Abstract:
A video signal processing apparatus which can process video signals with different formats simply by switching between programs for processing video signals. Different system clock signals are sent to the input and output processes by employing a programmable signal processor  4 , input synchronizing signal processor  8 , programmable signal processor  6  and output synchronizing pulse processor  9 . A method for processing the video signal can be flexibly changed simply by switching between signal processing programs for programmable signal processors. In addition, the use of a memory  5  enables the signal, which is processed using the system clock signal in the input process, to be processed using the system clock signal in the output process. The present invention thus allows the processing of video signals with many different signal formats. The design of efficient circuitry will greatly reduce costs and production processes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of video signal processing apparatus which regenerates and decodes video signals employing a programmable signal processor.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The specifications of broadcasting system for television signals are becoming increasingly diverse. At present, NTSC broadcasting systems via broadcast satellite and communications satellite, high definition television broadcasting, and digital television broadcasting are already in operation, in addition to existing terrestrial television broadcasting in NTSC color format (hereafter referred to as NTSC television broadcasting).  
           [0003]    As the specifications of broadcasting systems continue to diversify, television sets require the corresponding ability to receive television signals broadcast via a range of broadcasting systems. In addition, as information processing devices such as personal computers become increasingly popular, display performance of so-called VGA-class (Video Graphics Array) resolution is required for home-use television sets.  
           [0004]    Conventionally, television signals from different broadcasting systems are received and processed by switching field frequency, resolution, and number of horizontal scanning lines for each system, and this has resulted in larger and more complicated circuits.  
           [0005]    For example, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a television set designed to receive both NTSC television composite video signals and MUSE television composite video signals.  
           [0006]    NTSC television composite video signals are received as follows. A tuner selects a channel for NTSC television composite video signals. Signals are amplified by a VIF (Video Intermediate Frequency) amplifier and then detected by a detector to generate baseband NTSC TV composite video signals. Baseband NTSC TV composite video signals are input to an input terminal  72  in FIG. 6. A clamping circuit  82  adjusts the DC level of the baseband NTSC television composite video signals to an appropriate level, and an analog-to-digital converter  83  quantizes the resultant baseband NTSC television composite video signals and converts them to digital signals. Sampling frequency for quantization is phase-locked to the color subcarrier and has a four times (hereafter referred to as 4f sc ) higher frequency than the color subcarrier: approximately 14 MHz. Digitized baseband NTSC TV composite video signals are fed to a NTSC video signal decoder  76 N.  
           [0007]    On the other hand, a synchronizing signal regenerator  75  for NTSC TV composite video signals regenerates a clock signal φ 81 , phase-locked to the color subcarrier, from quantized and digitized baseband NTSC TV composite video signals with a resonance circuit comprising a crystal resonator  102 . The synchronizing signal regenerator  75  also detects synchronizing signal components of quantized and digitized NTSC composite video signals with the clock signal φ 81 , regenerates horizontal synchronizing signals and vertical synchronizing signals, and generates the required pulse signals such as a clock signal φ 82  phase-locked to input horizontal synchronizing signals and a clamp pulse. The NTSC TV composite video signal decoder  76 N decodes NTSC TV composite video signals through a luminance signal process and a chrominance signal process using a range of signals including clock signal φ 81 , clock signal φ 82 , and horizontal synchronizing signals.  
           [0008]    The 2nd phase extended definition television standard (ED2) baseband composite video signal decoder  76 E regenerates horizontal high-emphasis processing signals from ED2 composite video signals, in addition to decoding by  76 N, using the clock signals φ 81 , clock signals phased-locked to φ 81 , and synchronizing signals. Video signals after the above processing are sampled by a clock signal φ 83  synchronized with the horizontal synchronizing pulse and vertical synchronizing pulse of the output circuit for synchronizing video signals with the horizontal synchronizing pulse and vertical synchronizing pulse of the output circuit. The clock signal φ 83  is generated from a resonance circuit comprising a crystal resonator  103 , and is synchronized with the horizontal synchronizing pulse and vertical synchronizing pulse of the output circuit. For ED2 composite video signals, after the abovementioned processing, a vertical high-emphasis processing signal is regenerated using the clock signal φ 83  and a clock signal phase-locked to φ 83 .  
