GB2109540A - Tape transport apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

In the transfer of a web from reel to reel in a web/reel assembly respective speed detectors (56,58) generate electrical pulses at rates proportional to their reel speeds for monitoring the web movement. The time to produce a given number of pulses from each reel is determined repetitively and is utilised to provide ratios of the speeds of the reels. From these ratios, and from other parameters characterising the type of web/reel assembly, a series of discrete web positions are determined while the web is being transferred. A display (68) of the web position is operated by means that provide a continuously changing indication of tape position in terms of time between these discrete web positions, the indication being synchronised with successively determined discrete web positions by comparing the indication with a determined web position and advancing or retarding the rate of change of indication in dependence upon the difference. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tape transport apparatus and method The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for monitoring the transfer of a flexible web from reel to reel of a web/reel assembly, and more particularly to tape transport apparatus for tape cassettes and methods for controlling and operating such apparatus.

Our earlier patent No. 1 555 059 (application 26434/77) describes methods and apparatus for accurately determining absolute values of tape position as tape is driven from reel to reel of a assembly, and for controlling the apparatus in accordance with such tape position determinations.

The invention of the aforesaid earlier patent is described therein as useful in transport apparatus for reel/web assemblies the physical parameters of which are known, the physical parameters including the tape length and thickness, and the reel hub diameters. In such a transport apparatus operating with a webireel assembly having known physical parameters, the position relative to one end of the web of an intermediate portion being transferred from one reel to the other, may be determined by a computational process using mathematical equations, i.e. by folowing tape position determination algorithms employing constants established by the known physical parameters of that reel/web assembly, and a variable parameter; namely, the ratio of rotational speeds of the two reels as the intermediate web portion Is being transferred from one reel to the other, which ratio continuously changes as the web is transferred. It is explained in the earlier patent that the same algorithms employing the same constants may be followed to determine the position of an intermediate web portion at any stage of transfer of the web; the only input required at any stage is the ratio of the rotational speeds of the reels.By determining tape position in a regularly repeating cycle, using said tape position determination algorithms, and producing each cycle an output signal representing the position determined for the web during that cycle, the output signals may be utilized to monitor the transfer of the web in the apparatus, for example, by displaying the continuously changing position of the web or controlling the operation of the transport apparatus.

The method entails first establishing constants for each tape cassette, which constants are used in the position determination algorithms, and storing a set of constants for each tape cassette in, for example, a semi-conductor memory unit. In tape transport apparatus under the control of a microprocessor, signals representing the set of constants corresponding to the cassette loaded into the transport apparatus, are recalled from the memory unit, intermediate signals are generated representing the ratio P,/P2 measuring the rotational speeds of the reels, and by circuit means such as the microprocessor under program control a determination is made of tape position in terms of the length (1 or 12) or time (ta or t2) to the end of the web on either reel of an intermediate portion of the web being transferred from one reel to the other using position determination algorithms employing the equations described in the British patent No. 1 555 059.

The present invention is directed to a method and means for monitoring the movement of tape in tape transport apparatus for reel/tape assemblies such as cassettes, using tape position determination algorithms such as those specified in the said earlier patent, for determining absolute values of tape position as tape is transferred from reel to reel. Such tape position determinations are based on numerical constants stored in a memory, and reel rotational speed ratios measured at intervals.

According to the method disclosed in said prior patent, the rotational speeds of the reels are represented by pulse streams from pulse generators driven responsive to rotation of each reel. For example, pulses at the rate of twenty per revolution of each reel are fed to shift registers which accumulate the pulses, and reel speed ratios are calculated based on the total number of pulses accumulated in the registers. It was recognised that the accumulated total of pulses in a shift register provided only an approximate representation of the instantaneous rotational speed of one of the reels.

Our earlier patent No. 1 600 093 (application 17858/78) describes a process for the automatic identification of the type of cassette being used, in which the instantaneous roational speed of each reel is sensed and instantaneous reel speed ratios are calculated based on the real time for each reel to make a given number of revolutions for example, two revolutions when driven at normal (play or record) speed and four revolutions when driven at fast (forward or rewind) speed. The speeds are sensed by pulse generators on the reel spindles which produce, for example, eight pulses (hereinafter called "reel pulses") each revolution of the reel, which pulses are counted.Clock pulses generated at a rate determined by an internal clock, for example 4 KHz, are clocked into and accumulated in a timing register for each reel for the time period elapsed until either 1 6 or 32 reel pulses are counted, the content of each of the timing registers then representing the real tirne for two or four revolutions of each of the reels; instantaneous reel speed ratios are calculated by dividing the contents of the timing registers.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape transport apparatus for tape/reel assemblies having two reels carrying tape, drive means for moving the tape from reel to reel, reel speed detectors including means generating reel pulses at rates proportional respectively to the speed of each reel, and controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and employing the ratio between the speeds of the reels for monitoring tape movement, comprising in combination:: means for counting reel pulses for each reel, means timing and producing output signals respectively representing the elapsed periods of the same total count of reel pulses for each reel, means determining the ratio between the respective output signals from said timing means to represent the ratio between the speeds of the reels employed by said controller means for monitoring tape movement, and means operating a display of tape position to provide a continuously changing indication of the tape position in terms of time synchronised with successive tape positions determined by said controller means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a tape transport apparatus for tape/reel assemblies having two reels carrying tape, comprising: drive means for moving the tape from reel to reel, reel speed detectors providing signals representing revolutions of the reels, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and determining successive tape positions in terms of time, based on reel speed ratios determined by timing revolutions of said reels, a display, means operating said display to provide a continuously changing indication of tape position in terms of time, as tape is moved from reel to reel, and means synchronising said continuously changing indication of tape movement provided by said display with successive tape positions determined by said controller means.

In the system described in the prior patent No. 1 555 059 a display is operated by the controller to display successive tape positions determined by the controller following several revolutions of both reels. If such display is updated to show the tape position each such determination, the display may jump 6 to 8 seconds at a time and the jump may be uneven. By the use of the present invention it is possible to provide a method for operating such a display so that the display is uniformly and smoothly updated to show changes in tape position.For example, where tape position is displayed in terms of time to the end of the tape, it is possible to operate the display to show changes in tape position of one second, the display being operated by a display clock and the rate of the display clock being synchronised with the actual rate of movement of the tape by comparing the actual tape position as determined each cycle with the tape position shown on the display, and changing the rate of the display clock to eliminate any difference between the actual position and the display position over a prolonged interval, to smooth the operation of the display and synchronise it with tape movement.

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a tape transport apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram similar to Fig. 1, detailing the memory sections of the controller and diagrammatically illustrating the controller output to the display and motor control circuit for the reel drive motors of the tape transport apparatus, Fig. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of a motor control circuit shown in block diagram form in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating the timing of two reel revolutions by means of timing pulses for an elapsed period represented by sixteen reel pulses, Fig. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating pulse count, reel speed and operations performed in the programmed operation of the microprocesser in the search mode to find a target position, Fig. 6 is a graphical representation of the pulse count curves stored in the memory section of the controller, Fig. 7 is a graphical representation of the multiple levels of supply voltage AV for the take-up drive motor, Fig. 8 is a simplified flow diagram of a preferred program for the central processor of the microprocesser type controller, illustrating the initial series of program steps at the start of the main program, Fig. 9 is a simplified flow diagram of a preferred program for the CPU to execute operations to control the tape transport in the play function, and illustrates particularly the operations in making tape position determinations, and synchronising the position shown in the display with the movement of the tape, Fig. 10 and 1 Oa are simplified charts of program steps shown in Fig. 9, in the control of the rate of the display clock to synchronise the display tape position with tape movement; ; Fig. 11 is a simplified flow diagram of a sub-routine executed by the CPU in response to an internal interrupt initiated by the timer of the controller, Fig. 12 is a simplified flow diagram of a preferred program for the CPU to control the apparatus in the fast forward and the fast rewind functions, Fig. 13 is a simplified flow diagram of a program for the CPU to control the tape transport apparatus in the search mode for a target position, and Fig. 14 is a simplified flow diagram of a program for the CPU to control the take-up drive motor in accordance with tape position.

GENERAL ORGANISATION OF TAPE TRANSPORT APPARATUS (Figs. 1,2) Now turning to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are block diagrams of tape transport apparatus having a control system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The system, in general, includes a controller 36, a motor control circuit for the drive motors of the tape transport apparatus, a display for monitoring tape movement by visually displaying tape position, an operator panel with a keyboard and control switches, and reel speed detectors herein shown as pulse generators supplying information on reel speed to the controller 36. In the preferred form of the invention the controller 36 is comprised of a set of integrated circuit chips forming a microprocessor, an exemplary and preferred microprocessor being the Mostek F8 which includes a CPU unit 38 and one or more ROM memory units 40.As indicated in Fig. 2, the controller 36 includes a timer 42, which in the case of the Mostek F8 microprocessor is provided by the memory unit 40, and has an external reference frequency input 44 which provides a time base so that the timer is operable in real time.

While it is preferred to utilise a Mostek F8 family of chips to provide a microprocessor based controller 36, it will be appreciated that other microprocessors are available and may be used to serve the same functions, and that the controller may be implemented using other equivalent electronic devices. When implemented with the Mostek F8 chips, the F8 CPU provides 64 bytes of RAM that may serve various register functions unique to the present invention, as well as provide read/write memory for arithmetic and logic functions. The CPU among other circuits also includes an arithmetic logic unit, an accumulator, I/O ports, clock circuits, and interrupt logic which allows CPU operation to be interrupted by a timer on the ROM chip or by an external source.One or more F8 ROM chips provide for storage of programs, I/O ports, a timer and program counter and stack register which handle the program function. With this construction, direct interfaces can be made by the controller 36 with peripheral devices since the CPU circuits provide, for example, encoding and decoding circuits for operating a display. The ROM's also provide for storage in coded signal form of the various unique constants required for cassette identification, search for target positions and other tape control functions performed by the apparatus, labelled in Fig. 2 as memory sections or blocks Cassette l.D.

Store, Cassette Constants Store and Reel Pulse Count Store.

Operator activated inputs to the controller 36 are provided from an operator panel having one keyboard for digit keys 0--9. cassette keys 50 labelled C-45, C-60, C-90 and C-120, and a second keyboard with function keys 52 labelled play, record, stop, etc. which also includes the search mode key 54.

