Abstract: An order point communication system and method employs a noise reduction circuit for enhancing the messages communicated to complete an order to improve substantially the speech to noise ratio thereof so that the perceived sound quality is enhanced in noisy environments. The circuit includes a device for separating noise content of portions of the messages, and another device for reconstructing the noise-removed portion of the messages to form a single substantially pure speech signal to serve as a reconstructed message for completing the order.

Abstract: A multi-standard color field sequence detector includes an analog and a digital processor section, wherein the analog processor section receives a reference video input and provides the signals necessary to drive the digital processor section. A correlator control circuit counts an exact number of 13.5 MHz reference clock cycles, and then supplies a start signal to a burst correlator circuit, which takes samples of a plurality of cycles of burst and correlates the results to determine the polarity of the burst samples. If they are of a first polarity, a count value of corresponding polarity is supplied. If they are of the opposite polarity, a count value of the corresponding opposite polarity is supplied. The sequence of the polarities of the final counts are detected to identify the color field 1 for the standard being used.

Abstract: A VTR controller provides an internal counter which counts a frame reference to provide a number representing the position of the reference in the video color sequence. This numbr must be synchronized to the color sequence of the station reference in order to be useful. To synchronize the internal counter in an automated system, the controller places the VTR into color framed playback mode and, after a sufficient period of time, the position of the current time code value in the color sequence is computed. The position is the value that the internal counter should have at that instant in time. The value is loaded into the counter and its output is the color frame sequence number. In a manual embodiment, an operator makes a test edit with the VTR color framer off, to determine if the value in the internal counter is correct and, if not, corrects the value. Prior to the actual edit process, another computation is performed to determine the start of the time lines which control the edit process.

Abstract: A new automatic tracking method is disclosed for the accurate positioning of a magnetic head with information previously recorded on the magnetic tape. If a moveable magnetic head is used, the position thereof is first normalized. Thereafter tracking is automatically adjusted based on a repetitive sampling process in which the results are mathematically averaged to determine a precise center position. Finally, new video material is physically positioned on the magnetic track according to a single offset error measurement and this offset error is stored and used in all subsequent edit operations.

Abstract: An adaptive velocity change profile for control of a video tape transport apparatus during a cue mode. The tape transport apparatus moves the video tape to a cue point in the shortest time available by adapting a deceleration velocity change profile to the actual ballistics of transport of the tape. When in a cue mode, the transport uses a commanded velocity signal generator to produce digital numbers which are applied as a reference speed signal to a velocity servo driving the takeup reel of the transport. For distances separating a selected frame location on the tape from the cue point greater than a predetermined distance, the commanded velocity is the maximum available from the transport. For distances to the cue point less than the predetermined distance, the commanded velocity is generated from an adaptive cue profile which decelerates the transport of the tape quickly as the selected frame location approaches the cue point without overshooting the mark.

Abstract: A new automatic tracking method is disclosed for the accurate positioning of a magnetic head with information previously recorded on the magnetic tape. If a moveable magnetic head is used, the position thereof is first normalized. Thereafter tracking is automatically adjusted based on a repetitive sampling process in which the results are mathematically averaged to determine a precise center position. Finally, new video material is physically positioned on the magnetic track according to a single offset error measurement and this single offset error is stored and used in all subsequent edit operations.

Abstract: A multiple speed servo is provided which measures and controls the speed of a head scanner below approximately 900 rpm, to maintain a preselected, relatively reduced, scanner speed which is fast enough to aid threading and unthreading tape about the scanner in the reverse direction, but not fast enough to damage the heads or tape. The safe handling is enhanced by selectively reducing the tape speed during reverse threading and unthreading of the tape, to maintain a preferred ratio of scanner circumferential velocity equal to, or slightly greater than, the tape speed. To this end, a slow speed scanner servo is employed to continually monitor and maintain the scanner at the preselected reduced scanner speed while the tape is maintained at the associated reduced tape speed.

Abstract: The changing diameters of the respective tape packs wound on the supply and take-up reel are continually measured. The measured diameters of each reel are compared to a stored minimum diameter value corresponding to an end of tape on that particular reel. When the apparatus is in a learning mode, the stored minimum diameter values for each reel are updated every time when a new measured value is smaller than the previously stored value. The last stored value is utilized for comparison in an end of tape detection mode, to allow stopping the tape transport mechanism before the end of tape would run off that reel to prevent damaging the transducers or the tape.

Abstract: An improved control apparatus and method for servo system control is disclosed wherein a generally increasing or decreasing control signal is supplied to a source of energy when a desired parameter of interest produced by said source of energy is not equal to a desired value, and a constant control signal when the parameter of interest does equal the desired value. The constant control signal is determined by the previous constant control signal plus the product of the difference between the peak value of the generally increasing or decreasing control signal and the previous constant control signal multiplied by a constant.

Abstract: A change in direction of a moving member is detected on the first edge of a quadrature tach pulse which is out of a given sequence, and a clock pulse is supplied whose rising edge always occurs after the direction change.

Abstract: An open loop tension servo uses digital circuitry to automatically control motor torque and thus tape tension in, for example, a tape recorder, without the need for a tension sensor. To this end, the tape pack diameter of a tape takeup or supply reel is digitally computed, thus determining the motor torque required to maintain the requisite tension on the tape during the record or replay operating mode. A binary number indicative of the instantaneous tape pack diameter is generated and stored until a new number is available. Each stored number is supplied to D/A converter means formed of selected parallel or series resistor, arrays, wherein specific resistor combinations are successively selected to provide a corresponding change in resistance commensurate with the changing pack diameter represented by the changing size of the binary number.