Patent US5053898A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5053898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Recording and/or reproducing apparatus, particularly with means for searching for vacant tracks
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1990-10-22
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2010-10-22
Abstract
Abstract In the disclosed recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a switch detects whether the recording medium is mounted on the apparatus and a signal detecting head detects whether a signal is recorded on each of the recording tracks of the medium. In response to the switch detecting that the medium is mounted on the apparatus, a control circuit causes the signal detecting head sequentially to scan the recording tracks on the recording medium one after another. A memory stores the output of the signal detecting head during the sequential scanning operation so that a vacant track search operation can be accomplished within a short period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiji Hashimoto
- 👤 Tokihiko Ogura
- 👤 Kuniji Osabe
- 👤 Akimasa Nishimura
- 👤 Makoto Takayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/21; H04N1/2104; H04N1/2112; H04N1/2129; G; G11; G11B; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/10; G11B19/12; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; G11B27/36; G11B33/00; G11B33/10; H04N2101/00; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/21; H04N2201/214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; and (f) means for causing said recording and/or reproducing means to access to a position which is detected as a position absent of signal, on the basis of an information memorized in said memory means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; and (f) means for causing said recording and/or reproducing means to access to a position which is detected as a position absent of signal, on the basis of an information memorized in said memory means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal detection means includes means for detecting signals of a predetermined frequency band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said signal detection means includes detecting means for detecting signals of the predetermined frequency band and comparison means for comparing an output level of said detecting means with a prescribed reference level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising count means for counting detection signals produced by said signal detection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, further including warning means for displaying a warning when a count value of said count means reach a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, said recording and/or reproducing means including a head arranged to record or reproduce signals on or from the predetermined portions on said recording medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means shifts said head on the basis of the detection signals stored by said memory means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said signal detection means detects the presence or absence of a signal in each predetermined portion on said recording medium through an output of said head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; (f) count means for counting detection signals produced by said signal detection means; and (g) ejection means for ejecting said recording medium from said recordable position when a count value of the count means does not reach a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; (f) count means for counting detection signals produced by said signal detection means; and (g) ejection means for ejecting said recording medium from said recordable position when a count value of the count means does not reach a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordal position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detecting means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means after accessing said signal detection means to a predetermined portion on said recording medium; and (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in predetermined sequence; said control means causing said recording means to access a predetermined portion that is absent of the signal on the basis of the detection signals stored by said memory means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordal position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detecting means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means after accessing said signal detection means to a predetermined portion on said recording medium; and (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in predetermined sequence; said control means causing said recording means to access a predetermined portion that is absent of the signal on the basis of the detection signals stored by said memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
193 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence of absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means after accessing said signal detection means to a predetermined portion on said recording medium; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; said control means being arranged to perform a control operation to sequentially position said recording means opposite a plurality of predetermined portions having no signal recorded therein as yet, said recording means being positioned opposite said plurality of predetermined portions in a predetermined sequence on the basis of the detection signals stored by said memory means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
193 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence of absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means after accessing said signal detection means to a predetermined portion on said recording medium; (e) memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means in said predetermined sequence; said control means being arranged to perform a control operation to sequentially position said recording means opposite a plurality of predetermined portions having no signal recorded therein as yet, said recording means being positioned opposite said plurality of predetermined portions in a predetermined sequence on the basis of the detection signals stored by said memory means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence of absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in a predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) count means for counting the detection signals produced by said signal detection means; (f) warning means for displaying a warning when a count value of said count means does not reach a predetermined value; and (g) ejection means for ejecting said recording medium from said recordable position when said count value of the count means does not reach said predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence of absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in a predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; (e) count means for counting the detection signals produced by said signal detection means; (f) warning means for displaying a warning when a count value of said count means does not reach a predetermined value; and (g) ejection means for ejecting said recording medium from said recordable position when said count value of the count means does not reach said predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in a predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; and (e) count means for counting the detection signals produced by said signal detection means; said control means causing said recording means to access a predetermined portion that is absent of the signal on the basis of the detection signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
