Extended play video recording and reproducing system with selection of multiplexed audio

Claim 2

A video reproducing system comprising: a recording medium having recorded thereon frames of video information, encoded frame repeat counts indicative of the number of times each of the recorded frames is to be reproduced, and a plurality of channels of audio information associated with each frame; transducer means for reading the recorded information from said recording medium and producing therefrom a corresponding electrical signal; drive means for moving said transducer means with respect to said recording medium; means for decoding the frame repeat counts encoded in the recorded video signal; means responsive to the decoded repeat count, for controlling the position of said transducer means in such a manner as to read each frame of video information a selected number of times; bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal; and means for selecting one of said audio channels for reproduction, based upon the value of the decoded repeat count and the number of times that a frame has already been repeated; wherein said means responsive to the decoded repeat count includes an up/down counter capable of assuming a zero or non-zero count condition; means for detecting a zero count condition in said counter; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a zero count, for incrementing said counter by the value of a decoded frame repeat count; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a non-zero count, for decrementing said counter by one for each frame reproduced by said transducer means; and means for generating a read/repeat signal based on the value stored in said counter, wherein said transducer means is directed to read a new frame when the value in said counter is zero, and to repeat a frame when the value in said counter is non-zero.

Claim 3

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for selecting one of said audio channels includes gating means coupled to said counter, for selecting only one of said channels based on the current value stored in said counter.

Claim 4

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for separating and decoding the plurality of audio channels includes: bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; and demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal.

Claim 5

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for selecting one of said audio channels includes: first gating means for selecting the output from one of said demodulators, based on the value stored in said counter, exclusive of its least significant bit; and second gating means for selecting one of the two audio channels supplied from said multiplexing means, based on the value of the least significant bit in said counter.

Claim 6

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 1, and further including means coupling said read/repeat signal to said drive means, to vary the speed thereof in accordance with the degree to which reproduced video information is repeated.

Claim 7

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said means coupling said read/repeat signal to said drive means includes a low-pass filter to minimize sudden speed changes in said drive means; and said system further includes a fast-response transducer-translating means capable of maintaining said transducer at a given recording track position, and capable of compensating for lagging or leading movements by said drive means.

Claim 8

A video disc reproducing system, comprising: a disc having recorded thereon frames of video information, encoded frame repeat counts indicative of the number of times each of the recorded frames is to be reproduced, and a plurality of channels of audio information associated with each frame; a laser light source for generating a reading beam; an optical system for directing the reading beam onto the disc and isolating a reflected beam modulated in accordance with the recorded information; rotational drive means for rotating the disc at a constant angular velocity; translational drive means for moving at least a portion of said optical sysatem radially with respect to said disc, and thereby moving the reading beam across said disc; transducer means for transforming the reflected beam into a corresponding electrical signal; beam position control means, for maintaining the reading beam practically centered on a recording track on said disc; means for decoding the frame repeat counts encoded in the recorded video signal; means responsive to the decoded repeat count, for controlling said translational drive means and said beam position control means in such a manner as to read each frame of video information a selected number of times; bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal; and means for selecting one of said audio channels for reproduction, based upon the value of the decoded repeat count and the number of times that a frame has already been repeated.

Claim 9

A video disc reproducing system, comprising: a disc having recorded thereon frames of video information, encoded frame repeat counts indicative of the number of times each of the recorded frames is to be reproduced, and a plurality of channels of audio information associated with each frame; a laser light source for generating a reading beam; an optical system for directing the reading beam onto the disc and isolating a reflected beam modulated in accordance with the recorded information; rotational drive means for rotating the disc at a constant angular velocity; translational drive means for moving at least a portion of said optical sysatem radially with respect to said disc, and thereby moving the reading beam across said disc; transducer means for transforming the reflected beam into a corresponding electrical signal; beam position control means, for maintaining the reading beam practically centered on a recording track on said disc; means for decoding the frame repeat counts encoded in the recorded video signal; means responsive to the decoded repeat count, for controlling said translational drive means and said beam position control means in such a manner as to read each frame of video information a selected number of times; bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal; and means for selecting one of said audio channels for reproduction, based upon the value of the decoded repeat count and the number of times that a frame has already been repeated.

