Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording and reproducing a PCM audio signal either alone or together with a video signal, using a rotary-head type scanner. An analog audio signal is converted into a digital signal having a predetermined number of quantization bits in each predetermined sampling period. The digital signal is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, and an analog audio signal is reproduced from the digital signal reproduced from the recording medium. In the reproducing mode, the signal reproduced from the tape is written into a memory where error detection, correction and deinterleaving are carried out, and the signal is then read from the memory and applied to a D/A converter. The write rate from the memory depends on the video field period, and the read rate depends on the sampling period. Accordingly, the difference between the write address and the read address of the memory depends on the difference between the field period and the sampling period.

Abstract: An audio signal recording/reproducing system is used in a time-lapse video tape recording device for time-lapse recording a video signal on a magnetic tape at predetermined time intervals. The audio signal recording/reproducing system comprises a memory which stores an audio signal and time-compresses the stored audio signal to output it as the time-compressed audio signal at one field period, and a magnetic head for recording the one-field period audio signal on the magnetic tape. Each of the audio signal recording tracks recorded on the magnetic tape is arranged between two adjacent video signal recording tracks. The audio signal recorded on the magnetic tape is read out by the magnetic head and stored in the memory again. The audio signal stored in the memory is expanded in its time-base to be reproduced as continuous sound.

Abstract: This invention relates to an information signal recording apparatus which can be used also as an audio tape recorder only. When it is used only as the audio tape recorder, an audio signal is sampled with a frequency m times the sampling frequency of an audio signal which is used upon recording a video signal and the thus sampled PCM digital audio signal is diffusively recorded on at least two recording intervals thereby to improve the tone quality of the audio signal and the compatibility with the audio tape recorder using a video tape recorder of the same kind can be established.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing an information signal, such as, a PCM (pulse-code modulated) signal and the like, in slant tracks on a recording tape by means of rotary heads, and in which, when an index signal is recorded in, or erased from an area adjacent a part of a slant track in which the PCM signal is recorded, an index area signal which specifies the area for recording or reproducing the index signal is formed on the basis of address data in the reproduced PCM signal. Therefore, the index signal area always has a predetermined positional relation to a recording area of the PCM signal so that when the index signal is recorded in or erased from the index signal area, erasure of the adjacent PCM signal is prevented.

Abstract: A novel digital signal recording and reproducing apparatus is disclosed in which an audio digital signal is recorded and reproduced alone or together with a video signal in a video tape recorder. If the sampling frequency of the audio signal is not an integral multiple of the vertical synchronous signal of the video signal, the audio signal is divided among fields in accordance with a predetermined regularity, and then the field information for identifying the number of samples of the audio digital signal is added and recorded for each field. At the time of reproduction, the field information is read to identify the number of samples of the audio digital signal, thus picking out only the audio signal excepting the redundant portions.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus which reproduces speech sounds at a speed faster than a normal reproduction speed. The outputting operation may be performed, making it easier to hear speech sounds when the video searching operation is performed through hearing of the speech sounds in the VTR or the like. The reproduction is adapted to be performed by the other head which is different in azimuth angle during the normal reproduction operation from the double azimuth heads during a given frame reproduction in the 1.5 times speed reproduction with one head of the rotary heads of the normal two heads being provided as a double azimuth head. The noise caused through the reproduction of the adjacent track may be removed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording video and audio signals, and in which a video signal has its time base compressed to 1/N the time base of a standard television signal and the time base compressed video signal is recorded in slant tracks on a tape by rotary heads while the tape is driven so as to provide a recording format coincident with that of a standard video tape recorder, and with video information of one field being recorded in each track; there are further provided a time base compressor for compressing the time base of an input audio signal in correspondence to the time base compressed video signal, a frequency modulator for frequency modulating a carrier signal with the time base compressed audio signal, and a mixer for mixing the time base compressed and frequency modulated audio signal with the time base compressed video signal prior to recording with the latter by the rotary heads in the standard recording format.

