REPRODUCTION AND/OR RECORDING APPARATUS OF RECORDING MEDIUM AND RECORDING AND/OR REPRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract: A recording and/or reproduction apparatus for effecting recording and/or reproduction of information signals by moving a recording and/or reproduction head and a recording medium relatively to each other in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. When signals are recorded on the recording medium by driving the recording and/or reproduction head and the recording medium relatively in the first direction and the second direction opposite to the second direction, this recording and/or reproduction apparatus determines a total recording time of the signals recorded on the recording medium, records reversion command signal on the recording medium when about 1/2 of the total recording time passes by, reverses the relative directions of the recording medium and the recording and/or reproduction head, and records the signals on the recording medium by the recording and/or reproduction head. In this way, the apparatus can serially record and reproduce the information in a desired unit or a series of musical tones continuously while reversing the direction of the recording medium.

Description: This invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus for a recording medium and to a recording and reproducing method, which are adapted for allowing a recording and reproducing head and a recording medium to relatively undergo movement operation to thereby carry out recording of information signals on the recording medium, or to carry out reproduction of information signals recorded on the recording medium. Hitherto, tape recorders using a magnetic tape as a recording medium on which information signals such as music signals, etc. are recorded are known. In tape recorders of this kind, there are used tape recorders having an automatic reverse function (hereinafter simply referred to as auto-reverse function depending upon circumstances) to reverse automatically the traveling direction of the magnetic tape from the forward (FWD) direction of the traveling state in the direction of the outgoing path to the reverse (REV) direction of the traveling state in the direction of the return (incoming) path, thereby making it possible to reproduce information signals recorded on the magnetic tape extending over the reciprocating directions in which the magnetic tape travels. Examples of documents disclosing a tape recorder having an auto-reverse function are US-A-4,607,300; US-A-4,423,443; and US-A-4,270,152. In such tape recorders having the auto-reverse function, to determine when to reverse the traveling direction of the magnetic tape there is known a system for detecting when a magnetic tape caused to undergo traveling operation is entirely wound onto one tape reel and rotation of a pair of tape reels is stopped, and there is known a system for detecting a leader tape connected to the end portion of the magnetic tape Further, in the system of reversing traveling direction of the magnetic tape, there is also known a system of detecting that the magnetic tape has traveled to the termination of the traveling state in the reverse (REV) direction and then to reverse the traveling direction to the forward (FWD) direction. In addition, there are also known tape recorders adapted for carrying out endless reproduction (playback) in which the operation for reversing the traveling direction of the magnetic tape from the forward (FWD) direction to the reverse (REV) direction and the operation for reversing it from the reverse (REV) direction to the forward (FWD) direction are successively repeated so that a single magnetic tape can be repeatedly reproduced over reciprocating directions. In the auto-reverse systems used in the conventional tape recorders, the operation for reversing the traveling direction in the vicinity of the tape end of the magnetic tape is carried out in all systems. For this reason, when the endless reproduction is carried out, the repetitive reproduction (playback) time of one endless reproduction operation in the reciprocating directions is determined by the length of the magnetic tape used. If music information having short time as compared to the recordable time is recorded, when the magnetic tape is reproduced, portions where no music information is recorded would be reproduced unnecessarily. For example, in the case where music information of 50 minutes is recorded onto a magnetic tape where music information of 60 minutes could be recorded by reciprocating operation, generally music information of 30 minutes is recorded at the outgoing path side, i.e., side A of the magnetic tape and music information of 20 minutes is recorded at the incoming or return path side, i.e., side B of the magnetic tape. When this magnetic tape is caused to undergo endless reproduction (playback) to continuously carry out reproduction extending over the reciprocating directions, a soundless state of 10 min. is reproduced every each repetitive operation in the reciprocating directions. An approach employed is to record, into the soundless portion of 10 minutes, music information of a suitable portion of 10 minutes from the 50 minutes of music information or to record, thereinto, any other music information, thereby preventing soundless reproduction. However, such reproduction of music information does not effect serial reproduction of the 50 minute unit of music information. In order to reproduce a unit amount of information such as music information, etc. series of music information, while operating the magnetic tape in a tape recorder having an auto-reverse function to undergo traveling operation in the state where it is automatically reversed between the reciprocating directions it is necessary to prepare the magnetic tape to have a recordable time in conformity with the time of information to be recorded. However, since times of information recorded onto the magnetic tape are diverse, there is a need to prepare magnetic tapes in which the recordable time of the information signal is changed diversely. As a result, there is a need to provide magnetic tapes in which recordable times are caused to be slightly different resulting in increased