Record and reproduce signal processing circuit that is programmable according to the head drum configuration of the digital audio tape recorder in which it is used

Claim 2

In a digital signal recording apparatus of the type which converts a digital signal to a record signal, and then provides the record signal at a predetermined timing and transmission speed to magnetic heads mounted in a known arrangement on a rotary drum of a known diameter to record the digital signal on a magnetic tape wrapped around the rotary drum at a known wrap angle, a digital circuit for processing the record signal, the circuit comprising: memory means for storing control data representative of the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape around the rotary drum, and the arrangement of the magnetic heads on the rotary drum; and means connected to the memory means and responsive to the control data stored in the memory means for switching the transmission speed and timing of the record signal in response to the control data.

Claim 3

A digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit for use in a digital audio tape recorder/reproducer that records a digital input signal on a magnetic tape, and reproduces a digital output signal from a recorded magnetic tape, the recorder/reproducer including a rotary drum of a known diameter around which the tape is wrapped at a known wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with a known angular spacing, the digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit comprising: (a) a digital memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads; (b) a digital signal input/output circuit means, connected to the digital memory means and supplied with the control data D CONT , for (1) during recording, (i) receiving the digital input signal, (ii) dividing the digital input signal into blocks of recording data, and (iii) storing the blocks of recording data in the digital memory means, and, (2) during reproduction of a recorded magnetic tape, (i) receiving reproduced digital data from the digital memory means, and (ii) providing the digital output signal from the blocks of reproduced digital data; (c) a record signal generating circuit means, connected to the digital memory means and supplied with the control data D CONT , for, during recording, (1) receiving the blocks of recording data from the digital memory means, (2) modulating the blocks of recording data, and (3) providing the modulated blocks of recording data as a record signal S REC at a timing determined by the control data D CONT , whereby the digital input signal is recorded on the magnetic tape in a predetermined record format.

Claim 4

A digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit for use in a digital audio tape recorder/reproducer that records a digital input signal on a magnetic tape, and reproduces a digital output signal from a recorded magnetic tape, the recorder/reproducer including a rotary drum of a known diameter around which the tape is wrapped at a known wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with a known angular spacing, the digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit comprising: (a) a digital memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads; (b) a digital signal input/output circuit means, connected to the digital memory means and supplied with the control data D CONT , for (1) during recording, (i) receiving the digital input signal, (ii) dividing the digital input signal into blocks of recording data, and (iii) storing the blocks of recording data in the digital memory means, and, (2) during reproduction of a recorded magnetic tape, (i) receiving reproduced digital data from the digital memory means, and (ii) providing the digital output signal from the blocks of reproduced digital data; (c) a record signal generating circuit means, connected to the digital memory means and supplied with the control data D CONT , for, during recording, (1) receiving the blocks of recording data from the digital memory means, (2) modulating the blocks of recording data, and (3) providing the modulated blocks of recording data as a record signal S REC at a timing determined by the control data D CONT , whereby the digital input signal is recorded on the magnetic tape in a predetermined record format.

Claim 5

A digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit, as recited in claim 2, wherein the control data D CONT additionally includes a status byte, a recorded magnetic tape includes subcode data, the subcode data including the status byte portion of the control data D CONT , during reproduction of a recorded magnetic tape, the magnetic heads generate a reproduced signal S RF , and the circuit further comprises: a reproduced signal processing circuit means, connected to the digital memory means and supplied with the control data D CONT , for receiving and demodulating the reproduced signal S RF in response to the control data D CONT , extracting the status byte from subcode data in the reproduced signal S RF , and storing the status byte in the digital memory means as part of the control data D CONT .

Claim 6

A digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit, as recited in claim 2, wherein the circuit further comprises an operator controllable means for changing the control data D CONT stored in the digital memory means, and the timing and the transmission speed of the record signal S REC is switched in response to the control data D CONT , whereby if the rotating drum, the wrap angle, or the angular spacing of the magnetic heads is changed, the record signal S REC can be made appropriate for the changed rotating drum, wrap angle, or angular spacing of the heads by changing the control data D CONT , which enables the digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit to be used in digital audio tape recorder/reproducers having different rotating drum diameters, wrap angles, or angular spacing of the magnetic heads.

Claim 7

A digital record/reproduce signal processing circuit, as recited in claim 2, wherein the control data D CONT includes data representing the operational mode of the digital audio tape recorder/reproducer.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of providing the record signal to the magnetic heads includes reading from a digital memory the information on the diameter of the rotary drum, the information on the wrap angle of the magnetic tape wound around the rotary drum, and the information on the arrangement of the magnetic heads on the rotary drum.

Claim 11

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of providing the record signal to the magnetic heads includes: reproducing subcode data recorded on the magnetic tape; and extracting from the subcode data the information on the diameter of the rotary drum, the information on the wrap angle of the magnetic tape wound around the rotary drum, and the information on the arrangement of the magnetic heads on the rotary drum.

Claim 12

A digital information signal processing circuit for use in a plurality of types of digital audio tape recorder, all of the types of recorder recording a digital input signal on a magnetic tape in a standard track format and including a rotary drum around which the magnetic tape is wrapped at a wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with an angular spacing between them, the types of recorder differing in the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads, the digital information signal processing circuit comprising: memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used; means for converting the digital input signal into a record signal; means for providing the record signal to the magnetic heads, the record signal having a transmission speed and a timing; means for switching the transmission speed and timing of the record signal in response to the control data D CONT , whereby the digital input signal is recorded on the magnetic tape in the standard track format, irrespective of the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used.

Claim 13

A digital information signal processing circuit for use in a plurality of types of digital audio tape recorder, all of the types of recorder recording a digital input signal on a magnetic tape in a standard track format and including a rotary drum around which the magnetic tape is wrapped at a wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with an angular spacing between them, the types of recorder differing in the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads, the digital information signal processing circuit comprising: memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used; means for converting the digital input signal into a record signal; means for providing the record signal to the magnetic heads, the record signal having a transmission speed and a timing; means for switching the transmission speed and timing of the record signal in response to the control data D CONT , whereby the digital input signal is recorded on the magnetic tape in the standard track format, irrespective of the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used.

Claim 14

The digital information signal processing circuit of claim 9, wherein the control data D CONT additionally includes a status byte, the status byte representing parameters relating to the recording, and the circuit additionally comprises means for adding the status byte to the record signal as subcode data.

Claim 15

The digital information signal processing circuit of claim 9, wherein the circuit is additionally for use in a plurality of types of digital audio tape recorder/reproducer, all of the types of recorder/reproducer additionally reproducing a digital output signal from a magnetic tape recorded in the standard track format, the digital information signal processing circuit comprising: means for deriving a reproduce signal from the magnetic heads, and means, responsive to the control data D CONT , for deriving the digital output signal from the reproduce signal.

Claim 16

The digital information signal processing circuit of claim 11, wherein the control data D CONT includes a status byte, the status byte representing parameters relating to the recording, and the circuit additionally comprises means for adding the status byte to the record signal as subcode data.

Claim 17

The digital information signal processing circuit of claim 12, wherein the means for deriving the digital output signal from the reproduce signal includes: means, connected to the memory means and receiving the control data D CONT , for receiving and demodulating the reproduced signal in response to the control data D CONT ; means for extracting the status byte from the subcode data in the demodulated reproduced signal; and means for storing the status byte in the memory means as part of the control data D CONT .

Claim 18

A digital information signal processing circuit for use in a plurality of types of digital audio tape reproducer, all of the types of reproducer reproducing a digital output signal from a magnetic tape recorded in a standard track format and including a rotary drum around which the magnetic tape is wrapped at a wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with an angular diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads, the digital information signal processing circuit comprising: memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used; means for deriving a reproduce signal from the magnetic heads; and means, responsive to the control data D CONT , for deriving the digital output signal from the reproduce signal by switching the timing of the reproduce signal, whereby the tape information is reproduced irrespective of the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio type recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used.

Claim 19

A digital information signal processing circuit for use in a plurality of types of digital audio tape reproducer, all of the types of reproducer reproducing a digital output signal from a magnetic tape recorded in a standard track format and including a rotary drum around which the magnetic tape is wrapped at a wrap angle, and a pair of magnetic heads mounted on the rotary drum with an angular diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads, the digital information signal processing circuit comprising: memory means for storing data, including control data D CONT representing the diameter of the rotary drum, the wrap angle of the magnetic tape, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio tape recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used; means for deriving a reproduce signal from the magnetic heads; and means, responsive to the control data D CONT , for deriving the digital output signal from the reproduce signal by switching the timing of the reproduce signal, whereby the tape information is reproduced irrespective of the diameter of the rotating drum, the wrap angle, and the angular spacing of the magnetic heads of the type of digital audio type recorder in which the digital information signal processing circuit is used.

Claim 20

The digital information signal processing circuit of claim 14, wherein the means for deriving the digital output signal from the reproduce signal includes: means, connected to the memory means and receiving the control data D CONT , for receiving and demodulating the reproduced signal in response to the control data D CONT , means for extracting a status byte from subcode data in the demodulated reproduced signal; and means for storing the status byte in the memory means as part of the control data D CONT .