JPH10289563A - Recording device, reproducing device, and method of retrieving final recording end position - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to retrieve a final recording end position of a recording medium for each recording medium. SOLUTION: When a video-recording is ended, a main controller 300 receives a track number indicating a current position on a tape 20T at the time of ending the video recording from a mechanical controller 400. The main controller 300 controls a memory control part 700 to record the track number indicating the received current position (final recording end position) in a cassette memory 26 of a tape cassette. It becomes possible to search a video-recording end point for each cassette by using the track number recorded in this cassette memory 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, and a recording apparatus using a recording medium containing a storage medium, such as a cassette with a memory, in which a recording medium such as a tape is stored in a storage container. It relates to a recording end position search method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera-integrated VTR for recording image information photographed by using a small tape cassette and its peripheral sound has been widely used. When photographing is performed using such a camera-integrated VTR, in order to confirm that the photographed image is normally recorded on the tape, for example, the photographing is temporarily stopped, and Often rewind and play. After confirming that the photographed image is normally recorded on the tape, photographing is often continued further.

For this reason, as described above, after the tape is rewound in the middle of shooting and reproduced, the tape of the tape cassette is moved to the final position of the portion where the image information is already recorded (hereinafter, this position is referred to as the final recording position). It is desirable to be able to start recording new image information without losing the image information previously recorded on the tape.

Therefore, the address information on the tape at the time of stopping the recording (stopping the recording) is held as a final recording end position in a memory built in the camera-integrated VTR,
When the search key for the final recording end position is pressed, the final recording end position of the tape loaded in the camera-integrated VTR is searched based on the address information indicating the final recording end position held in the memory. A way to do that has been proposed.

[0005]

However, as described above, address information indicating the final recording end position on the tape of the tape cassette used for photographing is recorded in the memory built in the camera-integrated VTR. In such a case, the following problems may occur.

For example, when a tape cassette used for photographing is taken out from a camera-integrated VTR and another tape cassette is loaded, address information indicating the final recording end position recorded in the memory of the camera-integrated VTR is used. Is for the removed tape cassette, and in this state, even if the search key of the final recording end position is pressed, the tape of the newly loaded tape cassette cannot be positioned at the final recording end position.

[0007] In such a case, the user must set the camera-integrated VTR to the VTR mode and perform processing such as reproduction, fast forward, and rewind to position the tape of the tape cassette at the final recording end position. . Since this processing is performed by the user, it takes time and effort.

For this reason, while performing the processing such as reproduction, fast forward, and rewind, and positioning the tape of the tape cassette to the final recording end position, the scene desired to be photographed ends and the photographing is completed. It happens that you couldn't. If photographing is performed before the positioning to the final recording end position is completed, the previously recorded image information is erased by newly photographed image information.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to be able to search for the final recording end position for each recording medium storage item even if the recording medium storage items are exchanged. Things.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is stored in a storage container, and a storage medium having a memory is loaded therein. A recording device for recording image information on the recording medium, wherein at the end of recording the image information on the recording medium, recording end position acquiring means for acquiring address information indicating a final recording end position on the recording medium; and Recording means for recording the address information indicating the final recording end position acquired by the means in the memory.

In the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording end position acquiring means acquires address information indicating the last recording end position on the recording medium at the time of recording termination. The address information acquired here is recorded in the memory provided in the recording medium storage by the recording means.

Thus, the final recording end position on the recording medium stored in each recording medium storage item can be ascertained for each recording medium storage item.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus of the first aspect, instruction input means for instructing execution of a process of searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium, and wherein the recording medium storage is loaded. Then, when instructed to execute a process of searching for the final recording end position of the recording medium via the instruction input unit, the final recording end position on the recording medium recorded in the memory is And a search unit for performing a process of searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium based on the address information indicated.

