Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C and a decoder for decoding the color signal into color difference signals C.sub.B,C.sub.R. One of the color difference signals C.sub.B,C.sub.R is combined with the resolution compensation signal, and a digital video signal recorder digitally records the combined resolution signal and the color difference signal. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is accurately recorded.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for selectively having a normal cassette containing a recording and reproducing tape or a cleaning cassette containing a cleaning tape loaded therein is provided to detect, for example, on the basis of information stored in a semiconductor memory or an ID board of each cassette, whether the loaded cassette is a normal cassette or a cleaning cassette and, if a cleaning cassette is detected, to limit performance of a cleaning operation to only a predetermined time.

Abstract: Video information records are recorded in a small capacity memory included in a tape cassette under the control of a system controller supplied with date information from a calendar circuit, clock information from a clock circuit, place information from a GPS (global positioning system) circuit, and scene setting information from a scene setting switch of an operation unit (such as a video camera). When video information is recorded by using the date information, for example, the system controller uses that date information as well as date information previously stored in the memory to process the just-recorded video information record.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image recording apparatus for recording an image signal outputted from an image sensing device on a recording medium held in a cassette. The image recording apparatus comprises a reading device for reading information about control of the image sensing device from incident data stored in a memory device installed in the cassette, a supplying device for generating data for setting the image sensing device from the information read by the reading device and supplying the data to the image sensing device, a generating device for generating information about the control of the image sensing device based on data for setting the image sensing device and a writing device for writing the generated information into the memory device installed in the cassette. Since the generating device and the writing device are provided, the image recording apparatus can provide satisfactory ease of operation.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C. The luminance signal Y and the resolution compensation signal are combined onto a first signal line. A demodulating circuit demodulates the chrominance signal into a color difference signal and outputs the demodulated signal to a second signal line. A digital video signal recorder digitally process the signals on the first signal line separately from the signals on the second signal line and records the digitally processed signals. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is processed with the luminance signal and the resolution compensation signal can be accurately recorded.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for encoding a digital video signal provided as a plurality of blocks of video data. The video data in block form are subjected to discrete cosine transformation to yield respective DC components and respective pluralities of AC components. The plurality of AC components are variable length encoded and, in certain embodiments, the DC components and variable-length encoded AC components of each block are arranged in a data stream so that the DC components precede the variable-length encoded AC components and relatively lower frequency variable length encoded AC components precede relatively higher frequency ones thereof. Error correction codes for the transformed data also are supplied. In certain embodiments of the invention, the transformed video data are arranged as a sequence of fixed length symbols so that the beginning of each of a plurality of blocks of transformed data corresponds with the beginning of a respective symbol within the sequence.

Abstract: The television signal recording/reproducing system digitally records and reproduces television signals composed of a luminance signal, a chrominance signal and a resolution compensation signal included in predetermined television scanning lines. The system includes a Y/C separating circuit for separating the luminance signal Y from the chrominance signal C. The luminance signal Y and the resolution compensation signal are combined onto a first signal line. A demodulating circuit demodulates the chrominance signal into a color difference signal and outputs the demodulated signal to a second signal line. A digital video signal recorder digitally process the signals on the first signal line separately from the signals on the second signal line and records the digitally processed signals. In this manner, the resolution compensation signal is processed with the luminance signal and the resolution compensation signal can be accurately recorded.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for selectively having a normal cassette containing a recording and reproducing tape or a cleaning cassette containing a cleaning tape loaded therein is provided to detect, for example, on the basis of information stored in a semiconductor memory or an ID board of each cassette, whether the loaded cassette is a normal cassette or a cleaning cassette and, if a cleaning cassette is detected, to limit performance of a cleaning operation to only a predetermined time.

Abstract: In a digital recording and reproducing apparatus, at least a first area to record an image signal and a second area to record an audio signal are provided on a recording medium, the digitized image signal and audio signal are separately recorded in the areas. The apparatus has arrangement for recording image annexed information annexed to the image signal into a third area provided for the first area and arrangement for recording audio annexed information annexed to the audio signal into a fourth area provided for the second area. Recording start identification information is recorded in the third and fourth areas for only a predetermined period after the start of the recording.

Abstract: When a ratio of track pitches in an SP mode and an LP mode is equal to 3:2 the track number is recorded onto each track by advancing the track number one by one in the SP mode and the track number is advanced by setting the even or odd track numbers as a same track number in two tracks and is recorded onto each track in the LP mode. Thus, even when a new recording is performed onto a recorded tape, the track numbers are continuous, so that the track number can be used for detecting the absolute address.

