US4855824A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compatible television system with companding of auxiliary signal encoding information
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1987-12-29
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Granted: 1989-08-08
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Expires: 2007-12-29
Abstract
Abstract An NTSC compatible, single channel widescreen EDTV system encodes and decodes a television signal comprising (1) a main, standard format NTSC signal wth auxiliary low frequency side panel image information compressed into an overscan region thereof; (2) auxiliary high frequency side panel image information; and (3) auxiliary high frequency horizontal luminance information. High frequency components 2 and 3 are subjected to non-linear amplitude companding, with large amplitude compression at an encoder and inverse amplitude expansion at a decoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack S. Fuhrer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0117; H04N7/012; G; G06; G06T; G06T9/00; G06T9/004; H04N11/00; H04N11/24; H04N11/30; H04N7/0122; H04N9/00; H04N9/77; H04N9/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: means for providing a television-type signal containing image information of a first type; means for providing an auxiliary signal containing auxiliary image information of a second type having low and high frequency image information portions; means for nonlinearly compressing large amplitude excursions of said high frequency image information portion of said auxiliary signal, substantially exclusive of said low frequency image information; and means for combining said image information of said first type and said compressed high frequency information to produce a combined signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: means for providing a television-type signal containing image information of a first type; means for providing an auxiliary signal containing auxiliary image information of a second type having low and high frequency image information portions; means for nonlinearly compressing large amplitude excursions of said high frequency image information portion of said auxiliary signal, substantially exclusive of said low frequency image information; and means for combining said image information of said first type and said compressed high frequency information to produce a combined signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, and further including means for time compressing said low frequency information of said auxiliary signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said compressing means exhibits a gamma function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said information of said first type is a main panel component of a widescreen television signal; and said information of said second type is a side panel component of a widescreen television signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal comprising a first component containing a first type of image information and an auxiliary second component containing a second type of image information, said system including means for separating said first and second components; means for non-linearly amplitude expanding high frequency information of said second component substantially exclusive of low frequency information; and video signal processing means responsive to said first component and to said expanded high frequency information of said second component for producing an image representative video signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal comprising a first component containing a first type of image information and an auxiliary second component containing a second type of image information, said system including means for separating said first and second components; means for non-linearly amplitude expanding high frequency information of said second component substantially exclusive of low frequency information; and video signal processing means responsive to said first component and to said expanded high frequency information of said second component for producing an image representative video signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said first component contains main panel image information of a widescreen television signal; and said second component contains side panel image information of a widescreen television signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 5, wherein said expanding means exhibits a gamma function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 5, and further comprising means for time expanding low frequency information of said auxiliary second component.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: means for providing a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image, said system comprising: means responsive to said television signal for developing a first component comprising information representative of a standard aspect ratio image; means responsive to said television signal for developing and auxiliary second component comprising auxiliary television image information; and means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of high frequency information of said second component.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: means for providing a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image, said system comprising: means responsive to said television signal for developing a first component comprising information representative of a standard aspect ratio image; means responsive to said television signal for developing and auxiliary second component comprising auxiliary television image information; and means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of high frequency information of said second component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said second component contains side panel image information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 9, and further comprising means for time compressing low frequency information of said auxiliary second component into an image overscan region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said non-linearly amplitude compressed high frequency information of said second component modulates an alternate subcarrier other than a chrominance subcarrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said system includes means for developing an auxiliary third component comprising horizontal high frequency image detail information for producing enhanced image resolution; and said system includes means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of said third component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said compressing means exhibits a gamma function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein said non-linearly amplitude compressed third component modulates an alternate subcarrier other than a chrominance subcarrier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein said non-linearly amplitude compressed second and third components quadrature modulate an alternate subcarrier other than a chrominance subcarrier to produce a modulated signal; said system includes means for combining said modulated signal with said first component to produce a combined signal; and said system further includes means for modulating an RF carrier with said combined signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said compressed second and third components modulates an alternate subcarrier other than a chrominance subcarrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein said third component comprises horizontal high frequency image detail information substantially exclusive of horizontal low frequency image information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein said television signal and said auxiliary signal are baseband signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 9, and further comprising television signal receiving means responsive to said first component and to said compressed second component; and means for nonlinearly amplitude expanding said second component.