16:9 Shorthand for the ratio of the dimensions (also known as aspect ratio ) of a widescreen TV. While most TVs sport square screens, newer ones look like theater screens they re 16 units across and 9 units high. DVDs and HDTV broadcasts are formatted for this 16:9 aspect ratio. In fact, the shape is part of the U.S. standard for all HDTV broadcasts. (See WIDE-SCREEN.) 4:3 Shorthand for the ratio of the dimensions (also known as aspect ratio ) of a traditional TV set. This square shape works fine for broadcasts, but it s not wide enough to handle big-screen movies. To show these on an old-fashioned TV, the filmmakers have to lop off 25 percent from the left or right edge, or resort to the letterbox format, which involves blacking out a strip at the top and bottom of the TV screen to preserve the entire movie image. (See LETTERBOX.) 5.1 The number of channels used to create one kind of surround sound often synonymous with Dolby Digital technology though, there are other formats (i.e., DTS ). Instead of two speakers, 5.1 uses five speakers and a subwoofer audio engineers insist on the.1 because a booming subwoofer can only issue a narrow range of bass tones. (See DOLBY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY and SURROUND SOUND.) 5C A copy protection technology for films and television content, named to designate the five companies that founded it: Hitachi, Intel, Panasonic, Sony, and Toshiba. The 5C s Digital Transmission Content Protection System (DTCP) scrambles the image data so that unlicensed copies cannot be made, and uses the first all-digital connection for video equipment, i.link interface. 8-VSB The transmission standard for digital television in the U.S., endorsed by the Federal Communications Commission in 2001. The letters indicate that it is the number 8 mode of vestigial sideband modulation. All receivers made in the U.S. are 8-VSB compatible. AC-3 The technical name for Dolby Digital technology. The AC stands for Audio Code and the 3 means version 3. (See DOLBY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.) A/V inputs Often used to quickly connect a DVD player, videogame console, or camcorder, these three connectors can be seen on the back or front of almost every TV: one for video (yellow) and two for stereo audio (either red and black or red and white). The yellow plug is called composite video. active scan lines The tiny rows of pixels on a television screen. (Any inactive scan lines are involved with helping the television keep its internal timing.) You can see the active scan lines if you look closely with a magnifying glass; there are 480 lines on a typical analog NTSC TV screen; a Hi-Scan screen has 1,080 lines. The number of active scan lines provides a good initial test for a screen s clarity, called its native resolution,
and tells you whether the set can display high-definition broadcasts in true highdefinition resolution. (See NATIVE RESOLUTION.) analog Today s TV systems using radio frequency waves to transmit and display pictures and sound. (See DIGITAL.) anamorphic The technology that squeezes a wide-screen image onto a DVD sometimes used informally to refer to wide-screen formats in general. Many DVD producers use anamorphic technology to save disk space, and most TVs and DVD players process the film so that it looks normal onscreen. But many DVD players allow you to temporarily watch the squeezed version you can make Ali look like a bantamweight. (See WIDE-SCREEN.) aperture grille The system of thin metal strands just behind the glass of any Sony Trinitron television. The aperture grille focuses the electron rays as they scan across the phosphors of the screen and prevents electrons bound for one phosphor dot from zapping the dot next to it. While many manufacturers use a shadow mask a net of crisscrossing fibers like a screen door for the same purpose, Sony s aperture grille uses strands that run up and down. The result is a brighter picture without as much distortion from heat. (See INTRODUCTION.) aspect ratio The proportion of a TV screen s width to its height. Most TVs are 4:3 or 16:9. All movies fit comfortably on a wide-screen TV, but many are a bit wider Ben-Hur, an extreme example, is almost three times wider than it is tall. (See 16:9, 4:3, and WIDE-SCREEN.) ATSC All U.S. digital broadcasts are ATSC signals, which are named after the Advanced Television Systems Committee, a group that formed in 1993 and today offers technical guidelines on how digital television should be broadcast. The ATSC standard supports many different display formats, from standard definition to high definition. (See HIGH DEFINITION; compare NTSC.) CableCARD A cable-company-supplied device that slides into a set-top box or television. The card IDs the user account and turns off protection safeguards so HDTV channels can be watched. cathode ray tube Most direct-view TVs and projection sets use cathode ray tubes, or CRTs, to show