CA1112355A - Automatic checking device for preset recording program of recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Automatic checking device for preset recording program of recording and reproducing apparatus

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Publication number
CA1112355A
CA1112355A CA309,695A CA309695A CA1112355A CA 1112355 A CA1112355 A CA 1112355A CA 309695 A CA309695 A CA 309695A CA 1112355 A CA1112355 A CA 1112355A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
recording
signals
record medium
capacity
signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA309,695A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Tadahiko Nakamura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sony Corp
Original Assignee
Sony Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sony Corp filed Critical Sony Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1112355A publication Critical patent/CA1112355A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/36Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B15/00Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
    • G11B15/02Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B15/00Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
    • G11B15/675Guiding containers, e.g. loading, ejecting cassettes
    • G11B15/68Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
    • G11B15/689Control of the cassette changing arrangement
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/002Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/10Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/102Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers
    • G11B27/107Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers of operating tapes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/10Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/34Indicating arrangements 
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/90Tape-like record carriers

Abstract

AUTOMATIC CHECKING DEVICE FOR PRESET RECORDING
PROGRAM OF RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a recording and reproducing apparatus, such as, a video tape recorder or VTR, which can be preset to establish a desired recording program, that is, to initiate and terminate successive recording intervals at predetermined times, the aggregate of the tape or other record medium needed for the recording of signals thereon in the preset recording intervals is compared with the amount or capacity of record medium available for recording and, in the event of a deficiency of the latter, a suitable alarm or indication is provided to avoid a failure to record desired signals. An alarm or indication is further provided if there is overlapping of the preset recording intervals, or if the apparatus is not in condition for recording, for example, by reason of the absence of a tape cassette or other record medium from the apparatus or the presence of a record medium which is already recorded with signals to be preserved.

Description

_CKGROUND C~ :' T~ N
Flel~ ntion This in~ention relates generally to recording and reproducinO apparatus, su~h as, video tape recorders or VTRs, and more particularly is directed to ~mprovements in such ~':~

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, apparatus which can be preset to establish a des~re~.
recording program, tha t is ~ to au~oma~ically initia~e and terminace suceessive recording in~ervals at: predetermined times .

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Vid~o tape recorders or VTRs have been provided with programrning arra~ements by which a desired recording program can be pre~et by the user to automa~ically iniiate a~d tPrminate successive recording ir~ter~rals a~ prede~ermi~ed t~mes . Thus ~ with a VTR of the described type, program matarial, ~uch as, sporting events ~ specials or the like, broadcast a~ times when the YTR will be unattended can be nevertheless au~omatically rec orded provided that t~e VTR
contains a supply of magnetie recording tap~ or o~her rea~ rd medilL~ su:Efic:ien~ or the preset recording interval~i However, in the existing YTRs capable o:E being preset to establ~sh a desired recording prc~gram, no prc)visiost is made for determ~ning that the supp~y of tape present in the VTR is suficient to complete ~uch recordlng program~ Therefore, the tape i~x the unattended VTR:may become exhausced or run out prior tcs the completiorl o ~he preset recordir~g program, with the result that at least a port;on of the de5ired progr~ material will ~ . .
not be recorded.

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OBJEt::TS AND ~ ION
Accordingly ~ it is an obj ect o:~ this invention to provide a recording and reproducing apparatus 5 such as ~ a vides~ tape recorder or VTR, which can be prese!t to es~ablish a desir d pr(D.gram, and whlch avoids the above-mentioned disadvantagas o: the pr~or ar~.
~ ore particularly~ it is an obiect of ~his inv~n tio~
1:Q provide a recording and reproduc~ng apparatus, such as, a vi~eo tape recorder or i7TR, which can be preset to es~blish a desired recording program3 and ;n which ~he arnount of tape or o~her record medium available i~ ~he recording and reprod~cing apparatus is checked agains~ ~he amoun~ o~ ~ape required f3r completing a pres.et reeordin~ program so as to avoid the inadverteDLt :Eailure to xecord all of the desired ma~erial by reasc~rl of the exhaus~ion of ~he supply of tape or othe:r x~cord medium p~ior to comE~letion of the recording program.
Another ob~ect is ~o provide a recor~ing and repro~ucing appara~s, as aforesa~l, in which a ~risual signal or irldica~^ on or other alarm is provided in the event that the ag~gregate o~ the tap~ or other record medium needed for l;he recordin~3 of Si~ 5 thereon in ehe p~eset recording intervals con5~i~uting t~Le recording program exceeds the amount or capacity o the record mediu~ a~,railable Qr recording in t~ apparatus.
Stil:3. a~ot~her ob; ec~ is to provide a reco.rdi~g and reproducing apparatus, as a~orPs~d, in ~ich a signal or alarm is provided in the event that t~ re is overlapping of ~e preset recording ir~terv~ ~, for example, i the preset recording program seeks to record mate~ial being broadcast ~rom one channel at a time when material being; broadcas~ on another charmel is a lso ~o be recorded .
A furth~r obj ect is to provide a recording an~
xepxoducing apparatus, as aforesaid, in which an alarm or signal ~s pro~id~d if, at the time ~he desired r~cording program is b~ g preset or e~ablishedp . the apparatus is not in condition for recording, for example, by reason of the absence o~E a tape cassette or ot~r record medium from the apparatus or-t~e .presence in ~e lattPr o~ a tape ca~sette c,c)ntaining ~ape which is already recorded with signa~Ls to be E~r~served .
Xn accordance with arl aspect o~ this int7entiorl9 an apparatu~ operati~ for recording and reproducing si~als on a recoxd mQdium" or e~arnple, in the form QiE a ~:e contained ~n a ca5set~e a~d which has a ~ e capacity ~or recorded si~ls, comprises means for predetermining times a~ which one or more intervals of recording oper~tion ar~ to be ini~iated and terminated3 respectively ~ m~ ans for providing a ~irst sign~al representative of ~he capaci'cy of the record medium which ~s available or the recording of 5ignals thereonL, means for providing a second s3g nal representative of an aggregate c~pacity o~ the xecQrdmedium, that is) the total amount of the _4_ 3~

lat~er, needed for the recording o:E signals thereon in th~ one or ~ore recording in~ervals initiated and termina~ed at the predetermined t~es, comparator means for comparing the f~rs~ and second si~p als, and indicator ml~ans responsive to the comparator means or indicating when the aggre~ate capacity needed ~or recordisg, as represented by the second signal, is greater than the capacity of ~:he recvrd medium ~ctually available for recording, as ~epresented by the :Eirst signal.
I~ a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means or providing ~he :Eirst signal repre~entative of the capacity of ~he record medium available or the recordin~: cf signals thereon includes at least means detecti~g a xatio of ~-~he recorded to unrecorded regiorls on the record mes~ium, means fo~ d~ecti~g ~he size of t~e record medium, ~hat is3,` ~he total amount of the record medi~m~ and converting means ~esponsi~r~ to the detected ratio o~ the recorde~ to unrecorded regions and to the detec~ed size of the record medium ~r proVidiDg said first signaL as a ~uslction the~ eof In ~he case where the reco~:ding a~d reproducing apparatus is in the form o~ a VTR in which the tape is movable at a selected one o~ a plurality o~ di~ferent speeds, ~he selected speed is also detected and the previously~mentioned conYerting m ans is ~espons;ve ~o the detect2d speed for also detenn~ning the signal representati~e o~ the capaci~y of ~he 3 i~ ~