Apparatus activated inputs to the controller 36 include detectors of speed of the reels of the cassettes or open web/reel assemblies in the tape transport apparatus, herein shown as including pulse generators 56, 58 on the spindles for reel 1, reel 2 respectively. Preferably the pulse generators 56, 58 are constructed to provide pulses at a rate representing reel angular velocity or rotational speed, and eight pulses per revolution of each reel is preferred for the rate, although the rate of pulse generation may, of course, be varied, and the speed detectors may, if desired, take other forms. Pulse streams or "reel pulses" from the pulse generators 56, 58 representing the rotational speed of the reels are supplied over input lines 60. 62 to the input/output ports 64 of the controller 36.

The tape transport apparatus includes drive motors M1 and M2 for the reels of the cassette or web/reel assembly which are controlled by a motor control circuit 66, which in turn is controlled by the controller 36. As indicated in Fig. 3, the motor control circuit 66 is connected over a set of output lines to the input/output ports of the controller 36, the lines being labelled P5-1, P 5-4 to P5-7 collectively labelled P5 in Figs. 1 and 2. In the present preferred form of the invention, the drive motors M1 and M2 of the tape transport apparatus are operable to drive the tape in play or record mode in one direction and in fast modes (fast forward or rewind) in both directions.Preferably the motors are of the type which may be adjusted in speed by varying the supply voltage to the motor windings, illustratively a 12 volt supply causing the motors Ml or M2, to operate at fast speed, the motor M1 serving as the take-up reel drive motor in forward direction, and the motor M2 serving as the take-up motor in the rewind direction. Circuits are conventionally provided for braking the supply reel by connecting the motor windings through resistances to ground to provide dynamic braking or through a mechanical brake.

The system provides for operation of the display 68 by the controller 36 over output lines 70 and 72 which preferably serve to drive the display to show in terms of time the position of the tape in the tape transport apparatus. Illustratively the display will be in minutes and seconds, the display having 4 digits, a higher order and lower order digit for the minutes and a higher order and a lower order digit for the seconds. Associated with the display are a set of lights 74 which are energised to indicate the functions being carried out by the apparatus under direction of the controller 36, such as play, fast forward, seach, etc. Another set of lights 76 is used to display the type of cassette in the apparatus, those lights being labelled C-45, C-60, C-90 and C-120. The function lights and cassette lights 74, 76 are driven from output lines 70 and through connections including the CPU circuits from the cassette keys 50 and function keys 52, so that manual activation of one of those keys also results in energising the corresponding function or cassette light.

In somewhat more detail, the display 68 is operated by a display clock which is preferably served by a register of the CPU 38 of the controller 36, the display clock operating to update the display in synchronism with the movement of the tape as tape is moved from one reel to the other of a cassette or web/reel assembly.

The motor control circuit 66 is supplied with output signals from the input/output ports 64 of the controller and also with a variable supply voltage AV V between five to ten volts which is connected to the take-up reel drive motor M1 via operation of a relay in the motor control circuit 66. The variable supply voltage is produced by the controller 36 in accordance with the tape position by placing a digital representation of the calculated supply voltage on a set of four output lines labelled P 1 -O to P 1 -3 which represent connections to input/output ports 64 of the controller 36.A circuit 80 schematically shown in Fig. 1 converts the representation of calculated supply voltage on combinations of the output lines P 1 -O to P 1 -3 to the supply voltage for the take-up drive motor and thus serves as a type of digital to analog converter circuit to produce the desired variable motor supply voltage.

Preferably, programs for controlling the processor 38 are stored in the program memory section of the controller 36 as indicated in Fig. 2. It should be recognised that while it is preferred to employ a microprocessor under program control, the invention is not so limited and may be implemented by analogue circuits or discrete digital circuitry.

TAPE POSITION DETERMINATION (Figs. 2, 4, 11) It is preferred to operate the CPU 38 of the controller 36 under program control to determine the absolute value of tape position in terms of time to the end of the tape on the takeoff reel. Such a position determination will be displayed by minutes and seconds on the display 68. Tape position determination is made by calculations following position determination algorithms employing equation Ill' as disclosed in the earlier British patent No. 1 555 059 which, it will be recalled, requires the ratio of rotational speeds of the reels and numerical constants A", B" uniquely characterising the physical parameters of the particular type of cassette or web/reei assembly loaded in the tape transport apparatus.

As disclosed in prior patents, numerical constants for the different known types of cassettes illustratively C-45, C-60, C-90 and C-1 20 are stored in a "Cassette Constants Store" provided by the memory unit 40 of the controller 36. Such numerical constants A", B" are recalled from memory in the course of operation of the CPU under program control to carry out the position determination algorithms. The ratio of rotational speeds of the reels is measured from the pulse streams received from the pulse generators and representing the rotational speeds of the reels 1 and 2.

In the present case means for measuring actual time is provided by the timer 42 of the controller 36. With the pulse generators 56, 58 providing eight pulses per revolution, 16 pulses from either pulse generator represents two complete revolutions of a reel. As shown in Fig. 4, 16 reel pulses are times by accumulating high frequency pulses in a timing register which may be provided by one of the scratch pad registers of the CPU or by memory included in the controller 36. The high frequency pulses accumulated in the timing register represent the elapsed time T1 for two revolutions of reel 1. Similarly, the elapsed time T2 is measured off for two revolutions of reel 2.The ratio T2/T1 is calculated by division, such as by dividing the content of one timing register by the content of the other timing register to provide an equivalent reel speed ratio to the ratio P2/P1 derived by calculating the ratio of accumulated reel pulses as explained in the prior patent 1 555 059. By measuring instantaneous speed ratio as shown herein, by timing sixteen pulses for each reel, the present system provides a more accurate representation of instantaneous speeds of the reels, and thus a more accurate representation of the ratio of instantaneous speeds to provide the requisite rotational speed ratio for use in the equation lli' to determine tape position.