Abstract: A control device has a data compression control circuit for compressing data and a data buffer for temporarily storing the data to be written on a recording medium. The data transferred from a CPU is compressed and then recorded on the recording medium. Further provided is a buffer discriminating circuit for discriminating the quantity of data stored in the data buffer to control the data compression control circuit so that the data compressing operation and the operation of recording the data on the recording medium may be conducted in parallel while the amount of transferred data in the data buffer is prevented from becoming less than a predetermined quantity.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and marking television commercials is provided. A first comparator is utilized for comparing the television video signal to an adjustable reference voltage and for generating a triggering signal when a video signal is not present at the comparator input. A second comparator compares the television audio signal to a second adjustable reference voltage to provide a triggering signal when an audio signal is not present at the comparator input. The outputs from the two comparators are supplied to a one-shot timer mechanism which is adapted to generate an output signal of a predetermined time period only upon the simultaneous absence of an audio and video signal, thus signifying a fade break in the television broadcast signal. The timed output signal from the timer mechanism is connected to a low frequency oscillator which generates a low frequency output signal upon being actuated by the output from the timer mechanism.

Abstract: An audio signal reproducing apparatus includes a player unit (10) and a pitch conversion unit (20). The player unit (10) reproduces, at variable speed, audio signal data from a recording medium (11) on which the audio signal data has been recorded at a predetermined sampling frequency Fs. The pitch conversion unit (20) writes into a memory the reproduced audio signal data obtained by the player unit (10) by means of a write clock which corresponds to a reproduction sampling frequency fs and reads out the reproduced audio signal data from the memory by means of a read clock which corresponds to an oscillation frequency fp from an oscillator which oscillates at a predetermined sampling frequency Fs, thereby effecting pitch conversion processing with respect to the reproduced audio signal.

Abstract: A signal recording and reproducing device for use with an opto-magnetic disk having a number of concentric recording tracks. An optical head sweeps a given track at least twice during a time interval equal to a predetermined reproduction time for the track. Erasure signals and recording signals are supplied to the optical head during the first time sweeping and the second time sweeping, respectively, in order to effect signal erasure and recording. At the time of switching from the first time sweeping to the second time sweeping, the address data indicating the end point written on the terminal portion of the previously recorded signal area are sensed, and the recording is effected from the thus sensed recording end point.

Abstract: Video reproduction apparatus such as a video cassette recorder which is operable in either a first conventional mode or a second high resolution mode. The apparatus includes processing circuitry for selectively processing video signals either of a first conventional format of reduced bandwidth, or of a second time-division-multiplex (TDM) format of higher bandwidth than the first format. A capstan is provided for moving magnetic tape along a path at a first speed and at a second speed greater than the first speed. A magnetic transducer carried on a drum is located along the tape path and is rotated at a first rotational speed and at a second rotational speed, greater than the first rotational speed for recording and playing back video signals in parallel tracks on the magnetic tape. Control structure and circuitry are provided for controlling the processing circuitry, the capstan, and the magnetic transducer drum so that they are operable in at least first and second modes.

Abstract: In a tone-restoring apparatus, a first and a second hold circuit latch at a period of 2T data signals read from a digital memory in response to a first and a second address supplied to the digital memory, and a first and a second multiplier circuit multiply the data signals latched in the first and second hold circuit by a monotonically increasing weighting function W.sub.1 (x) (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.NT, 0.ltoreq.W.sub.1 (x).ltoreq.1) or a monotonically increasing weighting function W.sub.2 (x) (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.NT, 0.ltoreq.W.sub.2 (x).ltoreq.1). An adder circuit adds the output signals from the first and second multiplier circuits to each other.

