Video tape recorder system having means for suppressing video track crossover noise during slow and fast motion operation

The method of recording video signals on a magnetic tape of a video recorder at a normal longitudinal tape speed and reproducing said video signals from said magnetic tape at normal longitudinal tape speeds and at speeds different from normal longitudinal tape speeds comprising the steps of

• recording a plurality of separate non-redundant video fields in series in each one of a sequence of video tracks recorded along the tape,
• scanning the video tracks with a magnetic reproduce head to reproduce [the recorded fields in order] at least one recorded field per track for display on a video display means,
• said reproduce head crossing over the space on the magnetic tape between adjacent video tracks and producing a noise on the video signal when the longitudinal tape speed is changed from the normal speed, detecting the occurrence of said noise at crossover, and blanking out from display in response to the detection of said noise that particular field in each track at which the head crossover between adjacent tracks occurs , whereby at least one noise-free field in each track is reproduced for display .

A video recorder system for reproducing a plurality of separate non-redundant video fields recorded in series in a track across a magnetic tape, the tracks being recorded sequentially along the tape, comprising

• reproducing means including a reproduce head for scanning along each series of fields in each track in sequence to reproduce [the separate fields in order] at least one recorded field per track for display on a signal display means, means for changing the [relative speed of the magnetic tape and the reproduce head] longitudinal tape speed from the longitudinal tape speed during recording to change the speed at which the video tracks are reproduced, whereby the reproduce head crosses over the space on the magnetic tape between adjacent tracks, [and] means for detecting the occurrence of noise generated at the head crossover and means for blanking out that particular noisy one of the plurality of fields in each track at which said crossover occurs , whereby at least one noise-free field in each track is reproduced for display .

A video recorder as claimed in 8 wherein said means for reproducing said other field comprises a second reproduce head spaced from the first reproduce head, and means for switching the display means from said first reproduce head to said second reproduce head during the period of time said first head is scanning the field at which said crossover occurs.

A video recorder system for reproducing a plurality of separate non-redundant video fields recorded in series in a track across a magnetic tape, the tracks being recorded sequentially along the tape, comprising

• reproducing means including a reproduce head for scanning along each series of fields in each track in sequence to reproduce [the separate fields in order] at least one recorded field per track for display on a signal display means, means for changing the [relative speeds of the magnetic tape and the reproduce head] longitudinal tape speed from the longitudinal tape speed during recording to change the speed at which the video fields are reproduced, whereby the reproduce head crosses over the space on the magnetic tape between adjacent tracks and produces a burst of noise at the crossover, and means for detecting said noise and operating in response thereto for blanking out that particular one of the plurality of fields in each track during which said crossover occurs , whereby at least one noise-free field in each track is reproduced for display .

A video recorder as claimed in 13 wherein said means for reproducing said other field comprises a second reproduce head spaced from the first reproduce head, and means for switching the display means from said first reproduce head to said second reproduce head during the period of time said first head is scanning the field at which said crossover occurs.