Two channel compatible high definition television broadcast system

A television system for broadcasting high definition television on two channels of a direct broadcast satellite, a first of which carries a compatible 525-line picture. A second channel carries an augmentation signal, which in conjunction with the signal from the first channel, produces at a receiver tuned to both channels a 1050-line high definition television picture with a 5:3 aspect ratio. Time multiplex component signals and processing are employed, and high fidelity sound is provided by digital audio signals transmitted in time sequence with the video. There may be as many as five sound channels so as to provide three-channel stereophonic audio and various combinations of data and sound channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to television, and more particularly, to a high 
definition television broadcast system. 
Advances in technology that have taken place since television was first 
broadcast nearly 50 years ago can provide a much higher quality television 
picture than is provided by currently available systems, and this coupled 
with changes in social environment and diversification of human 
consciousness, have created a demand for a new television system capable 
of providing richer information to the home viewer. High definition 
television (HDTV) requires high horizontal and vertical resolutions, a 
wide image aspect ratio, and high fidelity stereophonic sound, which 
desirably are achieved within the constraints of channel bandwidth and 
noise, compatibility with existing systems, receiver cost and 
psycho-visual needs. High vertical resolution calls for more scan lines 
than the 525 presently in use in North America and Japan. Japan 
Broadcasting Company (NHK) has proposed a high definition system with 1125 
lines, 30 frames/sec (60 fields/sec), and 20 MHz luminance band width. Of 
the 1125 lines, 80 are in the vertical blanking interval, leaving 1045 
displayable lines. Having determined from extensive tests that viewers 
prefer a wide screen similar to feature films, the aspect ratio (width to 
height) is 5:3 instead of the 4:3 of ordinary television. 
Although the images provided by NHK's experimental system are impressive, 
far better than traditional television pictures by virtue of containing 
about eight times more information, its total baseband video band width of 
30 MHz makes it more suitable for production than broadcasting. Any HDTV 
system should provide for conversion to existing standards, as by reading 
out an HDTV frame store at lower resolution and differing framing rates. 
However, the 1125 lines of the NHK system bear no simple relationship to 
the 525-line raster of the NTSC system, and, moreover, its field rate of 
exactly 60 Hz is unlike every other existing broadcast system; the NTSC 
system used in North America and Japan runs at 59.94 Hz to avoid a sound 
interference problem caused by 60 Hz operation. 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved HDTV 
broadcast system that will be readily convertible to the existing 525-line 
NTSC system. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an HDTV broadcast 
system that will be compatible with a time multiplexed component (TMC) 
broadcast and thus compatible with NTSC receivers using a 
component-to-NTSC converter. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a dual standard television 
broadcast system in which compatible 525-line picture signals are 
broadcast on one channel and an augmentation signal is broadcast on a 
second channel to produce 1050-line, wide-screen HDTV pictures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly, the broadcast system according to the invention utilizes two 
channels, each 24 MHz wide and not necessarily contiguous, one of which 
carries 525-line pictures and the other of which carries an augmentation 
signal to produce 1050-line, wide screen HDTV pictures. The first channel 
carries 525-line, 60 (actually, 59.94) fields/sec., 4:3 aspect ratio, time 
multiplexed component (TMC) color television video plus three or more 
audio signals. The second channel carries an additional 525 lines of 
video, but with a 5:3 aspect ratio, which when matrixed with the signal 
from the first channel produces a HDTV picture. For reception in this dual 
standard system, an HDTV receiver is tuned to both channels, whereas a 
525-line receiver receives a standard quality picture only from the first 
channel. Thus, two 24 MHz channels are required in order to broadcast a 
single HDTV program, but, at the same time the program can be received by 
a 525-line receiver. 
In the interest of optimizing the interacting 525- and 1050-line systems, 
the first channel has the following specifications: 
1. Color information is sent via time compressed line-sequential R-Y, B-Y 
color difference signals. 
2. Time compression of the color-difference signals is three times greater 
than that of the luminance time compression. 
3. Digital audio is time-multiplexed with the video. 
An interesting feature of the system is the dual-aspect ratio picture 
displayed by the receivers. Assuming the system is used for direct 
broadcast from a satellite (DBS), there will exist at the input to the DBS 
uplink a 1050-line, 5:3 aspect ratio video signal, derived, for example, 
from a production standard 1125-line HDTV camera already developed by NHK 
and a standards/converter for converting the camera output to 1050 lines 
with a 5:3 aspect ratio. In the interest of compatibility, only the 
central 4:3 aspect ratio area of the picture is transmitted with 525 lines 
through the first channel, and the balance of the HDTV picture consists of 
another 525 lines, 5:3 aspect ratio, which is transmitted on the second 
channel. A two-channel HDTV receiver reconstitutes the 5:3 aspect ratio 
picture by combining the video signals from both channels into a 
1050-line, 2:1 interlace, 60-field/sec. raster. The central 80% of the 
area with 4:3 aspect ratio exhibits HDTV quality and the areas to the left 
and right of center, each representing 10% of the total picture area, 
exhibit interpolated 1050-line quality. 
High fidelity sound is provided by digital audio signals transmitted in 
time sequence with the video. There may be as many as five sound channels 
so as to provide three channel stereophonic audio and various combinations 
of data and supplementary sound channels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The broadcast system according to the invention, schematically illustrated 
in FIG. 1, is intended for use in direct broadcast from satellite (DBS) 
service in the United States to serve viewers through their local 
affiliated station and also provide for individual reception. Using two 24 
MHz bandwidth co-polarized, cosited DBS channels, which need not be 
contiguous, the system broadcasts compatible 525-line pictures on one 
channel and an augmentation signal on a second channel which when combined 
with the first channel signal produces 1050-line, wide-screen, high 
definition television (HDTV) pictures; that is, it is a dual standard 
system. More particularly, one of the channels, labeled Channel 1, carries 
525-line, 60 fields/sec. (rounded off, but as will be seen later, actually 
59.94 fields/sec.), 4:3 aspect ratio, time multiplexed component (TMC) 
color television video plus three or more audio signals. A second DBS 
channel, labeled Channel 2, carries an additional 525-lines of video but 
with a 5:3 aspect ratio, which when matrixed with the signal from Channel 
1 produces a wide screen HDTV picture. As indicated in FIG. 1, an HDTV 
receiver 10 is tuned on both Channels 1 and 2, whereas either of 525-line 
receivers 12 and 14 can receive a standard quality picture by tuning only 
to Channel 1. The full screen of receiver 10 has a 5:3 aspect ratio, 
whereas the area between the dotted vertical lines has an aspect ratio of 
4:3, the same as that of receiver 12. As illustrated, conventional 
525-line television signals can be broadcast from another available DBS 
channel for reception by the 525-line receiver 14. 
On the premise that the signal format for DBS in North America will be time 
multiplexed component (TMC) video with digital audio, because of its 
potential for producing superior picture and sound quality, Channel 1 of 
the present system will be compatible with other TMC broadcasts and thus 
readily convertible for use with NTSC receivers using component color 
television signals. After examining the many issues for a 525-line TMC 
broadcast standard with intent to optimize the 525- and 1050-line systems, 
it was concluded that Channel 1 should have the following specifications: 
1. Color information to be sent via time compressed line-sequential R-Y, 
B-Y color difference signals. 
2. Time compression of the color-difference signals will be three times 
greater than that of the luminance time compression. 
