Abstract: Digital data representing a compressed image is separated into priority data and normal data, and formatted so that the priority data is repeatedly recorded on a magnetic tape. The transmission rate of the digital data is compared with the recording rate on the magnetic tape to control the number of repetitions of the priority data.

Abstract: A video signal receiver receives a plurality of video channels simultaneously carrying, offset by a transmission interval, a single video program, selects one channel from which to obtain the program for display to a user, and achieves a pause function in the display of the transmitted video program by temporarily storing a segment of the video program equal to the length of the transmission interval and obtaining the remainder of the program at a later time from the same or another channel.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnection in a contact hole having a high aspect ratio, which is capable of certainly forming a barrier layer metal layer and burying a blanket W film in the contact hole without generation of any void. A Ti film is deposited in a contact hole by sputtering using a sputter system having a collimator plate and an oxidation preventive TiN thin film is deposited thereon by reactive sputtering using the same sputter system having the collimator plate. Next, a titanium silicide layer is formed by a first heat-treatment and a TiN film is formed by a second heat-treatment. Finally, a blanket W film is deposited by CVD to be buried in the contact hole.

Abstract: There is provided a recording/reproducing apparatus, e.g., digital video tape recorder, etc., applicable to a transmission system sufficiently utilizing communication capacity. The recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a recording element (e.g., rotary head) for recording, onto a recording medium (e.g., magnetic tape), time base compression processing implemented digital data delivered from the external, e.g., broadcasting station side, etc.; a control circuit for carrying out a control to read out the digital data from the recording medium at a speed lower than a recording speed in dependency upon the time base compression processing implemented to the digital data; and an output circuit for outputting, as a reproduced output, digital data which has been read out from the recording medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dubbing a digital video signal on a record medium wherein the digital video signal includes variable-length codes arranged in a fixed-length word format. The variable-length codes are separated from the fixed-length word format data. Error codes indicating errors in the separated variable-length codes are provided. The separated variable-length codes together with the error codes are formed into new data blocks having a fixed-length word format and the new data blocks are recorded on a record medium.

Abstract: Time-based compressed data representing a program is supplied from a local conditional access circuit to two recording signal processing circuits which supply the data to be recorded simultaneously in time-compressed form by a digital VTR and an HDD (hard disc drive). The HDD need only store enough data to allow the digital VTR to record the entire program and to synchronize the output of the VTR with the output of the HDD. Once the program has been recorded on the VTR, it is reproduced therefrom concurrently with the portion of the program reproduced by the HDD and, once synchronization therebetween is reached, the VTR-reproduced data replaces the HDD-reproduced data. The reproduced data is supplied to an MPEG decoder circuit to be output as a reconstructed program for immediate display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing digital and analog consumer electronic devices with digital and analog broadcast signals. The broadcast signals are received by electronic devices which tune the signals and provide them to set back boxes. The set back boxes process the signals and provide a plurality of signals to a plurality of electronic devices. Analog devices are provided with composite video signals, luminance video signals, chrominance video signals, and at least one audio signal while digital devices are provided with a digital video and audio signal. The processing performed by the set back boxes includes signal descrambling and decryption for analog and digital signals, error correction for digital signals, and intermediate frequency signal processing for analog signals. In addition, to interface digital signals, including high definition television (HDTV) signals, with analog electronic devices, the set back box decompresses the digital signal and converts it to an analog signal.

Abstract: Each track on a recording medium has a video area used for recording video and audio data, and an audio area used exclusively for recording audio data. The audio area has two regions used for recording odd-numbered audio data segments and even-numbered audio data segments, respectively. The data recorded in one of the two regions may be interleaved to further reduce vulnerability of the audio data to errors. Parity data for the audio data is recorded in a third region located between the first and second regions in each track. The audio data represents a left and a right channel. The left channel audio data is recorded in a first set of consecutive tracks, and the right channel audio data is recorded in a second set of consecutive tracks.

Abstract: Digital data representing a compressed image is separated into priority data and normal data, and formatted so that the priority data is repeatedly recorded on a magnetic tape. The transmission rate of the digital data is compared with the recording rate on the magnetic tape to control the number of repetitions of the priority data.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing first and second digital signals with the same processing device, the two digital signals having respective first and second data configurations which differ from each other, and wherein the first data configuration contains a greater amount of data than the second data configuration. Known, predetermined data is added to the second digital signal, thereby converting the second data configuration to the first data configuration. An error processor, such as an error detection/correction generator or an error corrector, is adapted to process the first digital signal as is and is selectively changed over to receive the converted second digital signal, so as to carry out the same error processing operation on either one of the digital signals.

Abstract: A method of dubbing compressed digital video signals adopted for an apparatus for efficient coding and subsequent recording/playback of video signals. In the method of dubbing compressed digital video signals, on a playback unit side, after padding error data by an error processing circuit with respect to an error uncorrectable in error correction by an ECC circuit of playback, the digital video signal is provided with a parity for transmission by a parity generating circuit and is then transmitted to a recording unit side. On the other hand, on the recording unit side, after padding error data by an error processing circuit with respect to an error uncorrectable in error correction by an ECC circuit of transmission, the digital video signal is provided with a parity for recording by a parity generator and is then recorded in a recording medium.

