Patent GB-897362-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to radio receivers employing visual display systems
Inventor: HARRIES JOHN HENRY OWEN
IPC: H04N9/18
Filed: 1958-05-30
Abstract: 897,362. Colour television. HARRIES TELEVISION RESEARCH Ltd. May 22, 1959 [May 30, 1958], No. 17360/58. Class 40(3). Apparatus for the reception of colour and black-and-white signals comprises two or more display devices, at least one of which is adapted to produce a black-and-white image, the remainder being adapted to produce a colour-display having all the required colour components, circuit means responsive to the presence or absence of a predetermined characteristic of an incoming signal being provided for causing a colour filter to be absent from the light path of the black- and-white display device during reception of black-and-white signals and to be present in the light-path during reception of colour signals so that the device, in addition to providing a black-and-white image when a black-and-white signal is received, reinforces one of the component colours when a colour signal is received. The invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 as applied to a receiver for the reception of N.T.S.C.-type colour signals and black-and-white signals Four cathode-ray tubes are provided which project images in register on a common screen 8, tubes 6G, 6B and 6R producing green, blue and red images respectively, whilst tube 6M produces a black-and-white image. Incoming black-andwhite signals and the luminance component of colour signals are applied via circuit 4 to the cathodes of all the tubes, whilst chrominance subcarrier signals, when present, are applied via a chrominance amplifier 17 to a demodulator 5 which furnishes colour-difference signals for application to the grids of the cathode-ray tubes, the R-Y signal being applied to both the red tube 6R and the black-and-white tube 6M. A potentiometer 35 applies a bias which renders the colour tubes 6G-6R normally inoperative. A "colour-killer" circuit 18 produces a D.C. signal in response to the reception of the subcarrier synchronizing "burst". The signal is applied over lead 19 to render the chrominance amplifier operative during reception of colour signals and is also applied over lead 21 to render conducting a valve 23. The anode circuit of the valve includes a solenoid mechanism which, when energized, causes a red filter R to be inserted in the light path from the black-and-white tube against the action of a restoring spring 30. Operation of the solenoid also closes contacts 33 and 34 which short-circuit the bias from potentiometer 35 and allow tubes 6G-6R to operate Upon reception of a black-and-white signal therefore, tube 6M alone operates to produce a black-and-white image on screen 8, but upon reception of a colour signal tubes 6G-6R also become operative to produce a coloured image whilst filter R is inserted in front of tube 6M which thus functions to reinforce the red image from tube 6R. According to a modification, tubes 6G-6R are replaced by a single three-colour cathode-ray tube. As an alternative to the use of bias from potentiometer 35 to render tubes 6G-6R inoperative during black-andwhite reception, solenoid controlled masks may be employed, Fig. 2 (not shown). Colour balance in the images from tubes 6G-6R may be achieved by adjustment of the modulation signals or the use of adjustable masks as described in Specification 835,153. Reference is also made to Specification 897,361 in connection with the correction of image distortion due to oblique projection and Specification 853,708 in connection with the use of single-line cathoderay tube displays which operate in conjunction with a rotating or oscillating mirror to introduce the frame component of scan.