EP0117753A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of and apparatus for recording digital information signals
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1984-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-02-27
Abstract
Abstract In a system for recording and reproducing digital signals on a magnetic tape (12) using a rotary head (11 A, 11 B), in which the signals are recorded as a series of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) without guard bands between adjacent tracks (14A, 14B), a pilot signal that was recorded during the recording process is used to control the tracking of the playback head (11 A, 11 B). The pilot signal is recorded at a specific position in a specific pilot signal record region, independent from the region of the track (14A, 14B) at which the information signal is recorded, and the pilot signal is arranged at a predetermined position or positions being a specified distance from an end of each track (14A, 14B) in its longitudinal direction, and only alternate tracks receive the pilot signal. When the recorded tracks (14A, 14B) are reproduced by a rotary playback (11 A, 11 B) having a tracing width that is greater than the width of the track (14A, 14B), the pilot signals from the adjacent tracks (14A, 14B) will be detected and can be compared in level, with the comparison output being used to control the tracking of the rotary playback head (11 A, 11 B).
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi C/O Patent Division Omori
- 👤 Hiraku C/O Patent Division Sugiki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/46; G11B15/467; G11B15/4673; G11B15/4675; G11B15/4676; G11B15/4677; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/58; G11B5/584; G11B5/588; G11B5/592; G11B5/5921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of recording digital signals on a magnetic record medium (12) using a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces the magnetic record medium (12), the method comprising the step of: recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) formed on said magnetic medium (12) by said rotary head (11A, 11B) and in which said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) are formed by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with no guard bands between adjacent tracks (14A, 14B); the-method being characterised by the steps of: determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) different from said first predetermined areas; and recording a tracking pilot signal in every other one of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas at predetermined positions separated from an end of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of recording digital signals on a magnetic record medium (12) using a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces the magnetic record medium (12), the method comprising the step of: recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) formed on said magnetic medium (12) by said rotary head (11A, 11B) and in which said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) are formed by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with no guard bands between adjacent tracks (14A, 14B); the-method being characterised by the steps of: determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) different from said first predetermined areas; and recording a tracking pilot signal in every other one of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas at predetermined positions separated from an end of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of recording a tracking pilot signal includes the step of providing said tracking pilot signal having a single frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of recording a tracking pilot signal includes the step of providing said tracking pilot signal having two different frequencies, and said step of recording a pilot signal includes the step of alternating between said two different frequencies each time said tracking pilot signal is recorded in said second predetermined area on alternate ones of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of recording said tracking pilot signal includes the step of recording alternate ones of said tracking pilot signals in said second predetermined areas at second predetermined positions different than the first mentioned predetermined positions therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said tracking pilot signals are recorded in said first predetermined positions by a first rotary head (11A, 11B) and said tracking pilot signals are recorded in said second predetermined positions by a second rotary head (11B, 11A).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of recording an erase signal over the entire extent of said second predetermined areas in the remaining ones of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) not having a tracking pilot signal recorded thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 including the further step of recording an erase signal at a second predetermined position adjacent to said tracking pilot signal in said second predetermined area in said every other ones of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: tracing a track (14A, 14B) recorded by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with a playback head (11A, 11B); reproducing the tracking pilot signal in said second predetermined areas from both tracks (14A, 14B) adjacent to said track (14A, 14B) being traced; comparing the levels of said tracking pilot signals reproduced from said adjacent tracks (14A, 14B); generating a head tracking signal in response to said level comparison; and controlling said playback head (14A, 14B) in response to said head tracking signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for recording digital signals in a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on a magnetic record medium (12) by a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces said magnetic record medium (12), the apparatus comprising: means (22 to 27) for recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on said magnetic medium (12) by said rotary head (11A, 11B), said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) being formed by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with no guard bands between adjacent tracks (14A, 14B); characterised by: means (26 to 28) for determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B), different from said first predetermined areas; and means (31, 33, 25 to 27) for recording a tracking pilot signal in every other one