Abstract: The disclosure provides a glitch removal circuit with low latency. The glitch removal circuit includes a first signal edge detector, a second signal edge detector, a latch, and a control signal generator. The first signal edge detector is activated according to the first control signal to detect the rising edge of the input signal to generate the first detection result. The second signal edge detector is activated according to the second control signal to detect the falling edge of the input signal to generate the second detection result. The latch sets the generated output signal according to the first detection result, and clears the generated output signal according to the second detection result. The control signal generator shields the glitch on the input signal to generate a processed signal, and generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the processed signal.

Abstract: A storage device includes read circuitry having a read head having a detector that outputs signals representing data from a first track and an adjacent track. The read head is subject to off-track excursions during which the read head detects signals from both the first track and an adjacent track. Data on each track includes a preamble including a repeating pattern. The repeating pattern in any first track is orthogonal to the repeating pattern in any track adjacent to the first track. The read circuitry also includes respective Discrete Fourier Transform circuits to identify components in the signals corresponding to respective frequencies characteristic of the repeating pattern on the first track and the repeating pattern on the second track, and computation circuitry to determine from the components a ratio by which the read head is off-track. Corresponding methods are provided for operating such a storage device and for reading data.

Abstract: In a storage device, data is written to tracks on a storage medium. Data for each track includes a preamble. The preamble in any current track is orthogonal to the preamble in any track adjacent to the current track. A first read head is positioned over the current track and off-center toward a first adjacent track on a first side of the current track to detect first signals from among the current track, the first adjacent track, and a second adjacent track on a second side of the current track. A second read head is positioned over the current track and off-center relative to the current track toward the second adjacent track to detect second signals from among the current track, the first adjacent track, and the second adjacent track. Analyzing the first and second signals determines an amount by which the read heads are off-track from the current track.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are described herein for transferring communication information between a stationary unit and a movable (e.g., rotating) unit, or between two movable units without contact between the units. A transmitter is configured to translate digital information into an analog signal which may be fed to an input coupler positioned within a channel of an electrically conductive member (e.g., on a first unit, such as a stationary unit). The current of the signal induces a signal in an output coupler (e.g., on a second unit, such as a movable unit). Voltage characteristics of the induced signal (e.g., which substantially correspond to voltage characteristics of the signal fed into the input coupler) may subsequently be used to reconstruct the digital data at a receiver. In this manner, information can be communicated between two non-contacting units.

Abstract: A system includes, in at least one aspect, a storage device including patterned media and a head; and a read channel configured to: receive a DC readback signal from the head, the DC readback signal including position error signal (PES) information associated with a position of the head with respect to the patterned media, and determine the position of the head with respect to the patterned media based on a result of summing the DC components of the PES information.

Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for delivering overhead video to a computing device are provided. Delivering the overhead video can include generating multiple versions of the overhead video having respective resolutions, bitrates, or frame rates. The system can then generate georeferenced video data for each version by incorporating georeferencing coordinates and time synchronization information. The georeferenced video data can be stored in transcoded video files. In response to a request from a computing device for video data of a geographical region, the system can transmit a primary video stream comprising georeferenced video data of a relatively high quality and a secondary video stream comprising georeferenced video data of a relatively low quality, wherein the primary video stream includes the geographical region and the secondary video stream includes a proximal geographical region.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a track, wherein the track comprises a sync mark. The disk drive further comprises a head comprising a plurality of read sensors including a first read sensor, and a second read sensor separated from the first read sensor by a down-track spacing. A first time-stamp (TS1) is generated after detecting the sync mark using the first read sensor as the disk rotates, and a second time-stamp (TS2) is generated after detecting the sync mark using the second read sensor as the disk rotates. A calibration value representing the down-track spacing is generated based on the TS1 and the TS2.

Abstract: A video system includes a sensitive-information generator to generate a definition of sensitive information parts (SIP) areas. The video system also includes a transcoder to transcode the SIP areas at a higher bit rate than non-SIP areas in the frames based on bandwidth available for transmitting the transcoded frames. The SIP areas are generated statically or dynamically. The video system adapts to various network conditions and utilizes the bandwidth efficiently to deliver the sensitive information of high quality and to enhance the user experience.

