Method and system for furnishing a luminous marker in a selected location on the screen of a television receiver

Claim 2

In a television transmitting-receiving system, having a transmitter, video and audio signal storage means, and a receiver, said transmitter having means for generating vertical synchronization signals, said receiver having a screen, and a cathode ray beam impinging upon said screen: a method for furnishing a luminous marker in a selected location on the image on said screen of said receiver, comprising in combination, the steps of entering marker signals corresponding to the phase of said marker relative to a vertical synchronization signal when said marker is in said selected location, into said audio storage means at said transmitter; providing access to said storage means at said receiver reading said marker signals out of said audio storage means at said receiver; and increasing the intensity of said cathode ray beam when said cathode ray beam has the phase relationship to said vertical synchronization signal signified by said marker signals.

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said television transmitter further generates horizontal synchronization signals; wherein said marker signals further signify the phase between said horizontal synchronization signals and said marker when in said selected location; and wherein the intensity of said cathode ray beam is increased when said beam has the phase relation to both said vertical and horizontal synchronization signals signified by said marker signals.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said marker signals comprise a reference frequency signal; a first variable frequency signal; and a second variable frequency signal, the frequency difference between said reference signal and said first and second variable frequency signals respectively corresponding to the phase between said marker and said vertical and horizontal synchronization signals.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of increasing the intensity of said cathode ray beam comprises mixing said reference signal and said first and second variable frequency signals respectively in such a manner that a first and a second difference frequency signal are derived, having, respectively, a frequency corresponding to the phase of said marker relative to said vertical and horizontal synchronization signals; rectifying said first and second difference frequency signals to obtain corresponding first and second direct current signals; generating a first pulse upon receipt of a vertical synchronization signal, said pulse having a duration corresponding to said first direct current signal; generating a second pulse upon receipt of a horizontal synchronization signal, said second pulse having a duration corresponding to said second direct current signal; and increasing the intensity of said cathode ray beam upon coincidence of the trailing edge of said first and second pulses.

Claim 6

A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said marker signals comprise a code word.

Claim 7

In a television-transmitting system having a transmitter, audio and video storage means, and a receiver, said transmitter having means for generating Vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, said receiver having a screen and a cathode ray beam impinging upon said screen: a system, comprising, in combination, means for entering marker signals corresponding to the location of a marker relative to a vertical synchronization signal into said audio storage means at said transmitter; means providing access to said storage means at said receiver means for reading out said marker signals from said audio storage means at said receiver; and marker control means for increasing the intensity of said cathode ray beam when said cathode ray beam has the phase relationship relative to said vertical synchronization signals specified by said marker signals.

Claim 8

In a television-transmitting system having a transmitter, audio and video storage means, and a receiver, said transmitter having means for generating Vertical and horizontal synchronization signals, said receiver having a screen and a cathode ray beam impinging upon said screen: a system, comprising, in combination, means for entering marker signals corresponding to the location of a marker relative to a vertical synchronization signal into said audio storage means at said transmitter; means providing access to said storage means at said receiver means for reading out said marker signals from said audio storage means at said receiver; and marker control means for increasing the intensity of said cathode ray beam when said cathode ray beam has the phase relationship relative to said vertical synchronization signals specified by said marker signals.

Claim 9

An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the intensity of said cathode ray beam increases in response to a marker control pulse; wherein said audio storage means has a first, second, and third storage areas; wherein said means for entering marker signals into said audio storage means at said transmitter comprises means for entering a reference frequency signal, and a first and second variable frequency signal into said first, second and third storage areas respectively; said first and second variable frequency signals having frequencies corresponding, respectively, to the phase relationship between said transmitter vertical synchronization signal and said transmitter horizontal synchronization signal, and said marker when in said selected location.

