Apparatus for adjusting a reproduced signal

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting a digital signal which is subjected to analog processing after being reproduced from a record medium (17). A prerecorded digital test signal is reproduced and written to a field memory (20) which, during a normal playback mode, is used to store the digital video signal that may be reproduced. A loop, which is open during the normal playback mode, includes a digital to analog converter (24) and an analog to digital converter (12) for circulating the digital test signal therethrough a number of times ( n ) and is coupled to the field memory to receive the stored test signal. A detector detects changes in the test signal after having been circulated through the loop, and these changes are used to establish adjustment settings for adjusting the digital video signal during a playback mode.

Description: This invention relates to a system for adjusting a reproduced signal. More particularly, this invention relates to such a system which uses a multi-loop test. Digital video recorders are known to provide video signals of high quality which, when subjected to digital processing, suffer little, if any, deterioration. Such digital video signals may be reproduced, recorded and re-recorded several times; and the inherent characteristics of digital signals and digital processing permit repeatability of the reproduction of such digital video signals without loss of quality. However, when digital video signals are subjected to analog processing, such as conversion from digital to analog form, analog recording, analog transmission, and the like, the resultant analog signals may be degraded in comparison to the original digital video signals. If the analog video signal is dubbed and re-dubbed several times, such degradation is multiplied and deterioration of the video signal and video picture ultimately reproduced therefrom becomes quite noticeable. Even if the analog video signal is converted to digital form, as by an analog-to-digital converter, for digital processing and recording, the inherent quantizing noise associated with such A/D conversion adds to the deterioration of the video signal. Typically, degradation of the video signal appears as errors in the amplitude, frequency, phase or reference signal levels (for example, the video black signal level) in the analog video signal. Such errors often are not uniform and constant but, rather, vary as a function of the analog processing to which the video signal is subjected, as well as the apparatus and operating characteristics used to process, record, reproduce or transmit the video signals. If apparatus which tends to introduce the aforenoted errors are connected in cascade, the deterioration of the video signal caused thereby is aggravated. In anticipation of such degradation of the video signals caused by analog recording and reproduction thereof, recording/reproducing apparatus often is adjusted, or pre-set during manufacturing to compensate or pre-correct for expected errors. However, such pre-settings often must be re-adjusted by the end user of the apparatus, which is a difficult, time-consuming and laborious task. Indeed, manual adjustments to minimize degradation of a video signal that is dubbed or re-dubbed often cannot be determined until several successive dubbing operations have been carried out. Furthermore, even when video signal degradation is recognized sufficiently to permit correction, it has been found that when an error associated with one type of characteristic in the video signal is corrected, errors may appear in other characteristics. Thus, pre-correction adjustments often are dependent upon each other, which leads to a requirement for several trial and error adjustment iterations of individual video signal characteristics until the user is satisfied. This difficulty is compounded when it is recognized that the errors for which such pre-correction adjustments are made often are so small that they can be detected only with difficulty. For example, when a digital video signal is reproduced, converted to analog form, recorded by an analog recorder, subsequently reproduced and displayed as an analog video signal, errors in the displayed video signal relative to the original digital video signal may be so slight as to be practically imperceptible. However, if that analog video signal subsequently is recorded and reproduced several times, its degradation relative to the original digital video signal would be clearly pronounced and noticeable. It has been proposed heretofore to make successive recordings of a video signal and thereby subject that signal to successive degradations in order to detect the loss of quality attributed to such recordings. For example, the video signal is reproduced, delayed, fed back to be re-recorded and then reproduced once again, this cycle being repeated several times to permit observation of deteriorations occasioned by such re-recordings. Japanese Patent Publication 50/3111 (1975) broadly describes this technique. International Patent Application WO 87/06420 (1987) discloses a system including a recirculating loop through which a signal may be circulated without recording and reproduction. A video tape recorder may be included in the loop to record in successive tracks a single field or frame of video signals that has been cycled through the loop. An initial field or frame of test signals, supplied from an external test source, is recorded and practically simultaneously reproduced. This reproduced field or frame is converted to digital form for re-recording in the next track by the VTR. After a number of cycles, or generations, deterioration in the field or frame recorded