Combined Issue STRL Bulletin Spring - Summer 2008

NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories ISSN 1345-4099

STRL Open House 2008 Report no. 34 -The Power of Technology: Bringing Changes to CONTENTS the World of Television

This year's annual open house of the NHK Science & Technical Feature; 2008 STRL Research Laboratories (STRL Open Open House Report House) was held from Thursday, May -The Power of Technology: Bringing 22, to Sunday, May 25. The Changes to the World of Television ..1 exhibition presented STRL's latest Addresses ...... 2 research, and it featured guest Exhibition...... 5 speakers involved in the broadcasting industry overseas and presentations About us by STRL research engineers. Approximately 21,000 Overview of NHK STRL...... 18 visitors got to see the results of STRL studies firsthand. Fifty five exhibits were shown in six zones Topics / Challenge / R&D / Treatise / as follows. NHK Technology The 20,000th visitor

Exhibition Utilization and Deployment of Frontiers of Broadcasting Useful and Universal Services Broadcasting Technology

"Enhanced Reality" Spatial Environment for Producing Reproduction Advanced Content Poster Exhibit

Opening Ceremony:

The opening ceremony was held on May 20th. Kenkichi Tanioka, Director-General of the NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories, gave the opening address, and NHK President Shigeo Fukuchi gave the keynote speech. Michisada Hirose, the President of the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan , gave the congratulatory address. STRL

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 1 Address 2008 STRL Open House

Address 1 (Summary) Challenges for Technological Innovations in Terrestrial Digital Broadcast Services in the U. S. - Can R&D drive the marketplace or does the marketplace drive R&D? -

Mr. Lynn D. Claudy, NAB Senior Director and Senior VP of the Regulatory Counsel

oday, I would like to talk about what is In the same way, digital broadcasting is now at the currently happening in relation to stage of "re-invention." This means that technology is Ttechnological innovations in the United States, changed and modified to meet the needs of the based on the theme, "Can R&D drive the marketplace marketplace to increase the marketplace penetration or does the marketplace drive R&D?" at a faster rate. The concept of "re-inventing" The United States government accelerated the technology is a critical aspect of the market- transition to digital service through mandatory penetration process for a new technology, requiring requirements. It first required that all broadcasters paying attention not to the inventors or developers of start digital broadcasting by mid 2003. A March 2007 the technology but to the users of the technology. deadline was set for all new receivers to be made At NAB, after thorough and repeated discussions, compliant with digital broadcasting reception. By we came to the conclusion that for broadcasters to February 17, 2009, all analog services will terminate. survive and grow stronger in this highly competitive This government mandated transition to digital world, the only choice is to adopt new technologies broadcasting can be called a "technology push." It is a in the constant pursuit of new possibilities. We lot difficult to carry out than letting consumers therefore launched a technology advocate program. themselves draw the technologies they want into the The purpose of this program is not only to marketplace ("market pull"). incorporate the advantages of new broadcasting Pushing technology is similar to standing in a technology but also to tune these based on market desert and calling out to the market, "Here, just look needs. It focuses on already-developed technologies at my new invention." But, it's a much better way to that require a little push for market infusion, by go to look at the marketplace and see which way the making an appropriate match between a technology crowd is heading and then run to the front of the developer and system manufacturer to assist them in crowd and yell, "Follow me." That's a "market pull" establishing a partnership. process. Giving the consumers what they want, Regarding the broadcasting field, we recognize instead of what you think they should want. that long-term and fundamental technology research There is a famous line in the movie "Field of is also extremely important, such as research on Dreams," "If you build it, they will come." This flexible displays and Super Hi-Vision (SHV), the expresses the idea of "technology push" in digital R&D for which NHK has been advancing. broadcasting. In effect, TV broadcasters built the Unfortunately, in contrast to many areas of the environment, and waited for the consumers to get world, broadcasters in the United States are not interested and purchase digital TVs. On the other spending adequate resources on research and hand, the movie series "Rocky," which began in 1976 development. Therefore, we at NAB, especially in the and spanned thirty years and five movies, "re- area of fundamental research in the broadcasting invented" itself for each movie to adapt to the field, would like to build and maintain strong demands of the market of that time. In other words, relations with international broadcasters with it used "market pull," discerning what the public actively promoted research programs, such as NHK. wanted. To make the technology transfer process simpler,

2 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Address 2 (Summary) Research positioning for RAI, the Italian public broadcaster, and collaboration with NHK

Dr. Alberto Morello, Director of the RAI Research Centre

AI is the Italian public broadcaster. The RAI Research Centre was established in the 1920s. Our budget is 0.3% of RAI's earnings. RAI is a content-oriented corporation, so technology is not positioned as its Rcore business. However, it holds a strong belief that technological innovation should be adopted. In 1986, an extremely advanced demonstration was held at the RAI Research Centre. This was a demonstration of the Muse HDTV system that NHK conducted at an RAI research laboratory in Torino. Back then, it seemed amazingly futuristic with a large HD monitor weighing 300 kg. This is the earliest example of collaboration between NHK and RAI. Short-term studies of 1 to 2 years account for 50% of our research, 40% is 3 to 5 year medium-term research, and only 10% can be called long-term research of 10 years or more. This is clearly different from NHK, which carries out a wide range of R&D activities, from short-term to long-term. This year's STRL open house is a good example to show how extensive NHK's research is. RAI is not conducting fundamental physics research, but places significant focus on applications. The breakdown of our R&D activities include, IT archiving and automatic metadata production, a second- generation DVB system, mobile TV and mobile radio, IPTV over open IP networks, new communication systems, such as WiMax and optical fiber, technologies to enable the elderly and those with physical impairments to easily access RAI content, and long-term research on Super Hi-Vision (SHV) broadcasting. Among these, studies on technologies to improve accessibility for physically handicapped users and a parental control system both involve close collaboration with NHK. Lastly, I will talk about a large-scale SHV transmission experiment demonstration at IBC in Amsterdam, which will be jointly conducted by NHK, the BBC, and RAI. NHK will take a significant role by providing SHV cameras, a real-time codec/decoder, and projector/display systems. The BBC will participate by sending live SHV camera shots from London, which will then be transmitted to Amsterdam via an optic fiber cable network. RAI will provide the first public live transmission of SHV via satellite with recorded material and the transmission system will be DVB-S2 and the uplink station will be in Torino. NHK's STRL, the BBC, the IRT, and RAI, have started very fruitful cooperative relationships since the last fiscal year. In the future, I hope that NAB will be joining us in this fellowship. This is because we highly value the importance of this collaboration. Although the research time frames set for European research institutions are far shorter than those of NHK's STRL, in many cases, we have been able to find important common ground to begin collaborative research and produce substantial results. We believe that one of the most essential aspects involves the contributions of NHK's STRL, including its great resources, skill, and close relations with Japan's industrial sector, which we are confident will ensure outstanding results from our collaboration.

