JPH02276047A - Magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record/reproduce input information signals in plural signal formats to/from cassettes in plural shapes with good handle ability by automatically altering the mechanical system and electric system of a magnetic tape according to the outputs of a cassette shape discriminating means, a recording medium discriminating means, and an input signal type selecting means. CONSTITUTION:When one of the cassettes among the plural types is inserted to the magnetic recording and reproducing device, the mechanical system is altered so that a loading processing corresponding to a cassette shape discriminating means 14 is executed. Next the type of a magnetic tape 4 is discriminated by a recording medium discriminating means 15, and the type of the medium is recorded on a semiconductor memory provided on the electric system together with the cassette shape. Further the type of the signal to be recorded is selected or discriminated by type selecting means 11 and 12 of the input signal, and it is stored into the semiconductor memory. Thereafter the electric system is altered into a desired state by the three types of the recorded information, and the command information of recording, reproducing, etc. Thus even when any of the cassettes in VHS, VHS-C or new small type is inserted, the information is not recorded/reproduced in an erroneous mode.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a video signal recording and reproducing device using a magnetic tape, and in particular to a device for selectively recording input information signals of a plurality of signal formats onto cassettes of a plurality of shapes. The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/playback device capable of recording data.

[Conventional technology]

A rotating head helical scan type video tape recorder (abbreviated as VTR), which is a magnetic recording and reproducing device for home use, has so far been conceived based on the NTSC system (PAL and SECAM systems in Europe), which is the standard television signal format. However, in recent years, ED, an improved version of the standard television signal format,
TV (E xtsnded D efj, n1tj,
On TV) system is being put into practical use, and
HDTV (High Definition) is a high-definition (also called high-definition) television system with higher quality.
The development and practical application of the TV system is progressing. As an example of this HDTV and HDVTR,
Television Society Journal Vol.

42, No. 7 (1988), pp655-6
As stated in 58r Special Feature, Television Annual Report, 4-2 HDTV (High Vision) J, there are VTRs of various types such as analog recording type and digital recording type.

Even in the case of digital recording methods, by using high-density media such as metal tapes and data compression technology, it will be possible in the future to replace current VTR cassettes (for example, there are 1/2-inch VH8 standard cassettes, which can record for 2 hours in standard mode). With the same size, it is thought that approximately twice the recording time can be obtained, depending on the level of compression and image quality.

Therefore, in order to avoid confusion, one possible proposal for a cassette standard for home VTRs that can record next-generation HD signals is one that is different from the current VH8 power set.

As an example of the above-mentioned small cassette, see Journal of Television Society Vol. 39, No. 4 (1985).
), pp 325-329 “Recent Recording Technology, 3-2-
There is an example of a VH8-C cassette that can record and play back 20 minutes in standard mode on a two-camera integrated VTRJ. The VHS-C cassette 1 is suitable for integrated VTRs with video cameras (including Beta Movie, VHS Video Movie, etc.), which require compactness and light weight, and the VH3-C cassette can be connected to an adapter (standard VHS cassette). shape), and the conventional VT
It can also be played on R.

Therefore, the new car-type cassettes that were designed to be able to record the next-generation HD signals mentioned above are VHS cassettes and VH8 cassettes.
- A cassette with a volume intermediate to that of the C cassette.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, the conventional technology related to recording and reproducing on cassettes 1 of different shapes is a small cassette (VH3-C cassette).
However, there were disadvantages in that it could not be played back on a standard VTR unless it was first inserted into an adapter, and that only one type of signal (NTSC system) could be recorded.

In the future, the number of signal formats to be recorded will increase to EDTV, HDTV, etc., and the types of cassette shapes will also increase, but it is important to have a VTR for home use that is compatible with each television system and each shape of cassette. is inconvenient from both cost and space considerations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a single recording/playback device that has a drum having the same lead angle for a plurality of cassettes, and is capable of conveniently recording and playing back input information signals of a plurality of signal formats on cassettes of a plurality of shapes. To provide a magnetic recording/playback device.

The above purpose is to provide a cassette shape discrimination means, a recording medium discrimination means, and a type selection means (including automatic discrimination) of the type of input signal to be recorded. This is accomplished by automatically changing the mechanical system, including magnetic tape loading, and the electrical system, including signal processing circuits, servo circuits, and system control circuits.

