'?

Mullard Technical
publication
M81-0001

LSlcircuits. for teletext and viewdata

THE LUCV' GENERATION

j.
LSI circuits for teletext and viewdata
THE LUCY GENERATION

MuUard Limited, Mullard House, Torrington Place, London WCIE 7HD

 r-

Introduction
This publication describes our range of LSI circuits
which has been designed for the reception, display, and
control of teletext and viewdata. The use of LSI tech-
nology offers the potential for dramatic savings in cost,
and it is this critical factor which has made possible the
development of teletext and viewdata as mass-market
public services.
Our family of teletext LSI chips has been used
throughout the world, with variants produced to meet
the particular needs of different countries. Designed to
cover the 'Level l' teletext system, the ICs are compatible
with the future levels being proposed. These will give
improved graphics, a wider range of languages, telesoft-
ware, and eventually static pictures inlaid into the text
display.
The benefits of LSI technology can be applied to
view data with our purpose-designed IC, the SAA5070.
This chip is also known as LUCY, an acronym derived
from the functions included on the IC. The LUCY chip
has been designed to meet two main objectives.
The first is to substantially reduce the price of view-
data receivers. This is achieved by integrating all the
necessary functions in the viewdata acquisition and
control area of a viewdata system, so that the chip count
is minimised. In addition, the LUCY-based system uses
teletext chips for display purposes, so that the need to
develop purpose-designed viewdata display ICs is avoided.
The second objective is to provide for the wide range
of terminal designs required by the diverse viewdata
market. To this end, the LUCY chip is designed as a
microprocessor peripheral, so that the particular require-
ments of the terminal can be built into the software of
the microprocessor. This gives great flexibility in the
design and styling of the terminal.
The LUCY chip represents a significant advance in
the development of vicwdata, and the major portion of
this publication is an application guide to this important
le. An economical view data decoder is described in
detail, and the chip description is as full as possible to
give the terminal designer the help he needs in utilising
the power of the LUCY chip to its fullest extent.

3
 transmitters receivers
r-r- A'- _ _ (~ A'-- \

16 stations
binary outputs to tuning selector

SAA5000A rv -----I 2-wire IBUS

infrared
32 commands link

four analogue
functions

local keypad 31 commands

rv -----I 3-wire IBUS

infrared
link
digital channel
selection-
16 stations four analogue
functions

local kcypad 31 commands

.------~ 16 stations
binary outputs to tuning selector

"'V -----I 3-wire IBUS

infrared
link serial and
parallel outputs,
ROM-programmed four analogue
local keypad L...----,J functions
SAB3021

64/12B commands local keypad 31 comma~n.:..:d:..:s

__ --I\.
3-wire CBUS

"'V -----I 3-wire IBUS

infrared
link

four analogue
functions

local keypad 31 commands

rv -----I 3-wire cBUS

Infrared
link
microcomputer-controlled systems,
direct decoding of command instructions MBO-004S/1

Fig.1 - Transmitter/receiver combinations

-
 Remote control

Teletext and viewdata systems provide a wide range of
display options, necessitating a relatively large number of
commands, so that remote control is an essential require-
ment. We have developed a number of different
approaches to remote control, and these are shown in
Fig.l . The choice of control system for a specific appli-
cation will depend on the number of commands required
and the characteristics of the tv receiver. To illustrate
the operating principles used, detailed descriptions are
given for the SAASOOOA/SAASOI2 and the SAB3021/
SAB3042 transmitter/receiver combinations.
SAASOOOA/SAAS012 REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM
The SAASOOOA/SAASO12 remote control is a powerful
yet economical system. It is based on time-ratio dis-
criminations, avoiding the need for accurate timing
components and providing a wide choice of data trans-
mission rates*. Protection against interference is provi-
ded by the following method of data encoding. When a
command is entered on the keypad, a short pseudo-
random sequence is transmitted, followed by a 24-bit
data stream. This comprises a 7 -bit start code and as-bit
message. This 12-bit sequence is then transmitted again,
but inverted; the receiver does not respond until all 24
bits have been received and checked. Transmission
lines used in teletext and viewdata. The clock and
enable line (DUM) normally carries a sequence of 14
clock pulses at a nominal 62 .S kHz rate when a command
has been received; however, this does not apply for the
analogue control commands. At the same time, the data
line (DATA) carries the command information in the
form of a S-bit binary word; two additional bits (b6 and
b7) carry mode information. Each data bit has a duration
of two clock periods.
Table 1 shows the SAASOOOA/SAASOI2 remote-
control system command table. The five message bits
give a maximum of 32 commands, but mode selection
(see Fig.2) means that more commands are available. To
avoid confusion, commonly used commands have the
same key in all modes.
DUM
(clock and enable)
J1.JlJUlJlJlJ1J Vmax =5V
Vmin = OV
1+--+--- 224!LS --t-I -+j

continues while the key remains depressed. tv

teletext -r-t---------11r- '--;-
l,
1
In addition to the direct control outputs for the I
viewdata -;--=-t--------ilj-:O~- M80-0045/2
circuits in the television receiver, IBUS outputs (see
Fig.l ) are provided for a simple 2-wire command data
highway. Fig.2 shows the signals on the 2-wire IBUS

Fig.2 - IBUS lines from the SAA5012 (directly suitable for

teletext ICs). The DATA line carries seven bits, five for the
*UK Patent Numbers 1487784 and 1575037 message (giving 32 commands) and two for mode selection

5
 TABLE 1 - Remote control commands of SAASOOOA family
-
b7 0 1 1
Code
b6 0 0 1
No.
bs b4 b3 b2 bl Television mode Teletext mode Viewdata mode

1 0 0 0 0 0 Reset (on) Reset (on) Reset (on)

2 0 0 0 0 1 Mute Mute Mute
3 0 0 0 1 0 Standby Standby Standby
4 0 0 0 1 1 TV/on TV/on TV/on
5 0 0 1 0 0 Status Status Status
6 0 0 1 0 1 - Hold Ring off
7 0 0 1 1 0 1* Reveal Reveal
8 0 0 1 1 1 Time Text cancel Picture display

9 0 1 0 0 0 Analogue 1+ Analogue 1+ Analogue 1+

10 0 1 0 0 1 Analogue 1- Analogue 1- Analogue I-
II 0 I 0 1 0 Analogue 2+ Analogue 2+ Analogue 2+
12 0 1 0 1 1 Analogue 2- Analogue 2- Analogue 2-
13 0 1 1 0 0 Analogue 3+ - (RA) Tape rec. (RA)
14 0 1 1 0 1 Analogue 3- - (RA) Tape play (RA)
15 0 1 1 1 0 Analogue 4+ Timed page off (RA) * (RA)
16 0 1 1 1 1 Analogue 4- Timed page on (RA) # (RA)

17 1 0 0 0 0 Station I (BBCI/on) Number 1 Number 1

18 1 0 0 0 1 Station 2 (ITV/on) Number 2 Number 2
19 1 0 0 1 0 Station 3 (BBC2/on) Number 3 Number 3
20 1 0 0 1 1 Station 4 (BBCI/on) Number 4 Number 4
21 1 0 1 0 0 Station 5 (ITV/on) Number 5 Number 5
22 1 0 1 0 1 Station 6 (VCR/on) Number 6 Number 6
23 1 0 1 I 0 Station 7 (BBCI/on) Number 7 Number 7
24 1 0 1 1 I Station 8 (ITV/on) Number 8 Number 8

25 1 1 0 0 0 Station 9 (BBC2/on) Number 9 Number 9

26 I 1 0 0 1 Station 10 (BBCl/on) Number 0 Number 0
27 I 1 0 1 0 Station 11 (ITV/on) Full page Full page
28 1 1 0 1 1 Station 12 (VCR/on) Top Top
29 1 1 1 0 0 - Bottom Bottom
30 1 1 1 0 1 Viewdata/on Viewdata/on Viewdata/on
31 1 1 I 1 0 Superimpose (mix) Superimpose (mix) Superimpose (mix)
32 I 1 1 1 1 Teletext/on Teletext/on Teletext/on

Note I: RA indicates that these commands revert to analogue controls whenever the tv video is displayed
Note 2: The button 1* (No.7) allows up to 16 channels to be selected. To obtain station 14, for instance, press I * followed by
station 4.

