Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the time base of a first video signal, for example, from a character signal generator, to be superimposed on a second video signal reproduced from a record medium, as by a VTR, and having a time base which is fluctuating, includes a detector for detecting time base fluctuations of the second video signal and producing an output signal representing the time base fluctuations, and a time base control circuit for controlling the time base of the first video signal on the basis of the output signal from the detector, such that the time base of the first video signal is correlated to the time base fluctuations of the second video signal.

Abstract: A track seeking control apparatus includes an optical head for generating a signal comprising a train of track cross pulses when it crosses tracks on a recording medium. A first counter counts the train of track cross pulses generated by the optical head, and produces a signal representative of a count value of the first counter. A signal generator generates a signal of a frequency varying proportional to a frequency of the track cross pulse signal. A second counter counts the train of track cross pulses generated by the optical head, based on the output signal of the signal generator, and produces an output signal when a count by the second counter reaches a desired value. A second pulse generator outputs to the first counter a correcting pulse for correcting the count value of the first counter, in response to the output signal produced by the second counter.

Abstract: A composite disk playing method according to which, at the time of playing a disk, identifier data are read out, a signal is read out from a multiplex recording area to reproduce and output a predetermined one of an analog video signal and a digital video signal when it is determined in accordance with the identifier data that the type of the disk to be played is a composite disk on which the analog video signal and the digital video signal have been recorded, and subsequently a signal is read out from the multiplex recording area to thereby reproduce and output the other signal. In playing a composite disk, therefore, longer disk playing becomes possible automatically.

Abstract: In an apparatus for optically recording data on and reproducing it from an optical disk, the level of a laser beam in reproducing mode is subjected to feedback control and the level of a laser beam in recording mode is controlled in accordance with the output of a capacitor which stores the level of the laser beam in reproducing mode. This apparatus monitors the output of a photodetector in a feedback circuit, which receives reflection light from the optical disk, and a current flowing through a drive transistor for supplying a drive signal to the laser source. When a large amount of light or a large drive current is detected in a standby mode or in a period in which the optical disk is rotated in a low speed, emission of the laser beam is disabled and the kind of malfunction is recorded.

Abstract: An optical information readout system including a record medium having a record layer capable of storing information and of reading the same optically, a resonating mirror arranged in substantially parallel to and apart at a predetermined distance from the record medium, a laser medium arranged between the record medium and the resonating mirror, a light source for pumping the laser medium, and a detector for detecting changes in a laser resonance, wherein the information recorded in the record medium is read by utilizing the surface of the recording medium as the other resonating mirror of the laser resonator and by detecting the changes of laser resonance resulted from the changes of the record medium surface by the detector.

Abstract: A wide bandwidth color video signal, such as a high definition television (HDTV) signal is recorded on a video disc by timebase expanding the luminance component and timebase compressing the color difference components to a bandwidth substantially equal to the bandwidth of the timebase expanded luminance component. The timebase expanded luminance component and the timebase compressed color difference components are time division multiplexed and separated into plural channels of multiplexed signals, each of which is recorded in a respective track on the video disc.

Abstract: An optical pick-up device for focusing a laser beam emitted from a light emitting element through an optical system onto a recording medium. The beam is reflected from the recording medium and redirected through the same optical system on to a photodetector. A tracking error signal and a focusing error signal are produced from the output signals of the photo-detector. A diffracting element positioned before the light emitting element and the photo-detector and produces two sub-spots in two directions for applying the so-called 3-spots method from the laser beams that were projected from the light emitting element toward the recording medium. The diffracting element is divided into a first sub-region and a second sub-region formed in the same place and defined by a parting line aligned substantially perpendicular to the track direction. The first sub-region includes a diffraction grating for diffracting three beams that comprise a main beam toward the recording medium.

Abstract: Still image record/playback apparatus comprising an electronic camera including an image sensor for sensing an optical image and generating image signals representative thereof, a recorder for recording frames of image signals and selectively operable for playing back recorded image signals and a shutter release switch normally actuable to drive the recorder to record image signals. A player is connectable to the camera and has a signal processor for processing the played back image signals to produce video signals, and a frame feed switch to drive the recorder to play back a frame of image signals. When the camera and player are connected, actuation of the shutter release switch drives the recorder to play back one or more frames of image signals.

Abstract: A television signal recording and reproducing system is disclosed in which the polarity of a television signal is inverted in polarity prior to its recording on an optical recording medium and is again inverted when it is reproduced to avoid any serious degradation of picture quality.

Abstract: For slow motion playback operation with a digital video magnetic tape recording and reproducing equipment an intermediate memory system has four picture field memories of which there are always three available for writing into but only one of them at a time is in read-out operation. In a first reading operation of a particular picture field memory an AND correlation of a write flag and an error flag is necessary for providing an error recognition signal to following circuits and before a reading goes to the next address the write flag is erased by writing in a logic zero, but the correlated signal is used to rewrite the error flag in the error flag memory. In subsequent readings any error flag is transmitted and rewritten, but all write flags remain erased to signify that the memory has been read out at least once.