           [0009]    At this point, the luminance signal process in  76 N and the luminance signal process in  76 E can be combined to share a common circuit, as can the chrominance signal process in  76 N and the chrominance signal process in  76 E.  
           [0010]    The method for decoding MUSE television composite video signals is as follows. A tuner selects a channel, and the VIF (video intermediate frequency) circuit amplifies the signals received. The detector detects the waveform and generates baseband MUSE television composite video signals. Baseband MUSE TV composite video signals are input to an input terminal  71 . A clamping circuit  92  adjusts the DC level of baseband MUSE television composite video signals to appropriate level, and an analog-to-digital converter  93  quantizes baseband MUSE television composite video signals and converts them to digital composite video signals. A clock signal which is phase-locked to the horizontal phase standard signal and is about 16.2 MHz is used as sampling frequency for quantization. Digitized MUSE TV composite video signals are fed to a MUSE TV composite video signal decoder  74 . The decoder  74  regenerates wide-band high definition video signals by approximately interpolating untransmitted signals of sampling points employing infield interpolation, inframe interpolation, or interframe interpolation.  
           [0011]    A synchronizing signal regenerator  73  for MUSE television composite video signals regenerates horizontal phase standard signals, horizontal synchronizing signals, vertical phase standard signals, and vertical synchronizing signals from MUSE composite video signals. In addition, the synchronizing signal regenerator  73  regenerates a clock signal φ 91  required for operating the MUSE composite video signal decoder, from a resonance circuit comprising a crystal resonator  100 , and generates a range of control signals for the input signal. Moreover, for MUSE composite video signals, video signals of horizontal scanning period are compressed to {fraction (11/12)} for transmission, requiring the decoder to decompress them. For this purpose, a clock signal φ 93 , phase-locked to the horizontal scanning pulse of the display apparatus, whose frequency is about 44 MHz, is generated from the resonance circuit comprising the crystal resonator  101 . At the final stage of decoding process for MUSE composite video signals, decoded video signals are sampled by the clock signal φ 93  of about 44 MHz, and synchronized with the horizontal scanning pulse. The digital-to-analog converters  87  and  97  convert each of the outputs of the NTSC television composite video signal decoder  76 N, the ED2 composite video signal decoder  76 E, and the MUSE television composite video signal decoder  74  to analog signals. The switching circuit  80  selects and outputs signals. At the same time, the switching circuit  79  also selects and outputs synchronizing signals.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus for regenerating and decoding video signals employing programmable signal processors.  
           [0013]    In general, an exclusive decoder, synchronizing regenerator, and clock generator are required for decoding input television video signals of each signal standard. This has resulted in larger circuits and also disadvantages in cost and productivity.  
           [0014]    The object of the present invention is to provide solutions to the above disadvantages.  
           [0015]    (1) The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus employing a synchronizing signal processor for separating and processing the synchronizing signal from the composite video signal, a clock signal generator for generating the clock signal phase-locked to the horizontal phase standard signal in the video signal, a first programmable signal processor for decoding the video signal, a storage means for storing the output signal of the first programmable signal processor, a generating and processing means of the output synchronizing pulse for generating and processing the synchronizing pulse so as to display the video signal on the display apparatus, a memory for storing multiple programs which are used for processing the video signal after the first decoding step by said first programmable signal processor at receiving the output signal from said storage, and a control means for selecting and reading out a suitable program from the memory where the multiple programs are stored.  
           [0016]    The present invention enables one video display apparatus to process signals with different formats by overwriting an operating program of the programmable signal processor depending on the format of the input composite video signal, and thus provides cost-efficient video signal processing apparatus with higher productivity.  
