Abstract: An apparatus for playing information recorded on a disc in substantially circular tracks on the latter includes a device for rotating the disc; a pickup for reproducing the information recorded on the disc; a tracking control circuit for adjusting the tracking position of the pickup in forward and reverse transverse directions with respect to the tracks; and a circuit operative through the tracking control circuit for selectively establishing a slow-playback mode and a reverse slow-playback mode in each of which, after the pickup reproduces a respective first predetermined number of the tracks while moving in the forward transverse direction, the tracking position of the pickup is moved in the reverse transverse direction a respective second predetermined integral number of tracks, the second predetermined number of tracks being less than twice the first predetermined number of tracks.

Abstract: A method of recording visual information such as words of a song in an audio recording medium and reproducing the same is provided. Picture information obtained through a TV camera is quantized into pulse signals. Using these pulse signals, a sine wave signal having an audio frequency band is modulated. Further, synchronizing signals are added to the modulated signal at predetermined intervals to form a character signal. Said character signal is recorded in one of the two channels of an audio recording medium where as a musical accompaniment is recorded in another channel. When played, such character signal is reproduced on a display screen such that a user can read the words to sing the song to the simultaneously reproduced accompaniment.

Abstract: Coded information bearing elements such as video discs may be produced from multilayered articles. The articles comprise a base having a thermoplastic, radiation curable resin on one surface and an embossable electrically conductive or radiation reflective layer over said resin.

Abstract: An electronic power control circuit used in recording seismic data at unmanned remote locations is disclosed wherein the power requirements are minimized by segregating power distribution between continuous and non-continuous requirements.

Abstract: The data recovery procedure for errors caused by track occlusion as a result of adjacent track misregistration or head sensitivity to the low frequency content of adjacent tracks is effected by reading and storing the information from the adjacent tracks and thereafter erasing the adjacent tracks either on centerline or with the transducer offset toward the intermediate track of interest. The track of interest can then be read with the transducer aligned with the track centerline and at varying positions of offset. If this sequence of rereads fails, the erase step can be repeated with greater amounts of offset toward the intermediate track to further reduce inband interference and the reread sequence also repeated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for verifying the integrity of servo data stored as a series of parallel servo tracks on a disk. Each track includes automatic gain control data and servo positioning data. The peak amplitudes of the automatic gain control pulses on a first track determine a first effective threshold or AGC gain level. The first threshold level is then shifted to a higher, enhanced threshold level. Servo data pulses from a second track are then detected, based on the enhanced threshold level and the AGC gain level of the first track. Should these servo data pulses not be fully detected, an error is recorded for the second servo track.

Abstract: A disk having a thin flexible platter with a mildly abrasive coating on at least one side thereof for contacting and cleaning a magnetic head. The coating includes magnetite (Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4) having an internal crystalline form in the shape of octahedral crystals, conductive carbon black, a dispersing agent, a binder system, a cross-linker, and a lubricant. Since the magnetite is highly magnetic, data can be magnetically recorded on the coating for programming the magnetic head to be cycled across the coating to ensure a thorough cleaning of the head.

Abstract: Apparatus for interfacing a plurality of telephone trunks with a record playback apparatus carrying a plurality of recording media which may be selectively engaged with a transport. The particular recording medium engaged with the transport is determined by the particular one of the plurality of trunks upon which an incoming call is received. One embodiment provides to the calling party a particular recording medium for the remote recording of dictation. A second embodiment provides a particular prerecorded message in response to the particular trunk upon which the incoming call is received and records incoming messages on a common recording medium.

Abstract: A video disc player includes a pick-up cartridge in which the stylus is supported by a stylus holder that is mechanically resonant at a frequency within an audio frequency range. A pick-up converter coupled to the stylus provides a broad audio video output signal that is undesirably modulated due to the stylus holder mechanical resonance. The audio signal is demodulated to baseband and linearly combined with the un-demodulated broadband signal to provide a resultant audio output signal in which audio frequency noise components, due to the mechanical resonance of the resulus holder, are attenuated.

Abstract: An analog color video information signal is sampled at times determined by a first clock signal of a predetermined frequency whose phase is reversed on every consecutive horizontal line. The obtained samples are digitized and encoded for recording on a magnetic record medium, with the encoded data timed relative to a second clock signal of the predetermined frequency whose phase is continuous. The reproduced encoded data is processed under the control of two additional clock signals, each of which is of the predetermined frequency and has its phase reversed on every consecutive horizontal line. In the processing, the reproduced data is decoded, reclocked relative to a first of the two additional clock signals, has the chrominance component of the video information selectively inverted and converted back to analog form under the control of the second of the two additional clock signals.

