Abstract: A digital effects unit is integrally combined with a video switcher apparatus by interrupting various selected video signal and control paths in the switcher and, in particular, the mix effects signal from the first mixer and the pattern signal from the pattern generator, and re-routing the corresponding signals to respective inputs of the digital effects unit. The resulting manipulated video and key output signals therefrom are supplied to a second, downstream mixer which combines the digital effects with conventional switcher effects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the position of a web containing location identifying information thereon. In particular, a means for measuring displacement of the web independent of the location information is employed to measure the displacement of the web in a cyclic manner such that the measuring cycle is in the expected displacement intervals between identifying information. A difference between a desired position of the web determined by an operator controlled reference displacement position of the web is determined, and used for controlling the position of the web to the desired position.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic holder is made having a plurality of precisely located parallel grooves. Each groove has a reference lateral surface provided therein. Individual magnetic transducers are inserted in each groove with a lateral surface abutting the reference lateral surface within that groove. The transducers are preferably made by well known batch fabrication techiques. A locating element, such as a leaf spring, is provided in each groove to urge the transducer core against the reference surface and to firmly hold the transducer in a desired position during alignment and assembly. The modular structure allows inspecting the individual transducers for mechanical or electrical damages and their replacement, if necessary, prior to the final assembly. The multichannel head is then integrally joined together, for example by bonding. The rejection rate of the resulting modular multichannel head is significantly reduced.

Abstract: An adaptive chrominance separator is provided which responds to horizontal high frequency luminance detail as well as to vertical chrominance detail. The luminance and chrominance levels are detected and an adaptive decision is made, depending upon the relative levels, of whether to use a bandpass filter, a comb filter or the averaged outputs of both filters, to provide more accurate separation of the chrominance.

Abstract: A plurality of input video signals (including background) are combined in accordance with priority. Each video signal comprises data samples corresponding to respective discrete locations on a viewing plane. The signals are preferably from an ADO transformation system wherein such data samples correspond to elements of an image lying in an image plane displaced from the viewing plane. Input key signals correspnding to respective locations are associated with respective input signals. Priority is shown determined from respective sets of plane defining signals as a sequence of depth signals corresponding to the depth coordinates of the respective image plane at the respective locations. The depth signals are used to produce respective weighting signals.

Abstract: A door operating mechanism for a magnetic tape cassette, such mechanism including a door latch mechanism provided in the cassette capable of rotating a door assembly of the cassette from the fully closed to the fully opened position and designed to prevent the engagement of the door assembly with the tape run contained within the cassette.

Abstract: An improved magnetic particulate pigment suitable for use in recording media and media employing it are disclosed. The particles of the pigment comprise a magnetic core with an epitaxial layer containing approximately 0.05-2.0% of the total pigment as zinc ion. A process for preparing such particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A capstan servo for moving video tape with variable speed during playback controls the tape speed according to time period inputs. The input specifies the number of seconds per hour of program length, for example, that a segment of recorded video information is to be expanded or compressed compared relative to its normal real time playback length. The speed of tape transport during playback is varied by locking the reproduced control track vertical sync signal to a synthesized time adjustable reference signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus and method for accurately ascertaining the time of occurrence of passage of the leading and trailing edges of an input pulse through the 50% amplitude level. The apparatus implements the transfer function 1 - cos(wt) where t is equal to the round trip delay through a delay line, and w is the angular velocity of each fourier component of the input signal. In one embodiment, a summing resistor and a delay line having a characteristic impedance equal to that of the resistor are used. The output of the delay line is coupled to one input of a comparator, and the other input is coupled to the junction between the summing resistor and the delay line. Another embodiment uses two matched delay lines, two factoring circuits, a summing circuit and a comparator to implement the same transfer function.

