Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for processing auxiliary data included in a video signal, in particular auxiliary data included in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal. The present invention recognizes that comb filtering of a television signal before processing the auxiliary data included in the television signal may cause corruption of the data. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the data corruption by placing the takeoff point for the auxiliary data at a point in the signal path prior to the comb filtering. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention also provides for switching between one of a plurality of signal sources while ensuring that the signal provided to an auxiliary data processor corresponds to the displayed signal and minimizing the additional hardware and software required with regard to prior art arrangements.

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 365 of International Application PCT/US00/34680, filed Dec. 21, 2000, which was published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2) on Sep. 27, 2001 in English; and which claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/190,206 filed Mar. 17, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing video signals, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for processing data services information in a video signal when a comb filter is used to process the video signal. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Processing of television signals generally requires the separation, or recovery, of luminance and chrominance components of the television signal. For example, an NTSC color television signal includes a brightness, or luminance, frequency (Y) signal ranging in frequency from direct current to a nominal bandwidth of 4.2 MHz, and a 3.58 MHz color subcarrier that is modulated in phase and amplitude to represent hue and saturation of the image. The luminance information contained in an image is represented by signal frequencies that are concentrated about integral multiples of the horizontal line scanning frequency. The chrominance information is encoded or inserted in a portion of the luminance signal spectrum around frequencies that lie halfway between the multiples of the line scanning frequency, i.e., at odd multiples of one-half the line scanning frequency. 
   The chroma and luma information may be separated and recovered from a composite signal using a comb filtering approach. In a typical comb filter approach, a composite video signal is subtracted from a second composite video signal which has been delayed by one horizontal scan. Since two successive lines (with respect to horizontal synchronization pulses) of NTSC chroma subcarrier are 180 out of phase, the chroma inputs combine as a subcarrier sum. Since the lines of luminance are originally in phase, the combination of the opposite phase luminance components result in cancellation of luminance. Thus, the combination produces a chroma component in which stationary luma components have been phase canceled. In addition, the separated chroma component is subtracted (without further phase reversal) from the composite video input signal (luma+chroma) to produce a separated luma component. Since the lines of chrominance are in phase, the phase cancellation of chrominance components produces a separated luminance output signal. 
   Additionally, it has become increasingly common in the television broadcast industry to insert data services information in the vertical blanking interval (“VBI”) of the television signal in between the active intervals. The data services information can provide a variety of extended services that may not necessarily relate to the display or program information included in the video signal. Examples of such inserted information includes, but is not limited to, GemStar, Teletext based on the NABTS specification, and closed caption data. 
   However, inserting data services information from unrelated sources into the VBI can present a problem for television sets that utilize comb filters, particularly if the information from the various sources is present on adjacent lines of the video signal. As noted above, an inherent property of the comb filtering method involves the summing and processing of information on the current line presented to the comb filter with the information on the previous line, or the next line in the case of three line comb filters. When the information on adjacent lines are necessarily related, such as in the case of standard display or programming information during the active video interval, the combing function properly separates the luminance and the chrominance components of the composite signal. However, when the information on adjacent lines are unrelated, which may be the case when various service providers insert different service information in the VBI, combing of the different information can corrupt the information provided by one of more of the service providers. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional television arrangement, wherein different information on adjacent lines can result in corrupted data output. Arrangement  100  includes comb filter  112  and an auxiliary data decoder  125  having a take off point disposed at a point in the signal path downstream of comb filter  112 . In this case, auxiliary data processor  125  receives the combed luma output from a takeoff point coupled to the output of luma switch  114 . It has been discovered that in the arrangement of  FIG. 1 , different information on adjacent lines may become corrupted. For example, GemStar data is corrupted by NABTS data when NABTS data line is adjacent a GemStar data line. The data rate for NABTS data is 174 nsec/bit, which corresponds to a frequency of about 2.86 MHz. Since the 2.86 MHz data is within the chroma passband of comb filter  112 , the data is combed out and summed with the GemStar data on the adjacent line. The result is that the GemStar data is summed with a 2.86 MHz periodic component. This periodic component corrupts the GemStar data and results in a considerable increase in the percentage of GemStar data downloading errors. 
