GB2256302A - Repeated recording in a tape recorder with double decks - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus repeatedly record a part of a magnetic recording medium in a tape recorder system with double cassette decks 12, 16. The current position values of a magnetic recording medium of a first deck 12 are stored in start and end position memory regions in response to recording repetition command signals respectively, so as to set a recording repetition region. The first and second decks 12, 16 are placed in reproduction and recording modes respectively, in response to a recording repeating execution signal, and the reproduced signal of the first deck is provided to the second deck as the recording signal until a position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is equal to end data stored in the end position memory region. The first and second decks are placed in rewinding and pause modes respectively, and the present position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is counted down to compare the present position value with the value stored in the start position memory region. If the present position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is detected to be equal to the value stored in the start position memory region, the first and second decks are again placed in the reproduction and recording modes respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

RECORDING IN A TAPE RECORDER WITH DOUBLE DECKS This invention relates to a dubbing control method in a double deck tape recorder system.

Generally, a double cassette deck tape recorder/player system includes a reproducing deck and a recording deck so that program information such as voice and/or video information reproduced from the reproducing deck may be dubbed on another cassette tape by the recording deck. In such a conventional double cassette deck tape recorder it can be very inconvenient to repeatedly record a given region of program information recorded on a playback tape onto another record tape for a particular number of times because of the manual controlling required of the two decks.

In conventional practice, a tape storing certain programs is loaded in the reproducing deck, and an empty tape is loaded in the recording deck. In this case, a selected region of the programs of the first tape may be repeatedly dubbed onto the empty tape only by manually operating the two decks. For example, the first and second decks are manually operated to be respectively in stop and pause modes at the end point of the selected region, and the first deck is rewound until the first tape returns to the start point of the selected region. Then, the first and second decks are manually operated again to be respectively in the play-back and recording modes.

Preferred embodiments of the current invention aim to provide an improved process and apparatus for repeatedly recording a selected region of a program previously recorded on a first tape, onto a second tape.

Another aim is to provide a method of automatically and repeatedly recording a given part of programs recorded on a playback magnetic recording medium in a first deck on another magnetic recording medium in the second deck for a selected number of times in a double cassette deck tape recorder/player system.

According to one aspect of the current invention, the present position values of a magnetic recording medium of a first deck are stored into start and end position memory regions in response to recording repetition command signals, respectively, so as to set a recording repetition region. The first and second decks are in reproduction and recording modes respectively, in response to a recording repeating execution signal, and the reproduced signal of the first deck is provided to the second deck as the recording signal until the position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is equal to the end data stored in the end position memory region.The first and second decks are then automatically switched to rewinding and pause modes respectively, and the current position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is counted down to be compared with the value stored in the start position memory region. If the current position value of the magnetic recording medium of the first deck is detected to be equal to the value stored in the start position memory region, the first and second decks are then automatically switched to the reproduction and recording modes respectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of repeatedly recording a given region of magnetic recording medium in a tape recorder system comprising a first deck and a second deck, recording medium position monitor means for monitoring positions of first and second magnetic recording media in said first and second decks, respectively, means for controlling said system, memory means having a plurality of regions for storing start and end positions of said first magnetic recording medium and a number of recording repetition times, and counting means for making a cumulative count of each said recording of said given region onto the second recording medium, the method comprising the steps of:: monitoring the positions of said first and second magnetic recording media, respectively, by counting pulses generated with displacements of said first and second recording media so as to generate signals for indicating the positions of said first and second recording media; setting a recording repetition region by storing position values of said start and end positions for said first magnetic recording medium into corresponding start and end position memory regions in response to respective first and second recording repetition command signals; storing a selected number representing a number of times for recording said given region onto said second recording medium;; operating said first and second decks in reproduction and recording modes respectively, in response to a recording repetition execution signal and providing previously recorded signals from said given region of the first magnetic medium within said first deck to said second deck as recording signals until the position value of the first magnetic recording medium monitored by said recording medium position monitor means is equal to the end data stored in said end position memory region; operating said first and second decks respectively in rewind and pause modes, counting down current position values of the first magnetic recording medium from said recording medium position monitor means, and comparing the current position values being counted down with the start position stored in said start position memory region; and if the current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means is determined to be equal to said start position, placing said first and second decks in the reproduction and recording modes respectively.