6
Transmitter
The SAASOOOAintegrated circuit forms the basis of the
transmitter section; see Fig.3. The IC is an improved
version of the SAASOOO,reducing battery consumption
in the remote keypad. The 32 commands which the IC
provides are activated by key-operated switches. An
automatic 'power-up' circuit ensures that negligible
battery current flows until a command key is pressed.
Peripheral components determine the transmitted
pulse width, which is chosen to provide the best com-
promise between transmission range and low battery
consumption. A pulse width of about S ps is typical. The
transmitter requires no adjustments and has no critical
components in the peripheral circuit.
Receiver
The infrared signal transmitted by the SAASOOOA is
detected by a photodiode and amplified by a small
discrete circuit before being fed directly to the SAASOI2;
see Fig.3. The SAAS012 decodes the data input and
checks it for error content. After decoding, the signals
are used to operate the control functions of the le.
Television analogue control outputs
The four analogue control outputs (volume, brightness,
contrast, saturation) provide a d.c. output voltage,
variable from 0 to 12 V over 62 levels. Different rates of
change of the analogue controls can be achieved by the
addition of a simple CR combination.
TV station-selector drive outputs
The SAAS012 has a 4-bit binary output which simplifies
the interface to tuners designed to operate on a 4-wire
binary input. Up to 16 channels can be selected.
Standby output
This output provides control for tv receiver power supply
switching (HIGH for on; LOW for standby). A lamp or
LED operated from the standby output will indicate
that the receiver is still connected to the mains supply
when it has been switched off by remote control.
Sound mute output
This control is provided to enable the television sound to
be muted. A further operation of the mute switch
restores the sound. This mute facility can be combined
with any of the four analogue functions.
Message-received output
A lamp or LED operated from this output indicates
when a correct command has been received. An audible
bleep may also be produced.
SAB3021/SAB3042 REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM
The SAB3021/SAB3042 remote control is used in the
more comprehensive of our Video Tuning Systems
(VTS); see FigA. Reference 1 gives a full description of
this range of microcomputer-controlled tuning and
control systems for television receivers. It should be
noted that the SAB3021 can be used with direct
command decoding at the receiver by a microcomputer
(for example the 8021), with the microcomputer also
generating suitable signals for teletext control. This
option provides a simple low-cost system, and is fully
described in Ref.l .
Transmitter
The SAB3021 is the transmitter IC of the VTS systems;
see Fig.S. If a command keypad with 64 keys and one
two-position switch is used, the SAB3021 can transmit
128 different command codes. It is therefore suitable for
controlling more than one system, for example radio,
television, hi-fi. As in the case of the SAASOOOA trans-
mitter, each command word is transmitted at least twice
and continues to be transmitted for as long as the key
remains pressed. The command word consists of the 6-bit
key code preceded by a start bit. The interval between
the transmitted pulses indicates the logic state of the
command word bits so that the word duration depends
on the code being transmitted. Each pulse of the
transmission shown in Fig.S consists of a burst of six
pulses lasting IS4 us, This allows selectivity to be used at
the receiver, thus preventing the blocking of commands
by background infrared radiation. The SAB3021 has two
MODE inputs which determine the mode of operation
(infrared or local) and the state of the start bit which
precedes each command word.
Preamplifier and receiver
The signal transmitted by the SAB3021 is detected by a
photodiode, and then amplified by the preamplifier,
integrated circuit TDB2033; see Fig.S. The synchronous
demodulator and a .g.c. circuits ensure rejection of
spurious signals, while the comparator provides a
constant output level for a wide range of input ampli-
tudes.
The SAB3042 is intended for use as a microcomputer
peripheral and, as such, it will augment the software
capability of a microcomputer in a remote control system.
The RSIG input of the SAB3042 (Fig.S) receives the
pulse-position modulated signal from the TDB2033.
When two consecutive identical command words have
been received, the command is checked for validity,
demodulated, and stored in the instruction register. IBUS
outputs for the control of teletext and viewdata, and a
3-wire asynchronous bidirectional computer bus for con-
nection to the VTS microcomputer, are provided. Inputs
7
 keypad +9V
output

SAA5000A

TIMING OUTPUT
OSCILLATOR
CHAIN STAGE

POWER
11 11
UP/DOWN CONTROLLER
CONTROL

ENCODER

I
KEYPAD
DECODER AND
SENSE
START CODE
GENERATOR infrared
link

keypad input l +12V

message
!!
oscillator
received
output
r:»:
components ~

~l-l- ---

POWER
OSCILLATOR f----+ RESET
AND VERIFIER ON GENERATOR
DIVIDER RESET

t !
~ 4- bit bi nary
CHANNEL
output t o
SELECTOR
tuner eo ntrol
DECODER

DATA

DLlM
--
--
I IBUS
CONTROL
!+-

L ON/
1
STANDBY
I STAND BY

1
ANALOGUE .1
MEMORIES MUTE MUTE
•
AND OUTPUT
CONTROL
I I
1-1-1-1
SAA5012
I
analogue outputs MBO-0045/3
o to 12V

Fig.3 - SAA5000A/SAA5012 transmitter/receiver combination

8
 TV RECEIVER
i. f.

UHFIVHF TUNER
station/channel
or time

Vosc Vtuning
---- -------- ------- -----1- - ---------- -------

SAB1018

PRESCALER
-;-256

~ a.f.c.
tuning
control
a.f.c.
SAB3034 . control

FREQUENCY AND ANALOGUE

control of
CONTROLLER
6 analogue
A and T functions

MICROCOMPUTER ~
(8048 FAMILY) ~

CBUS
computer
bus
I BUS to
teletext and / .•.•
1-. __ ---,
,. ".: NON-VOLATILE
viewdata,. via. ''\f~----, MEMORY
interface Circuit

"'-...7
SAB3042 SAA 1061
000 LED DISPLAY
000 "- DECODER INTERFACE
000
IDEC DIFA-LED
local

li
keypad

SAB3019

TIMER/CLOCK

t
•
infrared link

remote
keypad
SAB3021
000
f-- TRANSMITTER
000
000
MSO-0045/4

FigA - Comprehensive VTS system

9
 TV RECEIVER
i.f.

UHFIVHF TUNER
station/channel
or time

Vosc Vtuning
---- ----- --- ---- --- -----1- - -- ----- --- --- ----

SAB1018

PRESCALER
.;. 256

~ a.f.c.
tuning
control
a.f.c.
SAB 3034 . control

FREQUENCY AND ANALOGUE

control of
CONTROLLER
6 analogue
A and T functions

MICROCOMPUTER ~
(8048 FAMILY) ~

CBUS
computer
bus
IBUS to
teletext and /.11.1- _
,.' .r NON-VOLATI LE
viewdata,. via. ""f~-~ MEMORY
interface Cl rcu It

""'-7
SAB3042 SAA 1061
ODD LED DISPLAY
ODD - DECODER INTERFACE
ODD
IDEC DIFA-LED
local
keypad

SAB3019

TIMER/CLOCK
~

t
•
infrared link

remote
keypad
SAB3021
ODD
ODD - TRANSMITTER
ODD
M80-0045/4

Fig.4 - Comprehensive VTS system

9
 9V B A +9V
mode
+ inputs

ENCOOER REMO
OUTPUT ~I--- __ -I
OSCILLATOR &
MOOULATOR STAGE
4 MHz
SCANNER
&
COUNTER SAB3021

KEYPAO
SENSE
KEYPAO
ORIVE I
infrared Iink

start-
bit
I start-
bit
I I I 0 I I

ODD
~~--~+-~--+-~~-U~--
command
keypad ODD
ODD too t01 too t01 t01 too t01

!
too = 5.1 ms represents logical zero
to 1 = 7.2 ms represents logical one
+12V

H
r:-.
- OUTPUT r-+-
STAGE
SYNC
OEMOO <J<0«) '-Y
~

'--I- A.G.C.
COMPA- LlMITER
...-1- RATOR

r AMP

TOB2033

~O~ 4 rJlHz
OSC QRZ

SAB3042

OSCILLATOR
OEMOOULATOR f+ ANO CLCK
RSIG OIVIOER

IBUS to teletext and

>- viewdata, via
LOCA - f-+
INSTRUCTION
--
OATA
interface circuit.
10cal LOCB - -+
LOCAL
key pad LOCC - -+ COMMANO ,.... •...• REGISTER
ANO
in puts -+ ROM OUTPUT --
LOCO - OLEN
CONTROL
LOCE - -+

LlNH OAV SHCL

y

computer bus M80-0045/5

Fig.5 - SAB3021/SAB3042 transmitter/receiver combination

10
 9V B A +9V
mode
+ inputs

REMO
c:::::J OSCI LLATOR OUTPUT
STAGE
4 MHz
SCANNER
H H
&
COUNTER SAB3021

KEYPAO
SENSE
KEYPAO
DRIVE I
infrared link

start-
bit
I start-
bit
I I I 1 I
':..1.
000 ..// --
command
keypad 000
000 too t01 too t01 t01 too to 1

!
too = 5.1 ms represents logical zero
to 1 = 7.2 ms represents logical one
+12V

H
~r- OUTPUT --+-
STAGE
SYNC
OEMOO <J1}«J C\
\::..Y
~

- COMPA- LlMITER
A.G.C.
r-e- RATOR

r AMP

TOB2033

rlO~
OSC 4 MHz QRZ

SAB3042

OSCILLATOR
OEMOOULATOR ...•... AND CLCK
RSIG DIVIDER

IBUS to teletext and

LOCA - ....• viewdata. via

interface circuit.
INSTRUCTION
--
10 cal LOCB - f-+ DATA
LOCAL REGISTER
keypad LOCC - r-. COMMAND .•........
AND
in puts
LOCO - f-+ ROM OUTPUT --
OLEN
CONTROL
LOCE - f-+

LlNH OAV SHCL

y

computer bus M80-0045/5

F ig.5 - SAB3021 /SAB3042 transmitter/receiver combination

10
LOCA, LOCB, LOCC, LOCD, and LOCE allow com-
mands to be received from a local keyboard. These have
priority over remote commands. The assignment of the
local commands is defined by an internal ROM. The
required functions for a specific system can therefore be
mask-programmed to suit customer requirements. In
addition, standard solutions are available.
The command data from the SAB3042 has a similar
format to that required by teletext and viewdata but is
not directly compatible. The IBUS from the SAB3042
carries a 6-bit command preceded by a start bit (see
Fig.5). Teletext and viewdata use a 7-bit word of which
the first and last bits, b6 and b7, are reserved for mode
selection (see Fig.2 and Table 1). In addition, while
teletext and viewdata use a 2-signal IBUS, the SAB3042
provides an IBUS with three signals: DLEN (Data line
Enable), DATA, and CLCK (Clock). An interface circuit
is therefore required to transform commands intended
for teletext and viewdata into the appropriate format;
see Fig.6.

