JPH07222092A - Tape cassette and video audio signal recording and reproducing device using tape cassette to record and to reproduce picture signal and audio signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a digital VTR in which information representing a start position for recording and reproduction is stored in a memory of a tape cassette with a pack structure so as to control the start position. CONSTITUTION:A timer video recording reservation event comprising a pack shown in figures (1), (2) and a VAUX SOURCE pack recording data relating to a recorded television signal is stored in a memory and a microcomputer forms a program to apply timer video recording to a television signal of a desired channel according to a desired recording condition based on the content of the event. The recording from the desired start position by adding a pack shown in figure (3) in which a start position is recorded by an absolute track number to the event is executed. The pack represents recording start position data in the case of REC=1 and represents reproduction start position data in the case of REC=0. Furthermore, the start position is controlled only with one pack shown in figure (5) and the pack represents recording start position data in the case of TAGID=1010 and represents reproduction start position data in the case of TAGID=1011.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette for recording / reproducing image signals and audio signals, and an image / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing image signals and audio signals using the tape cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when timer recording reservation is made in a consumer VTR, it is necessary to find a correct recording start position by performing operations such as fast forward, rewind and play of the tape when setting the tape. If you do not do so, there is a risk that you may accidentally erase the recorded part that you do not want to delete.

In a conventional consumer-use video cassette recorder with a built-in camera (hereinafter referred to as a camcorder), when shooting, rewinding and reproducing, and continuing recording from the final recording position, the point is searched. There was a problem that it took time. For example, if you are looking for a point using the edit search function, you can hardly return to the original unless it is near that point, so switch the camcorder to the VTR mode and bring it near that point while watching the playback image in the viewfinder. In many cases, the process of searching for points using the edit search function in camera mode was repeated.
Furthermore, if another person continues to record the tape that was rewound, played back and left as it is after shooting, thinking that it is the final recording position without knowing it, the important recording part will be There was also the problem of being lost.

Further, when the recorded tape is reproduced and viewed by a plurality of people, the following problems occur. For example, when multiple people are watching the playback image and only a specific person sits in the middle and then the person who sits in the middle returns and tries to see the continued playback screen, rewind the tape, I had to repeat the process to find the next scene. In this case, some conventional VTRs employ a method of remembering the point by pressing the counter reset button, but this is based on the premise that the cassette is not ejected. If he was loading another tape and was watching the replayed image, such a method would be useless.

Further, in the case of the 8 mm camcorder, the joint portion of the recording is beautiful unless the recorded tape is taken out, but if the tape is taken out even once, the joint portion there becomes disordered. At that time, there is a problem that a beautiful image cannot be obtained at the joint portion unless the recording operation is started after the cueing process is performed.

In addition to the above problem of setting the operation start position in the VTR, the following is related to a consumer video cassette recorder (called VCR) by a digital recording system which is currently actively researched and developed. Problems are also being considered. That is, the above-mentioned consumer digital VCR is
Recording and reproduction of television signals of 525/60 system or 625/50 system is possible. In addition to this, recording of television signal of 1125/60 system or 1250/50 system is also possible. The recording format is configured so that it can be played back.

By the way, when recording and reproducing television signals of various types by using the same tape cassette as described above, how to display the recording capacity of a commercially available tape cassette. There is a problem. In the case of the conventional analog VTR tape cassette, it is only necessary to consider two cases of the recording time, that is, the SP mode and the LP mode. However, in the above digital VCR cassette tape, the recording mode (SP / L
In addition to the change in the recording time due to P), the recording time varies depending on which system the television signal is recorded in. Thus, the recording time is described in different cases depending on various usage modes. This is difficult due to the small size of the cassette, and even if a large amount of information is written in this way, it is likely that the user will rather make a mistake. The present invention has been made in view of such a point.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is possible to easily set a recording start position or a reproduction start position when recording / reproducing in an audio / video signal recording / reproducing apparatus. Further, the recording capacity of a video tape used as a recording medium of a video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording format capable of recording / reproducing a television signal of various systems can be simply displayed.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 is a tape cassette for forming a helical track on a video tape housed therein to record and reproduce image signals and audio signals. And a symbol representing the total number of tracks when recording is performed at a track pitch in a predetermined recording mode over the entire length of the video tape. Is represented by.

In this case, it is preferable to write the data regarding the total length of the video tape on the surface of the tape cassette. Also, the data on the total length of this video tape is
It is convenient to derive 0 as the value of the digit less than the significant digit corresponding to the error portion in the numerical value obtained by dividing the total length of the video tape by the track pitch in the predetermined recording mode.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal by using a tape cassette in which a video tape is housed, and a final recording position on the video tape. Means for storing information indicating the information in a storage device mounted on the tape cassette, a reading means for reading the final recording position information stored in the storage device, and a command for setting the recording / reproducing operation to a standby state. Standby command input means for inputting, start command inputting means for inputting a command for starting the recording / reproducing operation,
And a traveling control means for controlling traveling of the video tape,
The reading means reads the final recording position information stored in the storage device in accordance with the input operation of one of the standby command input means and the start command input means, and the travel control means includes the reading means. The video tape is made to run to the final recording position based on the final recording position information read by.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an audio / video signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal by using a tape cassette in which a video tape is also housed, and a final recording on the video tape. Means for storing information indicating a position in a storage device mounted on the tape cassette, recording command input means for inputting a recording command, and reading means for reading out final recording position information stored in the storage device, And a position determining means for determining a recording start position on the video tape, and the reading means reads the final recording position information stored in the storage device in response to the input operation of the recording command by the recording command inputting means. With
The position determining means is configured to determine the recording start position on the video tape based on the final recording position information read by the reading means.

In the invention according to claim 4 or 5, it is desirable that the final recording position information has identification information of the recording mode at the final recording position. The invention according to claim 7 is also an image / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal by using a tape cassette in which a video tape is also housed, and the last device on the video tape in the last recording operation. Means for storing the information indicating the recording position in the associated data storage device mounted on the tape cassette, recording command input means for inputting a recording command, and the last recording position information stored in the storage device. A read-out means for reading out and a position determining means for determining a recording start position on the video tape are provided, and the read-out means stores the last one stored in the storage device in response to the input operation of the recording command by the recording command inputting means. Of the recording position information on the video tape based on the last recording position information read by the reading means. Position and is configured to determine.

In this case, the accompanying data storage device has a first storage area for storing basic accompanying data and a second storage area for storing optional accompanying data, and the last recording position information is It is preferable that the data is stored at the head position in the second storage area.
The invention according to claim 9 is also an image / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal by using a tape cassette in which a video tape is also housed, and a position regulation for regulating a position on a video tape Means for recording / reproducing a signal on the video tape, and start position information for storing information indicating the start position of the recording / reproducing operation of the image signal and the audio signal on the video tape in a storage device mounted on the tape cassette. And storage means.

In this case, a reproduction start position designating means for designating the reproduction start position of the image signal and the audio signal on the video tape and a reproduction start position information generating means are further provided, and the reproduction start position information is provided. The generation means generates reproduction start position information based on the position defining signal reproduced from the video tape reproduction position when the reproduction start position designating means is operated, and the start position information storage means stores the generated reproduction start position information. It can be configured to be stored in a storage device.

Alternatively, the apparatus further comprises a restart command input means for inputting a command for restarting the reproducing operation, and a reading means for reading the reproduction start position information stored in the storage device, and the reading means further comprises the restarting means. The reproduction start position information may be read from the storage device according to the input operation of the restart command by the command input means, and the reproduction operation of the image signal and the audio signal may be restarted from the start position represented by the reproduction start position information. it can.

As still another configuration example, a recording start position designating unit for designating a recording start position of an image signal and an audio signal on a video tape and a recording start position information generating unit are provided, and the recording is performed. The start position information generation means generates the recording start position information based on the position defining signal reproduced from the video tape reproduction position when the recording start position designating means is operated, and the start position information storage means generates the generated recording start information. The position information may be stored in the storage device.

[0018]

It is possible to easily grasp the recording capacity of the cassette tape. The recording / playback start position can be stored in the tape cassette itself. Also, recording / reproducing can be automatically started from the last recording position or the last recording position on the tape. In this case, the search operation of the last recording position information stored in the tape cassette is quickly performed, and when the recording operation is started from the last recording position, the rising edge of the servo can be accelerated.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an image compression recording type consumer digital VTR (hereinafter referred to as a digital VTR) in a helical scan format will be sequentially described in accordance with the following items.

1. Overview of digital VTR 1-1. Recording format of digital VTR (1) ITI area (2) AUDIO area (3) VIDEO area (4) SUBCODE area (5) ID structure (6) MIC (7) Pack structure and type (8) Accompanying information recording Area structure 1-2. Recording circuit of digital VTR 1-3. Digital VTR reproduction circuit 1. Application ID system 3. Control of recording / playback start position 3-1. Method using only TAG pack 3-2. How to use multi-pack events

1. Outline of Digital VTR First, an outline of the digital VTR constituting the present embodiment will be described in the order of its recording format, recording circuit, and reproducing circuit.

1-1. Recording Format of Digital VTR FIG. 31 shows the recording format of the digital VTR on the tape. In this figure, margins are provided at both ends of the track. Inside the recording start end side, an ITI area for surely performing post-recording, an AUDIO area for recording an audio signal, a VIDEO area for recording an image signal, and an S for recording secondary data.
A UBCODE area is provided. An inter-block gap (I
BG) is provided.

Next, details of the signals recorded in each of the above areas will be described. (1) ITI Area As shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 31, the ITI area has a 1400-bit preamble and an 1830-bit SSA (Start-Sync Block Area).
a), 90-bit TIA (Track Information)
(Area) and a 280-bit postamble.

Here, the preamble has a function such as a run-in of the PLL at the time of reproduction, and the postamble has a role of earning a margin. And SSA and TIA
The block data is composed of 30-bit block data, and the first 10 bits of each block data have a predetermined SY.
The NC pattern (ITI-SYNC) is recorded.

In the 20-bit portion following this SYNC pattern, the SYNC block number (0 to 60) is mainly recorded in SSA, and the 3-bit APT information (APT2 to APO) is mainly recorded in TIA. The SP / LP flag for identifying the recording mode and the PF flag indicating the reference frame of the servo system are recorded. In addition, A
PT is ID data that defines the data structure on the track, and takes the value "000" in the digital VTR of this embodiment.

As can be seen from the above description, since a large number of block data having a short code length of 30 bits are recorded at a fixed position on the magnetic tape in the ITI area, for example, the 61st SSA from the reproduced data. SYN
By using the position where the C pattern is detected as a standard for defining the post-recording position on the track, the position to be rewritten at the time of post-recording can be defined with high accuracy, and good post-recording can be performed. The digital V of this embodiment is
The TR is designed so that it can be easily applied to various other digital signal recording / reproducing devices as described later, but it is necessary to rewrite data in a specific area in any digital signal recording / reproducing device. Therefore, the ITI area on the truck entrance side is always provided.

(2) AUDIO area The audio area has a preamble and a postamble before and after the audio area as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 31, and the preamble is a run-up for pulling in the PLL.
And a pre-SYNC for pre-detection of the audio SYNC block. Also, the postamble is a post S for confirming the end of the audio area.
It is composed of YNC and a guard area for protecting the audio area during video data post-recording.