3. Digital audio will be time-multiplexed with the video. 
The HDTV system according to the invention is designed for broadcast in 
NTSC countries and evolves naturally from existing 525-line television 
standards. The system is not to be confused with a still to be defined 
HDTV production standard which, it is hoped, will be used throughout the 
world. Once such production standard is established, major programs will 
be produced in the HDTV production format (which could be the 1125-line, 
60 fields/sec., and 5:3 aspect ratio proposed by NHK) and converted to the 
1050-line HDTV standard of the present system, as well as to the 525-line 
standard, prior to broadcasting. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2, at the 
input to the DBS uplink there will exist a 1050-line, 5:3 aspect ratio TMC 
video signal. Rather than sending a 5:3 aspect ratio image in Channel 1, 
which would cause serious compatibility problems for users of 525-line, 
4:3 aspect ratio receivers, only the center area of the picture, having a 
4:3 aspect ratio, is transmitted with 525 lines in Channel 1. The balance 
of the picture, consisting of another 525 lines with a 5:3 aspect ratio, 
is transmitted via Channel 2. The 2-channel HDTV home receiver 10 
reconstitutes the 5:3 aspect ratio picture by combining the two video 
signals into a 1050-line, 2:1 interlace, 60-field/sec. raster. The center 
80% of the screen area, which has a 4:3 aspect ratio, exhibits full HDTV 
quality, and the left and right side areas (in which every other line is 
shown dotted) each of which comprise 10% of the screen area, exhibit 
interpolated 1050-line picture quality. 
FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of apparatus for performing the functions 
schematically outlined in FIG. 2, configured for usage for DBS broadcast. 
The program to be broadcast is produced in accordance with an established 
HDTV production standard 2, for example, the 1125-line, 60 field/sec., 5:3 
aspect ratio picture proposed by NHK, and converted by a suitable 
converter 3 to the 1050-line HDTV standard of the present system. 
Alternatively, the 1050-line HDTV picture can be generated directly with a 
suitable camera 1. The resulting 1050-line, 5:3 aspect ratio analog 
component video signal is applied to an HDTV video encoder (the 
construction and operation of which will be described later in connection 
with FIG. 8), the general function of which is to partition the 1050-line 
signal into two 525-line signals, one for transmission on Channel 1 and 
the other for transmission on Channel 2. Only the 80% center area of the 
picture, having a 4:3 aspect ratio, is transmitted in Channel 1, and the 
other 525 lines, with a 5:3 aspect ratio, is transmitted via Channel 2. An 
encoder 4 produces two time multiplexed component analog television 
signals, one for each channel, which are frequency modulated on respective 
different frequency RF carriers and transmitted via a directive antenna 6 
to a satellite 9 positioned in a predetermined geostationary orbital slot. 
The satellite direct broadcasts both channels via a down-link for 
reception by an HDTV receiver 10 having a directive antenna 178 pointed to 
the orbital slot of the satellite and/or by a 525-line receiver 12 
equipped with an antenna 230 pointed toward satellite 9. The front end of 
the HDTV receiver 10, the details of which will be described in connection 
with FIG. 13, is tuneable to both channels and is operative to demodulate 
the received signals to recover the video from the two channels for 
application to a video processor (to be described in connection with FIG. 
9) which reconstitutes the 5:3 aspect ratio picture by combining the two 
video signals into a 1050-line, 2:1 interlace, 60-field/sec., raster 
display. As indicated, the center 80% of the screen area, which has a 4:3 
aspect ratio, exhibits full 1050-line quality, and the left and right side 
areas exhibit interpolated 1050-line picture quality. 
The front end of the 525-line receiver 12 (to be described in connection 
with FIG. 14) is tuneable to receive only the Channel 1 signal and 
demodulates the received signal to recover the Channel 1 video signal for 
further processing by a video processor, the details of which will be 
discussed in connection with FIG. 10. The video processor converts the 
video to time multiplexed composite (TMC) video signals which are 
compatible with NTSC receivers designed to display 525-line, 2:1 
interlace, 60 fields/sec., 4:3 aspect ratio, color television pictures. 
FIG. 4 is a simplified diagram showing how the 1050-line HDTV scanned 
luminance image is carried in the two Channels 1 and 2. For simplicity, it 
will be assumed that a TV camera is scanned in the 1050-line format, one 
field of which (containing 525 lines) is shown in FIG. 4(A). The 
odd-numbered lines are labeled A and the even-numbered lines are labeled 
B. The horizontal bounds of the active picture are designated 5:3 aspect 
ratio for the full width and 4:3 aspect ratio for the central portion of 
the picture. Channel 1 carries 2621/2 lines per field, in the 4:3 aspect 
ratio area only, each line being the summation of lines A and B, as shown 
in FIG. 4(B). Channel 2 carries only line B of the 4:3 aspect ratio area 
and the summation of lines A and B of the two side portions of the 5:3 
aspect ratio area, again 2621/2 lines per field, as shown in FIG. 4(C). In 
the reconstructed HDTV field in the home receiver 10, shown in FIG. 4(D), 
the odd-numbered lines A in the 4:3 aspect ratio area consists of A+B of 
Channel 1 less B from Channel 2, and the even-numbered lines B are lines B 
from Channel 2 and the side portions are A+B of Channel 2. Although the 
vertical resolution of the 4:3 aspect ratio area of the reconstructed 
picture will be the same as in the camera range, the side portions will 
have less than half the vertical resolution; this is acceptable because 
each side portion, representing 10% of the area, is peripheral information 
compared to the center 80% of the picture. 
However, when both odd and even fields are considered, it is evident that 
the line structures shown and described in FIG. 4 may have a shortcoming. 
In FIG. 5(A), lines A and B of the odd field of the 1050-line image are 
combined in the proportions 1/2A+1/2B to constitute the odd field in 
Channel 1. Likewise, lines A' and B' of the even field produce 
(1/2A'+1/2B') for the even field of Channel 1. It will be noted that the 
lines in Channel 1 represent paired spatial points on the vertical axis of 
the 1050-line image plane, and would cause the 525-line compatible picture 
of Channel 1 to lose some vertical resolution, although the 1050-line HDTV 
picture can be reconstructed with full resolution in the 4:3 aspect ratio 
area. 
A solution for this paired sample problem, should it be necessary, resides 
in combining the lines with weighted coefficients in the manner shown in 
FIG. 5(B), namely, combining odd field lines in the proportions 
(3/4A'1/4B) and combining even field lines in the proportions 
(1/4A'+3/4B') for Channel 1 broadcast. In this manner, the equivalent 
spatial sampling points are evenly spaced on the vertical axis of the 
1050-line HDTV picture. 
Therefore, instead of the line arrangements of FIG. 4, the system 
preferably utilizes the odd (solid lines) and even (dash lines) fields of 
the 1050-line picture sources depicted at the center of FIG. 6, the scan 
lines carried by Channels 1 and 2 being depicted at the left and right, 
respectively. It will be observed that Channel 1 carries the 4:3 aspect 
ratio area lines (1/2 A+1/4 B) and (1/4 A'+3/4 B'). Channel 2 carries the 
4:3 aspect ratio area lines B and A', as well as the side portions 
B.sub.VF and B'.sub.VF, which represent vertically filtered lines B and 
B', respectively. Rather than using the simple 1:1 comb filter, 
represented by A+B or A'+B' in FIG. 4, it is desirable to utilize a better 
vertical filter, the general representation of which is B.sub.VF or 
B'.sub.VF. The vertical filters for processing the side portions B.sub.VF 
and B'.sub.VF are of known construction and may take the form of a 1:2:1 
comb filter which combines the information from three adjacent television 
lines with the center line given a weight which is twice the weight 
assigned to each of the two outside lines. The showing of FIG. 6 does not 
lend itself to identifying the three lines used for filtering to obtain 
B.sub.VF or B'.sub.VF. Such filters are known, for example, from a report 
entitled "Line sequential colour transmission and vertical filtering in 
MAC" proposed by the British IBA (Independent Broadcasting Authority). In 
the two-channel HDTV receiver 10, a 1050-line image is reconstructed per 
the linear matrix operation depicted in the lower portion of FIG. 6. It 
will be noted that the sides consist of A.sub.INT and A'.sub.INT and 
B.sub.VF, B'.sub.VF, where A.sub.INT and A'.sub.INT are interpolated lines 
obtained by combining two or more B.sub.VF or B'.sub.VF lines, 
respectively. 