Preferably, said step of setting a recording repetition region comprises the steps of: setting said start position of the repetition recording region by storing a current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means monitored by said recording medium position monitor means into said start position memory region in response to the first recording repetition command signal; and setting said end position of said repetition recording region by storing a current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means monitored by said monitoring means into said end position memory region in response to the second recording repetition command signal.

A method as above may further comprise the step of: selecting and storing said number of recording repetition times to indicate how many times said recording repetition region is to be recorded after setting said end position.

A method as above may further comprise the step of producing the data stored in said plurality of regions as display data.

Preferably, said step of providing the previously recorded signals of said first deck to said second deck as the recording signals comprises the steps of: producing the previously recorded signals as the recording signals by resetting the counting means in response to said recording repetition execution signal, and placing said first and second decks in said reproduction and recording modes respectively; comparing the current position values of said first magnetic recording medium means with the value stored in said end position memory region; increasing a quantity generated by said counting means when a current position value provided by said recording medium position monitor means is equal to the value stored in said end position memory region and comparing the increased quantity provided by said recording repetition times counter means with the stored selected number; ; operating said first and second decks respectively in said reproduction and recording modes when said increased quantity is greater than the stored selected number; returning to the step of operating said first and second decks respectively in rewind and pause modes; counting down the position value of the first magnetic recording medium from said recording medium position monitor means; and comparing the position value being counted down with the value stored in said start position memory region when said increased quantity is less than said stored selected number.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of repeatedly recording information of a selected region of a first magnetic recording medium onto a second magnetic recording medium, wherein said first and second magnetic recording media are mounted in a dual cassette recorder, said method comprising the steps of:: placing said first magnetic recording medium in a playback mode; generating count values by counting displacement pulses generated in response to movement of said first magnetic recording medium, wherein said displacement pulses are counted up during playback of said first magnetic recording medium and counted down during rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium; storing, in a first memory location, one of said count values generated in said counting step simultaneously in response to a first recording command signal; storing, in a second memory location, another one of said count values generated in said counting step simultaneously in response to a second recording command signal, said count values stored in said first and second memory locations respectively defining start and end points of said selected region;; storing, in a third memory location, a recording repetition number representing how many times said selected region is to be repeatedly recorded onto said second magnetic recording medium; rewinding said first magnetic recording medium in response to an input recording repetition execution signal and setting a recording repetition value of a fourth memory location to zero; stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point; returning said first magnetic recording medium to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second magnetic recording medium in a recording mode;; counting-up said displacement pulses, comparing count values generated during said counting-up step to said count value stored in said second memory location, increasing by one said recording repetition value stored in said fourth memory location and storing an increased recording repetition value in said fourth memory location; determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; pausing said second magnetic recording medium and rewinding said first magnetic recording medium if said determining step determines said increased recording repetition value is not greater than said recording repetition number; counting-down said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium;; comparing count values generated during said counting-down step to said count value stored in said first memory location; repeating, when said count values generated during said counting-down step equal said count value stored in said first memory location, said step of returning said first magnetic recording medium to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second magnetic recording medium in a recording mode, and the subsequent steps, until said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location.

Preferably, said first and second magnetic recording media are magnetic tapes and said dual cassette recorder is a tape recorder, further comprising the steps of: displaying a repeat mode menu on a visual display means and displaying said count value stored in said first memory location in response to said first recording command signal; displaying said count value stored in said second memory location in response to said second recording command signal; displaying said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; and clearing said display of said repeat mode menu, said count values and said recording repetition number after said step of displaying said recording repetition number.

Preferably, said first magnetic recording medium has video information recorded thereon, and said step of storing said recording repetition number in said third location further comprises the steps of: determining whether a number key signal is input; writing number data, represented by said number key signal, into said third memory location as said recording repetition number if said number key signal is determined to have been input; and writing number data representing "1" into said third memory location as said recording repetition number after a predetermined time period if said number key signal is determined not to have been input.

