Abstract: An information recording-playback apparatus is made up of a circuit for recording first information, which is video data or data for the evaluation of a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, on the first track formed by helical scanning of rotary heads, a circuit for recording second information such as a control signal or time code or third information on a second or third track formed by one or more fixed heads in the longitudinal direction of the tape, and switching device for selecting the operational mode in which the first information and the second or third information are recorded or the operational mode in which only the second or third information is recorded. The arrangement enables pre-formatting of only the second or third information without recording the tape evaluation information.

Abstract: The precedingly reproduction signal reproduced by a precedingly reproducing head is recorded on a tape. If it is detected that the reproduction signal includes abnormality owing to a reason such as poor error rate, the recording operation is stopped. Then, for retrial of the recording, the information on the position where the abnormality has occurred is held. A memory may be provided to always rewrite and store the signal reproduced by the precedingly reproducing head, and also a simultaneously reproducing head which is different from the precedingly reproducing head may be provided to immediately monitor the recording state of the signal recorded on the tape. If it is detected that the signal reproduced by the simultaneously reproducing head includes abnormality, the recording operation is stopped, the information on the position where the abnormality has occurred is held.

Abstract: A digital tracking device for use in a helical scan type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus with an ATF system utilizing four-frequency pilot signals includes a sampling circuit which samples reproduced pilot signals with a frequency of a predetermined one of the four pilot signal frequencies, digital filter circuits for deriving aliasing signal components of the predetermined pilot signal produced by the sampling circuits, and a feedback circuit for feeding back a tracking error signal corresponding to signal levels of the aliasing signal components derived by the digital filter circuits to a magnetic tape drive system of the recording and reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: During the playback operation for freezing and storing a specific frame of a picture in a memory and thereafter printing the frame, the recording medium is turned reversely for a prescribed amount according to an instruction from a printer in response to the entry of the freeze command in order to accurately search the frame at the entry of the freeze, and thereafter the recording medium is played back in normal mode. The amounts of reverse turn and the successive forward turn in normal playback are counted and compared, and when the difference has become a prescribed value, a freeze signal is produced and the frame of the picture selected by the freeze command is stored in the memory and printed when required. This control method for use in a video print system is designed so that the recording medium is turned reversely for a prescribed amount according to an instruction from the printer and then stopped until the next command is entered.

Abstract: The specification discloses a magnetic recording signal reproducing apparatus for controlling a magnetic tape and reproducing magnetic heads.In the magnetic recording signal reproducing apparatus of the invention, a magnetic tape which is moved for magnetic heads attached to a rotary cylinder is traced by the magnetic heads and signals recorded on tracks of the magnetic tape are reproduced. A construction of the apparatus includes a tracking control system, a tape tension control system, and an apparatus for selectively switching operations of both of the control systems.

Abstract: A cassette tape-loading apparatus applied to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using a cassette tape comprises a device for determining the amount of rotation of supply and take-up reels, a device for detecting the rotational direction of the reels, and a device for detecting the amount of tape drawn out of the cassette. Before loading the cassette tape, the ratio of winding diameter between the supply and take-up reels is computed, and the result is used to set the torque of the reel-driving motors and start the loading operation. At the time of loading, on the other hand, the amount of rotation of the two reels is determined, and the winding diameters of the reels computed from the winding diameter ratio and the amount of drawn-out tape thereby to set a proper tension of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for a magnetic recording and playback device of a helical scan system including at least one audio head and at least one video head provided on a rotating cylinder for enabling recording and playback of an audio signal and a video signal onto and from a magnetic tape which is driven by a capstan motor. The tracking apparatus includes a tracker for detecting an audio tracking error of the audio head for an audio track of the magnetic tape and for generating a tracking compensation signal corresponding to the amount of audio tracking error, and a controller responsive to the tracking compensation signal for controlling the rotary phase of the capstan motor in accordance therewith so that the audio head correctly tracks the audio track of the magnetic tape and is controlled independently of control of the video head for video tracking error.

Abstract: A tape transport control apparatus relating to changing means of high speed reel control transport and low speed capstan control transport in a tape transport control of a magnetic recording regenerative apparatus or the like. Particularly in a period of transition from the high speed driving state to the low speed driving state, a capstan motor is controlled through means for comparing phase of the control signal of the tape transport speed regenerated on the tape with phase of the capstan frequency generator signal of the capstan, and after the phase comparing means detects that the tape speed and the capstan rotational speed are coincident, the pinch roller is pressed against the capstan.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing a color video signal.

Abstract: A video signal processor suitable for use with a VTR, the processor being provided with a circuit for eliminating inserted information signals other than a time code at a stage prior to the addition of a time code signal to the vertical blanking period of a video signal, providing accurate time code reading in a VTR equipped with a circuit for recording or reproducing the time code signal.