150 words
A recording apparatus comprising: (a) mounting detection means for detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a recordable position and for producing an output signal; (b) recording means for recording a signal on said recording medium at the recordable position; (c) signal detection means for detecting presence or absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions on said recording medium; (d) control means for causing said signal detection means to detect the presence or absence of the signal in each of the predetermined portions on said recording medium in a predetermined sequence in response to the output of said mounting detection means; and (e) count means for counting the detection signals produced by said signal detection means; said control means causing said recording means to access a predetermined portion that is absent of the signal on the basis of the detection signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said signal detection means detects a presence or an absence of a predetermined frequency band in the signal in each of said predetermined portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said signal detection means includes detecting means for detecting signals of the predetermined frequency band and comparison means for comparing an output level of said detecting means with a predetermined reference level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 13, further including warning means for displaying a warning when the count value of said count means does not reach a predetermined value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means performs a control operation to sequentially position said recording means opposite a plurality of predetermined positions having no signal recording therein as yet, said recording means being positioned opposite said plurality of predetermined positions in a prescribed sequence.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said signal detection means detects a presence or an absence of a signal in each predetermined portion on said recording medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A recording apparatus according to claim 13, further including memory means for storing detection signals produced by said signal detection means at corresponding addresses in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for detecting information recording tracks of a recording apparatus comprising: (a) a step of detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a predetermined recordable position; (b) a step of accessing signal detection means to recording tracks on said recording medium; (c) a step of causing said signal detection means to sequentially determine from the recording tracks accessed by said signal detection means whether or not a signal is recorded in each of said recording tracks and to produce an indicating signal for each said determination, wherein said step includes controlling said accessing to shift said detecting means to each of said recording tracks to produce each said indicating signal; (d) a step of storing, one after another, the results of said determinations, obtained during the process of the sequential determining step, into memory means; and (f) a step of deciding a recording track to be recorded on as a track which has no signal recorded thereon, on the basis of that which is stored in said storing step.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for detecting information recording tracks of a recording apparatus comprising: (a) a step of detecting that a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a predetermined recordable position; (b) a step of accessing signal detection means to recording tracks on said recording medium; (c) a step of causing said signal detection means to sequentially determine from the recording tracks accessed by said signal detection means whether or not a signal is recorded in each of said recording tracks and to produce an indicating signal for each said determination, wherein said step includes controlling said accessing to shift said detecting means to each of said recording tracks to produce each said indicating signal; (d) a step of storing, one after another, the results of said determinations, obtained during the process of the sequential determining step, into memory means; and (f) a step of deciding a recording track to be recorded on as a track which has no signal recorded thereon, on the basis of that which is stored in said storing step.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 20, further including: (e) a head position controlling step at which the position of a recording head is controlled on the basis of the results of said determination stored at said storing step.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for detecting information on recording tracks of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) a step of producing an indicating signal that indicates a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a predetermined recordable position; (b) a step of accessing with signal detection means to predetermined recording tracks on said recording medium; (c) a step of sequentially determining, from said predetermined recording tracks accessed by said signal detection means in response to said indicating signal producing step, whether or not a signal is recorded in each of the predetermined recording tracks on said recording medium; and (d) a step of counting and visibly indicating the results of a determination obtained through the process of said determining step.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for detecting information on recording tracks of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising: (a) a step of producing an indicating signal that indicates a recording medium is mounted on the apparatus in a predetermined recordable position; (b) a step of accessing with signal detection means to predetermined recording tracks on said recording medium; (c) a step of sequentially determining, from said predetermined recording tracks accessed by said signal detection means in response to said indicating signal producing step, whether or not a signal is recorded in each of the predetermined recording tracks on said recording medium; and (d) a step of counting and visibly indicating the results of a determination obtained through the process of said determining step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
