JPH04241288A - Video tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically search a program desired to be retrieved by searching a tape cassette for a cassette number in performing a retrieval operation with a clue to a category classified in accordance with recorded contents. CONSTITUTION:Storage contents are read out of an S-RAM 8 by a microcomputer 7, and a kind of a program, for example, a program of a drama is selected, and its ontents to be displayed are displayed on a monitor 10. Then, a reference is made to the displayed contents, and a program is selected by pressing a selection completing switch, and then a tape cassette 17 stuck with a label of a bar code 16 is inserted from a cassette inserting hole 21. A tape residual time T3 is calculated by the microcomputer 7, and a difference T4 between T3 and a tape residual time T2 at the time of commencing the program is obtained, and when T4 becomes smaller than a prescribed time Tf, a detection of a program searching signal is commenced. When this program searching signal is detected, a reproducing operation is started up by the microcomputer 7, and a switch 12 is brought under the opening state to display a reproducing picture on the monitor. By this method, the retrieval operation for a desired program to be watched is feasible.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video tape recorder having a cue function for tape recorded information.

0002

[Prior Art] The conventional video tape recorder (V
TR) will be explained.

[0003] In recent years, when searching for a VTR, the user writes down the contents of a recorded program on a label and searches manually according to the contents.Users find this current search operation inconvenient. There is.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional VTR, in which 1 is a control signal generation circuit for locating the beginning of information recorded on a tape cassette, and 3 is a fast forwarding and rewinding operation of the tape cassette. 4 is a key input device that performs program selection during cueing, 6 is a video circuit that performs tape cassette recording and playback operations, 7 is a microcomputer, 27 is a tape cassette, 28 is a tape cassette This is a label for writing down the contents recorded in 27.

[0005] The operation of the VTR consisting of the above-mentioned components will be explained below. First, during the recording operation, the title of the program to be recorded is written down on a label 28 and affixed to the tape cassette 27.

When viewing a program recorded on the tape cassette 27, the user looks at the label 28 attached to the tape cassette 27 and checks which program title the desired program is recorded in from among the program titles written down at the time of recording. . For example, when the third program is recorded, the microcomputer 7 first sends a tape rewind command to the tape drive circuit 3 to rewind the tape cassette 27, and then the key input device 4 sends a tape rewind command to the tape drive circuit 3.
A program search was performed by selecting the program number, inputting a cueing operation, searching three times for the cueing signal written in the control track of the recording start point, and finding the starting point of the third program. .

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional configuration described above, even if the current tape position is close to the start point of the program to be searched for, the tape cassette must be rewound. It takes extra time to search for points.

[0008] Furthermore, when searching for which tape cassette the program you want to watch was recorded on, you have to search among the labels affixed to the tape cassettes, so if you own a large number of tape cassettes, The disadvantage is that it takes time just to find a tape cassette to use.

Furthermore, when reproducing audio signals recorded in two channels, only the main audio signal output or only the sub audio signal output is selected for bilingual broadcasting, and both the main audio signal output and the sub audio signal output are selected for stereo broadcasting. Each time the user performs a playback operation, such as selecting a , it is necessary to switch to the optimal audio signal output depending on the recorded recording state. If this audio signal output switching operation is not performed, Japanese audio and foreign language audio may be output simultaneously in bilingual broadcasting, in which case the audio becomes extremely difficult to hear. As described above, the audio signal switching operation is a troublesome operation for the user.

[0010] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems by providing a VTR in which a desired program can be easily found, and also by automatically switching the audio signal output according to the audio broadcasting state of the recorded program during playback operation. The purpose is to provide a VTR that performs the following functions.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the VTR of the present invention includes: a storage means for storing information regarding recorded contents when recording a video signal; a tape cassette discriminating means for discriminating a tape cassette; a classification means for classifying stored content information stored by the storage means into common items; a display means for displaying the contents classified by the classification means into common items; and selecting a program to be searched from among the displayed contents. a control means for performing a search operation based on information regarding the recorded content corresponding to the selected program when a tape cassette on which a program selected by the selected program is recorded; Information on the state of use of the audio multiplexing function is stored in the storage means, and automatic switching between main audio signal output and sub audio signal output of the 2-channel recorded audio signal is performed based on the stored information during playback. and audio signal automatic output switching means.