Abstract: A non-contacting rotary interface has a first core with a first pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the first core and a second core moveable in relation to the first core with a second pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the second core and configured to receive signals from the first pair of balanced transmission lines. The first pair of balanced transmission lines has a first transmit wire coupled to a termination point at a first end of the first transmit wire, a first transmitter coupled to the first transmit wire at a second end of the first transmit wire, a second transmit wire coupled to the termination point at a first end of the second transmit wire, and a second transmitter coupled to the second transmit wire at a second end of the second transmit wire. The balanced transmission lines may be electrical traces on a circuit board.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a broadcast signal includes encoding mobile service data to build a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame according to an RS frame mode, wherein the mobile service data is either a mobile service data of a base layer or a mobile service data of the base layer and at least one enhancement layer, wherein each layer is specified by a layer identifier, wherein a layer identifier value of the base layer is set to 0 and a layer identifier value of the at least one enhancement layer starts from 1; and encoding signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes fast information channel (FIC) data and transmission parameter channel (TPC) data, and the FIC data includes information for rapid mobile service acquisition.

Abstract: Computer readable media, methods and apparatuses are disclosed that may be configured for sequentially reading data of a file stored on a storage medium. The disclosure also provides for alternating writing, in a sequential order, portions of the file data to a first buffer and a second buffer. The disclosure also provides for writing from a first buffer and a second buffer to a first track until the first track is filled.

Abstract: A method for sampling a current track and an adjacent track of a storage medium includes using a first read head to read a first data stream from the current track, using a second read head to read a second data stream from the adjacent track, delaying one of the first and second data streams to account for a position difference between the first and second read heads, and controlling sampling of the first and second data streams to align the first and second data streams. Controlling the sampling may include applying a synchronous sampling signal to control the first and second read heads so that they sample at synchronous locations, or may include sampling the current and adjacent data tracks at asynchronous locations and interpolating the first and second data streams to provide aligned samples. A storage device may operate in accordance with the method.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a reference head select module selects any one of magnetic heads as a reference head; a follow-up controller executes a follow-up control of a trajectory of the reference head based on a signal read by the reference head; and an eccentric controller executes an eccentric control of a trajectory of a magnetic head other than the reference head in order that an eccentric error between the trajectory of the reference head and the trajectory of the corresponding magnetic head is close to zero.

Abstract: Approaches for a hard-disk drive (HDD) comprising a head slider comprising a thermoelectric embedded contact sensor. The thermoelectric embedded contact sensor may comprise a first and second conductive lead and a metallic component. The metallic component has a different Seebeck coefficient than the first and second conductive leads. A thermoelectric voltage across the metallic component is used to measure the distance between a head slider and a magnetic-recording disk without supplying an electrical current from a hard-disk drive to either of the first conductive lead or the second conductive lead.

Abstract: Disclosed is an analog-digital converter which includes a pre-amplifier configured to output a comparison result between a sampled analog input signal and a reference signal and to control a power supply operation in response to a power control signal; a digital signal processor configured to generate a digital signal based on the comparison result; a power controller configured to generate an amplifier operation clock signal for controlling the pre-amplifier; and a counter configured to count the number of falling edges of the amplifier operation clock signal and to detect a power interruption point of time of the pre-amplifier according to the counted falling edge number. The power controller generates the power control signal for interrupting a power to be supplied to the pre-amplifier when the power interruption point of time of the pre-amplifier is detected.

Abstract: Computer readable media, methods and apparatuses are disclosed that may be configured for sequentially reading data of a file stored on a storage medium. The disclosure also provides for alternating transferring of fixed size portions of the file data to a first buffer and a second buffer, alternating processing of data blocks of the fixed sized portions in parallel from the first and second buffers by a plurality of processing threads, and outputting the processed data blocks.

