Video tape recorder

Abstract: A recording head arrangement employed in a video signal recording and/or reproducing device in which a video tape is helically wound on a drum carrying recording heads for recording and/or reproducing video signal which is so divided for representing upper and lower half images on a screen. The recording head arrangement includes first and second heads (3, 4) mounted on the drum adjacent each other. The first and second heads (3, 4) have the same azimuth angle which is inclined in a first direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the head advancing direction. Also provided are third and fourth heads (5, 6) mounted on the drum 180 degrees spaced from the first and second heads (3, 4), respsectively. The third and fourth heads (5, 6) have the same azimuth angle which is inclined in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, with respect to the direction perpendicular to the head advancing direction. Thus, the first and second heads (3, 4) are scanned to form first and second tracks spaced approximately one track width for recording and/or reproducing the first half image, and the third and fourth heads (5, 6) are scanning to form third and fourth tracks spaced approximately one track width and in an interlaced manner with the first and second tracks for recording and/or reproducing the second half image.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video tape recorder which magnetically records and reproduces a video signal. 2. Description of the prior art and the problems A television video signal magnetic-recording device, that is, a video tape recorder is a well-known device for reproducing and preserving video signal. Recently, a video tape recorder using magnetic recording technology spreads very widely as a device to record and reproduce video signals, such as obtained from a television program or a video camera. Recently, requirement for high quality pictures becomes higher, and for this purpose, a high vividness TV form, that is, a high density television (hereinafter called HDTV) has been proposed, and some development of a video tape recorder for such HDTV has being proposed. However, HDTV uses a wide band signal range which is about 5 times as wide as the usual television signal band. Thus, a very fast signal transmission rate is required. If video tape recorders for the HDTV were to be made based on the conventional video tape recorder system, it would be necessary to make the diameter of a rotary drum carrying recording heads by about five times as big, i.e., about 30 cm. Such a big size drum is not acceptable from the practical viewpoint. To realize the recording of wide band signal, more approach has been made on high density recording since the recent development of magnetic recording technology is remarkable such that the recording density is improved every year. For example, by using a newly developed recording medium, such as in metallic tapes and metallic heads, the recording density has been improved greatly. Thus, the amount of medium used for recording a certain amount of data has been reduced after every new development. However, due to the following reasons: (1) For the television broadcasting, the wide band video signal should be transferred and recorded on real time basis; (2) For accurately recording and reproducing the video signal in a wide band, it is necessary to increase the relative speed between the magnetic head and the recording medium; (3) The speed of revolution of rotary drum mounted with the magnetic head is limited to a certain speed due to the mechanical structure. (4) The size of the rotary drum should preferably be smaller than a certain size for the home use appliances, and from the viewpoint of mass-production; the one segment recording (or non-segment recording) system in which one frame video signal is recorded on one track can not be realized. To overcome this problem, a two segment recording system has been proposed in which one field is divided into two segments (upper and lower halfs of a field) which are recorded on two tracks, one segment on one track. Alternately, a two channel recording system is known in which the recording is effected two tracks at a time for each field to prevent the deterioration of the transfer frequency reduction, thereby using two pairs of recording heads. Such latter systems are described in EP-A-0 226 796 and EP-A-0 234 483. To determine which recording system should be used is very important because the track alignment determined by the selected recording system differs, and also consideration should be made on compatibility between different models and also on the effect of cross talk between neighboring track caused by the variation of head width. Fig. 1 shows an example of a prior art track format employing a video tape recorder according to the preamble of appended claim 1. For one field, four tracks are used, each of two heads scanned twice for recording two segments. According to this system, one field of picture is divided into the upper and lower halves, each half being recorded on two tracks in parallel. With this system, the video signal can be reproduced to provide a proper image on the screen (Fig. 2a) at the ordinary reproducing speed, but at the high speed reproducing mode, the monitored video image on the screen will be doubled in upper and lower half portions of the screen (Fig. 2b) due to the separate recording of the video signal on the tape and also to the slant scanning of the magnetic head over the tape under the high speed reproducing mode. In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing system, the difference in the azimuth angle between the recording head and the reproducing head gives rise to a reproduction loss shown by the following equation: L = 20 log ( πw λ ) tan ϑ sin (( πw λ ) tan ϑ) (dB) in which, L is an azimuth loss, ϑ is an azimuth difference angle, W is track width and λ is recording wavelength. This equation shows that, provided that the azimuth difference in the same track width is the same, the shorter the wavelength, that is, the higher the frequency, the larger the azimuth loss generates. Developed on this feature is an azimuth recording system in which the neighboring two tracks are recorded and reproduced with recording and reproducing heads having different azimuth angles. When this system is employed, the cross talk between the neighboring track is reduced. Referring to Fig. 3, an example of a prior art magnetic head arrangement provided on