Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus and recording method

Claim 1

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing PAL and SECAM system color video signals in both high and standard picture quality modes, respectively, which comprises: (a) color video signal recording means including: (1) discriminating means (39) responsive to incoming color video signals, for discriminating whether the incoming color video signals are PAL system signals or SECAM system signals and outputting a SECAM discriminating signal when SECAM system signals are received; (2) comb filter means (2) responsive to color video signals, for separating luminance signals from the PAL color video signal; (3) first low-pass filter means (4) for filtering wide-band luminance signals in high picture quality mode; (4) second low-pass filter means (5) for filtering low-band luminance signals in standard picture quality mode; (5) first switching means (36) responsive to the incoming color video signals and connected between said comb filter means and said first and second low-pass filter means (4, 5); when said first switching means is activated in response to no SECAM discriminating signal, said comb filter means is connected to said two first and second filter means to supply PAL system luminance signals; when said first switching means is activated in response to a SECAM discriminating signal, the incoming video signal is directly supplied to only said second low-pass filter (5) to separate SECAM system luminance signals; (6) first frequency modulating means (9) for modulating high picture quality mode luminance signals; (7) second frequency modulating means (14) connected to said second low-pass filter means (5), for modulating standard picture quality mode luminance signals; (8) second switching means (45) connected between said first and second low-pass filter means (4, 5) and said first frequency modulating means (9); when said second switching means in activated in response to no SECAM discriminating signal, and first low-pass filter means (4) is connected to said first frequency modulating means (9); when said second switching means is activated in response to a SECAM discriminating signal, said second low-pass filter means (5) is connected to said first frequency modulating means (9); (9) third switching means (15) connected to said first and second frequency modulating means, for selecting one of high and standard picture quality luminance signals; (10) generating means (41 - 44) responsive to incoming video signals, for generating carrier chrominance signals; (11) mixing means connected to said third switching means (15) and said generating means, for mixing luminance signals generated from one of said first and second frequency modulating means with the carrier chrominance signals generated by said generating means; and (12) recording means (17) connected to said mixing means, for recording color video signals on a magnetic medium; and (b) color video signal reproducing means for reproducing PAL and SECAM system color video signals in both high and standard picture quality modes, respectively.

Claim 4

A method of recording PAL and SECAM color video luminance signals, which comprises the steps of: (a) discriminating whether incoming color video signals are PAL system signals or SECAM system signals; (b) if PAL system signals are discriminated, separating PAL luminance signals from amplitude-modulated carrier chrominance signals by a comb filter; (c) passing the separated PAL luminance signals through a low-pass filter for eliminating reflected noise; (d) frequency modulating the PAL luminance signals before recording the luminance signals; (e) if SECAM system signals are discriminated, separating SECAM luminance signals from frequency-­modulated carrier chrominance signals by said low-pass filter; and (f) frequency modulating the SECAM luminance signals before recording the luminance signals.

Claim 5

A method of recording PAL and SECAM color video luminance signals, which comprises the steps of: (a) discriminating whether incoming color video signals are PAL system signals or SECAM system signals; (b) if PAL system signals are discriminated, separating PAL luminance signals from amplitude-modulated carrier chrominance signals by a comb filter; (c) passing the separated PAL luminance signals through a low-pass filter for eliminating reflected noise; (d) frequency modulating the PAL luminance signals before recording the luminance signals; (e) if SECAM system signals are discriminated, separating SECAM luminance signals from frequency-­modulated carrier chrominance signals by said low-pass filter; and (f) frequency modulating the SECAM luminance signals before recording the luminance signals.