and provide ways for regular updating and important for the marketplace, and the marketplace discussion when technological innovation occurs, is indispensable for R&D. They need to exchange NAB will work to maintain a good relationship with feedback with each other. It is my hope that we can NHK, in securing continuous open communication. take both types of approaches, and that these efforts Let me go back to the first questions I raised. The will further strengthen broadcasting services. answers to both questions are "Yes." R&D is

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 3 Address 2008 STRL Open House

Address 3 (Summary)

Our Vision for Broadcasting - Conveying feelings and new connectivity to viewers -

Dr. Kenkichi Tanioka, Director General, NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories

roadcasting has steadily enhanced the "quality" of the information that it delivers, starting with sound data and progressing to monochrome video, color Bvideo, and now Hi-Vision (HDTV) video. Through the ultrahigh-definition video and 3D sound presentations of the Super Hi-Vision (SHV) system, we are aiming to deliver a heightened sensation of reality and presence, even a "sense of high quality." Our plan for research, called the STRL Vision, centrally positions research that will allow our viewers to enjoy this sense of high quality and heightened sensation of reality and presence at home. Its goal is the construction of a new form of broadcasting that delivers an unparalleled sensation of reality and presence, beyond viewing and listening, that will enable the viewer to "feel" the broadcast. I expect to see more complex media that can accommodate diverse viewing styles and preferences and that respond to changes in viewer awareness, media that are no longer limit viewers to simply receiving information, but instead enable them to send it for various purposes. A new mechanism must be constructed to meet the demands of individual viewers and provide them with information anytime, anywhere, in a user- friendly way. Fulfillment of the STRL Vision entails the development of new mechanisms to securely deliver information through networking of broadcasting, communications, and recording media and new services that will allow viewers to "connect" with broadcasting stations. Such broadcasting will require a wide range of research, which in turn raises the importance of research promotion strategies, including collaborations with other organizations. It will be essential to work with overseas institutions from the research phase onward to ensure international standardization in this global age. In February 2007, STRL concluded joint research agreements with three European research institutions, the BBC (United Kingdom), RAI (Italy), and the IRT (Germany). As we take a leading role in constructing advanced broadcasting technology and media, we must make sure that the results of our research benefit our viewers and society at large.

4 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Exhibition Highlights

Frontiers of Broadcasting "Enhanced Reality" Spatial Reproduction he Science & Technical Research Laboratories has ome of STRL's research is aimed at inspiring new Tbeen pioneering new broadcasting media for Smedia through the construction of what may be many decades, and its achievements range from the ultimate in video and audio reproduction: three- satellite broadcasting and Hi-Vision (HDTV) to dimensional TV and sound. digital broadcasting. For the next generation of broadcasting, STRL is now developing the Super Hi- Vision (SHV) ultrahigh-definition television system.

Useful and Universal Services Environment for Producing Advanced Content TRL is developing an easy-to-operate, convenient his exhibit showed viewers an advanced content Stelevision system that can be tailored to the Tproduction environment for next-generation individual viewer's needs and preferences. The program production. Various component systems exhibit displayed element technologies and showed were exhibited, such as robot cameras that can an image of what the service will be like. perform collaborative shooting, a millimeter-wave TV camera that uses radio-waves to capture images of objects that are obscured by fog or smoke, and an ultrahigh-speed camera system.

Utilization and Deployment of Broadcasting Technology Poster Exhibit any of the technologies that were created by isitors with expertise in many fields related to MSTRL researchers are being used in non- Vbroadcasting could view in-depth explanations broadcasting fields. Some are even being used for of our latest research results presented in poster space and deep-sea exploration. The exhibits in this form. zone featured these versatile technologies.

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 5 Frontiers of Broadcasting

33M-pixel Image Technology The Super Hi-Vision (SHV) system will require advances in equipment and signal processing and in-depth examinations from a human sciences perspective. For this study, the most essential is to obtain SHV video data of thee elementary colors (red, blue and green) with a resolution of 7680 (horizontal) 4320 (vertical) pixels. We Prototype imaging Shooting experiment Shot image fabricated a new prototype that can capture system images with this level of resolution.

Image Sensor Using Organic Compounds In Development Research is progressing on Satoshi Aihara, an advanced imaging device Materials Science & Advanced Devices that may eventually be he current Super Hi-Vision camera incorporated in a compact separates incident light into the three SHV camera. A recent T primary colors (red, green, and blue) by using a prism. These experiment on this organic colors are converted for color video reproduction into image sensor demonstrated Exhibit of video images shot electrical signals by using three imaging devices. Although color video imaging for the with the device this three-chip color imaging device has good light-usage first time from such a device. efficiency and enables high-quality color video reproduction, The open house showed the prism and three imaging devices are bulky. To make a images shot with this device. compact, lightweight SHV camera, we are developing a new single-chip color imaging device that uses organic films. This "organic" imaging device contains layers of organic photoconversion film that are each sensitive to one of the Color image three primary colors. This device can separate light into the three primary colors and read out signals that correspond to Prototype organic image sensor red, green, and blue. We believe that a single-plate imaging scheme can yield imaging characteristics that are equivalent to those of a three-plate scheme.

Super Hi-Vision Codec System In Development Our studies continue Kazuhisa Iguchi, on ultrahigh- Human & Information Science compression coding for uper Hi-Vision's heightened sensation of SHV broadcasting. We presence and immersion is made possible exhibited a codec system S through its 7680 4320-pixel ultrahigh-definition video and that can compress the 22.2 channel three-dimensional sound. Its video and audio 24-Gbps SHV signal to signals have a bit rate approximately 24 Gbps, so video and approximately 118 Mbps audio data compression is required to provide SHV services for video and over a limited broadcasting bandwidth. approximately 2 Mbps Coding system Decoding system We constructed an SHV codec system that uses the for sound. The AVC/H.264 scheme for video compression and the AAC compression level is suitable for MPEG-2 TS output at 126 scheme for sound compression. This system can reduce the Mbps, which is part of the provisional advanced digital overall video and audio signal bit rate to approximately 126 satellite broadcasting standard for Japan. Mbps, which is within the feasible range specified by the provisional scheme for the advanced digital satellite broadcasting system. We are planning an experiment using a broadcasting satellite to transmit coded video and sound. The results of the experiment will determine the feasibility of such coding for SHV. After that, we will improve the picture Decoded video/audio quality offered by the coding system.

