Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Frank Dumont

Chee Lam Tan

Qing Jin Zhou

Hua Li

Steven Anthony Barron

Li Cai

Jean Paul Louvel

Andrzej Ziolkowski

François Gabrielli

Thomas Bekesi

Yoke Lin Lam

Li Bin Cai

The present invention relates to a method for performing pre-programmed recording on a recording medium having insufficient remaining storage space for performing a pre-programmed recording with a specified recording quality, and to an apparatus for reading from and writing to recording media using such method. The method has the steps of:

Method for pre-programmed recording

The present invention relates to a method for simultaneously recording two a/v input signals using only a single digital a/v compressor, and an apparatus for reading from and writing to recording media capable of performing such method. This object is achieved by a method for recording a first a/v input signal and a second a/v input signal on a first recording unit for recording compressed digital a/v data, having the steps of:

Method for recording two concurrent a/v input signals

A video apparatus has a receiver for receiving and converting an RF signal into a video signal. The video signal is then processed (notably encoded) into an encoded digital stream by processing means. The processing means is adjusted based on an indicator of a characteristic of the RF signal.

Video apparatus with a receiver and processing means

A video apparatus has a digital encoder which receives a first analogue video signal with ancillary information in a given time window and generates on an output a digital stream based on the first analogue video signal. A digital decoder is connectable to this output to generate a second analogue video signal. A switch selects between the first analogue video signal and the second analogue video signal as an output depending on a control signal based on the occurrence of said time window.

Video apparatus

A video apparatus has a digital decoder generating a first digital stream, a video source of a first analogue signal, a video encoder and a first video decoder connectable to the video source for generating a second digital stream based on the first analogue signal. A switch is coupled to the first video decoder and to the digital decoder to notably mix the second digital stream and the first digital stream into an output digital stream to the video encoder.

The present invention proposes a method for generating a digital video signal from an analog input video signal, which prevents picture jitter in the digitized video signal when the analog input video signal is not in complete conformity with a standard. According to the invention, the method includes the steps of:

Preventing picture jitter in a digitized video signal

A video apparatus, for instance a video player, comprises a first digital source (e.g. a media player) of a first video digital stream and a video encoder (for generating analogue video signals based on said first video digital stream. The video apparatus also has an input for receiving first analogue video signals comprising synchronization signals. A second digital source generates a second video digital stream based on which the video encoder can generate second analogue video signals synchronized by the synchronization signals of the first analogue video signals for superimposition on the first analogue video signals.

Video apparatus with picture-in-picture ability

The circuit arrangement comprises a power supply unit with a first power supply only for the analogue signal processing part and for the control part of a respective device. For the digital signal processing part, a second, separate switched mode power supply is provided, which is switched off, when only the analogue signal processing part is active, and which is in operation, when the digital signal processing part is on. For switching on and off of the second switched mode power supply, the power supply comprises a switching circuit (), which is coupled in a special embodiment to a control loop () on the secondary side, for switching off the second power supply at the primary side via a galvanic isolating means (). The switching circuit is provided with a supply voltage (12VS) from the first power supply and receives the on/off command from the control part, e. g. a microprocessor. The power supply unit is used advantageously within a D-VHS recorder, and the first power supply provides the power for the control part and the analogue circuit processing of the recorder. The second switched mode power supply is associated with the digital signal processing part. The second switched mode power supply is switched on for example, when a D-VHS tape is inserted into the recorder.

Circuit arrangement comprising a power supply unit

A video apparatus has a first connector for outputting first RGB signals, a second connector for receiving second RGB signals, and an On-Screen Display circuit generating third RGB signals. A RGB generator generates fourth RGB signals. A first RGB switch is connected to the second connector and to the On-Screen Display circuit for receiving respectively said second RGB signals and said third RGB signals. The first RGB switch outputs fifth RGB signals. A second RGB switch is connected to the first RGB switch and to the RGB generator for receiving respectively said fifth RGB signals and said fourth RGB signals. The second RGB switch outputs the first RGB signals. A process to control such a video apparatus is also proposed.

Video apparatus using several video signal sources and process for controlling such a video apparatus

A video apparatus comprises a correction circuit for delaying a luminance stream in a digital stream. The correction circuit has a demultiplexer, a line buffer and a multiplexer to achieve this. This construction enables compensation of the luminance 2H-delay of conventional VHS and S-VHS signals. A process is disclosed for improving the picture quality of conventional VHS and S-VHS signals and for recording the corrected or quality-improved signals.

Video apparatus process for a video apparatus and video recorder

A video apparatus has a video source with a luminance output carrying a first luminance signal and a chrominance output carrying a chrominance signal, an OSD circuit generating OSD signals and a fast-blanking signal, and a connector for delivering video signals. A converter outputs a second luminance signal based on the OSD signals and a first switch is controlled by the fast-blanking signal selectively connects the converter or the luminance output to the connector and a second is switch is controlled by the fast-blanking signal selectively connects the chrominance output or a circuit generating a constant chrominance signal to the connector.

Video apparatus delivering video signals, notably S-Video signals

Arrangement for superimposing two images without jittering

A VCR is connectable to a television receiver and a decoder of scrambled signal. The VCR provides connection paths for coupling a video signal and an audio signal between the television receiver and the decoder. The VCR receives a control signal from the decoder indicating whether the video signal received by the television receiver is scrambled. In a first stand-by mode of the VCR, if the video signal is not scrambled, only the video signal is routed to the decoder through the VCR. If a scrambled signal is received, then the audio signal is also routed to the decoder through the VCR.

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Singapore, Singapore

Frank Dumont