Another advantage of the weighted coefficients is that they provide more 
equal signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) for lines A and B of the reconstructed 
HDTV picture. If it be assumed that the video signals from the Channel 1 
and 2 receivers have equal noise voltages, N, for the case of even A and B 
weightings as shown in FIG. 4, the signal-to-noise ratio of the A lines of 
the reconstructed 1050-line picture is 
##EQU1## 
and the signal-to-noise ratio of the B lines is B/N. This represents an 
inequality of 7 dB between the S/N of lines A and B. For the case of the 
weighted coefficients utilized in FIG. 6, the S/N of the A lines of the 
reconstructed 1050-line picture is, 
##EQU2## 
and the S/N of the B lines is B/N, which represents an inequality of only 
2.8 dB between the S/N of lines A and B. Actually, the S/N of lines A and 
B are in even closer balance because, as will be seen, the luminance video 
signal undergoes a slightly greater time compression in Channel 2 than it 
does in Channel 1. 
Turning now to a general description of the video processing aspects of the 
2-channel system, as previously mentioned, standards for an HDTV 
production system are still to be determined, one prospect being the 
1125-line, 60 field, 2:1 interlace, 5:3 aspect ratio, with 20 MHz 
luminance bandwidth and 6 MHz color difference signal bandwidth, proposed 
by NHK. There being no production standard, it follows that there is not 
at the present a standards converter to interface production and broadcast 
HDTV signals. The present system is based on the premise that whatever the 
HDTV production standard ultimately adopted, it can be converted to a 
1050-line, 2:1 interlace, 5:3 aspect radio format. In accordance with the 
present invention, this assumed format is reformatted to be carried 
525-lines in each of two 24 MHz bandwidth DBS channels; Channel 1 carries 
a 525-line, 4:3 aspect ratio, color picture plus sound, while Channel 2 
carries the additional picture information necessary to reconstitute the 
HDTV signal. The generation of a 525-line compatible signal for Channel 1 
and of the augmentation signal for Channel 2 will now be described with 
reference to FIG. 7. 
As briefly discussed earlier in connection with FIG. 6, at the sending end, 
the 1050-line HDTV signal is partitioned into two 525-line pairs A and B, 
each line-pair consisting of two time-sequential lines from the same 
field. The luminance occupies a baseband width of 16.0 MHz and the active 
line period is 26.3 microseconds. Considering first the generation of the 
525-line, 4:3 aspect ratio picture from the 1050-line, 5:3 aspect ratio 
source picture, it will be understood that the source signals are R, G and 
B color signals which have been combined in a conventional linear matrix 
to produce a luminance component, Y, and two color difference signals, R-Y 
and B-Y. The 1050-line HDTV signal is partitioned into two 525-line pairs, 
A and B, shown in FIG. 7(A), each line-pair consisting of two time 
sequential lines from the same field. Each line has an active length of 
26.3 microseconds (half that of the active area of a 525-line signal). 
Using the weighting coefficients discussed above, lines A and B are 
combined into an AB signal and the side areas are cropped to the 4:3 
aspect image to generate the matrixed AB luminance signal shown as 
waveform (B) in FIG. 7 which, it will be noted, has an active line length 
of about 21 microseconds, with the luminance occupying a base bandwidth of 
16.0 MHz. Prefiltered line-alternate color difference signals R-Y/B-Y from 
lines A and B (waveform (C) in FIG. 7) are cropped to produce the 4:3 
aspect ratio signal C.sub.c, shown in waveform (D), having an active 
length of 21 microseconds and with the color signal occupying a baseband 
width of 5.3 MHz. 
On the assumption that other broadcasters will employ 525-line 
transmissions with a luminance to color difference bandwidth ratio of 3 to 
1, the matrixed (AB).sub.WB luminance signal (waveform (B)) is 
substantially three times the bandwidth of the color difference signals of 
the 4:3 aspect ratio signal C.sub.c. The luminance signal, (AB).sub.WB, 
and the line-alternating color difference signals, C.sub.c, are then time 
division multiplexed into the 63.5 microsecond line period of a 525-line 
signal as shown in waveform (F) of FIG. 7. This is achieved by time 
expanding the (AB).sub.WB signal by a factor of two, which results in a 
two-to-one reduction of the signal frequency, namely, to a baseband width 
of 8 MHz. The color signal C.sub.c is time compressed by a three-to-two 
factor, which causes the maximum signal frequency to become 8 MHz, the 
same as that of the luminance signal. Thus, the time division multiplexed 
luminance and color difference signals occupy 56 microseconds, leaving 
about 7.5 microseconds per line period for signal transitions, clamps, 
audio and sync signals. 
It will be recognized that the signal format (waveform (F)) for DBS Channel 
1 is a typical 525-line time multiplexed component television signal; 
therefore, a 525-line DBS receiver could readily convert the TMC luminance 
and the line sequential color difference signals to occupy the 52.6 
microsecond active period of a scan line and an enhanced quality picture 
having about 6.4 MHz of luminance bandwidth and 2.13 MHz color difference 
bandwidths. 
Turning now to a functional description of the generation of the 
augmentation signal carried by the DBS Channel 2, as has been noted 
previously, this channel carries the additional information that when 
added to the information from Channel 1, reconstitutes the HDTV picture. 
It will be recalled from the description of the Channel 1 signal that 
Channel 1 carries only matrixed information from line pairs AB. As will be 
seen later, separation of line A from line B in the HDTV display is 
accomplished by a complementary matrix which depends for its operation on 
the availability of either an unmatrixed line A or line B of the 525-line 
pairs. For the sake of simplicity at this juncture, line B of the 5:3 
aspect picture is low-pass filtered to 12 MHz to produce the signal 
B.sub.LF illustrated as waveform (G) in FIG. 7 for transmission in Channel 
2. 
Recalling from the above description that Channel 1 carries line alternate 
color difference signals for only the 4:3 aspect ratio picture, that is, 
signal C.sub.c shown in waveform (D), Channel 2 must, therefore, carry the 
other color difference signal, designated C' and illustrated as waveform 
(K) in FIG. 7, with a 5:3 aspect. In addition, Channel 2 carries the 
missing color signal C.sub.l and C.sub.r for the left and right sides, 
respectively, of the 5:3 aspect ratio picture; these signals, each having 
an active line period of 3.1 microseconds and a color difference bandwidth 
of 5.3 MHz, are shown to the left and right, respectively, of the C.sub.c 
waveform, and slightly overlap the C.sub.c signal. 
The luminance signal B.sub.LF and the alternating color difference signals 
C' are the time division multiplexed into the 63.5 microsecond line period 
of a 525-line signal (waveform (M)). The color difference signal C' is 
time compressed by a three-to-two factor, which causes its maximum signal 
frequency to become 8 MHz, and the B.sub.LF signal is appropriately time 
expanded so as to also occupy a baseband width of 8 MHz. The color 
difference signals C.sub.l and C.sub.r are each time compressed to two 
microseconds and slightly overlap the C.sub.c signal in Channel 1 to 
permit clean reconstruction of the 5:3 aspect color image in the HDTV 
receiver. Thus, it is seen that 60.9 microseconds of the line period are 
allocated for the A.sub.LF, C', C.sub.l and C.sub.r signals, leaving 2.6 
microseconds per line period for clamping and synchronizing pulses, and 
possibly audio/data. 
As will have become evident from the description thus far, the circuits for 
implementing the time expansion/compression and multiplexing to produce 
the signals for the two channels require accurate timing and the 
generation of multiple clock signals. As will be seen, the various time 
compression and decompression processes are accomplished with memory 
devices into which sampled video signals are written at one frequency, 
F.sub.w, and read out at a different frequency, F.sub.r, where F.sub.r 
/F.sub.w is the time compression (or bandwidth expansion) ratio being 
applied to the signal. Since different compression ratios are used at 
various stages of the system, several interrelated clock frequencies are 
required, these preferably being generated from a single master clock 
having a frequency F.sub.M. In defining the compression/expansion ratios 
at different stages of the HDTV system, it is desirable (and probably 
essential) to maintain clock relationships that result in integer numbers 
of samples per television line at all stages of the video processing; that 
is, an integer number of samples per line should result when a television 
line is sampled in either its compressed form or its expanded form, for 
both the 5:3 and 4:3 aspect ratio pictures. Recalling that Channel 1 
broadcasts a 4:3 aspect ratio picture obtained from the 5:3 aspect picture 
by selecting 4/5 of each 5:3 television line, the number of samples per 
line for the HDTV luminance signal must be divisible by 5; that is, it 
must contain 5 as a factor. 
