JPH05199488A - Recording device for plural video signals - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record and reproduce the video signals of plural channels with a single VTR and also to reproduce a recorded tape with a conventional VTR by dividing the track pitch of a conventional reproducing VTR into plural pieces and recording simultaneously plural video signals with plural pairs of rotary heads. CONSTITUTION:The video signal of a 1st channel inputted to an input terminal. 1 undergoes the due processing like conventional through a record processing circuit 2. The signals sent from the circuit 2 are supplied to the circuit heads 3 and 4 which have the azimuth angles +theta and -theta and the track widths smaller than 1/2 track pitch and recorded on a tape. The signal of a channel 1 undergoes the processing exactly equal to the circuit 2 through a record processing circuit 2. The signals sent from the circuit 8 are supplied to the rotary heads 9 and 10 and recorded like a channel 1. The control signal synchronous with the video signal of the channel 2 is recorded by a control signal processing circuit 16 and a fixed control head 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plural video signal recording apparatus capable of simultaneously recording plural video signals on the same tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household VTRs have become extremely popular. However, when recording a television broadcast, it is not possible to record video signals of multiple channels at the same time with one VT.
It was impossible with R. This is due to recent BS broadcasts and C
I feel even more inconvenient with the development of ATV.

Conventionally, there is a method called field skip as a method of recording a plurality of video signals with one VTR. For example, there is JP-A-59-117383. The structure is shown in FIG. The video signals supplied to the input terminals 21 and 22 are synchronized by the delay circuit 25 and the control circuit 26, and the switching circuit 24 obtains a composite signal in which the input signals are rearranged for each field, and the recording circuit 29.
Then, the data is recorded by the rotary head 30. During reproduction, a signal obtained by delaying the composite signal reproduced by the reproducing circuit 31 is produced by the delay circuit 32 and each video signal selected by the switching circuit 33 is obtained. However, such field skip recording has a drawback that video information is intermittently reproduced because each video signal is recorded in each field, and the reproduced video becomes unnatural. This is 1
There is a problem that the vertical resolution of the reproduced image deteriorates even if the lines are skipped so that the lines are rearranged.

Further, as a method of recording all information instead of field skip, there is JP-A-63-280589 which records a plurality of video signals by using a plurality of head pairs. This method shows the tape pattern in FIG.
The R channel signal is recorded by a rotary head pair having an azimuth angle of ± θ, and the L channel signal is recorded by a rotary head pair having different azimuth angles of ± φ. In this case, although self-recording / reproduction is possible, when a tape recorded by this VTR is reproduced by a conventional VTR, only one channel can be reproduced, and there is a big problem in compatibility.

[0005]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a function which cannot be achieved by a conventional VTR, that is, a video signal of a plurality of channels is recorded and reproduced by one VTR, and is recorded by the VTR according to the present invention. For the purpose of providing a VTR capable of reproducing a desired video signal even with a conventional VTR, maintaining compatibility with many popular VTRs for home use and diversifying input sources. There is.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a plurality of recording processing means for converting a video signal into a recordable signal, the gap azimuth angles are in an inverse relationship to each other, and the relative position is 180 degrees. A certain first rotary head pair, a second rotary head pair having a relative position of 180 degrees in the same azimuth relationship as the first rotary head pair, and a control signal synchronized with a vertical synchronization signal of any of a plurality of video signals. To form a plurality of tracks by a pair of the first and second rotary heads on one track pitch of the magnetic tape video band to record a plurality of video signals, Arrange each head so that tracks with different azimuth angles are in contact with each other, and that guard bands are provided so that no signal is recorded between tracks with the same azimuth angle. It is intended.

[0007]

According to the present invention, with the above structure, a plurality of pairs of rotary heads simultaneously record a plurality of video signals by dividing the track pitch of a conventional consumer VTR into a plurality of tracks,
At that time, the azimuth angles of a plurality of pairs of rotary heads are set to the conventional VTR.
Since each head is arranged so that tracks with the same azimuth angle are in contact with each other, and there is a guard band where no signal is recorded between tracks with the same azimuth angle, multiple images are recorded. It is possible to selectively reproduce a plurality of video signals by the conventional VTR as well as the self-recording and reproduction of the signals.

