Apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing an image frame in plural blocks utilizes a memory for storing an image signal for one field. The image signal for one field is then divided into n blocks by reading the image signal from the memory n times where n is an integer equal to at least two. The n divided image signals are then subjected to one-channel signal processing, and the respective image signals subjected to the signal processing are then recorded on a recording medium sequentially in different tracks. During reproduction, if little time is available, only selected ones of the n blocks are read and the entire image is interpolated therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for 
recording and/or reproducing various kinds of information signals, such as 
digital image signals and the like, on a recording medium, such as a 
magnetic tape or the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Apparatuses have been generally known which record various kinds of digital 
signals, such as image signals, voice signals and the like, on a magnetic 
tape carried within a small cassette. In such a magnetic 
recording/reproducing apparatus, the above-described information signals 
are transmitted through a transmission system within the apparatus at a 
predetermined speed, and signal processing and other kinds of processing, 
such as recording/reproducing processing and the like, are performed. 
It is preferred that the transmission speed of a signal in the 
above-described magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is low in 
consideration of processing speeds of various kinds of signals. 
However, if the transmission speed is lowered, a long time is needed for 
recording when recording an image signal which has a large amount of 
information. 
That is, if the transmission speed is set to about 768 Kbits (kilobits)/sec 
{2(ch).times.32 (KHz (kilohertzs)).times.12 (bits)} which is sufficient 
for the transmission of a voice signal, a time of about 4.8 seconds is 
needed for recording an image signal for one frame 3.7 Mbits 
(megabits){640 (picture elements).times.480 (picture elements).times.1.5 
(Y+C)}! which is more or less sufficient as an image signal. 
Accordingly, when, for example, the above-described magnetic 
recording/reproducing apparatus is used for an electronic still-picture 
camera, the camera has the disadvantage that the shutter timing is 
restricted, and hence a successive photographing function (which is an 
indispensable function for a camera) is also restricted. 
The above-described disadvantage due to the slow transmission speed also 
causes a problem in a reproducing operation as well as in a recording 
operation because a long time is needed for a reproducing operation. 
Furthermore, the use of a magnetic tape as a recording medium has the 
disadvantage that more time is needed for searching for recording and 
reproducing positions, causing inconvenience to the user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described 
problems. 
It is an object of the present invention to reduce inconvenience in the 
time required to record and reproduce an image signal having a relatively 
large capacity while suppressing the transmission speed. 
This object is accomplished, according to one aspect of the present 
invention, by a recording apparatus, characterized in that it stores an 
image signal obtained by a single photographing operation in a memory 
circuit, samples the image signal to divide it into a plurality of blocks, 
and records image signals in respective divided blocks on different areas 
on a recording medium. 
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a reproducing 
apparatus for reproducing a signal from a recording medium on which image 
signals in n blocks (obtained by dividing an image signal for one field 
into the n blocks) are recorded in different areas, characterized in that 
it reproduces image signals in respective blocks, and interpolates 
unreproduced image signals using the reproduced image signals in units of 
a block to obtain the image signal for one field. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a recording 
apparatus includes (a) memory means for storing an image signal for one 
field, (b) control means for dividing the image signal for one field into 
n blocks by reading the image signal from said memory means n times, where 
n is an integer equal to at least 2, (c) one-channel signal processing 
means for sequentially performing signal processing of the n divided image 
signals, and (d) recording means for recording the respective image 
signals subjected to signal processing on a recording medium sequentially 
on different tracks. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a recording method 
comprises the steps of storing an image signal for one field obtained by 
one image sensing operation in memory means, dividing the image signal for 
one field into a plurality of blocks by reading the signal in units of a 
block from said memory means selectively using a plurality of subsampling 
patterns, and recording divided image signals in respective blocks in 
different areas on a recording medium in units of each block. 
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a recording 
method comprises the steps of dividing an image signal for one field 
obtained by one image sensing operation into a plurality of blocks, 
recording data in the respective blocks in different areas on a recording 
medium, and changing the number of blocks to be recorded in accordance 
with a photographing timing. 
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a reproducing 
method for reproducing information from a recording medium on which image 
signals in n blocks obtained by dividing an image signal for one field 
into the n blocks have been recorded on different tracks, includes the 
steps of reproducing image signals in units of a block, and obtaining the 
image signal for one field by interpolating unreproduced image signals 
using the reproduced image signals in units of a block. 
