MAGNETIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in which a PG yoke (4) that serves as a rotational position detector marking on a magnetic disc (1) is detected by a PG coil (5) that serves as pulse detector means thereby to take out pulses responsive to the turn of the disc (1), the erasing operation and recording/reproducing operation are control­ led by a control circuit (17) which constitutes erase/record/­ reproduction control means that work responsive to the pulses, and the data is erased from the disc (1) or is recorded onto or reproduced from the disc (1) by a composite magnetic head (6) controlled by said erase/record/reproduc­ tion control means, the composite magnetic head (6) having an erasing gap (E1, E2) and a recording/reproducing gap (R/W-1, R/W-2) that are constructed as a unitary structure being separated apart in the lengthwise direction of the recording track.

Description: The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus used e. g. in an electronic camera for recording a still image or in a disc apparatus for recording digital data and, more particularly, to an improvement in data erase means and date read/write control means for a magnetic disc. Conventionally, in a recording/reproduction apparatus of this type, particularly for a compact electronic camera, recording and reproduction decks are separately provided. However, in such an apparatus reproduction and re-recording cannot be performed immediately after a recording operation. Therefore, the conventional apparatus cannot satisfy the demand of a user for immediately reproducing a recorded image, and if a failure is found, immediately start re-recording. Digital data recording has the same problem as described above. A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus which employs an integrated read/write head combining recording and reproduction heads (to be referred to as a read/write head hereinafter) and incorporates a recording/reproduction circuit is proposed as an apparatus which is free from the above problem to a certain extent. With this magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus, reproduction and re-recording immediately after recording are enabled. Although image data can be reproduced and re-recorded immediately after recording, since no erase head is incorporated, previously recorded data cannot be erased, that is, immediate re-recording cannot be performed. The major reason why such an apparatus does not incorporate an erase head is as follows. First, in the case of digital recording, since so-called overwriting is enabled, no erase head is needed. Second, in a compact electronic camera, all the parts must be rendered compact and part installation space of the apparatus is considerably limited. Therefore, it is difficult to allocate space for installing an erase head requiring a relatively large installation space. Even if there were no problem in space and an erase head could be installed together with the read/write head, the following problems still remain unsolved. When both the heads are incorporated in the apparatus using a compact magnetic disk as a recording medium having a diameter of, e.g., 2 inches, it is very difficult to set the heads at head positions which can realize optimum head touch states. As a result, so-called spacing loss is increased. When high-density recording with a wavelength on the order of 0.5 µm or less is performed, spacing loss due to head touch states of the heads must be reduced to a mininum. However, as described above, since optimum head touch states cannot be realized, spacing loss is increased, and as a result, high-density recording cannot be performed. Furthermore, in an image recording method, a frame recording method using 2 tracks is proposed. In a compact magnetic disk apparatus which performs recording in the frame recording mode, two erase heads are required in addition to two read/write heads. In this case, four heads must be installed in the limited space of a deck. Therefore, difficulties associated with head installation space and an optimum head touch are exacerbated. In this manner, since various difficulties are presented in incorporating the erase head in the apparatus, image data erasure is carried out by a separate erase apparatus in practice. The above mentioned demand of a user for immediately reproducing a recorded image and for re-recording it if a failure is found has not been satisfied. A gap width and a track width of an erase head must be set to be wider than those of a read/write head and when the erase head is close to the read/write head, crosstalk may increase. Therefore, it is conventionally considered that the erase and read/write heads cannot be integrated in view of recording/reproduction performance. US-A-4 058 846 is directed to a transducer head for magnetic record discs which is designed to bleed off the static electricity accumulated on a disc-jacket assembly, like e.g. a floppy disc. Accordingly, a ferrite core is provided with transducing gaps formed therein and ceramic outriggers fixed with respect to the core on the sides thereof are provided. Further, a plating on a side surface of one of the outriggers of electrically conductive material is utilized to contact the magnetic disc and a ground lead is connected with the plating so that the plating, together with the ground lead quickly bleeds off the static electricity carried by the circular recording medium. The recording medium in question consists of an enveloping structure which contains a