0012

[Operation] With the above configuration, the VTR of the present invention can collect information related to the recorded contents, that is, the cassette number used for cassette identification, the recording start date and time, the recording end time, the recording channel number, and the classification according to the recorded program contents, that is, movies, dramas, animations, etc. Information about the genre such as sports and the remaining tape time value at the recording start point is stored in the storage device.
Perform a search using the genres classified by recorded content as clues, look for the cassette number used to identify the tape cassette in which the program you want to search is recorded on, select that program, insert the tape cassette, and the program you want to search will be automatically displayed. The cue is searched, and the audio signal output is automatically switched depending on the audio broadcasting state of the program recorded during the playback operation.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a VTR according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a control signal generation circuit for locating the beginning of information recorded on the tape cassette 17, 2 is a reel rotation detection signal generation circuit for checking the remaining amount of time in the tape cassette 17, and 3 is a control signal generation circuit for locating the beginning of information recorded on the tape cassette 17. A tape drive circuit performs fast-forwarding and rewinding of the table cassette 17; 4 is a key input device for selecting programs during search operations; and 5 is an on-screen device for displaying information on the recorded contents of the tape cassette 17 on the monitor 10. A display circuit, 6 a video circuit for recording and reproducing operations on the tape cassette 17, 7 a microcomputer, 8 a storage device for storing information related to recording on the tape cassette 17 during recording, and 9 switching audio modes. 16 is a barcode for identifying the tape cassette; 18 is a barcode reader that reads the barcode 16 attached to the tape cassette 17; 11 is the information read by the barcode reader 18 to the microcomputer 7; It is a remote controller for transfer. Reference numeral 12 denotes a switch that is closed when character display data sent from the on-screen display circuit 5 is displayed on the monitor 10.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention, in which 20 is a barcode reader for reading the barcode 16 affixed to the tape cassette 17, 21 is a cassette insertion slot, and 1
9 is the VTR body. FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the VTR of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a barcode sheet used for timer reservation in a VTR and genre selection when searching recorded content by genre. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the display contents displayed on the monitor 10 when performing a search.

The operation of the above-mentioned VTR will be explained below. First, when performing a recording operation, a tape cassette 17 with a barcode 16 affixed thereto that encodes a cassette number for cassette identification is inserted from the cassette insertion slot 21. When a cassette is inserted, a microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as a microcomputer) 7 receives a cassette insertion detection signal from a cassette insertion detection circuit 13, and a barcode reader 20 attached to the VTR body 19 reads the barcode 16.
The data is read and data is transferred to the microcomputer 7. Through this operation, the microcomputer 7 determines the cassette number of the inserted tape cassette 17. Next, a T reel rotation detection signal (hereinafter simply referred to as T
(referred to as a reel pulse) and an S reel rotation detection signal (hereinafter simply referred to as an S reel pulse). The remaining amount time value of the tape is calculated from the ratio of the rotation periods of these T reel pulses and S reel pulses. The current tape absolute address can be determined from this tape remaining amount time value.

When setting the timer reservation recording, the recording setting contents written on the barcode sheet 23 in FIG. The information thus read is transferred to the microcomputer 7 by a remote controller (hereinafter simply referred to as a remote controller) 11. When the set recording start time arrives, the microcomputer 7 sends a recording start command to the video circuit 6 to start the recording operation. At the start of a recording operation, the microcomputer 7 stores information such as the cassette number, recording start date and time, recording end time, recording channel, recording program type, and remaining tape time at the recording start point in a static RAM (hereinafter referred to as S-RAM) 8.
Write to. Also, at the start of this recording operation, the microcomputer 7
By changing the duty ratio of the control signal, a cue signal is created and recorded on the control track on the magnetic tape.

When performing a playback operation, select the barcode of the program type you want to watch from the column of recorded program type 24 on the barcode sheet 23 in FIG. A barcode corresponding to a drama is traced and read by a barcode reader 18, and the data is transferred to a microcomputer 7 by a remote control 11. The microcomputer 7 reads the stored contents from the S-RAM 8, selects a program whose program type is drama, and stores information on the cassette number in which the program is recorded, recording date, recording start time, and recording TV channel. The signal is sent to an on-screen display circuit (hereinafter simply referred to as an OSD circuit) 5, and is sent to a monitor 10 through a video circuit 6 with a switch 12 in the closed state.
The display contents shown in FIG. 5 are displayed.

Referring to the display contents shown in FIG. 5, if you wish to watch the 10-channel program recorded at 20:00 on September 15, 1990, for example, use the key input device shown in FIG. 6 on the display of FIG. A program is selected by moving the cursor 26 in FIG. 5 up and down by inputting the keys on the switch 22a that raises the cursor or the switch 22b that lowers the cursor, moves it to the position 25c, and presses the selection end switch 22c. , insert the tape cassette 17 to which the barcode 16 corresponding to cassette number 3 shown in the cassette number section 25c in FIG. 5 is attached through the cassette insertion slot 21.

