Information signal recording and reproducing apparatus

Claim 2

An information signal recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first recording means for recording an information signal on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium; (b) first reproducing means for reproducing the information signal from the first area of the medium; (c) second recording means for recording a mode control signal on a second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (d) second reproducing means for reproducing the (e) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (f) manually operable means for designating a mode of the apparatus; (g) first data generating means for generating a first mode control data based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; (h) second data generating means for generating a second mode control data based on the manual operation for said manually operable means; (i) selection means for selecting one of said first mode control data and said second mode control data; and (j) mode control means for changing over the apparatus between a first mode and a second mode based on the mode control data selected by said selection means; wherein when in said first mode, said moving means moves the medium at a first speed and said first reproducing means reproduces the information signal, and when in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a second speed different from said first speed.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first data generating means includes detection means for detecting the level of said mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means.

Claim 4

An apparatus to claim 1, further comprising: first erasing means for erasing only the mode control signal recorded on the medium; and second erasing means for erasing at least the information signal recorded on the medium.

Claim 5

A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first recording means for recording the video signal on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium while successively forming a plurality of oblique tracks thereon; (b) first reproducing means for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the medium, said first reproducing means including at least one rotary head; (c) second recording means for recording a mode control signal on a second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (d) second reproducing means for reproducing the mode control signal from the second area of the medium; (e) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (f) manually operable means for designating a mode of the apparatus; (g) first data generating means for generating a first mode control data based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; (h) second data generating means for generating a second mode control data based on the manual operation for said manually operable means; (i) selection means for selecting one of said first mode control data and second mode control data; and (j) mode control means for setting the apparatus in one of a plurality of modes including first and second modes on the basis of the mode control data selected by said selection means; wherein when the apparatus is in said first mode, said moving means moves the medium at a first speed so that said rotary head of the first reproducing means traces on the medium in parallel to the oblique track, and when the apparatus is in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a second speed so that the rotary head of said first reproducing means traces on the medium in a direction so as to run across the oblique track.

Claim 6

A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first recording means for recording the video signal on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium while successively forming a plurality of oblique tracks thereon; (b) first reproducing means for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the medium, said first reproducing means including at least one rotary head; (c) second recording means for recording a mode control signal on a second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (d) second reproducing means for reproducing the mode control signal from the second area of the medium; (e) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (f) manually operable means for designating a mode of the apparatus; (g) first data generating means for generating a first mode control data based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; (h) second data generating means for generating a second mode control data based on the manual operation for said manually operable means; (i) selection means for selecting one of said first mode control data and second mode control data; and (j) mode control means for setting the apparatus in one of a plurality of modes including first and second modes on the basis of the mode control data selected by said selection means; wherein when the apparatus is in said first mode, said moving means moves the medium at a first speed so that said rotary head of the first reproducing means traces on the medium in parallel to the oblique track, and when the apparatus is in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a second speed so that the rotary head of said first reproducing means traces on the medium in a direction so as to run across the oblique track.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second speed is faster than said first speed.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second speed is slower than said first speed.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising mode control signal supplying means for selectively supplying a plurality of mode control signals of different kinds corresponding to the plurality of modes of said second recording means.

Claim 10

An information signal reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first reproducing means for reproducing an information signal recorded on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium; (b) second reproducing means for reproducing a mode control signal recorded on a second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (c) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (d) manually operable means for designating a mode of the apparatus; (e) first data generating means for generating a first mode control data based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; (f) second data generating means for generating a second mode control data based on the manual operation for said manually operable means; (g) selection means for selecting one of said first mode control data and said second mode control data; and (h) mode control means for changing over the apparatus between a first mode and a second mode based on the mode control data selected by said selection means; wherein when in said first mode, said moving means moves the medium at a first speed and said first reproducing means reproduces the information signal, and when in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a second speed different from said first speed and said first reproducing means does not reproduce the information signal.

Claim 11

An information signal reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first reproducing means for reproducing an information signal recorded on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium; (b) second reproducing means for reproducing a mode control signal recorded on a second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (c) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (d) manually operable means for designating a mode of the apparatus; (e) first data generating means for generating a first mode control data based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; (f) second data generating means for generating a second mode control data based on the manual operation for said manually operable means; (g) selection means for selecting one of said first mode control data and said second mode control data; and (h) mode control means for changing over the apparatus between a first mode and a second mode based on the mode control data selected by said selection means; wherein when in said first mode, said moving means moves the medium at a first speed and said first reproducing means reproduces the information signal, and when in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a second speed different from said first speed and said first reproducing means does not reproduce the information signal.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the apparatus is in said first mode, said first reproducing means reproduces the information signal and when the apparatus is in said second mode, said first reproducing means does not reproduce the information signal.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the apparatus is in said second mode, said moving means moves the medium at a speed faster than the speed when the apparatus is in said first mode.

Claim 14

An information signal recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first recording means for recording an information signal recorded on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium; (b) first reproducing means for reproducing the information signal from the first area of the medium; (c) second recording means for recording a control signal having a recording wave length corresponding to the moving speed of the medium and a mode control signal on the second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (d) second reproducing means for reproducing the control signal and mode control signal from the second area of the medium; (e) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (f) control means for controlling the moving speed of the medium by the moving means so as to maintain the frequency of the control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means at a constant frequency; (g) mode control means for changing over the apparatus between a first mode and a second mode based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; wherein when the apparatus is in said first mode, the moving speed of the medium is determined by said control means, and when the apparatus is in said second mode, the moving speed of the medium by said moving means is not determined by said control means.

Claim 15

An information signal recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) first recording means for recording an information signal recorded on a first area of a tape-shaped recording medium; (b) first reproducing means for reproducing the information signal from the first area of the medium; (c) second recording means for recording a control signal having a recording wave length corresponding to the moving speed of the medium and a mode control signal on the second area of the tape-shaped recording medium; (d) second reproducing means for reproducing the control signal and mode control signal from the second area of the medium; (e) moving means for moving the tape-shaped recording medium in its lengthwise direction; (f) control means for controlling the moving speed of the medium by the moving means so as to maintain the frequency of the control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means at a constant frequency; (g) mode control means for changing over the apparatus between a first mode and a second mode based on the mode control signal reproduced by said second reproducing means; wherein when the apparatus is in said first mode, the moving speed of the medium is determined by said control means, and when the apparatus is in said second mode, the moving speed of the medium by said moving means is not determined by said control means.

Claim 16

A video tape recorder, comprising: (a) first recording means including at least one rotating head for recording a video signal on a first area of a magnetic tape; (b) first reproducing means including at least one rotating head for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the magnetic tape; (c) manually operable means for instructing said first recording means to start the recording of the video signal; (d) second recording means including at least one fixed head for recording a mark signal on a second area of the magnetic tape only for a predetermined period in response to the manual operation for said manually operable means; (e) second reproducing means including at least one fixed head for reproducing the mark signal from the second area of the magnetic tape; (f) moving means for moving the magnetic tape in its lengthwise direction; and (g) transfer means for transferring the recorder from the second mode to the first mode in response to the reproducing of the mark signal being started by the second reproducing means; wherein when the recorder is in said first mode, said moving means moves the tape at a first speed, and when the recorder is in said second mode, said moving means moves the tape at a second speed faster than the first speed.

Claim 17

A video tape recorder, comprising: (a) first recording means including at least one rotating head for recording a video signal on a first area of a magnetic tape; (b) first reproducing means including at least one rotating head for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the magnetic tape; (c) manually operable means for instructing said first recording means to start the recording of the video signal; (d) second recording means including at least one fixed head for recording a mark signal on a second area of the magnetic tape only for a predetermined period in response to the manual operation for said manually operable means; (e) second reproducing means including at least one fixed head for reproducing the mark signal from the second area of the magnetic tape; (f) moving means for moving the magnetic tape in its lengthwise direction; and (g) transfer means for transferring the recorder from the second mode to the first mode in response to the reproducing of the mark signal being started by the second reproducing means; wherein when the recorder is in said first mode, said moving means moves the tape at a first speed, and when the recorder is in said second mode, said moving means moves the tape at a second speed faster than the first speed.

Claim 18

A video tape recorder, comprising: (a) first recording means including at least one rotating head for recording a video signal on a first area of a magnetic tape; (b) first reproducing means including at least one rotating head for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the magnetic tape; (c) second recording means including at least one fixed head for recording a mark signal on a second area of the magnetic tape; (d) second reproducing means including at least one fixed head for reproducing the mark signal from the second area of the magnetic tape; (e) moving means for moving the magnetic tape in its lengthwise direction; and (f) mode control means for bringing the recorder into the first mode only for a predetermined period in response to the reproduction of the mark signal being started by said second reproducing means and maintaining the recorder in the second mode for periods other than said predetermined period; wherein when the recorder is in said first mode, said first reproducing means reproduces the video signal and said moving means moves the tape at a first speed, and when the recorder is in said second mode, said moving means moves the tape at a second speed faster than the first speed.

Claim 19

A video tape recorder, comprising: (a) first recording means including at least one rotating head for recording a video signal on a first area of a magnetic tape; (b) first reproducing means including at least one rotating head for reproducing the video signal from the first area of the magnetic tape; (c) second recording means including at least one fixed head for recording a mark signal on a second area of the magnetic tape; (d) second reproducing means including at least one fixed head for reproducing the mark signal from the second area of the magnetic tape; (e) moving means for moving the magnetic tape in its lengthwise direction; and (f) mode control means for bringing the recorder into the first mode only for a predetermined period in response to the reproduction of the mark signal being started by said second reproducing means and maintaining the recorder in the second mode for periods other than said predetermined period; wherein when the recorder is in said first mode, said first reproducing means reproduces the video signal and said moving means moves the tape at a first speed, and when the recorder is in said second mode, said moving means moves the tape at a second speed faster than the first speed.

Claim 20

A recorder according to claim 13, further comprising instruction means for instructing the second recording means to start the recording of the mark signal.

Claim 21

A recorder according to claim 14, wherein said mode control means includes means for causing the second recording means to record the mark signal for a predetermined period in accordance with the intruction of the instruction means.

Claim 22

A recorder according to claim 14, wherein said instruction means instructs the second recording means to start the recording of the mark signal and instructs the first recording means to start the recording of the video signal.