to the CCU.

1. Functional Description The CVPU 2233 Comb Filter Video Processor digitally processes the digital video signal supplied by the VCU 2133 Video Codec in the various circuit parts just mentioned.

The resulting digital signals are then reconverted to analog signals in the VCU 2133 and used to drive the cathodes of the picture tube, via the external RGB output amplifiers. Further, in conjunction with the VCU 2133, the CVPU 2233 performs a number of measurements and control operations relating to picture tube alignment such as spot-cutoff current adjustment, white level controi, beam current limiting, etc. To understand the signal processing in the two integrated circuits VCU 2133 and CVPU 2233, Fig. 2 may prove useful because it shows the signal flow and the several functional blocks in their logical sequence regardless of whether these blocks are in the VCU 2133 or CVPU 2233.

1.1. The Code Converter This circuit is shown only in Fig. 1. It serves to convert the digitized video signal, delivered by the VCU 2133 in a parallel Gray-coded , into a simple binary-coded signal for the comb filter.

1.2. The Comb Filter With the NTSC system, a comb filtering for separation of chrominance and luminance signals is easy to realize by a delay line that has the delay of one horizontal period (64 us). In the case of the CVPU 2233, this delay is realized by a RAM. When a comb filter is used, it is no longer necessary to have a chroma trap in the luminance signal path.

1.3. The Luminance Channel The luminance filter has two different values for its band- with, 4 MHz in the case an IF filtered video signal is processed, and 7 MHz if the video signal originates from a camera, a video signal disc player etc. Additionally, the filter handles peaking whereby the high-frequency components of the luminance signal in the range of 3 MHz are raised to improve picture sharpness. The amount of peaking is set by the CCU 2030 or CCU 2050 via the IM bus. Us- ing a fixed subtrahend of —0.25, the sync signal component not required in the luminance channel is suppressed. Peaking at 3 MHz is provided in the range from —3 dB to + 10 dB. It can be set by the user in eight steps. The peaking has a dead-data zone as shown in Fig. 14

in the description of the VCU 2133. The luminance filter has a DC gain of 1.0 (see Fig. 4). Behind the luminance filter, 9 bits are used to carry the luminance signal, so that the overshoots caused by the peaking filter can be transmitted to the Y D/A converter in
the VCU 2133.

The peaking curves are shown in Fig. 5.
Following the peaking circuit (Fig. 2) is the contrast multiplier which, combined with a limiter, limits the luminance signal if its amplitude becomes too high. The contrast setting, too, is controlled by the CCU via the IM bus, depending on the user’s instructions. Further, the contrast is adapted to the room lighting by means of a photo sensor connected to pin 17 of the CVPU 2233. In this process, the signal generated by the photo sensor is first digitized in the CVPU 2233 and then, during vertical flyback, transferred in multiplex operation to the CCU. The CCU calculates the contrast needed and finally sends the corresponding control signal to the CVPU 2233's contrast multiplier via the IM bus. After the contrast multiplier are added 31 steps as a constant DC signal, so that the system can transmit the negative undershoots-caused by peaking, to the D/A converter (see Fig. 3). From the contrast multiplier, the digital luminance signal is back to 2133 form of a 8-bit signal. In fed the VCU in the VCU 2133,
the signal enters the Y D/A converter. The converter feeds the analog luminance signal to the RGB matrix.

The setting range of the contrast multiplier comprises 6 bits (63 steps) and a gain of 1. If the product of the multiplication at the multiplier’s output is higher than the working range, the largest possible number (1 111 1 1 1 1) is put out. This means the limiting mentioned above is achieved.

4. Inner Configuration of the Connection Pins The following figures schematically show the circuitry at the various pins. The integrated protection structures are not shown. The letter “E” means enhancement, the letter “D” depletion.

5. Description of the Connections and the Signals
Pin 1 - Color Key Pulse Input This input’s configuration is shown in Fig. 8. Via this pin, the CVPU 2233 gets the color key pulse from pin 19 of the DPU 2543. In the quiescent state high level must be applied, and during pulse a low level.

Pins 2 to 4 - IM Bus Connections By means of these pins, the CVPU 2233 is linked with the CCU 2030 or CCU 2050.

Pins 3 (Ident Input) and 4 (Clock Input) are configured as shown in Fig. 8. Pin 2 (Data Input/ Output) is shown in Fig. 13.

Pins 5 to 11 — Inputs VO to V6 The circuit of these inputs is shown in Fig. 9. Via these in- puts, the CVPU 2233 receives the digitized composite video signal from the VCU 2133 in a 7-bit parallel Gray-coded . Input VO gets the least significant bit (LSB) and input V6 the most significant bit (MSB).

Pins 12, 24 and 31 — Supply Voltage, +5 V These pins must be connected to the positive of the 5 V supply. Pin 13 — Vertical Blanking Pulse Input Fig. 8 shows the diagram of this input. Via this pin the CVPU 2233 receives the vertical blanking pulse from the DPU 2543. In the steady state, high level must be applied, and during pulse a low level. The vertical blanking pulse is required for controlling the tests described in section 1.5., which are carried out during vertical flyback.

Pin 14 - Outputs Disable Input This input (Fig. 8) serves for fast switch over of the luma and chroma outputs (Pin 27 to 30 and 32 to 39) to the high- impedance state. Pin 14 low means outputs active, and Pin 14 high means outputs disabled.

Pin 15 —- Beam Current Input By means of this pin, whose circuit is shown in Fig. 10, the CVPU 2233 receives the common analog signal which is supplied by three current sensing transistors inserted in the cathode lines of the picture tube. Via the internal switch $1 (Fig. 5) the analog signal is fed to the internal A/D converter. Input voltage range is 0 V to Vig.

Pin 16 — Beam Current Switch over Output This pin serves for selecting the sensitivity of the beam cur- rent input pin 15 by connecting an additional 10 kQ resistor parallel to pin 15 and ground, thus reducing this input’s sensitivity. By this means, the current supplied by the three sensor transistors mentioned is the spot-cutoff current on the one hand (high sensitivity) and the white level current on the other (low sensitivity).
The circuit of pin 16 is shown in Fig. 11.

Pin 17 — Photo Sensor Input This input has the same properties as pin 15. It serves for measuring the current supplied by the photo sensor and is activated by switch S2 (Fig. 5). Its input voltage range is al- so 0 V to Vig.

Pin 18 — Analog Ground, 0 This pin is used as a ground connection in conjunction with pins 15 to 17.

Pin 19 — Reference Voltage Input This pin gets the externally-produced reference voltage of half the supply voltage, that is required by the circuitry shown in Fig. 5 and must be filtered by a capacitor of sufficient capacity.

Pin 20 — Reset Input This pin’s circuit is shown in Fig. 8. In the steady state, high level is required. A low level normalizes the CVPU 2233.
Pins 21 and 40 — Digital Ground, 0 These pins are used as ground connection in all cases where digital signals are invoived.

Pins 22 — gM Main Clock Input Via this pin the CVPU 2233 is supplied with the required main clock signal by the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC. Fig. 12 shows the diagram of Pin 22.

Pin 23 — Test Pin During normal operation, this pin must be connected to ground.

Pin 25 — Data Clock Output (PLL) This pin whose diagram is shown in Fig. 11 supplies the data clock signal needed for the serial data transfer of the PLL information from the phase comparator contained in the CVPU 2233 to the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) contained in the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC. The frequency of the data clock signal is one fourth of the main clock’s frequency.

Pin 26 — Data Output (PLL)
This pin whose diagram is shown in Fig. 11 supplies the 12- bit data word explained in section 1.6., which serves for closing the PLL circuit which determines the main clock signal used in the DIGIT 2000 TV receiver.

Pins 27 to 30 — Outputs C3 to CO These outputs’ configuration is shown in Fig. 11. Via these pins, the R-Y, B-Y, and picture tube alignment data is transferred in multiplex operation to the VCU 2133.


Pins 32 to 39 — Outputs LO to L7
These outputs are identical to pin 27, too. Via these pins, the CVPU 2233 delivers the digital luminance signal (Y) to the VCU 2133, where it is reconverted to an analog signal.

 VPU 2204

  VPU 2204 ,

 

 DTI 2222 2223.

This invention relates generally to digital television systems and specifically to an arrangement for improving the luminance signal transient response characteristics and peaking of a digital television receiver.

A digital television receiver described in the ITT publication entitled "Digit 2000-DSLI Digital TV System," which is incorporated by reference herein, describes a digital color television receiver arrangement having a microprocessor that controls a plurality of function control modules over a so-called IM (Intermetall) bus. The luminance signal processing system of the present invention may be utilized with a television receiver constructed in accordance with the above-mentioned publication.

The art has circuits illustrating transient improvement of video signals to compensate for the effects of limited band-width and the like. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,121, issued Jun. 14, 1977, a "video crispener" is disclosed for improving the transient response of vide signals. That system developed first and second differentials of an analog input video signal and processing the first differential through a full wave rectifier and the second differential through a limiting amplifier. The products of the rectifier and limiting amplifier were multiplied and added back to the suitably delayed input video signal. Other variants on the above method were also disclosed. The inventive arrangement of the patent, to Applicants' knowledge has never been implemented in video apparatus.

Peaking of video signals has long been done in television receivers in an attempt to enhance the video display by emphasizing certain frequencies of the video signal. Peaking is arbitrary and is based upon subjective criteria as to what constitutes an optimized display. Conventional analog signal peaking techniques are not useful with digital signals however.

The present invention describes apparatus for processing a digitized luminance signal to accentuate or improve transients in the signal and to selectively and variably peak the signal to emphasize low and high frequencies while controlling undershoot and overshoot of the signal. In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the various parameters for controlling the amount of peaking and transient improvement are factory settings which may be accomplished in software.

 Functional Description 3.1. Block Diagram The DTI 2222 is an N-channel MOS circuit which contains on one silicon chip mainly the following functional blocks (see Fig. 3-1):

- chroma nibble demultiplexer and R-Y/B-Y demultiplexer - R-Y and B-Y interpolation filters - R-Y and B-Y rise time detectors - hold pulse generator - chroma nibble multiplexer - clock generator and MUX/DEMUX control - luminance delay circuit - IM bus interface The normal risetime of Luminance transients is about 150 ns, how- ever, for chrominance transients the rise time is between 800 and 1000 ns. The picture impression, especially of color bars in the standard test pattern, is considerably improved if the chrominance transients are given the same short rise time as the luminance transients.

 

 

 TPU 2732

Teletext Processor for Level 1 Teletext The TPU 2732 is specified to handle Level-1-Teletext information (in Germany: Video text) as it is transmitted today by the TV broadcast stations in Great Britain, Germany and other European countries. In this function, the TPU 2732 is part of the DIGIT 2000 digital TV system and works in con- junction with the other VLSI circuits and processors of this system. The Teletext adapter designed with the TPU 2732 is very simple and economic (Fig. 1), so that this new fea- ture may now become common as it was not possible due to the high cost of former multi-chip solutions up to now.

The TPU 2732 is an N-channel VLSI MOS circuit, housed in a 40-pin Dil plastic package and contains on a single silicon chip the following functions:
— one-chip solution of the Teletext processing (except for external RAM)
— ghost compensation to eliminate the effects of ghost pictures due to reflections
— as input signal is used the 7-bit digitized composite video signal delivered in a parallel Gray-coded by the VCU 2133 or VCU 2134 Video Codec
— reduced access time is provided for the Teletext pages by receiving and storing up to eight pages in one go
— up to eight stored pages
— function extended by automatic language-dependent character selection
~ switchover facility PAL/NTSC TPY 2732 H for Hebrew Characters Using the type designation TPU 2732 H, a mask option of the TPU 2732 can be supplied which, instead of the automatic language-dependent character selection described in sections 9.7. and 10.3., only displays the Hebrew character set.

With this device, the language-selecting control bits Cy to C14 or LSO to LS2 have no effect. 1. Short Functional Description The TPU 2732 whose block diagram is shown in Fig. 2, op- erates according to a rigid timing determined by the vertical cycle of the TV receiver. The data acquisition period starts at line 7 with PAL or line 10 with NTSC and ends at line 22 with PAL or line 21 with NTSC. During this period, the input data is processed by a ghost filter which is able to compensate reflections with short delay time of 0 to 0.8 us for PAL or 0 to 1 us for NTSC. Teletext information is synchronized and identified. A comparator pre selects the pages with page numbers that are requested by the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit and loads them into the RAM. To eliminate speed problems of the external RAMs, the data is buffered in an internal RAM buffer (Fig. 2). The comparator contained in the data acquisition unit decides into which sector of the RAM the data is stored. The display period
starts at line 48 with PAL or line 50 with NTSC and ends at line 286 with PAL or line 242 with NTSC. The display control unit selects one of the stored eight pages for display. The 8-bit character words are trans- formed into a 6 x 10 dot matrix with PAL or 6 x 8 dot matrix with NTSC by a character generator (ROM) of 96 programmed characters and are displayed in 24 rows of 40 characters each. Different character sets are available for eight languages under CCU or transmitter control, the required character set being selected automatically by the control bits C1 to C14 of row O of the Teletext page display- ed. Every tenth line with PAL or every eighth line with NTSC a new Teletext row is loaded from the RAM into the RAM buffer. When the RAM is not.accessed by the TPU 2732, the memory control refreshes the memory and handles CCU requests for RAM access. Via the IM bus the CCU can read from and write into ail RAM locations and controls the TPU 2732 by loading the appropriate registers in the RAM, so that the
TPU 2732 can be used to display text from other sources. The TPU 2732 can display a list of contents of the stored eight pages (me- nu) all by itself. As external RAM can be used either one 64 K x 1 bit Dynamic RAM or one 16 K x 1 bit Dynamic RAM. So, the RAM capacity is flexible to store 2 or 8 pages. The RAMs can be standard types (see section 3.).

 

 

 MCU 2600 Clock Generator IC




Clock Generator IC Integrated circuit in Cl technology for generating the main clock @M for digital TV receivers according to the DIGIT 2000 concept.

1. Introduction The MCU 2600 Clock Generator IC supplies the digital signal processors, decoders, converters etc. of the DIGIT 2000 digital TV system with the required main clock signal, which is of trapezoidal shape, with rounded corners, in order to avoid interference.
For PAL and SECAM, the clock frequency is four times the PAL color subcarrier frequency, and for NTSC, the clock frequency is four times the NTSC color subcarrier frequency: for PAL and SECAM: fom=4 x 4.4383 618 75 MHz= 17.734475 MHz for NTSC: fom=4 x 3.579545 MHz= 14.318 180 MHz for D2-MAC: fg. =20.25 MHz

2. Functional Description As can be seen from the block diagram Fig. 2-1,

three VCOs (voltage-controlled oscillators) integrated in the MCU 2600 Clock Generator IC (one for PAL and SECAM, one for NTSC, and one for D2-MAC operation) form part of a PLL (phase-locked loop) circuit, the other parts of which, the phase comparator and the digital PLL filter are placed in the VPU 2203 or the CVPU 2233 or the CVPU 2235 or the DMA 2270. The filtered phase difference signal Ag is sup- plied in digital serial form (Fig. 2-2) to pin 6 of the MCU 2600. This data transfer is controlled by means of the data clock signal which is fed to pin 5 of the MCU 2600 and whose frequency is % of the main clock signal @M. With the negative transition of the data clock signal, the data is written into the shift register, and with the positive transition, the content of the shift register is shifted by 1 bit. After 12 bit have been written into the shift register and the data clock signal has attained again the stable high level (Fig. 2-2), an internal delay of about one data clock period occurs.
This following, the data are taken over into the parallel register. From there, the information is fed to the oscillator control circuit and to the 9-stage D/A converter that produces the tuning voltage for the three voltage-controlled oscillators. The write-and-store cycle is initiated at the begin of each horizontal sweep. The closed control loop ensures a phase-true locking be- tween the oscillator signal (from which is produced the @M main clock) and the color subcarrier burst or the digital data burst contained in the received signal. The signal produced by the VCO in action, is transferred to the filter via the oscillator control circuit. The filter forms the required main clock @M and is followed by the output buffer that provides a low-impedance output signal suited for clocking the DIGIT 2000 signal processors. The timing of the data transfer from the VPU 2203, CVPU 2233 or CVPU 2235 Video Processor or the DMA 2270 D2-- MAC Decoder to the MCU 2600 Clock Generator IC is illustrated in Fig. 2-2. The
first three bits serve for selecting the required VCO, depending on whether PAL/SECAM, NTSC, or D2-MAC operation is chosen. The following nine bits (LSB first) provide the tuning signal for the VCO in the shape of two’s complement. These nine bits are composed of the filtered sign-containing phase deviation Aq (7 bits) and the sign-containing alignment value for the oscillator (8 bits). If the MCU 2600 Clock Generator IC is employed in a multi- standard TV set, the required VCO is selected in the way al- ready described. For use in a single-standard receiver, the selection of the operating VCO is free and independent of the data signal. The not-used oscillators can be blocked externally by applying ground to pins 9, 10 or 12. In the case of a multi-standard TV set with up to three operated VCOs, the priority level for operation is internally fixed with the highest level for VCO 1 and the lowest level for VCO 3. This means, when switching on and also in the case of data faults the oscillator control circuit
will select the oscillator with the highest level, if the input of this oscillator is not externally grounded. It should be noted that all connection rails on the PC board must be designed under the point of view of HF signals. An inductance of 10 nH/cm can be assumed at a 0.5 to 1 mm wide rail. This makes an inductive impedance of several Ohms per cm length for the important 3°¢ harmonic of f gy. Best performance is given by ground plane layout of the PC board. All ground and signal lines should be as wide as possible, inductance-free and without loops in the neighbourhood of high HF currents. All supply pins of the clock generator IC must be equipped with ceramic bypass capacitors directly at the IC to ground pins on the shortest possible way.

6. Description of the Connections and Signals

Pin 1 — Ground of Output Buffer This pin serves as separate ground pin for the output buffer and must be carefully decoupled from the crystal oscillators and the input signals.

Pin 3 —- @M Main Clock Output (Fig. 5-1) This pin supplies the clock signal for the DIGIT 2000 TV receiver for clocking all signal processors used in this system.

Pin 4 — Vsyp Output Buffer Supply A positive supply voltage of 5 V is required which powers the output buffer and must be well decoupled with respect to the other supply pin. For this, a bypass capacitor is required between pins 4 and 1.

Pin 5 — PLL Clock Input (Fig. 5-2) Via this pin the MCU 2600 Clock Generator receives the PLL clock for transferring the tuning signal from the VPU, the CVPU or the DMA to the VCO integrated in the MCU 2600.

Pin 6 — PLL Data Input (Fig. 5-2) The desired oscillator is selected by the signal fed to pin 6 as described in Table 4-1. Additionally, pin 6 receives the digital PLL information supplied by the VPU, the CVPU or the DMA, to control the VCO included in the MCU 2600 Clock Generator.

Pin 7 — Ground This pin serves as ground pin for the whole circuit except the output buffer. Its connection should be separated care- fully from the pin 1 ground connection.

Pins 8 to 13 — Crystal Connections (Fig. 5-3) In addition to the oscillator function, the respective input pin serves also for switching off the not-used oscillators by connecting their input pins to ground (pin 7).

Pin 14 — Vgyp Supply Voltage This pin is the supply pin for the whole IC except the output buffer. It must be decoupled carefully with respect to the output buffer supply pin 4. For this, a bypass capacitor between pins 14 and 7 is required.


MDA 2062 1024-Bit EEPROM

1024-Bit EEPROM
Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) in N-channel floating-gate technology with a capacity of 128 words, 8 bits each. The MDA 2062 is intended for use as a re programmable non-volatile memory in conjunction with the CCU 2030/2050/2070 series Central Control Units of the DIGIT 2000 Digital TV System, the MAA 4000 Remote-Control and PLL-Tuning Microcomputers for TV receivers or the SAA 1280, SAA 1290 and SAA 1293 Remote-Control and Tuning ICs. It serves for storing the tuning information as well as several analog settings, further alignment information given in the factory when producing the TV set. The stored information remains stored even with the supply voltages switched off. Reading and programming operations are executed via the IM bus (see section 7.). Input and output signals are TTL level. An address option input provides the possibility to operate two memories in parallel, to obtain a total storage capacity of 2048 bits.

1. Functional Description
1.1. Memory Operation
The internal memory address space ranges from address 128 to address 255. Addresses 4 and 14 provide special functions. To read a stored data word, the desired memory address has to be entered to the memory address register first. This is done by serially entering the IM bus address 128 (optionally 132) (during Ident = L), followed by the memo- ry address (during Ident = H) in a single IM bus operation. With the memory address register set, the memory data may be read. This, in turn, is done by entering the IM bus address 129 (optionally 133) to the device (during Ident = L). Immediately after this, within the same IM bus operation (during Ident = H) the open-drain Data output will conduct to serially transmit the respective 8-bit memory data. Reprogramming a memory location is done in two steps, a) and b), that are identical except for the data word to be entered. Step a) resets all bits to “1”, and step b) programs the desired data into the selected memory location. a) First, the desired memory address is
entered in the way described above. Second, the actual programming is initiated by serially entering the IM bus address 131 (optional- ly 135) followed by the data word to be stored, which is 255 for step a). The device will now internally time its program- ming sequence of approx. 16 periods of the 1 kHz memory clock. During this “busy” time all inputs are blocked from affecting the programming except for the Reset input. A Reset = L signal will immediately cancel any programming operation as well as any bus operation in progress. The busy state may be interrogated by reading bit 1 of ad- dress location 14. A high level of this “busy-bit” indicates that programming is still under way. The IM bus operation for entering address 14 should always directly precede reading the busy-bit. Reading any other address location during the busy state will produce erroneous data at the Data output. An address change operation during the busy state will not change the memory address register content. The intended start of another programming operation during the busy time will not be executed. b) After time-out, normal operation may be resumed, e. g. by performing the second step of a programming sequence, i. e. by programming the desired 8-bit data word into the respective memory address location. This is done by restoring the proper memory address first, if necessary, and then by serially entering the IM bus address 131 (optionally 135) followed by the desired 8-bit data word. The device will again time its own programming sequence as described under a). After time-out the new data may be verified.


1.2. Redundancy

The MDA 2062 EEPROM contains circuitry that allows to replace up to two rows of the memory matrix, each containing 4 bytes of memory, by redundant rows SR 1 and SR 2. This substitution can be done in the field, by the user. To prepare for activation of SR 1, memory address location 192 must contain the 5 LSB of the memory address containing the defect, which identifies the row to be substituted. Furthermore, bit 5 has to be set to “0”, which identifies the data to be redundancy relevant (see Fig. 2). To prepare for activation of SR 2, memory address location 160 must contain the equivalent data.

The activation itself of the redundant rows is done by reading the content of memory address locations 192 and 160. This transfers the repair information stored nonvolately in the memory array to volatile repair registers. It is important to note that the repair registers are cleared (bit 5 set to “1”) by any Reset = L signal. Thus, any LH transition of the Reset signal must immediately be followed by reading the memory address locations 192 and 160, which restores the repair information to the repair registers. SR 2 may be substituted by SR 1, whereas SR 1 cannot be substituted. As well, row 0 which contains the memory address locations 192 and 160 cannot be substituted. SR 1 and SR 2 are part of the memory matrix portion that is not protectable by the S signal. Memory address locations 192 and 160 are part of the protectable portion.

1.3. Testing The MDA 2062 EEPROM contains circuitry designed to facilitate testing of the various functions. By programming data into address location 4, the device is switched to one or more of a number of test modes. A detailed description is given in section 6.

1.4. Protected Matrix The programming matrix contains a protectable portion. Addresses 128 to 134, 160 to 166, 192 to 198 and 224 to 230 can only be programmed if the “Safe” input S (pin 6) is at high potential. In that way, this portion of the memory is protected against inadvertent reprogramming even if such false information were received via the IM bus. The second part of the programming matrix is not protected.

1.5. Shipment Parts are shipped with all bits set to “1”, except for ad- dresses 192 and 160 which may contain repair information. The content of memory address locations 192 and 160, if different from 255, should not be altered, as this will result in defective rows appearing within the memory address space.


5. Description of the Connections and the Signals

Pin 1 — Option Input Fig. 5 shows the internal configuration of this input. With Pin 1 at ground potential (low) or floating, the MDA 2062 reacts upon the IM bus addresses 128, 129 and 131. With pin 1 continuously at Vpp potential (high), the MDA 2062 reacts upon this IM bus addresses 132, 133 and 135 (see Fig. 8). In this way, parallel operation of two MDA 2062 is permitted, to obtain 2048 bits of non-volatile storage direct- ly accessible via the IM bus. Pin 1 is internally tied to ground via a transistor equivalent to a 40 kQ resistor.

Pins 2, 4, 5 and 11 — NC These pins are not connected internally.

Pin 3 — Programming Voltage Vp A programming voltage of + 20 V (+ 5%) is required. The current consumption during programming is approximately 1 mA. During non-programming operations, pin 3 may be held at any level between (Vpp — 0.7 V) and + 21 V. It may also be left floating. The MDA 2062 EEPROM must not be inserted or removed from a socket with Vp > 6 V. During power on/off sequences, current from the Vp supply should be limited to Ip max = 5 MA.

Pin 6 ~ Safe Input S Fig. 5 shows the internal configuration of this input. Normally, with pin 6 at ground potential (low), one portion of the programming matrix is protected so that this part of the memory cannot be reprogrammed inadvertently. Only when pin 6 receives high potential continuously, the protected portion of the memory matrix can be programmed. Pin 6 is internally tied to ground via a transistor equivalent to a 40 kQ. resistor.

Pin 7 — Ground, 0 This pin must be connected to the negative of the supplies.

Pins 8 to 10 — IM Bus Connections These pins serve to connect the MDA 2062 EEPROM to the IM bus (see section 7.), via which it communicates with the CCU 2030/2050/2070 or MAA 4030 series pC or the SAA 1280/SAA 1290/SAA 1293.

Pins 8 (IM Bus Clock In- put) and 9 (IM Bus Ident Input) are inputs as shown in Fig. 6 and pin 10 (IM Bus Data) is an input/output as shown in Fig. 7. The signal diagram for the IM bus is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11. The required addresses which the MDA 2062 EEPROM receives from the microcomputer, are also shown in Fig. 8.

Pin 12 — Reset Input This input has a configuration as shown in Fig. 6. Via this in- put, the MDA 2062, together with the other circuits belong- ing to the system, receives the Reset signal  which is derived from Vpp via an external RC circuit. A low level is required during power-up and power-down procedures. Low level at pin 12 (max. 1.3 V) cancels a programming procedure and an IM bus operation in progress.
The memory address register is not, the repair register is erased.
During operation, pin 12 requires high level (min. 2.4 V). Pin 13 — Memory Clock Input Via this input (Fig. 6) the MDA 2062 receives a 1 kHz clock signal from pin 3 of the CCU 2030, CCU 2050, CCU 2070 or MAA 4030 microcomputer or the SAA 1280/SAA 1290/SAA 1293.

Pin 14 — Supply Voltage Vpp
The supply voltage required is + 5 V (+ 5 %), and the current
consumption in active operation is approx. 30 mA.

6. Test Functions
This description of the test byte is not part of the specification. It contains no information necessary for normal (intended) use of the MDA 2062 memory. It is only intended as a description of the various functions of the test byte that are designed for factory use, but it does not specify such properties. The description is subject to change. Address location 4 contains a test byte which governs test mode operation of the MDA 2062. The test byte is set by performing the IM bus operation for entering address 4, followed by an IM bus programming operation with the desired test data word.

The test byte is valid during all following IM bus operations until changed or set to 0 by a Reset = L signal. The test byte shall not be changed during the busy time of a programming operation. Fig. 9 shows the bit arrangement of the test byte. Set bit 5 for activation of the test byte!

Block Programming Three block program modes can be activated by the test byte, in conjunction with the memory address loaded into the memory address register: 1) all bytes are selected (including 8 bytes in redundant rows): 2) all even-numbered bytes are selected (redundant bytes are not predetermined, they have to be defined as even bytes): 3) all odd-numbered bytes are selected (redundant bytes are not predetermined): memory address 76543210 1xxxxxOx (e.g. 128) 1xxxxx10 = (e.g. 130) 1xxxxx11~= (e.g. 131)


Thus, programming all selected bytes with the same de- sired data is done within one programming sequence. The complete sequence is: Enter Address 4 Program Test byte (e. g. 160) Enter Address 128, 130 or 131 Program Data A checker board pattern is programmed with two program- ming operations after loading the test byte: Enter Address 130 Program Data 85 Enter Address 131 Program Data 170 Read Reference Shifting

During read operations the memory cell threshold voltage is compared with a reference voltage. The comparator out- put then produces the logic one level for a cell threshold higher than the reference and the logic zero level for a cell threshold lower than the reference. The test byte provides means to shift the reference voltage in positive or negative direction in three steps: +0.3V, +06Vand + 09V.
During a read operation a positive-shifted reference voltage establishes a margin test for logic ones, whereas a negative-shifted reference does so for logic zeroes. This margin test is performed digitally by IM bus operations on- ly, without the need to switch analog power supplies. +0.9V: +0.6V: +0.3V: -—-03V: —06V: —~0O9V: 76543210 ~x010x1x1 x010x0x1 x010x1x0 *x110x0x0 x011x0x0 ‘%~111x0x0

Redundancy Disable
With bit one of the test byte set, the redundant rows can be accessed neither during byte program operations nor during any read operation, even if the redundancy registers are properly loaded. This test byte function has no effect on block programming operations.

Ramp Disable
The MDA 2062 contains circuitry to shape the internal program supply voltage to be a ramp function during programming operations. This feature is considered to be essential to a high erase/write endurance of the memory cells. Bit 3 of the test byte disables this ramp function so that the internal program supply, according to the timing diagram Fig. 10, is immediately disconnected from the Vop supply and connected to the Vp supply at the 4th falling edge of the 1 kHz memory clock, and is immediately disconnected from the Vp supply and re-connected to the Vpp supply at the 14th falling edge of the 1 kHz clock after the last rising Ident signal edge of the IM bus operation starting the program cycle. By this feature other than the built-in ramp function (approx. 100 ts/V) can be applied via the Vp supply pin.


7. Description of the IM Bus
The INTERMETALL Bus (IM Bus for short) has been designed to control the DIGIT 2000 ICs by the CCU Central Control Unit. Via this bus the CCU can write data to the ICs or read data from them. This means the CCU acts as a master whereas all controlled ICs are slaves. The IM Bus consists of three lines for the signals Ident (ID), Clock (CL) and Data (D). The clock frequency range is 50 Hz to 170 KHz. Ident and clock are unidirectional from the CCU to the slave ICs, Data is bidirectional. Bidirectionality is achieved by using open-drain outputs with On-resistances of 150 2 maximum. The 2.5 kQ pull-up resistor common to all outputs is incorporated in the CCU. The timing of a complete IM Bus transaction is shown in Fig. 11 and Table 1. In the non-operative state the signals of all three bus lines are High. To start a transaction the CCU sets the ID signal to Low level, indicating an address transmission, and sets the CL signal to Low level as well to switch the first bit on the Data line. Thereafter eight address

bits are transmitted beginning with the LSB. Data takeover in the slave ICs occurs at the High levels of the clock signal. At the end of the address byte the ID signal goes High, initiating the address comparison in the slave circuits. In the addressed slave the IM bus interface switches over to Data read or write, because these functions are correlated to the address. Also controlled by the address the CCU now transmits eight or sixteen clock pulses, and accordingly one or two bytes of data are written into the addressed IC or read out from it, beginning with the LSB. The Low clock level after the last clock pulse switches the Data line to High level. After this the completion of the bus transaction is signalled by a short Low state pulse of the ID signal. This initiates the storing of the transferred data. It is permissible to interrupt a bus transaction for up to 10 ms.

ADC 2310 E Audio A/D Converter

Audio A/D Converter
1. Introduction
Analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the analog stereo sound signals in digital TV receivers based on the DIGIT 2000 system, intended for working together with the APU 2400 T or the APU 2470 Audio Processor, being controlled by the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit and being clocked by the MCU 2632 Clock Generator. The ADC 2310 E is an integrated circuit in Cl technology, housed in a 24-pin Dil plastic package, and contains on one silicon chip the following functions (see Fig. 1-1):

— several analog input and output amplifiers
— five analog switches (S1 to $5) for selecting different
signal sources
— an analog stereo dematrix circuit
— alevel control facility
- two pulse-density modulators (PDM | and PDM Il)
— an IM bus interface

2. Functional Description Fig. 2-1 shows the block diagram of a digital stereo sound channel intended for a DIGIT 2000 TV receiver, equipped with additional audio inputs and outputs which can be used with the so-called Euro connector or SCART connector, e. g. for connecting a video recorder.

The analog sound signals selected for conversion by the analog switch S1 firstly pass through the level control section where the desired level control is carried out. Thereafter, they are fed to the first processing stage of the A/D conversion, the pulse-density modulators PDM | and PDM Il, whose output signals are 1-bit data streams with a data rate of 4.7 MHz maximum. This data is then transferred to the APU Audio Processor where the digital decimation filters are the input, performing the second step of the con- version process. Due to the very high sampling rate of the pulse-density modulators, no steep anti-aliasing filters are needed at the input. The digital output data of the whole converting system has a signal-to-noise ratio which can be compared to that of a conventional 13-bit A/D converter.

The TV Audio inputs get their analog signal (_+R and 2 R) from the stereo decoder of the TV set, whereas the Aux. Analog inputs are intended to receive an audio signal from a video recorder or another external source, e.g. via the SCART connector. The Analog Out | and II pins supply the selected audio signal, e.g., to the SCART connector for connection to a video recorder or other equipment.

2.1. The Analog Switches The five analog switches S1 to S5 (S1 and S3 are two-pole switches) are controlled via the IM bus (see section 2.6.) to select the required connections between the four analog inputs and the two digital outputs and the two additional analog outputs.

2.2. The Dematrix When switched on via the IM bus (switch 2, see Table 2-2),

the dematrix provides the 2 R and 2L stereo signals at the analog outputs. These signals are extracted form the L+R and 2R input signals according to the German TV stereo sound system (see Table 2-1 ).

2.3. The Pulse-Density Modulators The two pulse-density modulators, PDM | and PDM Il, are sigma-delta modulators equipped with two feedback loops each. At the outputs they supply pulse trains whose pulse density is proportional to the amplitude of the input signal. The maximum sampling rate, and thus the maximum pulse rate, is 4.7 MHz. possibilities are switched off, the capacitor at pin 9 is discharged rapidly to 2.8 V, and the level control goes to full level. The level control is under IM Bus control as shown in Table 2-2.

2.4. The Level Control Section This part of the ADC 2310 E serves to reduce the level of the input signal to be converted if the input signal exceeds the level for full drive of the PDM pulse-density modulators. Controlled by the IM bus, the audio level is sensed either in channel | or in channel fl or in both channels. If all three possibilities are switched off, the capacitor at pin 9 is discharged rapidly to 2.8 V, and the level control goes to full level. The level control is under IM Bus control as shown in Table 2-2.

2.5. The Clock Divider This part of the ADC 2310 E is provided for adapting the digital stereo sound channel to different TV standards. With bit 7 = Low (see Table 2-2 ), the divider ratio is set to 4:1, whereas bit 7 = High gives 3:1. This allows operation of the ADC 2310 E with almost the same sampling frequency at a main clock frequency OM of 17.7 MHz (PAL) or 14.3 MHz (NTSC), both supplied by the MCU 2632 Clock Generator.

2.6. The IM Bus Interface This circuit section is provided for controlling the ADC 2310 E by the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 Central Control Unit via the IM bus (see section 7.). In the case of ADC 2310 E, the IM bus is unidirectional from the CCU to the ADC. That means that information is only transferred from the CCU to the ADC 2310 E. The bit arrangement is shown in Fig. 2-2, and the actions performed can be de- rived from Table 2-2.


2.7. The Preemphasis and Deemphasis
The audio signal supplied by the stereo decoder or video demodulator of the TV set has a preemphasis determined.

5. Description of the Connections and Signals

Pin 1 — Ground
 (Analog) This pin serves as ground connection for the analog input signals at pins 4, 5, 8, 21 and 24 and as ground connection for the supply of the analog part of the ADC 2310 E.

Pins 2, 3, 6 and 7 — Capacitor Pins (Fig. 4-8) The filter capacitors for the inner and the outer feedback loop of the pulse-density modulators PDM | and PDM II must be connected to these pins.

Pins 4 and 5 — Analog (TV) Audio Inputs | and I! (Fig. 4-1)

These two inputs get their input signal from the stereo decoder or sound demodulator of the TV set, coupled via capacitors. The input signal range can be increased by adding series resistors.

Pin 8 — Analog (TV) Pilot Input (Fig. 4-2) It is possible to supply the ADC 2310 E with the pilot regardless of the position of switch S1 via this pin. The signal must be coupled capacitively.

Pin 9 ~ Level Control RC Pin (Fig. 4-9) The RC element connected to this pin determines the response time of the level control circuit.
 
Pins 10 and 11 — PDM Digital Sound Outputs (Fig. 4-5) These pins are the outputs of the pulse-density modulators PDM | and II which supply the PDM data to the APU Audio Processor.

Pin 12 —Vgyp; Supply Voltage (Analog) The analog circuitry of the ADC 2310 E is supplied via this pin.

Pin 13 —- Vgype Supply Voltage The supply at this pin powers the analog switches.

Pin 14 — Ground (Digital)
This pin is the ground connection for the digital output signals supplied by pins 10 and 11 and for the supply of the digital part of the ADC 2310 E.
 
Pin 15 — @M Clock Input (Fig. 4-3) This pin receives the required clock signal from the MCU 2632 Clock Generator.

Pin 16 — Bit 6 Data Output (Fig. 4-6) This output provides the status of bit 6 (see Table 2-2).

Pins 17 to 19 ~ IM Bus Inputs (Fig. 4-4) The ADC 2310 E is connected to the IM Bus and receives commands issued by the CCU via these pins.

Pin 20 — Vgyp; Supply Voltage (Digital) Pin 20 supplies the digital part of the ADC 2310 E.
Pins 21 and 24 — Analog (Aux) Audio Inputs | and Il (Fig. 4-2) These inputs can be used as playback inputs from a video recorder or other external sources, e. g. connected via the Euro or SCART connector. The input signal must be coupled via capacitors. The input signal range can be in- creased by adding series resistors.

Pins 22 and 23 —- Analog Audio Outputs | and II (Fig. 4-7)
These two analog outputs provide either the signals of the TV inputs (pins 4 and 5) or the signals of the Aux inputs pins 21 and 24, depending on the state of the analog switches which are set by the CCU via the IM bus according to Table 2-2.



APU2470 Audio Processor



digital Audio Processor

1. Introduction
The APU 2470 Audio Processor is an N-channel MOS circuit, housed in a 24 pin Dil plastic package. It is designed to perform digital processing of TV audio information. The architecture of the APU 2470 combines two main blocks:
1/0 blocks DSP block The I/O blocks are used to manage the input and output of audio information. The DSP block consists of a mask-programmable digital signal processor, whose software can be controlled by a microprocessor (CCU) via the IM bus. So parameters like coefficients can be modified during performance. By means of the DSP software, audio functions like dematrixing, bilingual mode, tone manipulation and volume control are performed. To allow bilingual performance two audio processing channels are available: MAIN channel, provided for the loudspeaker system AUX channel, provided for headphones Fig. 1-1 gives an overview of the APU functions.


1.1. Application of the APU 2470 The APU2470 is designed to interface with ITT’s ADC 2310E Audio A/D Converter as well as with the DMA 2270 D2-MAC Decoder or the NIP 2400 NICAM Demodulator/Decoder and the AMU 2485 Audio Mixer. It can receive digital data in two different formats:

a) The ADC 2310E receives analog audio information either from the SCART Interface, also called Euro connector (for example: video recorder) or from any terrestrial TV transmission and converts it into two 1-bit PDM streams. For this input format, decimation filters are provided in the APU 2470, converting each PDM stream into a 16-bit word at a sampling rate of approximately 35 kHz.

b) Digital serial audio data, provided for example by the DMA 2270 D2-MAC Decoder or the NIP 2400 NICAM Demodulator/Decoder and mixed in the AMU 2485 Audio Mixer, can be received via the S bus by means of the S bus interface.

ITT’s CCU 2030, CCU 2050, CCU 2070 or CCU 3000 Central Control Units of the DIGIT 2000 family are well suited for interfacing with the APU 2470 Audio Processor. Fig. 1-2 shows how the APU 2470 can be used together with the mentioned ITT ICs to realize multistandard audio processing with PAL and D2-MAC or NICAM signals. In the follow- ing descriptions data coming from the ADC will be called “PDM-Data’”, and data from the AMU will be called “S-Data”. Two different audio configurations are possible with the APU 2470 (Fig. 1-2). The dashed line version uses the AMU 2485 as a pre processing unit both for PDM-Data and S-Da- ta and allows mixing between both kinds of inputs. Another advantage of this version is the digital 50 us deemphasis included in the AMU 2485 applied to the PDM inputs. This gives the flexibility to switch between the D2-MAC/NICAM J17 deemphasis and the FM 50 us deemphasis without using analog means. This version is recommended for new TV concepts. The other application needs an analog 50 us
deemphasis in case of S-Data input in the AMU 2485. For that reason a switchable 50 us preemphasis is included in the AMU 2485. This version can be used in conjunction with the old ADC-APU concept.

5.3. Pin Descriptions
Pins 1 and 21 — Reference Current Inputs (Fig. 5-2) These inputs require a current of 150 uA called reference current Ine- and serving for volume adjustment in the DAC interfaces.

Pins 2 and 12 — Digital Ground, 0 These pins must be connected to the negative of the supply. They have to be used for ground connections in con- junction with digital signals.

Pins 3, 4 and 5 — IM Bus Connections
Via these pins, the APU 2470 is connected to the IM bus and communicates with the CCU. Pins 4 (IM bus Ident input) and 5 (IM bus Clock input) have the configuration shown in Fig. 5-3. Pin 3 (IM bus Data input/output) is shown in Fig. 5-7. The IM bus is described in section 2.1.3.

Pins 6, 8, 9 and 15 — Serial Audio Interface (S Bus)
Pin 9 is the S-Data input (Fig. 5-6) and pin 6 the S-Data out- put (Fig. 5-9). Pins 8 and 15 are S-Clock and S-Ident inputs/outputs (Fig. 5-8), the status depending on bit 4 in co- efficient k33 (see sections 2.1.2. and 4.13.). Pins 7, 14 and 18 — Vsyp Supply Voltage These pins must be connected to the positive of the supply. The clock buffer supply pin 14 must be decoupled carefully from the other supply pins.


Pin 10 — Vigg internal Substrate Bias Voltage
The APU 2470 has an on-chip substrate bias generator which produces a negative bias voltage of about 3.4 V. Pin 10 should have a 0.1 uF capacitor to ground.


Pin 11 — Reset Input (Fig. 5-3)
In the steady state, high level is required at pin 11. A low level normalizes the APU 2470. Initialization of the APU 2470 is described in section 4.12.


Pin 13 — @M
 Main Clock Input (Fig. 5-4) This pin receives the required main clock signal from the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC or from the DMA 2270 D2-MAC Decoder or the NIP 2400 NICAM Demodulator/Decoder.



Pins 16 and 17 —- PDM Il and PDM | Digital Inputs (Fig. 5-5) These pins receive the pulse-density modulated output signals of the ADC 2300 E or ADC 2310 E.


Pins 19 and 20 - AUX DAC Outputs 2L and 2R (Fig. 5-9) These pins supply the audio output signals as output cur- rents whose amplitude is determined by the reference cur- rent Inco fed to pin 1. The output signal of pins 19 and 20 is not influenced by the VOL 1 and VOL 2 volume controls and is intended for headphones, for example.


Pins 22 and 23 — MAIN DAC Outputs 1L
 and 1R (Fig. 5-9) These pins supply the audio output signals as output cur- rents whose amplitude is determined by the reference cur- rent Iger, fed to pin 21. The output signal of pins 22 and 23 is influenced by the VOL 1 and VOL 2 volume control facilities.

Pin 24 — Analog Ground 0 This pin must be connected to the negative of the supply. It serves as ground connection for analog signals.

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Viewing of Digital Audio - Sound Processing: ADC 2310 (ITT ADC2310) and APU 2470 (ITT APU2470)




































Parts.
Digital Video
Contains DIGIT2000 Digital Video Processing ChipSet.

VCU 2133 A (ITT VCU2133 A) (Video Codec Decodec Unit)
DPU 2543 (ITT DPU2543) (Digital Deflection Processor Unit)
PVPU 2203 (ITT PVPU2203) (PAL and Video Processor Unit)
DTI 2222 (ITT DTI2222) (Digital Transient Improvement [Chroma])
TPU 2732 (ITT TPU2732) (Teletext Processor Unit)
MCU 2600 (ITT MCU2600)
(Main Clock Unit)

ITT DIGIVISION CHIPSET FUNCTIONS SCHNEIDER CHASSIS DTV2.

SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 Set of three integrated circuits for digital video signal processing in color-television receivers: ITT DIGIVISION.

DIGITAL CRT TUBE Cathode RAY CURRENT CONTROL / Cut OFF / Drive and processing.
In this IC set, the dark currents and the white levels of the three electron guns, the leakage currents of the cathodes, and a light-detector current are measured during four successive vertical blanking intervals. The cathode leakage currents and the dark currents are measured in the first half of the vertical blanking interval, and the light-detector current and the white level currents are measured at the end of this interval. From these measured data and alignment data stored in a reprogrammable memory (ps), a microprocessor (mp) contained together with the memory (ps) in an integrated circuit (ic2) derives operating data for the picture tube (b) as well as further data. These operating data are transferred over a wire of a chroma bus (cb), over which chroma signals are transferred during the vertical sweep, into a shift register (sr) of a further integrated circuit (ic3) at the beginning of each vertical blanking interval, from where they are passed on to the picture tube (b) in groups via digital-to-analog converters and analog amplifiers. By the use of the chroma bus for a dual purpose, and the successive measurements of the above-mentioned picture-tube data, a saving of external terminals of the integrated circuits (ic1, ic2, ic3) is achieved.

