Noise reduction apparatus for eliminating periodic noise

Abstract: When a first videotape (VT1) as a reference is reproduced by the rotary head (10), the periodic noise output by the signal-processing means (11) is extracted by the extracting means (12) and stored in the memory section (13) according to the reproduction timing. Then, when a second videotape (VT2) on which a desired video signal has been recorded is reproduced, the electric signal reproduced from the second videotape (VT2) by the rotary head (10) is processed by the signal processing means (11), from the output of which the periodic noise stored in the memory-section (13) is then subtracted. As a result of this, the periodic noise is removed from the video signal reproduced for the second videotape (VT2).

Description: This invention relates to a noise reduction apparatus for eliminating periodic noise in videotape recorders or the like. In videotape recorder devices (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR devices), for example, the rotary head and related components can develop periodic noises. These periodic noises include fluctuations in the chrominance signal phase or changes in the luminance signal level. Such periodic noises can cause a particular portion of the screen to vary in color or brightness over a specific range. These phenomena have not been generally considered a result of noises, but, in most cases, of signal themselves. The VTR device is provided with various noise reduction devices for noise removal. However, those noise reduction devices are for removing random noises rather than periodic noises. DE-A-3 400 103 A1 discloses a method and device for removing noise from a signal, especially an audio signal. A noise portion of the signal is detected and used as a reference noise signal in a memory section, and the stored digitalized signal is used for compensating a noise component under computer control. The device and method disclosed in this document are directed towards removing a noise on a specific recording. According to this document, a disturbance signal is split into a hum signal and a noise signal. JP-A-60016028 discloses a noise separating method for a continuous frequency signal in which noise from an AC power supply wave is separated at first by a filter, after which the extracted noise waveform is converted into a digital signal of which an average is taken and this average value is stored in a memory. Then, a continuous frequency signal is received and an average value thereof is calculated. A circuit subtracts the average noise waveform from the average reception waveform so as to extract a signal waveform. US-A-4 807 034 discloses a noise reduction circuit for a video signal having a field memory. A noise reduction circuit allows a field memory to store one field data of a video signal through a subtracting circuit. A noise reduction circuit causes a subtracting circuit to subtract a delayed video signal having a 1-field time delay. A noise component included in the video signal is extracted by a noise extracting circuit in accordance with a field difference signal and is output to the subtracting circuit. In a comparing circuit, the noise component is compared with a predetermined reference value so as to determine whether the video signal represents a motion or motionless picture. The object of the present invention is to provide a noise reduction apparatus that ensures a removal of periodic noises. The object is accomplished by a noise reduction apparatus having the features described in claim 1 and by a method described in claim 11. In this invention, when a first videotape as a reference is reproduced by the converting means that converts a magnetic signal into an electric signal, the periodic noise output from the signal processing means is extracted by the extracting means to store it in the memory means. Later, when a second videotape on which a desired video signal is recorded is reproduced, the electric signal output by the converting means and supplied from the second videotape is processed by the signal processing means. Then, the periodic noise stored in the memory means is subtracted from the signal output from the signal processing means. As a result of this, the periodic noise is positively removed from the video signal reproduced from the second videotape. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an arrangement for extracting noise; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the noise extracting section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a block diagram for the memory section 13 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a configuration for eliminating noise; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram for a second embodiment of the noise extracting section 12; Fig. 7 is a block diagram for a third embodiment of the noise extracting section 12; Fig. 8 is a block diagram for a fourth embodiment of the noise extracting section 12; Fig. 9 illustrates how that the noise extracting section 12 of Fig. 8 operates as time elapses; and Fig. 10 is a block diagram for a fifth embodiment of the noise extracting section 12. An embodiment of the present invention will be explained, referring to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates the application of the present invention to a VTR device. A video signal, as magnetic information, recorded on to a videotape VT1 is converted by a rotary head 10 into an electric signal, which is then supplied to a VTR signal processing section 11. The VTR signal processing section 11, whose construction is known, reproduces a video signal from the frequency-modulated luminance and chrominance signals supplied from the rotary head 10. The video signal output by the VTR signal processing section 11 is supplied to a noise extracting section 12. Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the noise extracting section 12, which is composed of, for example, a filter 12A and an A/D converter 12B. The filter 12A is set according to the frequency band of the noise to be removed and may be made up of a low-pass filter or a high-pass filter. The noise extracting section 12 extracts the periodic noise with a period of one frame or field, via the filter 12A, from the signal reproduced by the VTR signal processing section 11, and the extracted signal is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 12B. The noise extracted by the noise extracting section 12 is supplied to the memory section 13. Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the memory section 13, which is composed of, for example, a memory 13A made up of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a writing circuit 13B, a reading circuit 13C, and a D/A converter 13D. The memory 13A has, for example, one field of memory capacity. The writing circuit 13B writes the extracted noise into the memory 13A in synchronism with the reproduction timing of the VTR signal processing section 11 such as the rotational period of the rotary drum, or with the timing signal n for one field. The reading circuit 13C reads the stored signal from the memory 13A in synchronization with the timing signal n. The D/A converter 13D converts the noise signal read from the memory 13A into an analog signal. Both the noise signal from the D/A converter 13D and the video signal from the VTR signal processing section 11 are supplied to a subtracting circuit 14. The subtracting circuit 14 eliminates periodic noise from the video signal by, during VTR reproduction, subtracting the noise signal output by the D/A converter 13D, from the VTR signal processing section 11. The resulting noise-free video signal is output from the output terminal 15. It is not necessary for the noise extracting section 12 to extract noise constantly. For example, it may be done in inspection work during the manufacture of VTR devices. In this case, the noise extracting section 12 is connected between the output of the VTR signal processing section 11 and the memory section 13 to store the noise extracted by the noise extracting section 12, into the memory 13A. After the storing of the noise into the memory 13A, the noise extracting section 12 is disconnected from between the output of the VTR signal processing section 11 and the memory section 13. In extracting periodic noise, for example, a videotape to which no video signal is recorded is used as the videotape VT1. When the rotary head 10 and related devices generate periodic noises, the reproduction of the no-signal videotape by the rotary head 10 and VTR signal processing section 11 results in the reproduced signal containing periodic noise. That is, the reproduced signal includes white noise and periodic noise. The filter 12A in the noise extracting section 12 extracts periodic noise from the reproduced signal over, for example, one field. The extracted noise is converted by the A/D converter 12B into a digital signal, which is then stored into the memory 13A in response to the timing signal n. Thus, into the memory 13A, only the extracted periodic noise is stored at regular intervals in response to the timing signal n. Fig. 4 shows the way that a videotape VT2, to which a desired video signal is recorded, is reproduced by a VTR device, whose memory 13A has stored periodic noise as mentioned above. In this case, the noise extracting section 12 has been disconnected. When a particular videotape is reproduced by the rotary head 10 and VTR signal processing section 11, the signal output by the VTR signal processing section 11 also contains periodic noise as in the case of reproducing no-signal videotape. Therefore, periodic noise can be removed by reproducing a video signal with the VTR signal processing section 11 and at the same time, reading the noise from the memory section 13 in synchronism with the timing signal n output from the VTR signal processing section 11, and then extracting the noise read from the memory section 13 from the video signal output by the VTR signal processing section 11. In the embodiment described above, the periodic noise is extracted by the noise extracting section 12 and stored into the memory section 13. The stored noise in the memory section 13 is read out in synchronization with the VTR signal output by signal processing section 11, and is extracted from the reproduced signal. This assures elimination of the periodic noise. Although removal of periodic noises usually requires investigating their causes and based on the result, taking measures, the embodiment allows removal of periodic noises irrespective of the cause of noises, providing a lot of flexibility in applications. While in the aforementioned embodiment one field of signal is extracted from the signal reproduced by the VTR signal processing section 11, by the noise extracting section 12, the amount to be extracted is not limited to one field and may be one frame, depending on the period of noise. In addition, if the VTR signal processing section 11 converts the reproduced signal into a digital signal, this will make it unnecessary to use the A/D converter 12B in the noise extracting section 12 and the D/A converter 13D that converts the noise read from the memory 13A into an analog signal. Furthermore, while in the foregoing embodiment, the noise extracting section 12 is connected to the output of the VTR signal processing section 11 to extract periodic noise from a video signal, the noise may be extracted from the frequency-modulated signal output from the rotary head 10 to remove the noise at the stage where the signal is frequency-modulated. A second embodiment of the present invention will now be explained, referring to Fig. 5. Although in the first embodiment, the VTR device does not have the noise extracting section 12, which is connected to it only when noise is extracted, it may contain the noise extracting section 12. In Fig. 5, the noise extracting section 12 is connected via the switch 16 to the output of the VTR signal processing section 11. With this arrangement, when a no-signal videotape is reproduced with the switch 16 on, noise is extracted by the noise extracting section 12 and written into the memory section 13. In reproducing a video-signal-recorded videotape, the stored noise is read from the memory section 13 in response to the timing signal n and subtracted from signal output by the VTR signal processing section 11, thereby eliminating periodic noises from the reproduced signal. In this embodiment, making the switch 16 on refreshes the noise stored in the memory section 13, which ensures removal of periodic noise regardless of changes in noise-generating condition. The switch 16 may be changed manually or automatically at, for example, regular intervals in the VTR device. Other embodiments of the noise extracting section 12 will be explained. The same parts as in Figs. 1 through 3 are indicated by the same symbols. Fig. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the noise extracting section 12. In this embodiment, the output of the VTR signal processing section 11 (not shown) is connected to the input of the limiter 12C, the output of which is connected to the A/D converter 12B. The limiter 12C is capable of changing the limit level. The adjustment of the level allows only the desired noise to be extracted. Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the noise extracting section 12 which is a combination of a filter and a limiter. The output of the VTR signal processing section 11 (not shown) is connected to the input of the high-pass filter (HPF) 12D, the output of which is connected to the input of the limiter 12E. The output of the limiter 12E is connected to the input of the low-pass filter (LPF) 12F, the output of which is connected to the A/D converter 12B. Fig. 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the noise extracting section 12. The output of the VTR signal processing section 11 (not shown) is connected to the input of the amplifier 12G, the output of which is connected to one input of the adder 12H. The output of the adder 12H is connected to one input of the adder 12I, the other input of which is connected to the switch 12J, via which the average of white noise WN can be supplied. The output of the adder 12I is connected via the A/D converter 12B to the input of the memory section 13, the output of which is connected to the input of the amplifier 12K, the output of which is connected to the other input of the adder 12H. Each of these amplifiers 12G and 12K is composed of a variable gain control amplifier. If the output level of a video signal is A (a constant) and the timing signal corresponding to the field number (the number of rotations of the rotary drum) of the video signal is n, the gain G1 of the amplifier 12G will be controlled to A/n and the gain G2 of the amplifier 12K is controlled to (n-1)A/n. In this configuration, when a video signal of level A is output from the VTR signal processing section 11 with the switch 12J off, the gain of the amplifier 12G is G1=1 and the gain of the amplifier 12K is G2=0 for the first field (n=1). The video signal output from the amplifier 12G is supplied to the adders 12H and 12I in sequence, while any signal is not output from the amplifier 12K and the average value of white noise is not supplied via the switch 12. This causes the level-A video signal to be stored in the memory section 13 via the A/D converter 12B. For the second field (n=2), the gain of the amplifier 12G becomes G1=1/2 and that of the amplifier 12K becomes G2=1/2. Then, the level-A video signal output from the VTR signal processing section 11 is amplified to A/2 by the amplifier 12G and supplied to the adder 12H, to which the amplifier 12K-output video signal is also supplied. The video signal is obtained by reading it from the memory section 13 and amplifying it with the amplifier 12K. That is, the level A video signal read from the memory section 13 is amplified by the amplifier 12K to form the level A/2 video signal. Each level A/2 video signal from the amplifiers 12G and 12K is added at the adder 12H to produce the level-A video signal, which is in turn stored, via the adder 12I and the A/D converter 12B, in the memory section 13. Similarly, the video signal output from the VTR signal processing section 11 is also processed. The results along the time axis is shown in Fig. 9. The output level is expressed by the following equation: G1 + G2 = (A/n) + (n-1)A/n = A As seen from the above equation, the output level is constant. If the energy of the noise component contained in the video signal, which is considered a constant, is N, and the energy of the noise component contained in the nth field is Nn, the energy No of the noise component contained in the video signal after the process of the nth field is by the square-sum law as follows: No = (N 1 /n) 2 +(N 2 /n) 2 +.....+(Nn/n) 2 = N/ n Thus, if n is infinite, the energy No of the noise component contained in the processed video signal is: lim No = 0 n → ∞ When the process described above is performed for a specified number of fields, the periodic noise and the average value of white noise will be stored in the memory section 13. After this, when the switch 12J is turned on, the white-noise average value WN input via the switch 12J is subtracted from the periodic noise and the white-noise average value read from the memory section 13, at the adder 12I. This allows extraction of the periodic noise only. The extracted periodic noise is stored via the A/D converter 12B into the memory section 13. Therefore, this embodiment allows more reliable extraction of periodic noises. Fig. 10 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the noise extracting section 12. While in the embodiments described so far, a no-signal videotape is used to extract periodic noises, it may be possible to use a videotape containing a reference signal distinguishable from noise. In Fig. 10 showing an embodiment that extracts periodic noises by using a reference signal-recorded videotape, the same parts as in Fig. 8 are indicated by the same symbols. In this embodiment, one input of the adder 12L is connected to the output of the VTR signal processing section 11 (not shown). The other input of the adder 12L is supplied with the same reference signal S as recorded on the videotape. The output of the adder 12H is connected to the memory section 13. With this arrangement, the video signal containing the reference signal and periodic noise output from the VTR signal processing section 11 is supplied to the adder 12L, which subtracts the reference signal from the video signal. This reference signal-subtracted video signal is stored in the memory section 13 in the similar manner as described above. As a result, periodic noise is recorded in the memory section 13. The present invention is not limited to VTR apparatus and may be applied to devices that produces periodic noises. It is apparent that this invention may be practiced or embodied in still other ways without departing from the invention as claimed. Reference signs in the claims are intended for better understanding and shall not limit the scope.

