Abstract: A method of recording and reproducing audio signals and corresponding visual signals in parallel tracks extending in the longitudinal direction on a magnetic tape, includes the steps of recording the audio signals in first and second primary tracks on opposite sides of the tape in the widthwise direction thereof; and alternately recording a first visual information signal corresponding to the audio signal in the first primary tracks and a second visual information signal corresponding to the audio signal in the second primary tracks in a single secondary track positioned in the center of the tape in the widthwise direction thereof, the first visual information signal being recorded in first information blocks in the secondary track and the second visual information signal being recorded in second information blocks in the secondary track in an alternating relation with the first information blocks such that only the first visual information signal is reproduced when reproducing the audio signal from the first

Abstract: A brush-less DC motor includes a stator member; a stationary cylindrical member projected from the stator member and having bearings on its inner circumferential surface; a rotary shaft being rotatably supported by the bearings of the stationary cylindrical member; a rotary cylindrical member into which the stationary cylindrical member is inserted, and to which the rotary shaft is fixed; two rotary discs of magnetic material, fixed to the rotary cylindrical member and spaced from each other; a permanent magnet fixed to one of the rotary discs; a rotational-position detecting member; and a coil assembly including a plurality of coil units. The working point of the rotary shaft is nearer to the stationary cylindrical member than to the rotary cylindrical member.

Abstract: In a cassette and card recording and/or reproducing apparatus; a housing is provided to receive a cassette with a run of the magnetic tape therein being coincident with a recording medium transport path, or to guide a card having a magnetic stripe affixed thereto so as to be disposed in said transport path, a head carriage is movable normal to the transport path and carries a magnetic head engageable with the magnetic tape or stripe in the transport path when the carriage is moved to an operative position, a pinch roller is mounted on the head carriage and cooperates with a rotated capstan for driving either the tape or card therebetween in the transport path upon movement of the carriage to its operative position, a tape guide member is urged to project into the transport path for guiding a tape in such path relative to the head in response to movement of the carriage to its operative position in the cassette mode of operation of the apparatus, and a mode change-over mechanism is selectively actuable for est

Abstract: An azimuth angle other than zero can occur if magnetic tape vibrates or moves in the tape width direction during recording or playback mode and this can result in azimuth loss which is a function of the track width angle of misalignment and the wave length of the signals. The wider the tape width the greater the azimuth loss and the lower the tape transport speed the greater the azimuth loss. Thus, the present invention varies the track width and speed so as to obtain optimum reproduction fidelity by combining two or more heads to obtain the desired results.

Abstract: A system for handling pulse encoded signals includes several parallel signal paths to carry pulses on which a signal has been encoded. The encoding is based on a predetermined amplitude value, or weight, for each pulse, and each signal path receives all pulses having the same weighting factor. A switching system is provided to switch the signals received on the various paths to different paths in a determinable order at a repetition rate commensurate with the pulse encoding repetition rate. The signals are then transmitted along the signal paths and are then switched back to the original order for pulse decoding. If pulse bits are lost in the second path, an interpolation may be made to provide a reasonable restoration of the signal to minimize the dropout effect.

Abstract: A device for sensing the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape while the latter is at rest, for example, in a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, has a DC magnetic recording head energizable by a predetermined DC voltage for applying a DC magnetic flux to the tape with which such head is engaged, a magnetic sensing element preferably coupled with the DC magnetic recording head for sensing the remanence or residual magnetism in the tape while the latter remains at rest following the application of the DC magnetic flux to the tape, and a level detector for detecting the level of the sensed remanence of the tape as an indication of the type of magnetic coating thereon. Such level detector may be advantageously employed for controlling a frequency equalizing circuit and/or a bias oscillator included in the signal recording circuit of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to automatically adapt the latter for recording operations on the particular type of tape installed therein.

Abstract: A tape cassette and machine wherein the tape cassette is provided with a breakable pin such that if the pin is removed the tape cannot be erased and wherein the machine includes a mechanism for detecting whether the pin is present in the cassette so as to properly interlock the machine to correlate with the presence or absence of the pin. As tape machines and cassettes are becoming smaller and smaller it is desirable to provide cassette mounting means and interlock mechanism which can be mounted in the minimum space.

Abstract: An improved tape cassette for use with small size tape recorders which provides mechanical indicating means on the cassette which enables the user to tell which side of the cassette has been utilized and further provides a pair of depressions formed in two rear corners of the cassette which are adapted to receive a sensing lever of the tape machine for preventing erasure of the tape accidentally. The placement of the depressions at the rear corners allow the cassette and the machine with which it is to be used to be made smaller and much easier to align the sensing lever of the recorder, than in the prior art.