In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the execution of the search processing of the final recording end position of the recording medium is instructed through the instruction input means, the recording apparatus is provided in the recording medium storage under the control of the control means. A process for searching for the final recording end position of the recording medium is performed based on the address information indicating the final recording end position recorded in the recorded memory. Then, the recording medium is positioned at a final recording end position indicated by the address information recorded in the memory.

[0015] With this, the user does not have to move the hand for each recording medium stored in each storage medium.
The last recording end position of the recording medium can be quickly and accurately searched.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. An embodiment described below is a camera-integrated VTR having a digital VCR configuration.
The present invention is applied to
In this example, it is a tape cassette. The tape cassette of this example has an IC memory (hereinafter, referred to as a cassette memory) including a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM in a cassette as a storage container.

In order to facilitate understanding, the following description will be made of [1] Configuration of a tape cassette provided with an IC memory [2] Configuration of a camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment [3] Recording data in a cassette memory [4] Operations of the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment are performed in order separately for each item.

[1] Configuration of Tape Cassette with IC Memory FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a tape cassette used in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the tape cassette 20, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the tape cassette 20.

The tape cassette 20 is provided with reel shaft insertion openings 21a and 21b. Two reels are arranged so that the centers of the reels are located in the reel shaft insertion openings 21a and 21b. A magnetic tape is wound around the reel. When the tape cassette 20 is loaded into the camera-integrated VTR, the tape protection shutter 22 provided on one side of the tape cassette 20 is opened, and the tape is pulled out from the cassette 20.

At one corner of the cassette 20, a reference hole 23 and an erroneous erasure prevention hole 24 are provided. A plurality of terminals 25 are provided on the side surface of the cassette 20 opposite to the tape protection shutter 22. This plurality of terminals 25
Are exposed to the outside through the openings.
In the cassette 20, a cassette memory 2 indicated by a broken line in FIG.
6 are provided, and the plurality of terminals 25 are connected to the cassette memory 26. Cassette memory 2
Numeral 6 is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM, for example, and as will be described later, information unique to each of the cassettes 20 such as information indicating a final recording end position is recorded.

The VTR is provided with terminals connected to terminals 25 when the cassette 20 is loaded. Information unique to the cassette 20 (final recording end position) is provided through these terminals. In addition to the information indicating
The remaining amount of tape, the number of times of use, TOC, etc.) are read out by the VTR and used for displaying information or for controlling operation.

[2] Camera-integrated VT of this embodiment
Configuration of R FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera-integrated VTR according to this embodiment. This camera-integrated VTR has a configuration of a digital VCR that digitizes a video signal obtained by imaging, performs data compression using, for example, DCT conversion, and records the data on a magnetic tape by a rotating head.

As shown in FIG. 1, this camera-integrated VT
R includes a recording signal system 100 and a reproduction signal system 200. Further, a main controller 300, a mechanical controller 400, a mechanical deck unit 500, and a display system 600 are provided.

The main controller 300 is constituted by a microcomputer and controls the whole. The mechanical controller 400 controls the mechanical deck section 500 under the control of the main controller 300. Mechanical deck 500
Are the tape drive control of the VTR section, cassette in,
Controls mechanisms such as ejection. Mechanical deck 5
00 is provided with a sensor at the time of cassette-in. When the cassette-in is detected by this sensor, the detection information is transmitted to the main controller
An operation such as notifying 0 is also performed.

The display system 600 includes, as display elements, the above-described LCD 11 and an electronic viewfinder 601 composed of a color cathode ray tube, and receives an OSD that generates display information under the control of the main controller 300. (On Screen Display) Circuit 6
02, the image information superimposing circuit 603, and the switch circuit 60
4 is provided. The OSD circuit 602 includes a character generator, and outputs display information including characters, symbols, figures, and the like, and a key signal for superimposing (eg, superimposing) image information in response to a control instruction from the main controller 300. Generated and output.

