Sony Corporation

Masaru Nagami

Yoshio Kishi

Kenji Hori

Hiromu Masaoka

Osami Niino

A first main information signal is recorded in a first track extending longitudinally along one side of a length of magnetic tape and a corresponding first secondary, or control, signal is recorded in a narrow parallel track spaced from the first main track. A second main signal is recorded in a third track within the other half of the tape, and a corresponding second secondary, or control, signal is recorded between the first secondary signal and the first main signal, whereby the two main signals and the two secondary signals are interleaved with each other. The first and second main tracks are equal in width, and the first and second secondary tracks are also equal in width but are much narrower than the first and second main tracks. If desired, the first and second main tracks can each be divided into first and second sub-main tracks to permit two channel recording with a control track in each direction but with each control, or secondary, track being separated from its own nearest subtrack by a distance equal to the width of the other secondary track plus two guardbands, one on each side of the other secondary track.

Method for recording information signal and control signal

A random access system for recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type used for recording information on and/or reproducing information from addressable portions of a record medium. The random access system is capable of recording address signals on the medium adjacent corresponding addressable portions and of playing back address signals from the medium so as to access any addressable portion thereof to reproduce information therefrom. The address signals are constituted by a variable number of address pulses plus a constant number of pulses. The random access system includes a counter for counting pulses which are applied thereto so as to derive a count corresponding to an address. A detector detects the constant number of pulses included in an address signal and supplies only the variable number of address pulses to the counter. A selector is operable to select any one of predetermined addresses, and a comparator compares the count derived by the counter to the address selected by the selector to produce a coincidence signal when the count is equal to the selected address. In a recording mode, an oscillator generates a substantially continuous train of pulse signals which are supplied through the detector to the counter. A record control circuit is operable to initiate an address recording operation for transmitting the train of pulses to the counter, and is responsive to the coincidence signal to terminate this address recording operation. In a playback mode, the recorded address signals are supplied through the detector to the counter. A sensing circuit is provided to sense the end of the played back address signal and to actuate a control signal generator which is responsive to the coincidence signal for generating a control signal which is adapted to initiate a predetermined operation of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Random access recording and/or playback system

In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing audio or other information signals in one or more record tracks on a face of a magnetic tape as the latter is guided in a predetermined path, for example, from a supply reel to a take-up reel; a magnetic head is disposed adjacent such path to engage an edge surface of the tape substantially at right angles to the face thereof for recording and/or reproducing a control signal in the tape from such edge surface, whereby to make available an increased proportion of the width of the tape for the record tracks and guard bands therebetween. Preferably, the head for recording and/or reproducing the control signal in the tape from an edge surface thereof is mounted at a tape guide member by which the tape is positioned in the direction of its width. Further, the control signal preferably has a low frequency, for example, of the order of 10 Hz, so as to minimize the spacing loss in recording or reproducing the control signal when the width of the tape is not precisely uniform.

Magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus with device for

A circuit to control the frequency response of a variable filter by means of a control signal based on the amplitude of the information signal to minimize the effect of noise in a signal transmission system. The variable filter is connected to an output circuit of an information signal amplifier and may feed the frequency-modified information signal to a system output terminal, if the system is to compress the dynamic range of the information signal by amplifying low amplitude signals more than high amplitude signals. Alternatively, the filter may feed the frequency-modified signal back to the input of the amplifier by way of connecting means, such as switch, to expand the dynamic range. Control of the filter for low frequency signals is achieved by rectifying and filtering the signals to the control amplifier. Negative-going transients are inverted and by-pass the rectifier and filter and are applied directly to the control amplifier. Positive-going transients are applied through the filter and are not inverted.

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Yokohama, Japan

Masaru Nagami