Here, the pre-SYNC and the post-SYNC are
32 is configured as shown in (1) and (2) of FIG. 32. The pre-SYNC is composed of two SYNC blocks, and the post SYNC is composed of one SYNC block. Then, the SP / LP identification byte is recorded at the 6th byte of the pre-SYNC. This is FF
When h represents SP and OOh represents LP, and when the SP / LP flag recorded in the above-mentioned ITI area is unreadable, the value of the SP / LP identification byte of this pre-SYNC is adopted (h is a hexadecimal notation). Indicates that there is).

The audio data recorded in the area sandwiched between the amble areas as described above is generated as follows. First, the audio signal for one track to be recorded is subjected to AD conversion and shuffling, then subjected to framing, and further parity is added. FIG. 33 shows a format in which parity is added by performing this framing.
(1) of. In this figure, 72 bytes of audio data is added with 5 bytes of audio accompanying data (this is called AAUX data) to form 1 block of 77 bytes of data, which is vertically stacked for 9 blocks for framing. Then, an 8-bit horizontal parity C1 and a vertical parity C2 corresponding to five blocks are added.

The data to which these parities are added is read out in units of blocks, and 3 bytes are added to the head side of each block.
A byte ID is added, and further, a 2-byte SYNC signal is inserted in the recording modulation circuit, and (2) in FIG.
Is shaped into a signal of 1 SYNC block having a data length of 90 bytes as shown in FIG. Then, this signal is recorded on the tape.

(3) VIDEO area The video area has the same preamble and postamble as the audio area as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. However, it is different from the audio area in that the guard area is formed longer. The video data sandwiched between these amble areas is generated as follows.

First, the video signals to be recorded are Y, RY,
After being separated into BY component signals, AD conversion is performed, and data of an effective scanning area for one frame is extracted from the AD converted output. This extracted data for one frame is Y when the video signal is a 525/60 system.
For the AD conversion output (DY) of the signal, the horizontal direction 72
It consists of 0 samples and 480 lines in the vertical direction.
AD conversion output (DR) of RY signal and A of BY signal
For the D conversion output (DB), the horizontal direction is 18
It consists of 0 samples and 480 lines in the vertical direction.

Then, these extracted data are divided into blocks of 8 samples in the horizontal direction and 8 lines in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. However, in the case of the color difference signal, the block at the right end portion of (2) in FIG. 34 has only 4 samples in the horizontal direction, and therefore, two blocks adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are combined into one block. With the above blocking processing, a total of 81 for DY, DR, and DB per frame
00 blocks are formed. In addition, this horizontal direction 8
D, a block consisting of 8 samples in the vertical direction
It is called CT block.

Next, these blocked data are shuffled according to a predetermined shuffling pattern, then DCT transformed in DCT block units, and subsequently quantized and variable length coded. Here, the quantization step is set for every 30 DCT blocks, and the value of this quantization step is set so that the total amount of output data obtained by quantizing and variable-length-coding 30 DCT blocks is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It That is, the video data is transferred to the DCT block 30.
Fixed length for each piece. The data for 30 DCT blocks is called a buffering unit.

The data fixed in length as described above is subjected to framing together with video accompanying data (this is called VAUX data) for each data of one track, and then an error correction code is added. FIG. 35 shows a format in which this framing is applied and an error correction code is added.

In this figure, BUF0 to BUF26 each represent one buffering unit. Then, one buffering unit is (1) in FIG.
As shown in (1), it has a structure in which it is vertically divided into five blocks, and each block has a data amount of 77 bytes.
An area Q for storing parameters relating to quantization is provided in the first byte of each block.

Video data is stored in an area of 76 bytes following the quantized data. Then, as shown in FIG. 35, VAUX data α and β corresponding to two blocks in the above buffering unit are arranged above the buffering units arranged 27 in the vertical direction. At the same time, VAUX data γ corresponding to one block is arranged in the lower part, and an 8-byte horizontal parity C1 and a vertical parity C2 corresponding to 11 blocks are added to the framed data. To be done.

The signal to which the parity is added in this way is read in units of blocks, a 3-byte ID signal is added to the head side of each block, and a 2-byte SYNC signal is further inserted in the recording modulation circuit. It This allows
For the video data block, a signal of 1SYNC block having a data amount of 90 bytes as shown in (2) of FIG. 36 is formed, and for the VAUX data block, 1SYNC block as shown in (3) of FIG. The signal of the block is formed. The signal for each 1SYNC block is sequentially recorded on the tape.

In the framing format described above, 27 buffering units representing one track of video data have 810 DCT blocks of data, so that one frame of data (8100 DCT blocks) is stored. The recording will be divided into 10 tracks.

(4) SUBCODE area The SUBCODE area is an area mainly provided for recording information for high speed search, and of the data recorded on the tape, only the data in this area can be rewritten by post-recording. Is possible. This SUBCO
An enlarged view of the DE area is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, this area has a data length of 12 bytes.
It includes a SYNC block, and a preamble and a postamble are provided before and after the SYNC block. However, unlike the audio area and the video area, pre-SYNC and post-SYNC are not provided. And each of the 12 SYNCs
5 bytes of accompanying data (AUX data) in the block
Is provided for recording. Also, as the parity for protecting the 5-byte accompanying data, only the 2-byte horizontal parity C1 is used, and the vertical parity is not used.

The AUDIO area described above,
Each SYNC block constituting the VIDEO area and the SUBCODE area is 24/25 in recording modulation.
Since the conversion (recording modulation method in which the data for every 24 bits of the recording signal is converted to 25 bits, the tracking control pilot frequency component is added to the recording code) is performed, the recording data amount of each area Figure 31
The number of bits is as shown in.

(5) Structure of ID part As is clear from the structure of each SYNC block shown in FIGS. 32, 33, 36, and 37, as shown in FIG.
UDIO area, VIDEO area, and SUBOCO
Each SYNC block recorded in the DE area has ID0, ID1 and I after the 2-byte SYNC signal.
3 consisting of DP (parity that protects ID0 and ID1)
It has a common structure in that the ID portion of the byte is provided. Then, in the audio area and the video area, the data structure of the ID0 and ID1 in the ID portion is determined as shown in FIG.

That is, ID1 stores the in-track SYNC numbers (0 to 168) from the audio area pre-SYNC to the video area post SYNC in binary. The track number within one frame is stored in the lower 4 bits of ID0. The track numbers are numbered once for every two tracks, and the two tracks can be distinguished by the azimuth angle of the head.

The upper 4 bits of ID0 are AAU.
SYNC of X + audio data and video data
In the block, 4 as shown in (1) of this figure
The bit sequence number is stored. On the other hand, in the pre-SYNC block, the post-SYNC block and the SYNC block of the parity C2 in the audio area, a 3-bit ID that defines the data structure of the audio area.
The data AP1 is stored, and the pre-S of the video area is stored.
3-bit ID data AP2 defining the data structure of the video area is stored in the YNC block, the post SYNC block, and the SYNC block of the parity C2 (see (2) in this figure). The values of AP1 and AP2 are "0" in the digital VTR of this embodiment.
00 ”.

The above sequence number is "000".
Twelve numbers from "0" to "1011" are recorded for each frame. By looking at this sequence number, it is possible to judge whether the data obtained during variable speed reproduction are within the same frame. On the other hand, SUBCOD
The structure of the ID part of the SYNC block in the E area is defined as shown in FIG.

This drawing shows the structure of each ID part of SYNC block numbers 0 to 11 for one track in the SUBCODE area, and the FR flag is provided in the most significant bit of ID0. This flag indicates whether or not it is the first 5 tracks of the frame, and takes a value of "0" in the first 5 tracks and "1" in the latter 5 tracks. The next 3 bits have S in the SYNC block whose SYNC block numbers are "0" and "6".
The ID data AP3 defining the data structure of the UBCODE area is recorded, and the SYNC block number “1” is recorded.
The ID data APT defining the data structure on the track is recorded in the SYNC block of "1", and the TAG code is recorded in the other SYNC block. The value of AP3 is the digital V of this embodiment.
In TR, "000" is taken.

The TAG code is composed of three types of ID signals for search, as shown in an enlarged manner in this figure.
That is, it is composed of an INDEX ID for a conventional INDEX search, a SKIP ID for cutting unnecessary scenes such as commercials, and a PP ID (Photo / Picture ID) for a still image search. Also, the absolute number of the track (the continuous track number from the beginning of the tape) is recorded using the lower 4 bits of ID0 and the upper 4 bits of ID1. Then, by using this absolute track number, an arbitrary position on the tape can be defined, and this absolute track number has a role as a position defining signal. As shown in this figure, one absolute track number is recorded by using a total of 24 bits for three SYNC blocks. The SYNC block number of the SUBCODE area is recorded in the lower 4 bits of ID1.

(6) MIC In the digital VTR of the present embodiment, the auxiliary data is recorded in each area defined on the tape as described above, but the tape is stored outside this area. The circuit board provided with the memory IC is mounted on the cassette,
The accompanying data is also recorded in this memory IC. When the cassette is mounted on the digital VTR, the accompanying data written in the memory IC is read out to assist the operation / operation of the digital VTR (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-165444, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-165444). See Japanese Patent Application No. 4-287875). This memory IC is called MIC (Memory In Cassette) in the present application, and its data structure will be described in detail later.

(7) Structure and type of pack As described above, in the digital VTR of this embodiment, the audio area AAUX area and the video area VA area on the tape are used as areas for recording accompanying data.
The AUX data recording area of the UX area and the SUBCODE area is used, and the recording area of the MIC mounted on the tape cassette is used in addition to this. Each of these areas is configured in units of packs having a fixed length of 5 bytes.

Next, the structure and types of these packs will be described. The pack has a basic structure of 5 bytes shown in FIG. Of these 5 bytes, the first byte (PC0) is used as item data (also called a pack header) indicating the content of the data. Then, the format of the subsequent 4 bytes (PC1 to 4) is determined corresponding to this item data, and arbitrary data is provided according to this format.

This item data is divided into upper and lower 4 bits, and the upper 4 bits are called large items and the lower 4 bits are called small items. The large item of the upper 4 bits is, for example, data indicating the purpose of the subsequent data, and this large item causes the pack to have a control "0000" and a title "000" as shown in the table of FIG.
1 ”, Chapter“ 0010 ”, Part“ 0011 ”,
Program "0100", voice auxiliary data (AAUX)
"0101", image auxiliary data (VAUX) "011"
0, a camera “0111”, a line “1000”, and a soft mode “1111” are expanded into 10 types of groups.

In this way, each group of packs expanded by the large item is expanded into 16 kinds of packs by each smaller item (for example, the concrete content of the subsequent data is represented), and finally, Up to 256 types of packs can be defined using these items. Note that “RESERVED” entered in the table of FIG. 41 represents an undefined portion left for addition. Therefore, by defining new item data (header) using a code of item data that has not been defined yet, it is possible to arbitrarily record new data in the future. Further, since the content of the data stored in the pack can be grasped by reading the header, the position on the tape for recording the pack can be set arbitrarily.

Next, specific examples of packs will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The pack shown in [1] of FIG. 42 belongs to the AAUX group in the table of FIG. 41 as can be seen from the value of the item data thereof, and is called an AAUX SOURCE pack, which is used for recording accompanying data regarding audio. To be done. That is, as shown in the figure, a flag (LF) indicating whether or not the audio sample frequency is locked with the video signal, the number of audio samples per frame (AFSIZE), the number of audio channels (CH), each audio channel Stereo / monaural mode information (PA and AU
DIO MODE), information about the television system (50/60 and STYPE), presence / absence of emphasis (EF), time constant of emphasis (TC), sample frequency (SMP), and quantization information (QU) are recorded.