Abstract: A process for storing picture synchronous sound signals is provided. The sound signals are divided into segments for this purpose, whose cycle is equal to the cycle of the associated video signal segments. In addition to the sound data of the actual video signal segment each sound signal segment also includes one portion of the sound data of the preceding video signal segment and the subsequent video signal segment. The sound signal segments are time compressed to the length of the video signal segments for recording or transmitting. The sound signals can be softly changed over due to overlapping during backplay and cutting.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a manually operable device producing pulses which directly or after integration, determine the rate of replay of the digital audio. These pulses are counted by a counter. Each pulse corresponds to 1.5/500 s audio. The counter is reset at the rate F.sub.s /2048 where f.sub.s is the constant output sampling rate and its contents are held in a latch whose contents are inversely proportional to the replay sampling period. Adders add the contents of the counter into overflowing accumulators and clocked at the KHz fixed sampling rate f.sub.s and 128 times this rate respectively. The number of SPR of the first accumulator represents the sample displacement while the MSB of the second accumulator provides the replay clock. The sample displacement (d) represents the displacement between an output sample and an input sample and controls a two stage interpolation by way of a finite impulse response filter and a linear interpolating filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data receiving apparatus constituted in such a manner that the received data is converted into a binary code and this binary code data is encoded and this encoded data is stored in a memory, whereby a large quantity of data can be stored in a memory of a small capacity. After subsequently decoding the received encoded data, this decoded data is further encoded by another encoding means and this encoded data is stored in the memory, thereby providing an efficient and economical data receiving apparatus which can smoothly perform the data processing even in the case where the transmission speed of the data and the recording speed of the recording apparatus remarkably differ.

Abstract: A method for recording and reading out a video format signal includes steps of recording frequently used words, phrases, or sentences in an audio informations corresponding to video informations, in a frame before frames for video informations while being treated by time axis compression process, and recording remaining audio informations in desired frames among the frames for the video informations also while being treated by the time axis compression process. In the playback of the thus recorded audio informations, the frequently used part of the audio information is stored in a part of a memory device, and the remaining part of the audio information are stored in the remaining part of the memory device, and the stored audio informations are read out at need and combined with each other while being treated by the time axis expansion process.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing digital color video signals from successive, parallel tracks on a magnetic tape includes a rotary guide drum about which the magnetic tape is wrapped for an angle greater than a nominal angle of 180.degree.

Abstract: A PCM type record-playback system converts an analog primary signal into a digital signal by sampling and quantizing it and concurrently records it on a magnetic tape with a secondary signal for showing the tape position. The primary and secondary signals are recorded on the same track in a time-divided manner so that recording can be effected with a small number of magnetic heads and the tracks on the magnetic tape can be effectively utilized.

Abstract: For both recording and replay, a digital audio tape (14) is accelerated very rapidly by a motor servo (9), motor (8) and capstan (7) so that the tape speed overshoots nominal speed range before settling back to this range in an oscillatory manner. The digital samples are recorded and replayed via a head (15), a random access memory (16) and input/output electronics (19). During recording, the store (17) is precharged by starting to write in as soon as acceleration is initiated. Read-out to the tape is initiated as soon as the tape first reaches the nominal speed range. Uniformity of samples as recorded on the tape is preserved by clocking a read address generator (21) at a rate proportional to tape speed, signaled by a tachometer (7). The write address generator is clocked at the constant sampling rate. For replay the write address generator is clocked at the tape speed rate while the read address generator (21) is clocked at the constant sample rate.

Abstract: A retrieval signal recording apparatus for magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus wherein when an information signal is recorded on a magnetic tape, a retrieval signal different from the information signal is recorded at the beginning of the recorded information signal so that the magnetic tape is stopped or made in the reproducing mode just when the retrieval signal is picked up from the tape under a high tape speed. In the retrieval signal recording apparatus, the retrieval signal is recorded for a certain time only at the beginning of recording the signal or at both the beginning and end of the recorded signal, and the recording time of the retrieval signal is changed in accordance with the switching of a plurality of tape speeds such that the length of the retrieval signal recorded on the magnetic tape is made substantially constant even if the tape speed is different.