Claim 10

An arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein said marker control means comprise first and second mixing means for mixing said reference frequency signal with said first and second variable frequency signals respectively, thus furnishing a first and second difference frequency signal; means for converting said first and second difference frequency signals into a first and second direct current signal respectively, said first and second direct current signals having respective amplitudes corresponding to the frequency of the respective difference frequency signals; first pulse generating means for generating a first pulse upon receipt of a vertical synchronization signal, the duration of said pulse corresponding to said first direct signal; second pulse generating means for generating a second pulse upon receipt of a horizontal synchronization signal, said second pulse having a duration corresponding to said second direct current signal; first and second differentiation means for differentiating said first and second pulse respectively, thus furnishing a first and second trailing edge signal; and coincidence means for furnishing said marker control pulse upon coincidence of said first and second trailing edge signals.

Claim 11

An arrangement as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second pulse generating means are a first and second multivibrator respectively.

Claim 12

An arrangement as set forth in claim 8 wherein said coincidence means comprise an AND gate.

Claim 13

An arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein said audio storage means comprise a tape; and wherein said first, second and third storage areas comprise corresponding tracks on said tape.

Claim 14

An arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein said marker signals comprise a carrier frequency signal; and a code word modulated upon said carrier frequency signal, signifying the number of possible marker locations between the occurrence of a vertical synchronization signal and the selected marker location.

Claim 15

An arrangement as set forth in claim 12, wherein said code word comprises a plurality of bits; and wherein said marker control means comprise code word storage means having a number of stages corresponding to said number of bits; storage input means for entering said code word into said code word storage means; and reset means for resetting said code word storage means stage-by-stage, whereby said marker control pulse is generated upon resetting of the last of said stages.

Claim 16

An arrangement as set forth in claim 13 whereiN said carrier frequency signal has a period corresponding to the width of a bit of said code word; further comprising demodulator means for demodulating said marker signals, thus furnishing bit signals and a carrier signal; and wherein said storage input means comprise logic means for entering said bits into said stages under control of said carrier signal.

Claim 17

An arrangement as set forth in claim 14 wherein said period of said carrier frequency signal is an integral multiple of the width of a bit; further comprising frequency divider means for reducing the frequency of said carrier frequency signal, in such a manner that a timing signal is furnished having a period equal to the width of a bit; and wherein said logic means comprise shift register means having a plurality of shift register stages, for generating register outputs from said stages in response to said timing signals, and a plurality of AND gates, each having a first input connected to receive said bit signals, a second input connected to a stage of said shift register, and an output connected to a corresponding stage of said code word storage means.

Claim 18

An arrangement as set forth in claim 15 wherein said reset means comprise start-stop oscillator means adapted to generate a number of reset signals corresponding to the number of possible selected locations of said marker within a picture frame; and means for starting said start-stop oscillator in dependence upon receipt of a vertical synchronization signal.

Claim 19

An arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein said start-stop oscillator starts upon receipt of a start signal; and wherein said means for starting said start-stop oscillator comprise means for furnishing a terminating signal upon termination of a code word; means for storing said terminating signal until receipt of a vertical synchronization signal; and additional coincidence means for generating said start signal in response to coincidence of said vertical synchronization signal and said terminating signal.

Claim 20

An arrangement as set forth in claim 17, wherein said carrier frequency signal is present only during said code word; and wherein said means for furnishing a terminating signal comprise means for rectifying said carrier frequency signal, thus furnishing a rectified signal; means for differentiating said rectified signal, thus furnishing a positive and a negative differentiated signal; and means for selecting said negative differentiated signal to constitute said terminating signal.

Claim 21

An arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein said means for starting said start-stop oscillator comprise bistable logic means having a first output in response to a first signal signifying the start of said code word, and a second output in response to a bistable reset signal; selecting means for furnishing selected vertical synchronization signals, said selected vertical synchronization signals occurring in the absence of a code word; means for furnishing said bistable reset signals in dependence upon the trailing edge of said selected vertical synchronization signals; and means for furnishing said start signal upon joint receipt of a first output signal from said bistable logic means and a selected vertical synchronization signal.