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, a signal 
processing apparatus includes a signal processing apparatus for performing 
predetermined signal processing on a supplied signal to produce a 
plurality of data blocks from one data frame, a plurality of memory 
circuits for respectively storing the plurality of data blocks, and 
control means for variably connecting one or more of the memory circuits 
to said signal processing means. 
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a camera 
apparatus includes (a) image sensing means for obtaining an image signal 
by performing photoelectric conversion of light from an object, (b) memory 
means for storing the image signal for one field obtained from the image 
sensing means, (c) signal dividing means for dividing the image signal for 
one field into n blocks by sequentially reading said image signal in a 
predetermined sequence, (d) recording means for sequentially recording the 
image signals divided into blocks in different respective areas on a 
recording medium, and (e) control means for controlling a recording 
operation by said recording means in a successive image sensing operation 
wherein image sensing operations are repeated at least with a 
predetermined time interval. 
According to the apparatuses having the above-described configurations, it 
is possible to solve inconvenience in handling image information having a 
large capacity with a slow transmission speed. 
That is, by dividing an image signal for one field into a plurality of 
blocks and sequentially recording images in respective blocks, it is 
possible to delete images in units of a block whenever necessary, and 
thereby to shorten the recording time. 
Also in a reproducing operation, by reproducing only minimum necessary 
blocks, it is possible to perform a high-speed reproducing operation and 
the like. 
Other objects and features of the present invention will become more 
apparent from the following description taken in connection with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be explained in 
detail with reference to FIGS. 1(A) through FIG. 10. 
FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) are block diagrams showing the configuration of an 
embodiment of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to 
the present invention. FIG. 1(B) illustrates FIG. 1(A) in more detail. In 
the present embodiment, digitized image signals, voice signals and the 
like are selectively recorded on respective tracks, which will be 
described later, on a magnetic tape received within a small cassette as 
shown in FIG. 2. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the above-described cassette C receives a 
magnetic tape Tp wound between a pair of tape reels disposed within the 
main body of the cassette C. The magnetic tape faces the outside via a 
cover 1 disposed at the front of the cassette C. On a side of the cassette 
C is formed a magnetic recording member 2, on which index information 
relative to the amount of information recorded on the magnetic tape, and 
the like is recorded. 
In the present embodiment using the magnetic tape within the cassette C as 
a recording medium, photographing light from an object incident upon a 
sensor 4, such as a CCD (charge-coupled device) or the like, via an 
optical system 3 (having a diaphragm mechanism, an autofocusing mechanism 
and the like), is subjected to photoelectric conversion. An image signal 
thereby obtained is amplified by a predetermined amount by a preamplifier 
(not shown), and is then converted into a digital signal having a 
predetermined number of bits by an A/D (analog-to-digital) converter 5. 
The sampling frequency of the A/D converter 5 in the present embodiment is 
32 KHz, and the quantization bits comprise eight bits. 
A voice signal is supplied to the A/D converter 5 from a microphone 21 via 
input terminal 16. 
The digitized image signal and the like are first stored in a memory 
circuit 7 having a storage capacity of at least one frame via a digital 
signal processing circuit 6. The stored image signal and the like are 
sampled in a predetermined number of blocks (4 blocks in the present 
embodiment), as will be described later, and are sequentially read in 
units of a block. 
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing, such as 
compression, addition of error correcting codes, encoding and the like, 
for every data in respective blocks by the digital signal processing 
circuit 6, the read image signals and the like are supplied to a 
recording/reproducing unit 8, where the signals are recorded on the 
magnetic tape within the cassette C mounted in a cassette mounting unit 9 
while each block is allocated to one track or a plurality of tracks. 
The number of recorded tracks for data in one block may be arbitrarily set 
in accordance with the transmission speed of the apparatus. 
The signal processing circuit 6 includes a compressor 6a for performing the 
above-described signal processing, an error correcting code adder 6b, and 
an encoder 6c for performing an encoding operation, such as (8 10) 
transformation, mirror transformation or the like, for reducing a 
low-frequency component. The circuit 6 also includes a decoder 6d for 
performing processing (to be described later) of reproduced digital 
signals, an error correction circuit 6e, an expander 6f, an interpolation 
circuit 6g, and switching circuits 6h and 6i for switching signal lines 
when, for example, inputting (recording) and outputting (reproducing) a 
signal. 