Abstract: A video system includes a sensitive-information generator to generate a definition of sensitive information parts (SIP) areas. The video system also includes a transcoder to transcode the SIP areas at a higher bit rate than non-SIP areas in the frames based on bandwidth available for transmitting the transcoded frames. The SIP areas are generated statically or dynamically. The video system adapts to various network conditions and utilizes the bandwidth efficiently to deliver the sensitive information of high quality and to enhance the user experience.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises a mounting structure, a motor mechanically attached to mounting structure, and a data storage platter mechanically attached to the motor. The apparatus additionally comprises a single actuator arm comprising a first and second read/write data head or multiple radial movement mechanisms each comprising a read/write data head. The single actuator arm is configured to move axially along an arc and across a top surface of the data storage platter such that the first read/write data head has access to a first section and a second section of the data storage platter and the second read/write data head only has access to the second section of data storage platter. Each radial movement mechanism moves a different read/write data head radially all along a radius of the data storage platter and over and across different sections of the data storage platter.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises a mounting structure, a motor mechanically attached to mounting structure, and a data storage platter mechanically attached to the motor. The apparatus additionally comprises a single actuator arm comprising a first and second read/write data head or multiple radial movement mechanisms each comprising a read/write data head. The single actuator arm is configured to move axially along an arc and across a top surface of the data storage platter such that the first read/write data head has access to a first section and a second section of the data storage platter and the second read/write data head only has access to the second section of data storage platter. Each radial movement mechanism moves a different read/write data head radially all along a radius of the data storage platter and over and across different sections of the data storage platter.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus including a reproduction unit configured to reproduce information data, which is error-correcting-coded for every N tracks, from a recording medium, wherein the information data includes moving image data which is variable-length-encoded, a recording unit configured to record moving image data on the recording medium, a detection unit configured to detect additional information from the information data reproduced by the reproduction unit, wherein the additional information indicates that the editing point, which can be set up for every frame of a predetermined number, is contained in the moving image data recorded in the N tracks, and a controller configured to control the reproduction unit to reproduce the information data by transporting the recording medium at a high-speed faster than a normal reproduction speed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic storage apparatus includes a magnetic storage medium that includes a servo pattern in which magnetic bodies magnetized to one of an S-pole and an N-pole are discretely arranged in a non-magnetic substance at least in a recording track line direction, an electromagnetic conversion element configured to output a reproduction signal according to a magnetic field leaking from the magnetic bodies; a rectifier circuit configured to receive the reproduction signal swinging from positive to negative and vice versa corresponding to a magnetic pole, and generate a reproduction signal swinging to either a positive or negative direction according to the reproduction signal; and a control circuit configured to cause the electromagnetic conversion element to be positioned to a single recording track on the magnetic storage medium according to the reproduction signal generated in the rectifier circuit.

Abstract: A hard disk drive system that includes one or more rotating data storage platters, a drive controller and multiple actuator assemblies and corresponding respective read/write heads. The actuator assemblies are separately moveable for performing separate data seeks. The controller is configured to interleave the seek and read/write operations of the multiple actuator assemblies and read/write heads with one another.

Abstract: Processing wherein a measurement signal and an erasure signal are recorded on adjacent tracks of a recordable tape 10 by one recording head HWi of n (i=1 to n) recording heads is effected on n recording heads, and measurement signals are recorded on n tracks substantially simultaneously by n recording heads HW1 to HWn in standard operation state. Then, reproducing heads with respect to thus obtained two kinds of tracks are displaced in track width directions, characteristic curves of reproduced signal waveform amplitudes of measurement signals displacement (off-track) amounts of tracks are obtained, half widths of these characteristic curves are assumed to be expedient track width and a variable Ri optimum and a variable Ri now corresponding to track widths of two kinds of tracks are obtained. Then, deviation between the variable Ri optimum and the variable Ri now is adjusted to become smaller than a desired value.

