US 5,862,293 AGranted

Tracking control for digital signal reproducing and after-recording apparatus and method

AssigneeSony Corporation

InventorsYukio Kubota, Yoichirou Senshu

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus and method for reproducing and after-recording digital signals in slant recording tracks sequentially arranged on a recording medium includes a recording subsystem for recording digital signals in each of the slant tracks and a reproducing subsystem for reproducing digital signals therefrom. The recording and reproducing subsystems include one or more recording and/or reproducing heads for scanning each of the tracks for recording and reproducing digital data therein. A tracking control subsystem controls tracking of the heads with respect to the tracks in a reproducing mode based upon tracking signals recorded both in first and second tracking signal recording areas of the tracks located at initial and final scan positions, respectively, of each track. In an after-recording mode, the tracking control subsystem utilizes tracking signals recorded in only one of the tracking signal recording areas while recording digital signals in a first sub information recording area proximal to the area from which the utilized tracking signals have been obtained.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for reproducing and after-recording digital signals in slant recording tracks sequentially arranged on a recording medium, each of said slant recording tracks having a main signal recording area, a first sub information recording area having a scan preceding relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, a second sub information recording area having a scan following relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, a first tracking signal recording area adjacent an initial scan position and having a scan preceding relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, and a second tracking signal recording area adjacent a final scan position and having a scan following relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, each of said tracking signal recording areas recording tracking signals therein, comprising:

recording means for recording digital signals in said each of said slant recording tracks;
reproducing means for reproducing digital signals in said each of said slant recording tracks;
the recording and reproducing means including scanning means for scanning said each of said slant recording tracks for respectively recording and reproducing digital data therein;
and
tracking control means for controlling tracking of the scanning means with respect to one of said slant recording tracks in a reproducing mode of the apparatus based upon tracking signals recorded in both of the first and second tracking signal recording areas;
the tracking control means being further operative in a first after-recording mode of the apparatus to control tracking of the scanning means based solely upon tracking signals recorded in said first tracking signal recording area of said slant tracks when digital signals are recorded in the first sub information area, and being further operative in a second after-recording mode of the apparatus to control tracking of the scanning means based solely upon tracking signals recorded in said second tracking signal recording area of said slant tracks when digital signals are recorded in the second sub information area, wherein each time after-recording is executed a selection is made between said first after-recording mode and said second after-recording mode and said selection is independent of any prior selection of after-recording mode.

3 more elements

A method for reproducing and after-recording digital signals in slant recording tracks sequentially arranged on a recording medium, each of said slant recording tracks having a main signal recording area, a first sub information recording area having a scan preceding relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, a second sub information recording area having a scan following relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, a first tracking signal recording area adjacent an initial scan position and having a scan preceding relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, and a second tracking signal recording area adjacent a final scan position and having a scan following relationship with respect to said main signal recording area, each of said tracking signal recording areas recording tracking signals therein, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus for scanning said slant recording tracks to record and reproduce digital signals therein in selectable first after-recording, second after-recording, and reproducing modes of said apparatus, respectively;
selecting one of the after-recording and reproducing modes of said apparatus;
in the reproducing mode of said apparatus, scanning the slant recording tracks to reproduce digital signals therefrom while controlling tracking of the scanned tracks under the control of tracking signals recorded in both of the tracking signal recording areas in respective ones of each of the tracks scanned in said reproducing mode;
scanning the slant recording tracks in said first after-recording mode while controlling tracking of the scanned tracks based solely on tracking signals recorded in said first tracking signal recording area of said scanned tracks when recording digital signals in said first sub information recording area of said scanned tracks;
and
scanning the slant recording tracks in said second after-recording mode while controlling tracking of the scanned tracks based solely on tracking signals recorded in said second tracking signal recording area of said scanned tracks when recording digital signals in said second sub information area of said scanned tracks, wherein each time after-recording is executed a selection is made between said first after-recording mode and said second after-recording mode and said selection is independent of any prior selection of after-recording mode.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/791,497Filed 27 Jan 1997 · continuation
Priority: JP 3-23627117 Jul 1991
Granted: 19 Jan 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G11B 20/10
Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor: digital recording or reproducing
G11B 15/125
Masking of heads; circuits for Selecting or switching of heads between operative and inoperative functions or between different operative…:…
G11B 15/1875
Driving of both record carrier and head: adaptations for special effects or editing
G11B 15/4678
Using auxiliary signals, i.e. pilot signals: superimposed on the main signal track