video. (See our explanation in the INTRODUCTION.) CineMotion Reverse 3-2 Pull- Down Technology Sony s term for a TV circuit that detects a 3-2 Pull-Down sequence and performs the reverse or inverse operation. When film studios release their work on TV, DVD, or videotape, they have to transfer film (which runs at 24 frames per second) to video (which runs at 30 frames per second). How do you get 24 into 30 without speeding up the film? Well, first take note that video actually flashes 60 half frames, called fields, per second because of its interlaced scan. The film studio has a machine (telecine) that takes one film frame and transfers it to three video fields, then takes the next film frame and transfers it to two video fields thus 3-2. The technology makes it possible to watch films at home, but creates imperfections and subtle speed
shifts in the movie. A Reverse 3-2 Pull-Down circuit looks at the video as it s coming through the television, and in a split second rearranges the fields into whole film frames like completing a puzzle. The surprising thing is that the TV s circuit doesn t have to interpolate, or guess, how the film frames actually started out; it has all the necessary clues and can re-create the film perfectly. Sony s CineMotion technology takes additional steps to make the image as close to the original film as possible. (See INTERLACED SCAN.) comb filter A group of circuits inside the television that improves analog broadcasts. A comb filter s job is to completely separate the light and dark information (called luminance ) from the color information (called chrominance ) in a video image. Otherwise, the television produces many small errors like crawling dots of light on the screen. The term comb, of course, is only figurative. definition The measure of how well a person can see details on a TV screen, usually expressed in terms of horizontal resolution. (See HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION.) deflection yoke The electromagnets inside a television tube that guide the electrons to each individual phosphor dot on the surface of the screen. A flying electron changes its course in the presence of magnetic energy. Early inventors of the television set figured out a way to change the magnetic energy inside the tube with such accuracy that the electrons could each be aimed at one of a TV s hundreds of thousands of tiny phosphor dots. (See Introduction.) digital The latest TV broadcast technology. To send a digital stream of information to your television set, a TV station takes tiny slices of the video image, assigns a numeric value to describe each slice, and mathematically encodes those values into equations. A traditional analog transmission, in contrast, has a more direct relationship to the pictures you watch. You could look at the television signals through an oscilloscope and see how the frequencies and voltage changes affect the sound, light, and color on your screen. In the audio world, this distinction means that if you hold an old vinyl record to the light, you might see small dark bands where the music grows louder and more dynamic. But the pattern of microscopic pits on a digital CD has only the most complex mathematical relationship to the actual music. digital-ready A difficult term to translate on its own. May describe a TV set that has special features for digital television. Or, it may refer to a television that can show highdefinition broadcasts in true high-definition resolution. (See HI-SCAN TECHNOLOGY.) Digital Reality Creation (DRC ) MultiFunction circuitry. Sony s breakthrough in television technology, DRC uses digital mapping to convert a conventional TV image into its high-definition equivalent. The system creates four times as much data for a more solid, more convincing picture. This system enables you to choose between interlaced and progressive display modes. (See ACTIVE SCAN LINES and PROGRESSIVE SCAN.) Dolby Digital Technology An audio compression technology used for most DVD movies, it s the U.S. standard for sending audio as part of digital TV signals. (Its technical name is AC-3. )
Dolby Digital stuffs audio information into a package much smaller than the original, so that it can fit on a DVD or travel as part of a narrow-bandwidth digital TV signal. More excitingly, it s built to hold 5.1 channels of surround sound. (See 5.1 and SURROUND SOUND.) DTV (digital television) A TV set built to receive digital broadcasts. Also refers to the digital broadcasts themselves, which are currently transmitted by more than 10 percent of U.S. digitalready DTV. The digital signals are either high-definition HDTV or standarddefinition SDTV. (See HIGH DEFINITION and SDTV.) DVD A disc that can store 4.7 gigabytes of digital information per side, mainly movies and computer data. Originally it was an acronym for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc, but now appears simply as DVD. enhanced definition