The packs shown in [2] of FIG. 42 and [1] to [5] of FIG. 43 have VAUX in the table of FIG. 41, as can be seen from the value of the item data.
Belongs to the group of and is used for recording incidental data regarding images. The recorded contents of these packs will be described. VAUX shown in [2] of FIG. 42.
For the SOURCE pack, the channel number (TV channel) of the recording signal source, a flag (B / W) indicating whether the recording signal is a monochrome signal, a code (CFL) indicating the color framing of the recording signal, and CFL are effective. Flag (EN) indicating whether or not the recording signal source is a camera / line / cable / tuner / soft tape or the like (SOURCE CODE), television system of recording signal (525/60) , 625/5
0, 1125/60, 1250/50, etc.) (50/60, and STYPE), data related to identification of UV broadcast / satellite broadcast (TUNER CATEGO)
RY) is recorded.

VAUX SO shown in FIG. 43 [1]
In the UR CONTROL pack, SCMS data (the upper bits represent the presence or absence of copyright, the lower bits represent the original tape), copy source data (representing whether it is an analog signal source, etc.), copy generation data, Cipher (encryption) type data (CP), cipher data (CI), a flag indicating whether or not a recording start frame (REC ST), recording mode data such as original recording / after-recording / insert recording (REC MOD)
E) is recorded, and data relating to the aspect ratio and the like (BCSYS and DISP), a flag (FF) relating to whether or not only the signal of one of the even-odd fields is repeatedly output twice, and a field Flag regarding whether to output the signal of field 1 or the signal of field 2 during the period of 1 (FS), flag regarding whether the image data of the frame is different from the image data of the previous frame (FC), interlace Flag (IL), whether the recorded image is a still image (ST), a flag indicating whether the recorded image is recorded in the still camera mode (SC), And the genre of the recorded content is recorded.

Further, the VAUX shown in [2] of FIG.
Data relating to the recording date is recorded in the REC DATE pack, and the VAUX REC T shown in [3] of FIG.
Data regarding the recording time is recorded in the IME pack,
The binary group data of the time code is recorded in the BINARY GROUP pack shown in [4] of FIG. CLOSED CAPT shown in [5] of FIG.
Closed caption information transmitted during a vertical blanking period of a television signal is recorded in the ION pack.

In addition, CASSETTE of (1) in FIG.
ID pack and TAPE LENG of (2) in the figure
The TH pack is a pack belonging to the CONTROL group in FIG. 41, and the CASSETE ID pack has a flag ME indicating whether or not the data recorded in the MIC corresponds to the data recorded on the tape of the cassette. , Memory (MIC) type, memory size information, and tape thickness information (PC4) are recorded.

In the TAPE LENGTH pack, the total length of the magnetic tape body excluding the leader tape in the video tape is recorded as 23-bit data converted into the number of tracks. The number of tracks in this case is calculated by the track pitch (10 microns) in the SP mode. Next, a specific method of calculating the tape length will be described using a 120-minute recording tape as an example.

Usually, the video tape is wound longer than the actual recordable time to provide a margin. Therefore,
In the case of a 120-minute recording tape, if the margin is 3 minutes, the number of tracks corresponding to 123 minutes will be recorded in the pack. However, even if you design with this goal,
An error will inevitably occur due to the mechanical accuracy of the cassette tape manufacturing device. Therefore, if this error is α (minutes), the actual tape length is

[0060]

[Equation 1]

It becomes And in this application, this error is
This is solved by setting the lower bit of the binary notation to 0. In this case, the number of lower bits to be replaced with 0, in other words, how to set the number of significant digits is left to the discretion of each cassette tape manufacturer. As a result, each manufacturer can arbitrarily set the optimum number of significant digits in the safe range according to the capacity of the tape manufacturing equipment used by each manufacturer and the degree of error caused by the characteristics of the original tape. .

For reference, a specific example of the flow for storing the number of tracks for a 120-minute recording tape in the TAPE LENGTH pack is shown in FIG. In the example shown here, the portion excluding the lower 8 bits is the number of significant digits. And the number of tracks is PC3 to PC of the pack
In order to store it in the upper 23 bits composed of 1, the invalid digit of the lower 8 bits is replaced with 0, and then the operation of shifting the entire data to the left by 1 bit is performed. In the above description, the track pitch is calculated as 10 microns in the SP mode, but since the track pitch can be simply converted in the LP mode, the recording time of the entire tape for each recording mode can be easily calculated. .

TITLE E shown in (3) of FIG.
The absolute track number of the final recording position on the tape is recorded in the ND pack. This final recording position means the position closest to the tape end in the recorded area on the tape, and is an unrecorded area after this position.
When there is a non-recorded portion (blank) on the tape, a discontinuous portion is generated in the absolute track number recorded on each track on the tape. However, the flag BF in the pack is It is a flag indicating whether or not there is such a discontinuous portion at a position before the absolute track number recorded in the pack. Also, the flag SL
Is a flag indicating whether the recording mode at this final recording position is the SP mode or the LP mode, and the flag RE is a flag indicating whether or not there is a recorded content that should not be erased on the tape. is there.

For reference, the absolute track number stored in the TITLE END pack and the above TAPE LEN
The relationship between the absolute track numbers stored in the GTH pack is schematically shown in FIG. 46, and the length (remaining amount) of the unrecorded portion of the tape can be immediately obtained from the values of the absolute track numbers of both. . In addition, S on the recording part on the tape
Even if the portion recorded in the P mode and the portion recorded in the LP mode are mixed, since the absolute track number recorded in each track is defined as shown in FIG. 47 in this digital VTR, TITLE END The remaining tape amount can be easily calculated from the absolute track number stored in the pack.

This figure will be briefly described. In this figure, the first one frame from the start end of the recordable portion of the tape is recorded in the SP mode, and the track pitch of the next two frames is 2 / in the SP mode. 3 is a simplified format of the track format on the tape when recording is performed in the LP mode, which is 3, and again in the SP mode from the next frame. Each elongated rectangular rectangle is 1 Each recording track is represented, and the numbers 0 to 9 described in each track represent the track numbers within one frame.

Further, the number written on the upper part of each track represents the absolute track number of each track. As shown in this figure, the absolute track number is recorded as a multiple of 3 in the SP mode recording portion. , The LP mode recording portion is recorded in multiples of 2, and always corresponds to the track pitch. Then, the absolute track number value recorded on the track at the position where the recording mode is switched is set so as to have a continuous relationship with the absolute track number of the immediately preceding track.

As a result, the absolute track number recorded on an arbitrary track corresponds to the distance from the tape start end of the track. Therefore, the tape remaining amount can be easily calculated from the absolute track number (Note that if the track pitch in the LP mode is 1/2 of the track pitch in the SP mode, the absolute track number is recorded in the SP mode. The portion may be recorded in multiples of 2, and the LP mode recording may be recorded in multiples of 1.)

It should be noted that the above-mentioned final recording position information provides a convenient usability when the reproducing operation started after the tape is rewound in the camcorder is stopped halfway and then the original final recording position is restored or when the timer is reserved. To do. The TITLE END pack shown in (4) of FIG. 44 records the final recording position with the time code of the hour, minute, second frame, and this pack is used to inform the user of the final recording position with time data. . The DF flag stored in this pack is a flag indicating whether or not the drop frame mode is set.

TIMER RE shown in (1) of FIG.
In the C DATE pack, data regarding a designated date is mainly recorded at the time of timer recording. The SL flag in this pack is a flag indicating the SP mode or the LP mode, the RP flag is a flag regarding whether or not the recorded content can be erased, and the TEXT flag is whether text data regarding the recorded content is recorded. This is a flag indicating whether or not. In addition, the 6th of the 3rd byte (PC2) of this pack,
Code TCF (Timer C) stored in the 7th bit
"Control Flag" is a code that gives meaning to the data (DAY) stored in the first to seventh bits of the PC1.

That is, the TCF value is "00" or "0".
1 ", the 7th bit of PC1 is Sunday, the 6th bit
The bit indicates Monday, the fifth bit indicates Tuesday, the fourth bit indicates Wednesday, the third bit indicates Thursday, the second bit indicates Friday, and the first bit indicates Saturday. And T
When the value of CF is “00”, it means that the recording is performed every week on the day of the week whose bit is “0” among the bits representing these days. For example, if only the values of the 7th bit and the 6th bit are both "0", recording is executed every Sunday and Monday.

When the TCF value is "01", 1
This means that only once, recording is performed on the day of the week whose bit is "0" among these bits representing the day of the week. When the TCF value is "11", the specific day from the 1st to the 31st in one month is displayed in binary according to the 7-bit code of the 1st bit to the 7th bit of PC1. The recording is performed on the day when it was recorded. In addition, TC
It is undefined when F is “10”.

Further, the TIMER shown in (2) of FIG.
In the REC S / S pack, data of start time and end time of timer recording is recorded. In the R / P ST POINT pack shown in (3) of the figure, the absolute track number of the recording start position or the reproduction start position on the tape is recorded in binary. That is, when the flag REC = 1, the absolute track number recorded in this pack represents the recording start position, and this pack is recorded in REC START P
It's called OINT pack. When the flag REC = 0, the absolute track number recorded in this pack indicates the reproduction start position, and this pack is set to PB START POI.
It is called NT Pack.

It should be noted that R / P S shown in (4) of FIG.
The T POINT pack records the start position of recording or reproduction with a time code. In the digital VTR of the present embodiment, R / P by absolute track number expression
The ST POINT pack is used preferentially, and the R / P ST POINT pack of this time code expression is also used when notifying the user of the start position as time data.

The TAG pack shown in (5) of FIG.
It is used to mark a position on the tape and is designated by an absolute track number. The meaning of the designated position is defined by the 4-bit TAG ID stored in the PC 4. The meaning of the tape position of the absolute track number recorded in this pack is defined as follows according to the value of TAG ID.

0000 = INDEX 0001 = SKIP START 0010 = PP (PHOTO PICTURE) 0011 = PROGRAM PLAY START 0100 = ZONE PLAY 0101 = STILL (FIXED TIME) 0110 = FREEZE = FIXED TIME 11 TIME 01 TIME) = TIME CHANGE 1010 = REC START POINT 1011 = PB START POINT Others = Reserved

That is, when the TAG ID is "0000", the absolute track number stored in this TAG pack represents the cueing position in the cueing reproduction of the tape,
When it is "0001", the start position of the SKIP operation is "0".
"010" indicates that the image at the absolute track number position is the position to be reproduced in the still image state, and "001"
"1" indicates the start position of the program reproduction, and "0100" indicates the start position of the ZONE reproduction.

[0101] When "0101" is set, the video at the absolute track number position is played back in a still image state for a predetermined time, and when "0110", audio is played normally. Along with this, the image at the absolute track number position is a position that is reproduced in a still image state for a predetermined time, "0111" indicates the last recorded position, and "1000" indicates recording contents. It represents the position where the date changes, "1001" represents the position at which the recording time of the recorded content changes, "1010" represents the recording start position, and "1011" represents the playback start position.

The "last recorded position" information stored in this pack when the TAG ID is "0111" is different from the "final recorded position" information stored in the above-mentioned TITLE END pack, and is different from that tape. Represents the recording end position in the last recording operation performed using. For reference, the relationship between the absolute track numbers stored in both packs is shown in simplified form in FIGS.