in the nth track may be observed, thus permitting a user to effect manual adjustments to the VTR, the timebase corrector and/or the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. However, with this system, it is quite difficult to accurately determine the degradation to which the original field or frame has been subjected. To do so requires that the initial field or frame be reproduced and displayed and then the nth generation of that field or frame must be reproduced and displayed. Moreover, manual adjustments often must be made on an interactive basis requiring frequent reproduction of the first track, and this is not satisfactory. Such manual adjustments often consume several minutes, and this may be unacceptable. In addition, to provide a reference against which an adjusted test signal is compared, the original test signal heretofore has been recorded on the video tape for several minutes. The user plays back and observes several frames of the test signal, adjusts that signal, observes the adjusted test signal and then reproduces and observes the original test signal once again to determine if additional adjustments are needed. This process is repeated several times, all during which the original test signal must be played back so that it can be observed. It is seen that this consumes several minutes of video tape recording time. And if different test signals must be processed, each such test signal must be recorded for an equal time period. However, if the duration of a pre-recorded test signal still is not adequate to effect proper adjustments, the video tape must be rewound to permit the test signal to be reproduced, observed and compared to the adjusted test signal once again, thereby adding to the difficulty in adjusting for degradation of the video signal. This invention provides video playback apparatus with means for adjusting a video signal being reproduced from a record medium, in response to changes in test signals, said apparatus comprising: field memory means for receiving reproduced video signals from said record medium in a reproducing mode, for writing at least one field of the reproduced signals therein for storage in digital form and for outputting the video signal to an output terminal via a D/A converter; switching means for creating a loop circuit during a test mode, the loop including adjustment circuits for the reproduced signal and said D/A converter, and for recirculating a digital test signal being introduced into said loop circuit; detecting means coupled to said loop circuit for detecting changes in the circulating test signals; characterised in that said record medium is a digital record medium comprising a record of the digital test signal being initially be written into the field memory means, said switching means introducing said test signal from the field memory means into the loop comprising a digital adjustment circuit, said D/A converter and a A/D converter, said switching means inhibiting said field memory means from writing further signals therein as the test signals recirculate in said loop means and said loop means bypasses said field memory means as said test signal recirculate. Apparatus is provided for adjusting a digital video signal that is subjected to analog processing after being reproduced from a record medium. A previously recorded digital test signal is reproduced and stored in a field memory from which the test signal is circulated through a loop which includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and changes in the circulated digital test signal are detected. Adjustment settings for an adjustment circuit are established in response to detected changes; and the adjustment circuit operates to adjust predetermined characteristics in a digital video signal that may be reproduced from the record medium. The changes in the circulating test signal may be used by the adjustment circuit to provide in combination or separately: a setup adjustment; a video gain adjustment; and a chroma gain adjustment. In preferred embodiments of the invention a selector operates in a test mode to connect the field memory to the loop for an initial circulation of the reproduced test signal and then to remove the field memory from the loop for continued circulation of that test signal; while the reproduced test signal remains stored in the field memory. The selector operates in a playback mode to connect the field memory through the adjustment circuit to an output terminal, whereby a reproduced digital video signal is written into and read from the field memory, adjusted, and then supplied as an output video signal. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of apparatus for adjusting a digital signal reproduced from a record medium; and Figures 2A to 2E are timing waveform diagrams which are useful in understanding how the apparatus of Figure 1 operates. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, there is illustrated a block diagram of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with this invention for adjusting a digital signal, preferably a digital video signal, reproduced from a record medium to compensate, or pre-correct, for degradations that otherwise would be introduced into the reproduced video signal when it subsequently is subjected to analog processing. The illustrated apparatus implements a so-called multi-loop test wherein the deterioration of various characteristics of a video signal caused by successive dubbing, or re-recording thereof is detected. It is appreciated that little, if any, deterioration in a digital video signal is produced even when that digital video signal is subjected to multiple playback and re-recording operations, so long as the digital video signal remains in digital form. However, if the digital video signal is converted to analog form for display and/or recording on an analog recorder, a small loss of quality in the analog signal is expected. If the analog signal subsequently is reconverted to digital form and re-recorded as a digital signal, and if the foregoing digital-to-analog conversion and analog recording process is repeated, a further loss in quality of the analog signal is expected. Although each incremental deterioration may not be perceptible, if the digital video signal is subjected to multiple dubbing and multiple conversions, a degraded video picture ultimately results. The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 subjects a digital signal to multiple analog processing operations, whereupon the digital signal deteriorates in much the same manner as would occur if that digital signal had been converted to analog form, recorded as an analog signal, reconverted back into digital form, recorded as a digital signal, reproduced and converted into analog form once again, and so on, a multiple number of times. After M such analog processing operations, the deterioration in the digital signal may be more readily measured by detecting changes in predetermined characteristics thereof. The multi-loop test implemented by the digital signal adjusting apparatus shown in Figure 1 includes an analog input terminal 11, an ADC 12, a DAC 24, an analog output terminal 26, a feedback path for interconnecting the analog output terminal 26 to the analog input terminal 11 and a digital video system 10. The digital video system 10 includes digital video recording/playback apparatus in which digital video signals are recorded on a magnetic medium 17, such as magnetic tape, by a record/playback head 29. Digital video signals which subsequently are reproduced from the magnetic medium 17, converted to analog form and subjected to analog processing (such as analog recording or transmission) are subjected to deterioration; and this deterioration is aggravated if several generations of recording or transmission are effected. The digital video system 10 operates to pre-correct, or compensate the digital video signal reproduced from the magnetic medium 17, prior to analog processing thereof, so as to minimize this deterioration, even if the digital video signal is subjected to several generations of analog processing. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of different types of digital test signals are recorded on the magnetic medium 17; and these digital test signals re reproduced, one at a time, and recirculated through the feedback path, which forms a loop, so that changes caused by such recirculation are detected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the digital video recording/playback apparatus represented by the magnetic medium 17 and the record/playback head 29 is adapted to reproduce digital test signals as well as digital video signals; and deteriorations in the digital video signals are pre-corrected by the multi-loop tests performed on the reproduced digital test signals. Preferably, several different multi-loop tests are performed, each being adapted to detect changes in a particular characteristics of the digital test signal so that such characteristic, when present in the digital video signal, is compensated. For example, changes in respective characteristics are detected for the purpose of providing a setup adjustment, a video gain adjustment, a chroma gain adjustment, a hue adjustment, and the like. The manner in which these adjustments may be made is described in copending European Patent Application claiming priority from Japanese Patent Application 163291/91 of 11 April 1991 (a copy of this copending European Patent Application may be found on the file of the present application). To this effect, different types of test signals, such as those described in the aforementioned application, are pre-recorded on the magnetic medium 17, and each is adapted to be reproduced individually simply by scanning the track (or tracks) in which that particular digital test signal is recorded. As a feature of this embodiment, only one video frame and, preferably, only one video field of a digital test signal need be recorded. When the setup, video gain or chroma gain adjustment is performed, only the field of the particular digital test signal used for that adjustment need be reproduced. Contrary to the prior art proposals, it is not necessary to continually reproduce successive fields of the digital test signal while the multi-loop test is carried out. The digital video system 10 includes a field memory 20, an adjustment circuit 23 and a controller (or CPU) 25. The field memory 20 is a conventional digital storage device adapted to store at least one complete field interval of a video signal. The field memory is coupled to the head 29 by way of a playback amplifier 28 and is adapted to store a field interval of either the digital test signal or the digital video signal that is reproduced from the magnetic medium 17. As will be described, when the illustrated apparatus operates in a test mode, a field interval of the digital test signal is reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 and stored in the field memory 20. Conversely, when the apparatus operates in a playback mode, such as a normal reproducing mode, a field interval of the pre-recorded digital video signal is reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 and stored in the field memory 20. The adjustment circuit 23 is selectively coupled to the field memory 20 by a selector switch 22. Preferably, the selector switch 22 is a digital switch but, for convenience and to facilitate a ready understanding