number of kinds of products. This causes increased costs from viewpoints of mass-producibility and/or stock management. Moreover, the user must labour to find a magnetic tape of length in conformity with the time of music information, etc. to be recorded. There may be instances where magnetic tapes of all lengths in conformity with possible times of desired music information, etc. are not sold. Moreover, a method in which many kinds of magnetic tapes having different recordable times are prepared in advance is wasteful and uneconomical. Further, when a magnetic tape conforming to the time of music information, etc. to be recorded cannot be obtained, and one must select a magnetic tape having a recordable time which only approximates to the time of music information, etc. to be recorded is selected, there may be an error of about several minutes. As a result, one would still fail to continuously reproduce a unit amount of information such as music information or a series of music information, etc. when operating the magnetic tape to undergo traveling operation in the state where it is automatically reversed extending over the reciprocating directions. JP-A-5,089,561 discloses a digital tape recorder comprising: drive means for driving a recordable tape relative to a recording head reversibly in a first movement direction and a second movement direction; generating means operative at the time of recording a signal on the tape to generate a reversing ID at the point in time when substantially half the total recording time has passed; and control means operative to cause recordal by the recording head of the reversing ID generated by the generating means at the reverse position. The purpose is to omit repeated reproduction of a signal recorded on a tape without requiring rewinding of the tape and without producing a silent output. An apparatus and a method according to the preamble of claims 1 and 10 are known from JP-A-5,089,561. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording and reproducing apparatus comprising drive means for relatively driving a recording and reproducing head and a recording medium reversibly in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction, wherein the apparatus further comprises: generating means operative to generate, at the time of recording of a signal on the recording medium, at the point in time when substantially one half of total recording time has passed, reverse designation information for reversing said movement direction at the time of reproduction of the recording medium; control means operative to cause recordal by the recording and reproducing head of the reverse designation information generated by the generating means at a reverse position at least in any one of said first and second movement directions to reverse said movement direction, and at the time of reproduction of the recording medium to control the drive means on the basis of the reverse designation information recorded on the recording medium to reverse movement direction from one of said movement directions to the other at the reverse position; and setting means for setting the recording time in said first movement direction and the recording time in said second movement on the basis of the total recording time, such that the recording time in the first movement direction is longer than the recording time in the second movement direction when the relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is lower in the first movement direction than in the second movement direction, the setting means is arranged to set the recording time T fwd in the first movement direction to meet the formula: T fwd ≥ Tt(Vs + vp)/(2Vs - vm + Vp) where the total recording time is represented by Tt, a standard relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is represented by Vs, a velocity error by which the movement velocity in said second movement direction is higher with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vp, and the velocity error by which the movement velocity in said first movement direction is lower with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vm. The present invention allows the following advantages to be achieved:- from the recorded medium one can continuously reproduce information such as music information of unit length or a series of music information of unit length or a series of music information, etc. as a series of information while reversing the movement direction of the recording medium; and information such as music information of unit length or a series of music information, etc. can be recorded while reversing the movement direction of a recording medium, such information can be securely recorded without generating a portion lacking of record. Advantageously, the apparatus further comprises memory means for storing a signal to be recorded on the recording medium, and being arranged to store temporarily the signal to be recorded onto the recording medium when the drive means is controlled by the control means to reverse the movement direction from one of said movement directions to the other. Desirably, the apparatus further comprises further generating means for generating at the time of recording of the signal on the recording medium, for recordal at the recording end position of the recording medium in either one of said movement directions, high speed retrieval designation information for carrying out an operation to retrieve the leading position of a signal recorded in the other one of said movement directions. The high speed retrieval designation information, when recorded, may be used to retrieve the leading position of a signal recorded in the other movement direction, so that rapid reproduction of signals recorded in the other movement direction can be made. