Information signal reproducing apparatus having means for tracking control

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on every other track located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) a reproducing head for reproducing a signal by periodically tracing the recording medium at a predetermined period;
• (b) a tracking control circuit for executing tracking control by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced by said reproducing head in a first period having a length corresponding to that of the predetermined period;
• and
• (c) an adjusting circuit for adjusting said tracking control circuit by using at least one of the first and second pilot signal components contained in a signal reproduced by said reproducing head in a second period immediately before the first period, the second period having a length corresponding to that of the predetermined period.

A information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on every other track located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) head means for reproducing a signal by tracing the recording medium, said head means including first and second heads for alternately tracing the recording medium;
• (b) forming means for forming a tracking error signal by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced by said first head;
• and
• (c) modifying means for executing a modifying operation for modifying the tracking error signal by using at least one of the first and second pilot signal components contained in a signal reproduced by said second head prior to the signal reproduction by said first head.

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which as a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on every other track located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) first and second heads for alternately tracing the recording medium;
• (b) a tracking control circuit for executing tracking control of said first and second heads by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced by said first head;
• and
• (c) an adjusting circuit for adjusting said tracking control circuit by using at least one of the first and second pilot signal components contained in a signal reproduced by said second head prior to the signal reproduction by said first head.

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on every other track located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) first and second heads for alternately tracing the recording medium at intervals of a predetermined period;
• and
• (b) tracking control means for forming a tracking error signal by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced by said first head and executing tracking control of said first and second heads, said tracking control means including sampling means for sampling the tracking error signal immediately after a start of each period during which said first head reproduces the information signal and immediately before an end of the each period during which said first head reproduces the information signal, wherein said sampling means does not execute sampling the tracking error signal when said second head reproduces the information signal.

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on third tracks located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) head means for reproducing a signal by periodically tracing the recording medium at a predetermined period;
• and
• (b) forming means for forming a tracking error signal by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced during a period in which said head means mainly reproduces a signal recorded on the third tracks, said forming means including sampling means for sampling the tracking error signal immediately after a start of each period during which said head means mainly reproduces a signal recorded on each of the third tracks and immediately before an end of the each period during which said head means mainly reproduces the signal recorded on each of the third tracks, wherein said sampling means executes only in the period in which said head means mainly reproduces the signal recorded on the third tracks.

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on third tracks located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) first and second heads for alternately tracing the recording medium at intervals of a predetermined period;
• (b) forming means for forming a tracking error signal by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced by said first head;
• (c) sampling means capable of sampling the tracking error signal a plurality of times in each period during which said first head reproduces the information signal, said sampling means sampling the tracking error signal at least at a timing that the first head starts reproducing a signal recorded on each of the third tracks;
• and
• (d) tracking control means for executing tracking control of said first and second heads in accordance with the tracking error signal sampled by said sampling means.

An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing an affirmed signal from a recording medium on which a multiplicity of parallel tracks are formed, a first pilot signal component being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on first tracks each of which is located at one of adjacent four tracks, a second pilot signal, which has a different frequency component from the first pilot signal component, being repeatedly superimposed on the information signal recorded on second tracks each of which is located at another one of adjacent four tracks, no pilot signal component being superimposed on the information signal recorded on third tracks located between the first tracks and the second tracks, comprising:

• (a) head means for reproducing a signal by periodically tracing the recording medium at a predetermined period;
• and
• (b) forming means for forming a tracking error signal by comparing the first and second pilot signal components concurrently contained in a signal reproduced during the predetermined period in which said head means reproduces a signal recorded on the third tracks;
• (c) sampling means capable of sampling the tracking error signal a plurality of times in each period during which said head means traces the third tracks, said sampling means sampling the tracking error signal at least at a timing that said head means starts tracing each of the third tracks;
• and
• (d) tracking control means for executing tracking control of said head means in accordance with the tracking error signal sampled by said sampling means.