Also, the camera-integrated VT of this embodiment
A recording start / pause key and a stop key are provided at a position easily operated by a user who is performing the shooting and recording operation of R. The recording start / pause key alternately repeats a recording start instruction and a recording pause instruction each time the key is pressed. A standby key is provided in association with the recording start / pause key, and when the recording key is set to standby by the standby key, the operation of the recording start / pause key is enabled. The stop key is used to stop recording in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment.

The recording operation will be described. Camera unit 101
A / D converter 1 captures a video signal obtained by
02 is converted into a digital signal by the data compression unit 10
3 is supplied. The data compression unit 103 blocks the digital video signal, performs data compression using DCT transform, and converts the compressed video data into a data
To supply.

At the time of image pickup, the audio signal collected by the microphone 105 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 106, and the digital audio signal processing unit 10
7 to the data synthesizing unit 104. The data combining unit 104 is further supplied with subcode data from the subcode forming unit 108. The subcode is search data, such as a time code and a track number.
The track number is an absolute address on the tape.

The sub-code forming unit 108 forms and generates the sub-code under the control of the mechanical controller 400. Then, for example, at the time of recording, the mechanical controller 400 monitors the subcode of the subcode forming unit 108 and manages the current position on the tape. Track number information, which is the data of the current position on this tape,
From the mechanical controller 400 to the main controller 300
Given to. Thus, the main controller 300
Acquires the information of the track number indicating the current position on the tape from the mechanical controller 400, and as described later,
At the end of the video recording, it can be used as information indicating the final recording end position to be recorded in the cassette memory 26.

The data synthesizing unit 104 adds necessary additional data to the video data from the compression unit 103 and the audio data from the digital audio processing unit 107, and adds the video data after the addition, the audio data, and the subcode forming unit. 108
And the sub-code from. The additional data added to the video data is, for example, monochrome / color,
Additional data such as source code, recording time, recording date, etc., which are added to the audio data are 2 channels / 4 channels, sampling frequency, presence or absence of emphasis, recording time, recording date, etc. Is preliminary data.

The combined data from the data combining unit 104 is
Through the recording processing unit 109 and the recording / reproduction switching unit 1
10 to the rotating head 120. And
Since the cassette 20 is loaded in the mechanical deck 500, video data, audio data, and sub-code data are respectively recorded as diagonal tracks on the tape 20T by the rotary head 120 as separate areas (sectors). Is recorded as

In this case, as shown in FIG.
Each diagonal track of T has IT from the entrance side of the track.
An I area, an audio sector, a video sector, and a subcode sector are arranged in this order. Note that IB is provided between each sector.
G (inner block gap) is provided, and a margin is provided after the subcode.

Next, at the time of reproduction, data taken out from the tape 20T by the rotary head 120 is supplied to the reproduction processing unit 201 through the recording / reproduction switching unit 110,
A reproduction process corresponding to the recording process is performed. The output signal of the reproduction processing unit 201 is supplied to a data separation and error correction unit 202, and after performing an error correction process on the data, is separated into video data, audio data, and subcode data. Then, the video data is supplied to the data decompression unit 203, the audio data is supplied to the audio data reproduction unit 206, and the subcode is supplied to the subcode processing unit 209.

The video data decompressed by the data decompression unit 203 is converted back to an analog video signal by the D / A converter 204 and is output to an output terminal 205. The audio signal reproduced by the audio data reproducing unit 206 is converted back to an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 207, and is output to the output terminal 208.

Further, the subcode data restored by the subcode processing unit 209 is supplied to the mechanical controller 400. As described above, the subcode includes the track number as an absolute address on the tape,
Based on this, it is used for running control and other controls. That is, during playback, the mechanical controller 400
The subcode from the subcode processing unit 209 is monitored to manage the current position on the tape. As described above, the information of the track number, which is the data of the current position on the tape, is given from the mechanical controller 400 to the main controller 300, and can be used in the main controller 300. .