The recording/reproducing unit 8 includes a rotating drum 10 (FIG. 3) 
having two rotating heads He1 and He2 for recording and reproducing image 
signals and the like on the magnetic tape Tp. As shown in FIG. 3, when the 
cassette C is mounted in the cassette mounting unit 9 of the 
recording/reproducing unit 8, the rotating drum 10 moves to the inside of 
the cassette C, and is pressed against the magnetic tape guided by tape 
guides 11 and 12 at the front of the cassette C. 
Thus, in the present embodiment, it is possible to wind the magnetic tape 
over an angle range of about 100.degree. around an outer circumference of 
the rotating drum 10 without loading the magnetic tape. 
The rotating drum 10 is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the 
longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. Hence, by running the 
magnetic tape by a reel driving means (not shown) while rotating the 
rotating drum 10, image signals, voice signals, photographing information 
(index signals), which will be described later, and the like are obliquely 
recorded on the magnetic tape, as shown in FIG. 6. The reel driving means 
supplies a supply-side reel with a predetermined amount of load, thereby 
providing a contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the rotating 
heads. 
The recording/reproducing unit 8 also includes a magnetic head He3 for 
recording and reproducing index information to and from the magnetic 
recording member 2 formed on the side of the cassette C. The magnetic head 
He3 contacts the magnetic recording member 2 in accordance with a mounting 
operation of the cassette C in the cassette mounting unit 9. Index 
information relative to the recorded amounts (the number of recorded 
frames and the number of blocks) is supplied from a system controller 13 
including a microcomputer or the like to the magnetic head He3 via an 
information recording unit 14. 
In addition to supplying the above-described information, the system 
controller 13 supplies the digital signal processing circuit 6 with the 
above-described photographing information, such as the dates of 
photographing operations, whether or not a strobe has been used, and the 
like, and the number of photographed frames and retrieval information 
relative to the number of recorded blocks for every predetermined number 
of photographed frames to record such information together with image 
signals and the like. 
In accordance with the operation of an operation unit 17 having two-stage 
shutter release switches SW1 and SW2, a successive photographing mode 
setting switch SW3, a reproducing mode setting switch SW4 and the like, 
the system controller 13 performs the system control for the entire 
apparatus (such as the control of the above-described optical system 3 and 
sensor 4, the read control (subsampling control) of the memory circuit 7, 
mode control and the like). 
Next, an explanation will be provided of a subsampling operation of an 
image signal and recorded patterns. 
In the present embodiment, by controlling a reading operation of an image 
signal for one frame (for example, 640.times.480 picture elements) as 
shown in FIG. 4 from the memory circuit 7, the image signal for one frame 
is subjected to subsampling into four blocks, as shown in FIGS. 5(A) 
through 5(D). That is, the first block samples odd-numbered picture 
elements on odd-numbered lines, the second block samples even-numbered 
picture elements on even-numbered lines, the third block samples 
even-numbered picture elements on odd-numbered lines, and the fourth block 
samples odd-numbered picture elements on even-numbered lines. 
These blocks are sequentially recorded on respective predetermined tracks, 
as shown in FIG. 6. 
In FIG. 6, the first, second, third and fourth blocks of the image signal 
for the first frame are recorded on areas 1-a, 1-b, 1-c and 1-d, 
respectively. The first block of an image signal for the second frame is 
recorded on an area 2-a. Each area comprises one track or a plurality of 
tracks. 
The above-described photographing information is recorded on the leading 
track of each block. 
For every unit consisting of a certain number (in the present embodiment, 
one unit comprises 16 frames) of image signals, each composed of blocks, 
for respective frames, the above-described retrieval information relative 
to the total number of recorded blocks and the number of frames within the 
unit is recorded together with the photographing information. 
The method of sampling is not limited to the above-described method, but 
other methods and arrangements of sampled picture elements may also be 
adopted. 
In the present embodiment, after being subjected to predetermined signal 
processing, such as decoding, error correction, expansion and the like, by 
the signal processing circuit 6 for every data in respective blocks, 
digital image signals reproduced by the recording/reproducing unit 8 are 
first stored in the memory circuit 7 in units of a block. 
Subsequently, the digital image signals read from the memory circuit 7 are 
supplied, as they are or by being interpolated, to a D/A 
(digital-to-analog) converter 18 via the signal processing circuit 6, and 
are converted into analog image signals. The converted analog signals are 
output to a monitor 20 or the like via output terminal 19. 