           [0017]    (2) The present invention also relates to a video signal processing apparatus employing a synchronizing signal separator for separating the synchronizing signal from the composite video signal, a clock signal generator for generating the clock signal phase-locked to the horizontal phase standard signal in said video signal, a first programmable signal processor for decoding said video signal, a storage means for storing the output signal of the first programmable signal processor, a generating and processing means of the synchronizing pulse for generating and processing the output synchronizing pulse so as to display the video signal on a display apparatus, and a control means for selecting and reading out a suitable program from the memory for processing the video signal after the first decoding step by said first programmable signal processor at receiving the output signal from said storage means.  
           [0018]    The present invention enables one device to process signals of many different formats by switching programmable processors and clock signal generators depending on the format of the input composite video signal.  
           [0019]    (3) The present invention also relates to a video signal decoder which generates a clock signal phase-locked to an external input synchronizing signal which is unlocked to a first composite video signal, and employs a first clock signal generator for phase-locking said clock signal to the synchronizing pulse φ 21  for displaying an image on a display apparatus. For displaying two video signals with different signal formats on the same screen, a first synchronizing signal is separated from a first composite video signal, and a clock signal for a second video composite signal is generated from an external synchronizing signal so as to generate a pulse for displaying a second video composite signal.  
           [0020]    By reading out and displaying the first and second video signals stored in the memory after synchronizing them to the same clock signal, i.e., a clock signal phase-locked to the synchronizing pulse for displaying the video signal, an entire or a part of video signals with two different signal formats can be displayed on the same screen.  
           [0021]    (4) The present invention also relates to a video signal decoder employing a clock signal generator for generating the clock signal phase-locked to the horizontal phase standard signal in the input composite video signal, another clock signal generator for generating the clock signal phase-locked to the synchronizing pulse for driving a display apparatus so as to display the video signal on the screen, and a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) which enables each clock signal generator to output different frequency signals. The VCO enables to output wideband frequency depending on the format of the input video signal.  
           [0022]    (5) The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus comprising a CRT as an apparatus for displaying the composite video signal. The invention employs a second programmable signal processor for reading out the composite video signal stored in the memory with reference to the synchronizing signal generated from a synchronizing pulse generator for displaying decoded composite video signals, a memory which stores multiple programs for controlling said second programmable signal processor, and a control means for selecting and reading out a program stored in said memory depending on the format of the input video signal and writing in the selected program to a memory of the programmable processor. This enables the programmable processor to select required deflection process corresponding to the format of the video signal to be displayed with reference to the synchronizing pulse for displaying the video signal, and thus realizes one apparatus to handle multiple display formats. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video signal processing apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an input synchronizing signal processor of the video signal processing apparatus in FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an output synchronizing signal processor of the video signal processing apparatus in FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an output deflection signal generator of the video signal processing apparatus in FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a programmable signal processor of the video signal processing apparatus in FIG. 1.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the conventional video signal processing apparatus for receiving and processing the NTSC television composite video signal and the MUSE television composite video signal. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video signal processing apparatus of the present invention. The invention is intended for a wide range of input composite video signals (including synchronizing signals) such as MUSE TV composite video signals, NTSC TV composite video signals, and high definition baseband TV composite signals.  
         [0030]    A signal selector  1  selects a video signal, a clamping circuit  2  adjusts the DC level, and an analog-to-digital converter  3  converts the video signal to a digital video signal. The digital video signal is then supplied to a first programmable signal processor  4  and an input synchronizing signal processor  8 . The input synchronizing signal processor  8  separates and regenerates the synchronizing signal from the input video signal and also generates a clock signal phase-locked to the horizontal phase standard signal of the input video signal.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the input synchronizing signal processor  8 . The input synchronizing signal processor  8  comprises a programmable counter in order to process multiple input composite video signals. Such processor can be provided with a structure to switch functions and operations of each block according to multiple input composite video signals. First, a synchronizing signal detector  20  separates the horizontal synchronizing signal component and vertical synchronizing signal component from the digital video signal. For NTSC TV composite video signals, the DC level of the synchronizing signal is specified to be lower than the black level of the video signal. Therefore, horizontal and vertical synchronizing signal components are separable by integrating the output after slicing based on the appropriate slice level setting in a synchronizing signal separator. For MUSE TV composite video signals, a frame synchronizing pulse, which is the vertical synchronizing signal component, is detectable by autocorrelation with time. The horizontal synchronizing signal component is separable by a counter activated by said frame synchronizing pulse.  
