Abstract: A synchronizing circuit for a dubbing apparatus which is capable of a dubbing a signal played back from a playback unit to a recording unit in accordance with the operation of a dubbing command key. The synchronizing circuit essentially includes a power source for supplying a driving current, a potential source associated with the dubbing command key for supplying a prescribed potential, first and second devices for setting the playback unit and the recording unit in a playback mode and a recording mode, respectively, first and second circuits for activating the first and second setting device by applying the driving current in response to the reception of the prescribed potential, respectively, and a circuit for delaying the supply of the prescribed potential to one of the first and second activating circuits when the prescribed potential is first applied to the other activating circuit.

Abstract: A process for recording on a non-erasable information carrier such as a digital optical disk permitting an updating of the segmentation of the storage space of said carrier, in which a segmentation is defined by a header containing at least one header identifier and a list of segments, said segments forming a partition of said storage space, wherein for defining a new segmentation, a new header is written at the end of the most recent header, the successive headers being sequentially written into the same segment and wherein, for determining the current partition, there is a passage through the successive headers of the segment from the initial header to the most recent header.

Abstract: A video signal recording apparatus uses a crosstalk component reproduced from an adjacent pre-recorded track to control the position of a track which is newly formed when successively forming closed loop tracks on a rotary recording medium, and records a video signal amounting to one field on each track so that out of two mutually adjacent tracks making up a track pair, a signal related to an odd (or even) field out of signals which are related to two consecutive fields and constitute a picture is recorded on one track of the track pair and a signal related to an even (or odd) field out of signals which are related to two consecutive fields and constitute a picture is recorded on the other track of the track pair, so that signals amounting to one frame are recorded on the track pair.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus utilizing an external memory such as a floppy disc or a cassette tape has a signal generator for generating a signal to indicate the interchange of the external memory. Upon detection of the signal, the interchanged external memory is properly handled.

Abstract: A removable container holds a plurality of video disks each storing prerecorded video pictures that are played back in a multi-disk video player. The container includes a magazine for storing the disks and a non-volatile, erasable memory supported adjacent the magazine between guide rails formed on one side of the magazine. The memory is locked in place on the rails when the container is outside the player by a movable locking key that is biased into a locking slot in the magazine. When the container is inserted into the player, the locking key is displaced out of the slot; the memory is detached from the magazine and connected into the player circuit, thus permitting movement of the magazine without disturbing transfer of data to and from the immobilized memory.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing, in successive slant tracks on a record tape, an information signal comprised of at least an audio signal and an index signal for use in controlling transportation of the tape; the input audio signal is converted to a digitized form in which the audio data for a predetermined length of time is grouped as a plurality of data blocks which are recorded by a rotary head in a first part of a respective slant track on the tape, an index signal generator provides a coded index signal to indicate respective input information, such as, an absolute tape-position address counted from a predetermined reference position on the record tape, an index area signal is generated in predetermined timed relation to scanning by the rotary head of said first part of each slant track, and a control is responsive to the index area signal for supplying the coded index signal to a rotary head for recording by the latter in a second part of said respective slant track which is located adj

Abstract: An optical pickup device comprises a light beam source, an objective lens system for causing a light beam emitted from the light beam source to impinge upon a record medium and for receiving a reflected light beam from the record medium, and intermediate lens system composed of a single lens element for causing the light beam emitted from the light beam source to be slightly converged and to enter into the objective lens system and for receiving the reflected light beam transmitted through the objective lens system. A beam splitter separates the reflected light beam transmitted through the objective lens system and the intermediate lens system from the light beam emitted from the light beam source, and a photodetector detects the reflected light beam separated by the beam splitter. Spherical aberration induced by the intermediate lens system in the light beam passing through the intermediate lens system and the objective lens system to the record medium is cancelled at the objective lens system.

Abstract: A method and device for recording pre-pits on an optical recording medium by projecting a modulated optical beam onto the recording medium. A formatter signal source provides an output waveform which is divided into a plurality of separate signal waveforms different in time from one another and each of the separate signal waveforms is superposed with a different carrier frequency. The superposed signals are supplied to an acoustic-optic modulator for modulating the optical beam which is projected onto the recording medium for forming pre-wobbled pre-pits thereon.

Abstract: In a magnetic recorder, magnetooptic, for example, the erasure dircetion for successive recording areas (sectors) are determined by the direction of magnetization of prior recording. A mark is placed in each sector for identifying its erasure direction.

Abstract: An optical disk exclusively used for reproduction has an optically detectable guide groove in which signals have previously been recorded. One type of optical disk exclusively used for reproduction is interchangeable with an optical disk which allows both recording and reproducing operations or enables information recorded thereon to be erased. If such an optical disk is not provided with a guide groove in an unrecorded region remaining between a data managing information region and a data recording region, problems may arise when the optical head of an optical disk apparatus is positioned in the unrecorded region at the time of starting the operation of the apparatus and when the optical head effects retrieval between the data managing information region and the data recording region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a two-phase motor having two phase coils and a head of a disc recording unit which records information data and servo information on a rotatively driven disc in a manner designed to assure proper placement of the servo tracks and increase the speed of reading and writing information data. The head is driven to first radial locations on the disc by exciting phase coils in an unbalanced condition with two phase currents which have differing non-zero magnitudes, and servo information is written at these locations as the disc rotates.

