Tape control system for use in an automatic program locating system for tape player

In a recording tape reproduction apparatus wherein the tape includes recorded programs separated by unrecorded spaces such that an unrecorded space separates successive recorded programs, a tape control system for selecting and locating programs to be reproduced at a tape playback speed and for initiating a tape bypass speed faster than the tape playback speed for passing by non-selected programs at a high rate, said system comprising:

• means for sensing said recorded programs and said unrecorded spaces on said tape and for generating space detection signals in response to said sensed unrecorded spaces, said sensing and generating means comprising:
• a sensing head selectively coupled to said tape to generate output signals corresponding to said recorded programs or null signals corresponding to said unrecorded spaces;
• and
• an unrecorded space detection circuit for receiving said output signals and said null signals and for generating said space detection signals in response to said null signals;
• shift register means coupled to said sensing and generating means and including a plurality of successive bit stages, each said bit stage associated with a corresponding one of said recorded programs, for receiving said space detection signals and for progressively shifting the content of each of said bit stages to the next successive bit stage in response to receipt of said space detection signals;
• means for selectively presetting one or more of said bit stages to a predetermined value to select for reproduction the recorded program associated with each preset bit stage;
• and
• means for receiving the content of the last bit stage in said shift register means responsive to the shifting of said shift register means and for sensing when said received content is equal to said predetermined value to permit each selected program to be reproduced at said tape playback speed and when said received content is not equal to said predetermined value to permit said apparatus to operate at said tape bypass speed.

In a recording tape reproduction apparatus wherein the tape includes recorded programs separated by unrecorded spaces such that an unrecorded space separates successive recorded programs, a tape control system for selecting and locating programs to be reproduced at a tape playback speed and for initiating a tape bypass speed faster than the tape playback speed for passing by non-selected programs at a high rate, said system comprising:

• means for sensing said recorded programs and said unrecorded spaces on said tape and for generating space detection signals in response to said sensed unrecorded spaces;
• shift register means coupled to said sensing and generating means and including a plurality of successive bit stages, each said bit stage associated with a corresponding one of said recorded programs, for receiving said space detection signals and for progressively shifting the content of each of said bit stages to the next successive bit stage in response to receipt of said space detection signals;
• an inhibit circuit coupled between said sensing and generating means and said shift register means for receiving said space detection signals and for inhibiting the transfer of the first of said space detection signals to said shift register means;
• means for selectively presetting one or more of said bit stages to a predetermined value to select for reproduction the recorded program associated with each preset bit stage;
• and
• means for receiving the content of the last bit stage in said shift register means responsive to the shifting of said shift register means and for sensing when said received content is equal to said predetermined value to permit each selected program to be reproduced at said tape playback speed and when said received content is not equal to said predetermined value to permit said apparatus to operate at said tape bypass speed.

In a recording tape reproduction apparatus wherein the tape includes recorded programs separated by unrecorded spaces such that an unrecorded space separates successive recorded programs, a tape control system for selecting and locating programs to be reproduced at a tape playback speed and for initiating a tape bypass speed faster than the tape playback speed for passing by non-selected programs at a high rate, said system comprising:

• means for sensing said recorded programs and said unrecorded spaces on said tape and for generating space detection signals in response to said sensed unrecorded spaces;
• means coupled to said sensing and generating means and receiving said space detection signals for storing a sequence of designations associated with said recorded programs on said tape and for outputting said designations in succession in response to said space detection signals, each said designation having a first value indicating an associated recorded program selected for reproduction or a second value indicating an associated recorded program to be bypassed;
• means for selectively presetting a plurality of said designations to said first value to select for reproduction said recorded programs associated with each of said designations having said first value;
• and
• means for receiving said successively outputted designations and for sensing when a said received designation is equal to said first value to permit said selected program to be reproduced at said tape playback speed and when said received designation is equal to said second value to permit said apparatus to operate at said tape bypass speed.