As is clear from these figures, this T
The track number stored in the AG pack is TITLE
It cannot be larger than the track number stored in the END pack. That is, in the generation of the TITLE END pack, each time the recording operation is completed, the absolute track number of the track at the recording end position and the TITLE EN
The absolute track number stored in the D pack is being compared. If the former track number is larger than the latter track number, the former track number is TITLE.
It is copied in the END pack. If the former track number is smaller than the latter track number, the latter track number remains unchanged.

The TE stored in the TAG pack
The XT flag is a flag indicating whether or not text data is recorded, and the TT flag corresponds to the tape recording start position data in which the tape recording start position data recorded in the MIC is recorded on the tape. It is a flag indicating whether or not there is. Further, the flag BF is a flag indicating whether or not the absolute track number recorded on the tape has a discontinuous portion.

The TAG pack shown in (1) of FIG.
The position on the tape is marked with a time code, which is used when teaching the position to the user with a time display. MAKER shown in (2) of the figure
The CODE pack is the SOFT MODE in FIG.
The code of the soft tape maker is recorded. The packs of the small items "0001" to "1110" in this group are open to the manufacturer, and each manufacturer can freely define various packs and record desired information.

As a special example of a pack, a pack having an item code of all 1 is a non-information pack (NO I
NFORMATION PACK). As can be seen from the above description, in the digital VTR of the present embodiment, since the structure of the accompanying data is the pack structure common to each area as described above, the software for recording and reproducing these data is common. And processing becomes easy. Further, since the timing at the time of recording / reproducing is constant, it is not necessary to provide an extra memory such as RAM for time adjustment, and the software can be easily developed in the case of developing a new model. be able to.

By adopting the pack structure, for example, even if an error occurs during reproduction, the next pack can be easily taken out. Therefore, a large amount of data will not be destroyed due to error propagation or the like. When the text data is stored in the above-mentioned MIC, the pack structure is exceptionally recorded in one pack in order to save the use amount of the storage area of the MIC having a small storage capacity. The structure is a variable-length pack that stores all text data.
The consumption amount of the storage area of C is saved.

(8) Structure of the accompanying information recording area Next, the AUX data recording area of the AAUX area, the VAUX area, the SUBCODE area where various kinds of accompanying data are recorded using the pack, and the MIC mounted on the tape cassette. The specific structure of the recording area will be described. AAUX area In the AAUX area, 1SY shown in (2) of FIG. 33 is used.
5 bytes AA in the NC block format
One pack is constructed in the UX area. Therefore, AA
The UX area consists of 9 packs per track. In the digital VTR of the 525/60 system, one frame of data is recorded on 10 tracks, so that one frame of AAUX area is represented as shown in FIG.

In this figure, one section represents one pack. And the numbers 50-55 entered in the section
Is a hexadecimal representation of the item code of the pack in that section (for example, the number 50 in this figure is
Represents the AAUX SOURCE pack mentioned above),
These six types of packs are called main packs, and the area in which these main packs are recorded is called the AAUX main area. Then, in the main area, the same pack data is repeatedly recorded 10 times per frame as shown in the figure. These main packs mainly record important and essential data for recording and reproducing audio signals, and by performing the above-mentioned repeated recording, data will be recorded even if side scratches or channel clogs occur on the tape. Has a high reproducibility.

Areas other than this are called AAUX optional areas, and an arbitrary pack can be selected from a wide variety of packs and a maximum of 30 packs can be recorded per frame. In the optional area, a common option area in which common common options are recorded first is provided, and after that, a manufacturer optional area in which unique contents for each manufacturer are recorded is provided. However, since it is optional, only one or both of them may not exist, or both may not exist.

Then, in the common optional area,
For example, text data is recorded. On the other hand, in the manufacturer optional area, the soft mode “111
The above-mentioned MAKER CODE pack having a large item of "1" and a small item of "0000" is provided, followed by specific contents for each manufacturer. Therefore, when this MAKER CODE pack is discriminated, it is discriminated that the contents have been made common before that and the contents peculiar to each manufacturer thereafter.

If there is no information, a pack NO INFO pack without information is recorded. The structure of the main area, optional area, common option, and manufacturer's option explained above is AAUX, VA.
Common to all UX, SUBCODE and MIC.

VAUX Area For the VAUX area, VAU in one track
The X area is composed of three SYNC blocks α, β and γ as shown in FIG.
15 per 1 SYNC block, as shown in
There are 45 trucks. The area of 2 bytes immediately before the horizontal parity C1 in the 1SYNC block is
It is used as a preliminary recording area.

Regarding the VAUX area for one frame,
The pack structure is shown in FIG. In this figure, the packs to which the item codes 60 to 65 are displayed in hexadecimal notation are VAUs constituting the VAUX main area.
The X main packs, and the packs shown in [2] of FIG. 42 and [1] to [5] of FIG. 43 correspond to these packs. The other pack constitutes the VAUX optional area.

AUX data recording area of SUBCODE area The AUX data recording area of the SUBCODE area has SYNC block numbers 0 to 11 as shown in FIG.
There are 5 bytes in each SYNC block, and each of them constitutes one pack. That is, 1 in 1 track
Two packs are recorded, of which the packs of SYNC block numbers 3 to 5 and 9 to 11 form the main area, and the other packs form the optional area.

In this SUBCODE area, 1
Data for a frame is repeatedly recorded in a format as shown in FIG. In this figure, uppercase letters represent packs in the main area, and packs used for high-speed search such as packs storing time codes and packs storing recording dates are recorded. The lowercase letters represent optional area packs, which are repeatedly recorded at the locations as shown in this figure.

Although FIG. 8 shows the recording pattern in the case of the 525/60 system, for reference, the recording pattern of one frame of SUBCODE data in the case of the 625/50 system is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, 6
In the case of the 25/50 system, one frame consists of 12 tracks, but the SUBCODE in one track is 12 SYNCs as in the case of the 525/60 system.
It is composed of blocks and only the number of tracks is different. However, the number of tracks used per second is 300, which is equal.

The SD (STANDARD) described above
In the DENSITY system, one frame is composed of 10 tracks or 12 tracks, but HD (HIGH
In the case of the DENSITY) system, recording is performed with 1 frame 20 tracks in the 1125/60 system and 1 frame 24 tracks in the 1250/50 system. That is, if the track pitch is made equal to that of the SD system, the tape consumption amount is doubled.

The main area in each of the recording areas described above is characterized in that a pack storing ancillary information relating to basic data items common to all tapes is recorded. On the other hand, in the optional area, a soft tape maker or a user can freely write any accompanying data.
Examples of such incidental information include various character information, teletext signal data, television signal data of a vertical blanking period or an arbitrary line within an effective scanning period, computer graphics data, and the like. is there.

Recording Area of MIC FIG. 10 shows the data structure of the recording area of the MIC. This recording area is also divided into a main area and an optional area, and all are described in a pack structure except for the first byte and an unused area (FFh is recorded).
As described above, only text data has a variable length pack structure, and other than that, VAUX, AAUX, SUBCODE
It is recorded in a pack structure having a fixed length of 5 bytes, which is the same as each recording area.

At the head address 0 of the MIC main area, ID data A that defines the data structure of the MIC is written.
PM3 bit and BCID (Basic Cassette)
eID) 4 bits are recorded. Here, the value of APM is "000" in the digital VTR of this embodiment. BCID is a basic cassette ID, and
The contents are the same as the ID board for ID recognition (tape thickness, tape type, tape grade) for a cassette not equipped with C. The ID board makes the MIC reading terminal have the same function as the recognition hole of the conventional 8 mm VTR, which eliminates the need to make a hole in the cassette half as in the conventional case.

Address 1 and subsequent addresses are sequentially processed by the above-mentioned CASS.
ETE ID pack, TAPE LENGTH pack,
Three packs of TITLE END pack are recorded. Here, the number of tracks corresponding to the total length of the tape is recorded in the TAPE LENGTH pack as described above, but in the tape cassette used in the present digital VTR, data concerning the total length of the tape is recorded in the MIC in this way. In addition to this, the number of tracks is also written on the outer surface of the tape cassette body as data representing the total length of the tape.

That is, this digital VTR uses the same tape cassette as described above, and a 525/60 system,
It is possible to record television signals of any of the 625/50 system, the 1125/60 system, and the 1250/50 system, and further, as the recording mode
Although it is possible to select either the P mode or the LP mode, in the case of a tape which is subjected to a wide variety of use modes in this way, the recordable time of the tape changes variously depending on the use mode. Considering the case where recording portions of various recording modes coexist in one tape, even if the recording capacity is expressed as one recording time like a conventional tape cassette, it is not practical. .

Further, it is difficult to say that recording all the recording times when recording is performed on one cassette tape in various usage modes is a practical countermeasure in view of the small cassette size. Therefore, this digital VTR
In the tape cassette used in (1), the recording capacity of the tape is simply represented by notating the number of tracks corresponding to the total length of the tape as described above. Instead of directly writing the number of tracks like this,
A symbol corresponding to the number of tracks (for example, A,
(B, C, ...) may be represented.

Further, in the TITLE END pack, as described above, the flag SL indicating whether the recording mode of the final recording position is the SP mode or the LP mode is recorded. When resuming recording, the recording mode can be known in advance before the recording head reaches the final recording position.
Therefore, based on the value of this flag, it is possible to accelerate the rise of the servo when recording is restarted from the final recording position.

The optional area is composed of an arbitrary number of events. Main area has addresses 0 to 1
The area up to 5 was a fixed area of 16 bytes, whereas the optional area is a variable area located after address 16. Here, the event means one data group of the MIC, and one event is configured from the event header to the appearance of the next event header.

Then, the mode processing microcomputer decodes the contents of each event via the MIC microcomputer in response to various commands from the user, and based on this decoding result, displays, controls, etc., based on the commands from the user. Perform an action. To give a concrete example of such an event, for example,
The timer reservation recording event is the TIMER RE mentioned above.
C DATE pack becomes event header, TIM
ERREC S / S pack and VAUX SOURCE
REC START P by the pack shown in (3) of FIG.
If the OINT pack is added, timer recording starts from this position.

As described above, one event is generally composed of a plurality of packs, but it is prohibited to include a pack defined as another event header in it. It is possible to specify the recording start position or the reproduction start position also by the TAG pack of (5) in FIG. 1, but since this TAG pack also serves as an event header, for example, the recording start position is A TAG pack cannot be included in the timer recording reservation event as a pack for specifying. Therefore, when adding a pack for specifying the recording start position to the timer recording reservation event, the above REC START POI
The NT pack will be used. As will be described later, this TAG pack can exist as an event even with only this one pack.

When a specific event recorded in the optional area is erased, the remaining events are packed and stored after address 16. FFh is written in all the data areas that are no longer needed after the packing operation to make them unused areas. When reading MIC data, the next pack header appears every 5 bytes or every variable-length byte (text data) depending on the contents of the pack header, but when FFh in the unused area is read as a header, this Information-less pack (NO INFO pack)
Since it corresponds to the pack header of, the control microcomputer can detect that there is no information after that.

In the optional area, the timer recording reservation event as described above, the outside of the TAG pack, the TOC (Table of Contents),
Also, the text data of the title regarding the program is recorded.

1-2. Recording Circuit of Digital VTR In the digital VTR of this embodiment, recording on the tape and the MIC is performed according to the recording format described above. Next, the digital VTR for executing such recording.
The configuration and operation of the TR recording circuit will be described. The structure of such a recording circuit is shown in FIG.