Abstract: A patterned disk medium includes a disk-shaped flat substrate including a first surface and a second surface located an opposite side of the first surface. First servo pattern areas including portions provided with magnetic members and portions provided with no magnetic members are provided on the first surface. Second servo pattern areas including portions provided with magnetic members and portions provided with no magnetic members are provided on the second surface. The magnetic members of the first and second servo pattern areas are magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. The magnetic polarity of the surfaces of the magnetic members of the second pattern areas differs from that of the surfaces of the magnetic members of the first pattern areas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a data storage device and its control method that are capable of minimizing the possibility of head deterioration while maintaining the minimum required sustained data rate. In one embodiment, each track is divided into three areas (A, B, and C). When a ? track is accessed, the head is changed to access a ? track on the next recording surface. In this instance, LBAs are assigned to disks so that heads Hd0 through Hd4, which access both surfaces of disks 0 and 1, are selected for accessing purposes in the Hd0, Hd1, Hd2, Hd3, Hd0, and Hd1 order while an area selection is made in the area A, area B, and area C order.

Abstract: Disclosed is a head system including a plurality of recording heads for azimuth recording. The system includes a first recording head having a plurality of magnetic gaps having a first azimuth angle, and a second recording head having a plurality of magnetic gaps having a second azimuth angle different from the first azimuth angle. After first magnetization patterns are formed on a recording medium by the first recording head, second magnetization patterns are formed by overwriting side edge portions in the formation direction of the first magnetization patterns by the second recording head. This makes it possible to prevent the worsening of the accuracy of the magnetization pattern width due to a relative height stagger (offset) between the heads, to thereby enhance the accuracy of the magnetization pattern width, and to achieve high-density recording.

Abstract: In recording information, an SMPTE 339M-defined UMID buried in video and audio material signals to be recorded to a magnetic tape (30) or a UMID generated from information other than the material signals, is written to a contactless memory tag (37), whereby it is made possible to acquire a UMID for material signals recorded in the recording medium without having to actually read the material signals recorded in the recording medium and use the UMID for data search, validation, etc.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and playback apparatus that is configured to carry out recoding on and playback of a tape-like recording medium using a magnetic head mounted on a rotating drum by employing helical scanning is provided. The apparatus includes a multi recording head configured to record a plurality of tracks while a head chip carries out one scanning operation and a multi playback head configured to obtain a plurality of playback signals while the head chip carries out one scanning operation. The multi playback head is disposed so that tracks overlap by one channel in the head-width direction. The tape transporting speed for playback is slower than the tape transporting speed for recording.

Abstract: A helical-scan-type magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a helical-scan-type recording head that is movable, while being attached to a distal end of an actuator, in a track width direction by displacement of the actuator itself to sequentially scan a magnetic tape; a helical-scan-type reproducing head that is movable, while being attached to a distal end of an actuator, in the track width direction by displacement of the actuator itself to sequentially scan a track on the magnetic tape recorded by the recording head; an error rate profile forming mechanism forming, by wobbling the reproducing head at each of plural points on the track, error rate profiles at the plural points; and a reproducing-head moving mechanism moving the reproducing head at the plural points, by finding a point with the best error rate from each error rate profile at the plural points from the error rate profile forming mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a servo writer in which a servo write head is easy to exchange, and which writes, to magnetic tapes, a servo signal from which a reading signal of the improved SN ratio can be obtained. The servo writer includes a magnetic tape running system, at least one DC erase head, a plurality of servo write heads being arranged downstream of the DC erase head, and an installation section on which the servo write heads are arranged and which includes a switching mechanism for switching the servo write heads to position one of the servo write heads at a location possible to write the servo signals on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head device scanned to a magnetic recoding medium has a plurality of recording head elements laminated on a base via insulating layers, the plurality of recording head elements are formed such that the size in a track width direction of a first magnetic core layer, of a pair of magnetic core layers opposed via a magnetic gap, positioned at a preceding side in a scanning direction of the head becomes smaller than the size in a track width direction of a second magnetic core layer positioned at its opposite side, and the ends of the adjacent first magnetic core layers are disposed to be deviated in a direction perpendicular to the laminating direction to be superposed in a predetermined width as seen from a laminating direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head device for recording magnetic signals simultaneously through a plurality of recording heads into recording tracks laid oblique to a running direction of a magnetic tape, which includes first group to m-th group of multi-heads, each group having “q” recording heads disposed side by side as being shifted in a recording direction into the recording tracks to form (q×m) recording tracks with an identical recording width Tp. Every adjacent groups of the multi-head being disposed as being shifted from each other on the same straight line by a distance D determined by the equation to simultaneously form the recording tracks of first group to m-th group: D=Tp×q×(m×n+1) where, Tp>0, q and m are integers of 2 or larger, and n is an integer of 0 or lager.

