NTSC receiver useable with Teletext/Viewdata information

• US 4,233,628 A
• Filed: 01/11/1979
• Issued: 11/11/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation
• Inventors: Ciciora, Walter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, John C.
• Application Number:
  US06/002,523
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 358/147.85, 358/140, 358/180, 358/142, 358/146, 315/395, 340/731, 340/750, 340/723, 340/748, 179/2 TV
• US Class Current: 348/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

A Teletext equipped NTSC television receiver system includes means for compressing the raster in the vertical direction in response to 625-line formatted Teletext signals to display normally overscanned horizontal lines on the television viewing screen. Thus 625-line formatted Teletext material may be used directly with NTSC receivers.

Claims

1. An NTSC television receiver capable of normally displaying approximately 200 horizontally lines of video information per field including;

signal synthesis means for generating Teletext video information from coded digital signals received during the vertical intervals of normal television broadcast signals, said Teletext information having a format embracing approximately 240 horizontal scan lines per field; and

raster control means for altering the raster of said television receiver to display more than the normal number of horizontal lines and thereby enable direct use of said Teletext information.

2. The television receiver of claim 1 wherein said raster control means constricts the raster of said receiver to display substantially all horizontal lines on the receiver screen.

3. The television receiver of claim 2 wherein there is further included:

switch means operable to selectively place the receiver in a normal video presentation mode and a Teletext presentation mode; and

means activating said raster control means when said receiver is in said Teletext presentation mode.

4. The television receiver of claim 3 where said raster is compressed only in the vertical direction.

5. In combination in a television receiver:

signal synthesis means capable of converting first digital signals obtained during the vertical intervals of normal NTSC 525 line television broadcast signals into a Teletext video display, said first digital signals having a format of approximately 200 usable horizontal scan lines per field; and

means for making a Teletext display from second digital signals obtained during said vertical intervals, said second digital signals having a vertical format of approximately 240 horizontal scan lines per field, including

raster control means for altering the receiver raster to enable display of the video corresponding to said second digital signals without alteration of said signal synthesis means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said raster control means operate to compress the vertical expanse of said raster.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said receiver includes a normal video and Teletext video mode;

and

means for manually selecting the operating mode for said receiver.

8. The combination of claim 7 further including switch means operable when said receivers in said Teletext mode for activating said raster control means in response to said second digital signals.

9. An NTSC television receiver capable of normally displaying approximately 200 horizontal lines of video information per field including:

signal synthesis means for generating video information from coded audio digital signals, said video information having a format embracing approximately 240 horizontal scan lines per field; and

raster control means for altering the raster of said television receiver to display more than the normal number of horizontal lines and thereby enable direct use of said video information.

10. The television receiver of claim 9 wherein said coded audio digital signals represent Viewdata video information.

11. The television receiver of claim 9 wherein said raster control means constricts the raster of said receiver to display substantially all horizontal lines on the receiver screen.

12. The television receiver of claim 9 wherein said raster is compressed only in the vertical direction.

13. An NTSC television receiver capable of normally displaying approximately 200 horizontal lines of video information per field including:

signal synthesis means for generating video information from coded digital signals, said video information having a format embracing approximately 240 horizontal scan lines per field; and

raster control means for altering the raster of said television receiver to display more than the normal number of horizontal lines and thereby enable direct use of said video information by said television receiver.