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording and reproducing method for a recording medium, used in relatively driving a recording and reproducing head and the recording medium reversibly in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction to record a signal onto the recording medium, wherein the method comprises the steps of: determining a total recording time of the signal to be recorded onto the recording medium; recording, onto the recording medium, at the point in time when substantially one half of the total recording time has passed, reverse designation information for reversing said movement direction at the time of reproduction of the recording medium; and reversing said movement direction to record the remainder of the signal onto the recording medium by the recording and reproducing head, wherein the recording time of the signal onto the recording medium in said first movement direction and the recording time of the signal onto the recording medium in said second movement direction is set on the basis of the total recording time, such that the recording time in the first movement direction is longer than the recording time in the second movement direction when the relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is lower in the first movement direction than in the second movement direction, with the recording time T fwd in the first movement direction is set to meet the formula: T fwd ≥ Tt(Vs + vp)/(2Vs - vm + Vp) where the total recording line is represented by Tt, a standard relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is represented by Vs, a velocity error by which the movement velocity in said second movement direction is higher with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vp, and the velocity error by which the movement velocity in said first movement direction is lower with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vm. A preferred embodiment to which this invention is applied will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a recording and reproducing apparatus according to this invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the principle of reverse time setting at the time of recording information signal. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining recording operation including travelling reverse operation. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of reverse position and data storage start position at the time of no defect reverse operation. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining skip flag for endless reproduction. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining skip operation for endless reproduction. FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram showing outline of the configuration of an example of a signal reproducing unit for carrying out automatic reverse operation and skip operation. FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining skip operation at the time of reproduction. FIG. 1 shows a recording and reproducing apparatus for a recording medium according to this invention for realizing a signal recording and reproducing method according to this invention, and is a block circuit diagram showing the recording system of a tape recorder using a tape shaped recording medium (hereinafter simply referred to as a tape) like a magnetic tape as the recording medium. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the principle of reverse time setting at the time of recording, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation at the time of recording. The tape recorder of this embodiment is a digital audio tape recorder using a magnetic head as recording and reproducing means for information signal, which is caused to be compact so as to have dimensions such that they can be carried, i.e., down to portable size. It should be noted that this invention can be applied not only to tape recorder but also to other recording and reproducing apparatuses, and as information signals recorded onto the recording medium, not only to music signals may be employed, but also video signals or data signals handled at information processing equipments may be applied to recording and reproducing apparatus. Initially, in the block circuit diagram shown in FIG. 1, an input terminal 11 is supplied with a digital audio signal as an information signal. This digital audio signal is sent to a memory 12, at which it is caused to undergo write-in/read-out control. The digital audio signal which has been caused to undergo such write-in/read-out control is sent to a recording head 15 through an encoder 13 and through a recording amplifier 14, at which it is recorded onto a tape 16 as a recording medium. This tape 16 is operated so that it is caused to travel in a predetermined direction by a capstan 17 and a pinch roller 18, and is caused to undergo reverse control such that the traveling direction is caused to be opposite to the traveling direction until now at a predetermined traveling position. The capstan 17 is rotationally driven by a motor 19. A system control circuit 21 for controlling operations of respective components of this apparatus is supplied with a signal such as an operation input, a set (set-up) input or a control input, etc. through an input terminal 22, and sends a control signal to a memory control circuit 23, a reverse information output circuit 24, a motor drive circuit 26, and a skip flag output circuit 28, which will be described later, provided as occasion demands, etc. In addition, the system control circuit 21 is supplied with a detection output from an end sensor 25 which detects termination of the tape. The end sensor 25 detects a detected portion provided at the terminating position or before the terminating position of the tape 16. The memory control circuit 23 controls write-in/read-out operation of digital audio signals as recording data into the memory 12 in accordance with a control signal from the system control circuit 21 to allow the memory 12 to carry out an operation such as storage, etc. of recording data necessary for conducting no defect reverse operation as described later. The reverse information output circuit 24 generates reverse information for automatically carrying out reverse operation in a traveling direction of the tape 16 at the time of reproduction of the tape 16. The reverse information generated from the reverse information output circuit 24 is delivered to the encoder 13, and is then recorded at a predetermined position on the tape 16 by the recording head 15. Moreover, the skip flag output circuit 28 generates skip flag which will be described later. The skip flag thus generated is delivered to the encoder 13, and