Video transducing apparatus

Claim 2

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which a television signal is transmitted when the receiver is tuned to a broadcast television signal, a video transducer device comprising a video transducer head for coupling to a record medium, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver to the transducer head for recording of the television signal on the record medium, and for connecting said transducer head to said signal circuit during playback of the television signal recorded on the record medium for display by means of said television receiver of the image represented by the recorded signal, the improvement of said coupling means comprising adapter circuitry physically disposed closely adjacent said broadcast television receiver and operable to reduce loading of the television signal circuit by the connection to the transducer device during recording, said coupling means including switches for selectively conditioning said coupling means for recording and playback operation, said switcHes in an enabling condition enabling use of the receiver for the reception and display of a broadcast television signal, and further comprising a detachable cable for interconnecting said adapter circuitry with said transducer device during recording and playback operation, and means for placing said switches in said enabling condition when said video transducer device is disconnected by detachment of said cable.

Claim 3

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which received broadcast television signals are transmitted when the receiver is tuned to respective broadcast television stations, a video transducer device for recording and reproducing television signals, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver to the transducer device for recording of the received broadcast television signals and for connecting said transducer device to said television signal circuit for display by means of said television receiver of the recorded television signals, the improvement of said coupling means comprising adapter circuit elements physically disposed closely adjacent said television signal circuit, said adapter circuit elements being operable to reduce loading of the television signal circuit by the connection thereof to the transducer device in recording mode, said coupling means further comprising switches selectively actuable to first and second conditions for selectively conditioning said coupling means for recording and playback operation, respectively, said switches in the second condition serving to interrupt the transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit and to transmit the television signal reproduced by said transducer device to said television signal circuit, and in the first condition serving to restore transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit for simultaneous display by means of said television receiver and recording by means of said transducer device, said coupling means including a detachable cable for connecting and disconnecting said television signal circuit and said transducer device, and means for placing said switches in said first condition when said cable is detached to disconnect said transducer device from said television receiver thereby enabling transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit, and a single actuator coupled with said switches and operable while the cable remains fixed in the connecting attached condition for selectively placing the switches in said first and second conditions, the switches also being actuatable to said first condition in response to operation of said single actuator when the cable is detached.

Claim 4

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which received broadcast television signals are transmitted when the receiver is tuned to respective broadcast television stations, a video transducer device for recording and reproducing television signals, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver to the transducer device for recording of the received broadcast television signals and for connecting said transducer device to said television signal circuit for display by means of said television receiver of the recorded television signals, the improvement of said coupling means comprising adapter circuit elements physically disposed closely adjacent said television signal circuit, said adapter circuit elements being operable to reduce loading of the television signal circuit by the connection thereof to the transducer device in recording mode, said coupling means further comprising switches selectively actuable to first and second conditions for selectively conditioning said coupling means for recording and playback operation, respectively, said switches in the second condition serving to interrupt the transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit and to transmit the television signal reproduced by said transducer device to said television signal circuit, and in the first condition serving to restore transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit for simultaneous display by means of said television receiver and recording by means of said transducer device, said coupling means including a detachable cable for connecting and disconnecting said television signal circuit and said transducer device, and means for placing said switches in said first condition when said cable is detached to disconnect said transducer device from said television receiver thereby enabling transmission of received broadcast television signals to said television signal circuit, and a single actuator coupled with said switches and operable while the cable remains fixed in the connecting attached condition for selectively placing the switches in said first and second conditions, the switches also being actuatable to said first condition in response to operation of said single actuator when the cable is detached.

Claim 5

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which a television signal is transmitted when the receiver is tuned to a broadcast television signal, a video transducer device, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver to said video transducer device during a recording transducing operation, and for connecting said transducer device to said signal circuit during a playback transducing operation, said video transducer device comprising a magnetic tape transport for moving a magnetic tape along a transducing path at a video transducing speed, a magnetic transducer head comprising a video magnetic transducer head unit for operative scanning relation to successive channels on a magnetic record tape to provide at least 10 video channels per quarter inch of tape width for sequential scanning by said video magnetic transducer head unit, a video playback amplifier having an amplifier input for coupling with said video magnetic transducer head unit during playback transducing operation and having an amplifier output, and transducer head switching means interposed betweeN said video magnetic transducer head unit and said video playback amplifier and shiftable between a playback mode and a recording mode, said switching means in said playback mode connecting said magnetic transducer head unit with said amplifier input, and having a recording signal input and operable in said recording mode for connecting said recording signal input with said transducer head unit, said coupling means comprising an adapter unit physically disposed closely adjacent said broadcast television receiver, and a pair of conductors leading from open circuit points of the television signal circuit of the television receiver and entering said adapter unit such that received broadcast television signals are transmitted via one of said pair of conductors from the television signal circuit to the adapter unit, the other of said pair of conductors being operable to transmit video signals to said television signal circuit for display by the broadcast television receiver, and adapter unit switch means in said adapter unit for selectively conditioning said coupling means for recording and playback transducing operation and connected with said pair of conductors and with said recording signal input and with said amplifier output, and being shiftable between a recording mode and a playback mode, said adapter unit switch means being operable in said recording mode simultaneously to connect the television signal circuit to the recording signal input of said transducer head switching means and to connect said one of said pair of conductors to the other of said pair of conductors to establish continuity between said open circuit points of said television signal circuit, and said adapter unit switch means in said playback mode being operable to interrupt continuity between said pair of conductors to prevent display of a received broadcast television signal, and to connect said amplifier output with said other of said pair of conductors for display of a video signal reproduced from a magnetic record tape by means of said magnetic transducer head unit, and said coupling means including a cable having a first conductor extending between said adapter unit switch means and said recording signal input of said transducer head switching means for transmitting a television signal, which is derived from a received broadcast television signal, from the television signal circuit of the receiver to said recording signal input of said transducer head switching means, and having a second conductor extending between said amplifier output and said adapter unit switch means for transmitting a reproduced video signal from said amplifier output of said video playback amplifier to said adapter unit switch means.