1. Set of three integrated circuits(ic1, ic2, ic3) for digital video-signal processing in color-television receivers,
wherein the first integrated circuit (ic1) contains an analog-to-digital converter (ad) followed by a first bus interface circuit (if1) for a serial data bus (sb), and a first multiplexer (mx1) following the first bus interface circuit (if1), the analog-to-digital converter (ad) being fed with measured data corresponding to the cathode currents of the picture tube (b) flowing at "black" (="dark current") and "white" (="white level") in each of the three electron guns, and with the signal of an ambient-light detector (ls) via a second multiplexer (mx) in the vertical blanking interval, and the first multiplexer (mx1) being fed with the processed digital chrominance signals (cs),
wherein the second integrated circuit (ic2) contains a microprocessor (mp), an electrically reprogrammable memory (ps), and a second serial-data-bus interface circuit (if2) corresponding to the first bus interface circuit (if1), the memory (ps) holding alignment data and nominal dark-current/white-level data of the picture tube used (b) which were entered by the manufacturer of the color-television receiver and, together with the measured data, are used by the microprocessor (mp) to generate video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube (b), and
wherein the third integrated circuit (ic3) contains a demultiplexer (dx), an analog RGB matrix (m), and three analog amplifiers (vr, vg, vb) each designed to drive one of the electron guns via an external video output stage (ve), the dark current of the picture tube (b) being adjusted via the operating point of the respective analog amplifier, and the white level of the picture tube (b) being adjusted by adjusting the gain of the respective amplifier after digital-to-analog conversion, and with the demultiplexer (dx) connected to the first multiplexer (mx1)of the first integrated circuit (ic1) via a chroma bus (cb),
Characterized by the Following Features:
The first multiplexer (mx1) consists of three electronic switches (s1, s2, s3),
the first of which (s1) has its input grounded through a first resistor (r1) and connected to the collectors of external transistors (tr, tg, tb) which are each associated with one of the electron guns and the base of each of which is driven by the associated video output stage, while the emitter is connected to the associated electron gun system, and the output of the first switch (s1) is connected to the input of the analog-to-digital converter (ad);
the second of which (s2) has its input connected to the light detector (ls), while its output is coupled with the input of the analog-to-digital converter (ad), and
the third of which (s3) has its input connected to the input of the first electronic switch (s1) via a second resistor (r2), and its output is grounded, the value of the second resistor (r2) being about one order of magnitude smaller than that of the first resistor (r1);
the three electronic switches (s1, s2, s3) have the following positions:

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s1 s2 s3

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during vertical closed open closed sweep during vertical closed/open open/closed open/closed retrace: for leakage/light- det. current meas. for white level closed open closed measurement for dark current closed open open measurement

______________________________________

the measurements of the dark current together with the white level of each electron gun and the measurements of the light-detector current together with the cathode leakage currents are performed in four successive vertical blanking intervals;
to this end, the cathodes are connected at one end to a voltage for blacker than black (us), and at the other end to a voltage for black (ud) and then to a voltage for white (uw) in accordance with the following table:

______________________________________

Measurement in the first at about the Vertical half of the end of the blanking vertical vertical interval blanking blanking Cathode No. interval interval red green blue

______________________________________

1 Leakage cur- Light-detect- us us us rents of the or current cathodes 2 Dark current White level ud/uw us us red red 3 Dark current White level us ud/uw us green green 4 Dark current White level us us ud/uw blue blue

______________________________________

the measured data are transferred from the analog-to-digital converter (ad) to the microprocessor (mp) of the second integrated circuit (ic2) via the two interface circuits (if1, if2) and the data bus (sb) at an appropriate instant, and
the video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube (b), which are generated by the microprocessor (mp), are transferred from the second integrated circuit (ic2) via the two interface circuits (if1, if2) and a line (db) to the first multiplexer (mx1) of the first integrated circuit (ic1) at an appropriate instant, and from there over a wire of the chroma bus (cb) into a shift register (sr) of the third integrated circuit (ic3) shortly after the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval, the parallel outputs of which shift register (sr) are combined in groups each assigned to one type of operating value, and each of the groups is connected to one digital-to-analog converter (dh, ddr, ddg, ddd, dwr, dwg, dwb) which drives the RGB matrix (m) or the respective analog amplifier (vr, vg, vb).
. 2. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the voltage for blacker than black (us) is applied to the cathodes of the picture tube (b) during the data transfer to the shift register (sr). 3. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the microprocessor (mp) determines the appropriate instant for the measured-data transfer, and that, if a measurement has not yet been finished at that instant, the measured data of the corresponding earlier measurement are transferred. 4. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the measurement performed in a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the preceding measurement have been transferred to the microprocessor (mp). 5. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the measurement performed in a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the preceding measurement have been transferred to the microprocessor (mp). 6. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the microprocessor (mp) determines the appropriate instant for the measured-data transfer, and that, if a measurement has not yet been finished at that instant, the measured data of the corresponding earlier measurement are transferred. 7. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the measurement performed in a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the preceding measurement have been transferred to the microprocessor (mp). 8. An integrated-circuit set as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the measurement performed in a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the preceding measurement have been transferred to the microprocessor (mp).

Description:

The present invention relates to a set of three integrated circuits for digital video signal processing in color-television receivers as is set forth in the preamble of claim 1. An IC set of this kind is described in a publication by INTERMETALL entitled "Eine neue Dimension-VLSI-Digital-TV-System", Freiburg im Breisgau, September 1981, on pages 6 to 11 (see also the corresponding English edition entitled "A new dimension-VLSI Digital TV System", also dated September 1981).
The first integrated circuit, designated in the above-mentioned publications by "MAA 2200" and called "Video Processor Unit" (VPU), includes an analog-to-digital converter followed by a first serial-data-bus interface circuit which, in turn, is followed by a first multiplexer. During the vertical blanking interval, the analog-to-digital converter is fed, via a second multiplexer, with measured data corresponding to the cathode currents of the picture tube flowing at "black" (="dark current") and "white" ("white level") in each of the three electron guns, and with the signal of an ambient-light detector. The processed digital chrominance signals are applied to the first multiplexer.
The second integrated circuit, designated by "MAA 2000" and called "central control unit" (CCU) in the above publications, contains a microprocessor, an electrically reprogrammable memory, and a second serial-data-bus interface circuit. The memory holds alignment data and nominal dark-current/white-level data entered by the manufacturer of the color-television receiver. From these data and the measured data, the microprocessor derives video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube.
The third integrated circuit, designated by "MAA 2100" and called "video-codec unit" (VCU) in the above publications, includes a demultiplexer, an analog RGB matrix, and three analog amplifiers each designed to drive one of the electron guns via an external video output stage. After digital-to-analog conversion, the dark current of the picture tube is adjusted via the operating point of the respective analog amplifier, and the white level of the picture tube is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the respective analog amplifier. The demultiplexer is connected to the first multiplexer of the first integrated circuit via a chroma bus.
As to the prior art concerning such digital color-television receiver systems, reference is also made to the journal "Elektronik", Aug. 14, 1981 (No. 16), pages 27 to 35, and the journal "Electronics", Aug. 11, 1981, pages 97 to 103.
During the further development of the prior art system following the above-mentioned publication dates, the developers were faced with the problem of how to accomplish the dark-current/white-level control of the picture tube within the existing system, particularly with respect to measured-data acquisition and transfer and to the transfer of the operating data to the picture tube.
Another requirement imposed during the further development of the prior art system was that the leakage currents of the electron guns of the picture tube be measured and processed within the existing system. The solution of these problems is to take into account the requirement that the number of external terminals of the individual integrated circuits be kept to a minimum.
The object of the invention as claimed is to solve the problems pointed out. The essential principles of the solution, which directly give the advantages of the invention, are, on the one hand, the division of the measurement to four successive vertical blanking intervals and, on the other hand, the utilization of one wire of the chroma bus at the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval as well as the measurement of the ambient light by means of the light detector and the measurement of the leakage currents during a single vertical blanking interval.
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a block diagram of one embodiment of the IC set in accordance with the invention. It shows the first, second, and third integrated circuits ic1, ic2, and ic3, which are drawn as rectangles bordered by heavy lines. The first integrated circuit ic1 includes the analog-to-digital converter ad, which converts the measured dark-current, white-level, ambient-light, and leakage-current data into digital signals, which are fed to the first bus interface circuit if1. The latter is connected via the line db to the first multiplexer mx1, which interleaves data from the first bus interface circuit if1 with digital chrominance signals cs produced in the first integrated circuit ic1, and places the interleaved signals on the chroma bus cb. The generation of the digital chrominance signals cs is outside the scope of the present invention and is disclosed in the references cited above.
The first integrated circuit ic1 further includes the second multiplexer mx2, which consists of the three electronic switches s1, s2, s3, and represents a subcircuit which is essential for the invention. The input of the first switch s1 is grounded through the first resistor r1, and connected to the collectors of the external transistors tr, tg, tb, each of which is associated with one of the electron guns. Via the base-emitter paths of these transistors, the cathodes of the three electron guns are driven by the video output stages ve. The final letters r, g, and b in the reference characters tr, tg, and tb and in the reference characters explained later indicate the assignment to the electron gun for RED (r), GREEN (g), and BLUE (b), respectively. The output of the first switch s1 is connected to the input of the analog-to-digital converter ad.
The input of the second switch s2 is connected to the light detector ls, which has its other terminal connected to a fixed voltage u and combines with the grounded resistor r3 to form a voltage divider. The input of the second switch s2 is thus connected to the tap of this voltage divider, while the output of this switch, too, is coupled to the input of the analog-to-digital converter ad.
The input of the third switch s3 is connected to the input of the first switch s1 via the second resistor r2, while the output of the third switch s3 is grounded. The value of the resistor r1 is about one order of magnitude greater than that of the resistor r2.
For the whole duration of the picture shown on the screen of the picture tube b, and throughout the vertical sweep, the first switch s1 and the third switch s3 are closed, and the second switch s2 is open. During the vertical retrace interval, for the white-level measurement, the switches s1, s3 are closed, and the switch s2 is open; for the dark-current measurement and the leakage-current measurement, the switch s1 is closed, and the switches s2, s3 are open, and for the light-detector-current measurement, the switches s2, s3 are closed, and the switch s1 is open.
The measurements of the dark current and the white level of each electron gun and the measurements of the light-detector current and the leakage currents are made in four successive vertical blanking intervals. One end of the respective cathode is connected to a voltage us for blacker-than-black, and the other end is connected to a voltage ud for black and then to a voltage uw for white, in accordance with the following table:

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Measurement in the first at about the Vertical half of the end of the blanking vertical vertical interval blanking blanking Cathode No. interval interval red green blue

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1 Leakage cur- Light-detect- us us us rents of the or current cathodes 2 Dark current White level ud/uw us us red red 3 Dark current White level us ud/uw us green green 4 Dark current White level us us ud/uw blue blue

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The voltage ud for black is, as usual, a voltage which just causes no brightness on the screen of the picture tube b, i.e., a voltage just below the dark threshold of the picture tube. The voltage us for blacker-than-block is then a cathode voltage lying further in the black direction than the voltage for black. The voltage for white is the voltage for the screen brightness to be measured; the brightness of the screen is generally below the maximum permissible value.
Thus, two measurements are made during each vertical blanking interval, namely one in the first half, preferably at one-third of the pulse duration of the vertical blanking interval, and the other at about the end of the first half. During the four successive vertical blanking intervals, the first measurement determines the leakage currents of the cathodes and the dark currents for red, green, and blue. The second measurements determine the light-detector current and the white levels for red, green, and blue. During the measurement of the cathode leakage currents and the light-detector current, all three cathodes are at the voltage us. During the measurements of the dark current and the white level of the respective cathode, the latter is connected to the respective dark-current cathode voltage ud and white-level cathode voltage uw, respectively, while the cathodes of the two other electron guns, which are not being measured, are at the voltage us.
The second integrated circuit circuit ic2 contains the microprocessor mp, the electrically reprogrammable memory ps, and the second bus interface circuit if2, which is associated with the serial data bus sb in this integrated circuit and also connects the microprocessor mp and the memory ps with one another and with itself. The memory ps holds alignment data and nominal dark-current/white-value data of the picture tube used, which were entered by the manufacturer. From this alignment and nominal data and from the measured data obtained via the second multiplexer mx2 and the analog-to-digital converter ad of the first integrated circuit ic1, the microprocessor mp derives video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube.
The derivation of these operating data is also outside the scope of the invention; it should only be mentioned that with respect to the operating data of the picture tube, the microprocessor performs a control function in accordance with a predetermined control characteristic.
The third integrated circuit ic3 includes the demultiplexer dx, which is connected to the first multiplexer mx1 of the first integrated circuit ic1 via the chroma bus cb and separates the chrominance signals cs and the operating data of the picture tube from the interleaved signals transferred over the chroma bus. While the transfer of measured data from the analog-to-digital converter ad to the microprocessor mp of the second integrated circuit ic2 takes place via the two interface circuits if1, if2 and the data bus sb at an appropriate instant, the video-signal-independent operating data for the picture tube b, which are derived by the microprocessor mp, are transferred from the second integrated circuit ic2 via the two interface circuits if1, if2 and the line db to the first multiplexer mx1 at an appropriate instant, and from the first multiplexer mx1 over a wire of the chroma bus cb into the shift register sr of the third integrated circuit ic3 shortly after the beginning of the next vertical blanking interval. To accomplish this, the first interface circuit if1 also includes a shift register from which the operating data are read serially.
During this data transfer into the shift register sr, the cathodes of the picture tube b are preferably at the voltage us in order that this data transfer does not become visible on the screen.
The appropriate instant for the transfer of measured data to the microprocessor mp is determined by the latter itself, i.e., depending on the program being executed in the microprocessor, and on the time needed therefor, the measured data are called for from the interface circuits not at the time of measurement but at a selectable instant within the working program of the microprocessor mp. If the measurement currently being performed should not yet be finished at the instant at which the measured data are called for, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stored data of the previous measurement will be transferred to the microprocessor mp.
As mentioned previously, the operating data for the picture tube b are transferred into the shift register sr at the beginning of a vertical blanking interval. The parallel outputs of this shift register are combined in groups each assigned to one operating value, and each group has one of the digital-to-analog converters dh, ddr, ddg, ddb, dwr, dwg, dwb associated with it. In the figure, the division of the shift register into groups is indicated by broken lines. The shift register sr performs a serial-to-parallel conversion in the usual manner, and the operating data are entered by the demultiplexer dx into the shift register in serial form and are then available at the parallel outputs of the shift register.
The digital-to-analog converter dh provides the analog brightness control signal, which is applied to the RGB matrix m in the integrated circuit ic3. Also applied to the RGB matrix m are the analog color-difference signals r-y, b-y and the luminance signal y. The formation of these signals is outside the scope of the invention and is known per se from the publications cited at the beginning.
The three analog-to-digital converters ddr, ddg, ddb provide the dark-current-adjusting signals for the three cathodes, which are currents and are applied to the inverting inputs--of the analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb. Also connected to these inputs is a resistor network which is adjustable in steps in response to the digital white-level-adjusting signals at the respective group outputs of the shift register sr. The resistors serve as digital-to-analog converters dwr, dwg, dwb and establish the connection between the inverting inputs--and the outputs of the analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb.
In an arrangement according to the invention which has proved good in practice, each of the three dark-current-adjusting signals is a seven-digit signal, and each of the three white-level-adjusting signals and the brightness control signal are five-digit signals. The voltages us and ud/uw of the three cathodes are assigned a three-digit identification signal in accordance with the above table, which signal is also fed into the shift register sr in the implemented circuit. Finally, a three-digit contrast control signal is provided in the implemented circuit for the Teletext mode of the color-television receiver. These nine data blocks are transferred in the implemented circuit from the demultiplexer dx to the shift register sr in the following order, with the least significant bit transmitted first, and with the specified number of blanks: identification signal, white-level signal blue, three blanks, white-level signal green, three blanks, white-level signal red, one blank, dark-current signal blue, one blank, dark-current signal green, one blank, dark-current signal red, contrast signal Teletext, and brightness control signal. These are seven eight-digit data blocks which are assigned to 56 pulses of a 4.4-MHz clock frequency, which is the frequency of the shift clock signal of the shift register sr.
It should be noted that the data sequence just described does not correspond to the order of the groups of the shift register sr in the figure. The order in the figure was chosen only for the sake of clarity.
The outputs of the three analog amplifiers vr, vg, vb are coupled to the inputs of the video output stage ve, whose outputs, as explained previously, are connected to the bases of the transistors pr, tg, td, so that the cathodes of the picture tube b are driven via the base-emitter paths of these transistors.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the measurement performed during a vertical blanking interval is not enabled until the data of the previous measurement has been transferred into the microprocessor mp. In this manner, no measurement will be left out.
It is also possible to omit the digital-to-analog converter dh if the analog RGB matrix m is replaced with a digital one.
One advantage of the invention is that the use of the chroma bus for the transfer of operating data facilitates the implementation of the third integrated circuit ic3 using bipolar technology, because an additional bus interface circuit, which could be used there, would occupy too much chip area.

SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 Color-television receiver having integrated circuit for the luminance signal and the chrominance signals:

VIDEO CODEC UNIT (VCU).


The invention permits an n bit resolution to be achieved with an n-1 bit converter. In a color television receiver the analog-to-digital converter is a parallel analog-to-digital converter with p=2^r -1 differential amplifiers as comparators, where r is the number of binary digits of the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter minus one. The composite color signal is then applied as the input signal to the noninverting (or inverting) inputs of all p differential amplifiers and the inverting (noninverting) inputs of the differential amplifiers being connected successively to the taps of a resistive voltage divider which contains equal-value resistors and is fed with a reference voltage (Ur).
For the duration of every second line, either the reference voltage or the input signal is shifted by ΔU=0.5 Ur/2^r.
1. A color-television receiver comprising at least one integrated circuit for separating and conditioning the luminance signal and the chrominance signals from the composite color signal, said integrated circuit containing:
a chrominance-subcarrier oscillator,
a chrominance-subcarrier band-pass filter,
a synchronous demodulator,
a PAL switch,
a color matrix, and, if necessary,
an R--G--B matrix, and being characterized by the following subcircuits for conditioning digital signals:
the chrominance-subcarrier oscillator is a squarewave clock generator providing four clock signals the first of which has four times the chrominance-subcarrier frequency and the second to fourth of which have the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, with the first and second clock signals having a pulse duty factor of 0.5, and the third and fourth clock signals each consisting of two consecutive, T/2-long pulses separated by T/2 within each 4T-long period (T=period of the first clock signal);
an analog-to-digital converter clocked by the first clock signal, whose analog input is presented with the composite color signal, and which forms as its output signal a parallel binary word from the amplitude of the composite color signal (F) at the instants the respective amplitudes of the undemodulated chrominance signal are equal to the amplitudes of the respective color-difference signal;
a first binary arithmetic stage which multiplies the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter by a binary overall-contrast control signal;
a two-stage delay line which delays the output signal of the first binary arithmetic stage by T/2;
a second binary arithmetic stage which forms the arithmetic mean of the delayed and undelayed output signals of the first binary arithmetic stage;
a third binary arithmetic stage which subtracts the output signal of the second binary arithmetic stage from the output signal of the first delay stage;
a buffer-memory arrangement which temporarily stores the output signal of the third binary arithmetic stage, and whose enable input is fed with the third clock signal;
a shift-register arrangement consisting of n parallel shift registers (n=number of bits at the output of the third binary arithmetic stage) each of which provides a delay of one line period and whose serial inputs are connected to the parallel outputs of the buffer-memory arrangement, while their clock inputs are fed with the fourth clock signal;
a fourth binary arithmetic stage which forms the arithmetic mean of the input and output signals of the shift-register arrangement;
a fifth binary arithmetic stage which subtracts the input signal of the shift-register arrangement from the output signal of this arrangement and then divides the difference by two;
a sixth binary arithmetic stage which, controlled by the PAL switch, either leaves the output signal of the fifth binary arithmetic stage unchanged or forms its absolute value;
a seventh binary arithmetic stage which forms the green color-difference signal from the output signals of the fourth and sixth binary arithmetic stages;
the outputs of the second, fourth, sixth and seventh binary arithmetic stages are connected to the binary R-G-B matrix each of whose outputs is coupled to one of three digital-to-analog converters for deriving the analog signals for controlling the R-G-B values of the picture tube, or
the outputs of the second, fourth, sixth and seventh binary arithmetic stages are each connected to one of four digital-to-analog converters for deriving the analog signals for controlling the color-difference value of the picture tube;
the improvement wherein
the analog-to-digital converter is a parallel analog-to-digital converter with p=2^r -1 differential amplifiers as comparators, where r is the number of binary digits of the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter minus one, the composite color signal being applied as the input signal to one of the noninverting or inverting inputs of all p differential amplifiers and the other of the inverting or noninverting inputs of the differential amplifiers being connected successively to the taps of a resistive voltage divider which contains equal-value resistors and is fed with a reference voltage (Ur), and
for the duration of every second line, either the reference voltage (Ur) or the input signal (F) is shifted by ΔU=0.5 Ur/2^r.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Color-television receivers comprising at least one integrated circuit for separating and conditioning the luminance signal and the chrominance signals from the composite color signal are known in the art. The particular color-television receiver of such a known type comprises at least one integrated circuit for separating and conditioning the luminance signal and the chrominance signals from the composite color signal. This integrated circuit contains a chrominance-subcarrier oscillator, a chrominance-subcarrier band-pass filter, a synchronous demodulator, a PAL switch, a color matrix, and, if necessary, an R-G-B matrix. Additionally, such a color-television receiver contains the following subcircuits for conditioning digital signals; (1) the chrominance-subcarrier oscillator is a square-wave clock generator providing four clock signals the first of which has four times the chrominance-subcarrier frequency and the second to fourth of which have the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, with the first and second clock signals having a pulse duty factor of 0.5, and the third and fourth clock signals each consisting of two consecutive, T/2-long pulses separated by T/2 within each 4T-long period (T=period of the first clock signal); (2) an analog-to-digital converter clocked by the first clock signal, whose analog input is presented with the composite color signal, and which forms as its output signal a parallel binary word from the amplitude of the composite color signal (F) at the instants the respective amplitudes of the undemodulated chrominance signal are equal to the amplitudes of the respective color-difference signal; (3) a first binary arithmetic stage which multiplies the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter by a binary overall-contrast control signal; (4) a two stage delay line which delays the output signal of the first binary arithmetic stage by T/2; (5) a second binary arithmetic stage which forms the arithmetic means of the delayed and undelayed output signals of the first binary arithmetic stage; (6) a third binary arithmetic stage, which subtracts the output signal of the second binary arithmetic stage from the output signal of the first delay stage; (7) a buffer-memory arrangement which temporarily stores the output signal of the third binary arithmetic stage, and whose enable input is fed with the third clock signal; (8) a shift-register arrangement consisting of n parallel shift registers (n=number of bits at the output of the third binary arithmetic stage) each of which provides a delay of one line period and whose serial inputs are connected to the parallel outputs of the buffer-memory arrangement, while their clock inputs are fed with the fourth clock signal; (9) a fourth binary arithmetic stage which forms the arithmetic mean of the input and output signals of the shift-register arrangement; (10) a fifth binary arithmetic stage which subtracts the input signal of the shift-register arrangement from the output signal of this arrangement and then divides the difference by two; (11) a sixth binary arithmetic stage which, controlled by the PAL switch, either leaves the output signal of the fifth binary arithmetic stage unchanged or forms its absolute value; (12) a seventh binary arithmetic stage which forms the green color-difference signal from the output signals of the fourth and sixth binary arithmetic stages; (13) the outputs of the second, fourth, sixth and seventh binary arithmetic stages are connected to the binary R-G-B matrix each of whose outputs is coupled to one of three digital-to-analog converters for deriving the analog signals for controlling the R-G-B values of the picture tube, or (14) the outputs of the second, fourth, sixth and seventh binary arithmetic stages are each connected to one of four digital-to-analog converters for deriving the analog signals for controlling the color-difference values of the picture tube. An essential feature of such a receiver is the use of an analog-to-digital converter whose analog input is presented with the composite color signal and which is clocked by a clock signal at four times the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, so that a parallel binary word is obtained from the amplitudes of the composite color signal at the instants the respective amplitudes of the undemodulated chrominance signal are equal to the amplitudes of the respective color-difference signal.
Thus, because of the high frequencies to be be processed, a parallel analog-to-digital converter is needed. Such fast parallel analog-to-digital converters are well known (cf. D. F. Hoeschele, "Analog-to-Digital/Digital-to-Analog Conversion Techniques", New York, 1968, p. 10) and contain 2 ^s -1 differential amplifiers as comparators, where s is the number of binary digits of the digital converter output signal. The noninverting (or inverting) inputs of all differential amplifiers are presented with the composite color signal, while the inverting (or noninverting) inputs are connected successively to the taps of a resistive voltage divider inserted between a constant reference voltage and ground and consisting of 2 ^s or 2 ^s -1 equal-value resistors.
A 6-bit parallel analog-to-digital converter thus has 63 comparators and 63 resistors. A 7-bit converter has 127 comparators and resistors, and an 8-bit converter even has 255 comparators and resistors. It is readily apparent that as the number of digits increases, the implementation of such converters using integrated circuit techniques quickly becomes uneconomical. In particular, a reduction by one digit would result in the component count being halved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the object of the invention is to reduce the number of comparators and resistors in an arrangement as set forth hereinbefore to one half without adversely affecting the digital resolution. In other words, the invention is to permit a 6-bit resolution, for example, to be achieved with a 5-bit converter. This is done by using the means set forth above recourse being had to the principle described in the above-cited book on pp. 413 to 415 as follows: In color-television receiver described above, the analog-to-digital converter is a parallel analog-to-digital converter with p=2 ^r -1 differential amplifiers as comparators, where r is the number of binary digits of the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter minus one. The composite color signal is then applied as the input signal to the noninverting (or inverting) inputs of all p differential amplifiers and the inverting (noninverting) inputs of the differential amplifiers being connected successively to the taps of a resistive voltage divider which contains equal-value resistors and is fed with a reference voltage (Ur). For the duration of every second line, either the reference voltage or the input signal is shifted by ΔU=0.5 Ur/2 ^r .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows the block diagram of a color-television receiver of a known type.
FIGS. 2a-h, k, l, and p-t show various waveforms occurring in the arrangement of FIG. 1, and, in tabular form, signals occurring at given points of the circuit at given times, and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE
At the outset, FIG. 1, will be explained to permit a better understanding of the invention.
In the block diagrams shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, like parts are designated by like reference characters. In addition to interconnections indicated by solid lines as is usual in circuit diagrams, these figures contain interconnections indicated by stripes. These stripes mark connections between digital parallel outputs of the delivering portion of the circuit and digital parallel inputs of the receiving portion. The interconnections indicated by stripes, therefore, consist of at least as many wires as there are bits in the binary word to be transferred. Thus, the signals transferred over the lines indicated by stripes in FIGS. 1 to 3 are all binary signals whose instantaneous binary value corresponds to the instantaneous analog value of the composite color signal and of other signals.
Like in conventional color-television receivers, the composite color signal F, derived in the usual manner controls the chrominance-subcarrier oscillator, which, according to the invention, is designed as a squarewave clock generator 1. By means of the so-called burst contained in the composite color signal F, the clock generator 1 is synchronized to the transmitted chrominance-subcarrier frequency. The clock generator 1 generates the clock signal F1, whose frequency is four times the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, i.e. about 17.73 MHz (precisely 17.734475 MHz) in the case of the CCIR standard.
The clock generator 1 also generates the square-wave clock signal F2 having the frequency of the chrominance subcarrier. The first and second clock signals F1, F2 have a pulse duty factor of 0.5 (cf. FIGS. 2a and 2b). In addition, the clock generator 1 generates the third clock signal F3 and the fourth clock signal F4, each of which consists of two consecutive, T/2-long pulses separated by T/2 within each 4T-long period, where T is the period of the first clock signal F1. The third and fourth clock signals F3, F4 are shown in FIGS. 2b and 2g.
The individual clock signals are generated within the clock generator 1 in the usual manner using conventional digital techniques. The clock signal F1, for instance, may be generated by means of a suitable 17.73--MHz crystal, and the clock signals F2, F3, F4 may be derived therefrom by frequency division and suitable elimination of pulses. Like in conventional color-television receivers, the clock generator 1 is also fed with a pulse Z from the horizontal output stage during which the clock generator 1 is sychronized by the burst.
The composite color signal F is also applied to the analog input of the analog-to-digital converter 2, which is clocked by the first clock signal F1 and, (at the beginning of each pulse of the first clock signal F1) forms from the amplitude of this pulse a parallel binary word and delivers it as an output signal. These leading edges of the pulses of the first clock signal F1 thus occur at the instants the respective amplitudes of the undemodulated chrominance signal contained in the composite color signal are equal to the amplitudes of the respective color-difference signal.
These parallel binary words then remain unchanged for the respective period T of the first clock signal F1, i.e., they are held like in a sample-and-hold circuit. The signals appearing at the output of the analog-to-digital converter 2 are given in tabular form in FIG. 2c, where the vertical lines symbolize the respective clock periods of the first clock signal F1. The letter c of FIG. 2 is also shown in FIG. 1 (encircled).
According to FIG. 2c, successive signals Y+V, Y-U, Y-V, and Y+U are obtained in a line m during one period of the second clock signal F2, where U, V and Y have the formal meanings given in the above-mentioned book, namely U=B-Y, V=R-Y, B=blue chrominance signal, R=red chrominance signal, and Y=luminance signal, but designate here the corresponding digitized signals, i.e., the corresponding binary words. The second line in the Table of FIG. 2c gives the corresponding binary signals in the line m+1, namely the signals Y-V, Y-U and Y+U, occurring during that period of the clock signal F2 which is under consideration.
This output signal of the analog-to-digital converter 2 is applied to one of the two inputs of the first binary arithmetic stage 10, which multiplies this output signal by a binary overall-contrast control signal GK. This overall contrast control signal thus corresponds to the analog overall-contrast control signal present in conventional color-television receivers. In present day color-television receivers, the binary overall contrast control signal GK, just as the binary color-saturation control signal FK and the binary brightness control signal H to be explained below, is available in digital form, because remote-control units and digital controls are usually present which provide these signals.
An advantage of the present application is, therefore, seen in the fact that these signals need no longer be conditioned in analog form in their place of action.
The output signal of the first binary arithmetic stage 10 is fed to the second binary arithmetic stage 20 and to the two-stage delay line 3, which delays this output signal by T/2. The second binary arithmetic stage 20 forms the arithmetic mean of the delayed and undelayed signals. The underlying idea is that if a sinusoidal signal, namely the chrominance subcarrier, is sampled at double frequency, the mean of two successive sample values will always be zero. Thus, by forming the arithmetic means in the second binary arithmetic stage 20, the chrominance subcarrier is suppressed and the luminance signal Y is obtained in digital form.
The output signal of the first binary arithmetic stage 10, delayed in the first stage 31 of the delay line 3 by half the delay provided by this stage, i.e., by T/4, and the output signal of the second binary arithmetic stage 20 are then fed to the third binary arithmetic stage 30, which subtracts the latter signal, i.e., the Y signal, from the former signal. As a result, the output of the third binary arithmetic stage 30 provides the color-difference signal, made up of the successive components B-Y, R-Y, -(B-Y) and -(R-Y), as shown in FIG. 2d in tabular form for the lines m and m+1.
These signals are fed to the buffer-memory arrangement 4, whose enable input is fed with the third clock signal F3, which is shown in FIG. 2e. This buffer memory operates in such a manner that the binary word fed to the input at the beginning of each pulse of the third clock signal F3 appears at the output when the next clock pulse occurs. Thus, the instantaneous output signals given in FIG. 2f in tabular form for the lines m and m+1 are obtained. The individual stages of the buffer-memory arrangement may be so-called D flip-flops, for example.
The output signal of the buffer-memory arrangement 4 is applied to the shift-register arrangement 5, which consists of n parallel shift registers, where n is the number of bits at the ouput of the third binary arithmetic stage 30. The delay provided by the n parallel shift registers is equal to the duration of one line, i.e., 64 μs in the case of PAL television sets. The clock inputs of the n parallel shift registers are fed with the fourth clock signal F4, which is shown in FIG. 2g. The output signal of the shift-register arrangement is given in tabular form in FIG. 2h for the lines m and m+1.
This output signal, together with the input signal of the shift-register arrangement 5 is fed to the fourth binary arithmetic stage 40, which forms the arithmetic means of the two signals, so that its output provides the signal B-Y in digital form, which is given in tabular form in FIG. 2k. The input and output signals of the shift-register arrangement 5 are also fed to the fifth binary arithmetic stage 50, which subtracts the input signal from the output signal and divides the difference by two. By the division, a sort of averaging is performed as well.
The output signal of the fifth binary arithmetic stage 50 is given in tabular form in FIG. 21, again for the lines m and m+1. This output signal is fed to the sixth binary arithmetic stage 60, which, in response to the output signal of the PAL switch 12, leaves it unchanged in one line and forms its absolute value in the other. "To form the absolute value" is used here first of all in the mathematical sense i.e., the negative sign of a negative number is suppressed and only the positive value of this negative number is taken into account. Within the scope of the present invention, however, "absolute value" also means "value with respect to a constant number". By this it is meant that for a number A below the constant X, the "absolute value with respect to X" is 2X-A. Thus, for the number 30, the "absolute value with respect to 50" is 70. The output of the sixth binary arithmetic stage 60 thus provides the PAL compensated signal R-Y in digital form, i.e., the red color-difference signal, which is given in tabular form in FIG. 2p for the lines m and m+1.
The output signals of the fourth binary arithmetic stage 40 and of the sixth binary arithmetic stage 60 are fed to the seventh binary arithmetic stage 70, which forms the green color-difference signal G-Y by the well-known formula Y=0.3R+0.59G+0.11B.
The subcircuits 5, 40, 50, 60 and 70, together with the PAL switch 12, represent the portion for correcting the phase of the received signal by the PAL method.
The output signals of the second, fourth, sixth and seventh binary arithmetic stages 20, 40, 60, 70, i.e., the luminance signal Y and the color-difference signals B-Y, R-Y, and G-Y, are then fed to the binary R-G-B matrix 6, which forms therefrom the binary chrominance signals R, G, B by the above formula. Each of these binary chrominance signals is then fed to one of the three digital-to-analog converters 7, 8, 9, which convert the binary chrominance signals to the analog chrominance signals R', G', B' necessary for R-G-B control of the picture tube.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, each of thes digital-to-analog converters is also fed with the color-saturation control signal FK and the brightness control signal H, both in binary form. The PAL switch 12 is fed with the second clock signal F2, i.e., a signal having the chrominance-subcarrier frequency locked to the burst, with the composite color signal F, and with the reference pulse Z from the horizontal output stage.
FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. The analog-to-digital converter 2 is designed as a parallel analog-to-digital converter 2' and contains the differential amplifiers D1, D2, D3, Dp-1, Dp which are used as comparators, the resistors R1, R2, R3, Rp-1, Rp, RO, connected in series to form a voltage divider, and the decoder 21, which changes the output signals of the comparators into corresponding binary words. That portion of FIG. 3 located on the right-hand side of the decoder 21 is a greatly simplified representation of the units designated by like reference characters in FIG. 1.
The parallel analog-to-digital converter 2' contains p=2 ^r -1 differential amplifiers and a corresponding number of resistors, where r is the number of binary digits of the output signal of the analog-to-digital converter 2 of FIG. 1 minus one. If the analog-to-digital converter is to provide 8 bits, for example, then r is 7. The resistors R2 to Rp are alike and have a value of R, while the resistors RO, R1 have a value of 0.5 R.
According to the invention, the reference voltage applied to the comparators, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 to all inverting inputs, is shifted by ΔU=0.5 Ur/2 ^r during every second line as electronic switches S1 and S2 in parallel with resistors R1 and RO, respectively, are opened and closed alternately. Their control signal comes from one of the outputs Q, Q of the binary divider BT, which is fed with the horizontal synchronizing or horizontal flyback pulses Z.
Instead of shifting the reference voltage Ur as described, the amount of change ΔU may be added to the composite color signal in an analog adding stage during every second line. The reference voltage UR then remains constant.
By influencing the reference voltage Ur during every second line, and with the fourth or fifth binary arithmetic stage 40, 50 and the shift-register arrangement 5, which acts as a delay stage providing a delay of exactly one line period, the intended effect is produced, i.e., the number of comparators required is reduced to one half, while the resolution corresponds to that achieved with an additional binary digit since the average of the signals of two successive lines is taken at the output of the fourth or fifth binary arithmetic stage 40,50.
The principle explained with the aid of FIG. 3 can also be applied to the luminance channel if a comb filter and a delay arrangement providing a delay of one line period are provided in this channel.

SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 Digital integrated chrominance-channel circuit with gain control:

(Pal) Video Processing Unit (VPU - PVPU)

An improved digital integrated chrominance-channel circuit having gain control for color-television receivers includes at least one integrated circuit for digitally processing the composite color signal. The circuit includes a first limiter inserted between a parallel multiplier and a burst-amplitude-measuring stage, and a control stage including a parallel subtracter whose minuend input is fed with a reference signal, and whose subtrahend input is connected to the output of the burst-amplitude-measuring stage. A digital accumulator whose enable input is presented with a signal derived from the trailing edge of a burst gating signal is used as an integrator.