LOWto inhibit local control

~~--------+-----~--~~--~--------.---------------+5V

16 10 9
R1 r VDD UP/ON 81 N/DEC
10kU l IC1a
1
'4 HEF4030B -- PL IC2

CLCK
f,;}
12
3
11 15 CP
HEF4029B ---- from
DATA SAB3012/
SAB3022/
SAB3042
IC1 b
'4 HEF4030B 2 14 11 6
from
SAB3012/ < RSV1 ~ })>-,3~f---_--' --

r:
SAB3022/
SAB3042 - 111213 345
•....•
l--
IC3b 1
Y3HEF4025B Y3HEF4025B
IC3c

10 6

128 5~

IC3a
Y3HEF4025B
I 1 IC1c
'4 HEF4030B
4
9

DUM DATA
v
2 - wire IBUS
to teletext decoder MBO-0045/6

Fig.6 - 3·wire to 2·wire IBUS interface circuit

11
 Mask production using an image repeater

Mask alignment in the 'yellow area' Preparing si ices for plasma etch ing

Diffusion furnaces

12
 Loading the ion implantation equipment

Nitride deposition

Wire bonding

LSI ch ips in production

Automatic testing of completed ICs

13
 Plasma etching
(top) si ices prior to etch ing
(bottom) etching in progress

14

The main features of our LSI teletext decoder are listed
below.
• Full display specification (see Ref.2)
• Crystal-controlled display timing
• Display features such as status, time display, and
programme-selected indication
• User-operated double-height facility
• Adaptive data slicer
• Error detection and correction
• Signal quality detector *
• Character rounding+
• After-hours display facility'[+
• Colour and monochrome data outputs
• Simple user-control
• Full range of IC variants
The teletext decoder comprises four dedicated LSI
integrated circuits and two standard lK X 4 static RAMs
(for example industry type 2114). A complete circuit
diagram of the decoder is shown in Fig.7.
The main functions of the four dedicated ICs are:
SAA5020 TIC timing chain,
SAA5030 VIP video input processor,
SAA5040 TAC teletext data acquisition and control,
SAA5050 TROM teletext read-only memory, the
character generator.
*UK Patent Number 1568184
tUK Patent Numbers 1343298 and 1515506
ttUK Patent Application Number 40032/77
Teletext decoder
Variants of these ICs catering for different markets
are available. To meet differing British, Continental, and
Australian requirements there are six versions of T AC;
these vary in the on-screen display provided and in the
decoding of remote-control commands. There are three
TROM integrated circuits giving a choice of English,
German, and Swedish characters. Two variants of the
TIC (SAA5020): the SAA5025A and the SAA5025B are
produced to meet the requirements of the USA 525-line
television standard (system M).
The three digital ICs (T AC, TIC, and TROM) are in
N-channel MOS, whereas the VIP is a linear bipolar le.
The decoder also contains four low-power Schottky TTL
integrated circuits which interface the page memory.
The present design not only meets immediate require-
ments but is also compatible with future developments,
owing to the flexibility of the data highways and the
partitioning of the system. The three adjustments
required by the decoder are described in Appendix 1 .
For full details of all the ICs discussed in this publication,
please refer to the published data.
SAA5030 VIP VIDEO INPUT PROCESSOR
The VIP (ICl in Fig.7) comprises two separate sections:
the data retrieval section, and the display clock generator.
The IC is fed with the video signal from the television
receiver. Fig.8 shows a simplified block diagram of the
SAA5030 circuit.
The data retrieval section of ICI slices the incoming
data signal by means of an automatic adaptive data slicer
circuit. This circuit sets the threshold level for slicing at
half the data amplitude, regardless of the amplitude of
the incoming signal, and provides some compensation
15
 from

remote
{+- DLlM
DE Dl

-4-1-1_-.::D~A::T~AC+J~ 22
5
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7

21 20 19 18 1 7 16 15
WOK

control , F1 13 IC2

SAA5040
PO TAC
r-----~---+-~~-~~8 12,GLR.
DATA r---
F7 ~ 14jl
r-I-t-----'-''--+j 11 10 71,4272625 24 2328 +5V

T/B BCS DEW ~ AO A 1 A2 A3 A4 WACK

R7
C5 6.8kn
100nF

R2l
OOk.\1 Ul
1 TI ~
C3
O"F L"J
65
pF
I R4

video
T~~I1HZ L PO
C19
1nF

R13
T/B BCS DEW AO Al A2 A3A4
f------+-
RACK
~~ 161 2 8 917 5 10
17 14 7 GLR
19 DATA 6.8
el'l- ~8 19 2021 222324

---
sync out
(positive)
l"F ICl
SAA5030
VIP
18

3
13
F7

FLR
FS
C20

lnF
kn
CBB 9
FLR 6
FS
10
IC3

SAA5020
TIC
12 f---;sv+

16~
15~
~ 12 11 AHS AHS
5 11~
24 C21
6 F6 F6
23 22 20 4 14 15 2 3~
1nF F1 4 1 131 LOSE
>-- Rl0 ,,1
1~:1~4~:~~
R9 1.2
J 33
kn
kn r R12
1.2kn
C16

C4
330
pF 1~~ 1[
C10
R5
1.5kn

field
}
R6
10kn
C15
~ ~"F

C17
100
nF=;: R11

IT
1.2

I
100 sync 3.3nF
nF kn

16
 IC4 I -
9

I
74LS02
2

8 3,7 14
:p
10
CS

,,1
LJ --
CS WE
--
CS WE

1 11 12 1314 8 10 -1 1'1 12 13 8 10
2 f--2
IC8 e--3 ICg
3
4 f---- 4
5 2114 f---- 5 2114
6 RAM -6 RAM
7 e--7
17 f-- 17
IC5 r +5V 16 e-- 16

J ~ 15 1 B
9 11 12 13 14e--
15 18
9 11 12 13

H\~ ~1))
9 6 2 155

,.f"" 13 74LS83A

11 7 4 16 1 3
12
810 11
1
-r- IC6 'C71

-
-
+5V 16

74LS161
,,,. '~'" 10£
15 11
16
12 13 141;E
74LS161 7
,.f""8 1 8 1 2 g +5V
2 9 ~
1 ~+
----- lCL

I
CK ' tCK

I
tCK
lk!1
GLR
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 Dl

1210 9 8 7 6 5 4
f18
- 17 28 ~DUM
IC10 11
DEW 1.3
DATA
SAA5050 3
TLC
16
CRS
14 superimpose
TR6 19 2
26
LOSE 15272021 22 23 24 25 1