drum 1 is shown. The rotary drum 1 rotates in a direction of arrow F. There are four magnetic heads 3, 4, 5 and 6, which are also referred to as A-head, B-head, C-head and D-head, mounted on drum 1 for recording and reproducing the video signal. A-head and C-head are positioned on opposite sides of center axis 2 and similarly B-head and D-head are positioned on opposite sides of center axis 2. Fig. 4 shows an example of positions of A-head 3 and B-head 4. A head 3 and B head 4 have gaps 7 and 8, respectively, which are slanted in opposite directions at an azimuth angle ϑ with respect to a direction perpendicular to the head running direction indicated by arrowed G. C-head 5 and D-head 6 are arranged in the same manner. In the example shown in Fig. 3, if rotary drum 1 has a diameter  of 76 mm, with revolution speed being 3,600 rpm, tape applying angle being 180° + α = 216° (α is a margin angle for voice signal area and head switching area), tape feeding speed being 79.8 mm/sec and track width being 24.8 µm, a track pattern shown in Fig. 1 will be formed on a magnetic tape 11. That is, one frame is formed by 8 tracks, and picture information is divided into two segments for upper half and lower half of the screen image, and also into first field (even field) and second field (odd field). Tracks 13 and 13′ are used for the upper half of the first field, tracks 14 and 14′ are used for the lower half of the first field, tracks 15 and 15³ are used for the upper half of the second field, and tracks 16 and 16′ are used for the lower half of the second field. This arrangement is the one of feature F of claim 1. In Fig. 1, N represents the divided order of the video signal. The voice signal is recorded on a PCM voice track 17. The above track pattern, however, has the following problems. Since track 13 recorded by A-head 3 for the video signal of the upper half of the first field is located closely adjacent track 13′ recorded by B-head 4 for the video signal of the lower half of the first field, a cross talk will be produced between tracks 13 and 13′ in spite of the different azimuth angle, particularly for the low frequency range signal. Thus, the reproduced image will be deteriorated in C/N degradation of color signals, color blur or color irregularity. Although such a problem can be overcome by providing a space (guard band) between the tracks, this will not provide the high density recording. In addition, when the video signal recorded according to the pattern shown in Fig. 1, the reproduced picture on the screen will be proper (Fig. 2a) under the normal speed reproducing mode, but will be improper (Fig. 2b) under the double speed reproducing mode. Under the triple speed, or faster, reproducing mode, the picture will be utterly deformed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made with a view to substantially solve the above-described disadvantages. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video tape recorder having a recording head arrangement which will eliminate the effect of the cross talk between the neighboring tracks and which will provide proper image even when the high speed reproducing mode is selected. This object is solved by the video tape recorder having the features of claim 1. Preferably, in this device, the head which scans the third track in each group of four tracks has only the width of a track, whereas the other heads have a width broader than that of a track. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a track pattern on a magnetic tape according to the prior art; and Figs. 2a and 2b are diagrammatic views showing an image formed in a screen. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a rotary drum of a prior art video signal recording and/or reproducing device; Fig. 4 is an expanded plan view of magnetic heads mounted in the rotary drum of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a track pattern on a magnetic tape according to a recording and/or reproducing device of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an expanded plan views of magnetic heads mounted in a rotary drum, according to the present invention; Figs. 7a and 7b are diagrammatic views showing a relationship between recording heads and recorded tracks; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a rotary drum according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 9 is an expanded plan view of magnetic heads mounted in the rotary drum of Fig. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 5, a track pattern formed by a magnetic head arrangement according to the present invention is shown. Since a track 13 recorded by A-head 3 is spaced from a track 13′ recorded by B-head 4 by one track width, no cross talk will be observed between these two tracks 13 and 13′. Thus, without employing any guard band, sufficient C/N value can be obtained between the neighboring tracks, and therefore, a high quality reproduced pictures with high density recording can be realized. In addition, even under the high speed reproducing mode, a proper image, as shown in Fig. 2a, can be obtained. Referring to Fig. 6, a manner in which the magnetic heads are mounted in the drum 1 is shown so as to provide the track pattern shown of Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, A-head 3 and B-head 4 are positioned closely adjacent each other with their center points spaced 3.979 mm (6°) in the head moving direction G and spaced 0.048 mm in the direction perpendicular to the direction G. Also, head gaps 7 and 8 have the same azimuth angle Θ and are inclined in the same direction, i.e., in direction G with respect to a line perpendicular to direction G. Similarly, still referring to Fig. 6, C-head 5 and D-head 6 are positioned closely adjacent each other with their center points spaced 3.979 mm in the head moving direction G and spaced 0.048 mm in the direction perpendicular to the direction G. Also, head gaps 9 and 10 have the same azimuth angle Θ and are inclined in the same direction, i.e., in a direction opposite to direction G with respect to a line perpendicular to direction G. Thus, head gaps 7 and 8 are inclined in one direction, and head gaps 9 and 10 are inclined in opposite direction. It is to be noted that magnetic heads 3, 4, 5 and 6 are mounted on drum 1 as shown in Fig. 3 when viewed from the top. In Fig. 7a, relationship between head track width and recording track width is shown when the recording heads of Fig. 6 are used. As shown in the figure, each recording track has a width of 24.8 µm. The recording tracks are formed such that, first, the recording tracks are formed by A-head 3 and B-head 4 so that the formed tracks are spaced a little less than one track width and, thereafter, C-head 5 and D-head 6 are scanned to form tracks in the spaced areas. Thus, tracks formed by A-head 3 and B-head 4 are slightly overlapping with the track formed by D-head 6 at their sides. Similarly, tracks formed by A-head 3 and C-head 5 are slightly overlapping at their sides. It is to be noted that if head track width and recording track width are made the same, cross talk between the neighboring tracks can be reduced at reproducing, but the tracking control becomes more difficult. Thus, during the reproducing, if the head shifts off the track even for a very small amount, the head can not pick up every information recorded on the track. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7a, each head track width of A-head 3, B-head 4 and D-head 6 is made greater than the recording track width. For example, each head track has a width of 29.8 µm. C-head 5 has a width of 24.8 µm. When the level difference between A-head 3 and B-head 4 or between C-head 5 and D-head 6 is made approximate twice the track width, e.g., 48 µm, as shown in Fig. 6, the recording track width will be 24.8 µm with respect to the head arrangement of Fig. 6. In Fig. 7a, dotted lines show positions of heads under the reproducing mode, in which each head follow the corresponding track with one edge of the head being aligned with one side of the recording track. With this arrangement, under the reproducing mode, due to the positioning error of the head during the manufacturing step, or due to unstable head scanning, heads can be easily pulled off from the recording track so that the recording track will not be completely traced by the head. In order to overcome such a drawback, under the reproducing mode, head positions relative to the running tape are controlled to coincide the center of the reproducing head with the center of the recording track, as shown in Fig. 7b. Such a control can be done by the known tracking control method. By this arrangement Fig. 7b, even if the head is shifted during the reproducing mode, the head will still completely cover the recording track. In this case, the limit of off track of the head is (29.8-24.8)/2 = 2.5 µm. Since C-head 5 has a width of 24.8 µm which is equal to the width of the recording track, the shifting of C-head 5, during the reproducing mode, in the same manner as the rest of the heads will result in continuous off track of C-head 5, as shown in Fig. 7b. To solve this problem, an auxiliary C-head 20, used only for the reproducing, having a head width of 29.8 µm is provided such that the center of the auxiliary C-head 20 coincides with the center of the recording track. On the rotary drum 1, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the auxiliary C-head 20 is positioned adjacent D-head 6, and slightly (4 µm) below the level of C-head 5. According to the present invention, video signals are divided into first signals representing the upper half image and second signals representing lower half image on the screen, the first signals are recorded on two tracks with the same azimuth angle, and the second signals are recorded on two tracks with the same azimuth angle, but different from the first mentioned azimuth angle. Furthermore, the tracks for the first signals and the tracks for the second signals are interlaced so that the neighboring two tracks have the different azimuth angle. Thus, by the present invention, the cross talk between the neighboring tracks can be reduced, and proper and stable image can be reproduced not only during the normal speed reproducing mode, but also during the high speed reproducing mode.

Claims: A video tape recorder comprising: a) a drum on which a moving tape is helically wound; b) a head arrangement carried by said drum, for recording and/or reproducing video signals composed of frames of data, each frame being divided into a field of odd lines and a field of even lines, and comprising b1) a first head (3) having an azimuth angle inclined in a first direction with respect to the direction perpendicular to the head advancing direction; b2) a second head (4) mounted on said drum closely adjacent said first head (3); b3) a third head (5) mounted on said drum 180° spaced from said first head (3); b4) a fourth head (6) mounted on said drum closely adjacent said third head (5) and 180° spaced from said second head (4), said fourth head (6) having an azimuth angle inclined in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, with respect to the direction perpendicular to the head advancing direction; and c) a recording control means arranged to c1) divide each field to be recorded in an upper and a lower half; c2) record each upper half on two tracks in parallel by the first and second heads simultaneously; c3) record each lower half on two tracks in parallel by the third and fourth heads simultaneously; c4) so that each field is recorded onto four tracks during one complete scan of the drum; characterized in that within said head arrangement the azimuth angle of said second head (4) is inclined in said first direction; the azimuth angle of said third head (5) is inclined in said second direction; said first and second heads (3, 4) are spaced apart by substantially one track width; and said third and fourth heads (5, 6) are spaced apart by substantially one track width, whereby the track recorded by said third head (5) is shifted against the track recorded by said first head (3) by substantially one track width. A video tape recorder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first, second, and fourth heads (3, 4, 6) have the same width which is broader than the width of a track, and said third head (5) has a width substantially corresponding to the width of a track. A video tape recorder as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a fifth head (20) mounted on said drum closely adjacent said fourth head (5) along the track recorded by said third head (5), said fifth head (20) having an azimuth angle inclined in said second direction and being use for reproducing the video signal recorded by said third head (5), and having a width broader than the width of a track.

Inventors: IKUSHIMA YOSHIYUKI, SASADA TAIZO, TABUCHI TOSHIAKI, IKUSHIMA, YOSHIYUKI, SASADA, TAIZO, TABUCHI, TOSHIAKI
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G11B5
IPC codes: H04N7, G11B5, H04N5