Claim 6

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which a television signal is transmitted when the receiver is tuned to a broadcast television signal, a video transducer device, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver to said video transducer device during a recording transducing operation, and for connecting said transducer device to said signal circuit during a playback transducing operation, said video transducer device comprising a magnetic tape transport for moving a magnetic tape along a transducing path at a video transducing speed, a magnetic transducer head comprising a video magnetic transducer head unit for operative scanning relation to successive channels on a magnetic record tape to provide at least 10 video channels per quarter inch of tape width for sequential scanning by said video magnetic transducer head unit, a video playback amplifier having an amplifier input for coupling with said video magnetic transducer head unit during playback transducing operation and having an amplifier output, and transducer head switching means interposed betweeN said video magnetic transducer head unit and said video playback amplifier and shiftable between a playback mode and a recording mode, said switching means in said playback mode connecting said magnetic transducer head unit with said amplifier input, and having a recording signal input and operable in said recording mode for connecting said recording signal input with said transducer head unit, said coupling means comprising an adapter unit physically disposed closely adjacent said broadcast television receiver, and a pair of conductors leading from open circuit points of the television signal circuit of the television receiver and entering said adapter unit such that received broadcast television signals are transmitted via one of said pair of conductors from the television signal circuit to the adapter unit, the other of said pair of conductors being operable to transmit video signals to said television signal circuit for display by the broadcast television receiver, and adapter unit switch means in said adapter unit for selectively conditioning said coupling means for recording and playback transducing operation and connected with said pair of conductors and with said recording signal input and with said amplifier output, and being shiftable between a recording mode and a playback mode, said adapter unit switch means being operable in said recording mode simultaneously to connect the television signal circuit to the recording signal input of said transducer head switching means and to connect said one of said pair of conductors to the other of said pair of conductors to establish continuity between said open circuit points of said television signal circuit, and said adapter unit switch means in said playback mode being operable to interrupt continuity between said pair of conductors to prevent display of a received broadcast television signal, and to connect said amplifier output with said other of said pair of conductors for display of a video signal reproduced from a magnetic record tape by means of said magnetic transducer head unit, and said coupling means including a cable having a first conductor extending between said adapter unit switch means and said recording signal input of said transducer head switching means for transmitting a television signal, which is derived from a received broadcast television signal, from the television signal circuit of the receiver to said recording signal input of said transducer head switching means, and having a second conductor extending between said amplifier output and said adapter unit switch means for transmitting a reproduced video signal from said amplifier output of said video playback amplifier to said adapter unit switch means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 3 with said adapter unit containing only passive electric circuit components and said adapter unit switch means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 3 with the open circuit points of the television signal circuit being in the input of a video amplifier of said broadcast television receiver, and said adapter unit switch means being connected with the output of said video amplifier of said broadcast television receiver and being operable in playback mode to supply the reproduced video signal from the magnetic transducer head unit to the input of said video amplifier to said broadcast television receiver, and being operable during record mode to supply and amplified video signal from the output of said video amplifier of said broadcast television receiver to said magnetic transducer head unit.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 3 with said video playback amplifier having characteristics matched to said video magnetic transducer head unit to provide response over a bandwidth extending from a frequency of the order of 300 cycles per second to an upper frequency in the megacycle range.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 3 with said coupling means being operable for coupling respective color video signal circuits of the broadcast television receiver which carry demodulated coLor television signals to said adapter unit switch means for recording of the demodulated color video signals by means of said magnetic transducer head in recording mode of said adapter unit switch means, and said adapter unit including matching networks for adapting said demodulated color video signals to said magnetic transducer head.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 7 with said coupling means supplying at least one of said demodulated color video signals from said broadcast television receiver to said magnetic transducer head directly without additional amplification.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 7 with said coupling means including means for removing synchronizing pulses from the demodulated color video signals prior to recording thereof by means of said magnetic transducer head.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 7 with a pair of color signal playback amplifiers for amplifying reproduced color video signals from the magnetic transducer head, gain controls for the respective color signal playback amplifiers, and means ganging said gain controls together for joint operation.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 7 with a color signal playback amplifier for amplifying a reproduced color video signal from the magnetic transducer head and having a color signal amplifier output, and said cable having a further conductor extending between said color signal amplifier output and said adapter unit for transmitting the reproduced and amplified color video signal to said broadcast television receiver during playback transducing operation.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 3 with said coupling means comprising a clamp circuit in said adapter unit for modifying the reproduced video signal prior to transmission to said broadcast television receiver.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 12 with said clamp circuit having junction diodes which do not conduct substantially in the forward direction until a voltage of 0.5 to 0.7 volts is exceeded.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 12 with means separate from the reproduced video signal for driving said clamp circuit to conduction at intervals related to the horizontal line rate of the reproduced video signal.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 3 with said magnetic transducer head having only two magnetic transducer head units for reproducing only a monochrome television signal and one color video signal for transmission to said adapter unit, and said cable having said second conductor for transmitting the reproduced monochrome television signal to said adapter unit and having a third conductor for transmitting the reproduced color video signal to said adapter unit.