Abstract: On tape carrying a mixture of a static image recording portion and a dynamic image recording portion, ID (identification) signals are recorded to specify only a specific static image for retrieval. During image recording, the PP (Photo/Picture) ID signal indicative of the static image recording portion is automatically recorded on the static image recording portion for a sufficiently long duration to allow its detection during quick search. When a desired static image is determined on the screen, the INDEX ID signal indicative of the static image is subsequently implanted only in the static image recording portion. Thus, the desired static image can be retrieved by first searching the PP ID signal quickly to locate the static image recording portion and then searching the INDEX ID signal in the static image recording portion. These two ID signals can also be subsequently implanted in the dynamic image recording portion to retrieve any one frame image.

Abstract: A digital image signal is encoded for recording by placing in a sync block approximately an integer number of macro blocks representing orthogonally transformed image data for a certain portion of the image. When a sync block is reproduced at high speed, the reproduced data therein corresponds to a displayable portion of the image including DC components and both low and high frequency AC components. Also, each sync block contains fixed length areas for the orthogonal transform coefficient data according to the 4:1:1 (or 4:2:0) format in which four blocks of luminance coefficients and two blocks of color difference coefficients represent a certain portion of an image, and also contains at least one fixed length overflow area for the high frequency coefficients which exceed the capacity of the fixed length coefficient areas. An error in the low frequency coefficients in the fixed length areas does not harm the high frequency coefficients since they are in separately addressed areas.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording digital information comprises recording data generator for producing recording digital information data containing at least one of digital video information data accompanied with first attendant data added thereto and digital audio information data accompanied with second attendant data added thereto, a recording portion operative to record the recording digital information data on a record medium, and a controller operative to set selectively a plurality of recording modes for the recording of the recording digital information data on the record medium carried out by the recording portion. The first and second attendant data contain recording mode data having a code selected to correspond to the recording mode set by the controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a video signal as a moving image or a still image. A moving image may be recorded in a first (YCrCb) recording mode wherein a luminance signal Y and color difference signals (R-Y) and (R-B) corresponding thereto are recorded. A still image may be recorded in a second (RGB) recording mode wherein three primary color signals corresponding thereto are recorded. In the RGB recording mode, the amount of information of each of the three primary color signals may be set to at least the amount of information of the luminance signal Y of the YCrCb recording mode such that, upon the reproduction thereof, a reproduced still image having a relatively high resolution is obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for recording digital video and audio data on a record medium receives digital video and audio data and topic data having identifying topics, and generates menu data in accordance with those identifying topics. The video and audio data, topic data and menu data are recorded on a record medium in the form of a coded signal having the recording format comprised of respective video, audio and subcode areas in which the video data, the audio data and the menu data, respectively, are provided. The video and audio areas have respective auxiliary areas in which the topic data is provided. In addition, auxiliary character data is generated when character information is received by a teletext broadcast system and recorded in the auxiliary areas of the video and audio areas of each track.

Abstract: Digital video tape recorder for recording and reproducing digital video and audio data in respective tracks in a predetermined format on a record medium. The predetermined format having respective video, audio and subcode areas with each area having a number of sync blocks comprised of a data area in which video, audio and system data, respectively, are recorded. These areas are preceded by a fixed area in which sync block identifying information is recorded. The data area of the subcode area is formed of data packs having a common pack structure and system data provides for automatic control during reproduction and for identifying the recorded digital video and audio data.

Abstract: A video tape recording apparatus records and reproduces digital video and audio signals in the form of coded signals that have a recording format which includes a video signal recording area for recording video data and its respective accompanying information, an audio signal recording area for recording video data and its respective accompanying information, insert and track information and subcode information. Preferably, the recording format includes packs having a pack header having a large data item and a small data item to indicate the format and use of the succeeding pack data. Errors in the recorded and reproduced audio and video signals are detected and the value of the respective accompanying information changed to prevent reading of erroneous stored data and thus prevent propagation of errors.

Abstract: A digital image signal recording and/or reproduction method and/or apparatus by which a copyright protection signal employed by a software tape for use with an analog video tape recorder can be recorded and/or reproduced with a digital video tape recorder of the compression type. When a copyright protection signal detection circuit detects a disturbing signal inserted in a video signal, an output of an analog to digital converter is stored into a memory. An H counter supplies a line number upon detection of the disturbing signal as LINES data to a line pack processing microcomputer. The data of the memory are supplied as line data to the line pack processing microcomputer under the switching control of a switching circuit. Using the received data, the line pack processing microcomputer produces pack data and sends the pack data to a format converter of a digital video tape recorder.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for recording in selectable recording modes, track number data and information signals in recording tracks on a recording medium, in which the track number of a track in which an information signal is recorded is determined by utilizing a ratio of a track pitch produced when a first recording mode is selected and a track pitch produced when a second recording mode is selected.

Abstract: Digital signal processing apparatus in which compressed frequency components of a digital signal are processed to selectively achieve fade-in, fade-out and scene change effects and where the digital signal is scrambled (and subsequently descrambled) in whole or in part by scrambling (or descrambling) selected compressed frequency components of the digital signal.