record medium available for r~cording ~3 a function of ~he detected speed. Fuxther, ~n the ca~e wher~ ~he record medium ~s constitu~ed by a plu~ality of tape cassette~
~tored ~n a cassette changer a~d being ~oved in ~ucces~on to a~ operatLve po~i~ion for she reeordi~g of ~ignals there~ng the signal representa~ive of ~he c~pac~y of ~h~ record med~um available for the reeording of signals t~reon is also ~ ;
det~rm~ned as a fu~ct~o~ of th~ deteet~d ~ ~ ~r of ~ape cas~ette~ ~n the c~s~tte chang~r.
lU Moxe particularly, there is provided:
~ n appaxatus operative for recording and reproducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a record medium which has a finite capacity for recorded signals . .
comprising: means for pred termining times at which each varia~le lenyth time of recording is to be initiated and terminated, re~
spectively/ means for providing a first signal representative of the capaci~y of the record medium which is available for the recording of signals thereon, means for pxoviding a second signal repxeqentative of an aggregate capacity of the record medium needed for the recording of signals thereon in the total of Raid variable length times initiated and terminated at said predetermined times, compar2tor means fos comparing said first and second ~ignals, and indicator means responsive to said com-parator means fox indicating when said aggregate capacity needed for recording as represented by said second ~ignal is greater than said capacity available for recording a represented by said first ~ignal.

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There is also provided:
An apparatu~ operative ~or recording and xepro-ducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable lPngth times on a record medium which has a finite capacity for recorded signals and which is movable at a selected one of a plurality of differen~ speeds, comprising: means for predetermuning times at which each variable l~ngth time of recording i5 to be initiated and terminated, memory means, mea~s f~r writing said times in said memory means, timer means for indicating actual time, means responsive to coincidence o~ said times written in the memory mean~ with said actual time ~o cause the initiation and termination of a recording operation by the apparatus~ means for detecting any overlap of the times of initiation and ter-mination written in ~aid memory means, indicator means respon-sive to said detecting means for indicatin~ when said ~verlap exists, means for writing a television channel in said memory means corresponding to each of said times wri~ten in said memory means, means for Gontrolling a television tuner in dependence ~n the televi~ion channel written in said memory means, mean~ for providing a first signal repre~entative of the capa~ity of the record medium which is available for the recording of signals thereon, said means ~or providing a ~irst signal including ~eans for detecting a ratio of recorded to unrecord~d regions on said record medium, means for detecting the ~ize of said record mediumt means for detecting the selected ~peed, conver ing sneans responsive to the detected ratio of the recorded t~ unrecorded regions, the detected size o the record medium and the det~cted speed to produc~ said first signal as a function thereof, means for pro~iding a secQnd signal repre~entative o~ an aggregate capacity o~ the record medi~m ~eeded for the recording of sig~als thereoD in the total of ~aid variabl length time~ initiated and te ~ nated at ~aid pred~t~rmined times, comparator meSln~ for comparLng ~aid first and ~econd ~ignals, indicator means re~pon-';~,~ ~
-6~-sive to said comparator mean3 ~gr indicating when said aggregate capacity needed f~r recording as xepresented by said second signal is greater than said capacity availab:le for recording as represented by said first signal, and means :Eor indicating when recording is not possible.
There is also provided:
An apparatus operative for recording and repro-ducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a recording medlum which has a finite capacity for recorded signal~ comprising~ ~ans ~or predetermining times at which each variable length time of recording is to be in-itiated and terminated, respectively, irst means for indicating the capacity of the record medium which is available for the recording of ~ignals thereon, second means for indicating an aggrega~e capacity of ~he recoxd medium needed for ~he recording o signals thereon in the total of said variabl~ length times initiated and terminated at said predetermined times, comparator mean for comparing indications :Erom said ~ir~t and second means, and third means responsive to said comparator means for indicat- :~
ing when said aggregate capacity needed ~or recording is greater than said capacity available for recordingO

There is further provided: :
AA indic~ting apparatu~ for use with a recording apparatu of the type operative for recording signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a recording medium, said recording medium having a ~inite capacity for re- .-cordea siynals, compri~ing:
first means for determining ~aid finite ~apacity;
second m~ans for determining an aggregate capacity 3f ~aid record medi~ eesied fo:r r~cording signals at the total of said plurality of selectable variable length times; ancl third mean~, re~ponsive to a eomparisorl of determina-tion~ of ~aid ir~t and second ~ean~, for indicatiny when said : aggregate capacity exceeds said ~inite capacity.
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Th~ sbove" and oth~r ol~ct$, ~a~le~ ~nd ad~rantages o 'che inv~n~ion" will be ~pa~ent in ~he O11QWing de~ailed descr~ption of a~ iLlustrativ~ etabodi~ent thereof which is ~ be read in cont~ecl:ion wlth the accompanying d~awi1lgs.

BRIE~ DESCRIPTION OF l~E DRAWINGS
Fi~o 1 i~ a front ele~a~io~l view of ~e co~ol panel of a VTR which ~bodie~ ~he present i~yention;
Fif3. 2 i~ a schematic ~lock d~agra~ of ~e circuit~
LO according to thi s in~rention provided in the ~ of ~ig~ 1 .
for pre~ting a recordir~g proE~ram aIld for auto~atically checking whether recording operations ir~ acco~dance ~7ith the pres~
p~ogram can be achieved with the tape supply ther~ avallable lrl the vr~; a~d Fig. 3 is a mor~ dePalled block diagram of the auto~atic checkilg clrcuit~ accordirg8 to a~a embo~nt o thi~

~nvention .