In this figure, the input analog composite video signal is converted into Y, R by the Y / C separation circuit 41.
-Y, RY separated into each component signal, A /
It is supplied to the D converter 42. Further, the analog composite video signal is supplied to the sync separation circuit 44, and the sync signal separated here is supplied to the clock generator 45.
The clock generator 45 generates a clock signal for the A / D converter 42 and the blocking / shuffling circuit 43.

The component signal input to the A / D converter 42 is 1 when the Y signal is 525/60 system.
3.5 MHz, the color difference signal has a sampling frequency of 13.5 / 4 MHz, and in the case of the 625/50 system, Y
Signal is 13.5MHz, color difference signal is 13.5 / 2MHz
A / D conversion is performed at the sampling frequency of. Then, of these A / D converted outputs, only the data DY, DR, and DB in the effective scanning period are supplied to the blocking / shuffling circuit 43.

This blocking / shuffling circuit 43
, The effective data DY, DR, and DB are 8 in the horizontal direction.
Blocking processing is performed with the sample and 8 lines in the vertical direction as one block, and further 4 DY blocks,
After performing shuffling to increase the compression efficiency of image data and disperse errors at the time of reproduction in units of a total of 6 blocks, one block for each DR and DB,
It is supplied to the compression encoding unit.

The compression / encoding unit performs D on the input block data of 8 samples in the horizontal direction and 8 lines in the vertical direction.
A compression circuit 46 that performs CT (discrete cosine transform), an estimator 48 that estimates whether the result can be compressed to a predetermined data amount, and a quantization step that is finally determined based on the determination result, and variable length encoding is performed. And a quantizer 47 that performs data compression using The output of the quantizer 47 is framed by the framing circuit 49 into the format described in FIG.

The mode processing microcomputer 67 in FIG.
Is a microcomputer that has a man-machine interface with humans and operates in synchronization with the frequency of vertical synchronization of television signals. The signal processing microcomputer 55 operates on the side closer to the machine, and the number of rotations of the drum is 9
It operates in synchronization with 000 rpm and 150 Hz.

Then, VAUX, AAUX, SUBCO
The pack data of each area of the DE is basically generated by the mode processing microcomputer, and the absolute track number stored in the TITLE END pack or the like is generated by the signal processing microcomputer 55, and the process of fitting the track at a predetermined position later is performed. Is executed. The time code data stored in the SUBCODE is also generated by the signal processing microcomputer 55.

These results are the result of the interface VAUX IC5 that links the microcomputer and the hardware.
6, IC57 for SUBCODE and IC58 for AAUX
Given to. The VAUX IC 56 synthesizes the output from the framing circuit 49 with the synthesizer 50 at a proper timing. In addition, the IC57 for SUBCODE is AP3, S
SID, which is the ID of UBCODE, and SUBCODE
To generate pack data SDATA.

On the other hand, the input audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal by the A / D converter 51. Although not shown in this figure, it is necessary to provide an LPF corresponding to the sampling frequency in the preceding stage of the sampling circuit when AD converting the video signal and the audio signal. The AD-converted audio data is subjected to data dispersion processing by the shuffling circuit 52 and then framed in the framing circuit 53 into the format described in FIG. At this time AA
The UX IC 58 generates the AAUX pack data, checks the timing, and packs them in a predetermined location in the audio SYNC block in the synthesis circuit 54.

Next, a pack data recording circuit will be described by taking VAUX as an example. FIG. 12 shows the overall flow. First, the mode processing microcomputer 67 generates pack data to be stored in VAUX. It is converted into serial data by the P / S conversion circuit 118 and sent to the signal processing microcomputer 55 according to the communication protocol between the microcomputers. Here, the S / P conversion circuit 119 restores the parallel data and stores it in the buffer memory 123 via the switch 122. The pack header detection circuit 120 extracts the header portion at the beginning of every 5 bytes from the sent pack data, and checks whether the pack requires an absolute track number. If necessary, the switch 122 is switched to store 23-bit data from the absolute track number generation circuit 121 in 8-bit units. The storage area is the PC 1 of the pack to be stored as described in the individual pack structure,
This is a fixed position of PC2 and PC3.

Here, the circuit 119 is a serial I / O in the microcomputer, the circuits 120, 121 and 122 are constituted by a microcomputer program, and the circuit 123 is a RAM in the microcomputer. In this way, the processing of the pack structure uses a microcomputer which is advantageous in terms of cost because the processing time of the microcomputer is sufficient even if the processing is not made by hardware. The data thus stored in the buffer memory 123 is VA
Write side timing controller 12 of UX IC 56
It is read out one by one according to the instructions from 5. At this time, the switch 124 is switched so that the first six packs are for the main area and the subsequent 390 packs are for the optional area.

The FIFO 126 for the main area is 30 bytes, and the FIFO 127 for the optional area is 1950.
It has a capacity of bytes (525/60 system) or 2340 bytes (625/50 system). VAUX
Is the SYN in the track as shown in [1] of FIG.
It is stored at the C numbers 19, 20, and 156. When the track numbers in the frame are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and +, the main area in the first half of the SYNC number 19 is + azimuth, and the track numbers in the frame are 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, −
There is a main area in the latter half of SYNC number 156 in Azimuth. I drew this all together in one video frame,
It is [2] of FIG. In this way, the timing signal nM
The main area is when AIN = “L”. Such a signal is generated by the read side timing controller 129, the switch 128 is switched, and its output is combined circuit 5.
Pass to 0.

Here, when nMAIN = “L”, the data in the main area FIFO 126 is repeated 10 times (525/60 system) or 12 times (625/625).
50 system) will be read. nMAIN =
When it is "H", the optional area FIFO 127 is read out. It is read only once per video frame.
FIG. 14 mainly shows the pack data generation unit in the mode processing microcomputer. First, the circuit is roughly divided into a main area and an optional area. Circuit 131
Is a data collection and generation circuit for the main area. The data as shown in the figure is received from the digital bus or the tuner and a data group as shown at 139 is internally generated.
This is assembled into a bit-byte structure of the main pack, a pack header is added by the switch 132, and the pack header is input to the P / S conversion circuit 118 via the switch 136.

The optional area data collection / generation circuit 133 is supplied with, for example, TELETEXT data, a program title, and the like from a tuner, and pack data storing these is generated. The VTR set individually decides which optional area to record. The pack header is set by the circuit 134 and added by the switch 135, and the P / S conversion circuit 1 is set through the switch 136.
38. The timing adjustment circuit 137 performs these timings. Again, circuit 1
Reference numeral 18 is a serial I / O in the microcomputer, and the circuits 131 to 137 are composed of a microcomputer program.

In the generator 59 shown in FIG. 11, AV (A
Each ID part (audio / video), pre-SYNC, and post-SYNC are generated. Here, AP1, AP2
Is also generated and embedded in a predetermined ID part. Output of generator 59, ADATA (AUDIDATA), VDATA
The (VIDEO DATA), SID, and SDATA are switched by the first switching circuit SW1 in view of the timing.

A predetermined parity is added to the output of the first switching circuit SW1 in the parity generation circuit 60, and the random number generation circuit 61 and the 24/25 conversion circuit 62 are added.
Is supplied to. Here, the randomizing circuit 61 randomizes the input data in order to eliminate the DC component of the data. Also, 2
The 4/25 conversion circuit 62 performs a process of adding one bit for every 24 bits of data to give a pilot signal component and a precoding process (partial response class IV) suitable for digital recording.

The data thus obtained is supplied to the synthesizer 63, where the A / V SYNC and SUBCODE are input.
The audio, video and SUBCODE SYNC patterns generated by the SYNC generator 64 are combined.
The output of the combiner 63 is supplied to the second switching circuit SW2. The ITI data output from the ITI generator 65 and the amble pattern output from the amble pattern generator 66 are also supplied to the second switching circuit SW2.

The ITI generator 65 is supplied with data of APT, SP / LP and PF from the mode processing microcomputer 67. The ITI generator 65 inserts these data into a predetermined position of the TIA, and the second switching circuit SW2
Supply to. Therefore, by switching the switching circuit SW2 at a predetermined timing, the amble pattern and ITI data are added to the output of the combiner 63. The output of the second switching circuit SW2 is amplified by a recording amplifier (not shown), and a magnetic head (not shown).
Is recorded on a magnetic tape (not shown).

The mode processing microcomputer 67 is a digital VT.
Performs mode management for the entire R. The third switching circuit SW3 connected to the microcomputer is an external switch of the VTR main body, and is a switch group configured to instruct recording operation and reproduction operation in various modes. Then, the setting result by this switch group is detected by the mode processing microcomputer 67 and is given to the signal processing microcomputer 55, the MIC microcomputer 69 and the mechanical control microcomputer (not shown) by communication between the microcomputers.

The above series of recording operations are carried out by the cooperation of the mechanical control microcomputer or the signal processing microcomputer 55 and the ICs in charge of each part, centering on the mode processing microcomputer 67.
The MIC microcomputer 69 is a MIC processing microcomputer. Here, pack data, APM, etc. in the MIC are generated and given to the MIC 68 in the MIC cassette (not shown) via the MIC contact (not shown).

1-3. Digital VTR Reproducing Circuit Next, the digital VTR reproducing circuit in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these figures, a weak signal reproduced from a magnetic tape (not shown) by a magnetic head (not shown) is amplified by a head amplifier (not shown), and the equalizer circuit 71
Added to. The equalizer circuit 71 performs reverse processing of the emphasis processing (for example, partial response class IV) performed to improve the electromagnetic conversion characteristics of the magnetic tape and the magnetic head during recording.

The clock CK is extracted from the output of the equalizer circuit 71 by the clock extraction circuit 72. This clock CK is supplied to the A / D converter 73, and the output of the equalizer circuit 71 is digitized. The 1-bit data thus obtained is written in the FIFO 74 using the clock CK. This clock CK is a temporally unstable signal containing a jitter component of the rotary head drum. However, since the data itself before A / D conversion also contains a jitter component, there is no problem in sampling itself.

However, when the image data and the like are to be extracted, the data cannot be extracted unless the data is temporally stable, so the time axis adjustment is performed using the FIFO 74. That is, writing is performed with an unstable clock, but reading is performed with a stable clock SCK from the self-excited oscillator 91 using a crystal oscillator or the like shown in FIG. FI
The depth of the FO 74 is set to have a margin such that the FO 74 is not read faster than the input speed of the input data.

The output of each stage of the FIFO 74 is applied to the SYNC pattern detection circuit 75. Here, the SYNC pattern of each area is switched and given by the timing circuit 79 by the fifth switching circuit SW5. The SYNC pattern detection circuit 75 has a flywheel configuration, and once a SYNC pattern is detected, the same S pattern is re-established after a predetermined SYNC block length.
See if the YNC pattern comes. For example 3
It is configured so that it is regarded as true if it is correct more than once to prevent erroneous detection. The depth of the FIFO 74 is required for this several minutes.

When the SYNC pattern is detected in this way, the shift amount is determined which part of the output of each stage of the FIFO 74 should be extracted to obtain one SYNC block, and the fourth switching circuit is based on that. SW4 is closed and the necessary bits are fetched into the SYNC block confirmation latch 77. As a result, the captured SY
The NC number is fetched by the SYNC number extraction circuit 78 and supplied to the timing circuit 79. This read S
Since the position on the track where the head is scanning is known from the YNC number, the fifth switching circuit SW5 and the sixth switching circuit SW6 are switched accordingly.