Referring to equation Ill' as hereinbefore set forth, it will be seen that to make a calculation for t2 requires constant A" and B" plus the ratio of P2/P1. To calculate t2 by the CPU under program control requires straightforward programming. The measured ratio of rotational speeds of the reels, based on the ratio of times T2 divided by T,, it will be appreciated, serves for the required ratio P2,/P1 in the denominator of the fraction of equation Ill'.

While Fig. 4 illustrates timing the period of 1 6 reel pulses, the number may be varied as desired.

For example, for determination of speed of the reels when tape is driven at fast speed, the CPU is preferably programmed to time 32 pulses from each reel, representing four revolutions of each reel. It will be recognised that the intermediate portion of tape for which a tape position determination is made, is that portion being transferred from reel to reel while the speed ratio is determined. The longer the period of determination, the less precise the position determination. To provide a more accurate position determination, at normal play speed, it is preferred to program the CPU to time 16 pulses which provdes a more accurate measure of the speed of the tape.

Referring to Fig.11, this simplified flow diagram illustrates the program routine followed by the CPU in response to a timer interrupt request from the timer on the ROM. The timer interrupt request may be initiated at any preselected time interval such as the time base clock frequency of 4 KHz or onequarter millisecond. As shown in Fig. 1 the input lines from the pulse generators are tested and as pulses appear on one or other of the input lines, registers for each reel which are initially set to a count of 16 are decremented until zeroed. Pulses at a rate determined by an internal master clock are clocked into and accumulated in a timing register for each reel, for the period of 1 6 pulses.When the count reaches zero, after 16 pulses have been received from the associated reel pulse generator, accumulated clock pulses for the 16 reel pulses are moved from the timing register to another register and stored, the content of that register then representing the actual or real time for 1 6 pulses. A speed ratio determination is made by dividing the content of one register with the content of the other register, producing a speed ratio for use in the tape position determination equation III'.

OTHER CONTROLLED FUNCTIONS - PULSE COUNT STORE (Figs. 6, 8, 12) As shown in the flow diagram of Fig. 8, with one or more of the function keys pressed, the main program branches to routines to operate the CPU to control the tape transport apparatus in those functions. For example, the fast forward and fast rewind functions are controlled by programmed operation of the CPU 38, and a simplified flow diagram of the steps of the programs is shown in Fig. 12.

As indicated in the flow diagram. when the fast forward or fast rewind loops are entered, the first step in either loop is to set the motor control circuit, illustratively an output signal from the controller 35 over one of the output lines P5-7 or P5-4 to energise a relay to connect the forward motor Mi or rewind motor M2 to a source of voltage at 12 volts driving the motors at fast speed and also to set the display to show tape position. Tape position may have been calculated during the main program and be stored in a display register. The next operation performed in this sequence as indicated in the flow diagram is to set a register for each reel with a count of 32.At fast speed, position determinations are preferably made every four reel revolutions represented by 32 pulses received from each reel pulse generator 56, 58 indicated when these registers zero out. The period of the 32 pulses is timed for each reel, and reel speed ratio is based on the ratio of measured times. Since tape movement is at fast speed, the display may be smoothly updated based on position determinations every four instead of every two revolutions as at normal speed.

In the programmed sequence the other function keys are checked and if none of the search, play or record keys are pressed the fast forward and fast rewind sequences continue, the next step being to determine the position of the tape, preferably using position determination algorithms employing equation Ill' and the ratio of measured times for 32 reel pulses for each reel, and then displaying the determined position. The fast forward and fast rewind programs loop, the slow-down calculation and end-of-tape time out are checked again, and the loop repeats until one or the other of the function keys is pressed in which case the fast forward or fast rewind sequence terminates in favour of the selected function, or the tape reaches the end.Since the tape may be stopped between calculated tape positions 32 reel pulses apart, an estimated position determination is then made, based on the previous calculated position, stored in the display register, and the number of elapsed pulses since. An accumulator or register routinely stores pulses from the pulse generators 56, 58 and the accumulated total of pulses representing distance of the tape from the previous calculated position, is then utilised to locate the final position and to update the display.

Tape movement is monitored in the apparatus according to reel pulses from the pulse generators, by means included in the controller 36 and data derived from the "Reel Pulse Count Store" in the memory unit 40.

This enables accurate location of final tape position when the fast forward or rewind function is stopped, and finds other uses as will be seen later.

Thus, for each of the known standard types of cassette, the memory unit 40 stores the data graphically illustrated by the pulse count curve in Fig. 6, so that the CPU under program control is operative to derive expected pulse counts between tape positions. The data for the pulse count curve shown in Fig. 6 for one of the types of cassettes, is obtained directly or indirectly by rotating the cassette reels and taking total reel pulse counts periodically. For example, after two revolutions of one reel, representing within seconds of the very end of the tape, 1 6 pulses have been accumulated. After one hundred revolutions, BOO pulses have been accumulated, the position of the tape then being, in terms of time, about 1 80 seconds, or 3 minutes from the beginning.