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; said television signal including a first component containing information representative of a standard aspect ratio television image, and an auxiliary second component containing auxiliary television image information; said system including: means for non-linearly expanding high frequency amplitude excursions of said second component; and video signal processing means responsive to said first component and to said expanded high frequency information of said second component for producing an image representative video signal.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; said television signal including a first component containing information representative of a standard aspect ratio television image, and an auxiliary second component containing auxiliary television image information; said system including: means for non-linearly expanding high frequency amplitude excursions of said second component; and video signal processing means responsive to said first component and to said expanded high frequency information of said second component for producing an image representative video signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said second component contains side panel image information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 22, and further comprising means for time expanding low frequency information of said auxiliary second component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said television signal includes an auxiliary third component comprising horizontal high frequency image detail information for producing enhanced image resolution; and said system includes means for non-linearly amplitude expanding said high frequency information of said third component.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said expanding means exhibits a gamma function.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 24, wherein said third component comprises horizontal high frequency image information substantially exclusive of horizontal low frequency image information.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: a source of television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; means responsive to said television signal for producing an auxiliary signal containing auxiliary image information; means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of horizontal high frequency information of said auxiliary signal; means for producing an intermediated first signal modulated by said compressed auxiliary signal information; and means for producing an output second signal modulated by image information derived from said main panel information and by said intermediate first signal.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for processing a television-type signal, comprising: a source of television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; means responsive to said television signal for producing an auxiliary signal containing auxiliary image information; means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of horizontal high frequency information of said auxiliary signal; means for producing an intermediated first signal modulated by said compressed auxiliary signal information; and means for producing an output second signal modulated by image information derived from said main panel information and by said intermediate first signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 27, wherein said auxiliary signal contains side panel information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 27, wherein said television signal contains additional high frequency information for producing enhanced image resolution relative to a standard television signal image; said system includes means for non-linearly compressing large amplitude excursions of said additional high frequency information; and said intermediate first signal is additionally modulated by said compressed additional high frequency information.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 29, wherein said intermediate first signal is an alternate subcarrier other than a chrominance subcarrier quadrature modulated by said compressed auxiliary signal and by said compressed additional high frequency information; and said output second signal is a radio frequency carrier.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; said television signal comprising a first signal modulated by an auxiliary signal component containing auxiliary image information, and a second signal modulated by image information derived from said main panel information and by said modulated first signal; said system comprising means for demodulating said modulated first and second signals to recover said auxiliary signal component and said image information derived from said main panel information; means for non-linearly amplitude expanding said recovered auxiliary signal component; and video signal processing means responsive to said recovered derived image information and to said expanded recovered auxiliary signal component to produce an image representative signal.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
136 words
A system for receiving a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel image information and main panel image information, and an image aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; said television signal comprising a first signal modulated by an auxiliary signal component containing auxiliary image information, and a second signal modulated by image information derived from said main panel information and by said modulated first signal; said system comprising means for demodulating said modulated first and second signals to recover said auxiliary signal component and said image information derived from said main panel information; means for non-linearly amplitude expanding said recovered auxiliary signal component; and video signal processing means responsive to said recovered derived image information and to said expanded recovered auxiliary signal component to produce an image representative signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 31, wherein said auxiliary signal component contains side panel image information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 31, wherein said television signal contains additional high frequency information for producing enhanced image resolution relative to a standard television signal image; and said system includes means for non-linearly amplitude expanding said additional information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-07 | 1993-02-06 | 1993-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-07 | 1997-02-06 | 1997-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-07 | 2001-02-06 | 2001-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |