Abstract: A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a rotating drum for conveying a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head being mounted on the drum and kept in sliding contact with the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head records signals on the recording medium in a recording mode and does not record signals on the recording medium in a recording pause mode. The magnetic head reproduces signals recorded on the recording medium in a motion picture reproducing mode and does not reproduce signals recorded on the recording medium in a still picture reproducing mode. The apparatus further includes a drum rotation control circuit for controlling the rotating speed of the drum. The drum is rotated at a lower speed during the recording pause mode than during the recording mode and is rotated at a lower speed during the still picture reproducing mode than during the motion picture reproducing mode.

Abstract: A data interleaving method for a digital recording system providing increased error correction capacity includes steps for determining a moduli number (NMod) in accordance with the number of fields per frame and the number of segments per field, assigning a number from zero to NMod-1 for each track, determining macro-blocks to be recorded on each track in accordance with a remainder value obtained by dividing a macro-block number assigned to each macro-block by the moduli number, and the number assigned to the each track paired with recording the data for respective macro-blocks determined for each track. A corresponding apparatus adapted to perform the above-described method is also described. The method and apparatus advantageously increase the error correction capacity of respective error correction codes.

Abstract: A clock signal generating apparatus and method in which data recorded in a plurality of tracks and clock marks recorded at equal angular spaces at different radial distances on a rotating disk are reproduced by a reproducing head from the disk and a clock signal is generated in synchronism with the clock marks reproduced by the reproducing head by means of a discriminating circuit for detecting a synchronous state between the generated clock signal and the reproduced clock marks, a circuit for causing oscillation of the reproducing head in a radial direction of the disk over a plurality of tracks when the synchronous state discriminating circuit determines that the clock signal is not synchronous with the clock marks, and a phase-locked loop circuit for generating the clock signal in synchronism with the clock marks reproduced from the disk while the reproducing head is oscillated over the plurality of tracks by synchronizing on the clock marks reproduced at a variety of different radial positions on the disk

Abstract: A fuzzy controller controls a track seeking operation and a track following operation for an actuator in accordance with a position error between a present position value and a reference value. When the actuator is in track seeking operation, the actuator is accelerated or decelerated based on a velocity error value between an actual velocity value of the actuator and a target velocity value determined from a velocity profile according to the position error. In a deceleration control of the actuator, a fuzzy inference value generated based on the velocity error value and its differentiated velocity error value is used for a control of the actuator, thereby reducing an occurrence of overshooting at a target track.

Abstract: A method for testing slider/disk contact in a disk drive is described. The disk drive comprises a rotating disk and a head mounted by an actuator for selective positioning of the head over the disk, the head having a slider, and a flexure for attaching the head to the actuator. The method includes the steps of rotating the disk of the disk drive at a first preselected rotational velocity, using the head of the disk drive to write a signal having a substantially uniform pattern on the disk as it rotates, thereafter rotating the disk at a second preselected rotational velocity, while rotating the disk at the second preselected rotational velocity, using the head to read back the signal written at the first preselected rotational velocity, and performing an FM demodulation of the read back signal through a frequency range corresponding to a range of natural frequencies of vibration of the flexure caused by slider/disk contact.

Abstract: A method of writing on a two-reel, belt driven, multitrack tape cartridge wherein tape tension increases with the progress of tape transportation from one reel to another. Forward tracks on the tape are predivided into a first group adjacent the tape centerline and a second group adjacent one tape edge, and reverse tracks are similarly predivided into a first and a second group. Writing on each of the first group of forward tracks is started in a position spaced a less distance from the tape beginning than on each of the second group of forward tracks. Writing on each of the first group of reverse tracks is also started in a position spaced a less distance from the tape end than on each of the second group of reverse tracks. Thus the tape offers a greater storage capacity than if, as is conventional in the art, writing on the first groups of forward and reverse tracks is started in the same longitudinal tape position as on the second groups of forward and reverse tracks.

