Patent GB-971005-A (GB)
Title: Chrominance channel control apparatus
IPC: H04N9/71
Filed: 1962-02-05
Abstract: 971,005. Colour television; automatic gain control. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Feb. 5, 1962 [Feb. 13, 1961], No. 4383/62. Headings H3Q and H4F. A circuit 29 combining the functions of chrominance amplifier and " colour killer " comprises a pentode 61 which receives on its control grid 64 via line 101 an automatic-gain-control voltage proportional to the amplitude of the colour synchronizing " bursts " and which has its screen grid 65 interconnected with the suppressor grid 66 by way of a potentiometer network 83, 87, 89 connected between positive and negative supply potentials, the arrangement being such that when the automatic-gaincontrol voltage disappears (i.e. during black- and-white reception when no synchronizing " bursts " occur) or when the voltage falls to a low level (i.e. during colour reception when the signal level is inadequate for proper operation of the receiver colour circuits), the resulting increase in current to the screen grid lowers the suppressor grid potential below that of the cathode and causes the whole of the space current to be diverted to the screen so cutting off the anode circuit. The anode circuit supplies the colour demodulators 31 via a saturation control potentiometer 80 and also supplies the " burst " separator stage 41. In order that stage 29 should not remain cut off when synchronizing " bursts " are again received or assume a useful amplitude, it is necessary to render the anode circuit of the stage conducting during each " burst " interval. To this end positive-going pulses timed to coincide with the " burst " intervals are applied to the suppressor grid 66. The pulses are derived from the cathode circuit of the " burst " separator stage 130 which is itself gated on during the " burst " intervals by flyback pulses which are applied to the control grid via a C.R. integrating circuit 121, 125, 131 which serves to produce pulses delayed sufficiently to coincide with the " burst " intervals. To avoid the need to render the anode circuit of stage 29 conducting during each pulse interval, the input to the " burst " separator stage 41 may alternatively be obtained from the screen of pentode 61 (see Fig. 3, not shown). The " bursts " separated by stage 41 are applied to synchronize a colour reference oscillator 33 in known manner by means of a phase detector and reactance tube (not shown). The " bursts " are also applied to a synchronous type of detector 45 in order to develop the automatic-gain-control voltage for stage 29. The " bursts " are applied to the anode of triode 155 via capacitor 161 whilst an in-phase component from oscillator 33 is applied to the cathode. The detector is normally cut off and is rendered conducting during each " burst " by a pulse applied to the grid from the cathode of " burst " separator 41. A voltage proportional to the amplitude of the " bursts " appears across capacitor 171 and is applied as the gain control potential of stage 29. Due to its synchronous operation, the detector is substantially insensitive to noise. Stage 29 is cut off during the early part of each blanking interval (i.e. during the portion of the interval preceding the " burst ") by pulses applied to the cathode from triode 111 and derived from positive flyback pulses which are applied to the grid of valve 111 via a differentiating network 113, 115, 117. A negative potential is developed at the grid of valve 111 due to grid current biasing action. By means of voltage stabilizer tubes VR1, VR2, VR3, the potential is made to furnish the negative supply for the potentiometer network 83, 87, 89 connected to the screen and suppressor electrodes of pentode 61. Potentiometer 181 provides a threshold adjustment for the level at which stage 29 is cut off. A blanking signal lasting throughout the whole of the blanking interval is derived by combining the pulses appearing at the anode of valve 111 and the screen of " burst " separator 130, the signal being applied to blank the matrix amplifier 43.