Magnetic recording apparatus with capability of recording signals of a plurality of different television systems

Claim 2

A magnetic recording apparatus of the rotary head helical scan type which can selectively record input information signals of a plurality of signal formats, comprising: input signal kind discriminating means having at least two kinds of input terminals for an HD signal and an NTSC signal; a recording signal processing circuit; a servo circuit; control means for generating control output signals to set at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit into a predetermined mode on the basis of the result of the discrimination of the input signal kind discriminating means and a recording mode command, and for controlling at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit; and means for displaying a present recording mode on the basis of a control output signal which is generated from the control means; wherein the control means generates a control output signal so as to make only recording modes of a preset combination of at least a kind of input signal and a recording mode effective in correspondence to an output of the input signal kind discriminating means and the recording mode command; and wherein when an initial setting state of the magnetic recording apparatus is selected, the control means generates a control output signal for setting a recording mode of the magnetic recording apparatus to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes of preset available combinations of at least a kind of input signal and a recording mode ranked in an order of priority from a most optimum recording mode having a highest priority to a least optimum recording mode having a lowest priority, wherein a process of selecting a recording mode begins with the most optimum recording mode having the highest priority among the plurality of recording modes.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where only either one of the HD signal and the NTSC signal is supplied, the input signal kind discriminating means having the two kinds of input terminals for the HD signal and the NTSC signal determines that the input signal is an input signal to be recorded.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where both of the HD signal and the NTSC signal are supplied, the input signal kind discriminating means a having the two kinds of input terminals for the HD signal and the NTSC signal enables a user to select the input signal to be recorded.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the input signal kind discriminating means discriminates the NTSC signal and the discriminated NTSC signal is recorded onto a magnetic tape for the HD signal, the control means generates a control output signal for setting a recording mode such that the NTSC signal is up-converted into a pseudo HD signal and recorded.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input signal kind discriminating means discriminates the kind of input signal based on a shape or a frequency of a sync signal in the input signal.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for recording information indicative of an aspect ratio of a kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal kind discriminating means.

Claim 8

A magnetic recording apparatus of the rotary head helical scan type which can selectively record input information signals of a plurality of signal formats to a plurality of kinds of cassettes, comprising: input signal kind discriminating means having at least two kinds of input terminals for an HD signal and an NTSC signal; cassette kind discriminating means; a recording signal processing circuit; a servo circuit; control means for generating control output signals so as to set at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit into a predetermined mode on the basis of the result of the discrimination of the input signal kind discriminating means, the result of the discrimination of the cassette kind discriminating means, and a recording mode command, and for controlling at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit; and means for displaying a present recording state on the basis of a control output signal which is generated from the control means; wherein in correspondence to an output of the input signal kind discriminating means and the recording mode command, the control means generates a control output signal such as to make only the recording modes of a preset combination of at least a kind of input signal, a kind of cassette, and a recording mode effective; and wherein when an initial setting state of the magnetic recording apparatus is selected, the control means generates a control output signal for setting a recording mode of the magnetic recording apparatus to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes of preset available combinations of at least a kind of input signal, a kind of cassette, and a recording mode ranked in an order of priority from a most optimum recording mode having a highest priority to a least optimum recording mode having a lowest priority, wherein a process of selecting a recording mode begins with the most optimum recording mode having the highest priority among the plurality of recording modes.

Claim 9

A magnetic recording apparatus of the rotary head helical scan type which can selectively record input information signals of a plurality of signal formats to a plurality of kinds of cassettes, comprising: input signal kind discriminating means having at least two kinds of input terminals for an HD signal and an NTSC signal; cassette kind discriminating means; a recording signal processing circuit; a servo circuit; control means for generating control output signals so as to set at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit into a predetermined mode on the basis of the result of the discrimination of the input signal kind discriminating means, the result of the discrimination of the cassette kind discriminating means, and a recording mode command, and for controlling at least the recording signal processing circuit and the servo circuit; and means for displaying a present recording state on the basis of a control output signal which is generated from the control means; wherein in correspondence to an output of the input signal kind discriminating means and the recording mode command, the control means generates a control output signal such as to make only the recording modes of a preset combination of at least a kind of input signal, a kind of cassette, and a recording mode effective; and wherein when an initial setting state of the magnetic recording apparatus is selected, the control means generates a control output signal for setting a recording mode of the magnetic recording apparatus to a recording mode selected from a plurality of recording modes of preset available combinations of at least a kind of input signal, a kind of cassette, and a recording mode ranked in an order of priority from a most optimum recording mode having a highest priority to a least optimum recording mode having a lowest priority, wherein a process of selecting a recording mode begins with the most optimum recording mode having the highest priority among the plurality of recording modes.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the case where only either one of the HD signal and the NTSC signal is supplied, the input signal kind discriminating means having the two kinds of input terminals for the HD signal and the NTSC signal determines that the input signal is an input signal to be recorded.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the case where both of the HD signal and the NTSC signal are supplied, the input signal kind discriminating means having the two kinds of input terminals for the HD signal and the NTSC signal enables a user to select the input signal to be recorded.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in the case where the input signal kind discriminating means discriminates the NTSC signal and the cassette kind discriminating means discriminates an HD cassette and the discriminated NTSC signal is recorded onto a magnetic tape for the HD signal, the control means generates a control output signal for setting a recording mode such that the NTSC signal is up-converted into a pseudo HD signal and recorded.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cassette kind discriminating means discriminates the kind of cassette by a projection or a hole formed on/in the cassette.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cassette kind discriminating means discriminates the kind of cassette by a difference of magnetic characteristics of a magnetic tape in the cassette.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cassette kind discriminating means discriminates a difference between at least two kinds of cassettes having different shapes for HD and NTSC.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein intervals between reels in said two kinds of cassettes are equalized and a size of a cassette inserting window of the magnetic recording apparatus is set to a size large enough to insert the HD cassette.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a preventing pin corresponding to an insertion preventing mechanism provided for each of said two kinds of cassettes is commonly used for both of said cassettes.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the input signal kind discriminating means discriminates the kind of input signal based on a shape or a frequency of a sync signal in the input signal.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for recording information indicative of an aspect ratio of a kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal kind discriminating means.

