JP2002140802A - Device and method for recording, device and method for reproducing and tape recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability of a searching operation in a tape streamer drive. SOLUTION: In this tape recording medium of a tape format, high-density recording is carried out in a user data area, and a low-density recording is carried out in a subcode area. The recording and reproducing devices are adapted to execute recording and reproducing in matching with the tape format. Thus, the subcode is reproduced more stably even during, for example, searching.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a recording method, a reproducing apparatus, and a reproducing method for performing recording and reproduction corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic tape. Further, the present invention relates to a tape-shaped recording medium on which information is recorded by such a recording apparatus and a recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a digital audio tape player (DAT recorder / player) for recording and reproducing digital audio data on a magnetic tape, and a DAT system using a magnetic tape are also used as a data storage system for a computer. Digital data storage devices (DDS devices) for recording and reproducing computer data have been developed.

In these apparatuses, for example, 90
The tape runs while the magnetic tape is wound at a wrap angle of °, the rotating drum is rotated, and recording / reproducing scanning is performed by the helical scan method using the magnetic head on the rotating drum. Recording is enabled. In addition, the magnetic head has, for example, two heads having different azimuth angles as a pair and is arranged in a positional relationship of 180 ° facing the rotating drum, so that a track pattern formed on the magnetic head is Tracks having different azimuths are alternately arranged. That is, a so-called azimuth recording method is adopted, thereby solving the problem of crosstalk between adjacent tracks. In the present specification, a device that records and reproduces data corresponding to such a tape-shaped recording medium will also be referred to as a “tape streamer drive”.

In such a tape streamer drive, an integral equalization type is adopted as a channel transmission characteristic (signal transmission system) of a recording / reproducing system. For the purpose of increasing the density, a configuration employing a partial response system has been adopted. Specifically, for example, by adopting the partial response class 1 (hereinafter also referred to as PR (1, 1)) method, the partial response class 2 is compared with the integral equalization method.
The recording density has been improved by a factor of about two.

[0005]

The above-mentioned P
It is known that the eye pattern, which is the RF signal waveform of the channel output obtained by the R (1,1) method, has three values depending on the relationship between the transfer characteristic and the channel clock. On the other hand, in the case of the integral equalization type system, the eye pattern is binary.

In the case where a reproduction circuit system is configured in accordance with the PR (1, 1) system in which the eye pattern is ternary as described above, first, a ternary signal is detected. And a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit for generating a channel clock is also changed so as to be a circuit corresponding to ternary values.
In order to perform ternary detection, for example, if the amplitude of the eye pattern is ± 1.0 V, the threshold value for detection may be set to ± 0.5 V. In order to perform this, it is necessary to keep the amplitude of the eye pattern constant at ± 1.0 V. Therefore, it is necessary to perform AGC (Automatic Gain control) processing at a stage preceding the ternary detection circuit.

However, it is difficult for the AGC to quickly respond to an instantaneous decrease in amplitude due to tape dropout. In addition, the PR (1, 1) method has a problem that the capture range and the lock range of the PLL circuit are narrowed because the frequency of performing the phase comparison operation is reduced. This point will be described in comparison with the integral equalization method. FIG.
2 shows an output waveform obtained based on the eye pattern of the integral equalization channel (PR (1)). Since the eye pattern of the integral equalization channel is a binary signal as described above, binary detection is performed using the 0 level (zero cross point) as the threshold value TH. Done in points. Further, when the 8-10 conversion method is adopted as the recording modulation method, for example, since the maximum inversion period Tmax is 4T, the phase comparison operation in the PLL circuit is always executed within four channel clocks, and the stable PLL is performed. The operation of the circuit can be expected.

On the other hand, FIG. 15 shows a case where a recording signal similar to that of FIG. 14 is viewed as an output waveform of the PR (1, 1) channel. In this figure, the output waveform has a maximum amplitude of ± 1 V.
Therefore, the threshold value TH for ternary detection is ± 0.5 V as described above. In this case, the phase comparison operation by the PLL circuit is not the zero-cross point, but the time when the waveform crosses ± 0.5V. However, as can be seen from this figure, because of the ternary value, the amplitude of the output waveform is weakened to ± 0.
There is a case where the voltage does not cross in the range of 5V. In such a state, the phase comparison operation by the PLL circuit is not performed. Therefore, the PLL circuit performs the phase comparison operation per unit cycle as compared with the case of the integral equalization method shown in FIG. This means that the frequency of execution is reduced. This is a factor that must be narrowed for the capture range and the lock range described above.

When a search operation is carried out in a tape streamer drive, 100 to 200
The magnetic tape is run at a double speed of 00 times. While the magnetic tape is running at high speed in this way, the subcode recorded on the track of the magnetic tape must be checked in order to detect the target tape position. Here, if the rotational speed of the rotating drum is increased to correspond to the tape traveling speed, the magnetic head can trace the track properly, but in reality, the magnetic head is limited to the bearing and the electric operating frequency. For this reason, this has not been realized. Therefore, at the time of the search, the rotation speed of the rotary head is relatively lower than the double speed of the tape traveling speed. Therefore, in actuality, at the time of the search, the scanning locus of the head with respect to the magnetic tape 2 is such that the magnetic head crosses a large number of tracks TK as shown in FIG.

[0010] As a result, as is well known, the waveform of the reproduced RF signal is schematically shown in FIG.
Although it is a so-called abacus ball, it is known that the performance of the ternary detection circuit and the PLL circuit strongly depends on the high-speed response of the AGC for such a signal waveform.
In other words, if the high-speed response of the AGC is improved, the subcode can be read with higher accuracy even during the search. However, since the reproduced waveform of PR (1, 1) is a signal containing zero as shown in FIG. 15, it is necessary to avoid unnecessary 0-level amplification and to improve the high-speed response of AGC without care. There is a fact that it cannot be done.

FIG. 17 shows a reproduced RF signal waveform based on the PR (1, 1) channel transfer characteristic obtained when reproducing a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded on a track of a magnetic tape. I have. Since the reproduced signal actually includes noise, the eye pattern of the reproduced RF signal is blurred as shown in FIG. At the time of the search, the eye pattern is further blurred for the above-described reason.

As can be seen from the above description, in practice, the reading accuracy of the subcode at the time of the search is not sufficient, and therefore, there is a problem that the reliability of the search is also insufficient. . Also, for example, the subcode readout accuracy decreases as the search speed increases and the abacus ball waveform of the reproduced RF signal becomes narrower, which is a factor that hinders the increase in search speed.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a search operation corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. For this reason, a recording apparatus that records information by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area on a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. That is, when performing recording for forming a specific information area, a predetermined first recording density is set, and when performing recording for forming another information area, the recording density is different from the first recording density. Control means for executing control so as to set the predetermined second recording density.

