Apparatus for generating time code signal

Abstract

A direction detector operates for detecting a direction of feed of a recording tape. A timer operates for counting pulses of a clock signal, and outputting a signal representing a first count value. A second count value is generated which corresponds to a pulse width related to a first bit represented by an input time code signal reproduced from the recording tape. The first count value which occurs at a first time point and the second count value are added into a first addition-result value. An output time code signal is inverted when the first count value currently represented by the output signal of the timer comes equal to the first addition-result value. A second bit is selected from among bits represented by the input time code signal in response to the direction detected by the direction detector. The second bit to be selected neighbors the first bit in a normal time direction when the detected direction agrees with a forward direction. The second bit to be selected neighbors the first bit in a reverse time direction when the detected direction agrees with a reverse direction. A third count value is generated which corresponds to a pulse width related to the second bit. The first count value which occurs at a second time point after the first time point and the third count value are added into a second addition-result value. The first addition-result value is updated into the second addition-result value.