US 4,288,823 AGranted

Apparatus for and method of distinguishing pauses to control selective replay in tape recording/reproduction systems

AssigneeSoundesign Corporation

InventorsRyuji Yamamoto, Fukumori Nakahara, Tadao Kasai

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Abstract

Recorded features on a recording medium have inter-feature pauses between features and intra-feature pauses during features. In order to selectively replay the recorded features, the inter-feature pauses must be detected and reliably distinguished from the intra-feature pauses. An information signal indicative of the time duration of each pause is generated, and a tape speed signal indicative of the speed of the recording medium is generated throughout advancement of the latter. A decision time period is initially established as the standard for distinguishing between inter-feature and intra-feature pauses. The decision period is updated in response to changes in the advancement speed of the recording medium. The time duration of each pause is compared with the time duration of the updated decision period for generating an output control signal which controls the selective replay capability of the recording/reproduction system. The updating may be continuously performed in an analog manner, or in a digital manner wherein the updating occurs at least once per every revolution of the supply and takeup reels of the recording/reproduction system.

Claims24

Dependent claims

an apparatus for reliably distinguishing between inter-feature pauses between features and intra-feature pauses during features to control the selective replay of the recorded features, said apparatus comprising:
(a) recording medium sensor means for detecting the features and the pauses on the recording medium, and for generating therefrom an information signal indicative of the time duration of each detected pause;
(b) speed sensor means for detecting the advancement speed of the recording medium, and for generating therefrom a tape speed signal indicative of the speed of the recording medium throughout the advancement thereof;
(c) time-updating means for establishing an initial decision period of predetermined time duration against which the time duration of each detected pause can be compared for distinguishing between inter-feature pauses and intra-feature pauses, and for thereupon changing, in response to the generated tape speed signal, the time duration of the initial decision period in response to changes in the advancement speed of the recording medium;
and
(d) control output means for comparing the time duration of each detected pause with the time duration of the updated decision period to distinguish between inter-feature pauses and intra-feature pauses at all advancement speeds, and for generating therefrom an output control signal to control the selective replay of the recorded features in response to detection of an inter-feature pause.

3 more elements

In a recording/reproduction system for selectively replaying features recorded on a recording medium, and for advancing the recording medium at any one of a selected playback speed, fast forward speed and rewind speed, a method of reliably distinguishing between inter-feature pauses between features and intra-feature pauses during features to control the selective replay of the recorded features, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting the features and the pauses on the recording medium, and generating therefrom an information signal indicative of the time duration of each detected pause;
(b) detecting the advancement speed of the recording medium, and generating therefrom a tape speed signal indicative of the speed of the recording medium throughout the advancement thereof;
(c) establishing an initial decision period of predetermined time duration against which the time duration of each detected pause can be compared for distinguishing between inter-feature pauses and intra-feature pauses, and thereupon changing, in response to the generated tape speed signal, the time duration of the initial decision period in response to changes in the advancement speed of the recording medium;
and
(d) comparing the time duration of each detected pause with the time duration of the updated decision period to distinguish between inter-feature pauses and intra-feature pauses at all advancement speeds, and generating therefrom an output control signal to control the selective replay of the recorded features in response to detection of an inter-feature pause.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.