BCS PO Fl Y B G R
1
blanking

M80-004S/7

Fig.7 - Circuit diagram of teletext decoder

17
 to TAC SAA5040
I
data
ADAPTIVE
DATA SLICER
video
input
SIGNAL
QUALITY
DETECTOR
ADAPTIVE PHASE
SYNC SEPARATOR DETECTOR
1
sync from
TIC SAA5020
Fi9.8 - Video input processor IC VIP (SAA50301
for distortion such as eo-channel interference; the
performance of the system under noisy conditions is
thus improved. A clock signal is generated from the
sliced data by means of an external 6.9375 MHz tuned
circuit (Ll Cl Fig.S), and this signal is used to clock the
data into the T AC integrated circuit (IC2 Fig.7)*.
The 6 MHz display system clock (see Fig.S) is output
from VIP, and divided in IC3 to produce a pulse every
64 MS. This signal is passed back to ICI where it is com-
pared with the incoming line sync signals. By this means,
the timing system of the teletext display is phase-locked
with the incoming television picture signal.
A 'signal quality' detector circuit is also included in
ICI. When a signal with a high noise content is being
received, or in the absence of an incoming signal, the
signal quality detector cuts off the teletext data to IC2
and allows the display system to free-run. The detector
thus prevents the data already stored in the memory
from being corrupted by noise. This facility, combined
with the local display clock, is required for after-hours
display, when the tv picture is generated from the
contents of the page memory in the absence of an
incoming television signal.
Integrated circuit ICI contains an adaptive sync
separator which extracts the sync signals from the
incoming video signal. It also provides a sync output
signal for the timebases of the television receiver+. When
a full page of text is displayed, the sync output signal is
derived from IC3 (see under SAA5020 TIC).
*UK Patent Application Number 40034/77
tUK Patent Number 1580245
18
clock \
t
CLOCK
REGENERATOR
$
~
~
C1
-----. 6MHz CLOCK r:::b·1
OSCILLATOR T
*
6MHz clock
to TIC SAA5020
M80-0045/8
SAAS040 TAC TELETEXT DATA ACQUISITION
AND CONTROL
The principal function of the data acquisition section of
the TAC integrated circuit (IC2 in Fig.7) is to process
the teletext data so that it can be written into the
memory. Fig.9 shows a simplified block diagram of the
SAA5040 circuit. The control section processes the
information from the remote control system, and uses
this information to operate the various display functions
of the teletext decoder system such as selection of tele-
vision, teletext, or viewdata modes, page select, page
hold, or time display.
The data acquisition section of lC2 divides the data
from lCI into its component parts. The Hamming-coded
address words are checked, and words having a single
wrong bit are corrected. Address words having two
wrong bits are rejected. The row address of the incoming
data line (one of twenty-four) is fed by this section to
the 5-bit row address bus, and the character data is fed
through the data bus to the memory as a sequence of
forty 7-bit parallel words_._
A signal denoted as WOK (Write O.K.) indicates to
the memory when valid data is to be written in, and a
WACK (Write Address Clock) signal causes the address
counters (IC6 and IC7) to step on after each character.
The T AC integrated circuit also contains circuits for
the implementation of the control bits in the page
header.
SAAS020 TIC TIMING CHAIN
The divider stages in the TIC integrated circuit (IC3 in
Fig.7) subdivide the 6 MHz clock signal from ICI down
to 25 Hz, the television frame rate, and generate all the
 WACK
write address clock

clock
DLlM} from
from VIP remote
INPUT control
SAA5030 { CONTROL
data :r-+ SERIAL-
BIT COUNTER .------\ DATA I+-< DATA SAA5012
PARALLEL
CONVERSION
r- RECEIVER
~ .7~
data bus
(7 bits) "".----,
\.7 1 ) SELECTED

1
PAGE +-
AND CONTROL
HAMMING AND COMPARATOR TIME •..• FUNCTION
PARITY CHECK ~ &......----,---~ CODE STORAGE
CIRCUITS 1~ STORAGE

U L~ WRITE
CONTROL
ROW ADDRESS L CIRCUITS
LATCH I

row address bus WOK

i
M80-0045!9
(5 bits) write OK

Fig.9 - Teletext data acquisition and control IC TAC (SAA5040)

6 MHz
clock -;-6 -;-64 -;-625
from VIP
>--- COUNTER
~ COUNTER
~ COUNTER
SAA5030

.tJ D U
timing signals to
DECODER
TROM SAA5050
~
.LJ,.
COMPOSITE GLR
RACK -;-10 -;-24
read '-- f-+ SYNC ---+--< general line
address COUNTER COUNTER reset
GENERATOR
clock

~
row address
i
sync out
bus (5 bits) to VIP SAA5030
M80-0045!10

Fig.10 - Timing chain IC TIC (SAA5020)

timing signals for the teletext display. Fig.l 0 shows a
simplified block diagram of the SAA5020 circuit. During
the display period, a 1 MHz clock signal RACK (Read
Address Clock) takes over from WACK to step the
character addresses. The address counters IC6 and IC7
are cleared at the end of every line and reset to the first
position. After every ten lines during the display, IC3
steps the row address on by one to access the next row
of characters in the memory.
In addition to providing all the timing signals for the
display, IC3 also generates a complete composite sync
signal. This signal can be used to drive the time bases of
the television receiver in the absence of transmitted sync
during after-hours operation.

19
MEMORY
The memory block consists of two l K X 4 static RAMs
(IC8 and IC9 in Fig.7). These RAMs are arranged as four
32-by-32 matrices, each storage location being selected
by means ofa binary code on la address lines. However,
the teletext display is organised as a 40-by-24 matrix (24
rows of 40 characters per row) with 5-bit row addresses
and 6-bit column addresses. Therefore, the 74LS83A
adder (IC5 in Fig.7) converts the 11 bits of display
address into a 1a-bit address code for the selection of
one of the 960 locations in the RAMs. The RAMs have
dual input/output pins (pins 11 to 14) and to avoid con-
flicts on the data bus when the memory is activated, the
74LS02 NOR gate is included (IC4 in Fig.7).
SAA5050 TROM TELETEXT READ-ONLY MEMORY
The read-only memory of the TRaM (ICIO in Fig.7)
converts the 7-bit character data from the memory into
a dot matrix pattern. This matrix is in a seven-by-five
dot form for each character. The TRaM also contains a
'character rounding'* facility which effectively increases
this matrix to 14-by-l0 dots, giving improved definition
to the displayed characters. Fig.ll shows a simplified
block diagram of the SAA5050 circuit.
Circuits are included in ICI0 which enable various
control functions to be performed. These functions are
determined by control characters received from the
memory. Examples of the use of control functions
include the selection of graphics or alphanumerics,
'flashing' words, or newsflashes and subtitles displayed
in boxes within television pictures*.
*UK Patent Number 1515309
data from
memory READ-ONLY
-v
(7 bits) MEMORY
1'1
CONTROL
root 710
CHARACTER
COUNTER
DETECTION
AND STORAGE
~).
DISPLAY
CONTROL
11111
/RGB",
monochrome blanking
text
Fig.11 - Character generator IC TROM (SAA5050)
20
A 'concealed display' function which can be operated
by the user is also provided by ICI0. For example, if a
quiz-page is transmitted, containing both a question and
an answer, the answer can be initially concealed until the
user chooses to reveal it. The remote-control system
IBUS is connected to TRaM for this and similar
functions.
Timing signals are fed to ICIO from IC3. Character
video output signals are provided by ICIO, and these
comprise a monochrome-only signal and RGB signals for
a colour receiver. The blanking output signal enables the
television video signal to be blanked out when a teletext
newsflash or a subtitle is to be displayed (HIGH gives
'picture blank', LOW gives 'picture on'). The blanking-
out takes the form of a 'black box' around the teletext
characters.
The monochrome text signal (Y) is provided for
monochrome displays; that is, it does not include back-
ground video information. However, it is also necessary
if, in a normal colour display, inlay of characters into
the television picture is required; it is then used as an
inlay blanking signal. When text and video are mixed,
the readability of the display is greatly improved if the
text is inlaid, rather than simply added on to the televi-
sion video. The readability is further enhanced if the
picture contrast is automatically reduced when text and
video are mixed. This can be performed by using the
'superimpose' output available from the teletext decoder.
*UK Patent Numbers 1343298 and 1515506
PARALLEL-
SERIAL
f--
;:. CONVERSION
t---
!
7
CHARACTER
ROUNDING
I
GRAPHICS
GENERATOR I+-
±
~
timing Signalsfrom
TIC SAA5020
MSO-0045/11
 Keyboard commands
and the display

A typical television/teletext remote control keypad is

shown in Fig.l2. Although there are only 32 buttons on
the keypad, many more commands are available through
mode selection (see Table 1). Some' buttons have
different functions according to which mode has been
selected; however, to avoid confusion the most commonly
used commands have the same key in all modes.
Our teletext decoder is able to display all the features
introduced by the broadcasting authorities (see Ref.z);
these include:
• time-coded pages,
• subtitles and newsflashes,
• flashing characters,
• concealed display,
• double-height characters,
• graphics hold,
• solid/broken graphics,
• background colour.
A description is now given of the operation of our
remote control/decoder system illustrating the full range
of facilities available. It should be noted that the
examples of teletext displays which accompany this
description are generated using the British T AC
(SAA5040A). If the programme name display is not
required, then the SAA5040B should be used.

TELEVISION MODE
Television mode is always obtained when the receiver is
first switched on. If the receiver is in standby, it can be
switched on via the remote control keypad by pressing
TV, RESET, or any station button. Otherwise, the
receiver should be switched on by its mains on/off
switch. In television mode, the receiver operates as a
normal television receiver with some additional facilities;
the control commands in the left-hand column of Table
Fig.12 - Tvpical television/teletext remote-control key pad 1 are available.

