Abstract: The present invention provides translation circuitry, which in one mode of operation acts to encode variable length data words into fixed rate data coded words for use with a communication channel, or a recording means, such as a magnetic recording medium and which in another mode of operation acts to decode the coded words to data words. The translation circuitry functions such that in an encoding operation, the second and third bits of a three-bit coded word respectively have the same binary values as the first and second bits of the data word, which the coded word represents and the second and sixth bits of a six-bit coded word respectively have the same binary values as the third and fourth bits of the data word which the coded word represents.

Abstract: The present invention includes a first input signal circuit to receive pulse signals from a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), or some other controllable pulse signal source, and a second input signal circuit to receive pulse signals from a magnetic recording medium, or some pulse signal source, with which the voltage controlled oscillator is to be put in phase synchronization. A correction signal generator circuit is connected to both the input signal circuits to provide a first correction signal in response to a pulse signal from the recording medium and to provide a second correction signal in response to a pulse signal from the VCO. There is a third circuit which monitors how long a correction signal is in effect and if such a correction signal is present for longer than a predetermined time, the third circuit terminates the correction signal to enable a new correction signal to be generated in response to the next one of said input signals to arrive.