116 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) electrical memory means for memorizing information concerning a recorded area and an unrecorded area on a recording medium; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for controlling the recording and/or reproducing on the recording medium in accordance with contents of said memory means; (c) position changing means for changing a position of said recording medium between a position where recording and/or reproducing of a signal is possible and a position where the recording and/or reproducing of the signal is impossible; (d) indication means for indicating the change of the position of said recording medium by said position changing means; and (e) control means for renewing the contents of said memory means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
116 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: (a) electrical memory means for memorizing information concerning a recorded area and an unrecorded area on a recording medium; (b) recording and/or reproducing means for controlling the recording and/or reproducing on the recording medium in accordance with contents of said memory means; (c) position changing means for changing a position of said recording medium between a position where recording and/or reproducing of a signal is possible and a position where the recording and/or reproducing of the signal is impossible; (d) indication means for indicating the change of the position of said recording medium by said position changing means; and (e) control means for renewing the contents of said memory means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said position changing means includes means for changing the position of the recording medium between a position mounted on said recording and/or reproducing apparatus and a position ejected from said apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said control means includes detection means for detecting a recorded area and an unrecorded area on the recording medium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said detecting means detects an information reproduced from the recording medium by said recording and/or reproducing means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transducing apparatus for transducing a signal from or to a medium, comprising: (a) first means for detecting that said medium is mounted on said apparatus in a transducable position and for producing an output signal; (b) second means for transducing a signal from or to a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium; (c) third means for detecting a presence or an absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions in response to said output signal; (d) fourth means for memorizing a result of detection of said plurality of predetermined portions detected by said third means; and (e) fifth means for causing said second means to access a portion which is memorized by said fourth means as being absent of said signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transducing apparatus for transducing a signal from or to a medium, comprising: (a) first means for detecting that said medium is mounted on said apparatus in a transducable position and for producing an output signal; (b) second means for transducing a signal from or to a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium; (c) third means for detecting a presence or an absence of a signal in each of a plurality of predetermined portions in response to said output signal; (d) fourth means for memorizing a result of detection of said plurality of predetermined portions detected by said third means; and (e) fifth means for causing said second means to access a portion which is memorized by said fourth means as being absent of said signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said first means includes a switch whose condition changes from a first state to a second state in response to said medium being mounted on said apparatus in said transducable position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said second means includes a transducing head which moves on said medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said third means includes: means for detecting that the signal transduced by said second means is larger than a predetermined level.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said fourth means memorizes a presence or an absence of the signals at said plurality of predetermined portions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
117 words
A transducing apparatus for transducing a signal from or to medium, comprising: (a) first means for detecting that said medium is mounted on said apparatus in a transducable position and for producing an output signal; (b) second means for transducing a signal from or to a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium; (c) third means for detecting a presence or an absence of a signal at each of a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium in response to said output signal and for memorizing each result of said detecting; and (d) fourth means for causing said second means to access a portion which is memorized by said third means as being absent of said signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
117 words
A transducing apparatus for transducing a signal from or to medium, comprising: (a) first means for detecting that said medium is mounted on said apparatus in a transducable position and for producing an output signal; (b) second means for transducing a signal from or to a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium; (c) third means for detecting a presence or an absence of a signal at each of a plurality of predetermined portions of said medium in response to said output signal and for memorizing each result of said detecting; and (d) fourth means for causing said second means to access a portion which is memorized by said third means as being absent of said signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said first means includes a switch whose condition changes from a first state to a second state in response to said medium being mounted on said apparatus in said transducable position.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said second means includes a transducing head which moves on said medium.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said medium is disc-shaped.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said transducing head is movable in a radial direction of said disc-shaped medium.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said fourth means causes said second means to access to said plurality of predetermined portions after absence or presence of the signals in the plurality of predetermined portions is memorized by said third means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said plurality of predetermined portions are provided in a predetermined number and said third means has at least a memory capacity as much as said predetermined number.
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