The reading operation of the signals from the memory circuit 7 is 
controlled by the system controller 13 operating in accordance with the 
operation of the reproducing mode setting switch SW4. 
Next, an explanation will be provided of the operation of the 
above-described magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. 
FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B) are flowcharts showing a recording operation. 
First, when the cassette C has been inserted and mounted in the cassette 
mounting unit 9 of the recording/reproducing unit 8 (S1), index 
information recorded on the side of the cassette C is read (S2) to detect 
the recording status of the entire magnetic tape, for example, whether or 
not unrecorded portions are present. 
Next, the apparatus confirms whether or not the apparatus is in a standby 
state for recording (S3). If the apparatus is in a standby state, the 
magnetic tape is run at a high speed to read the retrieval information 
from the magnetic tape (S4). 
Subsequently, the apparatus detects whether or not the retrieval 
information coincides with the index information, that is, whether or not 
any unrecorded portion is present within image signal recording areas for 
a plurality of frames represented by the retrieval information (S5). If 
the result is affirmative, the running speed of the magnetic tape is set 
to a normal speed to detect an unrecorded position (S6). 
As described above, in the present embodiment, since it is possible to 
approximately know an unrecorded position when the cassette C has been 
mounted, the magnetic tape can be run at a high speed to that position 
only by intermittent reading operations of the retrieval information. 
Thus, it is possible to greatly improve the so-called cueing speed to find 
a recorded position. 
Also when a cueing operation is performed by assigning a position to be 
reproduced, the operation can be performed at a high speed. 
Subsequently, the standby state for recording operation is performed again 
(S7), and the apparatus detects whether or not the power supply of the 
apparatus is turned off or the cassette C is ejected (S8). 
If the power supply is turned off, the latest retrieval information is 
newly recorded (S9), new index information is recorded (S10), the cassette 
C is ejected (S11), and the process is terminated (S12). 
If the power supply is turned off and the cassette C is not ejected at step 
S8, the shutter release switch SW1 is switched on (S13), and the power 
supply of the photographing system is also turned on (S14), as shown in 
FIG. 7(B). 
Subsequently, the apparatus detects whether or not the apparatus is in the 
successive photographing mode (S15). If the apparatus is not in the 
successive photographing mode, the apparatus detects whether or not any 
signal is being recorded on the magnetic tape (S16). 
If no signal is being recorded on the magnetic tape, an image signal 
obtained by an exposing operation caused by switching on the shutter 
release switch SW2 (S17) is written in the memory circuit 5 (S18). A 
photometric calculation or the like is performed with a predetermined 
timing between the switching operations of the shutter release switch SW1 
and the shutter release switch SW2. After switching on the shutter release 
switch SW2, an exposing operation, the drive of an electronic shutter, and 
a reading operation of the sensor are performed. 
Subsequently, image signals in respective blocks read by being sampled from 
the memory circuit 7 as described above are subjected to the 
above-described signal processing, and are sequentially recorded on the 
magnetic tape (S19). The recording operation continues until all the 
blocks are recorded (S20). 
If any signal is being recorded at step S16, the apparatus determines 
whether or not the apparatus is in an image destruction prohibiting mode 
(S21). The image destruction prohibiting mode is a mode to prohibit a new 
recording operation of the next block until at least all the blocks in the 
course of recording are recorded, because unrecorded picture-element data 
disappear within respective blocks if the recording operation is 
interrupted. 
If the apparatus is not in the image destruction prohibiting mode, an image 
destruction warning is issued from a display means 22 composed of an LED 
(light-emitting diode) or the like (S22), the recording operation is 
stopped (S23), and the process proceeds to step S17. 
If the apparatus is in the image destruction prohibiting mode at step S21, 
a time T.sub.W needed to record the remaining blocks is calculated (S24). 
The apparatus then detects which of the time T.sub.W and a predetermined 
time T.sub.C1 is longer (S25). The time T.sub.C1 is a time needed to 
record one block. If the time T.sub.W is shorter than the time T.sub.C1, 
blocks can be recorded until the third block, but the fourth block cannot 
be recorded, because the fourth block can be recorded only until its 
midsection. Hence, recording is performed until the third block (S26). 