[0008]

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an input terminal of channel 1, 2 is a recording processing circuit, 3 and 4 are first rotary head pairs, 5 is an input terminal of channel 2, 8 is a recording processing circuit,
Reference numerals 9 and 10 are a second rotary head pair, 16 is a control signal processing circuit, 17 is a recording servo system, and 18 is a control signal recording / reproducing head, which constitute a recording system. The reproduction system includes a reproduction amplifier 11 that selects and amplifies signals from the rotary head pairs 3 and 4, a reproduction amplifier 14 that selects and amplifies signals from the rotary head pairs 9 and 10, and a switching circuit 15 that switches outputs of the reproduction amplifiers 11 and 14. , Reproduction processing circuit 12, video output terminal 13, control signal reproduction amplifier 19, reproduction servo system 20
Composed of.

The relationship and operation of each component of the VTR having the above components will be described. Now, the video signal has two channels and is applied to the input terminals 1 and 5, respectively.
The video signal of the first channel input to 1 is processed by the recording processing circuit 2 for recording. This is exactly the same as the recording process of the conventional home VTR, in which the luminance signal is subjected to processing such as emphasis and FM modulation, and the color signal is converted into a low frequency. Channel 1 through recording processing circuit 2
Is supplied to the rotary heads 3 and 4 whose azimuth angles are + θ and −θ and whose track width is narrower than ½ of the track pitch, and is recorded on the tape similarly to the conventional VTR. On the other hand, the signal of channel 2 is subjected to processing necessary for recording by the recording processing circuit 8. This processing is exactly the same as the recording processing circuit 2. The signal of the channel 2 passing through the recording processing circuit 8 is supplied to the rotary heads 9 and 10 where the azimuth angles are + θ and −θ and the track width is narrower than ½ of the track pitch to be recorded. When recording a video signal with a VTR, it is necessary to record a control signal synchronized with the video signal on a control track on the tape. In the case of the embodiment, the control signal synchronized with the video signal of the channel 2 is recorded on the control track on the tape by the control signal recording processing circuit 16 and the fixed control head 18. This control signal is used as a control signal for the reproduction servo system for controlling the cylinder and capstan during reproduction. This control signal is information synchronized with the vertical synchronizing signal of the input video signal, and the switching timing of the rotary head pairs 9 and 10 is controlled so as to come within the vertical blanking period of the video signal, and the screen switching by the head switching unit is disturbed. Is designed so that you cannot see. In this embodiment, the channel 2 video signal maintains this relationship, but the channel 1 video signal is usually not synchronized with the channel 2 video signal, and the vertical sync signal and the control head 18 are used for recording. Since the rotary heads 3 and 4 are switched outside the vertical blanking portion because they are not in a synchronous relationship with the control signal, the seams of images due to the head switching appear in the reproduced screen. However, in the recent VTR technology, the splicing accuracy of the head switching unit is improved, and the image quality is almost acceptable, so that the image signal of channel 1 is also practically acceptable. Of course, it is also possible to take the control signal from the channel 1 signal, in which case the channel 1 video signal is reproduced completely seamlessly and the channel 2 video signal is reproduced with a small amount of seam left on the screen.

The tracks on the tape recorded by the heads 3, 4, 9 and 10 will be described later.

In the reproducing system, the signal of channel 1 reproduced by the heads 3 and 4 is amplified and selected by the reproducing amplifier 11, and a continuous signal is output. Similarly, the signal of channel 2 reproduced from the heads 9 and 10 reaches the switching circuit 15 via the reproduction amplifier 14. The switching circuit 15 selects either the signal of channel 1 or the signal of channel 2 according to a user's instruction. One of the selected signals is reproduced by the reproduction processing circuit 12 in the same reproduction processing (de-emphasis, F) as the conventional VTR.
Output terminal 13 after M demodulation, color frequency conversion, etc.)
Is output as a reproduced video signal.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one VT is used.
With R, video signals of two channels can be simultaneously recorded, and at the time of reproduction, a signal of one channel can be selected and reproduced.

