Automatic track locking state check circuit

A method for automatic track locking of a rotary digital audio tape recorder, comprising the steps of:

• logically combining control data for one of a forward direction and a reverse direction, to provide a selected speed from a plurality of speeds for a playback mode;
• counting a number of sampled-and-hold pulses for a predetermined time period to provide counted signals in dependence upon a counter reset signal;
• decoding said counted signals according to said selected speed to provide a decoded signal;
• latching said decoded signal in synchronism with switching head pulses to generate an automatic track locking signal;
• and
• setting a locking range according to said switching head pulses and a system reset signal to control the generation of said automatic track locking signal and said counter reset signal.

An automatic track checking circuit of a rotary digital audio tape recorder, comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of sampled-and-hold pulses;
• means for counting a number of said sampled-and-hold pulses for a predetermined time period to provide counted signals in dependence upon reception of a counter reset signal;
• means for logically combining a plurality of control data indicative of a plurality of playback modes of different speeds to provide selected ones of a plurality of speed selected signals respectively representative by one of a logic "ON" state and a logic "OFF" state;
• means for decoding said plurality of counted signals in accordance with said logic states of said plurality of speed selected signals to provide a decoded signal;
• means for latching said decoded signal to provide an automatic track locking signal in synchronism with a plurality of switching head pulses;
• and
• means for setting a locking range of a tracking servo in accordance with said plurality of switching head pulses and a system reset signal to control generation of said automatic track locking signal and said counter reset signal.

An automatic track checking circuit of a recorder, comprising:

• means for selecting a playback mode from a plurality of playback modes of different speeds in one of a forward direction and a reverse direction;
• means for counting a number of sampled-and-hold pulses for a predetermined time period to provide counted signals, the number of said sampled-and-hold pulses representing a number of tracks of a recording medium;
• means for generating decoded signals by decoding said counted signals in dependence upon said playback mode and for generating an automatic track finding lock signal by latching the decoded signals in dependence upon switch head pulses;
• and
• means for setting a locking range of a tracking servo by controlling the generation of said automatic track finding lock signal and the counting of said sampled-and-hold pulses.