Apparatus and method for loading a cassette tape in a video equipment

A method of loading a cassette tape in video equipment having a rotatable DC motor to load a cassette tape, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a voltage corresponding to a rotation speed of said DC motor;
• comparing said detected voltage with a predetermined reference signal;
• generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal of a desired duty ratio in accordance with the compared result;
• smoothing said generated PWM signal;
• and
• applying said smoothed PWM signal as a drive signal to said DC motor to compensate for variations in tape windings of the cassette tape to prevent damage to the tape.

An apparatus for loading a cassette tape in video equipment, comprising:

• a DC motor for loading and unloading the cassette tape in the video equipment;
• rotation speed detecting means for detecting a signal corresponding to a rotation speed of said DC motor;
• amplifying means for amplifying the detected rotation speed signal from said rotation speed detecting means by a predetermined amplification degree;
• limiting means for inputting an output signal from said amplifying means and passing only signal components between predetermined maximum and minimum values;
• reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal;
• comparison means for comparing an output signal from said limiting means with the reference signal and outputting a logical signal in accordance with the compared result;
• pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating means for outputting a PWM signal of a desired duty ratio in accordance with the logic signal from said comparison means, said PWM signal generating means including an NPN type transistor having a base for receiving the output signal from said comparison means and an emitter connected to a ground, a first resistor connected between the output of said comparison means and said base of said NPN type transistor, a second resistor connected between said base and emitter of said NPN type transistor, a DC voltage source, a PNP type transistor having an emitter connected to said DC voltage source, and a third resistor connected between a collector of said NPN type transistor and a base of said PNP type transistor;
• and
• smoothing means for smoothing the PWM signal from said PWM signal generating means and outputting the smoothed signal as a drive signal to said DC motor.