AN APPARATUS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN AUDIO SIGNALS

Abstract: In a rotary head magnetic recording and reproducing system of a helical-scan type for successively recording and reproducing audio signals in and from record patterns on a magnetic tape, which record patterns are inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, by a magnetic head provided on a rotary cylinder, during the successive reproduction of the record patterns by the magnetic head, in order to prevent noise from being contained in a reproduced audio signal which noise is caused by the switching of the record patterns to be reproduced or by the occurrence of a dropout in the reproduced signal, an audio signal is divided into two discrete signals which have a phase difference there­ between and are transmitted respectively on two separate transmission paths, and two hold circuits (5, 7; 10, 11), each of which is arranged in one of the two transmission paths, are put into operation in synchronism with the switching of the record patterns or the occurrence of the dropout in the reproduced signal, and output signals (G, H) of the two hold circuits (5, 7; 10, 11) are added together thereby to reduce noise contained in the reproduced output audio signal (H′, L).

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing noise in audio signals for use in a rotary head magnetic recording and reproducing system of a helical-scan type in which a magnetic tape, which is wrapped helically on the surface of a rotary cylinder at a given angle with the axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder, is fed along a path of rotation for at least one magnetic head provided on the rotary cylinder so that the magnetic head successively records and reproduces audio signals in and from a group of record patterns in the magnetic tape inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. In the recording and reproduction of audio signals in the helical-scan type magnetic recording and reproducing system, as audio signals are reproduced successively from the group of record patterns inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape, noise occurs in the reproduced audio signals at the time when the reproduction of audio signals is switched from one pattern to an adjacent pattern in the magnetic tape. Noise is produced also when a dropout is contained in a record pattern from which audio signals are reproduced by the magnetic head. This is because of the use of a frequency modulation wave in the recording of audio signals. As a measure for reducing such noise, it has been a usual practice that, when the switching between the record patterns is effected or when dropout noise occurs in the reproduced signals, the demodulated audio signal voltage is held over the time period when the noise is present. Thus, there has been a disadvantage such that, while the reduction of spike noise is attained, the waveform of the reproduced signal at the signal voltage holding portion differs from that of the original audio signal. In the publication IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, Volume CE-29, No. 3, August 1983, pages 141-152, IEEE, New York, US; T. KONO et al.: "Video recording and playback systems-beta HI-FI VCR" is described an apparatus for reducing noise in frequency-modulated audio signals generated through a magnetic head provided in a rotary cylinder of a helical-scanning rotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus by sequentially reproducing groups of recordings recorded on a magnetic tape being inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape, which further includes a detector for detecting an abnormal reduction in the magnitude of the frequency-modulated wave signal, a demodulator for demodulating the frequency-modulated wave signal and producing a demodulation output signal and a first hold circuit actuated in response to the detection output signal from the detector. Further is known from EP-A-0 099 760 a noise-reducing apparatus comprising a differentiator of which differentiated output signals are coupled to an integrator through sample-and-hold and gate circuits. From the sampled and held values of the derivatives which are gated and integrated, by the combination with the original waveform is generated a noise-suppressed output waveform. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for reducing noise in audio signals in which the reproduced signal is an optimum estimation of the original audio signal. According to the present invention, an apparatus for reducing noise in frequency-modulated audio signals generated through a magnetic head provided in a rotary cylinder of a helical-scanning rotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus by sequentially reproducing groups of recordings recorded on a magnetic tape being inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape comprises a detector for detecting a magnitude of a frequency-modulated wave signal generated through said magnetic head supplied as an input signal to said noise reducing apparatus and producing a detection output signal upon detection of an abnormal reduction in the magnitude of the frequency-modulated wave signal, a demodulator for demodulating the frequency-modulated wave signal supplied from said detector and producing a demodulation output signal, a first hold circuit comprising a first switch actuated by the detection output signal from said detector and a first capacitor for holding a voltage of the demodulation output signal from said demodulator, a differentiator for differentiating an output signal from an amplifier, an input of which is connected to an output end of said first capacitor, and producing a