Abstract: A signal reproducing circuit includes a magneto-resistive effect head having one end thereof coupled to a first power supply line, for reproducing data recorded on a magnetic recording medium in a read operation. A first constant current source is coupled between another end of the head and a second power supply line, for supplying the head with a sense current in the read operation. First and second transistors have collectors thereof coupled to the first power supply line, and are responsive to voltage signals obtained from both ends of the head, respectively. Second and third constant current sources are coupled between each emitter of the first and second transistors and the second power supply line, respectively, for supplying the first and second transistors with a predetermined constant current in the read operation. A capacitor is connected between each emitter of the first and second transistors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to efficiently switch heads in a disk drive. A disk drive comprises a plurality of recording surfaces and a plurality of heads and each head is opposed to a recording surface. The heads are used for reading data from or writing data to the plurality of recording surfaces. An offset quantity table stores an offset quantity for each of the plurality of heads. The offset quantity is a value representative of the distance of a head with respect to a reference head. A head sequence table stores a predetermined head switching sequence. Head switching operations use the head switching sequence stored in the head sequence table.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a tuner which receives CATV signals and selects a TV signal therefrom. The selected TV signal is output via an output terminal to decoder in a cable box, for instance. An input terminal of the recording apparatus receives the decoder output. Both the selected TV signal and the input on from the input terminal are sent to a switching unit. The switching unit selects the input from the input terminal when input signals are present; otherwise the switching unit selects the select TV signal. The switching may be controlled manually or by a detection circuit. The detection circuit detects the presence of input signals at the input terminal. A recording unit records the output from the switching unit.

Abstract: An automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit for use with a digital magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus adopting a partial response class IV coding method. The automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit comprises: a pattern detection circuit for detecting at least one of patterns "1, 0, -1" and "-1, 0, 1" from a reproduced signal; a level detection circuit for detecting the levels of the reproduced signal in effect when the pattern detection circuit detects 0's; a clock reproduction circuit for reproducing a clock signal from the reproduced signal; and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock signal reproduced by the clock reproduction circuit based on the output signal from the level detection circuit.

Abstract: A tape recording medium with slant tracks formed in two longitudinal areas above and below a center line on the recording medium, wherein the slant tracks each include subcode data at a midportion of each track with two control data areas on either side of the subcode and two data areas on the outboard sides of the control data areas. The data areas can include audio data, video data, or computer data or a mixture thereof and the control data provides information specifying the kind of digital data that is recorded for use in reproducing.

Abstract: A digital audio tape recorder for processing input signals in a predetermined manner and for digitally recording the processed signals on a recording medium or reproducing digital signals recorded on the recording medium by a rotary head has a time base compressing unit and a time base expanding unit for time base compressing signals supplied to the rotary head or time base expanding signals reproduced from the rotary head for recording and reproducing data at a high transmission rate on or from the recording medium. Time base compression/expenion and the rotation of the rotary head at a number of revolutions in conformity to the high transmission rate are achieved.

Abstract: A digital data recording apparatus records digital data in tracks on a tape. Each track has a first signal area for storing track format information and a second signal area for storing a plurality of sync blocks. The apparatus includes a circuit for inserting, in the first signal area, regular TDS information indicating the track data structure of digital data, and a circuit for inserting, in the final sync block, backup TDS information having the same structure as the regular TDS information.

Abstract: An audio/video/control switching apparatus comprised of a plurality of switching subsystems. Each of the switching subsystems allows an operator to select an input signal from among a first plurality of inputs, to select an output signal from a second plurality of outputs, and to couple the selected input signal to the selected output signal. In the preferred embodiment, each of the switching subsystems handles a different one of a plurality of signal types, such as composite video signals, S-video signals, audio signals, time code signals, and control signals. A control panel is coupled to the switching subsystems, so that the operator can control the selection of the input and output signals. The apparatus also includes a circuit that enables the switching subsystems only when the selected input signal is not coupled to an identical device as the selected output signal.