electron gun A device in the back of a TV tube that generates negatively charged particles electrons and shoots them at the phosphor dots imprinted on the front of the screen. Inside the electron gun, there s a cathode, or negatively charged piece of metal, to generate the electrons and to send them speeding toward the front of the tube; and a system of electromagnets, called a deflection yoke, to guide them accurately toward the individual phosphor dots. (See Introduction.) Energy Star compliant A TV that meets Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for low electricity consumption. HDTV (high-definition television) A TV set with a built-in digital tuner that can show high-definition broadcasts in true high-definition resolution. Also refers to the broadcasts themselves. According to CEA, a fully integrated television set will receive all ATSC terrestrial digital transmissions and decode all ATSC Table 3 video formats. It must display active vertical scanning lines of 720 progressive (720p), 1080 interlaced (1080i), or higher in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. It must also receive and decode or pass-through for decoding Dolby Digital audio. It must also receive and decode or pass through for decoding 5.1 digital surround sound. According to the FCC, HDTV is the best quality TV (See 16:9, ATSC, HIGH DEFINITION, INTERLACED, and PROGRESSIVE.) HDTV display Another name for Sony s Hi-Scan TV set. (See HI-SCAN TECHNOLOGY.) HDTV monitor Industry name for Sony s Hi-Scan TV set. (See HI-SCAN TECHNOLOGY.) HDTV-ready television Another name for Sony s Hi-Scan TV set. (See HI-SCAN TECHNOLOGY.) Hi-Scan Sony s term for a set that doesn t have a built-in digital tuner, but can show highdefinition broadcasts in true high-definition resolution. Hi-Scan sets can also upconvert standard-definition digital broadcasts and traditional analog TV to display them at the TV s native HD scan rate. To receive digital signals for the sets, however,
consumers have to buy a separate HD receiver box. (See HIGH DEFINITION and SDTV.) high definition (HD) Digital broadcasts with either 1,080 active scan lines in interlaced format called 1,080i or 720 lines in progressive format called 720p as defined by the Advanced Television Systems Committee. (See ACTIVE SCAN LINES, ATSC, INTERLACED, and PROGRESSIVE.) horizontal resolution A visual measurement that determines the clarity of a screen or video signal. It s not easy to determine the horizontal resolution on your TV screen a video pro would do this by first drawing an imaginary line up and down the screen near the right edge, to form a perfect square. Then he or she would connect the finest component inputs and use a top-notch video source, to give the TV its best shot at displaying a high-definition signal. A test source would show a picture of a white card with thin vertical lines drawn tightly together, and our pro would stand back to see if he or she can tell the lines apart. The horizontal resolution is the maximum number of vertical lines visible in this square box. Today s typical VCR can show ~240 lines of horizontal resolution; an analog television station can show ~330 lines; a DVD player, ~540 lines; and a high-definition television, ~700 or more. In their spare time, some video experts seek out movies with scenes of picket fences and suspension bridges, just so they can admire their set s horizontal resolution. (See DEFINITION and NATIVE RESOLUTION.) IEEE-1394 So named because its specification was written by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, this cable commonly links computer peripherals to PCs. Also called i.link by Sony as well as FireWire, an Apple, Inc. trademark. i.link i.link ports enable you to connect compatible digital audio and digital video. integrated HDTV A TV set with a built-in digital receiver that can show high-definition broadcasts in true high-definition resolution. (See HIGH DEFINITION.) interlaced scanning When a TV receives an interlaced broadcast, the set draws half a video frame by painting the odd rows on the screen first. A split-second later, the TV fills in the other half by scanning the even rows. All analog broadcasts and some digital ones are transmitted in an interlaced pattern. Splitting an image in two sometimes causes flickering and other problems in traditional televisions. In Sony s Hi-Scan televisions, the flicker is diminished by the increased number of scan lines and the quality of the TV s electronics. Hi-Scan televisions can also show progressive scan broadcasts, which all things being equal deliver a better picture. (See Introduction; compare PROGRESSIVE SCAN.) letterbox The format sometimes used to show wide-screen movies on traditionally shaped 4:3 TV sets. A letterboxed movie has black bars above and below the image hence, the name (you feel like you re looking at the world through a mail slot in an old office door). (See WIDE-SCREEN.)