[Effect]

When a cassette 1~ of one shape among a plurality of types is inserted into the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, the mechanism system is changed by the cassette shape discriminating means so as to carry out a corresponding loading process. Next, the type of magnetic tape is determined by the recording medium determining means, and the cassette shape and the type of medium are recorded in a semiconductor memory provided in the electrical system. Furthermore, the type of signal to be recorded (NTSC, HDTV, etc.) is selected or determined by input signal type selection means (including determination) and is stored in the semiconductor memory. Thereafter, in order to change the electrical system to a desired state using the above-mentioned three types of information stored and command information for recording, reproduction, etc., for example, the VH8, VH8-C1 mentioned above
No matter which of the new small cassettes is inserted, recording or playback will not occur in the wrong mode.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described using the block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are rotary heads mounted on a rotating drum 3 for recording and reproducing information signals, 4 is a magnetic tape, 5 is a drum motor, 6 is a drum servo circuit, 7 is a capstan motor, and 8 9 is a capstan servo circuit, and 9 is a recording signal processing circuit for processing one of the plurality of input signals (for example, an NTSC video signal) into a form that can be recorded on the magnetic tape 4 (for either analog recording or digital recording). 10 is a reproduction signal processing circuit that performs processing such as demodulation on the signal obtained from the rotating head; 11 is a reproduction signal processing circuit that performs processing such as demodulation on the signal obtained from the rotating head;
For example, digital audio signals, computer data signals, etc. are also possible) α1゜α2. . . . a type selection switch for selecting the signal to be recorded from α, (for example, here α□ is an NTSC signal and α2 is an HD signal);
12 is a recording signal type selection circuit composed of switches linked with 11, and 0 outputs are selected from each section (recording signal processing circuit 9
, the playback signal processing circuit 10, the drum servo circuit 6, the capstan servo circuit 8, and a controller (to be described later, the same applies hereinafter).
H++ (created from the power supply voltage Vcc), and 13 is the signal format (created from the power supply voltage Vcc) based on the signal from the reproduction signal processing circuit during reproduction.
14 is a detector that constitutes a means for determining the shape of the cassette. (for example, a photodetector), 15 is a detector for identifying recording media (for example, a mechanical switch that detects the presence or absence of an identification hole corresponding to the type of medium in a cassette), and 16 is a VTR system control. 17 mainly consists of a controller that performs the following operations (it may also be composed of random logic),
Semiconductor memory for storing media types and recording signal types as a mode table (Randon Accesses)
s Memory (abbreviated as RAM), 18 is an operation input device (consisting of switches, etc.) for the user to give commands for recording, playback, etc. to the controller, 22, 23, 24 are pins for pulling out the tape, 24 is a This is an actuator for selecting these three types of pins. The RAM 17 must be retained even when the power supply is cut off, and is constituted by a non-volatile memory or the like.

Next, the operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained using the block diagram in FIG. 1, the shape diagram of three types of cassettes in FIG. 2, the mode table in FIG. 3, and the two types of recording tape pattern diagrams in FIG. Explain. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, three types of cassette shapes are assumed. In Figure 2, 201 is the current VH8 power set 1- (A case 1~), 202 is V
HS-C cassette 1~ (assumed to be B cassette), 203
It is assumed that cassette 1 is a new compact cassette (called a C cassette) which can also record HD signals, and the volume of the cassette C is approximately 1/2 that of the cassette A. Both A cassette and B cassette are S.
There are improved cassettes called -VHS that use the same iron oxide-based high-performance tape as before, but with improved characteristics, and these have 5-VHS modes (recording media).
Since an identification hole is provided for identification, this is detected by the recording medium detector 15 for identification. A metal tape is used for C cassette 1, and there is no identification hole (which will be added in the future as the performance of the tape improves). As for the signals to be recorded, the standard NTSC signal is shown in Figure 1 d□, and the HD signal (MUS
E signal format, but baseband format is the same)
The case where is input to cL2 will be explained.

When one of the three types of cassettes A, B, and C is inserted, one of the three types is determined by a cassette shape detector to be described later.

The controller 16 controls each part according to the results,
The mechanism system is changed so that the loading process corresponds to the shape and is operated to pull out the tape from the cassette and load it onto the drum 3. Regarding the tape loading mechanism, see literature, NHK home video technology,
It is sufficient to use the known technique described in "Pp150-152 rl 1.3 Tape Loading" edited by Japan Broadcasting Corporation, etc.
In particular, these three types of cassettes have the same tape width of 1/2 inch and the same shape of the reel stand etc. so that they can be easily interchanged, so the drum area can be the same, for example, the tape drawer shown in Figure 1. Three types of pins 21, 22 and 23 are provided (21 is for A, 22 is for B, and 23 is for C cassette), and as a result of discrimination, only one of the pins is valid with the pin selection actuator 24 (in Fig. 1, the intermediate If a C cassette is inserted, only cassette 23 stands upright and is active, while cassettes 21 and 22 fall horizontally and become inactive.