Next, the recording tracks on the tape of the rotary heads 3, 4, 9 and 10 will be described.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 records video signals of two channels, and in this case, the servo system of the VTR is set to the standard mode. For example, in the VHS-VTR, the track pitch in the standard mode is 58 μm, which is set as the standard mode of the conventional VTR with the tape feeding speed of 3.3 cm / S. The track width of the rotary heads 3, 4, 9 and 10 is
It is set to about 25 μm, which is narrower than ½ of the track pitch. In addition, the azimuth angle is V
It is set to the same ± θ as TR. The track pattern shown in FIG. 2 can be formed by setting the mounting angle and mounting step on the cylinder of the rotary head. In FIG. 2, Tp represents the track pitch in the standard mode, and the video signals of channels 1 and 2 are recorded in the heads 3 and 9 within one track pitch.
Are recorded as tracks L1 and R2 with a track width of about 1/2 and an azimuth angle of ± θ. Then, the heads 4 and 10 record signals of both channels with an azimuth angle of ± θ and a track R.
It is recorded as 1, L2. Further, the track width of the head and the mounting step are taken into consideration so that the guard band 6 is formed between the tracks having the same azimuth angle.
The head number is shown below the track so that the relationship between the track pattern and the recording / reproducing head can be understood. In this case, it goes without saying that the heads 3 and 4 are mounted at a position of 180 ° on the cylinder, and the heads 9 and 10 are also mounted at a position of 180 ° on the cylinder.

When reproducing a tape recorded with such a track pattern, the servo system is also set to the standard mode, and the channel 1 signal is reproduced sequentially by the rotary heads 3 and 4 from the L1 and R1 track signals. Channel 2
The signals of R2 and L2 tracks are sequentially reproduced by the rotary heads 9 and 10. Therefore, the signal of the first or second channel can be reproduced by selecting the reproduction signal of either rotary head pair. The control signal described above is recorded on a control track other than the video track, as in the conventional VTR.

FIG. 2 also shows the recording pattern on the tape, the track width of the head, and the positional relationship. T
p is the standard mode track pitch in the conventional home VR, which is 58 μm. In the present embodiment, the same head is used for recording and reproduction, and as described with reference to FIG. 1, the heads 3 and 4 record and reproduce the channel 1 signal and the heads 9 and 10 record and reproduce the channel 2 signal. In this case, the track width of each of the heads 3, 4, 9 and 10 is 26 μm, which is slightly narrower than 1/2 of the track pitch of 58 μm in the standard mode, and the azimuth angle is + θ for the heads 3 and 10 and the head 4, 4. 9 is -θ.
Now, considering the recording state, the signal of channel 1 is head 3,
4, the tracks L1 having an azimuth angle of + θ and the tracks R1 having an azimuth angle of −θ are alternately formed at the track pitch Tp. Also, the heads 9 and 10
Is also mounted on the same rotation surface as the heads 3 and 4, and the signals of the channel 2 are sequentially recorded by the heads 9 and 10 on the tracks R2 and L2 alternately at the track pitch Tp. Therefore, as the track pattern on the tape, L1 of channel 1, R2 of channel 2, channel 1
Each track is arranged like R1 of L1 and L2 of channel 2. And the track width of each head is 26μ
Since the track pitch is 58 .mu.m, a non-recorded area of 6 .mu.m is formed, and the mounting height of the head is set so that this position is located between the tracks having the same azimuth angle. As a result, the guard band 6 has tracks R1 and R.
2 and between tracks L1 and L2. The guard band 6 is effective in reducing crosstalk interference. When reproducing the tape recorded with the track pattern as shown in the drawing with the heads 3, 4 and the heads 9, 10, when each head is slightly deviated from the recording time, or the tape recorded with another VTR according to the present invention is used. When reproducing, it is necessary to consider that the reproducing head does not come to a position where the track pattern completely matches the track pattern. At this time,
For example, if the head 4 reproduces the track R1 but shifts a little to the upper side, the head 4 also straddles the track of L2, but the head 4 has an azimuth of -.theta., Whereas the track L2 has an azimuth angle of + .theta. The signal of the track L2 is attenuated and the signal of the track R1 can be reproduced well. If the head 4 is slightly displaced downward, the head 4 also straddles the guard band 6, but since no signal is recorded in the guard band, there is no crosstalk cardiopulmonary. If there is no guard hand and the tracks R1 and R2 continue and the head 4 shifts to the lower side, the signal of the track R2 having the same azimuth angle is also picked up and the signal of the channel 2 crosstalks with the signal of the channel 1. Will be reproduced as and deteriorate the image quality. Guard band 6
Effectively acts on the separated reproduction of each channel. Thus, the 2-channel recording / reproducing VTR according to the present invention can be realized.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a situation in which a tape recorded in two channels with the above-described recording pattern is reproduced by a home-use VTR which has been already widespread. Conventional VTR has a standard mode head width of 45 to 5 normally.
It is set to 0 μm and is 1/2 of the track pitch.
Wider and narrower than Tp. This head can move the head position with respect to the track pitch by adjusting the tracking shifter during reproduction.

