Patent ID: 6128150
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
A magnetic recording apparatus for recording signals to a tape cassette including a magnetic tape and a memory for reproduction by at least one of a plurality of magnetic reproducing units having different types of mechanical decks for reproducing said magnetic tape, each type of magnetic reproducing unit characterized by a reproducing head mechanically arranged with respect to said magnetic tape such that a distance between a beginning of said magnetic tape and a reading position where said reproducing head first reads said magnetic tape is predetermined, wherein said distance between the beginning of said magnetic tape and the reading position of a first type of magnetic reproducing unit is a minimum distance and said distance between the beginning of said magnetic tape and the reading position of a second type of magnetic reproducing unit is a maximum distance, said apparatus comprising:a controller for controlling a writing operation to write to said magnetic tape and said memory in said tape cassette;a rotary recording head, responsive to said controller, for writing the signals on said magnetic tape;a tape transport unit, responsive to said controller, for transporting the magnetic tape past the rotary recording head in a recording direction;a recording signal supply unit for supplying reproduction control servo signals for recording by the rotary recording head on said magnetic tape from a first position on the magnetic tape spaced from the beginning of said magnetic tape by said minimum distance such that the tape transport unit is able to establish a stable tape running state thereat, to a second position at said maximum distance from the beginning of said magnetic tape, wherein recording the reproduction control servo signals for the distance in the recording direction along the magnetic tape from the first position to the second position enables a tape transport of any of the types of magnetic reproducing units to establish a stable running state based on the reproduction control servo signals when said tape transport has transported the magnetic tape from the first position to the second position thereof;wherein the recording signal supply unit is operative to supply at least one of audio signals and video signals to the rotary recording head for recording along the magnetic tape following the second position thereof in the recording direction while preventing the recording of the audio or video signals by the rotary head at any location on the magnetic tape preceding the first position such that any of the types of magnetic reproducing units property reproduce said at least one of said audio and video signals; andwherein said controller controls said writing operation to write the second position in said memory of said tape cassette to indicate the beginning of said at least one of said audio and video signals recorded on the magnetic tape.