Abstract: A signal reproduction circuit used for an MR head has a simple circuit configuration to suppress a disturbance signal caused by the contact between the MR head and a disk, and to remove the ripples completely from the reproduced signal. The signal reproduction circuit used for the MR head includes a first circuit for generating a switching signal in accordance with a disturbance signal extracted from an input data signal, a second circuit including a filter circuit and a switching circuit, the filter having a first and a second cut-off frequency, the switching circuit for switching either the first of second cut-off frequency for outputting an un-suppressed data signal and a suppressed disturbance signal.

Abstract: The feature of the present invention lies in the point that a flying height variation of a head is checked by use of a read signal sent from the head so as to easily detect the flying height out of an allowable range, so that the generation of an abnormal data writing/reading operation is prevented in advance with result that data writing/reading operation can be surely realized in an interior of a HDD. There is provided a system in which a read signal obtained when data recorded in a disk 1 is read by a head 2 is input, and the flying height variation of the head is checked by use of a DC voltage of a gain control signal of an AGC circuit of a data reading processing circuit for executing a predetermined data reading processing. A CPU 11 converts a DC voltage level of the gain control signal of the AGC circuit to digital data by an A/D converter so as to check the flying height variation of the head.

Abstract: A head-switching circuit for switching from a first head operating on a first recording medium to a second head operating on a second recording medium so as to read out data written on a recording medium according to a staggered servo mechanism, includes a selector for selecting one of the recording media, a classifier (20, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34) for classifying the skew time of a recording medium selected by the selector and another recording medium selected by the selector, a sync signal generator (40, 41, 42, 50, 51), (60, 61, 62, 70, 71, 72 and 80) enabled by the output signal of the classifier for generating a sync signal when the skew time to is identical with a predetermined time, thereby generate a sync signal precisely during head-switching in staggered servo mechanism.

Abstract: The system is in form of a double-deck video cassette recorder incorporating a video/audio reproducer and a video/audio recorder/reproducer. Reproduced video signal output from the video/audio reproducer is coupled to the video/audio recorder/reproducer via a selector. The video/audio recorder/reproducer is coupled to an externally introduced video signal through a video selector and connected to a mixer that combines reproduced audio signal output with an externally introduced audio signal. In response to reproduction or interruption of the reproduction of the video/audio reproducer, the video/audio recorder/reproducer is activated through a control line to record signals or interrupt it.

Abstract: A sampled amplitude read channel incorporated within a magnetic disk storage system for reading data recorded in concentric tracks on a magnetic medium, where the data comprises user data sectors recorded at varying data rates across a plurality of predefined zones and embedded servo data sectors recorded at the same data rate across the zones. The sampled amplitude read channel comprises a timing recovery component for synchronous sampling of a read signal from a magnetic read head positioned over the magnetic medium, a gain control component for adjusting the amplitude of the read signal, and a DC offset component for cancelling a DC offset in the read signal. These components are dynamically configured to operate according to whether the read channel is processing user data or embedded servo data.

Abstract: An improved multi-deck VCR system for performing a combination operation and a series playback operation comprises at least three VCR units, a remote control unit for selecting one of a variety operating modes to drive the VCR units in accordance with a selected operation mode, a combination of a first switch and a mode conversion circuit for effecting the combination operation wherein a particular one of the VCR units operates in a playback mode and the remaining VCR units are simultaneously driven in a recording mode and a combination of a second switch and a sequential logic circuit for effecting the series playback operation wherein each of the VCR units is sequentially and repeatedly driven in the playback mode.

Abstract: A head switching signal calibrating apparatus includes a rotating reproduction device for reproducing data stored on a magnetic tape and a controller for calibrating a head switching signal as a function of the reproduced data, the rotation of the reproduction device, and reference data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for a data recording disk file having a head module with separate side by side read and write transducers for optimizing the switching of the head between reading information and writing information on the same track or cylinder. A function generator defines at least one control function for a servo control signal to drive an actuator to move the head module the approximate distance between the side by side write and read transducers, optimized to minimize the time between write and read, and optimized to move the head module the approximate distance between the side by side read and write transducers at the timing best suited to minimize the write transition time.

