US4380031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control for bidirectional drive responsive to gaps in recorded sound
Assignee: Staar SA
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Filing: 1980-10-14
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Granted: 1983-04-12
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Expires: 2000-10-14
Abstract
Abstract In a tape transport having a bidirectional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction, including a reversing mechanism, signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from one or the other sets of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks, a control for the drive including a member having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement, connected for switching the sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of the drive, and disconnected from switching the sets of head channels upon reversal of the drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed, so as to maintain the same set of head channels enabled when the drive is shifted to fast forward or fast rewind in order to playback the same tracks for detection of silence intervals as those selected for listening.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephane M. A. d'Alayer de Costemore d'Arc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:56
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/10; G11B15/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
In a tape transport having a bi-directional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction; a soundtrack pick-up head operatively positioned to engage the tape, said head having two sets of head channels for detecting recordings on respective sets of recording tracks on recording tape; switch means shiftable from one state to another for enabling one set or the other of said sets of head channels; signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from the enabled set of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in said audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks; drive control means including a reversing mechanism operable to reverse the drive for movement of tape at playback speed or fast rewind speed; and a fast rewind actuator; the improvements comprising: means connecting said reversing mechanism for said bi-directional drive to said switch means, including means having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement connected for shifting the state of said switch means and switching the enabled sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of said drive; means for disconnecting said connecting means from shifting the state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed so as to maintain the same state of said switch means and enabled set of head channels; said connecting means being operable to shift the state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at playback speed; and means for connecting said actuating signals from said silence detection circuit means to operate said drive control means and actuate said reversing mechanism during movement of the tape by said drive at fast rewind speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
In a tape transport having a bi-directional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction; a soundtrack pick-up head operatively positioned to engage the tape, said head having two sets of head channels for detecting recordings on respective sets of recording tracks on recording tape; switch means shiftable from one state to another for enabling one set or the other of said sets of head channels; signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from the enabled set of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in said audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks; drive control means including a reversing mechanism operable to reverse the drive for movement of tape at playback speed or fast rewind speed; and a fast rewind actuator; the improvements comprising: means connecting said reversing mechanism for said bi-directional drive to said switch means, including means having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement connected for shifting the state of said switch means and switching the enabled sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of said drive; means for disconnecting said connecting means from shifting the state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed so as to maintain the same state of said switch means and enabled set of head channels; said connecting means being operable to shift the state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at playback speed; and means for connecting said actuating signals from said silence detection circuit means to operate said drive control means and actuate said reversing mechanism during movement of the tape by said drive at fast rewind speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 1 wherein said reversing mechanism includes a control solenoid and a member operated by said solenoid to reverse the drive; said connecting means includes a mechanical linkage between said operating member and said switch means having a pivotable lever mounted on a movable supporting plate and operable to shift a switch element from one state to another, and said means disconnecting said connecting means includes a member engaging said supporting plate upon actuation of said rewind actuator and moving said supporting plate to separate said pivotable lever from said switch element upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 2 wherein said switch means has multiple output terminals and a movable switch element operated by said pivotable lever to switch output terminals and enable one set of head channels or the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 2 wherein said fast rewind actuator acts sequentially on said plate to disconnect said lever from said switch element and on a switch included in a circuit connected to operate said reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of the tape at fast rewind speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 2 wherein the end of said lever for engaging and shifting the switch element is fork-shaped so as to ensure that the switch element is locked in one of its two states.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 5 wherein the end of the lever comprises two ramps which, during the return of the plate into its inoperative position, engage the switch element in the event it is located in the reverse state and shift the element to the state to enable the head channels for the selected tracks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 1 wherein said reversing mechanism includes a control solenoid and a member operated by said solenoid to reverse the drive, said connecting means includes a reverse sensing switch actuated by said member to send a signal through circuit means including an Exclusive OR gate to operate said switch means, and said means disconnecting said connecting means includes a second switch connected to an input of said Exclusive OR gate and operated by said fast rewind actuator to send a blocking signal to said gate so as to maintain the same state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive movement of the tape at fast rewind speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 7 wherein said switch means comprises a set of solid state transmission gates controlled by signals from said circuit means to enable one set of head channels or the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 8 including a fast forward actuator, latching means for said fast forward actuator associated with said reversing mechanism and operable to latch said fast forward actuator upon actuation thereof and operable to unlatch said fast forward actuator upon operation of said reversing mechanism when said fast forward actuator is latched, said circuit means including means for operating said reversing mechanism twice responsive to actuating signals from said silence detection circuit means when said bi-directional drive is operable to move the tape in the fast forward direction to unlatch said fast forward actuator upon the first reversing operation and to return the drive to the original playback direction upon the second operation of said reversing mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 9 in which said latching means includes pawls carried respectively by said fast forward actuator and fast rewind actuator engageable with a latching member associated with said reversing mechanism so that said latching member engages said pawls to hold said actuating members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 1 further including circuit means receiving actuating signals from said silence detection circuit means and connected to operate said reversing mechanism and return the drive to the original direction of tape movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 6 including latching means for said rewind actuator associated with said reversing mechanism and operable to latch said rewind actuator upon actuation thereof and operable to unlatch said rewind actuator upon operation of said reversing mechanism when said rewind actuator is latched.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 7 wherein actuating signals from said silence detection circuit means with said drive operable to move the tape at fast rewind speeds operates said reversing mechanism to unlatch said rewind actuator and return the drive to the original playback direction of tape movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvements in a tape transport according to claim 1 wherein said reversing mechanism includes a control solenoid and a member operated by said solenoid to reverse the drive, said connecting means includes a reverse sensing switch actuated by said member and sending signals through a circuit including means for performing an Exclusive OR function to operate said switch means, and said means disconnecting said connecting means includes a second switch connected to said circuit means performing an Exclusive OR function operated by said fast rewind actuator to send a blocking signal so as to maintain the same state of said switch means upon reversal of said drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a tape transport having a bidirectional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction, and a pick-up head with separate sets of head channels for separate recording tracks on tape, the improvements comprising: signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from one or the other sets of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks, means for switching said sets of head channels, control means for said drive including a member having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement, means connecting said member to operate said switch means for switching the sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of the drive, and means disconnecting said member from operating said switch means upon reversal of the drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed, so as to maintain the same set of channels enabled in order to playback the same tracks for detection of silence intervals as those selected for listening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a tape transport having a bidirectional drive for movement of tape at playback speed and fast speed in either direction, and a pick-up head with separate sets of head channels for separate recording tracks on tape, the improvements comprising: signal detection circuit means for receiving audio signals from one or the other sets of head channels and for producing actuating signals in response to a silence interval of predetermined minimum duration in audio signals indicating a silence period between recordings on the corresponding set of recording tracks, means for switching said sets of head channels, control means for said drive including a member having two states representing the respective directions of tape movement, means connecting said member to operate said switch means for switching the sets of head channels to accommodate the direction of tape movement upon reversal of the drive, and means disconnecting said member from operating said switch means upon reversal of the drive for movement of the tape at fast rewind speed, so as to maintain the same set of channels enabled in order to playback the same tracks for detection of silence intervals as those selected for listening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-11 | 1986-10-11 | 1987-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-11 | 1990-10-11 | 1991-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-11 | 1994-10-11 | 1995-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |