System and method to improve picture quality during shuttling of video tapes

Claim 1

A system for providing video images during shuttling of a videotape in recording and playback machines of the type in which each video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape, comprising: a transducer controllable to follow and read tracks of information recorded upon a videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape; deflectable means coupled to the transducer for operation during shuttling; and offset signal generating means coupled to the deflectable means only during shuttling to provide signals that deflect the deflectable means relative to said tracks of information on the videotape sufficiently to cause the transducer to cross said tracks of information generally non-periodically.

Claim 2

A system for providing video images during shuttling of a videotape in recording and playback machines of the type in which each video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape, comprising: a transducer controllable to follow and read tracks of information recorded upon a videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape; deflectable means coupled to the transducer for operation during shuttling; and offset signal generating means coupled to the deflectable means only during shuttling to provide signals that deflect the deflectable means relative to said tracks of information on the videotape sufficiently to cause the transducer to cross said tracks of information generally non-periodically.

Claim 7

A system for providing video images during shuttling of videotape in a video record-and-playback machine of the type in which a video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on the videotape comprising: a transducer to read magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape; deflectable supporting means coupled to movably support the transducer relative to the tape; tracking means to provide tracking control signals to said deflectable supporting means to cause the transducer to follow individual ones of said magnetic tracks of information; offset signal generating means for generating time-varying signals; and switch means operable, upon initiation and during shuttling, to prevent said tracking control signals from the tracking means from being provided to the deflectable supporting means and to provide, at all times during shuttling, said time-varying signals to the deflectable supporting means to cause the transducer to cross said tracks of magnetic information generally non-periodically, thereby to provide frequent updating of an image field by data samples from information stored on magnetic tracks on the videotape.

Claim 8

A system for providing video images during shuttling of videotape in a video record-and-playback machine of the type in which a video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on the videotape comprising: a transducer to read magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape; deflectable supporting means coupled to movably support the transducer relative to the tape; tracking means to provide tracking control signals to said deflectable supporting means to cause the transducer to follow individual ones of said magnetic tracks of information; offset signal generating means for generating time-varying signals; and switch means operable, upon initiation and during shuttling, to prevent said tracking control signals from the tracking means from being provided to the deflectable supporting means and to provide, at all times during shuttling, said time-varying signals to the deflectable supporting means to cause the transducer to cross said tracks of magnetic information generally non-periodically, thereby to provide frequent updating of an image field by data samples from information stored on magnetic tracks on the videotape.

Claim 13

A system for providing images during shuttling in a record-and-playback machine of the type in which each video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on videotape at an angle to the centerline of the videotape, comprising: (a) offset signal generating means for generating time-varying signals; (b) a transducing read head which reads magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape; (c) a capstan mechanism mounted for rotation to transport a videotape across the transducing read head; and (d) tracking error processor means operable for detecting deviations in the position of the transducing read head relative to the centerlines of tracks on the videotape and for generating position-correcting signals based upon the deviations; (e) switch means to prevent signals from the tracking error processor means from reaching said capstan mechanism during shuttling while connecting the offset signal generating means to the capstan mechanism during shuttling to provide changes in the rotational velocity of the capstan mechanism in response to said time-varying signals sufficient to cause the transducing read head to cross said tracks of magnetic information generally irregularly, thereby to provide frequent updating of video image fields from information stored on videotape.

Claim 14

A system for providing images during shuttling in a record-and-playback machine of the type in which each video image field is recorded on one or more tracks on videotape at an angle to the centerline of the videotape, comprising: (a) offset signal generating means for generating time-varying signals; (b) a transducing read head which reads magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape; (c) a capstan mechanism mounted for rotation to transport a videotape across the transducing read head; and (d) tracking error processor means operable for detecting deviations in the position of the transducing read head relative to the centerlines of tracks on the videotape and for generating position-correcting signals based upon the deviations; (e) switch means to prevent signals from the tracking error processor means from reaching said capstan mechanism during shuttling while connecting the offset signal generating means to the capstan mechanism during shuttling to provide changes in the rotational velocity of the capstan mechanism in response to said time-varying signals sufficient to cause the transducing read head to cross said tracks of magnetic information generally irregularly, thereby to provide frequent updating of video image fields from information stored on videotape.

Claim 17

A method for providing a relatively uniform display of video images during shuttling in a videotape record-and-playback machine of the type in which each image field is recorded on one or more magnetic tracks of information on videotape and read from the videotape by a transducing head, said method comprising the steps of: (a) generating time-varying signals; (b) only during shuttling, utilizing said time-varying signals to alter the velocity of videotape relative to a transducing read head sufficiently to cause the transducing read head to cross tracks generally nonperiodically to provide frequent updating of substantially all regions of an image field produced from information stored on the magnetic tracks, thereby to provide a relatively uniform display image.

Claim 18

A method for providing a relatively uniform display of video images during shuttling in a videotape record-and-playback machine of the type in which each image field is recorded on one or more magnetic tracks of information on videotape and read from the videotape by a transducing head, said method comprising the steps of: (a) generating time-varying signals; (b) only during shuttling, utilizing said time-varying signals to alter the velocity of videotape relative to a transducing read head sufficiently to cause the transducing read head to cross tracks generally nonperiodically to provide frequent updating of substantially all regions of an image field produced from information stored on the magnetic tracks, thereby to provide a relatively uniform display image.

Claim 33

A system for providing non-periodic relative movement between a transducing read head and a videotape upon which image information has been magnetically recorded in an array of parallel tracks extending across the tape non-parallel to its longitudinal centerline, which non-periodic movement alters track-crossing behavior of the transducer only during shuttling to increase the diversity of data sample input points which are updated in a video image field and to, thereby, provide a relatively uniform display of video information during shuttling, comprising: (a) a transducer mounted to read magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape; (b) means to control relative movement between the transducer and the videotape; and (c) signal generating means and switch means that couple the signal generating means to the means to control relative movement between the transducer and the videotape only during shuttling to provide signals that cause relative movement between the transducer and the videotape sufficient to cause the transducer to cross the tracks of magnetic information generally non-periodically to increase the diveristy of data sample input points which are updated in a video image field and to, thereby, provide a relatively uniform display of video information during shuttling.

Claim 34

A system for providing non-periodic relative movement between a transducing read head and a videotape upon which image information has been magnetically recorded in an array of parallel tracks extending across the tape non-parallel to its longitudinal centerline, which non-periodic movement alters track-crossing behavior of the transducer only during shuttling to increase the diversity of data sample input points which are updated in a video image field and to, thereby, provide a relatively uniform display of video information during shuttling, comprising: (a) a transducer mounted to read magnetic tracks of information recorded upon a videotape at an angle to the centerline of the tape; (b) means to control relative movement between the transducer and the videotape; and (c) signal generating means and switch means that couple the signal generating means to the means to control relative movement between the transducer and the videotape only during shuttling to provide signals that cause relative movement between the transducer and the videotape sufficient to cause the transducer to cross the tracks of magnetic information generally non-periodically to increase the diveristy of data sample input points which are updated in a video image field and to, thereby, provide a relatively uniform display of video information during shuttling.