Abstract: Disclosed herein is a helical scan type magnetic tape reproduction apparatus, including: a helical scan type reproduction head capable of moving in the track widthwise direction by displacement of said actuator itself; target time decision means for measuring a period of time from a reference point of time with regard to each of a plurality of markers recorded in a dispersed relationship at predetermined positions on the tracks in advance to the marker by a predetermined number of times, averaging the measurement time periods of the markers and storing the average time periods; and tracking control means for measuring actual time periods from the reference time points with regard to the markers and performing updating control of a control voltage to be applied to said actuator for said reproduction head in accordance with time information of the differences between the target time periods and the actual time periods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a helical scan type magnetic tape reproduction apparatus, including: a helical scan type reproduction head capable of moving in the track widthwise direction by displacement of said actuator itself; target time decision means for measuring a period of time from a reference point of time with regard to each of a plurality of markers recorded in a dispersed relationship at predetermined positions on the tracks in advance to the marker by a predetermined number of times, averaging the measurement time periods of the markers and storing the average time periods; and tracking control means for measuring actual time periods from the reference time points with regard to the markers and performing updating control of a control voltage to be applied to said actuator for said reproduction head in accordance with time information of the differences between the target time periods and the actual time periods.

Abstract: A helical-scan-type magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a helical-scan-type recording head that is movable, while being attached to a distal end of an actuator, in a track width direction by displacement of the actuator itself to sequentially scan a magnetic tape; a helical-scan-type reproducing head that is movable, while being attached to a distal end of an actuator, in the track width direction by displacement of the actuator itself to sequentially scan a track on the magnetic tape recorded by the recording head; an error rate profile forming mechanism forming, by wobbling the reproducing head at each of plural points on the track, error rate profiles at the plural points; and a reproducing-head moving mechanism moving the reproducing head at the plural points, by finding a point with the best error rate from each error rate profile at the plural points from the error rate profile forming mechanism.

Abstract: A sequence of data blocks written onto a medium of a data storage system includes first and subsequent appended data blocks having an append point code for identifying the first appended data block location. For data blocks having a running block number or frame number, the block or frame number of the first appended data block is stored as the append point code. The appended point code identifies the most recently append point location and aids in processes, such as tracking calibration, data integrity confirmation and track positioning.

Abstract: A sequence of data blocks written onto a medium of a data storage system includes first and subsequent appended data blocks having an append point code for identifying the first appended data block location. For data blocks having a running block number or frame number, the block or frame number of the first appended data block is stored as the append point code. The appended point code identifies the most recently append point location and aids in processes, such as tracking calibration, data integrity confirmation and track positioning.

Abstract: In a data storage system in which a sequence of data blocks is written onto a medium, appended data is distinguished by including in the first and subsequent appended data blocks an append point code uniquely identifying the location of the first appended data block. Where the data blocks have a running block number or frame number, the block or frame number of the first appended data block is stored as the append point code. This clearly identifies the most recent append point location which will aid in processes such as tracking calibration data integrity confirmation and track positioning.