1. A digital integrated chrominance-channel circuit with gain control for color-television receivers, comprising:
at least one integrated circuit for digitally processing the composite color signal, wherein a digital chrominance signal appearing at an output of a digital chroma filter is applied to a first input of a parallel multiplier, and a digital gain control signal is applied to a second input of the parallel multiplier, the output of the parallel multiplier is connected to an input of a digital chroma demodulator with a color killer stage and to an input of a burst-amplitude-measuring stage whose output signal is compared with a reference signal in a control stage, the output signal of the control stage passes through an integrator whose output signal is the gain control signal;
a square-wave clock generator used as a chrominance subcarrier oscillator generates at least a first clock signal, whose frequency is four times that of the chrominance subcarrier, and a second clock signal, whose frequency is equal to that of the chrominance subcarrier; and
a first limiter is inserted between the parallel multiplier and the burst-amplitude-measuring stage, the control stage is a parallel subtracter whose minuend input is presented with the reference signal, and whose subtrahend input is connected to the output of the burst-amplitude-measuring stage and the integrator is a digital accumulator whose enable input is fed with a signal derived from the trailing edge of a burst gating signal.
2. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output signal from the first limiter is applied to the input of a first buffer memory and, through a delay element which provides a delay equal to the period of the first clock signal, to the input of a second buffer memory, the second clock signal being applied to the enable inputs of the first and second buffer memories during the burst gating signal, the output signals from the first buffer memory and the second buffer memory are fed, respectively, to a first absolute-value former and a second absolute-value former which have their outputs connected to the first and the second input, respectively, of a first parallel adder, the output of the first parallel adder is connected via a second limiter to the input of a third buffer memory and to the minuend input of a parallel comparator whose minuend-greater-than-subtrahend output is coupled to the enable input of the third buffer memory through the first input-output path of an AND gate whose second input is fed with the second clock signal, and the output of the third buffer memory is coupled to the subtrahend input of the parallel comparator, the output of the third buffer memory is connected to the input of a fourth buffer memory whose output is coupled to the subtrahend input of the parallel subtracter, and whose enable input is fed with a signal derived from the leading edges of horizontal-frequency pulses not coinciding with the burst gating signal, and the clear input of the third buffer memory is fed with a signal derived from the trailing edges of the pulses not coinciding with the burst gating signal. 3. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output signal from the parallel subtracter is applied to the first input of a second parallel adder having its output connected via a third limiter to the input of a fifth buffer memory whose output is coupled to the second input of the second parallel adder, and which has normalizing-data inputs and the enable input of the accumulator. 4. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the output signal from the parallel subtracter is applied to the first input of a second parallel adder having its output connected via a third limiter to the input of a fifth buffer memory whose output is coupled to the second input of the second parallel adder, and which has normalizing-data inputs and the enable input of the accumulator. 5. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising:
a first bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the chroma filter and the associated input of the parallel multiplier and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a second bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the first limiter and the input of the chroma demodulator and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a first test enable signal and a second test enable signal, which does not overlap the first test enable signal, being applied to the control input of the first bus switch and to the control input of the second bus switch, respectively;
an actuating signal being applied to the input of the color killer stage during the second test enable signal;
a normalizing signal being applied to the enable input of the fifth buffer memory during a third test enable signal; and
in addition to the usual contact pads, there is a contact pad via which the test-result signals of the individual subcircuits are accessible.
6. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 2, additionally comprising:
a first bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the chroma filter and the associated input of the parallel multiplier and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a second bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the first limiter and the input of the chroma demodulator and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a first test enable signal and a second test enable signal, which does not overlap the first test enable signal, being applied to the control input of the first bus switch and to the control input of the second bus switch, respectively;
an actuating signal being applied to the input of the color killer stage during the second test enable signal;
a normalizing signal being applied to the enable input of the fifth buffer memory during a third test enable signal; and
in addition to the usual contact pads, there is a contact pad via which the test-result signals of the individual subcircuits are accessible.
7. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 3, additionally comprising:
a first bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the chroma filter and the associated input of the parallel multiplier and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a second bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the first limiter and the input of the chroma demodulator and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a first test enable signal and a second test enable signal, which does not overlap the first test enable signal, being applied to the control input of the first bus switch and to the control input of the second bus switch, respectively;
an actuating signal being applied to the input of the color killer stage during the second test enable signal;
a normalizing signal being applied to the enable input of the fifth buffer memory during a third test enable signal; and
in addition to the usual contact pads, there is a contact pad via which the test-result signals of the individual subcircuits are accessible.
8. A chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 4, additionally comprising:
a first bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the chroma filter and the associated input of the parallel multiplier and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a second bus switch having its path from the break-contact input to the output inserted between the output of the first limiter and the input of the chroma demodulator and its make-contact input connected to the input of the chroma filter;
a first test enable signal and a second test enable signal, which does not overlap the first test enable signal, being applied to the control input of the first bus switch, respectively;
an actuating signal being applied to the input of the color killer stage during the second test enable signal;
a normalizing signal being applied to the enable input of the fifth buffer memory during a third test enable signal; and
in addition to the usual contact pads, there is a contact pad via which the test-result signals of the individual subcircuits are accessible.
9. A method of testing a chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 5, characterized by the following features:
in a first step, the chroma demodulator is tested by applying the second test enable signal to the control input of the second bus switch, the actuating signal to the input of the color killer stage, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in a second step, the parallel multiplier is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in further steps, the absolute-value formers the first adder, and the parallel comparator are tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, and known data sequences to the input of the chroma filter, and
in the last step, the accumulator is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, a trigger signal to the second limiter, and known data sequences to the minuend input of the parallel sub- tracter.
10. A method of testing a chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 6, characterized by the following features:
in a first step, the chroma demodulator is tested by applying the second test enable signal to the control input of the second bus switch, the actuating signal to the input of the color killer stage, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in a second step, the parallel multiplier is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in further steps, the absolute-value formers the first adder, and the parallel comparator are tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, and known data sequences to the input of the chroma filter, and
in the last step, the accumulator is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, a trigger signal to the second limiter, and known data sequences to the minuend input of the parallel subtracter.
11. A method of testing a chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 7, characterized by the following features:
in a first step, the chroma demodulator is tested by applying the second test enable signal to the control input of the second bus switch, the actuating signal to the input of the color killer stage, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in a second step, the parallel multiplier is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in further steps, the absolute-value formers the first adder, and the parallel comparator are tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, and known data sequences to the input of the chroma filter, and
in the last step, the accumulator is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, a trigger signal to the second limiter, and known data sequences to the minuend input of the parallel subtracter.
12. A method of testing a chrominance-channel circuit as claimed in claim 8, characterized by the following features:
in a first step, the chroma demodulator is tested by applying the second test enable signal to the control input of the second bus switch, the actuating signal to the input of the color killer stage, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in a second step, the parallel multiplier is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, and a known data sequence to the input of the chroma filter;
in further steps, the absolute-value formers the first adder, and the parallel comparator are tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, and known data sequences to the input of the chroma filter, and
in the last step, the accumulator is tested by applying the first test enable signal to the control input of the first bus switch, the third test enable signal and the normalizing signal to the enable input of the accumulator, the normalizing data to the normalizing-data input of the accumulator, a trigger signal to the second limiter, and known data sequences to the minuend input of the parallel subtracter.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital integrated chrominance-channel circuit with gain control for color-television receivers containing at least one integrated circuit for digitally processing the composite color signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A chrominance-channel circuit is disclosed in the published patent application EP 51075 Al. (U.S. application Ser. No. 311,218, Oct. 11, 1981).
Practical tests of color-television receivers with digital signal processing circuitry have shown that the prior art chrominance-channel circuit still has a few disadvantages. For example, the burst-amplitude-measuring circuit is not yet optimal because it is possible in the prior art arrangement that the burst signals are sampled, i.e., measured, near or at the zero crossing. As these measured values are small, so that the digitized values formed therefrom are small numbers, the measurement error is large.
Another disadvantage of the prior art arrangement is that it has two set points for the gain control, namely a lower and an upper threshold level in the form of corresponding numbers entered into two read-only memories. Finally, the integration of the control signal is implemented with two counters, so that the time constant of this "integrator" is determined only by the clock signals for the counters and by the count lengths of these counters. As to the prior art, reference is also made to the journal "Fernseh- und Kino-Technik", 1981, pages 317 to 323, particularly FIG. 9 on page 321. However, the digital chrominance-channel circuit shown there works on the principle of feed-forward control, while both the invention and the above-mentioned prior art use a feedback control system, so that the arrangement disclosed in that journal lies further away from the present invention, the more so since in that prior art arrangement, the set point is implemented only with the concrete circuit (hardware).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention as claimed eliminates the above disadvantages and, thus, has for its object to improve the prior art digital integrated chrominance-channel circuit with gain control in such a way that error-free burst amplitude measurement is ensured, that a single set point can be generated, and that the integration of the control signal is implemented in optimum fashion. Another object of the invention is to modify the chrominance-channel circuit so that the automatic control system can be opened for measuring purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the chrominance channel in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the burst-amplitude-measuring stage and the digital accumulator.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention with the aforementioned measuring facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The block diagram of FIG. 1 includes a digital chroma filter cf, which derives a digital chrominance signal cs from a digitized composite color signal. The digital chrominance signal cs is applied to a first input of a parallel multiplier m, whose second input is fed with a digital gain control signal st. The output of the parallel multiplier m is connected to an input of a first limiter b1, which limits the output signals from the parallel multiplier m to a predetermined value. This can be done by arranging, for example, that at least one of the high-order digits of the output signal from the parallel multiplier is indicated by the interconnecting lead between these two subcircuits in FIG. 1.
In the figures of the accompanying drawing, the lines interconnecting the signal inputs and outputs of the individual subcircuits are shown as stripelike connections (buses), while the solid lines commonly used to indicate interconnections in discrete-component circuits are used for interconnections over which only individual bits or clock and/or noise signals are transferred. The stripelike lines thus interconnect parallel inputs and parallel outputs, i.e., inputs to which complete binary words are applied, which are transferred in parallel into the subcircuit at a given time, and outputs which provide complete binary words.
An output signal bs of the first limiter b1 is applied to the input of a burst-amplitude-measuring stage bm, which has its output coupled to a subtrahend input (-) of a parallel subtracter sb, while its minuend input (+) is fed with the reference signal rs, i.e., the set point. The output of the parallel subtracter sb is connected to the input of a digital accumulator ak, which provides the digital gain control signal st, which is applied to the second input of the parallel multiplier m, as mentioned above. A signal rb derived from the trailing edge of the burst gating signal (keying pulse) is applied to an enable input eu of the accumulator ak.
It is also indicated in FIG. 1 that a square-wave clock generator os, used as a chrominance-subcarrier oscillator, forms part of the invention. It provides at least the first clock signal f1, whose frequency is four times that of the chrominance subcarrier, and a second clock signal f2, having the same frequency as the chrominance subcarrier.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the burst-amplitude-measuring stage bm and the digital accumulator ak of FIG. 1. The burst-amplitude-measuring stage in FIG. 2 comprises all subcircuits ahead of the subtrahend input (-) of the parallel subtracter sb, while the accumulator consists of the subcircuits following the output of the parallel subtracter sb.
The output signal bs from the first limiter b1 of FIG. 1 is applied in FIG. 2 to the input of a first buffer memory p1 and, through a delay element v, which provides a delay equal to the period of the first clock signal f1, i.e., to one quarter or 90° of the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, to an input of a second buffer memory p2.
The second clock signal f2 is applied to the enable inputs eu of these two buffer memories p1, p2 during the burst gating signal ki, which is indicated in FIG. 2 by the logical term f2.ki. During the keying pulse ki, whose duration usually equals about 10 periods of the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, a corresponding number of digital values are thus transferred successively from the first limiter b1 into the two buffer memories p1, p2, the values transferred into the second buffer memory p2 differing in phase from those transferred into the first buffer memory p1 by the aforementioned 90°; thus, two zero-crossing values are never evaluated at the same time.
The outputs of the two buffer memories p1, p2 are connected to the inputs of a first absolute-value former bb1 and a second absolute-value former bb2, respectively, whose outputs are coupled to a first and a second input, respectively, of a first adder a1. The absolute-value formers bb1, bb2 provide digital values without the sign of the input value, i.e., without the sign bit, for example. They thus contain a subcircuit which converts negative numbers in one's or two's complement notation into the corresponding positive number, i.e., they include complement reconverters.
The first adder a1 is followed by the second limiter b2, whose limiting action is controlled by at least one of the high-order digits of the first adder a1.
The output signal from the second limiter b2 is applied to the input of a third buffer memory p3 and to a minuend input a of a parallel comparator k, which has its subtrahend input b connected to the output of the third buffer memory p3.
In the present description, the two inputs of the parallel comparator k, too, are referred to as "minuend input" and "subtrahend input", respectively, which is considered justifiable in view of the fact that, purely formally, the arithmetic operation performed by comparators is more closely related to subtraction than to addition by means of an adder, even though the internal circuit of a comparator resembles that of an adder more than that of a subtracter, cf. the corresponding mathematical operations a-b and a b as opposed to a+b.
The minuend-greater-than-subtrahend output a>b of the parallel comparator k is connected to the enable input eu of the third buffer memory p3 via the first input-output path of the AND gate u, while the second clock signal f2 is applied to the second input of the AND gate u. The output of the third buffer memory p3 is also connected to an input of a fourth buffer memory p4, which has its output coupled to the subtrahend input (-) of the parallel subtracter sb. The enable input eu of the fourth buffer memory p4 is presented with a signal vz derived from the trailing edges of horizontal-frequency pulses zf, which, however, do not coincide with the burst gating signal ki, while a signal rz derived from the trailing edges of the horizontal-frequency pulses zf not coinciding with the burst gating signal ki is applied to the clear input el of the third buffer memory p3.
The derivation of the two signals rz, vz from the horizontal-frequency pulses zf is indicated in FIG. 2 by a pulse-shaper stage if. The section consisting of the two buffer memories p3, p4, the parallel comparator k, the AND gate u, and the pulse shaper if determines, for each line of the television picture, the maximum value of the burst amplitude from the--possibly limited--output signal of the first adder a1, and feeds this maximum value to the subtrahend input (-) of the parallel subtracter sb. This is achieved essentially by transferring only those words of the output signal of the second limiter b2 into the third buffer memory p3 which are greater than any word already stored in the third buffer memory p3. This is done line by line during the keying pulse ki.
As mentioned, a preferred embodiment of the accumulator ak of FIG. 1 is shown in the lower portion of FIG. 2. The output signal from the parallel subtracter sb is applied to a first input of a second parallel adder a2, which has its output connected to an input of a fifth buffer memory p5 through the third limiter b3. To realize the adding function, the output of the fifth buffer memory p5 is connected to the second input of the second adder a2. The buffer memory p5 has, in addition to the enable input eu, which is the enable input of the accumulator ak of FIG. 1, the normalizing-data inputs ne, through which normalizing data nd, i.e., known data, can be entered if necessary. The enable input eu is presented with the signal rb derived from the trailing edge of the burst gating signal ki. With the trailing edge of the keying pulse, the output signal from the third limiter b3 is thus transferred into the fifth buffer memory p5 and simultaneously transferred to the output. With the trailing edge of each keying pulse, the sum of the value from the preceding line and the set-point deviation calculated in the measured line by the parallel subtracter sb is thus produced line by line as the control signal st.
Thus, the essential advantages of the invention follow directly from the solution of the problem, namely particularly the line-by-line subtraction of the maximum burst amplitude, which is integrated in the accumulator ak to form the control signal st for the automatic control system, from the reference signal rs.
FIG. 3, a block diagram like FIGS. 1 and 2, shows a preferred embodiment of the invention which makes it possible to test the digital automatic control system after the fabrication of the integrated circuit, and to make the test-result signals accessible. The testing is necessary because the automatic control system contains several subcircuits each of which may be faulty. The test procedure and the design of the overall circuit must therefore be adapted to one another in such a way that all subcircuits of the automatic control system can be tested with little additional circuitry.
To this end, the path from a break-contact input to an output of a first bus switch bu1, whose make-contact input is connected to the input of the chroma filter cf, is interposed between the output of this chroma filter and the associated input of the parallel multiplier m, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3. For the graphic representation of the bus switch bu1, the symbol of a mechanical transfer switch has been chosen, with the above mentioned stripelike interconnecting lines, i.e., buses, connected to the signal inputs and the output of the switch. It is thus clear that the bus switch consists of as many individual electronic switches as there are wires in the buses.
Inserted between the output of the first limiter b1 and the input of the chroma demodulator cd, which is also present in FIG. 1, where it "demodulates" the output signal bs of the first limiter b1 into the chroma signal cs, is a path from a break-contact input to an output of a second bus switch bu2, which has its make-contact input am connected to the input of the chroma filter cf. Viewed in the direction of signal flow, the second bus switch bu2 lies behind the junction point where the signal bs for the burst-amplitude-measuring circuit is taken off. What was said on the circuit design and the graphic representation of the first bus switch bu1 applies analogously to the second bus switch bu2.
The first test enable signal t1 and the second test enable signal t2, which does not overlap the first test enable signal t1, are applied to the control input of the first bus switch bu1 and to the control input of the second bus switch bu2, respectively. Thus, when the second bus switch bu2 is in its "make" position, the first bus switch bu2 is in its "break" position, and vice versa.
During the first test enable signal t1, an actuating signal db is applied to the input ec of the color killer stage ck of the chroma demodulator cd, so that the latter is active during the testing of the automatic control system although the circuit is not in its normal mode of operation but only in a test mode.
The enable input eu of the accumulator ak, i.e., the enable input eu of the fifth buffer memory p5 in FIG. 3, may be fed with a normalizing signal ns during the third test enable signal t3. During testing and measurement, instead of the signal rb, derived from the trailing edge of the keying pulse and applied in the normal mode of operation, the normalizing signal ns is applied to the enable input eu of the fifth buffer memory p5 and causes the normalizing data nd to be transferred into this buffer.
In addition to the usual contact pads of the integrated circuit, through part of which the output signal cs of the chroma demodulator cd is coupled out, a contact pad is provided via which test-result signals of individual subcircuits are accessible, i.e., transferred out of the integrated circuit. These test-result signals are advantageously coupled to this additional contact pad through transfer transistors which, in turn, are driven by the above-mentioned test enable signals or corresponding additional signals of this kind or by signals derived by performing simple logic operations on the signals just mentioned. In this manner, only the respective subcircuit to be tested is connected to the additional contact pad.
An advantageous method of testing the chrominance-channel circuit according to the invention consists in the following time sequence of test steps. In the first step, the chroma demodulator cd is tested. This is necessary because, throughout the testing of the chrominance-channel circuit, signals are transferred out through the chroma demodulator cd and must not be falsified by the latter.
This first test step is performed by applying the second test enable signal t2 to the control input of the second bus switch bu2, the actuating signal db to the input ec of the color killer stage ck, and a known data sequence, i.e., a test-data sequence, to the input of the chroma filter cf. The application of the actuating signal db to the input ec of the color killer stage ck is necessary because an actual actuating signal coming from other stages of the chrominance-channel circuit is applied to the color killer only during normal operation of the chrominance-channel circuit, cf. the above-mentioned printed publication EP 0 051 075 Al.
In response to the application of the second test enable signal t2 to the second bus switch bu2, the input signals of the chroma filter cf are transferred directly to the input of the chroma demodulator cd, so that, if a known test-data sequence is used, the performance of the chroma demodulator cd can be checked by means of the output signals.
In the second step, the parallel multiplier m is tested. This is done by applying the first test enable signal t1 to the control input of the first bus switch bu1, the third test enable signal t3 and the normalizing signal ns to the enable input of the accumulator ak, i.e., to the enable input of the fifth buffer memory p5, for example; the normalizing data nd are applied to the normalizing-data input ne of the fifth buffer memory p5, and a known data sequence, i.e., a test-data sequence, is applied to the input of the chroma filter cf.
As in the first test, the first test enable signal t1 causes the test-data sequence to bypass the chroma filter cf, so that the test data are applied directly to one input of the parallel multiplier m. This bypassing of the chroma filter cf is necessary because the chroma filter is generally a dynamic subcircuit, which is not suitable for being included in the individual tests for this reason alone.
As a result of the entry of normalizing data into the accumulator ak or into the fifth buffer memory p5 as a subcircuit of the accumulator, known data are also applied to the second input of the parallel multiplier m, so that the output signal of the latter is predeterminable, which makes it possible to check the correct functioning of the multiplier. Since the chroma demodulator cd was tested already in the first test step, the data appearing at its output during the second test step are the unchanged output data of the parallel multiplier m if the chroma demodulator cd was found to operate correctly.
Further tests may now be performed on the absolute-value formers bb1, bb2, the first adder a1, and the parallel comparator k. To do this, the first test enable signal t1 is applied to the control input of the first bus switch bu1, and known data sequences are applied to the input of the chroma filter cf, the individual test results being accessible via the above-mentioned additional contact pad and being generally present in the form of a go/no-go decision.
The last test to be performed is that of the accumulator ak. To this end, the first test enable signal t1 is applied to the control input of the first bus switch bu1; the third test enable signal t3 and the normalizing signal ns are applied to the enable input of the accumulator ak, i.e., to the corresponding input of the fifth buffer memory p5, for example; a trigger signal is applied to the second limiter b2, and known data sequences are fed to the minuend input (+) of the parallel subtracter sb. With the second limiter sb2 triggered, one of the input signals of the accumulator is predetermined and, thus, known because the output data of the subtracter sb are known as well. The accumulator ak can thus be tested by varying the reference data rs.
The reference data rs, the above-mentioned various test-data sequences, and the normalizing data nd may come from a microprocessor.

SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 Digital horizontal-deflection circuit:

Digital deflection Processor (DPU)
DPU 2553, DPU 2554 Instead of fine-controlling the horizontal deflection signal in a digital television receiver by means of two phase-locked loops and gate-delay stages as is done in prior art arrangements, in the horizontal-deflection circuit according to the invention, a first digital word delivered by a first phase-locked loop and representative of the horizontal frequency is added in an adder to a suitably amplified third digital word delivered by a phase comparator of a second phase-locked loop. The output of the adder is fed to the control input of a digital sine-wave generator which drives a frequency divider. The latter delivers the horizontal deflection signal, which drives the horizontal output stage. The phase comparator is fed with the horizontal flyback signal, which is derived from the horizontal deflection signal, and a second digital word generated by the first phase-locked loop and representative of the desired phase position of the flyback signal.

What is claimed is: 1. A digital horizontal-deflection circuit for generating an analog horizontal deflection signal driving the horizontal output stage of a digital television receiver clocked with a system clock, comprising:
a first digital phase-locked loop which synchronizes the horizontal deflection signal with the horizontal synchronizing signal separated from the composite color signal and delivers for each line of video signal a first digital word representative of the horizontal frequency and a second digital word representative of the desired phase position of the horizontal flyback signal;
a second phase-locked loop which uses a digital phase comparator to generate a third digital word representative of the phase deviation of the horizontal flyback signal from the desired position and shifts the horizontal deflection signal in time so that the horizontal flyback signal takes up the desired phase position;
an adder having a first input to which said first digital word is fed and a second input to which said third digital word is fed via a multiplier serving as an amplifier;
a digital sine-wave generator having a control input to which the output of said adder is fed; and
a frequency divider to which the output of said digital sine-wave generator is supplied, the output of said frequency divider providing the horizontal deflection signal.
2. A horizontal-deflection circuit as defined in claim wherein said first digital word is representative of the period of the horizontal deflection signal, and additionally comprising a digital period-to-frequency converter connected between said first phase-locked loop and said first input of said adder. 3. A horizontal-deflection circuit as defined in claims 1 or 2, additionally comprising a protection circuit coupled between the output of said digital sine-wave generator and the input of said frequency divider, said protection circuit providing a sine-wave signal of a desired frequency if the frequency of said sine-wave generator departs from a desired-value range. 4. A horizontal-deflection circuit as defined in claim 3, wherein said protection circuit is an analog phase-locked loop.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital horizontal-deflection circuit for generating an analog horizontal deflection signal driving the horizontal output stage of a digital television receiver clocked with a system clock. A digital horizontal-deflection circuit of this kind is described in a data book of Intermetall, "DIGIT 2000 VLSI Digital TV System," 1984/5, pages 112 to 114, which deal with the integrated circuit DPU 2500.
In the prior art arrangement, the phase variation which is necessary for the digital generation of the horizontal deflection signal and must be stepped in fractions of the period of the system clock is achieved essentially by the use of gate-delay stages or chains as are described, for example, in the European Patent Applications EP-A Nos. 0,059,802; 0,080,970; and 0,116,669, which essentially utilize the inherent delay of inverters. It turned out, however, that with these arrangements, it is not possible to completely control all operating conditions which may occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the object of the invention to modify and improve the digital horizontal-deflection circuit described in the above prior art in such a way that the gate-delay stages can be dispensed with.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing, which is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. The block diagram shows that portion of a digital television receiver, i.e., of a television receiver in which the analog signal received via the antenna is processed digitally, which is of interest in connection with the invention. Thus, all subcircuits for digital-to-analog conversion, sync separation, chrominance-signal and luminance-signal processing or sound-signal processing have been omitted; the overall circuit concept of digital television receivers has been well known for some time.
The first digital phase-locked loop (PLL) p1 is supplied with the (digital) horizontal synchronizing signal hs, which was separated from the composite color signal, and the system clock st, and derives therefrom, in the manner described in the prior art, the first digital word d1, which is representative of the horizontal frequency, and the second digital word d2, which is representative of the desired phase position of the horizontal flyback signal fy. The signal fy comes from the receiver's horizontal output stage ps, which supplies the necessary sawtooth current to the deflection coil 1. The phase position of the flyback signal fy relative to the horizontal deflection signal ps is dependent on the switching properties of the horizontal output stage ps and is also influenced by the video signal applied to the picture tube.
By means of the second PLL p2, indicated in the FIGURE by the large rectangle bounded by a broken line, these dependences are compensated in the manner described in the prior art. The phase comparator pv generates the third digital word d3, which is representative of the phase deviation of the flyback signal fy from its desired position, and the second PLL p2 shifts the horizontal deflection signal ds in time so that the flyback signal fy takes up the desired phase position.
The first digital word d1 is fed to the first input of the adder ad, and the third digital word d3 is fed to the second input of this adder via the multiplier m, which serves as an amplifier. The second input of the multiplier m is fed with the signal k determining the gain of the second PLL p2, so that the transient response of the latter can be optimally adjusted by the manufacturer of the television receiver.
The output of the adder ad is fed to the control input of the digital sine-wave generator s, which may be designed as an accumulator followed by a sine looker table (ROM). If an n-bit word d4 is applied to its control input, this arrangement, which is known in principle, delivers a sine-wave of frequency (d4)fs/2 ⁿ , where fs is the frequency of the system clock st.
The output of the digital sine-wave generator sg is fed to the frequency divider ft, which provides the horizontal deflection signal ds, a square-wave signal as usual. The frequency divider ft thus not only divides the frequency of the signal delivered by the sine-wave generator sg, but also converts the sine-wave signal into the above-mentioned square-wave signal; this can be done in a suitable sine-to-square wave converter stage at the input of the frequency divider ft.
Two stages which can be added to the arrangement singly or in combination are indicated in the FIGURE by rectangles bounded by broken lines. The period-to-frequency converter fw between the output of the first PLL pl for the first digital word d1 and the corresponding input of the adder ad is necessary if the first digital word d1, generated by the first PLL p1, represents the period of the horizontal deflection signal ds (if this word represents the frequency of the horizontal deflection signal, the stage fw is not necessary).
Between the output of the digital sine-wave generator sg and the input of the frequency divider ft, the protection circuit sc may be inserted. It is preferably an analog phase-locked loop which provides a sine-wave signal of the desired frequency if the frequency of the sine-wave generator sg departs from a predetermined desired-value range. This may be to advantage during the start-up phase after the turning on of the television receiver or may serve to afford protection in the event of a failure of one or both of the PLL's p1, p2.
In the FIGURE, the stripe-like connecting leads represent signal paths over which digital signals are transferred in parallel, i.e., on these buses, the individual (parallel) digital words follow one after the other at the pulse repetition rate of the system clock st. The fact that the individual stages of the second PLL p2--where necessary and appropriate--and the period-to-frequency converter fw are clocked with the system clock st, too, is indicated by the respective clock input lines.
The digital horizontal-deflection circuit in accordance with the invention is preferably realized using monolithic integrated circuit techniques, particularly MOS technology. It may form part of a larger integrated circuit but can also be implemented as a separate integrated circuit.

Digital circuit for steepening color-signal transitions:
SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A)  CHASSIS DTV2 .
Digital Transient Improvement Processor (DTI) DTI2223 / DTI2222

This circuit arrangement is designed for use in digital color-television receivers or the like and contains for each of the two digital color-difference signals a slope detector to which both a digital signal defining an amplitude threshold value and a digital signal defining a time threshold value are applied. At least one intermediate value occurring during an edge to be steepened is stored, and at the same time value of the steepened edge, it is "inserted" into the latter. This is done by means of memories switches, output registers, and a sequence controller.

What is claimed is: 1. A circuit arrangement for steepening color-signal transitions, comprising:
first and second circuit branches, said first branch receiving a first color difference digital signal from a first color difference channel and said second branch receiving a second color difference digital signal from a second color difference channel, each of said branches comprising:
a digital slope detector for generating a control signal at an output when the respective one of said first or second color difference digital signals has a predetermined relationship to predetermined amplitude and time thresholds;
a first delay element receiving and delaying said respective one color difference digital signal by a time equal to the delay of said digital slope detector;
at least one memory having its input connected to the output of said first delay element;
a switch having first and second inputs connected to the outputs of said delay element and said at least one memory, respectively; and
an output register having its input connected to the output of said switch;
and
a sequence controller coupled to the outputs of said digital slope detectors in said first and second circuit branches, and receiving a clock signal having a predetermined frequency relationship to a chrominance subcarrier frequency, and receiving a digital signal determining the hold time equal to the known system rise time of said first and second color difference channels, said sequence controller providing sequence control signals for controlling said at least one memory, said switch and said output register in both of said first and second circuit branches such that:
a color difference signal value occurring at an intermediate value of said hold time is read into said memory, said color difference signal value stored in said memory is read via said switch into said output rergister at the corresponding intermediate value of the steepened leading edge of said color-signal, the input of said output register being connected to the output of said delay element at all times except at said intermediate value of said steepened leading edge.
2. A circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein each said slope detector comprises:
a first digital differentiator receiving the respective color difference digital signal;
a digital absolute value stage coupled to said first digital differentiator output;
a first digital comparator having a minuend input coupled to said digital absolute value stage output, a subtrahend input supplied with a digital signal corresponding to said amplitude threshold value, and an output;
a second digital differentiator having an input coupled to said comparator output;
a counter for counting pulses of said clock signal, said counter having an enable input coupled to said comparator output, and having a reset input coupled to the output of said second digital differentiator;
a fifth memory having its inputs coupled to the count outputs of said counter and an enable input coupled to said second digital differentiator output;
a second digital comparator having a minuend input coupled to the output of said fifth memory, a subtrahend input supplied with a digital signal corresponding to said time threshold value; and
gate means for combining the output of said comparator and the output of said second digital differentiator to provide said control signal when the output of said comparator and the output of said second digital differentiator are both active.
3. A circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 2,
wherein each of said first and second circuit branches further comprises a second memory having its input connected to said first delay element output, said switch having a third input coupled to said second memory output; and
wherein said sequence controller comprises:
a counter for counting pulses of said clock signal; and
a decoder for decoding the count output of said counter to provide said sequence control signals, said sequence control signals also controlling each said second memory,
said sequence controller operating such that color difference signal values occurring at the end of the first third of said hold time are written into said at least one memory, and color difference signal values occurring at the end of the second third of said hold time are written into said second memory; and
wherein:
in said first circuit branch the contents of said at least one memory and said second memory are written via said switch into said output register at the end of the first third and at the end of the second third, respectively, of said steepened leading edge;
in said second circuit branch the contents of said at least one memory and said second memory are written via said switch into said output register at the end of the first third and the second third, respectively, of said steepened leading edge; and
the input of the respective output register of each of said first and second circuit branches is connected to the output of the respective first delay element at all times except at the end of said first third and said second third or said steepened leading edge.
4. A circuit arrangement in accordance with claim 1,
wherein each of said first and second circuit branches further comprises a second memory having its input connected to said first delay element output, said switch having a third input coupled to said second memory output;
wherein said sequence controller comprises:
a counter for counting pulses of said clock signal; and
a decoder for decoding the count output of said counter to provide said sequence control signals, said sequence control signals also controlling each said second memory,
said sequence controller operating such that color difference signal values occurring at the end of the first third of said hold time are written into said at least one memory, and color difference signal values occurring at the end of the second third of said hold time are written into said second memory; and
wherein:
in said first circuit branch the contents of said at least one memory and said second memory are written via said switch into said output register at the end of the first third and at the end of said second third, respectively, of said steepened leading edge;
in said second circuit branch the contents of said at least one memory and said second memory are written via said switch into said output register at the end of the first third and the second third, respectively, of said steepened leading edge; and
the input of the respective output register of each of said first and second circuit branches is connected to the output of the respective first delay element at all times except at the end of said first third and said second third of said steepened leading edge.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to a circuit for steepening color-signal transitions in color television receivers or the like.
A circuit arrangement of this kind includes a slope detector which, when a predetermined amplitude threshold value is exceeded, delivers a switching signal which causes a substitute signal to appear at the respective output of the two color-difference channels for the duration of the system rise time of said channels. One circuit arrangement of this kind, which provides a chroma transient improvement, is described in a publication by VALVO entitled "Technische Information 840228 (Feb. 28, 1984): Versteilerung von Farbsignalsprungen and Leuchtdichtesignal-Verzogerung mit der Schaltung TDA 4560".
The bandwidth of the color-difference channel is very small compared with the bandwidth of the luminance channel, namely only about 1/5 that of the luminance channel in the television standards now in use. This narrow bandwidth leads to blurred color transitions ("color edging") in case of sudden color-signal changes, e.g., at the edges of the usual color-bar test signal, because, compared with the associated luminance-signal transition, an approximately fivefold duration of the color-signal transition results from the narrow transmission bandwidth.
In the prior circuit arrangement, the relatively slowly rising color-signal edges are steepened by suitably delaying the color-difference signals and the luminance signal and steepening the edges of the color-difference signals at the end of the delay by suitable analog circuits. The color-difference signals and the luminance signal are present and processed in analog form as usual.
The problem to be solved by the invention is to modify the principle of the prior art analog circuits in such a way that it can be used in known color-television receivers with digital signal-processing circuitry (cf. "Electronics", Aug. 11, 1981, pages 97 to 103), with the slope detector responding not only to one criterion, namely a predeterminable amplitude threshold value as in the prior art arrangement, but to an additional criterion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention a circuit arrangement provides a fully digital solution for chroma transient improvement. The circuit arrangement contains a slope detector, a memory, a switch-over switch and a timing control stage for the processing of each color difference signal. A time period threshold signal and an amplitude threshold signal are fed to the slope detector. If the amplitude threshold is exceeded and the time threshold is not being reached, the slope is improved.
This circuit arrangement is designed for use in digital color-television receivers or the like and contains for each of the two digital color-difference signals a slope detector to which both a digital signal defining an amplitude threshold value and a digital signal defining a time threshold value are applied. At least one intermediate value occurring during an edge to be steepened is stored, and at the same time value of the steepened edge, it is "inserted" into the latter. This is done by means of memories, switches, output registers, and a sequence controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second form of the arrangement of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the slope detectors of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIGS. 4a-c shows various waveforms to explain the basic operation of the invention; and
FIGS. 5a and 5b shows waveforms to explain the operation of the improved arrangement of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the block diagram of FIG. 1, the digital color-difference signals yr, yb are present in the baseband at the frequency of the clock signal f, which is four times the chrominance-subcarrier frequency, i.e., the individual data words appear one after the other at this frequency. If a subharmonic of the clock signal f, i.e., the chrominance-subcarrier frequency itself, for example, is chosen for the color-difference-signal demodulation as may be the case in known digital color-television receivers, these digital signals must be brought to the aforementioned repetition frequency of the clock signal f by digital interpolation.
In FIG. 1, there are two branches for the two color-difference signal yr and yb, respectively. They are of the same design, with the branch z1 assigned to the red-minus-luminance channel, and the branch z2 to the blue-minus-luminance channel. In the branch z1, the red-minus-luminance signal yr is applied to the inputs of the first delay element v1 and the first digital slope detector fs1. The output of the first delay element v1 is fed to the input of the first memory s1 and to one of the inputs of the first switch us1, whereas the output of the first memory s1 is connected to the other input of the first switch us1, whose output is coupled to the input of the first output register r1.
The second branch z2, to which the blue-minus-luminance signals yb are applied, is of the same design as the first branch z1 as far as the individual circuits and their interconnections are concerned, and contains the second digital slope detector fs2, the second delay element v2, the second memory s2, the second switch us2, and the second output register r2.
The output signals of the two slope detectors fs1, fs2 are applied, respectively, to the first and second inputs of the OR gate og, whose output is connected to the first input of the sequence controller ab. The second input of the latter is presented with the clock signal f, and the third input with the digital signal hz, by which the hold time equal to the system rise time of the color-difference channels can be preset. The outputs of the sequence controller ab are connected to the enable inputs en of the first and second memories s1, s2 and of the first and second output registers r1, r2 and to the control inputs of the two switches us1, us2.
The sequence controller ab controls these subcircuits as follows. A red-minus-luminance signal value yr1 and a blue-minus-luminance signal value yb1 occurring at an intermediate value of the hold time are read into the memories s1 and s2, respectively. This intermediate value of the hold time lies preferably in the middle of the hold time. Furthermore, the sequence controller causes the contents of the memories s1 and s2 to be transferred via the associated switches us1 and us2 into the associated output registers r1 and r2, respectively, at the corresponding intermediate value, preferably one-half, of the steepened leading edge, while at all times other than the instant of the intermediate value of the steepened leading edge, the inputs of the associated output registers are connected to the outputs of the delay elements v1 and v2, respectively.
The block diagram of FIG. 2 shows an improved version of the arrangement of FIG. 1. The improvement is that the first and second memories s1 and s2 of FIG. 1 have been supplemented with the third and fourth memories s3 and s4, respectively, each of which is connected in parallel with the associated memory, and that the two switches us1 and us2 of FIG. 1 have been expanded into multiposition switches us1' and us2' each having one additional input connected to the output of the third memory s3 and the output of the fourth memory s4, respectively.
This improved portion of FIG. 2 concerns the sequence controller ab of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the latter consists of the counter c2, which counts the pulses of the clock signal s, the decoder dc, and the AND gate u2. The start input st of the counter c2 is connected to the output of the OR gate og, whereas the stop input sp is controlled by the decoder dc. The digital signal hz is fed to the decoder dc, cf. FIG. 1.
The counts of the counter c2 are decoded by reading the red- and blue-minus-luminance signal values occurring at the end of the first third of the hold time, i.e., the values yr1' and yb1', into the first memory s1 and the second memory s2, respectively, and the red- and blue-minus-luminance signal values occurring at the end of the second third of the hold time, i.e., the values yr2 and yb2, into the third memory s3 and the fourth memory s4, respectively. At the end of the first third and second third, respectively, of the steepened leading edge, the contents of the memories s1 and s3, respectively, are transferred through the switch us1' into the output register r1, and at the end of the first third and second third, respectively of that edge, the contents of the memories s2 and s4, respectively, are transferred through the switch us2' into the output register r2. The inputs of the two outputs registers are connected to the outputs of the first and second delay elements v1 and v2, respectively, except at the end of the first and second thirds, respectively, of the steepened leading edge.
The clock signal f is applied to one of the inputs of the AND gate u2, whose other input is connected to one of the outputs of the decoder dc, and whose output is coupled to the enable inputs en of the first and second output registers r1, r2.
The block diagram of FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the circuit of the slope detectors fs1, fs2. The input for the color-difference signal yr, yb is followed by the series combination of the first digital differentiator d1, the digital absolute-value stage bb, and the minuend input m of the first digital comparator k1. The subtrahend input s of the latter is presented with the digital signal corresponding to the amplitude threshold value, the signal ta.
The absolute-value stage bb delivers digital values which are unsigned, i.e., which have no sign bit, for example.
Accordingly, the absolute-value stage bb contains a subcircuit which changes negative binary numbers in, e.g., one's or two's complement representation into the corresponding positive binary number, i.e., a recomplementer.
The term "comparator" as used herein means a digital circuit which compares the two digital signals appearing at the two inputs to determine which of the two signals is greater. Since, purely formally, such a comparison is closer to the arithmetic operation of subtraction than to that of addition although the concrete internal circuitry of such comparators is more similar to that of adders than to that of subtracters, the two inputs of the comparator are called "minuend input" and "subtrahend input" as in the case of a subtracter. The three logic output signals are "minuend greater than subtrahend", "subtrahend greater than minuend", and "minuend equal to subtrahend". Thus, in positive logic, the more positive logic level will appear at the minuend-greater-than-subtrahend output of a comparator if and as long as the minuend is greater than the subtrahend. If needed, the more negative logic level appearing at this output may serve to signal the "minuend-smaller-than-subtrahend" function, i.e., it is also possible to use negative logic.
In the slope detector of FIG. 3, the enable input eb of the first clock-pulse counter c1 and one of the inputs of the second digital differentiator d2 are connected to the minuend-greater-than-subtrahend output ms of the first comparator k1. The count outputs of the first counter c1 are coupled to the input of the fifth memory s5, which has its output connected to the minuend input m of the second digital comparator k2. The subtrahend input s of the latter is presented with a digital signal corresponding to the time threshold value, the signal tt.
The reset input re of the first counter c1, the enable input en of the fifth memory s5, and the first input of the first AND gate u1 are connected to the output of the second differentiator d2. The subtrahend-greater-than-minuend output sm of the second comparator k2 is connected to the second input of the second AND gate u2, whose output is fed to the OR gate of FIGS. 1 or 2. The subcircuits d1, bb, k1, d2, and, as mentioned above, c1 are clocked by the clock signal f.
FIGS. 4a-c and 5a and b serve to illustrate the operation of the circuit arrangement in accordance with the invention. FIG. 4a shows the assumed shape of one of the two color-difference signals yr, yb; it should be noted that, in those figures, the representation commonly used for analog signals has been chosen for simplicity.
FIG. 4b shows the output signal of the absolute-value stage bb and the amplitude threshold value corresponding to the digital signal ta. Also shown is the time threshold value corresponding to the digital signal tt. FIG. 4c shows the shape of the assumed color-difference signal of FIG. 4a as it appears at the output of the output register r1, r2 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. A comparison between FIGS. 4a and 4c shows that the last edge on the right has been steepened since, during this edge, both the amplitude threshold value is exceeded and the time threshold value is not reached (cf. the use of the subtrahend-greater-than-minuend output sm of the second comparator k2), the steepening function becomes effective. The first comparator k1 provides a signal at the minuend-greater-than-subtrahend output ms as long as the output signal of the absolute-value stage bb is greater than the amplitude threshold value. During that time, the first counter c1 can count the clock pulses until it is reset by a signal derived by the second differentiator d2 from the trailing edge of the output signal of the first comparator k1. The previous count of the counter c1 is transferred into the fifth memory s5 and compared with the time threshold value by the second comparator k2. If the time threshold value is greater than the period measured by the counter c1, the above-mentioned function will be initiated.
FIGS. 5a and 5b serve to explain how the steepened edge is formed. Curve a of FIG. 5a shows a slowly rising edge used for the explanation. The distances between the points in curves a and b of FIG. 5a are to illustrate the period of the clock signal f. FIG. 5b shows the waveform at the enable inputs en of the output registers r1, r2. At the arrow shown on the left between curves a and b of FIG. 5a, the signal periodically applied to these inputs at the repetition rate of the clock signal f is stopped, so to speak, so that no signals are transferred to the output registers r1, r2 over several clock periods, but the signal read in at the "clocking" of the enable inputs en is retained in those registers. After the "clocking" of the enable inputs of the output registers r1, r2 has resumed at the beginning of the edge to be steepened, the signal values yr1', yb1' and yr2, yb2 read into the memories s1, s2 and s3, s4 at the end of the first third and the second third, respectively, of the slowly rising edge of curve a of FIG. 5a are transferred into the output registers r1, r2 at the end of the first third and the second third, respectively, of this edge. The arrow shown on the right between curves a and b of FIG. 5a is to indicate that, at the end of the slowly rising edge of curve a, the steepened edge of curve b has reached the desired signal value.
The period for which the "clocking" of the enable inputs en of the output registers r1, r2 is "interrupted" is equal to the duration of the digital signal hz fed to the sequence controller ab of FIG. 1 or to the decoder dc of FIG. 2.
The circuit arrangement in accordance with the invention can be readily implemented in monolithic integrated form. As it uses exclusively digital circuits, it is especially suited for integration using insulated-gate field-effect transistors, i.e., MOS technology.

VCU 2133 Video Codec UNIT

High-speed coder/decoder IC for analog-to-digital and di-
gital-to-analog conversion of the video signal in digital TV
receivers based on the DIGIT 2000 concept. The VCU 2133
is a VLSI circuit in Cl technology, housed in a 40-pin Dil
plastic package. One single silicon chip combines the fol-
lowing functions and circuit details (Fig. 1):
- two input video amplifiers
- one A/D converter for the composite video signal
- the noise inverter
- one D/A converter for the luminance signal
- two D/A converters for the color difference signals
- one RGB matrix for converting the color difference sig-
nals and the luminance signal into RGB signals
- three RGB output amplifiers
- programmable auxiliary circuits for blanking, brightness
adjustment and picture tube alignment
- additional clamped RGB inputs for text and other analog
RGB signals
- programmable beam current limiting
1. Functional Description
The VCU 2133 Video Codec is intended for converting the
analog composite video signal from the video demodulator
into a digital signal. The latter is further processed

digitally
in the VPU 2203 Video Processor and in the DPU 2553 De-
flection Processor. After processing in the VPU 2203 (color
demodulation, PAL compensation, etc.), the VPU‘s digital
output signals (luminance and color difference) are recon-
verted into analog signals in the VCU 2133. From these an-
alog signals are derived the RGB signals by means of the
RGB matrix, and, after amplification in the integrated RGB
amplifiers, the RGB signals drive the RGB output amplifiers
of the color T\/ set.
For TV receivers using the NTSC standard the VPU 2203
may be replaced by the CVPU 2233 Comb Filter Video Pro-
cessor which is pin-compatible with the VPU 2203, but of-
fers better video performance. In the case of SECAM, the
SPU 2220 SECAM Chroma Processor must be connected
in parallel to the VPU 2203 for chroma processing, while
the luma processing remains inthe VPU 2203.
In a more sophisticated CTV receiver according to the Dl-
GIT 2000 concept, after the VPU Video Processor may be
placed the DTI 2223 Digital Transient Improvement Proces-
sor which serves for sharpening color transients on the
screen. The output signals of the DTI are fed to the VCU’s
luma and chroma inputs. To achieve the desired transient
improvement, the R-Y and B-Y D/A converters of the VCU
must be stopped for a certain time which is done by the
hold pulse supplied by the DTI and fed to the Reset pin 23
of the VCU. The pulse detector following this pin seperates
the (capacitively-coupled) hold pulse from the reset signal.
In addition, the VCU 2133 carries out the functions:
- brightness adjustment
- automatic CRT spot-cutoff control (black level)
- white balance control and beam current limiting
Further, the VCU 2133 offers direct inputs for text or other
analog RGB signals including adjustment of brightness and
contrast for these signals.
The RGB matrix and RGB amplifier circuits integrated in
the VCU 2133 are analog. The CRT spot-cutoff control is
carried out via the RGB amplifiers’ bias, and the white bal-
ance control is accomplished by varying the gain of these
amplifiers. The VCU 2133 is clocked by a 17.7 or 14.3 MHz
clock signal supplied by the MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC.
1.1. The A/D Converter with Input Amplifiers and Bit
Enlargement
The video signal is input to the VCU 2133 via pins 35 and 37
which are intended for normal TV video signal (pin 35) and
for VCR or SCART video signal (pin 37) respectively. The
video amplifier whose action is required, is activated by the
CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070 via the IM bus by soft-
ware. The amplification of both video amplifiers is doubled
during the undelayed horizontal blanking pulse (at pin 36)
in order to obtain a higher digital resolution of the color
synchronization signal (burst). At D 2-MAC reception, the
doubled gain is switched off by means of bit p = 1 (Fig. 8).

The A/D converter is of the flash type, a circuit of 2" com-
parators connected in parallel. This means that the number
of comparators must be doubled if one additional bit is
needed. Thus it is important to have as few bits as possi-
ble. For a slowly varying video signal, 8 bits are required.

ln
order to achieve an 8-bit picture resolution using a 7-bit
converter, a trick is used: during every other line the refer-
ence voltage of the A/D converter is changed by an
amount corresponding to one half of the least significant
bit. ln this procedure, a grey value located between two 7-
bit steps is converted to the next lower value during one
line and to the next higher value during the next line. The
two grey values on the screen are averaged by the viewer’s
eye, thus producing the impression of grey values with
8-bit resolution. Synchronously to the changing reference
voltage of the A/D converter, to the output signal of the Y
D/A converter is added a half-bit step every second line.
The bit enlargement just described must be switched off in
the case of using the D2-MAC standard (q = 1 and r = 1
in Fig. 8). ln the case of using the comb filter CVPU instead
of the VPU, the half-bit adding in the Y D/A converter must
be switched off (r = 1 in Fig. 8).
The A/D converter’s sampling frequency is 17.7 MHZ for
PAL and 14.3 MHz for NTSC, the clock being supplied by
the MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC which is common to all
circuits for the digital T\/ system. The converter’s resolu-
tion is 1/2 LSB of 8 bits. Its output signal is Gray-coded to
eliminate spikes and glitches resulting from different com-
parator speeds or from the coder itself. The output is fed to
the VPU 2203 and to the DPU 2553 in parallel form.
1.2. The Noise Inverter
The digitized composite video signal passes the noise in-
verter circuit before it is put out to the VPU 2203 and to the
DPU 2553. The noise inverter serves for suppressing bright
spots on the screen which can be generated by noise
VCU 2133
pulses, p. ex. produced by ignition sparks of cars etc. The
function of the noise inverter can be seen in Fig. 2. The
maximum white level corresponds with step 126 of the A/D
converter’s output signal (that means a voltage of 7 V at
pin 35). lf, due to an unwanted pulse on the composite
video signal, the voltage reaches 7.5 V (what means step
127 in digital) or more, the signal level is reduced by such
an amount, that a medium grey is obtained on the screen
(about 40 lFiE). The noise inverter circuit can be switched
off by software (address 16 in the VPU 2203, see there).
1.3. The Luminance D/A Converter (Y)
After having been processed in the VPU 2203 (color de-
modulation, PAL compensation, etc.), the different parts of
the digitized video signal are fed back to the VCU 2133 for
further processing to drive the RGB output amplifiers. The
luminance signal (Y) is routed from the VPU’s contrast mul-
tiplier to the Y D/A converter in the VCU 2133 in the form of
a parallel 8-bit signal with a resolution of 1/2 LSB of 9

bits.
This bit range provides a sufficient signal range for contrast
as well as positive and negative overshoot caused by the
peaking filter (see Fig. 3 and Data Sheet VPU 2203).


The luminance D/A converter is designed as an R-2R lad-
der network. lt is clocked with the 17.7 or the 14.3 MHz
clock signal applied to pin 22. The cutoff frequency of the
luminance signal is determined by the clock frequency.
1.4. The D/A Converters for the Color Difference Signals
R-Y and B-Y
ln order to save output pins at the VPU 2203 and input pins
at the VCU 2133 as well as connection lines, the two digital
color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are transferred in time
multiplex operation. This is possible because these signals’
bandwidth is only 1 MHZ and the clock is a 17.7 or 14.3
MHz signal.
The two 8-bit D/A converters R-Y and B-Y are also built as
R-2R ladder networks. They are clocked with ‘A clock fre-
quency, but the clock for the multiplex data transfer is 17.7
or 14.3 MHz. Four times 4 bits are transferred sequentially,
giving a total of 16 bits. A sync signal coordinates the

multi-
plex operations in both the VCU 2133 and the VPU 2203.
Thus, only four lines are needed for 16 bits. Fig. 4 shows
the timing diagram of the data transfer described.
ln a CTV receiver with digital transient improvement (DTI
2223), the R-Y and B-Y D/A converters are stopped by the
hold pulse supplied by the DTI, and their output signal is
kept constant for the duration of the hold pulse. Thereafter,
the output signal jumps to the new value, as described in
the DTl’s data sheet.
Fig. 4:
Timing diagram of the multiplex data transfer of the chroma
channel between VPU 2203, VCU 2133 and SPU 2220
a) main clock signal QSM
b) valid data out of the VCU 2133’s video A/D converter.
AIAD is the delay time of this converter, about 40 ns.
c) valid data out of the VPU 2203.
d) MUX data transfer of the chroma signals from VPU 2203
to VCU 2133, upper line: sync pulse from pin 27 VPU to
pin 21 VCU during sync time in vertical blanking time,
see Fig. 8; lower line: valid data from pins 27 to 30
(VPU) to pins 18 to 21 (VCU)
1.5. The RGB Matrix and the RGB Output Amplifiers
ln the RGB matrix, the signals Y, R-Y and B-Y are dema-
trixed, the reduction coefficients of 0.88 and 0.49 being tak-
en into account. In addition, the matrix is supplied with a
signal produced by an 8-bit D/A converter for setting the
brightness of the picture. The brightness adjustment range
corresponds to 1/2 of the luminance signal range (see Fig.
3). It can be covered in 255 steps. The brightness is set by
commands fed from the CCU 2030, CCU 2050 or CCU 2070
Central Control Unit to the VPU 2203 via the IM bus.
There are available four different matrices: standard PAL,
matrix 2, 3 and 4, the latter for foreign markets. 'The re-
quired matrix must be mask-programmed during produc-
tion. The matrices are shown in Table 1, based on the for-
mulas:
R = r1~(R-Y)+ l'2~(B-Y) +Y
G = Q1-(Ft-Y)+ Q2 - (B-Y) +Y
B = b1-(Ft-Y)+ bg - (B-Y) +Y
The three RGB output amplifiers are impedance converters
having a low output impedance, an output voltage swing of
6 V (p-p), thereof 3 V for the video part and 3 V for bright-
ness and dark signal. The output current is 4 mA. Fig. 5
shows the recommended video output stage configuration.