Next, a detector 15 for recording medium discrimination determines the type of magnetic tape, which also depends on the shape, and the R
In the example of AM17 with a cassette shape, if the C cassette is a metal tape, if the A cassette 1 to B cassette does not have an identification hole, it is determined to be an iron oxide tape, and if there is an identification hole, it is determined to be a high performance iron oxide tape.

Next, the type of signal to be recorded (NTSC signal or H
D signal) is selected and stored in the RAM 17. In this example, the type selection means is composed of a type selection switch 11 and a selection circuit 12, and when the user sets the switch 11 to the upper position, α1, that is, the NTSC signal, is set to the lower position, α2
That is, the HD signal is input as In to the recording signal processing circuit.

For example, the cassette shape is a C cassette, the recording medium is a metal tape (denoted as M), and the recording signal is M.
Figure 3 shows the mode table when the VSE format I (D signal is input).
In the TSC, the above three types of information and operation input 18 were stored on the standard iron oxide tape and NTSC signal recording in the B cassette.
The electrical system is switched to the optimal state along with information such as recording and playback from.

Among the electrical system switching operations, an example of a specific operation of the recording signal processing circuit 9 will be explained using the blocks in FIG.

In FIG. 10, 911 is an NTSC signal recording circuit;
12 is a MUSE signal recording circuit, and 913 and 914 are switches. When an NTSC command is received from the controller J-roller, the signal Mu becomes "L" and the switches 913 and 914 fall upward to supply the selected NTSC signal In to the heads 1 and 2 through the NTSC signal recording circuit. MUSE
When the command comes, the switch is turned downward and the MUSE signal is recorded in the same way. The switching operation is performed in the same configuration for the reproduced signal processing circuit 1°.

For example, when the mode table in Figure 3 is A, H, NTSC, the tape pattern to be recorded next is the current 5-VH.
This is S mode recording/reproduction, and the recording pattern by the heads 1 and 2 at that time is as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. That is, the recording patterns are 401, 402, 403 by heads 1 and 2.
．． -406, and if 401 is the first field, 402 is the second field, and so on, one recording pattern is formed in each field.

Next, when the C cassette is inserted and the I-(D signal is selected and the mode table becomes C, M, MUSE shown in FIG. 3), the recording tape pattern will be as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4. That is, based on the mode table, the drum servo circuit 6
is changed to make the rotating drum 3 rotate four times as much as in the case of the NTSC signal, and the campstan servo circuit 8 is changed to make the tape running speed four times as fast. Also, the recording signal processing circuit 9 and the reproduction signal processing circuit 1o are changed to perform so-called segment recording of the MUSE signal. That is, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 4, the recording patterns are 411, 41 by heads 1 and 2.
2,413.・418... are formed in order, and the first field is 4 1s of 4.11, 412, 4.13.414.
-In the rack, the second field is also 415,416,4.1
HD because it is divided into four 1-racks of 7,4.18
This allows wideband recording of signals, but requires segment processing. Here, the recording pattern is the same drum (the lead angle that regulates the tape running path is also the same)
The slope is the same regardless of the cassette.

Next, as a specific configuration example of the servo circuit changing means, the fifth
This will be explained using a block diagram of the capstan servo circuit 8 shown in the figure. In FIG. 5, the capstan servo circuit 11
is a phase comparator 501, a frequency discriminator 502, an adder 5
03, Frequency divider 5o4゜505.506, Switch (SW
)507,508. controller 16
"H" when the recording signal is HD, and "I" when the recording signal is NTSC.
A signal X that becomes I L II is input. X is 11
In HII, that is, HD mode, 5Ws 507 and 508 fall upward. A signal y indicating the rotational frequency is taken out from the capstan motor 7, and the frequency discriminator 502 divides the signal into 1/4 by the frequency divider 50G. y frequency divider 104
In the recording mode, control is applied so that the phase matches the signal frequency-divided to a predetermined frequency. For example, 2 is 60 Hz in HD mode, 59 in standard NTSC.
, 94 Hz. X is “L” (NT
When in SC mode, 5Ws 507 and 508 fall down, and the signals input to frequency discriminator 502 and phase comparator 501 are controlled to have the same frequency as in HD mode, so the tape ends up being is 174 in HD mode (
That is, the HD mode runs at four times the speed of the NTSC mode.

Here, the frequency division ratio of frequency dividers 504 and 505 is 4:1.

Next, as a second embodiment, an example of automatically determining a signal to be recorded will be explained using a block diagram showing another configuration example of the type selection means in FIG. 6.The number of input terminals is one, and α
Assume that either an HD or NTSC signal is connected to □'. α,' are determined by the type selection circuit 12'.

Figure 7 (1) shows the waveforms of the NTSC signal and the two types to be discriminated.
) and (2) (C represents a color signal and Y represents a luminance signal, respectively). Since these horizontal synchronization signals have different shapes, the NTSC signal may be determined based on whether or not there is a negative synchronization signal below a predetermined level, for example.