Abstract: A digital video signal reproducing apparatus comprises a reproducing circuit for reproducing a digital video signal from a recording medium, where the recording medium is time-sequentially recorded with the digital video signal having a signal format in which a header signal is added to each of divided picture element data groups which are obtained by dividing a picture element data group in terms of a predetermined unit, the picture element data group is obtained by subjecting an analog video signal to a digital pulse modulation at a sampling frequency such that a product of a number of picture element data in one scanning line and an effective number of scanning lines in one picture of a standard television system is exceedingly close to 2.sup.18 but less than 2.sup.

Abstract: A color video signal recording apparatus recording a luminance signal and a chrominance signal on separate tracks in which a pair of chrominance component signals are time-compressed and serially recorded as the chrominance signals. In this case, there are provided a timebase compressor for time-compressing the pair of chrominance component signals and a clock generator for supplying a clock signal to the timebase compressor wherein the frequency of the clock signal is selected to be an integral multiple of the horizontal frequency.

Abstract: Speech and melody information are separately inputted and stored. The speech timing is modified (corrected) to alignment with the melody.

Abstract: Presented is a method and apparatus for recording or "writing" an analog signal onto commercially available video recording tape through use of a conventional unmodified video tape recording device utilizing the standard video composite wave form conventionally used in conjunction with the recordation of video signals.

Abstract: A pitch modification system for signals received from a tape player converts analog signals received from the player to binary digital form and stores them in sequential addresses in a memory unit at a rate set by a first clock. Output signals are produced by sequentially reading the stored information at a different rate as set by the frequency of a second clock, the ratio between the two clock frequencies causing the desired change in pitch with respect to the original signal. The output signal is converted from digital binary representation to an analog signal by a D/A converter. A detecting means is employed to detect no-signal conditions and generates an automatic reset signal which equalizes the two clock frequencies to restore the system to a zero-shift condition attendant to the appearance of silent passages on the tape.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal comprised of a video signal and an audio signal in a plurality of successive tracks on a magnetic tape, includes a recording section comprised of a PCM processor which converts the audio signal to a PCM audio signal and compresses the same, a dummy signal generator for compensating for tape jitter by generating a dummy signal and supplying the same to the PCM processor where the dummy signal is added both before and after each portion of the compressed PCM audio signal to be recorded in an overscan section of each track, and a magnetic head assembly which records the video signal in a main section of each track and each portion of the compressed PCM audio signal and dummy signal added thereto in the overscan section of each track; and a reproducing section comprised of a magnetic head assembly which scans the tracks to reproduce the information signal recorded therein, a switch assembly which separates the video signal reproduced from the main sect

Abstract: In recording an analog signal using two recording heads equally-spaced on a rotating drum, a magnetic tape is wrapped about a guide drum over an angular extent of 90.degree., so that there are recording periods when a head is tracing the tape and periods when no head is tracing the tape. The analog signal to be recorded is converted to a pulse-code-modulated (PCM) digital signal in real-time periods which are longer than the recording periods during which a head traces the tape. The PCM signals are time-base compressed to be slightly less than the rotary head contact interval and additional data such as parity data and cyclic redundancy check codes are added to the PCM signals to form a composite signal, which is written back into a memory system.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording an analog signal employs n rotary heads (where n is a positive integer) which cooperate with a magnetic tape wound around a tape guide drum over an angular range of .alpha..degree. (where .alpha..degree. is less than or equal to 360.degree.) and the rotary magnetic heads are rotated at a speed N (where N is greater than one) times a reference rotation speed. The input analog signal to be recorded is first converted to a pulse-code-modulated (PCM) data signal which is then time-base compressed by a ratio of (n.times..alpha..degree.)/(N.times.360.degree.) at successive predetermined periods. The PCM data that has been compressed in time base is recorded on the magnetic tape by the n rotary heads during predetermined intervals that occur within the time when the n rotary heads are in contact with the magnetic tape.