differentiation output signal, a second hold circuit comprising a second switch actuated by the detection output signal from said detector and a second capacitor for holding a voltage of the differentiation output signal from said differentiator, and a resistor for connecting the output end of said first capacitor with an output end of said second capacitor, said first switch and said second switch being opened during a time period when said detector produces the detection output signal upon detection of said abnormal reduction in the magnitude of the frequency-modulated wave signal. The invention may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention. Figs. 2A and 2B are waveform diagrams showing a plurality of waveforms generated at various portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 which are useful for explaining the operation of the apparatus. An embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 1. Numeral 1 designates an input terminal to which a reproduced signal of the modulated wave is applied, 2 a detector for detecting the magnitude of the reproduced modulated wave signal applied to the input terminal 1, 3 a demodulator, 4 and 6 amplifiers, 5 and 10 switches which are switched off in response to the operation of the detector 2, 7 and 11 holding capacitors, and 8 an output terminal. The capacitor 7 has an end thereof connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 6 and the other end thereof connected to the ground. Numeral 12 designates a resistor connected between the output terminal of the switch 10 and the input terminal to the amplifier 6. The resistor 12 acts as an adder for adding up the voltages across the holding capacitors 7 and 11. Note that a combination of the switch 5 and the capacitor 7 and that of the switch 10 and the capacitor 11 form respective holding circuits. Numeral 13 designates a capacitor one end of which is connected to an output terminal 8 of the amplifier 6, 15 an amplifier having an input terminal connected to the other end of the capacitor 13, and 14 a resistor connected in parallel with the capacitor 13. The amplifier 15 and the capacitor 13 in combination form a differentiating circuit. A frequency modulated signal J reproduced through a reproducing circuit (not shown) from a recording medium such as a video tape is applied to an input terminal 1. The signal J passes the detector 2 for detecting the magnitude of the signal and is applied to the demodulator 3, where it is demodulated and converted into an audio signal or a musical signal. The demodulated signal is amplified through the amplifier 4 to generate an amplified signal K. The signal K passes the switch 5, when it is closed, and then it is applied to an input terminal to the amplifier 6, where the signal K is further amplified and delivered to the output terminal 8. Thus, an output signal L capable of driving a power amplifier and operating a loudspeaker is obtained at the output terminal 8. Though the holding capacitor 7 and the resistor 12 are connected to the input terminal to the amplifier 6, since the output impedance of the amplifier 4 is preset to have a low value and thus there is no influence on the frequency characteristics of the output signal of the amplifier 4 in the audio frequency band. Usually, under normal operating conditions, the signals recorded on a recording medium such as a video tape can be reproduced and heard by the use of this apparatus. However, in the helical-scan type magnetic recording and reproducing system employing a rotary head, the record tracks are not continuous, and thus a discontinuous modulated wave results in the reproduction of the recorded signals. Also, if defects exist in the magnetic tape, a dropout failure occurs in the reproduced modulated wave. In such a case, the demodulator 3 produces noise at the discontinuous portions or the dropout portions of the modulated wave. The operation to be performed by the apparatus of this invention shown in Fig. 1 when a dropout occurs in the reproduced modulated wave will be hereinafter described in detail. Before the time of occurrence of a dropout, a demodulated output is normally generated at the output terminal 8, as mentioned previously. The demodulated output is also applied to the amplifier 15 through the capacitor 13 and the resistor 14. The combination of the capacitor 13 and the amplifier 15 forms a differentiating circuit. Thus, a sum of the demodulated output supplied through the resistor 14 and a differentiated value of the demodulated output provided by the capacitor 13 is applied to the input to the amplifier 15 and an amplified sum signal is generated at its output. The output of the amplifier 15 is supplied through the switch 10, when it is closed, to the capacitor 11 and then to the input terminal to the amplifier 6 through the resistor 12. When a dropout occurs in the input reproduced signal J and thereby the level of the modulated wave of the signal J falls, the detector 2 starts its operation and switches off the switches 5 and 10, whereby the noise produced by the demodulator 3 is prevented from being transmitted to the output terminal 8. At the instant that the switches 5 and 10 are switched off, the capacitor 7 functions to hold the output voltage of the amplifier 4 immediately before the occurrence of the dropout noise and the capacitor 11 functions to hold the output voltage of the amplifier 15 immediately before the occurrence of the dropout noise. Then, since the output voltage of the amplifier 15 contains the differentiated value of the output signal from the amplifier 6, the output voltage of the amplifier 15 becomes higher than the input voltage of the amplifier 6 when the output voltage of the