Compared to the luminance signal, each color difference signal has a third 
of the bandwidth, employs one-third the sampling frequency and, therefore, 
has one-third the number of samples per line. Consequently, the number of 
samples per line for the HDTV luminance signal should be divisible by 3 
(as well as by 5). 
The sampling frequency, F.sub.s, for the HDTV luminance signal is chosen to 
be between 2.2 and 2.5 times the highest video frequency, and more 
accurately determined by the integer number of samples per television line 
period. The line period being the inverse of the horizontal scan 
frequency, which is exactly given by the frame rate times the number of 
scan lines per frame, brings up the question of whether the field rate of 
the DBS HDTV signal should be 60 Hz or the 59.94 Hz field rate of the 
525-line NTSC standard. Regardless of the choice, its effect on HDTV 
signal processing is minimal and will simply change all clock frequencies 
by the exact factor 1.001. 
By definition, the frequency F.sub.M of the master clock is the highest 
frequency required in a processing system, and desirably is minimized. The 
highest video sampling frequency, F.sub.s, is that of the HDTV luminance 
signal. Since one of the signals generated by the processing is for a 
525-line 4:3 aspect ratio picture (that is, one half the line rate and 
four fifths the line width of the 1050-line HDTV picture), one of the 
required clocks is (1/2.times.4/5)F.sub.s =2/5F.sub.s. This implies that 
if all clocks are to be derived by simple count-down from F.sub.M, the 
master clock will be at least equal to 2F.sub.s, in which case F.sub.M 
will be divisible by 2, 3, and 5. All other clocks in the system are 
related to F.sub.M by a combination of these factors, thereby to simplify 
the system and automatically guarantee an integer number of samples per 
television line at any stage of the signal processing. 
Having in mind that F.sub.s is 2.2 to 2.5 times the video bandwidth of 16 
MHz, making the value of F.sub.s about 40 MHz, in order for the master 
clock to have a frequency of 2F.sub.s, it should be between 80 MHz and 90 
MHz. A clock frequency near 40 MHz possessing the necessary 
sample-per-line relationships discussed above is 40.635 MHz for 60 Hz 
field rates or 40.594406 MHz for 59.94 Hz field rates; both are nearly 
equal to three times the 13.5 MHz sampling frequency proposed for digital 
television studios. 
The system now to be described utilizes another suitable HDTV luminance 
sampling frequency, F.sub.s, which meets all the sample-per-line 
relationships; that sampling frequency is 42.9545 MHz, which happens to be 
equal to 35/11 of 13.5 MHz, or 12 F.sub.sc, where F.sub.sc is the NTSC 
color subcarrier frequency. This clock frequency is obviously suitable for 
a 59.94 Hz field rate system. 
The basic processes involved in the generation of two 8 MHz video signals, 
one for DBS Channel 1 and the other for DBS Channel 2 having been 
described, reference is now made to the block diagram shown in FIG. 8 of 
an HDTV video encoder for performing the required video processing. The 
originating 1050-line input signals, which have been matrixed into Y, R-Y, 
B-Y component signals, are low-pass filtered to 16 MHz, 5.3 MHz, and 5.3 
MHz, respectively, by low-pass filters 20, 22, and 24, respectively. The 
luminance signal, Y, is converted by an analog-to-digital converter 26, at 
a sampling rate of F.sub.s, to linear PCM digital signals, and the color 
difference signals R-Y and B-Y are converted by analog-to-digital 
converters 28 and 30, respectively, with sampling rates of F.sub.s /3, to 
linear PCM digital signals. The digital color difference signals are 
vertically filtered by conventional vertical filters 32 and 34, 
respectively, the outputs of which are applied as first and second inputs 
to a multiplexer 36, and also as first and second inputs to a signal 
selection gate 38, the functions of which will be described presently. The 
vertical filters are of known construction and may take the form of 1:2:1 
comb filters for combining signal information from two or more television 
lines for limiting the "aliasing defects" which may arise from the 
transmission of the two color difference components on alternate lines. 
The digitized luminance signal representing line pairs A and B produced at 
the output of A/D converter 26 is applied to a delay circuit 43 which 
exhibits a delay equal to the delay introduced in the color difference 
signals by vertical filters 32 and 34. It is provided to maintain the 
correct timing between the luminance signal and the color difference 
signals. If 1:2:1 comb filters are used for the vertical filters, delay 
circuit 43 delays the luminance signal by one H period; that is, the 
period of one horizontal line. The output of delay circuit 43 is applied 
as one input to a matrix 42 of conventional design and also to the input 
of a delay line 40 for delaying the signal by the period, H, that is, the 
period of one horizontal line, prior to its application as a second input 
to matrix 42. Consequently, whenever line A.sub.WB appears in the delayed 
signal, line B.sub.WB in the undelayed signal appears in time coincidence 
therewith to permit their being matrixed. The matrix is operative to 
matrix the line pairs with the weighting coefficients shown in the upper 
left-hand portion of FIG. 6 to produce a wideband (AB).sub.WB signal at 
its output. 
The central 4/5ths of every other (AB).sub.WB line combination is written 
into a first in-first out (FIFO) memory device 44 at F.sub.s rate, the 
central 4/5ths being obtained by gating the active line to provide the 4:3 
aspect ratio. The FIFO 44, of known construction, may comprise a pair of 
shift registers into one of which data is written as data is being read 
out from the other, or it may consist of two banks of random access 
memories (RAMs). The line combination written into memory device 44 is 
read out every 63.5 microsecond line period at a F.sub.s /2 rate, causing 
a time expansion by a factor of two and an attendant frequency compression 
by a factor of two. Accordingly, the video read out of FIFO 44 occupies 8 
MHz of base bandwidth. 
Every two lines, multiplexer 36 selects alternately between color 
difference signals R-Y and B-Y, and these are written into a second FIFO 
memory device 46 at a F.sub.s /3 rate with the 4:3 aspect (i.e., the 
central 4/5ths of the active line is selected by suitable gating of the 
FIFO 46), and then read out every 63.5 microsecond line period at a 
F.sub.s /2 rate. This results in a three-to-two time compression which, in 
turn, causes the base bandwidth of the color difference signals to be 
expanded by 3/2, from 5.3 MHz to 8 MHz. The 4:3 aspect ratio luminance 
signal from FIFO 44 and the color difference signals from FIFO 46 
(designated C.sub.c in FIG. 7) are then multiplexed in a multiplexer 48 
which first selects one or the other of the alternately occurring color 
difference signals, and then the luminance signal, to form the 525-line 
TMC signal illustrated in waveform (F) of FIG. 7. After digital-to-analog 
conversion in a D/A converter 50, clocked at a F.sub.s /2 rate, and 
filtering in a low-pass filter 52 to 8 MHz, this becomes the video signal 
for DBS Channel 1. 
All the clocks and timing information are generated from a master clock, 
represented by block 54, having a frequency F.sub.M equal to 2F.sub.s and 
locked to the horizontal scan frequency of the 1050-line signal. The 
timing signal generator 54 also generates a data clock F.sub.d which is 
transmitted in the data channel and serves to synchronize the receiver 
clocks. Connections from block 54 to other blocks of the system which 
require timing signals have been omitted in the interest of simplification 
of the diagram. 
A similar process is used to generate the TMC video signal for Channel 2. 
