Abstract: An image recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed which records video signals obtained by photographing an object onto a magnetic recording medium, such as a magnetic disc or the like, or reproduces the video signals recorded on the magnetic recording media. In the image recording/reproducing apparatus, when the object is photographed in a sequential photograph mode, the video signals of the object, as well as, data signals representing the photograph data, including the number of frames to be photographed in one sequential photograph unit and its sequential speed, are recorded onto the magnetic recording medium. During reproduction, the frames recorded in the sequential photograph mode are reproduced at a sequential photograph speed corresponding to the sequential photograph speed of the recording as set forth by the data signals.

Abstract: A recording or reproducing device in which current is supplied to the spindle motor which drives the disk to produce reverse torque in response to a stop signal when the disk is rotating. The beginning of reverse rotation is detected and the supply interrupted in response thereto.

Abstract: A magnetic recording or reproducing apparatus in which a magnetic head is projected beyond a regulation level of a rotating sheet of magnetic recording medium against the sheet for magnetic recording or playback. The apparatus includes a driver unit for driving the sheet in steady rotation, a sensor device for sensing the rotational speed of the sheet, a head transport mechanism for transporting the magnetic head radially across a recording surface of the sheet, and control circuitry for controlling the driver unit, sensor device and head transport mechanism for causing the magnetic head to be transported to a desired one of tracks of the sheet for effecting tracking. The control circuitry, when the apparatus is powered on, causes the driver unit to rotate the sheet, and inhibiting the head transport mechanism from transporting the magnetic head until the rotational speed of the sheet sensed by the sensor device reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a solid-state imaging device for generating electric charges corresponding to an incident light thereto and for producing in the form of a unit of video signals the electric charges in response to a driving signal. An exposing unit has an optical shutter which opens and closes in response to an instruction signal to expose the imaging device to the incident light. A recording unit for rotating a rotary recording medium records the unit of video signals on the rotary recording medium. A phase detector detects a predetermined rotation phase of the recording medium to produce a phase detect signal, and a control unit is responsive to a shutter release button and the phase detecting unit for controlling the imaging device, exposing unit, and recording unit. The unit of video signals are recorded on the recording medium in rotation beginning from the predetermined rotation phase of the recording medium with reference to the phase detect signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically providing white balance in an electronic still camera. When the camera is not in use a sliding cover is placed over the lens with a white translucent sheet facing the lens. At the beginning of use, the sliding of the lens cover to uncover the lens triggers a white balancing circuit to perform the required white balancing for the ambient light admitted through the white translucent sheet.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus applicable to a rotatable magnetic recording medium which is provided with a plurality of discrete tracks thereon includes a head for sensing signals out of the tracks, a head transport mechanism for moving the head to a position on a desired one of the tracks, an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of signals sensed by the head, and a controller for performing tracking by controlling the head transport mechanism responsive to the detected envelope. A sync signal generator circuit is provided for producing a reference signal which is synchronous to the rotation of the recording medium. The controller controls the head transport mechanism and causes the envelope detector to detect an envelope, responsive to the reference signal.

Abstract: A video signal reproducing device in which a reproducing video signal is produced and applied to an external display. A servo reference signal is supplied to a servo loop to synchronize the phase of movement of a motor driving a recording medium. During crossing from track to track the video signal is muted and a compound signal synchronized with the servo reference signal applied to the external display.

Abstract: Apparatus for playing back a rotary magnetic recording medium has a magnetic head for sensing color video signals provided by raster scanning out of a plurality of tracks, each of which is provided on the recording medium in such a locus that a beginning and an end of recording thereof coincides with each other in relative position, a head transport mechanism for transporting the head to a desired one of the tracks, a controller for performing tracking by controlling the head transport mechanism responsive to video signals which are sensed by the head out of the recording medium, and a video signal processing circuit made up a luminance signal processing circuit and a chrominance signal processing circuit for producing color video signals sensed out by the head in the form of standard color television signals.