A recording method for recording information on a tape-shaped recording medium by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area is as follows. Constitute. That is, when performing recording for forming a specific information area, a predetermined first recording density is set, and when performing recording for forming another information area, it is different from the first recording density. A control process for setting a predetermined second recording density is performed.

[0015] A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. That is, when a specific information area recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium and recorded at the predetermined first recording density is reproduced, the first reproduction signal processing speed corresponding to the first recording density is set. When the reproduction is performed on another information area recorded at a predetermined second recording density different from the first recording density, the second information corresponding to the second recording density is read.
And control means capable of executing control for setting the reproduction signal processing speed.

A reproducing method for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. That is, a predetermined first type formed on the tape-shaped recording medium.
When reproduction is performed on a specific information area recorded at a recording density of, a reproduction process corresponding to the first recording density is executed, and recording is performed at a predetermined second recording density different from the first recording density. When reproduction is performed for another information area, a control process for executing a reproduction process corresponding to the second recording density is performed.

Further, as a tape-shaped recording medium, a specific information area recorded at a predetermined first recording density,
The information is recorded such that another information area recorded with a second recording density different from the recording density of the other is formed.

According to each of the above structures, a specific information area recorded at the first recording density and another information area recorded at the second recording density are formed on a tape-shaped recording medium. At the time of reproduction, a data rate (reproduction signal processing speed) corresponding to the first recording density is set when reproducing a specific information area, and the data rate (reproduction signal processing speed) is corresponding to the second recording density when reproducing another information area. The data rate (reproduction signal processing speed) to be set is set. Here, with respect to the first recording density and the second recording density, the quality of the reproduced signal can be increased by setting the recording density to be low. For example, a certain degree of reproduction signal quality is maintained even in a search or the like.

A recording apparatus for recording information by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area on a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. I do. In other words, information to be recorded as a specific information area is based on a predetermined first signal transmission method, and information to be recorded as another information area is based on a predetermined second signal transmission method. Control means for performing control so as to obtain the signal processing operation described above.

A recording method for recording information by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area on a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. I do. In other words, information to be recorded as a specific information area is based on a predetermined first signal transmission method, and information to be recorded as another information area is based on a predetermined second signal transmission method. A configuration for executing a control process for obtaining the signal processing operation described above is adopted.

Further, a reproducing apparatus for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium is configured as follows. In other words, when reproduction is performed on a specific information area formed on the tape-shaped recording medium and in which information subjected to signal processing by the predetermined first signal transmission method is recorded, the first signal transmission method is supported. The first reproduction signal processing is set to be performed, and reproduction is performed on another information area in which information subjected to signal processing by a predetermined second signal transmission method different from the first signal transmission method is recorded. When performing the second
And control means capable of executing control for setting to perform the second reproduction signal processing corresponding to the signal transmission method.

A reproducing method for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium is constituted as follows. In other words, when reproduction is performed on a specific information area formed on the tape-shaped recording medium and in which information subjected to signal processing by the predetermined first signal transmission method is recorded, the first signal transmission method is supported. The first reproduction signal processing is set to be performed, and reproduction is performed on another information area in which information subjected to signal processing by a predetermined second signal transmission method different from the first signal transmission method is recorded. When performing the second
Control processing for setting so that the second reproduction signal processing corresponding to the signal transmission method is performed.

Further, a specific information area in which information subjected to signal processing according to a predetermined first signal transmission method is recorded as a tape-shaped recording medium, and a predetermined second area different from the first signal transmission method. The information is recorded in such a manner that another information area in which the information subjected to the signal processing by the signal transmission method is recorded is formed.

According to each of the above structures, a specific information area in which information according to the first signal transmission method is recorded and another information area in which information according to the second signal transmission method is recorded are recorded on a tape-shaped recording medium. When reproducing a specific information area, the reproduction signal processing corresponding to the first signal transmission method is performed. At the time of reproducing another information area, the second signal transmission method is used. A corresponding reproduction signal processing is set. Here, if either one of the first signal transmission method and the second signal transmission method is selected as a signal transmission method that is considered to provide more reliable reproduction, recording by this method is performed. For the information area thus obtained, a certain level of reproduction signal quality is maintained even in, for example, a search.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The following description will be made in the following order. 1. 1. Integral equalization method and PR (1, 1) method 2. Tape format First embodiment4. Second embodiment5. Modification of tape format

1. Integral Equalization Method and PR (1, 1) Method The recording device and the reproducing device of the present embodiment are, for example, data storage devices used by being connected to a host computer. A tape streamer drive that performs recording and reproduction will be described as an example. The tape streamer drive according to the present embodiment employs the PR (1, 1) method as a channel transmission method (signal transmission method) for recording data. In the second embodiment, the PR
(1,1) and the integral equalization method (PR (1)) are used together. Therefore, first, the integral equalization method and the PR (1, 1) method, which are considered to be related to the present embodiment, will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a reproduction signal processing circuit system for reproducing user data by an integral equalization method as a channel transmission method. Although not shown here, the device on which the reproduction signal processing circuit system shown in this figure is mounted is, for example, a tape streamer drive having a configuration corresponding to a helical scan system and a solid azimuth recording / reproduction system. The information read from the magnetic tape by the reproduction head 5 is supplied to the head amplifier 6 as a reproduction RF signal, where it is amplified and output to the integration / equalization circuit 31. In the integral equalizing circuit 31, equalization suitable for the integral equalizing method is applied to the reproduced RF signal and output to the binary detecting circuit 32.

In the binary detection circuit 32, the input reproduction R
The F signal is converted into a digital signal by performing binary detection as described later, and the 8-10 demodulation circuit 3
Output to 3. The detection output from the binary detection circuit is also supplied to the PLL circuit 34, and a phase comparison is performed in accordance with the timing at which the binary detection is performed, thereby generating a channel clock synchronized with the reproduced data.

In this case, the recording modulation method is 8-1.
It is assumed that a zero modulation system is adopted, and data input to the circuit shown in this figure is 8-10 modulated. Thus, the 8-10 demodulation circuit 33 performs demodulation processing corresponding to the 8-10 modulation method on the input data, and outputs reproduced data.