For the purpose of white-balance control, the amplification
factor of each output amplifier can be varied stepwise in
127 steps (7 bits) by a factor of 1 to 2. Further, the CRT
spot-cutoff control is accomplished via these amplifiers’ bi-
as by adding the output signal of an 8-bit D/A converter to
the intelligence signal. The amplitude of the output signal
corresponds to one half of the luminance range. The eight
bits make it possible to adjust the dark voltage in 0.5 %
steps. By means of this circuit, the factory-set values for
the dark currents can be maintained and aging of the pic-
ture tube compensated.
1.6. The Beam Current and Peak Beam Current Limiter
The principle of this circuitry may be explained by means of
Fig. 6. Both facilities are carried out via pin 34 of the VCU
2133. For beam current limiting and peak beam current li-
miting, contrast and brightness are reduced by reducing
the reference voltages for the D/A converters Y, Ft-Y and
B-Y. At a voltage of more than +4 V at pin 34, contrast and
brightness are not affected. In the range of +4 V to +3 V,
the contrast is continuously reduced. At +3 V, the original
contrast is reduced to a programmable level, which is set
by the bits of address 16 of the VPU as shown in Table 2. A
further decrease of the voltage merely reduces brightness,
the contrast remains unchanged. At 2 V, the brightness is
reduced to zero. At voltages lower than 2 V, the output
goes to ultra black. This is provided for security purposes.
The beam current limiting is sensed at the ground end of
the EHT circuit, where the average value of the beam cur-
rent produces a certain voltage drop across a resistor in-
serted between EHT circuit and ground. The peak beam
current limiting can be provided additionally to avoid
“blooming” of white spots or letters on the screen. For
this, a fast peak current limitation is needed which is
sensed by three sensing transistors inserted between the
RGB amplifiers and the cathodes of the picture tube. One
of these three transistors is shown in Fig. 6. The sum of the
picture tube’s three cathode currents produces a voltage
drop across resistor R1. If this voltage exceeds that gen-
erated by the divider R2, B3 plus the base emitter voltage
of T2, this transistor will be turned on and the voltage at

pin
34 of the VCU 2133 sharply reduced. Time constants for
both beam current limiting and peak beam current limiting
can be set by the capacitors C1 and C2.
1.7. The Blanking Circuit
The blanking circuit coordinates blanking during vertical
and horizontal flyback. During the latter, the VCU 2133's
output amplifiers are switched to “ultra black”. Such
switching is different during vertical flyback, however, be-
cause at this time the measurements for picture tube align-
ment are Carried out. During vertical flyback, only the ca-
thode to be measured is switched to “black” during mea-
suring time, the other two are at ultra black so that only the
dark current of one cathode is measured at the same time.
For measuring the leakage current, all three cathodes are
switched to ultra black.
The sequence described is controlled by three code bits
contained in a train of 72 bits which is transferred from the
VPU 2203 to the VCU 2133 during each vertical blanking in-
terval. This transfer starts with the vertical blanking pulse.
During the transfer all three cathodes of the picture tube
are biased to ultra black. In the same manner, the white-
balance control is done.
The blanking circuit is controlled by two pulse combina-
tions supplied by the DPU 2553 Deflection Processor
(“sandcastle pulses"). Pin 39 of the VCU 2133 receives the
combined vertical blanking and delayed horizontal blanking


pulse from pin 22 of the DPU (Fig. 7 b), and pin 36 of the
VCU gets the combined undelayed horizontal blanking and
color key pulse from pin 19 of the DPU (Fig. 7 a). The two
outputs of the DPU are tristate-controlled, supplying the
output levels max. 0.4 V (low), min. 4.0 V (high), or high-im-
pedance, whereby the signal level in the high-impedance
mode is determined by the VCU’s input configuration, a
voltage divider of 3.6 KS! and 5 KQ between the +5 V sup-
ply and ground, to 2_8 V. The VCU’s input amplifier has two
thresholds of 2.0 V and 3.4 V for detecting the three levels
of the combined pulses. ln this way, two times two pulses
are transferred via only two lines.
1.8. The Circuitry for Picture Tube Alignment
During vertical flyback, a number of measurements are tak-
en and data is exchanged between the VCU 2133, the VPU
2203 and the CCU 2030 or CCU 2050. These measure-
ments deal with picture tube alignment, as white level and
dark current adjustment, and with the photo current sup-
plied by a photo resistor (Fig. 5) which serves for adapting
Fig. 8:
Data sequence during the transfer of test results from the
VPU 2203 to the VCU 2133. Nine Bytes are transferred, in
each case the LSB first. These 9 Bytes, 8 bits each, coin-
cide with the 72 pulses of 4.4 MHz that are transferred dur-
ing vertical flyback from pin 27 of the VPU 2203 to pin 21 of
the VCU 2133 (see Fig. 9).
l and mi beam current limiter range
l<: noise inverter on/off
n: video input switching bit
S: SECAM chroma sync bit; S = 1 means that the chroma
demultiplexer is synchronized every line. The switch-over
time from C0 to demux counter begins with the end of the
undelayed horizontal blanking pulse and remains valid for a
time of 12 Q M clock periods.
6
the contrast of the picture to the light in the room where
the TV set is operated. The circuitry for transferring the

pic-
ture tube alignment data, the sensed beam currents and
the photo current is clocked in compliance with the VPU
2203 by the vertical blanking pulse and the color key pulse.
To carry out the measurements, a quadruple cycle is pro-
vided (see Table 3). The timing of the data transfer during
the vertical flyback is shown in Fig. 9, and Fig. 8 shows the
data sequence during that data transfer.
Ft, G, B: code bits
p=1; no doubled gain in the input amplifier during horizon-
tal blanking (see section 1.1.)
q=1: no changing of the A/D converter’s reference vol-
tage during every other line (see section 1.1.)
r=1: when operating with the DMA D2-MAC decoder or
the CVPU comb filter video processor, the adding of
a step of ‘/2 LSB to the output signal of the Y D/A
converter is switched off (see section 1.1.).
s=1; the blankirig pulse in the analog video output signal
at pins 26 to 28 is switched off, as is required in
stand-alone applications.


1.9. The Additional RGB Inputs
The three additional analog RGB inputs are provided for
inputting text or other analog RGB signals. They are con-
nected to fast voltage-to-current converters whose output
current can be altered in 64 steps (6 bits) for contrast set-
ting between 100 % and 30 %. The three inputs are
clamped to a DC black level which corresponds to the level
of 31 steps in the luminance channel, by means of the color
key pulse. So, the same brightness level is achieved for
normal and for external RGB signals. The output currents
ofthe converters are then fed to the three RGB output am-
plifiers. Switchover to the external video signal is also

fast.
1.10. The Reset Circuit and Pulse Detector
The reset pulse produced by the external reset RC network
in common for the whole DIGIT 2000 system, switches the
RGB outputs to ultra black during the power-on routine of
the TV set. At other times, high level must be applied to the
reset input pin 23.
There is an additional facility with pin 23 which is used only
in conjunction with the DTl 2223 Digital Transient Improve-
ment Processor. The hold pulse produced by the latter
which serves for stopping the R-Y and B-Y D/A converters,
is also fed to pin 23, capacitively-coupled. The pulse detec-
tor responds on positive pulses which exceed the 5 V sup-
ply by about 1 V. The two DACs are stopped as long as the
hold pulse lasts, and supply a constant output signal of the
amplitude at the begin of the hold pulse.


5. Description of the Connections and the Signals
Pins 1, 9, and 25 - Supply Voltage, +5 V
The supply voltage is +5 V. Pins 1 and 25 supply the ana-
log part and must be filtered separately.
Pins 2 to 8 - Outputs V0 to V6
Via these pins the VCU 2133 supplies the digitized video
signal in a parallel 7-bit Gray-coded to the VPU 2203 and the
DPU 2553. The output configuration is shown in Fig. 16.
Pins 10 to 17 - Inputs L7 to L0
Fig. 17 shows these inputs’ configuration. Via these pins,
the VCU 2133 receives the digital luminance signal from the
VPU 2203 in a paraliel 8-bit code.
Pins 18 to 21 - Inputs C0 to C3
Via these inputs, whose circuitry and data correspond to
those of pins 10 to 17, the VCU 2133 is fed with the digi-
tized color difference signals R-Y and B-Y and with the
control and alignment signals described in section 1.8., in
multiplex operation. Pin 21 is additionally used for the

multi-
plex sync signal.
Pin 22 - QSM Main Clock Input
Via this pin, whose circuitry is shown in Fig. 18, the VCU
2133 is supplied with the clock signal QSM produced by the
MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator IC. The clock fre-
quency is 17.7 MHz for PAL and SECAM and 14.3 MHz for
NTSC. The clock signal must be DC-coupled.
Pin 23 - Reset and Hold Pulse Input (Fig. 19)
Via this pin, the VCU 2133 is supplied with the reset and
hold signals which are supplied by pin 21 of the DTI 2223
Digital Transient Improvement Processor for stopping the
R-Y and B-Y D/A converters, and for Reset.
Pins 24 and 29 - Analog Ground, 0
These pins serve as ground connections for the supply and
for the analog signals (GND pin 24 for RGB).
Pins 26 to 28 - RGB Outputs
These three analog outputs deliver an analog signal suit-
able for driving the RGB output transistors. Their diagram
is shown in Fig. 20. The output voltage swing is 6 V total,
3 V for the black-to-white signal and 3 V for adjusting
the brightness and the black level.
Pins 30 to 32 - Additional Analog Inputs R, G and B
Fig. 21 shows the configuration of these inputs. They serve
to feed analog RGB signals, for example for Teletext or si-
milar applications, and they are clamped during the color
key pulse. At a 1 V input, full brightness is reached. The
bandwidth extends from 0 to 8 MHz.
Pin 33 - Fast Switching Input
This input is connected as shown in Fig. 22. It ser\/es for
fast switchover of the video channel between an internally-
produced video signal and an externally-applied video sig-
nal via pins 30 to 32. With 0 V at pin 33, the RGB outputs
will supply the internal video signal, and at a 1 V input

level,
the RGB outputs are switched to the external video signal.
Bandwidth is 0 to 4 MHz, and input impedance 1 KQ mini-
mum.
Pin 34 - Beam Current Limiter Input
The diagram of pin 34 is shown in Fig. 25. The input voltage
may be between +5 V and 0 V. The input impedance is 100
kQ. The function of pin 34 is described in section 1.6.
Pin 35 - Composite Video Signal Input 1
To fully drive the video A/D converter the following ampli-
tudes are required at pin 35: +5 V = sync pulse top level,
all bits low; +7 V = peak white, all bits high. Fig. 24 shows
the configuration of pin 35.
Pin 36 - Undelayed Horizontal Blanking and Color Key
Pulse Input
The circuitry of this pin is shown in Fig. 23. Pin 36 receives
the combined undelayed horizontal blanking and color key
pulse which are “sandcastled” and are supplied by pin 19
of the DPU 2553 Deflection Processor. During the undelay-
ed horizontal blanking pulse, the input amplifiers’ gain is
doubled, and the bit enlargement circuit is also switched
by this pulse, and the counter for the data transmission
gap started. The color key pulse is used for clamping the
RGB inputs pins 30 to 32.
Pin 37 - Composite Video Signal Input 2
This pin has the same function and properties as pin 35,
except the gain of the input amplifier which is twice the
gain as that of the amplifier at pin 35. This means an input
voltage range of +5 V to +6 V.
Pin 38 - Supply Voltage, +12 V »
The 12 V supply is needed for certain circuit parts to obtain
the required input or output voltage range, as the video in-
put and the RGB outputs (see Figs. 20 and 24).
Pin 39 - Vertical Blanking and Delayed Horizontal Blanking
Input
This pin receives the combined vertical blanking and delay-
ed horizontal blanking. pulse from pin 22 of the DPU 2553
Deflection Processor. Both pulses are “sandcastled” so
that only one connection is needed for the transfer of two
pulses. These two pulses are separated in the input circui-
try of the VCU 2133, and are used for blanking the picture
during vertical and horizontal flyback. Fig. 23 shows the cir-
cuitry of pin 39.
Pin 40 - Digital Ground, O
This pin is used as GND connection in conjunction with the
pins 2 to 8 and 10 to 21 which carry digital signals.


DPU 2553, DPU 2554 Deflection Processors UNIT

Note: lf not otherwise designated, the pin numbers
mentioned refer to the 40-pin Dil package.

1. Introduction
These programmable VLSI circuits in n-channel mOS
technology carry out the deflection functions in digital
colorTV receivers based onthe DiGiT 2000 system and
are also suitable for text and D2~mAC application. The
three types are basically identical, but are modified ac-
cording to the intended application:

DPU 2553
normal-scan horizontal deflection, standard CTV re-
ceivers, also equipped with Teletext and D2-mAC fa-
cility
DPU 2554
double-scan horizontal deflection, for CTV receivers
equipped with double-frequency horizontal deflection
and double-~frequency vertical deflection for improved
picture quality. At power-up, this version starts with
double horizontal frequency.

1.1. General Description
The DPU 2553/54 Deflection Processors contain the fol-
lowing circuit functions on one single silicon chip:
- video clamping
- horizontal and vertical sync separation
~ horizontal synchronization
- normal horizontal deflection
-east-west correction, also for flat-screen picture
tubes
- vertical synchronization
- normal vertical deflection
~ sawtooth generation
-text display mode with increased deflection frequen-
cies (18.7 kHz horizontal and 60 Hz vertical)
- D2-mAC operation mode

and for DPU 2554 only:
- double-scan horizontal deflection
- normal and double-scan vertical deflection
ln this data sheet, all information given for double~scan
mode is available with the DPU 2554 only. Type DPU
2553 starts the horizontal deflection with 15.5 kHz ac-
cording to the normal TV standard, whereas type DPU
2554 starts with 31 kHz according to the double-scan
system.
The following characteristics are programmable:
~ selection ofthe TV standard (PAL, D2-mAC or NTSC)
- selection ofthe deflection standard (Teletext, horizon-
tal and vertical double-scan, and normal scan)
- filter time»constant for horizontal synchronization
- vertical amplitude, S correction, and vertical position
for in-line, flat-screen and Trinitron picture tubes
- east-west parabola, horizontal width, and trapezoidal
correction for in-line, flat-screen and Trinitron picture
tubes
- switchover characteristics between the different syn-
chronization modes
~characteristic of the synchronism detector for PLL
switching and muting

1.2. Environment
Fig. 1-1 showsthe simplified block diagram ofthe video
and deflection section of a digital TV receiver based on
the DIGIT 2000 system. The analog video signal derived
from the video detector is digitized in the VCU 2133,
VCU 2134 or VCU 2136 Video Codec and supplied in a
parallel 7 bit Gray-coded . This digital video signal is fed to
the video section (PVPU, CVPU, SPU and DmA) and to
the DPU 2553/54 Deflection Processorwhich carries out
all functions required in conjunction with deflection, from
sync separation to the control of the deflection power
stages, as described in this data sheet.




3. Functional Description
3.1. Block Diagram
The DPU 2553 and DPU 2554 Deflection Processors
perform all tasks associated with deflection in TV sets;
- sync separation
- generation and synchronization of the horizontal and
the vertical deflection frequencies
-the various eastevvest corrections
- vertical savvtooth generation including S correction
as described hereafter. The DPU communicates, viathe
bidirectional serial lm bus, with the CCU 2050 or CCU
2070 Central Control Unit and, via this bus, is supplied
with the picture-correction alignment information stored
in the mDA 2062 EEPROM during set production, vvhen
the set is turned on. The DPU is normally clocked with
a trapezoidal 17.734 mHz (PAL or SECAm), or 14.3 mhz
(NTSC) or 20.25 mHz (D2-mAC) clock signal supplied
by the mCU 2600 or mCU 2632 Clock Generator IC.

The functional diagram of the DPU is shovvn in Fig. 3-1.
3.2. The Video Clamping Circuit and the Sync Pulse
Separation Circuit

The digitized composite video signal delivered as a 7»bit
parallel signal by the VCU 2133, VCU 2134 or VCU 2136
Video Codec is first noise-filtered by a 1 mHz digital lovv-
pass filter and, to improve the noise immunity ofthe
clamping circuit, is additionally filtered by a 0.2 mHz low-
pass filter before being routed to the minimum and back
porch level detectors (Fig. 3-3).
The DPU has tvvo different clamping outputs, no. 1 and
No. 2, one of vvhich supplies the required clamping
pulses to the video input of the VCU as shovvn in Fig.
3-1. The following values forthe clamping circuit apply
for Video Amp. l. since the gain of Video Amp. ll istwice
th at of Video Amp l, all clamping and signal levels of Vid-
eo Amp ll are halt those of Video Amp l referred to +5 V.
Afterthe TV set is switched on,thevideo clamping circuit
first of all ensures by means of horizontal-frequency
current pulses from the clamping output of the DPU to
the coupling capacitor of the analog composite video
signal, that the video signal atthe VCU’s input is optimal-
ly biased for the operation range of the A/D converter of
5 to 7 V. For this, the sync top level is digitally measured
and set to a constant level of 5.125 V by these current
pulses. The horizontal and vertical sync pulses are novv
separated by a fixed separation level of 5.250 V so that
the horizontal synchronization can lock to the correct
phase (see section 3.3. and Figs. 3-2 and 3-3).
vvith the color key pulse which is now present in syn-
chronism with the composite video signal, the video
clamping circuit measures the DC voltage level of the
porch and by means of the pulses from pin 21 (or pin4),
sets the DC level ofthe porch at a constant 5.5 V (5.25 V
for Video Amp ll). This level is also the reference black
to Video Processorffeletext Processor, D2-MAC Processor tc.


level for the PVPU 2204 or CvPU 2270 Video Proces-
sors.
When horizontal synchronization is achieved, the slice
level for the sync pulses is set to 50 % of the sync pulse
amplitude by averaging sync top and black level. This
ensures optimum pulse separation, even with small
sync pulse amplitudes (see application notes, section
4).


3.3. Horizontal Synchronization
Two operating modes are provided for in horizontal syn-
chronization. The choice of mode depends on whether
or not the Tv station is transmitting a standard PAL or
NTSC signal, in which there is a fixed ratio between color
subcarrier frequency and horizontal frequency. ln the
first case we speak of “color-locked” operation and in
the second case of “non-color-locked” operation (e.g.
black-and-white programs). Switching between thetwo
modes is performed automatically by the standard sig-
nal detector.


3.3.1. Non-Color-Locked Operation
ln the non»locked mode,which is needed in the situation
where there is no standard fixed ratio between the color
subcarrier frequency and the horizontal frequency ofthe
transmitter, the horizontal frequency is produced by subdemding the clock frequency (1 7.7 mHz for PAL and SECAM, 14.3
mHz for NTSC) in the programmable fre-
quency dmder (Fig. 3-4) until the correct horizontal
frequency is obtained. The correct adjustment of fre-
quency and phase is ensured by phase comparator l.
This determines the frequency and phase deviation by
means of a digital phase comparison between the sepa-
rated horizontal sync pulses and the output signal of the
programmable dmder and corrects the dmder accordingly. For
optimum adjustment of phase iitter, capture
behavior and transient response of the horizontal PLL
circuit, the measured phase deviation is filtered in a digi-
lowpass filter (PLL phase filter). ln the case of non-
OZMH synchronized horizontal PLL, this filter is set to
wideband PLL response with a pull-in range of 1800 Hz. if the
- sync sync PLL circuit is locked, the PLL filter is
automatically switched to narrow-band response by an internal
synchronism detector in order to limit the phase jitter to a
minimum, even in the case of weak and noisy signals.

A calculator circuit in phase comparator , which analyzes the
edges of the horizontal sync pulses, increases
the resolution of the phase measurement from 56 ns at
Fig. 3-3: Principle ofvideo clamping and pulse separa- 17.7

mHz clock frequency to approx. 6 ns, or from 70 ns
NON at 14.3 MHz clock frequency to approx. 2.2 ns.



The various key and gating pulses such as the color key
pulse (tKe(,), the normal-scan (1 H) and double-scan
(2H) horizontal blanking pulse (tAZ(/) and the 1 H hori-
zontal undelayed gating pulse (t/(Z) are derived from the
output signals ofthe programmable dmder and an addi-
tional counter forthe2H signals and the 1 H and 2H skew
data output. These pulses retain a fixed phase position
with respect to the 1 H inputvideo signal andthe double-
scan output video signal from the CvPU 2270 Video Pro-
cessor
Forthe purpose of equalizing phase changes in the hori-
zontal output stage due to switching response toler-
ances or video influence, a second phase control loop
is used which generates the horizontal output pulse at
pin 31 to drivethe horizontal output stage. ln phase com-
parator li (Fig. 3~4), the phase difference between the
output signal of the programmable dmder and the lead-
ing edge (or the center) of the horizontal flyback pulse
(pin 23) is measured by means of a balanced gate delay
line. The deviation from the desired phase difference is
used as an input to an adder. ln this, the information on
the horizontal frequency derived from phase com-
parator l is added to the phase deviation originating form
phase comparator ll. The result of this addition controls
a digital on-chip sinewave generator (about 1 mHz)
which acts as a phase shifter with a phase resolution of
1/128 of one main clock period m_
By means of control loop ll the horizontal output pulse
(pin 31) is shifted such that the horizontal flyback pulse
(pin 23) acquiresthe desired phase position with respect
to the output signal of the programmable dmder which,
in turn, due to phase comparator l, retains a fixed phase
position with respect to the video signal. The horizontal
output pulse itself is generated by dmding the frequency
ofthe 1 mHz sinewave oscillator by a fixed ratio of 64 in
the case of norm al scan and of 32 in the case of double-
scan operation.


3.3.2. Color-Locked Operation
When in the color~locked operating mode, after the
phase position has been set in the non-color-locked
mode, the programmable dmder is set to the standard
dmsion ratio (1135:1 for PAL, 91O:1 for NTSC) and
phase comparator is disconnected so that interfering
pulses and noise cannot influence the horizontal deflec-
tion. Because phase comparator ll is still connected,
phase errors ofthe horizontal output stage are also cor-
rected in the color»locKed operating mode. The stan-
dard signal detector is so designed that it only switches
to color-locked operation when the ratio between color
subcarrier frequency and horizontal frequency deviates
no more than 1O'7 from the standard dmsion ratio. To
ascertain this requires about 8 s (NTSC). Switching off
color-locked operation takes place automatically, in the
_ case of a change of program for example, within approx-
imately 67 ms (e.g. two NTSC fields, 60 Hz).


3.3.3. Skew Data Output and Field Number Informa-
tion
with non-standard input signals, the TPU 2735 or TPU
2740 Teletext Processor produce a phase error vvith re-
spect to the deflection phase.
The DPU generates a digital data stream (skevv data,
pin 7 ofthe DPU), which informs the PSP and TPU on
the amount of phase delay (given in 2.2 ns increments)
used in the DPU for the 1H and 2h output pulse com-
pared With the Fm main clock signal of 17.7 mHz (PAL
or SECAm) or 14.3 mhz (NTSC), see also Figs. 3-6 to
3-8. The skew data is used by the PSP and by the TPU
to adjust the double-scan video signal to the 1 H and 2H
phase of the horizontal deflection to correct these phase
errors.
For the vmC processor the skew data contains three additional

bits for information about frame number, 1 V
sync and 2 V sync start.


3.3.4. Synchronism Detector for PLL and Muting
Signal
To evaluate locking ofthe horizontal PLL and condition
of the signal, the DPU’s HSP high-speed processor
(Fig. 3~1) receives two items of information from the hor-
izontal PLL circuit (see Fig. 3-11).
a) the overall pulsevvidth of the separated sync pulses
during a 6.7 us phase window centered to the horizontal
sync pulse (value A in Fig. 3-11).
b) the overall pulsevvidth of the separated sync pulse
during one horizontal line but outside the phase window
(value B in Fig. 3-11).
Based on a) and b) and using the selectable coefficients
KS1 and KS2 and a digital lovi/pass filter, the HSP pro-
cessor evaluates an 8-bit item of information “SD” (see
Fig. 3-12). By means of a comparator and a selectable
level SLP, the switching threshold for the PLL signal
“UN” is generated. UN indicates Whether the PLL is in
the synchronous or in the asynchronous state.
To produce a muting signal in the CCU, the data SD can
be read by the CCU. The range ot SD extends from O
(asynchronous) to +127 (synchronous). Typical values
torthe comparator levels and their hysteresis B1 = 30/20
and for muting 40/30 (see also HSP Bam address Table
5-6).



DPU 2553, DPU 2554

3.4. Start Oscillator and Protection Circuit
To protect the horizontal output stage of the TV set dur-
ing changing the standard and for using the DPU as a
low power start oscillator, an additional oscillator is pro-
vided on-chip (Fig. 3-4), with the output connected to
pin 31. This oscillator is controlled by a 4 mHz signalin-
dependent trom the Fm main clock produced by the
MCU 2600 or mCU 2632 Clock Generator IC and is pow-
ered by a separate supply connected to pin 35. Thefunc-
tion ofthis circuitry depends on the external standard se-
lection input pin 33 and on the start oscillator select input
pin 36, as described in Table 3-3. Using the protection
circuit as a start oscillator, the following operation modes
are available (see Table 3-3).
With pin 33 open-circuit, pin 36 at high potential (con-
nected to pin 35) and a 4 mHz clock applied to pin 34,
the protection circuit acts as a start oscillator. This pro-
duces a constant-frequency horizontal output pulse of
15.5 kHz in the case of DPU 2553, and of 31 khz in the
case of DPU 2554 while the Beset input pin 5 is at low
potential. The pulsewidth is 30 us with DPU 2553, and
16 us with DPU 2554. main clock at pin 2 or main power
supplies at pins 8, 32 and 40 are not required for this start
oscillator After the main power supply is stabilized and
the main clock generator has started, the reset input pin
5 must be switched to the high state. As long as the start
values from the CCU are invalid, the start oscillator will
continuously supply the output pulses of constant fre-
quency to pin 31 _ By means of the start values given by
the CCU via the lm bus, the register FL must be set to
zero to enable the stan oscillator to be triggered by the
horizontal PLL circuit. After that, the output frequency
and phase are controlled by the horizontal PLL only.
It the external standard selection input pin 33 is con-
nected to ground or to +5 V, the start oscillator is
switched off as soon as it ls in phase with PLL circuit. Pin
33to ground selects PAL or SECAm standard (17.7 mHz
main clock), and pin 33 to +5 V selects NTSC standard
(14.3 MHz main clock). After the main power supplies to
pins 8, 32 and 40 are stabilized, the start oscillator can
be used as a separate horizontal oscillator with a con-
stant frequency of 15.525 khz. For this option, pin 33
must be unconnected. By means ofthe lm bus register
SC the start oscillator can be switched on (SC = 0) or oft
(SC = 1). Setting SC =1 is recommended.
By means of pin 29 (horizontal output polarity selectin-
put and start oscillator pulsewidth select input), the out-
put pulsewidth and polarity ofthe start oscillator and pro-
tection circuit can be hardware-selected. Pin 29 at low
potential gives 30 us for DPU 2553 and 16 us for DPU
2554,with positive output pulses. Pin 29 at high potential
gives 36 us for DPU 2553 and 18 its for DPU 2554, with
negative output pulses. Both apply forthetime period in
which no start values are valid from the CCU. If pin 29
is intended to be in the high state, it must be connected
to pin 35 (standby power). Pin 29 must be connected to
ground or to +5 V in both cases.
Table 3-3: Operation modes ofthe start oscillator and
protection circuit


Operation Mode Pins
33 34 35 36
Horizontal output stage protected not connected 4 mHz Clock at

+5 V at ground
during main clock frequency changing
(for PAL and NTSC)
Horizontal output stage protected not connected 4 MHz Clock +5

V with connected to
and start oscillator function start oscilla- pin 35
(for PAL and NTSC) tor supply
Only start oscillator function with at +5 V 4 mHz Clock +5 V

with connected to
NTSC standard after Beset start oscilla- pin 35
tor supply
Only start oscillator function with at ground 4 mHz Clock +5 V

with connected to
PAL or SECAM standard after Beset start oscilla~ pin 35
5 tor supply
_ with 17.7 mHz clock at ground at ground at +5 V at ground
without protection.



3.5. Blanking and Color Key Pulses

Pin 19 supplies a combination ofthe color key pulse and
the undelayed horizontal blanking pulse in the form of a
three-level pulse as shown in Fig. 3-13. The high level
(4 V min.) and the low level (0.4 V max.) are controlled
by the DPU. During the low time of the undelayed hori-
zontal blanking pulse, pin 19 of the DPU i sin the high--
impedance mode and the output level at pin 19 is set to
2.8 V by the VCU.
At pin 22, the delayed horizontal blanking pulse in com-
bination with the vertical blanking pulse is available as
athree-level pulse as shown in Fig. 3-13. Output pin 22
is in high-impedance mode during the delayed horizon-
tal blanking pulse.
ln double-scan operation mode (DPU 2554), pin 22 sup-
plies the double-scan (2H) horizontal blanking pulse in-
stead ofthe 1H blanking pulse (DPU 2553). ln text dis-
play mode with increased deflection frequencies (see
section 1.), pin 22 ofthe respective DPU (DPU 2553, as
defined by register ZN) delivers the horizontal blanking
pulse with 18.7 kHz and the vertical blanking pulse with
60 Hz according to the display. At pin 24 the undelayed
horizontal blanking pulse is output.
normally,pin3suppliesthe samevertical blanking pulse
as pin 22. However, with“DVS” = 1, pin 3 will be in the
single-scan mode also with double-scan operation of
the system. The pulsewidth of the single-scan vertical
blanking pulse at pin 3 will be the same as.that of the
double-scan vertical blanking pulse at pin 22. The out-
put pulse of pin 3 is only valid if the COU register “VBE”
is set to 1 . The default value is set to 0 (high-impedance
state of pin 3).

Fig. 3-13: Shape of the output pulses at pins 19 and 22
*) The output level is externally defined
3.6. Output for Switching the Horizontal Power
Stage Between 15.6 kHz (PAL/NTSC) and 18 kHz
(Text Display)
This output (pin 37) is designed as a tristate output. High
levels (4 V mln.) and low levels (0.4 V max.) are con-
trolled bythe DPU. During high-impedance state an ex-
ternal resistor network defines the output level,
For changing the horizontal frequency from 15 kHz to
18 kHz, the following sequence of output levels is
derived at pin 37 (see Fig. 3-14).
After register ZN is set from ZN = 2 (15 kHz) to ZN = 0
(18 kHz) by the CCU, pin 37 is switched from High level
to high-impedance state synchronously with the fre-
quency change at pin 31. Following a delay of 20ms, pin
37 is set to Low level and remains in this state forthetime
the horizontal frequency remains 18 kHz (with ZN == 0).
This 20 ms delay is required for switching-over the hori-
zontal power stage.
To change the horizontal frequency in the opposite di-
rection, from 18 kHz to 15.6 kHz, the sequence de-
scribed is reversed.


3.7. Text Display Mode with Increased Deflection
Frequencies
As already mentioned, the DPU 2553 provides the fea-
ture of increased deflection frequencies for text display
for improved picture quality in this mode of operation. To
achieve this, the processor acting as deflection proces-
sor has its register Zn set to 0. The horizontal output fre-
quency at pin 31 is then switched to a frequency of
18746.802 Hz which is generated by dmding the Fm
main clock frequency by 946 i 46. The horizontal PLL is
then able to synchronize to an external composite sync
signal offH = 18.746 kHzi 46. The horizontal PLL isthen
able to synchronizeto an external composite sync signal
of fH = 18.746 kHzi 5 % and f\, = 60 Hz i 10 % and can
be set to an independent horizontal and vertical sync
generator by setting register VE = 1 and register VB = 0.
That means a constant dmder of 946 for horizontal fre-
quency and constant 312 lines per frame.

The DPU working in this mode supplies the TPU 2740
Teletext Processor or the respective Viewdata Proces-
sor with the 18.7 kHz horizontal blanking pulses form pin
24 and the 60 Hz vertical blanking pulses form pin 22
(see Fig. 3-8).
To be able to receive and store data from an IF video sig-
nal at the same time, the Teletext or Viewdata Processor
requires horizontal and vertical sync pulses from this IF
signal. Therefore, the second DPU provides video
clamping and sync separation forthe external signal and
supplies the horizontal sync pulses (pin 24) and the ver-
tical sync pulses (pin 22) to the Teletext or viewdata Pro-
cessor. For this, the second DPU is set to the PAL stan-
dard by register ZN = 2, and the clamping pulses of the
other DPU are disabled by CLD = 1.
To change the output frequency ofthe DPU acting as de-
flection processor from 18.7 kHz to 15.6 kHz, the control
switch output pin 37 prepares the horizontal output
stage for 15.6 khz operation (pin 37 is in the high-impe-
dance state) beforethe DPU changesthe horizontal out-
put frequencyto 15.6 kHz, after a minimum delay of one
vertical period. Switching the horizontal deflection fre-
quency from 15.6 kHzto 18.7 kHz is done in the reverse
sequence. Firstly, the horizontaloutput frequency of pin
31 is switched to 1 8.7 khz, and after a delay of one verti-
cal period, pin 37 is set low.
3.8. D2-MAC Operation Mode
When receiving Tv signals having the D2-mAC stan-
dard (direct satellite reception), register ZN is set to 3.
The programmable dmder is set to a dmsion ratio of
1296 i48 to generate a horizontal frequency of 15.625
khz with the clock rate of 20.25 mHz used in the
D2-mAC standard. ln this operation mode, pin 6 acts as
input forthe composite sync signal supplied by the DmA
2271 D2-mAC Decoder. The DPU is synchronized to
this sync signal, and after locking-in (status register
UN = 0), the CCU switches the DPU to a clock-locked
mode between clock signal and horizontal frequency
(fm main
clock by 1024, during the vertical sync signal separated
from the received video signal. To use an 8-bit register,
the result of the count is dmded by 2 and given to the
DPU status register. ln the CCU, the vertical frequency
can be evaluated using the following equation:

fv I __lL1’_l\
1024- vP- 2
with
fm), = 17.734475 mHz with PAL and SECAm
fq,M =14.31818 mHz with NTSC
rw = 2o_25 MHZ with D2-mAc
VP = status value, read from DPU.

The interlace control output pin 39 supplies a 25 Hz (for
PAL and SECAm) or 80 Hz (for NTSC) signal for control-
ling an external interlace-off switch, which is required
with A.C.-coupled vertical output stages, becausethese
are not able to handle the internal interlace-off proce-
dure using register “ZS”.
For operation with the vmC Processor the DPU 2554
hasthree interlace control modes in double vertical scan
mode (DVS = 1). These options can be selected with the
register “IOP” and can be used together with the control
output pin 39 only. This output has to be connected to the
vertical output stage, so that the vertical phase can be
shifted by 16 us (or 32 us with DPU 2553).

 

 

ITT DIGIT2000 CATHODE RAY TUBE (Kinescope) driver with kinescope current sensing circuit:

A television receiver includes a kinescope and a current sensing transistor for conveying amplified video signals to the kinescope, and for providing at a sensing output terminal an output signal related to the magnitude of kinescope current conducted during given sensing intervals. A clamping circuit clamps the sensing output terminal during normal image intervals, and unclamps the sensing output terminal during the sensing intervals. The clamping circuit facilitates interfacing the sensing transistor with utilization circuits which process the sensed output signal, and assists to maintain a proper operating condition for the sensing transistor.


1. In a video signal processing system including an image reproducing device for displaying video information in response to a video signal applied thereto, apparatus comprising:
a video output driver stage with a video signal input and a video signal output for providing an amplified video signal;
means for conveying said amplified video signal to said image reproducing display device, said conveying means having a sensing output for providing thereat a sensed signal representative of the current conducted by said image reproducing display device;
utilization means responsive to said sensed signal; and
clamping means for selectively clamping said sensing output during normal image intervals, and for unclamping said sensing output during intervals when said sensed signal representative of current conducted by said image reproducing display device is subject to processing by said utilization means; wherein
said clamping means comprises clamping transistor means with an output first electrode coupled to said sensing output, a second electrode coupled to an operating potential, and an input third electrode coupled to said sensing output, the conduction of said clamping transistor means being controlled in accordance with the magnitude of said sensed signal as received by said third electrode; and
said clamping transistor means is self-keyed to exhibit clamping and non-clamping states in response to said sensed representative signal.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said video output stage comprises a video amplifier with a video signal input and a video signal output for providing said amplified video signal; and
said conveying means comprises an active current conducting device with an input first terminal for receiving said amplified video signal, an output second terminal for conveying said amplified video signal to said image reproducing display device, and a third terminal for providing said sensed signal.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said active current conducting device is a transistor with a base input for receiving said amplified video signal, an emitter output for providing said amplified video signal to said image reproducing display device, and a collector output for providing said sensed signal.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said first and second electrodes define a main current conduction path of said clamping transistor means.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
said clamping means includes resistive means coupled to said sensing output for providing a voltage in accordance with the magnitude of said sensed signal; and
said third electrode of said clamping transistor means is coupled to said resistive means.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising
filter means for bypassing high frequency signal components at said sensing output.
7. In a video signal processing system including an image reproducing device for displaying video information in response to a video signal applied thereto, apparatus comprising:
a video output driver stage coupled to said image reproducing display device for providing an amplified video signal thereto, and having a sensing output for providing thereat a sensed signal representative of the current conducted by said image reproducing display device;
control means responsive to said sensed signal for developing a control signal;
means for coupling said control signal to said image reproducing display device to maintain a desired conduction characteristic of said image reproducing display device; and
clamping means for selectively clamping said sensing output during normal image intervals, and for unclamping said sensing output during intervals when said control means operates to monitor said sensed signal; wherein
said clamping means comprises clamping transistor means with an output first electrode coupled to said sensing output, a second electrode coupled to an operating potential, and an input third electrode coupled to said sensing output, the conduction of said clamping transistor means being controlled in accordance with the magnitude of said sensed signal as received by said third electrode; and
said clamping transistor means is self-keyed to exhibit clamping and non-clamping states in response to said sensed signal.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
said control means includes digital signal processing circuits; and
said control means includes an input analog-to-digital signal converter network.
9. In a video signal processing system including an image reproducing device for displaying video information in response to a video signal applied thereto, apparatus comprising:
a video amplifier with a video signal input for receiving video signals, and a video signal output for providing an amplified video signal;
a signal coupling transistor with an input first electrode for receiving said amplified video signal from said video amplifier, an output second electrode for providing a further amplified video signal to said image reproducing display device, and a third electrode for providing a sensed signal representative of the magnitude of the current conducted by said image reproducing display device;
utilization means responsive to said sensed signal; and
clamping means for selectively clamping said third electrode of said coupling transistor during normal image intervals, and for unclamping said third electrode during interval when said sensed representative signal is subject to processing by said utilization means, said clamping means comprising clamping transistor means with an output first electrode coupled to said third electrode of said signal coupling transistor, a second electrode coupled to an operating potential, and an input third electrode coupled to said third electrode of said signal coupling transistor, the conduction of said clamping transistor means being controlled in accordance with the magnitude of said sensed signal as received by said input third electrode of said clamping transistor means.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
said coupling transistor is an emitter follower transistor with a base input electrode, an emitter output electrode, and a collector output electrode corresponding to said third electrode.

Description:

This invention concerns a video output display driver amplifier for supplying high level video output signals to an image display device such as a kinescope in a television receiver. In particular, this invention concerns a display driver stage associated with a sensing circuit for providing a signal representative of the magnitude of current conducted by the kinescope during prescribed intervals.
Video signal processing and display systems such as television receivers commonly include a video output display driver stage for supplying a high level video signal to an intensity control electrode, e.g., a cathode electrode, of an image display device such as a kinescope. Television receivers sometimes employ an automatic black current (bias) control system or an automatic white current (drive) control system for maintaining desired kinescope operating current levels. Such control systems typically operate during image blanking intervals, at which time the kinescope is caused to conduct a black image or a white image representative current. Such current is sensed by the control system, which generates a correction signal representing the difference between the magnitude of the sensed representative current and a desired current level. The correction signal is applied to video signal processing circuits for reducing the difference.
Various techniques are known for sensing the magnitude of the black or white kinescope current. One often used approach employs a PNP emitter follower current sensing transistor connected to the kinescope cathode signal coupling path. Such sensing transistor couples video signals to the kinescope via its base-to-emitter junction, and provides at a collector electrode a sensed current representative of the magnitude of the kinescope cathode current. The representative current from the collector electrode of the sensing transistor is conveyed to the control system and processed to develop a suitable correction signal.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, there is disclosed a kinescope current sensing arrangement wherein a current sensing device is coupled to a kinescope for providing at an output terminal a signal representative of the magnitude of the kinescope current. A clamping circuit clamps the output terminal to a given voltage during normal image trace intervals. During prescribed kinescope current sensing intervals, however, the clamping circuit is inoperative and the sensed signal representative of the kinescope current is developed at the output terminal. The clamping circuit advantageously facilitates interfacing the current sensing device with control circuits for processing the sensed signal, and assists to maintain a proper operating condition for the current sensing device which, in a disclosed embodiment, also conveys video signals to the display device. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the clamping circuit is self-keyed between clamping and non-clamping states in response to the representative signal at the output terminal.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of a kinescope driver stage with associated kinescope current sensing and clamping apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 2 depicts, in block diagram form, a portion of a color television receiver incorporating the current sensing and clamping apparatus of FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, low level color image representative video signals r, g, b are provided by a source 10. The r, g and b color signals are coupled to similar kinescope driver stages. Only the red (r) color signal video driver stage is shown in schematic circuit diagram form.
Red kinescope driver stage 15 comprises a driver amplifier including an input common emitter amplifier transistor 20 arranged in a cascode amplifier configuration with a common base amplifier transistor 21. Red color signal r is coupled to the base input of transistor 20 via a current determining resistor 22. Base bias for transistor 20 is provided by a resistor 24 in association with a source of negative DC voltage (-V). Base bias for transistor 21 is provided from a source of positive DC voltage (+V) through a resistor 25. Resistor 25 in the base circuit of transistor 21 assists to stabilize transistor 21 against oscillation.
The output circuit of driver stage 15 includes a load resistor 27 in the collector output circuit of transistor 21 and across which a high level amplified video signal is developed, and opposite conductivity type emitter follower transistors 30 and 31 with base inputs coupled to the collector of transistor 21. A high level amplified video signal R is developed at the emitter output of follower transistor 30 and is coupled to a cathode electrode of an image reproducing kinescope via a kinescope arc current limiting resistor 33. A resistor 34 in the collector circuit of transistor 31 also serves as a kinescope arc current limiting resistor. Degenerative feedback for driver stage 15 is provided by series resistors 36 and 38, coupled from the emitter of transistor 31 to the base of transistor 20.
A diode 39 connected between the emitters of transistors 30 and 31 as shown is normally reverse biased and therefore nonconductive by the voltage difference across it equalling the sum of the two base-emitter voltage drops of transistors 30 and 31, but is forward biased and therefore rendered conductive under certain conditions in response to positive-going transients at the emitter of transistor 30, corresponding to the output terminal of driver stage 15. The arrangement of transistor 31 prevents the amplifier feedback loop including transistors 20, 21 and 31 and resistors 36 and 38 from being disrupted, thereby preventing feedback transients and signal ringing from occurring. Additional details of the arrangement including transistors 30 and 31 and diode 39 are found in my copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 758,954 titled "FEEDBACK DISPLAY DRIVER STAGE".
The emitter voltage of transistor 30 follows the voltage developed across load resistor 27, and transistor 30 conducts the kinescope cathode current. Substantially all of the kinescope cathode current flows as collector current of transistor 30, through a kinescope arc current limiting protection resistor 37a, to a clamping network 40. Transistor 30 acts as a current sensing device in conjunction with network 40 as will be explained. Clamping network 40 in this example is self-keyed to exhibit clamping and non-clamping states in response to the magnitude of the current conducted by transistor 30.
Clamping network 40 is common to all three driver stages of the receiver, as will be seen subsequently in connection with FIG. 2, and is coupled to the green and blue signal driver stages via protection resistors 37b and 37c. Network 40 includes clamping transistors 41 and 42 arranged in a Darlington configuration, and series voltage divider resistors 43 and 44 which bias clamp transistors 41 and 42. A high frequency bypass capacitor 46 filters signals in the collector circuit of transistor 30 in a manner to be described below. The series combination of a mode control switch 49 and a scaling resistor 48 is coupled across resistors 43 and 44. A voltage related to the magnitude of kinescope current is developed at a terminal A and, as will be explained with reference to FIG. 2, the voltage at terminal A can be used in conjunction with a feedback control loop to maintain a desired kinescope operating current condition which is otherwise subject to deterioration due to kinescope aging and temperature effects, for example.
Assuming switch 49, the function of which will be explained below, is open, the kinescope cathode current flowing in the collector of transistor 30 is conducted to ground via resistors 43 and 44. When this current causes a voltage drop across resistor 44 to sufficiently forward bias the base-emitter junctions of transistors 41 and 42, transistor 42 will conduct in a linear region, and will clamp terminal A to a voltage VA according to the following expression, where V _BE41 and V _BE42 are the base-emitter junction voltage drops of transistors 41 and 42: VA=(V _BE41 +V _BE42 ) (R43+R44)/R44
During normal image intervals typically there are greater than approximately 25 microamperes of current conducted by transistor 30, which is sufficient to render transistors 41 and 42 conductive for developing clamping voltage VA at terminal A. At other times, as will be discussed, transistors 41 and 42 are rendered nonconductive whereby clamping action is inhibited and a (variable) voltage is developed at node A as a function of the magnitude of the kinescope cathode current, for processing by succeeding control circuits.
Illustratively, the arrangement of FIG. 1 can be used in connection with digital signal processing and control circuits in a color television receiver employing digital signal processing techniques, as will be seen in FIG. 2. Such control circuits include an input analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for converting analog voltages developed at terminal A to digital form for processing.
When the control circuits are to operate in an automatic kinescope black current (bias) control mode, wherein during image blanking intervals the kinescope conducts very small cathode currents on the order of a few microamperes, approximating a kinescope black image condition, clamp transistors 41 and 42 are rendered nonconductive because such small currents flowing through resistors 43 and 44 from the collector of transistor 30 are unable to produce a large enough voltage drop across resistor 44 to forward bias transistors 41 and 42. Consequently terminal A exhibits voltage variations, as developed across resistors 43 and 44, related to the magnitude of kinescope black current. The voltage variations are processed by the control circuits coupled to terminal A to develop a correction signal, if necessary, to maintain a desired level of kinescope black current conduction by feedback action. In this operating mode switch 49, e.g., a controlled electronic switch, is maintained in an open position as shown in response to a timing signal VT developed by the control circuits.
When the control circuits are to operate in an automatic kinescope white current (drive) control mode wherein during image blanking intervals the kinescope conducts much larger currents representing a white image condition, switch 49 closes in response to timing signal VT, thereby shunting resistor 48 across resistors 43 and 44. The value of resistor 48 is chosen relative to the combined values of resistors 43 and 44 so that the larger current conducted via the collector of transistor 30 divides between series resistors 43, 44 and resistor 48 such that the magnitude of current conducted by resistors 43 and 44 is insufficient to produce a large enough voltage drop across resistor 44 to render clamping transistors 43 and 44 conductive. Unclamped terminal A therefore exhibits voltage variations related to the magnitude of kinescope white current, which voltage variations are processed by the control circuits to develop a correction signal as required. As used herein, the expression "white current" refers to a high level of individual red, green or blue color image current, or to combined high level red, green and blue currents associated with a white image.
With the illustrated configuration of transistors 41 and 42 clamping voltage VA is relatively low, approximately +2.0 volts. The clamping voltage could be provided by a Zener diode rather than the disclosed arrangement of Darlington-connected transistors 41 and 42, but the disclosed clamping arrangement is preferred because Zener diodes with a voltage rating less than about 4 volts usually do not exhibit a predictable Zener threshold voltage characteristic, i.e., the "knee" transition region of the Zener voltage-vs-current characteristic is usually not very well defined. In addition, the disclosed transistor clamp operates with better linearity than a Zener diode clamp and radiates less radio frequency interference (RFI).
The relatively low clamping voltage is compatible with the analog input voltage requirements of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) at the input of the control circuits which receive the sensed voltage at terminal A as will be explained in greater detail with respect to FIG. 2. In this example the ADC is intended to process analog voltages of from 0 volts to approximately +2.5 volts, and the clamping voltage assures that excessively high analog voltages are not presented to the ADC during normal video signal intervals.
The relatively low clamping voltage also assists to prevent transistor 30 from saturating, which is necessary since transistor 30 is intended to operate in a linear region. To achieve this result and to maximize the cathode current conduction capability of transistor 30, the clamping voltage should be as low as possible to maintain a suitably low bias voltage at the collector of transistor 30. On the other hand, the value of arc current limiting resistor 37a should be large enough to provide adequate arc protection without compromising the objective of maintaining the collector bias voltage of transistor 30 as low as possible. Operation of transistor 30 in a saturated state renders transistor 30 ineffective for its intended purpose of properly conveying video drive signals to the kinescope cathode, and for conveying accurate representations of cathode current to clamping network 40 particularly in the white current control mode when relatively high cathode current levels are sensed. In addition, undesirable radio frequency interference (RFI) can be generated by transistor 30 switching into and out of saturation. Also, when saturation occurs transistor base storage effects can result in video image streaking due to the time required for a transistor to come out of a saturated state.
Thus clamping network 40 advantageously limits the voltage at terminal A to a level tolerable by the analog-to-digital converter at the input of the control circuits coupled to terminal A, and protects the analog-to-digital converter input from damage due to signal overdrive. Network 40 also provides a collector reference bias for transistor 30 to prevent transistor 30 from saturating on large negative-going signal amplitude transitions at its emitter electrode. The clamping voltage level is readily adjusted simply by tailoring the values of resistors 43 and 44.
Capacitor 46 bypasses high frequency video signals to ground to prevent transistor 30 from saturating in response to such signals. Capacitor 46 also serves to smooth out undesirable high frequency variations at terminal A to prevent potentially troublesome signal components such as noise from interfering with the signal processing function of the input analog-to-digital converter of the control circuits, e.g., by smoothing the current sensed during the settling time of the analog-to-digital converter.
The latter noise reducing effect is particularly desirable, for example, when the input ADC of the control circuits coupled to terminal A is of the relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated "iterative approximation" type ADC, compared to a "flash" type ADC. The operation of an iterative ADC, wherein successive approximations are made from the most significant bit to the least significant bit, requires a relatively constant or slowly varying analog signal to be sampled during sampling intervals, uncontaminated by noise and similar effects.
The value of capacitor 46 should not be excessively large because a certain rate of current variation should be permitted at terminal A with respect to kinescope cathode currents being sensed. If the value of capacitor 46 is too small, excessive voltage variations, particularly high frequency video signal variations, will appear at terminal A, increasing the likelihood of transistor 30 saturating. The speed of operation of the clamp circuit itself is restricted by an RC low pass filter effect produced by the base capacitance of transistor 41 and the equivalent resistance of resistors 43 and 44.
FIG. 2 shows a portion of a color television receiver system employing digital video signal processing techniques. The FIG. 2 system utilizes kinescope driver amplifiers and a clamping network as disclosed in FIG. 1, wherein similar elements are identified by the same reference number. By way of example, the system of FIG. 2 includes a MAA 2100 VCU (Video Codec Unit) corresponding to video signal source 10 of FIG. 1, a MAA 2200 VPU (Video Processor Unit) 50, and a MAAA 2000 CCU (Central Control Unit) 60. The latter three units are associated with a digital television signal processing system offered by ITT Corporation as described in a technical bulletin titled "DIGIT 2000 VLSI DIGITAL TV SYSTEM" published by the Intermetall Semiconductors subsidiary of ITT Corporation.
In unit 10, a luminance signal and color difference signals in digital form are respectively converted to analog form by means of digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 70 and 71. The analog luminance signal (Y) and analog color difference signals r-y and b-y are combined in a matrix amplifier 73 to produce r, g and b color image representative signals which are processed by preamplifiers 75, 76 and 77, respectively, before being coupled to kinescope driver stages 15, 16 and 17 of the type shown in FIG. 1. A network 78 in unit 10 includes circuits associated with the automatic white current and black current control functions.
The high level R, G and B color signals from driver stages 15, 16 and 17 are coupled via respective current limiting resistors (i.e., resistor 33) to cathode intensity control electrodes of a color kinescope 80. Currents conducted by the red, green and blue kinescope cathodes are conveyed to network 40 via resistors 37a-37c, for producing at terminal A a voltage representative of kinescope cathode current conducted during measuring intervals, as discussed previously.
VPU unit 50 includes input terminals 15 and 16 coupled to terminal A. Through terminal 15 the VPU receives the analog signal from terminal A and, via an internal multiplex switching network 51, the analog signal is supplied to an analog-to-digital-converter (ADC) 52. Terminal 16 is connected to an internal switching device (corresponding to switch 49 in FIG. 1) which, in conjunction with scaling resistor 48, controls the impedance and therefore the sensitivity at input terminal 15. High sensitivity for black current measurement is obtained with resistor 48 ungrounded by internal switch 49, and low sensitivity for white current measurement is obtained with resistor 48 grounded by internal switch 49.
The digital signal from ADC 52 is coupled to an IM BUS INTERFACE unit 53 which coacts with CCU unit 60 and provides signals to an output data multiplex (MPX) unit 55. Multiplexed output signal data from unit 55 is conveyed to VCU unit 10, and particularly to control network 78. Control network 78 provides output signals for controlling the signal gain of preamplifiers 75, 76 and 77 to achieve a correct white current condition, and also provides output signals for controlling the DC bias of the preamplifiers to achieve a correct black current condition.
More specifically, during vertical image blanking intervals the three (red, green, blue) kinescope black currents subject to measurement and the three white currents subject to measurement are developed sequentially, sensed, and coupled to VPU 50 via terminal 15. The sensed values are sequenced, digitized and coupled to IM Bus Interface 53 which organizes the data communication with CCU 60. After being processed by CCU 60, control signals are routed back to interface 53 and from there to data multiplexer 55 which forwards the control signals to VCU 10.