         [0032]    A digital composite video signal is input to the memory  25  for the synchronizing standard signal. In the case of MUSE TV composite video signals, the memory  25  extracts the waveform of the horizontal phase standard signal mixed in the composite video signal. In the case of NTSC TV composite video signals, the memory extracts a color burst signal for regenerating color subcarrier. The extracted digital signal waveform is sent to a CPU  12 . Via the operation of a loop filter, the input voltage V 28  to be applied to the input voltage terminal  28  of a VCO is calculated by the CPU and supplied to a VCO  11   a  to form a feedback loop.  
         [0033]    The VCO  11   a  is a wideband variable clock generator controlled by DC voltage, and is capable of generating a wideband clock pulse, for example, about 32 MHz for MUSE TV composite video signals, 28 MHz for NTSC TV composite video signals, and 50 MHz for VGA (Video Graphics Array) employing, for example, a positive feedback oscillator as an oscillation source.  
         [0034]    The output clock pulse φ 29  of the VCO  11   a  is sent to the analog-to-digital converter  3 , the programmable processor  4 , and the input synchronizing signal processor  8 , and used as a system clock pulse.  
         [0035]    The output horizontal synchronizing pulse from the synchronizing signal detector  20  is not used as it is, and requires to be stabilized using a feedback loop in order to process non-standard NTSC composite video signals such as reconstruction signals of the VTR. A horizontal synchronizing phase detector  21   a  detects any phase error between the generated horizontal synchronizing pulse and the horizontal synchronizing signal detected by the horizontal synchronizing phase detector  21   a . The detection result is sent to the CPU  12  for calculating the dividing ratio to be used for a horizontal rate programmable counter  23   a  to cancel the phase error. The CPU  12  sends the calculation result to the horizontal rate programmable counter  23   a  to form a feedback loop. Said calculation result indicates the number of input system clock pulses in one horizontal scanning period. The divided output of said horizontal rate programmable counter  23  is sent to a memory  5  as a write address. Any phase error below the cycle frequency of the system clock is detected by the CPU  12  as a horizontal skew, and such phase error can be absorbed by applying a phase correction which cancels the skew in the programmable processor  4 .  
         [0036]    In addition, the pulse generating counter  24   a  adjusts the divided output of the horizontal rate programmable counter  23   a  to the required phase and pulse width, and sends it to an output synchronizing pulse processor  9  as a detected horizontal synchronizing pulse φ 31 . The pulse generating counter  24   a  also adjusts the vertical synchronizing signal detected by the synchronizing signal detector  20  in FIG. 20 to the required phase and pulse width, and outputs it as a detected vertical synchronizing pulse φ 32 .  
         [0037]    Meanwhile, the digital video signal which has been input to the programmable processor  4  is decoded according to the format of the input video signal. FIG. 5 is a preferred embodiment of a block diagram of the programmable processor. A processing element  50  is aligned in matrix based on MIMD (Multiple Instruction Multiple Data stream) system, and each processing element  50  is connected by lattice network wiring. The processing element  50  comprises an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), an instruction register which controls the ALU, and a data register for inputting numerical values. Each register is connected to the CPU  12  by an exclusive wire so that methods of signal processing are dynamically changeable by rewriting the register according to the standard of input video signal or type of decode mode.  
         [0038]    Table 1 is a comparison between the signal process of programmable signal processors and each signal format.  
