Buffered recording

A signal readback circuit for transferring signals from a record member capable of storing signals at diverse signal densities, the improvement including in combination:

• signal sensing means operatively associated with said record member for sensing signals recorded on said record member regardless of recorded signal densities, including intermittently sensing data signals and for supplying readback signals which include data signals;
• control means for receiving data signals from a first portion of said record member at a lower density of said diverse signal densities from said signal sensing means for receiving a low density signal which indicates a signal density in other portions of said record member;
• data circuit means for processing sensed data signals regardless of density at a net effective rate for said lower one of said densities;
• data buffer storage means for temporarily storing data signals;
• and
• switch means electrically interposed between said signal sensing means, said data circuit means and said data buffer storage means and being responsive to said control means to transfer all low density signals from said signal sensing means to said data circuit means and a prorata portion of sensed higher density signals to said data circuit means and a simultaneous transfer of a remainder portion of said high density signals to said data buffer storage means, and having means for connecting said data buffer storage means to said data circuit means whenever said signal sensing means at least momentarily stops supplying signals.

A rotating head data recorder having a rotational period with a head having side-by-side read gaps which are adapted to sense a record medium during about one-half of a rotational period,

• readback data circuit means selectively coupling a first of said read gaps to said data circuit means for processing signals from one of said read gaps,
• a signal buffer,
• means for transferring signals from a second of said read gaps to said buffer whenever both said read gaps are reading signals, and
• delayed transfer means for transferring signals from said buffer to said data circuit means whenever said read gaps are not sensing signals recorded on said record medium.

A method of operating a data recorder for enabling recording signals in diverse track widths, the steps of:

• recording signals on a record medium using a recording instrumentality for scanning a record track to record signals longitudinally in such first track having a first track width;
• selectively and firstly adjusting said record medium and said recording instrumentality transversely to said scanned track length a predetermined transverse distance equal to a desired record track width not greater than said first track width;
• repeating said recording and first adjusting steps a plurality of times to record signals in a plurality of parallel tracks;
• simultaneously longitudinally scanning selected ones of said record tracks with a plurality of sensing instrumentalities for producing a like plurality of simultaneously occurring trains of sensed signals;
• and
• selectively and secondly adjusting said record medium and said plurality of sensing instrumentalities transversely to the longitudinal extent of said selected record tracks a distance of not less than said first track width.

Digital data signal storage apparatus adapted to exchange signals with a movable record member with a plurality of record tracks and operatively associated therewith, comprising

• first and second transducers for simultaneously scanning a pair of said record tracks for exchanging digital data signals therewith;
• means for simultaneously relatively moving said record member and said transducers whereby different ones of said record tracks constitute said pair of scanned record tracks;
• first and second read-write circuit means electrically connected to said first and second transducers, respectively;
• input-output means connected to said first read-write circuit means for exchanging signals therewith;
• digital data buffer means connected to said second read-write circuit means for exchanging digital data signals therewith;
• and
• said input-output means, said first read-write circuit means and said digital data buffer means for alternately electrically operatively connecting said input-output means to said first read-write circuit means and said buffer means and including switch control means operative such that signals transferred serially through said input-output means are exchanged alternately with said first read-write means and said buffer means thereby enabling simultaneous signal exchange with said record member and serial signal transfer through said input-output means.

A digital signal storage apparatus having first and second equal sized portions for storing digital signals, the improvement including in combination:

• first signal processing means connected to said first portion for directly exchanging digital signals with said first portion;
• second signal processing means connected to said second portion for directly exchanging digital signals with said second portion;
• digital signal buffer means connected to said second signal processing means for exchanging digital signals with said second digital signal processing means;
• input-output means connected to said digital signal buffer means and to said first signal processing means and having control means to alternately exchange signals therewith whereby said digital signal buffer means and said signal processing means simultaneously exchange signals with said portions respectively;
• said control means includes means operative during predetermined time intervals for enabling said input-output means to exchange signals with said digital signal buffer means while making said signal processing means inactive,
• and
• additional means coupled to said portions and active during said predetermined time intervals for adjusting said portions for enabling signal exchange between said portions and both said signal processing means with respect to signals currently being exchanged in each time interval including signals to be next subsequently exchanged between said first signal processing means and said first portion.

The method of operating a digital signal storage apparatus, including the steps of:

• dividing said digital signal storage apparatus into first and second signal storage portions respectively accessed by first and second transducer means,
• exchanging digital signals with said first portion via said first transducer means during a first time interval;
• exchanging digital signals with said second portion via said second transducer means during said first time interval;
• exchanging said digital signals of said first transducer means with an external means over a first data path during said first time interval;
• buffering only said digital signals of said second transducer means for enabling exchanging such only digital signals with said external means during a second time interval, and
• exchanging said buffered digital signals with said external means during said second time interval in the same manner and over said first data path.