SECAM System

The SECAM system was developed in France. the SECAM system is sequential a memoire, i.e., only one of the two colour difference signals is transmitted at a time. The subcarrier is frequency modulated by the colour difference signals before transmission. The magnitude of frequency deviation represents saturation of the colour and rate of deviation its fineness. If the red difference signal is transmitted on one line then the blue difference signal is transmitted on the following line. This sequence is repeated for the remaining lines of the raster. At the receiver an ultrasonic delay line of 64 s is used as a one line memory device to produce decoded output of both the colour difference signals simultaneously. The determination of proper sequence of colour lines in each field is accomplished by identification (Ident) pulses which are generated and transmitted during vertical blanking intervals. The Y signal is obtained from the camera outputs in the same way as in the NTSC and PAL systems. However, different weighting factors are used and the weighted colour difference signals are termed DR and DB where DR = -1.9 (R Y) and DB = 1.5 (B Y). The colour difference signals are bandwidth limited to 1.5 MHz. The SECAM chrominance signals are pre-emphasised before they are transmitted. After modulating the carrier with the pre-emphasised and weighted colour difference signals (DR and DB), another form of pre-emphasis is carried out on the signals. This takes the form of increasing the amplitude of the subcarrier as its deviation increases. Such a pre-emphasis is called highfrequency pre-emphasis. It further improves signal to noise ratio and interference is very much reduced. The switching of DR and DB signals line-by-line takes place during the line sync pulse period. The sequence of switching continues without interruption from one field to the next and is maintained through the field blanking interval. However, it is necessary for the receiver to be able to deduce as to which line is being transmitted. Such an identification of the proper sequence of colour lines in each field in accomplished by identification pulses that are generated during vertical blanking periods.

SECAM Coder
The colour camera signals are fed into a matrix where they are combined to form the luminance (Y = 0.3R + 0.59G + 0.11B) and colour-difference signals. The SECAM weighting and sign factors are applied to the colour-difference signals so that the same subcarrier modulator can be used for both the chrominance ( DR and DB) signals. The Ident signal is also added in the same matrix. An electronic switch which changes its mode during every line blanking interval directs DR and DB signals to the frequency modulator in a sequential manner, i.e., when DR is being transmitted on the line, then DB is not used and vice versa. The output from the electronic switch passes through a low-pass filter which limits the bandwidth to 1.5 MHz. The bandwidth limited signals are pre-emphasized and then used to frequency modulate the subcarrier. The modulator output passes through a high frequency pre-emphasis filter having a bell-shaped response before being added to the Y signal. The sync and blanking pulses are also fed to the same adder. The adder output yields composite chrominance signal which is passed on to the main transmitter.

SECAM Decoder
The chroma signal is first filtered from the composite colour signal. The bandpass filter, besides rejecting unwanted low frequency luminance components, has inverse characteristics to that of the bell-shaped high frequency pre-emphasis filter used in the coder. The output from the bandpass filter is amplified and fed to the electronic line-by-line switch

via two parallel paths. The 64 s delay lines ensures that each transmitted signal is used twice, one on the line on which it is transmitted and a second time on the succeeding line of that field. The electronic switch ensures that DR signals, whether coming by the direct path or the delayed path, always go to the DR demodulator. Similarly DB signals are routed only to the DB demodulator. The electronic switch directs the frequency modulated signals to limiters and frequency discriminators. The discriminators have a wider bandwidth than that employed for detecting commercial FM sound broadcasts. After demodulation the colour difference signals are deemphasized with the same time constant as employed while pre-emphasing. As in other receivers the matrix networks combine the colour difference signals with the Y signal to give primary colour signals R, G and B which control the three electronic beams of the picture tube.

Delta-gun colour picture tube

The colour television picture tube screen is coated with three different phosphors, one for each of the chosen red, green and blue primaries. The three phosphors are physically separate from one another and each is energized by an electron beam of intensity that is proportional to the respective colour voltage reproduced in the television receiver. The object is to produce three coincident rasters. While seeing from a normal viewing distance the eye integrates the three colour information to convey the sensation of the hue at each part of the picture.

It employs three separate guns, one for each phosphor. The guns are equally spaced at 120 interval with respect to each other and tilted inwards in relation to the axis of the tube. They form an equilateral triangular configuration. The tube employs a screen where three colour phosphor dots are arranged in groups known as triads. Each phosphor dot corresponds to one of the three primary colours. The triads are repeated depending on the size of the picture tube. About one cm behind the tube screen is located a thin perforated metal sheet known as the shadow mask. The mask has one hole for every phosphor dot triad on the screen. The various holes are so oriented that electrons of the three beams on passing through any one hole will hit only the corresponding colour phosphor dots on the screen. The ratio of electrons passing through the holes to those reaching the shadow mask is only about 20 percent.

The overall colour seen is determined both by the intensity of each beam and the phosphors which are being bombarded. If only one beam is on and the remaining two are cut-off, dots of only one colour phosphor get excited. Thus the raster will be seen to have only one of the primary colours. When all the three guns are active simultaneously, lighter shades are produced on the screen. This is so because red, green and blue combine in some measure to form white, and this combines with whatever colours are present to desaturate them. Naturally, intensity of the colour produced depends on the intensity of beam currents. Black in a picture is just the absence of excitation when all the three beams are cut-off.

Purity
While deflecting the three beams by vertical and horizontal deflecting coils it is necessary to ensure that each beam produces a pure colour and all the three colour rasters fully overlap each other. For obtaining colour purity each beam should land at the centre of the corresponding phosphor dot irrespective of the location of the beams on the raster. This needs precise alignment of the colour beam and is carried out by a circular magnet assembly known as the purity magnet.

Degaussing
The main cause of poor purity is the susceptibility of the mask and its mounting frame to become magnetized by the earths magnetic field or by any other strong magnetic fields. The effect of these localized magnetic fields is the deviation of electron beams from their normal path. Thus the beams strike wrong phosphors causing poor purity especially at the edges of the screen. To prevent such effects the picture tubes are magnetically shielded. It is done by placing a thin silicon steel (mu metal) housing around the bell of the tube. Whenever the colour receiver is moved from the one location to another the stray field changes to affect purity. To overcome this drawback, some form of automatic degaussing is incorporated in all colour receivers. Degaussing means demagnetizing iron and steel parts of the picture tube mountings. A magnetic object can be demagnetized by placing it in an alternating magnetic field which becomes weaker over a period of time. This way the magnetized object is forced to assume the strength of the external degaussing field and becomes weaker and weaker as the degaussing field diminishes. A degaussing coil is used for this purpose. It is wrapped round the tube bowl close to the rim-band of the screen.