Abstract: A magnetic tape drive apparatus in which data are recorded/reproduced on/from a magnetic tape by recording/reproducing magnetic heads which are disposed on a head drum and moved on a circular locus comprising cleaning means for removing deposit such as stain adhering to a magnetic head to clean the magnetic head, error rate detection means for detecting the error rate of the magnetic tape when data are recorded/reproduced onto/from the magnetic tape, and error rate storage means for storing the error rate detected by the error rate detection means, wherein when the error rate detected by the error rate detection means is increased at a predetermined rate with respect to an error rate which is detected at any time point and stored, the magnetic head is cleaned by the cleaning means.

Abstract: A helical scan magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus incorporating an MR head to serve as a reproducing magnetic head is arranged to convert data which is recorded on a magnetic tape into data in the form of DC-free code trains. The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is provided with a high-pass filter for attenuating low-frequency components of a reproduced signal detected by the MR head. Moreover, a demodulating circuit is provided which demodulates data in a state before data is converted into the DC-free code trains from the reproduced signal, in which the low-frequency components have been attenuated by said high-pass filter. As a result, noise (thermal asperities) in a low-frequency region caused when the magnetic tape and the MR head are brought into contact with each other is removed so that a reproduced output free from excessive noise is obtained. The high-pass filter is, for example, a rotary transformer mounted on rotational drum.

Abstract: A magnetic signal reproducing apparatus which can lessen fluctuation of reproduced outputs in reproducing magnetic signals recorded in a magnetic tape by a magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head even if a magnetic tape sliding face of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is abraded. A current value of a sense current when a voltage fluctuation level of the sense current caused when a magnetic field in the normal direction is applied to a magneto-resistance effect element of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is equal with a voltage fluctuation level of the sense current caused when a magnetic field in the opposite direction is applied thereto is set to a predetermined value I0. Then, the current value of the sense current supplied to the magneto-resistance effect element of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is set to be greater than I0 in reproducing the magnetic signals recorded in the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A helical-scan system performs recording and reproduction on a magnetic tape by using a recording and reproducing head 5 comprising m magnetic head elements 7 (where m is 2 or larger integer). During this recording and reproduction, the following relationships are satisfied among a track width W for each of the head elements 7, a track pitch Tp between the head elements 7, and a feed amount S for a magnetic tape 6.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus which can be formed into a smaller size is provided in a case in which signals of a plurality of recording tracks which are recorded on a tape-like information recording medium are reproduced by using a plurality of reproduction heads without depending on the arrangement of the recording tracks in the information recording medium.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head unit has a non-contact type transmission device capable of reliably performing non-contact transmission both in signal and power supply systems and designed so as to be smaller in size. The non-contact type transmission device is formed of a rotating member and a fixed member each having a power supply wiring section for transmitting a power supply, a signal wiring section for transmitting a signal, and a crosstalk prevention section positioned between the power supply wiring section and the signal wiring section to prevent crosstalk between these sections. If a reproducing head formed of a magnetoresistive element is used by being supplied with a bias current from the power supply transmitted by the power supply wiring sections of the rotary and fixed members, the rotary magnetic head unit uses bias current control means to change the bias current supplied to the reproducing head according to the amount of wear of the recording head during reproduction from signals from magnetic tapes.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of the helical scan system employing a MR head as a reproducing magnetic head. The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus includes a MR head 6 and a rotary drum carrying the MR head 6. In reproducing signals from the magnetic tape 7 in accordance with the helical scan system, a magnetic tape 7, having a large number of projections 7c on the tape surface and containing an electrically conductive material in its magnetic layer, is used as a recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device incorporating both a 2-channel recording mode and a multichannel recording mode in one piece of equipment and using recording heads in multiples of two. This magnetic recording device is provided with a head drum, a pair of magnetic recording heads W1+ and W2- of a head width Hw and arranged in mutual proximity and along the rotation direction of the head drum, and a pair of magnetic recording heads W1- and W2+ of a head width Hw/2 and arranged in proximity to the magnetic recording head W2-. These magnetic recording heads W1+, W2-, W1-, W2+ are positioned so that the upper edge of the magnetic recording head W1+, the lower edge of the magnetic recording head W2-, the upper edge of the magnetic recording head W1- and the lower edge of the magnetic recording head W2+ are on the imaginary common line along the rotation direction of the head drum.

Abstract: A rotary head recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing digital signals into and from helical tracks on a tape-like recording medium with a rotary head is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a recording head section composed of first and second recording heads having different azimuth angles are closely located on a rotary drum; a first reproducing head section provided at 90.degree. to the recording head section, the first reproducing head section being composed of first and second reproducing heads closely located, the first and second reproducing heads having azimuth angles corresponding to the first and second recording heads of the recording head section, respectively; and a second reproducing head section provided at 180.degree.

Abstract: An autochanger incorporates a storage unit that includes a plurality of storage sections for storing recording medium cartridges. The recording medium cartridges have a recording medium installed, and a first memory for storing data informative of the recording medium. Connection terminals allocated to the storage sections are provided for accessing the first memory of a desired recording medium cartridge. A loading/unloading unit is provided for loading and unloading the cartridges, and accessing a data signal on the recording medium of the cartridges. A carrier conveys the recording medium cartridges between the storage unit and the loading/unloading unit, and a control memory saves the informative data.

Abstract: A flat portion of a reproduction waveform is set a length in which data of one or more sync blocks can be arranged. The same ID is written by only the number of times corresponding to the number of sync blocks obtained from each track by one scan. When data is recorded on the sync block unit basis and the searching operation is executed by using the ID of the sync block.

