JPS58111163A - Information detection tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store compactly much information, by fitting plural information storing parts to display information by the existence of penetration holes to the wall of a case, and irradiating light from a common light source to the wall to detect the information in accordance with the existence of each transmitted light. CONSTITUTION:The information storing parts 4a-4f, 5a, 5b to display information by the existence of penetration holes are fitted to the wall of a case of a tape cassette. When light is irradiated from the common light source 12 to these information storing parts, the information is detected by the existence of light detected by photodetectors 14a, 14d, etc. attached in accordance with the information storing parts. For example, holes 4a-4f indicating cassette information are drilled on the upper part of the cassette case 1 and also holes 5a, 5b for the detection of tape starting and end terminal and a hole 7 for the insertion of a light source are prepared on the side part and the lower surface respectively. Thus the information is detected by the photodetectors 14a, 14d, etc. set up in a cassette accommodating part 11 of a magnetic recorder and reproducing device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method for detecting information regarding a stored tape or the like in a tape cassette case for a magnetic recording/reproducing device. , and a tape cassette suitable therefor.

In audio compact cassettes that have been widely used in the past, it is detected whether recording has been completed or not based on whether or not there is a hole in the rear side of the cassette. In addition, in the case of video cassettes such as the VH8 system, it is possible to detect whether or not the information has been recorded by whether or not there are holes on the rear side of the cassette, similar to the audio set. The beginning and end of the tape is detected by detecting whether or not light passes through it.

By the way, in the future, magnetic recording and reproducing devices (hereinafter referred to as VTR)
As cassettes become more multi-functional, there is a desire to have more information on multi-building types on cassettes than currently available. For example, the length, number, and thickness of the magnetic tape in the cassette can be recorded.
There are cases in which the information is read and used to calculate the remaining amount of tape while the tape is running, and in cases where the type of tape is distinguished and the recording characteristics and playback characteristics are switched to the optimum characteristics for that tape.

Under these circumstances, when trying to increase the amount of information carried on a cassette, the conventional method of mechanically detecting holes requires that the distance between the holes be adjusted due to the arrangement of the hole detecting mechanism. It is necessary to have enough space, and the cassette must be made large.

However, as seen in audio decks and double-type VTRs, cassettes are required to be smaller, and the above detection method is not suitable for future tape cassettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information detection method that allows a tape cassette to carry a large amount of information in a compact manner, and a tape cassette suitable for the method.

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Honji 1. AK, f-ph*yh. The external appearance is shown below.

1 is a cassette case, 2 is a stored tape, a part of which is stretched between tape guide bosses 3a and 3b. 4a to 4f are holes provided on the upper surface of the cassette case to indicate cassette information. Numeral 6a is a hole for detecting the beginning and end of the tape, and is paired with hole 6b shown in FIG. 7 is a hole for inserting a light source that irradiates the name tag with light. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the cassette shown in FIG. 6a is a take-up reel, 6b is a supply reel, and ♀c and 3d are tape guide posts.

FIG. 3 is a view of the cassette of FIG. 1 viewed from below. s
A and sb are holes with tabs to prevent accidental erasure, similar to those provided in conventional cassettes.

The left side view of the cassette shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 4, and the right side view is shown in FIG.

sa and sb are holes for detecting the beginning and end of the tape.

The tape 2 is supplied from the supply reel 6b to the tape guide post 3.
After passing through d, sb, aa, and sc, it is sent to the take-up reel 6a.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the main part of the above-mentioned cassette installed in the main body of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the main body). There is. 11 is a cassette accommodating portion, into which the cassette case 1 is inserted. Reference numeral 12 denotes a light emitting diode, which is attached to the upper end of the support 13 and inserted into the cassette through the hole 7 of the cassette case 1. On the top plate 11a at the top of the cassette accommodating portion 11, light receiving elements 14a and 14d are mounted, respectively, on the top plate 11a of the cassette case.
[Provided corresponding to 14a and 4d.

Although not shown in this cross-sectional view, another hole 4b.

