Color difference signal processing

A television receiver monitor can accept video input signals of standard definition, having horizontal scanning frequency of 15.734 KHz (1H) or signals of higher definition with a higher scanning frequency of nominally 2.14H or about 33.6 KHz. Standard definition, SD or 1H input signals are processed to enable display at a double scanning frequency of 2H. Higher definition input signals with horizontal scanning frequencies of slightly greater than 2H are processed by analog circuits and then displayed. In this receiver monitor, because the display operates with a scanning frequency in the order of double the standard definition rate, these SD signals require up conversion to form a double frequency scan rate signal prior to display. Typically SD signals are encoded with color information according to the NTSC standard, thus prior to up conversion it is necessary decode the NTSC signal into its luminance and color components which are then digitized to form a digital signal bit stream. This 1H digital bit stream is processed by a de-interlacer, which de-interlaces or up converts the bit stream form a signal for display at a 2H scanning frequency. The resulting double frequency signal is digital to analog converted to form an analog 2H signal for subsequent analog processing and display.

In a display operating with a scanning frequency in the order of double the standard definition rate, standard definition signals require up conversion to enable their display. Such up conversion or de-interlacing is generally performed with analog component signals which are digitized and then de-interlacing and up-conversion. Prior to digitizing the analog component signals are clamped to establish reference potentials which, for example, center the color difference signals within the conversion range of the analog to digital converter. In addition automatic gain control, AGC, is derived from the luminance signal to ensure substantially constant signal amplitudes are coupled for digital conversion. The process of clamping involves charging or discharging a clamp or coupling capacitor for a short time interval during a horizontal (or vertical) blanking interval. The impedance of the signal source, clamping device and the signal amplitude, all influence the charge/discharge process and can result in a small voltage offset or error being introduced in the clamped interval. Clearly when a system employs a succession clamps, with each active during the same time interval, clamping errors will tend to accumulate. Since the color difference signals R-Y, B-Y are added to the luminance signal Y to form red green and blue display drive signals, any offset errors in these signals will produce errors in color rendition, color saturation and affect the color temperature, or white point of the display image. For example, a small positive offset error on both the red and blue color difference signals will produce slightly higher levels for the red and blue drive signals, but a slightly lower level for the green drive signal because green is formed by summing the luminance signal Y with inverted color difference signals (−Pr and −Pb). Thus a color difference clamping arrangement is required that accurately sets the blanking interval to the center of the analog to digital converter range and avoids the introduction of offset errors particularly in systems with cascaded clamps.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block schematic diagram showing various inventive arrangements in a receiver monitor display.

FIGS. 2(A–E) depicts luminance and color difference signals and their time relationship to various clamp pulses.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing in detail various inventive arrangements of block 400 of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1 , presents a block schematic diagram of a receiver monitor display with scanning frequency up conversion. The display can accept various video input signals of either standard or high definition with a nominal scanning frequency of 1H or nominally 2.14H where standard definition or 1H input signals are processed to enable display at a double frequency rate. Standard definition signals are input to video processor integrated circuit U 1 , for example Toshiba type TA1276, via a selector matrix SM. Selector SM allows user selection from various sources, for example, a demodulated RF or IF signal, an external Y C component signal comprising luminance and encoded subcarrier, or NTSC encoded signals. The external composite NTSC signal is initially comb filtered to produce separated luminance and encoded subcarrier prior to the selector matrix SM. Thus the SD input to video processor U 1 is in the form of luminance and encoded subcarrier components known as YC or S video. Video processor U 1 includes a sync separator SS, and an NTSC decoder and matrix arrangement which decodes and forms color difference signals, for example R-Y, and B-Y or Pr and Pb. The luminance or Y signal input is coupled via sync separator SS which provides separated (1H) sync pulses at pin 18 of IC U 1 . The luminance signal with sync pulses, is output at pin 4 and coupled via an advantageous gated sync pulse stretcher to an overlay switch or matrix switch integrated circuit U 2 , for example Toshiba type TA1287F.