6 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Advanced Digital Transmission System for Satellite Broadcasting The advanced digital satellite broadcasting system is a proposal for a versatile, large-capacity transmission system that will utilize satellite broadcasting channels that will become available after 2011. This exhibit displayed some of the element technologies of this system and showed how it can be used to deliver SHV and download services. Application example Modulator/demodulator and dummy satellite transponder

Dirac: The New Coding Technology Dirac is a video coding scheme that was developed at the BBC's technology laboratory in the United Kingdom. NHK is working together with the BBC on using Dirac video coding for SHV. The exhibit presented SHV video coded with this software.

Reproduction of decoded video.

Super Hi-Vision Home Theater System Channel Equalization for Echoes Outside the Guard Visitors to this exhibit experienced what viewing Interval of OFDM Signals SHV in the home may be like in the future. The Multi-path interference from delayed waves arriving after the home theatre had a large display composed of four guard interval length occur on the transmission path of digital 56-inch LC display panels and a compact 22.2 terrestrial broadcasting. The exhibited channel equalization multi-channel loudspeaker sound system. technology can correct this distortion.

Multi-path equalizer Constellation for before equalization (left) and after equalization (right)

Special Presentation

Shoji Tanaka, Broadcasting Systems by an ultrahigh-definition video presentation, 5) coding for more versatile data broadcasting, and 6) a variable length igital satellite broadcasting in Japan uses packet multiplexing scheme for a storage type broadcasting Dthe ISDB-S standard to provide service. These proposals were reflected in ARIB's draft of the broadcasting services such as digital HDTV. provisional system that was submitted to the Currently, the Telecommunications Council Telecommunications Council in January 2008, and they were and the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) the topic of deliberations involving broadcasters and are examining the technological requirements for new manufacturers. The provisional scheme reflects a potential broadcasting schemes on the four channels that will become capability to increase the number of HDTV programs available for use after 2011. (The parties to the World transmittable on a single transponder by combining a high- Radiocommunication Conference 2000 allocated these four compression efficiency video coding and expanded capacity channels to Japan.) channel coding. NHK submitted the following proposals in response to This year's open house demonstrated the multiplexed ARIB's call: 1) a channel coding scheme to expand the transmission of four HDTV programs and the transmission of transmission capacity beyond that of the current digital SHV using hardware based on the draft-compliant channel satellite broadcasting, 2) a high compression efficiency video coding, video coding and audio coding. coding scheme, 3) a high-definition video format exceeding ARIB is planning further experiments to verify the feasibility the quality level and sense of presence offered by HDTV, 4) of the provisional scheme. NHK will take the initiative in this multichannel audio to reproduce a sound field that process. corresponds to the sensation of quality and presence conveyed

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 7 Automatic Activation of One-Seg Receivers One-Seg Combined Retransmission System for Emergency Broadcasting We developed a re- We developed a technology that transmission system to automatically activates standby deliver One-Seg receivers in case of disasters and services to areas where instantly delivers emergency direct reception is information to the public. One impossible, such as in One-Seg combined retransmission technology automatically activates underground shopping system that is 1/3 the size of the One-Seg receivers so that they can arcades or in building previous model. receive emergency warning system shadows. The exhibit showed a retransmission system that (EWS) messages, and the other one Activation flag for combines the One-Seg signals from multiple broadcasters wakes up receivers in response to emergency warning into a single channel for re-transmission. earthquake early broadcast receiver warnings sent by Japan Meteorological Agency.

Alarm clock equipped with automatic warning function A maximum of 13 One-Seg signals can be transmitted High-speed Mobile Reception for HDTV Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Multi-level OFDM Technology Mobile reception of digital terrestrial broadcasting is difficult while in transit on a train or in an automobile The next generation traveling at high speed. This exhibition introduced a of terrestrial system that enables stable digital terrestrial broadcasting broadcasting will offer reception even when the receiver is traveling at 300 km/h. large-capacity services, including Super Hi-Vision (SHV). We started R&D on multi-level Comparison of current digital OFDM modulation/ terrestrial broadcasting schemes demodulation technology for new Stable reception even at 300 km/h terrestrial digital broadcasting schemes.

beam pattern control system Modulator/demodulator based on adaptive array antennas

Super Hi-Vision Theater

Super Hi-Vision (SHV) is a future television system consisting of ultrahigh- definition video with four times the vertical and horizontal resolution of HDTV and 22.2 multi-channel sound. We screened amazing video content that showed the unparalleled attraction of the SHV format.

Presentation of SHV program shot in Hokkaido.

International Collaboration

STRL's international collaborative activities include its contributions to standardization, exchanges of researchers with overseas research institution, promotion of Japan's ISDB-T standard, and cooperation in presenting exhibitions abroad.

The various international collaboration activities being carried out by STRL researchers and colleagues around the world.

8 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL "Enhanced Reality" Spatial Reproduction

Integral Three-dimensional Television Audio Devices for the Ultimate in Sound A three-dimensional TV that uses spatial image Reproduction reproduction would be able to produce natural 3D images We are researching an ultra-thin that could be viewed without special glasses. Our exhibit at loudspeaker based on an elastomer this year's open house displayed an integral 3D television material for Super Hi-Vision (SHV) that uses ultrahigh-definition Super Hi-Vision (SHV) video home displays and a world first uni- technology and a depth positioning control technique to directional ultrawide-range make striking three-dimensional reproductions. microphone system.

Thin loudspeaker using elastomer

Projection using an SHV Integral 3D TV video projector Uni-directional ultrawide- Psychological Evaluation of Sound Conveying range microphone a Heightened Sensation of Presence We are interested in developing media conveying In Development a sensation of presence Satoshi Oode, beyond what people Human & Information Science experience from today's esides assessments made using physical television. To make such an Bindices, such as frequency, sound media advance, we are developing are assessed with psychological evaluations that ask listeners new evaluation techniques New evaluation index of the to describe impressions in words such as "bright" or that take into consideration emotional effect of sound "powerful." While psychological evaluations using such terms psychological effects as well are good for categorizing sounds with similar characteristics, as the physical characteristics of sound. they do not necessary gauge the quality of the sound, because individual subjects can evaluate sounds with Power Saving Technology for Super Hi- completely different characteristics as good. As a first step Vision Plasma Displays toward compiling an evaluation index for "good" sound, we This exhibit included an ultrahigh-definition PDP with a used questionnaires and conducted a psychological 0.3-mm pixel pitch, which is the finest pitch ever achieved. experiment on keywords that people tend to use to express The unit is capable of presenting moving pictures. The positive emotional impressions, or "kandou" in Japanese. We exhibit also showed how power consumption could be regard such words to be ones describing the various reduced by increasing the panel's luminous efficiency. requirements for a sound to be perceived as "good." We are progressing with research on advanced sound media that can meet the needs of a diverse group of listeners.