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~ eferri~g to ~ig . 1 of the draw~ngs in detail 3 it will be appr~cia~ed ~hat the ~nvention is ~here illus~ra~ed as be~ng applied ~o a recording and repro~uciI~g appara~us of the type called a video tape recorder or VTR 10. Only so ~nuch of the VT~ 10 as ~s necessary ~or an underst~ ding of the pre~ent i~verl~on is disclosed in sletail herein, a~d such VTR
10 ~ay b~ ~ther~e of th~ type ~vailable com~erci311y fr4m Sony Co~poratlorl ~s ~IB~t~ax'' Videocassette Recorder M~del SL-8600.
A9 iS ~i;hOwn9 V~ 10 c~nve~ntionally ~cludes a cabinet 11. whlch, at lts front paneL 12, is provided w~th an as~mbl7 or arrange1Den. 13 of pla~holb~tton~ 14-20 by w~ich opsratlng mod~ of ~che ~R can b~ a~ually ~elected. ~ore particularly upon the pvsitioning of a cassette in cabinet 11, a known loading mechanism (not shown) in VTR 10 is made opexative to withdraw tape from the operatively positioned cassette and to wrap the withdrawn tape about a guide drum (not shown), thereby establishing the standby condition of the VTR 10~ Upon the selectiYe manual actuation of push~button 14 or 15, rotary recording and/or repxoducing heads as~ociated with the guide drum are rotated ~o scan the tape for recording or reproducing, respectively, video signals in obliquely arranged tracks ~n the tape as the latter is advanced or driven at a selected speed. Push-button 16 i5 actuable to select a fast-forward mode of operation in which the tape is ~` .

s3~

driven at high speed from the supply reel to the take-up reel within the cassette housing. Push-button 17 c~f assembly 13 is actuable to select a rewind mode of operation in which the tape is driven at high speed in the direction fxom the take-up reel bac]c to the supply reel. In either the fast-forward or the r~wind mode of operation, rotation of the rotary heads may continue to permit quick searching of the recorded signals. Push-button 18 is effective, when actuated, to establish the stop mode of the ~TR in which, for example, a record or playback operation of the VTR i~ terminated by stopping the tape movement and the rotation of the rotary heads while the tape remains wrapped on the guide drum. On the other hand, push button 19 is effective, when actuated, to establish the pause mode of operation in which a recording or playback operation is temporarily interrupted by stopping movement of the ~ape while the rotary heads continue to rotate. Finally, push-button 20 is effective, when actuated, to cause unwrapping of the tape from the guide drum and its return to the cassette, whereupon the tape cassette is ejected from it~
op~rative position in cabinet 11.

The ta~e u~ed iEI ~t 10 ~ay h~ control pul~es .
reco~de,d ~t locations spaced apart alorlg ~e t~pe so that ~uch control pulses ca~ b¢ counte~ during ~vemat~t of 1:he tape or ~Ld~3tlfyin$ po~itio~s along the tape a~ which var~ous program ~Da~erials ar~ recorded. The VTR 10 ~ay be p~ovided ~i~h a ~:

progr~ 8earching arran~ement for facllitating the ",:

, ' 8- ~

playbac~ of selected portions of the recorded material.
ALternatively, as shown, an assembly 21 o searching control swi~ches may be provided at one side of control panel 12 for controlling ~ e operation o VTR 10 ~hen searching ~ r the positions a~ which various ma~rials are recorded on ~he tape. More particularly, the switch assembly 21 may include a programm~d~searchi~g swi~ch 22 which, when ac~uated~ causes the searching to be effec ed accordi~g to th~ previous~y memorized or stored program.. In othex wo~ds, values o~ the contrul pulses counted from the beginni~g of the tape and at which the recordings of the various materials are initiated on the t~pe are pxeviously stored in a memory. TherPafter7 if switch 22 is actuated simul~aneously with e~ther a forward~
direction s~itch 23 or a reverse-direc~io~ switch 24, the ~ape is moved rapidly at a searching speed in ei~her the ~orward dire tion or thc reverse ~irection, re5pectively, untiL reaching a position corresponding to the next programmed or stGred value o~ the counted control pulses, at which position the mcvement o the tape is automat~cally arrested and a reproducing or playback eEation of the VTR is com~enced~ The switch assembly 21 has a repeat switch 25 which may be ac~uated to cause the tape to be automatically returned a~ high speed to the position : -corresponding to the begin~ing of the recording of the program material then being played back at the searching speed. If a pause switch 2G o~ assembly 21 is actuated during a search '~

_g operation, ~he movement o: the tape is arres~ed ~emporari:ly and, thereafter, upon ~he actuation o~ ~he switch 23 or 24, ~he ~ape is again moved rapidly in either ~.he forward or reverse diraction to the pos~tion of the next sto~ed or programmed vaLue of the cc)unted control pulses. I i~ is de~ired to search a recorded tape without reerence to val~2s o~ coun~s of the contro 1 pu lses previously stor ed in a memsry ' a switch 27 of assembly 21 can be actuated simultaIIeously wit~
either the: ~rward-d~rection switch 23 or reverse-direetion ~witch 24 for e~ec~ing a de~Ired searching nsovemen~ of ~e tape lndependently of the preset or memorized playback program~
During such searchin$ independently of the preset or memoriæed prograla, a counter 28 counts the control pulses repro~ced rom the tape, and such counter 28 can be returned or reset to its zero ~e~ting or count by actua on of a rese'c bu~ton 2g.
In a conven ional tape counter searching mode, counter 28 i~
set to zero by actuation o~ its reset button 29 at the tape pos 'cion where the recording o~ desir~d program materi ~ on the:
tape i~ commenced an~, t ~he completion of such recorded , material, switches 2~ and ?7 ca~ be actuated s~multaneously to ~:ause high speed ~ape movement irl ~he reverse directlon, with the revarse s~ovement o~ the tape being automatically halted when counter 28 returns ~o ze~ hat is ~ at the beg~nning o~ ~he ~eecorded pr~;ram material~ Since the searching; operation of VTR 10 15 not related to the present invention, the same has been only briefl~y described in the foxe~oing.

