Abstract: A microprocessor for control of a disk drive is shown which utilizes status signals passed back to the processor indicating the status of operation of the drive. A clock is provided for precise measurement of the elapsed time between consecutive read or write operations and for stopping the drive motor after a specified delay.

Abstract: A detector for detecting a space between blocks of data recorded on a recording medium, comprising a recording medium with a given speed, which provides a reproduction signal corresponding to an information recorded on the recording medium and issues a transport operation indicating signal; a discrimination means for discriminating the transport operation indicating signal, which provides a filter characteristic changing signal in accordance with the transport operation indicating signal; and a variable filter means for filtering the reproduction signal and providing a timing signal, of which filtering characteristic is changed in accordance with the filter characteristic changing signal. An operation mode of the recording medium transport means is changed by a transport control signal corresponding to the timing signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically reproducing recorded signals from a rotary recording medium, in accordance with the mode in which signals were recorded. The reproducing apparatus comprises a micro-computer which produces a two-bit mode control signal and a one-bit muting signal. The one-bit muting signal puts one of two processing circuits in a non-operational state, so that the other of the two processing circuits can perform the signal processing in accordance with the mode specified by the two-bit mode control signal. Four codes constituted by the two-bit mode control signal are commonly used to specify four reproducing modes of a video rotary recording medium and four reproducing modes of an audio rotary recording medium.

Abstract: An optical signal recording and reproduction or retrieval system which records a primary signal on a recording track provided on a recording medium by projecting a laser beam which has been modulated by the primary signal onto the recording track, and further records a secondary signal, by superposition, on the recording track by projecting the laser beam which has been modulated by the secondary signal having a frequency band which is different from that of the primary signal onto the recording track for enabling the deleting of the previously recorded primary signal.

Abstract: Control apparatus for recording first wanted signals of an input signal having the first signals and second unwanted signals, each of the second signals being of a time duration up to a predetermined maximum and each of the first signals being of any time duration greater than the predetermined maximum, including a circuit, responsive to the input signal, for automatically distinguishing the first signals from the second signals as a function of time duration, and a circuit for producing recorder control signals to record each of the first signals and to prevent recording of the second signals.

Abstract: A mode selecting device for a video tape reproducing apparatus of the type in which a magnetic tape is transported past rotary magnetic heads, includes a control shaft adapted to rotate about an axis, a control knob connected to the upper end of the control shaft for manually controlling the rotation of the control shaft, a photo-disk rotatable with the control shaft, a pair of photo-detectors associated with the photo-disk for detecting the rotational speed, the angular position and the direction of rotation of the control shaft about the axis, a latch mechanism for maintaining the control shaft in either a first or second axial position along the axis and for effecting successive change-overs between the first and second axial positions in response to successive depressions of the control knob, the speed of movement of the tape being controlled in response to the detection of the angular position when the control shaft is maintained in the first axial position and the speed of movement of the tape being con

Abstract: In a special mode video disc reproduction system in which two identical frames of video signals are recorded for each disc revolution of spiral tracks, and further recorded with a first or a second reference signal having mutually different frequencies on a reference signal tract between adjacent tracks of the recording medium the first and second reference signals are alternately changed over and recorded on the reference signal track every one revolution of the disc, and the disc is further recorded with a third reference signal at the vertical blanking period recording positions of the corresponding recording positions on the track where the first and second reference signals are changed over. A skip pulse supplying circuit generates skip pulses for skipping the reproducing element at vertical blanking period positions opposing positions where the third reference signal is recorded on the track, upon double-speed reproduction mode in the forward direction.

Abstract: An automatic track following feature for use with a helical video recorder is disclosed which enables reproduction of video fields at normal speeds, fast and slow forward and reverse speeds, and at stop motion, wherein a mechanism for moving a playback head transverse to the helical tracks on a magnetic tape is provided in order to enable the head to remain centered on the track regardless of tape speeds and directions of movement. A head position control signal is generated for driving the head positioning mechanism based on a comparison of a signal based on the instantaneous tape speed with a reference speed indicating signal.

Abstract: An optical reproducing device for reproducing information from a rotating record medium includes a focus control system for displacing a focusing lens perpendicular to the plane of the record medium. A light beam is conducted through the focusing lens on to the record medium. A capture range search system is provided to move the focusing lens at a substantially constant speed from a rest position until it is positioned within the capture range of the focusing control system. The capture range search system includes a bridge circuit for sensing the moving speed of the focusing lens. The bridge circuit includes a moving coil of a drive motor for said focusing lens and a variable impedance element. The bridge circuit is balanced by controlling the variable impedance element when the lens is at the rest position.

Abstract: A stylus for use in detecting signals as electrostatic capacitance variations of the information recorded in the form of geometric variations on a surface of a recording disc comprises a diamond body and a stylus electrode formed on a surface of the diamond body by depositing a conductive substance having a strong affinity to carbon and heating the deposited diamond body to an elevated temperature to allow the carbon atoms of the diamond body to diffuse into the deposited conductive region to form a carbide compound. Hafnium, titanium or tantalum is found suitable as the conductive substance.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for optically recording and reproducing information on and from a disk-shaped information carrier having a guide track is disclosed. A digital track address prerecorded on the guide track is reproduced and the intensity of a recording laser beam is controlled by the reproduced digital track address so that the exposures of the recording laser beam at an inner periphery and an outer periphery of the disk-shaped information carrier rotated at a constant rotation speed are corrected to enable an optimum recording over an entire surface of the disk-shaped information carrier.