Abstract: A circuit forming part of an arm electronics module installed on an actuator arm that measures the voltage across an MR head A control unit supplies a measurement enable signal that enables a measurement enable circuit. A current bias circuit, responsive to the control unit, supplies a bias current to the MR head. A common node in the circuit provides a voltage signal responsive to the voltage across the MR head, with an added diode V.sub.BE drop across an input transistor. A voltage measurement amplifier has an input node and an output node that supplies an output voltage reduced in voltage by one diode drop (V.sub.BE). An input switch, responsive to the measurement enable signal is coupled between the input node and the common node. An output switch, responsive to the measurement enable signal is coupled between the output node and an output terminal.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive unit includes a first read amplifier connected to an inductive head, a second read amplifier connected to a magneto-resistive head, a selective output unit for selecting either an output of the first read amplifier or an output of the second read amplifier and supplying a selected output to a demodulator, and a control unit for supplying a switching control signal. When reading servo information written onto a data surface of a magnetic recording medium, the control unit controls the switching control signal and thus causes the selective output unit to select an output of the first read amplifier associated with the inductive head. By the constitution, servo information can be detected in a wide range using a relatively simple data-surface servo pattern. This realizes high-precision off-tracking compensation.

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 Digital Data Storage (DDS) data storage mechanism for reading DDS tapes containing data at either 61 kbpi or 122 kbpi has two circuits for recovering data from signals induced in a magnetic head by magnetic patterns on the tape. One circuit incorporates a clipping amplifier, a phase-locked loop (PLL), and a latch to sample the two-level signal obtained at 61 kbpi, at times defined by clock pulses from the PLL. The second circuit incorporates a PR-1 partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML) detector to decode the three-level signal obtained at 122 kbpi. The cosine frequency response characteristic of the PR-1 channel facilitates use of the same rotary head drum and magnetic head gap for reading tapes at either bit density.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus capable of recording video, audio and other information on a magnetic tape by, for example, the helical scanning method. A rotary head is rotated at an m-fold speed to record intermittent tracks on the magnetic tape so that real-time simultaneous monitoring is performed. By high-speed dubbing due to high-density intermittent recording and by increasing the number of repetition of track scanning, the information is recorded and reproduced simultaneously with a plurality of channels. Any tracking error is detected to form a continuous and uniform track pattern. With this intermittent comb-shaped recording, reciprocating recording and reproducing can be realized.

Abstract: A video cassette recorder (VCR) is disclosed which is capable of displaying the video being erased during a recording operation. Thus, during a recording operation the user is able to monitor the video being erased, so as to stop recording if the VCR has reached a video the user wishes to preserve. The VCR is capable to display the video being erased during a recording operation by doubling the rotational speed of the head cylinder during a recording operation. Since the rotational speed is doubled, half of the time period is used for reading and half for recording. The VCR includes a decompressing circuit to restore the video read during the double speed rotation of the head cylinder, and also includes a compressor to compressed the externally supplied video so as to record that signal at double the normal rotational speed.

Abstract: A disk drive such as a magnetic disk drive includes a command-receiving mechanism for receiving a command from a host device, by which access operations for consecutive sectors are requested, a access-designating mechanism for designating continuous-access operations in the form of jump-access operations with respect to the sectors of at least one disk medium, when the command is sent from the command-receiving mechanism and a continuous-access executing mechanism for executing the continuous-access operations at every other sector, e.g., each odd sector or each even sector, by utilizing the same head.Preferably, the access-designating mechanism includes a circuit for conversion of the width of data, in which a process for conversion is executed, between the width of the data that are handled in the command-receiving mechanism and the width of the data that are handled in the continuous-access executing mechanism so that the continuous-access operations at every other sector location can be realized.

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 automatic head switching control method and apparatus in a multi-modal VCR for allowing automatic switching between a first and a second video modes (e.g., NTSC and PAL) without manual adjustment. The invention generates a head switching signal of which the head switching point of time of each head is shifted by delay data which is adapted for a first mode when the broadcast mode is the first mode. It also generates a head switching signal of which the head switching point of time of each head is shifted by corrected delay data obtained by correcting the delay data adapted for the first mode with an offset correction value when the broadcast mode is the second mode. As a result, there is no requirement for a manual adjustment and control time is shortened by maintaining the uniform velocity of the drum motor during automatic control.

