Abstract: An image storage device in which stored information read out from each non-destructive readout picture element cell of a photoelectric converter is applied at a first scanning speed to a visual display unit to produce a visible image and the information is also supplied at a lower second scanning speed to a recorder. Switching or branching means is provided for applying the information from the photoelectric converter to the visual display unit and the recorder.

Abstract: Digitalized audio signals of a plurality of channels are stored blockwise in each channel and then recorded blockwise in repeating channel sequence in similarly situated portions of successive oblique tracks in which are also recorded concurrent video signals, but the recording of a channel block is skipped once per picture field, so that an integral number of channel sequences will record all the audio channel information for a period equal to a picture field. In the video track where audio recording is skipped, other information may be recorded. The read-out rate of the channel blocks is slightly accelerated so that the track skipping loses no information. Consequently, the recorded signals can be cut in, or cut off, or edited at any frame end without loss of registry of the audio channels.

Abstract: A digital video and audio data recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a plurality of rotary magnetic heads provided in association with a tape guide drum assembly having a periphery about which a magnetic tape is helically transported at a predetermined wrap angle, a time compressing circuit for time compressing digitized audio and video data, a multiplexing circuit for mixing the digitized audio and video data to form a mixed signal, a processing circuit for processing the mixed signal, and a signal distributing circuit for supplying the processed mixed signal to each of the rotary magnetic heads so that the latter record the processed mixed signal on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: In the conventional transformation coding of pictures the value ranges of the coefficients then produced are extended during the performance of the individual arithmetical steps. As a result thereof these coefficients have a great redundancy. According to the invention, the arithmetical steps which are formed by the basic transformation of two values are performed so that as a result of each arithmetical step only the original word length is obtained, because in each arithmetical step a portion of the value range of the result is mapped onto a different area. An example for the technical implementation of such a mapping on modified coefficients and the retransformation of these modified coefficients is described.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering apparatus includes an outgoing message tape drive mechanism; an outgoing message tape switching mechanism; an incoming message tape drive mechanism; an incoming message tape switching mechanism; and an escape mechanism. The escape mechanism includes a pivotal plate coupled to an outgoing message tape slide plate. A cam is formed at a front end of the pivoted plate. A pivotal support plate engages with the cam and supports an idler interposed between a driving roller and a rewinding roller. The escape mechanism operates mechanically in cooperation with operation of the outgoing message tape switching mechanism to prevent transmission of rotational force from a motor to the rewinding roller so the incoming message tape may not be rewound during operation of the outgoing message tape switching mechanism.

Abstract: A still vision recording and reproducing system for use in video tape recorder includes a field memory constituted by RAMs and recording device constituted by a floppy-disc recorder, and operates in recording mode and playing mode. During the recording mode, television signal converted into digital form is memorized in the field memory, and in turn, read out at slow speed and converted into analogue form for being recorded in the floppy-disc recorder. During the playing mode, the television signal which has been recorded in the floppy-disc recorder is reproduced and supplied to the field memory in digital form, and in turn, it is read out at high speed and converted into digital form for being used to establish a still picture.

Abstract: In a storage subsystem employing removable record media such as contained in a cartridge, each storage recorder has a multidigit alphanumeric display located immediately above a cartridge receiver. The symbols on the display are arranged to be aligned with the symbols on the cartridge when inserted into recorder so that visual correlation is facilitated. Each recorder has a microprocessor which controls the display in response to host supplied LOAD DISPLAY commands. Each command includes a cartridge identification field for displaying on the display for such verification as well as orders for setting up display modes and display sequencing. The recorder microprocessor will display status of the recorder in response to a control field of the LOAD DISPLAY message at predetermined drive states, display a cartridge number after a cartridge has been removed from the recorder (i.e., the number of the cartridge to be inserted), inhibit a recorder status message or error message until the recorder is READY, i.e.

Abstract: A tape has a format of the type wherein digital video information is recorded with each frame or field disposed on a set of multiple tracks and with at least one track being intended for replay during scene search modes of operation, only the most significant bits of pixels are recorded on the search tracks.

