Abstract: A data transmission system which allows received data to be decoded and reproduced in real time by simple decoding and which allows signal reproduction and recording by highly reliable error-correcting decoding, wherein a transmitter encodes transmission data by an error-correcting code enabling control of the error-correcting characteristic and the real-time characteristic at the receiving side and transmits it through a transmission line and a receiver 2a demodulates the received data by a demodulation circuit 102, decodes it by a simple decoding circuit 104 and simultaneously stores it in a storage circuit 110, demultiplexes the decoded data 105a by a demultiplexing circuit 106, and reproduces it by a reproduction circuit 123 in a form for viewing and listening by a user.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital picture signal, the large number of data bits in the digital picture signal to be recorded is reduced by a ratio of approximately 1:9, and the thus compressed data are recorded with a recording density of at least approximately 0.8 bit/&mgr;m2 in relatively narrow successive skewed tracks without guard bands on a metal evaporated magnetic tape having predefined characteristics. The magnetic tape has a width of no more than approximately 8 mm and a thickness of no more than approximately 7 &mgr;m and is wound in a relatively small size cassette.

Abstract: The invention provides a picture data writing apparatus and method, a picture data reading apparatus and method, and a picture data writing and reading apparatus and method and by which a moving picture, a still picture and sound data can be written and read out in combination into and from a memory card, and a memory card on which a moving picture, a still picture and sound data are written in combination. To still picture data fetched by a CCD, an identification code representing that the data is still picture data is added by a DSP, and resulting data is compressed in accordance with the JPEG system by a data compression circuit and written into a memory card. To moving picture data fetched by the memory card, an identification code representing that the data is moving picture data is added by a DSP, and resulting data is compressed in accordance with the MPEG system by a data compression circuit and written into the memory card.

Abstract: A rotary head apparatus for recording and/or reproducing an information track to/from a magnetic tape having predetermined orientation characteristics is constructed by: a first magnetic head having a first azimuth angle; a second magnetic head which has a second azimuth angle whose performance is relatively inferior to that of the first magnetic head and forms or reproduces the information track of a width larger than that of the first magnetic head; and a rotating member for rotating the first and second magnetic heads. The angle of the second azimuth angle for the orientation direction of the tape is larger than that of the first azimuth angle.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a rotary drum that has a magnetic tape wound around the drum and first and second magnetic heads mounted on the drum for scanning the magnetic tape as the tape is advanced to reproduce an information signal recorded in successive oblique tracks on the tape. The first magnetic head has a magnetic gap that is inclined in a clockwise direction, relative to a line that is normal to a scanning direction of the magnetic heads, when viewed from the rotary drum. The second magnetic head has a magnetic gap that is inclined in a counterclockwise direction, relative to a line that is normal to the scanning direction of the magnetic heads, when viewed from the rotary drum. A tracking control circuit controls the scanning locus of the first magnetic head relative to an oblique track which the first magnetic head reproduces.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a head base (56), and a pair of magnetic head chips (57, 58) of different azimuth angles (.theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2) disposed on the head base (56). The pair of magnetic head chips (57, 58) are disposed in a stepped arrangement with respect to the direction of arrangement of tracks on a magnetic recording medium with a step (DA) substantially equal to the pitch (P) of tracks on the magnetic recording medium. The gap distance (GL) between the magnetic gaps of the magnetic head chips (57, 58) is shorter than the sum of the step (D) between adjacent tracks and the length (L) of interblock gap regions between video signal regions and audio signal regions arranged along the direction of the movement of the magnetic head. The magnetic head permits satisfactory audio signal after-recording and extended recording and reproducing of digital video signals on the magnetic recording medium even if the magnetic recording medium is a narrow magnetic tape of 8 mm or less in width.

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.