is then recorded at a predetermined position on the tape 16 by the recording head 15. Meanwhile, when recording is carried out with respect to the tape in the auto-reverse state at the recording and reproducing apparatus such as ordinary tape recorder, etc., the system control circuit 21 reverses tape traveling direction from one direction, e.g., forward (FWD) direction to reverse (REV) direction of the opposite direction when the portion in the vicinity of termination of the tape 16 is reached by detection output from the end sensor 25 to continuously (successively) record signals onto the tape 16 as the recording medium. The total recording time in reciprocating directions in this case corresponds to the length itself of the tape 16. On the contrary, in this embodiment, total recording time Tt as sum of the recording time T fwd in the forward (FWD) direction and the recording time T rev in the reverse (REV) direction is set in correspondence with recording time of music information as signal source to be recorded. In this case, as the most simple example, it is conceivable to allow recording times T fwd and T rev in respective directions to be respectively Tt/2 which is one half of the total recording time Tt. In practice, however, by taking into consideration variations (unevenness) of traveling velocity (speed) of the tape 16, setting is made such that the recording time T fwd in the forward direction is longer than the recording time T rev in the reverse direction. The reason why such setting is adopted is that quantity of consumption of the tape at the time of traveling in the reverse direction is greater than quantity of consumption of the tape at the time of traveling in the forward direction, i.e., recording time, that is, the recording time is prolonged so that tape in recording in the reverse direction is insufficient. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the fundamental principle of setting of recording times T fwd , T rev in respective directions of the forward direction and the reverse direction, or setting of reverse position from the initial end of the tape, particularly setting of reverse time indicating elapsed time from the initial end of the tape. In FIG. 2, it is assumed that traveling velocity of the standard tape of the tape 16 is Vs, velocity error of the tape of the +side i.e., error in the case where current traveling speed is higher than the traveling velocity of the standard tape is vp, and velocity error of the tape of the -side, i.e., error in the case where current velocity is lower than the traveling velocity of the standard tape is vm. Between the tape length L fwd 16 actually spent in recording signal with respect to the recording area 16A when the tape 16 is traveled in the forward direction and the tape length L rev spent for recording of signal into the recording area 16B at the time of traveling in the reverse direction, it is required that L fwd ≥ L rev necessarily holds for the above-described reason. From facts as above, in the worst error state, i.e., in the case where the traveling velocity of the tape in the forward direction is the lowest and the traveling velocity of the tape in the reverse direction is the highest, it is sufficient that the above-described condition L fwd ≥ L rev . Thus, as the condition between recording times T fwd , T rev in respective directions, as shown in FIG. 2, it is required to satisfy the following formula: T fwd (Vs-vm) ≥ T rev (Vs + vp) On the basis of the formula (1) obtained in this way and the fact that total recording time Tt is equal to T fwd + T rev , the above-described formula (1) is written as follows; T fwd ≥ Tt(Vs + vp)/(2Vs - vm + Vp) It is sufficient to set reverse time on the basis of the above-mentioned formula (2). Meanwhile, in the case where digital audio tape recorder caused to become compact down to portable size using rotary head as recording and reproducing head is used as the recording and reproducing apparatus, the configuration in which small pinch roller is provided within the tape cassette within which tape 16 is accommodated. For this reason, dimensional error of diameter or eccentricity of the pinch roller appears as error of tape traveling velocity. In practice, there results velocity error of about + 2% to -1% with respect to the standard tape traveling velocity. In such a case, setting of reverse time is particularly important. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining such automatic reverse recording operation. In FIG. 3, at the first step S1, total recording time Tt is set in correspondence with recording time of music information to be recorded onto the tape 16. At the subsequent step S2, the recording time T 1 in the first traveling direction and the recording time T 2 in the second traveling direction of the tape 16 are calculated thereafter to start recording of information signals with respect to the tape 16. These times T 1 , T 2 respectively correspond to recording times T fwd , T rev in the forward direction as the first direction and in the reverse direction as the second direction as described above, and are calculated on the basis of the above-described formula (2), etc. It is not necessarily required to start recording of information signal onto the tape 16 from the state where it is traveled in the forward direction, but an approach may be employed to start recording from the reverse direction. At the subsequent step S3, recording operation in the forward direction as the first direction is carried out. At the subsequent step S4, discrimination as to whether or not recording time T 1 in the first traveling direction is passed is made. For a time period during which recording time T 1 in the first traveling direction is not passed, the processing operation returns to the step S3 to continue the recording operation of signal in the first traveling direction. On the other hand, when the recording time T 1 in the first traveling direction is passed, the processing operation proceeds to the subsequent step S5 to carry out traveling reverse operation to reverse the traveling direction of the tape 16. After the traveling reverse operation is carried out at the step S5, the processing operation proceeds to step S6 to allow the