Patent GB-1022823-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to signal recording and reproducing systems
IPC: H04N9/797
Filed: 1963-02-26
Abstract: 1,022,823. Automatic phase control systems; pulse modulation circuits. AMPEX CORPORATION. Feb. 26, 1963 [March 30, 1962], No. 7730/63. Headings H3A and H4L. In reproducing colour television signals from magnetic tape a phase detector 31 compares a colour subcarrier reference source 30 and the reproduced colour subcarrier burst to produce a control signal varying the timing of pulses from a reference source of reference horizontal synchronizing pulses, which variably timed reference pulses are then compared in phase with the reproduced horizontal synchronizing pulses to control the speed and phase of the colour record. This results in the reproduced subcarrier burst corresponding in timing and phase with the reference subcarrier even if there is a variation in the time interval between the recorded horizontal synchronizing pulses and the recorded subcarrier burst. Further, the residual output from the phase detector 31 finely corrects on a variable delay line 34 the reproduced subcarrier burst and associated composite colour signal. The timing error of the reproduced horizontal synchronizing pulse has no significant effect in later circuits. The repositioned syncronizing pulses control, along with the reproduced pulses, through a servo amplifier, the speed of the rotary magnetic scanning heads and thus coarsely correct the timing (phase) of the reproduced colour signal. This has then the colour burst gated out at 26 (Fig. 2) and applied to a phase detector 31, which is opened by a pulse gate 28 for only the central portion of the burst. In the phase detector 31 the zero crossings of the gated subcarrier burst are determined and used to sample a saw-tooth wave produced from the reference subcarrier source in sawtooth generator 30. The phase detector output is a pulse train of amplitude and polarity indicating the phase error and through a lowpass filter 35 produces a D.C. signal operating a variable pulse width generator the trailing edge of whose pulses produces in a pulse generator 37 the variably time displaced reference synchronizing pulses. Variable pulse width generator.-The reference horizontal synchronizing pulses are applied to a blocking oscillator 41 (Fig. 3) with timed circuit providing a minimum dwell period so that only one pulse per television line is produced. This triggers, through a normally blocked transistor 45, a monostable circuit 46 whose capacitor 50 has a variable discharge rate determined by the base voltage on a transistor 66. This base voltage is derived from the phase detector output by a differential amplifier 60, 61 and integrating circuit 63, 64. Pulses of variable timing are therefore derived from a second monostable circuit 56, and form the repositioned horizontal synchronizing pulses. Switching to a different control mode.-If the phase detector output becomes too large (positively or negatively) a differential amplifier 72, 73 controlled by a constant current transistor 75 actuates, through rectifier 84 or 85, a monostable circuit 83, energizing temporarily a relay coil 87 which operates a switch 68 to discharge the integrating circuit 63, 64 to a constant voltage, differing from the previous voltage by an amount equivalent to repositioning in time the reference pulses by a whole cycle of the subcarrier frequency. This switching over action may be cut out, as shown, by a switch 70 which also shunts a large capacitor 51 across delay producing capacitor 50, to increase the delay and render more sensitive the system. This increased gain is unnecessary for studio reproduction or duplication of tapes. Specification 988,070 describing the phase detector and Specification 915,254 the magnetic heads scanning speed are referred to.