When the tape cassette 17 is inserted, the microcomputer 7 receives a cassette insertion detection signal from the cassette insertion detection circuit 13, sends a reproduction command to the tape drive circuit 3, sets it to the reproduction state, and generates a reel rotation detection signal for the T reel 14 and the S reel 15. Receive T reel pulse and S reel pulse from circuit 2. The remaining time of the tape is calculated from the frequency ratio of these T reel pulses and S reel pulses. The remaining tape time value T1 calculated here is compared with the remaining tape time value T2 at the time of the start of the program of the desired program written to the S-RAM 8 at the time of recording start, and when T1>T2, the microcomputer 7 drives the tape. The microcomputer 7 sends a tape fast forward command to the circuit 3 to perform a tape fast forward operation, and when T1<T2, the microcomputer 7 sends a tape rewind command to the tape drive circuit 3 to perform a tape rewind operation. T during fast forwarding or rewinding
Input the reel pulse and S reel pulse, calculate the remaining time T3 of the tape based on the frequency ratio of these T reel pulse and S reel pulse, and calculate the absolute value T4 of the difference between T3 and T2.
seek. T4 is a predetermined time Tf (for example, Tf = 20 minutes)
When it becomes smaller than , the microcomputer 7 inputs the control signal from the control signal generation circuit 1 and starts detecting the cue signal recorded in the control track at the program start point. When this cue signal is detected, the microcomputer 7 sends a reproduction command to the tape drive circuit 3 and video circuit 6 to start the reproduction operation, and opens the switch 12 to display a reproduced image on the monitor. In this way, it becomes possible to search for a desired program.

As described above, according to the VTR of the embodiment of the present invention, the cassette identifying means, the tape cassette absolute address detecting means, the function of cuing up the recorded contents of the tape cassette, and the storage of information regarding the recorded contents are provided. Since the storage means is provided with a storage means for displaying the content stored in the storage means, and a display means for displaying the content stored by the storage means, the search operation is performed using the genre classified according to the recording content as a clue, and the tape cassette in which the desired program is recorded can be identified. If you search for the cassette number used for the program and select that program, you can automatically cue the program you want to search.

Furthermore, at the start of the recording operation, the audio circuit shown in FIG. 9 determines whether the audio state of the broadcast to be recorded is stereo broadcast, bilingual broadcast, or monaural broadcast by detecting a pilot signal. , microcomputer 7
Output the navel detection results. The microcomputer 7 sends information on the cassette number, recording start date and time, recording end time, recording channel, recording program type, remaining tape time value at the recording start point, as well as information on the audio state of the broadcast to be recorded to the static RA.
M (hereinafter referred to as S-RAM) 8.

When a program to be searched is selected in the above-mentioned search operation, the microcomputer 7 reads the audio state of the program from the S-RAM 8, and depending on the read audio state, the microcomputer 7 switches the audio output to the audio circuit 9. Send commands. If the recorded program is a stereo broadcast, the microcomputer 7 issues a command to output both the main audio output and the sub audio output, and if the recorded program is a bilingual broadcast, the microcomputer 7 outputs only the main audio output. send. When the beginning of the program to be searched is performed, the audio output has already been switched, so the audio output can be automatically switched depending on the audio broadcast state of the recorded program.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention has a cassette discriminating means, a tape cassette absolute address detecting means, a function for locating the beginning of the recorded contents of the tape cassette, a storage means for storing information regarding the recorded contents, Display means for displaying the content stored by the storage means is provided, so the search operation is performed using the genre classified according to the recorded content as a clue, and the cassette number used to identify the tape cassette in which the program desired to be searched is recorded. When searching for a program and selecting that program, it is possible to automatically locate the beginning of the program desired to be searched, and also to automatically switch the audio signal output according to the audio broadcasting state of the recorded program during playback operation. We can provide VTR.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a VTR in an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Perspective view of the VTR

[Figure 3] Vertical cross-sectional view of the same VTR

[Figure 4] Barcode sheet for the same VTR

[Figure 5] Same VT
Display diagram of recorded program contents classified by R search operation

[Figure 6] Layout diagram of the key input device of the same VTR

[Figure 7] Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional VTR

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Control signal generation circuit 2 Reel rotation detection signal generation circuit 3 Tape drive circuit 4 Key input device 5 On-screen display circuit 7
Microcomputer 8 Static RAM 9 Audio circuit 10 Monitor 11 Remote controller 12 Switch 13 Cassette insertion detection circuit 14 Take-up reel 15 Supply reel 16 Barcode 18 Barcode reader 20 Barcode reader

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing information related to recording contents when recording a video signal, a tape cassette discrimination means for discriminating tape cassettes, and a classification for classifying recording content information stored by the storage means into common items. means, a display means for displaying the contents classified by the classification means for each common item, a selection means for selecting a program to be searched from among the display contents, and a program selected by the selection means is stored. A video tape recorder comprising a control means for performing a search operation based on information regarding the recorded content corresponding to a selected program when a tape cassette is loaded. 2. Information on the state of use of the audio multiplexing function of television broadcasting is stored in the storage means at the time of recording, and the main audio signal of the two-channel recorded audio signal is output based on the stored information at the time of playback. 2. The video tape recorder according to claim 1, further comprising audio signal automatic output switching means for automatically switching between the audio signal output and the sub audio output.