H D C y b e r C a m
The Hybrid Complementary-Primary
progressive color filter system developed by
JVC employs a filter matrix overlaying the
CCD’s picture elements including two
complementary colors Yellow and Cyan (Ye
and Cy), one primary color Green (Gr), and
clear. Shifting one pixel at a time across the
CCD and combining these together in pairs
for brightness and blocks of four for color
delivers maximum resolution. This system’s
superior ability to sample both Y Luminance
and RGB Chroma information results in color
performance nearly identical to using three
CCDs, proving that it is possible to deliver
Hi-Def performance with a single CCD.
Aside from the number of Luminance and
RGB Chroma samples, the die-hard 3-CCD
enthusiast may wish to point out a higher
ratio of Chroma pixels to Luma pixels offered
by 3-CCD (1:1 vs 0.75:1). However, this
actually turns out to be a moot point since
4:2:0 DV or MPEG-2 encoding inevitably
reduces Chroma detail in the R–Y and B–Y
color difference components. Both record
just one sample each of color for every block
of 4 Luma samples. So instead of expending
resources on Chroma detail never used in
the recording process, JVC concentrated on
providing 3-CCD level performance with a
single CCD system tailor-made to provide all
the color sample and resolution requirements
of Hi-Def recording in MPEG-2 format.
Another remarkable aspect of this video
camera is that it records 60 minutes of HD
signals on conventional MiniDV cassette.
The benefits are obvious: MiniDV
cassettes, “the defacto standard”,
are widely available and affordable
compared to other formats used in
professional systems, and by using
a common cassette mechanism with
DV, it was possible for the GR-HD1 to
offer regular DV recording as well.
I B B P B B I
GOP=6
time
MPEG-2
In HDTV, high power MPEG
encoding eliminates redundant
information over time.
I : I Frame (Intra Coded Frame)
B : B Frame (Bi-directionally
Predictive Coded Frame)
P : P Frame (Predictive Frame)
Hi-Def MPEG-2 on MiniDV Cassette
This was made possible since the “Hi-Def
MPEG-2 on MiniDV” encoder and
decoder developed by JVC together with
NTT records Hi-Def Component MPEG2-
TS signals in the same track format as DV.
Digital MPEG-2 Hi-Def and SD Recording
While the picture is encoded one frame at a
time for DV, the time axis is encoded as well
for MPEG-2, conforming to the HD Digital
VCR Conference’s Part 7 (DVB) and Part 8
(ATV) standards. The GR-HD1 uses a GOP
(Group Of Pictures) of 6 for HD and 12 for SD,
with a frame order of IBBPBB. The “I frame” is
Subcode
Video
Audio
Tape low edge (Reference edge)
High-Speed Search Playback Possible
The “I frame” can be played back without
using any other frame and is recorded in
the appropriate variable-speed playback
area on the tape, allowing high-speed
search during playback.
All “TV line” standard measurements are relative to the diameter of a circle the same size as the
picture height. HDTV 16:9 Horizontal TV lines figures appear to be 75% of what the equivalent
4:3 Horizontal TV Lines would be if the measurement was relative to the whole picture width,
since the image is wider.
(For example, for the GR-HD1 HD mode would be around 1244 TV
lines per picture width, while the count would be about 933 TV lines per picture width for a 4:3
camera if both had 700 TV lines counting by standard horizontal resolution).
DV has a practical
recorded horizontal limit of 540 4:3 TV lines, 1280x720p HD has a practical recorded limit of 720
16:9 TV lines using the standard measurement method.
a complete frame without reference to any
past or future frames; the “P frame” is
encoded relative to the past reference frame;
and the “B frame” is encoded relative to the
past reference frame, future reference frame,
or both.
C (Chroma) information is generated by
combining blocks of four picture elements:
R = (W+Ye) – (G+Cy)
G = (G+Cy+Ye) – W
B = (W+Cy) – (G+Ye)
Y (Luminance) information is obtained from
pairs of picture elements:
Y
odd
= (W+G) = (R+2G+B)
Y
even
= (Cy+Ye) = ((G+B)+(R+G)) =
(R+2G+B)
performance renders 3-CCD unnecessary
*The difference between HDTV TV lines and regular TV lines.
1280x659 CCD(s)
CCD Elements
Luma Samples
RGB Chroma Samples
JVC Single CCD
843,520
843,520
843,520
Similar Three CCD
843,520
842,861
841,582
Sample Count Comparison between Single and Three CCD