If the time T.sub.W is longer than the time T.sub.C1 at step S25, the 
apparatus detects which of the time T.sub.W and another time T.sub.C2 is 
longer (S27). The time T.sub.C2 is a time needed to record two blocks. If 
the time T.sub.W is shorter than the time T.sub.C2, blocks can be recorded 
until the second block, but the third block cannot be recorded. Hence, 
recording is performed until the second block (S28). If the time T.sub.W 
is longer than the time T.sub.C2, recording is performed until the first 
block (S29). 
The recording operation is continued until recording as described above has 
been completed (S30). The process proceeds to step S17 when recording has 
been completed until a predetermined block. 
If the apparatus is set to the successive photographing mode at the 
above-described step S15, the recording mode is uniquely set to recording 
until the second block (S31), and the process proceeds to the 
above-described step S19. 
When recording has been completed at step S20, the process returns to the 
above-described step S7. 
As described above, in the present embodiment, an image signal for one 
frame is equally divided into four blocks, and respective blocks are 
sequentially recorded. Hence, when it is necessary to continuously perform 
recording operations within a short time as in the successive 
photographing mode, it is possible to remove restrictions on the recording 
operation due to a slow transmission speed. 
Next, an explanation will be provided of a quick-feed reproducing operation 
in the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment 
with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. 
The quick-feed operation in the present embodiment includes a multiframe 
quick-feed operation as shown in FIG. 9 in addition to a normal quick-feed 
operation. That is, in the multiframe quick-feed operation, only first 
blocks in respective image signals are sequentially reproduced on 
respective divided picture frames of a divided-in-four picture frame. In 
the normal quick-feed operation, arbitrary blocks (for example, first 
blocks) of respective image signals are sequentially reproduced. 
The multiframe quick-feed operation will now be explained in detail. 
First, as shown in FIG. 8, when a quick-feed switch is switched on (S40), 
the apparatus detects whether or not the mode set by the above-described 
reproducing mode setting switch SW4 is a multiframe quick-feed mode (S41). 
If the set mode is the multiframe quick-feed mode, data of a predetermined 
block of the image signal for the first frame are received in the memory 
circuit 7 (S42). The data are then read and are subjected to D/A 
conversion. The converted data are reproduced on a 1/4 picture frame of 
the monitor 20 (S43). 
Next, the apparatus detects whether or not the quick-feed switch has been 
switched on (operated) again (S44). If the quick-feed switch has been 
switched on, the magnetic tape is moved to the next data area, that is, 
the tape position where the image signal for the second frame is recorded 
(S45). 
At this time, the magnetic tape may be fed using an intermittent feeding 
method wherein the feed amount is changed in accordance with the number of 
tracks needed to record data for one picture frame. 
When new data have been received in the memory circuit 7, data are moved in 
the memory (S46). The process then returns to step S42 to repeat the 
above-described operation. Thus, the latest image on the monitor 20 is 
always positioned at the upper left of the picture frame. Hence, a 
searching operation can be easily performed. 
If the quick-feed switch has not been switched on at step S44, data of the 
remaining blocks are received in the memory circuit 7 to provide data of 
all the blocks for one picture frame (S47). The data are then subjected to 
D/A conversion, and the converted data are reproduced on the monitor 20 
(S48). 
If the mode is not the multiframe quick-feed mode at the above-described 
step S41, data of the first block of the image signal for the first frame 
are first received in the memory circuit d7 (S49). Data of surrounding 
picture elements are interpolated from the data of the first block by the 
above-described interpolation circuit 6g to obtain data for one picture 
frame (S50), as shown in FIG. 10. 
The data for one picture frame as a result of the interpolation are 
reproduced on the monitor 20 (S51). 
Next, the apparatus detects whether or not the quick-feed switch has been 
switched on (operated) again (S52). If the switch has not been switched 
on, the magnetic tape is moved to the tape position where the next data 
area, that is, the image signal for the second frame is recorded (S53). 
The process then returns to step S49 to repeat the above-described 
operation. 
If the quick-feed switch has not been switched on at step S52, data of the 
remaining blocks are received in the memory circuit 7 (S47), and the 
received data are reproduced on the monitor 20 (S48). 
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by reading image 
signals recorded in units of a block in units of minimum necessary blocks 
whenever necessary, a high-speed reproducing operation as described above 
can be realized without being restricted by the transmission speed. 
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since image signals are processed 
after first being written in a memory when performing a recording or 
reproducing operation, freedom in processing may be increased in that, for 
example, signal processing can be independently performed for every data 
of respective blocks. 