Abstract: A track format is prescribed so that an ST-AFN indicating the AFN of the streaming start position be written on each track, and at the time of reference value measurement, an append point is detected by monitoring coincidence between the AFT and the ST-AFN on the scanned track. And, on the basis of the detected append point, a reference value is measured for each streaming recorded area, and this reference value is held matched with the recording positional information of the streaming recorded area.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus for a tape-shaped recording medium according to this invention is operative, prior to carrying out actual reproduction, to measure times from the time point serving as reference phase position within one period of the rotary drum to the time points when timing signals of respective recording areas of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head, and to calculate average values every respective recording areas of the measured times to generate reference value on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated average values of the respective recording areas.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus for a tape-shaped recording medium is operative, prior to carrying out actual reproduction, to measure times from the time point serving as the reference phase position within one period of the rotary drum to the time points when timing signals of respective recording areas of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head, and to calculate average values every respective recording areas of the measured times to generate a reference value on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated average values of the respective recording areas.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus for a tape-shaped recording medium is operative, prior to carrying out actual reproduction, to measure times from the time point serving as the reference phase position within one period of the rotary drum to the time points when timing signals of respective recording areas of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head, and to calculate average values every respective recording areas of the measured times to generate a reference value on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated average values of the respective recording areas.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus for a tape-shaped recording medium according to this invention is operative, prior to carrying out actual reproduction, to measure times from the time point serving as reference phase position within one period of the rotary drum to the time points when timing signals of respective recording areas of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head, and to calculate average values every respective recording areas of the measured times to generate reference value on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated average values of the respective recording areas.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information signals with the use of a tape cassette having a pair of tape reels which are engaged on reel shafts of the apparatus includes a tape cassette transfer mechanism for shifting the tape cassette inserted by way of a cassette insertion opening in a first direction normal to the reel shafts and then parallel to the reel shafts to place the pair of tape reels within the tape cassette on the shafts. The apparatus includes a drive arrangement having a single motor that drives both a cassette transfer arrangement and a movable tape loading control arrangement which is disposed in the apparatus for extracting a portion of the tape of the cassette and guiding an extracted portion of the tape along a predetermined path.

Abstract: A data recording method and apparatus with reduced probability of error occurrence in main data. For recording data on azimuth tracks on a magnetic tape by a rotary magnetic head, each azimuth track is divided into a main data area and margin areas on both sides of the main data area. The main data recorded in the main data area of each track is arrayed two-dimensionally. An error correction code C2 is appended to a data string arrayed in the track direction, while an error correction code C1 is appended to a data string arrayed along the track width. The error correction code C2 is divided into two portions which are arrayed on both sides of the main data area of each track. This reduces the probability of error occurrence in the main data.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information signals with the use of a tape cassette is provided with a pair of reel shafts, each having an engaging member mounted with a bias towards the end of the supporting shaft, and a tape cassette transfer mechanism adapted for shifting the tape cassette inserted by way of the cassette inserting opening in a first direction normal to the reel shafts and guiding or loading the tape cassette for inserting and engaging the reel shafts with a pair of tape reels within the tape cassette.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head device for use with a magnetic recording an/or reproducing apparatus, such as a digital audio tape recorder (DAT) or a video tape recorder (VTR), includes a chassis, a fixed shaft secured to the chassis and a drum unit consisting of an upper drum fixed to the upper end of the fixed shaft and a lower rotary drum rotatably mounted by means of a bearing device on the fixed shaft between the upper drum and the chassis. A rotary transformer consisting of an upper fixed core and a lower rotary core is disposed in a recess formed in the lower side of the fixed upper core. The lower core is attached to the lower rotary drum and carries a head attachment plate carrying in turn a magnetic head. The magnetic tape is wrapped about the drum unit over a prescribed wrapping angle. As the lower drum is rotated by an associated driving device, signals may be recorded on or reproduced from the magnetic tape by the magnetic head kept in frictional contact with the running tape.

Abstract: A tape guide drum incorporates a rotary drum, has a lead portion on its outer circumferential surface, and has a rotating axis inclined with respect to a reference surface. The first and second guide pins are arranged at the sides of the tape guide drum so as to wrap a magnetic tape around the drum, and are inclined with respect to the reference surface. The first and second guide pins are arranged so that the magnetic tape enters and exits the drum at elevation angles with respect to the lead portion. The wrap central point of the tape around the tape guide drum is spaced apart from a plane including first and second contact points between the first and second guide pins and the central line of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A tape cassette with a tape beginning and tape end detecting mechanism is provided wherein a lid is pivotally supported by the cassette casing at its opposite sides to removably cover the front opening of the cassette casing. A sensor chip which forms an optical path is disposed inside and near each of the sides of the cassette casing and a first aperture is formed through each of the sides to expose a part of the sensor chip. A second aperture is formed through each of the sides of the lid. The first and second apertures are located such that when the lid is opened, the first and second apertures become coincident with one another in position, while when the lid is closed, the first and second apertures are displaced relative to one another, and the first aperture is covered by the lid to thereby protect the sensor chip.