circular disc. Both, disc as well as envelope are provided with a center opening, respectively. In order to provide a reference point for the relative position of the disc within the envelope with respect to the transducer head, an index hole and a detection hole is provided in the disc and the envelope structure, respectively. Both holes are positioned inside the radii covered by a head slot. Patent Abstracts of Japan, Vol. 2, No. 94, page 4427, is dealing with a magnetic head averting erasing deficiencies, due to the outward migration of an erase track. In detail, a magnetic head is provided, comprising a recording/reproduction head and an erase head. Each of the heads comprise gaps, respectively, and they are sealed together by a magnetic shield plate. Further, the gap length of an erase head is made longer than the respective gap of the recording/reproduction head by a predetermined amount. From US-A-3 723 668 a method is known for selectively erasing single tracks of recorded signals from a magnetic disc and re-conditioning the medium for re-recording. In detail, a single track erase system is described which enables a sequence of track erase steps to by synchronized to the revolution of a particular location on the magnetic disc to be recorded. The utilized magnetic disc carries a detectable mark designated as a "once-around-tach". This once-around-tach is detected and used to servo the discs drive motor whereby the speed of rotation of the disc is precisely controlled and to synchronize the operation of the electronic information processors to the rotation of the disc during recording and reproducing operations. In US-RE 28 231 a system for selecting a single picture signal from a moving picture television signal is described. The picture signal is magnetically stored on a magnetic storage member including a disc or drum having two magnetic transducer heads. The transducer heads are secured near opposite ends of a diameter of the disc whereby each transducer head being capable of recording or reproducing a television signal on the magnetic tape. In addition to the two transducer heads, two erase heads are provided being positioned slightly ahead of the transducer heads respectively, in the direction of rotation of the magnetic disc. However, from none of the afore mentioned prior art devices and in the light of the first mentioned general considerations, no magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is known in the art suitable for a compact electronic camera which can satisfactorily reproduce various data such as image data without increasing cross-talk and spacing loss, and which comprises a composite magnetic head with can perform the re-recording operation immediately after the recording operation. This object is solved by an apparatus in accordance with claim 1. In more detail, a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus for recording video signals comprises a disc-shaped recording medium having a rotation center for recording still image data or digital data in a fieldwise fashion in respective recording tracks. An apparatus main body is adapted to receive the recording medium. Further, a composite magnetic head on the apparatus main body is provided including a head main body having an erase gap and a read/write gap, said gaps being separated from each other substantially along a moving direction relative to the disc-shaped magnetic recording medium when rotated, and wherein said erase gap being at least as wide as said read/write gap. The erase gap is operative to selectively erase substantially all information recorded in the track commonly aligned with the read/write gap. Additionally, a position detection index in a central portion of the medium is provided so as to serve as a position index. Further, sensor means on the apparatus main body are used having a detection center for detecting the rotational position of the recording medium in response to the relative movement of the position detection index. The read/write gap is set to be positioned on a line passing through the rotation center of the rotating magnetic recording medium and the detection center of the sensor means. Further, start and end points of recording correspond to a position of said position detection index and said read/write gap and said erase gap are separated from each other by a distance corresponding to a time difference of about a horizontal line of a read video signal to be recorded. The subclaims are describing further improvements of the present invention. As a preferred embodiment of the composite magnetic head, the read/write gaps are set to be on a radius connecting the center of the rotating magnetic recording medium and the detection center of a sensor for detecting an index provided on the recording medium. The apparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising, in a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus using a magnetic disk as a recording medium, a control means for controlling the composite magnetic recording head using an erase read/write means which samples a pulse corresponding to rotation of the disk and is operative in accordance with the sampled pulse. In the magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus with the above arrangement, since read/write and erase gaps are integrally formed and a composite magnetic head for realizing optimum head touch is controlled by a control system having various control functions, recording/reproduction/erasure by the read/write and erase gaps can always be satisfactorily performed. Therefore, a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus suitable for a compact electronic camera which can reproduce various data such as image data without increasing crosstalk and spacing loss, and which can perform a re-recording operation immediately after a recording operation. Fig. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a head arrangement state and Fig. 2 is a plane view showing a composite magnetic head structure, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a control system which allows the composite magnetic head shown in Fig. 2 to perform recording and erase operations, Fig. 4 is a time chart showing operations of respective parts in the control system shown in Fig. 3, Figs. 5 to 7 show an example of a surface shape of the composite head shown in Fig. 2, in which Fig. 5 is a front view, Fig. 6 is an end phase view, and Fig. 7 is a side view, Figs. 8 to 10 show an example of a composite magnetic head having a structure different from the composite magnetic head shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 11 is a partial diagram showing a modification of the control system shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 12 is an operation time chart wherein the control system is configured as shown in Fig. 11, Figs. 13 and 14 are partial diagrams showing other modifications of the control system shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 15 is an operation time chart wherein the control system is configured as shown in Fig. 13 and 14. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively, a schematic view showing a head arrangement state according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a view showing the head structure. Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a rotating magnetic disk which is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow about a point O at a rotational speed of 3,600 RPM (in the case of NTSC) by a motor (not shown). Recording tracks T1, T2,... are concentrically formed on the recording surface of the magnetic disk 1 by a composite magnetic head 6. A PG yoke 4 as a rotating position detection index of the disk 1 is provided at a position on the outer periphery of a hub 3 in a central portion of the disk 1. A PG coil 5 is provided as a pulse detection means at a position on a rotating path of the PG yoke 4 of an apparatus main body (not shown). The PG coil 5 is arranged on the nonrecording surface side of the magnetic disk 1, e.g., at a side opposite to the composite magnetic head 6, and samples a pulse signal induced by interlinkage with magnetic flux generated by the PG yoke 4 upon rotation of the magnetic disk 1. When still image data is recorded on the magnetic disk 1, in a field recording mode, still image data of different fields are recorded on the first and second tracks T1 and T2 and in a frame recording mode, still image data of successive two fields are recorded on the first and second tracks T1 and T2. In any mode, start and end points of recording correspond to a position of the PG yoke 4 shown in Fig. 1, that is, to a position of the PG yoke 4 when it reaches a line O - Y assuming that a line connecting the central point O of the magnetic disk 1 and the center of the PG coil 5 is given by Y - Y'. The composite magnetic head 6 is switched by a PG pulse obtained when the PG yoke 4 reaches the center of the PG coil 5. When an image is recorded, in the case of an NTSC signal, a 262-H (H is a horizontal line) signal is recorded on one track. At this time, a switching point is set at a point advanced by 7 H from a leading edge VS1 of a vertical sync signal VS. Therefore, the leading edge VS1 of the vertical sync signal VS is recorded at an angle O - O' shifted by ϑ {360° × (7/262)} from the line O - Y as the switching point on the magnetic disk 1. As a result, a noise component generated at the switching point is present at a deviated position near an edge portion on a reproduced frame and can be virtually ignored. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the composite magnetic head 6 shown in Fig. 1. The composite magnetic head 6 is arranged with respect to the first and second tracks T1 and T2 so that various data such as digital data can be continuously recorded or reproduced without moving the head, and recorded data can be appropriately erased. That is, in the composite magnetic head 6, a first read/write gap R/W-1 and a first erase gap E1 corresponding to the first track T1 are provided substantially along the direction of movement relative to the magnetic disk 1 so as to be spaced by a predetermined distance X (= 400 µm : corresponding to a time difference of about 1H of a video signal) from each other along the longitudinal direction of the first track T1, and a second read/write gap R/W-2 and a second erase gap E2 corresponding to the second track T2 are similarly provided to be spaced by said predetermined distance X from each other along a longitudinal direction of the second track T2. In the method of manufacturing the composite head 6, a 2-track read/write head portion 6A and a 2-track erase head portion 6B are first prepared separately, and are integrally adhered to each other so as to sandwich a magnetic shield member 6C for preventing crosstalk therebetween, and the resultant structure is fixed to a head fixing base 6D. With this method, the composite magnetic head 6 can be easily manufactured. Referring to Fig. 2, reference symbol P indicates a track pitch; Wa, a read/write