Abstract: A recording/playback recording medium comprising an elongated, flexible recording/playback medium having a predetermined width and a predetermined length, together defining a recording/playback area capable of providing a plurality of elongated recording/playback tracks; and information located on at least two tracks, a first track being recorded from the beginning of the first track in a first direction until the track is filled, a second track being recorded in a second opposite direction, the tracks being partitioned to define sectors having identifiable locations, the first, second, and subsequent tracks if necessary being recorded in a serpentine manner, the information recorded on the tracks being recorded by a helical scan.

Abstract: New helical recording scanner architectures and transducing methods provide a consistent track pitch for helical tracks despite positional errors in placement of transducing elements (or sets of transducing elements) from their nominal positioning. The new scanners (85) are rotatable scanners having a vertical direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the scanner. Both first and second transducing elements are mounted on the scanner, and a tape drive (30) which comprises the scanner also includes a transport system for transporting magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced in helical tracks by the transducing elements during revolutions of the scanner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, a magnetic recording and reproducing method, and a thin film magnetic head that enable a good contact between elements and a recording medium with a reduced track pitch even if the number of head channels is increased, thereby realizing high recording density and high transfer rate. At least one multitrack write head having N (N is an integer of 2 or more) write elements arranged along a track width direction in an integral fashion and at least one multitrack read head having L (L is an integer equal to or more than N) read elements arranged along the track width direction in an integral fashion are formed on the rotary drum. The multitrack write head writes signals to a group of N tracks aligned parallel on the magnetic tape during one rotation of the rotary drum, and the multitrack read head reads the group of N signal tracks by the use of any one of the L read elements.

Abstract: In an apparatus for reproducing a recorded signal and the like of this invention, two reproducing heads are provided for a single track with their set positions being deviated in the track width direction. A signal selecting unit discriminates a reproducing head whose tracing condition of a target track is appropriate based on an error correction result of a C1 correcting unit and output levels of reproducing heads. A signal obtained by the discriminated reproducing head is supplied to a C2 correcting unit to generate an output signal. Consequently, an off track allowance is increased as compared with a case where the target track is traced with a single reproducing head. At the time of a special reproducing operation or even if a narrow track pitch system is adopted, a recorded signal is reproducible properly.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a recorded signal of a recorder/player includes a plurality of recording/reproducing heads for recording/reproducing a signal onto/from a medium, and a determining portion for determining an abnormality of the recorded signal based on the signal reproduced by the recording/reproducing heads. While one recording/reproducing head records the signal of image and/or sound on the medium, the other recording/reproducing head reproduces the signal recorded by the recording/reproducing head. The determining portion determines the abnormality of the recorded signal by determining whether or not the signal reproduced from the medium is in a normal data format, or by determining whether or not an envelope of reproduced signals is greater than a predetermined level. Accordingly, when abnormality of recorded signal occurs due to a presence of foreign substances on the heads or from other problem sources, a user is immediately notified of such an abnormality.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording and reproducing device having a 1ch head and a 2ch head, an azimuth recording operation is carried out on an obliquely evaporated magnetic tape. Angles ?1 and ?2 formed by a direction of a head azimuth of the 1ch head and the 2ch head and a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape are respectively set to angles at which an output difference between a reproducing signal of a track recorded by the 1ch head and a reproducing signal of a track recorded by the 2ch head is located within three decibels. Thus, an output difference between the two magnetic heads is reduced while the loss of electromagnetic conversion is reduced.