FIG. 8 shows a reproduced RF signal waveform obtained by the integral equalization method. From this figure, it can be seen that the reproduced RF signal by the integral equalization method has a binary eye pattern. Therefore, 2 shown in FIG.
The value detection circuit 32 uses the 0 level shown in FIG. 8 as a threshold and sets the signal waveform to digital HIGH if the voltage is a positive voltage and digital LOW if the signal waveform is a negative voltage.
A configuration of a so-called zero cross comparator is adopted. As is well known, such a zero-cross comparator has an advantage that the circuit configuration is simple and that the zero level of the voltage is a threshold, so that it is not affected by the amplitude fluctuation of the reproduction signal. . This is also shown, for example, as the relationship between the channel output waveform according to the integral equalization method shown in FIG. 14 and the 0-level threshold. In the PLL circuit 34 shown in FIG.
Is used as phase comparison information to generate a channel clock having a timing such that digital HIGH / LOW at the maximum opening of the eye pattern is latched by a flip-flop in the binary detection circuit 32. In this way, as the output of the binary detection circuit 32, digital data of the same channel as at the time of recording is restored. That is, the waveform of the eye pattern is shaped into a digital signal synchronized with the timing of the channel clock.

Here, when comparing the integral equalization method and the PR (1, 1) method, the recording density is calculated as PR (1, 1).
1) The method is about twice as large as the integral equalization method. As the channel transfer characteristic, the integral equalization method is a method of designing a channel to have the same flat characteristic as a simple line as shown in FIG. 9A. However, despite the flat characteristic, it is sufficient for the information transmission to have a band up to 1/2 of the channel clock frequency. Therefore, unnecessary high frequency bands are cut off and a curve as shown by a solid line in FIG. The head, the magnetic tape, the equalizing circuit, and the like are designed so as to obtain the channel transfer characteristics.

On the other hand, in the PR (1, 1) system, a design corresponding to the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 9B is performed. In the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 9B, an output obtained by adding an input and an input obtained by delaying the input by the delay element 41 by an adder 42 is output. Here, the delay time of the delay element 41 is equivalent to one channel clock. The transfer characteristic | H (w) | of the equivalent circuit shown in FIG.
It is characterized in that it becomes 0 at a frequency of / 2. This can be shown as follows. First,
For the transfer characteristic | H (w) |, based on the transfer function H (z),

(Equation 1) It can be expressed as follows. Then, the channel clock frequency is 1 / T. If the frequency of the transfer characteristic | H (w) | is 1/2 of the channel clock frequency 1 / T, then w = 2π × 1 / T ÷ 2. And the transfer characteristic | H (w) |

(Equation 2) It is what becomes. And such PR (1,1)
The transfer characteristic of the method is also specifically shown by a broken line in FIG. 10. For example, the response characteristic with respect to the frequency of PR (1,1) is as follows: channel clock frequency = 10
Assuming that it is 0 MHz, it is 0 at 50 MHz, which is １ ／ of that.

Then, in the PR (1, 1) system,
It can be seen that the eye pattern of the reproduced RF signal has a waveform that takes three values as shown in FIG. This is, as described above, the PR at half the frequency of the channel clock, which is the highest frequency of the recording signal.
This is due to the fact that the transfer characteristic of the (1, 1) method becomes zero. In FIG. 12, FIG. 12A shows a channel clock, and FIG. 12B shows channel input / output signals. In this figure, a section A is a section in which the frequency of a channel input / output signal is チ ャ ネ ル of the channel clock frequency as a frequency component. At times, it becomes zero as shown by the dashed curve.
Therefore, a signal passing through the PR (1,1) channel is generated by adding zero voltage to the waveform of the eye pattern.
It has three values of 1,0.

Therefore, in order to perform digital waveform shaping on a ternary eye pattern waveform by such a PR (1, 1) channel, a reproducing circuit system as shown in FIG. 13 is constructed. . Also in this case, the information read from the magnetic tape by the reproducing head 5 is used for reproducing RF.
The signal is input to the head amplifier 51 and amplified. Then, the PR (1, 1) equalizing circuit 52
An equalizing process or the like suitable for the (1, 1) system is performed, and the result is output to the AGC circuit 53. The AGC circuit 53 performs gain control so that the ternary value detection circuit 54 at the subsequent stage can detect the ternary value more accurately. That is,
As shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 11, for example, the gain is adjusted so as to be constant at the maximum amplitude of ± 1.0 V.

The ternary detection circuit 54 digitally shapes the waveform by detecting, for example, the reproduced RF signal, which is made constant at the maximum amplitude of ± 1.0 V as described above, using ternary values. Get the signal. At this time, for example, ± 0.5 V is set as the threshold value TH as described with reference to FIG. 15 above. If it is, it is set to "-1", and if it is within the range of ± 0.5 V, it is set to "0", and the signal is discriminated so that the detection by the ternary value is performed.

The PLL circuit 56 generates a channel clock having a timing such that the value of ± 1 detected by the ternary detection circuit 54 is latched by a flip-flop in the ternary detection circuit 54. As a result of such an operation, the digital signal obtained by the ternary detection circuit 54 is 8
Output to the -10 demodulation circuit 55.

Also in this case, the recording modulation method is 8-
It is assumed that 10 modulation is employed. The 8-10 demodulation circuit 55 performs demodulation processing on the 8-10 modulated digital signal and outputs reproduced data.

The following can be said from the above description. In terms of recording density, the PR (1, 1) method is almost twice as large as the integral equalization method,
The R (1,1) method is excellent. On the other hand, as described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the reproduction equality is higher in the integral equalization method than in the PR (1, 1) method.
Further, as can be understood from the configuration of the reproduction circuit system shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, the integration / equalization system may have a simpler circuit configuration than that corresponding to the PR (1, 1) system.

Here, since data storage devices such as a tape streamer drive are required to secure as much storage capacity as possible, PR (1, 1) is particularly required for recording user data. It is naturally preferable to increase the recording density by employing a partial response method typified by the method. However, as described above as a conventional problem, when the PR (1, 1) method is adopted, although the subcode is required to be accurately read, particularly when searching, There is a possibility that the reading accuracy of the data becomes insufficient, which is a factor that hinders, for example, the reliability of the search operation and the increase in the search speed.

Therefore, the present invention is based on the premise that at least user data is recorded by using a partial response system, and aims to improve the reliability of a search operation in particular. It adopts a configuration that goes on.

2. Tape Format Here, prior to describing the configuration of the tape streamer drive according to the present embodiment, a basic format of a magnetic tape to which the present embodiment corresponds will be described.

The tape streamer drive according to the present embodiment employs a helical scan system and a so-called azimuth solid recording system. Therefore, the relationship between the magnetic tape and the head during recording and reproduction is as shown in FIG. In the case of the tape streamer drive according to the present embodiment, the magnetic tape 2 pulled out from the tape cassette is wrapped by guide pins 61, 62, 63 in a state in which the magnetic tape 2 is inclined about 90 ° with respect to the rotating drum 3 in a height direction. It is wound at a corner and runs at a constant speed by the capstan 64 and the pinch roller 65.