Claims: A noise reduction apparatus for eliminating periodic noise in a device for reproducing recordings that produces periodic noise, comprising extracting means (12) for extracting periodic noise from a periodic-noise-containing signal reproduced from a recording and output from a signal output means (11); and storing means (13) for storing said extracted periodic noise; characterized by said extracting means (12) being arranged to only extract periodic noise when a specific first recording is being reproduced as a reference so that said storing means (13) stores the periodic noise extracted from the signal corresponding to the specific first recording; and subtracting means (14) arranged for subtracting the periodic noise read from said storing means (13), from a signal output by said signal output means (11), in synchronization with the latter signal, which signal is reproduced from a second recording, different from said specific first recording. A noise reduction apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by said storing means (13) and said subtracting means (14) being part of said device for reproducing recordings. A noise reduction apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by said extracting means (12) also being part of said device for reproducing recordings. A noise reduction apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by said extracting means (12) being connected to said signal output means via a switching means (16). The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said extracting means (12) comprises: a filter (12A) for permitting periodic noise output by said signal output means (11) to pass through; and analogue-to-digital converting means (12B) for converting noise passed through said filter (12A), into a digital signal. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said extracting means (12) comprises: a limiter (12E) for extracting the periodic noise from said signal output means (11); and analog-to-digital converting means (12B) for converting the noise extracted by said limiter, into a digital signal. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said extracting means (12) comprises: a first amplifier (12G) for amplifying the signal output from said signal output means (11), the gain of said first amplifier (12G) being adjustable and set to A/n provided that the level of the signal output by said signal output means (11) is A, and the output period of the signal is n; a second amplifier (12K) for amplifying the signal read from said memory means (13), the gain of said second amplifier (12K) being adjustable and set to (n-1)A/n provided that the level of the signal output by said signal output means (11) is A, and the output period of the signal is n; a first adder (12H) for adding the signals output from said first and second amplifiers (12G, 12K), the output signal from said first adder (12H) being stored in said memory means (13); and subtracting means (12I) for subtracting the white-noise average value read from said memory means (13), the periodic noise output from said subtracting means (12I) being stored in said memory means. The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said extracting means (12) comprises: a first adder (12L) for adding a reference signal (S) and the signal output from said signal output means (11); a first amplifier (12G) for amplifying the output of said first adder (12L), the gain of said first amplifier (12G) being adjustable and set to A/n provided that the level of the signal output by said signal output means (11) is A and the output period of the signal is n; a second amplifier (12K) for amplifying the signal read from said memory means (13), the gain of said second amplifier (12K) being adjustable and set to (n-1)A/n provided that the level of the signal output by said signal output means (11) is A, and the output period of the signal is n; and a second adder (12H) for adding the signals output from said first and second amplifiers (12G, 12K), the output signal from said second adder (12H) being stored in said memory means (13). The apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said memory means (13) comprises: a memory (13A) capable of memorizing a field of signal; writing means (13A) for writing the noise extracted by said extracting means (12), into said memory means (13A); and reading means (13C) for reading one field of stored noise from said memory (13A) in synchronization with the signal output by said signal output means (11). The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said specific first recording contains a reference signal distinguishable from the periodic noise. A method for eliminating periodic noise in a device for reproducing recordings that produces periodic noise, characterized by reproducing a signal containing the periodic noise from a specific first recording as a reference and output from a signal processing means (11), extracting the periodic noise from the signal, storing periodic noise none other than that extracted from said signal corresponding to said specific first recording in a storing means (13), and subtracting the periodic noise stored in the storing means (13) when a second recording, different from said specific first recording, is reproduced and a signal therefrom is processed by the signal processing means (11).

Inventors: OKADA TERUO, OKADA, TERUO, OKADA, TERUO, C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIV.
Applicants: TOSHIBA AVE KK, TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA AVE CO., LTD
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5, G10L21, G11B20, G10L15