Abstract: A Hospital Error-Limiting Program (HELP) directed primarily at reduction of hospital errors in the delivery of medications, goods, services or procedures in patient treatment without a requirement to create patient labels and with the ability to verify frequency of dosage and other treatment specifications. The invention includes a patient wrist identification band with preprinted barcode. The barcode should be selected to correspond with the standard used to barcode unit dose medications. The portable computer should be small in size and equipped with a communication link with the host computer or barcode reader. The portable computer should preferably be coupled directly to the host computer means of the hospital for data transmission by a communication link. The portable computer should be loaded with physician's orders for medications, goods, services or procedures for specific patients.

Abstract: A method of protecting machine readable signals recorded on magnetic recording media from unauthorized duplication and use. The signals to be protected are recorded on a first portion of the magnetic recording media. The protected signals on the first portion can be detected and altered by the machine. Second signals are recorded on a second portion of the magnetic recording media. The second signals on the second portion can be detected by the machine but cannot be altered by the machine. An attempt is made by the machine to alter the second signals on the second portion. Then, if the second signals cannot be detected on said second portion, the machine is disabled from further using the signals recorded on the recording media. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a PCM (pulse-code-modulated) digital audio signal. According to this invention, all samples are recorded by a predetermined data format so that it becomes possible to satisfactorily and accurately record and/or reproduce PCM digital audio signals which are not synchronized with each other.

Abstract: Higher data storage capacity is realized in a self contained fixed rotating disk expansion board subsystem preferably for a single electronics circuit board accessory slot of a host computer. This greater capacity, e.g. 42 megabytes of formatted storage on two 95 millimeter disks, is achieved by use of a plural zone arrangement wherein each zone contains data tracks in which user blocks are recorded and read out at a data rate unique for the zone. An improved phase locked loop within the data separator uses a separate voltage controlled oscillator for each zone and a commmon charge pump for generating control voltages applied to change the resonant frequency of all of the oscillators, An oscillator disable circuit disables every voltage controlled oscillator other than the selected oscillator, so that it is the only oscillator whose frequency is actually varied by the charge pump during readback/data separation and decode operations.

Abstract: Based on the fact that the recording track width depends on the width of a core at the trailing side relative to the moving direction of magnetic recording medium, narrower track recording and wider track erasing, or a two-mode recording operation either for high-density recording or normal-density recording are realized using a single magnetic head having a narrower core and a wider core opposing to each other through a gap by changing the moving direction of the magnetic recording medium relative to the magnetic head.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic recording-reproducing apparatus in an electronic camera system, wherein a subject is purely electronically still-photographed and recorded on a rotating magnetic disc, and the reproduction of an image is carried out by a television set or a printer. When the tracking operation is performed up to the final track and the recording track cannot be detected (an envelope cannot be detected), a warning is issued on the basis of this fact so that loading of an unrecorded disc can be detected. Furthermore, when a track having a number other than one of the numbers of reproducible tracks is to be reproduced, a warning is given so that an operator can be informed of the fact that an unreproducible track has been reached.

Abstract: This invention relates to an information signal recording apparatus which can be used also as an audio tape recorder only. When it is used only as the audio tape recorder, an audio signal is sampled with a frequency m times the sampling frequency of an audio signal which is used upon recording a video signal and the thus sampled PCM digital audio signal is diffusively recorded on at least two recording intervals thereby to improve the tone quality of the audio signal and the compatibility with the audio tape recorder using a video tape recorder of the same kind can be established.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering/recording apparatus and a method of operating the same are provided. The apparatus has three operation buttons consisting of an outgoing message tape operation button, an automatic telephone answering/recording aspparatus operation button, and an incoming message tape operation button. When the apparatus operation buton is depressed, the automatic telephone answering/recording apparatus is set in the answering/recording standby mode. An outgoing message tape can be set in the play, stop, rewind, or fast forward mode in accordance with the number of times of depressions of the outgoing message tape operation button. Similarly, an incoming message tape can be set in the play, stop, rewind, or fast forward mode in accordance with the number of times of depressions of the incoming message tape operation button.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a head is driven along a disk while the disc is rotated. A rotation speed control and a rotation phase control are provided to control the disc rotation. The apparatus is operated in a phase control mode until the phase of the disc rotation deviates from a reference phase by a predetermined amount. Then the apparatus switches to speed control. A memory is used to store data concerning start up information to reduce the required amount of start up time required in future operations.

Abstract: A process for determining the center of data disk tracks. The transducer head is positioned to one side of a track. The head repeatedly reads the track and microsteps across the track. The number of microsteps taken at the position on each side of the center of the track where a certain number of error correction code errors occur, are designated as boundaries of that track. The center of the track is then calculated as being half-way between the boundaries. By using the microstep off-sets for the centers of two tracks on a data disk, a correction factor can be calculated to compensate for thermal expansion of the data disk.