Abstract: A reference track is recorded in a longitudinal direction on a recording medium. During recording of an information signal along parallel tracks on the medium a deviation of the reference track in a transverse direction from its nominal position with respect to the medium transport is detected by one or more sensor heads mounted in a fixed relationship with respect to the medium transport. A positionably mounted data head is moved in transverse direction in accordance with the sense and magnitude of the detected deviation, thereby maintaining the data head in a known geometric relationship with the reference track during the recording process. During playback the same reference track may be utilized to follow the thusly recorded parallel tracks.

Abstract: A silent audio switch provides switching between multiple audio sources while eliminating the "pop" caused by switching spikes. Two internal buses are used for each visible external bus, whereby a new audio signal is first switched to an off-air bus opposite an on-air bus, any switching spike is allowed to subside, and then a fast mix is made between the two buses to derive the new audio signal as the switch output signal.

Abstract: In a time base correction system, a composite color television analog signal derived from a prerecorded tape is converted by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to a digital signal having horizontal sync and color burst signal components. The digitized sync and burst signals are processed on a line-by-line basis to provide an error signal between input video and a sampling clock in the form of a binary control word. The error signal is applied to a digital frequency synthesizer which generates a clock at the subcarrier frequency to achieve precise adjustment of frequency and phase of the A/D sampling clock with respect to the video signal. An analog phase locked loop operating at four times the subcarrier frequency feeds back a 4.times. subcarrier sampling clock to the analog-to-digital converter with adjustable frequency and phase.

Abstract: A signal generator for generating a clocked PAL reference video signal from a single signal source wherein a counter-divider extracts subcarrier frequency component from the PAL reference video signal and modulator means in combination with a counter-divider extracts a horizontal frequency component from the PAL reference video signal, the single signal source permitting the signal components extracted therefrom to be fixed in a precise mathematical relationship.

Abstract: A synthetic control track signal is provided for a magnetic video tape recording and/or reproducing machine having a motor driven capstan and capstan servo which controls the speed of the tape during recording and reproducing. The synthetic signal enables the capstan servo to operate when the control track signal has not been recorded or has been improperly recorded. The synthetic signal is generated from vertical synchronization information extracted from the video information extracted signal.

Abstract: A tape transport front panel is adjustable to position the controls conveniently for operators in various positions.

Abstract: Non-orthogonality of the blanking region information caused by the 25 Hz offset in a digital PAL-encoded color television signal is corrected by a dynamic offset circuit. To this end, a plurality of waveforms describing the envelopes of the blanking, sync and burst are stored, and during video signal processing are sequentially addressed at a 25 Hz rate. The resulting assembled output blanking information is orthogonal to the television scanning frequency.

Abstract: An analog gate configuration employing multiple input transistors, eliminates distortion in its output signal when switching between multiple input signals during a corresponding switch-over interval when the input transistors are sharing current, by providing circuitry for sensing the occurrence of the switch-over interval. The sensing circuitry modulates a current source during the switch-over interval to selectively increase the current to be shared by the input transistors such that the current through each input transistor is maintained constant for any transistor which contributes to the output signal.

Abstract: A latch for the pivoting head arm of a data-storage magnetic disc machine, in which a U-shaped latching member is arranged to avoid malfunctioning to block the movement of the arm, and may be operated entirely by means of a toggle spring, or entirely by means of a magnetic arrangement or cooperatively with both.

Abstract: A machine for extracting tape from a cassette and for threading the tape to a monoplanar disposition for longitudinal shuttling and transducing by fixed transducing heads, and then further threading the tape, if desired, to a helical disposition around a rotating head and scanning drum assembly without interrupting the longitudinal shuttling or transducing action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for recording and reproducing color television signals on a magnetic media such as magnetic tape, wherein the signals recorded on and reproduced from the magnetic media are in a digital domain. The analog color television signal is converted to digital signals in a manner whereby the horizontal blanking interval is compressed and digital synchronizing information is inserted in the compressed horizontal blanking interval for every line. Upon reproduction, the digital synchronizing information is extracted from the reproduced information and is provided to servo circuits for controlling the relative transport of the magnetic tape and operatively associated magnetic heads to effect synchronous reproduction of the recorded information relative to a reference signal.