C-60 Cassette Pulse Count Distance to End of Tape Number of Reel Revolutions Pulses Inches Time at normal play speed 1 8 24111 -- 1.5 seconds 2 16 43" -3 3 seconds 100 800 300" ~ 3 minutes 500 4000 1600" "" 15 minutes 850 6800 3200" 30 minutes The above table of data is provided to illustrate how the data may be obtained for the reel pulse count store and is exemplary only, the values given being approximate for explanation purposes.Thus, assuming the take-up reel is empty and the reels are rotated to transfer tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, and assuming the outside diameter of the reel spool to be approximately 4 inch, the distance travelled per revolution with the spool empty is approximately 24 inches, and at normal play speed of 14 inches/second requires 1.5 seconds/revolution. The winding diameter of the take-up reel, of course, grows as tape builds upon the reel until when full the diameter is approximately 2 inches and the distance of tape movement per revolution is approximately 6 inches.To reach the half full condition, with equal amounts of tape on both reels, requires more than half the approximately 850 revolutions to transfer the length of tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel, because of the gradual increase in diameter of the winding on the take-up reel. Thus, if distance to the end of the tape on the supply reel is plotted on the abscissa (in terms of time), and expected reel pulse count to the end of the tape on the supply reel on the ordinate, the correlation approximately graphically represented in Fig. 6 is obtained.

A hyperbolic curve is obtained which may be approximately and conveniently represented by two straight line segments, as shown in Fig. 6. By storing coded signals representing this curve in the "pulse Count Store" in memory, pulse count for any given tape position may be derived, or the inverse thereof, and the difference in pulse count between any two positions may be determined by a process of subtraction of one pulse count value determined from the curve from another also determined from the curve. An unknown position may be determined from the pulse count curve based on one position which is known and total measured pulse count between the known and the unknown position.

Therefore, having the previous display position and the number of elapsed pulses since, as indicated in Fig.12 an estimated final position is obtained by recalling the tape position from the pulse count store for the designated cassette, in the memory unit 40. The estimated position is displayed as a "best" position and the program returns to the program for the designated function. If entering play or record functions, for example, the CPU under control of that program routinely determines positions every two reel revolutions and the display will then be updated from the "best" position and smoothly operated to display tape position in synchronism with tape movement as tape is driven to normal speed.

SEARCH FOR TARGET POSITIONS (Figs. 5, 6, 13) Means are provided for automatically searching for target positions inserted by the operator through activating the digit keys of the keyboard.

As hereinbefore explained, tape position determinations are based on reel speed ratios, Pl/P2 measured by timing (at normal speed) two revolutions of each reel, using high frequency pulses clocked into timing registers. Using high frequency clock pulses to measure real time for two revolutions of each reel, provides an accurate representation of average speed for the two revolutions, and an accurate determination of tape position can thus be made based on reel speed ratios every two reel revolutions or 6 to 8 seconds at normal tape speed.

It appears that making periodic, spaced measurements of reel speed ratios limits the system of this invention to accurately determining, based on such speed ratios, tape positions spaced twice the circumferential distance of windings on a reel.

However, positions intermediate the accurately determined spaced positions are located based on expected reel pulse counts derived from the pulse count curves stored in memory, thus providing a more accurate method of determining tape position than one based on calculation alone.

As one important application it provides high speed random access to any target position on the tape, using position determinations by calculation to within approximately 15 seconds preceding the target position, and finding the target position by counting pulses from the determined position to reach the target position.

Referring to Fig. 5, this is a timing diagram showing the preferred mode of operation of the CPU 38 under program control, to control the drive motors Mi, M2 of the tape transport apparatus and monitor the movement of the tape on the display 68 to reach a target position pre-set by the operator using the keyboard. Thus, as shown in Fig. S, if the tape position is unknown (i.e. if the cassette has just been inserted) the tape is driven at normal speed for a position determination (period of 16 pulses from the reel pulse generators), otherwise the tape is driven at fast speed until twenty seconds from the target position, then at normal speed for determinating an accurate tape position, and then at intermediate speed until the target position is reached.It will also be noted the target position is reached with the tape driven at intermediate speed and the controller using expected reel pulse counts from the Reel Pulse Count Store to accurately determine the length of tape to be driven to reach the target position.

Now turning to Fig. 1 3, which is a simplified flow diagram of the program steps the CPU 38 executes in the search process, as there shown, on entering the search mode the display and controls are set, and the question is asked "Is Position Accurate?" If "no" an accurate position is determined and the display shows a measured and, therefore, accurate position. If not within 1 5 seconds of the target, controller 36 connects the take-up drive motor (M1 or M2) in the fast forward or rewind direction to the high voltage of 12 volts, by operating one of the relays 84 or 86 in the motor control circuit 66 over line P5-6 or P5-4, to cause the motor M1 or M2 to operate at maximum speed and move the tape at fast speed toward the target position.

When within 20 seconds of target position as determined from the continually updated display of tape position based on periodic position determinations made every four revolutions during the fast speed operation, the take-up drive motor is reduced to normal speed, indicated by the program step in Fig. 1 5 "Within 20 seconds of target?". Based on a reel speed ratio calculated following the elapsed period of 16 reel pulses (see Fig.5), an accurate tape position determination is then made. A calculation is then made of pulses expected to the target position, by determining the difference between the expected pulse count at the accurately determined position and the pulse count expected at the target position, by reading data from the Pulse Count Store.The tape drive motor is then switched to intermediate speed by connecting the windings of the take-off motor to ground. This connection to ground creates a braking action which reduces tape speed, and is achieved by energising relays of the motor control circuit 66 via output lines connected to the processor ports. When the target position is reached, the function designated by the operator through activating one of the function keys of the keyboard is then entered.