Wide Dynamic Range Projector with 33-million-pixel Panel 7-inch-diagonal ultrahigh- Assembly process One of our research definition PDP improvements goals is to create a projector capable of Satellite Broadcasting in the 21-GHz Band displaying Super Hi- We are progressing with R&D on Vision video. This year, how to deliver Super Hi-Vision we succeeded in The projector can broadcasting channels to homes. fabricating a projector reproduce a very dark black The 21-GHz band will allow that can display full- wideband channel engineering for Feed array model resolution SHV video satellite broadcasting. To use this (7680 4320 pixels) for band, we are developing a phased the first time. This video array antenna that radiates projector has high intensified radio-waves to reception resolution and an areas where signals suffer from 21-element feed array with extremely wide dynamic detection device Projector significant rain attenuation. range.

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 9 Useful and Universal Services

AdapTV: A Context-aware Broadcasting Service AdapTV will be used in a broadcasting service that adapts to the preferences and viewing environment of individual users by converting broadcasting content at the receiver side into the desired form of display.

Data broadcast display that Digest news is generated Trimming content to fit the viewing adapts to the reception according to the user's terminal characteristics preferences

Secure Broadcasting for Content Distribution via Communications CurioView: A New Viewing Style Utilizing This exhibition featured security technology for Information Retrieval convenient, yet secure video-on-demand service, in which a broadcaster delivers programs directly to CurioView automatically retrieves information and viewers, and peer-to-peer service, in which programs scenes from a program in accordance with the viewer's are exchanged among receivers without the interests. The user retrieves video by using CurioView's involvement of broadcasters. simple remote control instead of a more complicated PC operation.

Video-on-demand application

CurioView automatically retrieves and recommends related programs and information by referring to metadata accompanying content.

Peer-to-peer service application

TV4U (TV for You) Research continues on the TV4U system that will allow anyone to produce and upload TV programs to the Web. This year's open house explained TV4U features that enable multiple users to collaborate in producing and viewing programs, including ones for introducing other people's programs and commenting on programs that others have produced. Inter-program hyperlink technology was introduced

10 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Advanced Receiver Platform for Interactive Services In Development STRL is examining a new data broadcasting scheme and receiver platform that will enable devices Akitsugu Baba, Broadcasting Systems connected to a home network to work together to display data broadcast programs. This system elecommunications technology is beginning to be used to link home information appliances into a home is intended for interactive data New Java data T broadcasting of the advanced broadcast receiver network. The addition of a data broadcasting receiver to digital satellite broadcasting such appliances will enable unconventional services and new system. forms of program presentation. We are studying a digital broadcasting platform that can work together with other home devices. We are also studying a data broadcasting scheme based on Java data broadcasts: Java that "executes" a data broadcast program on a receiver. Our goal is to use the advanced digital satellite broadcasting that is scheduled to begin sometime after 2011 to provide a wide range of data Working with the game broadcasting applications through a home network system. controller of a home Multi-view data broadcast network

New Closed-captioning System Using Speech Recognition Interactive Tactile Display We improved the speech recognition accuracy of live The interactive tactile display closed captioning by incorporating measured variations incorporates a touch-panel to between individual speakers and between different acoustic enable users with visual environments. We constructed a closed-caption production impairments to benefit from data system for news programs that needs only one or two broadcasting and operate an operators. Internet graphical user interface (GUI). Users can get a "grasp" of visual data such as diagrams and Screenshot converted for charts. tactile presentation

Closed-caption production in which operators restate speech and correct errors.

New tactile display Flexible Displays Braille display system Research continues on lightweight flexible displays that can be rolled up for easy In Development transport. Our latest active- driving display based on an organic TFT array can show Yoshihide Fujisaki, color moving pictures. Material Science & Advanced Devices Flexible organic TFT-driven organic EL display hin, lightweight flexible displays will enable viewers to Twatch video anytime, anywhere. Such displays will require a thin-film transistor (TFT) material that is flexible enough to be bent over a thin plastic substrate. The flexible structure and low-temperature manufacturability of organic TFT make this material compatible with flexible displays. High picture quality can be achieved by developing organic TFTs with larger pixel counts on a plastic substrate and driving technologies for them. Flexible organic TFT-driven Polycrystal silicon TFT-driven liquid crystal film display liquid crystal film display

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 11 Environment for Producing Advanced Content

Advanced Studio Production Technology The exhibited systems included a collaborative robot shooting system, in which multiple robot cameras work together to follow the movements of studio cast members or CG, and a real-time video composition technology that can accurately compose actual shots and CGs without the need for a studio set of a particular color.

Video composition using an IR Demonstration Linked robots shoot collaboratively matte that imposes no color restrictions on a subject.

TV Camera Equipped with Millimeter-wave Signal New File System for Transmitter Transferring Program Files A TV camera equipped with a millimeter-wave signal transmitter can be Hard disk storage is rapidly replacing used in more diverse camerawork than would be possible with normal tape, and we are working on a tapeless cameras whose movement is restricted by signal cables. The exhibit program production system that presented technologies for size reduction of the camera that improve its handles programs as video and audio mobility and technologies to prevent signal interruptions. files. The system will incorporate a means of high-speed file replacement that rewrites only the edited part of a file to enable production staff to edit "footage" immediately before broadcast.

Receiver selection system

Much shorter file replacement time Freer camerawork

Millimeter-wave TV Camera Radio waves can pass through fog and smoke. We exploited this characteristic to make a TV camera that can capture images of subjects obscured by fog or smoke. The camera transmits millimeter waves toward the subject and receives the reflected waves that reach its antennas. The camera's frame rate is four times higher than last year's model.

