Magnetics-on-film, multi-track image area interleaved record/reproduce system

A method of recording n/m sub-sets of a photographic data set in relation to a photographic image frame into like n/m interleaved sub-sets of m or fewer data tracks in a magnetic recording layer on a photographic filmstrip comprising the steps of:

• positioning at least one set of m individual, spaced apart magnetic recording heads in an array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip;
• transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m recording heads in a transport direction;
• energizing said m recording heads and recording a first sub-set of said photographic data set associated with a photographic image frame in a first sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• energizing said m recording heads and recording one or more subsequent sub-sets of said photographic data set associated with said image frame in a one or more further sub-sets of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction with respect to said m recording heads such that said subsequent sub-sets of m data tracks are recorded in parallel and interleaved with respect to said first and each preceding sub-set of m data tracks across said image frame area of said filmstrip.

A method of recording two sub-sets of a photographic data set in relation to a photographic image frame of a photographic filmstrip into two interleaved sub-sets of data tracks in a magnetic recording layer on said photographic filmstrip comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first set of individual, spaced apart recording heads in an array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip such that said recording heads may record in a first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks in said magnetic recording layer;
• positioning a second set of individual, spaced apart recording heads in an array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip at a predetermined distance from said first set such that said recording heads may record in a second sub-set of spaced apart data tracks interleaved with said first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks;
• transporting said filmstrip in a transport direction past said first and second sets of recording heads;
• energizing said first set of recording heads and recording a first sub-set of said photographic data set associated with an image frame in said first sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• energizing said second set of recording heads and recording one or more subsequent sub-sets of said photographic data set associated with said image frame in said second sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction such that said subsequent sub-sets of data tracks are recorded in parallel and interleaved with respect to said first sub-set of data tracks across said image frame area of said filmstrip.

Apparatus for recording n/m sub-sets of a photographic data set in relation to a photographic image frame into like n/m interleaved sub-sets of m or fewer data tracks in a magnetic recording layer on a photographic filmstrip comprising:

• at least one set of m individual, spaced apart recording heads in a head array positioned to extend laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip;
• means for transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m recording heads and through a photographic image frame gate in a transport direction;
• first means for energizing said m recording heads and recording a first sub-set of said photographic data set associated with an image frame in a first sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• second means for energizing said m recording heads and recording one or more subsequent sub-sets of said photographic data set associated with said image frame in a one or more further sub-sets of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction with respect to said m recording heads such that said subsequent sub-sets of m data tracks are recorded in parallel and interleaved with respect to said first and each preceding sub-set of m data tracks across said image frame area of said filmstrip.

Apparatus for recording two sub-sets of a photographic data set related to a photographic image frame of a photographic filmstrip into parallel data tracks in a magnetic recording layer formed on said filmstrip, said parallel data tracks extending lengthwise of said filmstrip and arranged across said image frame, comprising:

• a first set of individual, spaced apart magnetic recording heads in a first head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip such that said recording heads may record in a first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks in said magnetic recording layer;
• a second set of individual, spaced apart magnetic recording heads in a second head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip at a predetermined distance from said first set such that said recording heads may record in a second sub-set of spaced apart data tracks extending lengthwise in said magnetic recording layer and interleaved with said first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks;
• means for transporting said filmstrip in a transport direction past said first and second head arrays;
• first means for energizing said first set of recording heads and recording a first sub-set of said photographic data set associated with an image frame in said first sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• second means for energizing said second set of recording heads and recording one or more subsequent sub-sets of said photographic data set associated with said image frame in said second sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction such that said subsequent sub-sets of data tracks are recorded in parallel and interleaved with respect to said first sub-set of data tracks across said image frame area of said filmstrip.