In the channel 1 reproduction state of FIG. 3, the head having a width of 49 μm is positioned to track the signal tracks R1 and L1 of the channel 1. For example, the head 1 has an azimuth angle of −θ and picks up a signal on the R1 track, but does not pick up a signal on the L2 track with an azimuth angle of + θ due to azimuth loss. Therefore, the R1 track of channel 1 can be reproduced. Further, the heads 2 forming a pair reproduce the L1 track and do not pick up the signal of the R2 track because the azimuth angle is + θ. Therefore, the L1 track of channel 1 is reproduced. By thus bringing the reproducing head to the position of reproducing channel 1 by the tracking shifter, the signal of channel 1 can be selectively reproduced even with a head wider than the recorded track width. Conversely, when the rotary head pair is brought to the position of channel 2 reproduction by the tracking shifter, the head 42 reproduces the L2 track and the head 41 reproduces the R2 track, and the other adjacent track L is reproduced.
The signals of 1 and R1 are not picked up. Therefore, the signal of channel 2 can be reproduced. The guard band 6 works effectively also in the reproduction in the conventional VTR. For example, in the case of channel 1 reproduction, the image quality is best when the head 41 is moved downward from the position shown by the guard band, and almost good reproduction can be maintained up to the position shown. That is, it is possible to allow a margin for tracking. If there is no guard band, it becomes difficult to adjust the tracking shifter only when the edge of the head comes to the point where the same azimuth track contacts.

As described above, if the head position is set so that the guard band is present on the recording pattern of the tape and two channels are recorded, even if it is a conventional VTR, the two-channel recording tape according to the present invention is used for both channels. Both can be reproduced well.

In the embodiment, it is easy to construct one of the two rotary head pairs so as to also serve as the conventional long-time mode head. In the case of VHS-VTR, the track width of the long time mode head is 30 to 20 μm.
m, which meets the above conditions. If you do this 2
It is economical since it is only necessary to add one pair of rotary heads as the channel recording VTR.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a configuration of a video signal processing portion, and blocks having the same functions as those of the embodiment of FIG.

The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an input signal terminal of channel 1, 2 is a recording processing circuit, 3 and 4 are rotary head pairs, 5 is an input signal terminal of channel 2, 44 is a sync signal detector, 43
Is a synchronous processing circuit, 8 is a recording processing circuit, and 9 and 10 are rotary head pairs, which constitute a recording system. The reproduction system is a reproduction amplifier 1 that selects and amplifies the signals of the rotary head pairs 3 and 4.
1, a regenerative amplifier 14 that selects and amplifies the signals of the rotary head pairs 9 and 10, a regenerative processing circuit 12 that regenerates the output of the regenerative amplifier 11, an output terminal 13, a regenerative processing circuit 45 that regenerates the output of the regenerative amplifier 14. , Output terminal 46.

The relationship and operation of each component of the VTR having the above components will be described. Now, the video signal has two channels and is applied to the input terminals 1 and 5, respectively.
The video signal of the first channel input to 1 is processed by the recording processing circuit 2 for recording. This is exactly the same as the recording process of a conventional home-use VTR, in which the luminance signal is subjected to processing such as emphasis and FM modulation, and the color signal is converted into a reduced frequency. Channel 1 through recording processing circuit 2
Is supplied to the rotary heads 3 and 4 whose azimuth angles are + θ and −θ and whose track width is narrower than the track pitch, and is recorded on the tape similarly to the conventional VTR. On the other hand, the signal of channel 2 is controlled by the synchronization processing circuit 43 so as to maintain the synchronous relationship with the video signal of channel 1.
The operation is performed, for example, by writing a video signal in a memory having a capacity of 1 frame with a write clock synchronized with its own sync signal, detecting a sync signal from a signal of channel 1 by a sync signal detector 44, and reading a clock with the sync signal. When the video signal is read from the memory, the output of the video signal synchronized with the video signal of channel 1 can be obtained.
The signal of channel 2 synchronized with the signal of channel 1 thus obtained is subjected to processing necessary for recording in the recording processing circuit 8. This processing is exactly the same as the recording processing circuit 2. The signal of the channel 2 that has passed through the recording processing circuit 8 is supplied to and recorded on the rotary heads 9 and 10 whose azimuth angles are + θ and −θ and whose track width is narrower than the track pitch. When recording a video signal with a VTR, it is necessary to record a control signal in synchronization with the video signal on a control track on the tape. In this case, however, only one control signal can be recorded to record two video signals. As described above, both video signals are synchronized and recorded as a common control signal. Heads 3, 4, 9, 10
It is considered that the tracks on the tape recorded in No. 1 do not overlap each other, but this is as described in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the reproducing system, the signal of channel 1 reproduced by the heads 3 and 4 is amplified and selected by the reproducing amplifier 11, and a continuous signal is output. Similarly, the signal of channel 2 reproduced from the heads 9 and 10 is amplified and selected by the reproduction amplifier 14.

