Tracking controller for a tape-like recording medium

Abstract

A tracking control apparatus for a tape-shaped recording medium is operative, prior to carrying out actual reproduction, to measure times from the time point serving as the reference phase position within one period of the rotary drum to the time points when timing signals of respective recording areas of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head, and to calculate average values every respective recording areas of the measured times to generate a reference value on the basis of the maximum value and the minimum value of the calculated average values of the respective recording areas. Further, in actual reproduction, times from the time point serving as reference phase position to the time points when the timing signals of the tape-shaped recording medium are detected by the head are measured to control relative velocity between traveling velocity of the tape-shaped recording medium and rotational velocity of the rotary drum on the basis of result of comparison between the measured times and the reference value. Thus, even in the case where particularly the relationship between the scanning locus of the reproduction head and the track shape is not ideal, satisfactory tracking can be carried out over the entire area of the track. As a result, reliability of, e.g., digital data storage using such tracking control apparatus for tape-shaped recording medium can be improved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.