tape 16 to be traveled in the reverse direction as the second traveling direction to carry out recording of information signal. During the recording operation in the second traveling direction, whether or not the recording time T 2 in the second traveling direction is passed is discriminated at step S7. When discrimination result of NO is provided, the processing operation returns to the step S6 to continue the recording operation in the second traveling direction. When discrimination result of YES is provided, the processing operation proceeds to the subsequent step S8 to complete the recording operation in the second traveling direction. Meanwhile, in automatically reversing the traveling direction of the tape 16 to carry out reproduction of signal recorded on the tape 16, there is the possibility that reproduction signal may be interrupted by the time required for reverse operation. For this reason, in this embodiment, non-defect reverse operation in which memory is used to prevent interruption of reproduction signal followed by reverse operation in the traveling direction of the tape 16 is realized. This non-defect reverse system is a system to temporarily store, into the memory, digital audio signal which has been read out from the tape 16 as reproduction data corresponding to the time of the time required for reverse operation in the traveling direction of the tape 16 or more before the reverse operation to read out data stored in the memory during the reverse operation in the traveling direction of the tape 16 to thereby continuously output reproduction signal to eliminate interruption of reproduction signals at the time of reverse operation. In more practical sense, as shown in FIG. 4, an approach is employed to allow the traveling velocity of the tape 16 to be higher from the position x W preceding by predetermined length with respect to the reverse position x R of the tape 16 detected on the basis of output from the end sensor 25 to store, into the memory, data quantity which is difference between quantity of data which has been read out from the tape 16 and data quantity required for reproduction of actual audio signal so that data quantity corresponding to the time required for reverse operation in the traveling direction of the tape 16 or more can be stored in the memory at the time when the reverse position x R is reached. For this reason, recording of signal onto the tape 16 is carried out by determining, by calculation, storage start position x W on the basis of the reverse position x R to write reverse designation information such as reverse flag, etc. at that position x W . In more practical sense, an approach may be employed to write down count value such that numeric value decreases from the position x W toward the reverse position X R . In this case, by writing such a down count value to take a predetermined value, e.g., 1 or 0 at the reverse position x R , it is possible to recognize distance or time up to the reverse position x R by the system control circuit 21. The reverse information output circuit 24 generates, in accordance with command from the system control circuit 21 of FIG. 1, reverse information such as down count value or reverse flag, etc. The reverse information thus generated is delivered to the encoder 13, and is recorded from a predetermined position, i.e., storage start position x W on the tape 16. FIGS. 4A to 4C show examples of reverse position x R and storage start position x W in the case of the above-described non-defect reverse operation. Namely, FIG. 4A shows the example where the traveling direction is reversed at the tape end. At the time of recording, tape remaining quantity is determined on the basis of information obtained by detecting rotation of the reel table to calculate the time until the scheduled reverse position x R from the determined tape remaining quantity to calculate storage start position x W necessary for traveling reverse operation at the time of reproduction. Moreover, FIGS. 4B and 4C show the example where scheduled reverse position x R is calculated in advance in dependency upon recording time of music information as described above. An approach may be employed to determine storage start position x W on the basis of the position x R to record reverse designation information from that position x W . It is preferable that the scheduled reverse position x R in this case is set so as to satisfy condition such that the recording time T 1 in the first direction, i.e., recording time T fwd in the forward direction is longer than the recording time T 2 in the second traveling direction, i.e., recording time T rev in the reverse direction. Meanwhile, when setting of recording time is made such that the recording time T fwd in the forward direction which is the recording time T 1 in the first traveling direction is longer than the recording time T rev in the reverse direction which is the recording time T 2 in the second traveling direction as described above, there are many instances where unrecorded or not yet recorded blank portion BL takes place at the portion after recording has been completed of the recording area 16B at the time of recording in the reverse direction, i.e., the tape initial end side when viewed from the recording area 16A. When such blank portion takes place over long distance so that it reaches, e.g., about several minutes in terms of time, endless reproduction cannot be satisfactorily carried out. In view of the above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, high speed retrieve designation information of the next recording content, e.g., skip flag or skip mark as next music leading position search start flag is recorded at the recording end position x P in the reverse direction. This skip flag is generated by the skip flag output circuit 28 in accordance with command from the system control circuit 21 of FIG. 1. The skip flag thus generated is delivered to the encoder 13, and is then recorded onto the tape 16 by the recording head 15. When this skip flag is detected at the time of reproduction, the operation is switched into the high speed (velocity) traveling operation for retrieving leading position of the next music. In this high speed retrieval operation, even if the end