Patent ID: 6369966
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A method of reproducing an audio signal which is recorded on a recording medium as an FM audio signal by frequency modulating one or more carrier signals using read/write heads, said read/write heads being arranged on a rotating head drum, said read/write heads are correspondingly alternately changed over during reproduction mode whereby after demodulation of the FM audio signal a change over switch is correspondingly controlled by means of a head changeover signal, said method comprising the steps of:reading the FM audio signal from the recording medium by means of said read/write heads, each of said read/write heads being assigned to a head amplifier and, according to a number of said one or more carrier signals for recording the audio signal on the recording medium, to one or more circuit arrangements each including one FM demodulator for FM audio signal demodulation; amplifying the FM audio signal by the head amplifier of the respective read/write head to generate an amplified FM audio signal; feeding the amplified FM audio signal directly and via controllable switch means to corresponding inputs of the circuit arrangements for demodulating the FM audio signal, said controllable switch means are thereby controlled by means of switching signals in such a way that each circuit arrangement of each read/write head is respectively supplied with the amplified FM audio signal read by the other read/write head when one of the read/write heads moves out of contact with the recording medium while the respective other one is scanning the recording medium; demodulating the amplified FM audio signal by means of the FM demodulator of each circuit arrangement of the respective read/write head to generate a demodulated FM audio signal; and feeding the demodulated FM audio signal outputted from each circuit arrangement of the respective read/write head to the changeover switch to alternately connect, by controlling the changeover switch by means of the head changeover signal, each circuit arrangement of the respective read/write head to a series circuit formed by a de-emphasis circuit, a noise reduction stage and an amplifier for outputting the audio signal.