Automatic tracking control apparatus and method

An automatic tracking control apparatus comprising:

• low pass filtering means for detecting a pilot signal from high frequency signals read from a magnetic tape by video heads in a playback mode;
• amplification means for amplifying the detected pilot signal from said low pass filtering means at a varied gain;
• reference pilot generation means for dividing a frequency signal from an oscillator by N to generate reference pilot signals, where N iS determined according to select signals;
• mixing means for generating tracking control signals of 16 KHz and 46 KHz frequency components in accordance with differences between the respective reference pilot signals from said reference pilot generation means and the amplified pilot signal from said amplification means;
• first frequency detection means for detecting the tracking control signal of the 16 KHz frequency component from output signals from said mixing means and wave-shaping the detected tracking control signal;
• first level detection means for detecting a level of the resultant tracking control signal of the 16 KHz frequency component from said first frequency detection means;
• second frequency detection means for detecting the tracking control signal of the 46 KHz frequency component from the output signals from said mixing means and wave-shaping the detected tracking control signal;
• second level detection means for detecting a level of the resultant tracking control signal of the 46 KHz frequency component from said second frequency detection means;
• comparison means for subtracting output levels from said first and second level detection means from each other and outputting a tracking error signal in accordance with the subtracted result;
• and
• control means for generating a capstan motor control signal and a gain control signal in response to the tracking error signal from said comparison means, said control means generating the select signals for the generation of the reference pilot signals and applying the generated select signals to said reference pilot generation means, said gain control signal being applied to said amplification means to vary the gain of said amplification means.