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: Magnetic recording apparatus are provided for recording signals on a magnetic tape. A recording head records signals in successive tracks on the tape and a tape transport transports a magnetic tape past the recording head in a recording direction. In one embodiment, absolute track addresses are recorded in at least some of the tracks, the absolute track address of each track corresponding to a distance of the track from a start position of the magnetic tape. Recording is initiated from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position. In a further embodiment, the tape transport transports the tape initially by a distance necessary to establish a stable running state, and thereafter transports the tape a further distance while recording reproduction control signals so that during reproduction a stable running state may be achieved. Thereafter, information to be output is recorded.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus are provided for recording signals on a magnetic tape. A recording head records signals in successive tracks on the tape and a tape transport transports a magnetic tape past the recording head in a recording direction. In one embodiment, absolute track addresses are recorded in at least some of the tracks, the absolute track address of each track corresponding to a distance of the track from a start position of the magnetic tape. Recording is initiated from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position. In a further embodiment, the tape transport transports the tape initially by a distance necessary to establish a stable running state, and thereafter transports the tape a further distance while recording reproduction control signals so that during reproduction a stable running state may be achieved. Thereafter, information to be output is recorded.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reproducing and after-recording digital signals in slant recording tracks sequentially arranged on a recording medium includes a recording subsystem for recording digital signals in each of the slant tracks and a reproducing subsystem for reproducing digital signals therefrom. The recording and reproducing subsystems include one or more recording and/or reproducing heads for scanning each of the tracks for recording and reproducing digital data therein. A tracking control subsystem controls tracking of the heads with respect to the tracks in a reproducing mode based upon tracking signals recorded both in first and second tracking signal recording areas of the tracks located at initial and final scan positions, respectively, of each track.

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: In a tape cassette having a case with a mouth for receiving a magnetic head drum of a recording/reproducing apparatus and containing a recording tape wound on rotatable reels and including a tape run extending across the mouth; a front lid is pivotally supported on side walls of the case so as to be movable between a closed position covering a front opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the tape run, and upper lid is pivotally joined at its front edge to the upper edge portion of the front lid so as to be movable between a closed position to covering a top opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover the top opening, and a slide shutter is supported on the case for sliding between a closed position covering a bottom opening of the mouth and opened position to uncover such bottom opening. The mouth across which a run of the recording tape extends can be closely covered by the front lid, the upper lid and the slide shutter when the tape cassette is not in use.

Abstract: In a digital magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a magnetic head comprises a plurality of head chips mounted closely together in parallel with each other on a rotary drum member which is rotatably supported by dynamic pressure bearing in which a sleeve and a shaft inserted therein are relatively rotatably supported by fluid under pressure therebetween.

Abstract: A recording medium cassette being easily miniaturized if necessary, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, adapted to use the same recording medium cassette. The recording medium cassette includes a printed wiring board having a plurality of information indicating contacts and which is fixed to the bottom wall of a case of the recording medium cassette so that the information indicating contacts are accessible from outside through slots formed in the bottom wall. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of information detecting contacts respectively corresponding to the information indicating contacts of the recording medium cassette. The information detecting contacts may respectively contact the information indicating contacts upon insertion of the recording medium cassette into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to enable information to be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: A digital video tape recorder includes a rotary drum that has a leading head and a trailing head mounted thereon for recording video signals in respective slant tracks scanned on the tape while the tape is advanced. Each of the tracks includes, in sequence in the scanning direction of the respective head, a first auxiliary recording area, a second auxiliary recording area and a video signal recording area. The heads are displaced with respect to each other on the drum in the scanning direction by a distance that is less than the distance in the scanning direction between an ending edge of the first auxiliary recording area of the track formed by the trailing head and a starting edge of the video recording area of the track formed by the leading head. Because of the arrangement of the heads, after-recording of audio signals in the first auxiliary recording area by the trailing head is completed before the leading head begins reproduction of video signals.

Abstract: Digital video tape recording apparatus of the type which converts a vertical interval of picture data into image blocks of digital picture element data that is compression encoded and recorded on video tape which is selectively driven at first or second speeds, wherein the second speed is approximately 1.5 times faster than the first speed. The digital video recorder includes two rotatable transducers disposed approximately 180.degree. apart, each transducer having a recording gap length, or head width, for recording a track pitch, the gap length being at least equal to the track pitch that is recorded when the tape is driven at the second speed. The transducers have respectively different azimuth angles to minimize crosstalk interference during playback.

Abstract: A tape cassette comprises a case body having a mouth formed in the front portion thereof, a front lid pivotally supported thereon so as to cover the open front side of the case body, and a back lid pivotally joined to the front lid so as to cover a space extending behind the substantially lower half of an exposed portion of a magnetic tape in the mouth. The front lid includes a front wall covering the front opening of the mouth, side walls extending backward from the opposite side edges of the front wall, an upper wall covering the upper opening of the mouth, and a back wall extending downward from the upper wall. The side wall is provided with two guide grooves with two round projections projecting from the inner surface of the side wall being respectively received therein. Each of the two guide grooves has the shape of an arc of a circle having its center at the center of an imaginary circle at one end of the other guide groove.

Abstract: A tape supplying and taking up apparatus is capable of use with either large or small size tape cassettes containing reels which can be of different diameters and rotated with a high degree of accuracy by reel spindles of simple structure. Each tape cassette for use with the apparatus has a shutter of the slide type for closing access holes in the bottom wall of the cassette casing.Each of the reel spindles has a large size cassette receiving portion for receiving a tape reel of a large size tape cassette coaxial with a small size cassette receiving portion for receiving a tape reel of a small size tape cassette. The small size cassette receiving portion is smaller in diameter and disposed at a higher position than the large size cassette receiving portion. The diameter of a lower end of a reel spindle engaging hole provided in each reel hub of the small tape cassette is smaller than the outer diameter of the small size cassette receiving portion of the reel spindle.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an information signal that includes a signal processor for processing an information signal to be magnetically recorded, n magnetic heads (n is an integer of 2 or more) provided on a rotating drum with a step of about 1/n the width of a magnetic tape and a distributing circuit for selectively supplying the processed information signal to one or more than two of the n magnetic heads, wherein the processed information signal is recorded on one or more than two track areas of the magnetic tape by the magnetic head. Thus, much data can be recorded at a high transmission rate to improve the quality of picture, and also, a high access speed can be achieved.

Abstract: A recording medium cassette being easily miniaturized if necessary, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a VTR, adapted to use the same recording medium cassette. The recording medium cassette includes a printed wiring board having a plurality of information indicating contacts and which is fixed to the bottom wall of a case of the recording medium cassette so that the information indicating contacts are accessible from outside through slots formed in the bottom wall. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a plurality of information detecting contacts respectively corresponding to the information indicating contacts of the recording medium cassette. The information detecting contacts may respectively contact the information indicating contacts upon insertion of the recording medium cassette into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to enable information to be transferred therebetween.