Also, since the horizontal synchronization signal is 33.75 KHz and 15.734 KHz for the HD signal and the NTSC signal, they can be distinguished based on this difference.

Next, the three types of cassettes 1 having the shapes shown in FIG. 2 to the shape determining means will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 which shows an example of the configuration.

In Fig. 8, 801, 802, 803, 804 are LE
Light sources such as D, 805, 806, 807, and 808 are photodetectors for detecting the presence or absence of light, and correspond to the cassette shape detector 14 in FIG.

The light source and detector are installed in the cassette slot of the magnetic recording/playback device, close to the input.
When a cassette I~ (with width Q) is inserted in the direction of the arrow, the cassette passes between the light source and the detector.

The Q of Hahekasetsuj~ is the same as S゛ (slightly shorter), (
2) ρ2 is the same as the C cassette ρ (slightly shorter),
(3) Q□ is the same as Q in B cassette (slightly shorter)
By setting, for example, when the C cassettes 1 to 1 are inserted, and only at that time, the 8Q6, 807° 808 detects light and transmits it to the controller 1-roller 16. Then, the controller 16 identifies it as a C cassette. The same applies to other cases. As described above, no matter which cassette is inserted, it is determined without any malfunction.

Next, as a third embodiment, an example will be described in which, if the cassette is not inserted from the correct position, the cover of the insertion port of the cassette 1 will not open, thereby preventing erroneous operation. In the configuration of FIG. 8, for example, C
When inserting a cassette, it must be placed between the light sources 802 and 804, and if it is shifted to the right and inserted in a position where 804 is out of place (the insertion slot is larger considering the A cassette), it will be misjudged. . To prevent this,
Lid 902 divided into three parts at the cassette entrance (insertion port) in Fig. 9
．． 903 and 904 are provided. The lid moves toward the opposite side using the upper part as a fulcrum, so that a cassette can be inserted, and the light source and detector shown in FIG. 8 are installed at the upper and lower parts of the lid, respectively. The lid is normally locked by a locking mechanism. For example, when a C cassette is inserted, the detector detects that it is a C cassette when it is inserted from the normal position (the right end of the cassette and the right end of the cassette input are aligned). )
Only the lids 903 and 904 can be unlocked.

Even when another cassette is inserted, the same operation is performed, and the cassette shape can be determined and inserted correctly without making a mistake.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a single device can handle a plurality of cassettes 1 to 1 of different shapes in a plurality of signal formats, including not only video signals such as NTSC signals and HD television signals, but also other media. It is possible to automatically discriminate and record/reproduce input information signals in a user-friendly manner, and problems such as erroneous insertion do not occur.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram of the shape of a cassette, FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a mode table, FIG. 4 is a tape pattern diagram, and FIG. is a block diagram of the servo circuit, FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the signal type discrimination means, FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the cassette shape discrimination means, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the cassette erroneous insertion prevention means. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the recording signal processing circuit. 9...Record signal processing circuit 10...Reproduction signal processing circuit 6...Drum servo circuit 8...Capstan servo circuit 14...Cassette shape detector 15...Recording medium detector

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotating head helical scan magnetic recording and reproducing device capable of selectively recording input information signals in a plurality of signal formats on cassettes of a plurality of shapes and in a plurality of types of recording media. , at least part or all of the cassette shape determining means (14), the recording medium determining means (15), the input signal type selecting means (11, 12), and a magnetic tape which is a recording medium built into the cassette. cassette shape determining means ( 14), changing either or both of the mechanical system and the electrical system depending on the output of some or all of the recording medium discrimination means (15) and the input signal type selection means (11, 12); Features a magnetic recording and playback device. 2. Based on the output of the cassette shape determining means, the mechanism system including loading of the magnetic tape, which is a recording medium built into the cassette, is changed, and then the recording medium determining means (
15) and the input signal type selection means (11, 12), the signal processing circuit (9, 10) and the servo circuit (6,
8) The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical system including the system control circuit (16) is changed. 3. The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising one common drum that forms the same lead angle for the magnetic tapes contained in the plurality of cassettes. 4. A semiconductor memory (17) is included in the electrical system, and part or all of the information of the cassette shape discrimination means (14), the recording medium discrimination means (15), and the input signal type selection means (11, 12) is stored. 4. The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus stores information on the semiconductor memory. 5. The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the cassette shape determining means (14) detects the width of the inserted cassette. 6. Claims 1, 2, and 3 further comprising means for locking the cassette insertion opening with a lid divided into a plurality of pieces except when the cassettes of the plurality of shapes are inserted from a normal position. , 4 or 5. The magnetic recording and reproducing device according to .