The sixth switching circuit SW6 is switched to the lower side when the head is scanning the ITI area, the ITISYNC pattern is removed by the subtractor 80, and the ITISYNC pattern is added to the ITI decoder 81. Since the ITI area is coded and recorded, each data of APT, SP / LP and PF can be taken out by decoding it. These data are given to the mode processing microcomputer 82 to which the seventh switching circuit SW7 for setting the SP / LP mode is connected. Mode processing microcomputer 8
Reference numeral 2 designates the operation mode of the digital VTR as a whole, such as the mechanical control microcomputer 85 and the signal processing microcomputer 10.
Cooperate with 0 to control the system of the entire set.

The mode processing microcomputer 82 is connected to the MIC microcomputer 83 for managing the APM and the like. MIC
Information from the MIC 84 in the attached cassette (not shown) is transferred to this MI via a MIC contact switch (not shown).
It is given to the C microcomputer 83 and performs processing of the MIC while sharing the role with the mode processing microcomputer 82. Depending on the set, the MIC microcomputer 83 may be omitted and the mode processing microcomputer 82 may perform MIC processing.

When the head is scanning the audio area, the video area or the SUBCODE area, the sixth switching circuit SW6 is switched to the upper side. After the SYNC pattern of each area is extracted by the subtractor 86, it is passed through the 24/25 inverse conversion circuit 87, further added to the inverse randomization circuit 88, and returned to the original data string.
The data thus fetched is added to the error correction circuit 89.

The error correction circuit 89 uses the parity added on the recording side to detect and correct the error data, but the data that cannot be completely removed is ERROR.
Output with flags. Each data is switched and output by the eighth switching circuit SW8. AV
The ID, pre-SYNC, and post-SYNC extraction circuit 90
A / V area, SYNC number stored in pre-SYNC and post-SYNC, track number, and pre-S
Each SP / LP signal stored in the YNC is extracted. These are given to the timing circuit 79 and used for generating various timings. In the extraction circuit 90, AP1 and AP2 are also extracted and supplied to the mode processing microcomputer 82 for checking. AP
When 1, AP2 = 000, it operates normally, but when it is any other value, warning operation such as warning processing is performed.

As for SP / LP, the mode processing microcomputer 82 makes a comparative study with that obtained from ITI.
In the ITI area, there are 3 times SP / in the TIA area.
The LP information is written, and the reliability is increased by taking the majority vote etc. There are 2 SYNCs for each of the audio and video in the pre-SYNC, and SP / LP information is written at four locations in total. Here too, there is a majority vote to improve reliability. Finally, if they do not match, the ITI area is preferentially adopted.

VDATA output from the eighth switching circuit SW8 is divided into video data and video accompanying data by the ninth switching circuit SW9 shown in FIG. Then, the video data is given to the deframing circuit 94 together with the error flag. The deframing circuit 94 performs the inverse conversion of the framing on the recording side, and grasps the property of the data packed therein. Therefore, when there is an error that can not be caught in one data, I understand how it affects other data, so I will handle the propagation error here. As a result, the ERROR flag becomes a VERROR flag that newly includes a propagation error. The deframing circuit 94 also performs processing for removing error flags by modifying the image data if the data has an error but is not important for image reproduction.

The video data is returned to the data before compression through the dequantization circuit 95 and the decompression circuit 96. Next, the deshuffling / deblocking circuit 97 restores the data to the original image space arrangement. Only after the data is returned to this real image space, the image can be repaired based on the VERROR flag. That is, for example, the image data of one frame before is always stored in the memory, and the image block in error is substituted with the previous image data.

After deshuffling, DY, DR,
Data is handled by dividing it into 3 systems of DB. Then, the D / A converters 101 to 103 restore the Y, RY, and BY analog components. As the clock at this time, the output of the oscillation circuit 91 and the output obtained by dividing the frequency by the frequency divider 92 are used. That Y _{is, 13.5MH Z, R-Y,} B-Y 6.7
Is a 5MH _Z or 3.375MH _Z.

The three signal components thus obtained are Y /
The synthesis is performed in the C synthesis circuit 104, and is further performed by the synthesizer 10.
5, the composite sync signal from the sync signal generation circuit 93 is combined and the composite video signal is output from the terminal 106. Eighth switching circuit SW8
The ADATA output from is the tenth data shown in FIG.
The switching circuit SW10 divides the audio data into audio data and audio accompanying data. Then, the audio data is given to the deframing circuit 107 together with the ERROR flag.

The deframing circuit 107 performs the inverse conversion of the framing on the recording side, and grasps the property of the data packed therein. Therefore, when there is an error that can not be caught in one data, I understand how it affects other data, so I will handle the propagation error here. For example, at the time of 16-bit sampling, one data is in 8-bit units, so one E
The RROR flag is the AERR that newly contains the propagation error.
It becomes an OR flag.

The audio data is returned to the original time axis by the next deshuffling circuit 108. At this time, the audio data repair work is performed based on the AERROR flag. That is, a process such as a previous value hold that substitutes the sound immediately before the error is performed. The error period is too long,
If the repair is not effective, the sound itself is stopped by taking measures such as muting.

After such a treatment, the D / A converter 1
It is returned to the analog value by 09, and is output from the analog audio output terminal 110 while timing such as lip sync with the image data is taken. Now, each data of VAUX and AAUX separated by the ninth switching circuit SW9 and the tenth switching circuit SW10 is
IC for VAUX 98 and IC for AAUX 111, respectively
In the above, preprocessing such as majority processing is performed while referring to the error flag.

The ID data SID of the SUBCODE area and the pack data SDATA output from the eighth switching circuit SW8 are the SUBCODE IC 11
2, the preprocessing such as the majority processing is performed while also referring to the error flag. The data that has been subjected to these pre-processing is then given to the signal processing microcomputer 100, and the final reading operation is performed. The errors that could not be removed in the pre-processing are VAUXE
It is given to the signal processing microcomputer 100 as R, SUBER, and AAUXER.

The SUBCODE IC 112 is the AP
3 and APT are extracted and passed to the mode processing microcomputer 82 via the signal processing microcomputer 100 for checking. The mode processing microcomputer 82 uses the A from the ITI.
A based on PT and APT from SUBCODE
The value of PT is confirmed, and when the value is not "000", an operation such as a warning process is performed. Further, when AP3 = 000, the normal operation is performed, but when the value is other than that, warning operation such as warning processing is performed.

Here, supplementing the error processing of the pack data, each area has a main area and an optional area. In the case of the 525/60 system, the same data is written 10 times in the main area. Therefore, even if some of them have an error, they can be supplemented and reproduced with other data, and the ERROR flag there is no longer an error. However, SUBCODE
For the optional areas other than, the data is written once, so the error remains VAUXER, AAUXER
Will remain as.

The signal processing microcomputer 100 further performs propagation error processing, data repair processing, etc., by analogy with the context of each data pack. The result of this determination is given to the mode processing microcomputer 82 and used as a material for determining the behavior of the entire set. Next, take VAUX as an example.
A circuit for reproducing pack data in the IC 98 for processing and the signal processing microcomputer 100 will be described. Here, a configuration example using a simple processing method of not writing in the memory in the case of an error will be described as the preprocessing, not the majority processing. FIG. 17 shows a circuit example of the VAUX IC 98.
First, the VAUX pack data coming from the switching circuit SW9 is written by the write side controller 142 to n in FIG.
At the timing of MAIN = “L”, the switch 141 is switched to allocate to the main area memory 145 and the optional area FIFO 148.

The pack data in the main area is read by the pack header detection circuit 143 and the switch 144 is switched. Then, the data is written in the main area memory only when it is not ERROR. This memory has a 9-bit configuration, and the shaded portion in the figure is the storage bit of the error flag. As the initial setting of the memory for the main area, all the contents are set to 1 (= no information) for each video frame. And if it is ERROR, do nothing and ERRO
If it is not R, the data is written and 0 is written in the error flag. Since the same pack is written 10 or 12 times in one frame in the main area, the place where 1 is set in the error flag at the end of one video frame is finally recognized as an error.

Since the optional area is basically written once, the ERROR flag is written in the optional area FIFO 148 together with the data as it is. These are sent to the signal processing microcomputer 100 via the switches 146 and 147 which are switched by the read side timing controller 149. The signal processing microcomputer 100 analyzes the received pack data and the error flag.
The processing operation of the signal processing microcomputer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, the pack header identification circuit 150 sorts the pack data (VAUXDT) sent from the VAUX IC 98 and stores it in the memory 151. This does not particularly distinguish between the main area and the optional area.

In the case of a pack in the main area, VAU
Similar to the X IC 98, the writing process is not performed when the error flag “1” is set in VAUXER. As a result, at least one video frame before can be repaired. Since it is considered that the content of the main area has a very strong correlation with the value one video frame before, there is no particular problem even if it is substituted by this processing.

On the other hand, in the case of an optional area pack, it is considered that there is no correlation with the value of one video frame before, so error propagation processing is performed in pack units.
This method is basically carried out by changing all the data to FFh if there is an error in the fixed-length pack data of 5 bytes, but it is also necessary to deal with individual packs. . For example, in the case of a "Telexext" pack in which Teletext data is stored,
Because of the number of consecutive packs, even if there is an error in the pack header between the packs, the pack can be easily replaced with the Teletxt pack header. Even if there is an error in the data part, if there is no error in the pack header, the pack will not be changed to the "pack without information".
This restores the Teletext data to the Tel
Since it is entrusted to the parity check of the etext decoder, the data is left as it is even if an error is found.

That is, in the digital VTR of this embodiment, although not shown in the reproducing circuit of FIG. 15, a large amount of data such as text data, Teletext data, etc., and a continuous data sequence are used. The characteristic pack data is transferred from the signal processing microcomputer 100 to a dedicated data processing circuit to perform error correction with higher efficiency and reduce the load on the mode processing microcomputer 82.

The data prepared by the processing in the signal processing microcomputer 100 as described above does not already have an error flag. These are converted into serial data by the P / S conversion circuit 152 and sent to the mode processing microcomputer 82 according to the communication protocol between the microcomputers. Where S / P
The conversion circuit 153 restores the parallel data and performs pack data decomposition analysis.

Here, the circuits 150 and 155 and the switch 154 are constituted by a program of a microcomputer, the memory 151 is a memory inside the microcomputer, and the circuits 152 and 153 are serial I / O inside the microcomputer. In the pack data decomposition analysis in the mode processing microcomputer 82, the pack data is analyzed based on the confirmed pack header, and various control information, display information, etc. obtained as the analysis result are respectively controlled circuits, display circuits, etc. Supply to.

The outline of the digital VTR of the present embodiment has been described above focusing on the case of the 525/60 system, but the digital VTR of the present embodiment is not limited to this system but other SD (Standard Density) system. 625/50 system, and HD (High De
1125/60 system and 1
It is immediately applicable to the 250/50 system.

2. Application ID System The outline of the digital VTR according to the present embodiment has been described above. However, the digital VTR is not limited to the consumer digital VTR of the image compression recording system, and various other digital signal recording / reproducing devices can be easily developed. Basically designed so that you can. The ID data APT, AP appearing in the above description of the digital VTR
1 to AP3 and APM play a role of enabling expansion to such various digital signal recording devices, and these ID data are collectively referred to as an application ID.

Then, next, this application ID
A supplementary explanation of the system will be given. The above-mentioned application ID is not an ID for deciding an application example of the digital VTR, but an ID merely for deciding the data structure of the area of the recording medium, and the APT and APM have the following meanings as described above. APT: Determines the data structure on the track. APM ... Determines the data structure of the MIC.

