Color television signal-generating apparatus

Claim 2

In a color television camera for generating a plurality of signals respectively representing n selected primary colors of a subject, said primary colors being such that any combination of the signals representing n-1 of said colors cannot produce the signal representing the remaining color and the combination of the signals representing all of said colors produces a signal representing white, the combination comprising: first and second pickup elements for producing image representative signals; means for directing light derived from said subject along one path to said first pickup element and along another path to said second pickup element; the light in one of said paths including at least one of said primary colors of said subject and the light in the other of said paths including at least two of the other primary colors of said subject, light-dividing means in said other light path to separate the light in said other path into two different color components; peak detector means coupled to said second pickup elemenT for separating signals therefrom into two different color component signals; and signal adder means coupled to said first pickup element and to said peak detector means for combining the output signals from said first and second pickup elements to produce signals representative of the n primary colors of said subject.

Claim 3

In a color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said light-dividing means is of such a character that at least one of said two different color components is a second one of said primary colors of said subject.

Claim 4

In a color television camera for generating signals respectively representative of three selected primary colors of a subject, said primary colors being such that the combination of no two of them can produce the third and the combination of all three of them produces white, the combination comprising: first and second pickup elements for producing image representative signals; means for directing light derived from said subject along one path to said first pickup element and along another path to said second pickup element, the light in one of said paths including at least one of said primary colors of said subject and the light in the other of said paths including only the other two primary colors of said subject, means in said other light path to separate the light in said other path into two different color components at least one of which is a second one of said three primary colors of said subject; peak detector means coupled to said second pickup element for separating signals therefrom into two different color component signals; and signal adder means coupled to said first pickup element and to said peak detector means for combining the output signals from said first and second pickup elements to produce signals representative of the n primary colors of said subject.

Claim 5

In a color television camera for generating signals respectively representative of three selected primary colors of a subject, said primary colors being such that the combination of no two of them can produce the third and the combination of all three of them produces white, the combination comprising: first and second pickup elements for producing image representative signals; means for directing light derived from said subject along one path to said first pickup element and along another path to said second pickup element, the light in one of said paths including at least one of said primary colors of said subject and the light in the other of said paths including only the other two primary colors of said subject, means in said other light path to separate the light in said other path into two different color components at least one of which is a second one of said three primary colors of said subject; peak detector means coupled to said second pickup element for separating signals therefrom into two different color component signals; and signal adder means coupled to said first pickup element and to said peak detector means for combining the output signals from said first and second pickup elements to produce signals representative of the n primary colors of said subject.

Claim 6

In a three-color television camera, the combination comprising: first and second pickup tubes for producing image representative signals; means for directing light derived from a subject along one path to said first pickup tube and along another path to said second pickup tube, the light in one of said paths including at least one of the three constituent colors of said subject and the light in the other of said paths including only the other two constituent colors of said subject; and means in said other light path to separate the light in said other path into two different color components at least one of which is a second one of the three constituent colors of said subject; means including peak detectors coupled to said second pickup tube for separating the signals therefrom into two different color component signals; and means including signal adders coupled to said first pickup tube in said one light path and to said peak detectors in said second light path for combining the output signals from said first pickup tube and said two different color component signals to produce signals representative of the three constituent colors of said subject.

Claim 7

In a three-color television camera, the combination comprising: first and second pickup tubes for producing image representative signals; means for directing light derived from a subject along one path to said first pickup tube and along another path to said second pickup tube, the light in one of said paths including at least one of the three constituent colors of said subject and the light in the other of said paths including only the other two constituent colors of said subject; and means in said other light path to separate the light in said other path into two different color components at least one of which is a second one of the three constituent colors of said subject; means including peak detectors coupled to said second pickup tube for separating the signals therefrom into two different color component signals; and means including signal adders coupled to said first pickup tube in said one light path and to said peak detectors in said second light path for combining the output signals from said first pickup tube and said two different color component signals to produce signals representative of the three constituent colors of said subject.

Claim 8

In a three-color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the light in said one path includes at least the green light constituent of said subject and the light in said other path includes only the red and blue light constituents of said subject.

Claim 9

In a three-color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the light in said other path is separated into (1) the red light constituent of said subject and (2) a color component comprising a combination of the red and blue light constituents of said subject.

Claim 10

In a three-color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the light in said other path is separated into the red and blue light constituents of said subject.

Claim 11

In a color television camera, the combination according to claim 1 wherein: said means for directing light from a subject includes a dichrOic light divider for directing green light derived from a subject to said first pickup element and for directing purple light from said subject to said second pickup element; and said light-dividing means in said other path includes a light filter, said filter comprising alternate strips to separate said purple light into two different color components.