   The arrangement of  FIG. 1  is relatively common, wherein the auxiliary data take off point was chosen such that closed caption video would always correspond to the displayed video for any selected input. The displayed video may correspond to an output from a selected one of TV tuner input  102 , auxiliary video input  104  and S-video input  106 . The displayed video is derived from the signals provided on output lines  118  and  120 . Output line  118  is the first point in the system common to the three input sources  102 ,  104  and  106 . The arrangement of  FIG. 1  guarantees that the closed caption information will match the displayed video, but this arrangement has the disadvantage that the auxiliary data take off point is downstream of comb filter  112 . Such an arrangement is not a problem when the system is designed to only process closed caption video information in the VBI. However, for the reasons noted above, such an arrangement may result in corrupted data when handling auxiliary data from a variety of sources on adjacent lines. 
   One proposed solution to the above-described problem is to disable comb filter  112  during the VBI. An example of such a solution is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,369, entitled “TELEVISION SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING MAIN AND AUXILIARY IMAGES WITH COLOR ERROR CORRECTION PROVISIONS,” which issued May 25, 1999, and is assigned to the assignee of the present application. 
   Another proposed solution to the above-described problem is to bypass comb filter  112  during the VBI. An example of such a solution is shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein gating circuit  113 , which bypasses comb filter  112  during the VBI, is coupled between the main composite video input and the combed luma output of comb filter  112 . To bypass comb filter  112 , the output CVm of composite switch  110  is fed directly to the combed luma input of luma switch  114  through gating circuit  113 . Gating signal GS from main microprocessor  108  controls the operation of gating circuit  113 . At times other than the VBI, the gating is inactive and gating circuit  113  does not affect normal circuit operation in the path between composite switch  110 , comb filter  112  and luma switch  114 . An example of this solution is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/722,574, entitled “COMB FILTER WITH BYPASS MODE”, filed on Sep. 27, 1996, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. However, adding an additional gating circuit and switching control signals requires additional hardware and software to accommodate the new switching arrangement. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and arrangement that overcomes the above-noted problems associated with a comb filter in the signal path while minimizing the need for additional hardware and software. 
   EP0766467A2 discloses an arrangement wherein microcontroller IC  10  is disposed between video switch  18  and television signal processing circuit  14 . This reference relates to the operation of a closed caption decoder that is controlled using a deflection signal during a mode of operation when deflection signals are not available. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,498 discloses an arrangement for allowing a video data signal to pass through to a D/A converter without passing through a Y/C separator in response to a gate signal. The &#39;498 patent specifically relates to processing of video data signals from a video disk. As such, the &#39;498 patent does not teach or suggest any specific arrangements for selecting one of a plurality of input signals while preventing data corruption. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention resides, in part, in the recognition by the inventors that in a comb filtering arrangement the above-noted problems may be overcome by placing the auxiliary data take off point at a point in the system prior to comb filtering. Advantageously, it is herein recognized that an output of a composite video switch, which output is provided to a comb filter, can be used as the auxiliary data take off point. 
   In one aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for processing video signals, comprising: a signal source for providing a signal having a first component that includes video program information and a second component that includes auxiliary data information; a comb filter having an input coupled to the signal source for receiving the signal and comb filtering the signal to provide a luma signal and a chroma signal at respective first and second outputs; and a data processor, having an input for receiving the signal, for decoding auxiliary data included in the second component of the signal and providing a decoded output signal, characterized in that the input of the data processor is coupled to a take off point disposed between the source of the video signal and the comb filter input, whereby the auxiliary data decoder receives the signal prior to comb filtering of the signal to prevent corruption of the auxiliary data by the comb filter. 
   In a further aspect of the invention, the signal source comprises a composite switch having a first input coupled to a television tuner, a second input coupled to an auxiliary video source, a third input coupled to a controller, and an output for providing a video signal from a selected one of the inputs in response to a control signal from the controller. 
   In a further aspect of the invention, the source of the video signal further comprises a fourth input for receiving a luma signal from a S-video signal source. 
   In a further aspect, the invention further comprises a luma switch, having a first input for receiving the luma output signal from the comb filter, a second input for receiving the luma signal from the S-video signal source, and a third input for receiving a second control signal from the controller and an output for providing a selected one of the combed luma output and the luma signal from the S-video signal source in response thereto, and a chroma switch, having a first input for receiving the chroma output signal from the comb filter, a second input for receiving a chroma signal from the S-video signal source, and a third input for receiving the second control signal from the controller and an output for providing a selected one of the combed chroma output and the chroma signal output from the S-video signal source in response thereto. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like elements are denoted by like reference designators, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a television signal processing arrangement that includes a comb filter and may be susceptible to data corruption; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a television signal apparatus that includes a bypass coupled to the comb filter; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a television signal apparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the take off point for data services is disposed at a point in the signal path prior to comb filtering; 
       FIG. 4  is a table illustrating the signal states associated with various input signals for the apparatus of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed circuit diagram illustrating the composite signal switch, the comb filter and the various inputs associated with the signal apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of television apparatus  300  according to the present invention. Apparatus  300  receives an input signal from one of TV tuner input  102 , Aux Video input  104 , and S-Video input  106 , and provides luma output signal Yo at output  118  and chroma output signal Co at output  120 . For television receiver applications, the video source inputs may include, e.g., a conventional tuner, IF amplifier and detector. The source inputs may also include baseband video inputs. For television monitor applications the tuner may be omitted. As known by those skilled in the art, chroma output signal Co is demodulated by a chrominance demodulation unit (not shown) to form color difference signals, and a matrix processor and a driver unit (not shown) combine and process the output luma signal Yo and the color difference signals to produce RGB signals to drive a display unit (not shown). 
