Picture signal record/playback apparatus and method thereof for time lapse VCR

• US 5,999,690 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ro, Se Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US08/795,245
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/5, 386/38, 386/46, 386/110, 386/117, 386/111, 386/90-91, 386/124, 360/5
• US Class Current: 386/322
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/78263 for recording on tracks inclined relative to the direction of movement of the tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/877 by assembling picture element blocks in an intermediate memory

Abstract

A picture signal record/playback apparatus and method thereof for a time lapse VCR which makes it possible to operate with enhanced stability and greater accuracy in providing picture signals. The apparatus includes a memory unit for storing therein by a per frame unit a plurality of frame picture signals respectively having an inter-frame input time interval, a memory control unit for consecutively reading the picture signals for the plurality of frames from the memory unit so as not to have a time interval therebetween, and a recording unit for recording on a magnetic tape media the plurality of frame picture signals being consecutively read.

Claims

1. A picture signal recording apparatus for a time lapse videocassette tape recorder comprising:

a picture signal input circuit for receiving digital frame picture signals;

a memory unit for storing said digital frame picture signals, said digital frame picture signals having an inter-frame input time interval and being consecutively outputted from said picture signal input circuit;

a controller unit for outputting a control signal to read the digital frame picture signals stored in said memory unit when the storing of the digital frame picture signals in said memory unit is completed, the controller unit having an address counter;

a picture signal output circuit for outputting said digital frame picture signals as analog picture signals; and

a recording unit for recording said analog picture signals on a magnetic tape media, said analog picture signals being consecutively outputted from said picture signal output circuit,

wherein the memory unit includes a buffer unit for storing therein an output value of the picture signal input circuit while the analog picture signals are being stored in the recording unit during an instant record time, and a frame memory unit for receiving an output value of the buffer unit and sequentially providing the picture signal output circuit with the received output value of the buffer unit during the instant record time, in accordance with the controller unit.

2. A picture signal playback apparatus for a time lapse videocassette tape recorder comprising:

a picture signal playback circuit for playing back picture signals recorded on a magnetic recording media;

a picture signal input circuit for receiving digital frame picture signals;

a frame memory unit for storing the digital frame picture signals being consecutively outputted from the picture signal input circuit;

a buffer memory unit for storing said digital frame picture signals from the picture signal input circuit when the storing of the digital frame picture signals in the frame memory unit is completed;

a controller unit for outputting a control signal to read the digital frame picture signals stored in said frame memory unit, the controller unit having an address counter; and

a picture signal output circuit for outputting the digital frame picture signals as analog picture signals, and repeatedly outputting the analog picture signals to a display device,

wherein the buffer unit stores therein an output value of the picture signal input circuit while the analog picture signals are being outputted from the picture signal output circuit during an instant record time, and the frame memory unit receives an output value of the buffer unit and sequentially provides the picture signal output circuit with the received output value of the buffer unit during the instant record time, in accordance with the controller unit.

3. A picture signal recording method for a time lapse video cassette tape recorder having a memory for buffering a picture signal, comprising:

storing a picture signal outputted from a picture signal input circuit in a frame memory unit sequentially;

outputting a recording enable signal and setting an instant recording time when said picture signal storing is completed;

recording the picture signal from the frame memory unit onto a magnetic tape media during the instant recording time set in accordance with the recording enable signal, storing frame data applied thereto in a buffer memory unit during the instant recording time, and increasing a count value to a certain level, and

sequentially transferring the frame data stored in the buffer memory unit to the frame memory unit when the picture signal is completely recorded in the instant recording time, and repeating said recording the picture signal, storing the frame data and increasing the count value step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recording the picture signal, storing the frame data and increasing the count value step comprises comparing a delay time (L=1)×

a count value with the instant recording time;

storing the applied frame data in the buffer memory unit and increasing the count value if a result of the delay time (L=1)×

the count value is less than that of the instant recording time when the frame data is being recorded; and

storing in the frame memory unit a frame data corresponding to the count value if the result of the delay time (L=1)×

the count value is greater than that of the instant recording time.