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, The front or control panel 12 of VTR LO according to this irlvention is fur~er shown to have a keyboa~d 30 comprised of a number of switch opera~ing keys w~ ch are actuable " as hereinafter described in detail, for prese~ting a recording program for VTR 10~ a display seckion 31 at whi~h . .
various aspects of the recordiIlg program are display~d durin~, the prese~ting ~he~eof, an indicator assembly 32 at which visual indicat:Lorls or o~her alarms are given in ~he everlt that ~he preset recording program ~or VTR LO is deective or unattai~able fo~ any ore of various reasons, as hereina~er described in detail9 and a power supply switch 33 which~ as is conYentio~al, may be a~tuated or connecting the YTR to a source o~ electrical pow~r.
The ~eyboard 30 is sh~ o include ~en key.~
oper~ted swltches K, K ~ ~2~ ~~~ Kg, corresponding to ~e n?um~el:s 03 L, 2, ~- 9. Keyboard 30. further includes a :
key-operated SWitC~ bearing the legend l'CH'I and which, when actuated, identifies the number represented by the as~tuated keys K }~: as ~eing that of a television channel.
g .-S~milarly, keybosrd 30 includes key-operated switches K and Klz bearing the legerlds Sl~l and '~1~9 respecti~e ly, and which, whe~ actua~ed, re~pecti~Ly identify the number represented by ~ :
~he ac~uated key-opera~ed switches K ~ K as representing ~ :
the hour and minutes, respectively, of a selected time~ ~inally~ :
keyboa~d 3û is shown to include a key~op~ra~ed switch K13 ' ~11--'3~i~3 bearing ~ legend t'PC" which may be actu~ ted to clear or cancel a program previously stored in a memoryj as hereinaEter described in detai1, and ~ key-operated switch X bearing the legend "C" which may be actuated to clear the keyboard 30 . Furthermore " ke~-operated switches K
and ~ are motanted rlext to keyboard 30 and can be selectively b actuated for selecting respective addresses in a memory, as ' here~nafter described ~n detail.
The display section 31 o~ con trol parlel 12 is shown to ~nclude a portion 34 al~ which a legend "REC: Start"
indicated at 34a or a legend tlREC l:nd~ indicated at 34b can aI~ernaeively ~lash ox appe~ for respectively indicating ~the start or initiation and the end or terminatiorl~ respectlvely, of a recording intervaL. The display sec~ion 31 further includes a portion 35 for displaying, as indic ated at 35a~ the number of a ~elevisiorl channeL which has been selected to be the source of prograD~ materia~ ~o be recorded.. Finally, display sec~ion 31 is shownL to include ~ portion 36 at which hour~
and minutes o:~ actual or selected time are di9played, as at 36a and 36b, respectivelj, and a reset but~on or switch 37 which can be actuated when it is desired to set the actual tim2 displ~yed a~ por'cion 3~ to exactly the correct 'cimeu The indicat or a5sem~1y 32 is s'nown to inc ludc fir~t? second and th~rd indicators or lamps 32a~ 32b and 3~cl respectively~ which are energized or illusnir~ ted7 as hereina~ter ~12~

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described is- detail, for ~ndicatirlg to the user that one or more problems exist in respect to a recording prograrn which is being preset or stored. More particularl~y~
and as wiLl hereinafter appear ~n detail, indicator l~mp 32a is energized to indic~ate tha~ the amount of tape available for recording of signals t~reon is Less than the amount of tape ~hat would be required for cc~mpleting the f recording program being preset, while indicator lamp 32b is energi~ed or illumira ted to indicate that t~re is over-lapping between two or ms~re of the recordin~ intervals ca~prising the recording program. Further, indicator l~mp 32c ~s cna~ gized or illuminated to indicate that VTR 10 is not in a co~l~it ion for carrylng out the preset recording program, for example~
for indicating that no tape casse~te is operatively positioned in the VTP~ or that the operati~y positioned t:ape cassette contains tape having signaLs already recorded ther~on which are to be preser~ed, or for indicating that the VTB i~ in Lts ~ . :
pause mode o~ operation and, therefore, ca~no~ be made ~o effec~ the automatic recording operations in accordance w~ h the preset recording program. -~
Re;errirl$ now to Fig. 2, it will be seen tha~, , : in the circuits according to this invention for presetting or progra~mi~g and checking a recording program, sw itches K g K , K , -~ K of keyboard 30 are connected to an encoder 38 which, in response to closing or ac~uation of one or more o~

such key-operated switches ~ ~ ~, provldes a corresponding7y coded signal to a system control circuit or CPU 39.

imilarly, the a~dress-selecting switches ~ ar~l K and a b the time resetting switch 37 are connec~ed to an eslcoder 40 which provides a suitably coded signal to sys tem ccntroL
circuit 39 in response ~o the closing of any one of switches K ~ R and 37.
a b The programming and checking circuits according ~o' this invent ion are further shown on Figl, 2 to generally comprise a memory circuit 41 ha~ing a plurality o~ addresses .
corresponding tD ~he number o the addressing switches X and a ~, a writing circuit 42 by which all ~ the required information concerning a recording interval of the recording program can ~be written at a selected address of memory ci.rcuit 41 in response to suitabLe signa~s from syste~ control circuit 39 , ~:
and a reading circuit 43 by which the recorded informa~ion concernLng ~ach recording interval o a recording program can be read out o~ the respective address of memory c~cuit 41 u~der ~ control of system con~rol circuit 3g . It will als o be seen that temporary storage circuits or memories 44 and 45 are connected with system control circult 39 for te~porari:ly stor~ng the eo~ed signals applied to circuit 39 from encoders 38 and 40, as hereina~ter described in detail! I desired, indicator lamps 46a ~ d 4~b dispo~ed adJacent addressing witche~ K and K (Fig. 1) on controL panel 12 may be ener~ized a b by ~uitable signals from system controL c~rcui~ 3g when ~:he ddressing swi ches K and Kb, respectiYely, are ener~ ed.
a Thus, the illumination of one or the other o~ indicator l amps 46a a~d 46b is effective ~o indicate that the record~ng program inormation is be.ing prese~ in, or read out :~rom the respective address in memory circui ~1.
A display st31c ctor ci:rcuit 47 under ~he corl~rol of system control circuit 3g is effective to select t~
vari~s displayi~g opera~ions of display section 31 which ar~ -obtained through a display driving circu~t 48. A clock circuit 4~ normally responds ~ pulses :Erom a pulse genera~or 50 to provide a si~aL corresponding to the actual or p: esent:
time which is applied to display selector circt~it 47 for causing the displa~ of such actual or present tLmc at the portion 36 ~f display section 31. However~, upo~ the actuation o:E preset switch 37~ sys~em control circult 39 p~ovides sui~able signals by which puls~ generator 50 no longer controls clock circui~ 49, at leas~ momentarily, while a gate circ~c 51 is oper~ed ~nd a prese~ circuit 52 is made op2ra~ o apply correc~7.ng pulses , through gate circuit 51. to clock circuit 49 for correcting the tisne ~epxesented by the output si~,nal from cL~ek circuit 49. -Upon the relea~e of switch 37, clock circuit 49 returns to its normal c~trol by pulse~ generato~ 50 r Further, upon operatio~
of prese~: cireu~t 52, a signal is provided from the latter hrough display selec~or 47 so tha t changing actual time represented by the signal from clock circuit 49 is displayed at poxtion 36 of dLspLay section 3~.