Captured image Shooting a subject in fog

12 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Thin Optical Disk Our goal is to develop advanced recording media In Development for archiving that is suitable for next generation video system. Currently, we are studying a thin, flexible optical disk with high-speed rotation and recording Daiichi Koide, Materials Science and Advanced Devices capability. To speed up recording and lower the error rate, we increased the recording sensitivity and planar uniformity of the disk and improved the esearch is progressing on a "thin optical disk" to replace optical beam control algorithm. Rmagnetic tape as a program storage medium at broadcasting stations. The risk of damaging conventional optical disks during high-speed rotation makes it difficult to achieve a high enough bit rate for recording. We developed Demonstration of HDTV a thin optical disk with a paper-thin substrate that can rotate video recording and reproduction at 100 Mbps at up to 15,000 rpm and an accurate optical head positioning mechanism. The new medium has a recording and reproduction capability equivalent to that of HDTV VCRs currently used in broadcasting stations. It will allow archiving of the NHK's priceless store of program data, totaling over 600,000 rolls. This thin optical disk could also be developed as a Super Hi-Vision recording medium.

Operation at a rate of 250 Mbps that is equivalent to professional HDTV VCR used for broadcasting.

High-sensitivity Color Camera Operating at 1,000,000 fps This high-sensitivity camera has a maximum speed of one million frames per second. It can capture images of fast-moving phenomena that cannot be perceived with the naked eye or ordinary cameras. This year, we doubled the recording time of our previous prototype.

Video capturing the moment that a water balloon bursts Ultra-slow motion video

Multi-view HDTV System The multi-view HDTV system generates impressive video effects for sports scenes and other applications by seamlessly switching between HDTV cameras placed at various viewing points.

Smooth image switching by image processing to match the directions and angles of view of cameras

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 13 Multi-joint Manipulator Equipped with Extremely Small HD Camera Sometimes shots have to be made in narrow or confined spaces. We fabricated a multi-joint manipulator mounting an HDTV video camera that can maintain its position when pointed in any direction. The manipulator and camera can fit in places too small for an ordinary camera to fit.

Image demonstration of shooting in a den, Operating terminal (right) and shot image (left)

New Camera Stabilizer We exhibited a compact shoulder-held camera stabilizer. To reduce wobble, this device uses a sensor to detect camera vibration and activates an actuator in the opposite direction to the vibration.

The stabilizing effect is in the roll and pitch directions.

14 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Utilization and Deployment of Broadcasting Technology

Ultrahigh-sensitivity HARP Camera Watermarking that Survives after The ultrahigh-sensitivity HARP camera can capture vivid images Re-shooting a Screen even in faint light. This ability makes the camera ideal for nighttime This digital watermarking technology allows emergency reporting and shooting certain topics in science programs. electronically embedded information to be The camera is also being used in various fields besides broadcasting, detected even from images taken by shooting a TV such as deep-sea exploration, biological research, and medicine. or movie screen with a video camera.

Re-shot image detected with embedded data

Comparison of HARP camera with CCD camera

HARP film and HARP camera tube

Patents and Technical Know-how of NHK NHK Engineering Services, Inc. is working to return the results of NHK's R&D to society by licensing NHK's patented technology and devices.

Broadcasting Museum Digital Broadcasting Information Corner Television research at NHK began in 1930, the year This special section explained methods for receiving when STRL was founded. This section of the open house digital broadcasting in individual homes and apartment focused on STRL's first decade. It featured equipment buildings. It also had a digital receiver operation guide from the Broadcasting Museum and the history of TV and an explanation of data broadcasting/interactive research and development at STRL. services. We also outlined our efforts to enhance safety information broadcasting during a major disaster.

Broadcasting equipment of STRL

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 15 Poster Exhibit

This was our second poster exhibit to be held at an open house. The exhibit gave researchers a chance to present in- In Development depth information about their research and answer the question of visitors. Ken-ichi Aoshima, Materials Science & Advanced Devices

uper Hi-Vision (SHV) and 3D video require high-speed Srecording devices with ultra-large capacities to store massive amounts of data. One potential technology is a holographic recording medium that can record data even in the depth direction. Its parallel data handling capability is also advantageous for high-speed recording. However, the realization of such technology will necessitate an input device, an ultrahigh-definition high-speed spatial optical modulator. We are developing an optical modulation device for a new driving scheme. This device controls the magnetization orientation by injecting an electric current with a uniform electron spin into a magnetic body (spin- injection magnetization reversal) and by exploiting a phenomenon in which the polarization surface changes when light hits the magnetic body (a magneto-optical effect). This new scheme has significantly better definition and speed compared with the conventional one. Our research on this technology is advancing toward the realization of an ultrahigh-definition, high-speed spatial optical modulator.

New Director General

On 16 June, NHK appointed Dr. Keiichi Kubota to Director General of Science and Technical Research Laboratories. Kubota joined NHK in 1976. Since 1980, he had been with the Science and Technical Research Laboratories, working in the areas of satellite and terrestrial transmission systems of HDTV, signal processing for HDTV, and subjective assessment of HDTV picture quality. After 1989, he was consecutively Keiichi Kubota in charge of the posts such as Senior Scientist at NHK's New York Office, Senior Research Scientist of STRL, Senior Associate Director of Planning Division of Engineering Administration Department, Director of Planning and Coordination Division of STRL, Deputy Director of STRL, Engineering Controller of Engineering Administration Department, Director-General of Corporate Planning Bureau of NHK. He has been a SMPTE fellow since 1993, and an IEEE fellow since 2008.

16 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Overview of NHK STRL Since its establishment in 1930, the NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories (STRL) has promoted research and development related to the advancement of the entire field of broadcasting technology, including research on Hi-Vision (HDTV), satellite broadcasting, flat-screen TVs, and digital broadcasting. In the rapidly changing environment surrounding broadcasting and because of the ever-diversifying demands of our viewers, we must consider the form that broadcasting technology should take. In this new era, our goal is the realization "human-centered" broadcasting systems, which emphasize the concerns and interests of their users, i.e., viewers and producers. As a research institution of NHK, the sole public broadcaster in Japan, we are determined to put the utmost effort into constructing new broadcasting technologies for a new era. Besides our efforts to create a new broadcasting culture, we will also help to fulfill NHK's missions to improve our viewer's welfare and to protect their lives and assets in times of emergency.