Abstract: In order to attain such editing that the fade in/fade out effect is obtained at a joint between scenes, an editing circuit for magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes memory for storing therein the last field (or one frame) of a video signal of a first scene recorded on magnetic tape, and operation processing circuit for adding an output signal obtained by repetitively reading out signals from the memory to a video signal of a second scene supplied from outside with proportions sucessively changed. The output signal of the operation processing circuit is supplied to the magnetic tape as a recording signal.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having a construction in which a digital signal including index signals recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced and rotary magnetic heads are movable. The digital signal is reproduced by digital signal reproducing means including the rotary magnetic heads. A particular index signal among the index signals is detected by index signal detecting means. Further, the timing for reproducing the particular index signal is detected by timing detecting means. The rotary magnetic heads are moved and deviated in the direction of the rotary shaft of the rotary cylinder by rotary magnetic head position deviating means. Tape speed detecting means compares a reproduction clock with a reference clock and outputs a tape speed signal. First rotary magnetic head position deviation control means forms a control input for the rotary magnetic head position deviating means on the basis of the tape speed signal.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising a first and second video signal sources providing a main-field video signal and sub-field video signal, respectively, means for compressing the sub-field video signal on the time axis, and a signal merging unit which merges the compressed sub-field video signal into the main-field video signal and delivers the resulting signal to a television receiver set, wherein the signal compressing means comprising a dual-port memory having a first and second ports and operating to compress the sub-field video signal on the time axis and store the compressed signal, and control means for controlling the reading and writing of the memory for the sub-field video signal, the control means comprising a first control section for writing the sub-field video signal into the first port of said memory, a second control section for transferring a signal from the first port to the second port, and a third control section for reading out a signal from the second port, said memory implementing th

Abstract: A digital noise reducer includes an addition circuit for adding a digital input video signal supplied at one input thereof and a signal supplied at the other input thereof and for outputting a resultant sum signal, a delay circuit for delaying the output signal of the addition circuit by an input unit period of the digital input video signal, a subtraction circuit supplied with the digital input video signal and an output signal of the delay circuit, the subtraction circuit forming and outputting a difference component signal for the digital input video signal and the output signal of the delay circuit, and a characteristic adjustment circuit for manipulating a signal characteristic of the difference component output of the subtraction circuit in accordance with the characteristic of the difference component signal outputted from the subtraction circuit and/or a characteristic of a digital output video signal outputted from the addition circuit and for outputting a resultant manipulated signal to the other in

Abstract: A memory controlling apparatus for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces a field image signal in each read or write cycle performed by a video head for reproducing the image signal from a magnetic tape, and by a video head position detector for detecting the position of the video head. A reference circuit obtains a signal defining a reference timing which is independent of the position of the video head and which is also used to determine the phase of the video head. A memory is provided having storage sufficient to store the field image signal, and a controller is provided for controlling the operation of reading and writing the image signal from and into the memory.

Abstract: A picture synthesizing apparatus in which a main picture is displayed with a part inlaid with a subsidiary picture. The apparatus includes an AGC circuit for regulating the gain of the main video signal and an AGC circuit for regulating the gain of a subsidiary video signal. Alternatively, the chrominance signal level of the subsidiary video signal can be regulated in accordance with the chrominance signal level of the main video signal.

Abstract: In an automatic tracking system for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus wherein tracking is controlled so as to increase an amplitude of a reproduced signal which is delivered from a rotary head for reproducing a track recorded by a helical scan system, the amplitudes of the reproduced signal are detected at a plurality of points of time within one rotational cycle of the rotary head, and the tracking is controlled so as to increase a minimum value among the detected values at the plurality of points of time.

Abstract: In a slow-motion device of a helical scan type video tape recorder, detection is effected to detect a noise in a reproduced signal which is caused when the magnetic tape is fed such that the magnetic heads which have reproduced a preceding still image at a track transfer to the succeeding track and thereafter the magnetic heads scan the succeeding track, and the position of the magnetic tape is controlled by a tape control system so that the noise is confined within a position at a noise bar due to the noise is prevented from being displayed on the reproduction screen.

Abstract: An auto-tracking apparatus of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus has a circuit for discriminating whether the audio signals recorded on a magnetic tape to be reproduced were recorded by audio rotary heads or a fixed head, and a circuit for selecting outputs of the audio rotary heads in the case of the Hi-Fi recorded magnetic tape by the audio rotary heads and outputs of the video rotary heads in the case where it is determined that the magnetic tape is the normal recorded tape by the fixed head on the basis of the result of the discrimination, and performs the auto-tracking on the basis of the selected outputs. With this arrangement, the auto-tracking can be carried out irrespective of whether the magnetic tape is the normal recorded tape by the conventional fixed head or the Hi-Fi recorded tape by the rotary heads.

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.