Claim 12

In a color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said light filter strips are transmissive respectively of (1) said red light and (2) a combination of said red and blue light derived from said subject.

Claim 13

In a color television camera, the combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said light filter strips are transmissive respectively of said red and blue light derived from said subject.

Claim 14

In a color television camera, the combination according to claim 8 wherein said light filter is a color-separating filter located at an image plane in said other light path, said filter having alternating zones having substantially equal transmissivity for white light and capable respectively, of transmitting (1) light of a first one of said two component colors and (2) light including at least that of the second one of said two component colors.

Claim 15

In a two-tube three-color television camera, a color-separating filter as defined in claim 11, wherein one of said alternating zones has a width equal to several times the width of the other of said zones, said wide zones being transmissive of light of substantially only said first one of said two component colors and said narrow zones being transmissive of light of substantially only said second one of said two component colors.

Claim 16

In a two-tube three-color television camera, a color-separating filter as defined in claim 11, wherein said alternating zones are of equal widths, one set of said zones being transmissive of light of substantially only said first of said two component colors and the other set of said zones being transmissive of light of a combination of both of said two component colors.

Claim 17

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive to a first sample of light derived from a subject and including at least one of three constituent subject colors to produce a first signal continuously representative of said first light sample; a second pickup tube responsive to a second sample of light derived from said subject and consisting of the other two of said constituent subject colors to produce a wave including an alternating component modulated to represent said second light sample; means for producing a second signal representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said wave; means for producing a third signal representative of the average amplitude of said wave; and means for combining said second and third signals in a manner to produce signals continuously representative respectively of the light derived from said subject consisting of said two other constituent colors.

Claim 18

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive to a first sample of light derived from a subject and including at least one of three constituent subject colors to produce a first signal continuously representative of said first light sample; a second pickup tube responsive to a second sample of light derived from said subject and consisting of the other two of said constituent subject colors to produce a wave including an alternating component modulated to represent said second light sample; means for producing a second signal representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said wave; means for producing a third signal representative of the average amplitude of said wave; and means for combining said second and third signals in a manner to produce signals continuously representative respectively of the light derived from said subject consisting of said two other constituent colors.

Claim 19

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce a wave including an alternating component modulated to represent said purple light; means for producing a second signal representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said wave; means for producing a third signal representative of the average amplitude of said wave; means for combining said second and third signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce signals continuously representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and third signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the ligHt derived from said subject.

Claim 20

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce a wave including an alternating component modulated to represent said purple light; means for producing a second signal representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said wave; means for producing a third signal representative of the average amplitude of said wave; means for combining said second and third signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce signals continuously representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and third signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the ligHt derived from said subject.

Claim 21

A color television signal generating system as defined in claim 15, wherein alternate half-cycles of said alternating component produced by said second pickup tube represent respectively the red and blue light derived from said subject.

Claim 22

A color television signal generating system as defined in claim 15, wherein alternate half-cycles of said alternating component produced by said second pickup tube represent respectively (1) the red light and (2) a combination of the red and blue light derived from said subject.

Claim 23

A color television signal-generating system comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce an alternating wave modulated to represent said purple light, alternate half-cycles of said wave representing respectively the red and blue light derived from said subject, the time duration of said red representative half-cycles being substantially three times the time duration of said blue representative half-cycles; means including a positive peak detector for producing a second signal continuously representative of the positive peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means including a negative peak detector for producing a third signal continuously representative of the negative peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means for adding said second and third signals to produce a fourth signal continuously representative of substantially one-half of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means including a low-pass filter for producing a fifth signal continuously representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and fifth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the light derived from said subject.

Claim 24

A color television signal-generating system comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce an alternating wave modulated to represent said purple light, alternate half-cycles of said wave representing respectively the red and blue light derived from said subject, the time duration of said red representative half-cycles being substantially three times the time duration of said blue representative half-cycles; means including a positive peak detector for producing a second signal continuously representative of the positive peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means including a negative peak detector for producing a third signal continuously representative of the negative peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means for adding said second and third signals to produce a fourth signal continuously representative of substantially one-half of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said modulated wave; means including a low-pass filter for producing a fifth signal continuously representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and fifth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the light derived from said subject.

