Rotary head type multichannel information signal reproducing apparatus having sub-information search function

Claim 1

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and in parallel with each other, each area having many helical slant tracks on each of which the main and additional information are recorded, said main information in one of said many helical tracks being larger in quantity than said additional information, comprising: (a) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace the plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (b) area designating means for designating one of said plurality of areas; (c) gate means arranged to gate a signal reproduced by said rotary head in response to said area designating means for outputting informations recorded on said one of said plurality of areas; (d) first process means for processing said main information gated by said gate means; (e) second process means for processing said additional information reproduced by said rotary head; and (f) manually operable means for changing over a plurality of operation modes of the apparatus, the plurality of modes including a first mode in which: said first process means outputs said main information recorded in the area designated by said area designating means, and said second process means only outputs said additional information recorded in the same area from which said main information is being outputted by said first process means; and a second mode in which: said second process means simultaneously outputs said additional information from at least two of said plurality of areas.

Claim 2

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and in parallel with each other, each area having many helical slant tracks on each of which the main and additional information are recorded, said main information in one of said many helical tracks being larger in quantity than said additional information, comprising: (a) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace the plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (b) area designating means for designating one of said plurality of areas; (c) gate means arranged to gate a signal reproduced by said rotary head in response to said area designating means for outputting informations recorded on said one of said plurality of areas; (d) first process means for processing said main information gated by said gate means; (e) second process means for processing said additional information reproduced by said rotary head; and (f) manually operable means for changing over a plurality of operation modes of the apparatus, the plurality of modes including a first mode in which: said first process means outputs said main information recorded in the area designated by said area designating means, and said second process means only outputs said additional information recorded in the same area from which said main information is being outputted by said first process means; and a second mode in which: said second process means simultaneously outputs said additional information from at least two of said plurality of areas.

Claim 11

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and in parallel with each other, each area having may helical slant tracks on each of which said main and additional information are recorded, comprising: (a) moving means for moving said tape-shaped record bearing medium in a longitudinal direction thereof; (b) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace said plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (c) first process means for processing said main information reproduced from one of said plurality of areas reproduced by said rotary head; (d) second process means arranged to be able to simultaneously process information reproduced from at least two of said plurality of areas by said rotary head; (e) generating means for generating a tracking error signal which indicates a tracking error of said rotary head to the tracks of one of said plurality of areas; (f) control means for controlling the medium moving action of said moving means; and (g) manually operable means for changing over a plurality of operation modes of said apparatus, the plurality of modes including a first mode in which said first process means outputs said main information recorded in one of said plurality of areas, said moving means moves said tape-shaped record bearing medium at a first speed; and, said control means controls said moving means by using said tracking error signal; and a second mode in which said second process means simultaneously outputs said additional information recorded in all of said plurality of areas, said moving means moves said tape-shaped record bearing medium at a second speed being different from said first speed, and said control means controls said moving means without using said tracking error signal.

Claim 12

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and in parallel with each other, each area having may helical slant tracks on each of which said main and additional information are recorded, comprising: (a) moving means for moving said tape-shaped record bearing medium in a longitudinal direction thereof; (b) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace said plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (c) first process means for processing said main information reproduced from one of said plurality of areas reproduced by said rotary head; (d) second process means arranged to be able to simultaneously process information reproduced from at least two of said plurality of areas by said rotary head; (e) generating means for generating a tracking error signal which indicates a tracking error of said rotary head to the tracks of one of said plurality of areas; (f) control means for controlling the medium moving action of said moving means; and (g) manually operable means for changing over a plurality of operation modes of said apparatus, the plurality of modes including a first mode in which said first process means outputs said main information recorded in one of said plurality of areas, said moving means moves said tape-shaped record bearing medium at a first speed; and, said control means controls said moving means by using said tracking error signal; and a second mode in which said second process means simultaneously outputs said additional information recorded in all of said plurality of areas, said moving means moves said tape-shaped record bearing medium at a second speed being different from said first speed, and said control means controls said moving means without using said tracking error signal.

Claim 15

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and being in parallel with each other, each area having many helical slant tracks on each of which main and additional information are recorded, said main information in one of said many helical tracks being larger in quantity than said additional information, comprising: (a) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace the plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (b) are designating means for designating one of said plurality of areas; (c) gate means arranged to gate a signal reproduced by said rotary head in response to said area designating means for outputting informations recorded on said one of said plurality of areas; (d) first process means for processing said main information gated by said gate means, said first process means being arranged to output said main information recorded on the area designated by said designating means; and (e) second process means for processing said additional information reproduced by said rotary head, said second process means being able to simultaneously output said additional information recorded on at least two of said plurality of areas.

Claim 16

An apparatus for reproducing main information and additional information from a tape-shaped record bearing medium which has a plurality of areas extending longitudinally and being in parallel with each other, each area having many helical slant tracks on each of which main and additional information are recorded, said main information in one of said many helical tracks being larger in quantity than said additional information, comprising: (a) a rotary head arranged to transversely trace the plurality of areas provided on said tape-shaped record bearing medium; (b) are designating means for designating one of said plurality of areas; (c) gate means arranged to gate a signal reproduced by said rotary head in response to said area designating means for outputting informations recorded on said one of said plurality of areas; (d) first process means for processing said main information gated by said gate means, said first process means being arranged to output said main information recorded on the area designated by said designating means; and (e) second process means for processing said additional information reproduced by said rotary head, said second process means being able to simultaneously output said additional information recorded on at least two of said plurality of areas.