Method and apparatus for recording and reproducing a color-aligned line-sequential color video signal

A method of recording and reproducing in successive parallel tracks on a record medium a SECAM composite color television signal, having information contained in successive line intervals, a predetermined number of line intervals being included in a field interval and a predetermined number of field intervals being included in a frame interval wherein each track contains a field interval and said SECAM composite color television signal is recorded in color alignment such that line intervals containing information signals of the same color are aligned transversely of said tracks;

• said method comprising delaying the chrominance component of the SECAM television signal in alternate ones of said frame intervals by a time delay equal to an odd multiple of a line interval;
• frequency converting said chrominance component;
• supplying the delayed and undelayed frame intervals of the frequency-converted chrominance component of said SECAM television signal to a recording transducer;
• inserting a discriminating signal into alternate frames of the frequency converted chrominance component;
• reproducing the recorded SECAM television signal from successive parallel tracks to recover the delayed and undelayed frame intervals alternately;
• and delaying the undelayed frame intervals by a time delay equal to said odd multiple of a line interval thereby recovering said chrominance component of said SECAM television signal which is undelayed in successive frame intervals relative to each other.

A method of reproducing the frequency converted chrominance component of a color video signal from successive, parallel record tracks, the color video signal being of the type having line sequential alternating color information signals and being recorded with alternate frames delayed by (2n-1) line intervals, wherein n is an integer, such that the frequency-converted chrominance component is in color alignment, and alternate frames of the recorded frequency-converted chrominance component containing a discriminating signal representing those frames which are recorded with delay;

• said method comprising frequency reconverting the chrominance component;
• delay-by (2n-1) line intervals those frames of the re-converted chrominance component which have not been recorded with delay;
• detecting said discriminating signal;
• and using the detection of said discriminating signal to avoid further delaying those frames of the re-converted chrominance which have been recorded with delay.

Apparatus for recording at least the chrominance component of a composite color television signal in successive parallel record tracks and subsequently reproducing said chrominance component from said tracks comprising:

• delay means for delaying alternate frames of said chrominance component by (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, wherein n is an integer;
• transducer means for recording the delayed and undelayed frames of the chrominance component alternately and in frequency-converted format and such that the horizontal synchronizing intervals in successive tracks are in alignment, and also for reproducing said recorded chrominance component, including at least one rotary transducer;
• frequency reconverting means supplied with the chrominance component reproduced from said record tracks for frequency reconverting the chrominance component substantially back to its original frequency band;
• second delay means for delaying the undelayed frames of said reproduced and frequency re-converted chrominance component by (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, said second delay means including a delay circuit connected to receive the frequency reconverted chrominance component, switch means having one input connected to receive the undelayed chrominance component from the frequency re-converting means, another input connected to said delay circuit to receive the delayed chrominance component therefrom, and an output, and switch control means for controlling said switch means to couple said one input to the output thereof when the delayed frame of said chrominance component is reproduced and to couple said other input to the output thereof when the undelayed frame of said chrominance component is reproduced, wherein said switch control means comprises sensing means for sensing when said transducer rotates into position to commence reproducing a frame of the recorded chrominance component and also comprises pulse producing means responsive to said sensing means for generating a switch control pulse which changes state at each sensing, said switch control pulse being applied to said switch means to operate said switch means as a function of the state of said switch control pulse.

Apparatus for reproducing at least the chrominance component of a composite color television signal which is recorded in successive parallel record tracks on a record medium, wherein alternate frames of the chrominance component are recorded in delayed relation with respect to the remaining frames, the delayed relation being equal to (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, where n is an integer, and wherein the recorded chrominance component includes a discriminating signal recorded in alternate frames to represent which frame of the recorded chrominance component is delayed and which frame is not delayed;

• said apparatus comprising transducer means for scanning said record medium to reproduce the frames of the recorded chrominance component;
• sensing means for sensing when said transducer means commences the reproduction of a frame of said recorded chrominance component;
• and output means coupled to said transducer means for providing time equalization of all the reproduced frames, said output means including delay means selectively operable to delay the undelayed frames of the reproduced chrominance component by (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, wherein said delay means comprises a delay circuit connected to receive each frame of the chrominance component, switch means having one input connected to receive each frame of the chrominance component, another input connected to said delay circuit to receive each delayed frame of the chrominance component, and an output coupled alternately to said one input and then to said other input in response to each sensing by said sensing means, and switch control means responsive to the reproduced discriminating signal for controlling said switch means to couple said one input thereof to said output thereof when the recorded delayed frame is reproduced.

Apparatus for reproducing at least the chrominance component of a composite color television signal wherein the chrominance component is recorded as a frequency-converted signal in successive parallel record tracks on a record medium and wherein alternate frames of the chrominance component are recorded in delayed relation with respect to the remaining frames, the delayed relation being equal to (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, where n is an integer, said apparatus comprising transducer means for scanning said record medium to reproduce the frames of the recorded chrominance component;

• sensing means for sensing when said transducer means commences the reproduction of a frame of said recorded chrominance component;
• and output means coupled to said transducer means for providing time equalization of all the reproduced frames, said output means including delay means selectively operable to delay the undelayed frames of the reproduced chrominance component by (2n-1) horizontal line intervals, wherein said delay means has a delay circuit connected to receive each frame of the chrominance component and switch means having one input connected to receive each frame of the chrominance component, another input connected to said delay circuit to receive each delayed frame of the chrominance component, and an output coupled alternately to said one input and then to said other input in response to each sensing by said sensing means, and further including frequency reconverting means for for reconverting the chrominance component back to its original frequency band, the output of said frequency re-converting means being coupled to said delay circuit and to said one input of said switch means.