The key input device 17 is connected to the main controller 300. This key input device 17
Are the recording start / pause key, stop key, play key,
Controls mode change and tape running such as playback pause key, rewind key, fast forward key, search key for cue and review, and rec end search key for positioning the tape to the final recording end position described later in detail The main controller 300 detects which key is operated by the user. Then, the main controller 300 performs control or the like according to the operated key.

Next, the display system will be described. A video signal from the camera unit 101 is supplied to one input terminal of the switch circuit 604. Also, the D / A converter 204
Is supplied to the other input terminal of the switch circuit 604. The video signal obtained at the output terminal of the switch circuit 604 is supplied to the superimposing circuit 603. The display information from the OSD circuit 602 is supplied to the superimposition circuit 603.

The video signal from the superposition circuit 603 is
It is supplied to the LCD 11 and displayed on the screen 11D thereof, and is also supplied to the electronic viewfinder 601.
It will be displayed on that screen. Further, an output signal of the superimposing circuit 603 is led to an output terminal 605.

Although not shown, the switch circuit 604 is switched between a photographing operation and a reproducing operation by a switching control signal from the main controller 300 in response to a user instruction through the key input device 17. Therefore, at the time of shooting, the video signal from the camera unit 101 is transmitted to the LCD 1
1 and the electronic viewfinder 601, and the image being captured is displayed on each display screen.
If, for example, a monitor receiver is connected to the output terminal 605, an image being captured and display information from the OSD circuit 602 are displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver.

At the time of reproduction, a reproduced video signal from the D / A converter 204 is supplied to the LCD 11 and the electronic viewfinder 601, and a reproduced image is displayed on each display screen. If, for example, a monitor receiver is connected to the output terminal 605, a reproduced image and display information from the OSD circuit 602 are displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver.

Further, the camera-integrated VT of this embodiment
In the case of R, when there is a key input related to the tape running control of the key input device 17, the main controller 300
A control signal corresponding to the key input is transmitted to the mechanical controller 40.
Send to 0. The mechanical controller 400 supplies a mechanical deck control signal generated from the control signal to the mechanical deck 500, and controls the tape running and the like.

Further, a memory controller 700 having a terminal connected to the above-described terminal 25 of the tape cassette 20 is connected to the main controller 300. The memory control unit 700 controls writing of data to the cassette memory 26, reading of data from the cassette memory 26, erasing of data in the cassette memory 26, and the like under the control of the main controller 300.

The camera-integrated V of this embodiment
In the TR, the recording start / pause key and the standby key described above are operated, and the stop key is operated in the recording state or in the recording standby state to stop recording, and When the recording current supplied to the head 120 becomes 0, the track number, which is data of the current position on the tape 20T, is recorded in the cassette memory 26 as information indicating the final recording end position on the tape 20T. Has been.

In this case, a track number indicating the final recording end position is written in the cassette memory 26 in the following format.

[3] Recording Data in Cassette Memory As the format of the recording data in the cassette memory, a format defined as a standard corresponding to a digital VCR can be used (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-268056). In this case, the data recorded in the cassette memory 26 is composed of packs. A pack is a minimum unit of a data group, and related data is collected to form one pack.

In this embodiment, the track number indicating the final recording end position is recorded in the cassette memory 26 as one of the tag packs. The tag pack records track number data, which is address information on the tape, and has a fixed length of 5 bytes. FIG.
Shows the data structure of this tag pack.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this tag pack, the first byte PC0 is a header indicating the data content of the pack, and "00001011" (0Bh) indicates that it is a tag.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, in the second byte PC2 to the fourth byte PC3 of the tag, the tape 20T
A track number as an absolute address indicating one point above is recorded as data. Then, the flag "TEXT" at the head of the fifth byte PC4 of the pack of this tag is a flag indicating whether or not text data associated with this tag exists. If this flag is “0”, it means that related text data exists.

The flag "TT" indicates whether this tag is valid data, and the flag "HL" indicates whether the absolute track number of this tag can be rewritten. Things.

