JP2000100119A - Method for identifying tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read cassette identification information when memory information cannot be accessed and identify a cassette by recording to a tape, information recorded to a memory loaded to a tape cassette at the formatting of the tape cassette as the cassette identification information. SOLUTION: When a tape cassette loading a memory is inserted, a tape recording/reproducing apparatus accesses information recorded to the loaded memory, extracts cassette identification information composed of mechanical electric characteristics, a format system of a tape and the like from the information, and records to a fixed area of the tape itself in a fixed mode. If the apparatus cannot access the memory information, the apparatus searches for a system area of the tape in a least significant mode of an AIT format. When detecting the system area, the apparatus tries to read starting from a most significant mode of the AIT format sequentially to a less significant mode, and sets an optimum process mode, based on the read cassette identification information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape recording / reproducing apparatus capable of correctly identifying the type of a tape cassette even when a memory in which various information of the tape cassette is recorded cannot be accessed. Do
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a tape cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some tape cassettes have a memory on which information and the like relating to data recorded on the tape cassette are recorded.

In a tape cassette equipped with such a memory, external contacts for connecting the memory to the outside are appropriately provided in the cassette case in order to read information recorded in the memory and write information to the memory. It is provided in various places.

[0004] In a tape recording / reproducing apparatus,
With reference to various information recorded in the memory, discrimination of tape type, recognition of tape length (storage time), discrimination of electrical characteristics of tape, recognition of tape thickness, and the like are performed. To perform appropriate processing.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned tape cassette, when an external contact causes a contact failure due to dirt or deterioration, or when the information recorded in the memory or the memory itself is broken, Various information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed, and the tape recording / reproducing device cannot perform appropriate processing with reference to the information recorded in the memory. There was a problem that would.

More specifically, when recording or reproducing information, various electrical characteristics of the tape cannot be set to appropriate values, so that the error rate increases and the length of the tape cannot be recognized. As a result, a malfunction due to misidentification of the recording capacity, and an inability to recognize the thickness of the tape can set an appropriate tape tension, thereby damaging the tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention is directed to a tape cassette having a memory in which predetermined information is recorded, even if the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed. It is an object of the present invention to enable an apparatus to perform appropriate processing.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method of identifying a tape cassette according to the present invention comprises a tape cassette in a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette having a memory in which predetermined information is recorded. It is an identification method, and when formatting a tape cassette,
The information recorded in the memory is recorded on the tape as cassette identification information. When the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed, the tape cassette is identified by reading the cassette identification information.

Therefore, even if the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed for some reason, it is possible to perform appropriate processing on the tape cassette by reading the information written on the tape.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a method for identifying a tape cassette in a tape cassette according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following embodiments, the present invention is called a so-called A
The present invention is applied to a tape cassette for an IT format data streamer and a method of identifying a tape cassette in a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using the same.

First, the tape cassette will be described.

The tape cassette 1 has a structure based on the existing AIT format (hereinafter, referred to as "AIT1 format"), and includes a cassette case 2 which is a housing formed by combining an upper half and a lower half. A pair of tape reels 4 around which a tape 3 is wound are rotatably housed.

The cassette case 2 has a front lid 5.
Are rotatably supported. The front lid 5 is for opening and closing the portion where the tape 3 is pulled out and exposed, that is, the front surface of the cassette case 2 including the tape drawing recess 6.

The lower surface 7 of the cassette case 2 is provided with a plurality of identification holes 8, 8,... As shown in FIG. These identification holes 8, 8,... Are write-protected for 8 mm tape provided because the AIT format is based on the so-called 8 mm tape format originally used for video. An identification hole (8 mm WP hole), a WP hole (AIT1WP hole) when used as an AIT format tape cassette, and a cleaning tape identification newly provided for identifying whether or not the tape cassette 1 is a cleaning tape. Hall (CL hall),
WP holes for AIT2 (AIT2WP holes) and the like.

On the left side of the rear wall 9 of the cassette case 2, a MIC (Memory in Cassette) mechanism 10 is provided.

That is, the MIC mechanism 10 records information relating to the tape cassette 1, particularly various information relating to the tape 3, and these information are read out by a tape recording / reproducing apparatus described later or newly recorded. The information is updated and written.

The MIC mechanism 10 includes an MIC board 11 embedded in the cassette case 2 by an appropriate method,
On the IC substrate 11, a memory (not shown) for recording various information related to the tape cassette 1 and a plurality of external contacts 12, 12,...

The information on the tape cassette 1 recorded in the memory of the MIC mechanism 10 includes information on the tape manufacturer, information on the MIC mechanism 10 and a search map, material, electrical characteristics, length, thickness, etc. 3 and the like.