21
 Fig.13 - Video with programme indication
Station selection and status
Switching the receiver on by pressing TV or RESET
automatically selects BBCl (with the SAAS040A TAC),
while switching the receiver on by pressing a station
button selects the appropriate station. After selection of
a station, a box appears on the top-left of the screeen
containing an indication of the station selected (ITV, for
instance, see Fig.l3); this box disappears after five
seconds. It will reappear for a further five seconds when-
ever STATUS is pressed. To change channels simply
press the appropriate key.
Analogue functions reset and mute
Whenever the television video is displayed (even in tele-
text and viewdata modes), all four analogue functions
can be varied by the remote control; they are volume,
brightness, contrast, and saturation. 'Up' and 'down'
buttons are provided for each function, and the appro-
priate key should remain depressed until the desired
level is reached.
In the television mode, the command RESET returns
the analogue functions to the levels preset in the receiver.
Pressing the MUTE button cuts the sound off completely.
The effect is immediate, and the sound is restored by
pressing the MUTE button again.
Digital clock
If the time is required while a programme is being
viewed, the key TIME should be pressed. Provided that
the channel being viewed is also transmitting teletext,
the time will appear in a box (which disappears after five
seconds) at the top-right of the screen.
TELETEXT MODE
The commands TEXT (teletext) and MIX (superimpose)
switch the system into teletext mode; pages of text can
22
Fig.14 - Index page
now be displayed on the screen. The control commands
in the central column of Table 1 are available.
Page selection
When the teletext mode is selected, the index page
(Fig.l4) is automatically displayed. The desired page in
the magazine is then selected by keying in the appropriate
page number, which is displayed as it is keyed in at the
top-left of the screen. When the third digit of the three-
digit page number has been entered, the page header
turns green and the page number rolls until the requested
page has been received.
Page reception
When a new page number is keyed in, the page being
displayed remains until the new page is received. Recep-
tion of the new page is indicated by the fact that the
header turns white and the rolling page number stops at
the requested page number. The requested page is then
normally displayed. However, there are four variations
on this simple sequence.
1) The new page is a newsflash or subtitle, in which case
the television picture is displayed with the text inset
in a box.
2) Conversely, if the old page was a newsflash or subtitle
page, then on selecting a new page a box is generated
around the page header for five seconds, so that the
new page being entered can be seen (Fig.lS).
3) If the television video is being displayed while the
system is in teletext mode, and a new page is
requested, then a box is generated around the page
header for five seconds. When the new page has been
received, the page number is displayed in a box on
the screen (Fig.l6).
4) Some magazine pages contain more information than
can be accommodated on one page, so it is displayed
on two or more subpages which are rotated at source.

Fig.15 - New page requested, old page is a newsflash
F ig.16 - 'Page received' notification on tv picture
Operation of the HOLD button stops the rotation to
retain a subpage and the word HOLD is displayed in
green on the right of the IJage header in place of the
time digits as a visual feedback to the operator. This
command prevents further data being written into
memory and can be used to prevent any page being
updated with fresh data. Normal operation is restarted
by pressing the TEXT button or entering a new page
number.
Large characters
The top or bottom half of any page can be displayed by
itself to expand the characters and graphics (see Fig.I7).
This is obtained by pressing the TOP or BOTTOM
button. The display is returned to normal by pressing
the FULL PAGE button.
When a new page is selected while in this 'large
character' mode, its top half is displayed automatically
so that the page header is visible.
(a)
page
(b)
Fig.17 - Page expansion
(a) Normal page. (b) Expanded top half
Mix
In normal teletext mode, picture video and character
data are not displayed simultaneously. The MIX (super-
impose) command restores the picture video so that the
text is inlaid directly into the television picture.
Text cancel
The command TEXT CANCEL suppresses the text
display and restores the tv picture but leaves the set in
the teletext mode, so that the viewer can request tele-
text pages and alter teletext controls without interrupting
a tv programme. When the receiver is initially set into
this mode, the current page header is displayed for five
seconds inset in the tv picture. Further information will
be displayed as box insets on the tv picture if:
1) a page is received for the first time,
2) a requested time-coded page is received, as discussed
later, or
3) the selected page header contains an update message
bit (a newsflash for example).
23
 The indication of the reception of a requested page is
shown in Fig.l6. The page can now be displayed by
pressing the TEXT button or a second operation of
TEXT CANCEL will remove the page number indicator.
However, the page will be retained in the memory and
may still be accessed for display.

Reveal
Some pages contain text that is not immediately dis-
played: a quiz page with concealed answers, for example.
The command REVEAL is necessary to disclose this
text, which then remains displayed as long as the
REVEAL button is held down.

(a)
Alarm clock page
Teletext may be used to provide a visual 'alarm clock' by
displaying a suitable legend at a predetermined time. The
Ceefax alarm clock legend is shown in Fig.18a. The
required page (160) is selected in the normal manner and
then the command TIMED PAGE ON is keyed in. The
time normally displayed in the page header is removed
and 'T' is displayed. The time that the page is to be
received is then keyed in. The character T next to the
time digits and the flashing of the time digits indicates
that a time code is being displayed and not the actual
time. Fig.l8b shows the selection of the Ceefax alarm
clock page for display at 10.03. When the time code has
been keyed in, the tv picture is restored via the command
TEXT CANCEL.
Alternatively, the command TIMED PAGE ON may
be used to receive and store any teletext page at a pre- (b)

determined time. Fig.18 - Alarm clock page selection and reception

(a) Alarm clock page legend and page number
(b) Ceefax alarm clock page (160) selected for display at 10.03
Reset and status
The command RESET returns the set to normal tv mode,
clearing the page memory and cancelling the timed page end of the header. If HOLD or TIMED PAGE ON com-
on mode (if set). The decoder will then cause the index mands are current, this will be indicated at the right-hand
page to be displayed when teletext is next selected. end of the header.
If the STATUS button is pressed when the set is in If the STATUS button is pressed when a full teletext
the teletext text cancel mode, the page header of the page is being displayed, the page number at the left-hand
currently selected page is displayed for five seconds with end of the page header is replaced by the station identifi-
the tv station identification displayed at the left-hand cation for five seconds.

24
 Interfacing the teletext
decoder with tv receivers

The interface between the teletext decoder and conven-

tional tv circuits is shown in Fig.l9. The principal input
signal is a composite tv video waveform of 2.4 V peak-
to-peak amplitude (negative-going sync) supplied through
a 6 MHz sound carrier trap from the video demodulator.
The decoder requires two supplies, 5 V (450 mA) and
12 V (120 mA), and two inputs from the control system,
DUM and DATA. The outputs from the decoder are as
follows:

to control Picture On +5to12V

1) synchronising signal to tv timebases;
system
2) RGB text outputs to tv display circuits;
DUM
from 3) monochrome text output;
control -- 4) blanking signal carrying tv picture and box blanking
system { DATA I--~_R
information;
5V
5) Picture On output, PO, for the control of the tv
(450mA) I-~I-+G analogue control functions.
power 12V
leads { (120mA) TELETEXT
DECODER •.............,f-+ B The synchronising signal consists of either a white-
clipped version of the composite tv signal or a locally-
2to 3V
(pk-pk) generated sync waveform. The polarity of this waveform
input signal picture and depends on the voltage to which the load resistor is con-
(via sound trap) box blanki ng nected, and the amplitude of the sync component is
approximately equal to the sync component of the
optional video
output for incoming video waveform.
sync to tv monochrome
timebase use
(O.7Vpk-pk)
REQUIREMENTS OF TELEVISION RECENERS
OV---~
The teletext decoder can supply drive signals which are
M80-0045119
capable of generating a clear error-free display. However,
the end result can obviously be impaired by poor incom-
ing signals or a low-performance tuner, i.f. amplifier,
Fig.19 - Interfacing the teletext decoder with tv receivers video drive circuit, or tv picture tube. A television

