US4740831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reformatting color television signals by eliminating the unnecessary overscanned portions
Assignee: Scientific Atlanta LLC
•
Filing: 1986-06-03
•
Granted: 1988-04-26
•
Expires: 2006-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of reformatting color television signals is disclosed whereby chrominance and luminance components are serially arranged on a line by line basis with minimal compression of the luminance and chrominance components. This reduced compression serial arrangement is made possible by a truncation process whereby unnecessary information is eliminated from the television signal. Specifically, since a normal television picture tube overscans, the edges of the picture are never displayed and need not be transmitted or recorded. By eliminating this unnecessary information the signals can be serially combined within the time limits inherent in standard signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Rhodes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/797; H04N11/00; H04N11/02; H04N11/06; H04N11/08; H04N9/80; H04N9/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises a serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance component, comprising the steps of: at least partially decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating a portion of both the luminance and chrominance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; and serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises a serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance component, comprising the steps of: at least partially decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating a portion of both the luminance and chrominance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; and serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said portion comprises approximately 10% of each of said components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said said luminance component is completely decompressed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said compressed chrominance component is compressed by a ratio of less than or equal to 9 to 2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said color television signal comprises a chrominance component that is compressed by a ratio of greater than 9 to 2, said method further comprising the step of partially decompressing said chrominance component to a ratio of less than or equal to 9 to 2 before said step of serially combining.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said color television signal comprises a chrominance component that is compressed by a ratio of less than 3 to 1, said method further comprising the step of further compressing said chrominance component to a ratio greater than 3 to 1 but less than 9 to 2 before said step of serially combining.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said chrominance component is further compressed to a 4 to 1 ratio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said chrominance component is further compressed to a 15 to 4 ratio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said decompressed luminance component has a duration of about 52.5 microseconds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of truncating comprises eliminating approximately the first and last 2.5 microseconds of said 52.5 microsecond luminance signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compressed chrominance component was compressed from a signal which had a duration of about 52.5 microseconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said step of truncating comprises eliminating portions of the compressed chrominance signal that approximately correspond to the first and last 2.5 microseconds of its original 52.5 microsecond duration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said luminance component is partially decompressed to a duration of about 44.33 microseconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said chrominance component is compressed to a duration of about 7.91 microseconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the duration of the luminance component of each line can be adjusted by a subscriber prior to the display of said television signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein said consumer can adjust the duration of each luminance component by varying a read clock frequency within an encoder supplying the television signal to the subscriber's television receiver.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of formatting each line of a standard color television signal, wherein each line comprises composite chrominance and luminance information, comprising the steps of: separating the composite signal into chrominance and luminance components; truncating a portion of each of the chrominance and luminance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; compressing the chrominance component; and serially combining the luminance and compressed chrominance components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of formatting each line of a standard color television signal, wherein each line comprises composite chrominance and luminance information, comprising the steps of: separating the composite signal into chrominance and luminance components; truncating a portion of each of the chrominance and luminance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; compressing the chrominance component; and serially combining the luminance and compressed chrominance components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of compressing said luminance component after said step of truncating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said portion comprises approximately 10% of each of said components.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 wherein each of said luminance and chrominance components has a duration of about 52.5 microseconds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said step of truncating comprises eliminating about 2.5 microseconds from each end of each of said luminance and chrominance components.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said chrominance component is compressed by a ratio of 4 to 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said chrominance component is compressed by a ratio of 15 to 4.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance components, comprising the steps of: decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating a portion of both the decompressed luminance component and the compressed chrominance component said portion representing an overscanned portion of the television signal; and serially combining the components for recording and playback on a single recording channel with a chrominance compression ratio of less than or equal to 9 to 2.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance components, comprising the steps of: decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating a portion of both the decompressed luminance component and the compressed chrominance component said portion representing an overscanned portion of the television signal; and serially combining the components for recording and playback on a single recording channel with a chrominance compression ratio of less than or equal to 9 to 2.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises a serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance component, said apparatus comprising: decompressing means for at least partially decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating means for truncating a portion of both the luminance and chrominance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; and combining means for serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for reformatting each line of a time multiplexed color television signal such as a MAC signal, wherein each line comprises a serially combined compressed luminance and compressed chrominance component, said apparatus comprising: decompressing means for at least partially decompressing the compressed luminance component; truncating means for truncating a portion of both the luminance and chrominance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; and combining means for serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said portion comprises approximately 10% of each of said components.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said truncating means truncates approximately 5% from each end of each component.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said decompressing means completely decompresses said luminance component.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said chrominance component is compressed by a ratio less than or equal to 9 to 2.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said chrominance component is compressed by a ratio of greater than 9 to 2, said apparatus further comprising second decompressing means for partially decompressing said chrominance component to a ratio less than or equal to 9 to 2.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said chrominance component is compressed by a ratio of less than 3 to 1, said apparatus further comprising compressing means for compressing said chrominance component to a ratio greater than 3 to 1 but less than 9 to 2.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said luminance component is decompressed to a duration of about 44.33 microseconds.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said chrominance component is compressed to a duration of about 7.01 microseconds.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the duration of the luminance component of each line so that a subscriber may adjust the width of the picture displayed on a television receiver.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for reformatting each line of a standard color television signal, wherein each line comprises composite chrominance and luminance information, said apparatus comprising: separating means for separating the composite signal into chrominance and luminance components; truncating means for truncating a portion of each of the chrominance and luminance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; compressing means for compressing each chrominance component; and combining means for serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for reformatting each line of a standard color television signal, wherein each line comprises composite chrominance and luminance information, said apparatus comprising: separating means for separating the composite signal into chrominance and luminance components; truncating means for truncating a portion of each of the chrominance and luminance components that represents an overscanned portion of the television signal; compressing means for compressing each chrominance component; and combining means for serially combining the components to form reformatted video lines.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising second compressing means for compressing said luminance component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3617626A
Cited
US4394690A
Cited
US4476484A
Cited
US4567508A
Cited
EP0114693A2
Cited
US4605950A
Cited
US4556906A
Cited
US4622577A
Cited
US4564857A
Cited
US4631574A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-04-26 | 1991-10-26 | 1992-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-26 | 1995-10-26 | 1996-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-26 | 1999-10-26 | 2000-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |