Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital picture signal, the large number of data bits in the digital picture signal to be recorded is reduced by a ratio of approximately 1:9, and the thus compressed data are recorded with a recording density of at least approximately 0.8 bit/&mgr;m2 in relatively narrow successive skewed tracks without guard bands on a metal evaporated magnetic tape having predefined characteristics. The magnetic tape has a width of no more than approximately 8 mm and a thickness of no more than approximately 7 &mgr;m and is wound in a relatively small size cassette.

Abstract: A data path control device with a first interface section for connecting to a LAN, second interface section for connecting to an external network through a small transmission capacity two-way line such as a telephone line, and third interface section for receiving a large capacity data from a large transmission capacity one-way line such as a satellite broadcast line. The data path control device changes the sender address of the data transmitted from a computer to a network based on a previously set correspondent relationship, thereby controls the path so that the large capacity data from the network is transmitted through the large transmission capacity one-way line. A path of the reply data from a network responsive to the request data from a computer outputted to an external network is selected by the computer side, and in the case that the reply data is composed of large capacity data, a satellite line having a large transmission capacity can be selected.

Abstract: Data receiving device and method in which data is received through a broadcast network, the data is reconstructed into packets usable on a computer, and the packets are output to the computer, directly or through a local area network. The reconstructed packets are preferably in the format of Internet Protocol (IP) packets. A destination address allocated to the data receiving device on the broadcast network is converted, via the data receiving device, to an IP address allocated to a personal computer on the Internet.

Abstract: A tape-loading mechanism of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has a tape travel system in which a magnetic tape drawn out of a supply-side tape reel is helically wound around a drum along a lead thereof by tilted guides respectively provided on inlet and outlet sides of the drum and tape guides respectively provided on inlet and outlet sides thereof, passed via a capstan and wound around a takeup side tape reel. A vertical position of the lead of the drum is set equal to that of a lower edge of the tape in a state immediately before the magnetic tape is loaded onto the drum. The magnetic tape is twisted in the middle of the tape travel system in order to cancel difference in tension between upper and lower edges of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is loaded onto the drum.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus has an indirect drive arrangement in which the reel turntables are rotated by an existing motor, such as a capstan motor or the like. The reel turntables can pivot about supporting points on a chassis such that they can be moved between large and small cassette driving positions. A drive gear supported on a swing arm and which is driven by a capstan motor, is selectively meshed with one of the driven gears provided on the two reel turntables.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a connection for contact with electrical terminals of a record medium cassette set in the recording and reproducing apparatus and incorporating a memory containing audio/video data and record data, such as the length of the tape in the cassette, whether it contains recorded data, or whether it is a rental video, wherein the record medium cassette does not have to be loaded in the apparatus for contact with the connection; a circuit for reading the data; and a circuit for communicating the read data to a second recording and reproducing apparatus for dubbing.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a rack mechanism by which a cassette compartment can be easily removed from a mechanical deck regardless of any position at which reel tables are moved. In a recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as a video cassette recorder in which a space between two reel tables can be moved by a reel table movement mechanism and small and large tape cassettes of different size are selectively mounted on the reel tables, a rack mechanism has a pair of parallel racks which can be relatively moved through a pinion, one rack has an engagement recess formed on one end portion thereof, the other rack has an engagement recess formed on one end portion thereof, the engagement recess being positioned over the one rack and a cassette compartment includes a drive lever which is moved in the height direction in response to the insertion of tape cassettes of different size.

Abstract: To provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in not only size but also thickness. In order to make the apparatus cope with the tape cassettes different in size and thickness, there is provided a positioning guide mechanism including a pair of positioning guide members so that a small cassette can be guided at both the side faces on a cassette supporting surface of the cassette holder so as to be depressed and projected by a biasing means, and a pair of side plates at its both sides of a cassette holder so that a large cassette can be guided at its both side faces. If a user is not highly skilled in operating such recording and reproducing apparatus which permits to use tape cassettes different in size and thickness, the apparatus will suffer from risk that the cassettes are erroneously inserted or the user carries out malicious operation.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus can translate a detecting device for detecting information, such as the kind and content of tape cassette and a reel lock mechanism releasing device to proper positions corresponding to tape cassettes of different sizes. A tape cassette information detecting device (71) and reel lock releasing device (72a, 72b) can be translated to positions at which large and small tape cassettes are in use through a swing drive member (54), a translating lever (73), a driving link (74), a detection mechanism holding member (75) and a reel lock releasing plate (77) in unison with a movement of reel mounts (44, 45).

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes a connection for contact with electrical terminals of a record medium cassette set in the recording and reproducing apparatus and incorporating a memory containing audio/video data and record data, such as the length of the tape in the cassette, whether it contains recorded data, or whether it is a rental video, wherein the record medium cassette does not have to be loaded in the apparatus for contact with the connection; a circuit for reading the data; and a circuit for communicating the read data to a second recording and reproducing apparatus for dubbing.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus within which tape cassettes of different sizes are installable includes a tension regulator arm, pivotably supported by a base plate, and in elastic contact with the magnetic tape withdrawn from the tape cassette, and a tension regulating belt, attached to the tension regulator arm at one end thereof, and in slidable contact with a reel mount to apply a braking force thereto, the braking force being altered according to the position of the reel mount. The braking force applied by the tension regulating belt to the reel mount is less when a smaller sized tape cassette is positioned in the apparatus as compared to when a larger sized tape cassette is positioned therein.