IF VIDEO SOUND APMPLIFIER AND DETECTOR UNIT
33413-31620

- TDA4445A QUASI PARALLEL SOUND PROCESSING WITH QUADRATURE INTERCARRIER DEMODULATOR





















- TDA4453

Video IF Amplifier for Multistandard TV Receiver and VTR
Appliances
Technology: Bipolar
Features
Interference suppression
Standard B/G-L suitable, processes negatively and
positively modulated IF-signals with equal polarity of
the output signal
Ultra white inverter and ultra black limiter for
reducing transmission interference
Internally noise protected gain control, no flyback
pulses required
Expanded video frequency response allows the
demodulation of amplitude modulated MAC signals
High input sensitivity
Minimal intermodulation interference
Fast AGC by controlled discharge of the
AGC capacitor
Standard L mode: AGC acting on peak white level,
capacitor discharge control by averaged video signal
Standard B/G: AGC acting on the sync. pulse peak
Small differential error
Constant input impedance
Video output voltage with narrow tolerance
Adapted output for insertion of ceramic transducers as
intrinsic sound trap
Connecting and basic circuitry compatible to the
TEMIC video IF type programme - permits building
block system for video IF module



- U2829B


 SCHNEIDER  STV707  DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A)  CHASSIS DTV2  PIP (PICTURE IN PICTURE) PANEL  PIP39325  BOARD.









































- VCU2133
- VSP2860
- SPU2243
- PIP2250
- CCU PIP











Picture in Picture (PiP) is a feature of some television receivers and similar devices. One program (channel) is displayed on the full TV screen at the same time as one or more other programs are displayed in inset windows. Sound is usually from the main program only.
Picture in Picture requires two independent tuners or signal sources to supply the large and the small picture. Two-tuner PiP TVs have a second tuner built in, but a single-tuner PiP TV requires an external signal source, which may be an external tuner, VCR, DVD player, or a cable box. Picture in Picture is often used to watch one program while waiting for another to start, or advertisements to finish.

History

Adding a picture into an existing picture was done long before affordable PiP was available on consumer products. The first PiP was seen on the televised coverage of the 1976 Montreal Olympics where a Quantel digital framestore device was used to insert a close-up picture of the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony. In 1980, NEC introduced its "Popvision" television (CV-20T74P) [1] in Japan with a rudimentary picture-aside-picture feature: a separate 6" (15 cm) CRT and tuner complemented the set's main 20" (50 cm) screen. It was pricey: its ¥298,000 MSRP was equal to about $1,200 (at $1 = ¥250 [2]), and $1,200 in 1980 had the approximate buying power of $3,000 in 2007 [3].
An early consumer implementation of Picture-In-Picture was the Multivision set-top box; it was not a commercial success. Later PiP became available as a feature of advanced television receivers, Like the SCHNEIDER STV707 DTV-2-7025-11 (49474A) CHASSIS DTV2 PIP here in collection !!

Technology Overview:

Picture-in-picture means the insertion of a second programs picture on the screen of a CTV receiver (at reduced size) simultaneously with the full-size main picture. The second, smail picture may origine from anofher TV"transmitter, from a video recorder, a monitor camera or another source. It allows monitoring of the second channel while watching the main channel. Main requirementfor picture-in-picture is to store the content of the small picture when it is supplied by its source, and to deliver the content at the proper Instant when it must be inserted into the main picture which is received and displayed continuously. For storing the content of the second, small picture, two standard 64 K dynamic RAMs (16 x 4) are used, thus makingthe storage simple and economic. Todays picture-in-picture fits neatless Into the wellknown DIGIT2000 system, but is also suitable for stand-alone applications. The PIP2250 is a fast signal processor in CMOS technology which is used to filter (for anti-aliasing) and to decimate the digital Y, R-Yand B-Y signal supplied by the VSP2850 VideoSync Processor, to control the DRAMs for storing the small pictures content and for reading the same at the proper time for display. Further, a border generator supplies the borderline for the small picture VSP2850 VideoSync Processor (40-Pin Plastic Package).

The VSP2850
is a digital signal processor in NMOS technology, which is able to cover all functions of digital signal processing In the video and sync section of a digital TV receiver which normally are combined" in the VPU and DPU processors and the MCU clock generator of the DIGIT2000 digital TV system. The VSP2850 is intended for the sec9iid video channel in digital TV receivers equipped with the picture-inpicture facility. Main features of the VSP2850 VideoSync Processor are: - luma channel with delay compensation, color trap, peaking filter, contrast multiplier and limiter - chroma channel with color demodulator, ACC, color killer, color saturation multiplier, limiter and chroma multiplexer - user-adjustment of contrast, color saturation, hue etc. - sync separation section with sync slicer, horizontal PLL, vertical separation, vertical counter, horizontal decoder and vertical decoder, output pulse generation - clock generation on-Chip, or external clock.

Picture–in–Picture Processor PIP2250
1. Introduction
The so–called picture–in–picture facility has been introduced
for the first time by ITT in 1977, using the UAA
1000 and SAA 3000 integrated circuits. Picture–in–picture
means the insertion of a second program’s picture
on the screen of a CTV receiver (at reduced size) simultaneously
with the full–size main picture. The second
small picture may originate from another TV transmitter,
from a video recorder, a monitor camera or another
source. It allows monitoring of the second channel while
watching the main channel. Main requirement for picture–
in–picture is to store the content of the small picture
when it is supplied by its source, and to deliver the content
at the proper instant when it must be inserted into
the main picture which is received and displayed continuously.
In the past, at the first attempts of picture–in–picture, the
memory for storing the content of the small picture was
analog, a bucket brigade MOS device, according to the
state of the art at this time. Today’s state of the art is digital:
ITT’s DIGIT 2000 system with its digital processing
of the video signals opens new possibilities for picture–
in–picture which are only feasible in a digital system. For
storing the content of the second, small picture, two
standard 64 K dynamic RAMs (16 K x 4) are used, thus
making the storage simple and economic. If it is intended
to store up to four small pictures, two 256 K DRAMs (64
K x 4) are required. Page mode must be provided in both
cases.
Today’s picture–in–picture fits neatly into ITT’s DIGIT
2000 system, but is also suitable for stand–alone applications.
1.1. General Description
The PIP 2250 Picture–in–Picture Processor is a fast signal
processor in CMOS technology which is used to filter
(for anti–aliasing) and to decimate the digital Y, R–Y and
B–Y signals supplied, e.g., by the VSP 2860 Video/Sync
Processor, to control the DRAMs for storing the small
picture’s content and for reading the same at the proper
time for display. Further, a border generator supplies the
borderline for the small picture. the PIP 2250 is housed
in a 68–pin PLCC package, and is compatible to the
DIGIT 2000 system of digital signal processors with respect
to signal levels as well as pin configuration, supply
voltage, clock frequency etc.
A coarse block diagram of the PIP 2250 is shown in Fig.
1–1. The input picture processing section receives the
digitized information of the small, second picture to be
inserted into the main picture, in the shape of the so–
called input YUV bus, from the VSP 2860 Video Sync
Processor or a similar source, together with the associated
clock, skew, horizontal and vertical blanking signals.
The DRAM interface gives the filtered and decimated
YUV and sync information to the DRAM for
storing till the proper instant for insertion into the main
picture has come. At this time, the DRAM’s content is
read and processed in the output picture processing
section, which receives its required clock, skew and
blanking signals from the main system into whose picture
the second small picture is intended to be inserted.
The output picture processing section supplies the small
picture’s content in the shape of the output YUV bus,
which is connected to the YUV bus supplied by the main
picture’s video processing section (Fig. 1–2). By means
of the ODOUT Outputs Disable signal supplied by the
PIP 2250 via pin 47, the main video section is disabled
during the time of the small picture.


 1.2. Features
Main features of the PIP 2250 Picture–in–Picture Processor
are
– digital video filters for anti–aliasing and data decimation
– control of the two DRAMs for storage of the small picture(
s)
– control and supervision of the PIP 2250 via the IM bus
– full compatibility with the DIGIT 2000 system
1.3. Environment
The block diagram of the video section of a digital TV receiver
according to the DIGIT 2000 concept, which is
equipped with the picture–in–picture facility, is shown in
Fig. 1–2. Besides the well known DIGIT 2000 chip set,
shown in the upper part of Fig. 1–2, there is the section
for the second (small) picture. This section is composed
of the VAD 2150 Video A/D Converter, the VSP 2860
Video/Sync Processor, optionally a SECAM processor,
the PIP 2250 Picture–in–Picture Processor and two
DRAMs.



2.3. Pin Descriptions
Pins 1, 19 and 51 – Ground
These pins must be connected to the negative of the
supply.
Pins 2 to 9 – A7 to A0 RAM Address Outputs (Fig. 2–11)
By means of these outputs, the external DRAMs are addressed.
Pins 10 to 17 – IO7 to IO0 RAM Data Inputs/Outputs
(Fig. 2–8)
When writing the DRAMs, these pins are the data outputs,
and when reading the DRAMs, they act as data input.
Pins 18, 49 and 67 – VSUP Supply Voltage
This pins must be connected to the positive of the supply.
Pin 20 – CAS Column Address Strobe Output (Fig. 2–11)
This output supplies the column address strobe signal
for the external DRAMs.
Pin 21 – RAS Row address Strobe Output (Fig. 2–11)
This output supplies the row address strobe signal for
the external DRAMs.
Pin 22 – WE Write enable Output (Fig. 2–11)
This output supplies the write enable signal for the external
DRAMs
Pin 23 – FSIN Fast Switching Input (Fig. 2–2)
This input serves for enabling the analog RGB inputs.
Pins 24 to 26 – Analog RGB Inputs (Fig. 2–12)
Via these inputs, the PIP 250 receives analog RGB signals,
e.g. Teletext or video recorder (SCART), which are
fed to the analog RGB outputs to be given to the VCU.
Pins 27 to 29 – Analog RGB Outputs (Fig. 2–12)
these outputs either supply the analog RGB signals,
which have been received via the analog RGB input pins
24 to 26, to the VCU, or are the digital outputs for the
analog border (with CMOS level).
Pin 30 – FSOUT Fast Switching Output (Fig. 2–11)
This output supplies a switching signal for enabling the
analog RGB inputs of the VCU.
Pin 31 – C0 Chroma Output and Msync Input (Fig. 2–9)
This input/output, which, in its output function, can be
disabled by the CCU via the IM bus, on the one hand
supplies the LSB of the (R–Y) and (B–Y) digital color difference
signals, which are multiplexed on four lines, to
the VCU Video Codec for D/A conversion. On the other
hand, pin 31 acts as input for the Msync multiplex sync
signal when operating in the digital insertion mode.
Pins 32 to 34 – C1 to C3 chroma Outputs (Fig. 2–13)
These open–drain outputs, which can be disabled by the
CCU via the IM bus, supply the three LSBs of the (R–Y)
and (B–Y) digital color difference signals multiplexed on
four lines to the VCU Video Codec for D/A conversion.
Pin 35 – Reset Input (Fig. 2–3)
This input is used for hardware reset of the PIP 2250. At
Low level, reset is actuated, and at High level, the PIP
is ready for communication with the CCU.
Pins 36 to 43 – L0 to L7 Luma Outputs (Fig. 2–13)
These open–drain outputs which can be disabled by the
CCU via the IM bus, deliver the processed luminance
signal in a parallel 8–bit code to the VCU Video Codec
for D/A conversion.
Pin 44 – MSKEW Skew Data Input for digital insertion
(Fig. 2–4)
Via this pin the PIP 2250 receives skew data for phase
adjustment of the video information, from the DPU 2553
or DPU 2554 Deflection Processor of the Main system.
or
MHBL Horizontal Blank Input for stand–alone operation
This signal is used internally for horizontal start and for
skew data measurement.
Pin 45 – MHVBIN Horizontal and Vertical blanking Pulse
Input for Main System or Vertical Blanking Pulse Input
for Stand–Alone Systems (Fig. 2–5).
Via pin 45, the PIP 2250 is supplied with the (sandcastled)
delayed horizontal and vertical blanking pulses
by pin 22 of the DPU 2553 or DPU 2554 Deflection Processor
of the Main system, or, with stand–alone solutions,
with the vertical blanking pulse of the Main system.
Pin 46 – IM Bus Port Output (Fig. 2–11)
The output level of this pin can be defined via the IM bus
using bit 3 in address 57.
Pin 47 – ODOUT VPU Outputs Disable Output (Fig.
2–11)
This output must be connected to the outputs disable input
of the PVPU or CVPU Video Processor acting together
with the picture–in–picture system, in order to
disable the main picture during the time the second
small picture is displayed. The output signal of pin 47
has High level during the time the VPU’s outputs must
be disabled. During this time, the PIP’s luma and chroma
outputs are enabled. Vice versa, if pin 47 supplies Low
level, the PIP’s outputs are disabled and the VPU’s luma
and chroma outputs are enabled.
Pin 48 – Blocking Capacitor
for analog skew data measurement and analog delay of
RGB output, ODOUT and FSOUT.
Pin 50 – FM Clock Input (Fig. 2–6)
This pin receives the FM main clock signal for the main
picture from the MCU 2600 or MCU 2632 Clock Generator.
Pins 52 to 54 – IM Bus Connections (Figs. 2–3 and 2–10)
Via these pins, the PIP 2250 is connected to the IM bus
and communicates with the CCU.

 Pin 55 – PHVBIN Horizontal and Vertical Blanking Pulse
Input from PIP System (Fig. 2–5)
Via pin 55, the PIP 2250 is supplied with the (sandcastled)
delayed horizontal and vertical blanking pulses
by the VSP 2860 Video/Sync Processor of the PIP system
or another suitable source.
Pin 56 – PSKEW Skew Data Input from PIP System (Fig.
2–7)
Via pin 56, the PIP 2250 receives skew data for phase
adjustment of the video information, from the VSP 2860
Video/Sync Processor of the PIP system or another suitable
source.
Pins 57 to 66 – L7 to L2 and C3 to C0 Luma and Chroma
inputs (Fig. 2–7)
Via these inputs, the PIP 2250 receives the digital luma
and chroma signals for the PIP small picture for the VSP
2860 Video/Sync Processor or another suitable source.
The luma signals are parallel in a 6–bit code, the chroma
signals in the shape (R–Y) and (B–Y), time multiplexed
on four lines.
Pin 68 – FP Clock Input (Fig. 2–6)
Via pin 68, the PIP 2250 receives the FP clock signal required
for the PIP small picture, form the VSP 2860 Video/
Sync Processor or another suitable source.
2.4. Pin Circuits
The following figures show schematically the circuitry at
the various pins. The integrated protection structures
are not shown. The letter “N” means N–channel, the letter
“P” P–channel, both enhancement mode.


 3. Functional Description
As can be seen from Fig. 1–1, the PIP 2250 Picture–in–
Picture Processor is made up of four major functional
blocks; input picture processing, output picture processing,
DRAM interface and IM bus interface. For better understanding,
two features used in digital TV receivers
according to the DIGIT 2000 concept may be described
first: skew data and chroma timing synchronization.
3.1. Skew Data
The skew data signal produced by the DPU 2553 or similar
deflection processor or the VSP 2860 Video Sync
Processor is used to align the phase position of the video
signal in the PIP 2250, as shown in Fig. 2–20. The skew
data input is normally High, or at logic 1, when inactive.
At the horizontal start (start of each line), it becomes active
(Low) with a header code of 001 or 011 followed by
5 bits of luma skew data ( or 6 bits if 2H carry is included).
Thus the start of header code is defined as any 0 preceded
by 9 or more 1s.
Luma skew is defined as the phase or time difference
between the sampling clock and the analog horizontal
sync expressed in resolution of 1/32 of the sampling
clock period (Fig. 2–17). This phase difference changes
from line to line because the sampling clock frequency
may not be a multiple of the analog horizontal frequency.
As a result, digital samples on one line may not align vertically
with those from the adjacent lines. For signal processing
in the vertical direction, like in PIP input picture
processing, samples on each line must be interpolated
by the amount of skew so that corresponding samples
on different lines are aligned vertically.
Thus the skew data defines the horizontal start timing
and carries information about the amount of luma skew.
Notice the horizontal start is NOT derived from the horizontal
blanking.
3.2. Chroma Timing Synchronization
The 4–bit chroma transfer on the YUV bus is time multiplexed
for R–Y and B–Y. There must be some scheme
to synchronize the timing. There are two schemes for
chroma timing synchronization: either for PAL and
NTSC, or for D2–MAC and SECAM.
For the PAL/NTSC scheme, bit 0 of chroma bus no longer
carries video information, but is used as a sync signal
for chroma timing synchronization during vertical blanking.
Using horizontal blanking as the basis for line count,
at the 4th line after vertical blanking trailing edge, chroma
bus bit 0 will be a string of 72 (negative pulses with
25 % duty cycle (Fig. 2–21). The negative pulses are
synchronized to the R–Y LSB timing of chroma bus (Fig.
2–18). In addition, it doubles as the clock for the transmission
of 72 bits of data for VCU control with data from
bit 3 of the chroma bus.
For the D2–MAC/SECAM scheme, chroma synchronization
occurs every horizontal line, again with chroma
bus bit 0 being a string of three 25 % cycle negative
pulses synchronized to the R–Y LSB chroma bus timing
(Fig. 2–16). The sync pulses start after the leading edge
of horizontal blanking and last for 12 clocks.
3.3. Input Picture Processing
The input picture processing block (Fig. 3–2) defines a
window for the input picture to be processed. Parameters
IHS, IVS and IVSI (Fig. 3–1) define the location and
size of this window. Samples within the window are reduced
by a factor of 1/3 in both horizontal and vertical direction,
for a reduction to 1/9 of the original picture size.
Input to the input picture processing is a digitized picture
in the form of an input YUV bus and timing/deflection signals,
as are skew data, horizontal blanking and vertical
blanking. They may come from the VSP 2860 Video/
Sync Processor or a similar source.
Because of the reduction in picture size described
above, internally only 5 bits resolution is needed for luma
(Y) and 6 bits for chroma (UV). This results in only 5 pins
for luma at the input YUV bus. However, four pins are still
needed for the multiplexed chroma bus even though
only 6 bits after demultiplexing are needed.
 Digital/Analog Border
The border for the small picture may be either digital or
analog. The digital border is merged with the small picture
inside the PIP with digital correction for skew and
output with the small picture at output YUV bus. The
analog border is output at the FSOUT Fast Switching
Output pin as border timing pulses with time delay based
on skew added to the intrinsic delay (Fig. 3–6). Digital
border is an inherent part of the small picture while analog
border has to be merged with the small picture in the
VCU.Selection of digital/analog border is via bit 1 of register
44. For digital border, LSBs of register 41 to 43 define the
luma and chroma values while three MSBs of register 43
define eight different analog borders (see IM bus registers,
section 4.2.).
The FSIN Fast Switching Input (pin 23) can be used to
switch over the analog RGB outputs (pins 27 to 29) between
analog border (supplied by register 43) and external
RGB source connected to the analog RGB inputs
(pins 24 to 26). If FSIN is High, the analog RGB inputs
are connected to the analog RGB outputs. The RGB
switch (Fig. 3–6) can also be controlled by software via
IM bus register 57 (bit 1, “RGBE”). If RGBE = 1, the external
RGB source at pins 24 to 26 is connected to the
RGB outputs, pins 27 to 29. If analog border is selected
via IM bus register 44 (bit 1, “BDI” = 0), the 3–bit analog
RGB border of register 43 is switched to the analog RGB
outputs, pins 27 to 29; during the analog border timing
is active.
The priority of the external RGB source can be programmed
by IM bus register 57 (bit 6, “RGBP”). If RGBP
= 1, the priority of the analog RGB inputs and FSIN is
higher than the analog border. Figs. 2–22 to 2–25 illustrate
the timing waveforms of the ODOUT output and the
FSOUT output for different combinations of operating
mode and border selection.


A picture-in-picture television receiver is disclosed in which a television picture to be inset is compressed at a compression rate of 1/n and inset as a small-picture in part of a main television picture or large picture, and a single field memory for small-picture reproduction is provided therein in or from which a video signal can be randomly read and written line by line as a unit. In the single field memory is stored the small-picture video signal line by line by the application of a writing clock in which case the time taken in the writing is less than 1/(n+1) of a horizontal period. Then, from the memory is read the stored small-picture information by the application of a reading clock of n times the frequency of the writing clock during the time that writing is not performed, and supplied to be inset in the main television picture. A small-capacity buffer memory is provided at the prestage or following stage of the field memory to prevent the read/write timing overlap in the field memory irrespective of whether the small-picture and the main television picture are synchronized or not in the transmission systems. Thus, the capacity of the field memory essential for the small-picture is about a half of the conventional one.



Digit 2000 VLSI Digital TV System DIGIVISION ITT Intermetal Timing correction for a picture-in-picture television system:
System performance of picture-in-picture video display systems is dependent on critical timing relationships between the incoming signals and the clock signals used to sample and display both the large picture and small picture signals. Video signals from various sources, e.g. VTR's, tend to have jittering time bases which may cause the small image to appear jagged or tilted. This distortion in the small image may be reduced by effecting adaptive signal delays in the small picture signal responsive to the relative phase of the system clock signal with respect to the horizontal synchronizing pulses of the large and/or small picture signal. One phase measure is used to control an interpolator which combines successive samples of the small picture signal in proportions to develop sample values corresponding to samples that would have occurred had the small picture signal been sampled by a clock properly aligned to the small picture horizontal synchronizing pulses. A second phase measure is used to delay the clock signal used to display the small picture so that the clock pulses that define the edges of the small picture occurs with the same timing relative to the large picture horizontal synchronizing pulses form line-to-line.



1. In a video signal processing system including a source of first video signal having a periodic horizontal line synchronizing signal component and a memory for holding sampled data representing a second video signal, apparatus for processing said sampled data in synchronism with said first video signal comprising:
means coupled to said source for developing horizontal synchronizing pulses representing the horizontal line synchronizing signal component of said first video signal:
a terminal for applying a clock pulse signal wherein the occurrence of clock pulses possibly exhibits varying amounts of skew relative to said horizontal synchronizing pulses;
skew measuring means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said horizontal synchronizing pulses for generating a control signal corresponding to the difference in time, as a proper fraction of the period of said clock pulse signal, between the occurrence of a horizontal synchronizing pulse and a pulse of said clock signal;
means coupled to said clock signal terminal, for controlling the reading of the sampled data from said memory; and
skew correcting means coupled to said clock signal terminal, to said memory and to said skew measuring means for effecting a time displacement of the signal represented by the sampled data read from said memory, the magnitude of said time displacement being determined by said control signal.
2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said skew correcting means comprises:
means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said control signal for effecting a time displacement of said clock signal to develop a skew corrected clock signal; and
means for applying said skew corrected clock signal to said means for controlling the reading of sampled data from said memory.
3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:
said skew measuring means includes means for measuring the time interval between the center point of a pulse of said horizontal line synchronizing signal and a transition of the pulse of said clock signal which occurs in time immediately prior to said center point.
4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said skew correcting means comprises:
means for generating samples corresponding to the sums of first and second consecutive samples read from said memory and scaled by respective first and second scale factors proportional to said control signal.
5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said skew correcting means comprises:
means for scaling the values of first and second consecutive samples read from said memory by first and second mutually complementary scale factors proportional to said control signal; and
means for combining the first and second scaled samples to develop samples representing said time displaced signal.
6. In a video signal processing system including a source of first video signal having a horizontal line synchronizing component and a source of second video signal having a horizontal line synchronizing component, apparatus for processing said second video signal in synchronism with said first video signal comprising:
means coupled to said source of first video signal for developing first horizontal synchronizing pulses representing the horizontal synchronizing component of said first video signal;
means coupled to said source of second video signal for developing second horizontal synchronizing pulses representing the horizontal line synchronizing component of said second video signal;
a terminal for applying a clock pulse signal, wherein the occurrence of clock pulses possibly exhibits respectively different varying amounts of skew relative to said first and second horizontal sync pulses;

means coupled to said source of second video signal for developing samples representing said second video signal at instants in time determined by said clock signal;
first skew measuring means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said second horizontal synchronizing pulses for generating a first control signal corresponding to the time difference between the occurrence of one of said second horizontal synchronizing pulses and a pulse of said clock pulse signal;
first skew correcting means responsive to said first control signal and coupled to said sampling means for modifiying the values of samples provided thereby to effect a time displacement of the signal represented by said samples, the magnitude of said time displacement being determined by said first control signal;
memory means coupled to said skew correcting means for storing samples representing said time displaced second signal;
second skew measuring means responsive to said clock signal and to said first horizontal synchronizing pulses for generating a second control signal corresponding to the time difference between the occurrence of one of said first horizontal synchronizing pulses and a pulse of said clock signal;
means coupled to said clock signal terminal for controlling the reading of the sampled data from said memory means; and
second skew correcting means coupled to said clock signal terminal, to said memory and to said skew measuring means for effecting a time displacement of the signal represented by the sampled data read from said memory, the magnitude of said time displacement being determined by said second control signal.
7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said second skew correcting means comprises:
means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said second control signal for effecting a time displacement of said clock signal to develop a skew corrected clock signal; and
means for applying said skew corrected clock signal to said means for controlling the reading of sampled data from said memory.
8. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said second skew correcting means comprises:
means for generating samples corresponding to the sums of first and second consecutive samples read from said memory and scaled by respective first and second scale factors proportional to said second control signal.
9. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said second skew correcting means comprises:
means for scaling the values of first and second consecutive samples read from said memory by first and second mutually complementary scale factors proportional to said second control signal; and
means for combining the first and second scaled samples to develop samples representing said time displaced signal.
10. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein:
said first skew measuring means comprises means for measuring the time interval, as a proper fraction of a period of said clock signal, between a predetermined point on a pulse of said second horizontal line synchronizing signal and a transition of a pulse of said clock signal which is adjacent in time to said predetermined point; and
said second skew measuring means comprises means for measuring the time interval, as a proper fraction of a period of said clock signal, between a predetermined point on a pulse of said first horizontal line synchronizing signal and a transition of a pulse of said clock signal which is adjacent in time to said predetermined point.
11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said first skew correcting means includes means for scaling the values of first and second consecutive samples representing said second signal by a factor proportional to said first control signal and by a factor proportional to the complement of said first control signal respectively and means for adding the first and second scaled samples to develop a first sample representing said time displaced signal. 12. In a picture-in-picture television display system including a source of first video signal having a periodic horizontal line synchronizing signal component and a source of second video signal having a periodic horizontal line synchronzing signal component, apparatus for processing said second video signal in synchronism with said first video signal comprising:
means including a memory for processing said second video signal to develop sampled data in said memory representing said second video signal;
a terminal for applying a clock pulse signal wherein the occurrence of pulses of said clock signal possibly exhibits varying amounts of skew relative to the horizontal synchronizing pulses of said first video signal;
skew measuring means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said horizontal synchronizing pulses of said first signal for generating a control signal corresponding to the amount time, as a proper fraction of the period of said clock signal, between the occurrence of a horizontal synchronizing pulse and a pulse of said clock signal;
skew correcting means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said control signal for effecting a time displacement of said clock signal to develop a skew corrected clock signal:
means coupled to said skew correcting means and to said memory for extracting the sampled data therefrom in synchronism with said skew corrected clock signal; and
multiplexing means coupled to said sampled data extracting means and to said source of first video signal for selectively providing signals from said source of first video signal and from said memory to a display device.
13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein:
said skew measuring means includes means for measuring the time interval between a predetermined point on a pulse of said horizontal line synchronizing signal and a transition of the pulse of said clock signal which occurs immediately prior to said predetermined point; and
said skew correcting means includes means for delaying said clock signal by an amount of time approximately equal to said time interval to develop said skew corrected clock signal.
14. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein said means for processing said second video signal comprises:
means coupled to said source of second video signal for developing further horizontal synchronizing pulses representing the horizontal line synchronizing signal component of said second video signal;
means coupled to said source of second video signal for developing samples representing said second video signal at instants in time determined by said clock signal;
further skew measuring means coupled to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said further horizontal synchronizing pulses for generating a further control signal corresponding to the amount of time, as a proper fraction of the period of said clock signal, between the occurrence of a further horizontal sync pulse and a pulse of said clock signal;
further skew correcting means coupled to said sample developing means and to said clock signal terminal and responsive to said further control signal for effecting a time displacement of the signal represented by the samples provided by said sample developing means;
means coupled to said further skew correcting means for applying selected ones of the samples provided thereby to said memory.
15. The apparatus set forth in claim 14 wherein,
said second video signal may include a color synchronizing burst signal component; and
the clock pulse signal applied to said clock terminal is synchronized in frequency and phase to said color synchronizing burst signal component.
16. The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein:
said first and second video signals include respective first and second chrominance signal components including respective first and second color synchronizing burst signal components;
the clock pulse signal applied to said clock terminal is synchronized in frequency and phase to said first color synchronizing burst signal component;
the chrominance signal components of the samples provided by said sample providing means tend to have phase errors relative to the samples which would be provided if the clock signal were locked in frequency and phase to the second color synchronizing burst signal component; and
means coupled to said sample providing means and responsive to said second color synchronizing burst signal component for substantially correcting said phase errors.
17. In a picture-in-picture television display apparatus including a source of first video signal having a periodic horizontal line synchronizing component, means for applying a clock pulse signal wherein the occurrence of clock pulses may exhibit varying amounts of skew relative to said horizontal line synchronizing component, a memory for holding sampled data representing a second video signal, means for displaying the image represented by said first video signal and means for reading the sampled data from said memory and for displaying the image represented by said samples as an inset in the image represented by said second video signal, wherein the improvement comprises:
skew measuring means responsive to said clock signal and to said horizontal synchronizing pulses for generating a control signal corresponding to the difference in time, as a proper fraction of the period of said clock signal between the occurrence of a horizontal synchronizing pulse and a pulse of said clock signal; and
skew correcting means responsive to said clock signal and coupled to said memory and to said skew measuring means for effecting a time displacement of the sampled data read from said memory, the magnitude of said time displacement being determined by said control signal.

Description:

This invention relates to apparatus for reducing the visibility of timing errors in the inset image of a picture in picture (PIP) television display system.

In a PIP system, two images from possibly unrelated sources are displayed simultaneously as one image. The composite image includes a full size primary image and a reduced size secondary image displayed as an inset. The subjective quality of the inset portion of the composite image may be affected by timing errors in either the primary or secondary signals.
The timing errors relevant to the present invention occur when either the primary or secondary signal is a nonstandard signal. As used in this application, the term nonstandard signal means a video signal having a horizontal line period which may vary in width by, for example, 4 ns or more from the horizontal line period set by the signal standard to which the video signal nominally conforms (e.g. NTSC, PAL, or SECAM).
To understand how these timing errors may affect the inset image, it is helpful to know how the secondary signal is processed and displayed. In a conventional PIP display system, the secondary signal is sampled at instants determined by a sampling clock signal which, desirably, bears a fixed relationship to the horizontal line scanning frequency of the secondary signal. To aid separation of the luminance and chrominance components of color television signals, the sampling clock signal has a frequency that is a multiple of the chrominance subcarrier frequency which is itself a harmonic of one-half the horizontal line scanning frequency. This sampling clock signal may be developed by a phase locked loop which locks the clock signal to the color reference burst component of the composite video signals.
The secondary signals are separated into their component parts, generally a luminance signal and two color difference signals, and then subsampled both vertically and horizontally to develop signals which represent a reduced-size image. The lines of samples taken during one field of the secondary signal are stored in a memory. These samples are then read from the memory for display using a clock signal which is desirably related to the horizontal line scanning frequency of the primary signal.
When the secondary signal originates from a video tape recorder (VTR), video disk player or home computer, the frequency of the color burst signal may be relatively stable while the frequency of the horizontal line scanning signal may vary significantly from line to line. This variation may be caused by stretching of the tape, defects in the disk, motor speed variations in either the VTR or disk player, or inaccuracies in the frequencies used by the home computer. Since the sampling clock signal is locked to the burst signal, corresponding sampling points on successive lines may be shifted or skewed relative to each other. When these lines of samples are displayed in synchronism with the primary signal, the corresponding samples do not line up vertically. Consequently vertical lines in the inset image may appear jagged, if the timing errors randomly change the period of the horizontal sync signal, or tilted if there is a fixed error in the horizontal sync period. Assuming a 3:1 reduction in the secondary image, a timing difference of 12 ns or more in successive horizontal line periods of the secondary signal may produce noticeable skew distortion in the inset image.
Timing errors in the primary signals change the relative time difference between primary horizontal sync pulses, which define the edges of the primary image, and the first samples in lines of the inset image. Primary signal timing errors that cause the periods of successive horizontal sync pulses to vary from the applicable signal standard by 4 ns or more may produce noticeable skew distortion in the inset image. This distortion causes the entire inset image to appear jagged or tilted.
To gain a better understanding of skew and the methods which may be used to compensate for it, consider the waveforms shown in FIG. 1. The waveform A represents a portion of one horizontal line of, e.g. luminance signal, including the horizontal synchronizing pulse (note the waveforms of FIG. 1 are not drawn to scale). Waveforms B, C and C' represent sampling (system) clock waveforms. The pulses of waveform B are assumed to occur at the points in time that a subcarrier locked clock, locked to a standard signal, would occur. Put another way, if waveform A corresponds to n lines of an image, then waveform B represents the desired sampling (system) clock for each successive line, i.e. without skew. A clock signal having constant skew may also be desirable. In either a zero skew or a constant skew system, the sampling clock pulse r always occurs at the same point in time relative to the HSYNC pulse. This point in time is represented by the sample S2 on waveform A. Waveform C represents a subcarrier locked clock which exhibits a degree of skew. The number of pulses per line period contained in waveform C may not be constant from line-to-line. Generally, the difference in the number of whole clock pulses in a line period can be compensated for in the phase locked loop which generates the horizontal synchronizing signal. The sampling phase error (skew) which is a fractional portion of a clock period, however, may only be corrected by operation on the samples themselves or on the sampling clock signal.
One method of correction is to adjust the sample values on a line-by-line basis so that the adjusted samples conform to samples that would be taken by a clock with zero skew or with some constant skew. For example, the sample values generated by the clock signal of waveform C may be adjusted to equal or approximate corresponding sample values that would be generated by the clock signal of waveform B. In the FIG. 1, clock pulse r' of waveform C is assumed to correspond to clock pulse r of waveform B. Clock pulse r' is advanced in time or skewed by one-half of one clock period, TS, with respect to clock pulse r. Clock pulse r' generates a sample value S1. Desirably, clock pulse r' should occur coincident with clock pulse r and generate the sample value S2.
Replacing the sample taken coincident with clock pulse r' with a sample having a value approximately equal to S2 effectively advances the timing of the signal taken with the sampling clock signal C so that it matches the signal which would have been taken had the zero-skew sampling clock signal B been used. Neglecting the complications of chrominance decoding, an alternative method of skew correction is to adjust the phase of the sampling clock signal on a line-by-line basis so that it approximately matches the phase of the desired clock signal B or some other clock signal which exhibits equal skew from line to line. The waveform C' represents the clock signal C delayed an amount of time substantially equal to the skew. Samples taken with this delayed clock signal approximate samples taken with the desired clock signal, B.
The first skew correction method may be used to correct skew errors in the secondary signal since it does not affect the phase of the sampling clock signal. It is recalled that the phase of this clock signal cannot be changed without affecting the processing of the secondary chrominance signal components. The second skew correction method may be used to compensate for skew errors in the primary signal when the samples representing the separated luminance and color difference signal components of the secondary image are retrieved from the secondary field memory for display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is embodied in apparatus which compensates for timing errors in a first video signal relative to a second, stored video signal. This apparatus includes circuitry for measuring the time interval between a horizontal synchronizing pulse of the first signal and a pulse of the clock signal which controls the retrieval and display of the second signal. The apparatus further includes circuitry with changes the timing of the second signal relative to the horizontal sync component of the first signal, as the second signal is displayed, to compensate for any variations in the measured time intervals from line-to-line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram useful in describing skew and methods of skew correction.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a PIP television display system incorporating the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital PIP television display system incorporating the present invention.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are a block diagrams showing skew correction circuitry which may be used in the display devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of alternative skew correcting apparatus which may be used in the display devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the drawings, broad arrows represent busses for multiple-bit parallel digital signals and line arrows represent connections carrying analog signals or single bit digital signals. Depending on the processing speed of the devices, compensating delays may be required in certain of the signal paths. One skilled in the art of digital signal processing circuit design would know where such delays would be needed in a particular system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a PIP display device in which the primary signal is processed using conventional analog apparatus and the secondary signal is processed digitally. This circuitry uses a single clock signal, synchronized to the secondary burst signal, both for sampling and processing the secondary signal and for displaying the secondary image as an inset in the main image.
A source of primary composite video signals 10 applies the primary video signals to a Y/C separation filter 12. Filter 12, which may include conventional low-pass and high-pass filters, separates the composite video signals into primary luminance signals, Y_P, and primary chrominance signals C_p. The primary luminance and chrominance signals are applied to a primary chroma/luma processor 14 which may include, for example, band shaping filters for peaking the high frequency components of the luminance signals to develop a signal Y'_P and a chrominance signal demodulator for deriving the baseband color difference signals (R-Y)_P and (B-Y)_P from the primary chrominance signals, C_P. The signals Y'_P, (R-Y)_P, and (B-Y)_P applied to a matrix 16 which combines the signals to develop the color signals R_P, G_P and B_P. These signals are applied to one set of signal input terminals of an analog multiplexer 26, the output of which drives a cathode ray tube (CRT) 28. The color signals R_S, G_S and B_S developed from the secondary signal are applied to a second set of signal input terminals of the multiplexer 26. These signals are developed by apparatus described below.
A source of secondary composite video signals 50, which may include the tuner, IF amplifier and video detector of a conventional color television receiver, provides secondary composite video signals to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 52. ADC 52 samples and digitizes the secondary composite video signals at instants determined by the sampling clock signal CK. A phase-locked-loop (PLL) 56, described below, generates the signal, CK, which has a frequency 4f_c substantially equal to four times the chrominance subcarrier frequency, f_c. The signal CK is phase locked to the color synchronizing burst component of the secondary video signals.
ADC 52 provides digitized secondary video signals to a Y/C separation filter 54. Filter 54 may be a conventional digital filter having a clock input terminal coupled to receive the signal CK. Filter 54 may include, for example, an FIR filter which passes the chrominance signal components of composite video signal to the relative exclusion of luminance signal components and a subtracter for subtracting the chrominance signal components from the composite signal to develop luminance signal components.

