The design of
low-cost one-chip TV systems


Introduction

This dissertation describes integrated circuit design techniques aimed primarily at cost reduction. After half a century of development quality is no longer the most important aspect in the creation of a new TV-IC. Cost down is the name of the game nowadays. The circuit techniques described in this book are not limited to use in a TV environment. They can be applied in any mixed-signal environment.
The first chapter gives a brief overview of the history of television, with tips for further reading. The second chapter is a generic description of an analogue broadcast TV systems. This chapter will help the reader understand how PAL, NTSC and SECAM TV systems basically work. These two chapters are well suited for non-experts who want to quickly understand the technology of television.

cover

Ph.D. thesis, fullcolour, 200 pages

Contents

very brief history of television
short introduction to TV systems
analogue long time-constant circuit
mixed-signal quadrature demodulator
ICCQ test method

Summary

This dissertation describes integrated circuit techniques for one-chip TV systems which focus on lowering the total cost of the application. After a short introduction to television systems, three different approaches to cost reduction are explored.

Chapter 1 gives a brief overview of the history of television, with tips for further reading.

Chapter 2 is a generic description of an analogue broadcast TV systems. This chapter will help the reader understand how PAL, NTSC and SECAM TV systems basically work.

Chapter 3 describes an integrator circuit with a low unity-gain bandwidth. This circuit is applied in a voltage controlled crystal oscillator to minimise the offset on the quadrature outputs. The integrator circuit can be regarded as an integrated alternative to a large external capacitor.

Chapter 4 describes a mixed-signal quadrature demodulator that performs as much as possible of the signal processing in the digital domain, without digitising the input signal. This demodulator is an example of a subsystem that has been designed to use the signals that are already present in the IC to such an extent, that this subsystem no longer needs its own external components.

Chapter 5 discusses a fast, generic test method for analogue VLSI circuits. This test method reduces the test time of an IC significantly with a only small number of additional components. The test method is non-invasive to the circuits under test. The additional components only monitor the supply current of the circuits, so they have no influence whatsoever on the operation of the IC.