Abstract: A magnetic record/reproduce apparatus comprising drive force transmitting means including levers that are actuated by one drive motor to drive a reproducing magnetic medium and a recording magnetic medium, and rotating means having cams that are driven by said transmitting means is disclosed. The drive force transmitting means for driving the reproducing magnetic medium is separate from that for driving the recording magnetic medium. Each drive force transmitting means is provided with a pin that engages a single cam member, the rotation of said cam member causes each lever to move, thereby achieving reproduction/rewinding of said reproducing magnetic medium and recording/rewinding of said recording magnetic medium alternately.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the playback speed of a VTR features an accurate speed control signal. The reproduced signal is resynchronized to a standard speed by repeating or deleting frames when successive frames are substantially identical. In addition, or as an alternative, frame averaging can be used. Provision for real time entry is made to minimize human error. Application of the invention to both quadruplex and helical scan machines is shown.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for recording and reproducing color television signals on a magnetic media such as magnetic tape, wherein the signals recorded on and reproduced from the magnetic media are in a digital domain. The apparatus utilizes a rotating head wheel having a plurality of transducing heads spaced around its circumference which operate to record and reproduce the digital data transmitted through two separate channels at a very high data rate. The analog color television signal is converted to digital signals in a manner whereby the horizontal blanking interval is compressed and digital synchronizing information is inserted in the compressed horizontal blanking interval for every line. The portion of the real time horizontal blanking interval for which recording is not performed enables time base correction to be accomplished on an individual line by line basis.

Abstract: An image recording system in which an object image is caused to be formed on a solid state image transducer such as CCD each time a release is actuated, and the image signal stored on said image transducer is recorded as a video signal, thus a single frame image is recorded for each release. By controlling the storing operation of the image signal and the like, the exposure level for the image signal is adjusted to make it possible always to record and reproduce the image with regard to an optimum exposure state.

Abstract: System for identifying and locating analog information recorded on a serial access read/write medium. In some embodiments, the analog signal is sampled by scanning the medium, and a memory is employed to normalize the rate at which the sampled signals are output. In one embodiment, the memory is also utilized to compress the sampled signals, and in another, externally generated identifying information is recorded with the analog information.

Abstract: A video recording system, and related reproducing system, best suited for use in making and reproducing video disc recordings, wherein each recorded frame of video information represents one or more frames of an original video program, as designated by a frame repeat count encoded with the video information. In the recording system, the video program is preprocessed to designate sets of consecutive frames that will be recorded as a single frame, together with an encoded frame repeat count, and time delay circuits are employed to provide an audio signal for each of the original frames, all of which are recorded with the single video frame. In the reproducing system, the frame repeat counts are decoded, successively counted down, and used to control movement of a reading transducer, either to repeat a frame or to read a next frame from the recording. The frame repeat count is also employed to select an appropriate audio signal for reproduction with each video frame.

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: An improved tape drive system for an apparatus (a telephone answering device in the exemplary, preferred embodiment of this invention) which employs one or more dual reel tape cassettes or cartridges. The tape drive system of the present invention requires only a single motor and a single solenoid for providing all operating functions of the apparatus. One lever (a broadcast lever) is pivotably mounted on a base or chassis and carries a broadcast pinch roller mechanism and a broadcast record/playback head. A second lever (an incoming call recording or "ICR" lever) is pivotably mounted on the first lever and carries an ICR pinch roller and an ICR record/playback head. The broadcast, ICR and rewind operating modes of the apparatus are provided by a single motor and a single solenoid.

Abstract: In editing magnetic tape, in particular video tape, improvement in the editing taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,617 is achieved by arresting the respective tapes on the edit tape deck and the source tape deck precisely at the "edit" point by observation on a monitor. The deck motors are started in reverse and the tape-feed rollers are allowed to achieve full speed; the two tapes are then engaged with the reversely-moving rollers and are driven in reverse for a precise period to establish a "pre-edit" start point. When edit is to begin, the drive motors of the respective tape decks are started to drive forward; after the rollers are up to full speed the feed rollers are engaged with the tape to drive the same forward for the precise time period corresponding to the time period of reverse drive; and thereupon the system operates to either edit at the edit point or to preview a proposed edit at the edit point.

Abstract: The speed of either the feed reel or the take-up reel of a tape cassette is detected as an indication of the amount of recording time left on the message recording tape. When about five minutes or less of recording time is left, and when no incoming messages are being received over the telephone line, a control circuit switches the recording operation over to another available cassette.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described to enable one of two independently driven strips to be stopped for a predetermined period and then restarted in synchronism with the other strip which has been running continuously. Stoppage markers are provided on the first strip and synchronizing markers, which are interrupted when this first strip is to be stopped, are provided on the second strip. An integrator accumulating the output of a first sensor, responsive to the synchronizing markers on the second strip, feeds a coincidence circuit, also receiving the output of a second sensor responsive to the appearance of a stoppage marker on the first strip, which arrests the drive of the latter strip upon detection of a stoppage marker and restarts that drive after a period of interruption determined by the time constant of the integrator.