Abstract: A helical scan tape recorder (30) comprises a rotatable scanner (85) upon which is mounted a first set of plural transducing heads (W1, W3) and a second set of transducing heads (W2, W4). A transport system transports magnetic tape (31) proximate the rotatable scanner in a manner so that information is transduced by at least one of the transducing heads during a revolution of the scanner. The sets of transducing heads are so mounted on the scanner with respect to azimuthal orientation of the transducing heads that all tracks transduced by the transducing heads have a desired width regardless of an error in physical distance separating the sets of transducing heads. In one aspect, the first set of plural transducing heads comprises a first head (W1) and a third head (W3), and the second set of plural transducing heads comprises a second head (W2) and a fourth head (W4).

Abstract: In a helical scan type magnetic tape recording apparatus, one thin film multi-recording head is mounted on a rotary drum, wherein the multi-recording head includes N recording heads for recording N recording tracks at a predetermined track angle on a magnetic tape by one rotation of the rotary drum to perform recording for forming continuous recording tracks having the same track pitches, by determining rotary drum rotation and a tape speed in accordance with equation V1=Tp·N·(RPS)/sin ?, such that (N?1) recording tracks having the same track pitches narrower than the head width and one recording track having a wider track width than that are formed by a first rotation of the drum, then by a second rotation, a preceding recording head overwrites the recording track having the wider track width to form a recording track having a track width equal to the track width of the recording track.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus which can be formed into a smaller size in which signals of a plurality of recording tracks which are recorded on a tape-like information recording medium are reproduced by using a plurality of reproduction heads without depending on the arrangement of the recording tracks in the information recording medium. The rotary magnetic head apparatus includes a rotary drum, a fixed drum, a reproduction signal selection device, a rotor reproduction signal wiring section, and a stator reproduction signal wiring section.

Abstract: In a helical scan type magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, input data is encoded into n-channel (e.g., n=4) signals for recording by first to fourth recording heads, and the recorded signal is reproduced by 2n reproducing heads, subjected to a non-tracking process and decoded. In the apparatus, the first to fourth recording heads are configured as a single multi-gap head having four gaps. Each of the heads is made of a lower magnetic pole and an upper magnetic pole through a gap. The core width of the second to fourth heads is formed as a track pitch TP+&agr;1 so as to overlap by &agr;1 with a track pitch TP of the first to third heads to attain a predetermined recording width. The core width of the first head is formed as a track pitch TP+&agr;2 (&agr;2 >&agr;1) . As a result, high-density recording can be implemented.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a recorded signal of a recorder/player includes a plurality of recording/reproducing heads for recording/reproducing a signal onto/from a medium, and a determining portion for determining an abnormality of the recorded signal based on the signal reproduced by the recording/reproducing heads. While one recording/reproducing head records the signal of image and/or sound on the medium, the other recording/reproducing head reproduces the signal recorded by the recording/reproducing head. The determining portion determines the abnormality of the recorded signal by determining whether or not the signal reproduced from the medium is in a normal data format, or by determining whether or not an envelope of reproduced signals is greater than a predetermined level. Accordingly, when abnormality of recorded signal occurs due to a presence of foreign substances on the heads or from other problem sources, a user is immediately notified of such an abnormality.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: In a helical scan recording system, magnetic tape (31) is transported by a tape transport (98) proximate a rotating scanner (85). The scanner has a pair of read heads (82) mounted thereon, e.g., a first read head and a second read head, which travel in a helical direction on the magnetic tape in view of the transport of the tape and rotation of the scanner. A synchronization detection system (38) determines a first synchronization mark detection time at which a first synchronization mark is read by the first read head from the first track, and a second synchronization mark detection time at which a synchronization mark read by the second read head from the second track. A position error signal generator (100) develops a position error signal (PES) based upon a difference between the first synchronization mark detection time and the second synchronization mark detection time.