Data recording/reproducing apparatus

• US 4,541,020 A
• Filed: 07/09/1982
• Issued: 09/10/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Faber, Alan
• Application Number:
  US06/396,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 358/213, 358/335, 358/906, 360/22, 360/23, 360/9.1, 360/84, 360/33.1, 360/75, 360/70, 360/73, 360/27, 369/47, 369/48
• US Class Current: 360/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/919 by dividing samples or signal segments, e.g. television lines, among a plurality of recording channels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A data recording/reproducing apparatus simultaneously records parallel data in recording tracks the number of which corresponds to the number of parallel data to be recorded, and sequentially reproduces the contents of the recording tracks to form serial data. A plurality of video signals for cooperatively forming a single picture are used for the parallel data. When one picture is quartered, four parallel video signals are simultaneously recorded in four recording tracks. By reproducing the contents of the recording tracks for each track in a sequential manner, one serial video signal corresponding to the picture is obtained. With this arrangement, high resolution picture data obtained from a solid-state image pickup device can be recorded and reproduced without the use of a specially designed parallel/serial converter.

Claims

1. A data recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising:

signal source means for providing a plurality of different recording signals cooperatively forming a specific data, said signal source means including a solid-state image pickup device comprising at least two imaging blocks containing a plurality of photoelectric cells, and wherein said solid-state image pickup device provides picture data corresponding to said specific data and the picture data of each of said imaging blocks corresponds to each of said recording signals;

recording means coupled to said signal source means for recording said recording signals into a plurality of recording tracks formed in a recording medium so that said recording signals are parallel recorded simultaneously in the plurality of recording tracks, wherein the number of recording tracks corresponds to the number of said recording signals; and

reproducing means coupled to said recording medium for sequentially reproducing from one of said recording tracks a reproducing signal corresponding to one of said recording signals and for converting said recording signals recorded in parallel fashion into serial reproduced signals, said sequential reproducing being carried out for every recording track;

said recording means includes rotating recording heads the number of which is equal to the number of said recording signals, said reproducing means includes a single rotating reproducing head, said rotating recording heads simultaneously record the plurality of said recording signals into said recording tracks of the same number as that of said rotating recording heads, and said rotating reproducing head sequentially reproduces the contents in said recording tracks recorded by said rotating recording heads.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein head gaps of said rotating recording heads are staggered, and of said recording heads, the head used for recording the earliest recording signal of said recording signals is used for said rotating reproducing head.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording means includes control signal recording means for recording a control signal representing a timing to make the simultaneous recording of said recording signals by said rotating recording heads, together with said recording signals into said recording medium.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said reproducing means includes:

clear signal reproducing means for reproducing a clear signal corresponding to said control signal from said recording medium when said rotating reproducing head traces the first track of the plurality of said recording tracks;

count signal generating means for generating a count signal representing a timing of tracing one of said recording tracks by said rotating reproducing head;

count means arranged to be cleared by said clear signal, for counting said count signal to produce count data indicating which of the plurality of said recording tracks is traced by said rotating reproducing head; and

delay means for delaying a signal reproduced by said rotating reproducing head at a given rate, an amount of signal delay in said delay means being changed by said count data so that the reproduced signal of said recording signals simultaneously recorded is transformed into said reproduced output signals which are arranged sequentially in time.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording means includes control signal recording means for recording a control signal representing a timing to make the simultaneous recording of said recording signals by said rotating recording heads, together with said recording signals into said recording medium.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said reproducing means includes:

clear signal reproducing means for reproducing a clear signal corresponding to said control signal from said recording medium when said rotating reproducing head traces the first track of the plurality of said recording tracks;

count signal generating means for generating a count signal representing a timing of tracing one of said recording tracks by said rotating reproducing head;

count means arranged to be cleared by said clear signal, for counting said count signal to produce count data indicating which of the plurality of said recording tracks is traced by said rotating reproducing head; and

delay means for delaying a signal reproduced by said rotating reproducing head at a given rate, an amount of signal delay in said delay means being changed by said count data so that the reproduced signal of said recording signals simultaneously recorded is transformed into said reproduced output signals which are arranged sequentially in time.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing said vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording means includes means for synchronizing one rotation of said rotating recording heads with the simultaneous recording operation of the plurality of said recording signals.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said signal source means includes a two dimensional image sensor for generating said specific data, said sensor being divided into a plurality of two dimensional blocks corresponding to the number of said recording signals in the direction of a vertical axis in a plane of the two dimensional sensor;

vertical scanning means coupled to said image sensor for scanning said sensor in the vertical axis direction to generate a vertical carry out signal every time the vertical scanning is completed; and

said recording means includes;

means for transporting said recording medium;

transport sensing means coupled to said transporting means for generating a transporting signal corresponding to a transport speed of said recording medium; and

means coupled to said vertical scanning means, said transporting means, and said transport sensing means for phase-comparing siad vertical carry out with said transport signal, to thereby phase-control said transport means so that the transport speed of said recording medium is synchronized with said vertical carry out.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said reproducing means includes:

control signal reproducing means for reproducing said control signal from said recording medium; and

means coupled with said control signal reproducing means, said count signal generating means and said transporting means for phase-comparing said control signal with said count signal to thereby phase-control said transport means so that said rotating reproducing head sequentially traces said recording tracks.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said phase control means includes phase shift means for making an adjustment so that said rotating reproducing head accurately traces said recording tracks, said phase shift means changing a phase difference between said control signal and said count signal.