In response to the adoption of the azimuth solid recording method, a pair of recording heads 4A and 4B having different azimuth angles are arranged on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 3 at a distance of 180 ° from each other. . Similarly, the reproducing heads 5A and 5B have different azimuth angles from each other, and are arranged on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 3 at a distance of 180 ° from each other.

Since the rotating drum 3 and the magnetic tape 2 are in the above-described positional relationship, the recording head 4 can be used during recording.
As a result of recording by A and 4B, a track TK is recorded on the magnetic tape 2 in the format shown in FIG. That is, by using the helical scan method, the tracks TK are sequentially formed so as to have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. The recording heads 4 having different azimuth angles
Since recording is performed by A and 4B, the azimuth angles of tracks adjacent to each other are different from each other.

At the time of normal reproduction, the magnetic tape 2 wound around the rotating drum 3 is run at a predetermined tape running speed of 1 × as shown in FIG.
By rotating the rotary drum 3 at a required rotation speed corresponding to the tape traveling speed, the reproducing heads 5A, 5B
Are alternately traced on recording tracks having the same azimuth angle. As a result, the data recorded on the track is properly read.

The magnetic tape 2 according to the present embodiment has a format in which a user data area UD and a subcode area SB are formed for each track TK, for example, by the pattern shown in FIG. The user data area UD is an area where so-called user data is recorded. On the other hand, the subcode area S
In B, a subcode is recorded. The subcode here includes, for example, various address information,
Information necessary for controlling reproduction of the magnetic tape 2 is recorded. For example, at the time of reproduction, by referring to the address information and the like obtained by reading the subcode, it is possible to execute various reproduction control processes, for example, after grasping the current reproduction position. In addition, the information of the subcode is stored not only at the time of normal reproduction,
Reading is also performed during a search at a tape traveling speed of about 00 times speed, thereby realizing a search operation up to a target search position.

Although a detailed description of a specific example of the data structure of the subcode area SB is omitted here, the information required for the search includes an absolute group number, a recording end flag, and the like. Magnetic tape 2 of the present embodiment
Is defined as a unit, and this is the minimum recording unit of user data.
In the format of the present embodiment, it is defined that one group = 46 tracks. The recording end flag is flag data indicating a logical tape end position (data end position).

At the time of the search, as described above with reference to FIG. 16A, since the scan trajectory is such that the reproducing head crosses the track, the subcode information is used as the scan trajectory of the reproducing head. It will be obtained when passing through the subcode area SB of a certain track. Further, since the reproduced signal waveform also has an abacus shape as shown in FIG. 16B and is disadvantageous for data reproduction, even if the reproduction head scans the subcode area, it is sufficient. It is not always possible to immediately succeed in reading with high accuracy. Therefore, for example, as described above, for the information required for the search among the subcodes, multiplex writing is performed over a plurality of tracks as much as possible for the purpose of increasing the probability of accurate reading at the time of the search. Is usually there. For example, the recording end flag described above is usually recorded over several hundred tracks before the logical tape end position as a starting point.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the search operation. If the above format is used, the subcode is not
It is sufficient that the reproduction is performed with as high accuracy as possible. In other words, the reading of the data recorded in the user data area UD does not cause any problem even if it is sacrificed. Therefore, the first and second described below.
In the embodiment, there is shown a configuration for realizing that subcode reading at the time of search is performed with higher accuracy.

3. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a tape streamer drive 1 as a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a recording signal processing system related to the present invention,
Only the configuration of the reproduction signal processing system is shown, and illustration of other parts is omitted. Further, the tape streamer drive 1 shown in FIG. 1 employs a PR (1, 1) system as a channel transmission system, thereby achieving a high recording density.

In this figure, a recording head 4 and a reproducing head 5 are shown at a portion as a rotary drum 3 shown by a broken line. However, as shown in FIG. A pair of recording heads 4A and 4B having different azimuth angles from each other are arranged.
Similarly, a pair of reproducing heads 5A and 5B having different azimuth angles are arranged. The rotary drum 3 includes a rotary transformer 7, and electrically connects the recording head 4 and the reproducing head 5 disposed on the rotary drum 3 to a recording signal processing circuit system and a reproduction signal processing circuit system. It has been like that.

A magnetic tape 2 drawn from a tape cassette (not shown) corresponding to the tape streamer drive 1 is wound around the rotating drum 3 as described with reference to FIG. The rotating drum 3 is driven to rotate at a required rotation speed by a drum motor 17.

The drum motor 17 is provided with an FG (Frequency Generator) 17a and a PG (Pulse Generator) 17b so that a servo processor (not shown) executes drum rotation servo control. FG1
7a generates a pulse of one tooth at every predetermined rotation angle, and outputs this as rotation frequency information SFG. Also, PG1
7b generates a pulse of one tooth for each rotation of the rotating drum 3, and outputs this as rotation phase difference information SPG. The servo processor controls the rotation speed and rotation phase of the drum motor 17 based on the information obtained from the FG and PG.

In this figure, a recording signal processing circuit system and a reproduction signal processing circuit system are shown. First, the configuration of the recording signal processing circuit system will be described. When recording is performed on the magnetic tape 2 from the tape streamer drive 1, for example, user data input from a host computer (not shown) via a data bus is input to the recording data generation circuit 8. Is done.
Also, a subcode generated under the control of a system controller (not shown) is input to the recording data generation circuit 8 in the same manner.

The recording data generating circuit 8 performs time division on the input user data and subcode such that a pattern of forming the user data area UD and subcode area SB for each track TK shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained. Formed recording data is formed in a random manner. If necessary, a compression process or the like is performed to add an error correction code or the like. Further, a modulation process corresponding to the transfer characteristic by the PR (1, 1) method is performed. In this way PR
Print data corresponding to the (1, 1) method is generated.

Here, in the recording data generating circuit 8, signal processing is performed at a speed (data rate) based on a crystal channel clock CLK to generate recording data. The processing speed corresponds to the data rate recorded on the magnetic tape, that is, the recording density. In the present embodiment, as an output source of the channel clock CLK,
A user data / channel clock generator 21 and a subcode / channel clock generator 22 are provided, and a clock generated by one of them is selected by a switch 23 and output to the recording data generator 8. Has been.

Here, the user data / channel clock generator 21 generates a channel clock of frequency f1. Here, for example, it is assumed that the clock frequency f1 = 100 MHz. The sub-code / channel clock generator 22 generates a required channel clock which is assumed to be lower than the frequency f2. Although the description of the specific numerical value as the clock frequency f2 is omitted here, the extent to which the required stability of subcode reproduction is actually obtained when a required search operation is performed as described later. Is set to a lower frequency.