Claim 20

A magnetic recording apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means for receiving a cassette selected from a plurality of kinds of cassettes including at least an NTSC cassette and an HDTV cassette, the cassette having a magnetic tape disposed therein; cassette discriminating means for discriminating a kind of the cassette received by the cassette receiving means; input means for receiving at least one input signal selected from a plurality of input signals including at least an NTSC signal and an HDTV signal; input signal discriminating means for discriminating a kind of the at least one input signal received by the input means; selecting means responsive to a first control signal for selecting one input signal from the at least one input signal received by the input means; processing means responsive to a second control signal for processing the one input signal selected by the selecting means to produce a recording signal having a selected recording format, the selected recording format being selected from a plurality of recording formats including at least an NTSC format and an HDTV format; rotary head helical scan recording means for recording the recording signal from the processing means on the magnetic tape in the cassette received by the cassette receiving means, the rotary head helical scan recording means including a servo circuit responsive to a third control signal for controlling the rotary head helical scan recording means to record the recording signal on the magnetic tape in the selected recording format; display means for displaying all presently available recording modes based on the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means and the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means, wherein a recording mode represents a combination of kind of cassette, kind of input signal, and recording format, and wherein the presently available recording modes are displayed ranked in an order of priority from a most optimum recording mode having a highest priority to a least optimum recording mode having a lowest priority; means for producing a recording mode command indicative of a recording mode selected by an operator; and control means for generating the first, second, and third control signals based on (1) the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means and the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means when there is only one available recording mode, and (2) the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means, the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means, and the recording mode command when there is more than one available recording mode.

Claim 21

A magnetic recording apparatus comprising: cassette receiving means for receiving a cassette selected from a plurality of kinds of cassettes including at least an NTSC cassette and an HDTV cassette, the cassette having a magnetic tape disposed therein; cassette discriminating means for discriminating a kind of the cassette received by the cassette receiving means; input means for receiving at least one input signal selected from a plurality of input signals including at least an NTSC signal and an HDTV signal; input signal discriminating means for discriminating a kind of the at least one input signal received by the input means; selecting means responsive to a first control signal for selecting one input signal from the at least one input signal received by the input means; processing means responsive to a second control signal for processing the one input signal selected by the selecting means to produce a recording signal having a selected recording format, the selected recording format being selected from a plurality of recording formats including at least an NTSC format and an HDTV format; rotary head helical scan recording means for recording the recording signal from the processing means on the magnetic tape in the cassette received by the cassette receiving means, the rotary head helical scan recording means including a servo circuit responsive to a third control signal for controlling the rotary head helical scan recording means to record the recording signal on the magnetic tape in the selected recording format; display means for displaying all presently available recording modes based on the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means and the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means, wherein a recording mode represents a combination of kind of cassette, kind of input signal, and recording format, and wherein the presently available recording modes are displayed ranked in an order of priority from a most optimum recording mode having a highest priority to a least optimum recording mode having a lowest priority; means for producing a recording mode command indicative of a recording mode selected by an operator; and control means for generating the first, second, and third control signals based on (1) the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means and the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means when there is only one available recording mode, and (2) the kind of cassette discriminated by the cassette discriminating means, the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means, and the recording mode command when there is more than one available recording mode.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means for recording information indicative of an aspect ratio of the kind of input signal discriminated by the input signal discriminating means on the magnetic tape in the cassette received by the cassette receiving means.