Video tape recorder with a joint-recording capability and a video camera

Abstract

A helical scan video tape recorder includes a recording device having a head cylinder which carries magnetic heads therewith for rotating the head cylinder and applying incoming video signals to the magnetic heads to record the signals on a magnetic tape. A tape transport mechanism transports the tape while maintaining the tape in sliding contact with the head cylinder. A servo-lock sensing circuit senses a servo-locked condition in the recording device. A system controller responds to a record command entered on an operation board for controlling the tape transport mechanism to transport the tape in one direction to thereby record the video signals on the tape. In response to a record stop command also entered on the operation board, the system controller continuously records the video signals on the tape until a predetermined period of time expires after the entry of the record stop command, then controls the tape transport mechanism to stop transporting the tape, and then returns the tape by a predetermined length in the other direction. Further, upon the entry of the next record command, the system controller controls the tape transport mechanism to transport the tape in the one direction while servo-controlling the recording device and, when the servo-lock sensing circuit senses a servo-locked condition, controls the recording device to record the video signals on the tape. The predetermined period of time is selected such that a position on the tape where the servo-locked condition has been sensed substantially does not precede a position on the tape which is associated with the instant when the record stop command has been entered. A video camera may be implemented by such a video tape recorder and a video signal source which feeds video signals representative of a scene to the recorder by shooting the scene.