Abstract: A system for recording and reproducing three component signals configuring the video signal is equipped with a first synchronizing signal generator used to generate a burst signal to be added to a luminance signal and a color component signal during recording and reproduction and the read clock used for the memory to correct the time base of the reproduced component signal and a second synchronizing signal generator used to generate the synchronizing signal to be added to the composite video signal.

Abstract: An information recording system comprising a read/write device including a read/write head for reading and writing information from and on a rotatable data-storage medium rotated by a first drive motor, and electrically operated elements such as a second drive motor for moving the read/write head relative to the data-storage medium, reading and writing amplifiers, and detectors for sensing operating conditions of the recording system such as the angular position of the data-storage medium. Electric power is supplied to such electrically operated elements from a power source via power disconnect switches connected between the power source and the respective electrically operated elements for selective power supply to the individual elements.

Abstract: A magnetic disk comprises a data area and a single index servo sector area embedded in the data area. The servo sector has three or more servo information pattern sections formed side by side in the direction of data tracks in the data area. The servo information pattern sections each have a plurality of servo information bit cells formed in a predetermined pattern in a direction perpendicular to the direction of data tracks. The servo information bit cells are used to produce a position signal for positioning a read/write head. A servo system for positioning the read/write head averages a plurality of position signals obtained from the servo information pattern sections and uses the averaged position signal for positioning the read/write head.

Abstract: A record/play unit and a tape controller in an automatic telephone answering device with a paging function that sets an incoming message tape in a record mode in response to a beep tone generated upon completion of the sending of a first, normal, outgoing message and a second outgoing message for providing a paging procedure to a caller when an incoming message is not recorded by the caller after the beep tone is generated. The controller thereafter drives an engaging section in response to a special code sent by the calling party. The engaging section temporarily disengages the device from the telepone lines and then engages the device with the telephone lines again. Subsequently, a DTMF oscillator is operated to dial a prestored telephone number.

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising a substrate, an optomagnetic recording layer made of a magnetic film where information can be recorded and reproduced by irradiation with a light beam, and an optical recording layer which can be modified in optical properties to form guide tracks when information is recorded in or reproduced from the optomagnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A still picture reproducing system for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The system sends one frame in order to shift a reproduction mode from ordinary reproduction to reproduction of a still picture by use of so-called "fine slow", sends one more frame if a noise is detected on a picture at this time, and stops if no noise is detected.

Abstract: A focus servo device in which loop gain is reduced in response to detected abnormalities in a recorded disk, in order to prevent interference with a tracking servo device in an optical disk player.

Abstract: An optical disk for optical recording and reproducing data has a spiral track and further includes a single index field and a plurality of sectors. The index field includes an index mark that indicates the position at which an optical head of the optical recording and reproducing apparatus retraces a spiral track by jumping a specific portion of the guide track. Each of the sectors has a sector header, which comprises a sector mark located at the start of the sector and an address field including a track address, sector address, and an error detecting and correcting code. The index mark in the field is detected, and the optical head is made to perform a jumping operation in response to the resulting signal, whereby the jumping operation is rendered certain. When there is a failure to read the address fields, the signal produced by detecting the index mark starts a counter which counts the signal produced by detecting a sector mark, for recovering the sector address.

Abstract: A method of accessing a rotary recording medium for positioning a head at a desired track on the rotary recording medium by using a coarse actuator and a fine actuator, comprising the steps of comparing an output signal produced from a detector for detecting movement of the fine actuator occurring immediately before initiation of an access operation of the coarse actuator with an output signal subsequently produced from the detector during the access operation of the coarse actuator to produce a comparison output signal, and locking the fine actuator at a state occurring immediately before the initiation of the access operation by driving the fine actuator on the basis of the comparison output signal to thereby suppress vibrations of the fine actuator due to translocations of the coarse actuator. An information memory apparatus utilizing the access method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording a playback device which records or reproduces slant-oriented areas on adjacent tracks by reversing the tape. One of the heads, for instance, the recording/reproducing head on a rotary drum is adjustable in the axial direction of the drum so that only one erase head is required.