Abstract: For recording an analog signal by means of two recording heads equally spaced on a rotating drum, a magnetic tape is wrapped guide drum with an angular range of 90.degree., so that there are recording periods when a head is tracing the tape and free periods when neither head is tracing the tape. The analog signal to be recorded is converted to pulse code modulated (PCM) signals having real time periods longer than the recording periods. The free periods, during which neither head is in contact with the recording medium, are used to add redundant data such as parity data and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code to the PCM signals. The composite signal, which represents a PCM signal having the parity data and CRC code added to it, is time-base compressed to a period substantially equal to the recording periods and is recorded on the recording medium by one of the heads during its recording period. To reproduce the signal, the same head arrangement is used.

Abstract: Digital data are stored on a magnetic tape at a bit rate which does not exceed the storage capabilities of the tape of about 80 Mbit/s, although received digital video signals have a bit rate of about 100 Mbit/s per channel in a two-channel system. In order to record such a bit-stream, the signals are applied to a head wheel having at least three transducer heads, and the bits are applied to the transducer heads in time-expanded form, the time-expanded signals being recompressed upon reproduction. Time compression and expansion is preferably carried out by buffer memories which have data entered and read-out in the FIFO method, at respectively different clock rates, switched under control of a control unit (24) which receives head wheel position input signal information.

Abstract: Four magnetic heads are provided on a rotary mount equally spaced around the circumference, so when they are rotated to scan a tape wound around the headwheel in half a turn of a helix, each oblique track on the tape corresponds to half a revolution of the headwheel. In recording, the incoming signals are subdivided in time demultiplex into segments alternately distributed first to one diametryl pair of heads on the headwheel and then to the other diametryl pair, in each case through a digital time expander that doubles the time required to transmit the signal segment, thus reducing the bit rate by half. The reverse operations are done in playback, with time-expansion before the signal segments are put together into a continuous signal channel stream at the original bit rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal comprised of a video signal and an audio signal in a plurality of tracks extending obliquely on a magnetic tape includes a sample and hold circuit, an analog-to-digital converter and an encoder for converting the audio signal to a pulse code modulation (PCM) audio signal; a time base compression circuit for compressing the PCM audio signal; and two rotary magnetic heads for recording the compressed PCM audio signal in the plurality of tracks, each of the tracks being divided into a first leading audio track section, a contral video track section and a trailing audio track section, with the two heads recording one field interval of the video signal in the central track section of each track and recording the audio signal corresponding to one field interval of the video signal recorded in an adjacent track, in the first and second audio track sections of each track such that odd samples of the audio signal are recorded in each first leading audio tra

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for recording and playing back a video signal on a video disc, such that selected video frames can be played back in a stop-motion fashion, with accompanying audio. Each stop-motion video frame is recorded on a single recording track on the disc, and an associated digitized stop-motion audio signal is combined with a continuous-play video signal and recorded on a plurality of preceding tracks. During playback, the tracks recording the continuous-play video signal are first scanned, to recover and display the continuous-play video frames, and to recover and enter into a memory the digitized stop-motion audio signal. The track recording the corresponding stop-motion video signal is then scanned, in a repeated fashion, to provide a stop-motion display of the video frame, while the stop-motion audio signal is extracted from the memory and converted back to its original analog format, for playback along with the stop-motion video frame.

Abstract: To store digital data on a magnetic tape at a bit rate which does not exceed the storage capabilities of the tape of about 80 Mbit/s, although received digital video signals have a bit rate of about 200 Mbit/s, the video signals are split into two channels and applied to a head wheel having four transducer heads, and the bits are applied to the transducer heads in time-expanded form, with the wrap angle of the tape exceeding 180.degree., time expansion being carried out at a rate related to the excess wrap angle, so that the track of recording will have a smaller recording angle (.beta.2) than heretofore (.beta.1), the time-expanded signals being recompressed upon reproduction. Time compression and expansion is preferably carried out by buffer memories which have data entered and read-out in the FIFO method, at respectively different clock rates, switched under control of a control unit (26) which receives head wheel position input signal information.