Next, a description will be given of a tape recording / reproducing device 13 which is hardware using the tape cassette 1. The tape recording / reproducing device 13 is a so-called data streamer device of AIT format.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13 comprises a tape guide system 14, a head drum 15, a reel mechanism 16, and an MIC reading mechanism 1 constituting a tape path.
7, a cassette hole identification mechanism 18 and the like.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the tape recording / reproducing device 13, the MIC reading mechanism 17
It operates so as to approach the MIC mechanism 10 so that various kinds of information recorded in the MIC mechanism 10 can be accessed.
Contact points 1 corresponding to 2, 12,...
9, 19, and 19 are provided.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded, the cassette hole identification mechanism 18 identifies the identification holes 8, 8,.
For each of the above, the open or closed state is detected by an appropriate means using a slit sensor or the like.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13, various information on the tape cassette 1 is transmitted by the MIC reading mechanism 17 and the cassette hole identifying mechanism 18 to the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 1.
3 is read.

However, the contact 1 of the MIC mechanism 10
, And the contact 1 of the MIC reading mechanism 17
9, 19, and 19 cause contact failure due to dirt or deterioration, or when information recorded in the MIC mechanism 10 or the memory itself on the MIC board 11 is broken (hereinafter, “the MIC mechanism has failed. In this case, the expression “case” or a similar expression is used.) Therefore, various information of the MIC mechanism 10 cannot be accessed.

Some AIT format tape cassettes do not have the MIC mechanism 10. Even when such a tape cassette is used in the tape recording / reproducing device 13, the MIC mechanism 10 cannot be detected. Therefore, in this case, the same problem as in the case where the MIC mechanism has failed occurs.

As described above, since the MIC mechanism 10 records various information related to the tape cassette 1, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13 refers to the information recorded in the MIC mechanism 10. Otherwise, it is impossible to perform appropriate processing on the tape cassette 1, especially the tape 3, and in a remarkable case, various processing on the tape 3 may not be performed at all.

Therefore, in the tape cassette 1, information for identifying the tape cassette 1 at the time of manufacturing or recording / reproducing the tape cassette 1, ie, the length of the tape, the thickness of the tape 3, and the electrical The cassette identification information is recorded in accordance with the characteristics, the format of the tape cassette 1, and the like. The cassette identification information is a tape 3
, For example, in an appropriate mode in the AIT format in a system area or the like. As described above, when the cassette identification information is recorded on the tape 3 in the same manner as the normal recording information, it is not necessary to separately provide a special mechanism for reading the cassette identification information.

When the information recorded in the MIC mechanism of the tape cassette cannot be accessed, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13 can be used when the MIC mechanism is out of order or when the tape cassette having no MIC mechanism is used. It cannot be distinguished when used.

In general, when the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13 cannot detect the MIC mechanism 10, it can be classified into the following four cases in consideration of the state of the tape. (A) When the MIC mechanism fails and the tape is blank, (B) MI
If the C mechanism has failed and the tape has been formatted, (C) a tape cassette without the MIC mechanism and if the tape is blank, (D) the MIC
This is a case where the tape cassette has no mechanism and the tape has been formatted.

In the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13, if it is impossible to access the MIC mechanism of the tape cassette in order to distinguish the above (A) to (D), the tape cassette is set to the lowest order in the AIT format for the time being. The reproduction process is performed in the mode. Therefore, by performing such processing, it becomes possible to identify whether or not the tape cassette is (D).

Further, in order to detect a case other than the case (D), the tape mounted on the tape cassette 1 having the MIC mechanism 10, in other words, the tape cassette other than the one for the lowest mode in the AIT format. Means 20 are provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory mounted display means 20 is provided with both ends (so-called BO) of the tape 3.
T and EOT), the leader tape portions 22, 22 interposed between the magnetic recording portion 21 and the tape reel 4,
A plurality of stripes 23, 2 and
.. Are provided. Note that the memory mounted display means 20 in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13
Is detected by, for example, a detecting unit using an optical sensor or the like.

As described above, in the tape cassette 1, the stripes 22, 2
Are provided and read and recognized by an appropriate method, for example, the MIC mechanism 1
Even if 0 is out of order, it is possible to distinguish the tape cassette from the tape cassette which does not originally have the MIC mechanism 10, that is, distinguish the above (A) to (C).

The operation of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13 for identifying a tape cassette will be described below.

That is, when a tape cassette is mounted on the tape recording / reproducing apparatus 13, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 is performed. Hereinafter, each step in the flowchart will be described.

In step (hereinafter referred to as "ST") 1, an attempt is made to access the MIC mechanism and the MIC reading mechanism. When the communication with the MIC mechanism is normally performed, the process proceeds to ST2, and when the communication with the MIC mechanism cannot be performed, the process proceeds to ST4.

In ST2, the information recorded in the MIC mechanism is confirmed, and the information for identifying the tape is read from the information to identify the tape cassette.

