Luma-chroma video combining circuit

Abstract: A network (30) combines luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals to provide a composite video signal (S4) wherein the chrominance signal is subjected to band pass filtering to reject low frequency noise and the luminance signal is subjected to filtering by a predetermined amount at the color subcarrier frequency to reject color dots. In a preferred implementation, the filter is realized with only one inductor and one capacitor thereby preventing displayed artifacts with the economic and reliability benefits of minimal parts count.

Description: This invention relates to color television receivers and particularly to circuits for combining luma and chroma components in color television receivers. In television receivers there is generally a sequence of separation of video signals. For example, an RF signal is detected, demodulated to provide a baseband signal. The baseband composite signal is again processed to provide luminance and chrominance signals. The chrominance signals are demodulated to provide color difference signals. After processing the baseband luminance signal and the color difference signals are converted to a final form for display, such as RGB. In a picture-in-picture processor it is sometimes advantageous to provide inputs in composite form and to provide outputs in a mixed format, e.g., composite for the big picture and component for the inset or little picture. To combine these signals with a fast (multiplex) switch for further processing and display, it is necessary to first combine the components to composite form. The direct approach of simply summing the luminance and chrominance components, however, results in certain artifacts being produced in the inset picture. International patent publication WO-A-90/07248, published June 28, 1990 discloses a picture-in-picture video display system in which a composite video signal is separated into a luminance component and a chrominance component. The luminance component is converted to a digital signal, and stored in a memory. The chrominance component is also converted to a digital signal, and also stored in a memory. The stored signals are subsequently retrieved from the memory and combined by a summer to form a composite signal. One of the problems with summing luminance and chrominance signals after picture in picture processing, or, in a more general sense, after some other type of processing, has been discovered to be related to noise effects. More specifically, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, it has been found that low frequency noise may be present in the small picture chrominance output signal generated by the digital processing (aliasing components). This noise has been found to produce large dots on the picture in picture display similar to 3,58 MHz dots evident in non-comb filter receivers. The need for rejection of the noise component along with rejection of the 3,58 MHz subcarrier in the luminance output and attenuation of high frequency clock harmonics has led to the design of a processing filter described herein. The solution to this problem, in accordance with the invention, comprises combining the luminance and chrominance signals as described herein to sum luminance and chrominance signals so as to (1) reject low frequency (less than 2 MHz) noise from the chrominance signal and (2) provide a small (e.g., 6 dB) 3,58 MHz (color subcarrier) notch for the luminance signal. In accordance with principles of the present invention, a video signal processing system includes a signal combiner. The video signal processing system includes a video signal source providing a chrominance component signal and a luminance component signal to the signal combiner. A filter network has a first terminal coupled to receive the chrominance signal component, and a second terminal coupled to receive the luminance signal component. In addition, the filter network includes circuit means, coupled to the first and second terminals, for filtering and combining the luminance and chrominance component signals to form, at the second terminal, a composite video output signal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foregoing objects are achieved in a minimal parts count network employing the same LC (inductance capacitance) circuit to perform both the low frequency rejection and the desired band pass characteristic for the luminance component. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein the sole FIGURE illustrates a television system with a luminance chrominance combiner embodying the invention. The receiver 10 of the sole FIGURE includes a picture in picture processor 12 having inputs 14 and 16 for receiving main and inset composite video input signals S1 and S2. Processor 12, of conventional design, outputs the main picture video signal S3 in composite form and outputs the inset picture in component form as a luminance component Y and a chrominance component C. The Y and C components are combined, in accordance with the invention, by a luminance chrominance signal combiner 30 (outlined in phantom) and the resultant composite video signals S4 is applied along with the main picture signal S3 to a multiplex switch 30 to form a picture in picture signal S5 for further processing and display by means of a processing and display unit 30. The luminance/chrominance combiner 30 comprises input terminals 31 and 32 for receiving, respectively, the chrominance and luminance signals C and Y to be combined and an output terminal 33 for providing the combined output composite signal S4. Within unit 30 the chrominance input terminal 31 is coupled to ground via a first resistor R1 and is coupled to terminal 32 via series connection of a capacitor C1 and an inductor L1. Terminal 32 is also coupled to ground via a load resistor R2 and to the output terminal 33 via a further capacitor C2. Exemplary values of the foregoing components are as follows: R1 270 Ohms C1 33 pico-Farads L1 56 micro-Henyrs R2 390 Ohms C2 150 pico-Farads For the exemplary values given (intended for NTSC standard television signals) the filter provides a notch of about 7.75 dB at the color subcarrier frequency of about 3.58 MHz for the chrominance component. The Q of the bandpass is approximately unity (one) with a delay of about 170 nano-seconds. An important advantage of the filter shown is that it uses the same LC (inductance capacitance) elements to perform both of the desired frequency response characteristics (e.g., the color notch as to the luminance component and the low freqency rejection below 2 MHz of the chrominance signal). To summarize, the overall effect of the network 30 is to provide a combined (composite) output signal in which the luminance component is notched by about 7.75 dB at the color subcarrier frequency and the color component is band pass filtered so as to reject low frequency luma noise thereby solving the problem of video artifacts being produced by combining the signals directly. Advantageously, the network 30 only requires a pair of load resistors, one inductor and one capacitor (the second capacitor is a coupling capacitor). The economic benefits of this arrangement are clearly evident as compared with using separate filters which might even rquire further processing for delay compensation. Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described. For example, for PAL standard signals the color subcarrier notch should be at the PAL color subcarrier frequency. Also, the invention is of general application and may be used with video sources other than picture in picture processors.

Claims: A signal combiner (30), comprising a first input (31) for receiving a chrominance component signal (C) and a second input (32) for receiving a luminance component signal (Y), characterized by a filter network (30) having a first terminal (31) coupled to receive said chrominance signal component from said first input (31) (C), and having a second terminal (32) coupled to receive said luminance signal component (Y) from said second input (32), and for forming a composite video output signal, and having circuit means (C1, L1; R1, R2) coupled to said first and second terminals (31, 32) and including a single, passive, resonant filter (C1, L1; R1, R2) for performing low frequency rejection of the chrominance component (C), for performing notch filtering of the luminance component (Y) at the chrominance subcarrier frequency and for combining the filtered luminance and chrominance components to form said composite video output signal. A signal combiner as recited in claim 1, wherein said filter network (30) includes a third terminal for receiving a source of reference potential, e.g. ground, and said filter comprises an inductor (L1) and a capacitor (C1) coupled in series between first (R1) and second (R2) resistors coupled between respective ones of said first and second terminals (31, 32) and said third terminal.

Inventors: KLINK KRISTOPHER ALLYN, KLINK, KRISTOPHER ALLYN
Applicants: THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H04N9
IPC codes: H04N9, H04N5