Abstract: Digital data information is transmitted during at least one whole frame in television format, for the display of a television frame of alpha-numeric characters. The digital information is fitted to television lines with check bits at the end of each line. Successive fields of a frame carry the same digital information for redundant verification of accuracy. Microprocessors control processing of the information at both transmitting and receiving locations, coactively with memories. An identification code is provided for each frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording a data signal and for playing it back at a variable speed ratio including a recording unit, a playback unit and a speed control unit. A modulated carrier wave is first recorded and subsequently played back at a different speed from the recorded speed. A recording speed control signal controls the recording speed through the speed control unit, and a part of the speed control signal is recorded simultaneously with a data signal from a miniature test model on a record medium, such as a magnetic tape, by a write unit, such as a recording head, after being operated on by the data signal. The playback speed is controlled by a playback speed control signal at a variable speed ratio, so that it is possible to achieve any speed ratio, such as .sqroot.10, etc., between the recording speed and the playback speed.

Abstract: A time compression audio reproduction system has two stereo channels with means for synchronously operating the pitch correction means in each channel to obtain time coincidence between corresponding portions of the signal output from each channel. Features include switching for alternately selecting delay elements.

Abstract: A time compression/expansion system for recorded programs provides time change on playback with pitch correction free of gaps or processing noise due to splicing and discard. A dual memory delay system operated to inversely vary delay is used to provide an interval during which to detect the start of the next program sample with matched signal amplitude and sign. During this interval pitch correction is a continuous extension of the current sample. The system can include individual processing of contiguous frequency bands.

Abstract: A signal indicative of tape tension or of recording of signal on tape is generated in a helical-scan recorder. A test signal having a particular frequency characteristic is recorded by rotating heads at a high head-to-tape speed. A fixed playback head downstream from the headwheel picks up the test signal converted in frequency by the ratio of the reading speed to the writing speed, and applies it to a detector. The detector is a synchronous detector which receives at a second input terminal a frequency-divided sample of the test signal which controls demodulation by the synchronous detector. The frequencies of the input signals to the phase detector differ by a small amount, so that an output signal can always be generated no matter what the phase of the input signal. The rate of pulsation of the output signal is indicative of tape tension.

Abstract: A recording-playback system is disclosed wherein analog signals are converted to digital form which then are compressed and encoded using a variable length code. The encoded signals are temporarily stored in a buffer memory from which they are read out to a variable speed recorder for recording thereof. The rate at which the encoded signals are read out to the recorder and the recording speed are controlled in direct proportion to the percent fullness of the buffer memory for recording with substantially constant bit density on the recording medium. The ratio of the buffer memory read out rate and recording speed may be selected for recording with a substantially maximum bit density. A playback unit for the system includes a variable speed playback for playing back the recorded digital signals. The signals are temporarily stored in a buffer memory, from which memory they are read out to a decoder which operates at a substantially constant word rate.

Abstract: A time compression/expansion audio reproduction system of the type that provides pitch correction by repetitive variable time delay achieves improved performance by separating the reproduced signal from a recording into components which are separately delayed. For studio quality reproduction the signal is separated into contiguous frequency bands which are each delayed synchronously and the processing noise in each band is eliminated by filtering each band signal after delay to eliminate high frequency components. Bandpass filtering prior to recombination as well as blanking and amplitude compression and expansion are also disclosed.

Abstract: A recorded tape, speed-change reproducing system comprises a transport for transporting a tape at a speed which is different from that used for normal reproduction (and recording). The tape carries a video signal which was recorded, by a rotary video head, on parallel video tracks which are disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal direction of tape travel. An audio signal is recorded by a stationary audio head with an audio track extending longitudinally along the length of the tape. The rotary video heads scan the video tracks on the tape to reproduce the recorded video signal when the tape speed changes. The stationary audio head also scans the audio track on the tape under speed-change situations. The pitch of the reproduced audio signal is corrected in such a manner that the pitch is returned to become substantially equal to the pitch of the reproduced audio signal, as if the tape was travelling at the recording speed.