of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas at predetermined positions separated from an end of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for recording digital signals in a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on a magnetic record medium (12) by a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces said magnetic record medium (12), the apparatus comprising: means (22 to 27) for recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on said magnetic medium (12) by said rotary head (11A, 11B), said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) being formed by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with no guard bands between adjacent tracks (14A, 14B); characterised by: means (26 to 28) for determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B), different from said first predetermined areas; and means (31, 33, 25 to 27) for recording a tracking pilot signal in every other one of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas at predetermined positions separated from an end of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means (31) for generating said tracking pilot signal having a single predetermined frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to 9 further comprising means (31 1 , :UZ) for generating said tracking pilot signals having two different frequencies and means (34) for alternately providing said two different frequency tracking pilot signals to said means (33, 25 to 27) for recording a tracking pilot signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to 9 further comprising means (31 1 , :UZ) for generating said tracking pilot signals having two different frequencies and means (34) for alternately providing said two different frequency tracking pilot signals to said means (33, 25 to 27) for recording a tracking pilot signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising: playback head means (11A, 11B) for tracing a track (14A, 14B) recorded by said rotary head (11A, 11B); means (51 to 53) connected to said playback head means (11A, 11B) for reproducing the tracking pilot signals recorded in said second predetermined areas from both tracks (14A, 14B) adjacent to said track (14A, 14B) being traced; means (54, 55) for comparing the levels of said reproduced tracking pilot signals from said adjacent tracks (14A, 14B) and producing a level comparison output signal therefrom; means (55) for generating a tracking signal in response to said level comparison output signal; and means (16) for controlling tracking alignment of said playback head means (11A, 11B) in response to said tracking signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means (55) for generating a tracking signal includes means for alternating the polarity thereof in response to the number of the slanted track (14A, 14B) being reproduced.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means (11A, 11B) for recording alternate ones of said tracking pilot signals in second predetermined positions in said second predetermined areas different than the first-mentioned predetermined positions therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said tracking pilot signals are recorded in said first predetermined positions by a first rotary head (11A, 11B) and said tracking pilot signals are recorded in said second predetermined positions by a second rotary head (11B, 11A).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means (11A, 11B) for recording an erase signal over the entire extent of said second predetermined area on the remaining ones of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) not having a tracking pilot signal recorded therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means (11A, 11B) for recording an erase signal at a second predetermined position adjacent said tracking pilot signal in said second predetermined area in said every other ones of said slanted tracks (14A, 14B).
Claim 21
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of recording signals as a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on a record medium (12) by using a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces the record medium (12), the method comprising the step of: recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B), said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) being formed with no guard bands between adjacent tracks; the method being characterised by the steps of: determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B), different from said first predetermined areas; and recording a tracking pilot signal in a predetermined position that is a longitudinal distance from an end of said slanted track (14A, 14B) on alternate ones of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of recording signals as a plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) on a record medium (12) by using a rotary head (11A, 11B) that periodically traces the record medium (12), the method comprising the step of: recording a digital information signal in first predetermined areas in said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B), said slanted tracks (14A, 14B) being formed with no guard bands between adjacent tracks; the method being characterised by the steps of: determining second predetermined areas in said slanted tracks (14A, 14B), different from said first predetermined areas; and recording a tracking pilot signal in a predetermined position that is a longitudinal distance from an end of said slanted track (14A, 14B) on alternate ones of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B) in said second predetermined areas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of recording a tracking pilot signal includes the step of providing said tracking pilot signal having two different frequencies and alternating between said two different frequencies each time said tracking pilot signal is recorded in said second predetermined area on alternate ones of said plurality of slanted tracks (14A, 14B).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: tracing a track recorded by said rotary head (11A, 11B) with a playback head (11A, 11B); reproducing the tracking pilot signal in said second predetermined areas from both tracks (14A, 14B) adjacent to said track being traced; comparing the levels of said tracking pilot signals reproduced from said adjacent racks (14A, 14B); generating a tracking signal in response to said level comparison; and controlling said playback head (11A, 11B) in response to said tracking signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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