The 16 MHz digital signal from A/D converter 26 is filtered to 12 MHz by a 
low-pass filter 44 to obtain one low frequency luminance signal. This 
low-passed luminance signal of line B, labeled B.sub.LF, is directly 
applied to one input of a edge selector 58 and is also vertically filtered 
by a vertical filter 60 to provide the low frequency side signal B.sub.VF 
(e.g., A.sub.LF +B.sub.LF) for the edges of the active line in time 
coincidence with the low frequency signal B.sub.LF of line B. The output 
of vertical filter 60 is applied to a second input of the edge selector, 
which is operative in response to an edge gating signal to select the 
signal B.sub.LF for the central part of the active line (that is, the 4:3 
aspect ratio signal), and the signal B.sub.VF for the edges of the active 
line, to produce a low frequency (AB)'.sub.LF signal at its output. The 
active portion of every other one of the (AB)'.sub.LF lines is written 
into a first in-first out memory device 62 at F.sub.s rate and read out at 
the rate of 2 F.sub.s /3, resulting in a 3/2 time expansion, or a 
frequency compression of 2/3, thereby reducing baseband width of the 12 
MHz luminance signal to 8 MHz. 
The signal selection gating means 38 selects in proper order to active line 
segments of the color difference signals (shown in the lower lefthand 
corner of FIG. 7) to ultimately produce the multiplexed color difference 
portion of the signal format shown in waveform (M) of FIG. 7. In 
particular, circuit 38 selects first the C.sub.1 segment, then the C.sub.r 
segment, and every two lines selects either R-Y or B-Y; for the lines when 
R-Y is selected for C', the circuit selects B-Y for the side segments 
C.sub.1 and C.sub.r and, conversely, when B-Y is selected for C', R-Y is 
selected for the "side" segments. The timing of multiplexer 36 and 
selection circuit 38 is such that when B-Y is selected by multiplexer 36, 
R-Y is being selected for the C' signal by selection circuit 38, and when 
R-Y is being selected by the multiplexer 36, signal selection circuit 38 
selects B-Y for the C' signal. The resulting color difference signals 
produced at the output of selection circuit 38 are written into a fourth 
first in-first out memory device 64 at F.sub.s /3 rate and read out at a 
rate of F.sub.s /2. This results in a 3/2 time compression, or a frequency 
expansion of 2/3, causing the baseband width of the color difference 
signals appearing at the output of FIFO 64 to be 3/2.times.5.3 MHz=8 MHz. 
The luminance signal (AB)'.sub.LF from FIFO 62 and color difference signals 
from FIFO 64 are time multiplexed in a multiplexer 66 which selects in 
order the C.sub.l color difference signal, the C.sub.r color difference 
signal, the C' color difference signal, and then the luminance signal, to 
form the 525-line TMC signal illustrated in waveform (M) of FIG. 7. After 
D/A conversion in a converter 68 clocked at F.sub.s /2 during the color 
portion and at 2 F.sub.s /3 during the luminance portion, and low-pass 
filtered to 8 MHz by a filter 70, this signal becomes the TMC video signal 
for DBS Channel 2. 
For transmission, the described time multiplexed component analog 
television signals for the DBS Channels 1 and 2 are preferably frequency 
modulated on respective RF carriers, and audio/data, picture sync and 
sundry control signals (to be described) are time multiplexed with the 
video. Referring to the block diagram of an HDTV receiver shown in FIG. 9, 
and deferring until later a description of the receiver front end, this 
receiver combines the video signals from the DBS Channels 1 and 2 and 
performs processes complementing those of the just-described HDTV encoder. 
Appropriate clocks and timing signals, synchronized to F.sub.d signals 
from both channels are generated by a clock and timing signal generator 
80. Again, in the interest of simplifying the diagram, the connections 
from generator 80 to the various signal processing devices requiring 
timing pulses have been omitted. The Channel 1 video signal is digitized 
by an A/D converter 82 clocked at a F.sub.s /2 sampling rate, and the 
Channel 2 video signal is digitized by an A/D converter 84 clocked at a 
sampling rate of F.sub.s /2 during the color portion of the TMC signal and 
at a 2F.sub.s /3 sampling rate during the luminance portion. These are, of 
course, the sampling frequencies that are used for the digital-to-analog 
conversions in the HDTV encoder of FIG. 8 that generates the two channel 
signals for transmission. 
The digitized Channel 1 video signal, having the format shown in waveform 
(F) of FIG. 7, is applied to a demultiplexer 86 which separates it into 
its luminance, Y, and color difference signals, C, for separate 
processing. The luminance component is time compressed by a factor of two 
in a first in-first out memory device 88 by writing the signal in at a 
rate of F.sub.s /2 and reading it out at F.sub.s rate, thereby to convert 
it to an HDTV line period signal. Memory device 88 is suitably gated so 
that its output signal is in time coincidence with the corresponding 4/5 
central portion of the luminance component received via Channel 2, as will 
be described later. This time compression causes the signal bandwidth at 
this stage to be expanded to 16 MHz. The resulting luminance signal 
(AB).sub.WB is applied to the plus input of a subtracting circuit 92, and 
is also low-pass filtered to 12 MHz by a filter 90 to produce the low 
frequency signal (AB).sub.LF, which is applied to the minus input of 
subtraction circuit 92 for subtraction from the (AB).sub.WB signal to 
produce a high frequency luminance signal, Y.sub.HF, covering the band 
from 12 MHz to 16 MHz. The signal Y.sub.HF contains luminance information 
from each line pair AB and is the common high frequency signal that is 
mixed back into the lines A.sub.LF and B.sub.LF, after de-matrixing, to be 
described. 
The color difference signals C.sub.c from Channel 1 are time expanded by 
3/2 times in a first in-first out memory device 94 by writing the signal 
in at F.sub.s /2 and reading out at F.sub.s /3, and applied to a device 96 
for splicing the color for the picture edges to the color signal C.sub.c 
to reconstruct the HDTV active line. It will be recalled from the 
description of the HDTV encoder that the color difference signals 
transmitted by Channel 1 are for only 4/5ths of the HDTV active line and, 
therefore, need to be augmented at the two sides by the "side" color 
signals transmitted via Channel 2. To this end, a demultiplexer 98 
separates the digitized TMC signal from A/D converter 84 into the color 
components C.sub.l, C.sub.r, and C' in that order, followed by the 
luminance signal, Y. The C.sub.l and C.sub.r color signals are time 
expanded by 3/2 times by respective first in-first out memory devices 100 
and 102 by writing in at a rate of F.sub.s /2 and reading out at a rate of 
F.sub.s /3, and the resulting signals applied as second and third inputs 
to splicer 96. Splicer 96 includes means for switching from the left side 
signal C.sub.l input, to the center signal C.sub.c input, to the right 
side signal C.sub.r input, at proper times during a television line and 
repeating the process on alternate lines. The "spliced" color signal is 
applied to a color difference signal interpolating filter 106, the purpose 
of which will be described presently. 
The color signals C' from Channel 2 are also time expanded by 3/2 times in 
a first in-first out memory device 104 by writing at F.sub.s /2 and 
reading at F.sub.s /3, and the resulting signal is applied to a second 
interpolating filter 105. Interpolating filters 105 and 106 are of known 
construction and perform line-to-line averaging of two or more successive 
lines to reconstruct the lines that were not transmitted to generate 
simultaneous HDTV R-Y and B-Y signals. The signals from interpolating 
filters 105 and 106 are applied to a multiplexer 107 which on alternate 
lines steers the signal from filter 106 to the input of a D/A converter 
108 and the signal from filter 105 to a D/A converter 110. During the next 
alternate lines the signal from filter 106 is steered to D/A converter 110 
and the signal from filter 105 is steered to D/A converter 108. This 
causes color difference signal R-Y to be applied to D/A converter 108 
exclusively and color difference signal B-Y to be applied only to D/A 
converter 110. The D/A converters 108 and 110, each clocked at a rate of 
F.sub.s /3, convert the R-Y and B-Y signals to analog and, after low pass 
filtering at 5.3 MHz by respective low-pass filters 112 and 114, are 
available to be used in a 1050-line HDTV display. 
