Patent US5784113A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5784113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unidirectional format converter
Assignee: Advanced Television Test Center Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1998-07-21
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A television signal format converter is provided for converting without loss of picture information any high definition television format to or from a given recorder/player format. An interface converts between RGB and luminance/chrominance inputs and between analog and digital inputs. The interface couples any proposed high definition television format to a plurality of pairs of memories. A clock and control circuit controls addressing of the memories for reading and writing so that conversion is performed between any high definition television format and the format required for a given high definition digital video tape recorder or any other comparable recorder.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Rhodes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/641; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/253; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/926; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0105; H04N7/011; H04N7/0112; H04N7/0125; H04N9/67; H04N9/79; H04N9/7921; H04N9/7925; H04N9/80; H04N9/804; H04N9/87; H04N9/877; H04N17/00; H04N17/06; H04N5/44; H04N5/46; H04N5/9261; H04N9/642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A high definition television signal format converter comprising: an interface for adapting a high definition television signal format for digital storage; a memory means for storing the adapted data via said interface; a write circuit for addressing said memory means according to control signals; a read circuit for addressing said memory means according to said control signals; and a control circuit for providing said control signals in accordance with a predetermined format conversion, said control circuit configurable to convert a first high definition television signal format to a second high definition television signal format compatible with a digital video recording apparatus, wherein said conversion from the first high definition television signal format to the second high definition television signal format is performed without interpolation or loss of picture information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A high definition television signal format converter comprising: an interface for adapting a high definition television signal format for digital storage; a memory means for storing the adapted data via said interface; a write circuit for addressing said memory means according to control signals; a read circuit for addressing said memory means according to said control signals; and a control circuit for providing said control signals in accordance with a predetermined format conversion, said control circuit configurable to convert a first high definition television signal format to a second high definition television signal format compatible with a digital video recording apparatus, wherein said conversion from the first high definition television signal format to the second high definition television signal format is performed without interpolation or loss of picture information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
A high definition television signal format converter comprising: a memory means for storing data input from a digital video recording apparatus; a write circuit for addressing said memory means according to control signals; a read circuit for addressing said memory means according to said control signals; and a control circuit for providing said control signals in accordance with a predetermined format conversion, said control circuit configurable to convert a first high definition television signal format compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television signal formats wherein said conversion from the first high definition television signal format to the second high definition television signal format is performed without interpolation or loss of picture information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
A high definition television signal format converter comprising: a memory means for storing data input from a digital video recording apparatus; a write circuit for addressing said memory means according to control signals; a read circuit for addressing said memory means according to said control signals; and a control circuit for providing said control signals in accordance with a predetermined format conversion, said control circuit configurable to convert a first high definition television signal format compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television signal formats wherein said conversion from the first high definition television signal format to the second high definition television signal format is performed without interpolation or loss of picture information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of recording a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information on a digital video recording apparatus, the digital video recording apparatus being compatible with a second high definition television signal format and having a sample frequency signal, the method comprising: generating a sampling clock signal; digitizing the first high definition television format signal by sampling said first high definition television format signal at the sampling clock signal frequency; storing the digitized first high definition television format signal in accordance with control signals; reading the digitized first high definition television format signal in accordance with control signals such that a signal having the second high definition television format is produced; and recording on the digital video recording apparatus said signal having the second high definition television format, wherein all of the picture information within said digitized first high definition television format signal is recorded by said digital video recording apparatus without interpolation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of recording a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information on a digital video recording apparatus, the digital video recording apparatus being compatible with a second high definition television signal format and having a sample frequency signal, the method comprising: generating a sampling clock signal; digitizing the first high definition television format signal by sampling said first high definition television format signal at the sampling clock signal frequency; storing the digitized first high definition television format signal in accordance with control signals; reading the digitized first high definition television format signal in accordance with control signals such that a signal having the second high definition television format is produced; and recording on the digital video recording apparatus said signal having the second high definition television format, wherein all of the picture information within said digitized first high definition television format signal is recorded by said digital video recording apparatus without interpolation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of recording a first high definition