25
receiver designed to give a subjectively good picture for
normal tv viewing will not necessarily give a teletext
display of similar quality. Close attention should be paid
to the tuner, i.f. amplifier, and video demodulator to
optimise teletext reception while careful design of the
video drive circuitry ensures the sharpest possible display.
TV signal path distortion
It is expensive to provide compensation in the receiver
circuitry for the various forms of tv signal distortion that
occur during propagation. However, a brief discussion of
the problem of ghost signals is worthwhile.
The various forms of distortion affect the digital tele-
text data and the analogue tv signal in different ways.
The tv signal is more tolerant of short-delay (less than
500 ns, say) than long-delay echoes, whereas a teletext
data signal is equally affected by both types of distor-
tion. However, teletext data is more tolerant ofimpulsive
interference and random noise than the tv signal.
Since, in practice, short-delay echoes do not seriously
interfere with a normal tv picture, little attention is given
to minimising them when positioning tv antennae.
Therefore, in difficult locations short-delay echoes
predominate as the source of unsatisfactory teletext
reception.
R.F. and i.f. requirements for teletext
To minimise the error rate, the teletext decoder must be
presented with a data waveform having good 'eye'
characteristics. However, the eye height, width, and
characteristics are affected by all forms of distortion and
in terference.
There are three principal types of distortion which
can be introduced in the small-signal circuits of a tv
receiver.
Amplitude-response distortion
Amplitude-response distortion is affected by vestigial
response and high-frequency roll-off, both of which
result from the characteristics of the i.f. filter. Eye height
is dependent on the nature of the vestigial response in
the region of the carrier, and thus this flank of the i.f.
bandpass should be as close to the ideal as possible. The
response of the filter to the principal sideband should be
flat up to 5 MHz; particular attention should be given to
the region up to 3.5 MHz (half data rate) where varia-
tions in response should ideally be less than ± I dB.
Non-linear distortion
In a tv receiver, the video demodulator is the main
source of non-linear distortion. Simple diode demodula-
tors which respond to the envelope of the tv signal
introduce a high level of quadrature distortion. This
seriously affects the data eye characteristics, causing a
loss of eye height and symmetry. The use of vestigial
26
sideband transmission requires a detector which only
responds to the modulation component in phase with
the carrier. Fully synchronous demodulators give the best
eye height performance, but cost prevents their wide-
spread use in tv receivers. However, quasi-synchronous
demodulators such as the TDA2540 and TDA2541 (see
Ref.3) are currently used in nearly all European tv
receivers. Their excellent performance with tv video
signals has been found, in practice, to extend to teletext
data.
Group delay distortion
Departure from the true phase-linear characteristic
required in an ideal i.f. amplifier can cause loss of eye
height, owing to overshoot, tilting, and displacement of
the optimum sampling position. For good reception, the
video group delay response should be flat up to 3.5 MHz
(within deviations of up to ±40 ns).
Surface-wave filter
It is possible to design a lumped LC block filter that has
sufficiently good amplitude and group delay characteris-
tics for teletext reception, but the problems of maintain-
ing adequately small production spreads are substantial.
However, surface-wave filters such as the RWl53A are
particularly suitable for teletext reception because of
their near ideal group delay and frequency response
characteristics; in addition, tolerances caused by errors
in alignment are avoided.
Receiver detuning
Detuning of the local oscillator in the tuner has a more
detrimental effect on teletext reception than on the
reception of tv video. The vision carrier must be held
close to the correct point on the vestigial flank of the i.f.
filter characteristic; this avoids the introduction of
amplitude distortion at the 1.f. end of the video response.
A tuning accuracy of ± 50 kHz is desirable and thus a
high-gain a.f.c. system such as that incorporated in the
TDA2540 and TDA2541 integrated circuits is necessary.
Display and video requirements for teletext
The following points should be considered with regard
to the display and video requirements of television
receivers handling teletext data.
Video amplifier performance
The rise times of the RGB data as well as the mono-
chrome and blanking outputs from the teletext character
generator IC (TROM) are only 20 to 30 ns, whereas the
minimum teletext character element width is 167 ns.
The rise times of typical tv video amplifiers are generally
less than 80 ns, and thus most existing designs are capable
of resolving the teletext characters satisfactorily.
Stray capacitances in the video interface circuitry
slow down the data waveform edges. It is important to
avoid excessive deterioration of rise times, and to main-
tain reasonably equal transient response times in each
colour channel.
Class B video amplifier circuits are capable of produc-
ing excellent data displays; they have good transient
performance with equally fast rise times and fall times.
Picture blanking
The blanking output from the teletext decoder is used
both for complete tv picture blanking and for caption-
box blanking. Where text is to be inlaid into the televi-
sion picture, the Y or monochrome output is available to
provide fast blanking for the suppression of the video
behind each character. In this case, the transient perform-
ance of the fast blanking path must be matched with
that of the RGB paths to avoid spurious edge effects
around the characters.
Beam-current limiting
It is important to guard against picture tube and e.h.t.
circuit overload with data displays as well as with tv
pictures. During data-only and mixed data/picture
displays, the automatic beam-current limiting function
must remain activated. To maintain a constant ratio of
television picture and data contrast during beam-current
limiting action, it is advisable to provide a single control
circuit for both picture contrast and data drive amplitude.
Picture tube convergence
Data displays are more critical of convergence errors
than television pictures, particularly near the corners of
the screen. Care in the design and adjustment of the con-
vergence circuitry is therefore worthwhile. Satisfactory
data displays can be produced with conventional non-
self-converging tubes; however, self-converging tube
systems such as 30AX give particularly good data
displays, as the inherent convergence errors are small and
greater stability with life is achieved.
Field flyback blanking
Data signals are introduced into the field-blanking
interval on the television waveform. Thus, effective field-
retrace-blanking waveform generation is necessary,
especially in relation to the timing of the trailing edge.
To avoid possible haze at the top of the screen (arising
from electron-beam spray from the tube bulb and metal-
work), all the tv lines incorporating data must be
suppressed. Timebase-synchronising ICs, such as the
TDA2576A, generate a precisely-timed field-blanking
signal.
INTERF ACING THE RGB COLOUR DECODER
We have now developed a single-chip PAL colour decoder,
the TDA3560. This IC performs all the colour decoding
and matrixing functions in the television receiver, and
also incorporates linear accurately-tracked d.c. control
of contrast in both the luminance and chrominance
channel. An on-chip peak-white limiter automatically
reduces the contrast setting if the peak level of any of
the output signals exceed 9.3 V. The circuit contains
separate inputs for data insertion, analogue as well as
digital, and a fast video blanking facility, making it
particularly suitable for the display of teletext informa-
tion.
Fig.20 shows a complete interface circuit between the
SAA5050 TROM (in the teletext decoder) and the
TDA3560. The voltage signals from each of the data
outputs of the TROM are clipped by a diode, Dl , D2, or
D3, at a level equivalent to the desired channel drive
v~ltage. The input signal required by the TDA3560 for a
5 V peak-to-peak output signal is I V peak-to-peak. For
the circuit shown in Fig.20, the level of the data contrast
setting is JZreset. Fig.21 indicates the modifications to
this circuit which give a contrast control of the data
display which is linked to the tv video contrast control.
The full page, or boxes within the page, can be blanked
out using the blanking output from TROM; the Y signal
is used to blank out the video signal when text is inlaid
into the television picture. Video-data switching times
are very short, less than 20 ns, avoiding coloured edges
on the inserted signals on the screen. The superimpose
output from the TROM goes LOW when mix mode is
selected, and this output is connected to the contrast
control of the TDA3560 to reduce the tv picture contrast
and thus make the text more easily legible.
27
 A

R1
TR4
1.2k.l1 BC54B C3

13
100nF
+5V
15

R13 17
10k.l1

BAW62 text contrast

02 control

BAW62
03

SAA5050 TOA3560

video-data
switching

R17
100k.l1

contrast

R18
22k.l1

from remote
control
o to 12V M80-0045/20

Fig.20 - Complete TDA3560/teletext decoder interface circuit

28
 A
I
I
I
I
I C3
~:------------------~I~--~
I +5V 100nF 13
I

R13 15
10kD.

17
+5V

TDA3560

video-data
switching

contrast

I
I
B 2.7t04.7V
contrast control

MSO-0045121

Fig.21 - Modification of TDA3560/teletext decoder interface circuit to give contrast control of

data display Iinked to video control contrast

29
 Fig.22 - Typical sequence of Prestel displays, illustrating the page selection process

30

Viewdata is the generic term for systems which dissemi-
nate and retrieve computer-based information, using a
telephone line for communication and a television set
for display. The world's first public viewdata service was
developed by British Telecom, which has given the name
Prestel* to its viewdata system (see RefA for a Prestel
terminal specification).
While viewdata has many similarities with teletext,
page format and data encoding for example, the use of
telephone lines for data transmission results in two very
significant differences between the two systems. With
viewdata, data can be transmitted from the user to the
computer; this contrasts with the purely passive nature
of teletext. In addition, unlike teletext where the num-
ber of pages is constrained by the need to provide an
acceptably low access time, the page capacity of view data
is limited only by the storage capacity of the viewdata
computer.
The Prestel system has a data base with a capacity of
several hundred thousand pages, providing a comprehen-
sive information service for business and domestic users.
Pages can be selected directly, if the page numbers are
known. Alternatively, a simple system using few
commands enables the user to identify any required
page.
The use of this system is illustrated in Fig.22. The
user is initially presented with the index page, and one
of several categories of information is chosen by pressing
the corresponding single digit page number on the
command keypad. A further index page is then displayed,
and this process is continued until the desired page is
reached.
*Prestel is a registered trademark.
Viewdata
The limitations imposed by the bandwidth of the
standard telephone line means that the data rate for
viewdata is relatively slow compared with teletext: 1200
baud, corresponding to 120 characters per second, on
the receive channel (computer to receiver), and 75 baud
on the return channel. However, the response from the
computer is virtually instantaneous, resulting in a
negligible access time. The word format is shown in
Fig.23. Data is transmitted asynchronously, and each
8-bit word is preceded by a start bit (LOW) and termina-
ted by a stop bit (HIGH). A system of Frequency-Shift
Keying (FSK) is used. On the receive channel a logic
HIGH is represented by a 1.3 kHz tone and a logic LOW
by 2.1 kHz. On the return channel the frequencies are
390 and 450 Hz respectively.
Our involvement with teletext is matched by a similar
commitment to viewdata. We are a major supplier of
viewdata modules, and have now produced a full LSI
viewdata receiver system. The system is based on a
microprocesser from the standard 8048 family, and the
purpose-designed LSI circuit type SAA5070 - which has
been given the name LUCY. The LUCY chip is primarily
a microprocessor peripheral device, intended to integrate
M8()"0045/23
Fig.23 - Viewdata word format
31
W
N

IBUSA IBUS B

DOCDI RXDATA DATA A DLlM AlDLEN A IBCLCK DATA B DLlM B DLEN B

7 12 13 14
137 Il0 I9 111

38
FSKIN ~ LINE
DEMODULATOR IBUS B 20
IBUSA
AND CARRIER LINE RECEIVER RECEIVER/ VDD
39 RECEIVER
CARDET >-- DETECT TRANSMITTER