Abstract: In a pocket size portable sound recorder, a special pushbutton swith is provided, and pulses are generated according to the number of operations of the pushbutton switch and are applied to a counter as upcount inputs. Also provided is a timer in which a pulse is generated whenever a specified time elapses after depression of the push button switch, and the pulse output is applied to the counter as a downcount input. Since the counter output is applied to the operation control circuit of the recorder, after the pushbutton switch is depressed, the recorder action will be carried out for a predetermined time period until the count value of the counter becomes zero. Also when the counter counts down to a predetermined value a flickering light is generated to indicate that the predetermined time is about to expire. If the special pushbutton is continuously depressed the counter is automatically reset to zero.

Abstract: An optical disc recording apparatus comprises a light generating source for generating a recording light beam, an open loop circuit for controlling an amplitude of an angular modulated information signal responsive to a power setting signal indicative of a radial position of the recording light beam on the optical disc, a detector circuit for detecting a quantity of light of the recording light beam and for producing a D.C. signal within an output detection signal which is obtained by subjecting the detected quantity of light to a photoelectric conversion, a control circuit for variably controlling a level of the D.C. signal from the detecting circuit depending on the radial position of the recording light beam on the optical disc and according to a preset characteristic, and an adder for adding an output D.C.

Abstract: A portable card writer for a card with a magnetic stripe provided thereon comprises a chassis, a drive mounted on the chassis for moving the card to and fro, guided along the chassis, a magnetic writing head mounted on the chassis, a magnetic reading head mounted on the chassis, and a printer for writing data in the card at a portion other than the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A fine position closed loop servo system is disclosed for magnetic disk storage media having a plurality of data storage disks in which a first servo burst is contained on the surface of one of the data storage disks, the servo burst data being spaced at radial positions one-half track displaced from each of the odd-numbered concentric track centerlines and a second servo burst signal is contained on the surface of another of the data storage disks, the second servo burst signal being recorded at radial positions one-half track displaced from the even-numbered concentric track centerlines. Both the first and second servo burst data are read simultaneously utilizing the data transducers associated with the surfaces of the respective data storage disks and the envelopes of each of the servo burst signals are simultaneously, separately detected.

Abstract: A vehicle audio system having speaker circuitry and audio circuitry wherein there are a carrier and structure thereon to attach the carrier to a vehicle instrument panel to be supported by the panel; a tray supported by the carrier for movement between extended and retracted positions relative to the carrier and instrument panel; a compact disc player is positioned for removal and retracted portions in which the disc is normally substantially concealed, the player having an output connection; a switching circuit associated with the carrier and having terminals electrically connectible with the speaker circuitry, the audio circuitry and the player output connection. The switching circuitry being manually or automatically operable.

Abstract: A video tape recorder for recording two-channel component signals of a video signal on a magnetic tape and for reproducing the recorded signals includes a recording signal processing system for processing the two-channel component signals into first and second recordable signals, an electromagnetic conversion system including two pairs of magnetic heads for recording the first and second recordable signals, respectively, on the magnetic tape and for reproducing the first and second recorded signals, respectively, and a reproduced signal processing system for processing the reproduced signals into representations of the original two-channel component signals. Each pair of heads of the two pairs of heads are disposed so as to be apart by 180.degree. from each other on a rotary cylinder and so as to be apart by 90.degree. from each head of the other pair of heads.

Abstract: In a helical scanning type VTR utilizing a tracking error signal method using four kinds of pilot signals, a tape speed at recording is detected by comparing a threshold level value with the level difference between the outputs before and after the change in the two kinds reference signals which are supplied to a multiplying circuit within one magnetic head scanning period, the multiplying circuit obtaining sum and difference frequency signals between a reproduced pilot signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information signals recorded with a plurality of pilot signals having different frequencies on a tape-like recording medium, in which a tracking error signal is formed by using the pilot signals reproduced by the head for reproducing the information signals, and pulse signals generated in correspondence to the moving action of the recording medium during a period of variation in level of the tracking error signals are counted to discriminate whether the recording speed of the information signals and the moving speed of the recording medium are coincident or not.

Abstract: A plurality of reference information regions on disc surfaces are displaced from each other on respective disc surfaces with respect to spatial relative positions of heads corresponding to respective disc surfaces. During one rotation of the discs, reference information is read out from the regions mutually displaced on the surfaces of a plurality of discs. Every time that the reference information is read out, a deviation of each head from a normal or proper head position in relation to a specific track is detected, so that in response to a deviation thus detected, a position of each head is corrected.

Abstract: For recording digital data on a magnetic recording medium, binary data signals and magnetic bias signals having a constant repetition rate are synchronized in terms of phase, are overlaid, and are subsequently supplied to a magnetic head. The phase-oriented synchronization thus occurs since the chronological spacings between two successive signal edges of the magnetic bias signals between two successive signal edges of the data signals given a plurality of magnetic bias signals are modified such that the directions of the signal edges of the data signals coincide with the directions of the corresponding signal edges of the magnetic bias signals. The sums of the components having a first binary value and a second binary value of the magnetic bias signals are identical. Preferably, the distances between two successive signal edges of each of two magnetic bias signals are respectively shortened by half between two edges of a data signal.