The output signals of the reproduction amplifiers 11 and 14 are subjected to reproduction processing (de-emphasis, FM demodulation, color frequency conversion, etc.) similar to the conventional VTR by the reproduction processing circuits 12 and 14 and reproduced at the output terminals 13 and 46. It is output as a video signal.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, one VT is used.
With R, two channels of video signals can be recorded simultaneously, and two channels of playback signals can be obtained at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to realize a VTR having a characteristic function such as supplying different reproduction signals to different television monitors or outputting signals of other channels to a small screen in one screen.

As described above, according to the plural video signal recording apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, the second channel is recorded between the recording tracks of the first channel, and the guard band is provided between the tracks of the same azimuth angle. Since they are arranged, recording of a plurality of channels is performed on the same tape, and those signals can be selectively or simultaneously reproduced. Moreover, each channel signal of the recording tape can be reproduced even in another VTR which has been widely used in the past. Can be selectively played.

Although the two-channel recording VTR has been described in the embodiment, the number of channels can be increased by setting the track width smaller and increasing the number of rotary heads.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above-described embodiments, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously record / reproduce on a plurality of channels with a VTR which has been capable of recording a video signal on one channel in the related art. Therefore, for example, a video signal obtained from the BS tuner can be recorded in the first channel and a video signal obtained from the VHF tuner can be recorded in the second channel, and even a program in which the broadcasting hours overlap is reproduced later. Since the signals can be selected and viewed, it is possible to provide a plural video signal recording apparatus having a great effect such as preventing the opportunity loss of listening to the program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a plural video signal recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the tape recording pattern and the head used.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of details of the same tape recording pattern and a head position relationship when reproducing with a conventional VTR.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional field-skipping multi-channel recording system.

FIG. 6 is a tape recording pattern diagram showing a conventional multi-channel recording system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 recording processing circuit 3,4,10 rotary head pair 6 guard band 8 recording processing circuit 11,14 reproducing amplifier 12 reproducing processing circuit 16 control signal recording processing circuit 17 recording servo system 18 control signal recording / reproducing head 19 control signal reproducing amplifier 20 Playback servo system

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of recording processing means for converting a plurality of video signals into recordable signals, a first rotary head pair having a gap azimuth angle in an inverse relationship to each other and a relative position of 180 degrees, and the first rotary head pair. A second rotary head pair having the same azimuth relationship as the rotary head pair and having a relative position of 180 degrees, and means for recording a control signal in synchronization with a vertical synchronization signal of any one of the plurality of video signals on a control track. A recording system is configured so that a plurality of tracks are formed by the pair of first and second rotary heads at one track pitch of the magnetic tape video band to record a plurality of video signals, and tracks having different azimuth angles are in contact with each other. In addition, a plurality of video signal recordings characterized in that each head is arranged so as to provide a guard band in which no signal is recorded between tracks with the same azimuth angle apparatus. 2. The magnetic tape is run in a standard recording mode to have a track pitch of the standard recording mode, the first rotary head pair uses a head for a long time recording mode, and the second rotary head pair uses the head of the first rotary head pair. A pair of rotary heads having the same track width as that of the rotary head 1 is provided side by side, and each track width on the magnetic tape is set to 1/2 or less of the track pitch of the standard mode, and a guard band is provided. Item 1
The multiple video signal recording device described.