Coarse and fine control of segmented video playback apparatus with ancillary recording medium

In apparatus usable in the playback of a magnetic tape, said tape having fields of segmented video information, including sync signals, recorded thereon, there being N signal segments per video field, said signal segments being in the form of signal tracks extending generally across the magnetic tape, and each said track being encoded with a segment identifier signal, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a rotary scanner cooperative with said tape for scanning said tracks to produce video segment signals, sync signals and segment identifier signals;
• (b) a rotary ancillary recording medium;
• (c) means for slaving the rotation of said ancillary recording medium to the rotation of said scanner;
• (d) magnetic recording means cooperative with said ancllary recording medium for recording at least one grouping of N tracks thereon;
• (e) means for applying the signals of the N signal segments of said video fields to respective tracks of said N tracks, the segment signals of one field being recorded over the segment signals of another field;
• and
• (f) means for assuring that segment signals above a predetermined quality are recorded on said ancillary recording medium,
• the improvement wherein said last named means for assuring comprises:
• (A) means for producing reference sync signals;
• (B) means for receiving the reference sync signals and said sync signals recorded on said tape for comparing the phase of said reference sync signals with the phase of said recorded sync signals to produce phase error signals;
• and
• (C) means for receiving said identifier signals and said phase error signals for effecting recording on said ancillary recording medium when both said error signal is less than a predetermined magnitude and when one identifier signal is contemporaneously exclusively produced.

In apparatus usable in the playback of a magnetic tape, said tape having video field information, including sync signals, recorded thereon, said field information being comprised of N signal segments per field, said signal segments being in the form of signal tracks extending generally across the magnetic tape, and each said track being encoded with segment identifying tone signals, said apparatus having:

• (a) a rotary scanner cooperative with said tape for scanning said tracks to produce video segment signals and segment tone signals;
• (b) a rotary ancillary recording medium;
• (c) means for slaving the rotation of said ancillary recording medium to the rotation of said scanner;
• (d) magnetic recording means cooperative with said ancillary recording medium for recording at least one grouping of N tracks thereon;
• (e) means for applying the N segment signals of said video fields to respective tracks of said N tracks, the segment signals of one field being recorded over the segment signals of another field;
• and
• (f) means for assuring that segment signals of at least a predetermined quality are recorded on said ancillary recording medium,
• the improvement wherein said last named means is comprised of:
• (A) means for producing reference sync signals,
• (B) means for detecting the sync signals recorded on said tape,
• (C) means for comparing the phases of said reference and recorded sync signals to produce a phase error signal, and
• (D) means responsive to said error signal and to said detected tone signals for effecting said recording on said ancillary medium only when said error signal is less than a predetermined level and when substantially only one tone signal is contemporaneously detected.