Abstract: In a cue signal generating system applied to a tape recorder which detects a cue signal by a reel drive of the tape, there is produced at least two different cue signals having the following relationf1/f2>d1/d2where d1 is the maximum wound tape diameter of the drive reel for the tape used, d2 is the minimum wound tape diameter of the drive reel, f1 is first frequency information contained in a first cue signal of a plurality of different cue signals and f2 is second frequency information of a second cue signal which is lower in frequency than said first frequency information f1.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and detecting a cue signal which comprises:a recording section (100) for recording in a recording medium a composite cue signal formed of a component signal having a first frequency (f1) and denoting a tape speed pattern and another immediately following component signal having a second frequency (f2) and representing a cue signal pattern; anda detecting section (200), which, at the time of reproducing said composite cue signal, compensates a component signal which represents a cue signal pattern and is detected immediately after a tape speed pattern component signal drawn out of the recording medium in proportion to the period (T10) of said tape speed component signal, andwhen said composite cue signal is recorded in said recording medium, provides data on a cue signal pattern on the basis of the compensated component signal denoting a cue signal pattern.

Abstract: Speech compaction/replay apparatus for real time monitoring speech and filtering out periods of relative slence from a recording of the speech. The recording also containing synchronization and time code information for ensuring that on replay and in terms of real time the audio output will essentially replicates the analog speech input. The apparatus and technique minimizing the amount of storage media required to store the speech.

Abstract: The device of the present invention utilizes a processing principle for time-axis compression-expansion devices which presents variations of reproduction speed from reducing the intelligibility of sounds. Sound signals, without being subjected to any time-axis processing, are altered in frequency while some reduction in intelligibility would be expected to occur, the sound signals are subjected to time-axis transformation processing (compression-expansion processing) to yield reproduced signals of high intelligibility.The present invention is characterized by the capability of making this type of processing available through the use of simple, inexpensive system configurations such as an analog to digital conversion system based on delta/.DELTA. modulation. The speed-changer signal processing circuitry is bypassed automatically when record-playback speeds are the same to avoid processing noise.

Abstract: The video and audio information is recorded along at least one track of the tape, which track, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, consists of discontinuous track segments oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tape, with portions of audio information alternating with portions of video information. At least the audio information is recorded in time compressed form.

Abstract: A tape recorder comprises a rotary type tape speed control means which has a control shaft to increase the running speed of a magnetic tape when it is rotated in one direction and to decrease the same when it is rotated in the other direction, a rotary type tone adjusting means which has an adjusting shaft to lower a high frequency response of sound reproduced from the tape when it is rotated in one direction and to elevate the same when it is rotated in the other direction and a control mechanism mechanically coupled to the speed control means and the tone adjusting means. The control mechanism comprises a spur gear secured to the control shaft and a spur gear secured to the adjusting shaft and a spur gear engaged with the both spur gears to cause the adjusting shaft to rotate in one direction when the control shaft is rotated in one direction and to rotate in the other direction when the control shaft is rotated in the other direction.

Abstract: Direct, real time digital data recording of thermal imagery is realized by the utilization of a computer that receives and stores bursts of high speed data from the digitized analog output of an infrared camera and simultaneously transfers a uniform flow of the data at a lower data rate to a digital tape recorder. The computer receives data only during camera active scan periods but transfers data to the recorder continuously. By making the computer output data rate substantially equal to the average input data rate real time recording is achieved. Full utilization of the data handling capacities of both the computer and the lower speed recorder is accomplished by digitizing the camera output signals in 8 bit words, combining pairs of 8 bit words for 16 bit word processing in the computer and reconverting the computer output data to 8 bit words for recording by the digital tape recorder.