of the embodiment, this switch is schematically illustrated as a mechanical switch having fixed contacts a and b with a movable contact selectively coupled to one or the other. The selector switch 22 also is coupled to the CPU 25 which controls the operation or state of the selector switch 22. It will be appreciated that, during a playback mode, the selector switch 22 engages its contact a to connect the field memory 22 to the adjustment circuit 23. However, and as will be described, in a test mode, the selector switch 22 engages its contact a for a duration sufficient to supply a field interval of the digital test signal from the field memory 20 to the adjustment circuit 23, whereafter the selector switch 22 is changed over to engage its contact b and thereby complete the aforementioned feedback path, thereby establishing a loop between the analog output terminal 26 and the analog input terminal 11. The adjustment circuit 23 may be of the type described in the aforementioned copending European Patent Application and is provided with adjustment settings to adjust the digital video signal that may be reproduced by the head 29 from the magnetic medium 17. These adjustment settings are established by the CPU 25 during a test mode. Hence, the reproduced digital video signal is compensated by these adjustment settings for changes that are caused by analog processing. The output of the adjustment circuit 23 is coupled to the analog output terminal 26 by the DAC 24. During a playback mode, the analog video signals provided at the analog output terminal 26 are further processed, for example, by analog transmission or analog recording; and it is intended that these video signals eventually are displayed, such as by a television receiver, monitor, or the like. Such additional analog processing and display apparatus is not illustrated in Figure 1. The analog output terminal 26 also is coupled to the analog input terminal 11 by way of analog processing apparatus, generally indicated as apparatus 40, such as an analog switcher, for simulating the analog processing of the digital video signal that is reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 when the video system 10 is used in a playback mode. The feedback path from the analog output terminal 26 through the apparatus 40 to the analog input terminal 11 is particularly used when the video system 10 operates in its test mode. A display device 30, such as a waveform monitor, is coupled to the loop which interconnects analog terminals 26 and 11 and is used to observe changes in the circulating test signal and may also be used by a technician to effect manual adjustments of the adjustment circuit 23 so as to reduce such changes in the circulating test signal. In one embodiment, the display 30 is a television monitor. As mentioned above, the selector switch 22 operates in a test mode to connect the adjustment circuit 23 either to field memory 20 or to the loop through which the test signal circulates. Once the test signal is supplied to the loop it circulates therethrough by way of the adjustment circuit 23, the DAC 24, the analog output terminal 26, the apparatus 40, the analog input terminal 11, the ADC 12 and the selector switch 22. To prevent this loop from undergoing oscillations as the test signal circulates therethrough, a buffer memory 21 is disposed between the ADC 12 and the DAC 24. Here, the buffer memory is illustrated as being coupled to the ADC 12 and having an output connected to contact b of the selector switch 22. The buffer memory 21 thus delays the circulating test signal, thereby preventing regenerative oscillations in the loop. The CPU 25, which may be a conventional microprocessor suitably programmed to carry out the control operations described herein, is coupled to the field memory 20, the buffer memory 21, the selector switch 22 and the adjustment circuit 23. The CPU 25 is adapted to control the read/write operations of the field and buffer memories 20 and 21, to control the state of the selector switch 22 and to establish the adjustment settings of the adjustment circuit 23. In addition, the CPU 25 is adapted to detect changes in the test signal as it circulates through the test loop; and in this regard, the CPU 25 is schematically illustrated as being coupled to the output of the selector switch 22 so as to receive the test signal. Thus, the CPU 25 is supplied with the digital test signal reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 and stored in the field memory 20, and also with successive degradations of the circulating digital test signal, as may appear at the output of the buffer memory 21. As mentioned above, the changes in particular characteristics of the digital test signal are detected in the manner described in the aforementioned copending European Patent Application. The CPU 25 is coupled to a mode controller 50 which is adapted to establish a test mode or a playback mode for the digital video system 10, to select the type of test signal to be reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 (and, thus, the type of test to be performed) and to establish the number of times that the selected test signal is to be circulated through the loop. The mode controller includes an operation selector 52 which is provided with a number of manually operable selector switches (not shown) for selecting the type of operation to be performed, the type of test signal to be used and the number of loop circulations to be executed. For example, a test/playback mode switch may be provided as well ad additional selector switches for selecting setup adjustment, video gain adjustment, chroma gain adjustment, colour hue adjustment, video phase adjustment or the like. The selection of a