1
,
FSKOUT
5
>---
LINE
MODULATOR
K H f VSS

-+

TXDATA
6
·>o+k
LINE
TRANSMITTER
lA
-
W

R
1
g 35

34
cs
WR

RD

I STATUS
REGISTERS
I MODE
REGISTER
I COMMAND
REGISTER
(
MICROPROCESSOR
INTERFACE
A

)
33
26
07
to
~ r • DO

r-:
"'" """
TAPE

~
DEMODULATOR
f--. TAPE -\ '---
TFSKIN AND
CARRIER
RECEIVER ,f-
ADDRESS
DETECT LATCH
SR1'C AND
to
REGISTER
v-. v-. ........• SRO
ADDRESS
DECODER 25
ALE
"
4 TAPE TAPE J-
TFSKOUT >-- MODULATOR I+- TRANSMITTER PORT A PORT B
DIALLING
CIRCUIT
8
qTIMINGI Fl

19 18 17 16 15 24 23 22 21 2 40

PAO PA2 PA4 PBO PB2 IMP DON

PAl PA3 PB 1 PB3 M 80- 0045/24

Fig.24 - Simplified block diagram of SAA5070

as many as possible of the fixed hardware functions of a
viewdata receiver on the telephone line side. It is manu-
factured in N-channel MOS and encapsulated in a 40-pin
dual-in-line package. The SAA5070 includes the follow-
ing.
• Microprocessor interface
• 1200 baud demodulator and asynchronous receiver
• 75/1200 baud modulator and asynchronous trans-
mitter
• Autodialling circuit for British Telecom and European
requirements
• Tape recorder modem (modified 'Kansas City'
standard)
• Tape recorder asynchronous receiver/transmitter
• IBUS receiver and receiver/transmitter
• General input/output ports for other subsystems
(such as an EAROM)
• Timer circuits (60 sand 1.5 s time-outs)
A simplified block diagram indicating the internal
organisation of LUCY is shown in Fig.24. For a more
detailed diagram see Fig.60 in Appendix 2 which gives a
full description of the le. The SAA5070 is partitioned
for flexibility of use so that, for example, an external
modem can be used in conjunction with the internal
asynchronous receiver and transmitter. Alternatively, the
internal modem can be used independently of the
internal receiver and transmitter. Also the tape interface
can work independently of, and simultaneously with,
the line receiver.
To illustrate the use of LUCY, and some of its
features, a basic viewdata receiver incorporating the
LUCY integrated circuit is now described. Ways of
extending this system to cater for more elaborate require-
ments are also indicated.
BASIC LUCY VIEWDATA SYSTEM
The design of a viewdata receiver will be determined
partly by the viewdata system specification and partly
by the facilities required by the user of the receiver. A
wide range of designs is therefore possible, and viewdata
receivers are invariably microprocessor based, partly to
cope with this potential variety. However, there are a
number of basic requirements that are virtually man-
datory in all receiver designs, and to meet these require-
ments a receiver must be able to:
• provide the signals necessary to establish the tele-
phone connection;
• receive and process serial data from the telephone line,
and transmit outgoing data on the return channel;
• write the received data into a page memory and
generate the page display signals;
• receive and process user control instructions;
• store and retrieve the user identification code and the
telephone numbers of viewdata data bases;
• receive and process data from an alphanumeric
keyboard - for message writing and page generation;
• store viewdata pages - using a domestic tape recorder.
Only the last two of these requirements are in any
way optional, but in practice page storage and message
writing are such useful facilities that they are likely to
feature in the majority of receiver designs. Fig.25 shows
a simplified block diagram of a viewdata receiver based
on the LUCY integrated circuit which meets all the
requirements of the above list. The corresponding circuit
diagram is shown in Fig.26.
The view data receiver can be considered to consist of
two main sections: a display section, and a data acquisi-
tion and control section. The display section comprises
the page display memory (two 2114 type 1K X 4 static
RAMs), the character generator (TROM, SAA5050), the
timing chain (TIC, SAA5020), a column address counter
(two 74LS193), and an address compressor (74LS83).
The data acquisition and control section consists of an
8049 microprocessor, the LUCY chip (SAA5070), and
an EAROM (ER1400).
The line Terminating Unit (LTU) interposed between
LUCYand the telephone line (see Fig.25) provides safety
and isolation components, filters the receive and return
channel signals, and contains the dialling relays. The
signals to activate the dialling relays are provided by
LUCY. A full description of the LTU is given later.
User control instructions from a remote control
keypad are entered into the receiver via the IBUS A
input of LUCY (see Fig.26). After being filtered and
squared-up in the LTU, the FSK signal from the tele-
phone line is demodulated by LUCY in a two-stage
process. In the first stage, the FSK signal (input via the
FSKIN and CARDET pins) is converted to a pseudo-
analogue varying mark/space ratio signal, which is output
via the DOCDI pin. After filtering in the post detection
filter (the second stage of the demodulation) this signal
gives a digital input for the RXDATApin.
Under the control of the microprocessor, the decoded
data words are parallel-loaded into the appropriate
location of the page memory. The generation of the page
display signals is the same as for teletext, with the TROM
converting the character data in the page memory into
the RGB signals required to display the character data
on a tv screen.
Outgoing data from the viewdata receiver is modula-
ted within LUCY, output via the FSKOUT pin, and then
filtered in the LTU. Telephone numbers, together with
the user identification code, are stored in an EAROM.
These are input to LUCY via the general-purpose input/
output port, pins PAO to PA4. The modulated data
from the tape recorder is output via the TFSKOUT pin
on LUCY and input via the TFSKIN pin, the tape motor
33
 IC4 IC8
timing 1---+ R
TIC TROM 1---+ G
SAA5020 SAA5050
I-- I--- B
..• ~
ICl
row address bus
sync
timing

MICROPROCESSOR
data bus
8049
! "-
\
'I Y
I
Ice
serial tape motor and IC7
data control V
",/ 5 COLUMN
ADDRESS
ALPHANUMERIC\ t- COUNTER
KEYBOARD ./
V 8 2x74LS193
""V'--.
I-- ~

TAPE
RECORDER r- ..•~
IC5

ADDRESS
.J..-'"
'11: .""
6
7-
IC9 and
IC10",.",,7

PAGE DISPLAY
~ " COMPRESSOR
74LS83
RAM
Y 2 x 2114
IC2 ",)7
tape FSK in
tape FSK out
lA ",n° l~~
receive FSK LUCY
LINE SAA5070
return FSK 1'1
TERMINATING
UNIT lA RAM address bus
(SAFETY AND
ISOLATION
COMPONENTS,
I' dial control
. c~
DIALLING RELAYS,
FILTERING) IC3 ""'-.7

r EAROM
ER1400
\
telephone line user control
instructions
from command
key pad M80-0045125