4c, 4s, and 4f are also provided with corresponding light receiving sections. Each light-receiving element is attached to the light-receiving part substrate 14. These light receiving elements are arranged so as to be able to receive light 1sa, 1sd, etc. emitted from the light emitting diode 12, and the light is converted into an electrical signal and output from the signal line 16. Hoods 17a, 17d, etc. are placed around each of the light receiving elements 14a, 14d, etc. to block external light that becomes noise.

In the above explanation, 4a to 4f have been described as holes, but their positions are configuration information carrying parts so that information is expressed depending on the presence or absence of holes, and there may be no holes. For example, three types of information, tape length, tape thickness, and tape type, can each be represented by a combination of the presence or absence of two holes, that is, two bits.

Since the light emitting diode 12 is shared as a light source for the name tag, only a small amount of space is required in the cassette for receiving the light emitting diode 12.

In addition, since the distance between the light receiving sections 14a, 14d, etc. can be made quite small and the presence or absence of holes can be detected with good separation from each other, the space for providing the holes 4a to 4f may be small.

Similar to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the main part with the cassette attached to the main body.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at a position taken along cross-section B; The side wall of the cassette accommodating portion 11 has holes 5a and s of the cassette case 1.
A hole is provided corresponding to the hole b, and a light receiving element 19a attached to the support 18 and a light receiving element 19b attached to the support 18b are disposed on the outside thereof, facing the hole.

Lights 20a and 20b from the light emitting diodes 12 emit light when the transparent part provided on a part of the magnetic tape comes to the hole position.
The light reaches the light receiving element 19a or 19b.

The start or end of the tape is detected depending on the light detection state of each light receiving element 19a, 1eb.

Two detection elements are required to distinguish between the beginning and end of the tape, but with the above configuration, the light source 1275E is shared, so it is not necessary to take up a large space in the cassette.

As described above, the information detection method for a tape cassette according to the present invention includes providing a plurality of information-carrying sections on the case wall of the tape cassette that represent information depending on the presence or absence of through holes, and using a light source to detect the presence or absence of the through holes. This feature allows the tape cassette to carry more information than conventional tape cassettes without increasing the size of the cassette.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, the 4th plan is a top plan view of the tape cassette of FIG.
The figure is a left side view of the tape cassette in Figure 1, and Figure 5 is the left side view of the tape cassette in Figure 1.
The right side view of the tape cassette shown in the figure, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are main part sectional views showing the state in which the tape cassette is installed in a recording and reproducing apparatus in one embodiment of the present invention. When cut along the A-A cross section in Figure 1,
FIG. 7 shows the case cut along the BB cross section. 1...Cassette case, 4a, 4b,
4c. 4d, 4e, 4f...Through hole (information carrying part), 1
2... Light emitting diode, 14a, 14d...■
··Light receiving element. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 1 Figure 2? Figure 3 Figure 4, Diagram

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of information bearing parts representing information depending on the presence or absence of through holes are provided on the case wall of the tape cassette, and the information bearing parts are irradiated with light from a common light source. The tape cassette is characterized in that information is detected by the presence or absence of light detected by light-receiving elements respectively provided corresponding to the information carrying parts on the opposite side of the light source with respect to the cassette case wall. Information detection method. (2) A plurality of information carrying parts are arranged on one of the walls forming the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette case, and a light source is inserted through a hole provided in the other wall to irradiate the information carrying parts with light. A tape cassette information detection method according to claim 1. (3) A through hole is provided on each side wall of the cassette case, and a transparent portion is provided at both ends of the tape, and the light transmitted through these transparent portions and detected from the through hole detects the beginning or end of the tape. Claim 2, characterized in that the light source is configured to detect the information and that a light source that irradiates light to the through hole in the side wall and a light source that irradiates the information carrying portion are shared. How to detect information on the tape cassette described. (4) A tape with a plurality of information-carrying parts that represent information depending on the presence or absence of through holes on one of the walls forming the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette case, and a hole for inserting a light source in the corresponding part of the other wall. cassette.