ADC 52 also provides secondary composite video signals to a deflection processing unit (DPU) 60, which includes sync separator circuitry 58 and skew error measuring circuitry 59. The sync separator circuitry 58 and skew measuring circuitry 59 in the illustrated embodiment are components in a phase-locked-loop which produces a horizontal synchronizing signal, SHS, that is phase-locked to the horizontal synchronizing signal component of the secondary signal. Sync separator circuitry 58 applies the signal SHS and a digital value (HSP) containing an integer part and a fractional part representing the period of the signal SHS in units of one-sixteenth of the sampling clock period (1/16 Ts) to the skew measuring circuitry 59. The sync separator circuitry 58 also develops the vertical synchronization signals, SVS, and a burst gate signal, BG, from the digitized secondary composite video signals. The burst gate signal, BG, and the separated chrominance signals from filter 54 are applied to PLL 56. PLL 56 is, for example, a circuit similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,332 entitled "Phase Locked Circuit" which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The clock signal CK is applied to the skew measuring circuitry 59. Exemplary skew measuring circuitry 59 accumulates the fractional part of the horizontal skew period values, HSP, provided by the sync separator circuitry 58 to develop a secondary skew signal, SSK. The integer part of the signal SSK is fed back to the sync separator circuitry 58, where it is used in the phase-locked-loop to update the horizontal sync period measurement. The fractional part of the signal SSK is retained in the accumulator of the skew measuring circuitry 59 and applied as skew values to the skew correcting circuitry 62. As used in the present embodiment, the fractional part of the signal SSK represents the time interval between the center of the respective phase locked horizontal sync pulse and the leading edge of the clock pulse which occurs immediately before the center of the respective horizontal sync pulse. This interval is measured with a resolution substantially equal to one-sixteenth of the period of the signal CK. The sync separator circuitry 58 and the skew measuring circuitry 59 are of the type contained in the integrated circuit DPU 2532 manufactured by ITT Intermetall GmbH and which is described at pages 47-72 of the data book "Digit 2000 NTSC Double-scan VLSI Digital TV System" edition 1985/5 of ITT Intermetall, Freiburg, W. Germany.
Exemplary skew error correcting circuitry 62 is shown in FIG. 4. This circuitry interpolates between successive input samples to provide output samples that are substantially equivalent to the samples which would have been taken synchronous with a sampling clock signal having zero skew. The circuitry shown in FIG. 4 may be divided into two parts, a linear interpolator and a correction circuit. Luminance samples Y_S are applied to a delay element 410, which delays the samples by one period of the clock signal CK. The delayed samples are applied to a multiplier 412 which scales the samples by a factor K. The factor K may be a value between zero and one and is provided by a read only memory (ROM) 424 in response to the secondary skew signal SSK. Luminance samples Y_S are also applied to a multiplier 414 which scales these undelayed samples by a factor 1-K, also provided by ROM 424. The samples provided by the multipliers 412 and 414 are summed in adder 416.
The samples provided by adder 416 are linearly interpolated samples. If the frequency components of the sampled signals Y_S are an order of magnitude or more lower than the sampling frequency, the apparent delay of the interpolated samples is given by the product KT_S, where T_S is the period of the sampling clock signal CK. As the frequency components of the sampled signals approach the sampling frequency, however, the amount by which Ys appears to have been delayed becomes a function of the levels of its higher frequency components as well as of K. The correction circuit, which includes filter 422, multiplier 428 and adder 420 compensates for the frequency induced delay components. Luminance signals Y_S are applied to the filter 422 which has the transfer function T₄₂₂ =-1+Z^-1 +Z^-2 -Z^-3 expressed in Z transform notation. The samples provided by filter 422 are scaled by a factor C in multiplier 428. The factor C is provided by ROM 424 in response to the secondary skew signal, SSK. The samples developed by adder 416 are applied to a delay element 418 which compensates for the processing time through filter 422. These delayed samples are then added to the samples from multiplier 428 by an adder 420.
The combination of the linear interpolator and the correcting filter produce signals having an apparent delay of (1+K)Ts where the signals to be delayed have components with frequencies as high as one-third of the frequency of the sampling clock signal. In the NTSC system, for example, where the sampling clock frequency is approximately 14.3 MHz this skew correcting circuit provides uniformly spaced delays for luminance signals which may have frequency components up to 4.2 MHz. I defines the contents of ROM 424 to achieve delay steps of one-sixteenth of a sampling clock period.

TABLE I

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DELAY TOTAL SSK K 1-K C CHANGE DELAY

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15 1/16 15/16 1/32 TS /16 17TS /16 14 2/16 14/16 1/32 2TS /16 18TS /16 13 3/16 13/16 2/32 3TS /16 19TS /16 12 4/16 12/16 2/32 4TS /16 20TS /16 11 5/16 11/16 2/32 5TS /16 21TS /16 10 6/16 10/16 3/32 6TS /16 22TS /16 9 7/16 9/16 3/32 7TS /16 23TS /16 8 8/16 8/16 3/32 8TS /16 24TS /16 7 9/16 7/16 3/32 9TS /16 25TS /16 6 10/16 6/16 3/32 10TS /16 26TS /16 5 11/16 5/16 3/32 11TS /16 27TS /16 4 12/16 4/16 2/32 12TS /16 28TS /16 3 13/16 3/16 2/32 13TS /16 29TS /16 2 14/16 2/16 1/32 14TS /16 30TS /16 1 15/16 1/16 1/32 15TS /16 31TS /16 0 1 0 0 TS 2TS

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The samples provided by this skew correcting circuit 62 have apparent delays of between 17T_S /16 and 2T_S. The delay is only apparent because the actual timing of the samples has not been changed. The skew correcting circuit 62 adjusts the sample values in each line of secondary luminance signals so they appear to have been generated using a sampling clock signal which had negligible skew.

The chrominance samples provided by Y/C separation filter 54 are applied to delay element 63 which provides a two sample period delay to compensate for the delay through the skew correcting circuitry 62. Because the chrominance signal has a smaller bandwidth than the luminance signal and because the eye is less sensitive to color transitions than to changes in brightness, skew errors in the chrominance signal are not as noticeable as skew errors in the luminance signal. Accordingly, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 does not correct skew errors in the chrominance signal. It will be appreciated, however, that delay element 63 may be replaced with a skew correcting circuit similar to circuit element 62.
The luminance samples from skew correcting circuitry 62 and the chrominance samples from delay element 63 are applied to a secondary chroma/luma processor 64. Processor 64 may include, for example, an FIR band shaping filter for peaking the frequency spectrum of the digital luminance signals to provide a modified secondary luminance signal Y_S ' and a digital chrominance demodulator for developing samples which represent the baseband secondary color difference signals (R-Y)_S and (B-Y)_S.
The signals Y_S ', (R-Y)_S and (B-Y)_S are applied to PIP field memory 68 where they are subsampled and stored under control of the write address generator circuitry 70. Memory 68 may be a conventional random access memory having a sufficient number of storage cells to hold one field of the subsampled secondary signal. This memory may be organized as three separate field memories, one for the luminance signal and one for each of the two color difference signals, or it may be organized as a single field memory with the sampled luminance and color difference signals combined into a single sampled signal. For example, these signals may be combined by alternately concatenating samples of the two color difference signals to samples of the luminance signal.
Data from the secondary chroma/luma processor 64 is written into the field memory 68 under control of the memory address generator circuity 70. The circuitry 70 develops write address signals, WADDR, and other control signals WCS, as may be needed from the clock signal CK, and the secondary vertical and horizontal sync signals SVS and SHS respectively. The write address generator circuitry 70 operates to subsample the secondary signal in, for example, a three-to-one ratio both vertically and horizontally by providing address values and control signals for the memory 68 at appropriate times.
Samples representing lines of the subsampled secondary image are read from the PIP field memory 68 under control of the read address generator circuitry 24. The signals applied to circuitry 24 are the primary vertical and horizontal sync signals, PVS and PHS respectively, and a skew corrected clock signal CK'. The circuitry 24 may for example, count pulses of the horizontal sync signal, PHS, relative to the vertical sync pulses, PVS, and pulses of the signal CK' relative to the primary horizontal sync pulses to determine when to initiate read operations for the memory 68 and when to switch the multiplexer 26 between providing primary and secondary drive signals to the display device 28. Read address generator 24 provides a read address signal, RADDR, and read control signals RCS, to the field memory 68 and a primary/secondary image selection signal, P/S to the multiplexer 26.
The write address generator circuitry 70, read address generator circuitry 24 and field memory 68 are not a part of the present invention and, so, are not described in detail. Exemplary circuitry for subsampling, storing, and retrieving the signal which produces the insert image is described in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,249,213 entitled "Picture-in-Picture Television Receiver" and 4,139,860 entitled "Television Receiver Equipped for Simultaneously Showing Several Programs" which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The Read address generator 24, it is recalled, operates in synchronism with the skew corrected clock signal CK'. This signal is generated as follows. Primary composite video signals from source 10 are applied to an ADC 17 which is clocked by the signal CK provided by the PLL 56. ADC 17 applies the sampled primary composite video signals to a DPU 20. DPU 20, which includes sync separator 18 and skew measuring circuitry 19 may be identical to the DPU 60 described above. The sync separator 18 develops the primary vertical sync signal, PVS, and the primary horizontal sync signal, PHS, from the primary composite video signals. The signal PHS, the horizontal sync period value HSP, and the clock signal CK are applied to the skew measuring circuitry 19. Circuitry 19 is functionally identical to the skew measuring circuitry 59 described above. It measures the time difference between the center of each pulse of the signal PHS and the leading edge of the immediately preceding pulse of the clock signal CK. The fractional part of the signal, PSK, provided by the skew measuring circuitry 19 is a four bit value indicating the skew for each primary horizontal scan line in units of one-sixteenth of the period of the clock signal CK. The integer part of the signal PSK is applied to the sync separator 18 as set forth above in reference to DPU 60. The fractional part of the signal PSK and the signal CK are applied to the skew correcting circuitry 22. Circuitry 22 may be a programmable delay element similar to that shown in FIG. 5.
In FIG. 5, the clock signal CK is applied to the input termnal of an inverter I₁ which is the first inverter in a chain of thirty series-connected inverters. The inverter chain is organized as fifteen pairs of inverters, I₁ and I₁ ' through I₁₅ and I₁₅ '. The input terminal to the inverter I₁ and the output terminals of all of the pairs, i.e. I₁ ', I₂ ' . . . I₁₅ ' are connected to respectively different data input terminals of the multiplexer 500. The control input port of multiplexer 500 is coupled to receive the fractional part of the primary skew signal, PSK, provided by the skew measuring circuitry 19. Each pair of inverters in the chain has a signal propogation delay of approximately one-sixteenth of the period of clock signal CK so the output terminals of each of the pairs provide clock signals delayed by between one-sixteenth and fifteen-sixteenths of a clock period. The multiplexer 500 is conditioned by the fractional part of the signal PSK to provide, as its output signal CK', the signal CK when PSK is zero, the signal at the output terminal of inverter of I₁ ' when PSK is one, the signal at the output terminal of inverter I₂ ' when PSK is two, and so on, providing the signal at the output terminal of inverter I₁₅ ' when PSK is fifteen. Accordingly, the signal CK' provided by the skew correcting circuitry 22 is a clock signal CK delayed by an amount of time approximately equal to the value of the fractional part of PSK times one-sixteenth of the period of the signal CK. As set forth above, in reference to FIG. 1, this signal is a skew corrected clock signal, which is to say a clock signal aligned with the horizontal sync signal PHS from line-to-line.
The samples provided by the memory 68 in synchronism with the skew corrected clock signal CK' are applied to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 72 which is clocked by the skew corrected clock signal CK'. DAC 72 provides analog signals representing the secondary luminance and (R-Y) and (B-Y) color difference signals to the matrix 74. Matrix 74 is a conventional analog matrix which converts secondary luminance and color difference signals into the color signals R_S, G_S, and B_S for application to the multiplexer 26 as set forth above.
The analog multiplexer 26 is controlled by the image selection signal P/S provided by the read address generator 24 to apply either primary or secondary signals to the display device 28 to develop composite PIP images.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing aternative circuitry to correct for skew in the primary signal. This embodiment uses an interpolation scheme which is the same as is used to correct for the skew of the secondary signal. The read address generator circuitry 24' is clocked by the signal CK but is otherwise the same as the circuitry 24 described in reference to FIG. 2. From the clock signal CK and the primary horizontal and vertical sync signals PHS and PVS, read address generator circuitry 24' develops the read address signal RADDR and the read control signals RCS which control the reading of the subsampled secondary luminance and color difference signals from the PIP field memory 68. The luminance samples, Y_ss, are applied to skew correcting circuitry 22' which is responsive to the fractional part of the signal PSK. Circuitry 22' may be identical to the skew correcting circuitry 62 described above in reference to FIG. 2. Circuitry 22' interpolates between successive ones of the samples Y_ss to provide samples having values representing a signal delayed by the skew value. In other words, substantially the same signal as would be represented by the samples read from the memory in synchronism with a skew corrected clock signal. The luminance samples developed by the skew correcting circuitry 22' are applied to a DAC 72'. The (R-Y) and (B-Y) color difference samples provided by the field memory 68' are applied to the DAC 72' via the compensating delay elements 602 and 604 respectively. Delay elements 602 and 604 compensate for processing delay in the skew correcting circuitry 22'. As set forth in reference to the skew correcting circuitry 62, only the luminance signals need skew correction since the eye is less sensitive to changes in color than to changes in brightness. Nonetheless, it is contemplated that the delay elements 602 and 604 may be replaced by skew correcting circuitry similar to the circuitry 22' if skew correction of the color difference samples is found to be desirable. The DAC 72' is clocked by the uncorrected clock signal CK but is otherwise the same as the DAC 72 described with reference to FIG. 2. DAC 72' provides analog luminance and color difference signals representing the reduced secondary signal to the matrix 74.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which both the primary and secondary signals are processed digitally. A single clock signal, PCK, which is phase locked to the primary color synchronizing burst signal, is used for both the primary and secondary processing circuitry. Since the secondary signals are sampled by a clock which is not phase locked to the secondary color burst signal, this embodiment of the invention includes circuitry to adjust the phase of the secondary chrominance signals to ensure proper color reproduction.
In the PIP system shown in FIG. 3, analog composite video signals from a source of primary composite video signals 310 are applied to an ADC 317. ADC 317 is responsive to the primary burst locked clock signal PCK to provide digital samples representing the analog primary video signals. These samples are applied to a Y/C separation filter 312 and to the DPU 320. DPU 320 is, for example, identical to the DPUs 20 and 60 described above. It provides the primary vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, PHS and PVS, a primary burst gate signal, PBG, and a signal, PSK, representing the skew of the clock signal, PCK, relative to the primary horizontal sync signal, PHS, as a proper fraction of the clock period. The Y/C separation filter 312, which may be identical to the filter 54, separates the luminance and chrominance components from the primary composite video signals.
The primary chrominance signals from filter 312 and the burst gate signal PBG from sync separator 318 are applied to the PLL 321. PLL 321, which may contain circuitry identical to that used by the PLL 56, generates the clock signal PCK having a frequency of substantially 4f_c that is phase-locked to the color burst component of the primary signal.
The primary luminance and chrominance signal components are applied to the primary chroma/luma processor 314. Chroma/luma processor 314 provides processed luminance signals and (R-Y) and (B-Y) color difference signals to the DAC 315. DAC 315 converts the digital luminance and color difference signals into analog form and applies the analog signals to an RGB matrix 316. Matrix 316 develops the red, green, and blue color signals which represent the primary image, and applies them to a first set of signal input terminals of a multiplexer 326. Multiplexer 326, selects between the color signals representing the primary image and color signals representing the secondary image, which are applied to a second set of signal input terminals, to drive the display device 328. Apparatus which generates the color signals for the secondary image and which generates the selection signal, P/S, for the multiplexer 326 is described below.
Analog composite video signals from a source of secondary composite video signals 350 are applied to an ADC 352. ADC 352 is responsive to the primary sampling clock signal PCK for providing samples representing secondary composite video signals to the Y/C separation filter 354 and to the DPU 360. DPU 360, for example, is identical to the DPUs 20 and 60 described above. It provides the secondary horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, SHS and SVS respectively, a secondary burst gate signal SBG, and a signal, SSK, representing the skew of the clock signal PCK relative to the secondary horizontal sync signal SHS as a proper fraction of the clock period.
Y/C separation filter 354, separates the secondary composite video samples into a luminance signal component and a chrominance signal component. The luminance signal component and the signal SSK from skew measuring circuitry 359 are applied to skew correcting circuitry 362. The circuitry 362 may be identical to the circuitry described with reference to FIG. 4. It produces luminance samples having equal skew from line-to-line relative to the secondary horizontal sync signal SHS. These samples are applied to the secondary chroma/luma processor 364. The chrominance samples from filter 354 are applied to the processor 364 via the delay element 363. Delay element 363 compensates for the processing delays incurred by the luminance samples in the skew correction circuitry 362 by delaying the chrominance samples by two sample periods.
The secondary luma/chroma processor 364 processes the luminance signal and demodulates the chrominance signal into two quadrature phase related color difference signals. In this instance, however, the color difference signals provided by the processor 364 may not be (R-Y) and (B-Y) signals. The demodulator in the chroma/luma processor 364 will provide (R-Y) and (B-Y) signals only when the sampling clock signal has a frequency of 4f_c and is phase locked to the color burst component of the secondary signal. In this embodiment, the sampling clock signal used to develop the secondary samples is phase locked to the primary color burst component. Since the primary and secondary signals may be from different sources, there may be phase and frequency differences between their respective color burst signals. Consequently, there may be phase errors in the demodulated color difference signals provided by the processor 364 relative to the (R-Y) and (B-Y) phases of the secondary signal. The present embodiment includes chrominance phase error correction circuitry 365 to detect and correct phase errors in the color difference signals provided by processor 364. This circuit is not a part of the present invention. Suitable circuitry 365 may be built by one skilled in the art from the teachings of the patent application Ser. No. 567,190 entitled "A Digital Video Signal Processing System Using Asynchronous A-to-D Encoding", which is hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, the circuitry 365 converts the two color difference signals into a phase angle signal and an amplitude signal. The phase signal is compared against a reference phase during the secondary burst interval. The difference between the burst phase and the reference phase is used to correct the phase and amplitude signals in a closed loop control system. The corrected phase and amplitude signals are then processed to develop at least two color difference signals (e.g. (R-Y) and (B-Y)).
The phase corrected color difference signals provided by the circuitry 365 and the luminance signal provided by processor 364 via compensating delay element 367 are applied to the PIP field memory 368. The PIP field memory 368, memory write address generator circutry 370 and memory read address generator circuitry 324 may be similar to the respective field memory 68, and memory write and read address generator circutry 70 and 24 of FIG. 2. The circuitry 370 and 324 are responsive to the clock signal PCK and skew corrected clock signal PCK' respectively, but otherwise operate identically to the circuitry described above.
The skew corrected clock signal PCK' is developed by the skew correction circuitry 322. Circuitry 322, which may be similar to the circuitry 22, delays the clock signal PCK by the measured skew value times one-sixteenth of the period of PCK, to produce a skew corrected clock signal PCK'. It is contemplated that circuitry similar to that shown in FIG. 6 may be used in place of the skew correcting circuitry 622 to correct for the skew of the primary signal.
The samples provided by the PIP field memory 368 under control of the memory output address and timing control circuitry are applied to a DAC 372. DAC 372, synchronous with the skew corrected clock signal PCK', develops analog luminance and (R-Y) and (B-Y) color difference signals representing the secondary image and applies these samples to the matrix 374. Matrix 374 converts these luminance and color difference signals into red, green and blue color signals. These color signals, which represent the secondary image, are applied to the second set of signal input terminals of the analog multiplexer 326 as described above.
Although the embodiments described above use digital processing circuitry and use random access memory for the field store, it is contemplated that similar skew correction circuitry could be used with analog sampled data signals and that analog or digital shift register memories could be used for the field store. 

 

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Katz, Harold W. (Interactive Systems/3M), “Status Report on EIA Broadband Modem Standards,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 40-44.
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Barlow, “The Design of an Automatic Machine Assignment System”, Journal of the SMPTE, Jul. 1975, vol. 84, p. 532-537.
Barlow, “The Automation of Large Program Routing Switchers”, SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1979, Vol. 88, p. 493-497.
Barlow, “The Computer Control of Multiple-Bus Switchers”, SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1976, Vol. 85, p. 720-723.
Barlow, “The Assurance of Reliability”, SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1976, Vol. 85, p. 73-75.
Barlow, “Some Features of Computer-Controlled Television Station Switchers”,Journal of the SMPTE, Mar. 1972, vol. 81, p. 179-183.
Barlow et al., “A Universal Software for Automatic Switchers”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1978, vol. 87, p. 682-683.
Butler, “PCM-Multiplexed Audio in a Large Audio Routing Switcher”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 875-877.
Dickson et al., “An Automated Network Center”, Journal of the SMPTE, Jul. 1975, Vol. 84, p. 529-532.
Edmondson et al., “Nbc Switching Central”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, Vol. 85, p. 795-805.
Flemming, “NBC Television Central—An Overview”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, Vol. 85, p. 792-795.
Horowitz, “CBS” New-Technology Station, WBBM-T, SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1978, vol. 87, p. 141-146.
Krochmal et al., “Television Transmission Audio Facilities at NBC New York”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 814-816.
Kubota et al., “The Videomelter”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1978, Vol. 87, p. 753-754.
Mausler, “Video Transmission Video Facilities at NBC New York”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 811-814.
Negri, “Hardware Interface Considerations for a Multi-Channel Television Automation System”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 869-872.
Paganuzzi, “Communication in NBC Television Central”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 866-869.
Roth et al., “Functional Capabilities of a Computer Control System for Television Switching”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 806-811.
Rourke, “Television Studio Design—Signal Routing and Measurement”, SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1979, vol. 88, p. 607-609.
Yanney, Sixty-Device Remote-Control System for NBC's Television Central Project, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 873-877.
Young et al., “Developments in Computer-Controlled Television Switches”, Journal of the SMPTE, Aug. 1973, vol. 82, p. 658-661.
Young et al., “The Automation of Small Television Stations”, Journal of the SMPTE, Oct. 1971, vol. 80, p. 806-811.
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“7609 Sat-A-Dat Decoder/Controller,” Group W Satellite Communications (advertisement) 2 pages.
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“Asynchronous Data Transmission System Series 2100 Vidata,”Wagener Communications, Inc. (advertisement), 2 pages.
“Zenith VIRTEXTTM . . . Vertical Interval Region Text and Graphics,” Zenith Radio Corporation (flyer), 7 paged.
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Kinik, et al., “A Network Control System for Television Distribution by Satellite,” Journal of the SMPTE, Feb. 1975, vo. 84 No. 2, pp. 63-67.
Chiddix, “Videocassette Banks Automate Delayed Satellite Programming,” Aug. 1978, TV Comunications, pp. 38-39.
Curnal, et al., “Automating Television Operating Centers,” Bell Laboratories Record, Mar. 1978, pp. 65-70.
Baran, Paul (Packetcable Inc.), “Packetcable: A New Interactive Cable System Technology,” Cable '82—Technical Papers, National Cable Television Association 31st Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV, May 3-5, 1982 (“CABLE '82”), pp. 1-6.
Tunmann, Ernest O. (Tele-Engineering Corporation), “Two-Way Cable TV Technologies,” Cable '82, pp. 7-15.
Dickinson, Robert V.C. (E-COM Corporation), “Carriage of Multiple One-Way and Interactive Service on CATV Networks,” Cable '82, pp. 16-21.
McNamara, R.P. et al. (Sytek, Incorporated), “MetroNet: an Overview of a CATV Regional Data Network,” Cable '82, pp. 22-31.
Eissler, Charles (Oak Communications Systems), “Addressable Control for the Small System,” Cable '82, pp. 32-36.
Mesiya, M.F. et al. (Times Fiber Communications, Inc.), “Mini-Hub Addressable Distribution System for Hi-Rise Application,” Cable '82, pp. 37-42.
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Langley, Don et al. (University of Cincinnati and Rice-Richter Associates), “Interactive Split Screen Teleconferencing,” Cable '82, pp. 47-50.
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Jubert, Jay (Wang Laboratories, Inc.), “Wangnet, a Cable-Based Localnet,” Cable '82, pp. 79-81.
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Skrobko, John (Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated), “Improving CATV System Reliability with Automatic Status Monitoring and Bridger Switching,” Cable '82, pp. 133-137.
Dahlquist, John (Jerrold Division, General Instrument Corporation), “Techniques for Improving Continuity of Service in a CATV Distribution System,” Abstract, Cable '82, p. 138.
Polishuk, Paul Dr. (Information Gatekeepers, Inc.) “Present Status of Fiber Optics Technology and its Impact on the CATV Industry,” Cable '82, pp. 142-147.
Dufresne, Michel (Videotron Communications LTEE), “New Services: an Integrated Cable Networks's Approach,” Cable '82, pp. 156-160.
Stanton, Gary W. (Southern Satellite Systems), “Downloading and Addressing via Teletext,” Cable '82, pp. 161-165.
Goldberg, Efrem I. (GTE Laboratories Incorporated), “Videotex on Two-Way Cable Television Systems—Some Technical Considerations,” Cable '82, pp. 166-174.
Noirel, Yves (CCETT/Rennes, France), “Abstract of paper entitled Data Broadcasting: “Didon” and “Diode” Protocols,” Cable '82, pp. 175-179.
von Meister, William F. (Digital Music Company), “The Home Music Store,” Cable '82, pp. 180-182.
Brown, Jr., Robert R. (Cima Telephone and Television), “Inter Bridger Trunking for Information Services,” Cable '82, pp. 183-189.
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Proposed American National Standard, “Electrical and Mechanical Characteristics for Digital Control Interface,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1982, pp. 888-897.
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Glover, S. “Automatic Switching at the Edmonton Television Studios,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1966, vol. 75, pp. 1089-1092.
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Campbell, Keith D., “An Automated Video-Tape Editing System,” Journal of the SMPTE, Mar. 1970, vol. 79, pp. 191-194.
Bonney, R.B. et al., “A Proposed Standard Time and Control Code for Video-Tape Editing,” Journal of the SMPTE, Mar. 1970, vol. 79, pp. 186-190.
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Barlow, M., Letter to the Editor, “Re: Automation of Telecine Equipment,” Journal of the SMPTE, Apr. 1970, vol. 79, pp. 345-346.
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Connolly, W.G. et al., “The Electronic Still Store: A Digital System for the Storage and Display of Still Pictures,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1976, vol. 85, pp. 609-613.
Sadashige, K., “Overview of Time-Base Correction Techniques and Their Applications,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, pp. 787-791.
Siocos, C.A., “Satellite Technical and Operational Committee—Television (STOC-TV) Guidelines for Waveform Graticules,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, pp. 878-879.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1976 • vol. 85,” 1976 Index to SMPTE Journal, SMPTE Journal, vol. 85, pp. I-5 to I-13, I-15.
Rodgers, Richard W., “Design Considerations for a Transmission and Distribution System for SMPTE Time-Code Signals,” SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1977, vol. 86, pp. 69-70.
Allan, J.J., III, et al., “A Computer-Controlled Super-8 Projector,” SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1977, vol. 86, pp. 488-489.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1977 • vol. 86,” 1977 Index to SMPTE Journal, SMPTE Journal, vol. 86, pp. I-5 to I-14.
Hamalainen, KJ., “Videotape Editing Systems Using Microprocessors,” SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1978, Vol. 87, pp. 379-382.
McCoy, Reginald F.H., “A New Digital Video Special-Effects Equipment,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1978, vol. 87, pp. 20-23.
Leonard, Eugene, “Considerations Regarding the Use of Digital Data to Generate Video Backgrounds,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1978, vol. 87, pp. 499-504.
Swetland, George R., “Applying the SMPTE Time and Control Code to Television Audio Post Production,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1978, vol. 87, pp. 508-512.
Moore, J.K., et al., “A Recent Innovation in Digital Special Effects, The CBS ‘Action Track’ System,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1978, vol. 87, pp. 673-676.
Connolly, William G., “Videotape Program Production at CBS Studio Center,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1978, vol. 87, pp. 761-763.
Nicholls, William C., “A New Edit Room Using One-

