Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention provides an improved decoder capable of decoding data that has been encoded in accordance with the Bi-phase or Manchester encoding rules, which encoded data may be transmitted over a data channel at varying and various rates. A phase-locked loop circuit, including a phase locked oscillator, phase comparator and missing signal level transition detector, forms an integral part of the decoder apparatus that functions to sample the incoming data at the proper time regardless of the rate of data transmission, and decode the data from the encoded data. Also, a clock signal indicative of the data transmission rate is decoded from the encoded data.

Abstract: A conventional, high resolution camera pickup tube is employed to generate the luminance signal corresponding to the greater bandwidth luminance component of a composite video signal. At least one low resolution, solid state sensor is combined with the tube to generate the red, green and blue color signals corresponding to the lower bandwidth red, green and blue color components of the video signal. A scan adjustment circuit precisely conforms the tube scan raster with the near-perfect geometry of the solid state sensor array. A clocking circuit synchronizes the scan rate of the sensors with that of the pickup tube. Gamma correction, matrixing and encoding are provided via video processor circuitry to generate the broadcast quality, composite video output.

Abstract: A magnetic head supported for scanning along tracks of a magnetic medium is mounted on a piezoelectric bender element for movement laterally relative to the tracks as they are scanned. As the head scans a track, the relative position between the track to be reproduced and the head is sensed to determine the tracking position of the heads. A bias control signal is generated by a servo circuit and applied to energize the piezoelectric bender element to position the head relative to the track to maintain the head in the desired tracking position as it scans the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically maintaining a transducing head on the proper track and is particularly adapted for a helical scan recording and reproducing apparatus that is capable of providing special motion effects, such as slow, still and fast motion, and other effects. The apparatus is of the type which utilizes transverse positioning of the transducing head to accurately follow a track during reproducing and, at the completion of the reproduction from the track, to properly position the head in position to either reproduce the next adjacent successive track, reproduce the same track or reproduce another track so that the appropriate special motion effect is achieved. The apparatus of the present invention produces a continuous stable, noise free video picture without breakup, when the apparatus is switched from one mode to another, i.e., from a slow/still motion mode to a normal speed reproducing mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in a record/playback system for providing improved alignment between a transducer and a track on a recording medium on which track information has been recorded. The direction and magnitude of any misalignment between the transducer and the track is represented by an error signal. When the error signal indicates substantial alignment between the transducer and the track, a train of equally spaced pulses is generated. When the error signal indicates misalignment between the transducer and the track, at least one pulse is either added or deleted from the train of pulses, depending on the direction of misalignment indicated by the error signal. The pulse train is then used to generate a drive signal for effecting relative motion between the transducer and the track, the phase of the drive signal varying in response to the addition or deletion of pulses from the pulse train.

Abstract: A magnetic head, rotating at high speed in a reproduce relationship with a magnetic tape, is supported on the free end of a piezoelectric bender element. The bender element is caused to vibrate between two limits at a fixed frequency (dither) to determine the instantaneous position of the magnetic head relative to a track of data recorded along the tape. A feedback servo provides continuous adjustment of the position about which the transducer is vibrated so as to maintain the magnetic head in an optimum reproduce relationship with respect to the track.

Abstract: A circuit and method for controlling the speed of operation of a servo motor, wherein multiple speeds of operation can readily be controlled. A non-linear ramp voltage is generated in response to a first set of clock signals produced in response to electrical pulses from a tachometer coupled to the servo motor. A second set of clock pulses, also generated by the tachometer pulses, controls periodic sampling of the non-linear ramp voltage at various points along the ramp as a function of the desired speed of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for producing a full four field NTSC color code sequence of color video information in a manner whereby a continuous nonjittering color video image can be displayed by repeatedly reproducing a recorded two field sequence of color video information. The apparatus is useful in a recording machine which samples the information signal at an odd multiple of the subcarrier frequency and converts the samples to a number of digital data streams and also removes and reinserts horizontal synchronization digital words in the digital component data streams, wherein the horizontal synchronization words are synchronized with the subcarrier. A phase continuous clock signal is used to time the processing of the repetitively reproduced two field sequence of video information.

Abstract: A digital chrominance separating and processing system which minimizes the effects of the inherent incomplete separation of the chrominance and luminance signals at the color edges of a television picture, when attempting to reproduce both frames of a composite color television signal from a single field or frame. The system digitally conditions the chrominance signal extracted from the available field or frame, by pre-selecting the degree of de-saturation of the chrominance in the reconstituted color frames of the composite color television signal, in the region of the color edges. That is, the degree of chrominance saturation at the color edges is compromised in one reconstituted frame, but is improved in the next frame.

