Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Automatic control of a recorder mechanism – Controlling the record
Reexamination Certificate
1993-12-22
2001-03-06
Nguyen, Hoa T. (Department: 2753)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Automatic control of a recorder mechanism
Controlling the record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198589
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to video tape recording apparatus and methods providing control of recording commencement at the tape top.
Each of
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrates a respectively different mechanical tape deck in which an 8-mm tape cassette
100
has been mounted and from which a magnetic tape
102
has been drawn from a cassette shell
104
and wrapped around a rotary drum
106
thereof. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an infrared generating unit
62
produces infrared light which is projected toward an infrared sensing unit
61
across the tape
102
. The magnetic tape
102
includes a transparent leader portion at the beginning thereof followed by a real (recordable) magnetic tape portion. Since the leader portion is transparent, light from the unit
62
passes therethrough to the sensing unit
61
, but is interrupted by the real tape portion when it intervenes between units
61
and
62
.
In each of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a border position
63
representing the position at which the leader portion joins the real tape portion of the magnetic tape
102
, is detected by the infrared sensing unit
61
and the infrared generating unit
62
. It will be seen that the distance along the tape
102
from the position
63
to a portion thereof wrapped around the drum
106
, referred to as run-in portion
64
differs in the case of the tape decks shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
The 8-mm VTR has a system controller which commences recording upon detection of the border position
63
by means of the units
61
and
62
. Since the distance between the tape run-in portion and the border position
63
in the case of the mechanical deck of
FIG. 1
is longer than that produced by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 2
, the recording area of the magnetic tape
102
in the case of the mechanical deck of
FIG. 1
begins at a point further from the border position
63
than in the case of the mechanical deck of FIG.
2
. This result is illustrated by
FIGS. 3A and 3B
which show, respectively, a recording area
67
of the tape
102
recorded by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 1 and a
recording area
67
′ of the tape
102
as recorded by the mechanical deck of FIG.
2
.
As will be seen from
FIGS. 3A and 3B
, when a tape which has been recorded by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 2
is reproduced by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 1
, portion
66
of the recording area
67
′ in
FIG. 3B
will not be reproduced. In addition, when a tape which has been recorded by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 2
is later re-recorded by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 1
, and the re-recorded tape is thereafter reproduced by the mechanical deck of
FIG. 2
, the signals recorded in the area
66
cannot be reproduced.
These problems are common among 8-mm VTR's of various types, as well as VHS-system VTR's, Beta system VTR's and the like. The principal cause of these problems is that the various mechanical decks use different loading systems. Further loading systems of still other VTR's are illustrated in
FIGS. 4A
,
4
B and
4
C, by way of example.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which alleviate the foregoing problems encountered in existing VTR's.
It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus which permit reliable reproduction of signals recorded on magnetic tape near the tape top even though recorded by a VTR having a different loading system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus which enable erasing of signals recorded near the tape top of a magnetic tape reliably even though recorded previously by a VTR having a different loading system.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a video tape recorder for recording and reproducing audio and video signals in tracks on a magnetic tape is provided. The video tape recorder comprises: means for recording and reproducing absolute track addresses in each of at least some of a plurality of tracks on a magnetic tape, the absolute track address of said each of at least some of the plurality of tracks corresponding to a distance of said each of at least some of the plurality of tracks from a start position of the magnetic tape, the absolute track addresses being incremented or decremented according to a predetermined rule with increasing track position along a recording direction of the magnetic tape; the recording and reproducing means being operative to record audio and video signals in the plurality of tracks; and control means for controlling the recording and reproducing means to initiate recording of the audio and video signals from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position of the magnetic tape.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a magnetic recording apparatus for recording signals on a magnetic tape is provided. The apparatus comprises: a rotary recording head for recording signals in successive tracks on a magnetic tape; tape transport means for transporting the magnetic tape past the rotary recording head in a recording direction; recording signal supply means for supplying reproduction control signals for recording by the rotary recording head for recording on said magnetic tape from a first position on the tape spaced from a start position thereof by a distance selected such that the tape transport means is able to establish a stable tape running state thereat, to a second position spaced from the first position in the recording direction, the distance in the recording direction along the tape from the first position to the second position being selected such that a tape transport of each of a plurality of predetermined magnetic tape reproducing apparatus is enabled to establish a stable running state based on the reproduction control signals when said tape transport has transported the magnetic tape from the first position to the second position thereof, the recording signal supply means being operative to supply information signals to the rotary recording head for recording in tracks along the magnetic tape following the second position thereof in the recording direction.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information signals on a magnetic tape is provided, comprising: a rotary head for recording and reproducing signals in successive tracks on a magnetic tape; tape transport means for transporting the magnetic tape past the rotary head in a recording direction; recording signal supply means for supplying reproduction control signals for recording by the rotary recording head for recording on said magnetic tape from a first position on the tape spaced from a start position thereof by a distance selected such that the tape transport means is able to establish a stable tape running state thereat, to a second position spaced from the first position in the recording direction; and reproducing means for reproducing the reproduction control signals with the use of the rotary head for stabilizing running of the tape by the tape transport means; the distance in the recording direction along the tape from the first position to the second position being selected such that the tape transport means is enabled to establish a stable running state based on the reproduction control signals when the tape transport means has transported the magnetic tape from the first position to the second position thereof; the recording signal supply means being operative to supply information signals to the rotary head for recording in tracks along the magnetic tape following the second position thereof in the recording direction.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of certain advantageous embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein correspond
Oguro Masaki
Senshu Yoichirou
Yamaguchi Masato
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Nguyen Hoa T.
Sony Corporation
Wong K.
LandOfFree
Video tape recording apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Video tape recording apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Video tape recording apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2541074