Method and apparatus for modifying electrical signals

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said combining step comprises the step of adding said correction signal to said received signal.

Claim 6

In a color television system, the method of altering the hue parameter in a received signal comprising the steps of: detecting when the parameter of said received signal is within a predetermined range; generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining said received signal and said correction signal to produce a phase modified signal with said parameter representative of an adjusted hue within said range.

Claim 7

In a color television system, the method of altering the hue parameter in a received signal comprising the steps of: detecting when the parameter of said received signal is within a predetermined range; generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining said received signal and said correction signal to produce a phase modified signal with said parameter representative of an adjusted hue within said range.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 wherein said combining step comprises the step of adding said correction signal to said received signaL.

Claim 9

The method of claim 4 wherein said combining step comprises the steps of: suppressing those parts of said received signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and substituting said correction signal for said suppressed parts.

Claim 10

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television system comprising: chrominance channel receiving means for supplying a received chrominance signal; reference signal generator means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; detector means coupled to said chrominance channel receiving means and said reference signal generator means for detecting when the phase of said received chrominance signal is within a predetermined range; and corrector means coupled to said detector means and said chrominance channel receiving means for generating a correction signal and combining said correction signal and said received chrominance signal to form a corrected signal having altered phase characteristics.

Claim 11

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television system comprising: chrominance channel receiving means for supplying a received chrominance signal; reference signal generator means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; detector means coupled to said chrominance channel receiving means and said reference signal generator means for detecting when the phase of said received chrominance signal is within a predetermined range; and corrector means coupled to said detector means and said chrominance channel receiving means for generating a correction signal and combining said correction signal and said received chrominance signal to form a corrected signal having altered phase characteristics.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said corrector means comprises: means for phase shifting the received chrominance signal; and means for adding the phase shifted signal to said received chrominance signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for manually adjusting the relative magnitude of said phase-shifted signal and said received chrominance signal.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said corrector means comprises: means for generating a correction signal having a phase more closely approximating a predetermined phase than the phase of said received chrominance signal; and means for substituting said correction signal for said received chrominance signal when the phase of said received chrominance signal is within said predetermined range.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said predetermined phase is that phase which corresponds to a flesh hue on the picture tube of the receiver.

Claim 16

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television transmitter comprising: carrier signal generating means for generating a carrier signal; chrominance channel originating means for originating a chrominance signal having a variable phase relationship to said carrier signal; detector means coupled to said carrier signal generating means and said chrominance signal originating means for detecting when said phase relationship is within a predetermined range; and corrector means coupled to said detector means and said chrominance channel originating means for generating a correction signal and combining said correction signal and said chrominance signal to form a corrected signal having altered hue characteristics.

Claim 17

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television transmitter comprising: carrier signal generating means for generating a carrier signal; chrominance channel originating means for originating a chrominance signal having a variable phase relationship to said carrier signal; detector means coupled to said carrier signal generating means and said chrominance signal originating means for detecting when said phase relationship is within a predetermined range; and corrector means coupled to said detector means and said chrominance channel originating means for generating a correction signal and combining said correction signal and said chrominance signal to form a corrected signal having altered hue characteristics.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said corrector means comprises: means for phase shifting the chrominance signal; and means for adding the phase-shifted signal to said chrominance signal.

Claim 19

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the hue parameter in a delivered signal comprising: detection means for detecting when the hue parameter of said delivered signal is within a predetermined range; correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining means for combining said delivered signal and said correction signal to produce a phase modified signal having said hue parameter altered to a new value within said range when said delivered signal hue parameter is within said range.

Claim 20

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the hue parameter in a delivered signal comprising: detection means for detecting when the hue parameter of said delivered signal is within a predetermined range; correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining means for combining said delivered signal and said correction signal to produce a phase modified signal having said hue parameter altered to a new value within said range when said delivered signal hue parameter is within said range.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said combining means comprises means for adding said correction signal to said delivered signal.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said combining means comprises: suppressing means for suppressing those parts of said received signal having said hue parameter within said predetermined range; and substitution means for substituting said correction signal for said suppressed parts.

Claim 23

In a color television system, apparatus for translating a delivered chrominance Signal bearing chrominance information in a predetermined form and forming a modified chrominance signal comprising: means for selecting the components of said delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined range and delivering said components at an output; means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said correction signal and forming a phase modified chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in said predetermined form.

Claim 24

In a color television system, apparatus for translating a delivered chrominance Signal bearing chrominance information in a predetermined form and forming a modified chrominance signal comprising: means for selecting the components of said delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined range and delivering said components at an output; means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said correction signal and forming a phase modified chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in said predetermined form.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said correction signal combining means comprises means for adding said correction signal to said delivered chrominance signal.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said correction signal generating means comprises means for phase shifting said selected components and said correction signal combining means comprises means for adding said phase shifted selected components to said delivered chrominance signal.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said correction signal combining means comprises means for suppressing those components of said delivered signal having a phase within said predetermined range and means for substituting said correction signal for said suppressed components to form said modified chrominance signal.