Then, the fifth byte P of the pack of this tag
“TAGID” of the last 4 bits after C4 is a tag ID. This tag ID is used to identify what the attribute of the track number recorded in the pack of this tag is. “Last recording end position” is set as one of the attributes. The tag ID indicating the “final recording end position” is, for example, “0111”.

[4] Camera-integrated VT of this embodiment
Operation of R First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the recording is performed at the end of recording of the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment.
A process of recording the track number indicating the final recording end position on the cassette memory will be described.

After the recording process is started, when the stop key is operated to stop the recording, the main controller 300 starts the process shown in FIG.

First, the main controller 300 determines whether or not the recording current to the rotary head 120 has become 0 (step S1). That is, the recording current 0 is detected as the recording end point, not at the time of operating the stop key. This is to avoid an error from the operation of the stop key to the substantial recording end point.

When it is determined in the determination processing of step S1 that the recording current has become 0, the main controller 300
The track number indicating the upper current position is latched (step S2).

Next, the main controller 300 refers to the buffer memory in the main controller 300 and
It is determined whether or not a track number indicating the final recording end position already exists in this buffer memory (step S).
3).

If it is determined in step S3 that the track number indicating the final recording end position already exists in the buffer memory of the main controller 300, the old final recording end position recorded in this buffer memory is set to the oldest recording end position. Delete the indicated track number (step S
4) The track number indicating the final recording end position acquired this time is additionally recorded in the buffer memory of the main controller (step S5).

Then, the main controller 300 controls the memory control section 700 to obtain the track number indicating the new final recording end position acquired this time and recorded in the buffer memory of the main controller 300 at the change point of the date, The information is recorded in the cassette memory 26 together with the recording information such as the photo ID (step S6). At this time, the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in the cassette memory 26 is recorded on the tag pack in the format shown in FIG.

At the same time, the newly obtained track number indicating the final recording end position is written to a global variable in the memory of the main controller 300 which is used as a track number indicating the final recording end position at the time of searching for a recording end point to be described later ( Step S7), this process ends.

Further, in the judgment processing of step S3,
When it is determined that the track number indicating the final recording end position does not already exist in the buffer memory of the main controller 300, the process of deleting the old track number indicating the final recording end position in step S4 is performed. The processing from step S5 is performed without any processing.

As described above, in the cassette memory 26 of the tape cassette 20, the track number indicating the final recording end position acquired at the end of recording is recorded. The track number indicating the final recording end position is the tape cassette 2
0, the recording process is performed using the tape cassette 20, and the tape 20 when the recording is stopped is stopped.
This indicates the current position on T.

The camera-integrated VT of this embodiment
In R, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
By the processing of step S7, the track number indicating the final recording end position on the tape 20T is recorded in the global variable of the memory of the main controller 300. This allows
The tape cassette 20 is mounted on the camera-integrated V of this embodiment.
Before taking out from the TR, the recording end point search can be performed using the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in this global variable.

As described above, when the tape cassette 20 is taken out of the camera-integrated VTR, the next loaded tape cassette is not necessarily the tape cassette taken out this time. Therefore,
As described above, after the tape cassette is removed, the recording end point search cannot be performed using the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in the global variable of the memory of the main controller 300.

For this reason, in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment, when the tape cassette is taken out, the value of the global variable area is initialized to 0 so that malfunction does not occur.

Further, the camera-integrated V of this embodiment
In the TR, when a new tape cassette is loaded after the loaded tape cassette is removed,
The end-of-recording point search can be performed using the track number indicating the last recording end position recorded in the cassette memory of the newly loaded tape cassette.

FIG. 6 shows a camera-integrated V when a tape cassette 20 provided with a cassette memory 26 is loaded.
It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process of TR. The processing shown in FIG. 6 allows the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in the cassette memory 26 of the tape cassette 20 to be used immediately in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment. It is processing to make.