Apparatus for reproducing n/m sub-sets of a photographic data set in relation to a photographic image frame from n/m interleaved sub-sets of m or fewer data tracks in a magnetic recording layer on a photographic filmstrip comprising:

• at least one set of m individual, spaced apart magnetic heads in a magnetic head array positioned to extend laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip;
• means for selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in a forward transport direction;
• first means for enabling said m magnetic heads for reproducing a first sub-set of said photographic data set in a first sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer extending across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said forward transport direction;
• means for selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in a reverse transport direction;
• means for shifting the relative lateral positions of said m recording heads of said magnetic head array and said filmstrip after the reproduction of photographic data from each sub-set of m data tracks whereby said m recording heads are positioned into alignment with a further sub-set of m data tracks interleaved with respect to previously reproduced sub-sets of m data tracks;
• means for selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in said forward transport direction;
• and
• second means for enabling said m magnetic heads for reproducing a second sub-set of said photographic data set in a second sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer extending across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said forward transport direction.

A method of reproducing n/m sub-sets of a photographic data set in relation to a photographic image frame from n/m interleaved sub-sets of m or fewer data tracks in a magnetic recording layer on a photographic filmstrip employing at least one set of m individual, spaced apart magnetic heads in a magnetic head array positioned to extend laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip, comprising the steps of;

• selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in a forward transport direction;
• enabling said m magnetic heads for reproducing a first sub-set of said photographic data set in a first sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer extending across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said forward transport direction;
• selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in a reverse transport direction;
• shifting the relative lateral positions of said m recording heads of said magnetic head array and said filmstrip after the reproduction of photographic data from each sub-set of m data tracks whereby said m recording heads are positioned into alignment with a further sub-set of m data tracks interleaved with respect to previously reproduced sub-sets of m data tracks;
• selectively transporting said filmstrip transversely with respect to said m magnetic heads in said forward transport direction;
• and
• enabling said m magnetic heads for reproducing a second sub-set of said photographic data set in a second sub-set of m data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer extending across the image frame area thereof as said filmstrip is transported in said forward transport direction.

Apparatus for reproducing two sub-sets of a photographic data set related to a photographic image frame of a photographic filmstrip recorded into parallel data tracks in a magnetic recording layer formed on said filmstrip, said data tracks extending lengthwise of said filmstrip and arranged across said image frame, comprising:

• a first set of individual, spaced apart magnetic reproduce heads in a first head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip such that said magnetic heads are aligned with a first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks extending lengthwise in said magnetic recording layer;
• a second set of individual, spaced apart magnetic reproduce heads in a second head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip at a predetermined distance from said first set such that said magnetic heads are aligned with a second sub-set of spaced apart data tracks extending lengthwise in said magnetic recording layer and interleaved with said first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks;
• means for transporting said filmstrip in a transport direction past said first and second head arrays;
• first means for enabling said first head array for reproducing a first sub-set of said photographic data set recorded in said first sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• second means for enabling said second head array for reproducing a second sub-set of said photographic data set recorded in said second sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction.

A method of reproducing two sub-sets of a photographic data set related to a photographic image frame of a photographic filmstrip recorded into parallel data tracks in a magnetic recording layer formed on said filmstrip, said data tracks extending lengthwise of said filmstrip and arranged across said image frame, comprising:

• providing a first set of individual, spaced apart magnetic reproduce heads in a first head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip such that said magnetic heads are aligned with a first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks extending lengthwise in said magnetic recording layer;
• providing a second set of individual, spaced apart magnetic reproduce heads in a second head array extending laterally across the width of said photographic filmstrip at a predetermined distance from said first set such that said magnetic heads are aligned with a second sub-set of spaced apart data tracks extending lengthwise in said magnetic recording layer and interleaved with said first sub-set of spaced apart data tracks;
• transporting said filmstrip in a transport direction past said first and second head arrays;
• enabling said first head array for reproducing a first sub-set of said photographic data set recorded in said first sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction;
• and
• enabling said second head array for reproducing a second sub-set of said photographic data set recorded in said second sub-set of data tracks on the filmstrip magnetic layer as said filmstrip is transported in said transport direction.