Magnetic tape head tracking indicator

Claim 2

Apparatus for use with a magnetic tape recording and reproducing device having a rotary magnetic head assembly for reproducing a recorded signal on magnetic tape and a magnetic tape transportation means, said apparatus being adapted to produce an image pattern on a television screen indicating head tracking condition on the recorded tracks of said magnetic tape and comprising: means connected to said rotary magnetic head for detecting the value of said reproduced signal; means to produce an additional signal in response to the detected value of said reproduced signal; and a mixing circuit connected to said means for detecting the value of said reproduced signal and to said means to produce an additional signal to add said additional signal to said reproduced signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said additional signal producing means comprises means for generating a pulse signal whose width is varied in proportion to said detected value of said reproduced signal; and means for mixing said pulse signal with said reproduced signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 2 comprising, in addition, means for producing an indicating pulse signal having an interval relating to a vertical scanning period and being adapted to control said pulse signal generating means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said signal generating means comprises a monostable multivibrator adapted to produce a signal whose width is varied in proportion to the output of said detecting means; and said apparatus further includes means for producing a pulse signal having a vertical scanning period for triggering said multivibrator.

Claim 6

Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for producing an additional signal comprises another signal producing means for producing a pulse signal having a constant width, said last-named signal producing means being controlled by the output of said means for generating a pulse signal, said last-named signal producing means being connected to said mixing means to apply said constant width signal thereto.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said last-named signal producing means comprises a monostable multivibrator.

Claim 8

A tape head tracking indicator for use in a magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus of the type adapted to produce a video signal for display on a television screen and having a rotary magnetic head assembly for reproducing a recorded signal on a moving magnetic tape, which signal varies in amplitude in response to the tracking condition of the head with respect to the recorded tracks on the tape, the indicator comprising: means connected to the rotary magnetic head for detecting the amplitude value of the reproduced recorded signal, means for generating a scanning signal pulse, and means responsive to both the detecting means and the scanning signal pulse for producing an indicator pulse signal having a leading edge synchronized to the scanning signal pulse and a width varied in proportion to the detected value of the reproduced recorded signal, and combining means responsive to the indicator pulse signal and the reproduced recorded signal for producing a display on the screen representative of an image corresponding in part to the video signal and in part to the value of the detected signal.

Claim 9

A tape head tracking indicator for use in a magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus of the type adapted to produce a video signal for display on a television screen and having a rotary magnetic head assembly for reproducing a recorded signal on a moving magnetic tape, which signal varies in amplitude in response to the tracking condition of the head with respect to the recorded tracks on the tape, the indicator comprising: means connected to the rotary magnetic head for detecting the amplitude value of the reproduced recorded signal, means for generating a scanning signal pulse, and means responsive to both the detecting means and the scanning signal pulse for producing an indicator pulse signal having a leading edge synchronized to the scanning signal pulse and a width varied in proportion to the detected value of the reproduced recorded signal, and combining means responsive to the indicator pulse signal and the reproduced recorded signal for producing a display on the screen representative of an image corresponding in part to the video signal and in part to the value of the detected signal.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the means for generating the scanning signal pulse is responsive to the rotary movement of the magnetic head and the indicator pulse signal generating means includes a monostable multivibrator triggered by the scanning signal pulse and adapted to produce a pulse signal whose width is varied in proportion to the output of the detecting means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein the combining means further comprises means triggered by the trailing edge of the indicator signal pulse for producing a pulse signal having a substantially constant width, and means for mixing the pulse signal of substantially constant width with the reproduced recorded signal and for displaying the mixed signals on the screen such that in addition to a portion of the image representative of the reproduced recorded video signal there also appears on the screen a stripe of substantially constant width and in a location representative of the amplitude of the output of the detecting means.