Abstract: A method of protecting a magnetic recording medium includes measuring a time period over which a main power supply continues to remain in an off state and the magnetic recording medium continues to remain loaded at a predetermined position. If the measured time period attains a predetermined time period (e.g. 60 minutes), a magnetic recording/playback head is shifted to an origin position or a stand-by position outside a recording/playback area of the recording medium, thereby preventing the magnetic head from leaving its impression on the magnetic recording/playback area of the recording medium due to continuous pressing contact between the two.

Abstract: A method of erasing a magnetic recording on one designated track or on plural designated tracks on a magnetic recording medium bearing a plurality of tracks mutually adjacent one of which are spaced apart substantially equal distances includes moving a magnetic head in a direction orthogonal to the tracks, detecting a position of a track, on which a magnetic recording has been made, nearest an outermost track among the designated tracks, based on the strength of a signal read from the magnetic recording medium by the magnetic head, and erasing, by means of the magnetic head, a range decided using the detected position of tracks as a reference.

Abstract: An electronic camera in which images are electrically recorded on a magnetic disk that can be removed from a receptacle that can be opened. The receptacle is prevented from opening when a picture is being taken and recorded, thus prevention incomplete recording. Such prevention can be accomplished by coupling the receptacle release to a lens cover or to a power switch powering the recording.

Abstract: A servo lock or sync detecting apparatus is provided for an electronic still camera system. When the images captured and recorded with such a still camera system are reproduced in a separate television system, for example, stable disk rotation is essential for achieving a stable image reproduction. To this end, a servo lock detecting apparatus is provided in which timing signals are generated as a function of the rotational speed of the magnetic disk, and a driving device for driving the disk is controlled by a control unit. The control circuit counts the periods of the timing signals using reference clock signals to produce servo lock signals when the timing signal periods are within a preset range for a preset number of times. The servo lock signals indicate that the servo lock or sync is established in the driving device.

Abstract: A method of protecting a magnetic recording medium includes measuring a time period over which a main power supply continues to remain in an off state and the magnetic recording medium continues to remain loaded at a predetermined position. If the measured time period attains a first predetermined time period (e.g. 60 minutes), the recording medium is rotated for a second predetermined time period (e.g. several second), thereby preventing a magnetic recording/playback head from leaving its impression on the recording medium due to continuous pressing contact between the two at the same location on the recording medium.

Abstract: Playback apparatus for a rotary recording medium includes a playback head for sensing signals from a plurality of tracks which are formed on a rotary recording medium in such a manner that the front end of recording operation continues to the last end thereof; a head move unit for movably supporting the playback head; an envelope detect device for detecting an envelope of signals sensed by the playback head; and a control unit for controlling the head move unit to move the playback head to a desired one of the plurality of tracks based on the detected envelope. The control unit, in order to control the head move unit to move the playback head in a first direction, is adapted to count the distance moved by the playback head with reference to a predetermined reference position, and to control the head move unit to move the playback head in a second direction opposite to the first direction when an envelope is not detected successively at track positions associated with a predetermined number of tracks.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for tracking a track recorded in a rotary recording medium which rotates at a predetermined constant speed has a playback head for sensing a signal out of a desired one of tracks each being provided in the recording medium such that a beginning and an end of recording coincide with each other includes a head transport mechanism for supporting the playback head movably along the recording medium, an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of the signal sensed by the playback head, and a controller for controlling the head transport mechanism to move the playback head to a position where a desired one of the tracks is located. The head transport mechanism includes a head position detector for detecting a position of the playback head on the recording medium.

Abstract: A tracking apparatus for a signal reproducing apparatus makes use of a rotating magnetic recording medium, especially when such apparatus reproduces information signals recorded on the medium, such as video signals. The tracking apparatus includes a compensation circuit capable of compensating for the envelope level of the signals sensed by the playback head, so that the dynamic range for which the envelope signal is quantized may be narrower, or the quantum level steps may be smaller, and hence the resolution thereof may be enhanced correspondingly.

Abstract: Apparatus for a rotary magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic head for sensing signals from tracks which are formed on a rotary magnetic recording medium in such a manner that the front end of a recording operation continues positionally equal to the last end thereof; a head move device for movably supporting the magnetic head; a control unit for controlling the head move device to move the magnetic head onto a desired one of the tracks so as to perform a tracking operation, and a first detect device for detecting an envelope of signals obtained by the magnetic head.