Television Systems Glossary of Television Terms
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SECTION 318-015-000 AT&TCo Standard Issue 3, January 1972 TELEVISION SYSTEMS GLOSSARY OF TELEVISION TERMS CONTENTS PAGE 2. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS Abrasions (Film): Unwanted slight marks on the 1. GENERAL surface of film. 2. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS A-Scope: A cathode-ray oscilloscope arranged to present a display such that time is one coordinate 3. QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCALE 23 and signals appear as deflections in a direction perpendicular to the time scale (also called waveform monitor). Aspect Ratio: The numerical ratio of picture width to height. 1. GENERAL Audio (Webster's International): Of or pertaining 1.01 This section furnishes a list of terms presently to electric current and phenomena of frequencies used in the lineup, operation, and maintenance corresponding to normally audible sound waves. of Television Transmission Systems. Also included These frequencies are approximately 16 to 20,000 is the American Standards Association scale used Hz. In television parlance, audio is used to denote in the measurement of video signal levels. the sound portion of a television signal or system. 1.02 This section is reissued to include new Audio Channel: A channel capable of satisfactorily terminology. Since this is a general revision, transmitting audio signals. As a television term, arrows ordinarily used to indicate changes have audio channel refers to a channel transmitting the been omitted. audio signals which are generally, but not necessarily, associated with video signals. 1.03 Experience in providing television service has proven the need for common understanding Average Picture Level (APLJ: The average level and use of terms by all the Telephone and Broadcasting of the picture signal during active scanning time Companies. The terms and definitions appearing integrated over a frame period and defined as a in this section were compiled through the mutual percentage of the range between blanking and efforts of the Telephone Company, the Canadian reference white. Standard Association (CSA), the Satellite Technical and Operational Committee-TV, and the following Babble: (See also Crosstalk.) Undesired and television networks: American Broadcasting Company, unintelligible signals inadvertently imposed on a Columbia Broadcasting System, and National desired audio signal. CSA defines babble as the Broadcasting Company. The contents of this glossary aggregate crosstalk from a large number of disturbing include those in general use by all broadcasters channels. and other network television users. Its use by all groups should facilitate reporting, describing, and Back Porch: That portion of the composite video locating television service impairments. signal which lies between the trailing edge of the horizontal sync pulse and the trailing edge of the 1.04 Because these terms are intended for practical corresponding blanking pulse (interval). (See Fig. 1.) use by operating personnel, they may differ somewhat in wording from published standards which are not as well suited for the intended Back Porch Tilt: The slope of the back porch purpose. from its normal horizontal position. Positive or @ American Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1972 Printed in U.S.A. Page 1 SECTION 318-015-000 negative refers respectively to upward or downward Blanking Level: That level of the composite tilt to the right. video signal which separates the range of levels containing picture information from the range of Banding: (See also Color Banding, Velocity levels containing synchronizing information. The Banding.) One or more groups of four bands, setup is regarded as part of the picture information generally 16 lines per band and spaced approximately (See Fig. 1.) 48 lines apart, in each reproduced field containing a different video level and/ or signal-to-noise ratio, Blanking Pulse (Interval): A signal used to cut as compared to the rest of the picture or to other off the electron beam and thus remove the spot groups of bands. This can only appear in a of light on the television picture tube or image television picture which originates from the playback tube. Also applies to a signal used to suppress of video tape recordings. Because of interlace, the picture signal at a given time for a required the band appears as 32 lines spaced 96 lines apart period. on a monitor. Blanking Signal: A specified series of blanking Bandwidth: The number of hertz expressing the pulses. difference between the limiting frequencies of a frequency band. For example, a 2.5- to 3.5-MHz Bleeding Whites: An overloading condition in band has a width of 1 MHz. which white areas appear to flow irregularly into black areas. Baseband: The band of frequencies occupied by the signal in a carrier wire or radio transmission Blooming: An increase in the size of the spot system before it modulates the carrier frequency on a picture monitor screen resulting in apparent to form the transmitted line or radio signal. defocusing in the highlights of the picture. Blooming may be due to halation of the fluorescent screen Bassy: A qualifying adjective to describe the or electrical effects on the electron beam or excessive sound resulting from audio having accentuated low picture signal level. Electrical effects on the frequencies. electron beam which cause blooming may cause a change in raster size. Blooming should not be Black Clipper: A piece of equipment or a circuit confused with a fault having similar appearance which does not transmit black peak below a certain but due to overexposure of an image orthicon. pre-set level of picture signal and at the same This image orthicon fault will be independent of time transmits all the remainder of the input signal monitor adjustments. without change. Boomy: Manifesting a form of distortion having Black Compression: (a) The compression of the a masked resonance occurring toward the lower steps toward the black end of a staircase waveform end of the audio frequency range and causing low or gray scale. (b) The reduction of contrast in pitched sounds to be accentuated and prolonged. the dark gray to black range of a television picture. Bounce: An unnatural sudden variation in the Black Level: Level of picture signal corresponding brightness of the picture. Sudden undesired to maximum limit of black peaks. (See Fig. 2.) changes in video levels as shown by a waveform monitor. Black Peak: The maximum excursion of the picture signal in the black direction at the time of observation. Breathing: Unnatural variation at a slow regular rate in the brightness of a television picture. Also, Blacker-than-Black: The amplitude region of slow regular undesired change in video level as the composite video signal below reference black shown by a waveform monitor. level in the direction of the synchronizing pulses. Blanking (Picture): The portion of the composite Breezeway: That portion of the back porch video signal whose instantaneous amplitude makes between the trailing edge of the sync pulse and the vertical and horizontal retrace invisible. the start of the color burst. Page 2 ISS 3, SECTION 318-015-000 Broadcaster: A company or individual legally Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT): An electron tube authorized to carry on broadcasting. In international assembly containing an electron gun arranged to parlance (CCI terminology), broadcaster is referred direct an electron beam upon a fluorescent screen. to as television authority. Scanning of the beam can produce light at all points in the scanned raster. Broadcasting: The dissemination of audio and video signals by means of hertzian waves intended CCIR: International Radio Consultative Committee. to be received by the public either directly or A branch of the International Telecommunications through the medium of relay stations. Union (ITU) consultative committee responsible for the study of questions and the formulation of BroadcastingAuthority-Receive: The broadcasting recommendations regarding radio communication authority at the receiving end of an international matters. sound program or television connecton. CCITT: International Telephone and Telegraph Broadcasting Authority-Send: The broadcasting Consultative Committee. A branch of the International authority at the sending end of an international Telecommunications Union (ITU) consultative sound program or television connection. committee responsible for the study of questions and the formulation of recommendations regarding Building Circuit: A channel located completely telephony and telegraphy communication matters. within one building. CEPT: European Conference of Postal and Burned-In Image: An image which persists in a Telecommunications Administrations. A European fixed position in the output signal of a camera tube organization of the Telecommunications Administration after the camera has been turned to a different of European States which are members of the scene. Universal Postal Union or International Telecommunications Union. The purpose of the Business Telephone: A telephone instrument organization is to establish closer relations between installed by a communications company at a designated member Administrations and to coordinate and location, connected to a local telephone exchange improve their· services. and having its own exchange number. Channel: A transmission circuit over which a Calendar Month: A period of consecutive days signal is conveyed from one point to another. (See falling within one of the twelve calendar divisions specific type of channel.) of a year. Chrominance Signal (Chroma): That portion of Note: Legally, a month is identified as above