Patent GB-1120244-A (GB)
Title: Improved color television signal recording and reproducing system
IPC: H04N7/01
Filed: 1965-08-03
Abstract: 1,120,244. Colour television; transistor pulse circuits. GENERAL CORP. 3 Aug., 1965 [19 Aug., 1964], No. 33140/65. Headings H3T and H4F. Colour television.-N.T.S.C. colour television signals are converted to line-sequential colour signals to facilitate recording by a conventional monochrome type of video signal magnetic recorder and after play-back are retained as line-sequential signals and reproduced by a Lawrence type of cathode-ray tube which is switched so as to produce colours at line rate. The original N.T.S.C. signal is separated into the luminance and chrominance components, Figs. 2, 5a and 5b (not shown), and the chrominance component is demodulated in a single demodulator in which the reference signal (synchronized in the usual manner by the synchronizing " burst ") is switched in a line sequence to the three phases necessary to obtain the three colour-difference signals. These signals are then recombined with the luminance signal to obtain line sequential colour signals. To identify the colour order in the sequence, an " instruction " signal in the form of a short " burst " of oscillation is inserted during the back porch interval once in each three lines under the control of a " divide-by-three " circuit which is driven by horizontal synchronizing pulses. The divider output together with the horizontal synchronizing pulses are also applied to a storage type counter to cause the generation of a three-step wave in which each step occupies one line. This wave after appropriate adjustment of the step levels is employed to phase modulate the reference signal applied to the chrominance modulator. The phase modulation is effected by a circuit, Fig. 5b (not shown), which utilizes a variable capacity diode. The step wave is also applied to switch the gain of the chrominance channel so that the three colour-difference signals are produced with equal amplitudes. Provision is made whereby a test signal may be substituted for the N.T.S.C. signal. In the magnetic recorder, Fig. 3 (not shown), the video signals are frequency modulated on a carrier-wave prior to recording. The synchronizing signals are separated and recorded on a separate track. Control of the tape drive and head capstan motors is effected by the original synchronizing signals during recording and the recorded synchronizing signals during play-back. The cathode-ray reproducing system, Figs. 4 and 6 (not shown), is conventional apart from the use of a storage-type counter (of the same type as that employed above) which responds to horizontal synchronizing pulses and the " instruction " signal to generate a three-step wave in phase agreement with that used for the chrominance demodulator. The wave is applied to the switching grids in the Lawrence tube and cause the reproduced colour to be switched in agreement with the line sequential colour signals which are applied to modulate the tube. Transistor pulse circuits, Fig. 5a. Horizontal synchronizing pulses are applied to a divideby-three circuit formed of a blocking oscillator 128 which is of conventional form apart from the inclusion of a resonant circuit 502 which serves to modify the discharge curve of timing capacitor 507 and improve the circuit stability. The positive-going output pulses from winding 503 3  of transformer 503 and the original horizontal synchronizing pulses (negative going) are applied to a storage counter formed of diodes 511, 512, 513 and capacitor 514 and result in the production of a three-step wave, Fig. 12 (not shown), across the capacitor.