Abstract: A rotary transformer circuit, for a video cassette recorder, including: a single rotary transformer; a plurality of magnetic heads for recording/playing back signals on the magnetic tape; and a switching circuit for selectively sampling each of the plurality of magnetic heads and for forming a signal of concatenated individual-head sub-signals and for selectively connecting a signal of concatenated individual-head sub-signals to corresponding ones of the plurality of magnetic heads. The switching circuit transferring the signal of concatenated individual-head sub-signals through the single rotary transformer. The circuit avoids noise caused by cross-talk when using multiple rotary transformers.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a magnetic head used for both recording and reproduction. To perform the changeover between recording and reproduction in a short period of time, a first recording amplifier for supplying a recording signal is provided at one end of the magnetic head, a second recording amplifier for supplying a recording signal of a phase opposite to that of the recording signal supplied to the one end of the magnetic head is provided at the other end of the magnetic head, and a reproduction input amplifier connected to the both ends of the magnetic head is provided. The same bias voltages are supplied through first and second resistors connected to the both ends of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A servo gate method and apparatus to allow switching between a servo mode and a data mode in the read channel of a disk drive. The present invention uses a servo gate signal to select components and parameters in the read channel of a disk drive. The servo gate signal, when enabled, preloads appropriate registers with new values and preloads the programmable filter with new values. The servo gate signal is not limited to preloading the above values, but may be used to control many characteristics of a disk drive read channel.

Abstract: An automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit for use with a digital magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus adopting a partial response class IV coding method. The automatic clock signal phase adjusting circuit comprises: a pattern detection circuit for detecting at least one of patterns "1, 0, -1" and "-1, 0, 1" from a reproduced signal; a level detection circuit for detecting the levels of the reproduced signal in effect when the pattern detection circuit detects 0's; a clock reproduction circuit for reproducing a clock signal from the reproduced signal; and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the clock signal reproduced by the clock reproduction circuit based on the output signal from the level detection circuit.

Abstract: A digital audio tape recorder for processing input signals in a predetermined manner and for digitally recording the processed signals on a recording medium or reproducing digital signals recorded on the recording medium by a rotary head has a time base compressing unit and a time base expanding unit for time base compressing signals supplied to the rotary head or time base expanding signals reproduced from the rotary head for recording and reproducing data at a high transmission rate on or from the recording medium. Time base compression/expansion and the rotation of the rotary head at a number of revolutions in conformity to the high transmission rate are achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a digital audio tape recorder from transmitting signals to an external device during recording by selectively interrupting the output signal from the digital audio tape recorder by a control device which produces a muting signal when a record signal and a muting detection signal are present at the same time.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, a recording current setting circuit sets a recording current to be larger by 1 dB or more than a recording current which maximizes a reproduced signal level in correspondence to the shortest recording wavelength in digital signals to be recorded. Recording is performed with a magnetic head onto a metal powder tape including a magnetic layer of thickness having a 0.2 .mu.m or less. Thus, an overwrite characteristic can be obtained which are generally similar to that of a metal evaporation tape. Further, on reproduction, either an output from a equalizer circuit for a metal evaporation tape or an output from another equalizer circuit for a metal powder tape is selected by a switch circuit according to an output of a tape type detection circuit, and loop control gain of a tracking control circuit is changed according to the detected tape type. Thus, both metal powder tapes and metal evaporation tapes can be used.

Abstract: A magnetic head driving device is disclosed. The device includes an inductor for generating a magnetic field, the inductor having a pair of terminals. The device has a first auxiliary coil for storing electromagnetic energy, the first auxiliary coil being connected to one of the terminals of the inductor at a first node, second auxiliary coil for storing electromagnetic energy, the second auxiliary coil being connected to the other terminal of the inductor at a second node, first main switch connected to the first node, second main switch connected to the second node, and control circuit for receiving a first signal indicating generation of a magnetic field by the inductor and a second signal indicating the direction of a magnetic field generated by the inductor and for outputting the second signal for a predetermined period of time in accordance with the first signal to alternately turn on or off the first main switch and the second main switch.

