Bi-directional HDTV format digital signal converter

Claim 1

A television format signal converter for converting a first television signal format to a format compatible for recording on a digital video tape recorder, the video tape recorder compatible with a second television signal format, and for converting the second television format signal to the first television format signal, the video tape recorder having a sample frequency signal, the converter comprising: clock means for generating a clock signal; sampling means coupled to the clock means and responsive to the clock signal for sampling the first television format signal; memory means coupled to the sampling means and the digital tape recorder for storing both the sampled first television format signal and the second television format signal; synchronizing means responsive to the clock signal and the video tape recorder sample frequency signal for outputting a signal for synchronizing the clock signal and the sample frequency signal; and control means responsive to the synchronizing means for producing control signals coupled to the memory means, the control signals controlling the storing of the sampled first television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the sampled first television format signal from the memory means such that the second television format is produced when the first television format signal is being converted to the second television format signal, and the control signals controlling the storing of the second television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the stored second television format signal such that the first television format signal is produced when the second television format signal is being converted to the first television format signal.