Research Activities Ultimate broadcasting systems conveying a strong sensation of reality to the viewer Ultrahigh-definition TV broadcasting will convey a stronger sensation of reality than can be conveyed with Hi-Vision. The research on Ultrahigh-definition TV includes studies on the psychology of viewing images on a large screen and with a wide field of vision, high-presence audio systems, encoding methods, and transmission systems. The research on super high-resolution imaging/display devices, extra-large storage devices, and electroacoustic transducers is already well advanced. A new type of 3D TV system using electro-holography that can reproduce three-dimensional information on a subject is also being researched. Advanced content production and agile news-reporting systems Contents production technology that enables the use of equipment and content distributed on a network would give producers greater expressive powers. The technology to support new expression and production techniques will incorporate the knowledge, skills, and sensibilities of content production specialists. Moreover, such as broadcasting system where the various equipment and the program materials are connected by a network would improve the mobility, swiftness, and precision of field reports. Ubiquities universal services Ubiquitous technology will enable broadcasting transmitted by various means, e.g., transmission via communication networks. Viewers will be able to receive services anytime and anywhere and their receivers will act as information lifelines during disasters. A universal broadcasting service that everyone can easily use regardless of handicap, age, language, or region is also being developed, along with security technology to protect privacy and contents and a service that adapts to the viewer's intention and situation.

ORGANIZATION RESEARCH FACILITY

NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories TRL occupies the first five floors and basement of the NHK facility in Planning & General Affairs SKinuta, Tokyo. The facility has a variety of special experimental Planning and management of research work, public relations, laboratories, including an experimental studio, ISDB laboratory, acoustic- and international/domestic correspondence on research anechoic room, and device foundation laboratory. issues. General affairs, human-resource management, accounting, and facilities management. Patents R Patent rights management and technology transfer of NHK's R&D results. Broadcasting Systems building-A 14F Communications Training Institute Advanced networked broadcasting systems technologies, 13F (9F-14F) digital terrestrial broadcasting technologies, wireless 12F 11F technologies based on millimeter-wave broadcasting and building-C 10F satellite broadcasting systems, collaborative ubiquitous 9F Dining Hall(7F) service technologies for broadcasting and communications. 8F 7F Human & Information Science building-B STRL(B2F-5F) Media and information processing technology based on 6F human science for audio-visual systems conveying a strong 5F sensation of reality, advanced content production systems, 4F Entrance(1F) 3F Parking(B1F) and human-friendly universal services. 2F Materials Science & Advanced Devices 1F Broadcasting-related device technologies for imaging, display, B1F and recording. Materials science for advanced devices.

18 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL About us

Ultimate Broadcasting System Conveying a Strong Sensation Ultrahigh-definition TV The realization of hyper-reality in the form of a broadcasting system would enable viewers to feel as though they were actually at the location shown in the broadcast and would give them the perception that the objects they are viewing are right in front of them. With the aim of realizing such a broadcasting system, we are studying the Ultrahigh-definition TV system called "Super Hi-Vision" (SHV), which has 4,000 scanning lines and 22.2 multichannel surround sound. To make it feasible to broadcast SHV programming to homes, we are also pursuing research on encoding technologies to compress SHV signals, and satellite broadcasting technologies that use the 21-GHz band.

Integral 3D Television The dream of a three-dimensional television is to present the ultimate sensation of presence. Research is underway on an integral 3D television system that is capable of shooting images in real-time and displaying natural autostereoscopic images that can be viewed without special glasses. Advanced Content Production and Agile News-reporting Agile News-reporting Relay Technology This agile HDTV wireless transmission system will be based on a wireless ad hoc Main route network. Such a system can make prompt program news gathering in emergencies feasible even where camera cables would be too difficult to lay or where a wireless camera would be out of the line-of-sight of its receiving antenna. Ultrahigh-speed High-sensitivity Camera We are making advances on camera systems Supplemental that can capture clear images of high-speed route phenomena that cannot be perceived with the naked eye or ordinary cameras. Our latest ultrahigh-speed, high-sensitivity CCD and its camera system has a maximum shooting speed capability of one million frames per second. Virtual Studio Research continues on a virtual studio technology that realizes more natural video composition and shooting of video footage that would otherwise be impossible to shoot. Ongoing research in this area includes a method using a simple device to detect camera location data required for combining computer graphics (CGs) images with actual camera images. We have also developed a system that can present images to program cast members in a form that cannot be captured by the camera. Video Retrieval We are researching technology to search massive amounts of video footage stored in video archives and large-capacity hard disk recorders. Our technology combines image recognition and natural language processing on closed-caption data attached to programs, and it enables a video segment that contains the search target to be promptly retrieved.

Ubiquitous and Universal Services Human-friendly Broadcasting To make broadcasting services enjoyable for everybody, including the elderly and those with visual/hearing impairments, we are working to develop human-friendly broadcasting services. AdapTV TV viewing circumstances have become more diverse. We are developing viewer-circumstance adaptive technologies (AdapTV) that adapt the presentation method to the viewing circumstances or preferences of the viewer. AdapTV adapts a single piece of programming to the individual viewer's display size, viewing location (indoors/outdoors), and preferences.

Flexible Displays We are trying to develop an ultra-thin flexible display device that can be rolled up for easy transport and viewed anywhere. Our research presently centers on flexible organic EL displays and flexible liquid crystal film displays, as well as research on organic TFTs that would be used for driving these displays.

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 19 Fifth Article Xenon Gas (Xe) - Research on a plasma display panel for Super Hi-Vision Yoshikuni HIRANO, Materials Science & Advanced Devices he Science & Technical Research Laboratories are researching ultrahigh-resolution plasma display panels (PDPs) with 0.3-mm square pixels. The goal is the construction of a display device for the TSuper Hi-Vision (SHV) system with 33 million pixels, i.e., 16 times the pixels of the current HDTV system. The pixels of the ultrahigh-resolution PDP are affected by microscopic phenomena that are insignificant for the conventional pixel size, but lead to various problems, such as larger power consumption, for screens with extremely small pixels. To solve these problems, we are devising performance guidelines that will be founded on research into the light emission phenomenon. Light emission principle of PDPs The light emission principle of a PDP is similar to that of a fluorescent light. The application of a voltage to discharge cell electrodes of the pixels produces an electrical discharge, leading to the emission of ultraviolet rays by the gas inside the cell (filler gas). When the emitted ultraviolet rays incident on the phosphors inside the discharge cell, the cell emit visible light (Figure). However, the small size of the PDP discharge cell and the first discharge control required for the video display make the phenomena occurring inside more complex than in a fluorescent light. Another difference is the filler gas used: mercury in fluorescent lights, xenon gas in PDPs. What is xenon gas? Xenon (Xe) is a member of the group of elements called noble gases. It has unique properties, as indicated by the etymology of the Greek word xenos (meaning "peculiar"), including the property of being somewhat resistant to colliding with electrons at a specific energy*. Other noble gases including helium (He) and neon (Ne) are also resistant to chemical reactions. Noble gases do not ordinarily corrode metal and they are used to inflate balloons and in neon signs. Among the noble gases, xenon has the highest luminous efficiency because of its ability to emit ultraviolet rays at a low energy. Hence, it has been widely used in PDP systems. Successful video display on ultrahigh-resolution PDP The smaller pixel size in an ultrahigh-resolution PDP makes it possible for the emission of ultraviolet rays by the xenon gas to be dissipated by various factors. We have found that a higher filler gas pressure alleviates this problem and leads to brighter emissions. A prototype system incorporating this technology in a small ultrahigh-resolution PDP was exhibited at the STRL Open House in 2005. The display was a step towards the realization of a PDP system for SHV (see picture). The current luminous efficiency of the PDP is only about 1%, whereas a xenon lamp using the same xenon gas is said to have a luminous efficiency of around 40%. Hence, we will continue to draw out the potential of xenon gas, with the goal of fabricating a home use SHV plasma display system with low power consumption. * A phenomenon called the Ramsauer effect, which is explained by quantum mechanics.