The switching of the switch 23 is controlled by a switching signal S1. This switching signal S1
The switching timing corresponds to the timing at which the recording data generating circuit 8 generates and outputs the user data and the timing at which the subcode area is generated and output. Then, the switching signal S1 can be generated based on, for example, a timing signal (not shown here) indicating a signal processing timing in the recording data generation circuit 8. When the switch unit 23 is switched by the switching signal S1, the user data is signal-processed at the timing of the channel clock frequency f1 and is generated and output.
Has a data rate corresponding to
Since the signal is processed at the timing of the channel clock frequency f2 and generated and output, the channel clock frequency f2
Has a data rate corresponding to.

In this embodiment, the recording modulation method is 8
8-10 corresponding to the adoption of the -10 modulation method.
A modulation circuit 9 is provided. This 8-10 modulation circuit 9
The recording data generated and output by the recording data generating circuit 8 is subjected to an 8-10 modulation process and output to the recording amplifier 10. The recording amplifier 10 performs a process such as recording equalization on the input recording data to generate a recording signal for magnetic recording, amplifies the recording signal, and amplifies the recording signal via the rotary transformer 7 to record the recording head 4 (4A, 4B).
To supply. This allows the recording head 4 to move the magnetic tape 2
, And the data is recorded.

Here, in the case of the present embodiment,
In the recording data generating circuit 8, the switching of the channel clock CLK is performed as described above in accordance with each processing timing of the user data and the subcode. For this reason, the data recorded on the magnetic tape 2 is, for example, in the format shown in FIG. 4, but is recorded in the same PR (1, 1) system, but the user data area UD Has a recording density corresponding to the clock frequency f1, whereas the subcode recorded in the subcode area SB has a predetermined recording density lower than this. Will have.

Next, the reproduction signal processing circuit system will be described. It should be noted that, for the sake of confirmation, what is to be reproduced here is the user data recorded in the user data area UD and the subcode area S
The magnetic tape 2 on which the tracks TK are formed so that the recording density is different from that of the subcode data recorded in B. However, both the user data and the subcode have been subjected to signal processing by the PR (1, 1) method.

At the time of reproduction, data recorded so as to form the track TK is transmitted to the reproduction head 5 (5
A, 5B).
Then, the output is amplified by a head amplifier 6 and then passed through a rotary transformer
Input to the (1,1) equalization circuit 11.

In the PR (1, 1) equalizing circuit 11,
The input reproduction RF signal is subjected to reproduction equalization processing or the like conforming to the PR (1, 1) method, and is output to the AGC 12. In the AGC 12, PR (1, 1)
AGC processing is performed on the reproduced RF signal as channel output data according to the method, and the maximum amplitude level is output as a waveform that becomes constant at, for example, ± 1 V. As described above, such AGC processing is performed by PR
Eye pattern of reproduced RF signal by (1, 1) method is 3
Since the waveform takes a value, it is intended to perform the ternary detection at the next stage with high accuracy.

In the ternary detection circuit 13, AG
For the reproduced RF signal subjected to the C processing, for example, ± 0.
With the threshold value TH set to 5 V (see FIG. 15), ±
By detecting the three values of 1, 0, the reproduced RF signal is converted into a digital signal by shaping the waveform. Also, 3
The reproduced data output from the value detection circuit 13 is
6 is output as phase comparison information to the PLL circuit 1
In step 6, a channel clock having a frequency synchronized with the reproduction data is generated based on the phase comparison information. Then, by processing the ternary values detected by the ternary detection circuit 13 at the timing according to the channel clock, reproduced data can be obtained.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the reproduced data is the user data area U of the magnetic tape 2.
The user data recorded in D and the subcode recorded in the subcode area SB have, for example, a format arranged in a time-division manner with respect to a data string. Since the user data and the subcode are recorded at different recording densities, the data rates of the reproduced data are also different. In order to obtain such reproduced data, in the present embodiment, the V
A configuration for switching the center frequency of a CO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) is employed.

Here, as the reproduced signal processing circuit system, P
As a VCO center frequency generation source in the LL circuit 16, a user data center frequency generation unit 24 and a subcode center frequency generation unit 25 are provided. The user data center frequency generator 24 generates a center frequency (f1) corresponding to the data rate of the user data, and the subcode center frequency generator 25 generates a center frequency (f2) corresponding to the data rate of the subcode. I do. These center frequencies f1 and f2 are selected by the switch unit 26 and supplied to the PLL circuit 16, and the center frequency of the VCO is set to the frequency f1 or f2, for example.

The switching timing in the switch section 26 is performed based on the switching signal S2. Depending on the switching signal S2, when the data section to be detected by the ternary detection circuit 13 is a user data section, the center frequency f1 from the user data center frequency generation section 24 is output.
Is output to the PLL circuit 16, and in the case of a subcode section, the center frequency f2 from the subcode center frequency generation unit 25 is output to the PLL circuit 16 so that the switch unit 26 performs a signal switching operation. Is done. Accordingly, when the ternary detection circuit 13 is performing processing for the user data section, the PLL circuit 16 operates so as to be locked by the center frequency f1 corresponding to the data rate of the user data. Can obtain a stable operation suitable for the data rate of the user data. Also, when the ternary detection circuit 13 is performing processing for a sub-code section, the PLL circuit 16 operates so as to be locked by the center frequency f2 corresponding to the data rate of the sub-code. , A stable operation suitable for the data rate of the subcode can be obtained.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the center frequency of the PLL circuit 16 is switched so as to conform to the respective data rates in accordance with the timing of processing the user data and the subcode data. , User data and sub-code data can be converted into reproduction data with high reliability.

The switching signal S2 includes, for example, rotation frequency information SFG and rotation phase difference information SP output from FGs 17a and PG 17b provided in the drum motor 17, for example.
It can be generated based on G. That is, the position on the track TK currently being traced by the reproducing head 5 can be grasped from information such as the current drum rotation angle calculated by the rotation frequency information SFG and the rotation phase difference information SPG. Therefore, for example, if a time lag due to a signal passing through the reproduction signal processing circuit system is added to the trace timing of the reproduction head, the ternary detection circuit 13 processes the user data section and the subcode section. It is possible to easily generate the switching signal S2 synchronized with the given timing.