In step ST3, cassette identification information, which is information for identifying the type of tape and tape cassette, is taken out of this information and written on the tape, and the operation of identifying the tape cassette is completed. The normal recording / reproducing operation for the tape cassette based on the above is started.

In ST4, processing for confirming the tape system area is performed in the lowest mode in the AIT format. And in this ST4, A
If the system area of the tape can be read in the lowest mode in the IT format, it is determined that the cassette is (D). On the contrary, A
If the tape system area could not be read in the lowest mode in the IT format, the next ST5
Proceed to.

In ST5, a process for confirming the presence / absence of the memory-mounted display means is performed. If the memory-equipped display means could not detect, this cassette
A tape cassette without an IC mechanism, that is, (C)
It turns out that it is. Further, when the memory mounted display means can be detected in ST5, the process proceeds to the next ST6.

In ST6, the system area of the tape is reproduced in order from the upper mode to the lower mode of the AIT format, and a process for simply checking whether information can be read from the system area is performed. If the information cannot be read from the system area in any mode, it is determined that the tape cassette is unformatted, that is, (A). If the system area of the tape can be read, the process proceeds to ST7.

In step ST7, the tape cassette is identified based on the tape mode specified in step ST6. That is, at this stage, the MIC
It is already clear that the mechanism is out of order, and in the immediately preceding ST6, it is also clear in which mode the tape system area could read information, so that the tape cassette was replaced by the above (B). Is identified.

As described above, by combining various tape cassette identification methods such as ST1 to ST7, any tape cassette can be identified in detail. .

It should be noted that the specific shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples for embodying the present invention. The scope should not be construed as limiting.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, the method for identifying a tape cassette according to the present invention is a method for identifying a tape cassette in a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette having a memory on which predetermined information is recorded. When the tape cassette is formatted, information recorded in the memory is recorded as cassette identification information on the tape, and when the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed, the tape cassette is read by reading the cassette identification information. It is characterized in that it is identified.

Therefore, even when the information recorded in the memory cannot be used for some reason,
By reading the cassette identification information, it is possible to correctly identify the type of the cassette.
Optimal processing can be performed on the tape cassette.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed, the tape system is set to the lowest mode among the recording and reproducing formats supported by the tape recording and reproducing apparatus. Since the process of identifying the tape cassette by reproducing the area is also used together, even when a tape cassette without a memory originally used for a tape recording / reproducing apparatus is used, the tape cassette with the memory is used. In the cassette, it is possible to identify the case where the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed for some reason, and it is also possible to perform the optimum processing even on a tape cassette in which the memory is not originally mounted. Become.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, a memory mounting display means is provided at an end of the tape to identify a tape cassette having no memory on which predetermined information is recorded. In addition, even when a tape cassette without a memory is used for a tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the processing for detecting the presence or absence of a memory mounted display means is also used. Can be very easily distinguished from a case where the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed for some reason.

Further, according to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, when the presence of the memory mounting detecting means is detected, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus has the highest rank among the recording / reproducing formats corresponding thereto. Since the processing for identifying the tape cassette is also used by reproducing the system area of the tape in order from the lower mode to the lower mode, the recording system used by the tape cassette can be identified in detail.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a tape cassette identification processing procedure in a tape cassette identification method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a memory mounted display means and its installation form.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette having an AIT format MIC mechanism mounted thereon.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using an AIT format tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape cassette, 3 ... Tape, 10 ... Memory, 13
... Tape recording / reproducing apparatus, 20 ... Memory mounting display means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for identifying a tape cassette in a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette having a memory in which predetermined information is recorded, wherein the information recorded in the memory is formatted when the tape cassette is formatted. A method for identifying a tape cassette, wherein the information is recorded on a tape as cassette identification information, and when the information recorded in the memory cannot be accessed, the tape identification is read to identify the tape cassette. 2. A process for identifying a tape cassette by reproducing a system area of a tape in the lowest mode among recording and reproduction formats supported by a tape recording and reproducing apparatus when information recorded in a memory cannot be accessed. 2. The method for identifying a tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A memory mounting display means is provided at an end of the tape, and when identifying a tape cassette in which a memory storing predetermined information is not mounted, the processing for detecting the presence or absence of the memory mounting display means is also used. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification of the tape cassette is performed. 4. A memory mounting display means is provided at an end of the tape, and when identifying a tape cassette in which a memory storing predetermined information is not mounted, the processing for detecting the presence or absence of the memory mounting display means is also used. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the tape cassette is identified. 5. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus which reproduces a tape system area in order from the highest mode to the lower mode among the corresponding recording / reproducing formats when detecting that the memory mounting detecting means is present. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a process for identifying the tape cassette is used in combination. 6. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus which reproduces a tape system area from a highest-order mode to a lower-order mode in a corresponding recording / reproducing format when detecting that the memory mounting detecting means is present. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a process for identifying a tape cassette is used together.