Electrodes Visible light

Discharge

Ultraviolet rays Phosphor

Picture: Video reproduced on a 6.5-inch Figure: PDP's discharge cell structure and light emission principle diagonal ultrahigh-resolution PDP with 0.3- (One pixel consists of three discharge cells of red, green, and blue) mm pixel pitch

20 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL Challenge

Sixth Article Magnetic Garnet

Masahiko KISHIDA, Materials Science & Advanced Devices

large volumes of NHK's content are stored on magnetic tapes. To ensure effective use of these contents in the future, we are working on a way to reproduce the magnetic tape data at high- Aspeed by using laser beams. "Magnetic transfer film is the key device in this research, and magnetic garnet is suited for the film. What Is Magnetic Garnet? The Faraday effect is a magnet-optic effect in which the plane of polarization rotates as linearly polarized laser beam propagates through a material with magnetization in a uniform direction. Using Magnetic garnet, a large Faraday effect can be derived. This material for example is used in a device that allows light to pass in only one direction (optical isolator). We are trying to use magnetic garnet for high-speed reproduction from magnetic tape. Magnetic Transfer Film By the Faraday effect, the direction of the polarization plane rotation changes with the magnetization direction. As shown in Figure 1, when a magnetic tape is run in close proximity to a magnetic transfer film the direction in which the magnetic garnet film is magnetized follows the direction of the magnetic flux from the magnetic tape. The plane of polarization of the reflected laser beam changes depending on the direction of the magnetic field. This enables data recorded on the magnetic tape to be detected by using laser beam. Magnetic garnet is easily magnetized by an external magnetic field; it simply requires contact with the magnetic tape to transfer the data pattern recorded on the tape. Figure 2 is a picture of transferred data pattern from magnetic tape to the magnetic garnet film, as observed with a polarization microscope. It clearly shows that the data recorded on the tape has been transferred to the film. Working toward High-speed Magnetic Tape Reproduction The above method will enable the simultaneous parallel data readout of approximately 500 data tracks in the tape width direction, and it allows much faster reproduction compared with conventional data readout methods. To realize high-speed data reproduction, we will develop higher-performance magnetic garnet film. It will also be necessary to develop the procedure to run magnetic tape closely contact with the magnetic transfer film.

Laser beam Polarization plane

Magnet transfer film (Magnet garnet)

S S N NSS NNSS NN Tape direction Magnetic tape Figure 2 Magnetic transfer film observed with a polarization microscope (transferred Figure 1 Magnetic tape reproduction using magnetic transfer film and data pattern from magnetic tape) laser beam

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 21 Silicon Microphone High-performance microphone that can be used anywhere

microphone is a device that Silicon microphone structure converts sound into an The central part of the silicon Aelectrical signal. microphone (microphone element) Broadcasting stations employ high- consists of a thin diaphragm (2 m performance microphones that can to 3 m thick), facing a backplate pick up sounds ranging from faint with a small gap between them to loud, without any sound (Figure 1). Movement of the distortion. However, the precision- diaphragm by sound pressure Yoshinori IGUCHI, made structure of conventional changes the capacitance between Principal Research Engineer, Materials Science & Advanced Devices microphones constructed of plastic the diaphragm and the backplate. and metal parts makes them The operating voltage (42V for sensitive to heat, moisture, and broadcasting use) is applied physical shock. For this reason, we between the backplate and in a hot, humid tropical rainforest. are working on a high-performance diaphragm, and the output voltage microphone that can be employed changes as a result of the change in Future development in any environment. In particular, capacitance. We will try to reduce the our research involves a silicon microphone's operating voltage to microphone fabricated through Characteristics and applications enable it to be used in applications semiconductor technology. The The entire body of the beyond broadcasting. A thin, silicon microphones constructed in microphone is formed from single easily-vibrating diaphragm will be the past for broadcasting can be crystalline silicon, which has an indispensable for this purpose, and operated in severe environments extremely high tensile strength; the we are developing a higher with high temperatures, high device is durable and highly accuracy microphone element humidity, acidity, etc., and via resistant to heat and moisture, and fabrication technology. We are also broadcasting, they have helped to it has superior acoustic looking into everyday applications open our ears to the diverse world characteristics. It has proved to be for silicon microphones. These of sound. a powerful tool that can operate applications include microphones under harsh conditions where in cars, whose interiors get very conventional microphones could hot on sunny days, outdoor not be used at their full capacity. surveillance equipment that is For instance, the microphone can exposed to the rain, and hearing pick up sound very close to a aids, which must be very small and cooking pot (Figure 2) or sounds operate reliably. made by a hummingbird in flight

Sound Operating voltage

Diaphragm Extremely close-range sound pickup Silicon microphone

Sound output Backplate (electric signal) Microphone element (silicon) Figure 2 Using the microphone in Figure 1 Silicon microphone structure and principle broadcasting.