That is, first, the data structure on the track in this digital signal recording / reproducing apparatus is defined by the value of APT. That is, the track after the ITI area is divided into several areas as shown in FIG. 19 according to the value of the APT, the positions on those tracks, the SYNC block configuration, and the ECC for protecting data from errors.
The data structure such as the configuration is uniquely determined. Further, each area has an application ID that determines the data structure of the area. The meaning is as follows. Application ID of area n ... Determines the data structure of area n.

The application ID on the tape
Has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. That is, the area on the track is defined by the original application ID APT, and AP1 to AP1 are further added to each area.
APn is defined. The number of areas is defined by the APT. In FIG. 20, although written in two layers, a layer may be further provided below it if necessary. Thus APT,
By specifying the values of AP1 to APn, the specific signal processing configuration of the digital signal recording / reproducing apparatus and the use of the apparatus are specified.

Note that the application ID APM in the MIC has only one layer, and the same value as the APT is written by the digital signal recording / reproducing apparatus. With this application ID system,
Using a consumer digital VTR, the cassette, mechanism, servo system, ITI area generation / detection circuit, etc. can be used as they are to create a completely different product group such as a data streamer or a multi-track digital audio tape recorder. It is possible to create it. Also, even if one area is decided, its contents can be further defined by the application ID of that area.
A very wide range of product development is possible, such as video data for a certain application ID value, video / audio data for another value, or computer data.

Next, a specific example in which the value of the application ID is designated will be described. First, APT = 0
The state at 00 is shown in FIG. At this time, area 1, area 2, and area 3 are defined on the track. The positions on those tracks, the SYNC block structure, the ECC structure for protecting data from errors, the gap for guaranteeing each area, and the overwriting margin for guaranteeing overwriting are determined. Further, each area has an application ID that determines the data structure of the area. The meaning is as follows.

AP1 ... Determines the data structure of area 1. AP2 ... Determines the data structure of area 2. AP3 ... Determines the data structure of area 3. And the Application ID of each area
, 000 is defined as follows.

AP1 = 000 ... Image compression recording system consumer digital VTR audio, adopting AAUX data structure AP2 = 000 ... Image compression recording system consumer digital VTR audio, adopting AAUX data structure AP3 = 000 ... Adopts data structure of subcode and ID of image compression recording system consumer digital VTR. That is, when realizing image compression recording system consumer digital VTR, APT, AP1, AP2, AP3 = 0.
It becomes 00. At this time, the APM is naturally 000.

3. Control of Recording / Reproduction Start Position Next, a method of controlling the start position on the tape at the time of recording / reproduction in the VTR, which is the subject of the present application, will be described.

3-1. Method Using Only TAG Pack In the digital VTR of this embodiment, as described above, the TAG pack can exist alone in the MIC as an event. Therefore, even if only this TAG pack is used for recording or reproduction. It is possible to control the starting position in this case. The configuration in this case will be described below. In addition,
In the following description, the case of a digital VTR configured such that a pack stored in the MIC is also generated by the mode processing microcomputer and is recorded in the MIC via the MIC microcomputer will be described.

Control of Playback Start Position For example, when the player is in the middle of watching an image being played back by this digital VTR, this button is pressed by pressing the playback start position reservation button provided in this digital VTR. The absolute track number of the reproduction track at the time when is pressed can be stored.
Specifically, this storage operation is such that the mode processing microcomputer first detects that this button has been pressed, and based on this, the mode processing microcomputer detects from the SUBCODE area of the recording track when this button is pressed. Read the absolute track number that was played, and set the TAG ID to "1".
011 ”TAG pack (ie, PB START P
This absolute track number is stored in the OINT TAG pack) and this TAG pack is transmitted via the MIC microcomputer.
This is done by recording in C. FIG. 22 shows the relationship between the reproduction start position on the tape and the TAG in this case.

In addition to the normal playback button, this digital VTR is provided with a reserved playback start button for executing a playback operation from the reserved playback start position, and the user can use this button at any time. By pressing, the reproduction operation can be executed from the reserved reproduction start position. This playback operation is also configured so that overall control is mainly performed by the mode processing microcomputer,
When the mode processing microcomputer detects that this button has been pressed, it searches the MIC optional area through the MIC microcomputer, and the PB START POIN
The absolute track number stored in the T TAG pack is read.

Then, by issuing a command to the mechanical control microcomputer to start the reproducing operation from the position of the read absolute track number, the tape is moved at a high speed to the target reproducing start position and then the reproducing operation is started. Is started. As described above, since the cassette itself stores the specified start position information, even if the cassette is ejected from the VTR after the start position is specified, this cassette is not
When loaded in TR, the reproduction operation is started from the exactly reserved start position.

Control of Recording Start Position Further, this digital VTR is also provided with a recording start position designation button. For example, when the head position of an unnecessary recording portion is found during tape reproduction, by pressing this button. This head position can be stored as a recording start position. In this storage operation, the absolute track number reproduced from the reproduction track when the button is pressed is set to the TAG PACK (T
It is performed by storing it in the MIC and storing it in the MIC. The relationship between the recording start position and the TAG in this case is shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the user presses the record button, the MIC is searched first, and when the pack is found, the tape is run to the stored absolute track number position and then the recording operation is started.

If the TAG pack does not exist in the MIC, the following 3-2. As will be described in Section 3, the recording is performed from the current position of the recording head, or the most suitable of the last recording position stored in the TAG pack of LAST REC POINT and the last recording position stored in the TITLE END pack. It is possible to employ various methods such as selecting one recording position and recording.

3-2. Method of Using Event Comprised of Plural Packs Next, the control of the start position when the recording operation or the reproduction operation is controlled by using the event composed of plural packs will be described.

Control of Start Position in Timer Recording Reservation As described above, the timer recording reservation event is basically a TIMER RECATE pack or TIMER RE pack.
It is composed of a C S / S pack and a VAUX SOURCE pack. This is schematically simplified and shown in FIG. 24 [1]. When the timer recording reservation event is composed of only three packs, the recording start position is the current position of the recording head.

On the other hand, in the present digital VTR, when the recording start position designating button is operated at the time of timer recording reservation setting, the number of the reproduction track at the time of operating this button is read and shown in (3) of FIG. Stored in a REC STARTPOINT pack based on the stored packs, and this generated pack is configured to be added to the above-mentioned 3 packs as shown in [2] of FIG. 24 (that is, timer recording). At the time of reservation setting, the mode processing microcomputer is programmed so as to generate a pack different from that described in 3-1.). When the user sets the digital VTR to the timer recording reservation standby state after performing such button operation, the tape automatically travels to the designated recording start position and then enters the recording standby state.

When it is desired to display the recording start position to the user, the REC of the time code expression is further added to the event shown in [2] of FIG. 24 by using the pack shown in (4) of FIG. A START POINT pack is added, and the program is configured so that the mode processing microcomputer executes the control operation for displaying the contents of the pack.

Generation of the above-mentioned REC START POINT pack is also executed by the mode processing microcomputer. At this time, the mode processing microcomputer
The tape remaining amount is calculated based on the data stored in the D pack and the recording start position specified by the user, and the tape amount required for recording is calculated based on the data in the timer recording reservation event. Further, when it is determined that the tape remaining amount is insufficient by comparing the tape amount required for this recording with the calculated remaining amount described above, the user is instructed to reset the recording start position. It can also be configured as follows.

In this case, the tape amount required for recording is TI
Immediately from the information about the required recording time calculated from the data stored in the MER REC S / S pack, the SL flag indicating the recording mode (SP / LP) in the TIMER REC DATE pack, and the television signal system in the VAUX SOURCE pack. Can be calculated.

If the user does not press the recording start position designation button at the time of timer recording reservation setting, instead of setting the current recording head position as the recording start position as described above, the recording start position is determined in advance. The priority of
For example, 1) TAG of REC START POINT
Recording start position stored in the pack, 2) TITLE
Last recording position stored in END pack, 3) L
Set the last recording position stored in the TAG pack of AST REC POINT, etc., determine the priority and the remaining tape amount by the mode processing microcomputer, and determine the recording start position. The data of the recorded recording start position is R based on the pack of (3) in FIG.
It may be stored in the EC START POINT pack and this pack may be added to the timer recording reservation event.

An example of the operation flow of the mode processing microcomputer in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, first, the MIC is searched and the REC START POI is searched.
It is checked whether or not the NT TAG pack is stored (step ST1). When this TAG pack is present, the tape remaining amount from the recording start position stored in the TAG pack is calculated using the data of the TAPE LENGTH pack, and this remaining amount is sufficient for recording. Is determined (step ST
2) When the remaining amount is sufficient, the recording start position stored in this TAG pack is set to R by the pack of (3) in FIG.
It is stored in the EC START POINT pack and added to the timer recording reservation event (step ST
3).

If it is determined in step ST2 that the remaining amount is insufficient, the flow shifts to and the user is first instructed to newly set the recording start position (step ST4). When a new recording start position is set by the user, the tape remaining amount from that position is calculated to determine whether this is sufficient. Command to reset the recording start position (step ST4 to step ST6 is repeated). When it is determined in step ST6 that the remaining amount is sufficient, the set recording start position is stored in the REC START POINT pack and added to the timer recording reservation event (step ST7).

In the investigation in step ST1, M
If the REC START POINT TAG pack does not exist in the IC, the remaining tape amount from the last recording position stored in the TITLE END pack is calculated to determine whether this is sufficient for recording. (Step ST8) If sufficient, it is further checked whether or not there is a LAST REC POINT TAG pack in the MIC (step ST9). If this TAG pack is present, the user is asked which of the last recording position of the TAG pack and the last recording position of the TITLE END pack is to be the recording start position (step ST10). Then, RE the absolute track number stored in the pack replied by the user.
It is stored in the C START POINT pack and added to the timer recording reservation event (steps ST11, 1
2).

TA in the investigation in step ST9
When there is no G pack, TITLE END
REC S with the last recording position of the pack as the recording start position
Generate a TART POINT pack (step ST
12). Further, in the judgment of step ST8, TIT
When the tape remaining amount from the final recording position of the LE END pack is insufficient, the flow shifts to the above-mentioned flow to let the user set a new recording start position for enabling recording.

When the result of the determination in step ST8 is NO, the flow is not immediately executed, but steps ST13 and ST are executed as shown in FIG.
14 may be interposed. That is, in the flow of this figure, when the determination result in step ST8 is NO, M
It is checked whether a LAST REC POINT TAG pack is present in the IC (step ST13), and if it is present, it is determined whether the tape remaining amount from the last recording position is sufficient (step ST14).

When the remaining amount is sufficient, the REC START that sets the last recording position as the recording start position is performed.
A POINT pack is generated (step ST11). In the survey in step ST13, LAST REC
When the TAG pack of POINT does not exist, or when the tape remaining amount is insufficient in the determination of step ST14, the flow shifts to the above-mentioned flow to reset the recording start position where recording is possible.

Furthermore, the flow executed in FIGS. 25 and 26 may be changed to the flow shown in FIG. In this flow, when the determination results in steps ST2 and ST8 in FIG. 25 and steps ST13 and ST14 in FIG. 26 are NO, it is determined whether the remaining tape amount from the current head position is sufficient. (Step ST2
2) If YES, this head position is the recording start position. When the determination result is NO, the same program as the above flow is executed.

