Abstract: Data read out from a disk is once written in a memory, and data is read out from memory at a rate lower than the writing rate. In a power saving mode, when data in the memory reaches full capacity, the power to a pickup, an RF amplifier, a decoder/signal processing circuit, a servo circuit, and a driver circuit for driving a spindle motor and a sending motor is turned off, thereby temporarily stopping data reading from the disk. Reading from the disk and writing into the memory resumes when power is restored before the memory is completely read out.

Abstract: In a data recording apparatus which sequentially records recording data on a magnetic tape (T), when a plurality of continuously recorded data files F(i) are rewritten into new data files F(I) having smaller data quantities, recording areas which remain without being rewritten into the new data files F(I) are rewritten into unrecorded areas NR containing no data. Further, when rewriting into new data files G(I) which have larger data quantities, reserve areas SP are provided, in which data has not been previously recorded, and overflow data is written into the reserve areas SP at the time of rewriting.

Abstract: Upon initiation of reproduction of data from a disc, the operation of writing into a buffer memory data reproduced from the disc and the operation of reading out data from the buffer memory are carried out in parallel because the buffer memory is first empty. When the data amount in the buffer memory becomes full, a pickup is kicked back from the last reproduction sector by n tracks corresponding to the data amount of L sectors and the data writing operation into the buffer memory is suspended. When the reproduction sector reaches a target sector, data writing is reinitiated, and data of L sectors is written continuously until the buffer memory becomes full.

Abstract: Audio sound data (compressed data) read by an optical pickup is temporarily held in a memory and the audio sound data is expanded to be returned to its original size. At the time of usual reproduction, since the difference in data transfer rates of reading by optical pickup and data expansion is absorbed, writing and reading of audio sound data are alternately performed using part of the memory capacity, while audio sound data is held by a fixed amount for data protection upon impact occurrence utilizing the remaining memory capacity. At the time of track jump, for example, if the moving distance of a head is long, all the memory capacity is used for data protection. If the moving distance of the head is short, part of the memory capacity is allocated according to the moving time, and the remaining memory capacity is used for data protection upon impact occurrence.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording apparatus which is designed to allow compatability to other recording and reproducing apparatus and is capable of readily performing the additional recording or rewriting of data. Channels ch1 and ch2 are used as a channel for video data; and channels ch3 and ch4 as a channel for audio data. During the recording of video data, the channels ch3 and ch4 are made to be null. On the other hand, during the recording of audio data, the channels ch1 and ch2 are made to be null. Accordingly, the rewriting of the recorded video data or audio data as required can be easily performed. Besides, where recording is performed only on either the channels for video data or the channels for audio data, recording areas are secured for the other channels so that after-recording (additional recording) is easily performed.

Abstract: A TOC region is provided on a DAT tape. In the TOC region reduced still image data is recorded as one still image and is obtained by reducing each still picture data recorded in each of a plurality of still picture/audio composite data regions provided subsequently to the TOC region. A first address of each still picture/audio composite data is also recorded in the TOC region. At the time of reproduction, the TOC region is reproduced and the still image based on the reduced still image data is shown on a display. When an operator selects a specific still image among the plurality of displayed still pictures, the corresponding still picture/audio composite data is reproduced based on an address corresponding to the selected still picture.

Abstract: To record and reproduce appropriately video signals of PAL system as still picture in a magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus. As still picture data, video signals for one field or two fields of PAL system recorded in a magnetic tape after once stored in memories at the time of recording are read out when reproducing and stored simultaneously once in the memories. When storing the still picture data for one field, the still picture data of one field, and the still picture data for one false field which excludes the data of specific scanning lines from the still picture data are repeatedly read out from the memories. When storing the still picture data for two fields, the still picture data for the two fields, and the still picture data for two false fields which excludes the data in specific scanning lines from the still picture data are repeatedly read out from the memories, so that the number of scanning lines in phase face to face in the still picture data may be an even number.

Abstract: The invention relates to a still picture recording apparatus for selecting and recording a desired screen of analog video signal as a still picture. The apparatus of the invention includes a still picture memory for storing digital signals for at least one screen, a delay memory for delaying a screen stored in the still picture memory by a time of a portion of one or plural screens, a change detecting circuit for detecting change in the screen by comparing the stored contents of the still picture memory and the delay memory and for detecting a large change in the screen, and a recording apparatus for recording the stored content of the still picture memory onto a recording medium, such as magnetic tape, when the screen is changed by a large amount, in response to the output of the screen change detecting circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image signals read out from a recording medium in which different kinds of image signals are stored. One frame of the image signals from the recording medium is stored in sequence until a time at which the kind of image signals is switched. The stored image signals are read out and the level thereof are gradually decreased from the switched time, and simultaneously the level of the image signals read out from the recording medium subsequent to the stored image signals are gradually increased. Then, the level of the decreased image signals are added with the level of the increased image signals.