gap width; and Wb, an erase gap width. The composite magnetic head 6 need only be a single type, and can be treated as a conventional head with respect to space when incorporated in an electronic camera. A recording/reproduction circuit (not shown) is connected to the composite magnetic head 6, thereby appropriately performing recording, reproduction and erase operations. The read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 of a composite magnetic head 6 are provided at the head center and are set to be on the line Y - Y'. Erase gaps E1 and E2 are provided at an upstream side of the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 to be shifted by X. Head touch is adjusted to become optimum on a line connecting the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2. According to this embodiment, spacing loss in recording/reproduction is decreased and recording/reproduction performance can be improved. Head touch of the erase gaps E1 and E2 becomes poor as compared to the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2, but since a gap width Wb is larger than a gap width Wa of the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2, slight degradation in performance can be ignored. As will be described later, although the recording/reproduction operation is performed once during one revolution of the disk, the erase operation can be continuously performed during several revolutions of the disk 1, thereby correcting poor head contact of the erase gaps E1 and E2. In this embodiment, since the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 are located on the line Y - Y', when the composite magnetic head 6 is moved in the radial direction of the disk 1, the inclination angle (azimuth) of the gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 with respect to the tracks is not changed. Therefore, azimuth loss cannot occur. Note that since the azimuth of the erase gaps E1 and E2 is not so greatly influenced for the above-mentioned reason, they can be provided substantially parallel to the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2. In order to improve head contact, the distance X between the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 and the erase gaps E1 and E2 is decreased as small as possible, and a magnetic shield member 6C sandwiched between junction surfaces of a read/write head portion 6A and an erase head portion 6B is formed to be as thin as possible. However, in this case, crosstalk between the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 and the erase gaps E1 and E2 presents a problem. However, the problem of crosstalk can be overcome by optimally controlling recording/erase timings by a control system to be described later. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a control system which enables the composite magnetic head 6 to perform recording and erase operations. The control system has a feature wherein a PG pulse used for switching the read/write head is also utilized for switching the erase head. A terminal 11 shown at the left of the figure receives a video signal SA from an imaging apparatus having a solid-state image sensing element or an external TV signal generator. The video signal SA is supplied to a vertical sync separator 12 and an FM modulator 13. A vertical sync signal VS is extracted from the video signal SA supplied to the vertical sync separator 12, and is supplied to a motor servo circuit 14. The motor servo circuit 14 performs speed-servo control of a drive motor 15 in response to an FG pulse as a rotational speed signal from the disk drive motor 15 so as to keep it at a constant speed of 3,600 RPM. The magnetic disk 1 is loaded around a shaft of the motor 15, and a PG yoke provided near the center of the disk 1 is detected by the PG coil 5 so as to send 60 PG pulses per minute. The PG pulses are detected and waveshaped by a PG pulse detector 16, and then are supplied to the motor servo circuit 14. The waveshaped pulses are also supplied to a recording/erase control circuit 17 to be described later. The motor servo circuit 14 performs phase-servo control of the motor upon reception of the vertical sync signal VS and the PG pulse so that a time difference between the PG pulse and a leading edge VS1 of the vertical sync signal VS is kept to be 7 H (63.5 µs × 7). The video signal SA supplied to the FM modulator 13 is FM-modulated thereby and then is current-amplified by a recording amplifier 18. Thereafter, the amplified signal is supplied to excitation coils 21 and 22 corresponding to the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 sequentially through switches 19 and 20. An erase signal generated from an erase signal generator 23 comprising an oscillator is current-amplified by an erase amplifier 24, and is supplied to excitation coils 27 and 28 corresponding to the erase gaps E1 and E2 sequentially through switches 25 and 26. The switches 19 and 25 are ON/OFF controlled by the control circuit 17. The switches 20 and 26 are also switched by the control circuit 17. When the signal generated by turning ON a switch 29 (release switch in the case of an electronic camera) is waveshaped by a waveshaping circuit 30 and is inputted as an operation instruction, the control circuit 17 is operated in synchronism with the PG pulse so as to control the switches 19, 20, 25 and 26. Fig. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the control system shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, assume a state wherein the vertical sync signal VS is supplied every 1/60 sec and the PG pulse is supplied prior to the leading edge of each vertical sync signal VS by 7 H. When the operation instruction switch 29 is turned ON at a time t1, a control signal is generated from the control circuit 17 at a time t2 at which the first PG pulse is supplied. In response to the control signal, the switch 25 is turned ON and the switch 26 is switched to a state shown in Fig. 3, i.e., a side a . Thus, the erase operation by the erase gap E1 is enabled. In this embodiment, during two revolutions of the disk 1, the erase operation by the erase gap E1 is performed. At a time t3, the switch 26 is switched to a side b . Thus, the erase operation by the erase gap E2 is similarly enabled. Note that when the operation instruction switch 29 is turned OFF at a time t4, the erase operation is ended by one cycle (four revolutions of disk 1) by the gaps E1 and E2, and the recording operation is enabled. When the PG pulse is supplied at a time t5, the erase operation is ended, and at the same time, the switch 19 is turned ON by the control signal from the control circuit 17, thereby switching the switch 20 to the side a . For this reason, the recording operation by the read/write gap R/W-1 during only one revolution of the disk 1 is enabled. Subsequently, the switch 20 is switched to the side b by the control signal from the control circuit 17 at a time t6 at which the next PG pulse is supplied. In this manner, in 6 fields (1/10 sec), the erase and recording operations for two tracks are enabled. Since the gaps E1, R/W-1, E2 and R/W-2 are separately activated, crosstalk tends not to be generated. Since not only the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 but also the erase gaps E1 and E2 are switched in synchronism with the PG pulses, so-called idle time is not generated. Furthermore, since the erase operation is performed over a period of at least one revolution of the disk 1, a nonerased portion is not formed. Note that when the OFF timing of the operation instruction switch 29 is shifted, the erase cycle can be set over a period of at least two revolutions. Figs. 5 to 7 show a preferred example of the surface shape of the composite magnetic head 6. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, a composite magnetic head 70 is formed such that at least a disk contact surface 72, including read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 and erase gaps E1 and E2 of a head supporting base 71, is a flat surface in the longitudinal direction of the track indicated by arrow M and further is a curved surface having a given radius of curvature, e.g., 50 to 100 R in the orthogonal direction of a track as indicated by arrow N. In other words, the head supporting base 71 has a substantially U-shaped cross section. It was experimentally confirmed that the composite magnetic head 70 having such a shape can realize better head contact than other shapes. Figs. 8 to 10 show modifications of the composite magnetic head structure. Fig. 8 shows an example of a special-purpose composite magnetic head for field recording, which has a read/write gap R/W and an erase gap E. Figs. 9 and 10 show an example of a special-purpose composite magnetic head for data recording, in which Fig. 9 is of 2-track type and Fig. 10 is of single track type. The composite magnetic heads shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are of so-called tunnel erase head type, and read/write gaps R/W-1, R/W-2 and R/W are used as overwrite head gaps. Referring to Fig. 9, each of the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 has a gap width larger than a track width W1 (60 µm), and the gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 perform overwrite recording. A recording signal deviating from the track width W1 is erased by the erase gaps E1a and E1b or E2a and E2b for each track. In this manner, in reproduction, since the head width is larger than the track width W1, reproduction tracking is easy. However, in the above head, it is difficult to form the two erase gaps E1a and E1b within a guard band width W2 (40 µm), resulting in a complex manufacturing step. Fig. 11 shows an example wherein an ON/OFF switch 80 is provided instead of the erase side switch 26 shown in Fig. 3, and the erase operation can be simultaneously performed by the erase gaps E1 and E2. Fig. 12 shows an operation timing when the control system is arranged as shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 12, the erase operations by the erase gaps E1 and E2 are performed at the same timing. Therefore, according to this modification, the erase/recording cycle can be shortened as compared to that of Fig. 3, and 15 erase/recording cycles per second can be realized. Figs. 13 and 14 show an example wherein the recording side switch 20 and the erase side switch 26 shown in Fig. 3 is arranged to be switched at the same time. However, in Fig. 14, switching directions of the switches 20 and 26 are rendered opposite by an inverter 90. Fig. 15 shows the operation timing of Figs. 13 and 14. As shown in Fig. 15, the recording operation by the gap R/W-1 and the erase operation by the gap E1 or E2 (broken line) are activated during the same period. In addition, the recording operation by the gap R/W-2 and the erase operation by the gap E2 or E1 (broken line) is activated during the same period. When the gaps R/W-1 and E1 and the gaps R/W-2 and E2 are simultaneously activated, erase and recording intervals completely overlap. However, as shown in Fig. 2, the erase gaps