Abstract: A digital tape timer containing a counter and associated arithmetic control and timing logic to detect the relative tape position and provide a time-multiplexed, binary coded decimal (BCD) output for the display of the tape position in hours, minutes, seconds and/or tenths of seconds of play/record time at any of the selected tape speeds. The timer employs an eight digit format; five digits are displayed and one of the three remaining digits becomes the least significant digit whose modulus is altered to present the correct division rate to the incoming tach pulses. The counter generates serial digits with one digit appearing on a selected line, whereby all eight digits are transmitted using four wires for the binary code plus one wire for selection of each digit to be displayed. Thus, the system inherently provides the added advantage of time-multiplexing of the timer system output.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a deleted data signal, which is reproduced as a blinking cross in a television picture, to provide thereby visual indication that a storage location in a video frame store is unoccupied, and available for recording therein. The blinking effect is created by interlacing one diagonal line generated in one field with an opposing diagonal line generated in a second field at the 30 Hertz frame rate. The deleted data signal corresponding to the blinking cross is recorded in the deleted track, e.g., the still location thereof, whereby the store can be interrogated and the deleted data signal suitably displayed to indicate the availability and location of the track for subsequent recording.

Abstract: A tape reel container of the carton type having one open side for the insertion and withdrawal of a reel-holding insert. The insert has a first spine and two flaps bracketing the reel and holding it by means of two opposed spindles extending respectively from the flaps and into the reel hub openings; and a second spine and smaller flap is provided to close the open side of the carton, the smaller flap being easily withdrawn to identify the contents.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for providing a square wave output signal for use in alternating the phase of a sampling clock signal on successive video lines of a video signal having a horizontal blanking interval at the beginning of each video line and a burst of cycles of chrominance subcarrier in each of said horizontal blanking intervals. The square wave output signal changes between first and second levels during alternate video lines, but the signal is always maintained at one of said levels during the occurrence of the bursts of cycles. The square wave signal controls the sampling clock signal generator so that the clock signal is of a first phase while the square wave signal is at the first level and of an opposite phase while the square wave signal is at the second level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for sampling an analog information signal having an associated carrier signal at precise phase positions with respect to said carrier, which involves sampling the information signal at predetermined phase positions relative to the carrier signal using a phase locked loop to maintain the sampling positions reasonably close to the predetermined phase positions and thereafter examining the discrete samples and generating an error signal that indicates any phase deviation and adjusting the sampling so that the error signal approaches zero and the samples are taken at said precise phase positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a unique digital synchronization word in a generally continually moving digital data stream wherein the data stream represents at least one digital component of a composite video signal having horizontal and vertical blanking intervals, with the horizontal synchronization pulse having been removed therefrom. The apparatus inserts the synchronization word in the horizontal blanking interval, preferably on alternate lines without interrupting the flow of the data stream and discards the information content thereof in the horizontal blanking interval as well as during a significant portion of each vertical blanking interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for restoring the d.c. level of a composite video signal which has a burst of chrominance subcarrier cycles occuring in the horizontal blanking period. The d.c. level of the signal is measured using integrating techniques for a period that corresponds to a whole number of cycles of the chrominance subcarrier and the measured level is used to generate an error signal for adjusting the level to the proper volume. By using a precise whole number of cycles during integration, the d.c. level can be accurately measured.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for processing an analog color video information signal for recording on a magnetic media which involves stripping the horizontal synchronization pulses from the horizontal blanking intervals of the analog video information signal, sampling the video information signal at a predetermined data rate that is a multiple of the chrominance subcarrier frequency and converting the samples into a number of digital data streams having said predetermined data rate and thereafter inserting a unique digital synchronization word into the horizontal blanking interval on at least alternate ones of successive video lines so that the synchronization word is synchronized relative to the chrominance subcarrier and the phase relationship between the synchronization words and the subcarrier thereby remains constant.

Abstract: A servo system is disclosed for accurately regulating velocity of a rotating drum, preferably for guiding a magnetic tape of a recording and reproducing system. The method and apparatus is characterized in that generation of a ramp signal is commenced in response to a first one of a series of tach signals provided at a rate proportional to the velocity of rotation of the drum, the ramp signal being interrupted for a predetermined time duration and thereafter recommenced, the ramp signal subsequently being monitored upon occurrence of a second tach signal in order to produce an error signal for adjusting velocity of the drum motor means and maintaining the proper drum velocity.

Abstract: A rotating transducing head drum mounts a number of transducer heads for sweeping rotation across the surface of a record medium. The drum includes a shaft or other cylindrical gauge footing at the center, and each head is carried on a mounting element having at least two angled surfaces tangentially engaging the footing at circumferentially spaced generatrices thereof so as to be precisely located in a radial direction. Circumferential and axial locating means are also provided.

Abstract: In a system mounting a magnetic transducer on the end of a thin leaf for sweeping motion displacement laterally to a track on a record surface, the present invention utilizes elements arranged as reversely deflectable leaf portions so as to maintain the transducer in substantially undeviating (normal) orientation with respect to the record surface. In one embodiment, the cantilevered leaf is composed of inner and outer (inboard and outboard) piezoelectric ("bimorph") bender elements having opposite polarizations and being cross-wired to produce the reverse deflections desired. The electrodes of the elements may also be divided longitudinally and coupled to bias voltage sources to provide controlled correction of azimuth error.