particular type of adjustment determines the type of digital test signal to be reproduced from the magnetic medium 17. The operation selector 52 is coupled to a system controller, represented herein as a main CPU 51, which may be a conventional microprocessor. The main CPU 51 is adapted to supply control data to the CPU 25 in response to the mode, adjustment type, loop circulation number or test signal selection as may be selected by the operation selector 52. Stated otherwise, the main CPU 51 functions to provide communication between the CPU 25 and the operation selector 52 and provides suitable indications at the operation selector 52 to indicate when a particular test or loop circulation is completed. In addition, the operation selector 52 may be provided with manual controls adapted to be adjusted by a user for effecting corresponding adjustments in the adjustment circuit 23. Hence, by operating these controls, changes in the circulating test signal may be eliminated, or at least reduced by the particular adjustment settings supplied to the adjustment circuit 23 from the operation selector 52, the main CPU 51 and the CPU 25. The manner in which the multi-loop test apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 operates will now be described. Although not shown herein, it will be appreciated that the digital video system 10 includes at least a decoder adapted to receive and decode digital video signals reproduced from the magnetic medium 17. The digital video signals are recorded in conventional format, such as the D-1 or D-2 format; and the decoder used therewith operates to decode such conventional formats. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the decoder is adapted to receive digital video signals supplied from the head 29 and to apply decoded digital video signals to the field memory 20. The digital test signals recorded on the magnetic medium 17 likewise may be compatible with the D-1 or D-2 format; and these digital test signals also may be decoded and supplied to the buffer memory 21 by the aforementioned decoder. Let it be assumed that a relatively small number of field intervals of a digital test signal of a particular type has been recorded on the magnetic medium 17. It will be seen that only a single field interval need be recorded; and for the purpose of the present discussion, the type of test signal may be the type used for a setup adjustment, such as a test signal comprised of samples representing a video black reference level. Let it be further assumed that the operation selector 52 is controlled, as by a user, to select the test mode and to select this particular type of test signal. Accordingly, the main CPU 51 and the CPU 25 are controlled such that when the field interval of this type of test signal is located and then reproduced by the head 29, that field interval is written into field memory 20. Although not shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that the field memory 20 includes write-in and read-out circuits; and the CPU 25 controls the write-in circuit so as to write the reproduced field of digital test signal samples into the field memory. Let it be assumed that at a time st , the complete field interval of digital test signal has been reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 and written into the field memory 20. At that time, the CPU 25 supplies a write inhibit signal C FM , shown in Figure 2B, to the field memory 20. Thus, further field intervals are inhibited from being written into the field memory 20; and the field interval which was reproduced at time st is stored therein. This stored field interval of test signal samples is illustrated in Figure 2A and is referred to as a stored test signal TP. Thus, the reproduced test signal samples that had been written into the field memory 20 are "frozen" therein. Figure 2C schematically represents the contents of the field memory 20 from the beginning of the test mode st until the end of that mode, the latter being represented as time en . Figure 2B illustrates the write inhibit signal C FM having a duration extending from the beginning of the test mode st to its end en . The read-out circuit of the field memory 20 is controlled, as by timing signals supplied from the CPU 25, such that the stored samples of test signal TP are read out, sample-by-sample, to the adjustment circuit 23 by way of the selector switch 22. Figure 2D illustrates the switch control signal SW 22 supplied to the selector switch 22 by the CPU 25. During a normal playback mode, the CPU 25 controls the selector switch 22 to couple the output of the field memory 20 to the adjustment circuit 23. However, after one field interval of the test signal stored in the field memory 20 is read out therefrom, the switch control signal SW 22 changes over from, for example, its high level to a low level, thereby changing over the selector switch 22 so as to couple the buffer memory 21 to the adjustment circuit 23. From Figures 2D and 2E, it is seen that, while switch control signal SW 22 is of a high level, the field interval stored in the field memory 20 is read out, thereby supplying the adjustment circuit 23 with the reproduced digital test signal (or the reproduced digital video signal, as the case may be). Stated otherwise, the CPU 25 controls the selector switch to change over from its contact a to its contact b one field interval following the initiation at time st of the test mode. The digital test signal read out from the field memory 20 and supplied to the adjustment circuit 23, as represented by the cross-hatched portion in Figure 2E, is coupled to the test loop wherein it is converted to analog form by the DAC 24, subjected to simulated processing by the apparatus 