The reproduced data obtained by the operation of the ternary detection circuit 13 and the PLL circuit 16 is transmitted to the 8-10 demodulation circuit 1
4 and is subjected to 8-10 demodulation processing. Then, for example, the sub-code extracting circuit 15 separates and extracts the sub-code from the reproduced data that has been subjected to the 8-10 demodulation processing, whereby the reproduced user data and the sub-code are obtained. The user data can be supplied to, for example, a host computer (not shown) via a data interface or the like. Also,
The subcode is used by a system controller (not shown) or the like, or is input to a required functional circuit unit, to be used for required reproduction control or the like, and is required for reproduction. It is used to generate required timing signals and the like.

The above-described reproducing operation is performed during normal reproduction for reproducing user data. On the other hand, the following operation is performed during a search for accessing a target tape position. By the way, at the time of normal reproduction, for example, the magnetic tape 2 is caused to run at a specified 1 × speed, and the rotating drum 3 is also driven at a rotation speed corresponding to the 1 × speed. Will be controlled to be traced. On the other hand, at the time of searching, the magnetic tape 2 is run at several hundred times speed, but on the other hand,
The rotation speed of the rotating drum 3 is not increased to a rotation speed corresponding to the tape running speed. For this reason, FIG.
As shown also in FIG.
Is a trajectory for scanning a plurality of tracks. When the subcode area SB recorded on the track TK is traced and the subcode is read in such a state that the magnetic tape 2 is being traced, the contents of the subcode are normally identified. Then, access control is executed based on the information of the subcode.

From the above, at the time of search, it is sufficient that even subcodes can be read normally, and it is not particularly necessary to read normal user data. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when searching,
The switching state of the switch section 26 is fixed to the PLL circuit 16 so that the frequency f2 generated by the subcode center frequency generation section 25 is always set as the center frequency. Therefore, in this case,
It is not necessary to control the switching of the switch unit 26 in accordance with the user data section and the subcode section, and for example, the processing load can be reduced. Note that the center frequency f1 at the time of this search should be changed to an optimum frequency determined by a drum angle that is assumed to match the scan of the subcode area SB, for example, corresponding to the double speed. Yes, the actual subcode center frequency generating section 25 also adopts such a variable frequency configuration.

By setting such a state, the reproduction signal processing circuit system of the present embodiment maintains a setting state suitable for reproducing the subcode. In this case, the reproduction performance of the user data is inferior, but this is not a particular problem for the above-described reason.

In particular, in the case of the present embodiment, since the subcode is recorded at a recording density lower than that of the user data, for example, the subcode is recorded at a high recording density equivalent to the user data. As a result, a more stable reproduction result can be obtained than when recording is performed.
For example, even with the same PR (1, 1) channel transfer characteristic, the reproduced RF signal obtained when the recording density is set high is blurred by the influence of noise as shown in FIG. Although the waveform is a waveform, when the recording density is lower as in the present embodiment, the SN ratio is improved, and a clearer waveform is obtained as shown in FIG. . This means that the reproduction stability is improved. And
This is the same at the time of the search, and therefore, in the present embodiment, the stability of the subcode data reproduction at the time of the search is also improved, and the reliability of the search operation is enhanced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to perform recording on a magnetic tape as follows.
As described above with reference to FIG. 4, various information is stored in the subcode. For example, especially for information required for a search operation, a large number of tracks are used in order to improve the reliability of the search operation. The recording is repeatedly performed over the subcode area SB, that is, so-called multiple writing is performed. However, in the present embodiment, since the reliability of the search operation is enhanced by reducing the recording density of the data recorded in the subcode area SB, for example, the necessary and sufficient search operation reliability is obtained. As much as possible, the frequency of multiple writing can be reduced. For example, it is possible to insert a specific type of subcode that has always been inserted for each track, every predetermined number of tracks.

Here, assuming that the subcode area SB has a variable length, the data size of the subcode area SB must be increased as the frequency of multiplex writing of the subcode performed as described above increases. . This directly leads to a relatively small storage capacity of the user data to be recorded in the user data area UD per unit track number. That is, as the frequency of multiple writing of subcodes increases, the recording capacity of user data decreases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the frequency of multiple writing of subcodes is reduced as described above, the reduced amount can be used as the user data area UD. The advantage is that the recording capacity of the user data can be increased.

4. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a tape streamer drive 1A corresponding to the second embodiment. In the tape streamer drive 1A, the user data is recorded by the channel transfer characteristic according to the PR (1, 1) method in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thereby increasing the storage capacity as a whole. Is being planned. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. However, if the operation or the like is different depending on the configuration as the second embodiment, the description will be supplemented as appropriate.

The tape streamer drive 1A shown in FIG.
, The recording data generating circuit 8
User data that has been subjected to signal processing so as to have transfer characteristics according to the (1, 1) method is input. On the contrary,
As the subcode, a code having a transfer characteristic based on the integral equalization method is input. Then, the recording data generating circuit 8 performs necessary signal processing on the user data and the subcode, and finally,
For example, data in which user data and subcodes are arranged in time series is obtained so as to correspond to the area pattern of the track shown in FIG.

Here, as the integral equalization method, first, FIG.
As can be understood from the characteristics indicated by 0, PR
As compared with the (1, 1) method, a wider band is required, and the recording density is PR (1, 1).
It is lower than the system. That is, the data having the transfer characteristic of the integral equalization method has a lower data rate than the data having the transfer characteristic of the PR (1, 1) method. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, at the timing when the user data is processed in the recording data generation circuit 8, the channel of the frequency f1 from the user data / channel clock generation unit 21 is transmitted via the switch unit 23. Input the clock, and at the timing of processing the subcode,
The channel clock generator 22 outputs a channel clock of frequency f2. Note that the frequency f2 at this time is set according to the data rate of the subcode actually obtained by the integral equalization method, and is not necessarily the subcode / channel clock shown in FIG. It is not the same as the frequency f2 in the generator 22.

The recording data generated and output by the recording data generating circuit 8 under the above-described configuration is
Eventually, the data is recorded on the magnetic tape 2 by the recording head 4. As data recorded in this way, the data in the user data area UD is PR (1,
1) The method is based on the method, and the data in the subcode area SB is based on the integral equalization method.

The reproduction signal processing system for reproducing the magnetic tape 2 on which data is recorded as described above is configured as follows. In this case, the reproduction RF signal output from the reproduction head 5 via the head amplifier 6 is branched and input to the PR (1, 1) equalization circuit 11 and the integration equalization circuit 31.

Here, the reproduction signal processing circuit system from the PR (1, 1) equalization circuit 11 to the 8-10 demodulation circuit 14 has the same configuration and operation as in FIG. Corresponds to only user data having the channel transfer characteristic of the PR (1, 1) method,
Therefore, the PLL circuit 16 in this case also has a PR
Since only the channel clock of the user data corresponding to the (1, 1) method needs to be reproduced, the VCO center frequency may be a fixed value suitable for the channel clock frequency to be reproduced.