Fig.25 - Simplified block diagram of basic viewdata receiver

34
being controlled by the microprocessor. The operation
of the basic receiver is now considered in detail.
User control instructions
The LUCY integrated circuit has two independent !BUS
(information bus) ports: !BUS A port and !BUS B port.
As shown in Fig.26, !BUS A port (DUM A/DLEN A,
DATA A) is used to receive user control instructions.
These instructions could, for example, be from the
SAA5012 remote control receiver. The LUCY integrated
circuit is also compatible with the SAB3042 remote
control receiver, as well as other sources of !BUS. The
user control instructions are held temporarily in LUCY,
and are then read and implemented by the microproces-
sor.
The !BUS functions are completely under the control
of the microprocessor so that, for example, the system
designer can code-convert incoming commands, creating
independent command strings.
When necessary, !BUS transmissions can be 'passed-
on'via !BUS B port (DUM B, DATA B). This facility is
required in teletext applications (see below), or when
the TROM (SAA5050) is required to reveal characters
that are held concealed in the display memory.
Post-detection filter
The FSK data from the telephone line is demodulated
by the well tried 'pulse-counting' method. Essentially,
each zero crossing of the incoming FSK signal (input via
FSKIN) is converted into a negative-going pulse of con-
trolled duration. This gives an outgoing waveform
(output via DOCDI) whose d.c. average value decreases
linearly with frequency; see Fig.27. The purpose of the
post-detection filter (Fig.26) is to pass the d.c. and low-
frequency components, corresponding to data, and to
reject the higher-order components corresponding to the
harmonics of the incoming FSK signal. The amplitude
characteristic of the post-detection filter is shown in
Fig.28. The highest frequency that it is desired to pass is
600 Hz, corresponding to a 010lO1 data pattern.
Referring to Fig.28, it can be seen that 600 Hz is only
about 6 dB down, whereas the lowest-frequency
unwanted component at 2.6 kHz, the second harmonic
of 1.3 kHz, is about 29 dB down. To avoid inter-symbol
interference, the pulse response of the filter must be
carefully controlled.
An 'eye-pattern' can be observed at the output of the
filter. This signal is sliced by a comparator and the result-
ing digital data waveform is passed to the RXDATA pin
of LUCY. A slicing level adjustment is provided to
compensate for tolerances in the components of the
filter, and in the comparator input bias current and offset
voltage. One simple method of adjustment involves
putting LUCY into the 1200 baud transmit mode (off-
line), and transmitting a lOlOI0 data pattern;
that is, repeated 'U' characters in even parity mode.
This signal passes through the return channel filter and
then 'leaks' back into the receive channel bandpass filter
(see LTU description later). Providing that the demo du-
lator is enabled, the slicing level may then be adjusted
for a symmetrical data waveform at the RXDATA pin.
External modem
If required, LUCY can be used in conjunction with an
external modem. The post-detection filter will then be
omitted from the circuit of Fig.26, freeing the RXDATA
and DOCDI pins. The RXDATA pin can be used to
accept the received data signal from the modem, and the
DOCDI pin can be used to accept the modem 'data
carrier detect' flag (active LOW). Pin 6 of LUCY,
TXDATA, can be used as the source of data to the
modem. These signals are at normal TTL levels and there-
fore V24 interface circuits will normally be necessary.
Display addressing
During a normal display period, the TIC scans the page
memory addresses, and the page memory data is passed
to the TROM where the RGB outputs are generated. The
5-bit row address comes directly from the TIC (pins 19
to 23) and the 6-bit column address comes indirectly via
the 74LS193 column address counters. The TIC supplies
the RACK (Column Address Clock) and the GLR
(Column Clear) pulses, see the timing diagram shown in
Fig.29. The GLR pulse is inverted by the NAND gate
IC4a (Fig.26) to give a positive-going master reset pulse
to the column address counters at the end of each row.
A 24 row 40 column viewdata page requires 960 RAM
locations, each of which can be defined by 10 bits. Since
the row address is defined by five bits, and the column
address by six bits, some form of address compression is
required to obtain a lO-bit RAM address. This compres-
sion is achieved by combining the two most-significant
bits from the row addresses and the three most-significant
bits from the column addresses in the 74LS83 (a 4-bit
binary full adder). The resulting four bits, together with
the three least-significant row and column address bits,
form the 10-bit RAM address.
Microprocessor data access to the display RAMs
The data bus (see Figs.25 and 26) interconnects the
8049 microprocessor, LUCY, TROM, the page display
RAMs, and the parallel load data inputs of the column
address counters. Under normal operation, the 8049 and
LUCY present a high impedance to the data bus, and the
active data flow is from the RAMs to TROM. Similarly,
Port I of the microprocessor (see Appendix 3) is normally
high impedance so that row address info~mation comes
from TIC.
Microprocessor data access to the page display RAMs
is initiated when the microprocessor outputs the required
35
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31

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D tape motor control 39 Tl
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~------~~r-----------/ ~
line terminating unit remote control

36
 R46
lOOk!"!

2 18 17 IC5 IC10 19 12 15 2~
3
----.l! F6 TR6 T/B 8CScRS 11 14 CRS TR6 GLR BCS SUP
...-1.CBB
GDi DEW 14 13 DEW R~
1Tl: 15 16 TLC
SAA5020 SAA5050
LOSE 13 26 LOSE (TROM) G~ G
(TIC)
Fl 4 20 Fl
AHS 5
B fll------o RI
8
video
output

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1411 15
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110 9

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VDD
2
L---------------------~----~-------+--_[::J_+15to30mA(-23V)
lOO!"!
shunt
regulator

M80-0046/26

Fig.26 - Circuit diagram of basic LUCY viewdata system

37

1
normalised
output
voltage
on OOCOI
pin
(V)
0.5
I
I
I
I
I
0.19 -- - - ----- T---- --I
I I
I I
o~ ~ ~~
o 1.3 2.1
input frequency on FSKIN pin (kHz)
Fig.27 - Output from OOCOI pin versus input frequency
on FSKIN pin
row address to the five least-significant bits of Port 1,
PI(O) to PI(4), and simultaneously outputs a LOW to
each of the three most-significant bits of Port 1, PI (5) to
PI(7). The EMA (Enable Microprocessor Access) signal
on P1(S), has four major functions.
1) Via the inverting transistor TR8 (Fig.26) it causes the
CS (Chip Select) pins of the RAMs to go HIGH, free-
ing the data bus for microprocessor access. The
normal action of TR8 is to hold the CS pin LOW for
data display purposes.
2) Via the comparator ICld (Fig.26), which is used as a
simple inverter, the HIE (High Impedance Enable) pin
16 of TIC is taken HIGH. This forces the TIC row
address outputs to a high impedance, avoiding conflict
with the row address now coming from Port 1 of the
microprocessor.
3) Via the comparator ICI c, used as a non-inverting open
collector device, the RACK (Column Address Clock)
pin 24 of TIC is held LOW. This is necessary because
HIE also forces RACK to a high impedance and
spurious column address counter clocking may occur
if RACK were allowed to float high.
4) Also via ICld, EMA enables IC4b so that ALE (inver-
ted Address Latch Enable) pulses appear at the
parallel load control pins of the column address
counters. Any address used by the microprocessor
during an external read or write cycle is thus latched
into the 74LSI93s.
The outputs on PI(6) and PI(7), which have gone
LOW simultaneously with EMA on PIeS), have two
functions. The LOW on PI (6) prevents any Column
Address Gear pulses from passing through the open
collector device IC4a, and PI (7) discharges the capacitor
at the input of IC4a.
Once Port 1 is set-up, the microprocessor can execute
an external read or write cycle. For a read cycle, the RD
38
M80-0045/27
<,
M80··Q04S/28
gain 0
(dB)_5
-10
r-,
-15 "<,<,
-20 '" <,~
-25 <,
-30 ....•.•••
""-
__ ~~+ -35
-40
o 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
frequency (kHz)
Fig.28 - Amplitude characteristic of post-detection filter
line of the microprocessor goes LOW and, via IC4c and
IC4d, the RAM CS pin is pulled LOW, allowing data
from the RAM onto the bus which is read by the micro-
processor. For a write cycle, the WR line of the micro-
processor goes LOW, and both the CS and WE pins of
the RAM are taken LOW, enabling the RAM to accept
data from the microprocessor. Once the data has been
transferred, normal addressing and display can be re-
established by the microprocessor making all eight pins
of Port 1 high impedance and reversing the set-up
procedure described above. To clear the column address
counters for the start of the next display line, an addi-
tional Column Gear pulse is generated when Port 1 goes
high impedance. PI (6) releases the column clear line
immediately, and so IC4a gives out an active-HIGH
Column Gear pulse while the voltage on the capacitor at
the input of IC4a is still LOW.
Synchronisation
Using an 8049 microprocessor working with a 6 MHz
clock (microprocessor cycle time 2.5 ps), it is possible to
achieve the three basic microprocessor actions associated
with accessing the RAMs (setting-up Port 1, writing or
reading from the RAMs, and setting Port 1 high imped-
ance) during the non-display period corresponding to a
line flyback. The necessary synchronisation between the
microprocessor and TIC can be achieved by testing the
TIC-generated CBB pulse with the TO pin of the micro-
processor.
The CBB pulse goes LOW for 8 us at the start of each
line. The synchronisation of the instruction sequence
required for a RAM access is illustrated in Fig.29. The
synchronisation is dependent on locating the rising edge
of CBB, which is achieved when the TO pin senses a
HIGH which has been preceded by a LOW. Since the
instruction to test TO takes two 2.5 us machine cycles,
there will be a maximum uncertainty in the microproces-
sor timing relationships with the line flyback of S us.
 line timing
(jls) 50 55 60 64/0 10 15 20

Fl

LOSE
\ I
54.5 14.5
GLR
LJ
5 6

RACK ~ ~
53 14.5
column
address ~ o
RAM
data
~ o 7
output

SAA5050
sampling
points
t t t
53.5
t t t t t t t t
14.5
CBB
\ I
o 8
8049 TO
sampling points (line N) t t t t t
8049
HIGH: JTO HIGH HIGH: JTO HIGH I HIGH: JTO HIGH HIGH: JTO HIGH LOW: JNTO LOW LOW: JNTO LOW I delay routine (42.5jl5)-+
instructions
(line N)
••
2 machine cycles
•
8049
instructions
(line N + 1)
--+ (delay routine) OUTL PI, A I XCH A, RI I MOVX@RO,A ORL PI,#O FFH (return from 'write' routine)

EMA (line N + 1)

ALE (line N+l)

: : I
8049 bus I I I
(line N + 1) --------------------------------------------I----------------------~~~~~------------------------~:---------------------------------------------
I address I I data I

I : : :
I I I I
: : : I
COLUMN LOAD (ALE. EMA) ------------------------------------i ,-----, r-----; ~ r-----; ,-----; Jr-----------------------------------------------
I
I
WRITE
'---1 I
I

---.lI :
NORMAL
COLUMN
COLUMN
COUNTER
COUNTER
CLEAR
CLEAR
on line N + 1
(GLR)
----------------------------- tI~ _
w.aO-0045,29

W Fig.29 - Line flyback timing diagram

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