40 and re-converted to digital form by the ADC 12. The re-converted digital signal, which thus has been subject to degradation, is written into the buffer memory 21. After a field interval of the test signal has been circulated, the selector switch 22 is changed over to engage its contact b to couple the buffer memory 21 to the adjustment circuit 23. In this condition, the selector switch 22 completes the circulating loop from the buffer memory 21 through the adjustment circuit 23, the DAC 24, the apparatus 40 and returning to the buffer memory 21 by way of the ADC 21. Hence, the test signal initially reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 and "frozen" in the field memory 20 is circulated through the test loop. Each circulation is represented in Figure 2E as circulation 1, 2, 3, 4, ...n. It is recognised that as the digital test signal circulates, each such circulation produces deterioration therein relative to the test signal "frozen" in the field memory. After n circulations of the test signal (wherein n is selected by suitable manual control of the operation selector 52), the switch control signal SW 22 supplied to the selector switch 22 by the CPU 25 changes over from its low level to its high level, as shown in Figure 2D. It will be appreciated that the CPU 25 is adapted to count each circulation of the digital test signal and thus determines when n such circulations have occurred. In one implementation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the adjustment circuit 23 is adapted to be manually adjusted by the user of the apparatus. Typically, such manual adjustments are made by operating suitable control elements provided in the operation selector 52. Since the change in the digital test signal resulting from one circulation of the loop is relatively small, as mentioned above, it normally is expected that such change may not be easily perceived by the user to effect compensation therefor. However, after n such circulations the degradation or deterioration in the digital test signal is more easily observed. A waveform monitor 30 displays the digital test signal (converted to analog form by the DAC 24) at each circulation; and the visible change after n circulations will be sufficiently noticeable such that the user may operate the operation selector 52 in a manner which provides adjustment settings for the adjustment circuit 23 to substantially eliminate or at least reduce such changes. This correction of the digital test signal may be observed on the waveform monitor 30 as the user operates the adjustment control elements of the operation selector 52. For example, if the digital video system 10 is operating in a setup adjustment test mode, the digital test signal reproduced from the magnetic medium 17, stored in the field memory 20 and circulated through the test loop represents a video black level; and changes in this video black level caused by the simulated analog processing of the test loop are displayed on the waveform monitor 30, thus enabling the user to establish adjustment settings for the adjustment circuit 23 to reduce (minimize) such black level changes. As another example, if the digital video system operates in its video gain adjustment test mode, the digital test signal reproduced from the magnetic medium 17, stored in the field memory 20 and circulated through the test loop represents a grey level; and, here too, the waveform monitor 30 displays changes in the grey level caused by the simulated analog processing for each circulation, and such changes may be reduced by manual adjustment of the control elements provided in the operation selector 52. As a further example, if the digital video system 10 operates in its chroma gain adjustment test mode, the digital test signal reproduced from the magnetic medium 17, stored in the field memory 20 and circulated through the test loop represents the chrominance burst signal (and may correspond to a single frequency test signal); and as before, changes in this test signal caused by analog processing at each circulation are observed on the waveform monitor 30 and may be corrected by the operating operation selector 52. While the foregoing has described a manual adjustment of the adjustment circuit 23, the adjustment settings therefor may be generated automatically by the CPU 25 in the manner described in the aforementioned copending European Patent Application. In this automatic implementation as well as in the manual adjustment implementation, the CPU 25 includes a detector for detecting changes in the circulating test signal. Whereas these detected changes are used in the automatic adjustment implementation to supply adjustment settings automatically to the adjustment circuit 23, these detected changes may be used in the manual adjustment implementation for display purposes. It will be recognised that, by displaying the detected changes, either directly or by enhancing the display provided by the waveform monitor 30, the test signal may be compensated, and such compensation provides pre-correction adjustment of the digital video signal subsequently reproduced by the head 29. Returning to Figures 2D and 2E, it will be seen that when n circulations of the digital test signal have been counted by the CPU 25, switch control signal SW 22 changes over from its low level to its high level, thereby controlling the selector switch 22 to couple the test signal "frozen" in the field memory 20 to the test loop once again. This permits a comparison of the original "frozen" test signal to the adjusted test signal every n circulations. If further adjustments to the adjustment circuit 23 are needed, the foregoing operation may be repeated for every n circulations of the test signal. It