Patent ID: 6141172
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:a light emitter to apply light to a magnetic tape having a light transmittable area on an end of said tape;a light receiver to sense said light applied by said light emitter and passed through said light transmittable area when a current taken-up position of said magnetic tape is the end of said tape, for sensing the tape end;a position sensor to sense a current taken-up position of said tape;a controller to control operation of said light emitter;wherein if said position sensor determines that the current taken-up position of said tape is close to the tape end, said controller operates said light emitter constantly or at predetermined intervals and if said position sensor determines that the current taken-up position of said tape is distant from the tape end, said controller serves to stop the operation of said light emitter;wherein if said position sensor fails to determine the current taken-up position of said tape, said controller enables said light emitter to be activated continuously or constantly at predetermined intervals.