High definition television signal format converter

In a high definition television system in which digital high resolution image and synchronizing data are processed in a compressed format, format conversion means for interfacing said system with a digital video tape recorder, said format conversion means comprising:

• means for receiving compressed high definition television image and synchronizing data in a first format characterized by first clock rate binary data having data timing related to the horizontal and vertical scan signals of said television system;
• means for reclocking said image and synchronizing data to a second data clock rate to produce reclocked image and synchronizing data;
• means for reformatting said reclocked image and synchronizing data from binary to a restricted range data format to produce reformatted restricted range image and synchronizing data;
• means for resynchronizing said reformatted restricted range image and synchronizing data from HDTV continuous mode to VTR discontinuous or burst mode;
• means for storing a plurality of restricted range synchronizing and blanking data patterns;
• means for recovering said synchronizing data from said received image and synchronizing data;
• means for retrieving said restricted range synchronizing and blanking data patterns;
• means for inserting said restricted range synchronizing and blanking data patterns into said reformatted restricted range image and synchronizing data in a timed relationship responsive to said synchronizing data;
• and
• means for applying said reformatted reclocked restricted range image and synchronizing data and inserted restricted range synchronizing and blanking data patterns to a digital video tape recorder.

In a high definition television system in which digital high resolution image and synchronizing data are processed in a compressed format, a format conversion method for interfacing said system with a digital video tape recorder, said format conversion method comprising the steps of:

• receiving compressed high definition television image and synchronizing data from a digital video tape recorder in a format characterized by restricted range data having periodically inserted synchronizing and blanking data patterns and having first data clock rate;
• reclocking said compressed high definition television image and synchronizing data to a reclocked signal having a second data clock rate;
• reformatting said reclocked signal to reclocked binary data;
• detecting said synchronizing and blanking patterns in said reclocked binary data and producing high definition television scan synchronizing and blanking data in synchronism therewith;
• and
• applying said reclocked binary data and said high definition television scan synchronizing and blanking data produced in said detecting step to said high definition television system.

In a high definition television system in which digital high resolution image and synchronizing data are processed in a compressed format, format conversion means for interfacing said system with a digital video tape recorder, said format conversion means comprising:

• means for receiving compressed high definition television image and synchronizing data from a digital video tape recorder in a format characterized by restricted range data having periodically inserted synchronizing and blanking data patterns and having a first data clock rate;
• means for reclocking said compressed high definition television image and synchronizing data to a reclocked signal having a second data clock rate;
• means for reformatting said reclocked signal to reclocked binary data;
• means for detecting said synchronizing and blanking patterns in said reclocked binary data and producing high definition television scan synchronizing and blanking data in synchronism therewith;
• and
• means for applying said reclocked binary data and said high definition television scan synchronizing and blanking data produced in said detecting step to said high definition television system.