portion of the tape is reached, such operation is continued in the state where traveling direction of the tape 16 is reversed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, even in the case where recording start position x S in the forward direction is away from the initial end portion of the tape 16 when viewed from the recording area 16A, when skip flag is detected at the recording end position x P in the reverse direction at the time of reproduction of the recording area 16B, the tape 16 is fed at a high speed in the reverse direction. Thus, leading position search operation to search for leading position of the next music is carried out. When the terminating portion of the tape 16 in the case where viewed from the recording area 16B, i.e., the initial end portion of the tape 16 in the case where viewed from the recording area 16A is reached, the traveling direction is reversed. The tape 16 is in turn fed at a high speed in the forward direction. Thus, leading position search operation to search leading position of the next music is carried out. An example of the reproduction system of the recording and reproducing apparatus for carrying out such reproduction operation is shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, a signal recorded on the tape 16 is read by a reproduction head 31, and is delivered to a reproduction processing circuit or demodulation circuit 33 through a reproduction amplifier 32. Thus, a reproduction signal from the reproduction processing circuit 33 is taken out from a terminal 35 through a memory 34. The memory 34 is caused to undergo write-in/read-out control by a memory control circuit 37. At the reproduction processing circuit 33, detection of skip flag recorded on the tape 16 is carried out by a skip flag detecting circuit 38, and detection of reverse information recorded on the tape 16 is carried out by a reverse information detection circuit 39. These respective outputs from the skip flag detecting circuit 38 and the reverse information detecting circuit 39 are delivered to the system control circuit 21. In FIG. 7, common reference numerals are respectively attached to the portions common to the recording system shown in FIG. 1, and their detailed explanation will be omitted. The above-described non-defect reverse operation will now be described. When reproduction in the forward direction is developed so that reverse information from the storage start position x W is detected by the reverse information detecting circuit 39 in a signal from the reproduction processing circuit 33, this detection output is delivered to the system control circuit 21. When the detection output from the detection circuit 39 is delivered, the system control circuit 21 controls the motor drive circuit 26 to allow the traveling velocity of the tape to be higher, and to control the memory control circuit 37 to start storage or write-in operation of reproduction data from the reproduction processing circuit 33. When the reverse information detecting circuit 39 detects that the tape 16 is traveled so that the reverse position x R is reached, the system control circuit 21 controls the motor drive circuit 26, etc. to reverse the traveling direction of the tape 16. For a time period during which read-out operation of signal is not carried out from the tape 16 subject to reverse operation, data stored in the memory 34 is read out to thereby prevent interruption of music signal outputted after undergone reproduction. Thus, continuous reproduction of music signals is carried out. When the reverse operation in the traveling direction of the tape 16 is completed, the reproduction operation in the reverse direction is started. The endless reproduction using skip flag will now be described with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, at step S41, reproduction operation, in more practical sense, reproduction operation in the reverse direction is carried out. At this time, at step S42, whether or not skip flag is detected at the skip flag detecting circuit 38 of FIG. 7 is discriminated. For a time period during which such skip flag is not detected, the processing operation returns to the step S41. Thus, reproduction operation is continued. When skip flag is detected, the processing operation proceeds to step S43. Thus, high speed leading position search operation, i.e., leading position search operation to search for the leading position of the next music is carried out. This leading position search operation is carried out by traveling the tape 16 in the reverse direction which is the reproduction direction at the present (current) time point. At the subsequent S44, whether or not the end portion of the tape 16, i.e., in this more practical example, the initial end portion of the tape 16 in the case where viewed from the recording area 16A of the tape 16 is reached is discriminated. In the case of NO, i.e., in the case where such end portion is not reached, the processing operation proceeds to step S47 to discriminate whether or not leading position of the next music is detected. At this step S47, when discrimination result of NO is provided, i.e., the leading position of the next music is not reached, the processing operation returns to the step S43. Thus, the leading position search operation is continued. For example, when the leading position search operation in the reverse direction is developed so that the initial end portion of the tape 16 in the case where viewed from the recording area 16A is reached, discrimination result of YES is provided at the step S44. Then, the processing operation proceeds to step S45. Thus, reverse operation of the traveling direction of the tape 16 is carried out. In this example, this reverse operation is the reverse operation from the reverse direction to the forward direction. At the subsequent step S46, the leading position search operation in the forward direction is carried out. Then, the processing operation proceeds to the subsequent step S47. Thus, discrimination of detection of the leading position of the next music is carried out. When the leading position of the next music is detected and discrimination result of YES is provided at the step S47, the processing operation proceeds to step S48. Thus, ordinary