DISPLAY SMOOTHING AND SYNCHRONISATION (Figs. 9, 10, 1 OA) In the system of the prior patent previously referred to, the controller updates the display of tape position based on periodic determinations of instantaneous positions of the tape. Considering the system constructed as preferred, in which tape position is displayed in terms of time to the end of the tape, if the tape position determination is repeated approximately every 6-8 seconds representing the rotation through two revolutions of both reels where both reels are half full of tape, if the display is updated to show the tape position after each cycle of determination the display will jump 6-8 seconds at a time, and the jumps may be somewhat uneven.

In keeping with the present invention, a method and means are provided for operating the display so that it is uniformly and smoothly updated to show changes in tape position of one second, the display being operated by a display clock in the intervals between tape position determinations, and the rate of the display clock being synchronised with the actual rate of movement of the tape by comparing the actual tape position as determined each cycle, with the tape position shown on the display, and changing the rate of the display clock to eliminate any difference between the actual position and the display position over a prolonged interval, to smooth out the operation of the display.

An illustrative simplified program flow chart (Fig. 9) illustrates the programmed operation of the CPU 38 to drive the display 68 in this manner, it being understood that a program will be stored in the program section of the memory unit 40 to operate the CPU 38, as will be clear to a man skilled in this art. Turning first to Figs. 1 and 2, to drive the display 68 combinations of output signals on the output line 70, 72 from I/O port 64 are connected to the circuits of the display 68 which may be an LCD or LED display unit of four digits to display minutes and seconds. The CPU 38 and memory 40 may provide the requisite decorder circuits to drive the display directly when Mostek F8 integrated circuits are used, or decoder circuits separate from the controller 36 may be provided where the controller is implemented in a different manner. Preferably, and in keeping with this invention, the CPU 38 under program control provides a display clock 78 which is connected to and controls the display 68.

Referring to Fig.11, as there shown the main programmed operation of the CPU 38 is interrupted on a regular real time cycle by a timer interrupt request. The display clock 78 may be implemented by a register of the CPU 38 or RAM memory of the memory unit 40, which register is initially set to a value or content, and is decremented each cycle of the timer interrupt request, for example every 8 ms., so that in the absence of adjustment the register times out each second and the display clock updates the display once each second. The nominal value loaded in the register is 125,125 counts of 8 ms. giving one second decrementation. Due to time interrupts and other time consuming operations, the central value is 122 not 125.The time out of the display clock register, and thus the rate at which the display clock updates the display, is speeded up or slowed down, in accordance with the present invention, by loading the display clock register with a value greater or less than the central value by an amount which varies according to the sense and magnitude of the difference between the position shown on the display clock and the actual position of the tape as determined each cycle by the controller. The value loaded in the register is read from memory as indicated in Figs.10 and 1 OA, the display clock being adjusted as the difference (A) between the display position "T" and the actual position "D" varies within a limit plus or minus 5 seconds.As indicated in Fig. 10, the display clock is slowed down if A is greater than zero (within the 5 seconds), the calculation for the digital value to be added to the content of the register being based on smoothing constants that are indicated in Figs.10 and 1 OA. Thus if A is plus or minus less than 1 second, the constants value is 122, representing a median value for basing the calculation to adjust the time out of the display clock register. As indicated, the constants value increases and decreases incrementally as A varies in one second increments. As shown in Fig. 1 OA, if A is less than zero the value of the constants read from memory are from 122 to 91; as shown in Fig. 10 if A is greater than zero the constants read from memory are from 140 to 210.

Again referring to Fig. 9, in somewhat more detail, in response to operator initiation of the play function, the system enters the play mode of operation the function lights are set by the controller 36, and as indicated in the block "Set Smoothing Display Clock", an initial value is set into the register serving the function of the display clock. The display clock register is therefore set to a content such that it will clock the display to update the display on a one second interval. As indicated in the next block in the flow chart, a 1 6 reel pulse count is set in registers for each reel. This is to initialise the circuits for timing the period of two revolutions of each reel.For this purpose, the stream of roe; pulses issued from each reel pulse generator is counted until a tote' of 1 6 pulses, representing two revolutions of the associated reel, has been received. As indicated in Fig. 1 in response to a timer interrupt, when a reel I pulse is received by the controller on an input line, the reel pulse count in the register is decremented, and this process continues until the count equals zero. The period for 16 pulses is thus timed by feeding high frequency pulses to the timing register, and accumulating in the timing register the high frequency pulses for the period of 16 reel pulses.As indicated in Fig. 11 when the count in the reel pulse count register equals zero, the timing register contents are transferred to a time store register where the contents are stored. The same sequence, as indicated in Fig.11, is carried out for reel II pulses, such that at the end of 1 6 pulses from each reel, the timing register contents for each reel are transferred to storage registers.