Preferably, said display means is a monitor, and the method further comprises the steps of: displaying said video information during said playback mode; and displaying said repeat mode menu, said count values and said recording repetition number as picture-in-picture information simultaneously with the displaying of said video information.

Preferably, said count values generated by said step of counting displacement values are stored in a fifth memory location; said step of setting said recording repetition value of said fourth memory to zero further comprises resetting said fifth memory location to contain a count value of zero; and said starting point in said step of stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point comprises a beginning point of said magnetic recording medium.

A method as above may further comprise the steps of: maintaining said first magnetic recording medium in said playback mode when said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location for reproducing the information of said first magnetic recording medium which follows said selected region; and recording said reproduced information which follows said selected region onto said second magnetic recording medium.

Preferably, said count values generated by said step of counting displacement values are stored, in a fifth memory location; and said step of stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point comprises the steps of: decreasing said count values stored in said fifth memory location in response to the counting down of said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium, comparing said decreased count values of said fifth memory location to said count value of said first memory location, and performing said stopping step when said count values of said first memory location and said fifth memory location are equal.

A method as above may further comprise the steps of: maintaining said first magnetic recording medium in said playback mode when said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition number value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition number value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location for reproducing the information of said first magnetic recording medium which follows said selected region; and placing said second magnetic recording medium into a stop mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for repeatedly recording a selected region of a first memory onto a second memory, the apparatus comprising: a dual cassette tape player/recorder having first deck means for playing back the first memory to reproduce information recorded within said selected region on the first memory, and second deck means for recording the information reproduced from the first memory; and controlling means for: placing said first deck means in a playback mode; generating count data by counting displacement pulses generated in response to movement of the first memory, wherein said displacement pulses are counted up during playback of the first memory and counted down during rewinding of the first memory; in response to a first recording command signal, defining a start point of said selected region by storing, in a first memory location, a first one of said count data generated in said step of counting displacement data; in response to a second recording command signal, defining an end point of said selected region by storing, in a second memory location, a second one of said count data generated in said step of counting displacement data;; storing, in a third memory location, a recording repetition number representing how many times said selected region is to be repeatedly recorded onto said second memory; rewinding said first memory in response to an input recording repetition execution signal and setting recording repetition data of a fourth memory location to zero; stopping said rewinding of said first memory at said start point; returning said first deck means to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second deck means in a recording mode; changing said count data by counting-up said displacement pulses while said first deck means is in said playback mode;; comparing count data generated during said counting-up step to said count data stored in said second memory location, generating increased repetition data by increasing incrementally said recording repetition data stored in said fourth memory location and storing said increased repetition data in said fourth memory location; determining whether said increased repetition data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; interrupting recording of said information onto said second memory and rewinding said first memory if said determining step determines that said increased repetition data is not greater than said recording repetition number; changing said count data by counting-down said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first memory;; comparing count data generated during said counting-down step to said count data stored in said first memory location; and repeating, when said count data generated during said counting down step equals said count data stored in said first memory location, said step of returning said first deck means to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second deck means in said recording mode, until said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition number data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased repetition data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location.

Preferably, said first deck means comprises: reproducing means for reproducing information recorded on said first memory; first deck servo means for controlling said first deck means in response to control signals from said controlling means and for generating said displacement pulses; and first signal processor means for amplifying and demodulating a signal obtained by the reproducing head from the first memory.

Preferably, said second deck means comprises: second signal processor means for generating a modulated signal by modulating said signal amplified and demodulated by said first signal processor means; recording means for recording said modulated signal onto said second memory; and second deck servo means for controlling said second deck means in response to control signals from said controlling means.

Preferably, said controlling means comprises: timer means for performing said counting of said displacement pulses generated by said first deck servo means and for generating said count data in response to a data required command signal; and controller means for generating said control signals and said command signals, for receiving said count data, and for controlling said first and second deck servo means.