Video guide information is generated by a Gemstar™ circuit module and is coupled as red, green and blue signals together with a fast switch signal, (FSW), for processing as an on screen display (OSD) by overlay switch IC U 2 , prior to up-conversion. The switching or mixed superimposition of the Gemstar™ OSD signals is accomplished by IC U 2 , which in addition, also provides a matrix which converts the GemStar™ originated red green and blue (RGB) OSD signals to luminance and color difference components, for example Y R-Y B-Y, Y Pr Pb, YUV or YIQ.

The outputs from overlay switch IC U 2 are coupled via a further advantageous circuitry, which will be described, to a digital decoder, IC U 3 , for example Samsung type KS0127B. Integrated circuit U 3 digitizes the luminance and coloring signals received from overlay switch U 2 and forms a data stream conforming to CCIR standard 656. In this receiver monitor display system the master source of horizontal and vertical sync signals is chosen to be sync signals extracted from the luminance signal input to digital decoder U 3 .

The digitized component signal bit stream (Bs) is coupled to a de-interlacer system comprising a de-interlacing integrated circuit U 4 , for example Genesis Micro type gmVLX1A-X, and a film mode controller IC U 6 , for example Genesis Micro type gmAFMC. Integrated circuit U 6 is controlled by and communicates with chassis controller U 8 via the I 2 C bus, however communication between IC U 4 and IC U 6 is via a separate data bus. De-interlacing is initiated within IC U 4 which examines the incoming component video data stream to determine the best method for constructing interpolated lines prior to storing each field in a 32 bit SGRAM memory IC U 5 , for example AMIC type A45L9332. If motion is not detected, the system repeats information from the previous field to provide a complete frame of non-moving video. However, if motion is detected, vertical/temporal filtering is applied using lines and fields around the interpolated line to provide an interpolated signal essentially free of motion artifacts. Film mode controller IC, U 6 detects the presence of video signals which originated from 24 Hz film by monitoring motion artifacts for the presence of a cyclical variation occurring at a 5 field rate. This 5 field repetition rate results from a so called 3:2 pull-down telecine process used to form a nominal display rate of 60 Hz by the cyclical duplication of individual fields from the 24 frame per second film original. Thus, having detected film original material the interpolated signal can be assembled with temporally correct lines from a previous field. The resulting 2H scan rate digital video, in the form of three, 8 bit data streams (Y, Cr and Cb) are output from de-interlacing IC U 4 and coupled for digital to analog conversion and analog signal processing prior to subsequent display.

Within overlay switch U 2 the luminance signal Ys+ is clamped during the back porch interval to a voltage of about 4.7 volts prior to being output at pin 14 , as depicted in FIG. 2A . Sync pulse clipping is provided at the emitter electrode of transistor Q 2 which is coupled to the junction of IC U 2 and coupling capacitor C 1 and removes sync amplitude in excess of the nominally standard value. Thus, with the back porch interval of the output luminance signal Ys+ clamped at 4.7 volts, a standard amplitude sync tip should occur at a voltage of about 4.4 volts (4.7−0.286 volts). Thus when the sync pulses at the emitter of transistor Q 2 have a potential one Vbe (base emitter voltage) below the clipping voltage at the base of transistor Q 2 , sync clipping occurs. Thus for nominal sync amplitude a clipping voltage of 5.06 volts is required at transistor Q 2 base, and represents the sync tip voltage plus the Vbe of transistor Q 2 .

Color difference signals Pr and Pb, depicted in FIGS. 2C , 2 D respectively, are output from overlay switch U 2 pins 13 and 15 respectively and are coupled to capacitors C 41 and C 42 of inventive clamp circuit 400 , shown in FIG. 3 . From capacitors C 41 and C 42 the color difference signals Pr and Pb are applied to respective non-inverting inputs of integrated circuits U 41 and U 42 , for example ST Microelectronics type TSH94 which are high speed, video frequency, operational amplifiers. Operational amplifiers U 41 and U 42 are connected as unity gain voltage followers and output respective signals Pr, Pb via series resistors R 51 , R 52 for analog to digital conversion within IC U 3 . The junctions of input capacitors C 41 , C 42 and the non-inverting inputs of integrated circuits U 41 U 42 are also connected to an output terminals of two further operational amplifiers U 43 U 44 , for example ST type TSH94, which in addition to video frequency performance also include a disable or stand by function. The disable function is used to turn on operational amplifiers U 43 U 44 only during a period, t 1 –t 2 of clamp pulse Hs which causes the junctions of capacitors C 41 C 42 and the non-inverting inputs of integrated circuits U 41 U 42 to assume the respective voltages at the output of ICs U 43 U 44 . When the clamp pulses are absent, the output of operational amplifiers U 43 U 44 assume a high impedance which does not discharge the voltages impressed across respective coupling capacitors C 41 C 42 and present at the inputs of color difference operational amplifiers U 41 , U 42 .

