Abstract: In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the kind in which the azimuth angles of recorded signals in adjacent tracks on a magnetic recording medium are made different with each other so as not to require a guard band and having a rotary head assembly including at least a pair of magnetic transducing heads, each having the head width larger than the track width, when a portion of an audio signal on the magnetic medium is re-recording, an identification information signal is recorded on a predetermined track in connection with the first or last track for which the re-recording is required so that signal deterioration and noise caused by track width fluctuation or variation is compensated for.

Abstract: This invention is an automatic read to write or write to read switching electronic recording and playback circuit that automatically disconnects the write section of the circuit when it is not in use, thus permitting reading without the necessity of an additional signal to select read or write.

Abstract: A magnetic tape timer and method wherein the measured tape time as well as stored cue markers are not affected upon receiving a preset or reset signal. An offset signal is generated and stored as a difference between the preset or reset signal and a tape time which is coincident with receiving the preset or reset signal. The tape time, cue markers and other tape time related values are then modified by the offset signal for further use such as for display.

Abstract: A cassette tape tensioning device for a cassette tape apparatus or wherein a cassette is placed within a cassette holder which is movable between a first position for receiving the cassette and a second position, with a pair of reel shafts being arranged to engage a pair of reel hubs in the cassette holder when the holder is in the second position and with a transmitting mechanism operating to transmit movement of the holder to at least one of the reel shafts when the holder moves from the first position to the second position, with at least one of the reel shafts being rotated so that the tape recording medium is tensioned between the reel hubs.

Abstract: A programmable time code generator utilizes a synchronous parallel-to-serial data converter for conversion of time code in parallel form into serial form. The resulting longitudinal time code is suitable for recording on magnetic tape in synchronism with an information signal. The time code generator can be readily adapted for various video recording formats, such as NTSC, PAL, PAL-M, SECAM, etc., as well as for synchronous time code generation in other types of recording. In addition, the frequency of the generated longitudinal time code can be changed in a simple manner to be adapted for recording at various tape speeds which are different from the normal playback speed.

Abstract: Optoelectronic method of reading the data retained on a magnetic medium (SM) on a plurality of tracks, receiving the data in the form of a plurality of luminous spots (ID.sub.i) projected onto a plane (P) where there are arranged a plurality of photoelectronic transducers aligned in at least one row (BTRPE.sub.ijl), at least two transducers (TRPE.sub.ij, TRPE.sub.(i+l)j) being associated with the same spot. A specified sampling instants the electrical image of the portion of the observed track is obtained in the form of a plurality of analog pulses (S'TRPE.sub.ij, S'TRPE.sub.(i+l)j) which are shifted in parallel, are then transferred into a register where they are shifted in series until an analog output signal (SSR.sub.1) is obtained, after which they are converted into a logic signal having a frequency equal to the frequency (f.sub.E) for writing the data on the magnetic medium SM.

Abstract: The quality of spot-focus of optical writing and reading light upon the information surface of a flexible optical disc is passively enhanced by (1) rotating the disc with its neutral plane stabilized in space and (2) directing such light through the optical disc support into precise spot-focus on the information surface. With this technique spherical aberration induced by the disc support compensates for thickness variation of the support. Various structural embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In a data recording/reproducing apparatus, a DC motor is provided for rotating an optical disk. A recording/reproducing head is driven to move over the disk linearly in the radial direction of the disk, thereby defining a plurality of data-storing tracks on the disk. A motor control section is provided for controlling the rotation of the disk so as to change the angular velocity of the disk when the head tracing is changed among the track groups. While the head is tracing the tracks included in the same track group, the rotation of the disk is made constant so that the disk rotates at a constant angular speed.

Abstract: A tracking control system is used for a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a magnetic head relatively scans a magnetic recording medium to record and/or reproduce an information signal thereon and/or therefrom. The tracking control system comprises a circuit for supplying a tracking reference signal to the magnetic head together with the information signal. The reference signal supplying circuit supplies the tracking reference signal to the magnetic head so that the magnetic head is positioned at a position where the recorded position of a tracking reference signal on both sides of the tracks adjacent to a certain track is positioned successively shifted respectively to the track longitudinal direction with respect to the tracking reference signal recorded position at the certain track.

Abstract: A head drum servo control arrangement is provided in a video tape recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, of the helical scan type, for reducing head phase error at the cut-in point on a magnetic tape during an electronic editing operation. A variable delay circuit imparts an adjustable delay to a detecting signal provided in response to rotation of the head drum. A first phase comparator circuit provides a drive control signal in response to a comparison of phases of the delayed detecting signal and an off-tape synch signal. A second phase comparator circuit provides a phase error signal in response to a comparison of phases of the reproduced synch signal and an off-tape synch signal derived from a video signal to be recorded during the editing operation.