Abstract: A combination including a recording arrangement and a source selection arrangement. The recording arrangement includes at least two different inputs for receiving different types of signals (e.g., analog, digital and/or optical); a recording unit for recording a digital signal on the record carrier; and a switching unit for coupling one of the inputs to the recording unit. (If the input coupled to the recording unit does receive a digital signal, then recording arrangement includes a conversion device for converting that signal to digital form.) The source selection arrangement includes at least two different outputs for supplying different types of signals (e.g., analog, digital and/or optical) to corresponding inputs of the recording arrangement; and a source selection unit for selecting between different signal sources and thereby enabling the signal source selected to supply a signal to one of the outputs.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing information on and from a plurality of rewritable disk-type recording media includes: a plurality of recording/reproducing device for receiving and recording input information onto each of the recording medium and for reproducing and outputting the recorded information from each of the recording media with a predetermined delay time, each of the recording/reproducing device having a plurality of heads for recording and reproducing information, switching device for alternately selecting one of the reproduced information outputted from the plurality of recording/reproducing device, and control device for controlling the plurality of recording/reproducing device and the switching device.

Abstract: A multipath channel apparatus for a data storage device wherein data is stored on a storage medium and is read from the storage medium by a transducer or for a data communications system wherein data is transmitted to a receiver. A data channel having a plurality of data paths is operatively connected to the transducer to receive data read from the storage medium by the transducer, or operatively connected to receive data demodulated by the receiver or base band data received by the receiver. Preferably, each of the data paths has a differing parameter value. An error checking unit checks customer and redundancy data from each of the data paths. A selecting unit, which is responsive to the error checking unit, selects data from one of the data paths. In a preferred embodiment, the data stored on a storage medium includes a data field and an error correcting code field, and the customer and redundancy data from each of the data paths is checked using a calculated error correcting code sydrome.

Abstract: A portable voice recording device has a microphone for generating an electrical microphone signal representative of an acoustic speech signal, a memory device for storing a memory signal representative of the electric signal, and an output port controller for rapidly transmitting the memory signal to a remote device at a rate greater than the rate at which the microphone signal was generated.

Abstract: A method can record or reproduce a digital audio signal and a digital video signal simultaneously. An N-bit (N: positive integer) digital audio signal is positioned at a higher bit side and an M-bit (M: positive integer) digital video signal is positioned at a lower bit side so as to form an (N+M)-bit digital signal which is recorded or reproduced in this condition. Since the digital video signal is positioned at the lower bit side, the digital video signal may not affect the reproduced audio signal even if the (N+M)-bit digital signal is processed as the digital audio signal in the reproducing process.

Abstract: A data signal and a sync signal outputting apparatus comprises a memory for storing a serial signal selector circuit for selectively producing an output signal SD of the memory or the serial signal. The output circuit extracts a sync pattern, and a data section from the selector output signal. A sync pulse is generated for each sync pattern to produce a sync signal CK. At the same time, each data block is produced in parallel to the sync signal CK as a data signal S.sub.0. A controller, upon detection of an extraction failure, controls the memory in such a manner as to produce the stored serial signal from the memory and controls the selector to select an output signal from the memory.

Abstract: Helical-scan video tape playback apparatus compensates for the skew generated during special reproduction operations (e.g., search functions) in the long-play mode. Video reproducing circuitry generates a first video signal; and a delay line supplies a second video signal in delayed response to the first video signal, the delay being one-half a horizontal scan line. During special reproduction operations in the long-play mode, a skew compensating device supplies an output video signal responsive to the first video signal when a first condition of a skew jump indication signal obtains and responsive to the second video signal when a second condition of the skew jump indication signal obtains. A frequency divider responds to an envelope comparison signal generated by comparing with a prescribed level the signals picked up by long-play heads and generates a square wave the fundamental frequency of which is half that of the envelope comparison signal.

Abstract: In a digital signal recording apparatus, when a sampling frequency of a digital signal inputted thereto does not correspond to a predetermined sampling frequency set for the digital signal recording apparatus, the sampling frequency of the input digital signal is converted into a signal of the predetermined sampling frequency by a sampling frequency converter, and then is recorded in a recording medium.