Abstract: In order to enable both reproduction of the azimuth-recorded old format and recording and reproduction of the new format of a different azimuth angle without increasing the number of heads, the number of channels of rotary transformers and the number of changeover switched, attached on a rotary drum are a head Hw1 and a head Hr1 (whose azimuth angle is -.THETA.) which are located in opposite positions apart by 180.degree., and a head Hw2 and a head Hr2 (whose azimuth angle is +.beta.) which are also located in opposite positions apart by 180.degree.. Another head Hr3 (whose azimuth angle is +.THETA.) is attached on the drum 3 in a position apart from the head Hr1 by 90.degree.. Recording of the narrow-track new format and RAW operation are done by the heads Hw1, Hw2, and reproduction of the new format is done by the heads Hr1, Hr2. Reproduction of a signal recorded in the old format is done by the heads Hr1 and Hr3.

Abstract: An autochanger of the present invention incorporates a cartridge storage 10 which comprises a plurality of storage cells 11 for storing magnetic tape cartridges 50, each magnetic tape cartridge having, for example, a magnetic tape 52 installed in a cartridge thereof and an IC memory 51 mounted thereon and carrying an informative data of the magnetic tape 52, and a corresponding number of connection terminals 12 allocated to the storage cells 11 respectively for accessing the IC memory 51 of a desired magnetic tape cartridge 50.

Abstract: A tape cassette and tape recording/reproducing apparatus including a tape partitioned into a plurality of partitions for recording data thereon, and a separate memory included in the tape cassette for storing control information relating to each tape partition, thereby reducing the time and number of operations needed to access a particular partition.

Abstract: A recording medium device has a cartridge main body housing a recording medium configured for recording information signals. The recording medium device includes the cartridge main body housing the magnetic tape, contact terminals arranged facing the outside of the cartridge main body for functioning as electrical contacts for a drive unit, and a shutter member arranged on the cartridge main body for opening and closing the contact terminals. The contact terminals face outwardly of the cartridge main body via an opening formed in the outer peripheral wall of the cartridge main body. When not loaded on the drive unit, the shutter member is held at a position closing the opening formed in the cartridge main body. When loaded on the drive unit, the shutter member is moved by a shutter opening mechanism mounted in the drive unit to a position uncovering the opening for exposing the contact terminals to the outside of the cartridge main body.

Abstract: An input data rate delivered from an external device and a recording rate at the recording system for recording data onto a recording tape by using a rotary head are compared at a rate comparison section, and a comparison result is sent to a control section. The control section controls a tape running drive section for allowing the recording tape to undergo running drive. This control section carries out a switching control such that when input rate is lower than recording rate, tape running speed is caused to undergo switching control so as to shift to a lower speed side and to reduce recording rate, and when input rate is higher than recording rate at the time of tape low speed running, tape running speed is caused to be in correspondence with original stationary speed for a second time.

Abstract: A rotary head recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing digital signals into and from helical tracks on a tape-like recording medium with a rotary head is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a recording head section composed of first and second recording heads having different azimuth angles are closely located on a rotary drum; a first reproducing head section provided at 90.degree. to the recording head section, the first reproducing head section being composed of first and second reproducing heads closely located, the first and second reproducing heads having azimuth angles corresponding to the first and second recording heads of the recording head section, respectively; and a second reproducing head section provided at 180.degree.

Abstract: By merely using one reproducing head, an overwriting operation and an ATF operation can be performed, thereby reducing a crosstalk obstruction and modulation noises. Recording heads 7 and 8 having different azimuth angles and a reproducing head 9 having the same azimuth angle as that of the recording head 7 are provided for a drum 3. An (A) track constructed by a data region and an ATF pilot region is recorded to a magnetic tape 1 by the recording head 7. A (B) track constructed by a data region in which a single signal of a short wavelength is recorded and an ATF pilot region is recorded to the magnetic tape 1 by the recording head 8. Upon reproduction, the (A) track is reproduced by the reproducing head 9. Although the (B) track is not reproduced, the single signal is recorded as a (B) track, so that the overwriting operation and the ATF operation of an area method can be performed and, further, an excellent signal can be reproduced from the (A) track.

Abstract: An optical recording method and an optical recording apparatus enable recording information on recording tracks substantially corresponding to ideal reference tracks, on an optical recording medium without preformatted tracks. The optical recording medium is scanned by a rotating optical scanning system using a scanning light beam emitted by an external light source to record information on the optical recording medium. Prior to recording the information on the optical recording medium, information recorded on a reference track recording medium provided with ideal reference tracks is reproduced in a tracking control mode to acquire tracking control data and the tracking control data is stored in a waveform memory. In recording information on the optical recording medium, the rotating optical scanning system is controlled on the basis of the previously stored tracking control data so that the scanning spot traces recording tracks corresponding to the ideal reference tracks.

Abstract: A recording head Hw1 records a record signal including a data region, a pilot signal region, and a mask region with a width of 3 Tp. A recording head Hw2 overwrites the record region of the head Hw1 with another data. Since the recorded signal includes the mask region, the pilot signal region recorded by the head Hw1 is not erased. The recording head Hw1 overwrites with a record signal. At this point, since the recorded signal contains a mask region, the former pilot signal region is not erased. Instead, a new pilot signal region is formed. By repeating these operations, pilot signal regions are adjacently formed at track edges of a track corresponding to the recording head Hw1. Since the pilot signal is reproduced by a reproducing head with the same azimuth as the recording head, the pilot signal with a short wavelength can be used.