will be appreciated, therefore, that adjustment settings may be supplied to the adjustment circuit after the test signal has circulated through the test loop n times or, alternatively, such adjustment settings may be supplied after each circulation. It is expected, however, that in the manual adjustment implementation of the present invention, these adjustment settings will be made once every n circulations because the rate at which the test signal circulates may be too fast to enable the user to effect a manual adjustment after each individual circulation. Upon the occurrence of time en , which may be selected by user operation of the operation selector 52, the test mode is terminated and the CPU 25 changes over the switch control signal SW 22 from its low level to its high level, as shown in Figure 2D, thus connecting the field memory 20 to the analog output terminal 26 by way of the adjustment circuit 23 and the DAC 24. The circulating loop thus is opened. In addition, the write inhibit signal C FM supplied to the field memory 20 by the CPU 25 terminates, as shown in Figure 2B, thus permitting successive fields of digital signals reproduced from the magnetic medium 17 to be written into the field memory. Accordingly, the digital video system 10 may now operate in its playback mode to reproduce digital video signals that are written into and subsequently read from the field memory 20, pre-corrected by the adjustment circuit 23, converted to analog form by the DAC 24 and supplied to other apparatus (not shown) connected to the analog output terminal 26. Notwithstanding the analog processing to which this reproduced digital; video signal is subjected, the pre-correction or compensation thereof by the adjustment circuit 23 (whose adjustment settings have been made in the manner described above) avoids or at least reduces deterioration and degradation in the video signal. If, after completing the test mode described above, another adjustment test operation is to be effected, the next digital test signal that may be recorded on the magnetic medium 17 is reproduced therefrom and written into the field memory 20. The digital video system 10 then uses this test signal, which is "frozen" in the field memory 20 in the manner discussed above, to carry out another test operation. It is appreciated that it is not necessary to record several fields or frames of test signals on the magnetic medium 17. Rather, only a single field of each type of test signal need be recorded; and when a test operation is effected, a desired one of those test signals is reproduced and written into the field memory 20 from which it is supplied to and circulated through the illustrated test loop. If successive tests are to be executed, such as a setup adjustment, a video gain adjustment, a chroma gain adjustment, a colour hue adjustment, or the like, test signals that are used for each such adjustment may be recorded successively on the magnetic medium, and each may be reproduced, one-at-a-time, to perform a corresponding test. After one test is completed and suitable adjustment settings have been supplied to the adjustment circuit 23, the next pre-recorded test signal is reproduced and the test associated therewith is performed. Therefore, even if several minutes are needed to carry out the various tests to effect the aforementioned setup, video gain, chroma gain and colour hue adjustments (as well as other adjustments that may be desired), only a single field of each type of test signal need be recorded on the magnetic medium 17. Contrary to previous proposals, it is not necessary to record several minutes of test signals on the medium, nor is it necessary to rewind the medium and reproduce a test signal therefrom in the event that the length of time needed to carry out the test exceeds the time duration of the recorded test signal. While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the magnetic medium 17 may be a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk. Other record media may be used as well, such as optical disks or other conventional media known to record digital signals. In addition, although not shown herein, it should be appreciated that digital video system 10 may be used for both recording and reproducing digital signals on the magnetic medium 17. When used for recording, digital video signals may be encoded in a conventional recording format, such as the D-1 or D-2 formats known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In this regard, suitable encoding and recording circuitry is coupled to the head 29, although such circuitry is not shown in Figure 1 and a discussion thereof is not needed for a full understanding of the described embodiment of this invention. Still further, a jog dial or playback switch may be provided, such as on the operation selector 52, to enable a user to locate a desired portion of the magnetic medium 17 from which digital signals may be reproduced. It will be understood that a conventional jog dial or playback switch facilitates the location of a desired pre-recorded test signal for reproduction from the magnetic medium 17. As a further alternative, the digital video system 10 may be used in connection with an external analog video recorder/reproducer. In that event, the analog signal reproduced by that external device is coupled to the analog input terminal 11 for conversion to a digital signal which then is written into the field memory 20 in which it is "frozen" in much the same manner as the digital signal that is reproduced from the magnetic medium 17. At least preferred embodiments of the invention provide: apparatus for adjusting a digital video signal reproduced from a record medium to reduce degradations and deteriorations