~15--:

,3~,~

A time display blanking circuit 53 is operable by a suitable si~pal from system control circui~: 39 whenever ey-opera~ed switch K or the key-opexated switch ~ of tcesboard 30 is ac~uated ~r presetting the hours or minu~es, respectively, o a ti~e or initiating or termi~aating a recording interval of the recording program,. In response to operation of ~lanking circuit 53, an outF~t rom the latter is prov:E~ed ~o display selector circuit 47 with the result that t~e signal from clock circuit 4~ representing the presene or actual t~me no longer determirles the display at portion 36 o:f d;splay sectiorl 31, that is, the actual or prasent ~ime display is blanked. a fLashing ci rcuit 54 is made operable ;by a suitable signal from sys ~ al co~rol circuit 39 during prese~ting ~ ~ recording pr~gramc The resulting intermi~tent outp~ t o flashing circuit 54 is applied to an ~ND circuit 5S
along with the output o~ t~e display blanking circuit 53 to provide an outE~ to display selector circuit 47 by ~ich a tim~ indication then di~played at portion 36 o display se~tion 31 during presetting o~ t~e xecording program, as hereina~ter described, is made to fla~h on and off so as to di~ingui~h the same fram the pre~en~ or act~ time indica~ion oth~L~iSe ~displayed a~ portio~ 36 o disp1ay section 31.
It is to be noted t~at a p~rtion of the output of ~eading circuit 43 which identifles the television channel rom which broadcast material is to be recorded dur~ g each :

-16~ ~:

recording inter~al of a preset recording program is supplied, :for e~ample, throu~h a digital -to-analog conver ter (not shown~
to an elec~ronic ~uner of an associa~ed te1 e~vision receiver (no~ sh~n) for t:uning-the latter to the sel~cted chann~l~
A time comparator and VTR conSrol 56 is connected with clock circui~ 4g and memory circuit 41 so that3 when the ac~cual. or presen~ time indlcated by t~ OUtpllt of clock cirl::uit 49 corresponds to a time stored in memory 41 :Eor the ini~iation or ~ermination ~ a recording interval o~ the .
preset recording pragram, circuit S6 provides a S~ able c~ntrol-signal to the associa~ed VTR for either initiating or terminatln$, respectively, a recording operation of the latter.
~ n accordance wlth the prese~t inve~t ibn, a checking and alarm c~cuit 57 is shown on Fig,. ~ to be connected ~ith system control circuit 39 so as to be operative upon the presetting of: a recordin~s program, for controlling the op~ration or illuminatiorl ~ the several indicat~rs 3~a, .
32b and 32c on the basis of a cor~parison of s}gnals stored in memory circuit 41 with various factors or condi~ions which : determine whether o~ rlot~the correspon~ing preset recordlng progr~ is feasible~ .
: ~ ~ As showIa in grea~er detail on Fig. 3~ thP checking :: ::
~ and alarm circuit 57 provided in accordance with th;s inve:ntion :~
.: : :
: ~ includes a time interval summing circuit 58 which receives, . .

.

~ 3~

from memory circuit 41 by way of reading circuit 43~ the stored signals represen~in~ the times t and t at which the respective recording in~ervals are to start or be initiated and to end or ter~inate, respectively. The c~cuit 53 generally consists of a subtractor by which the starting time t o each recording interval preset in memory 41 is s subtracted fr~m the respective ending time t , a compensator' ~hich converts from the 12-hour system tG the 24-hour sy~ tem in ~he even~c that the times for starting and ending each recor~ng in~erval are memcrized or stored in accordance with the 12~hour A~. and ~.M. system, and an adder for adding together or summing the compensated times required for the several preset recording intervals and thereby providing ~he time T which is the aggregate or total playing tLme of the ~R requixed ~or the preset rec~x ding program~ The signal .. ~ .
: representing the ~o:tal time T required for the pr~set record~ng p program is supplied to a comparator 5g ~or comparison in the latter with a sig~al T representing the amount ~r capacity of record me~ um available ~or recording. Such signa~ T ~ provided by a convertîng circuit 60 as a functîon o$ various detected ~: condi~ons that determine the capacity of the tape or other record .
~ : med~um av~ilable for the rec~ ding of ~ignals. ~ore particularly~
.

as shown, a detect.ing circuit 61 and a m~mory 62 recei~ing the output signal therefrom provide an output R which represents a ratio of the unrec~:rded to recorded regio~s of a re~ rd medium .. .
.....

, ~18 ..
.

.

,3~;3 then operatively position~d wit~in the associa~ed VTR 10.
For example, in the case where the record mectium is consltituted by a tape casset~e having supply and ~ake-up reels on which the tape is wound~ the rotational speed of the reels will vary oppositely as the tape is unwound rom one reel and r~wound on the other in t~e course of the recording of signals on ~:he tape~. In such case, the detector 61 may~be constituted by, a requerlcy comparator which receives pulses, as i~dic ated at 61a and 61b rom pulse generators (not showr~) associated with shafts coupled to the supply and take-up reels. ~
will be apparent tha~, as recording of sign~ls on the tape progresses so tha~ the diameter of ~he wound tape on the ~a~ce-up reel lncreases and ~he diameter of the wound tape ... .
on ~he supply reel dPcreases, th e freq~lency o~ the pu~ ses supplied at 61a wilL decrease and the requency of ~he pulses supp~ied a~ 61b will irlcrease~ Such rela~i~ change in ~he frequencies o the pulses applied at 61a and 61b'will ~e detected by comparator 61 as a measure of the r~lative amoun~s of the ~ape on the take-up and supply rePls, respectively.
Since the ratio of amounts-of tape on the supply and take-up reels corresponds ~o ~:hP output sig~al of comparator 51, that is, the ratio of the amounts of tape that are recorded and unrecorded9 respe~tively, such outplt signal is applied to memory 62 and Ls retained in the latter so long as it remains uncharged by reason of ~he fact that the VTR is not performing a recording operation r -l In some instances, a VTR may be arranged to alternati~;e ly receive various different slæe cassettes.
.ccordingly, a detec~c~r 63 is p~vided ~o detect or ~easure the sîze o a casse~te operatively positioned in the assoc~ated VTR and ~o supply a corresponding signal T
to ~he converting circuit 60.
Moreo~er, even when cassettes o: onL~ or~ size are recei~rable in ~he opera~ive Ex~si~ion or holder of ~
VTR ~ the l~tter may be constructed and arranged to operate at two different tape speeds so that ~ if a cassettP i5 dimensioned to provide one hour af recording time when the t~pe ls driven at a partîcular or first speed, the sarne ~cassette will provide two hours o;E recording time when driven at ~ second sp~ed which is one half the firs~ speed.
AccordiIIgly ~ a detector 64 is provided to detece the seLec~ed tape speed o the as~ociated VTP~ and to provide a corresponding signal lH/2~I to ehe converting circuit 60. FinalLy~ fo~r accommodating the case where the associated YTR ~s provided with :
a casse;tte changer adapted to hold a pluralit~ of casset~es which are laoved in succession, as r~eeded, eO the opera~l~
position in the VT~a, an additional detector 65 is provided to detect the number of cassettes remaining in the cassette changer arld to provide a coxresponding sigFlal N to conve~ting c~rcllit 60.
Thus, it: will ~e apprec~ated that com7erti~g circuit 5~3 prov~des ~he signal T representing the tot:al capacity of the tape or :: R

.. . .. , - . ~ - .
.