Abstract: In a tape cassette having a case with a mouth for receiving a magnetic head drum of a recording/reproducing apparatus and containing a recording tape wound on rotatable reels and including a tape run extending across the mouth; a front lid is pivotally supported on side walls of the case so as to be movable between a closed position covering a front opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the tape run, and upper lid is pivotally joined at its front edge to the upper edge portion of the front lid so as to be movable between a closed position to covering a top opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the top opening, and a slide shutter is supported on the case for sliding between a closed position covering a bottom opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover such bottom opening. The mouth across which a run of the recording tape extends can be closely covered by the front lid, the upper lid and the slide shutter when the tape cassette is not in use.

Abstract: In a digital magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a magnetic head comprises a plurality of head chips mounted closely together in parallel with each other on a rotary drum member which is rotatably supported by dynamic pressure bearing in which a sleeve and a shaft inserted therein are relatively rotatably supported by fluid under pressure therebetween.

Abstract: An rotary drum head for recording and/or reproducing a signal on slanted tracks formed on a magnetic tape. A chassis is provided with a rotary head drum unit having a lower stationary drum mounted on the chassis in an inclined position. A rotary drum is rotatably and coaxially mounted above the lower stationary drum. A transducer is mounted on a periphery of the rotary drum. A motor rotates the rotary drum. An upper stationary drum is coaxially mounted above the rotary drum wherein an upper portion of the upper stationary drum at the farther side from the chassis is cut so that total height of the rotary head drum unit is reduced.

Abstract: A digital VTR is provided with a block segmenting circuit for converting an input digital picture signal into data segmented into blocks of picture elements, an encoding circuit for compressing and encoding the output data of the block segmenting circuit block-by-block, a channel encoding circuit for channel encoding the encoded output data from the encoding circuit, an audio signal encoding circuit for encoding an input digital audio signal, and an additional code generating circuit for generating an additional control code which includes subdata.

Abstract: A tape cassette has a substantially rectangular, box-shaped casing with a recess in a front portion of the casing having openings facing forwardly and downwardly, respectively, and with a bottom wall of the casing having an undersurface including cassette height determining portions adjacent the front and back of the casing and a slide surface portion therebetween which is planar and recessed relative to at least the cassette height determining portions adjacent the back of the casing. A lid is pivotally mounted on the casing for movements between a closed position extending across the opening facing forwardly from the recess and a raised opened position uncovering the forwardly facing opening, and a tape is wound about reels rotatable in the casing and extends between the reels in a path including a run extending across the forwardly facing opening so as to be disposed in back of the lid in its closed position.

Abstract: A recording medium cassette being easily miniaturized if necessary, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, adapted to use the same recording medium cassette. The recording medium cassette includes a printed wiring board having a plurality of information indicating contacts and which is fixed to the bottom wall of a case of the recording medium cassette so that the information indicating contacts are accessible from outside through slots formed in the bottom wall. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of information detecting contacts respectively corresponding to the information indicating contacts of the recording medium cassette. The information detecting contacts may respectively contact the information indicating contacts upon insertion of the recording medium cassette into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to enable information to be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: A tape cassette having a cassette casing having rotatably contained therein a pair of tape reels having fixed thereto respective ends of a tape and a front lid rotatably supported at the fore end of the cassette casing to cover the front surface of the tape partly led out from the cassette casing through tape outlets provided at the fore end of the cassette casing. The cassette includes reel lock members provided to both side walls of the cassette casing slidably in their forward and backward directions to shift in linkage with opening and closing of the front lid, engagement claws provided rotatably at the rear end sections of the reel lock members to engage in and disengage from engagement teeth provided around the flanges of the tape reels, and elastic deformable members provided between the engagement claws and primary sections to the reel lock members and guide sections to guide the movement of the reel lock members.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus of a digital picture signal comprising a block segmenting circuit for converting an input digital picture signal into data segmented by blocks composed of a plurality of picture elements, an encoding circuit for compressing and encoding the output data of the block segmenting circuit by blocks, and a channel encoding circuit for channel encoding the encoded output data from the encoding circuit, wherein the output data from the channel encoding circuit is recorded on a magnetic tape by a magnetic head mounted on a rotation drum, and wherein the magnetic recording apparatus of digital picture data is characterized in that the track pitch formed on the magnetic tape by the magnetic head is 5.5 .mu.m or less, the diameter of the rotary drum is 25 mm or less, and the rotating speed of the rotary drum is 150 rps or more, the track length per unit time is set to particular value thereby.

Abstract: A recording medium cassette being easily miniaturized if necessary, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, adapted to use the same recording medium cassette. The recording medium cassette includes a printed wiring board having a plurality of information indicating contacts and which is fixed to the bottom wall of a case of the recording medium cassette so that the information indicating contacts are accessible from outside through slots formed in the bottom wall. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of information detecting contacts respectively corresponding to the information indicating contacts of the recording medium cassette. The information detecting contacts may respectively contact the information indicating contacts upon insertion of the recording medium cassette into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to enable information to be transferred therebetween.