As described above, the main controller 300 of the camera-integrated VTR according to this embodiment executes the processing shown in FIG. 6 when detecting that the tape cassette 20 has been loaded.

First, the main controller 300 controls the memory control section 700 to read out and retrieve the tag pack from the cassette memory 26 of the loaded tape cassette 20, and the tag ID at the final recording end position exists according to the tag ID. Whether or not there is a track number indicating the final recording end position (step S1).
1).

Specifically, in the process of step S11, as shown in FIG. 4, in the cassette memory 26, the header (PC1) is "00001011", and the four bits "TAG ID" after PC4 are "TAG ID". This is a process for searching for a tag that is “0111”.

Then, the main controller 300 determines whether or not a track number indicating the final recording end position exists in the cassette memory 26 (step S12), and stores the track number indicating the final recording end position in the cassette memory 26.
If it is determined that the recording has been performed, the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in the cassette memory 26 is copied to a global variable in the memory of the main controller 300 (step S13).

Further, for example, when the loaded tape cassette 20 is a new one in which nothing is recorded, the track number indicating the final recording end position is not recorded in the cassette memory 26. Step S
In the determination process of No. 12, it is determined that the track number indicating the final recording end position is not recorded in the cassette memory 26 of the tape cassette 20. As described above, when it is determined in the determination processing of step S12 that the track number indicating the final recording end position is not recorded,
This processing ends without doing anything.

As described above, when the track number indicating the final recording end position is recorded in the cassette memory 26 of the tape cassette 20, the track number indicating the final recording end position on the tape 20T recorded in the cassette memory 26 is used. Is stored in the memory of the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment, and can be used immediately for searching for the recording end point.

FIG. 7 shows a camera-integrated V of this embodiment.
It is a flowchart for demonstrating the recording end point search process which is a process performed in TR to position the tape of the tape cassette 20 to the last recording end position. The processing shown in FIG.
Is started when it is recognized that the rec-end search key provided on the key input device 17 is pressed.

First, the main controller 300 refers to a global variable in the memory of the main controller 300, and checks whether a track number indicating a final recording end position is recorded (step S21). Then, it is determined whether a track number indicating the final recording end position is recorded in a global variable of the memory of the main controller 300 (step S22).

When it is determined in the determination processing in step S22 that the track number indicating the final recording end position is recorded in the global variable, the main controller 300 controls the mechanical controller 400 to record the track in the global variable. A recording end point search is executed with the track number indicating the final recording end position as a target (step S23).

In this case, in the process of step 23, the mechanical controller 400 controls the mechanical deck 500 in accordance with the control signal from the main controller 300 to perform an end point search.

For example, the mechanical controller 400 runs the tape 20T and acquires a subcode including the current track number on the tape 20T via the head 120. The acquired subcode is notified to the mechanical controller 400 via the reproduction processing unit 202 and the subcode processing unit 209 as described above.

The mechanical controller 400 determines the current track number on the tape 20T supplied from the subcode processing unit 209 and the track number indicating the final recording end position recorded in the global variable of the memory of the main controller 300. It is determined whether the tape 20T is to be rewound or sent first. Then, based on the result of this determination, the mechanical controller 400 controls the running of the tape to position the tape 20T on the track having the track number indicating the final recording end position.

As described above, in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment, the track number indicating the current position on the tape 20T at the end of recording is provided on the tape cassette 20 as information indicating the final recording end position. Recorded in the cassette memory 26. That is, the track number indicating the final recording end position unique to the tape of each tape cassette is recorded in the cassette memory of each tape cassette.

Thus, even when the tape cassette is taken out of the camera-integrated VTR and another tape cassette is loaded, the last recording end position recorded in the cassette memory provided in the loaded tape cassette is indicated. Using the track number, a recording end point search can be performed.

Therefore, the user can play, rewind,
There is no need to repeat the fast-forward to search for the final recording end position, and the tape 20T can be quickly and accurately positioned at the final recording end position by a simple operation.