Abstract: A system for recording and reproducing includes a first instruction and display device, a second instruction and display device separably electrically connected with the first such device and sensing apparatus for detecting whether the second device is connected to or disconnected from the first device. A recording/reproducing controller is operably responsive to instructions generated by the devices to operate a recorder/reproducer unit and is dependent on the sensing apparatus for controlling the displays of the first and second devices. In a VTR application, the first device is included in the body of the VTR and the second device is a remote controller. The sensing apparatus detects when the remote controller is operatively connected to the VTR and the controller provides for activation of the display of the remote controller under such condition.

Abstract: A telephone terminal or a combined telephone-dictation terminal is disclosed. Such telephone apparatus includes a handset having a microphone and a speaker together with a speakerphone having a microphone and a speaker. Such telephone apparatus also includes a hook switch, which detects on-hook and off-hook conditions of the handset, a speakerphone switch, and a control mechanism, which is responsive to the hook switch and the speakerphone switch. The control mechanism may successively enable and disable at least one of the speakerphone microphone and the speakerphone speaker in response to successive operations of the speakerphone switch during the on-hook condition.

Abstract: A video transfer stand generates a video signal from a front-illuminated image on a semi-transparent or translucent original, especially a photographic print. The video system, including the transfer stand and a video display connected to the stand, produces output video contrast as a function of the transfer characteristic (gamma) of the video system as it interacts with the contrast exhibited by the reflection density of the print. This interaction produces high contrast that blocks out details especially in shadow areas of the video display. Such undesirably high contrast is moderated--releasing shadow detail--by variably backlighting the print in the transfer stand. The rear illumination, which is adjusted in view of the display, produces inherently lower contrast than the reflected illumination and, in combination therewith, optimizes the video display contrast.

Abstract: A remote control unit controls at least one additional device such as a facsimile system through a telephone answering device. The telephone answering device is engaged with telephone lines upon reception of a ringing signal, and an outgoing message and an instruction message are sent out. A calling party can record an incoming message in a recorder in the telephone answering device if desired. However, when the calling party wishes to drive an additional device, a remote control signal corresponding to the desired additional device is sent in accordance with the instruction message. Then, the desired additional device can be driven, and other data can be transmitted or received. If the calling party sends the wrong remote control signal and therefore drives the wrong additional device, the calling party can reset the wrong device and drive the correct device by sending the correct remote control code, without hanging up the telephone.

Abstract: The camera according to the present invention includes a reference optical system and a telescopic optical system. After photographing the subject using the reference optical system, a close-up of the subject is photographed using the telescopic optical system. As a consequence, when the subject is reproduced on a television screen, a sharp image can be obtained.

Abstract: A head positioning system for driving a magnetic disk from its current track to a target track in the radial direction of a magnetic disk. The positioning system employs a closed loop servo system including a compensation digital filter for generating a compensation signal whose frequency is synchronized with a higher frequency component of the track eccentricity. The system is effective in positioning the magnetic head at the center line of a target track with a high degree of accuracy even if the track is eccentric and in increasing the track density of the disk.

Abstract: At least two operation buttons are arranged to set one of a plurality of operation modes of a recording/reproducing apparatus. When each operation button operated a plurality of times within a predetermined period of time is detected by a microprocessor, a switching circuit sets a recording medium in a predetermined operation mode determined by the operation/non-operation and the number of operations of each operation button. In the predetermined operation mode, at least one recording medium mounted in the recording apparatus is erased while being rewound or fast forwarded.

Abstract: A DC motor drives a magnetic disk memory transducer head between a position proximate the disk periphery to an area on the disk where data are located during which time the head is lowered from an idle to a hovering position. During this time the motor is supplied with a current impulse having a predetermined polarity, amplitude and duration. The polarity of the current impulse is opposite to that of current applied to the motor while the head is being driven between a position beyond the disk periphery to the position proximate the disk periphery. The duration and amplitude of the current impulse are such that the motor angular velocity has a zero value at the completion of the current pulse. Thereafter, a ramping voltage having an average linear waveform is applied to the motor to prevent overshoot of the motor speed and prevent oscillation of the head relative to a face of the disk. The linear ramp current decreases to a zero value, at which time the motor has a constant, non-zero angular velocity.

Abstract: An automatic head retract system for a disk drive is disclosed which operates in response to electric power turn off to retract the heads to a landing zone on the disk surface. The heads are retracted by operating a positioner motor under the control of logic internal to the disk drive unit without intervention by a host computer. The positioner motor comprises a multiphase DC brushless motor which, after power loss, is supplied with current from a capacitor charged during normal drive usage and by the back EMF of a spindle motor. A latch mechanically locks the heads in the landing zone.