         [0039]    As shown in Table 1, the programmable signal processor  4  separates Y/C, decodes the chrominance signal, and processes ACC for decoding NTSC TV composite video signals. For decoding ED 2  TV composite video signals, the programmable signal processor  4  separates Y/C, decodes the chrominance signal, processes ACC, and processes the horizontal high-emphasis signal (HH). The input system clock pulses φ 29  are used for these processes. For decoding MUSE TV composite video signals, the programmable signal processor  4  interpolates the still picture region and moving picture region of the signal, detects motion, and processes progressive scanning.  
         [0040]    Signals decoded with the programmable signal processor  4  are written into the memory  5  for synchronizing with the system clock pulse for display. In general, regardless of asynchronous or synchronous processing, a readable/writable memory (so-called read modified write) is used for sending and receiving digital signals between circuits operated by different system clock signals. The write address for the memory  5  is formed by the input system clock pulse φ 29  generated from the input synchronizing signal processor  8  which generates an input synchronizing signal and a range of pulses synchronized to it.  
                                                 TABLE 1                                   NTSC   ED2   MUSE           TV composite video   TV composite video   TV composite video           signal Decoding   signal Decoding   signal Decoding                                    Programmable   YE separation   YE separation   Interpolation in still       signal processor           picture region       4   Chrominance signal   Chrominance signal   Interpolation in moving           decoding   decoding   picture region           ACC process   ACC process   Motion detection               HH regeneration   Progressive scanning                   process       Programmable   Line signal   Line signal   Picture quality       signal processor   interpolation   interpolation   compensation       6       VT/VH regeneration           Caption signal insertion   Caption signal insertion               Picture quality               compensation                  
 
         [0041]    Next, the output synchronizing pulse processor  9  is explained with reference to FIG. 3. The horizontal synchronizing signal φ 31 , vertical synchronizing signal φ 32  and external synchronizing signal φ 16  detected by the input synchronizing signal processor  8  form the phase-locked loop (PLL) for synchronizing the system clock for display to the external synchronizing signal φ 16 .  
         [0042]    For picture-in-picture display TV sets, the external synchronizing signal φ 16  uses the synchronizing signal of the video signal to be displayed in the main picture as the standard of the synchronizing pulse for display, and generate an address data, based on the standard, for storing the video signal to be displayed in the sub-picture in the memory  5 . FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 omit signal processing of the external synchronizing signal, but the memory  5  can be synchronized to the external synchronizing signal just by switching over the write address. A write address generator is operated by field periodically, when inputting the external synchronizing signal, to absorb the difference in frame frequency. When inputting the internal synchronizing signal, the write address generator is operated by frame periodically. The picture-in-picture display is realized by writing two types of asynchronous digital video signals to the memory using the external synchronizing signal φ 16 , the input system clock pulse φ 69  synchronized to the signal φ 16 , and the internal input system clock pulse φ 29 , and reading out the digital video signal from the memory  5  using the same system clock pulses for display.  
         [0043]    For NTSC composite video signals, it is necessary to match the number of clock pulses to the display width (number of picture elements) for every line because video signal processing, such as interpolation of horizontal scanning line signals, is executed by line. It is also necessary to generate a clock pulse phase-locked to the line frequency (horizontal scanning frequency). A horizontal phase detector  21   b  detects any phase error between the horizontal synchronizing pulse φ 34  generated from a horizontal rate programmable counter  23   b , which divides the approximately 28-MHz clock to {fraction (1/1820)}, and the detected horizontal synchronizing pulse φ 31 . The detection result is calculated with the CPU  12  to convert the result to voltage, and it is output as V 28  from the input voltage terminal  28  to control the oscillation frequency of a VCO  11   b . The VCO  11   b  adds the output system clock φ 33 , synchronized to the horizontal scanning frequency of display apparatus, to the horizontal programmable counter  23   b  to form a feedback loop. The synchronizing pulse processor for display apparatus  9  always operates with reference to the output system clock φ 33  as a standard clock. In general, the time constant of said feedback loop is set very long to form a stable output system clock locked to the line frequency of the input video signal and to avoid the influence of jitters from the input horizontal synchronizing signal.  
