Method and apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels to determine optimum recording characteristics

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said recording signal is recorded with different recording levels in different tracks on said record medium.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said location signals are recorded in the same tracks as said signals of different recording current levels.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said tracks are slant tracks and said record medium is a magnetic tape.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said location signals are time code signals.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 wherein the recording signal is a standard reference signal.

Claim 8

The method of claim 3 wherein the recording signal is a reference video signal.

Claim 9

The method of claim 3 wherein location signals are supplied to said recording amplifier for recording on record medium.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of changing the recording current level comprises monotonically changing said recording current level as said recording signal is recorded in successive tracks.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 wherein recording amplifier has a controllable gain and the step of monotonically changing said recording current level comprises changing the gain of said recording amplifier.

Claim 12

The method of claim 10 wherein said location signals are time code signals and said step of generating location signals comprises generating time code signals which change from track to track; and wherein the gain of said recording amplifier is changed with a respective change in said time code signals.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 wherein said different locations are different tracks and said step of changing the recording current level of the reference signal comprises changing said recording current level as reference signal is recorded in different tracks.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein said location signals are time code signals.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein said location signals are track address signals.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 wherein said step of changing said recording current level further comprises monotonically changing said recording current level as said reference signal is recorded in successive tracks.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 wherein said recording amplifier has a controllable gain and said step of monotonically changing said recording current level comprises changing the gain of said recording amplifier.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13 wherein said location signals are recorded in the same tracks as said reference signal.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13 wherein said tracks are slant tracks and said location signals are supplied to said, recording amplifier for recording in the same tracks as said reference signal.

Claim 22

The method of claim 13 wherein said reference signal is a predetermined video signal.

Claim 23

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of storing a current level indicating signal indicative of said determined recording current level.

Claim 24

The method of claim 21 wherein said step of storing comprises recording said current level indicating signal on said record medium for future read out to set the recording current level when signals are to be recorded on said record medium at a future time.

Claim 25

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of generating location signals comprises incrementing the location signal when the reference signal is recorded in a different location, and the step of changing the recording current level comprises incrementing said recording current level at a rate substantially equal to the rate at which said location signal is incremented.

Claim 26

Apparatus for determining an optimum recording parameter for recording signals on a record medium, comprising: controllable recording amplifier means for recording signals on said record medium with controllable gain; input means operable to supply a reference signal to said recording amplifier means; recording means for recording the reference signal amplified by said recording amplifier means in different locations on said record medium; gain control means for controlling the gain of said recording amplifier means to record the reference signal with different gain in respective, different locations; location signal means for recording on said record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different gain; reproducing means for reproducing from said record medium the reference signal recorded in different locations with different gain and the location signals; storage means for storing the reproduced reference and location signals; and control means for detecting the stored reference signal having the largest signal level, for identifying the location signal which represents the location on the record medium at which the reference signal having the largest signal level is recorded, and for determining the gain of said recording amplifier means which resulted in said reference signal having the largest signal level.

Claim 27

Apparatus for determining an optimum recording parameter for recording signals on a record medium, comprising: controllable recording amplifier means for recording signals on said record medium with controllable gain; input means operable to supply a reference signal to said recording amplifier means; recording means for recording the reference signal amplified by said recording amplifier means in different locations on said record medium; gain control means for controlling the gain of said recording amplifier means to record the reference signal with different gain in respective, different locations; location signal means for recording on said record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different gain; reproducing means for reproducing from said record medium the reference signal recorded in different locations with different gain and the location signals; storage means for storing the reproduced reference and location signals; and control means for detecting the stored reference signal having the largest signal level, for identifying the location signal which represents the location on the record medium at which the reference signal having the largest signal level is recorded, and for determining the gain of said recording amplifier means which resulted in said reference signal having the largest signal level.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said gain control means includes means for changing the gain of recording amplifier means and means for generating a changing location signal in synchronism with the change in gain of said recording amplifier means.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said means for changing the gain of said recording amplifier means is operative to increment said gain, and said means for generating a changing location signal is operative to increment said location signal concurrently with the incrementing of said gain.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said recording means operates to record said reference signal in different tracks on said record medium.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein location signal means includes location signal generating means for incrementing the location signal when reference signal is recorded on a different track; and said gain control means includes gain incrementing means for incrementing the gain of said recording amplifier means substantially concurrently with the incrementing of said location signal.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising means for coupling said location signal generating means to recording amplifier means for recording the location signal in the same track as the reference signal.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said location signal is a time code signal.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said location signal is a track address signal.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said tracks are slant tracks.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said reference signal is a predetermined video signal.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said gain control means includes means for limiting the different gain of recording amplifier means to a predetermined range of gain levels.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising memory means for storing the determined gain of said recording amplifier means which resulted in the reference signal having the largest signal level, and means for selectively reading out said stored gain to set the gain of recording amplifier means for future recording of signals.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising video input means for supplying a video signal to be recorded; and selecting means for selectively coupling the reference signal or the video signal to said recording amplifier means for recording.

Claim 40

Apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels on a record medium, comprising: input means operable to supply a reference signal for recording; recording means for recording the reference signal in different locations on said record medium with different recording current levels; current control means for controlling the recording current level of the reference signal recorded in respective, different locations on said, record medium; and location signal means for recording on record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different recording current levels.

Claim 41

Apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels on a record medium, comprising: input means operable to supply a reference signal for recording; recording means for recording the reference signal in different locations on said record medium with different recording current levels; current control means for controlling the recording current level of the reference signal recorded in respective, different locations on said, record medium; and location signal means for recording on record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different recording current levels.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein current control means includes means for changing the recording current level of the reference signal which is recorded and means for generating a changing location signal in synchronism with the change in said recording current level.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein means for changing the recording current level of the reference signal is operative to increment said recording current level, and said means for generating a changing location signal is operative to increment said location signal concurrently with the incrementing of said recording current level.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said recording means operates to record reference signal with different recording current levels in different tracks on record medium.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 40 wherein location signal means includes location signal generating means for incrementing the location signal when said reference signal is recorded on a different track; and said current control means includes means for incrementing the recording current level of the reference signal substantially concurrently with the incrementing of said location signal.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising means for coupling said location signal generating means to said recording means for recording the location signal in the same track as the reference signal.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said location signal is a time code signal.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein location signal is a track address signal.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein tracks are slant tracks.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein reference signal is a predetermined video signal.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein current control means includes means for limiting the different recording current level of the reference signal that is recorded in respective different locations on record medium to a predetermined range of levels.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising video input means for supplying a video signal to be recorded; and selecting means for selectively coupling the reference signal or the video signal to said recording means for recording.