Abstract: An electronic still camera having a first switch for selecting either a field record mode or a frame record mode, and a second switch for selecting either a normal mode or a high-band mode, further includes a control circuit which sets the frame record mode either when the high-band mode is selected by the second switch, or when the high-band mode is selected by the second switch and the field record mode is selected by the first switch, in the latter case optionally switching to the frame record mode only if no recording operation is performed during a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for merging data from two separate registers at different locations in a computer system. A floppy drive controller is provided as part of a companion chip located separately from an IDE drive controller. Both controllers include a data register with the same address to make the system compatible with prior BIOS programs. The register in the floppy controller includes a DSK CHG bit as bit D7 of a direct input register (DIR), which is obtained from the DSK CHG# signal from the floppy drive. In the present invention, the DSK CHG# signal from the floppy drive is connected directly to the bus interface unit (BIU) of the integrated processor. The processor merges this signal with data bits D0-D6 of the IDE controller by determining the location of the IDE controller from the Address Control Register (ACR), which is determined during system initialization.

Abstract: An automatic monitoring method for a video cassette recorder permits an automatic monitoring function to be added to a conventional data processing function provide by a VCR microcomputer. When the user selects an automatic monitoring function by a remote controller, automatic monitoring of a television broadcast is made possible during predetermined intervals under the control of the microcomputer during reproduction of a video cassette tape. Thus, the troublesome procedure of repeatedly manipulating a remote controller key is eliminated so that television broadcast monitoring can be carried out if the user forgets to press the key.

Abstract: In a data recording and reproducing apparatus for writing the video signals read out from a magnetic tape (11) alternately into image memories, and reading out and reproducing the video signals from the image memory not used for writing video signals, the video signal read out from the image memory when the memory indication switch (SW1) is manipulated is directly held in the image memory, and when reproducing the video signal executed in succession, using the image memory in which video signals is not preserved, writing of video signal from the magnetic tape (11) into image memory and reading from the image memory are effected. In this reproducing action, when the reproduction indication switch (SW2) is manipulated, and previously preserved video signal is read out from the image memory and reproduced.

Abstract: A drive circuit having two electronic switches formed from N-MOS transistors is designed to alternatively connect the input of a preamplifier stage to a first or second read sensor on the read head of a magnetic tape. The drive circuit also has a third electronic switch formed from an N-MOS transistor which grounds the input of the preamplifier stage. Based on logic input signals, a control circuit switches the first and second switches, or closes the third switch and simultaneously opens the first and second switches.

Abstract: A write current setting circuit of a magnetic recording apparatus which can be reduced in the number of IC pins and enables the increase of the IC pins accompanying an increase in the number of modes to be kept to a minimum. The external resistance elements for generating the sub-mode correction current are connected to a single IC pin. The IC is provided with a current generation circuit and a voltage follower for holding the output voltage at a predetermined value and is provided with a sub-mode switch circuit for switching the connection between the IC pin and the internal power source line and output terminal of the voltage follower in accordance with the input of a correction current control signal. Due to this, while six external resistance elements are required, (2.times.n) modes can be set by (n+1) IC pins of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A performance optimized computer data recording media format and associated control logic method is disclosed. Localized data block recording, such as by concurrent parallel or serpentine recording techniques, is used to create a series of Virtual Volumes on a single physical volume. Physical localization of data blocks records is achieved which tends to minimize access time. Using the Virtual Volume construct, other industry standard data storage systems can be emulated. Many data storage operations requesting physical motion are translated into virtual motion which in turn results in significantly less physical motion than that requested, thereby reducing access times and media and drive apparatus wear.

Abstract: In a digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus, a signal obtained by multiplexing an audio signal on a bit rate reduction encoded video signal is delivered as a transmission signal. The transmission signal is multiplexed with a data showing its content, such as a copy number of times data and an edit number of times data. Depending on the state of reproduction at a reproducing side apparatus, which is a source side of transmission, a control data for controlling a recording side apparatus, which is a destination of transmission is also multiplexed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an operation mode of a player and whether or not a tape cassette loaded into the player is recordable. The apparatus includes a cam plate having a cam groove operated to switch the player mode, a switching element, a switching arm member for operating the switching element depending on the movement of the cam groove, and a sensor lever which pivots depending on the presence of the erase-prevention tab of the tape cassette and limits the switching arm member in one direction. An extended groove is formed in the cam plate so as to detect a recording mode, and the extended groove is selectively moved by the switching arm member depending on the pivotal location of the sensor lever. That is, an operation mode of the player and an erase-prevention tab of a tape cassette can be detected by a single switching element, to thereby simplify the player structure and reduce the cost.