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“Index to vol. 87 Jan.-Dec. 1978,” SMPTE Journal, Part II to Jan. 1979 SMPTE Journal, pp. I-1, I-4 to I-14.
Wetmore, R. Evans, “System Performance Objectives and Acceptance Testing of the Public Television Satellite Interconnection System,” SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 101-111.
Bates, George W., “Cut/Lap: A New Method for Programmable Fades and Soft Edit Transitions Using a Single Source VTR,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 160-161.
Douglas, W. Gordon, “PBS Satellite Interconnection Technical Operations and Maintenance,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 162-163.
Oliphant, Andrew et al., “A Digital Telecine Processing Channel,” SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 474-483.
Bates, George W. et al., “Time Code Error Correction Utilizing a Microprocessor,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 712-715.
Geise, Heinz-Dieter, “The Use of Microcomputers and Microprocessors in Modern VTR Control,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1979, vol. 88, pp. 831-834.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1979 • vol. 88,” 1979 Index to SMPTE Journal, SMPTE Journal, vol. 88, pp. I-4 to I-10.
“Advanced Transmission Techniques,” SMPTE Journal, Report on the 121st Technical Conference, Jan. 1980, vol. 89, pp. 31-32.
“Anderson: Progress Committee Report for 1979—Television,” SMPTE Journal, May 1980, vol. 89, pp. 324-328.
SMPTE Journal, May 1980, vol. 89, p. 391, no title.
“The TCR-119 Reader,” Gray Engineering Laboratories, SMPTE Journal, May 1980, vol. 89, p. 438. (advertisement).
Hopkins, Robert S., Jr., “Report of the Committee on New Technology,” SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1980, vol. 89, pp. 449-450.
Limb, J.O. et al., “An Interframe Coding Technique for Broadcast Television,” SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1980, vol. 89, p. 451.
“Preliminary List of Papers,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1980, vol. 89, p. 677.
Davis, John T., “Automation of a Production Switching System,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1980, vol. 89, pp. 725-727.
“Video Tape Recording Glossary,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1980, vol. 89, p. 733.
Advertisement, “CTVM 3 series of Barco master control color monitors”, “Barco TV Modulator, Model VSBM 1/S”, “VICMACS Type 1724 Vertical Interval Machine Control System”, “Videotape Editing Controllers by US JVC Corp., RM-70U, RM-82U, RM-88U”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1980, Vol. 89, p. 820 et seq.
Ciciora, Walter, “Teletext Systems: Considering the Prospective User,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1980, vol. 89, pp. 846-849.
Hathaway, R.A. et al., “Development and Design of the Ampex Auto Scan Tracking (AST) System,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1980, vol. 89, p. 931.
Connor, Denis J., “Network Distribution of Digital Television Signals,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1980, vol. 89, pp. 935-938.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1980 • vol. 89,” 1980 Index to SMPTE Journal, SMPTE Journal, pp. I-5 to I-11.
“Index to SMPTE-Sponsored American National Standards, Society Recommended Practices, and Engineering Committee Recommendations,” 1980 Index to SMPTE Journal, SMPTE Journal, pp. I-15 to I-20.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1981, vol. 90, No. 2, 1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1981, vol. 90, No. 3, 1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1981, vol. 90, No. 4,1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, May 1981, vol. 90, No. 5, 1 page.
“Television,” SMPTE Journal, May 1981, pp. 375-379.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1981, vol. 90, No. 1,1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1981, vol. 90, No. 6, 1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1981, vol. 90, No. 7,1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1981, vol. 90, No. 8, 1 page.
“American National Standard” “time and control code for video and audio tape for 525-line/ 60-field television systems,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1981, pp. 716-717.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1981, vol. 90, No. 9, 1 page.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice” “Vertical Interval Time and Control Code Video Tape for 525-Line/ 60-Field Television Systems,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1981, pp. 800-801.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1981, vol. 90, No. 10, 1 page.
Kaufman, Paul A. et al., “The Du Art Frame Count Cueing System,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1981, pp. 979-981.
“American National Standard” “dimensions of video, audio and tracking control records on 2-in video magnetic tape quadruplex recorded at 15 and 7.5 in/ s,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1981, pp. 988-989.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1981, vol. 90, No. 11, 1 page.
Table of Contents, SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1981, vol. 90, No. 12, 1 page.
Powers, Kerns H., “A Hierarchy of Digital Standards for Teleproduction in the Year 2001,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1981, pp. 1150-1151.
“Application of Direct Broadcast Satellite Corporation for a Direct Broadcast Satellite System,” Before the Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., Jul. 16, 1981.
Rice, Michael, “Toward Enhancing the Social Benefits of Electronic Publishing,” Report of an Aspen Institute Planning Meeting, Communications and Society Forum Report, Feb. 25-26, 1987.
Rice, Michael, “Toward Improved Computer Software for Education and Entertainment in the Home,” Report of an Aspen Institute Planning Meeting, Communications and Society Forum Report, Jun. 3-4, 1987.
Gano, Steve, “Teaching ‘real world’ systems,” 1 page, 1987.
Pollack, Andrew, “Putting 25,000 Pages on a CD,” New York Times, 1 page, Mar. 4, 1987.
Gano, Steve, “A Draft of a Request for Proposals Concerning the Adoption of Computer Technology in the Home,” Jan. 1988, Draft © 1987 Steve Gano.
COMSAT, “Communications Satellite Corporation Magazine,” No. 7, 1982.
COMSAT, “Satellite to Home Pay Television,” no date.
COMSAT, “Annual Report 1981.”
“Comsat's STC: Poised for blastoff into TV's space frontier,” Broadcasting, Feb. 22, 1982, pp. 38-45.
Taylor, John P., “Comsat bid to FCC for DBS authorization: Questions of finances, ‘localism,’ monopoly,” Television/Radio Age, May 4, 1981, pp. 42-44 and 80-81.
Taylor, John P., “Fourteen DBS authorization applications to FCC differ greatly in both structure and operations,” Television/Radio Age, Oct. 5, 1981, pp. 40-42 and 116-119.
Taylor, John P., “Comsat bid to FCC for DBS authorization: Is direct broadcasting the wave of the future?”, Television/Radio Age, Mar. 23, 1981, pp. A-22-24 and A-26 and A-28-31.
“At Sequent Computer, One Size Fits All,” Business Week, Sep. 17, 1984, 1 page.
Hayashi, Alden, M., “Can Logic Automation model its way to success?”, Electronic Business, Aug. 1, 1986, 1 page.
“Imager monitors the bloodstream,” High Technology, Mar. 1987, 1 page.
Merritt, Christopher R.B., M.D., “Doppler blood flow imaging: integrating flow with tissue data,” Diagnostic Imaging, Nov. 1986, pp. 146-155.
Eisenhammer, John, “Will Europe's Satellite TV Achieve Lift-Off?”, Business, Aug. 1986, pp. 56-60.
Hayes, Thomas C., “New M.C.C. Chief's Strategy: To Speed Payoff on Research,” The New York Times, Jun. 24, 1987, 2 pages.
Collins, Glenn, “For Many, a Vast Wasteland Has Become a Brave New World,” New York Times, no date, 2 pages.
Gleick, James, “U.S. Is Lagging on Forecasting World Weather,” The New York TimesFeb. 15, 1987, 2 pages.
Browning, E.S., “Sony's Perseverance Helped It Win Market for Mini-CD Players,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 27, 1986, 2 pages.
Dragutsky, Paula, “Data in the bank is booming biz,” New York Post, Apr. 29, 1985, 1 page.
Wayne, Leslie, “Dismantling the Innovative D.R.I.,” The New York Times, Dec. 16, 1984, 2 pages.
Sanger, David E., “A Computer Full of Surprises,” The New York Times, May 8, 1987, 2 pages.
Hoffman, Paul, “The Next Leap in Computers,” The New York Times Magazine, Dec. 7, 1986, 6 pages.
Taylor, Thayer C., “Laptops and the Sales Force: New Stars in the Sky,” pp. 81-84.
Parker, Edwin B., “Satellite micro earth stations—a small investment with big returns,” Data Communications, Jan. 1983, 5 pages.
“Micro Key System,” Video Associates Labs, product description.
“SMPTE Journal Five-Year Index 1971-1975,” SMPTE Journal.
“SMPTE Journal Five-Year Index 1976-1980,” SMPTE Journal.
“SMPTE Journal Five-Year Index 1981-1985,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 95, No. 1, Jan. 1986.
“SMPTE Journal Five-Year Index 1986-1990,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 100, No. 1, Jan. 1991.
“Annual Index 1982,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 91, Jan.-Dec. 1982, pp. 1253-1263.
“Highlights, SMPTE, The 124th SMPTE Conference,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1983, p. 3.
SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1983, pp. 64, 69-70, 87-90, 92-98.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1983, p. 163.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1983, p. 267.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1983, p. 355.
Thomas, L. Merle, “Television,” SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1983, pp. 407-410.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, May 1983, p. 547.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1983, p. 627.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1983, p. 715.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1983, p. 803.
Tooms, Michael S. et al., “The Evolution of a Comprehensive Computer Support System for the Television Operation,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1983, pp. 824-833.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1983, p. 907.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1983, p. 1027.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1983, p. 1173.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1983, p. 1269.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1983 • vol. 92,” Annual Index 1983, SMPTE Journal, pp. 1385-1391.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1984, p. 3.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1984 • vol. 93,” Annual Index 1984, SMPTE Journal, pp. 1211-1217.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1985, p. 3.
Barlow, Michael W.S., “Application of Personal Computers in Engineering,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1985, pp. 27-30.
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“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1985, p. 181.
Day, Alexander G., “From Studio to Home—How Good is the Electronic Highway?”, SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1985, pp. 216-217.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1985, p. 265.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice, Storage of Edit Decision Lists on 8-in. Flexible Diskette Media,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1985, pp. 353-354.
McCroskey, Donald C., “Television,” SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1985, pp. 382-395.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1985, p. 361.
SMPTE Journal, Apr. 1985, pp. 366-368, 473-478.
“Highlightsd SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, May 1985, p. 545.
Morii, Yutaka, et al., “A New Master Control System for NHK's Local Stations,” SMPTE Journal, May 1985, pp. 559-564.
Kuca, Jay, et al., “A Fifth-Generation Routing Switcher Control System,” SMPTE Journal, May 1985, pp. 566-571.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1985, p. 641.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1985, p. 721.
Busby, E.S., “Digital Component Television Made Simple,” SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1985, pp. 759-762.
“Highlights, SMPTE,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, p. 801.
Rayner, Bruce, “High-Level Switcher Interface Improves Editing Techniques,” , SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, pp. 810-813.
Hayes, Donald R., “Vertical-Interval Encoding for the Recordable Laser Videodisc,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, pp. 814-820.
“SMPTE Recommended Practice, Video Record Parameters for 1-in Type C Helical-Scan Video Tape Recording,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, pp. 872-873.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice, Time and Control Codes for 24, 25, or 30 Frame-Per-Second Motion-Picture Systems,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, pp. 874-876.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice, Data Tracks on Low-Dispersion Magnetic Coatings on 35-mm Motion-Picture Film,” SMPTE Journal, Aug. 1985, pp. 877-878.
“Highlights,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1985, p. 881.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice, Control Message Archtecture,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1985, pp. 990-991.
“Proposed SMPTE Recommended Practice, Tributary Interconnection,” SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1985, pp. 992-995.
“Highlights,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1985, p. 1001.
Zimmerman, Frank, “Hybrid Circuit Construction for Routing Switchers,” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1985, pp. 1015-1019.
“Highlights,” SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1985, p. 1155.
Sabatier, J., et al., “The D2-MAC-Packet System for All Transmission Channels,”SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1985, pp. 1173-1179.
“Highlights,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1985, p. 1243.
Shiraishi, Yuma, “History of Home Videotape Recorder Development,” SMPTE Journal, Dec. 1985, pp. 1257-1263.
“Index to Subjects—Jan.-Dec. 1985 • vol. 94,” Annual Index 1985, SMPTE Journal, pp. 1351-1357.
“Highlights,” SMPTE Journal, Jan. 1986, p. 3.
“Proposed American National Standard for component digital video recording—19-mm type D-1 cassette— tape cassette,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1986, pp. 362-363.
“Index to SMPTE-Sponsored American National Standards and Society Recommended Practices and Engineering Guidelines,” Smpte Journal, Annual Index 1987, pp. 1258, 1260-1262.
Rice, Philip, et al., “Development of the First Optical Videodisc,” SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1982, pp. 277-284.
Kubota, Yasuo, “The Videomelter,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 87, Nov. 1978, pp. 753-754.
“USTV Direct Satellite to Home Television Service,” General Instrument News Release, Aug. 1982.
“Second Senior Executive Conference on Productivity Improvement,” SALT, Society for Applied Learning Technology, Dec. 4-6, 1986.
“New Publications for 1987 from The Videodisc Monitor,” advertisement, 2 pages.
“The Videodisc Monitor,” vol. IV: No. 10, Oct. 1986.
“The Videodisc Monitor,” vol. IV: No. 12, Dec. 1986.
Smith, Charles C., “Computer Update” “Program Notes,” TWA Ambassador, Sep. 1982, pp. 74-90.
Harrar, George, “Opening Information Floodgates,” American Way, Oct. 1982, pp. 53-56.
“Publishers Go Electronic,” Business Week, Jun. 11, 1984, pp. 84-97.
“Serious Software Helps the Home Computer Grow Up,” Business Week, Jun. 11, 1984, pp. 114-118.
“Videoconferencing: No Longer Just a Sideshow,” Business Week, Nov. 12, 1984, pp. 116-120.
“Ratings War,” Forbes, Aug. 1, 1983, 1 page.
Kindel, Stephen, “Pictures at an exhibition,” Forbes, Aug. 1, 1983, pp. 137-139.
“Merrill Lynch and IBM Form Joint Venture to Market Financial Data Systems and Services,” News Release, Mar. 1984, 2 pages.
Branch, Charles, “Text Over Video,” PC World, Dec. 1983, pp. 202-210.
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“Correspondence School Via Computer Is Planned,” The New York Times, Sep. 13, 1983, 1 page.
“‘Smart’ Digital TV Sets May Replace The Boob Tube,” Business Week, Sep. 26, 1983, p. 160, 2 pages.
“Round Two for Home Computer Makers,” Business Week, Sep. 19, 1983, pp. 93-95.
“High Technology,” Business Week, Jan. 11, 1982, pp. 74-79.
Kneale, Dennis, “Stations That Show Only Ads Attract a Lot of TV Watchers,” The Wall Street Journal, Sep. 23, 1982, 1 page.
“Video Kitchen” “Commercial Prospects for Food Data-Base Management,” Prospectus for a Multiclient Study from American Information Exchange, 1982.
I/Net Corporation, Company Brochure.
Diamond, David, “Why Television's Business Programs Haven't Turned a Profit,”The New York Times, Jun. 16, 1985, pp. F10-F11.
Tagliabue, John, “ITT's Key. West German Unit,” The New York Times, Apr. 29, 1985, p. D8.
Tagliaferro, John, “Tag Lines,” 1982, 1 page.
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“Merrill Lynch bullish on new data service,” Electronic Media, Feb. 28, 1985, p. 4.
“Merrill Lynch Plans Stock-Quote Service Linked to IBM's PC,” The Wall Street Journal, Mar. 21, 1984, p. 60.
Sanger, David E., “Public TV Joins Venture to Send Finance Data to Computer Users,” The New York Times, Feb. 21, 1985, pp. 1 and D8.
Dolnick, Edward, “Inventing The Future,” The New York Times Magazine, Aug. 23, 1987.
“Everything you've always wanted to know about TV Ratings,” A.C. Nielsen Company, brochure, 1978.
“Management With The Nielsen Retail Index System,” A.C. Nielsen Company, 1980.
Pollack, Andrew, “Computer Programs as University Teachers,” The New York Times, 4 pages.
“Business Television” “Changing the Way America Does Business,” PSN, 1986.
Merrell, Richard G., “TAC-Timer,” 1986 NCTA Technical Papers, 1986, pp. 203-206.
“Universal Remote Control,” Radio Shack, Owner's Manual, 4 pages.
Long, Michael, E., “The VCR Interface,” 1986 NCTA Technical Papers, 1986, pp. 197-202.
“Flexible programmieren mit. VPS,” Funkschau, (German publication), 1985. (translation provided).
Chase, Scott, “Corporate Satellite Networks No Longer A Luxury But Rather A Necessity,” Via Statellite, Jul. 1987, pp. 18-21.
Diamond, Sam, “Turning Television Into A Business Tool,” High Technology, Apr. 1987, 2 pages.
“The Portable Plus Personal Computer,” Hewlett-Packard, advertisement, Mar. 1986.
“The Portable Plus for Professionals in Motion,” Hewlett-Packard, advertisement, Jul. 1985.
“KBTV Kodak Business TeleVision,” Kodak, brochure, Sep. 1987.
“Broadway Video,” Brochure, Feb. 1987.
“Digital TV set to burst on U.S. mart,” New York Post, 2 pages.
Prospectus, VIKONICS, Inc., Jul. 14, 1987.
Prospectus, DIGITEXT, Inc., Feb. 27, 1986.
Prospectus, Color Systems Technology, Inc., Aug. 13, 1986.
Prospectus, Cheyenne Software, Inc., Oct. 3, 1985.
1986 Annual Report, the Allen Group Inc.
Wilson, Donald H., “A Process for Creating a National Legal Computer Research Service in The United States,” remarks at the conference on World Peace Through World Law and World Assembly of Judges, Belgrade Yugoslavia, Jul. 23, 1971.
Pollack, Andrew, “Teletext is Ready for Debut,” The New York Times, Feb. 18, 1983, 2 pages.
“Sunny Outlook for Landmark's John Wynne; Landmark Communications Inc.,” Broadcasting, Lexis-Nexis, Jul. 27, 1987.
“Applications Information VCR-3001A Universal Videocassette Control Module,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 5 pages, Mar. 1984.
Killion, Bill, “Advertising,” SAT Guide, Jul. 1982.
“PL-5A Price List Typical Systems,” Channelmatic, Inc., Nov. 1984.
“Channelmatic SPOTMATIC Random Access Commercial Insert System,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Jul. 1983.
Killion, Bill, “Automatic Commercial Insertion Equipment for the Unattended Insertion of Local Advertising,” paper presented at 33rd Annual National Cable Television Association Convention, Jun. 1984.
“Channelmatic SDA-1A Sync Stripping Pulse Distribution Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Broadcast Quality Random Access Commercial Insert System Featuring the Channelmatic SPOTMATIC Z,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Audio Level Detector ALD-3000A,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 1 page.
“CVS-3000A Commercial Verification System,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 1 page.
“Four-Channel Commercial Insert System Featuring the Channelmatic CIS-1A SPOTMATIC JR,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Local Program Playback System Featuring the Channelmatic VCR-3005A-5 Videocassette Sequencer,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic BBX-1A Billibox Bypass and Test Switcher,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“Channelmatic's Handimod I,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“SPOTMATIC JR. Single VCR Commercial Insert System,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 4 pages.
“PL-1A Price List, 3000 Series Equipment,” Channelmatic, Inc., Feb. 1985, 2 pages.
“PL-2B 1000 Series Price List, 1.75× 19 Inch Rack Mounting,” Channelmatic, Inc., Jul. 1985.
“VPD-3001A Signal Presence Detector,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 1 page.
“Channelmatic CMG-3008A 8-page Color Message Generator Module,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Tone Switching System Model TSS-3000A-1,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Series 3000 Satellite Receiver Controllers,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“Channelmatic UAA-6A Universal Audio Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic ADA-3006A Audio Distribution Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic ADA-1A, ADA-2A, ADA-3A Audio Distribution Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic VDA-3006A Video Distribution Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic VDA-1A, VDA-2A, VDA-3A Video Distribution Amplifier,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Channelmatic AVS-10A Patchmaster,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“Broadcast Break Sequencer Model BBS-3006A,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 1 page.
“Audio-Video Emergency Alert System,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 2 page.
“VCR Automation System LPS-3000A,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 2 pages.
“Clock Switching System Model CCS-3000A-1,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, Mar. 1984, 1 page.
“Channelmatic PCM-3000A Superclock Programmable Controller Module,” Channelmatic, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“PL-3A Price List Videocassette Changers,” Channelmatic, Inc., Nov. 1984, 1 page.
Channelmatic, Inc., advertisement, “Looking at Local Ad Sales?”, 1 page.
“Channelmatic Television Switching and Control Equipment 3000 Series,” Channelmatic, Inc., product descriptions, 1984.
“CIS-1A SPOTMATIC JR. & CIS-2A Li' l Moneymaker,” Channelmatic, Inc., Installation and Operations Guide, 950-0066-00, V1.0.
“1986 Annual Report to Shareowners, Customers and Employees,” The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation.
Landro, Laura, “CBS, AT&T May Start Videotex Business in '83 if 7-Month Home Test Is Successful,” The Wall Street Journal, Sep. 28, 1982, p. 8.
“Video Visionaries,” Review, Sep. 1982, pp. 95-103.
“Video-Game Boom Continues Despite Computer Price War,” Technology, The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 1, 1982, p. 33.
Dunn, Donald H., editor, “How to Pick Your Stocks by Computer,” Personal Business, Business Week, Sep. 12, 1983, pp. 121-122.
Sandberg-Diment, Erik, “Instruction Without Inspiration,” Personal Computers, The New York Times, Sep. 6, 1983, p. C4.
Pace, Eric, “Videotex: Luring Advertisers,” The New York Times, Oct. 14, 1982.
“Will Knight-Ridder Make News With Videotex?”, Media, Business Week, Aug. 8, 1983, pp. 59-60.
Kneale, Dennis, et al., “Merrill Lynch and IBM Unveil Venture To Deliver Stock-Quote Data to IBM PCs,” The Wall Street Journal, Mar. 22, 1984, p. 8.
“Merrill Lynch Joins I.B.M. in Venture, ” The New York Times, Mar. 22, 1984, 1 page.
Kneale, Dennis, “Merrill Lynch Plans Stock-Quote Service Linked to I.B.M.'s PC,” The Wall Street Journal, Mar. 21, 1984, 1 page.
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Gregg, Gail, “The Boom In On-Line Information,” New Businesses, Venture, Mar. 1984, pp. 98-102.
Sanger, David E., “Trading Stock by Computer,” Technology, The New York Times, Mar. 29, 1984, 1 page.
Saddler, Jeanne et al., “COMSAT, Citing Risks, Ends Negotiations With Prudential on Satellite—TV Venture,” The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 3, 1984, p. 51.
Pollack, Andrew, “Electronic Almanacs Are There for the Asking,” The New York Times, Mar. 18, 1984, 1 page.
Connelly, Mike, “Knight-Ridder's Cutbacks at Viewtron Show Videotex Revolution Is Faltering,” The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 2, 1984, p. 42.
“Time Inc. May Drop Teletext,” newspaper article, 1 page.
Pollack, Andrew, “Time Inc. Drops Teletext Experiment,” newspaper article, 1 page.
Arenson, Karen W., “CBS, I.B.M., Sears Join in Videotex Venture,” newspaper article, 1 page.
“E.F. Hutton to Start A Videotex Service,” newspaper article, 1 page.
Dunn, Donald H., editor, “Devices That Let You Track Stocks Like A Floor Trader,” Personal Business, Business Week, Jul. 25, 1983, pp. 83-84.
“United Satellite Racing Competitors,” newspaper article, 1 page.
Fantel, Hans, “Videotex to Expand What a TV Can Do,” article, 1 page.
“Zenith and Taft Co. In Teletext Venture,” The New York Times, p. D3.
Pollack, Andrew, “Videodisk's Data Future,” The New York Times, Oct. 7, 1982, p. D2.
Pace, Eric, “Videotex in Years To Come,” The New York Times, Sep. 1, 1982, p. D15.
“Advanced Minicomputer-based Systems for Banking and Financial Institutions,” Money Management Systems, Incorporated, brochure, 1980, 9 pages.
Middleton, Teresa, “The Education Utility,” American Educator, Winter 1986, pp. 18-25.
Perlez, Jane, “Teachers Act to Increase Decision-Making Power,” The New York Times, Jul. 8, 1986, 1 page.
Couzens, Michael, “Invasion of the People Meters,” Channels, Jun. 1986, pp. 40-45.
Behrens, Steve, “People Meters vs. The Gold Standard,” Channels, p. 72, Sep. 1987.
Diamond, Edwin, “Attack of the People Meters,” New York, pp. 38-41, Aug. 24, 1987.
“Ratings Brawl (Is Nielsen losing its grip?)” Time, p. 57, Jul. 20, 1987.
Sheets, Kenneth R., “No go. TV networks nix new high-tech rating system,” U.S. News & World Report, p. 39, Jul. 20, 1987.
Lieberman, David, “The Networks' Big Headache,” Business Week, pp. 26-28, Jul. 6, 1987.
Barbieri, Rich, “Perfecting the Body Count,” Channels, p. 15, Jun. 1987.
Dumaine, Brian, “Who's Gypping Whom in TV Ads?”, Fortune, pp. 78-79, Jul. 6, 1987.
Behrens, Steve, “People Meters' Upside,” Channels, p. 19, May 1987.
“People Meters,” The New Yorker, pp. 24-25, Mar. 2, 1987.
Zoglin, Richard, “Peering Back at the Viewer,” Time, p. 84, Jun. 30, 1986.
Kanner, Bernice, “Now, People Meters,” New York, 3 pages, May 19, 1986.
Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A., “Anybody home out there?”, Forbes, pp. 169-170, May 19, 1986.
Waters, Harry F. et al., “Tuning In on the Viewer,” Newsweek, p. 68, Mar. 4, 1985.
Berss, Marcia, “Tune in,” Forbes, p. 227, Sep. 24, 1984.
“Financial News Network Eyeing Teletext Service Tied To Home Computers,” International Videotex Teletext News, Dec. 1983, 1 page.
Prospectus, Financial News Network, Inc., Jul. 13, 1982.
“ELRA Group Cablemark Reports vol. I,” SAT Guide, Feb. 1982, 1 page.
“DOWALERT,” Brochure, 1983, 6 pages.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., Computer Input Services, Schedule of Monthly Charges, Aug. 1, 1981, 1 page.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., Market Data Services, Schedule of Monthly Charges, Jan. 1, 1982, 1 page.
“Introducing DowAlert,” brochure, 1982, 8 pages.
“Dow Jones Cable Information Services,” Company Brochure, 1982.
“Personal Portfolio Button,” brochure, JS&A, 1982.
“Business news breakthrough from Dow Jones,” advertisement, The Wall Street Journal, Jun. 10, 1982, p. 47.
“Charting A More Profitable Course for Your Portfolio?”, advertisement, Dow Jones News/Retrieval, The Wall Street Journal, Jun. 24, 1982, p. 40.
“Now you can get the precise business and financial news you want . . . throughout the business day.” “Dow Alert,” brochure, 1982.
Promotional letter, “Dow Jones Cable News,” Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Jan. 1, 1982, 2 pages.
“1981 Annual Report,” Quotron Systems, Inc.
Prospectus, Quotron Systems, Inc., Nov. 1982.
“Threat to Quotron Discounted,” The New York Times, 1984, 2 pages.
“Quotron's Central Position in Statistics Service Is Facing Competition From Several Challengers,” The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 2, 1984, p. 59.
“European Security Prices Are Now Available As New Service From Quotron Systems,” News Release, Sep. 21, 1984, 1 page.
“1983 Annual Report,” Quotron Systems, Inc.
“How to increase training productivity through Videodisc and Microcomputer systems,” seminar brochure, 1981.
“The Revolution Continues . . . ”, Regency Systems, Inc., company brochure, 1984, 6 pages.
“How personal computers can backfire,” Business Week, Jul. 12, 1982, pp. 56-59.
“Taking control of computer spending,” Business Week, Jul. 12, 1982, pp. 59-60.
Meserve, Everett T., “A History of Rabbits,” Datamation, pp. 188-192.
Meserve, Everett T. (BILL), “The Future of Rabbits,” Datamation, Jan. 1982, pp. 130-136.
PC Ideas International Corp., product catalog, 7 pages, 1985.
UltiTech, Inc., “The Portable Interactive Videodisc System 3,” brochure, 1985.
Sony Video Communications, “LDP-1000A Laser Videodisc Player,” product description, 1983, 2 pages.
TMS Inc., Digital Laser Technology, product information, 1984, 16 pages.
Sony Video Communications, “Videodisc, Premastering and Formatting,” brochure, 1982.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “LD-V4000 Industrial Laserdisc Player,” product description, Feb. 1984, 2 pages.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “LD-V6000 Industrial Laserdisc Player,” product description, May 1985, 2 pages.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “LD-V6000 Industrial Laserdisc Player,” products price list, Apr. 1984, 1 page.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “Customer Support Publications,” 2 pages.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “Pioneer LD-V1000 Laserdisc Player,” price list, Feb. 1984, 1 page.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “LD-V1000 Laserdisc Player,” product description, Feb. 1985, 2 pages.
Pioneer Video, Inc., “LD-V4000 Laserdisc Player,” products price list, Dec. 1983, 1 page.
“Space-Age Navigation For The Family Car,” reprinted from Business Week, Jun. 18, 1984, 2 pages.
Held, Thomas et al., “Videodisc to Lure and to Learn,” reprinted from The Journal of the International Television Association, International Television, May 1984, 4 pages.
Sony, “SONY View System, The Intelligent Video System,” product description, 1985, 2 pages.
Sony, “LDP-2000 Series, VideoDisc Players,” brochure, 1985, 12 pages.
Digital, “Vax Producer, A System for Creating Interactive Applications,” product bulletin, May 1984, 8 pages.
“Laserdata Announces Trio Encoder at the SALT Show,” News release, Aug. 21, 1985, 3 pages.
“Laserdata Still Frame Audio Premastering Guide,” advertisement, 3 pages.
“Laserdata Trio Encoder Product Description,” product description, 4 pages.
“PC Trio,” Laserdata, product description, 2 pages.
Laserdata, price list, Aug. 1, 1985, 4 pages.
News Release, Industrial Training Corporation, Merger of IIAT with and into ITC, Jun. 11, 1985, 1 page.
“A Touch-Screen Disc (Devlin Interviews the Producer),” reprinted magazine, E&ITV magazine, vol. 16, No. 5, May 1984, 4 pages.
“Interactive Videodisc in Education and Training,” Seventh Annual Conference, Society for Applied Learning Technology, conference agenda, Aug. 1985.
“Inter Active Video from . . . . ” BCD Associates, brochure, 1985.
The Videodisc Monitor, vol. II: No. 8, Aug. 1984, 16 pages.
“Products From The VideoDisc Monitor,” order form, 2 pages.
“Interactive Video Served on a disc,” Scotch Laser Videodisc, 3M, brochure, 8 pages.
Scotch Laser Videodisc, Price List, May 1, 1984, 2 pages.
“How to find the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow,” Scotch Videodisc, 3M, brochure.
Scotch Laser Videodisc, Prices for Special Services, Feb. 15, 1984, 2 pages.
Scotch Laser Videodisc, Master Tape Specifications, May 1984, 2 pages.
“IEV Graphics and Interactive Video Products,” IEV Corporation, product information, 1 page.
“IEV-20 High-Resolution Color Graphics for The IBM-PC,” IEV Corporation, product description, 1 page.
“IEV-40 Graphics Overlay and Video Disc and Tape Control for the IBM-PC,” IEV Corporation, product description, 1 page.
“IEV-10 A Direct Replacement for the IBM Color/Graphics Adapter Card with Video Overlay Capability,” IEV Corporation, product description, 1 page.
“Model 60 Graphics Overlay and Disc or Tape Controller,” IEV Corporation, product description, 1 page.
“The IRIS System,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product brochure, 1983.
“IRIS 1400, High Performance Geometry Computer,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 2 pages.
“IRIS 1000/1200, High Performance Geometry Terminals,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 2 pages.
“IRIS 1500, High Performance Geometry Computer,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 2 pages.
“The IRIS Graphics System,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., system description, 1983, 6 pages.
“UNIX, Operating System for the IRIS Geometry Computer,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 1 page.
“IRIS Graphics Library, Programming Support for IRIS Systems,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 1 page.
“Ethernet, 10mbit per second Local Area Network,” Silicon Graphics, Inc., product specification, 2 pages.
Sony, Sony Video Communications, “PVM-1910/PVM-1911 19” Trinitron Color Video Monitors, product brochure, 1984, 8 pages.
“Computer Controls for Video Production,” EECO EECODER Still-Frame Decoder VAC-300, product brochure, 1984, 4 pages.
O'Donnell, John et al., “Videodisc Program Production Manual,” Sony, 1981.
“Still Frame Audio Encoder,” Laserdata, product description, 2 pages.
“TRIO 110,” Laserdata, product description, 2 pages.
“LD-V6000, Industrial Laserdisc Player,” A Technical Perspective, Pioneer Video, Inc., May 1984.
“SWSD System,” Stills With Sound and Data, Pioneer Video, Inc., product description, Aug. 1984, 2 pages.
Pioneer Video, Inc., Price List, Industrial Disc Replication and Program Development Services, May 1984, 4 pages.
“V: Link 1000,” Visage, Inc., product description, 1984, 2 pages.
“The University of Delaware Videodisc Music Series presents Interactive Videodisc Instruction in Music,” advertisement, 8 pages.
“Interactive Videodisc In Education and Training,” Sixth Annual Conference, Society for Applied Learning Technology, conference agenda, Aug. 1984, 2 pages.
“Sony engineering introduces to industry the new Sony Laser VideoDisc,” Sony Video Communications, product brochure, 12 pages.
“GraphOver 9500,” Hi-Res Graphics Overlays for NTSC Video, New Media Graphics, product description, 1983, 4 pages.
“New Horizons in Interactive Video,” Puffin product advertisement, IEV Corporation, 2 pages.
IEV Feb. 1985 Price List, 1 page.
“Fast Forth” “No Other Forth Comes Close,” IEV Corporation, product brochure.
“Pro 68 Advanced Technology 16/32 Bit Co-Processor for IBM PC, PC/XT, PC/AT and Capatibles,” Hallock Systems Company, Inc., product description, 7 pages.
“Pro 68 Software Facts,” Hallock Systems Company, Inc., product description, 6 pages.
“Pro CAD A Pro 68 Software Product,” Hallock Systems Company, Inc., product description, 4 pages.
“V: Station 2000 System,” Visage, Inc., product description, 2 pages.
“Upgrade Packages,” Visage, Inc., product description, 1 page.
“Development Software,” Visage, Inc., product description, 4 pages.
“V: Link Modules,” Visage, Inc., product description, 4 pages.
Visage, Price List, Visage, Inc., Apr. 1985, 4 pages.
Kalowski, Nathan, “Player, Monitor, Interface,” reprinted from Jan. 1985 issue of Data Training, 4 pages.
“Five Authoring Languages Now Available for Use With Visage Interactive Video Systems,” Visage News Release, Visage, Inc., Mar. 18, 1985, 5 pages.
“GraphOver 9500,” Hi-Res Hi-Speed Graphics Overlays for Videodisc, New Media Graphics, product description, 1985, 4 pages.
“PC-VideoGraph,” Hi-Res PC Graphics For Videotaping or Display, New Media Graphics, product description, 1985, 4 pages.
“PC-GraphOver,” Interactive Video With Graphics Overlays, New Media Graphics, product description, 1985, 4 pages.
“Off-the-shelf raster scan display generator creates composite video image,” reprinted by Defense Systems Review and Military Communications, Jan. 1985, p. 55.
“The NTN Entertainment Network,” NTN Entertainment Network, programming information sheet, 2 pages.
Dickey, Glenn, “A Game That's Better Than the Real Thing,” San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 17, 1985, p. 63.
Connell, Steve, “Arm-Chair Quarterbacking (Computer football game makes fans the play-callers),” The Sacramento Union, Jan. 23, 1986, 3 pages.
Gunn, William, “Get Ready For Monday Night Football,” Night Club and Bar, Jul. 1986, pp. 20-22.
Brack, Fred, “QB1 Anyone?”, Alaska Airlines, Aug. 1986, 2 pages.
Dickey, Glenn, “QB1: Bringing The Game Into the Bar,” Sport Magazine, Oct. 1986, 1 page.
“The Most Exciting Customer and Revenue Building Program Since Sports were First Shown on T.V.”, NTN Communications, Inc., QB1 product brochure, 1986, 4 pages.
“NTN—The Company,” NTN Communications, Inc., company description, 1 page.
NTN Communications, Inc., “Trivia Countdown,” and “Trivia Showdown,” product descriptions, 1 page.
Pottle, Jack T. et al., “The Impact of Competitive Distribution Technologies on Cable Television,” Report, prepared for The National Cable Television Association, Mar. 1982.
“Consumer Electronics: A $40-Billion American Industry,” a report prepared by Arthur D. Little, Inc. for the Electronic Industries Association/Consumer Electronics Group, Apr. 1985.
“Camp,” Arbitron Cable, The Arbitron Company, product brochure, May 1980, 8 pages.
“Times Mirror Videotex/Infomart Joint Venture,” Times Mirror, Background, Jan. 8, 1982, 3 pages.
Cable Advertising Conference Feb. 9, 1982, conference agenda, Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau, Inc., 6 pages.
True Stereo Television, Series 1600 Warner-Amex Stereo Processers, Wegener Communications, Inc., product description, 1982, 3 pages.
“EUROM—a single-chip c.r.t. controller for videotex,” Mullard, Technical publication, 1984, 12 pages.
“EUROM” “A display IC for CEPT Videotex,” Mullard, product information, Feb. 1984, 6 pages.
“Satellite-Delivered Text Service Signs 4 Carriers,” Multichannel News, Jun. 18, 1984, p. 18.
Aarsteinsen, Barbara, “How the Chip Spurs TV Growth,” “The promise of digital televison has stirred the U.S. Industry,”The New York Times, May 20, 1984, 1 page.
Pollack, Andrew, “As Usual, Here Comes The Japanese,” The New York Times, May 20, 1984, 1 page.
“Unleashing IBM Could Help a Satellite Venture Blast Off,” Business Week, May 28, 1984, 2 pages.
Mayer, Martin, “Here comes Ku-band,” Forbes, May 21, 1984, pp. 65-72.
“The UCSD p-System Version IV,” SOFTECH Microsystems, product description, 2 pages.
“UCSD p-System Languages, Version IV UCSD Pascal, Fortran-77, Basic and Assembler,” SOFTECH Microsystems, product description, 2 pages.
“Add-On Features, UCSD p-System Version IV,” SOFTECH Microsystems, product description, 2 pages.
“USCD p-System, Version IV.1,” SOFTECH Microsystems, product description, 4 pages.
SOFTECH Microsystems, Product Order Form, Oct. 1982, 2 pages.
“Homecast, A Consumer Market Service from ICM Services,” Chase Econometrics, product brochure, 2 pages.
“Consumer Systems Industry Service,” research notes, Gartner Group, Inc., Jun. 22, 1983, 13 pages.
Download, Monthly Newsletter, vol. 1, No. 1, May 1984.
Nocera, Joseph, “Death of a Computer,” Texas Monthly, Apr. 1984.
Special Report, Business Week, Jul. 16, 1984, pp. 84-111.
Zenith, Video Hi-Tech Component TV, product brochure, Aug. 1982, 8 pages.
Ferretti, Fred, “For Major-League Times, Addicts, A Way to Win a Pennant,” The New York Times, Jul. 8, 1980, 1 page.
Friedman, Jack, “The Most Peppery Game Since The Hot Stove League? It's Rotisserie Baseball,” People weekly, Apr. 23, 1984, 2 pages.
“Information Package for MDS Applicants,” Department of Communications Radio Frequency Management Division, Oct. 1986.
Department of Transport and Communications Radio Frequency Management Division, Licensing Procedures for Ancillary Communications Services (ACS).
Minister for Communications Guidelines for Provision of Video and Audio Entertainment and Information Services, Oct. 13, 1986.
Christopher, Maurine, “BAR cable service set,” Advertising Age, Sep. 21, 1981, pp. 68 & 72.
“In this corner, Digisonics!”, Media Decisions, Jun. 1968, 5 pages.
“Did the ad run?”, Media Decisions, Jul. 1969, pp. 44 et seq.
“Digisonics TV Monitor System Finds Defenders,” Advertising Age, Dec. 8, 1969, 1 page.
“Merrill Lynch Advanced Applications Systems,” Advanced Automation Systems Department, system description, publication date unknown.
Dougherty, Philip, “Gathering Intelligence for Profit,” newspaper article, 1981, p. D7.
“Vidbits,” Advertising Age, Sep. 21, 1981, p. 70.
“Measuring The Cable Audience,” Ogilvy & Mather, Advertising, 1980, pp. H1-H8.
Cooney, John E., “Counting Cable's Gold Coins,” View, Sep. 1981, 4 pages.
“Cable TV Advertising,” Paul Kogan Associates, Inc., No. 22, Feb. 18, 1981, 6 pages,
“IDC begins monitoring,” At Deadline, Broadcasting, Sep. 14, 1970, p. 9.
“Contraband code,” Closed Circuit, Broadcasting, Sep. 28, 1970, 1 page.
“Listeners,” Closed Circuit, Broadcasting, 1 page.
“Digisonics violated standards, says BAR,” Broadcasting, Oct. 5, 1970, pp. 21-23.
“Talent pay code put off,” At Deadline, Broadcasting, Nov. 9, 1970, p. 9.
“Digisonics' Aim Is Info Bank, Not Just Proof of Performance,” Advertising Age, Nov. 9, 1970, 4 pages.
“Digisonics pushes its coding method,” Broadcasting, Dec. 7, 1970, p. 37.
“No. Digisonics friends show in comments,” Broadcasting, May 24, 1971, p. 62.
“Digisonics' dilemma,” Media Decisions, Jun. 1971, 6 pages.
“IDC encoding system still alive at FCC,” Broadcasting, Sep. 27, 1971, p. 31.
Howard, Niles A., “IDC drops tv monitoring; mulls revival,” reprint from Advertising Age, Feb. 3, 1975, 1 page.
“Teleproof I” “An Exciting New Development of International Digisonics Corporation,” product brochure, 13 pages.
“Teleproof 2,” IDC Services, Inc., product description, 6 pages.
“The Best Reason to Buy Odetics On-Air Automation Systems Today?” Advertisement, Odetics Broadcast, 1 page.
“Advertising on Cable” “Automatic Commercial Insertion-Plus-Automatic Print-Out Verification With the New Ad Machine and Ad Log,” Advertisement, Tele-Engineering Corporation, 4 pages.
“NTN Communications, Inc. Entertainment Network Program Schedule,” Advertisement, NTN Communications, Inc., 2 pages.
“Interactive Football for The Home,” Advertisement, U.S. Videotel, 2 pages.
“NTN Programming,” Advertisement, NTN Communications, Inc., 2 pages.
“Electronic Surveys, Inc. Signs NTN Contract,” News Release, NTN Communications, Inc. Carlsbad, CA, 2 pages.
Andrews, Edmund L., “AT&T Sees The Future in Games,” The New York Times, Business Day, 2 pages.
“Total Teleconferencing Solutions for Your Communication and Training Needs,” brochure, Parker Communications Corporation, Parker Associates.
“PSN Signs Fourth High Technology Customer As Amdahl Corporation Implements Business Television,” PSN News, News Release, Private Satellite Network, Inc., 2 pages.
PSN, Private Satellite Network, Inc., product information for MISTS, Mass Interactive Simultaneous Telecommunications System, 6 pages.
“Broadcasting Services,” brochure, PSN, Private Satellite Network, Inc., 6 pages.
Martin, Vivian B., “Companies use TV talk shows to inform workers,” The Hartford Journal, Business Weekly, 1 page.
Fisher, Lawrence M., “TV: Growing Corporate Tool,” The New York Times, 2 pages.
Vaughan, Kimithy, “Evolution of Corporate Television Networks,” Teleconference, The Business Communication Magazine, pp. 38-40.
“New in Teleconferencing Resources,” advertisement, Parker Associates, 4 pages.
“Business Television Services,” Irwin Communications, Inc., brochure, 1 page.
“Corporate Capabilities,” Irwin Communications, Inc., brochure, 1 page.
“Introducing RSVP: The latest breakthrough for cable!”, advertisement, Arbitron, 1 page.
“Viacom Unit Will Tap Into Pay Networks,” newspaper article, 1 page.
“Show or Tell?”, Advertising material, The Weather Star 4000, The Weather Channel, 8 pages.
“Video Hi-Tech Component TV,” CV 1950, CV 510, CV 540, CV 520, CV 150, advertisement, Zenith Radio Corporation, 4 pages.
“Point-To-Multipoint Data Communication Network Services,” product description, Equatorial Communications Company, 5 pages.
“C-100 Series Micro Earth Stations for Satellite Data Distribution,” product description, Equatorial Communications Company, 4 pages.
“C-200 Micro Earth Station for Satellite Data Communications,” product description, Equatorial Communications Company, 3 pages.
“Interactive Data Communication Network Services,” product description, Equatorial Communications Company, 3 pages.
“Data Communications Network Description,” product description, Equatorial Communications Company, 5 pages.
Landro, Laura, “Satellite Company Signs Merill Lynch For Its Video Service,” The Wall Street Journal, 1 page.
“Elite 2000 Creation System,” IBM Compatible Information Display System, advertisement, Display Systems International, Inc., 1 page.
“Video Database Management . . . When Words Are Not Enough,” advertisement, U.S. Video, 2 pages.
“U.S. Video presents . . . True Computer-Video Overlays,” The Raster Master RM-110, product description, U.S. Video, 2 pages.
“Now You Can Find Just the Right Image Every Time Quickly and Easily with Image Search and the IBM PC/XT,” advertisement, Online Computer Systems, Inc., 1 page.
“Touch the Future Today,” advertisement, MetaMedia Systems, Inc., 1 page.
“Training solutions for the 80's and beyond,” advertisement, Online Computer Systems, Inc., 2 pages.
“Experienced Educator/Trainers,” “Use the new Pilot plus Training System to develop highly interactive courseware on your IBM PC that will run on most microcomputers,” advertisement, Online Computer Systems, Inc., 2 pages.
“Technical Specifications for Hardware and Software Products,” Online Products Corporation, 9 pages.
“Museum Image Series,” product information, Online Products Corporation, 2 pages.
“Omega Vision,” product description, Omega Management Group Corp., 2 pages.
“Visage Visual Information Systems,” Interactive Video Products, brochure, Visage, Inc.
“Now the Future Is Clear,” Visage Visual Information Systems, brochure, Visage, Inc., 4 pages.
“Speak Through The Power of Today's Technology,” QUEST, product description, Allen Communication, 4 pages.
“Universal Video Controller,” product description, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“Video-Microcomputer Interface,” product description, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“The Leader in Interactive Video,” advertisement, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“Allen Communication Price List,” Allen Communication, 1 page.
“Touché Interactive videodisc training by IIAT,” advertisement, IIAT, International Institute of Applied Technology, Inc., 1 page.
“Touché Interactive Videodisc System,” product description, IIAT, International Institute of Applied Technology, Inc., 2 pages.
“IIAT ST-1000A IIAT Training Station,” product description, IIAT, International Institute of Applied Technology, Inc., 2 pages.
“IIAT ST-1000B IIAT Training Station,” product description, IIAT, International Institute of Applied Technology, Inc., 2 pages.
“IIAT International Institute of Applied Technology, Inc.,” company description, 4 pages.
“Pilot plus Course Authoring Interpreter,” IIAT Products, product description, 1 page.
“Touch Monitor/ Videodisc Player Interface Card and Video Switch Box,” IIAT Products, product description, 1 page.
“Touch Sensitive Monitor Interface Card for Apple II,” IIAT Products, product description, 1 page.
“Touchpoint, A Total Eclipse of Existing Technology,” product description, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“Totally Integrated Interactive System—TII-PC,” product description, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“Most Valuable Peripheral,” product description, Allen Communication, 2 pages.
“Allen Communication Introduces Integrated Interactive Video Systems,” brochure, 2 pages.
“Automation, Control and Monitoring Systems,” brochure, Jasmin Electronics Limited.
“jasmin,” company brochure, Jasmin Electronics Limited, 4 pages.
“jasmin Teletext Systems,” advertisement, Jasmin Electronics Limited, 4 pages.
“jasmin Process Control Systems,” advertisement, Jasmin Electronics Limited, 4 pages.
“Teleprompter of Denver Channel Line Up,” 2 pages.
“City of Seal Beach Channel Utilization Guide,” 3 pages.
“V: Link 1910: The Single-Slot VGA Interactive Video Solution,” product description, Visage, Inc., 4 pages.
“The OASYS Authoring System,” advertisement, Online Computer Systems, Inc., 1 page.
“Advertisers Guide to Cable TV Terms,” brochure, Cable Ad Associates, Inc.
“Cable Audience Measurement Study,” A Prospectus based upon recommendations of the Ad Hoc Cable Measurement Committee, pamphlet.
Kane, Sharyn et al., “Technology in the First Person,” reprint from Delta Air Lines' SKY magazine, 4 pages.
“Training Systems,” brochure, WICAT systems, Training Systems Division, 4 pages.
“The Consultant,” advertisement, Co-Opportunities, Sales Development Information Systems, a division of Jefferson-Pilot Communications Company.
“Introducing Spot Data,” “Cable Ad Sales Just Got Better,” advertisement, TV Data Technologies, 4 pages.
“Do You Want to be Making $5-$10 a Subscriber—Right Now?” “Join Us in Our Success!”, advertisement, Multi-Image Systems, 1page.
“Mediastar,” “The message is clear,” brochure, Multi-Image Systems, 6 pages.
“Art to Go” “The Business Builder in a Box,” advertisement, Multi-Image Systems, 1 page.
“Few Things in Life Work As Well As TAPSCAN,” advertisement, Tapscan Incorporated, 6 pages.
“Dow Jones Cable News Service Daily Features Financial Markets,” product summary, 1 page.
“Financial News Network The Business Connection,” brochure, Financial News Network, 8 pages.
“The Financial News Network Means Business,” advertisement, The Financial News Network, 1 page.
“The Dawn of a New Era in Financial News Broadcasting,” advertisement, Financial News Network, 1 page.
“FNN Financial News Network,” advertisement, brief review of research from the Stanford Research Institute's VALS study, and research from ELRA Group Cablemark Reports vol. I, 4 pages.
“Industrial Skills Training With the Touch of a Finger . . . Introducing . . . Activ,” Advanced Concepts in Touch-Interactive Video, advertisement, Industrial Training Corporation, 4 pages.
“eca,” brochure, Effective Communication Arts, Inc., 4 pages.
“ODC 612 Encoder/Generator,” product description, Optical Disc Corporation, 2 pages.
“. . . the Recordable Laser Videodisc—RLV,” product description, Optical Disc Corporation, 2 pages.
“ODC 610 Videodisc Recording System,” product description, Optical Disc Corporation, 2 pages.
“Hitachi New CD-ROM Drive CDR-2500,” product description, Hitachi, Ltd., 2 pages.
“Hitachi CD-ROM Drive CDR-1502S,” product description, Hitachi, Ltd., 6 pages.
James, A., “Oracle—Broadcasting the Written Word,” Wireles Word, Jul. 1975.
Carne, E. Bryan, “The Wired Household,” IEEE Spectrum, Oct. 1979, p. 61-66.
McKenzie, G.A., “Oracle—An Information Broadcasting Service Using Data Transmission in the Vertical Interval ” Journal of the SMPTE, vol. 83, No. 1, Jan. 1974, pp. 6-10.
Edwardson, S.M., “Ceefax: A Proposed New Broadcasting Service,” Journal of the SMPTE, Jan. 1974, p. 14-19.
J. Chiddix, “Automated Videotape Delay of Satellite Transmissions,” Satellite Communications Magazine, May 1978 (reprint—2 pages).
J. Chiddix, “Tape Speed Errors in Line-Locked Videocassette Machines for CATV Applications,” TVC, Nov. 1977 (reprint—2 pages).
CRC Electronics, Inc. Product Description, “Model TD-100-Time Delay Videotape Controller,” 2 pages.
CRC Electronics, Inc., Net Price List—Mar. 1, 1980 (TD-100 Time Delay Videotape Controller), 1 page.
CRC Electronics, Inc. Product Description, “Model P-1000 Videocassette Programmer,” 4 pages.
CRC Electronics, Inc., Net Price List—Jul. 31, 1981 (P-1000 Video Machine Programmer), 1page.
Tunmann, E.O. et al. (Tele-Engineering Corp.), “Microprocessor for CATV Systems,” Cable 78— Technical Papers, National Cable Television Association 27th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, Apr. 30-May 3, 1978 (“Cable 78”), pp. 70-75.
Vega, Richard L. (Telecommunications Systems, Inc.), “From Satellite to Earth Station to Studio to S-T-L to MDS Transmitter to the Home; Pay Television Comes to Anchorage, Alaska,” Cable 78, pp. 76-80, 1978.
Wright, James B. et al. (Rockford Cablevision, Inc.), “The Rockford Two-Way Cable Project: Existing and Projected Technology,” Cable 78, pp. 20-28, 1978.
Fannetti, John D. et al. (City of Syracuse), “The Urban Market: Paving the Way for Two-Way Telecommunications,”Cable 78, pp. 29-33, 1978.
Schnee Rolf M. et al. (Heinrich-Hertz-Institut Berlin (West)), “Technical Aspects of Two-Way CATV Systems in Germany,” Cable 78, pp. 34-41, 1979.
Dickinson, Robert V.C. (E-Com Corporation), “A Versatile, Low Cost System for Implementing CATV Auxiliary Services,” Visions '79—Technical Papers, National Cable Television Association 28th Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV, May 20-23, 1979, (“Vision '79”), pp. 65-72.
Evans, William E. et al. (Manitoba Telephone System), “An Intercity Coaxial Cable Electronic Highway,” Visions '79, pp. 73-79.
Schrock, Clifford B. (C.B. Schrock and Associates, Inc.), “Pay Per View, Security, and Energy Controls Via Cable: The Rippling River Project,” Visions '79, pp. 80-85.
Amell, Richard L. (Cox Cable Communications, Inc.), “Computer-Aided CATV System Design,” Visions '79, pp. 128-133.
Lopinto, John J. (Home Box Office), “Considerations for Implementing Teletext in the Cable System,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 45-48, 1980.
O'Brien, Jr., Thomas E. (General Instrument Corporation), “System Design Criteria of Addressable Terminals Optimized for the CATV Operator,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 89-91, 1980.
Ost, Clarence S. et al. (Electronic Mechanical Products Co.), “High-Security Cable Television Access System ” Visions of the 80's, pp. 92-94, 1980.
Bacon, John C. (Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.), “Is Scrambling the Only Way?,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 95-98, 1980.
Davis, Allen (Home Box Office), “Satellite Security,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 99-100, 1980.
Mannino, Joseph A. (Applied Date Research, Inc.), “Computer Applications in Cable Television,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 116-117, 1980.
Beck, Ann et al. (Manhattan Cable TV), “An Automated Programming Control System for Cable TV,” Visions of the 80's, pp. 122-127, 1980.
Schloss, Robert E. et al. (Omega Communications, Inc.), “Controlling Cable TV Head Ends and Generating Messages by Means of a Micro Computer, ” Visions of the 80's, pp. 136-138, 1980.
Eissler, Charles O. (Oak Communications, Inc.), “Addressable Control,” Cable: '81 The Future of Communications—Technical Papers, National Cable Television Association 30th Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA, May 29-Jun. 1, 1981 (“Cable: '81”), pp. 29-33.
Schoeneberger, Carl F. (TOCOM, Inc.), “Addressable Terminal Control Using the Vertical Interval,” Cable: '81, pp. 34-40.
Stern, Joseph L. (Stem Telecommunications Corporation), “Addressable Taps,” Cable: '81, p. 41.
Brown, Larry C. (Pioneer Communications of America), “Addressable Control—A Big First Step Toward the Marriage of Computer, Cable, and Consumer,” Cable: '81, pp. 42-46.
Grabowski, Ralph E. (VISIONtec), “The Link Between the Computer and Television,” Cable: '81, pp. 99-100.
Ciciora, Ph.D., W.S. (Zenith Radio Corporation), “Virtext & Virdata: Adventures in Vertical Interval Signaling,” Cable: '81, pp. 101-104.
Gilbert, Bill et al. (TEXSCAN Corporation), “Automatic Status Monitoring for a CATV Plant,” Cable: '81, pp. 124-128.
Ciciora, Walter et al., “An Introduction to Teletext and Viewdata with Comments on Compatibility,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. CE-25, No. 3, Jul. 1979 (“Consumer Electronics”), pp. 235-245.
Tanton, N. E. “UK Teletext— Evolution and Potential,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 246-250, 1979.
Bown, H.G. et al., “Telidon: A New Approach to Videotex System Design,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 256-268, 1979.
Chitnis, A..M. et al., “Videotex Services: Network and Terminal Alternatives ” Consumer Electronics, pp. 269-278, 1979.
Hedger, J. “Telesoftware: Home Computing Via Broadcast Teletext,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 279-287, 1979.
Crowther, G.O., “Teletext and Viewdata Systems and Their Possible Extension to Europe and USA,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 288-294, 1979.
Gross, William S., “Info-Text, Newspaper of the Future ” Consumer Electronics, pp. 295-297, 1979.
Robinson, Gary et al., “‘Touch-Tone’ Teletext—A Combined Teletext-Viewdata System,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 298-303, 1979.
O'Connor, Robert A., “Teletext Field Tests,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 304-310, 1979.
Blank, John, “System and Hardware Considerations of Home Terminals With Telephone Computer Access,” Comsumer Electronics, pp. 311-317, 1979.
Plummer, Robert P. et al., “4004 Futures for Teletext and Videotex in the U.S.,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 318-326, 1979.
Marti, B. et al., The Antiope Videotex System, Consumer Electronics, pp. 327-333, 1979.
Frandon, P. et al., “Antiope LSI,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 334-338, 1979.
Crowther, G.O., “Teletext and Viewdata Costs As Applied to the U.S. Market,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 339-344, 1979.
Mothersole, Peter L., “Teletext Signal Generation Equipment and system,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 345-352, 1979.
Harden, Brian, “Teletext/Viewdata LSI,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 353-358, 1979.
Swanson, E. et al., “An Integrated Serial to Parallel Converter for Teletext Application,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 359-361, 1979.
Neal, C. Bailey et al., “A Frequency-Domain Interpretation of Echoes and Their Effect on Teletext Data Reception,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 362-377, 1979.
Goyal, Shri K. et al., “Reception of Teletext Under Multipath Conditions,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 378-392, 1979.
Prosser, Howard F., “Set Top Adapter Considerations for Teletext,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 393-399, 1979.
Suzuki, Tadahiko et al., Television Receiver Design Aspects for Employing Teletext LSI, Consumer Electronics, pp. 400-405, 1979.
Baer, Ralph H., “Tele-Briefs—A Novel User-Selectable Real Time News Headline Service for Cable TV,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 406-408, 1979.
Sherry, L.A., “Teletext Field Trials in the United Kingdom,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 409-423, 1979.
Clifford, Colin, “A Universal Controller for Text Display Systems,” Consumer Electronics, pp. 424-429, 1979.
Barlow, “The Design of an Automatic Machine Assignment System”, Journal of the SMPTE, Jul. 1975, vol. 84, p. 532-537.
Barlow, “The Automation of Large Program Routing Switchers”, SMPTE Journal, Jul. 1979, vol. 88, p. 493-497.
Barlow, “The Computer Control of Multiple-Bus Switchers”, SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1976, vol. 85, p. 720-723.
Barlow, “The Assurance of Reliability”, SMPTE Journal, Feb. 1976, vol. 85, p. 73-75.
Barlow, “Some Features of Computer-Controlled Television Station Switchers”, Journal of the SMPTE, Mar. 1972, vol. 81, p. 179-183.
Barlow et al., “A Universal Software for Automatic Switchers” SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1978, vol. 87, p. 682-683.
Butler, “PCM-Multiplexed Audio in a Large Audio Routing Switcher”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 875-877.
Dickson et al., “An Automated Network Center”, Journal of the SMPTE, Jul. 1975, vol. 84, p. 529-532.
Edmondson et al., “NBC Switching Central”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 795-805.
Flemming, “NBC Television Central—An Overview”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 792-795.
Horowitz, “CBS” New-Technology Station, WBBM-T, SMPTE Journal, Mar. 1978, vol. 87, p. 141-146.
Krochmal et al., “Television Transmission Audio Facilities at NBC New York”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 814-816.
Kubota et al., “The Videomelter”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1978, vol. 87, p. 753-754.
Mausler, “Video Transmission Video Facilities at NBC New York”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 811-814.
Negri, “Hardware Interface Considerations for a Multi-Channel Television Automation System”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 869-872.
Paganuzzi, “Communication in NBC Television Central”, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 866-869.
Roth et al., “Functional Capabilities of a Computer Control System for Television Switching”, SMPTE Journal, Oct. 1976, vol. 85, p. 806-811.
Rourke, “Television Studio Design—Signal Routing and Measurement”, SMPTE Journal, Sep. 1979, vol. 88, p. 607-609.
Yanney, Sixty-Device Remote-Control System for NBC's Television Central Project, SMPTE Journal, Nov. 1976, vol. 85, p. 873-877.
Young et al., “Developments in Computer-Controlled Television Switches”, Journal of the SMPTE, Aug. 1973, vol. 82, p. 658-661.
Young et al., “The Automation of Small Television Stations”, Journal of the SMPTE, Oct. 1971, vol. 80, p. 806-811.
Zborowski, “Automatic Transmission Systems for Television”, SMPTE Journal, Jun. 1978, vol. 87, p. 383-385.
“Landmark forms cable weather news network,” Editor & Publisher, (Aug. 8, 1981) p. 15.
“Broadcast Teletext Specification,” published jointly by British Broadcasting Corporartion, Independent Broadcasting Authority, British Radio Equipment Manufacturers' Association (Sep. 1976), pp. 1-24.
“Colormax Cable captioning—16,000,000 Subs NEED IT !,” Colormax Electronic Corp. (advertisement), 3 pages.
“7609 Sat-A-Dat Decoder/Controller,” Group W Satellite Communications (advertisement) 2 pages.
“Teletext Video Processor (SAA 5030),” Mullard (Dec. 1979), pp. 1-9.
“Video Text Decoder Systems (Signetics)”, Phillips IC Product Line Summary (May 1981), pp. 15-16.
“Teletext Acquisition and Control Circuit (SAA5040 Series),” Mullard (Jun. 1980), pp. 1-16.
“Asynchronous Data Transmission System Series 2100 VIDATA, ”Wagener Communications, Inc. (advertisement), 2 pages.
“Zenith Virtexttm . . . Vertical Interval Region Text and Graphics,” Zenith Radio Corporation (flyer), 7 pages.
Anon, “Television Network Automated by Microcomputer-Controlled Channels,” Computer Design, vol. 15, No. 11, (Nov. 1976), pp. 50, 59, 62, 66 and 70.
Kinik, et al., “A Network Control System for Television Distribution by Satellite,” Journal of the SMPTE, Feb. 1975, vo 84, No. 2, pp. 63-67.
Chiddix, “'Videocassette Banks Automate Delayed Satellite Programming,” Aug. 1978, TV Comunications, pp. 38-39.
Curnal, et al., “Automating Television Operating Centers,” Bell Laboratories Record, Mar. 1978, pp. 65-70.
Chorafas, “Interactive Videotex: The Domesticated Computer,” 1981, Petrocelli Books, New York.
Hinton, “Character rounding for the Wireless Word teletex decoder,” Wireless World, Nov. 1978, pp. 49-53, vol. 84 No. 1515, IPC Business Press, United Kingdom.
Kruger, “Speicherfernsehen, Das Digitale Kennungssystem ZPS,” Proceedings 9th International Congress Microelectronics, pp. 39-45.
“Fernsehempfang rund um die Uhr” Funk Technik, Mar. 1981, vol. 36.
Hanas et al.,“An Addressable Satellite Encryption System for Preventing Signal Piracy”, Nov. 1981, pp. 631-635.
National Cable Television Association Executive Seminar Series, Videotex Services, Oct. 1980, pp. 1-155.
Kokado et al.,“A Programmable TV Receiver”, Feb. 1976, pp. 69-82.
J. Hedger et al., “Telesoftware-Value Added Teletext”,Auqust 1980, pp. 555-567.
Marti , B., The Concept of a Universal “Teletext” Jun. 1979, pp. 1-11.
Article re: America's Talk-Back Television Experiment: Qube.
Article re: “Teletext-Applications in Electronic Publishing”.
Article re: A Description of the Broadcast Telidon System.
Article re: EPEOS—Automatic Program Recording System by G. Degoulet.
Article re: Teletext signals transmitted in Uk . . . .
Article re: New services offered by a packet data broadcasting system.
Article re: Philips TV set indicates station tunign and color settings on screen.
Vincent,A.et al., “Telidon Teletest System. Field Triasl” (Abstract).
Rzeszeewski, T.,“A New Telletex Channel”.
Numaguchi, Y. et al., “Compatibility and Transmision Characteristics of Digital Signals Inserted in the Field-Blanking Interval of the Television Signal” (Abstract).
Zimmerman, R. et al., Bildschirmtextesysteme (Abstract).
Pilz, F., “Digital Codierte Uebertragungen von Text and Graphik in den Vertikal-anstastintervallen des Fernsehsignas” (Abstract).
Pilz, F., “Uebertragung Insaitryliches Informationen, Insbesondere von Texten, In Ungenutryten Zeilen der Vertikal-Anstastlueke des Fernsehsignals” (Abstract).
Numaguchi, Y., Wie man Stillstehende Bilder Uebertraegt. Ueberlick Ueber Teletext-, Fernseheinzelbild-Und Faksimile-Uebertrragunsverfahren (Abstract).
Transcript, Videotex, Viewdata, and Teletext: Viewdata '801 Online Conference on Videotex, Viewdata and Teletext, London. Mar. 26k-28, 1980 (Abstract).
Graf, P.H., “Antiope-Uebertragung fuer Breitbandige Videotex-Verteildienste”, 1981.
Poubread, J.J., “Cryptage' du Son Pour la Televiser A Peague” 1981 (Abstract).
Graf, P.H., “Das Videotex-System Antiope” 1980 (Abstract).
Vardo, J.C., “Les Emetteurs de Television et la Diffusion de Donnees” 1980 (Abstract).
Noirel, Y., “Constructin D'un Reseau de Diffusion de Donnees Par Paquets” 1979 (Abstract).
Vardo, J.C., “ Effet de Distorsions en Diffusion de Donnes. II. Resultats Theoriques” 1979 (Abstract).
Baerfuss, C., “Experiences de Diffusion de Donnees dans un Canal de Television” 1979 (Abstract).
Blineau, J., “Liasons Telex a Support Video Sur Des Circuits de Television Internationaux” 1979 (Abstract) .
Dublet, G., “Methodes Utilisees et Principaux Resultats Obtenus Lors D'Une Campagne de esure ‘Didon’ Dans la Refion Centre-est” 1978 (Abstract).
Guinet, Y., “Etude Comparative des Systems de Teletexte en Radio-Diffusion. Quelques Avantages de la Diffusion des Donnees Par Paques Applique an Teletexte” 1977 (Abstract).
Goff, R., “A Review of Teletext” 1978 (Abstract).
Haplinsky, C.H., “The D**(2)B A One Logical Wire Bus for Consumer Applications” 1981.
Cazals, A., “cts Techniques du Teletexte Diffuse” 1981 (Abstract).
Sechet, C. et al., “Epees et la Viideomessagerie” 1981 (Abstract).
Cayet, A. “La Peritelevison Face a Son Public” 1981 (Abstract).
“La Telematique au Service Des Entreprises et des Particliers: Les Reseaux—Les Produits Noveaux—Les Aplication” 1980 (Abstract).
Sechet, C., “Antiope Teletext Captioning” 1980.
Lambert, O. et al., “Antiope and D.R.C.S.” 1980.
Broggini, P., “Antiope: La Bonne Information Au Bon Moment” 1980 (Abstract).
Strauch, D., “(Texte Sur Ecran An Nivenn International. Viewdata 80. Premeire Confirence Mendiale Sur Viewdata, Video text at Teletext, a Londres)” 1980.
Strauch, D., (Las Media De Telecommunication Devant la Rapture. Les Nonvellas Methodes Presentees a L'Exposition International 1979 de Radio (Et Television)) 1979.
Eymery, G., “Le Teletexte Antiope System D'Information a La Demande” 1979-1980 (Abstract).
Brasq , R., “Micro 8 Bits Dans Linite Gestion da Terminal de Videotex Antiope”.
Hughes, JW,“Videotex and Teletext Systems” 1979.
Marti, B., “Terminolegie Des Services de Communication De Texte” 1979.(Abstract).
Schreber, H., “Antiope et Tietae, La Tele-Informatique Sur L'ecran De Votre Televiscur” 1978 (Abstract).
Kulpok, A., “Videotext, Teletext, Bilschimzeiting” 1979 (Abstract).
Cochard, J.P. et al., “Antiope Prototype da Teletexte De Demain” 1979 (Abstract).
Messerschmid, U., “Videotext: Ein Nueur Informations dienst in Fernschrund funk” 1978 (Abstract).
D'Argoevves, T. et al, “La Chaine Vieo: Magnetoscopes, Videodisqhes, Andiodisques” 1979 (Abstract).
Klingler, R., “Les Systemes de Teletexte Unidirectionals” 1978 (Abstract).
Guillermin, J., “Dix Annees D'Antomatisation Au Service De la Radiodiffusion” 1977 (Abstract).
Brusq, R., “Le Terminal de Teletexte Antiope” 1977 (Abstract).
Guinet, Y., “Les Systemes des Teletextes Antiope” 1977 (Abstract).
Schwartz, C. et al., “Specification Preliminarie du Systeme Teletexte Antope” 1977 (Abstract).
United States International Trade Commission notice of decision not to review Admin. law judges initial dismissal of complaint (case involves certain recombinantly Produced Human Growth Hormones).
U.S. I.T.C.'s order granting Complainants Motion to Desqualify the Law Firm of Finnegan, Henderson et al. (Case involves Certain Cardiac Pacemakers and Components therof).
Decision in Ford Motor Company v. Jerome H. Lemelson.
General Counsel's recommendation to U.S.I.T.C. to refuse a patent-based section 337 investigation based on a complaint filed not by the owner of the patents in issue, but by nonexclusive licensees.
Portion of ITC's Industry and Trade Summary serial publication.
ITC Admin. Judges Order #9: Initial Determination Terminating Investigation (Investigation #337-TA-373) .
“LSI Circuits for Teletext and Viewdata—The Lucy Generation” published by Mullard Limited, Mullard House (1981).
2 page article by Nicholas Negroponte in SID 80 Digest titled, “17.4/10:25 a.m.: Soft Fonts”, pp. 184-185.
IEEE Consumer Electronics Jul. 1979 issue from Spring Conference titled, “Consumer Text Display Systems”, pp. 235-429.
Videotext '81 published by Online Conferences Ltd., for the May 20-22, 1981 Confernece, pp. 1-470.
“Teletext and Viewdata Costs as Applied to the U.S. Market” Published by Mullard House (1979), pp. 1-8.
CCETT publication titled, “Didon Diffusion de donnees parpaquets”.
Dalton,C.J., “International Broadcasting Convention” (1968), Sponsors: E.E.A., I.E.E., I.E.E.E., I.E.R.E., etc.
Shorter, D.E.L., “The Distribution of Television Sound by Pulse-Code Modulation Signals Incorporated in the Video Waveform”.
Chorky, J.M., Shorter, D.E.L., “International Broadcasting Convention” (1970), pp. 166-169.
The Implementation of the Sound-in-Sync project for Eurovision (Feb. 1975), pp. 18-22.
Maegele, Manfred, “Digital Transmissions of Two Television Sound Channels in Horizontal Banking”, pp. 68-70.
Weston, J.D., “Digital TV Transmission for the European Communications Satellite” (1974), pp. 318-325.
Golding, L., “A 15 to 25 Mhz Digital Television System for Transmission of Commercial Color Television” (1967), pp. 1-26.
Huth, Gaylord K., Digital Television System Design Study: Final Report (Nov. 28, 1976), prepared for NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
Weston, J.D., “Transmission of Television by Pulse Code modulation”, Electrical Communication (1967), pp. 165-172.
Golding, L, “F1-Ditec-A-Digital Television Communications System for Satellite Links,” Telecommunications Numeriques Par Satellite.
Haberle, H. et al.,“Digital TV Transmission via Satellite”, Electrical Communications (1974).
Dirks, H. et al., TV-PCM6 Integrated Sound and Vision Transmission System, Electrical Communication (1977), pp. 61-67.
Talygin, N. V. et al., The “Orbita” Ground Station for Receiving Television Programs Relayed by Satellites, Elecktrovinz, pp. 3-5.
1973 NAB Convention Program, Mar. 25-28, 1973.
Portions of Electonic Engineer's Reference Book (1989)—Multichannel sound systems, Teletext transmission, cable television, ISDN applications, etc.
Yoshido, Junko, teletext back in focus: VBI service revived as alternative delivery system, Electronic Engineering Times (1994) (Abstract).
Blankenhorn, Dana, “ Int'l Teletext expands market (International Teletext Communication Inc.),” NewsBytes (1993) (Abstract).
Collin, Simon, PC Text II (Hardware Review (Shortlist), PC User (1990).
Alfonzetti, Salvatore, “Interworking between teletext and OSI systems,” Computer Communications (1989).
Gabriel, Michael R., Videotex and teletex: Waiting for the 21st century?, Education Technology (1988).
Voorman, J.O. et al., A one-chip Automatic Equalizer for Echo Reduction in Teletext , IIEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, pp. 512-529.
National Online Meeting: Proceedings—1982 sponsored by: Online Review, pp. 547-551.
MacKenzie, G.A., A Model for the UK Teletext Level 2 Specification (Ref: GTV2 242 Annex 6″ based on the ISO Layer model.
Chambers, J.P., A Domestic Television Program Delivery Services, British Broadcasting Corporation, pp. 1-5.
McKenzie, G.A., UK Teletext—The Engineering Choices, Independent Broadcasting Authority, pp. 1-8.
Adding a new dimension to British television, Electronic Engineering (1974).
Jones, Keith, The Development of Teletext, pp. 1-6.
Marti, B. et al., Discrete, service de television cryptee, Revue de radiodiffusion—television (1975), pp. 24-30.
Ando, Heiichero et al., Still-Picture Broadcasting—A new Informational and Instructional Broadcasting System, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting (1973), pp. 68-76.
Sauter, Dietrich, “Intelligente Komponenten Fur Das Afra-Bus-Fernsteuersystem”, Rundfunk technischen Mittelungen, pp. 54-57.
Hogel, T. et al., “Afra-Bus-ein digitales Fersteuersysten fur Fernsehstudion Komplexe”, Fernseh-Und Kino-Technik (1974), pp. 13-14.
Hogel, G., “Das Afra-Bus System: 2. Technische Struktur des AFRA-Bus-Systems”, Fernseh-Und Kino-Technik (1975), pp. 395-400.
Krauss, G., “Das Afra-Bus-System: 4. Wirtschaftlich Keits-betrachtungen und Rationalisierung seifekte beim Einsatz des AFRA-Bus-Systems”, Fernseh-Und Kino-Technik (1976), pp. 40-49.
Wellhausen, H. “Das AFRA-Bus-System: 1. Grundsatzliche-Betrachtungen und Rationlisierung und Automatisierun in den Fernschbetreben”, Fernseh-Und Kino-Technik (1975), pp. 353-356.
Sauter, D., “Das AFRA-Bus-System: 3. Einsatz-moglich Keiten des Afra-Bus Systems in Fernsehbetrieben”, Fernseh-Und Kino-Technik (1976), pp. 9-13.
B.B.C.I.B.A., Specification of Standards for information transmission by digitally coded signals in the field—blanking interval of 625-line systems (1974), pp. 5-40.
Centre Commun Des De Television et Telecommunications, Specification du Systeme Di Teletext, Antiope.
Heller, Arthur, VPS—Ein Neues System Zuragsgesteurten Programmanfzeichnung, Rundfunk technisde Mitteilungen, pp. 162-169.
Institut fur Rundfunktechnik, ARD/SDF/ZXEI—Richlinie “Video Programm-System”, pp. 1-30.
Buro der Technischen Kommission, “Niederschrift uber die Besprechung zwischen Rundfunkanstalten (Techik, Sendeleiter) und ZVEI zur Einfuhrung des Video-Programm-Systems”, pp. 1-4.
Buro der Technischen Kommission, Ergebnisse und Festlegungen anda “Blich einer Besprechung zwishen Rundfunanstalten..”, pp. 1-4.
Koch, H. et al., “Bericht der ad hoc—Arbeitsgruppe ‘Videotext programmiert Videorecorder’ der TEKO”, pp. 1-40.
European Broadcasting Union, “Specification of the Domestic Video Programme Delivery Control System”, pp. 1-72.
ARD/ZDF/ZVEI-Richtlinie “Video Programme System”.
Reports on Developments in USA, Teletext, EIA Meeting.
Videotex '81: A Special Report.
Tarrant, D.R., “Teletext for the World”.
Clifford, Colin et al., “Microprocessor Based, Software Defined Television Controller”, IEEE Transaction on Consumer Electronics (1978), pp. 436-441.
Hughes, William L. et al., “Some Design Considerations for Home Interactive Terminals”, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting (1971).
Mothersdale, Peter L. , “Teletext and viewdata: new information systems using the domestic television receiver”, Electronics Record (1979), pp. 1349-1354.
Betts, W.R., “Viewdata: the evolution of home and business terminals”, PROC.IEE (1979), pp. 1362-1366.
Hutt, P.R., “Thical and practical ruggedness of UK teletext transmission”, PROC.IEE (1979), pp. 1397-1403.
Rogers, B.J., “Methods of measurement on teletext receivers and decoders”, PROC.IEE (1979), pp. 1404-1407 .
Green, N., “Subtitling using teletext service—technical and editorial aspects”, PROC.IEE (1979), pp. 1408-1416.
Chambers, M.A., “Teletext—enhancing the basic system”, PROC.IEE (1979), pp. 1425-1428.
Crowther, G.O., “Adaptation of Uk Teletex System for 525/60 Operation”, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics (1980), pp. 587-596.
Marti, B. et al., Discrete, service de television cryptee , Revue de radiodiffusion—television (1975), pp. 24-30.
Lopinto, John, “The Application of DRCS within the North American Broad cast Teletext Specification”, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics (1982), pp. 612-617.
BBC, BBC Microcomputer: BBC Microcomputer with Added Processor and Teletex Adaptor (Manual).
Green, N.W., “Picture Oracle,” on Independent Television Companies Association Limited Letterhead.
National Captioning Institute, Comments on the Matter of Amendment of Part 73, Subpart E. of the Federal Communications Rules Government Television Stations to Authorize Teletext (before F.C.C.).
Balchin, C., “Videotext and the U.S.A.”, I.C. Product Marketing Memo.
Koteen and Burt, “British Teletext/Videotex”.
EIA Teletext SubCommittee Meetings, Report on USA Visit.
Brighton's Experience with Software for Broadcast (Draft).
The institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers, Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software.
AT&T, “Videotex Standard Presentation Level Protocol”.
Various Commissioner statements on Authorization of Teletext Transmissions by TV Stations.
Report and Order of FCC on the Matter of Amendment of Parts 2,73, and 76 of the Commission's Rules to Authorize the Transmission of Teletext by TV Stations, pp. 1-37.
IBA Technical Review of Digital Television, pp. 1-64.
National Cable Television Association report, “Videotex Services” given at Executive Seminar.
Lexis Research results for Patent No. 4,145,717.
Web page—Company Overview of Norepack Corporation.
Coversheet titled, “Zing”.
Lemelson v. Apple Computer, Inc. patent case in the Bureau of National Affairs, 1996.
A computer printout from Library Search.
Electronic Industries Association—Teletext Subcommittee Rask Group A—Systems Minutes of Meeting Mar. 30, 1981 at Zenith plus attachments.
Electronic Industries Association—Teletext Subcommittee Task Group A Systems Interim Report, Mar. 30, 1981 by Stuart Lipoff, Arthur D. Little Inc.
Minutes of Eletronic Industries Association Teletext Subcommittee Task Force B —Laboratory & Field Tests Mar. 30, 1981.
National Captioning Institute Report, “The 1980 Closed-Captioned Television Audience”.
Electronic Industries Assoc.—Teletext Subcommittee— Steering Committee Minutes of Meeting on Mar. 31, 1981.
Aug. 6, 1990 letter from Herb Zucker to Walter Ciciora with attachment.
Articles, information sheets under cover sheet “QVP—Pay Per View” Nov. 29, 1982.
National Cable Television Association report, “Videotex Services”.
Scala Info Channel Advertisement, “The Art of Conveying A Message”.
Zenith Corporation's Z-Tac Systems information includes Z-tac specifications, access list, etc.
Report by Cablesystems Engineering Ltd. on, “Zenith Addressable System and Operating Procedures” and Advertising documents.
Memo from W. Thomas to G. Kelly on Jan. 21, 1982 Re: Modified ZTAC/Multi Channel.
Notations by Walt Ciciora dated Aug. 19, 1981 referring to Virtext figures.
Stamped Zenith Confidential, “Preliminay Specification for Basic Text”.
Report titled “The Necams Business Plan,” dated Mar. 18, 1994.
The Personalized Mass Media Corp. reported titled, “Portfolio of Programming Examples” by Harvey, Keil, & Parker 1991.
Petition to FCC dated Mar. 26, 1981 titled, “Petition for Rulemaking of Unighted Kingdom Teletext Industry Goup,” also 1 page of handwritten notes from Walter Ciciora.
“Enhanced Computer Controlled Teletext for 525 Line Systems (Usecct) SAA 5245 User Manual” report by J.R. Kinghorn.
“Questions and Answers about Pay TV” by Ira Kamen.
Oak Industries 1981 Annual Report.
Article, “50 Different Uses for At Home 2-Way Cable TV Systems” by Morton Dubin.
Derwent Info Ltd. search. Integrated broadcasting & Computer Processing system. Inventor J. Harvey/J. Cuddihy.
Telefax from Arjen Hooiveld to Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue Re: European Patent Appl. No. 88908836.5 and abstract plus related correspondence and Derwent search.
Advertisement in royal TV Society Journal (1972) for PYE TVT.
Letter to Dean Russell listing “reference papers”, pp. 1-4.
Letter from George McKenzie to Dean Russell Re: PMM Corp., v. TWC Inc.
Reisebericht (German memo).
Blanpunk (German memo).
“Relevant papers for Weather Channel V PMMC”.
Letter to Peter Hatt Re: BVT: Advisory UK Industry Contact Group.
Incomplete report on Antiope.
Memo FCC: Next Moves.
Memo—Re: British Teletext—ABC.
Memo with FCC Report and Order Authorizing Teletext Transmission.
Manual.
Notes to Section 22.4: Simple Block Encipherment Algorithm.
Memos on Zenith and Teletext.
Memo to Bernie Kotten about National Cable TV Association meeting and efforst to encourage Sony to integrate teletext chip sets into its TV.
Memo's from Koteen & Naftalin.
Description of patents from Official Gazette.
Explanation of Collateral Estoppel.
DNA's Intellectual Property Library on CD's summary of Jamesbury Corporation v. United States.
BBA's Intellectual Property printouts of Lemelson v. Apple Computer, Inc.
ITC Judge Order denying Motion for Summary Judgment in the Matter of Certain Memory Devices with Increased Capacitance and Products Containing Same, Investigation #337-TA-371.
Decision in court case Corbett v. Chisolm and Schrenk invovling patent #3,557,265.
Matthew Beaden Printouts regarding interference practice and the Board Interference.
BNA's Intellectual Property Library on CD printouts about Corbett v. Chisolm.
Numerous Group W business cards including James Cuddihy.
The Broadcast Teloetext Specification, published by the BBC, The IBA and the British Radio Equipment Manufacturers' Association (1976).
Kahn, et al., “Advances in Packet Radio Technology,” . . . Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 66, No. 11, Nov. (1978) pp. 1468-1495.
Clifford, C., “A Universal Controller for Text Display Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, (1979) pp. 424-429.
Harden, B., “Teletext/Viewdata LSI,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, (1979), pp. 353-358.
Bown, H. et al., “Comparative Terminal Realizatins with Alpha-Geometric Coding,” IEEE Transaction on Consumer Electronics, (1980), pp. 605-614.
Crowther, “Dynamically Redefinable Character Sets—D.R.C.S.,” IEEE Transaction on Consumer Electronics, (1980), pp. 707-716.
Chambers, John et al., “The Development of a Coding Hierarchy for Enhanced UK Teletext,” IEEE Transaction on Consumer Electronics, (1981), pp. 536-540.
Reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 4,706,121.
U.S. Patent Application by T. Diepholz (Serial No. 266900).
List of relevant or searched patents.
88908836.5 and Amendments to John C. Harvey,. European Patent Office.
88908836.5 International Application to John C. Harvey.
Kruger, H.E., “Memory Television, the ZPS Digital Identification System,” pp. 1-9.
Gaines, B.R. and Sams, J., “Minicomputers in Security Dealing,” Computer, Sep. 1976, pp. 6-15.
Kazama et al., “Automatic storage and retreival of video taped programs”, Apr. 1979.
Transcript of Viewdata '80, first world conference on viewdata, videotex, and teletext, Mar. 26-28, 1980, London.
Benson, K. B. et al., “CBS New York Video Tape Facilities”.
Brown et al., Project Score, pp. 624-630, 1960.
Burkhardt et al., “Digitial Television Transmisson With 34 Mbit/s”.
Byloff, “Automatic Control of Video Tape Equipment at NBC, Burbank,” by the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. In 1959.
Charles Gerrish, “QUBE”—Interactive Video on the Move.
Crowther, et al. G.O., “Teletext Receiver LSI Data Acquisition and Control,” Jan. 13, 1976, pp. 911-915.
Davidoff, Frank, “The All-Digital Television Studio,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 89, No. 6.
Diederich, Werner DT, “Electronic Image and Tone Return Equipment With Switching System and Remote Control Receiver for Television Decoder”.
Gaucher, “Automatic Program Recording System”.
M.W.S.. Barlow, “Automatic Switching in the CBC—An Update”.
Marsden, “Master Control Techniques,” v 9 of the “Journal of the Television Society,” 1959.
McArthur, David, “The television as a receive only terminal”.
Millar et al., “Transmission of Alphanumeric Data by Television”.
Schober, “The WETA Teletext Filed Trial: Some Technical Concerns . . . ”.
Skilton, The Digitrol 2—Automatic VTR Programme Control.
Stern, “An Auotmated Programming Control Sysem for Cable TV”.
Yamane et al., “System and apparatus for automatic Monitoring control of Broadcast Circuits”.
Zettl, “Television Production Handbook”, second edition.
Schiller et al., “CATV Program Origination and Production”.
Hughes et al., Some Design Considerations for Home Interactive Terminals, IEEE Transaction on Broadcasting, vol. BC-17, No. 2, Jun. 1971.
Kaneko et al., “Digital Transmission of Broadcast Television with Reduced Bit Rate.”
Gautier, C., “Automatic Program Recording Systems”.
Kahn et al. “Advances in Packet Radio Technology,” Proceedings of IEEE, vol. 6.6, No. 11, Nov. 1975.
Marti, B., “The Concept of Universal Teletext,” CCETTt, Rennes 11th International Television Symposium Paper, V11 A-3A, pp. 1-11, May 27, 1979.
“Videotex Services,” National Cable Television Association Executive Seminar Series, NCTA Washington, Oct. 1980, pp. III-VII, 1-3, 23-27, Oct. 1980.
“Specification du service de classe A, TeleDiffusion de France,” Antiope, Feb. 1985.
Gautier, J.P. “Language Telediffuse de Messagerie du Projet Ecrans Hybrides,” Antiope/Didon system, Jun. 1981.
Auer, R., “Die Warteschlange Uberlistet,” Funkschau, pp. 53-56, Jun. 1985.
Grethlein, M., “Videotext und Bildschirmtext,” Funkschau, Heft 5, 1981, pp. 69-73, May 1981.
Heider, et al., “Videotext und Bildschirmtext,” Grundig Technische Informationen, Heft 4/5, 1980, pp. 171-195, Apr. 1980.
Kombinierer fur Videotextsignal, “Runfunktechnische Mitteilungen,” Jahrgang 28, (1984), Heft 6, pp. 273-289, Jun. 1984.
Art Kleiman, “Heathkit GR-2001—Programmable Color TV,” Radio Electronics, May 1977.
Gecsei, Jan. The Architecture of Videotex Systems (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983 pp. 174-177, 233-238.
Sigel, Efrem et al. The Future of Videotext: Worldwide Prospects for Home/Office Electronic Information Services (White Plains, N.Y.: Knowledge Industry Publications, Inc., 1983), pp. 28, 119-126.
Raggett, Michael. “Broadcast Telesoftware,” Computer Graphics World, vol. 6, No. 9, Sep. 1983, table of contents, pp. 49, 50, 52 and letters.
Tydeman, John et al. Teletex and Videotex in the United States: Market Potential Technology, Public Policy Issues, Institute for the Future (New York: McGraw-Hill Publications, 1982), pp. 4, 89-99, 122-169.
“Telesoftware and Education Project: Summary of Report,” A Joint BBC/ITV & Brighton Research Project, Summer 1982, 111 p. and appendix.
Damouny, N. G. “Teletext Decoders—Keeping Up with the Latest Technology Advances,” Consumer Electronicsvol. CE-30, No. 3, Aug. 1984, pp. 429-436.
Nishimoto, Naomichi et al. “VHS VCR with Index and Address Search Systems,” Consumer Electronics, vol. CE-33, No. 3 Aug. 1987, pp. 220-225.
Weissman, Steven B. “Teletext in transactional videotex,” Electronic Publishing Review, vol. 2, No. 4, 1982, pp. 301-304.
Crowther, G.O. “Teletext Enhancements—Levels 1, 2 and 3,” IBA Technical Review, May 1983, pp. 11-16.
McIntyre, Colin, “Broadcast teletext—who says it isn't interactive?” pp. 1-12 in: Anon. Videotex -key to the information revolution (Online Publications Ltd., 1982).
Veith, Richard H., “Television's Teletext,” Elsevier Science Publishing, Inc., New York, 1983, pp. 9, 12, 17, 19, 32, 46-47, 136-137, 139.
Alber, Antone F., “Videotex/Teletext, Principles and Practices,” McGraw-Hill Book Company, pp. 37, 138-139, 142-147, 188-191.
Russell, R.T. “Teletext remote control,” part 1, Wireless World, Apr. 1979, 4 pages.
Russell, R.T. “Teletext remote control”, part 2, Wireless World, May 1979, pp. 83-86.
Pandey, K. “Second generation teletext and viewdata decoders,” Proceedings IEE, vol. 126, Dec. 1979, pp. 1367-1373.
Hedger, J. et al. “Telesoftware: adding intelligence to teletext,” Proceedings IEE, vol. 126, Dec. 1979, pp. 1412-1416.
Sigel, Efrem et al. Videotext: The Coming Revolution in Home/Office Information Retrieval, (White Plains, NY: Knowledge Industry Publications, Inc., 1980), pp. 6, 7, 13, 28, 33, 34, 36, 37.
Roizen, Joseph, “Teletext in the USA,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 90, Jul. 1981, pp. 602-610.
Money, Steve A. Teletext and Viewdata (London: Butterworth & Co., Ltd., 1981), preface, pp. 1-145, glossary and index.
Risher, Carol A. “Electronic Media and the Publishers, Part 1: Teletext,” Videodisc Videotex, vol. 1, No. 3, Summer 1981, pp. 162-167.
Chew, J.R. “CEEFAX: evolution and potential,” BBC Reseach Department Report No. BBC RD 1977/26, Aug. 1977, table of contents, pp. 1-14 and appendix.
Hedger, John. “Telesoftware: Home computing via teletext,” Wireless World, Nov. 1978, pp. 61-64.
Anon, Videotex '81, International Conference & Exhibition, May 20-22, 1981 Toronto, Canada (Northwood Hills, UK: Online Conference, Ltd; 1981), pp. 78-84.
Winsbury, Rex, ed. Viewdata in Action: A Comparative Study of Prestel (London: McGraw-Hill, Ltd., 1981), pp. 10-12, 31, 35, 36, 57-61, 102, 103, 109, 202-204, 211-219.
“Colloquium on Broadcast and Wired Teletext Systems—Ceefax, Oracle, Viewdata,” Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1976, IEE Electronics Division, Professional Groupm E14 (Television and Sound), Digest No. 1976/3.
Anon. “Updating databases by off-peak TV,” New Scientist, Oct. 21, 1976, p. 162.
Martin, Bernard. “New Ancillary Services Using a Televison Channel,” SMPTE Journal, vol. 86, Nov. 1977, pp. 815, 817, 818.
Biggs, A.J. et al., “Broadcast data in television,”GEC Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 41, No. 4, 1974, pp. 117-124.
Heuer, D.A. “A Microprocessor Controlled Memory Tuning System,” Consumer Electronics, vol. CE-25, No. 4, Aug. 1979, pp. 677-683.
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Sedman, E.C., “The Use of MicroCobol for Telesoftware,” Viewdata '80, Mar. 1980, pp. 399-411.
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Smirle, J.C., et al., “International Videotex Standardization: A Canadian View of Progess Towards the Wired World,” Viewdata '80, Mar. 1980, pp. 271-280.
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Troughton, P., “Prestel Operational Strategy,” Viewdata '80, Mar. 1980, pp. 51-62.
Watson, K., “Prestel User Market Research,” Viewdata '80, Mar. 1980, pp. 281-284.
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Yasuda, K., “Conception of Captain System— Background, Experiment and Future Plans,” Viewdata '80, Mar. 1980, pp. 107-111.
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Barren, J., “Electronic Publishing and the Government,” Viewdata & Videotext, 1980-81: A Worldwide Report, 1980, pp. 295-300.
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Bochmann, G.V., et al., “Towards Videotex Standards,” Viewdata & Videotext, 1980-81: A Worldwide Report, 1980, pp. 253-262.
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Ciciora, W.S., “The Role of the Television Receiver Manufacturer in the United States,” Viewdata & Videotext, 1980-81: A Worldwide Report, 1980 pp. 533-546.
Bowers, P.G., et al., “Telidon and Education in Canada,” Viewdata & Videotext, 1980-81: A Worldwide Report, 1980, pp. 7-17.
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Clarke, K.E., “What Kind of Pictures for Videotex?,” Viewdata & Videotext, 1980-81: A Worldwide Report, 1980, pp. 83-92.
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Johnson, G.A., et al., “The Networking of Oracle,” pp. 27-36.
Mullard Application Laboratory, “Integrated Circuits for Receivers,” pp. 43-56.
Lambourne, A.D., “NEWFOR—An Advanced Subtitle Preparation System,” pp. 57-63.
Keyfax—National Teletext Magazine, Advertisement, 4 pages.
Keyfax—National Teletext Magazine, Technical Bulletin, 1 page.
Keyfax, Keyfax by Satellite, Advertisement, 2 pages.
ORACLE, Advertisement Rate Card No. 1, Sep. 1, 1981, 8 pages.
“Multi-Level Teletext and Interactive Videotex,” Operational Systems Worldwide, Information Sheets.
“Brighton's Experience with Educational Software for Broadcast,” 10 pages.
CCITT, “Recommendation S.100—International Information Exchange for Interactive Videotex,” Geneva, 1980, pp. 165-205.
KSL-TV-Salt Lake City, Utah, Press Release About Telextext Signal, pp. 1-7d.
CBS/ CCETT, “North America Broadcast Teletext Specification,”Jun. 22, 1981, pp. 1-240.
Crudele, J., “TI Tests Home Information System,” Electronic News, Nov. 6, 1978, pp. 24-25.
“Systems—NABTS-NAPLPS,” VSA—Videographic, Advertisement, 5 pages.
“Now,” World System Teletext, Advertisement, 6 pages.
“Context” A Complete Teletext Origination System Developed by Logica and the BBC, Advertisement, 8 pages.
Dages, C.L., “Videotex Services via CATV—Hybrid Systems Approach,” pp. 14-25.
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“U.S. TV Station to Write Viewdata Software Link,” newspaper article, Jan. 22, 1979, p. 81.
Barbetta, F., “CBS Joins EIA in Test of Foreign TV Data System,” newspaper article, 1979, p. 23.
Hershberger, S., “Form Mktg. Unit for Antiope System,” newspaper article, Apr. 2, 1979, p. 27.
Hershberger, S., “Say French in Talks on Teletext,” newspaper article, May 14, 1979, p. 48.
Kinghorn, J.R., “New Features in World System Teletext,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Aug. 1984, vol. CE-30, No. 3, pp. 437-440.
“Audio Service Packages May Shed Stepchild Status,” CableAge, Nov. 16, 1981, pp. 17, 18 & 23.
Technical Publications Department, Mullard Limited, “525 Line NTSC Teletext Decoder Module,” Advanced Development Sample Information, Jan. 1983, 8 pages.
Crowther, G.O., “Subscription T.V., A Concept for a Multi Satellite, Multi Programme Source Environment,” Apr. 27, 1987, 2 pages.
Sillman, David, “Television Captioning for the Deaf,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, May 1984, vol. CE-30, No. 2, pp. 62-65.
Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers, “Programme and Registration Form, International Conference on ‘Telesoftware,’0 Cavendish Conference Centre, London: Sep. 27-28, 1984,”4 pages.
Kruesi, William R., et al., “Residential Control Considerations,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Nov. 1982, vol. CE-28 No. 4, pp. 563-570.
McKenzie, G.A., “Teletext—The First Ten Years,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 4-10.
Vivian, R.H., “Level 4—Teletext Graphics using Alpha-geometric Coding,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 21-26.
Johnson, G.A., et al., “The Networking of ORACLE,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 27-36.
Staff at the Mullard Application Laboratory, “Integrated Circuits for Receivers,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 43-56.
Lambourne, A.D., “NEWFOR—An Advanced Subtitle Preparation System,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 57-63.
Harris, Dr. Thomas G., et al., “Development of the MILNET,” Conference Record, Eascon 82, 1982, pp. 77-80.
Veith, Richard H., “Teletext (Broadcast Videotex) Begins in the United States,” National ONLINE Meeting Proceedings—1982, pp. 547-551.
Beville, Hugh M. Jr., “The Audience Potential of the New Technologies: 1985-1990,” Journal of Advertising Research, Apr./May 1985, pp. RC-3-RC-10.
“Draft, North American Broadcast Teletext Specification (NABTS),” EIA/CVCC, Sep. 20, 1983, 85 pages.
Yamamoto, Toshiaki, et al., “An Experimental System of FM Data-Broadcasting,” NHK Laboratories Note, Dec. 1983, serial No. 293, 12 pages.
Numaguchi, Y, et al., “A Teletext System for Ideographs,” NHK Laboratories Note, Feb. 1982, serial No. 271, 14 pages.
International Telecommunications Union, “Recommendations and Reports of the CCIR, 1982,” XVth Plenary Assembly Geneva, 1982, 393 pages.
Murata, M., et al., “A Proposal for Standardization of Home Bus System for Home Automation,” IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Nov. 1983, vol. CE-29, No. 4, pp. 524-529.
Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, et al., A Home Terminal System Using the Home Area Information Network, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Nov. 1983 vol. CE-30, No. 4, pp. 608-616.
Broadcast Teletext Telesoftware Specification, Apr. 1983, 31 pages.
Lukaart, A., “Dutch Telesoftware Standard,” Netherlands PTT, Sep. 1984, 24 pages.
Rayers, D.J., “The UK Teletext Standard for Telesoftware Transmission,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 1-8.
Kinghorn, J.R., “Receiving Telesoftware with CCT,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 9-14.
Sharpless, G.T., “Telesoftware: Adding Intelligence to Video,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 15-19.
Blineau, J., et al., “How to Execute TeleSoftware within the Terminals,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 21-24.
Brown, L., “Telesoftware: Experiences of Providing a Broadcast Service,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 25-28.
White, M., “Educational Telesoftware,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 29-33.
Yeates, N.J., “Monitoring and Evaluation of the Telesoftware and Primary Education Project,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 35-37.
Stanton, G.W., “Implementation of Teletext on Cable Television System in the United States,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 39-43.
Dowsett, C., “Telesoftware in the Development of Wideband Cable Systems and Services,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 45-48.
Pim, D.N., “Telesoftware via Full Channel Teletext,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 49-54.
Havelock, T.J., “Games Telesoftware on Cable,”Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 55-58.
Shain, M., “Microcomputer Publishing,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 59-69.
Sweet, A., “The Development of a Commercial Telesoftware Service,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 71-74.
Maurer, H., et al., “Teleprograms—The Right Approach to Videotex . . . If You Do It Right,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 75-76.
Harris, A., “A European Standard Protocol for Videotext Telesoftware,” Telesoftware, Cavendish Conference Center, Sep. 27-28, 1984, IERE Publication No. 60, pp. 79-82.
Griffith, Michael, “Text Services on Wideband Cable Networks,” Sep. 11, 1986, 12 pages.
Pim, D.N., “The World System Teletext Specification,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986, Publication No. 69, pp. 3-8.
Dowsett, C., “Code of Practice for Second Generation Teletext,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 9-26.
Foster, R.A.L., et al., “The European Videotext Standard,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 27-32.
Brown, Lawson, J., “BBC Telesoftware—3 Years On,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 35-38.
Harris, Anthony, “A European Standard for Videotex Processable Data,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 39-42.
Waters, A.G., “The Use of Broadcast and Multicast Techniques on Computer Networks,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 45-50.
Conway, Paul A., “‘Acotuda’ An adaptive Technique for Optimum Channel Useage in Data Broadcasting,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 51-56.
Robinson, C.J., “Interactive Video Cable,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 59-66.
Boyd, R.T., “Interactive Service Development on the BT Switched-Star Network,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 67-73.
Mason, A., “The Principles of the Over-Air Addressed Pay-Per-View Encryption System for Direct Broadcasting by Satellite and for Teletext,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 77-85.
Stow, R.G., et al., “Privacy and Security in Broadcast Teletext Systems,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 87-91.
Chambers, J.P., “BBC Datacast—The Transmission System,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 93-98.
Bradshaw, D.J., et al., “BBC Datacast—Conditional Access Operation,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 99-105.
Brown, Lawson, J., “BBC Datacast—Implementing A Data Service,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 107-110.
Givertz, M.J., “Practical Implementation of an Information Provision Service Using Teletext,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 111-116.
Tarrant, D.R, “Data Link Using Page-Format Teletext Transmission,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 119-125.
Hinson, C.R., “A ‘Full Level One+’ World System Teletext Decoder,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 127-132.
Kinghorn, J.R., et al.,“Packet and Page Format Data Reception Using a Multistandard Acquisition Circuit,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 133-140.
Gill, B., “A New Teletext Data Acquisition Circuit in CMOS, The MV1812,” IERE Conference on Electronic Delivery of Data and Software, London, Sep. 16-17, 1986 pp. 141-145.
Martin, James, Viewdata and the Information Society, Prentice Hall, 1982, pp. 293+.
Alber, Antone F., Videotex/Teletext, McGraw-Hill, 1985 pp. 495+.
Veith, Richard H., Videotex/Teletext, North-Holland, 1983, pp. 180+.
Joint EIA/CVCC Recommended Practice for Teletext: North American Basic Teletext Specification (NABTS), IS-14, CVCC-TS100, Mar. 1984, pp. 76+.
Videotex/Teletext Presentation Level Protocol Syntax, North American PLPS, ANSI X3.110-1983, CSA T500-1983, ANSI & CSA, Dec. 1983, pp. 105+.
Fletcher, Carol, “Videotext: Return Engagement,” IEEE Spectrum, Oct. 1985, pp. 34-38.
Bortz, Paul I., et al., Great Expectations; A Television Manager's Guide to the Future, National Association of Broadcasters, Apr. 1986, pp. 101-103, 133-136.
Raag, Helmo, “International Electronic Mail,” NTC Record-1981, National Telecommunications Conference, Nov. 29, 1981-Dec. 3, 1981, pp. A9.1.1-A9.1.5.
Hagen, Rolf, “Teletex, A New Text Communication Service and Its Impact on Network Modules,” NTC Record-1981, National Telecommunications Conference, Nov. 29, 1981-Dec. 3, 1981, pp. F5.3.1-F5.3.5.
Holmes, Edith, “Electronic Mail Debuts,” ,ASIS Bulletin, Dec. 1981, pp. 40-42.
Bertsekas, Dimitri P., “Distributed Dynamic Programming,” Proceedings of the 20th IEEE Conference on Decision & Control, Dec. 16, 1981, vol. 1, pp. 774-779.
Herman, James C., “Application of Fiber Optics in CATV Distribution Systems,” Technical Papers. NCTA 31st Annual Convention & Exposition, May 3-5, 1982, pp. 148-152.
“SAT-Guide Tests Electronic Program Guide Unit at Facilities,” SAT Guide, May 1982, pp. 50-52.
Ciciora, Walter S., “Pixels and Bits—How Videotex Works,” The World Videotex Report, 1984, pp. 17-33.
Ciciora, Walter S., “Cable Videotex in the United States,” The World Videotex Report, 1984, pp. 559-573.
“Zenith Teletex Technology: A Backgrounder,” Zenith Radio Corporation, Summer 1983, 6 pages.
“KEYCOM, SSS Boards Approve Joint Venture for KEYFAX National Teletex Magazine,” KEYCOM News Release, Aug. 20, 1982, 3 pages.
“KEYCOM Completes Successful Nite-Owl Experiment,” KEYCOM News Release, Sep. 5, 1982, 3 pages.
“SSS, KEYCOM Formally Launch KEYFAX National Teletext Magazine,” SSS Press Release, Nov. 17, 1982, 2 pages.
“1983 Worldwide Census of Videotex and Cabletext Activities,” CSP International, Sep. 1983, pp. 24+.
“Diode Array Connection,” Virdata 2.1, 1982, 7 pages.
Gits, V., “Surprise a-Tac,” Cablevision, vol. 10, No. 5, Oct. 1984, pp. 30-33.
Rosenthal, E.M., “Keyfax: first nationally but only the beginning,” Cable Age, Jan. 31, 1982, 3 pages.
Mapp, L., et al., Telesoftware & Education Project—Final Report, BBC/ITV and Brighton Polytechnic, Jul. 1982, pp. 1-111.
Roussel, A.D., et al., T400 Teletext Terminal Operators Manual, Logica, Oct. 1985.
Guide to Context—The Logica Teletext Origination System, TV Systems Division—Logica Limited, Jul. 1983.
Hobbs, R., The Guide to Teletext, Logica, Jan. 1986.
LSM General Characteristics, Jun. 1982, 11 pages.
“Vidata Teletext and Vertical Interval Data Products,” Product Summary, Wegener Communications, Apr. 20, 1983.
Roizen, J., “New technologies Make Headlines at Videotex '82,” The International Journal of Broadcast Technology, Aug. 1982, 3 pages.
Weiss, M., et al., “How Teletext Can Deliver More Service and Profits,” The International Journal of Broadcast Technology, Aug. 1982, 4 pages.
Zenith Radio Corporation, News Release, “Teletext: The Newest Window To The Future As Science Fiction Becomes Reality,” Jun. 23, 1983.
Roberts, C., “Will Cable Television Revolutionize Campaigns?,” The Register, Feb. 21, 1982.
Yanagimachi, Akio, “An Experimental Second-Generation Japanese Teletext System,” NHK Laboratorie s Note, Oct. 1983, serial No. 291.
Mothersole, P.L., “Equipment for Network Distribution,” Developments in Teletext, Independent Broadcasting Authority, May 1983, pp. 37-42.
Article, Electronic, Aug. 11, 1981, "Digital VLSI Breeds Next-Generation TV Receivers", by T. Fischer, pp. 97-103.
Pamphlet by Intermetall Semiconductors ITT, "A New Dimension--VLSI Digital TV System", Publically Available Prior to Filing Date of Subject U.S. patent application of H. G. Lewis, Jr.
Data Sheet from Analogic Corporation, "MP8308, MP8318, Ultrafast 8-Bit Video D/A Converters", copyright 1979. 