Gated operational amplifiers U 43 , U 44 are configured as voltage followers with the non-inverting input of each amplifier connected to the output terminal of further operational amplifiers U 45 and U 46 , for example National Semiconductor type LM324, which are also configured as voltage followers. The non-inverting inputs of voltage follower ICs U 45 and U 46 are coupled to the wipers of potentiometers R 44 , Pr clamp reference, and R 48 , Pb clamp reference. The potentiometers are connected in parallel between voltages Vt and Vb, with each wiper decoupled to ground by capacitors C 45 , C 46 respectively.

Voltages Vt and Vb are sourced via resistors R 49 , R 50 from the output terminals of operational amplifiers U 47 and U 48 , for example National Semiconductor type LM324, configured as voltage followers. The non-inverting inputs of ICs U 47 and U 48 are decoupled to ground by capacitors C 47 , C 48 respectively and are supplied with reference voltages Vrt and Vrb from an analog to digital converter (ADC) which forms part of decoder IC U 3 . Voltages Vrt and Vrb are stable reference voltages generated within decoder IC U 3 for use in quantizing the analog signal inputs, Ys+, Pr, Pb. Voltage Vrt represents the top or maximum voltage applied to the analog to digital converter and similarly voltage Vrb represents the bottom or minimum voltage applied as references for quantization within the analog to digital converter. For example, since coloring signals Pr, Pb are symmetrically disposed about a zero color axis, the quantizer voltages Vrt and Vrb can be of equal but opposite values. FIGS. 2A , 2 C and 2 D depict analog component signals, and as described these signals are clamped to establish reference potentials prior to digital conversion. For example, conventionally the luminance signal component Ys+ is clamped to reference value to bring the blanking intervals of the signal to a voltage value required or determined by the analog to digital converter (ADC) as representing an essentially zero luminance or black level signal, ignoring any setup signal or pedestal component. Typically luminance signal clamping occurs during the back porch period (t 2 –t 5 ) of the horizontal blanking interval (t 0 –t 5 ) as shown in FIG. 2A and can employ a clamp pulse timed as depicted by clamp pulse Bpc of FIG. 2B . In an exemplary luminance signal having a picture to sync ratio of 100:40 IRE the blanking or black level clamp voltage has a value represented by the ratio 40/140 of the difference between ADC reference voltages Vrt and Vrb applied across the ADC quantizer. This scaled reference value is readily accessed and provided to a luminance clamp within decoder IC U 3 .

Similarly color difference signals Pr and Pb of FIGS. 2C and 2D , require their respective blanking intervals (t 0 –t 5 ) clamping to a specific voltage value required by the color difference signal analog to digital converters (ADCs). Color difference signals Pr and Pb have bipolar analog values, symmetrically displaced about a blanking or zero color difference value. Thus, the blanking periods of signals Pr and Pb, t 0 –t 5 are required to be set to the ADC reference voltage corresponding to the zero color difference value. This zero color difference value represents the center of the range of ADC digital values D, and therefore the center of the ADC reference voltages Vrt and Vrb applied across the ADC quantizer of U 3 . However, unlike the luminance signal, which is clamped within decoder IC U 3 , because signals Pr and Pb are clamped external to the integrated circuit, the required center ADC reference voltage clamping potential is not available outside the IC. As a consequence an advantageous active potential divider arrangement 401 formed by voltage followers U 47 , U 48 , and resistors R 49 and R 50 and variable resistors R 48 and R 44 generates from the stable converter reference voltages the required center reference voltage of, for example, (Vrt−Vrb)/2. Although analog color difference signals Pr, Pb have bipolar values that range about the center of the ADC reference voltage supply, potentiometers R 48 and R 44 provided a nominal few percent of voltage adjustment to compensate for any output offset voltages from voltage followers U 41 , U 42 .