television signal format in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the step of synchronizing the sampling clock signal and the sample frequency signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of recording a first high definition television signal format in accordance with claim 4, where said step of synchronizing comprises producing a divided sampling clock signal from the sampling clock signal and a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided sampling clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of recording a first high definition television signal format in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the step of storing dummy samples with the digitized first high definition television format signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of recording a first high definition television signal format in accordance with claim 6, wherein said dummy samples represent synchronizing data related to the first high definition television format signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information and being compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television format signal, the digital video recording apparatus having a sample frequency signal, the method comprising the steps of: storing the first high definition television format signal in a memory in response to control signals; and reading the stored first high definition television format signal from the memory in response to said control signals so that the second high definition television format signal is produced, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information and being compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television format signal, the digital video recording apparatus having a sample frequency signal, the method comprising the steps of: storing the first high definition television format signal in a memory in response to control signals; and reading the stored first high definition television format signal from the memory in response to said control signals so that the second high definition television format signal is produced, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of producing an analog signal related to the second high definition television format signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: generating a clock signal; synchronizing the clock signal and the sample frequency signal of the digital video recording apparatus and generating a synchronizing signal; and generating said control signals in response to the clock signal and the synchronizing signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of producing an analog signal related to the second high definition television format signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 10, wherein said synchronizing step further comprises producing a divided clock signal from the clock signal and producing a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 8, further comprising step of detecting dummy samples contained within the stored first high definition television format signal and preventing the reading of the dummy samples when the second high definition television format signal is produced.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of converting a first high definition television signal in accordance with claim 13, where the dummy samples represent synchronizing information related to the second high definition television format signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of converting a first high definition television format signal in accordance with claim 10, further comprising step of detecting dummy samples contained within the stored first high definition television format signal and preventing the reading of the dummy samples when the second high definition television format signal is produced.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of converting a first high definition television signal in accordance with claim 15, where the dummy samples represent synchronizing information related to the second high definition television format signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
219 words
A high definition television format signal converter for recording a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information on a digital video recording apparatus, the digital video recording apparatus compatible with a second high definition television signal format and having a sample frequency signal, the converter comprising: clock means for generating a sampling clock signal; sampling means coupled to the clock means and responsive to the sampling clock signal for digitizing the first high definition television format signal; memory means coupled to the sampling means for storing the digitized first high definition television format signal; synchronizing means responsive to the sampling clock signal and the sample frequency signal for synchronizing the sampling clock signal and the sample frequency signal; and control means coupled to the memory means and responsive to the clock means and the synchronizing means for producing control signals, the control signals controlling the storing of the digitized first high definition television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the digitized first high definition television format signal from the memory means such that a signal having the second high definition television format is produced, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
219 words
A high definition television format signal converter for recording a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information on a digital video recording apparatus, the digital video recording apparatus compatible with a second high definition television signal format and having a sample frequency signal, the converter comprising: clock means for generating a sampling clock signal; sampling means coupled to the clock means and responsive to the sampling clock signal for digitizing the first high definition television format signal; memory means coupled to the sampling means for storing the digitized first high definition television format signal; synchronizing means responsive to the sampling clock signal and the sample frequency signal for synchronizing the sampling clock signal and the sample frequency signal; and control means coupled to the memory means and responsive to the clock means and the synchronizing means for producing control signals, the control signals controlling the storing of the digitized first high definition television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the digitized first high definition television format signal from the memory means such that a signal having the second high definition television format is produced, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 17, wherein the memory means is a random access memory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 17, wherein the memory means is a sequential address memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