The complementary luminance signal, (AB)'.sub.LF, from Channel 2 is time 
compressed in a first in-first out memory device 116 by writing at 2/3 
F.sub.s and reading at F.sub.s, into an HDTV line period signal having the 
full 5:3 aspect and a baseband width of 12 MHz. This signal, along with 
the signal (AB).sub.LF, derived from the Channel 1 video signal, are 
applied as inputs to a dematrix device 118. The dematrix device utilizes a 
known arrangement of adders and subtractors, and the weighting 
coefficients shown in the lower portion of FIG. 6, for converting the 
combined AB lines back to the separate A.sub.LF or A'.sub.LF or B.sub.LF 
or B'.sub.LF lines of the HDTV line pairs; it will be recognized, however, 
that full separation of the signals A.sub.LF and B.sub.LF is possible only 
for the central 80% area of the picture because (AB).sub.LF is available 
only for the 4:3 aspect picture. The signals A.sub.LF and B.sub.LF (or 
A'.sub.LF and B'.sub.LF) produced at the output of dematrix 118 are 
selected in a multiplexer 120a, forming part of a side interpolator device 
120, during the central 80% active area of the picture under control of an 
edge gating signal. At the left and right 10% areas of the picture, the 
vertically filtered signal B.sub.VF (that is, the edges of (AB)'.sub.LF 
from Channel 2 is selected on alternate lines and A.sub.INT produced at 
the output of a line interpolation filter 120b is selected for the other 
lines. This is accomplished by means of a multiplexer 120c controlled by a 
suitable gating signal. The side signals B.sub.VF or A.sub.INT are then 
inserted into the side portions of the picture by means of multiplexer 
120a. The line interpolation filter 120b preferably is a known form of 
digital interpolator which averages two successive lines to generate the 
intermediate missing line; such interpolators are known as 1:2:1 vertical 
interpolator filters. A smooth transition from the center 4/5 of the 
picture to the sides is achieved by using known video "fading" techniques. 
In order to extend the horizontal resolution of the HDTV picture, the 
Y.sub.HF information derived from the Channel 1 luminance signal is mixed 
with the A.sub.LF and B.sub.LF lines by adding the Y.sub.HF signal into 
the A.sub.LF and B.sub.LF signals in a mixing circuit 121. The output of 
mixing circuit 121 is applied to a D/A converter 122, clocked at F.sub.s, 
and the resulting analog signal is filtered to 16 MHz in a low-pass filter 
124 to provide the luminance signal for the 1050-line HDTV display. 
Thus, it is seen that the video processor of the HDTV receiver 
reconstitutes the 5:3 aspect ratio picture by combining the two video 
signals from Channels 1 and 2 into a 1050-line, 2:1 interlace, 60-field 
raster. The 4:3 aspect central 80% of the picture area exhibits HDTV 
quality and the left 10% and the right 10% side areas exhibit interpolated 
1050-line quality. 
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the video processor for a 525-line receiver 
tuned to DBS Channel 1. The decoding processor is quite similar to that of 
a typical 525-line DBS receiver for time division multiplexed component 
signals. The received Channel 1 signal is demodulated by conventional 
means (not shown in this figure but described later in connection with 
FIG. 14) and the video signal, appearing on input line 130, is digitized 
by an analog-to-digital converter 132 clocked at an F.sub.s /2 rate. 
Synchronizing pulses stripped from the incoming video signal are used to 
synchronize a timing signal generator 134 which generates sync clocks and 
other timing signals for clocking A/D converter 132 and other signal 
processing devices. Connections from signal generator 134 to the affected 
blocks of the diagram have been omitted in the interest of simplification. 
The digitized signal from converter 132 is applied to a multiplexer 136 
which includes a digital decoder and suitable filters for separating the 
TMC video signal into its luminance, Y, and line sequential color 
difference signals, C.sub.c. The luminance signal is applied to and time 
expanded by a factor of 5/4 by a first in-first out memory device 138 by 
writing at a clock rate of F.sub.s /2 and reading out at 2F.sub.s /5. The 
line sequential color signals are time expanded by a factor of 15/4 by a 
first in-first out memory device 140 by writing at an F.sub.s /2 rate and 
reading out at a rate of 2F.sub.s /15. As is conventional in color 
sequential systems, the color difference signals from FIFO 140 are 
vertically interpolated by means of conventional interpolating filters 142 
to generate reconstructed R-Y and B-Y signals, and then reconverted to 
analog signals by respective D/A converters 144 and 146, both clocked at a 
rate of 2F.sub.s /15. The resulting analog signals are low-pass filtered 
by respective filters 148 and 150 to 2.1 MHz. 
Returning now to the processing of the luminance signal, to compensate for 
the delays inherent in the vertical interpolation of the color difference 
signals, the time expanded luminance signal from FIFO 138 is suitably 
delayed by a delay device 152 before being reconverted to analog form by a 
D/A converter 154 clocked at a rate of 2F.sub.s /5. The resulting analog 
signal is filtered to 6.4 MHz by low-pass filter 156. Thus, a 525-line, 
2:1 interlaced, 4:3 aspect ratio, component signal consisting of 6.4 MHz 
of Y and 2.1 MHz of R-Y and B-Y are available at the output of the video 
processor for application to a display (shown in FIG. 3). 
The processing of the video signals in the 1050-line and 525-line receivers 
having been described, the details of the formats of the transmitted TMC 
signals for the two channels will now be discussed. As noted previously, 
DBS Channels 1 and 2 each carry time multiplexed analog component 
television signals frequency modulated on a respective RF carrier. Audio, 
data, picture sync and sundry control signals are time multiplexed with 
the video. Consequently, only one component signal exists at a time on 
each carrier, thereby avoiding intermodulation distortions. The signals on 
Channels 1 and 2 are time related in that data headers and sync signals 
are time coincident in order to synchronize the video line periods in the 
HDTV receiver. The two channels traverse identical up-and-down-link paths 
to and from the satellite so that time differences, if any, between the 
arrival of the signals from the two channels should not interfere with 
synchronization in the HDTV receiver. 
In the discussion to follow, all clocks will be considered as synchronized 
to multiples of the 3.58 MHz NTSC color subcarrier frequency, F.sub.sc, as 
follows: 
EQU F.sub.M =24F.sub.sc =85.92 MHz 
EQU F.sub.s =12F.sub.sc =42.96 MHz 
EQU F.sub.d =6F.sub.sc =21.48 MHz 
The line, field, and subcarrier frequencies, F.sub.h, F.sub.f and F.sub.sc, 
respectively, are those of the NTSC television system per the following 
equations: 
EQU F.sub.h =(4.5.times.10.sup.6)/286=15734.26 Hz 
EQU F.sub.f =2F.sub.h /525=59.94 Hz 
EQU F.sub.sc =455/2F.sub.h =3.579545 MHz 
The use of these values facilitates the interface with existing NTSC 
television receivers, especially those having comb filters. 
Referring now to FIG. 11, the upper portion illustrates the TMC format in 
transmission Channel 1 and the lower portion shows the TMC format in 
Channel 2. One line period, 1/F.sub.h =63.55 microseconds, contains 1365 
samples at the data clock frequency, F.sub.d, which, as shown, is equal to 
6 F.sub.sc =21.48 MHz. In Channel 1, the luminance video, Y.sub.4:3, 
occupies 903 samples, and the color difference video, C.sub.4:3, occupies 
301 samples, exactly 1/3 the number of samples for the luminance. Thus, 
the luminance video occupies 42.04 microseconds and the color difference 
video occupies 14.01 microseconds of the 63.55 microseconds line period. 
Synchronization and audio-data takes up 125 samples which occupy 
approximately 5.8 microseconds. The balance of the samples, thirty-six in 
number, are for partitioning and clamping periods; the number set aside 
for each is set forth in FIG. 11. 
In the augmentation Channel 2, the luminance video, Y.sub.5:3, occupies 846 
samples; thus, compared to the luminance in Channel 1, the luminance, 
Y.sub.5:3 in Channel 2 carries 5/4 of the picture with 94% of the samples. 
As a consequence, the baseband width of the luminance video, Y.sub.5:3, is 
75% of the bandwidth of the Y.sub.4:3 video signal. The color difference 
video, C.sub.c5:3, occupies 376 samples and thus has the same video 
bandwidth as the color difference video of Channel 1. The extra color 
information for the left and right panels of the HDTV picture is carried 
in C.sub.l5:3 and C.sub.r5:3, each of which occupies 45 samples. 
Synchronization and data uses 13 samples. The remaining balance of 40 
samples are used for partitioning and clamping periods, the number used 
for each being set forth below the diagram for Channel 2. No time is 
allocated for audio during active lines; however, Channel 2, just like 
Channel 1, has the vertical blanking interval available for audio and may 
be used, if necessary, should the 5.8 microseconds per television line of 
the Channel 1 signal be inadequate. 
FIG. 12 graphically displays the relationships between the durations of the 
originating video signals, the time multiplexed component signals, the 
525-line video signal, and the 1050-line video signal in Channels 1 and 2, 
thus, in effect, displaying the video signal processing performed by the 
encoder of FIG. 8, the HDTV receiver of FIG. 9, and the 525-line receiver 
of FIG. 10. First considering Channel 1, it will be recalled from the 
discussion of FIG. 7 that the active portion of the 4:3 aspect line AB has 
a duration of 21.02 microseconds at a maximum frequency of 16 MHz and 
digitized into 903 samples at a rate of F.sub.s =12F.sub.sc. The 4:3 
aspect ratio color difference video likewise occurs on an active line 
portion having a duration of 21.02 microseconds and has a maximum 
frequency of 5.3 MHz. This signal is initially digitized into 301 samples 
at a sampling rate of 4 F.sub.sc. In order that the color difference video 
and the luminance video in the TMC signal have the same frequency, the 
Y.sub.4:3 luminance is time expanded by a factor of 2, thus reducing its 
frequency from 16 MHz to 8 MHz, and the C.sub.4:3 signal is time 
compressed by a factor of 2/3 to 14.01 microseconds (1/3 that of 
Y.sub.4:3) with an attendant increase in frequency from 5:3 MHz to 8 MHz. 
At the 525-line receiver the Y.sub.4:3 video is time expanded by a factor 
of 5/4 to 52.55 microseconds, the active period of a line of a 
conventional 525-line receiver. The color difference signal C.sub.4:3 is 
also time expanded by a factor of 15/4 to equal the 52.55 microseconds 
active line period of the 525-line receiver. At the 1050-line receiver, 
for 4/5 of the active line period, that is, 21.02 microseconds, the 
Y.sub.4:3 TMC signal is time compressed by a factor of two and the 
C.sub.4:3 signal is time expanded by a factor 3/2 which, in turn, 
increases the frequency of the luminance and chrominance components to 16 
MHz and 5.3 MHz, respectively, corresponding to the originating signals. 
The TMC timing for Channel 2 differs in that the active portion of the 5:3 
aspect ratio area line is 26.28 microseconds, instead of 21.02 
microseconds, with the consequence that when sampled at 12F.sub.sc and 
4F.sub.sc, respectively, they are divided into a larger number of samples 
than the 4:3 aspect ratio signals. In order that both the Y.sub.5:3 and 
C.sub.c5:3 signals have the same frequency when time multiplexed, the 
luminance component is low-pass filtered to 12 MHz and it is time expanded 
and the color difference signal is time compressed with the indicated 
factors to cause both to have a maximum baseband frequency of 8 MHz. In 
the TMC signal, each of the C.sub.l and C.sub.r color signals for the left 
and right panels of the picture comprises 45 samples occupying a time slot 
of 2.1 microseconds. At the 1050-line receiver, the Y.sub.5:3 signal is 
time compressed from 39.43 microseconds to the desired 26.28 microseconds, 
and the color difference signal, as well as the C.sub.l and C.sub.r 
supplementary color signals, are all time expanded by the proper factors 
to restore their 5.3 MHz frequency to occupy the active portion of the 
1050-line period. 
For the DBS application of the system, in which the TMC signal frequency 
modulates an RF carrier in the frequency range of 12.2 to 12.7 GHz, the 
front end of the HDTV receiver is configured as shown in FIG. 13. An 
antenna 178 with a reflector diameter of about one meter is pointed toward 
the desired orbital slot. A low noise amplifier and converter 180, powered 
through a lead-in cable 182, is fastened directly on the antenna, this 
assembly being adapted to accept the entire 12.2-12.7 GHz DBS band. A 
first intermediate frequency of about 1.5 GHz is carried into the home on 
the low-loss coaxial cable 182. At the HDTV receiver the first IF signal 
splits into separate Channel 1 and Channel 2 paths 186 and 188, 
respectively, for application to respective second converters 190 and 192 
which are connected to receive a signal from respective local oscillators 
194 and 196 which are tuneable and serve as channel selectors. The 
frequencies of the local oscillators are such that the second converters 
each produce a second intermediate frequency of about 70 MHz, which are 
amplified by respective amplifiers 198 and 200, limited by respective 
conventional limiters 202 and 204, and detected in respective conventional 
FM discriminators 206 and 208. The outputs of the discriminators are 
applied to respective gain control amplifiers 210 and 212, the outputs 
from which comprise the Channel 1 video and Channel 2 video, respectively, 
both in TMC format, which are then processed by the video processor 
illustrated in FIG. 9 to derive the 1050-line, 2:1 interlaced, HDTV 
signal. 
An audio-data demodulator 214 connected to receive the amplified second 
intermediate frequency signal from amplifier 198 in Channel 1 provides the 
audio-data, sync, as well as a number of sundry control signals carried by 
the Channel 1 signal. The audio-data, which may include three or more 
sound channels and subscriber code information, is suitably processed for 
reproduction of the sound signals. The control signals include a color 
killer signal which is applied to the display circuitry of the receiver 
during monochrome programs, a 525/1050 switchover signal which is applied 
to the receiver to enable it for processing the signals from one channel 
to obtain a 525-line picture or two channels to obtain the HDTV picture, a 
Channel 2 frequency selector signal which is coupled to and controls the 
local oscillator 196 for Channel 2 in the event of HDTV broadcasts, and a 
signal representing frequency deviation figure. The latter signal is 
applied to a video gain control circuit 216 which controls gain control 
amplifiers 210 and 212 to set the video levels in the two channels to take 
into account the fact that frequency deviations may vary from one 
broadcaster to the next and thereby causing the signal amplitude to vary. 
For example, standard quality 525-line broadcasts may use more or less 
deviation than will enhance 525-line or 1050-line HDTV. The sync signal is 
applied to a circuit 218 in which it is time-matched with a sync signal 
provided by a data demodulator 220 connected to receive the second 
intermediate frequency Channel 2 signal. The time matched synchronization 
signals are applied over a line 222 to the timing signal generator 80 of 
the video processor of the HDTV receiver, and also to a video time control 
device 224 in the Channel 2 path for adjusting the Channel 2 video signal, 
if necessary, to be time-coincident with the Channel 1 video signal. 
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the front end of a receiver having the video 
processor shown in FIG. 10 for receiving a Channel 1 broadcast for a 
525-line, 4:3 aspect ratio display. An antenna 230 with a reflector 
diameter of about one meter is directed toward the desired orbital slot 
for reception of the frequency modulated carrier signal having a frequency 
in the range of 12.2 to 12.7 GHz. A low noise amplifier and converter 232 
is fastened directly on the antenna and produces a first intermediate 
frequency of about 1.5 GHz which is carried into the home on a low-loss 
coaxial cable to the 525-line receiver where it is applied to a second 
converter 234 connected to receive a local oscillator signal from 
oscillator 236. The second converter 234 produces a second intermediate 
frequency signal of about 70 MHz which is amplified in an amplifier 238, 
limited by a limiter 240 and detected in an FM discriminator 242. The 
output of the discriminator is amplified in a variable gain amplifier 246 
and the resulting TMC video signal is then processed to a baseband Y, R-Y, 
B-Y component video signal by the video processor shown in FIG. 10 for 
application directly to a monitor display or for NTSC composite color 
encoding for application to an NTSC television set. 