amplifier 6 increases, while, the former becomes lower than the latter when the output voltage of the amplifier 6 decreases. In other words, when the switches 5 and 10 are switched off in response to the occurrence of a dropout, the difference between the respective voltages across the capacitors 7 and 11 indicates the direction of a change of the demodulated output voltage immediately before the occurrence of the dropout. This voltage difference gradually diminishes to zero by virtue of the presence of the bridging resistor 12. Thus, the voltage across the capacitor 7 is caused to vary, in the same direction as the demodulated output voltage had been varying, from the value thereof at the instant when the switches 5 and 10 were switched off. The performance waveforms of the apparatus in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 2A. In Fig. 2A, symbols J, K and L indicate the signals J, K and L at various portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2B shows the performance waveforms of the apparatus in Fig. 1 but when the duration of a dropout is long. As will be seen from Figs. 2A and 2B, when the duration of the dropout is short, it is possible to reproduce a signal having a waveform similar to the original signal waveform and to obtain a greater noise reducing effect than that of the prior art apparatus. On the other hand, if the duration of the dropout is long, it becomes difficult to discern the corresponding original signal waveform, and hence, as the respective voltages across the capacitors 7 and 11 converge toward a final constant value, by maintaining the output voltage L at a constant value corresponding to the above-mentioned final constant value while the dropout is present, it is possible to reduce a detrimental effect of the dropout noise. While the operation of the apparatus to be performed when a dropout occurs in the input reproduced signal has been described hereinbefore, it is possible to similarly reduce noise appearing in a demodulated output signal due to the discontinuity of the modulated waveform reproduced by the successive reproduction of the discrete record tracks on a magnetic tape. In this case, it is only necessary that, when the switching between the tracks to be reproduced is effected, the switches 5 and 10 are switched off in response to a track switching signal and remain opened over the time period, e.g., about ten microseconds, when the modulated wave becomes discontinuous. While, in the embodiment of this invention shown in Fig. 1, each of the capacitor 13 and the resistor 14 has its one end connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 6, a similar function may be achieved by connecting one end of each of the capacitor 13 and the resistor 14 to the output terminal of the amplifier 4. In this case, however, the amplification degree decreases by the magnitude of the amplification degree of the amplifier 6, and therefore it becomes necessary to increase the amplification degree of the amplifier 15. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention can provide a great noise reducing effect because of the fact that, when noise occurs in a demodulated output signal from a demodulator, hold circuits are put into operation and a noise containing portion of the demodulated output signal is replaced by a substitute signal having a waveform close to the original signal waveform containing no noise. Further, since the apparatus of this invention operates to produce a constant output voltage when the duration of a dropout present in a modulated wave to be demodulated is long, it is possible to prevent noise produced by the demodulator from appearing in the waveform of a demodulated output signal.

Claims: An apparatus for reducing noise in frequency-modulated audio signals generated through a magnetic head provided in a rotary cylinder of a helical-scanning rotary head type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus by sequentially reproducing groups of recordings recorded on a magnetic tape being inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape comprising: a detector (2) for detecting a magnitude of a frequency-modulated wave signal (J) generated through said magnetic head supplied as an input signal to said noise reducing apparatus and producing a detection output signal upon detection of an abnormal reduction in the magnitude of the frequency-modulated wave signal; a demodulator (3) for demodulating the frequency-modulated wave signal supplied from said detector (2) and producing a demodulation output signal; a first hold circuit (5,7) comprising a first switch (5) actuated by the detection output signal from said detector (2) and a first capacitor (7) for holding a voltage of the demodulation output signal from said demodulator (3); characterized by a differentiator (13,15) for differentiating an output signal from an amplifier (6), an input of which is connected to an output end of said first capacitor (7), and producing a differentiation output signal; a second hold circuit (10,11) comprising a second switch (10) actuated by the detection output signal from said detector (2) and a second capacitor (11) for holding a voltage of the differentiation output signal from said differentiator (13,15); and a resistor (12) for connecting the output end of said first capacitor (7) with an output end of said second capacitor (11), said first switch (5) and said second switch (10) being opened during a time period when said detector (2) produces the detection output signal upon detection of said abnormal reduction in the magnitude of the frequency-modulated wave signal (J).

Inventors: HITOTSUMACHI, SHUZO
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: H03G3, G11B20