Article "Color Decoding a PCM NTSC Television Signal" by J. P. Rossi, Jun., 1974, Journal of the SMPTE, vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 489-495.
Article "Digital Television Image Enhancement" by J. P. Rossi, 1975, Journal of the SMPTE, vol. 84, at pp. 545-551.
Text "Theory and Application of Digital Signal Processing" by Rabiner and Gold, (Prentice-Hall, 1975), p. 550.
Paper "Nonrecursive Digital Filters with Coefficients of Powers of Two" by A. Tomozawa, in the IEEE Int'l. Conf. on Comm., pp. 18D-1 through 18D-5.
Paper "Colour Demodulation of an NTSC Television Signal Using Digital Filtering Techniques" by A. G. Deczky, 1975 IEEE Int'l. Conf. on Comm., vol. II, pp. 23-6 through 23-11.
U.S. patent application filed Aug. 31, 1981 in the name of H. G. Lewis, Jr., Digital Color Television Signal Demodulator, Ser. No.: 297,556.
An Approach to the Implementation of Digital Filters by L. R. Jackson, reprinted from IEEE Trans. Audio Electroacoust., vol. AU-16, pp. 413-421, Sep. 1968.
W. Weltersbach et al., "Digitale Videosignalverarbeitung im Farbfernsehempfanger", Fernseh und Kino-Technik, 35 Jahrgang, Nr. 9, Sep. 1981, pp. 317-323, (with translation).
T. Fischer, "Digital VLSI Breeds Next-Generation TV Receivers", Electronics, Aug. 11, 1981, pp. 97-103.
T. Fischer, "Fernsehen Wird Digital", Elektronik, No. 16, 1981, pp. 27-35, (with translation of pp. 30-31).
ITT Intermetall, A New Dimension-VLSI Digital TV System, Sep. 1981, pp. 1-23.  

Pages 57 through 63 of the ITT "Digit 2000 VLSI Digital TV System" Product Description published by the Intermettal Division of ITT in Sep. 1983. 

E. Lerner, "Digital TV: Makers Bet on VLSI", IEEE Spectrum, 2/83, pp. 39-43.
TRW LSI Product Data Sheet--Model TDC1016J, Monolithic Video D/A Converters, 6/79.
B. Amazeen et al., "Monolithic d-a Converter Operates on Single Supply," Electronics, Feb. 28, 1980, pp. 125-131.  

"Digital VLSI Breeds Next-Generation TV Receivers", Electronics, Aug. 11, 1981, pp. 97-103.
Selected pages from a technical bulletin of the Semiconductor Division of ITT Corporation, titled "Digit 2000 VLSI Digital TV System".