   The composite video signals CV 1  and CV 2  from inputs  102  and  104 , and the LUMA signal L 1  from input  106  are applied as inputs to composite switch  110 . Here, luma signal L 1  is applied to a previously unused input of composite switch  110 . Composite switch  110  provides a selected one of the input signals as input signal CVm to comb filter  112  in response to control signal Comp — Vid — SW from main processor  108 . Comb filter  112  separates the luminance and chrominance components of signal CVm to produce combed luma signal Ym and combed chroma signal Cm. Comb filter  112  may be of a conventional design, comprising first and second subtractors, an adder, a one line delay, a low pass filter and a bandpass filter. 
   In comb filter  112 , the combed chroma signal Cm is developed as follows. The input signal CVm is converted by an A/D converter and fed to a one line delay. The output of the one line delay is fed to a first subtractor. The output signal of the first subtractor  117  is filtered by band pass filter (BPF), thereby removing the line to line luma variations (i.e., vertical detail). The resultant BP filtered signal contains the recovered chroma information from the input video signal. The BP filtered signal also contains any luminance vertical detail information within the passband of the BPF. A switch then couples the BP filtered signal to the chroma D/A converter during the “normal” comb filtering mode. Additionally, the switch couples the BP filtered signal to an input of subtractor. 
   In comb filter  112 , the luma output signal Ym is developed as follows. The subtractor subtracts the BP filtered (chroma) signal from the input video (luma+chroma) signal to produce a second difference signal, which contains primarily luminance components. The second difference signal is essentially the luminance component without the luminance vertical detail within the passband of BPF. This second difference signal is coupled to a first input of the adder. The first video difference signal (chroma+VD) is low pass filtered, thereby removing the chroma information while leaving the low frequency line to line luma variations (i.e., low frequency vertical detail information). The resultant low frequency vertical detail signal is coupled to a second input of the adder. Adder  127  adds the vertical detail signal and the second difference signal (luma) to produce signal Lo containing luminance information with enhanced vertical detail information. The output luma signal from the adder is coupled to the luma D/A converter. 
   Combed output signals Ym and Cm are provided as inputs to luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116 , respectively. The luma and chroma components L 1  and C 1  of the input signal from S-Video input  106  are also provided to the respective inputs of luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116 . Luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116  selects the desired one the respective input signals in response to signals Comb — SVid — SW and Comp — Vid — SW from main processor  108 . Here, the control signal Comp — Vid — SW, which is applied to composite switch  110 , is also applied to luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116 . 
   The output of luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116  may be applied to a demodulation unit, a matrix process and driver unit, a display unit and associated control circuitry, which may all be of conventional design, the details of which are largely omitted. 
   The input of auxiliary data decoder  125  is coupled between composite switch  110  and comb filter  112 . In the exemplary embodiment, the input of auxiliary data decoder is coupled to a point  131  disposed between composite switch  110  and comb filter  112 . It will be appreciated that the connector between composite switch  110  and comb filter  112 , and thus point  131 , may take many forms known to those skilled in the art depending on the actual embodiment of these elements, for example in an IC or as discrete elements. Auxiliary data processor  125  provides an output signal ADo that is suitable for further processing and/or display. Auxiliary data decoder  125  may be of conventional design, the details of which are well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the auxiliary data decoding function may be performed by a system microprocessor. It can be seen that the input signal to auxiliary data decoder  125  corresponds to the composite signal CVm provided from composite switch  110 . 
