Luma/chroma separation filter with common delay element for comb filter separation and recursive noise reduction of composite video input signal

Apparatus for noise reducing and separating luminance and chrominance components of a composite video input signal, comprising:

• a source for providing said composite video input signal;
• first circuit means, coupled to said source, for combining said composite video input signal with a noise reduction signal supplied thereto to form a noise reduced first video signal;
• second circuit means, coupled to said first circuit means, for delaying said noise reduced first video signal to form a plurality of delayed video signals having respectively different delays;
• third circuit means, coupled to said source and to said second circuit means, for combining said composite video input signal with a selected pair of said delayed video signals to form said noise reduction signal;
• and
• fourth circuit means, coupled to said first and second circuit means, for combining said noise reduced first video signal with a further one of said delayed video signals to form separated and noise reduced chrominance and luminance output signals.