reproduction operation, in this more practical example, reproduction operation in the forward direction is carried out. Since the leading position search operation is continuously carried out in a manner including the reverse operation in this way, search for leading position of the next music can be carried out in the state where blank portion BL of the tape 16 succeeding to the recording termination in the reverse direction, and/or blank portion of the initial end portion of the tape 16 in the forward direction, etc. are skipped at a high speed so that search for leading position of the next music can be made. Thus, satisfactory reproduction having short interruption time can be carried out. It is to be noted that in the case where discrimination result of NO is provided at the step S47, since control shifts from the leading position search operation of the step S43 to the routine of the step S44 and steps subsequent thereto, it is necessary to prevent that reciprocating search operation when skip operation takes place in a tape such that search for leading position of music cannot be carried out like unrecorded or not yet recorded tape, etc. where any information signal such as music signal, etc. is not recorded is endlessly (infinitely) continued. For this reason, it is preferable to count the number of reverse operation times at the time leading position search operation, or the like to limit the number of the high speed search operations, e.g., at the time of skip operation down to one reciprocating operation thus to protect the tape. Moreover, while explanation has been given in the above-described example in connection with the case where skip flag is detected at the recording termination in the state where the tape 16 is traveled in the reverse direction to reverse traveling direction at the initial end portion of the tape 16 from the high speed search in the reverse direction to shift to the high speed search in the forward direction, an approach may be easily realized in a manner opposite to the above to write skip flag at the recording termination in the forward direction to reverse the traveling direction at the tape end from the leading position search operation in the forward direction to shift to the leading position search operation in the reverse direction. Further, while the reverse position of the traveling direction of the tape 16 at the time of leading position search operation is caused to be end portion of the tape 16, an approach may be employed to write reverse information such as reverse flag, etc. at the middle position of the tape 16 to carry out reverse operation at this position to shift to leading position search operation in an opposite direction. In accordance with the embodiment of this invention which has been described above, such an approach is employed to set traveling reverse position or reverse time of the tape which is about one half of the total recording time in correspondence with the time of music information to be recorded to record reverse information such as reverse flag or down count value, etc. from time or tape position earlier by a predetermined time than the reverse time, and to detect this reverse information at the time of reproduction to write data into the memory to thereby compensate lacking (missing data) at the time of reverse operation by read-out operation of memory storage data to carry out no-defect reverse operation, and to return to the position in the vicinity of the initial end portion of the tape in the case where viewed from the forward direction at the time of completion of reproduction after reverse operation. Thus, reverse reproduction is caused to be carried out also at the initial end portion of the tape, whereby endless reproduction having small no signal portion can be carried out. Moreover, in order to prevent that the tape is insufficient at the time of recording in the reverse direction by taking into consideration variations of the tape traveling speed, an approach is employed to set the recording time in the forward direction to a value longer than the recording time in the reverse direction to write skip flag at the recording terminating portion in the reverse direction to skip the blank portion, thereby making it possible to record music information to the last even if any variation of speed exists. In addition, at the time of reproduction, the blank reproduction time is skipped (is caused to be as minimum as possible), whereby satisfactory reproduction having short interruption time can be carried out. It is to be noted that this invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment. For example, as the recording medium, optical tape, etc. can be used in addition to the magnetic tape. Moreover, also as information signals recorded on the recording medium, not only music signals may be employed, but also video signals or data signals handled in the information processing equipment may be applied to the recording and reproducing apparatus. In addition, rotary head or fixed head may be used as the recording and reproducing head. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to this invention is operative so that, in relatively driving the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium in a first movement direction and a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction to record signals onto the recording medium, such an approach is employed to determine total recording time of signal recorded onto the recording medium to record, onto the recording medium, at the time point when substantially one half of the total recording time is passed, reverse designation information for reversing relative movement direction of the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium at the time of reproduction of the recording medium to reverse relative movement direction between the recording medium and the recording and reproducing head to record signals with respect to the recording medium by the recording and reproducing head. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously record and reproduce, in a series manner, information such as desired one unit or a series of music information, etc. while reversing the movement direction of the recording medium.