3~

o~her record mediur~ available for recording as a function of the previously-mentioned signals R, T ~ lH/2H and M.

Comparator 59 compares signals T and T and, in R P
the event that such signals indlca~e that the capacity o~ the record medi~sm needed for completin~ th.e pr~set recording prv~ram is larger than the available capaci~y of the recQrd medium9 then the output of compara~or 59 causes an indica~or drlving ci~ it 66 to effece energiza~ion of the indicat~r lamp or alarm 32a~ . --The signals t and t read out o~ memory 41 andrepresenting the t~mes at which the preset recording intervals are to be initiated and terminated which are also app~ied to a ~ircui t 67 which detects whether the preset recording intervaLs, for example, as defined by time signals stored or retained at the 'cwo addres~es, respectively ~ of m~m ory 41, have any overlap. In the event of suc~ overlap of the preset recor~ing in~ervals, detcctor 67 provides an ~utput signal ~o driving circuit 66 so that the latter energizes or illusninates irld~cator la~p or alarm 32b for calling such o~Jerlap to the a~ention of the user. It i~ apparent that overlapping o~ the two or mor~ rer~ding in~ervals canno~c be countenanced as the coxxesponding recording progxam could require the simultaneous .
recording on a~ single tape of signals being broadcast rom two ~liferent s~ations or charmels, which mode of recQrding is rlot po~sible O

, - ~ .

It is ~urther a~mmon practice to provide ~he housing o:E a tape casset~e wi~h a tab`which ils removable therefrom to indicate that the tape contained within ~:he cassette housing has sigrlals recorded thereon which are to be retained or preserved. TherefE~ re, ~che cheeking and sla~m circui~ aecording tc~ this islven'cion also preferably includes a detector 68 which iS capable of detecting the presence or ab~ence of ~ueh tab OII a cassette operatively po~i80ned in the VTR. In the even of th~ me~tioned ta~ :
~ being absent from ~e casset'ce housing, tab detector 68 provides an o~tplt signal whlch causes dxiving circuit 66 to energixe or illuminate indicator lamp or alarm 32c anLd thereby ça~ 1 stte~tion of the user ~ the fact that the operatively posi'doned cas~ette should no be use for further re~ording operatios. The ~ndica~or 32c may be altern~ti~ ly e~ergiæed ~or iliuminated by driying circuit 66 in re ponse to the rece1pt by the latter of a s~gnal from a detector 69 which, for ex~pLe~
detects 'chat no ca~sette has been operatively posi~ioned in the VTR~ thst ~oading of che t:ape from the cassette or~to the guide d~sm has not yet b erl compLe'ced, or that the VTR is ~n its pause mode o operation~ for example, by reason of ~he :actuation o~ push-button 19. It will bP apprec~ated tha~, in such pause mode c~ opexEIt:i~n, the VTR oanrlot re~F~nd to the presèt informa~ciorl ~n memory 41 which would otherw~;~e cause the VTR to ~e ~in success1~7e racord~ng operat~ s, .
2~ ~.

~ 31 ~4;~

ThP previously-described.apparatu~ according to this invention operates as follows:
When a reeordinv program is to be preset~ one or the other of the address selecting switches, for ex~mple, the switch K , i~ manua~ly closed so that enc:oder ~0 provides a corresponding function si~ al to system control circ~it 39 which function sig~al is stored eemporarily in the ~emporary' storage circui~ or memory 45, I~ response to such func~ion signal, sys~em control circuit 39 causes operation of time display bLanking circuit 53 and 1ashin~ circuit 54 so that d isplay se~ ctor circui~ 47 causes blanking of the time display portion 36 and the ~lashing display at portio~ 34 of the legend .'REC START", as indicated at 34a. In response to the closing of switch K , eirrui~ 39 also eauses LlLumlnation ~ address lamp 46a or indicating that any information subsequently selected in respeet to a recording interval will be s~ored~
in-the corres~onding address of memory 41~

Then9 key-operated switc~es ~ K of key~board O 9 ' - ,. .
30 are selecti~ely aetuated so as to indicate the number : o a t~levision channel to which the VTR is to be tuned : ; dur~ing a firs~i recording interval.: The encoder 38 pro~ides a ~ignal corresponding ~ the selected channel number, for example, ch~nnel ~5tl9 a~d such signal is transmit~ed through ~s~em con~rol circuit 39 or temporary storage in memory or temporary s~orage circui~ 44. Thereaf~er, when key-operated , .

~ 23-.

~ 3~

witch K o~ keyboard 30 is actuated, the resulting 1~
signal from encoder 3~ causes system control circuit 39 to transfer the stored s~ nals from te~porary s~orage circuits or memories 44 and 45 through wri~in,g circuit 42 to the previously selected address in memory 41. Sim~ltanecusly wi~h such writ.ing opera~ion9 sys~em control circuit 39 causes reading ci~cuit 43 to read the channel number beLng then inserted or writ~en in memory 4L, and further causes the display sele tor 47 to pass the signal corresponding ~o the channel number or causing driving circuit 48 to effect the display of the selected channel number "5" at porti~n 35 o~ display sect~ n 31..
., D~ring ~he operation o~ reading circui~ 43, as described above, the signal read out o memary circuit 41 and corxesponding to the se~ cted channel number isj as previously mentioned, supplied to an electron~c tuner for effecting channel selection~ Thus, even if the described arrange~ent is not employed f or presetting a recording program, for example, if the VTR is to ~e attended to during its recording operation, the key operated switches }~ - K and K of ke~bo~ d 30 can be selectively actuated or ef~ectlng channe~ ~
selection~, .
After the channel num~er has been selected ~or the ~r st recording interval 9 the ~ey-operated swit ches K - K

are again selectively act~ ted to indicate the hour o~ the time -: -24-.
.