Turning back to Fig. 9, following the step of "set 1 6 Reel Pulse Count in Registers for Each Reel" as there indicated the question is asked "Smoothing Clock Equals Zero?". As also indicated in the timer interrupt flow chart of Fig. 11 the smoothing display clock is decremented each timer interrupt cycle, and if the smoothing display clock has been decremented to zero, as indicated in the flow chart in Fig. 9, the smoothing display clock is reset and the display is decremented 1 second.If the smoothing clock does not equal zero, the routine jumps from "Smoothing Clock Equals Zero?" to the block "Has Reel Pulse Count Reached 16 Pulses from Each Reel?", representing that both registers for the reels have been decremented to zero and the time is ready to make position determination "0". if the display is blank, as it may be where this is the first position determination made by the controller, then the display is set to position "D"; if the display shows a position made by a prior determination, the position shown in the display "T" and the position "D" just made are compared, and the value of "A -T--D" is computed.If the difference between the displayed position "T" and the just determined position "D" is within 45 seconds, then an adjustment is made of the display clock rate. If the difference between the displayed and determined position is greater than 5 seconds, the display is updated to show the newly determined position "D". Thus, smoothing of the display operation by adjusting the rate of the display clock, is only carried out when the comparison between the displayed position and the newly determined position is within a 5 second interval.As indicated also in Figs. 10 and 1 OA, if upon comparison the difference between the displayed position "T" and the freshly determined position "D" is greater than zero but within 5 seconds, smoothing constants are then read from memory and the display clock is slowed down by changing the content of the register serving the function of the display clock by a value calculated based on smoothing constants the value of which correspond to the increment of difference between zero and 5 seconds. Similarly, if â is less than zero but within 5 seconds, the clock is speeded up so as to bring the display into synchronism with the actual position of the tape over a prolonged interval. Preferably the prolonged interval is on the order of 15 seconds, the digital value to be added to the content of the display clock register being calculated to change the rate of the display clock in a smooth rnanner so as to avoid any abrupt and noticeable increase or decrease in the normally one second changes in position shown on the display.

CONTROL OF SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO MOTORS (Figs. 1-3,6.7, 14) Means are provided to control the supply voltage to the drive motors Ml or M2 for monitoring the movement of the tape in accordance with tape position. A feature provided by this is the regulation of output torque of the take-up motor M1 to maintain substantially constant tension or tractive force applied to the tape by the drive motor on the take-up reel throughout the entire process of transferring tape from reel to reel when moved at normal speed for play or record.For this purpose, the controller 36 calculates the desired supply voltage based on tape position and produces signals on the lines P 1 -O to P 1-3 which in digital form represent the calculated variable supply voltage to maintain constant tractive force, and means are provided herein shown in Fig. 1 as the circuit 80 which takes the output in digital form from the CPU 38, converts it to an approximately linearly varying supply voltage AV for the take-up motor M1 as shown in Fig. 7. The controller 36, as indicated in the flow diagram Fig.14, determines the requisite supply voltage to the drive motor Ml to provide a variable torque which increases and decreases in approximate proportion to the radius of the tape winding on the take-up reel, which is a linear function.

The supply voltage control circuit 80 of Fig. 1 can be considered, in simplified terms, to comprise means for converting a digital signal on the output pins P 1 -O to P 1-3 of the CPU 38, to an analog voltage applied to the take-up reel drive motor and varying through sixteen voltage levels approximating a linear voltage change between 5 and 10 volts (as shown in Fig. 7), as the digital output from the CPU 38 is varied as represented by combinations of high and low voltages on the pins P1-O to P I-3 of the CPU.The circuit 80 includes an array of resistances 84 of 5K, OK, 20K and 40K ohms connected in parallel to the output pins of the CPU as indicated in Fig. 1, operational amplifiers 86, and an output transistor 88 to supply the output voltage at the CPU controlled level to the motor M1 for the take-up reel. The variable supply voltage is connected to the motor M 1 when the relay 82 in the motor control circuit 66 of Fig. is energised by a control signal on the output line P5-7 responsive to the play or record function being initiated.