Claim 10

A video disc reproducing system, comprising: a disc having recorded thereon frames of video information, encoded frame repeat counts indicative of the number of times each of the recorded frames is to be reproduced, and a plurality of channels of audio information associated with each frame; a laser light source for generating a reading beam; an optical system for directing the reading beam onto the disc and isolating a reflected beam modulated in accordance with the recorded information; rotational drive means for rotating the disc at a constant angular velocity; translational drive means for moving at least a portion of said optical system radially with respect to said disc, and thereby moving the reading beam across said disc; transducer means for transforming the reflected beam into a corresponding electrical signal; beam position control means, for maintaining the reading beam practically centered on a recording track on said disc; means for decoding the frame repeat counts encoded in the recorded video signal; means responsive to the decoded repeat count, for controlling said translational drive means and said beam position control means in such a manner as to read each frame of video information a selected number of times; bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal; and means for selecting one of said audio channels for reproduction, based upon the value of the decoded repeat count and the number of times that a frame has already been repeated; wherein said means responsive to the decoded repeat count includes an up/down counter capable of assuming a zero or non-zero count condition; means for detecting a zero count condition in said counter; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a zero count, for incrementing said counter by the value of a decoded frame repeat count; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a non-zero count, for decrementing said counter by one for each frame reproduced by said transducer means; and means for generating a read/repeat signal based on the value stored in said counter, wherein said transducer means is operated to read a new frame when the value in said counter is zero, and to repeat a frame when the value in said counter is non-zero.

Claim 11

A video disc reproducing system, comprising: a disc having recorded thereon frames of video information, encoded frame repeat counts indicative of the number of times each of the recorded frames is to be reproduced, and a plurality of channels of audio information associated with each frame; a laser light source for generating a reading beam; an optical system for directing the reading beam onto the disc and isolating a reflected beam modulated in accordance with the recorded information; rotational drive means for rotating the disc at a constant angular velocity; translational drive means for moving at least a portion of said optical system radially with respect to said disc, and thereby moving the reading beam across said disc; transducer means for transforming the reflected beam into a corresponding electrical signal; beam position control means, for maintaining the reading beam practically centered on a recording track on said disc; means for decoding the frame repeat counts encoded in the recorded video signal; means responsive to the decoded repeat count, for controlling said translational drive means and said beam position control means in such a manner as to read each frame of video information a selected number of times; bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal; and means for selecting one of said audio channels for reproduction, based upon the value of the decoded repeat count and the number of times that a frame has already been repeated; wherein said means responsive to the decoded repeat count includes an up/down counter capable of assuming a zero or non-zero count condition; means for detecting a zero count condition in said counter; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a zero count, for incrementing said counter by the value of a decoded frame repeat count; means responsive to said means for detecting a zero count condition and operative when said counter is at a non-zero count, for decrementing said counter by one for each frame reproduced by said transducer means; and means for generating a read/repeat signal based on the value stored in said counter, wherein said transducer means is operated to read a new frame when the value in said counter is zero, and to repeat a frame when the value in said counter is non-zero.

Claim 12

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for selecting one of said audio channels includes gating means coupled to said counter, for selecting only one of said channels based on the current value stored in said counter.

Claim 13

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for separating and decoding the plurality of audio channels includes: bandpass filter means, for separating the audio channel subcarriers; a plurality of demodulators, for demodulating each subcarrier to obtain a multiplexed audio signal; and demultiplexing means to derive two audio channels from a selected multiplexed audio signal.

Claim 14

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for selecting one of said audio channels includes: first gating means for selecting the output from one of said demodulators, based on the value stored in said counter, exclusive of its least significant bit; and second gating means for selecting one of the two audio channels supplied from said multiplexing means, based on the value of the least significant bit in said counter.

Claim 15

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 8, and further including means coupling said read/repeat signal to said translational drive means, to vary the speed thereof in accordance with the degree to which reproduced video information is repeated.

Claim 16

A video reproducing system as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said means coupling said read/repeat signal to said translational drive means includes a low-pass filter to minimize sudden speed changes in said translational drive means; and said beam position control means is operative to compensate for lagging or leading movements of said translational drive means.