Abstract: A method of controlling track seeking and track following of a head in a disk file having servo information recorded thereon to provide a track number and a position error signal (PES). The physical parameters of the disk file are modeled by at least three sets of constants associated with selected numbers of tracks. An actuator is connected to the head by a support arm assembly and is responsive to a control signal for positioning the head. The method comprises, for each servo information sample, the steps of predicting a relative position, velocity, and bias of a data head. It is determined whether the predicted relative data head position corresponds to the selected number of tracks, if not, at least the predicted relative data head position is rescaled to form the predicted relative data head position to correspond to the selected number of tracks of the predicted data head position prior to rescaling.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head suspension assembly for achieving high magnetic head compliance with at least one edge track of the MOF layer of relatively stiff photographic filmstrips particularly during photofinishing operations. The filmstrip has an emulsion layer side opposite to the MOF layer side and exhibits a positive cross-film curvature toward the emulsion side when unrestrained. Filmstrip edge guides including parallel angled channels extending in a film transport path receive the filmstrip edge regions. One or more magnetic read/write head is mounted in the edge guides with the magnetic head gap length oriented in alignment with the angle of the MOF layer of the filmstrip edge region received in the channel and makes compliant line contact of the magnetic head gap with the MOF layer side in the edge region without imparting drag on the central region of the filmstrip.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus for recording a digital signal onto a magnetic recording medium at one of a plurality of data recording rates. The apparatus comprises a detection device for detecting a change in value of the digital signal, a first variable current source for generating a first current having a value which is varied in response to a data rate of the digital signal, a second variable current source for generating a second current, a recording head for recording the signal into the magnetic recording medium, a current output device for outputting the second current or an added value of the first current and the second current in response to detection results of the detection device, and a recording head driving device for driving the recording head in response to an output of the current output device and the digital signal so as to enable recording at a desired data rate.

Abstract: A system for infallibly positioning a transducer on Track Zero on a flexible magnetic disk in the face of possible sensing errors by an optical Track Zero sensor customarily build into a disk drive. The transducer has not been correctly recalibrated if it has been positioned, when the disk drive is powered on, on an invalid track existing, either virtually or actually, immediately radially outwardly of Track Zero and if the disk drive is connected to a host that commands recalibration merely by causing transducer travel radially outwardly of the disk. A recalibration control circuit is therefore provided which cancels the host command and which, instead, causes the transducer to travel a predetermined distance radially inwardly of the disk and then to travel radially outwardly until the Track Zero sensor indicates again that the transducer is positioned on Track Zero.

Abstract: An automatic tracking control system for use in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus, which system includes a servo control circuit for controlling a tracking phase of a rotary head assembly; a search control circuit for causing the servo control circuit to vary the tracking phase in a predetermined quantity thereby to make a search so as to reciprocate within a predetermined tracking phase area; a detecting circuit for detecting envelope voltage values of an audio signal and a video signal reproduced for each search point and summing such signals together to provide a composite envelope value; and a reference tracking phase setting circuit for detecting the tracking phase, at which an optimum tracking can be attained when the reproduced signals are integrated from the composite envelope value, thereby to set a reference tracking phase which provides a reference value to the servo control circuit.

Abstract: Process for making an improved duplicate negative from an original color motion picture negative by using optical color filters with flying spot scanning of the original negative to generate tri-color separation analog video signals. These signals are transmitted through active and/or passive electronic filters, at which stage the signals may be optionally modified. The signals are used to create images on a black and white cathode ray tube. A lens projects these images through optical color filters to create a latent image in each of the three emulsion layers of a color sensitive motion picture film. This process is repeated for each frame of the original negative, after which the exposed film is developed in the conventional way, resulting in a duplicate negative, suitable for use for release printing.

Abstract: A rotary head type digital signal reproducing apparatus controls tracking of rotary magnetic heads based on tracking reference signals obtained in an end portion of a first scan and in a beginning portion of a second scan immediately after the first scan, out of successive first through fourth scans made by the rotary magnetic heads with respect to two mutually adjacent tracks on the magnetic tape, when playing the magnetic tape which has been recorded in a half-speed mode. In the half-speed mode, a rotational speed of the rotary magnetic heads and a tape transport speed of the magnetic tape are set to speed which are one-half those in a standard mode. But when playing on the reproducing apparatus the magnetic tape which has been recorded in the half-speed mode, only the tape transport speed is set identical to that in the half-speed mode, and the rotational speed of the rotary magnetic heads is set identical to that in the standard mode.

Abstract: A series of separate analog electrical signals are received at a real time rate and converted to digital equivalents. The converted signals are stored in a digital memory from which the signals are released serially at a rate slower than the real time rate at which the signals are received. The signals released from storage are directed to a signal analyzer, preferably after being converted from digital to analog format, for processing to determine prescribed parameters of the original analog electrical signals.

Abstract: A method for playback in a constant angular velocity video disk player having an extended operating period of playback is described. A synchronization system including four vertical synchronization fields per each track of the disk is used to enable writing of data in higher density, the synchronization fields are detected from the disk to render a count value to which a preset provided from a micro computer is compared, and consequently in response to the comparative result, the disk revolution velocity is decreasingly controlled in order to provide an extended operating period of playback.

Abstract: A method of centering a read/write head of a magnetic data storage apparatus on a desired track comprises steps of defining an inside reference track and an outside reference track on the magnetic disk, each of which being recorded with (a) a first servo control data at a center thereof, (b) a second servo control data retarded in time corresponding to a predetermined rotational angle of the disk with respect to the first data at a position offset towards either one of the inner side of the disk and the outer side of the disk by a half width of the track, the predetermined rotational angles being different in the inside reference track and the outside reference track, and (c) a third servo control data retarded from the second data at a position offset towards the other one of the inner side of the disk and the outer side of the disk by a half width of the track.

Abstract: A method and to an apparatus for electronically processing video signals stored on a record carrier, particularly a magnetic tape or magnetic or optical disk. The video signals are scanned from the record carrier in sections, are written into an intermediate memory, are processed, for example corrected, using a processor and are recorded from the intermediate memory in processed form on a second record carrier or on the same record carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for providing an automated edit procedure between film and video formats is provided wherein a video edit becomes within one video field the exact replica of a film edit. Film frames (1/24th of a second) are read by video scans (1st and 2nd fields in 1/30th of a second) in a 3:2 pull down wherein successive movie frame scans are provided with four classes of video scans. These classes of video scans include (Class A) odd/even scans; (Class B) odd/even/odd scans; (Class C) even/odd/scans; and, finally (Class D) even/odd/even scans. All edits are limited to film frame edits. Each time a film frame edit is converted to a video edit decision, the system looks at the edit out frame type and/or the edit in frame type and the cumulative current overall time differential between the video run time and the film run time for the edit. Frames are added or subtracted to keep the total error within + or - one field and a new cumulative error calculated for the next sequential edit.

Abstract: An optical disk recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with an element in a servo system circuit, which element is provided high response characteristics to run out frequency. Output of the element is monitored for detecting whether a disk is defective.

Abstract: An offset nulling system is provided for use in computer disk drives to identify and compensate for actuator head position offset errors attributable to dc offsets of the disk drive control circuitry, thereby obtaining improved head alignment wiht a designated track on a memory storage disk or the like. The system includes a microcontroller adapted during a calibration mode to identify the position offset error and direction for selected tracks located respectively at radially inner and radially outer regions of the disk, and to adjust head position incrementally relative to those tracks to subsantially eliminate position offset error. Thereafter, during a normal operation mode of the disk drive, the microcontroller functions at the conclusion of a track seek step to adjust the head through a position offset compensation value and direction derived by interpolation of the position offset compensation value and direction identified during the calibration mode, in accordance with the specific track address.