In analog video signals, such as those used in traditional television broadcasts (NTSC, PAL, SECAM) or older CRT displays, images are constructed by scanning a series of horizontal lines. To ensure precise image stability and proper alignment of these individual scan lines, a specific synchronization signal is embedded within the video signal itself.
The signal that aligns each horizontal scan line within a video field in analog video systems is known as the horizontal synchronization pulse. Often referred to simply as horizontal sync or HSync, this essential timing signal is embedded within the video signal’s blanking interval. Its primary function is to precisely control the horizontal retrace of the electron beam in a CRT display. Specifically, the horizontal sync pulse instructs the display to move the electron beam rapidly from the end of one horizontal scan line on the right side of the screen back to the beginning of the next line on the left. This ensures that each successive horizontal line of picture information is drawn accurately and starts at the correct position. Without this precise horizontal sync signal, the displayed image would lack stability, appearing to break up or tear horizontally. This vital alignment signal is fundamental to the operation of traditional television broadcast standards like NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, ensuring stable and properly framed images on older CRT monitors and televisions. It is indispensable for proper scan line positioning and overall picture integrity in analog video technology.
The signal that aligns each horizontal scan line in an analog video field is called the horizontal synchronization pulse, often abbreviated as the H-sync pulse or horizontal sync signal. This crucial component is embedded within the composite video signal alongside the picture information and other timing signals.
The horizontal synchronization pulse serves a vital role in ensuring stable image display on devices like older CRT televisions and monitors. At the end of each horizontal scan line, as the electron beam reaches the right side of the display screen, the H-sync pulse triggers the retrace or flyback process. This retrace quickly moves the electron beam back to the left side of the screen, preparing it to begin drawing the subsequent horizontal line. Without precise horizontal synchronization, the lines would not align properly, leading to a distorted, unstable, or scrambled image.
In traditional analog video systems such as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM broadcasts, these horizontal sync pulses are precisely timed to maintain the integrity of the video raster scan. They are fundamental for maintaining picture stability and ensuring the accurate positioning of every individual scan line. This synchronization mechanism is essential for proper video signal alignment, allowing the display to accurately reconstruct the intended video image from the incoming analog television signal.
The signal that aligns each horizontal scan line in an analog video field is known as the horizontal synchronization signal, often referred to as the horizontal sync pulse or H-sync. This critical timing component is an integral part of the composite video signal, ensuring the accurate positioning and stability of each individual scan line that forms the television image.
The horizontal synchronization pulse is transmitted at the end of each horizontal scan line. Its primary function is to instruct the electron beam in a CRT display or the scanning mechanism in an analog video system to rapidly return from the right side of the screen to the left side, preparing to begin drawing the next line of the image. This rapid return movement is called horizontal retrace. The H-sync pulse occurs during the horizontal blanking interval, a brief period when the video signal temporarily drops to a black level, ensuring that the retrace line is not visible on the screen. Without this precise horizontal sync, the image would appear torn, wavy, or unstable, as the individual scan lines would not be properly aligned across the display. This fundamental synchronization is essential for the stable operation of traditional analog video systems such as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM standards.