In addition to providing means for connecting and disconnecting the variable supply voltage AV 5/10 V. to the drive motor M 1, the motor control circuit 66 also provides means to change the speed of movement of the tape between normal arid fast speed in response to manual activation and deactivation of fast speed controls or programmed controlled operation. This motor control circuit includes the relay 84 to connect 12 volts for fast speed of the forward motor M1 in response to an output signal from the controller 36 on the output line connected to the controller port P5-6. A signal over the output line connected to the controller port P5-4 energises the relay 86 to connect the 12 volt source to the rewind drive motor M2 and to cause the drive motor M2 to operate at fast speed.For applying dynamic braking forces to the supply reel in the forward or rewind directions, output signals over the lines connected to the output ports P5-1 or P5-5 operate respectively relays 89, 90 to connect the motor windings of the motors M2 or Ml to ground through the resistances 93, 94. A signal on the output line connected to port P57 is operative both to connect the variable supply voltage AS 5/10 volts to the forward drive motor Ml, and to operate the relay 92 to energise the solenoid "sol" to engage the capstan drive for the tape. With the control of the variable supply voltage AV 5/10 volts by the controller 36 and the network 80, and the control of the application to the motor windings of the standard 12 volt source, means are thus provided to control the speed of motors M1 or M2 to maintain normal speed for play and record modes, intermediate speed for slow-down and end-of-search sequence and fast speed for fast forward or rewind in response to both manual controls and automatically in accordance with tape position.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. A tape transport apparatus for tape/reel assemblies having two reels carrying tape, drive means for moving the tape from reel to reel, reel speed detectors including means generating reel pulses at rates proportional respectively to the speed of each reel, and controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and employing the ratio between the speeds of the reels for monitoring tape movement, comprising in combination:: means for counting reel pulses for each reel, means timing and producing output signals respectively representing the elapsed periods of the same total count of reel pulses for each reel, means determining the ratio between the respective output signals from said timing means to represent the ratio between the speeds of the reels employed by said controller means for monitoring tape movement, and means operating a display of tape position to provide a continuously changing indication of the tape position in terms of time synchronised with successive tape positions determined by said controller means. 2. A tape transport apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: display clock means operating at an adjustable rate and incrementing or decrementing said display to indicate continuously changing tape position, and means synchronising the display with the moving tape including means determining successive tape positions based on the reel speeds from said detectors, means comparing a determined position with the tape position indicated by said display and providing signals representing the magnitude and sense of any difference, and means increasing or decreasing the rate of said display clock means in accordance with the magnitude and sense of any such difference represented by said signals to reduce any such difference over a prolonged interval, thereby smoothing the operation of the display. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including means to operate said display to indicate the determined position in response to signals representing that the magnitude of the difference between said determined position and the indicated position exceeds said predetermined limit. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor unit including said display clock means is operated under program control to determine successive tape positions, to compare each successive determined tape position with the tape position indicated by said display, to determine the magnitude and sense of any such difference between determined and indicated positions and whether such difference exceeds a predetermined limit, to increase or decrease the rate of said display clock means in accordance with the magnitude and sense of any such difference within said limit, and to operate said display to indicate the determined position if any such difference exceeds said limit. 5. A tape transport apparatus for tape/reel assemblies having two reels carrying tape, comprising: drive means for moving the tape from reel to reel, reel speed detectors providing signals representing revolutions of the reels, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors and determining successive tape positions in terms of time, based on reel speed ratios determined by timing revolutions of said reels, a display, means operating said display to provide a continuously changing indication of tape position in terms of time, as tape is moved from reel to reel, and means synchronising said continously changing indication of tape movement provided by said display with successive tape positions determined by said controller means. 6. A tape transport apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means operating said display includes an adjustable display clock, and said means synchronising said display with successive tape positions operates by adjusting the clock rate of said display clock. 7. A tape transport apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said display clock is provided by said controller means and includes a register, means for storing a predetermined count in said register for each unit of time indication on said display, clock means for decrementing said predetermined count in said register to time-out each unit of time, means for changing said display in response to time-out of said register, and means for adjusting said predetermined count in said register to adjust the time-out period and the effective rate of said display clock. 8. A tape transport apparatus comprising tape position display means constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. New claims or amendments to claims filed on 16 December, 1982 Superseded claims 1 to 8 New or amended claims:~1 to 9

1. An apparatus for controlling the movement of tape/reel assembly in which tape is transferred between two reels, including reel speed detectors for each of the reels and in which the movement controller means comprises: means for determining successive tape positions from the measurements of the reel speed detectors, dedicated memory means for reference information corresponding to the tape/reel assembly used and means for releasing said information therefrom.

means for generating intermediate signals combining said computed ratio and said reference information in dependence of the momentary position of the tape in relation to one or the other end, said apparatus further comprising, a display, means for changing said display to provide a continually changing indication of tape position in terms of time between the completion of successive computations of the tape position by combining measurements of the reel speed detectors with said reference information, said display changing means being actuated by said intermediate signals determined by said controller means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: display clock means for operating at an adjustable rate to increment or decrement said display to indicate continuously changing tape position, and means for synchronising the display with the moving tape and the successive tape positions determined from the reel speeds measured by said detection means, means for comparing a determined position with the tape position indicated by said display and for providing signals representing the magnitude and sense of any difference, and means for increasing or decreasing the rate of said display clock means in accordance with the magnitude and sense of any such difference represented by said signals to reduce any such difference over a prolonged interval, thereby smoothing the operation of the display.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including means for operating said display to indicate a determined position in response to signals representing that the magnitude of the difference between said determined position and the indicated position exceeds a predetermined limit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for operation under program control to determine successive tape positions, to compare each successive determined tape position with the tape position indicated by said display, to determine the magnitude and sense of any such difference between determined and indicated positions and whether such difference exceeds a predetermined limit, to increase or decrease the rate of said display clock means in accordance with the magnitude and sense of any such difference within said limit, and to operate said display to indicate the determined position if any such difference exceeds said limit.

5. A tape transport apparatus for a tape/reel assembly having two reels carrying tape, comprising: drive means for moving the tape from reel to reel, reel speed detectors for providing signals representing revolutions of the reels, controller means connected to said reel speed detectors for determining successive tape positions in terms of time, based on reel speed measurements determined by timing revolutions of said reels, a display, means for changing said display to provide a continually changing indication of tape position in terms of time, as tape is moved from reel to reel, between said successive tape positions determined from the reel speed detector signals, and means for synchronising said continually changing indication of tape movement provided by said display with successive tape positions determined by said controller means.

6. A tape transport apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for operating said display includes an adjustable display clock, and said means for synchronising said display with successive tape positions is arranged to operate by adjusting the clock rate of said display clock.

7. A tape transport apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said display clock is provided by said controller means and includes a register, means for storing a predetermined count in said register for each unit of time indication on said display, clock means for decrementing said predetermined count in said register to time-out each unit of time, means for changing said display in response to time-out of said register, and means for adjusting said predetermined count in said register to adjust the time-out period and the effective rate of said display clock.

8. A tape transport apparatus comprising display smoothing means constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of smoothing a display of tape movement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.