Claim 28

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the phase of a delivered chrominance signal comprising: means for selecting the components of said delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined range; means for altering the phase of said selected components; and means for combining said phase-altered selected components with said delivered chrominance signal to produce a phase-altered chrominance signal.

Claim 29

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the phase of a delivered chrominance signal comprising: means for selecting the components of said delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined range; means for altering the phase of said selected components; and means for combining said phase-altered selected components with said delivered chrominance signal to produce a phase-altered chrominance signal.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said combining means comprises means for adding said phase altered selected components and said delivered chrominance signal.

Claim 31

A color television hue altering apparatus comprising: chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal; picture tube reproduction means for reproducing color television pictures; detection means for selecting the components of said chrominance signal within a predetermined phase range and delivering those components at an output; correction signal generation means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; translation means connected to said chrominance channel means and said picture tube reproduction means for translating said chrominance signal into a form capable of operating said picture tube means and supplying the chrominance information required to operate said picture tube means; and signal alteration means for altering the phase of said translated signal in response to said correction signal.

Claim 32

A color television hue altering apparatus comprising: chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal; picture tube reproduction means for reproducing color television pictures; detection means for selecting the components of said chrominance signal within a predetermined phase range and delivering those components at an output; correction signal generation means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; translation means connected to said chrominance channel means and said picture tube reproduction means for translating said chrominance signal into a form capable of operating said picture tube means and supplying the chrominance information required to operate said picture tube means; and signal alteration means for altering the phase of said translated signal in response to said correction signal.

Claim 33

A color television hue-altering apparatus comprising: chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal; picture tube reproduction means for reproducing color television pictures; chrominance signal demodulator means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said picture tube for translating said chrominance signal into a form capable of operating said picture tube means; detection means for selecting the components of said chrominance signal within a predetermined phase range and delivering those components at an output; correction signal generation means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; and signal alteration means for altering phase said translated signal in response to said correction signal.

Claim 34

A color television hue-altering apparatus comprising: chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal; picture tube reproduction means for reproducing color television pictures; chrominance signal demodulator means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said picture tube for translating said chrominance signal into a form capable of operating said picture tube means; detection means for selecting the components of said chrominance signal within a predetermined phase range and delivering those components at an output; correction signal generation means coupled to said output and responsive to the presence of said selected components for generating a correction signal; and signal alteration means for altering phase said translated signal in response to said correction signal.

Claim 35

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television receiver comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; chrominance channel means for supplying a delivered chrominance signal; first gAte means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for determining when the signals applied to it are in a first predetermined phasic relationship; second gate means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for determining when the signals applied to it are in a second predetermined phasic relationship; first phase shift means coupled to the output of said first gate means for phase shifting the output signal from said first gate means; second phase shift means coupled to the output of said second gate means for phase shifting the output signal from said second gate means; and summer means coupled to said first phase shift means, said second phase shift means, and said chrominance channel means for combining the signals applied to it.

Claim 36

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television receiver comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; chrominance channel means for supplying a delivered chrominance signal; first gAte means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for determining when the signals applied to it are in a first predetermined phasic relationship; second gate means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for determining when the signals applied to it are in a second predetermined phasic relationship; first phase shift means coupled to the output of said first gate means for phase shifting the output signal from said first gate means; second phase shift means coupled to the output of said second gate means for phase shifting the output signal from said second gate means; and summer means coupled to said first phase shift means, said second phase shift means, and said chrominance channel means for combining the signals applied to it.

Claim 37

The hue-altering apparatus of claim 25 further comprising means for manually adjusting the relative magnitude of the signals applied to said summer means.

Claim 38

Color television hue-altering apparatus for modifying the portion of a delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined phase range toward a central phase comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; chrominance channel means for supplying said delivered chrominance signal; first gate means coupled to said reference signal generating means and said chrominance channel means for selecting those components in said delivered chrominance signal at a first predetermined phase lagging said central phase; second gate means coupled to said reference signal generating means and said chrominance channel means for selecting those components in said delivered chrominance signal at a second predetermined phase leading said central phase; first phase shift means coupled to said first gate means for phase advancing the components selected by said first gate means; second phase shift means coupled to said second gate means for phase retarding the components selected by said second gate means; and summer means coupled to said first phase shift means, said second phase shift means, and said chrominance channel means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said phase-shifted selected components.

Claim 39

Color television hue-altering apparatus for modifying the portion of a delivered chrominance signal having a phase within a predetermined phase range toward a central phase comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a predetermined phase; chrominance channel means for supplying said delivered chrominance signal; first gate means coupled to said reference signal generating means and said chrominance channel means for selecting those components in said delivered chrominance signal at a first predetermined phase lagging said central phase; second gate means coupled to said reference signal generating means and said chrominance channel means for selecting those components in said delivered chrominance signal at a second predetermined phase leading said central phase; first phase shift means coupled to said first gate means for phase advancing the components selected by said first gate means; second phase shift means coupled to said second gate means for phase retarding the components selected by said second gate means; and summer means coupled to said first phase shift means, said second phase shift means, and said chrominance channel means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said phase-shifted selected components.