Claim 19

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which a television signal is transmitted when the receiver is tuned to a broadcast television signal, a video transducer device including a video magnetic transducer head, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver with said video magnetic transducer head of said video transducer device during a playback transducing operation, said video transducer device including a video playback circuit having an input for coupling with said video magnetic transducer head during playback transducing operation and having an output, said coupling means comprising adapter circuitry including a pair of conductors leading from open circuit points of the television signal circuit of the television receiver such that received broadcast television signals are transmitted via one of said pair of conductors from the television signal circuit to the adapter circuitry, the other of said pair of conductors being operable to transmit video signals to said television signal circuit for display by the broadcast television receiver, and adapter switch means connected with said adapter circuitry for selectively conditioning said coupling means for a playback transducing operation and connected with said pair of conductorS and with said output, and being shiftable between a broadcast reception mode and a playback mode, said adapter switch means being operable in said broadcast reception mode to connect said one of said pair of conductors to the other of said pair of conductors to establish continuity between said open circuit points of said television signal circuit, and said adapter switch means in said playback mode being operable to interrupt continuity between said pair of conductors to prevent display of a received broadcast television signal, and to connect said output of said video playback circuit with said other of said pair of conductors for display of a video signal reproduced from a magnetic record by means of said video magnetic transducer head.

Claim 20

In a transducing system including a broadcast television receiver having a television signal circuit along which a television signal is transmitted when the receiver is tuned to a broadcast television signal, a video transducer device including a video magnetic transducer head, and coupling means for coupling the television signal circuit of said receiver with said video magnetic transducer head of said video transducer device during a playback transducing operation, said video transducer device including a video playback circuit having an input for coupling with said video magnetic transducer head during playback transducing operation and having an output, said coupling means comprising adapter circuitry including a pair of conductors leading from open circuit points of the television signal circuit of the television receiver such that received broadcast television signals are transmitted via one of said pair of conductors from the television signal circuit to the adapter circuitry, the other of said pair of conductors being operable to transmit video signals to said television signal circuit for display by the broadcast television receiver, and adapter switch means connected with said adapter circuitry for selectively conditioning said coupling means for a playback transducing operation and connected with said pair of conductorS and with said output, and being shiftable between a broadcast reception mode and a playback mode, said adapter switch means being operable in said broadcast reception mode to connect said one of said pair of conductors to the other of said pair of conductors to establish continuity between said open circuit points of said television signal circuit, and said adapter switch means in said playback mode being operable to interrupt continuity between said pair of conductors to prevent display of a received broadcast television signal, and to connect said output of said video playback circuit with said other of said pair of conductors for display of a video signal reproduced from a magnetic record by means of said video magnetic transducer head.

Claim 21

A transducing system according to claim 16 with said broadcast television receiver having receiver horizontal sync circuits coupled with the television signal circuit for producing horizontal sync pulses in accordance with the horizontal synchronizing component of a video signal transmitted along said television signal circuit, said adapter circuitry further including an adapter horizontal sync circuit connected with said receiver horizontal sync circuits for supplying horizontal sync pulses therefrom, and means connecting said adapter horizontal sync circuit of said adapter circuitry with said video playback circuit of said video transducer device for supplying horizontal sync pulses from said receiver horizontal sync circuits to said video playback circuit of said video transducer device during a playback transducing operation.