Claim 25

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce a wave having an alternating component modulated to represent said purple light, alternate half-cycles of said alternating component being of substantially equal time duration and representing respectively the red and purple light derived form said subject; means including a positive peak detector for producing a second signal continuously representative of the positive peak amplitude of said wave; means including a negative peak detector for producing a third signal continuously representative of the negative peak amplitude of said wave; means for subtracting said third signal from said second signal to produce a fourth signal continuously representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said alternating component; means for nonadditively combining said third and fourth signals in positive polarity to produce a fifth signal continuously representative of substantially equal parts of the red and blue light derived from said subject; means including a low-pass filter for producing a sixth signal continuously representative of the average amplitude of said wave; means for combining said fifth and sixth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce signals representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and sixth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the light derived from said subject.

Claim 26

A color television signal-generating system, comprising: a first pickup tube responsive only to the green light derived from a subject to produce a first signal continuously representative of said green light; a second pickup tube responsive only to the purple light derived from said subject to produce a wave having an alternating component modulated to represent said purple light, alternate half-cycles of said alternating component being of substantially equal time duration and representing respectively the red and purple light derived form said subject; means including a positive peak detector for producing a second signal continuously representative of the positive peak amplitude of said wave; means including a negative peak detector for producing a third signal continuously representative of the negative peak amplitude of said wave; means for subtracting said third signal from said second signal to produce a fourth signal continuously representative of the peak-to-peak amplitude of said alternating component; means for nonadditively combining said third and fourth signals in positive polarity to produce a fifth signal continuously representative of substantially equal parts of the red and blue light derived from said subject; means including a low-pass filter for producing a sixth signal continuously representative of the average amplitude of said wave; means for combining said fifth and sixth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce signals representative respectively of the red and blue light derived from said subject; and means for combining said first and sixth signals in suitable amplitudes and polarities to produce a signal representative of the brightness of the light derived from said subject.

Claim 27

In a color television system, a camera for producing color signals representative of a scene to be televised comprising: at least one imAge pickup device having a photosensitive electrode and a signal output electrode; light-filtering means disposed in the optical path of said camera ahead of said image pickup device including a color difference encoding filter having a pattern of strips of one color alternating with strips of another color for respectively passing light of different spectral ranges, the material of said alternating strips being selected such that said alternating strips have substantially equal transmissivity for white light, for encoding said light of different spectral ranges on separate areas of said photosensitive electrode and for producing modulation of a carrier wave at said output electrode of said pickup tube as said photosensitive electrode is scanned by an electron beam, said carrier wave being suppressed in the presence of white light; means for producing signals representative of the brightness of said scene; and means coupled to said brightness signal means and to said output electrode for processing said brightness signals and said encoded color signals to yield signals representative of the brightness and color of said scene.

Claim 28

In a color television system, a camera for producing color signals representative of a scene to be televised comprising: at least one imAge pickup device having a photosensitive electrode and a signal output electrode; light-filtering means disposed in the optical path of said camera ahead of said image pickup device including a color difference encoding filter having a pattern of strips of one color alternating with strips of another color for respectively passing light of different spectral ranges, the material of said alternating strips being selected such that said alternating strips have substantially equal transmissivity for white light, for encoding said light of different spectral ranges on separate areas of said photosensitive electrode and for producing modulation of a carrier wave at said output electrode of said pickup tube as said photosensitive electrode is scanned by an electron beam, said carrier wave being suppressed in the presence of white light; means for producing signals representative of the brightness of said scene; and means coupled to said brightness signal means and to said output electrode for processing said brightness signals and said encoded color signals to yield signals representative of the brightness and color of said scene.

Claim 29

A spatial color-encoding filter for encoding light passing therethrough as a color difference, an image of which encoded light when scanned yields a composite signal including a carrier wave representative of said color difference and which carrier wave is suppressed in the presence of white light, comprising: a first set of strips of material for passing light of one spectral range alternating with a second set of strips of material for passing light of a different spectral range, the material of said first and second sets of strips being selected such that said first and second set of strips have equal transmissivity for white light whereby no modulation of said light passing through said filter occurs when said light is white.

Claim 30

A spatial color-encoding filter for encoding light passing therethrough as a color difference, an image of which encoded light when scanned yields a composite signal including a carrier wave representative of said color difference and which carrier wave is suppressed in the presence of white light, comprising: a first set of strips of material for passing light of one spectral range alternating with a second set of strips of material for passing light of a different spectral range, the material of said first and second sets of strips being selected such that said first and second set of strips have equal transmissivity for white light whereby no modulation of said light passing through said filter occurs when said light is white.