in the video signal caused by analog processing thereof; apparatus for adjusting a digital video signal reproduced from a record medium in accordance with changes that are detected in a digital test signal that is subjected to analog processing of the type which would deteriorate the digital video signal; apparatus of the aforementioned type which is easy to use, provides accurate adjustments to the digital video signal reproduced from the record medium and avoids the drawbacks and disadvantages of the aforenoted previous proposals; a multi-loop test including a memory for storing a digital test signal that is reproduced from a record medium, thus reducing the length of time that the test signal must be recorded; apparatus of the aforementioned type in which a digital test signal is reproduced from a record medium, stored in a field memory and circulated several times through a loop which includes adjustment means for adjusting one or more characteristics of that test signal; and apparatus for adjusting predetermined characteristics of a video signal that is subjected to analog processing after being reproduced from a record medium in which the operating mode of the apparatus may be selected as a test mode, whereby plural digital test signals are reproduced, one at a time, from a record medium, stored in a field memory and then circulated through a loop to establish settings for an adjustment circuit whereupon the next test signal is reproduced and the foregoing process is repeated.

Claims: Video playback apparatus with means for adjusting a video signal being reproduced from a record medium (17), in response to changes in test signals, said apparatus comprising: field memory means (20) for receiving reproduced video signals from said record medium in a reproducing mode, for writing at least one field of the reproduced signals therein for storage in digital form and for outputting the video signal to an output terminal via a D/A converter (24); switching means (22) for creating a loop circuit during a test mode, the loop including adjustment circuits (40) for the reproduced signal and said D/A converter (24), and for recirculating a digital test signal being introduced into said loop circuit; detecting means (30) coupled to said loop circuit for detecting changes in the circulating test signals; characterised in that said record medium is a digital record medium comprising a record of the digital test signal being initially written into the field memory means, said switching means introducing said test signal from the field memory means into the loop comprising a digital adjustment circuit (23), said D/A converter and a A/D converter (12), said switching means inhibiting said field memory means from writing further signals therein as the test signals recirculate in said loop means and said loop means bypasses said field memory means as said test signal recirculate. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said adjustment means (23) adjusting predetermined characteristics in the received signal in accordance with adjustment settings. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjustment means (23) is coupled to said field memory means (20) for receiving and adjusting the reproduced signal stored therein. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein said test signal exhibits at least one of said predetermined characteristics and said detecting means detects changes in said one predetermined characteristic after said test signal has circulated a predetermined number of times ( n ). Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one predetermined characteristic is a setup adjustment characteristic. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one predetermined characteristic is a video gain adjustment characteristic. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one predetermined characteristic is a chroma gain adjustment characteristic. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the previously recorded test signal exhibits plural characteristics, respective ones of which being recorded successively; and said field memory (20) means writes said test signal having a respective characteristic thereinto, one at a time, whereby the test signal stored in said field memory means and having said respective characteristic is supplied to said loop means and changes in said respective characteristic are detected by said detecting means. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said loop means further includes delay means (21) connectable therein for delaying the circulating test signal to prevent said loop means from oscillating. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selector means (22) operates in the test mode to couple said delay means (21) into said loop means when said field memory means (20) is disconnected from said loop means. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selector means (22) operates in a reproducing mode to establish a signal path for reproduced digital video signals to said field memory means (20), to said adjustment means (23), to said DAC means (24) to said analog output terminal (26). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for sensing when the test signals circulate through said loop means a predetermined number of times ( n ) to actuate said detecting means.

Inventors: ASATO YOICHIRO, ISHII MIKIO, KAMIYAMA KAZUO, ASATO, YOICHIRO, ISHII, MIKIO, KAMIYAMA, KAZUO, Asato, Yoichiro, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp., Ishii, Mikio, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp., Kamiyama, Kazuo, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp.
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N9, H04N17, G11B20