-, . . .
, ~

at whlch the first recording interv~l i5 to be ini~iated and the corresponding signal from encoder 38 is passed through circuit 39 for temporary s~orage in memory or temporary storage circuit 44~ ~en, upon actuat~on of key-operat~d ~witch K , the resulting ~ignal is dr~wn ~rom temporary ~1 s~orage circuit 44 and~ if found by circuit 39 to be proper f:r indicat~ng an hour, is pas ed ko writing eircult 42 so as to be written at t~e selected addxess o mery 41. Once agaln, the sig~al xepreseal~ing the hour at which th~ firs~
~ecording interval is to be initiated is read by readirlg circuit 43 a~d, by way oE display seLector 47 and display driving circui 48" cause~ the f:~æhing di~play of such hour ind~ ation a 36a in portion 36 of disp~ay see~ion 31" Thereafte~, :

k~y-operated sw~t ches K - K a~ selectively actuated to indicate ~che minutes of the time at ~hich the f~rst xeco~ding interval ~s to be initiated and3 upo~ actuation oi~ swi~r~h K , the r~sul~ing signaL is ~cran~fered rom temporary storage circuit 44 t~rough system eon~crol circuit 39 so as to b~ writ~en at ~he previously ac~uated address in memory 41 by wri~ing circuit: 42, w~le reading s:ircus t 43 and circuits 47 and 48 cause the 1ashing display of the sel~cted minutes indicated at 36b in portion 36 of dlsplay sec~ion 31.
After the channel number for the irst recordirlg iD'cexval and the hours and minutes o the time for initiating ~e irst record~g ~nterval have been ~tored in memory 413 - ~5~

~ ' ', - .
' ' . '' . :

the sequencing func~ion of system con~rol circuit 39 causes display selector circuit 47 and driving circuit 48 to e~tinguish the legend "REC ST~RT" and, at som~ short pre!de~ermined ti~e thereafter, for example, one second therea~ter, tb commence the flashing energizatio~ or illumination of the legend "REC ~ND", as indicated at 34b~ Fur~ er, a~ such ~ime, the portion 36 of display sec~ion 31 is again made blank. Thereater, key-opera~ed switches K - K are seleetive~y operated alarg wi~h switch K , and then wi~h swi~ch X or recording in ~he ~1 12 first actuated address of memory 41 signals ~orresponding to the hours and minutes of t~e t~me at which the irst recording interval is to be terminated~ hs before~ the signals -~
corresponding to ~he time at which the first recording intexval -. ;"i. --i~ tc ter~i~a~e are read by ~eading c~ cud.t 43 so that d~splayselector ~nd driving circuits 47 and 48 are then effective to d~splay, at portio~ 36 of display section 31, the hours and minutes o~ the selec~ed time for ~ermination of ~he first xecording interval.
After a~l of ~he required control Lnformat~ n f~r the first recording inter~al, tha~ is~ the ch~nnel number ~and the tlmes for initiation ~d ~ermination, respectively, o the ~Lrst reco~ding interval, ha~e ~een stored in one of the addresses o~ memory 4L activated by the closing of switch K 9 the other address selecti~g switch K can be closed and a b ~he above described operations are repeated so as to s~ilarly ~26-' record or store at a second address o memory 41 ~e pertinerlt inormati~n, namely, channel number and times of iniltiating and terminating the recording i.ntexva~ J in respect to a second recording interval.
Although the apparatus accord~ng to thîs invention has been described as ha~Ting~ a memory 41 with two addresses electively ac~ivated by swi~ches K arld K, ar~l thus adapted a b ~or receivlng in~ormation as to two successive recording i~tervals, it will be appreciated that an appara~us according to ~hîs invention may be provided wi~h a memory having three or more addres~es at which information can be stored in respect t:o three or more successive ~ecording in~Prvals o:f~ a preset ~ecording program, At any time during the prese~ting of ~he rPc~rd~ng program in memory 41 or upon thc completion of the presettîng o:E t~ re~ordîn~ program, ~he checking and alarm circuî~ 57 and the varîous indicator lamps 32a, 32b and 32c cooperate to indîcate to the user . i~, for any reason, the recordîng progr~ whîch is beîng prese~ or has been prese~ is not achievable or should nok be at~empted. Thus" as previou~ly de8cribed with reference to Fig. 3, if comparator 59 indicates that ~he available capacity of ~he tape:or other record medium ~or recordl~ of si~nals thereon, as indicated by the sîgnal T~ is smaller than the total asnount of tape or r~cord medium R

xequirs~d or the preset re ording program, as indicated by ~he .

signal T , then indicator lamp 32a is illumin~ted to direct ~he user's at~ention to that fact. In t~ t case, the user may, for example, ohange the recording program by red~cing the overall or total length of ~ime thereof, or a partially recorded casset~e may be replaced wi~h a wholly blank cassette capable of accommodating ~he entire prese~
recording program. Fur~her, if th re is overlapping be~ween' the t~mes selected for the first and second recording intervals, ~ch overlapping is detccted by detecting circuit 67 and causes illumlnation o i~dicator lamp 32b so that the user is ~hen advised ~o change the times of one or both of the recording intervals for avoiding the undesired overlapping. If th~
tape casset~e installed in the v'r~ is already recorded wi~h sig~als which are ~o be preserved, that fact is percieved by tab detector 68 to caus~ illumination of indicat~r lamp 32c, whereu~ n the user may xeplace such tape cassette with one ei~her having blank or u~recorded tape or xecorded w~h signals which may be er~sed. Moreover, indi~ tor lamp 32c will be enexgized ln any case where pe~formance of the prese~.
re~ rdi~g program ls not possible heca~se reeording opera~ion cannat be effected, ~or e~ample, because there is no cassette in the VTR~ the loading ~peration of the tape from the cassette onto the guide drum hss not been completed, or the VTR is in the pause mode of operation, alL of the conditions can be readi~y corrected by the user prior to leaving the YTR una~tended ~or peror~ance of ~he desired record~ng program.

.. . . . . .

~ 3 It will be appreciated that, after the recording program has been preset in memory 41, ~ previously described and assuming that checking and alarm cirouit 57 has not indicated any problem in performing sueh preset recording program, then mem~ry circui~ 41, clock circui.t 4~ and time compara~or and VTR cont~ol 56 will cooperate in causing recording operation of the VTR in ~ccordance with tha preset recor~ing' program. Msre particularly, upon coinciden~e of ~he actual or presen~ tîme mdicated by cloek circuit 49 with a time stored in memory 41 for the initiation or termination of a reeording interval, circuit $6 will provide a corresponding control si~ al to VTR 10 for eit~ r initiating or ~erminating the re~ rding operat~n of the latter. Furthermore, tk ough reading circuit 43, each preset channel ~umber will be read out of memory c ~cuit : : ` , . .
41 so as to ensure that each recording o~era~ion~ the ~TR

~ : es~ablished by c~rcult 56 wilL ~ccur with the~tuner conditioned : : to receive the broadcast signal of the desired channel.

AL~h~ugh an illustra~i~e embodiment ~f the inven~ion ha~ been described in detail herein with reference to the . `
.
ac~ompanying drawings,:i~ ~s to be understoo~ that the inven~ion .
is not limited to that preeise em~diment, and that various changes and modifications may be e~fected therein by o~ skilled in th~ axt wi~hout departing ~rom the scope or spirit of t~e :
invention a~ defined:in t~ ~pended cla~ms.

.

: . .
: ' ~29- :

.