         [0044]    The horizontal rate programmable counter  23   b  which is controlled by the horizontal synchronizing pulse adjusts the output horizontal scanning rate pulse to the required phase and pulse width using a pulse generator with counter  24   b , and outputs the pulse as a horizontal synchronizing pulse φ 35  for display. In the same way, the pulse generator with counter  24   b  adjusts the phase and pulse width of the detected vertical synchronizing pulse and outputs it as a vertical synchronizing pulse φ 36 .  
         [0045]    For MUSE TV composite video signals, the frequency of the system clock signal φ 33  for display is approximately 44 MHz and the dividing ratio used in the horizontal rate programmable counter  23   b  controlled by the horizontal synchronizing pulse is {fraction (1/1320)}.  
         [0046]    The VCO  11   a  and VCO  11   b  are variable oscillators adjustable from about 10 MHz to 50 MHz in order to correspond to wideband output signals.  
         [0047]    The read-out address of the memory  5  is created in the output synchronizing pulse processor  9 . For NTSC TV composite video signals and MUSE TV composite video signals, the line memory is used to process video signals by line and convert read-out phase and frequency using the output system clock φ 33 .  
         [0048]    The programmable signal processor  6  decodes the composite video signal using the output system clock  33  and the output synchronizing pulse. As shown in Table 1, for decoding NTSC TV composite video signals, processes including line signal interpolation, caption signal insertion, and picture quality compensation are executed. For decoding ED2 signals, processes including line signal interpolation, regeneration of vertical temporal-emphasis processing signal (VT) or vertical high-emphasis processing signal (VH), caption signal insertion, and picture quality compensation are executed.  
         [0049]    Multiple signal processing programs are stored in the ROM, and the CPU  12  loads the required program for decoding video signals into the instruction register of the programmable signal processor depending on the type of video signal detected. Decoded composite video signals are converted to analog signals via the digital-to-analog converter  7 , and output as video signals for display. At the same time, the output synchronizing pulse processor  9  generates a synchronizing pulse φ 18  which is shaped to the pulse waveform.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 4 illustrates a deflection signal generator  10 . When the display apparatus is a cathode ray tube (CRT), the pulses driving the horizontal output transistor are fed back to a horizontal phase detector  21   c  and form a PLL circuit comprising the horizontal synchronizing pulse to stabilize the special operation of the horizontal deflection circuit for CRT. The horizontal phase detector  21   c  detects any frequency or phase errors between the output horizontal synchronizing pulse φ 35  and the pulses driving the horizontal output transistor φ 41  for deflection. The detection result is input to the CPU  12 , which contains a horizontal scanning signal processor which forms a feedback loop to calculate any phase error. The value to compensate for the calculated phase error is set as the dividing ratio to a horizontal rate programmable counter  23   c . Next, the pulse generator with counter  24   c  adjusts the phase and pulse width of the output of the horizontal rate programmable counter  23   c . Since the above processes are executed in a unit of the system clock for display, any phase error below the clock rate of the system clock for display φ 33  is ignored. (In other words, the system does not respond to such phase error.) A compensation circuit to the skew of clock signal  40  compensates continuously, in analog, the phase error calculated by the horizontal synchronizing signal processor forming a feedback loop in the CPU  12 , amplifies the pulse waveform of the generated horizontal frequency, and outputs it as the horizontal deflection output pulse φ 42 . The pulse generator with counter  24   c  shapes the waveform of the vertical synchronizing output pulse φ 36  and outputs it as the vertical deflection output pulse φ 43 . Depend on the horizontal deflection output pulse φ 42  and the vertical deflection output pulse φ 43 . By programmably switching operation of the deflection circuit according to the standard of video signals to be displayed, multiple display formats can be accepted.  
         [0051]    The present invention has programmable signal processors connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the memory, thereby enabling one video signal processor to process video signals of many different broadcasting systems which have different synchronizing signal frequencies, field frequencies, and sampling frequencies, and data signals composed of composite synchronizing signals which have different sampling frequencies.