22 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL TVML/TV4U A Wide variety of applications

imply write sentences on a word processor to create a TV program: such easy operability has become a driving force behind the TV program Making Language (TVML) and TV for You S(TV4U), both developed by the Science & Technical Research Laboratories. TVML is a text-based language that can describe an entire TV program. A TVML script written on a word processor can be run on the "TV Player" PC software to instantly create a "TV program" in which CG cast members speak in computer-generated voices in a CG studio set filled with CG props. TVML is packed with professional program production know-how, and it allows a user to write a TVML script using simple expressions. For instance to make cast member CastA say "Hello", one simply writes (character:talk(name=CastA, text="Hello")) or for it to look at the camera, one simply writes (character:look(name=CastA, what=Acam). Typing (sound:play(name=bgm1)) starts the background music. TV4U based on TVML enables the user to produce, post, distribute, and view video content on the Internet. While TVML is a simple language description method for TV program production, we have also constructed a tool to help make writing TVML scripts even easier. With the use of "TV Creator" and "TVML Player Mini," a user can produce video content with a variety of directorial effects, by simply selecting the desired effect for a studio set or cast member from pre-registered templates and then entering the dialogue and materials to be used. TVML has been employed in research at various universities and institutions. The "TV Creator" and "TVML Player Mini" production tools have also been used in education (from elementary to college level classes), as well as for video instruction at hospitals, video clip production for homepage use, and for explaining exhibits. The "TVML Player" was employed for TVML-based real-time video production in a segment of the educational broadcast program "Shaki-n," where the cast interacted with a CG character in a studio (broadcast from May 14 to May 18 and from July 30 to August 3). The TV4U system was presented at CEATEC (October 2 through October 6). Both TVML Player and TVML Player Mini are available for download at the STRL homepage (http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/tvml/).

Figure 1: TVML Player Mini (used in IT courses Figure 2 Video clip generation for homepage use in schools) (http://www.nhk.or.jp/school/net/) Figure 3 Employed in the educational broadcast program "Shaki-n" (Program cast interacts with a CG character displayed on a monitor)

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 17 An Ultrahigh-Speed, High-Sensitivity, Portable CCD Color Camera

SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal, vol.117, no.2, 2008, p.48-53 K. Kitamura, T. Arai, J. Yonai, T. Hayashida, T. Kurita, K. Tanioka, H. Maruyama, Y. Mita, J. Namiki, T. Yanagi, T. Yoshida, Harry van Kuijk, Jan T. Bosiers, and T. Goji Etoh

ecent advances in the ability of cameras to capture fast-moving phenomena that cannot be seen clearly with the naked eye, and to represent these in slow-motion video, have attracted interest not only for scientific Rapplications but also for broadcast applications. Many conventional high-speed cameras incorporate a CMOS imaging device, which can read out signal charges at high speeds by using an X-Y matrix switching scheme. However, there are limitations with CMOS imaging devices. These devices require very intense lighting to obtain video with a good signal-noise (S/N) ratio during high-speed shooting with a short exposure time. This requirement makes it difficult to shoot high-speed images for relay broadcast of nighttime sports events at facilities with inadequate on-site lighting. This paper discusses the development of the first ever ultrahigh-speed high- sensitivity CCD with 300,000 pixels - four fold increase over the previous version, as well as the development of a single-chip portable color camera mounted with this CCD. This camera is capable of ultrahigh-speed video recording at up to 1,000,000 frames/sec, with about ten times the sensitivity of standard high-speed cameras. It has enabled an entirely new style of presentation for sports broadcasts and science programs.

A YC-separation-type projector: High dynamic range with double modulation

Journal of the SID 16/2, 2008, pp. 383-391 Y. Kusakabe, M. Kanazawa, Y. Nojiri, M. Furuya, and M. Yoshimura

n experimental projector that features double modulation to obtain high-resolution (4096 2160 pixels) and high-dynamic-range images has been developed. Although a conventional projector contains three Amodulators for red, green, and blue and outputs light after combining the modulated light from these three sources, our projector has an additional modulator for luminance that modulates the combined RGB modulated light. It can display high-resolution color images by combining three low-resolution panels for chrominance modulation and one high-resolution panel for luminance modulation. In addition, the dynamic range is dramatically improved because the double-modulation scheme minimizes black levels in projected images. The projector demonstrates an extremely high dynamic range of 1.1 million to 1 and 10-bit tone reproduction.

Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL 23 We are distributing various types of information through the Internet. Shown here are just some examples. Please feel free to access them and send us your opinions.

STRL Bulletin

ARIB Verification Experiment for Advanced Digital Satellite Combined Issue Broadcasting Spring - Summer Since April 2007, the Association of 2008 no. Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) has 34 been examining new types of broadcasting systems for broadcasting satellite channels that will become NHK Science & available after analog broadcasting ends Technical Research in 2011 (BS channels 5, 7, and 11, and Laboratories Bulletin new BS channels 17, 19, 21, and 23). band over a satellite transponder NHK is actively contributing to these simulator were also carried out and deliberations. presented to the people concerned to Verification experiments to confirm the standardizing and the researchers working functions and performance of ARIB's on Super Hi-Vision (SHV) transmission, provisional system were conducted at the four HD-program transmission, and linear NHK STRL compound and the NHK PCM (pulse code modulated) sound Broadcasting Center from November transmission based on 5.1ch sound 2007 to February 2008. These (Picture). experiments included laboratory The experiments approximately verified © NHK Science & Technical experiments to transmit data via a satellite the anticipated performance; a report on Research Laboratories transponder simulator, and satellite the experiments along with a description transmission experiments using a of the deliberations will be sent to the Address: 1-10-11, Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Telecommunications Council, which is an transponder aboard the BSAT-3a 157-8510, Japan broadcasting satellite (Broadcasting advisory organization of the Minister of Satellite System Corporation). In both of Internal Affairs and Communications Phone: +81(0)3-5494-1125 the experiments, NHK's prototype (MIC). The council will draw up their own Fax : +81(0)3-5494-3125 transmission/reception systems were used. report and send it to MIC as partial report http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/ One of the main objectives was to with regard to the "technical conditions measure the bit error rate corresponding for advanced digital satellite to CNRs(Carrier to Noise ratios) in broadcasting," in response to Inquiry No. presence of the transponder. 2023, "Technical Requirements for Editors Demonstrations using one channel of the Broadcasting Systems" (September 2006). Keiichi KUBOTA, publisher, Director-General Hideki SUGANAMI, editor-in-chief Nobuyuki HIRUMA, editor Yosuke ENDO, editor Hiroyuki OOKUBO, editor NHK is Japan's public broadcaster, and its activities are supported by reception Hiroki FUJII, editor fees collected from its viewers. The research and development conducted by the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories are supported by these receiving Layout & Design : fees, and because of this, we, the researchers at STRL, believe that we must make Yohko OHTA, Masami OHNISHI, our research activities understandable to the public. The NHK STRL Open House, DTP : Media-jin, Inc. reported in this issue of Broadcasting Technology, is one of the most important opportunities to explain our work and achievements to the people. This year, we welcomed more than 21000 guests to the event. We hope our guests became more familiar with STRL and its work through the experience they had at the Open house.

STRL

24 Broadcast Technology No.34, Spring-Summer 2008 C NHK STRL