Abstract: An adapter for enabling the signals produced by one type of playback device, such as a compact disc player, to be reproduced as audio sounds by a cassette player audio system, the latter having a conventional cassette playback deck. The adapter is comprised of a housing having a configuration substantially identical to the configuration of a cassette normally used with the playback deck. The adapter housing has at least one opening to receive the usual reel-drive spindle of the playback deck; and a record head is supported in the housing in a position for contacting the usual playback head of the deck when the adapter is received, or loaded into that deck. The adapter is connected to the playback device (e.g. the compact disc player) by a plug connected to the usual headphone jack of the player, whereby signals produced by the player are supplied to the record head from which they are coupled to the playback head of the cassette deck for reproduction by the audio system.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing audio signals on flat rectangular recording media comprising a magnetic coating or the like on at least one side. A magnetic head on a swing arm moves across the magnetic media in mutually parallel lines guided by a heart-shaped cam, the recording medium being stationary during recording and reproducing so its visible surface can be examined without difficulty. The heart-shaped cam is of asymmetric configuration, and the magnetic head is pivotably mounted on one end of the swing arm which carries between its ends a cam follower peg which continually engages the heart-shaped cam while under spring loading. The other end of said swing arm is pivotably mounted on a sliding carriage plate which is moved stepwise perpendicularly to the chord of the curved path of movement of the magnetic head for each line. The stepwise perpendicular movement of the sliding carriage plate is produced by a mechanism which is controlled by the reversal of direction of the magnetic head.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scanning unit for controlling and directing a radiation beam towards recording tracks of a surface to be scanned on an information carrier. The scanning unit comprises an objective, a translational-position and angular-position detection system for detecting the positions of the objective and an electromagnetic actuating means for correcting the position of the objective relative to the information carrier in response to the electrical error signals supplied by said position detection system. The actuating means comprises a movable objective holder with an axially magnetized magnet whose axial ends are provided with magnetic poles and at least three sets of coils situated in the magnetic field of the magnet. The coils are arranged adjacent each other viewed in the circumferential direction of the magnet and cooperate magnetically with the magnet via an air-gap.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering device includes a generator for a voice synthesized acceptance message for collect calls. The acceptance message is generated in one of several modes of operation of the answering device, selected by a user. Preferably, the acceptance message is generated only in a fixed time message receiving mode.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a transaction system wherein the issuer of transaction cards can regulate the type of authorization requests transmitted from the point of transaction. The system includes a plurality of transaction cards, each of which are provided with risk assessment data associated with each cardholder. The system further includes a plurality of terminals, each terminal having the ability to read the information placed on the transaction cards. In operation, the risk assessment data is compared to the transaction amount by the terminal. If the transaction is approved, the terminal will issue an automatic, off-line authorization. If the transaction does not fall within the approval range, the terminal will function to transmit the transaction information to the issuer for evaluation. The issuer can then determine whether to authorize the transaction based on its own data base.

Abstract: A signal recording and reproducing device for use with an opto-magnetic disk having a number of concentric recording tracks. An optical head sweeps a given track at least twice during a time interval equal to a predetermined reproduction time for the track. Erasure signals and recording signals are supplied to the optical head during the first time sweeping and the second time sweeping, respectively, in order to effect signal erasure and recording. At the time of switching from the first time sweeping to the second time sweeping, the address data indicating the end point written on the terminal portion of the previously recorded signal area are sensed, and the recording is effected from the thus sensed recording end point.

Abstract: A reset system for a telephone answering machine which, in the event of power failure, or disconnection from the power source, will reset the telephone answering machine when power is restored to the condition it was in prior to the power failure. The system is applicable to both single tape machines in which the outgoing announcement and incoming messages are all recorded on one magnetic tape, and dual tape machines in which the outgoing announcements are recorded on one magnetic tape and the incoming messages are recorded on a second magnetic tape. The system of the invention serves to determine whether there were incoming messages on the incoming message tape when the power failed and if so, the end of the last recorded incoming message is located so that when power is restored the incoming message tape can be set to the same position it was in when power was lost.

Abstract: In a multi-channel apparatus, a first plurality of N channels support user data and associated error correction and a second plurality of channels each contain a unique p-bit symbol followed by N consecutive M-bit samples of each of the N data channels. The receiver or retriever apparatus regenerates a system clock from all channels and examines the respective bit streams to score each bit phase as a match or a non-match of the sample in the synch channel with each M bit sample of the respective N data streams, and for each such N channels a counter corresponding to the then current phase is incremented or decremented. Relative skew for the N channels is derived from the addresses of the first counter to overflow for each of the N channels.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes apparatus for elimination of off-track errors of a read/write head by deriving and storing correction data for all of the tracks on a disk on the basis of the signal level resulting from read-out of the contents of gap portions of the format data in two specific tracks. If, as indicated by a read error indication signal from a host computer, read errors subsequently occur in spite of position correction based on a stored correction value, then the off-track error for the track concerned is detected and an updated correction value is derived and stored. Accurate position control is thereby attained without a need for servo data tracks or regions to be recorded on each disk.

Abstract: An adaptive velocity change profile for control of a video tape transport apparatus during a cue mode. The tape transport apparatus moves the video tape to a cue point in the shortest time available by adapting a deceleration velocity change profile to the actual ballistics of transport of the tape. When in a cue mode, the transport uses a commanded velocity signal generator to produce digital numbers which are applied as a reference speed signal to a velocity servo driving the takeup reel of the transport. For distances separating a selected frame location on the tape from the cue point greater than a predetermined distance, the commanded velocity is the maximum available from the transport. For distances to the cue point less than the predetermined distance, the commanded velocity is generated from an adaptive cue profile which decelerates the transport of the tape quickly as the selected frame location approaches the cue point without overshooting the mark.