Moreover, when performing a normal reproducing operation with the apparatus 
of the present embodiment, respective data of the first through fourth 
blocks are sequentially received in the memory circuit 7, within which the 
data of respective blocks are synthesized. The data of respective blocks 
thus received are sequentially reproduced on the monitor 20. 
At this time, data of picture elements whose data are not yet present may, 
of course, be interpolated using the received data. That is, when, for 
example, data have been received until the data of the second block, the 
data of the third and fourth blocks (which have not yet been received) may 
be interpolated using the data of the first and second blocks (which have 
already been received) until the data of the third and fourth blocks are 
received, and the resultant data may be reproduced. 
It is thereby possible to improve the quality of an image reproduced until 
all image signals for one frame are received. 
Although, in the foregoing embodiment, an image signal for one frame is 
sampled and divided into four blocks, the number of divided blocks may be 
larger or smaller than four in consideration of the required image 
quality, the operation speed (time) and the like. 
Although, in the foregoing embodiment, the sampling frequency and 
quantization bits of the A/D converter 5 are constant, these factors may 
be changed between image signal recording and reproducing operations and 
voice signal recording and reproducing operations. 
The cassette according to the present invention is not limited to that 
which receives a magnetic tape, but the cassette may receive various kinds 
of recording media, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk or the like. 
Furthermore, the signals to be recorded and reproduced are not limited to 
image signals and voice signals. 
As is apparent from the foregoing explanation, according to the present 
invention, it is possible to reduce inconvenience when image information 
having a large capacity is handled with a slow transmission speed. 
That is, by dividing an image signal for one frame into a plurality of 
blocks and sequentially recording images in the divided blocks, it is 
possible to delete data in units of a block whenever necessary, and 
thereby to shorten a recording time. 
Also when reproducing images, it is possible to perform, for example, a 
high-speed reproducing operation by reproducing only minimum necessary 
blocks. 
Furthermore, by recording information indicating a recording status on a 
cassette which receives a recording medium, it is possible to improve the 
control of the apparatus in which the cassette is mounted. 
According to the present embodiment, since signal processing is performed 
while reading digital image signals first stored in the memory circuit 7 
in units of a block, it is possible to realize the signal processing by a 
single-channel signal processing system, and hence to provide a small 
circuit scale. 
Moreover, since independent signal processing is performed in units of a 
block, data can be independently restored for every block in a reproducing 
operation. Thus, by reproducing at least data for one block, an image for 
one picture frame can be obtained. 
Although, in the foregoing embodiment, during a recording operation, signal 
processing for digital image signals is performed entirely after the 
signals have been read from the memory circuit 7, the compressor 6a or the 
like, for example, may be provided before (at the input side) the memory 
circuit 7, as shown by one-dot chain lines in FIG. 1(B). It is thereby 
possible to reduce the capacity of the memory circuit 7. 
As described above, by supplying signals to the memory circuit 7 via the 
above-described signal processing unit 6, it is possible to properly 
distribute signal processing in the signal processing unit 6 before and 
after the memory circuit 7. 
Although, in the foregoing embodiment, reproduced signals are directly 
processed during a reproducing operation, the reproduced signals may, for 
example, be first received in the memory circuit 7 via signal lines 
l.sub.1 and l.sub.2 shown by broken lines in FIG. 1(B), and the 
above-described signal processing may be performed after distributing the 
reproduced signals in respective blocks. 
It is thereby possible to perform signal processing in a state wherein all 
the data of respective blocks are received, even if the tracking of the 
above-described magnetic heads He1 and He2 in a reproducing operation is 
more or less incorrect, or the tracking control is not performed. 
At that time, the rate of reproduction (rate of provision) of the data of 
respective blocks within the memory circuit 7 may be detected, and the 
running of the magnetic tape may be controlled in accordance with the 
result of detection. Alternatively, the supply of reproduced signals from 
the recording/reproducing unit 8 to the memory circuit 8 or the signal 
processing circuit 6 may be switched by the switch 6h while watching a 
reproduced image on the monitor 20. 
The individual components shown in outline ore designated by blocks in the 
Drawings are all well-known in the image recording/reproducing arts and 
their specific construction and operation are not critical to the 
operation or best mode for carrying out the invention. 
While the present invention has been described with respect to what is 
presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. 
To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications 
and equivalent arrangements included within the sprit and scope of the 
appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the 
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and 
equivalent structures and functions.