Claim 40

The color television hue-altering apparatus of claim 27 wherein said central phase is the phase in said chrominance signal representative of flesh hue, said first predetermined phase lags said central phase by approximately 30* , and said second predetermined phase leads said central phase by approximately 30* .

Claim 41

The color television hue-altering apparatus of claim 27 wherein said first and second phase shift means alter the phase of said selected components by approximately 90* .

Claim 42

A color television hue-altering apparatus for modifying a delivered chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in a predetermined form comprising correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal in response to the phase parameter of said delivered chrominance signal, combining means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said correction signal to form a phase modified chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in said predetermined form, and means for manually adjusting the relative magnitude of said combined chrominance signal and said correction signal.

Claim 43

A color television hue-altering apparatus for modifying a delivered chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in a predetermined form comprising correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal in response to the phase parameter of said delivered chrominance signal, combining means for combining said delivered chrominance signal and said correction signal to form a phase modified chrominance signal bearing chrominance information in said predetermined form, and means for manually adjusting the relative magnitude of said combined chrominance signal and said correction signal.

Claim 44

The improvement of claim 30 wherein said manual adjustment means comprises means for manually varying the magnitude of a chrominance signal applied to said correction signal generating means.

Claim 45

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television system comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a fixed frequency and a nominally fixed phase; chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal bearing information in the form of sideband components of a carrier wave at said fixed frequency; gate means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for gating to an output portions of said chrominance signal occurring at predetermined phasic displacements relative to said nominally fixed phase; and signal combining means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said gate means output for combining said chrominance signal and said portions of said chrominance signal.

Claim 46

Hue-altering apparatus for a color television system comprising: reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal at a fixed frequency and a nominally fixed phase; chrominance channel means for supplying a chrominance signal bearing information in the form of sideband components of a carrier wave at said fixed frequency; gate means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said reference signal generating means for gating to an output portions of said chrominance signal occurring at predetermined phasic displacements relative to said nominally fixed phase; and signal combining means coupled to said chrominance channel means and said gate means output for combining said chrominance signal and said portions of said chrominance signal.

Claim 47

The hue-altering apparatus of claim 32 wherein said signal combining means comprises means for converting said gated portions of said chrominance signal into sine wave signals at said fixed frequency and means for adding said sine wave signals to said chrominance signal.

Claim 48

A color television hue altering apparatus comprising: chrominance signal means for supplying a chrominance signal; chrominance signal utilization means for using the chrominance information conveyed by said chrominance signal; demodulator means coupled to said chrominance signal means and said utilization means for demodulating said chrominance signal and supplying the chrominance information required by said utilization means; auxiliary detection means for detecting when the hue represented by said chrominance signal is within a predetermined range; and hue correction means coupled to said auxiliary detection means for altering the hue represented by the chrominance information supplied to said utilization means when the hue represented by said chrominance signal is within said predetermined range.

Claim 49

A color television hue altering apparatus comprising: chrominance signal means for supplying a chrominance signal; chrominance signal utilization means for using the chrominance information conveyed by said chrominance signal; demodulator means coupled to said chrominance signal means and said utilization means for demodulating said chrominance signal and supplying the chrominance information required by said utilization means; auxiliary detection means for detecting when the hue represented by said chrominance signal is within a predetermined range; and hue correction means coupled to said auxiliary detection means for altering the hue represented by the chrominance information supplied to said utilization means when the hue represented by said chrominance signal is within said predetermined range.

Claim 50

The color television hue altering apparatus of claim 34 wherein said hue correction means comprises correction signal generation means for forming a correction signal when the hue represented by said chrominance signal is within said predetermined range and combining means for combining said chrominance signal and said correction signal.

Claim 51

The color television apparatus of claim 35 wherein said combining means comprises means for adding said correction signal to said chrominance signal.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said combining means comprises: suppressing means for suppressing those parts of said chrominance signal representing a hue within said predetermined range; and substitution means for substituting said correction signal for said suppressed parts.

Claim 53

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the hue parameter in a delivered signal comprising: detection means for detecting when the hue parameter of said delivered signal is within a predetermined range having values on either side of a critical value; correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining means for combining said delivered signal and said correction signal to produce a signal with a hue parameter shifted toward said critical value when said delivered signal hue parameter is within said predetermined range.

Claim 54

In a color television system, apparatus for altering the hue parameter in a delivered signal comprising: detection means for detecting when the hue parameter of said delivered signal is within a predetermined range having values on either side of a critical value; correction signal generating means for generating a correction signal when said parameter is within said predetermined range; and combining means for combining said delivered signal and said correction signal to produce a signal with a hue parameter shifted toward said critical value when said delivered signal hue parameter is within said predetermined range.

Claim 55

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said combining means comprises means for adding said correction signal to said delivered signal.