When a plurality of tape cassettes are used in the camera-integrated VTR, for example, when a different tape cassette is used for each photographing object, the final recording end position is set for each tape cassette. Can be searched. Therefore, even when a plurality of tape cassettes are frequently replaced and each tape cassette is rewound and played back at any time, the final recording end position on the tape of the loaded tape cassette can be easily and quickly determined. Can be searched. That is, a plurality of tape cassettes can be used properly.

Further, as described above, the present invention is not limited to the case where the final recording end position is searched before the recording is started. For example, the first part and the last part of the recorded image are reproduced and viewed. Even when the recorded contents are checked, the recording end point search can be performed for each tape cassette. As described above, the present invention can be applied to a reproducing apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording end point search is described as positioning the tape 20T on a track having a track number indicating the final recording end position, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adjust the position of a track having a track number indicating the final recording end position to a position advanced by a plurality of tracks,
Conversely, it is also possible to adjust the position to a position near the final recording end position, for example, by adjusting the position of the track having the track number indicating the final recording end position to a track position a plurality of tracks before.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as applied to a camera-integrated VTR. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a home VTR or the like that can record a video signal and an audio signal from a VTR.

In the above-described embodiment, a tape cassette, which is a storage medium containing a tape, is used as a recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a disk or the like is stored as a recording medium and a storage medium storage device provided with a memory is used.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, the address information indicating the final recording end position unique to each recording medium is recorded and held in the memory provided in each recording medium storage. I can put it. Therefore, based on the address information indicating the final recording end position recorded in the memory provided in each recording medium storage, a recording end point search for positioning the recording medium at the final recording end position is performed for each recording medium. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording format on a recording medium according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an example of a recording medium storage material according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining data recorded on a cassette memory according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the end of recording in the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when a storage medium is loaded in the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a recording end point search process in the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

17 key input device, 20 tape cassette, 25 terminal, 26 cassette memory, 101 camera unit, 300
... Main controller, 400 ... Mechanical controller, 5
00: mechanical deck unit, 600: display system, 700: memory control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FIG11B 27/10 L 27/28 F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus in which a recording medium is stored in a storage container and a recording medium storage having a memory is loaded, and the image information is recorded on the recording medium, wherein the recording of the image information on the recording medium is performed. A recording end position acquisition unit for acquiring address information indicating a final recording end position on the recording medium at an end time, and recording the address information indicating a final recording end position acquired by the recording end position acquisition unit in the memory. A recording apparatus, comprising: recording means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said instruction input means instructs execution of processing for searching for a final recording end position of said recording medium, and said instruction input means is loaded with said recording medium storage material. When the instruction to execute the process of searching for the final recording end position of the recording medium is given via the above, based on the address information indicating the final recording end position on the recording medium recorded in the memory. Recording means for executing processing for searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium. 3. A storage medium containing a storage medium stored in a storage container and having a memory for storing address information indicating a final recording end position on the storage medium, and recording on the storage medium. A playback device that plays back the image information that is being displayed and displays the information on a display unit, wherein instruction input means for instructing execution of a process of searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium; and The address indicating the final recording end position on the recording medium recorded in the memory when instructed to execute a process of searching for the final recording end position of the recording medium via the instruction input means. A reproducing apparatus comprising: searching means for executing processing for searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium based on information. 4. A method for retrieving a final recording end position of a recording medium stored in a storage medium having a memory, wherein the recording medium on which image information is recorded is stored in a storage container. At the end of the recording of the image information, a recording end position obtaining step of obtaining address information indicating a final recording end position on the recording medium, and the address information indicating the final recording end position obtained in the recording end position obtaining step is A recording step of recording in a memory; an instruction inputting step for instructing execution of a process of searching for a final recording end position of the recording medium; When instructed to execute a process of searching for a recording end position, the instruction indicating the final recording end position on the recording medium recorded in the memory A search step of searching for the last recording end position of the recording medium based on the address information.