Abstract: A digital signal reproducing apparatus comprises a reproducing circuit for reproducing a recorded unipolar signal from a recording medium, an equalizer for subjecting the reproduced signal to a waveform equalization, a circuit for extracting a timing component having a period which is equal to one bit transmission period of the recorded unipolar signal from an output signal of the equalizer, a circuit for generating one or a plurality of clock signals which are in phase synchronism with the timing component and for forming one or a plurality of control signals by frequency-dividing the timing component by 1/2, a circuit for sampling and holding a peak value of the output signal of the equalizer for every one bit transmission period, a variable resistor for voltage-dividing the sampled and held signal to obtain a reference signal, a delay circuit for delaying the output signal of the equalizer, a comparing circuit for comparing the levels of the output signal of the delay circuit and the reference signal, and

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the monoplanar motion of an object, more in particular a tape containing optically readable information, comprising two opposite clamping means on either side of the object. The object as well as at least one of the clamping means are accommodated within a dustproof case. One of the clamping means can be moved relative to the other by generating an (electro)magnetic field outside the case.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the transport of a magnetic tape in a tape recorder or like devices, arranged so that a braking force is applied only for a predetermined length of time to reel stands carrying tape reels either when the tape transport is to be stopped or when a speed of the tape transport is to be reduced to thereby mitigate the consumption of electric power required for the braking action, the apparatus also eliminates the provision of a special operation for stopping the transport of the magnetic tape which, otherwise, is required for switching from high-speed run to normal-speed run of the tape.

Abstract: In a video tape recorder having at least one rotary magnetic head for recording and reproducing a video signal on a magnetic recording tape, a control signal which will be used for controlling the rotation of the rotary head and the movement of the tape is recorded via a stationary head located at a preceding point from the rotary head. The gap of the stationary head extends in the transverse direction of the tape so as to cover the entire or nearly entire width of the tape. Thus, the control signal is recorded on the magnetic tape throughout the entire or nearly entire width thereof, preventing undesirable dropout. By supplying the stationary head with a high frequency erasing current together with the control signal, the stationary head may function not only as a control signal recording head but also as an erase head.

Abstract: An audio/video recording and reproducing system having a discrete function unit such as tape deck, record player or tuner connected thereto includes a function selection circuit and a function specifying switch disposed in a main unit, such as a pre/main amplifier, and a control line, such as remote control line, for connecting the main unit and the discrete unit. By virtue of the function selection circuit, the selection of a desired discrete function unit can be carried out at the main unit. However, in addition to this, the system includes an arrangement for permitting selection of a desired discrete function unit at the discrete function unit itself, and, when this is done, for controlling the function selection at the main unit to select the output of the discrete function unit.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a focussing error signal and a tracking error signal of an objective lens with respect to an information track of a video disc on which a reading light spot is focussed by the objective lens includes a detection prism having a reflection surface which is set substantially at a critical angle and a light detector for receiving the light flux reflected by the reflection surface. The light detector is arranged in a far field of the track and having four light receiving regions divided along two orthogonal directions. The focussing error signal is derived as a difference between output signals from the regions aligned in a track direction and the tracking error signal is derived as a difference between output signals from the regions aligned in a direction perpendicular to the track direction. An information signal is obtained as a sum of the output signals from the four regions.

Abstract: An automatic tracking system for a VTR has playback heads having widths smaller than the recorded track widths. At least two tracks are simultaneously reproduced. If mistracking occurs, the amplitude of the reproduced signal from one head decreases, while the amplitude of the signal from the other head remains constant. This is detected and used to generate a bimorph control signal to correct the tracking.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup cartridge comprises a movably supported permanent magnet magnetized in the direction of the thickness thereof, a cantilever secured to the magnet with a stylus attached to the free end thereof, and a pair of magnetic flux sensors stationarily mounted above the permanent magnet at right angles to each other for sensing the angular displacement of the permanent magnet about different axes with respect to a neutral position.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is used in an optical recording apparatus which performs the recording by respectively forming a first beam spot and a second beam spot by focusing light beam portions respectively having diameters smaller than that of first light beam and second light beam respectively modulated by first signal and second signal on a recording medium by use of focusing lens.

Abstract: A video tape recorder (VTR) adapted for use in editing tapes so that a second signal may be recorded on the tape to accurately and closely follow a first signal recorded thereon is provided with a record review mode where a portion of the first recorded signal immediately preceding the changeover, or edit, point may be reviewed prior to recording the second signal. The VTR is of the type which, upon being placed in a pause mode, automatically rewinds the tape by a length corresponding to a first predetermined number of control signals. In the VTR according to the present invention, upon entering the review mode, the tape is automatically rewound for a second length and then played back for a third length corresponding to but slightly less than the sum of the first and second lengths. Thereafter, the VTR automatically reenters the pause mode to be rewound again by the first predetermined length.