Abstract: A rotating drum (9) has first and second writing heads (W1 and W2) and first and second reproducing heads (R1 and R2) mounted on its peripheral surfaces. The respective magnetic heads are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating head (9) to meet predetermined angle conditions. When a writing operation by the first writing head (W1) is completed, a writing operation by the second writing head (W2) followed. Subsequently, the first reproducing head (R1) reproduces the contents written by the first writing head (W1) and then the second reproducing head (R1) reproduces the contents written by the second writing head (W2). Such one cycle of read-after-write operation is performed while the rotating drum rotates n times (n is integer equal to or larger than 2). Thus, timings of the writing and reading operations by the respective heads do not overlap with each other. As a result, generation of crosstalk can be prevented.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording digital signals of a plurality of channels on tracks on magnetic recording medium and reproducing the same includes an A/D converter for converting analog video signals to digital signals, a signal dividing circuit for dividing the digital signals into first and second digital signals having first and second bit numbers for each channel, a signal permuting circuit for permuting the first and second digital signals of the same channel so as to be recorded on different tracks separately, a magnetic head for recording the permuted first and second digital signals on the different tracks and separately reproducing the same, a signal generating circuit for generating digital signals having a predetermined bit number based on the reproduced first and second digital signals, and a D/A converter for converting generated digital signals into analog signals.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing device samples analog acoustic signals and converts the signals into digital acoustic signals. Analog video signals are sampled for every field and converted into digital video signals. The converted digital acoustic signals and digital video signals are recorded sequentially on a magnetic tape so that both the digital acoustic and digital video signals can be reproduced properly.

Abstract: In digital recording/reproducing apparatus of the invention, picture signals are digitalized, digital data for picture elements constructing each picture is stored together in a memory, and digital data is read out from the memory and recorded on a recording medium in a predetermined order. The memory includes plural memory regions for successively storing digital data corresponding to a predetermined number of picture elements in direction of horizontal scan of a picture. Data for every memory region is stored on the recording medium and thus memory regions are set on the recording medium corresponding the memory regions of the memory. In normal reproducing, all data is read out and is displayed. In search, only data stored in a memory region previously selected out of the plural memory regions is read out and displayed. Since only part of data constructing a picture is read out and displayed, time for read-out of data is shortened and thus a search is completed in a short while.

Abstract: A rotary drum magnetic storage apparatus as four magnetic heads fixed above the periphery of the drum. Two of the heads are read heads and the other two heads are write heads. A magnetic tape contacts the periphery of the drum at a specific contact angle. The rotary drum of the magnetic head is of the small type that is less than 30 mm. To avoid overlapping of tracing periods of the heads of the storage apparatus during operation, there is a specific relationship fixed between the write heads, the read heads and the contact angle the magnetic tape makes with the drum.

Abstract: A digital magnetic recording and reproducing device of rotatable magnetic head type includes a rotary drum, first and second recording and reproducing heads situated at opposite positions on the circumference of the rotary drum with opposite azimuth angles, and a third recording and reproducing head adjacent to the second recording and reproducing head, with an azimuth angle opposite to the azimuth angle of the adjacent second head. In the normal reproduction mode, the first and second heads are used, but in the long time reproduction mode, the second and third heads are used. However, the rotational speed of the rotary drum is the same in each mode, allowing for the use of one equalizer for reproducing the signal for both the normal reproduction mode and long time reproduction mode.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present inventioin hereby offers a unique and extremely useful multi-track magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including: a data feed-out device comprised of one or two units of data-reproducing head(s) dealing with some of a plurality of data-recording heads; a control circuit controlling the tracking operations of the data-reproducing heads in response to the output of these reproducing heads; and an azimuth control circuit controlling the deviation time of synchronizing signals in response to the outputs of these reproducing heads.

Abstract: A multitrack magnetic recording and reproducing device of the type, which converts analog signals into digital signals and records and reproduces such converted data by splitting onto a plurality of tracks, comprises heads for both high and low recording densities such that track pitches corresponding to them are at an integral ratio. It includes a reproducing circuit having detecting-decision making means such as multiplexers which, when information recorded by a head for lower recording density is reproduced by corresponding heads for higher recording density, is adapted to determine whether any of the outputs from these heads is incorrect.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the present invention hereby offers a unique and extremely useful multi-track magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including: a data feed-out device comprised of one or two units of data-reproducing head(s) dealing with some of a plurality of data-recording heads; a control circuit controlling the tracking operations of the data-reproducing heads in response to the output of these reproducing heads; and an azimuth control circuit controlling the deviation time of synchronizing signals in response to the outputs of these reproducing heads.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing device for recording information on the tape comprises an oscillation circuit for generating a reference clock, a position information generation circuit for generating position information, a recording head means, a reproducing head means, a means for controllably moving the magnetic tape and a central control circuit so that the device can record not only a primary information such as an audio signal but also a position information on the primary information. Such recording can be effected from any position on the tape such as immediately after an earlier recorded information (after-recording) by operating a simple input means such as a keyboard.

Abstract: A PCM type record-playback system converts an analog primary signal into a digital signal by sampling and quantizing it and concurrently records it on a magnetic tape with a secondary signal for showing the tape position. The primary and secondary signals are recorded on the same track in a time-divided manner so that recording can be effected with a small number of magnetic heads and the tracks on the magnetic tape can be effectively utilized.