The high definition television formal signal converter according to claim 17, wherein the synchronizing means includes a first divider means for producing a divided sampling clock signal from the sampling clock signal and a second divider means for producing a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided sampling clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 19, wherein the synchronizing means includes a first divider means for producing a divided sampling clock signal from the sampling clock signal and a second divider means for producing a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided sampling clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 20, wherein the first divider means divides the sampling clock signal by 56 and the second divider means divides the sample frequency signal by 55.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 21, wherein the first divider means divides the sampling clock signal by 56 and the second divider means divides the sample frequency signal by 55.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 17, further comprising dummy sample generating means coupled to the memory means and the control means for generating dummy samples for storing with the digitized first high definition television format signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 24, wherein the dummy samples represent synchronizing data related to the first high definition television format signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The high definition television formal signal converter according to claim 19 further comprising dummy sample generating means coupled to the memory means and the control means for generating dummy samples for storing with the digitized first high definition television format signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 26, wherein the dummy samples represent synchronizing data related to the first high definition television format signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
205 words
A high definition television format signal converter for converting a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information and being compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television format signal, the digital video recording apparatus having a sample frequency signal, the converter comprising: memory means coupled to the digital video recording apparatus for storing the first high definition television format signal; clock means for generating a clock signal; synchronizing means responsive to the clock signal and the sample frequency signal of the digital video recording apparatus for synchronizing the clock signal and the sample frequency signal; and control means coupled to the memory means and responsive to the clock means and the synchronizing means for producing control signals, the control signals controlling the storing of the first high definition television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the stored first high definition television format signal such that the second high definition television format signal is produced when the stored first high definition television format signal is read, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
205 words
A high definition television format signal converter for converting a first high definition television format signal containing at least picture information and being compatible with a digital video recording apparatus to a second high definition television format signal, the digital video recording apparatus having a sample frequency signal, the converter comprising: memory means coupled to the digital video recording apparatus for storing the first high definition television format signal; clock means for generating a clock signal; synchronizing means responsive to the clock signal and the sample frequency signal of the digital video recording apparatus for synchronizing the clock signal and the sample frequency signal; and control means coupled to the memory means and responsive to the clock means and the synchronizing means for producing control signals, the control signals controlling the storing of the first high definition television format signal in the memory means and controlling the reading of the stored first high definition television format signal such that the second high definition television format signal is produced when the stored first high definition television format signal is read, wherein all of the picture information within said first high definition television format signal is present without interpolation in said second high definition television format signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 28 further comprising digital-to-analog converter means coupled to the memory means for producing an analog signal related to the second high definition television format signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 28, wherein the memory means is a random access memory.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 28, wherein the memory means is a sequential address memory.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
66 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 28, wherein the synchronizing means includes a first divider means for producing a divided clock signal from the clock signal and a second divider means for producing a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
66 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 31, wherein the synchronizing means includes a first divider means for producing a divided clock signal from the clock signal and a second divider means for producing a divided sample frequency signal from the sample frequency signal, whereby the frequency of the divided clock signal and the frequency of the divided sample frequency signal are equal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 32, wherein the first divider means divides the clock signal by 56 and the second divider means divides the sample frequency signal by 55.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 33, wherein the first divider means divides the clock signal by 56 and the second divider means divides the sample frequency signal by 55.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 28 further comprising dummy sample detection means coupled to the memory means for detecting dummy samples contained within the first high definition television format signal stored in the memory means and preventing the reading of the dummy samples when the second high definition television format signal is produced.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The high definition television format signal converter according to claim 36, wherein the dummy samples represent synchronizing data related to the second high definition television format signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1412091A
Cited
US3983328A
Cited
US4276565A
Cited
US4283736A
Cited
US4306249A
Cited
DE3061858D1
Cited
US4463387A
Cited
US4468708A
Cited
US4520401A
Cited
US4549224A
Cited
US4500930A
Cited
US4530048A
Cited
US4533958A
Cited
US4577240A
Cited
FR2536935A1
Cited
US4597020A
Cited
US4587556A
Cited
US4638380A
Cited
US4658284A
Cited
US4661862A
Cited
US4757390A
Cited
US4651208A
Cited
US4730222A
Cited
DE3601858C1
Cited
US4812906A
Cited
US4884138A
Cited
US4743958A
Cited
JPS63102594A
Cited
EP0263795A2
Cited
US4984094A
Cited
US4797746A
Cited
US4862292A
Cited
US5047865A
Cited
US4963991A
Cited
EP0329812A1
Cited
JPH01252091A
Cited
US5065259A
Cited
US4872054A
Cited
US5023717A
Cited
US4905084A
Cited
US5001562A
Cited
US5239381A
Cited
US5031404A
Cited
US5200749A
Cited
US5168359A
Cited
US5327235A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |