Data recording apparatus having sub-code recording function

Claim 2

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) a cylinder member provided with a rotary head; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof, said tape-shaped recording medium being wrapped round said cylinder member; c) means for generating main data related to main information; d) means for generating sub-code data related to sub-information which is other than said main information; and e) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which said main data is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium; and a second recording mode in which said sub-code data is repeatedly recorded a plurality of times in each of many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a second area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sub-code data includes address data indicative of positions in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sub-code data includes track number data indicative of track numbers of tracks formed on said second area.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said track number data includes data indicative of the track number between tracks corresponding in common to the address data.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport means is arranged to transport said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed in said first recording mode and at a second speed in said second recording mode, said second speed being faster than said first speed.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a third recording mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium in a direction reverse to a transporting direction of said first recording mode at a third speed which is faster than said first speed; and said sub-code data is repeatedly recorded a plurality of times in each of many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a third area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first and second areas.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a search mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a fourth speed which is faster than said second speed; and said rotary head reproduces at least a part of said sub-code data from said second area.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: designating means for designating a desired address in response to a manual operation; and detection means for detecting that an address searched in said search mode coincides with the desired address designated by said designating means, said mode changeover means being arranged to cancel said search mode in accordance with an output of said detection means.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a reproduction mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at said first speed; and said rotary head reproduces said main data from said first area and reproduces at least a part of said sub-code data from said second area.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: detection means for detecting that said sub-code data reproduced from said second area in said reproduction mode has changed, said mode changeover means being arranged to cancel said reproduction mode in accordance with an output of said detection means.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said main data is recorded in said first recording mode by using a first clock signal, and said sub-code data is recorded in said second recording mode by using a second clock signal having a frequency set to have the same wave length as said first clock signal on said recording medium.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport means is arranged to transport said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed in said first recording mode, and said plurality of modes further includes a search mode in which said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed and said rotary head reproduces at least a part of said sub-code data from said second area.

Claim 14

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) a cylinder member provided with a rotary head; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof, said tape-shaped recording medium being wrapped round said cylinder member; c) clock signal generating means for generating a master clock signal for determining a frequency of generating digital data; and d) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed, and first digital data formed on the basis of a first clock signal generated by said clock signal generating means is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium; and a second recording mode in which said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed, and second digital data formed on the basis of a second clock signal generated by said clock signal generating means and having a frequency set to have the same wave length as said first clock signal on said recording medium is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a second area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area.

Claim 15

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) a cylinder member provided with a rotary head; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof, said tape-shaped recording medium being wrapped round said cylinder member; c) clock signal generating means for generating a master clock signal for determining a frequency of generating digital data; and d) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed, and first digital data formed on the basis of a first clock signal generated by said clock signal generating means is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium; and a second recording mode in which said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed, and second digital data formed on the basis of a second clock signal generated by said clock signal generating means and having a frequency set to have the same wave length as said first clock signal on said recording medium is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a second area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first digital data includes main data related to main information, and said second digital data includes sub-code data related to sub-information other than said main information.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes includes a third recording mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium in a direction reverse to a transporting direction of said first recording mode at a third speed which is faster than said first speed; and third digital data is recorded in many parallel tracks formed by said rotary head at a third area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first and second areas, said third digital data being formed on the basis of a third clock signal generated by said clock signal generating means and having a frequency set to have the same wave length as said first clock signal on said tape-shaped recording medium.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first digital data includes main data related to main information, and said second and third digital data include sub-code data related to sub-information other than said main information.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a fourth mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a fourth speed which is faster than said second speed; and said rotary head reproduces at least a part of said second digital data from said second area.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a reproduction mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at said first speed; and said rotary head reproduces said first digital data from said first area and reproduces at least a part of said second digital data from said second area.

Claim 21

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) a rotary head; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which main data related to main information is recorded by said rotary head in a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which sub-code data related to sub-information is recorded by said rotary head in a second area extending in a lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.

Claim 22

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) a rotary head; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which main data related to main information is recorded by said rotary head in a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which sub-code data related to sub-information is recorded by said rotary head in a second area extending in a lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a third recording mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium in a direction reverse to a transporting direction of said first recording mode at a third speed which is faster than said first speed; and said sub-code data is repeatedly recorded by said rotary head at a third area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first and second areas.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of modes further includes a search mode in which: said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a fourth speed which is faster than said second speed; and said rotary head reproduces at least a part of said sub-code data from said second area.

Claim 25

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) head means; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which main data related to main information is recorded by said head means, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which sub-code data related to sub-information is recorded by said head means, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.

Claim 26

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) head means; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in the lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changeover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which main data related to main information is recorded by said head means, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which sub-code data related to sub-information is recorded by said head means, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.

Claim 27

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) head means; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in a lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which first data is recorded by said head means in a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium; and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which second data is recorded by said head means in a second area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.

Claim 28

A data recording apparatus comprising: a) head means; b) transport means for transporting a tape-shaped recording medium in a lengthwise direction thereof; and c) mode changover means for changing over said apparatus between a plurality of modes thereof, said plurality of modes including: a first recording mode in which first data is recorded by said head means in a first area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium; and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed; and a second recording mode in which second data is recorded by said head means in a second area extending in the lengthwise direction of said tape-shaped recording medium and in parallel to said first area, and said transport means transports said tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed which is faster than said first speed.