Abstract: The characteristic of a regenerative signal from a magnetic head 11 is compensated by a filter 14 serving as an equalizer. The regenerative signal thus compensated is then decoded at a decoder 15. An adaptive control unit 17 adjusts (modifies) the characteristic of the filter 14 on the basis of a decode error (residual) at the decoder 15 and an input to the filter 14. A servo control unit 18 sends a servo lock signal to the adaptive control unit 17 when a servo control operation at the time of reproduction is stabilized to start an automatic adjustment operation of the filter characteristic. Thus, it is possible to prevent in advance bad influence or effect on a compensating operation of the equalizer resulting from the fact that an adaptive adjustment operation of the filter characteristic might be carried out at the time when the servo control operation is unstable like at the time of building up of a reproducing operation.

Abstract: In a digital information signal transferring apparatus for transferring sequential sync block data composed of encoded synchronous, ID and digital information signals, the digital information signal is encoded and an insertion area is formed therein, whereupon, an ID signal is added in the insertion area and comprises a format identifying signal, a signal for identifying the type of the digital information signal, and a sync block number.

Abstract: Video and audio data are recorded onto video and audio signal recording areas of a track of a record medium, these areas being included either in one of several segments in the track or the track being comprised of only a single segment of video and audio signal recording areas. Audio data that is supplied at substantially the same time as the video data is compressed and recorded in a first audio sector of the audio signal recording area. Then, depending upon whether a first or second audio signal recording mode is selected, either compressed audio data which is derived from the audio data supplied at substantially the same time as the video data or independent compressed audio data is provided. The derived or independent compressed audio data is recorded in a second audio sector of the audio signal recording area.

Abstract: In a digital video tape recorder (VTR) which reproduces digital video and audio signals from a magnetic tape, a copy protect bit in the reproduced digital video signal is detected, and on the basis of the copy protect bit, a code is generated and inserted into the vertical blanking interval of the reproduced video signal. When a video signal (which may be in analog or digital form) having the code in the vertical blanking interval is received in a digital VTR, the code is detected and recording of the video signal and an associated audio signal is inhibited if the code indicates that the received video signal is copy protected.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polyamide resin composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyamide (a) composed mainly of a xylylenediamine component and an .alpha.,.omega.-straight chain asphaltic dibasic acid component, or a combination of the polyamide (a) and polyamide 66, (B) 1 to 15 parts by weight of polyamide 12, (C) 0.01 to 5 parts by weight (in terms of copper) of a copper compound, (D) 1 to 15 parts by weight of carbon black, and (E) an alkali metal halide of such an amount that the number of halogen atoms of the alkali metal halide is 0.3 to 4 per one copper atom of the above copper compound. Said polyamide resin composition has an excellent weather resistance, moldability, and mechanical properties, and can be injection-molded.

Abstract: Digital video tape recorder which provides a smooth continuation in a video picture reproduced from a medium on which new digital video signals immediately follow previously recorded digital video signals. A signal processor processes a unit consisting of a field or frame interval of a video signal into a digital video signal. The digital video signal is recorded with identification data on a plurality of recording tracks on a magnetic tape. When a new digital video signal is recorded immediately following an existing digital video signal, the magnetic tape is rewound by a predetermined distance, then the digital video signal and identification data that had been recorded previously are reproduced until an end of a unit is reached, whereupon recording circuitry is activated to record the new digital video signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for recording and reproducing digital information signals including image and audio portions in successive tracks on a magnetic tape. An ID signal is produced for one of an image portion and an audio portion of a corresponding digital information signal to be recorded. The ID signal indicates whether the portion is to be after-recorded in a respective track. The ID signal is combined with the portion to form a recording signal. Previously recorded digital information signals are reproduced from the track and an ID signal thereof is obtained. The recording of the portion in the track is controlled based on the reproduced ID signal.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus of a digital picture signal comprising a block segmenting circuit for converting an input digital picture signal into data segmented by blocks composed of a plurality of picture elements, an encoding circuit for compressing and encoding the output data of the block segmenting circuit by blocks, and a channel encoding circuit for channel encoding the encoded output data from the encoding circuit, wherein the output data from the channel encoding circuit is recorded on a magnetic tape by a magnetic head mounted on a rotation drum, and wherein the magnetic recording apparatus of digital picture data is characterized in that the track pitch formed on the magnetic tape by the magnetic head is 5.5 .mu.m or less, the diameter of the rotary drum is 25 mm or less, and the rotating speed of the rotary drum is 150 rps or more, the track length per unit time is set to particular value thereby.

Abstract: Respective regenerative signals from magnetic heads 1A, 1B are combined into one system through a changeover switch 9. After the reproducing characteristic is compensated by using a filter 4 serving as an equalizer, that combined signal is decoded at a decoder 5. An adaptive control unit 7 adjusts (modifies) the characteristic of the filter 4 so that it becomes optimum on the basis of a decode error (residual) at the decoder 5 and an input to the filter 4. The adaptive control unit 7 carries out an adaptive processing in a time divisional manner for every regenerative signal of respective magnetic heads 1A, 1B to send filter coefficients for the respective magnetic heads 1A, 1B to the filter 4. Thus, since the adaptive processing is carried out in a time divisional manner by the filter 4 and the adaptive control unit 7, the circuit scale can be reduced, resulting in low cost.