line doubler An electronic component inside many digital televisions that converts a conventional analog broadcast in an interlaced format to a progressive format providing 2x picture density. In addition, line doublers often change the transmission s 480 active scan lines to 960 lines. The device works using a microchip to make intelligent guesses as to what the in-between lines would look like. This results in a crisp, flicker-free image. Instead of a simple line doubler, Sony s Digital Reality Creation multifunction circuitry goes one step further, doubling the number of pixels counted across the screen, creating 4x picture density. (See DIGITAL REALITY CREATION.) native resolution Determined by the number of pixels on the screen, this measurement is often prominently advertised with digital sets; it s a quick way to judge the general clarity of the screen. A screen with a native resolution of 1,080 pixels up and down and 1,920 pixels side to side will certainly project sharper images than one that has just 480-by- 720 pixels. But two 1,080-by-1,920 TVs don t necessarily have the same clarity there are other important factors to consider. Some TVs are able to do more with what they ve got. For instance, digital sets that display 720 active scan lines in a progressive format look as good as those that show 1,080 lines in an interlaced format. Although there are fewer scan lines, the progressive pattern increases the definition. A good measurement of clarity is to take a long, subjective look at the quality of images on a screen, as well as to test for horizontal resolution. (See DEFINITION and HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION.) NTSC An abbreviation for National Television Standards Committee, the body that originally developed the black and white, and subsequently the color television system that s been used for 50 years in the United States and elsewhere. An NTSC picture is made up of 525 interlaced lines about 486 of which carry picture information- each with 720 pixels displayed at a rate of 29.97 frames per second. (See ACTIVE SCAN LINES and INTERLACED SCAN; compare ATSC.) pixel Short for picture element, this is the smallest element in an image. On a TV screen, a pixel appears as a cluster of tiny red, green, and blue phosphors. (See WIDE- SCREEN.) plug-and-play or digital cable ready A DTV or other device for digital cable customers that plugs directly into the cable jack and does not require a separate set-top box. Plug-and-play TV owners must obtain a CableCARD from their cable company in order to view scrambled programming services. progressive scan When a TV receives a progressive broadcast, the set shows the entire video frame one row at a time down the screen. Some digital broadcasts are transmitted in a progressive pattern, and high-end DVD players can provide a progressive scan, which delivers better picture quality. Sony s Hi-Scan TV sets show both progressive and interlaced broadcasts. (See Introduction; Compare INTERLACED SCAN.) RCA input Another common name for a composite video input. receiver
A device that tunes an analog (NTSC) or digital (ATSC) TV broadcast. A digital receiver, which also decodes the signal, can be built into the television or work as part of another piece of equipment, like a set-top box. Just as a home stereo receiver tunes in the radio station and sends music to the amplifier and speakers, a digital television receiver pulls in frequencies from a TV antenna, satellite signal, or cable connection and delivers a channel to your set. resolution A word that can be paired with either horizontal or native with two distinctly different results. Whenever someone say, an eager neighbor or coworker uses this term to describe their new television, ask them to specify which kind of resolution they re talking about. (See HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION and NATIVE RESOLUTION.) reverse 3-2 Pull-Down See CINEMOTION REVERSE 3-2 PULL-DOWN TECHNOLOGY. scan lines Almost always, this term refers to active scan lines. (See ACTIVE SCAN LINES.) screen size Determined by measuring diagonally which means that traditional and widescreen sets with the same screen size are not the same height and width. (Good thing to bear in mind as youretrofit that redwood cabinet into a TV stand.) standard-definition television (SDTV) A type of digital broadcast. SDTV signals have 480 active scan lines just like traditional analog signals so they are not much sharper. The format does have clearer sound and a picture free of interference, however. Most digital broadcasts these days are SDTV. According to CEA, SDTV now refers to fully integrated television receivers that receive all ATSC terrestrial digital transmissions and decode all ATSC Table 3 video formats to produce a usable picture. It can have active vertical scanning lines less than EDTV quality. No aspect ratio is specified and it must receive some form of usable audio signal. surround sound The general term for audio formats that make you feel like the soundtrack is all around you. Some TV sets feature virtual surround sound, which uses two stereo speakers and the complex timing of sounds to give you the feeling that the soundtrack surrounds you. Sony s use of TruSurround technology is an example of this. It generates the lifelike sounds from the rear speakers using only the stereo pair built in the television cabinet. Dolby Digital, another surround technology, uses five separate speakers and a subwoofer around your living room for a fuller effect. (See 5.1 and DOLBY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.) tuner The circuitry in a TV receiver that isolates the over-the-air radio signal from the station. It allows you to tune in a specific channel. (See RECEIVER.) Velocity Modulation Scanning Sony s technology for selectively changing the speed of the electron beam as it scans across the television screen. That way, the beam can slow down in highcontrast areas of the image detailed graphics or text for a clearer picture. (See Introduction.) video processor
A circuit inside digital televisions that translates between video formats. (See DIGITAL REALITY CREATION.) wide-screen A TV or movie screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. A wide-screen TV allows viewers to see films more as they appeared on the big screen. Think of it this way: that s 25 percent more aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a full quarter more ninjas in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and a whole lot more muppets in The Muppet Movie. (See 16:9 and SURROUND SOUND.) For more information, visit http://www.sony.com/hdtv.