Typically luminance signal clamping occurs during the back porch period of the horizontal blanking interval as depicted in FIGS. 2A , 2 B. Often it is convenient to employ the same luminance timed, back porch clamp pulse Bps for clamping the color difference signals Pr, Pb. However, in a display system where color difference signals may be clamped in multiple successive processing stages any residual clamp error voltages, resulting from previous clamping actions will tend to accumulate producing an undesirable and erroneous display image coloration. Thus in a further advantageous arrangement, color difference signals Pr, Pb are clamped to the ADC derived center reference voltage (Vrt−Vrb)/2 by a clamp pulse Hs timed to occur during the period t 1 –t 2 . Clamp pulse Hs is processed by amplifiers 402 and generated within decoder IC U 3 . Clamp pulse Hs is substantially coincident with the horizontal synchronizing signal derived from the luminance signal Ys+. Because this advantageous clamp pulse Hs occurs substantially coincident with the horizontal sync, this part of the horizontal blanking interval of the color difference signals is unlikely to have been subject to prior back porch clamp circuit errors or offsets. Thus, a clean or non-clamped signal interval is chosen for clamping and the introduction or propagation of previous erroneous clamping potentials is prevented from unbalancing the color difference signals and causing inaccurate color rendition.

In FIG. 3 a positive clamp pulse Hs, derived from separated horizontal sync (S+), is applied to pulse amplifiers 402 . Clamp pulse Hs is coupled to the base of transistor Q 1 from the junction of resistors R 1 , R 2 which potentially divide the amplitude of clamp pulse signal Hs. The emitter of transistor Q 1 is connected to ground with the collector connected to a positive voltage supply via resistor R 3 . The collector of transistor Q 1 is coupled to the disable or stand-by terminal of operational amplifier U 43 such that a positive collector voltage maintains the amplifier in a high output impedance, stand by condition. However, when pulse Hs is present, transistor Q 1 turns on causing the collector voltage to fall, from the positive supply voltage, to nominally ground potential replicating an inverted version of input pulse Hs. Thus, during pulse Hs, a nominally ground potential is applied to the stand-by terminal of amplifier U 43 which turns on forcing the junction of capacitor C 41 and the input of the red color difference amplifier U 41 to assume the voltage VPr coupled from voltage follower U 45 .

The collector of transistor Q 1 is also coupled the base electrode of transistor Q 2 via the junction of resistors R 4 , R 5 which potentially divide the inverted clamp pulse signal. The emitter of transistor Q 2 is connected to the positive voltage supply and the collector connected to ground via resistor R 6 and to the disable or stand-by control terminal of operational amplifier U 44 . During the absence of clamp pulse Hs, the collector of transistor Q 1 has a voltage nominally that of the positive supply which turns off transistor Q 2 . With transistor Q 2 cut off the collector has a nominally ground potential which is coupled to the stand-by terminal and produces a stand-by condition in operational amplifier U 44 . The presence of a negative pulse at the collector of transistor Q 1 causes transistor Q 2 to turn on and apply a positive voltage to the stand-by terminal of operational amplifier U 44 . Thus clamp pulse Hs turns on amplifier U 44 and forces the junction of capacitor C 42 and the input of the blue color difference amplifier U 42 to assume the voltage VPb coupled from voltage follower U 46 .

Thus by clamping the color difference signals during the horizontal sync interval, t 1 –t 2 , of horizontal blanking interval t 0 –t 5 , the presence of erroneous prior clamp voltages or offsets are avoided and proper color rendition is achieved by ensuring that the color difference signals supplied for analog to digital conversion are clamped to potential representing the center digital range reference voltage derived from the analog to digital converter.