Abstract: In a magnetic duplicator using a magnetic printing machine, reflected light from a document is converted into an electrical video signal by a photoelectric converting element, and the electrical video signal is supplied to plural channels of the magnetic recording head to form a magnetic latent image on a magnetic recording drum, in the latent image forming mode. In the copy mode, the magnetic latent image is developed by a magnetic toner, and the toner picture is transferred onto a recording paper which runs through a paper transport path. The transferred toner picture is fixed on the recording paper, and the remaining toner on the surface of the magnetic recording drum is cleaned after the transfer operation. When the magnetic latent image is formed on the recording drum, the plural channels of the magnetic recording head are moved along the axial direction of the recording drum.

Abstract: To prevent damage to rotating heads in a helical tape transport, as by jamming and balling of rewinding tape at the drum entrance and exit guides, a damage control guide is mounted on the guide drum tape path near the entrance guide and another beneath the exit guide.

Abstract: A record system and method for recording and reproducing information relative to record cards is provided wherein the information is in the form of optically scannable parallel tracks containing recordings therein which are defined by variations in the surface topography of the record tracks. A narrow beam of radiation such as that generated by a laser or an electron beam gun is modulated with information such as a video picture signal or digital information and is caused to scan the surface of a record card to generate either a variable topography represented by variations in the widths and/or depths of the narrow recording area of a record track caused by variations in the intensity of the beam of radiation as the beam is deflected to scan the recording track or the card is automatically moved to effect scanning by the beam.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprises first through fourth circuits. The first circuit edits and records a new video signal within a predetermined section of a magnetic tape which is pre-recorded with a video signal and a control signal on respective video and control tracks. The second circuit produces a new control signal having a frequency identical to that of the pre-recorded control signal. The third circuit reproduces the pre-recorded control signal from the tape while the first circuit is operating. The fourth circuit detects the existence of a control signal reproduced by the third circuit, and supplies the new control signal which is produced by the second circuit to the third circuit when the non-existence of the reproduced control signal is detected, so as to record the new control signal on the control track of the tape.

Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for a disk player of the type arranged to reproduce information prerecorded in the form of pits, a variable gain circuit for changing the frequency characteristic of the reproduced signal is provided. The level of the reproduced signal is detected at high and low frequencies so as to produce a control signal the voltage of which varies in accordance with the difference between the level of the high frequency signal component and the level of the low frequency component. The control signal is then applied to the variable gain circuit receiving the reproduced signal so that the frequency characteristic of the reproduced signal will be controlled. Thus, the level of the reproduced signal is boosted at its high frequency range.

Abstract: In magnetic video-tape equipment of the helical-scan type the vertical synchronizing information is situated at the beginning of a track near the edge of the magnetic tape. When the edge portion of the magnetic tape does not cooperate correctly with the head in the case of a faulty magnetic tape or apparatus, the vertical synchronizing information is not scanned and the resulting picture will roll in a vertical direction. However, since the beginning of a track coincides with the edges of the head-change signal, the vertical synchronizing information, in accordance with the invention, is always derived from the head-change signal, i.e. even during normal undisturbed operation, and is added to the CVBS signal, the signal scanned from the magnetic tape being blocked during this time.

Abstract: An optical device for optically recording and reproducing information in and out of a recording medium. The device consists of a movable optical system which carries out at least two-dimensional movements and a stationary optical system. The movable optical system includes a beam splitter adapted to receive a parallel light beam, an objective lens for focussing the light beam from the second beam splitter onto the medium and a photodetector disposed in the vicinity of the beam splitter and adapted to receive, through the objective lens and the beam splitter, the light beam reflected by the information carrier. The stationary optical system includes a beam splitter for directing the parallel light beam from the source to the beam splitter of the movable optical system and a photodetector for receiving the reflected light beam coming through the beam splitter.

Abstract: An objective lens drive device for driving an objective lens comprises an objective lens drive mechanism arranged at both sides of the objective lens for flanking the objective lens in the direction of displacement of the objective lens.

Abstract: A gravure printing cylinder is engraved with a pattern, such as a woodgrain pattern, by sensing and comparing the copy density at opposite ends of the pattern and then engraving the pattern with a correction for the unbalance in the copy density to produce a joint which is less visible to the human eye. A less visible joint is also formed by engraving the starting cells for the pattern at circumferentially spaced locations on the cylinder to produce either a non-linear interwoven joint and/or an irregular zig-zag joint.

Abstract: A rotary recording medium reproducing apparatus for reproducing a rotary recording medium in which a plurality of fields of video signals are recorded for each track turn on a spiral track comprises a reproducing transducer having a reproducing element for scanning over tracks on the rotary recording medium to reproduce recorded signals, and shifting device responsive to a signal applied thereto for shifting the reproducing element towards the outer side or the inner side on the rotary recording medium, and a circuit for producing shifting a signal in order to shift the reproducing element by one track pitch towards the outer side on the rotary recording medium every time the reproducing element reaches one predetermined position on the rotary recording medium, and capable of producing a shifting signal for shifting the reproducing element towards the outer side or the inner side on the rotary recording medium according to the slow-motion ratio and the direction of the slow-motion reproduction when the reprod