Abstract: The transducer or transducers are mounted to the bottom of a U-frame carrying a coil between the legs; the coil is slipped onto and runs over a bar, facing two permanent magnets. One leg of the U-frame is suspended on leaf springs, being connected also to a base, so that the frame moves strictly linearly without lateral displacement. A similar spring mount may be connected to the other leg of the U-frame. The springs may have a U-configuration or an E-configuration.

Abstract: A video signal recording and/or reproducing system for recording a video signal onto a recording medium and reproducing the video signal from the recording medium comprises a discriminating signal generating circuit for generating a plurality of first discriminating signals respectively having a frequency of 2nf which is 2n times a predetermined frequency f (n is an integer greater than one), and a plurality of second discriminating signals respectively having a frequency of (2n-1)f, a mixing and multiplexing circuit for respectively and alternately changing over the first and second discriminating signals obtained from the discriminating signal generating circuit, every recording unit of one track, and mixing and multiplexing the first and second discriminating signals into the video signal, a recording device for recording the above multiplexed signal obtained from the mixing and multiplexing circuit, onto the recording medium, a reproducing device for reproducing the recorded multiplexed signal from the re

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in a digital signal transmission or recording system, particularly for video signals where, as is customary, the number of digital signals (i.e., digital words) is reduced (for example, by a factor of 2) prior to transmission or recording. The apparatus is operable to determine when a digital word fed to an input filter has a characteristic similar to that of a filtered word so that such a word can bypass the input filter and be transmitted or recorded without further filtering. This is achieved by monitoring the words input to the input filter and then operating a bypass around the input filter when the monitoring circuit detects that an input word has a characteristic similar to a filtered word.

Abstract: A modular telephone jack is formed of two parts, top and bottom, which slide together, moving interengaging formations at a front end to hold the front ends together, and at least one detent at the other end of the top part with a resilient member in engagement with the detent to retain the two parts assembled. An additional feature, cantilever spring wire contact members are molded into the top part at one end of each contact member, the contact members extending into an aperture defined by the top and bottom parts.

Abstract: In order to simplify the adjusting of a device for adjusting of sound head platforms for sound records, cassette sound recorders or digital storage devices which comprise a transport shaft, a sound head platform, a support for supporting the sound head platform and a sound head, a pivot bearing as well as a knife edge bearing are disposed successively in a radial plane to the transport shaft on the support which supports the sound head platform, the sound head platform is supported on the knife edge bearing and on the pivot bearing in direction and beneath the sound head main axis and is pushed against the pivot bearing and the knife edge bearing by a spring perpendicular with respect to the sound head platform and by at least one bearing axis formed by the pivot bearing and the knife edge bearing at a perpendicular distance, whereby the associated counter bearing for the spring is disposed about symmetrically with respect to the sound head main axis.

Abstract: In the disclosed system, a large scale integrated circuit receives operating signals from record, play, stop, fast-forward, and rewind actuating switches at corresponding input terminals and produce motor forward and reverse signals for controlling switches that operate a motor, fast-forward signals, and amplifier control signals at corresponding output terminals. Outside the LSI, a feedback arrangement responds to a tape-stop signal indicating that the tape has stopped advancing, and the motor forward signal produced by the large scale integrated circuit to apply play and rewind signals to the input terminals of the circuit whether or not the rewind or play switches have been operated.

Abstract: A laser recording method in which recording is made on the recording medium by using the laser light modulated corresponding to the original to be recorded. The original to be recorded is line read out at a predetermined clock frequency in the main scanning direction of the original reading out device having a photoelectric conversion element. The read out signal of the original reading out device is sent to a memory capable of storing at least the signals belonging to the line now being read out and the signals belonging to the immediately preceding line. The signals belonging to the line immediately preceding the line being read out are read out from the memory to accomplish laser modulation and are then recorded on the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic reproducing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of receiving radio broadcast programs. A tuner unit having approximately the same shape and size as a tape cassette is inserted in the magnetic reproducing apparatus. This tuner unit includes a tuner circuit. At least one first electrode is positioned on the tuner unit as an output terminal of the tuner unit. At least one second electrode is positioned on the apparatus body. The first electrode reliably contacts the second electrode when the tuner unit is inserted in the holding portion of the magnetic reproducing apparatus to enable reception and playing of radio programs.

Abstract: A color video signal recording or reproducing system has a recording system which separates a luminance signal (including a horizontal synchronizing signal) and a carrier chrominance signal, from a color video signal. These separated signals are frequency-converted and modulated to be mixed, multiplexed, and recorded on mutually adjacent parallel tracks. The recorded positions of the horizontal synchronizing signals are not aligned in the mutually adjacent tracks on the recording medium. A predetermined delay is given to the carrier chrominance signal for every recording track, so that the positions of the frequency-converted carrier chrominance signal, corresponding to a horizontal synchronizing interval, are aligned in the mutually adjacent tracks. The reproducing system delays the reproduced frequency-converted carrier chrominance signal so that the sum of the delays which occur during recording and reproduction is constant, regardless of the track being reproduced.