As described above, in the digital VTR of this embodiment, the REC is processed by the mode processing microcomputer.
START point TAG pack or TI
In addition to determining the recording start position based on the absolute track number stored in the TLE END pack, LAST REC
The recording start position can be determined based on the absolute track number stored in the TAG pack of POINT. Therefore, in this digital VTR, the LASTREC P in the MIC when determining the recording start position
In order to facilitate the search of the OINT TAG pack, when recording this TAG pack in the MIC,
It is specified that the recording position is always the head position of the optional area of the MIC.

Control of Start Position in Timer Playback Reservation The event of timer playback reservation in this digital VTR is as shown in FIG.
PB START with DATE pack, TIMER REC S / S pack, and pack of (3) in FIG.
It consists of a POINT pack. That is, the mode processing microcomputer sets the third pack in this event to P
Since it is a B START POINT pack, it is determined that it is a timer reservation playback event, and the playback operation is started from the set time.

When the user does not set the playback start position when the timer reserved playback is set, the MIC is searched to check whether or not the PB START POINT TAG pack is present, and if there is, the playback start position is set. PB STAR according to the pack of (3) of FIG.
The mode processing microcomputer is programmed to generate a T POINT pack and add it to the timer scheduled playback event. If the TAG pack does not exist, the user is requested to specify the reproduction start position. The operation flow of the mode processing microcomputer described above is shown in FIG.

In the control of the start position in the recording / reproduction described above, the mode processing microcomputer generates the pack for designating the start position. However, instead of this, a command, data or the like from the mode processing microcomputer is used. Based on MI
The C microcomputer may generate a pack and record it in the MIC. Also, the pack designating the start position may be recorded in the memory of the VTR main body instead of being recorded in the MIC, or may be recorded on a video tape.

In this case, as a method for recording on a video tape, for example, a PB START POINT pack (or a REC START POINT pack) is used.
Is recorded in the SUBCODE of all tracks after the reproduction start position (or the recording start position). Then, when the reproducing operation (or the recording operation) is executed, the first track on which the pack of this START POINT is recorded is found and the reproduction operation (or the recording operation) is started from the track.

In the above, the method of controlling the start position in recording / reproducing has been described by taking the digital VTR as an example, but the control of the start position can be similarly performed in the analog VTR. However, in this case, since the absolute track number is not recorded on the tape, the time code recorded on the tape is used as the position defining signal. Then, in order to specify the start position with the time code, the TAG pack,
REC STARTPOINT pack, PB STAR
A time code pack is used as a T POINT pack, a TITLE END pack, or the like.

FIG. 30 shows a configuration example in which these time code expression packs are arranged for an analog VTR. The time code expression packs shown in this figure include absolute track number expression TITLE END packs and R / P.
Various flags (REC flag, TEXT flag, TT flag, TAG ID, SL flag, RE flag) stored in the START POINT pack and the TAG pack are newly added, whereby the pack of the absolute track number expression is added. It is configured to perform the same function as. The TAG pack shown in this figure is defined as an event header.

By recording the timer reservation event using the pack of these time code expressions in the MIC of the analog cassette tape, the control of the starting position can be performed in the same manner as in the case of the digital VTR. By storing the total length of the tape in the TAPE LENGTH pack in time code expression, the remaining tape amount can be calculated as time data by using this data and the data of the TITLE END pack.
It is also possible to judge whether the start position designated by the user is a position having a sufficient tape remaining amount for performing the reserved recording.

In the embodiment of the digital VTR and the embodiment of the analog VTR described above, all the information for the start position control is recorded by using the pack structure, but it goes without saying that data other than this is used. It is also possible to record information in the form, and a circuit engineer can make various design changes. Further, the storage device mounted on the tape cassette does not have to be limited to the memory IC as described above, as long as data can be written and erased, for example, it is stored in a magnetic sheet or the like provided in the tape cassette. You may do it.

[0194]

The recording capacity of the cassette tape can be simply grasped. Since the recording / reproducing start position can be stored in the tape cassette itself, the recording / reproducing operation from the set position can be surely executed even if the tape is ejected. Recording and reproduction can be automatically started from the last recording position on the tape or the last recording position. In that case, the search for the last recording position information stored in the tape cassette can be easily performed, and when the recording operation is started from the last recording position, the rise of the servo can be accelerated.

[Brief description of drawings]

Figure 1: TIMER REC DATE pack, TIM
ER REC S / S pack, R / P ST POIN
It is a figure explaining the structure of a T pack and a TAG pack.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between data in a TAG pack of LAST REC POINT and data in a TITLE END pack.

[Fig. 3] Similarly, TAG of LAST REC POINT
It is a figure explaining the relationship between the data of a pack, and the data of a TITLEEND pack.

FIG. 4 TAG pack of time code expression and MAK
It is a figure explaining the structure of an ER CODE pack.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an AAUX area for one frame.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a VAUX area for one track.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pack structure of a VAUX area for one frame.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating multiple writing of pack data in a SUBCODE area in a digital VTR of a 525/60 system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining multiple writing of pack data in a SUBCODE area in a digital VTR of a 625/50 system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a memory-in cassette.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a recording circuit of a digital VTR.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating generation of pack data in a recording circuit of a digital VTR.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a main area on a recording track.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating generation of pack data in a mode processing microcomputer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of part of a playback circuit of a digital VTR.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of another part of the reproducing circuit of the digital VTR.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating processing of reproduction pack data in a VAUX IC.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating processing of reproduction pack data in a signal processing microcomputer.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating definition of a track format by APT.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of application IDs.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a format on a track when the application ID is “000”.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating data in a TAG pack of PB START POINT.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating data in a TAG pack of REC START POINT.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the structure of a timer recording reservation event.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a recording start position determination flow.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of partial modification of the recording start position determination flow.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a partial change other than the flow for determining the recording start position.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the structure of a timer reproduction reservation event.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a reproduction start position determination flow.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a recording / playback position specifying pack used for an analog VTR.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a recording format of one track of a digital VTR.

FIG. 32 is a pre-sync block and a post-sync.
It is a figure which shows the structure of a block.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a framing format of AUDIO and a structure of a 1SYNC block.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining blocking of image data for one frame.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a VIDEO framing format to which an error correction code is added.

[Fig. 36] Fig. 36 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a VIDEO buffering unit and a 1SYNC block.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a SUBCODE area for one track.

[Fig. 38] Fig. 38 is a diagram for describing the structure of the ID portion of the SYNC block in the AUDIO area and the VIDEO area.

[Fig. 39] Fig. 39 is a diagram for describing the structure of the ID part of the SYNC block in the SUBCODE area.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the basic structure of a pack.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating grouping of packs by a large item.

FIG. 42: AAUX SOURCE Pack, VAUX
It is a figure explaining the structure of a SOURCE pack.

FIG. 43: VAUX SOURCE CONTROL pack, VAUX REC DATE pack, VAUX
REC TIME pack, VAUX REC TIME
BINARY GROUP pack and CLOSED
It is a figure explaining the structure of a CAPTION pack.

FIG. 44: CASSETTE ID pack, TAPE
It is a figure explaining the structure of a LENGTH pack and a TITLEEND pack.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating generation of data to be stored in a TAPE LENGTH pack.

FIG. 46: TAPE LENGTH pack data and T
It is a figure explaining the relationship with the data of an ILE END pack.

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an absolute track number recorded on a tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

55, 100 ... Signal processing microcomputer, 67, 82 ... Mode processing microcomputer, 68, 84 ... MIC 85 ... Mechanical control microcomputer,

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G11B 27/28 A 8224-5D H04N 5/91 5/92 H04N 5/92 H 8224-5D G11B 27 / 28 A

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette in which a helical track is formed on a video tape stored inside to record and reproduce an image signal and an audio signal, the tape cassette having a portion for recording data on the entire length of the video tape, The data is represented by a total number of tracks when recording is performed at a track pitch in a predetermined recording mode over the entire length of the video tape, or by a symbol representing the total number of tracks. Tape cassette. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the data relating to the total length of the video tape is recorded on the surface of the tape cassette to record the data. 3. Data relating to the total length of the video tape is
3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein a value of a digit less than an effective digit corresponding to an error portion in a numerical value obtained by dividing the total length of the video tape by a track pitch in a predetermined recording mode is derived as 0. 4. A video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal using a tape cassette containing a video tape, wherein the tape cassette contains information indicating a final recording position on the video tape. Means for storing in a storage device mounted on the storage device, reading means for reading out the final recording position information stored in the storage device, and inputting a command for setting the recording / reproducing operation of the video / audio signal recording / reproducing device to a standby state. Standby command input means, a start command input means for inputting a command for starting a recording / reproducing operation, and a running control means for controlling the running of the video tape. The standby command input means and the start command input means The reading means reads the final recording position information stored in the storage device in accordance with the input operation of any one of the commands An audio / video signal recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that the control means runs the video tape to the final recording position based on the final recording position information read by the reading means. 5. A video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal using a tape cassette containing a video tape, wherein the tape cassette contains information indicating a final recording position on the video tape. Means for storing in the storage device mounted on the recording medium, recording command input means for inputting a recording command, reading means for reading the final recording position information stored in the storage device, and determining the recording start position on the video tape. And a position determining means for performing the recording command inputting means, and the reading means reads the final recording position information stored in the storage device in response to the recording command inputting operation by the recording command inputting means. A video / audio signal characterized by determining the recording start position on the video tape based on the final recording position information read by Recording and reproducing apparatus. 6. The video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the final recording position information includes identification information of a recording mode at the final recording position. 7. In a video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal using a tape cassette containing a video tape, information indicating the last recording position on the video tape in the last recording operation. Means for storing the data in an accompanying data storage device mounted on the tape cassette, recording command input means for inputting a recording command, reading means for reading the last recording position information stored in the storage device, and video. Position determining means for determining the recording start position on the tape, and the reading means reads the last recording position information stored in the storage device in response to the input operation of the recording command by the recording command inputting means. The position determining means determines the recording start position on the video tape based on the last recording position information read by the reading means. Image and audio signal recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim. 8. The accompanying data storage device comprises a first storage area for storing basic accompanying data and a second storage area for storing optional accompanying data, and the last recording position information is: The video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus is stored at a head position in the second storage area. 9. An image / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing an image signal and an audio signal using a tape cassette containing a video tape, wherein a position defining signal for defining a position on the video tape is provided on the video tape. Means for recording / reproducing, and start position information storing means for storing information indicating the start position of the recording / reproducing operation of the image signal and the audio signal on the video tape in the storage device mounted on the tape cassette. A video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that 10. A reproduction start position specifying means for specifying a reproduction start position of an image signal and an audio signal on a video tape, and a reproduction start position information generating means, and the reproduction start position information generating means. , Reproducing start position information is generated based on a position defining signal reproduced from the video tape reproducing position when the reproducing start position designating means is operated, and the starting position information storing means stores the generated reproducing start position information in a storage device. The video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, which is stored. 11. A restart command input means for inputting a command for restarting the playback operation, and a reading means for reading the playback start position information stored in the storage device, wherein the reading means includes the restart command. 7. The reproduction start position information is read from the storage device in response to the input operation of the restart instruction by the input means, and the reproduction operation of the image signal and the audio signal is restarted from the start position represented by the reproduction start position information. 10. The video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to item 10. 12. A recording start position designating unit for designating a recording start position of an image signal and an audio signal on a video tape, and a recording start position information generating unit, and the recording start position information generating unit. The recording start position information is generated based on the position defining signal reproduced from the video tape reproduction position when the recording start position specifying means is operated, and the start position information storage means stores the generated recording start position information in the storage device. The video / audio signal recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, which is stored.