Claims: A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising drive means (26,17-19) for relatively driving a recording and reproducing head (15,31) and a recording medium (16) reversibly in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: generating means (24) operative to generate, at the time of recording of a signal on the recording medium, at the point in time when substantially one half of total recording time has passed, reverse designation information for reversing said movement direction at the time of reproduction of the recording medium; control means (21) operative to cause recordal by the recording and reproducing head of the reverse designation information generated by the generating means at a reverse position at least in any one of said first and second movement directions to reverse said movement direction, and at the time of reproduction of the recording medium to control the drive means on the basis of the reverse designation information recorded on the recording medium to reverse movement direction from one of said movement directions to the other at the reverse position; and setting means (21) for setting the recording time in said first movement direction and the recording time in said second movement on the basis of the total recording time, such that the recording time in the first movement direction is longer than the recording time in the second movement direction when the relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording media is lower in the first movement direction than in the second movement direction, the setting means is arranged to set the recording time T fwd in the first movement direction to meet the formula: T fwd ≥ Tt(Vs + vp)/(2Vs - vm + Vp) where the total recording time is represented by Tt, a standard relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is represented by Vs, a velocity error by which the movement velocity in said second movement direction is higher with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vp, and the velocity error by which the movement velocity in said first movement direction is lower with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vm. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises memory means (12) for storing a signal to be recorded on the recording medium, and being arranged to store temporarily the signal to be recorded onto the recording medium when the drive means is controlled by the control means to reverse the movement direction from one of said movement directions to the other. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means is operative to cause recordal, onto the recording medium, of the reverse designation information generated by the generating means from the point in time when writing of the signal recorded onto the recording medium is started into the memory means. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means comprises detecting means (39) for detecting the reverse designation information from the signal which has been read out from the recording medium by the recording and reproducing head, and the control means is operative to control the drive means on the basis of an output from the detecting means to reverse said movement direction. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises further generating means (28) for generating at the time of recording of the signal on the recording medium, for recordal at the recording end position of the recording medium in either one of said movement directions, high speed retrieval designation information for carrying out an operation to retrieve the leading position of a signal recorded in the other one of said movement directions. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording time in the first movement direction is longer than the recording time in the second movement direction, and the control means is operative to cause recordal of said high speed retrieval designation information generated by the further generating means at the recording end position in said second movement direction. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control means comprises detecting means (38) for detecting the high speed retrieval designation information from the signal which has been read out by the recording and reproducing head, and the control means is operative to control the drive means on the basis of a detection output from the high speed retrieval designation information detecting means to start said operation to retrieve said leading position. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means is operative to start said operation to retrieve said leading position on the basis of a detection output from the high speed retreival designation information detecting means, and to control the drive means to carry out an operation to switch movement direction from one of said movement directions to the other at the recording end position of the recording medium to start an operation to retrieve the leading position. A recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, said control means is operative to cause recordal of the high speed retrieval designation information generated by the generating means at the recording end position of the recording medium in either one of said movement directions, and to control the drive means on the basis of the high speed retrieval designation information recorded on the recording medium at the time of reproduction of the recording medium to start said operation to retrieve said leading position. A recording and reproducing method for a recording medium, used in relatively driving a recording and reproducing head (15,31) and the recording medium (16) reversibly in a first movement direction and in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction to record a signal onto the recording medium, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: determining a total recording time of the signal to be recorded onto the recording medium; recording, onto the recording medium, at the point in time when substantially one half of the total recording time has passed, reverse designation information for reversing said movement direction at the time of reproduction of the recording medium; and reversing said movement direction to record the remainder of the signal onto the recording medium by the recording and reproducing head, wherein the recording time of the signal onto the recording medium in said first movement direction and the recording time of the signal onto the recording medium in said second movement direction is set on the basis of the total recording time, such that the recording time in the first movement direction is longer than the recording time in the second movement direction when the relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is lower in the first movement direction than in the second movement direction, with the recording time T fwd in the first movement direction is set to meet the formula: T fwd ≥ Tt(Vs + vp)/(2Vs - vm + Vp) where the total recording time is represented by Tt, a standard relative movement velocity between the recording and reproducing head and the recording medium is represented by Vs, a velocity error by which the movement velocity in said second movement direction is higher with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vp, and the velocity error by which the movement velocity in said first movement direction is lower with respect to the standard relative movement velocity is represented by vm. A recording and reproducing method according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises a step of temporarily storing, into memory means (12), the signal to be recorded onto the recording medium when reversing the movement direction from one of said the first and second movement directions to the other.

Inventors: ISHIHARA KATSUMI, NOGUCHI NORIHIKO, ISHIHARA, KATSUMI, NOGUCHI, NORIHIKO
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G11B15
IPC codes: G11B15, G11B27