An audio demodulator 248, connected to receive the second intermediate 
frequency signal, provides the audio-data, sync and a color killer signal 
for application to the monitor display. Also provided is a control signal, 
indicative of frequency deviation, which is applied to a video gain 
control circuit 250 which controls gain control amplifier 246 to set the 
level of the video. 
The improved HDTV system having been described, its performance will now be 
compared with other television systems. While television video performance 
can be specified objectively in terms of image responses (spatial and 
temporal) and visible artifacts (noise, aliasing, and other impairments) 
which will be briefly discussed later, a method that is especially helpful 
in weighing cost-benefit ratios is to describe performance relative to 
other television systems, e.g., NTSC or enhanced NTSC, which will now be 
done with reference to FIG. 15. 
Vertical resolution can be expressed as a spatial frequency, f.sub.y, where 
EQU f.sub.y =(N.sub.a /2)K, 
and 
EQU N.sub.a =number of active scan lines 
EQU K=Kell factor=0.7 
Due to the image being sampled along the vertical axis by the scanning 
lines, N.sub.a /2 represents the Nyquist limit of f.sub.y. Ideally, 
f.sub.y should be vertically filtered to have no response above N.sub.a /2 
in order to avoid alias distortions. 
For purposes of the resolution comparisons to follow, horizontal resolution 
is expressed as the spatial frequency, f.sub.x, and represents the maximum 
number of cycles per picture width (c/pw) that can be resolved in the 
reproduced image. In order to relate the horizontal to the vertical 
spatial frequencies, it is convenient to express the horizontal resolution 
in terms of vertical resolution elements, as follows: 
EQU f'.sub.x =f.sub.x /aspect ratio 
where f'.sub.x is the normalized horizontal resolution in cycles per 
picture height, c/ph. Resolutions are normally expressed as television 
lines per picture height, there being two lines per spatial frequency 
cycle. 
Considering first the resolution of the present two channel system, as 
fully described above, the 1050-line HDTV picture occupies a 5:3 aspect 
ratio raster consisting of a center 4:3 aspect area and two side areas 
(0.5:3). Since the center area of the image exhibits higher horizontal and 
vertical resolutions than do the side areas, each area will be described 
separately, with reference to display (C) of FIG. 15, starting with the 
center area luminance resolution. The center area contains approximately 
970 active scan lines resulting in a luminance vertical resolution of: 
EQU f.sub.y =970/2)0.7=340 c/ph=680 television lines 
Horizontal resolution calculations are more complicated because of the 
contributions from both Channels 1 and 2 and the different luminance video 
bandwidths of the two channels; the luminance video bandwidth of Channel 1 
is 16 MHz and of Channel 2 is 12 MHz. Line A of odd fields and lines B' of 
even fields are linearly matrixed from Channels 1 and 2, the resultant 
video spectrum being 0 to 12 MHz uncombed and 12 to 16 MHz comb filtered. 
Line B of odd fields and lines A' of even fields are contributed solely by 
Channel 2 over the video spectrum 0 to 12 MHz; to these are added the 12 
to 16 MHz combed spectral signal previously mentioned to make the total 
spectrum. The luminance horizontal resolution of the 4:3 aspect center 
area is: 
EQU f'.sub.x =(t.sub.active .times.16 MHz)/aspect ratio=252c/ph=504 lines, 
where t.sub.active =21.02 microseconds and aspect ratio=4:3. The combed 
horizontal video frequencies 12 to 16 MHz causes a reduction in resolution 
on the diagonal axes of the image. 
As for side area luminance resolution, despite the fact that the side areas 
of the raster of the receiver are being scanned with 1050 lines, the 
vertical resolution is halved because all video in the side areas is 
contributed only by Channel 2, which contains 525 lines per frame, or 485 
active scan lines. The vertical resolution then is: 
EQU f.sub.y =(N.sub.a /2)K=(485/2)0.7=170c/ph=340 lines 
Luminance normalized horizontal resolution f'.sub.x of each 0.5:3 aspect 
ratio side area is: 
##EQU3## 
Considering now the center area chrominance resolution, the fact that line 
alternate color-difference signals are used causes the vertical spatial 
frequency of the chrominance image to be half that of the luminance; i.e., 
EQU f.sub.y =(970/4)0.7=170c/ph=340 lines. 
The horizontal normalized resolution of the center area's chrominance image 
is: 
EQU f'x=(t.sub.active .times.5.33 MHz)/aspect ratio=84c/ph=168 lines. 
As for the chrominance resolution of the side areas, it will be recalled 
that the side areas receive no chrominance information from Channel 1 with 
the consequence that it all must come from Channel 2 via the C.sub.c, 
C.sub.l,C.sub.r transmissions. The vertical spatial frequency is the same 
as that of the center area, namely, 170c/ph, or 340 lines. The normalized 
horizontal chrominance resolution of each side area is: 
##EQU4## 
The luminance and chrominance resolutions of the 525-line signal 
transmitted via Channel 1 is illustrated in display (B) of FIG. 15 labeled 
"Enhanced NTSC". The 525-line, 4:3 aspect ratio, TMC video signal carried 
by Channel 1 is capable of producing excellent pictures, somewhat better 
than that of an NTSC picture, but not as good as the center 4:3 area of 
the 1050-line picture shown in display(C). Luminance vertical spatial 
resolution with 485 active scan lines is: 
EQU F.sub.y =(485/2)0.7=170c/ph=340 lines, 
and luminance normalized horizontal resolution is: 
EQU f'.sub.x =(t.sub.active .times.6.4 MHz)/aspect ratio=252c/ph=504 lines. 
The chrominance being transmitted in line sequential form, the vertical 
spatial frequency is 170/2=85c/ph or 170 lines, and chrominance normalized 
horizontal resolution is: 
##EQU5## 
The resolutions of the center 4:3 aspect area of the 1050-line picture 
(display(C)) will now be compared with an NTSC picture (display(A)) 
produced by a receiver containing modern components such as a comb filter 
and a high resolution kinescope. The luminance video signal of the NTSC 
picture extends to 4.2 MHz with combing from 2.8 to 4.2 MHz. A full 
bandwidth I,Q decoder having an average chrominance bandwidth of 1.2 MHz 
(average of 1.7 MHz and 0.6 MHz Q bandwidths) is employed. 
The vertical resolution of the NTSC luminance picture is: 
##EQU6## 
Normalized horizontal luminance resolution is: 
##EQU7## 
The resolutions on the diagonal axes will be reduced by the combing of the 
video signal from 2.8 to 4.2 MHz; the comb filter also causes the vertical 
resolution of the chrominance picture to be halved to f.sub.y =85c/ph, or 
170 lines. The normalized horizontal resolution of the chrominance picture 
is: 
##EQU8## 
Although the invention has been described as applied to an HDTV system in 
which compatible 525-line picture signals are broadcast on one of two 
channels, the concept is useful in and can be readily applied to any 
interlaced standard system, such as the 625-line, 50 fields/sec., 2:1 
interlace system, in which case the source signal would be a 1250-line, 50 
fields/sec., 5:3 aspect ratio, signal, and 625 lines would be transmitted 
in each of two channels. Also, although specific imple mentations of video 
processors for the encoder and decoders have been described, it will be 
apparent to ones skilled in the art that such is by way of illustration 
only and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the 
invention. Further, although the major immediate use of systems 
incorporating the principles of this invention is the field of direct 
broadcast from satellite, they can be used in other environments; for 
example, the Channel 1 and 2 signals can be transmitted at baseband 
frequencies over cable systems. Therefore, it is understood that the 
invention is to be limited solely to the scope of the appended claims.