   If a user selects TV tuner input  102 , main processor  108  generates the appropriate signals Comp — Vid — SW and Comb — SVid — SW to cause composite switch  110  to select composite signal CV 1  from TV tuner  102 , luma switch  114  to select combed luma signal Ym, and chroma switch  116  to select combed chroma signal Cm. If the user selects aux video input  104 , main processor  108  generates the appropriate signals Comp — Vid — SW and Comb — SVid — SW to cause composite switch  110  to select composite signal CV 2  from aux video input  104 , luma switch  114  to select combed luma signal Ym, and chroma switch  116  to select combed chroma signal Cm. Finally, if the user selects S-Video input  106 , main processor  108  generates the appropriate signals Comp — Vid — SW and Comb — SVid — SW to cause composite switch  110  to select luma signal L 1  from S-Video input  106 , luma switch  114  to select luma signal L 1  and chroma switch  116  to select chroma signal C 1 . It can be seen that in all three cases, auxiliary data decoder  125  receives the appropriate signal with respect to the displayed signal, prior to comb filtering of the signal, and the desired output signals are provided at outputs  118  and  120 . Thus, the data corruption problem mentioned above is overcome. 
   Advantageously, composite switch  110  is in the form of an IC, such as LA7221, manufactured by Sanyo Corporation. In the prior art arrangements of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , composite switch  110  was controlled by a single control signal Comp — Vid — SW. Luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116  were also controlled by a single control switch Comp — Vid — SW. However, a single control signal Comp — Vid — SW is insufficient for selecting between three inputs. It may be impractical to re-design both the hardware and the software to accommodate the new switching requirements. To overcome this problem, the inventors have recognized that the previously unused grounded control input line CTL 1  of composite switch  110  could be used to control the selection between the three input signals. In this regard, composite switch  110  receives both control signals Comb — Svid — SW and Comp — Vid — SW. The switching operation is described below. 
   The charts of  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate the switching functions before and after the problem solution. The chart of  FIG. 4   a  illustrates the switching associated with the arrangement of  FIG. 1 , wherein input CTL 1  of composite switch  110  is grounded and does not affect the output of composite switch  110 . The combination of control signal Comp — Vid — Sw to composite switch  110  and control signal Comb — SVid — Sw to Y/C switches  114  and  116  control which one of the TV, auxiliary and S-Video signals are provided at outputs  118  and  120 . Specifically, the output of composite switch  110  is controlled by the state of Comb — SVid — SW and the outputs of luma switch  114  and chroma switch  116  are controlled by the state of Comp — SVid — SW. 
   The chart of  FIG. 4   b  illustrates the switching associated with the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , wherein the control signal Comb — SVid — SW is now coupled to input CTL 1  of composite switch  110 . By coupling the control signal Comb — SVid — Sw to composite switch  110 , composite switch  110  can now be controlled to select one of three separate inputs, namely TV, auxiliary, and S-video luma. In this manner, switches  110 ,  114  and  116  can be controlled to select one of the desire signal inputs with minimal changes to the existing hardware and software. Furthermore, since auxiliary data decoder  125  is coupled to the output of composite switch  110 , the new auxiliary data take off point receives the correct signal to be processed regardless of the input signal selected for display. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of the arrangement of composite switch  110 , comb filter  112 , and the various inputs of apparatus  300 . In the present embodiment, composite switch  110  comprises LA7221 manufactured by Sanyo Corporation. The changes for overcoming the above-described problem includes adding the luma component L 1  of the S-Video signal to pin  1  of composite switch  110  via R 6  such that luma component L 1  can be switched out to auxiliary data decoder  125  via output  130  as desired, and providing control signal comb — SVid — SW to input CTL 1 . This is necessary to allow S-video to be selected for Y/C output. To accomplish the switching of luma component L 1  to data decoder  125 , signal Comb — SVid — SW is inverted by Q 3  and fed to the previously grounded CTL 1  input at pin  2 . Additionally, the inverted Comb — SVid — SW signal at the collector of Q 3  is inverted again by Q 2  and used to force CTL 2  input at pin  4  of composite switch  110  to be LOW regardless of the state of the signal Comp — Vid — SW. When S-video is not selected, the second inverter Q 2  is inactive and only the Comp — Vid — SW line controls the CTL 2  input of composite switch  110 , which essentially corresponds to the arrangement before these changes. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that although the invention has been described in terms of specific examples, modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the essence of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood, that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications that naturally flow from the foregoing description and examples. The exemplary embodiment is described above with respect to a television system, where information in the VBI may be corrupted due to the comb filtering of the television signal. The problem of corrupted data is overcome by placing the takeoff point at a point in the signal path prior to comb filtering. However, it is important to note that while the invention has been described in terms of comb filter for use in a television system, the invention is applicable to any system in which data is placed into a blanked interval of a video signal, which data is susceptible to being corrupted by comb filtering techniques.