Composite video signal limiter

A limiter for a composite video signal, comprising:

• filter means for separating said composite video signal into two components comprising a luminance signal and a chrominance signal;
• first limiter means for limiting said luminance signal to a range of values defined by first and second reference signals to provide a limited luminance signal;
• circuit means for producing a first control signal having a magnitude proportional to a potential difference between said limited luminance signal and said first reference signal and for producing a second control signal having a magnitude proportional to a potential difference between said limited luminance signal and said second reference signal;
• second limiter means for limiting excursions in either sense of said chrominance signal to the lesser of said control signals to provide a symmetrically limited chrominance signal;
• and
• output means for combining said limited luminance signal and said limited chrominance signal to provide a composite video output signal limited to a range defined by said reference signals and in which the chrominance component thereof is symmetrically limited with respect to the level of the luminance component thereof.