The reproduction signal processing circuit system including the integration / equalization circuit 31, the binary detection circuit 32, the 8-1 demodulation circuit 33, and the PLL circuit 34 corresponds to the subcode.
That is, it has a configuration suitable for reproducing data having channel transfer characteristics of the integral equalization system. The configuration and operation are the same as those of the integration / equalization circuit 3 shown in FIG.
This is the same as the one and two-valued detection circuit 32, the 8-1 demodulation circuit 33, and the PLL circuit 34. However, in the present embodiment, depending on the reproduction signal processing circuit system, only the subcode of the reproduction data is reproduced.
Also, in this case, the PLL circuit 34 only needs to obtain a channel clock of the data having the transfer characteristic of the actual integral equalization method, and the center frequency of the VCO matches the channel clock frequency of the data. It is fixed.

In the case of such a configuration, at the time of search, the above-mentioned integral equalization circuit 31, binary detection circuits 32, 8
Only the reproduction signal processing circuit system including the -1 demodulation circuit 33 and the PLL circuit 34 is operated to reproduce only the subcode. As described above, when the channel transfer characteristic is the integral equalization method, PR
Although the recording density is lower than in the case of the (1, 1) system, the stability of reproduction is excellent. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the subcode has a channel transfer characteristic based on the integral equalization method,
The reproduction stability of the subcode can be improved, and as a result, the reliability of the search operation is improved in the same manner as in the first embodiment. And
It is also possible to increase the recording capacity of the user data on the magnetic tape 2 as in the previous embodiment.

5. Modified Examples of Tape Format The tape format corresponding to the present embodiment is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 4 and various changes may be made. FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the tape format according to the present embodiment. The tape format shown in this figure is applicable to both the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above.

In the magnetic tape 2 shown in FIG. 6, the subcode areas SB of the tracks TK adjacent to each other are arranged without being shifted, for example, in the track longitudinal direction. Note that the track longitudinal direction here coincides with the direction in which the recording head or the reproducing head scans the magnetic tape during recording / reproduction at a normal speed. As a result of such an arrangement pattern, when viewing the entirety of a plurality of continuous tracks TK of a predetermined number, the subcode area SB of each track TK extends along a direction perpendicular to the track longitudinal direction. Thus, the patterns are arranged side by side.

If the recording density is lowered, the reproduction stability of the area itself is improved, but the crosstalk noise given to the adjacent track tends to increase. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, when the arrangement pattern for the user data area UD and the sub-code area SB existing on one track TK is the same for all the tracks TK, the space between adjacent tracks TK Is a pattern in which the user data area UD exists adjacent to the subcode area SB. As the recording density becomes higher, the influence of the crosstalk noise becomes more liable. Therefore, in the pattern shown in FIG.
The influence of the noise of the subcode area SB on D increases. For this reason, there is a possibility that the reproduction stability of the user data area UD is hindered.

Thus, if the pattern is as shown in FIG. 6, the same subcode area SB exists next to the subcode area SB between adjacent tracks TK. Accordingly, the user data area UD exists next to the user data area UD. Thus, for the adjacent area,
If the track TK is formed so that an area having the same recording density exists, the influence of crosstalk can be minimized, and the reproduction stability sufficient for practical use can be easily secured. It is.

In order to achieve such a track format, for example, when recording data is generated and output by the recording data generating circuit 8 at the time of recording, FIG.
The time-division arrangement pattern of the user data section and the subcode section in the data string can be changed in track units so that the arrangement pattern of the user data area UD and the subcode area SB as shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to comprise as follows.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, the present invention is not realized only by the configuration and operation of the tape streamer drives 1 and 1A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; Application other than the method is possible. In particular, the partial response method has the potential to evolve into various types, for example, in line with the new recording modulation method,
The present invention can be effectively applied even when such a novel channel transfer characteristic is adopted. Although the tape streamer drive used for data storage is described here as an example, the present invention can be applied to any tape drive device that can reproduce data from a tape-shaped recording medium by helical scanning. Further, the present invention is not limited to magnetic recording, and can be applied to, for example, a tape drive in which recording and reproduction are performed using optical means in the future.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention, a specific information area and another information area are recorded at different recording densities as data to be recorded on a tape-shaped recording medium. As a result, a tape-shaped recording medium according to the present invention is obtained. And
When reproducing such a tape-shaped recording medium, a reproduction signal processing speed (channel clock frequency) suitable for the recording density of each area is set according to the read timing of a specific information area and another information area. Do or
Reproduction signal processing adapted to the signal transmission system of each area is performed. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to provide an appropriate recording / reproducing system according to the use of the information content stored in each information area.

That is, in the above configuration, a specific information area is a user data area in which user data is recorded, another information area is a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded, and then a user data area is recorded. Is a high-density recording, and a low-density recording is used for a subcode area, or a user data is based on, for example, a signal transmission method conforming to a high recording density. It is assumed that the recording medium is a tape-shaped recording medium by a signal transmission method which is considered to have high reproduction stability.
The recording device and the reproducing device are configured to be able to execute recording and reproduction in conformity with such a tape format. In this way, for example, it is possible to increase the capacity of user data by increasing the recording density, and on the other hand, it is possible to reproduce the subcode more stably even at the time of search, for example. Become. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the reliability of the search operation without hindering the increase in the capacity of the user data. Conventionally, information required for a search in a subcode is multiplex-written over a required track in order to improve search operation performance. When the reliability is improved, the frequency of the multiple writing described above can be reduced. As a result, the redundancy of the recording data is reduced, and for example, recording can be performed after increasing the amount of user data per unit data size. That is, it is possible to promote a large amount of user data.

In addition, if recording is performed in track units so that there is almost no deviation in the longitudinal direction of the track as the position state of another information area between adjacent tracks, the tape-shaped recording medium can be used. Thus, the influence of crosstalk noise can be almost minimized, and the reproduction reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tape streamer drive according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tape streamer drive according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view conceptually showing a state of winding a tape around a rotary head.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a tape format according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing a reproduction RF signal waveform obtained by reproduction by the tape streamer drive of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a tape format as a modification of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a general configuration example of a reproduction signal processing circuit system corresponding to the integral equalization method.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing a reproduced RF signal waveform according to the integral equalization method.

FIG. 9 is an equivalent block diagram showing transfer characteristics of the integral equalization method and the PR (1, 1) method.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing transfer characteristics of the integral equalization method and the PR (1, 1) method.

FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram showing a reproduced RF signal waveform according to the PR (1, 1) method.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a channel clock and an input signal according to the PR (1, 1) method.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a general configuration example of a reproduction signal processing circuit system corresponding to the PR (1, 1) system.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a binary detection operation of the integral equalization method.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a binary detection operation corresponding to the PR (1, 1) method.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a head trajectory with respect to a magnetic tape at the time of a search and a reproduction signal RF signal.

FIG. 17 is a waveform diagram showing a reproduced RF signal waveform actually obtained by a reproduced signal processing circuit system corresponding to the PR (1, 1) method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A tape streamer drive, 2 magnetic tapes, 3 rotating drums, 4 recording heads, 5 reproducing heads,
Reference Signs List 6 head amplifier, 7 rotary transformer, 8 recording data generation circuit, 9 8-10 modulation circuit, 10 recording amplifier, PR (1, 1) equalization circuit, 12 AGC, 133
Value detection circuit, 148-10 demodulation circuit, 15 subcode extraction circuit, 16 PLL circuit, 17 drum motor,
17aFG, 17b PG, 21 user data channel clock generator, 22 subcode channel clock generator, 23, 26 switch, 24 user data center frequency generator, 25 subcode center frequency generator, 31 integration equalizer circuit , 32 binary detection circuit, 33
8-10 demodulation circuit, 34 PLL circuit

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for performing information recording on a tape-shaped recording medium by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area, wherein the specific information When recording for forming an area is performed, a predetermined first recording density is set, and when recording for forming the other information area is performed, a predetermined first recording density different from the first recording density is set. Control means for executing control so as to set the second recording density. 2. The recording device forms a user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, and forms a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means sets a predetermined recording density, which is lower than the first recording density, for the second recording density. 3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein the control means performs recording in track units so that there is almost no displacement in the longitudinal direction of the track as a position state of the other information area between adjacent tracks of the tape-shaped recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus can be controlled so that the signal processing is performed. 4. A recording method for performing information recording on a tape-shaped recording medium by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area, wherein the specific information area When recording for forming an area is performed, a predetermined first recording density is set, and when recording for forming the other information area is performed, a predetermined first recording density different from the first recording density is set. A control process for setting the second recording density. 5. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium, wherein a specific information area recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium and recorded at a predetermined first recording density is reproduced. Is performed, a first reproduction signal processing speed corresponding to the first recording density is set, and reproduction is performed for another information area recorded at a predetermined second recording density different from the first recording density. A reproducing unit that performs control for setting a second reproduction signal processing speed corresponding to the second recording density. 6. The reproducing apparatus reproduces a user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, and reproduces a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area. 6. The reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means sets a predetermined speed that is lower than the first reproduced signal processing speed for the second reproduced signal processing speed. . 7. When the tape-shaped recording medium is running at a predetermined double speed for searching for information recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium, the control means corresponds to the second recording density. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reproduction signal processing speed to be performed is fixedly set. 8. A reproducing method for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium, comprising: reproducing a specific information area recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium at a predetermined first recording density. Is performed, a reproduction process corresponding to the first recording density is executed. When reproduction is performed on another information area recorded at a predetermined second recording density different from the first recording density, the reproduction process is performed. A control process for executing a reproduction process corresponding to the second recording density. 9. A specific information area recorded at a predetermined first recording density, and a second information area different from the first recording density.
Characterized in that the information is recorded in such a manner that another information area recorded with the recording density is formed. 10. A user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area, and the second recording 10. The tape-shaped recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the recording density is lower than the first recording density. 11. The other information area formed on each of the tracks adjacent to each other is formed at a required position in the track such that there is almost no deviation in the track longitudinal direction. The tape-shaped recording medium according to claim 9, wherein 12. A recording apparatus which performs information recording on a tape-shaped recording medium by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area, wherein the specific information The information to be recorded as an area is based on a predetermined first signal transmission method, and the information to be recorded as the other information area is based on a predetermined second signal transmission method. Control means for executing control so as to obtain an operation. 13. The recording apparatus forms a user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, and forms a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the control unit sets a signal transmission method that is considered to have higher reproduction stability than the first signal transmission method for the second signal transmission method. Recording device. 14. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs recording on a track-by-track basis as a position state of the other information area between adjacent tracks of the tape-shaped recording medium so that there is almost no deviation in a track longitudinal direction. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the recording apparatus can be controlled so that the signal processing is performed. 15. A recording method for performing information recording on a tape-shaped recording medium by forming a specific information area and another information area different from the specific information area, wherein the specific information area The information to be recorded as an area is based on a predetermined first signal transmission method, and the information to be recorded as the other information area is based on a predetermined second signal transmission method. A control process for obtaining an operation. 16. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium, wherein the information formed on the tape-shaped recording medium and subjected to a signal processing according to a predetermined first signal transmission method is used. When reproducing a specific information area to be recorded, it is set so that first reproduction signal processing corresponding to the first signal transmission method is performed, and a predetermined second signal processing method different from the first signal transmission method is used. When reproduction is performed on another information area in which information on which signal processing by the second signal transmission method has been performed is recorded, a setting is made so that the second reproduction signal processing corresponding to the second signal transmission method is performed. A playback device, comprising: a control unit capable of executing control for the playback device. 17. The reproducing apparatus reproduces a user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, and reproduces a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area. The control means sets, for the second reproduction signal processing, reproduction signal processing corresponding to a predetermined signal transmission method which is considered to have higher reproduction stability than the first signal transmission method. 17. The playback device according to claim 16, wherein: 18. A reproducing method for reproducing information corresponding to a tape-shaped recording medium, wherein the information formed on the tape-shaped recording medium and subjected to signal processing by a predetermined first signal transmission method is used. When reproducing a specific information area to be recorded, it is set so that first reproduction signal processing corresponding to the first signal transmission method is performed, and a predetermined second signal processing method different from the first signal transmission method is used. When reproduction is performed on another information area in which information on which signal processing by the second signal transmission method has been performed is recorded, a setting is made so that the second reproduction signal processing corresponding to the second signal transmission method is performed. And a control process for performing the following. 19. A specific information area in which information subjected to signal processing according to a predetermined first signal transmission method is recorded, and a predetermined second signal transmission method different from the first signal transmission method. A tape-shaped recording medium, on which information is recorded so as to form another information area on which signal-processed information is recorded. 20. A user data area in which user data is recorded as the specific information area, a subcode area in which a subcode is recorded as the other information area, and the second signal 20. The tape-shaped recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the transmission method is a signal transmission method having higher reproduction stability than the first signal transmission method. 21. The other information area formed on each of the tracks adjacent to each other is formed at a required position in the track such that there is almost no deviation in the track longitudinal direction. The tape-shaped recording medium according to claim 19, wherein