E1 and E2 and the read/write gaps R/W-1 and R/W-2 are separated by a given distance X, and the erase operation is performed prior to the recording operation, thus causing no trouble. The recording operation is performed immediately after the erase operation. In this manner, the erase/recording operation can be performed 30 times per second in the frame recording mode and 60 times per second in the field recording mode, and the erase/recording cycle can be further shortened as compared to Fig. 11. Note that in this modification, since crosstalk between the erase and recording heads is relatively easily generated, the head of this modification preferably uses a modulation method when image data is to be recorded. In data recording, it is a great advantage that data can be written in two tracks without the dead time of head accessing. When the head is arranged as shown in Fig. 14 and an active interval of the erase gaps E1 and E2 takes a timing as indicated by a broken line in Fig. 15, simultaneous recording/erase operation is performed in neighboring tracks. Therefore, crosstalk can be suppressed as compared to Fig. 13. Since a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus of the present invention can be realized by adding a composite magnetic head and a simple control circuit such as commercially available, magnetic recording/reproduction apparatuses, if the apparatus is distributed on the market, a user can easily record various data such as video data with high definition and high quality by this apparatus, and can easily carry out immediate reproduction and re-recording, as needed. For this reason, the apparatus can be widely applied in various fields such as data communication, hobby, education and the like.

Claims: A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus for recording video signals , comprising: a) a disk-shaped recording medium (1) having a rotation center (0) for recording still image data or digital data in a fieldwise fashion in respective recording tracks; b) an apparatus main body adapted to receive said recording medium (1); c) a composite magnetic head (6; 70) on the apparatus' main body and including a head main body having an erase gap (E1, E2) and a read-write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2), said gaps being separated from each other substantially along a moving direction relative to the disk-shaped magnetic recording medium (1) when rotated, said erase gap being at least as wide as said read-write gap; and d) wherein said erase gap (E1, E2) is operative to selectively erase substantially all information recorded in the track commonly aligned with said read-write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2), characterized by further comprising e) a position detection index (4) in a central portion of the medium to serve as position index; f) sensor means (5) on said apparatus main body and having a detection center for detecting the rotational position of the recording medium in response to the relative movement of the position detection index (4); g) wherein said read-write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2) is set so as to be positioned on a line (Y-Y') passing through the rotation center (0) of said rotating magnetic recording medium (1) and the detection center of said sensor means (5); and h) wherein start and end points of recording correspond to a position of said position detection index (4); and i) wherein said read-write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2) and said erase gap (E1, E2) being separated from each other by a distance (X) corresponding to a time difference of about a horizontal line of a video signal (SA) to be recorded. A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in said composite magnetic head (6; 70), said read/write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2)is provided in a central portion of said head main body, and said erase gap (E1, E2) is provided at a position shifted from the central portion of said head main body. A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said composite magnetic head (6; 70) is arranged so that said erase gap (E1, E2) is positioned at an upstream side of said read/write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2) relative to a track of said rotating magnetic recording medium (1). A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said composite magnetic head (1) has a plurality of sets of said erase (E1, E2) and read/write gaps (R/W-1, R/W-2) which are provided in parallel and spaced apart so as to correspond to at least two adjacent tracks of said rotating magnetic recording medium (1). A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said composite magnetic head (6; 70) is formed so that a rotating magnetic recording medium contact surface (72) of said head main body provided with said erase (E1, E2) and read/write gaps (R/W-1, R/W-2) is flat in the moving direction relative to said medium, and curved in a predetermined radius of curvature in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said composite magnetic head (6; 70) includes an erase head portion (6B) having said erase gap (E1, E2) and a read/write head portion (6A) having said read/write gap (R/W-1, R/W-2), and said erase and read/write head portions are integrally junctioned through a magnetic shield portion (6C).

Inventors: YUNOKI, YUTAKA VIRA KUNITACHI 402
Applicants: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G11B5
IPC codes: G11B5, G11B19, H04N1, G11B27, H04N5, G11B20