'. ~': ' ', ' "' ' '

Claims (14)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus operative for recording and reproducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a record medium which has a finite capacity for recorded signals comprising: means for predetermining times at which each variable length time of recording is to be initiated and terminated, re-spectively, means for providing a first signal representative of the capacity of the record medium which is available for the recording of signals thereon, means for providing a second signal representative of an aggregate capacity of the record medium needed for the recording of signals thereon in the total of said variable length times initiated and terminated at said predetermined times, comparator means for comparing said first and second signals, and indicator means responsive to said com-parator means for indicating when said aggregate capacity needed for recording as represented by said second signal is greater than said capacity available for recording as represented by said first signal.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said means for providing the first signal includes means for detect-ing a ratio of recorded to unrecorded regions on said record medium, means for detecting the size of said record medium, and converting means responsive to the detected ratio of the recorded to unrecorded regions and to the detected size of the record medium for determining said first signal as a function thereof.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2; in which, during recording and reproducing, said record medium is movable at a selected one of a plurality of different speeds, and in which said means for providing the first signal further includes means for detecting the selected speed, and said converting means is also responsive to the detected speed for determining said first signal as a function thereof.
4. A apparatus according to claim 2; in which said record medium is constituted by a plurality of tape cassettes stored in a cassette changer and being moved in succession to an operative position for the recording of signals therein; and in which said means for providing the first signal further includes means for detecting the number of tape cassettes in the cassette changer remaining to be moved to said operative position, and said converting means is also responsive to the detected number of tape cassettes remaining to be moved to the operative position for determining said first signal as a function thereof.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said means for predetermining times, includes memory means, means for writing said times in said memory means, timer means for indicating actual time, and means responsive to coincidence of said times written in the memory means with said actual time to cause the initiation and termination of a recording operation by the apparatus.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5; in which said memory means has a plurality of addresses at which times corresponding to the initiation and termination of respective recording intervals are written in succession; and further comprising detecting means for detecting any overlap of the recording intervals having their respective times of initiation and termination written at said addresses of the memory means, and indicator means responsive to said detecting means for indicating when said overlap exists.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6; in which the signals to be recorded are television signals from a television receiver having a tuner which is controllable to receive signals broadcast in a selected one of a plurality of channels; and further comprising means for writing at each of said addresses of the memory means the broadcast channel from which television signals are to be recorded on said record medium during the respective recording interval, and means far controlling the tuner in dependence on the broadcast channel written at each of said addresses during the respective recording interval.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1; in which said recording medium is constituted by a cassette with a tape therein for the recording and reproducing of signals thereon when the cassette is disposed in an operative position, and said cassette has a removable tab which, by its absence indicates that a recording operation is not to be performed on the respective tape; and further comprising detecting means for detecting the absence of a tab from a cassette at said operative position, and second indicator means responsive to said detecting means so as to be energized when the latter detects the absence of a tab from a cassette at said operative position.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8; in which the apparatus has a pause mode for interrupting a recording or reproducing operation; and further comprising means for energizing said second indicator means when the apparatus is in said pause mode thereof.
10. An apparatus according to claim 8; further comprising means for energizing said second indicator means upon the absence of a cassette from said operative position.
11. An apparatus according to claim 8; in which the tape is withdrawn from the cassette in the course of a loading operation for the recording and reproducing of signals on the tap at the exterior of the cassette; and further comprising means for energizing said second indicator means when said loading operation is taking place.
12. An apparatus operative for recording and repro-ducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a record medium which has a finite capacity for recorded signals and which is movable at a selected one of a plurality of different speeds, comprising: means for predetermining times at which each variable length time of recording is to be initiated and terminated, memory means, means for writing said times in said memory means, timer means for indicating actual time, means responsive to coincidence of said times written in the memory means with said actual time to cause the initiation and termination of a recording operation by the apparatus, means for detecting any overlap of the times of initiation and ter-mination written in said memory means, indicator means respon-sive to said detecting means for indicating when said overlap exists, means for writing a television channel in said memory means corresponding to each of said times written in said memory means, means fox controlling a television tuner in dependence on the television channel written in said memory means, means for providing a first signal representative of the capacity of the record medium which is available for the recording of signals thereon, said means for providing a first signal including means for detecting a ratio of recorded to unrecorded regions on said record medium, means for detecting the size of said record medium, means for detecting the selected speed, converting means responsive to the detected ratio of the recorded to unrecorded regions, the detected size of the record medium and the detected speed to produce said first signal as a function thereof, means for providing a second signal representative of an aggregate capacity of the record medium needed for the recording of signals thereon in the total of said variable length times initiated and terminated at said predetermined times, comparator means for comparing said first and second signals, indicator means respon-sive to said comparator means for indicating when said aggregate capacity needed for recording as represented by said second signal is greater than said capacity available for recording as represented by said first signal, and means for indicating when recording is not possible.
13. An apparatus operative for recording and repro-ducing signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a recording medium which has a finite capacity for recorded signals comprising: means for predetermining times at which each variable length time of recording is to be in-itiated and terminated, respectively, first means for indicating the capacity of the record medium which is available for the recording of signals thereon, second means for indicating an aggregate capacity of the record medium needed for the recording of signals thereon in the total of said variable length times initiated and terminated at said predetermined times, comparator means for comparing indications from said first and second means, and third means responsive to said comparator means for indicat-ing when said aggregate capacity needed for recording is greater than said capacity available for recording.
14. An indicating apparatus for use with a recording apparatus of the type operative for recording signals at a plurality of selectable variable length times on a recording medium, said recording medium having a finite capacity for re-corded signals, comprising:
first means for determining said finite capacity;
second means for determining an aggregate capacity of said record medium needed for recording signals at the total of said plurality of selectable variable length times; and third means, responsive to a comparison of determina-tions of said first and second means, for indicating when said aggregate capacity exceeds said finite capacity.
CA309,695A 1977-08-25 1978-08-21 Automatic checking device for preset recording program of recording and reproducing apparatus Expired CA1112355A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP52102862A JPS5951054B2 (en) 1977-08-25 1977-08-25 Recording/playback device
JP102862/77 1977-08-25

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CA1112355A true CA1112355A (en) 1981-11-10

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US (1) US4206483A (en)
JP (1) JPS5951054B2 (en)
AT (1) AT376094B (en)
CA (1) CA1112355A (en)
DE (1) DE2837111A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2401573A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2005455B (en)
NL (1) NL7808800A (en)

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Publication number Publication date
GB2005455B (en) 1982-02-10
JPS5435711A (en) 1979-03-16
ATA622278A (en) 1984-02-15
US4206483A (en) 1980-06-03
FR2401573A1 (en) 1979-03-23
JPS5951054B2 (en) 1984-12-12
DE2837111A1 (en) 1979-04-12
DE2837111C2 (en) 1989-03-09
NL7808800A (en) 1979-02-27
GB2005455A (en) 1979-04-19
FR2401573B1 (en) 1983-11-25
AT376094B (en) 1984-10-10

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