An apparatus as above may further comprise: means for displaying said count data generated by said timer means; an on-screen display generator for generating picture-in-picture information for display in response to display control data output from said controller means; and a monitor for displaying said information reproduced from said first memory and for displaying said first memory location, said second memory location, and said third memory location as picture-in-picture information superimposed upon a background display.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of copying a program portion from a first to a second recording medium in reproducing means and recording means respectively of a dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: entering start and end positions of the first recording medium to define a program portion to be copied; entering a desired number of copies of said program portion to be made; and controlling said reproducing and recording apparatus to repeatedly reproduce said program portion from said first medium and, concurrently with each such reproduction, record said program portion on said second medium, such that said number of copies of said program portion are recorded sequentially on said second recording medium.

Such a method as above may further comprise any one or more of the features disclosed in the accompanying specification, claims, abstract and/or drawings, in any combination.

The invention extends to a dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus adapted to perform a method as above.

The invention extends to a dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention, or adapted to perform a method according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention, being a video reproducing and recording apparatus.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a hardware block diagram of one example of a double cassette deck tape recorder according to the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are flow charts illustrating the setting of a recording repetition; Figures 3A and 3B are flow charts of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for repeatedly recording a recording repetition region; Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E illustrate memory maps; Figure 5 is a view of an indicating table of a menu displayed on a monitor; Figures 6A and 6B are views of tapes showing repetition regions; and Figures 7A and 7B are flow charts of a second embodiment of the present invention for repeatedly recording a recording repetition region.

In the figures, like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts.

Referring briefly to Figures 6A and 6B, in conventional dubbing, a tape D1 storing certain programs is located in the reproducing deck, and an empty tape D2 is loaded in a recording deck. In this case, a given region (program 2) of the programs of the tape D1 may be repeatedly dubbed onto the empty tape D2 only by manually operating the two decks. For example, the first and second decks are manually operated to be respectively in stop and pause modes at the end point P2 of the program 2, and the first deck rewound until the tape D1 returns to the start point P1 of the program 2. Then the first and second decks are manually operated again to be respectively in the play-back and recording modes.

Referring now to Figure 1, a first deck mechanism 12 (hereinafter referred to as a first deck) includes a reproducing head 14 for reproducing information recorded on a first magnetic tape (not shown). A second deck mechanism 16 (hereinafter referred to as a second deck) includes a recording/reproducing head 18 for recording input signals on a second magnetic tape (not shown) and reproducing the information recorded on the second magnetic tape.

First and second deck servo circuits 20, 22 control the operations of reproducing, recording/reproducing, etc., of the first and second decks 12, 16, according to corresponding deck mode control signals. The first and second servo circuits 20, 22 generate displacement pulses to indicate the amount of the displacement of the recording tapes loaded on the first and second decks 16, 18. For example, the displacement pulses are up-counting or down-counting pulses according to whether the rotational direction of the decks is forward or reverse.

A first signal processing circuit 24 amplifies and demodulates the reproduced signal picked up by the reproducing head 14 of the first deck 12 into the signal state prior to recording, to transmit it through lines 50, 55 as an amplified and demodulated signal. A second signal processing circuit 26 modulates the amplified and demodulated signal received through the line 50 into a record signal to apply the record signal to the recording/reproducing head 18, and also demodulates the signals picked up by the recording/reproducing head 18 to transmit those signals through line 55.

A timer microprocessor 28 (hereinafter referred to as a T-MPU) obtains counted data by making counts of the up/down displacement pulses generated by the first and second servo circuits 20, 22 to transmit the counted data through line 58, and transmits the counted data through a line 48 in response to a data requiring command signal from microprocessor unit 32 (hereinafter referred to as a MPU). A display (i.e. digitron) 30 displays the counted data received through line 58. Microprocessing unit 32 controls the operational mode of the first and second deck servo circuits 20 and 22, reads the counted data of the T-MPU 28, and performs control of display. An onscreen display driver 34 (hereinafter referred to as an OSD) generates display data according to the display controls of the MPU 32.A monitor 36 displays the signals from the first and second signal processing circuits 24 and 26 and OSD 34 on a cathode ray tube (CRT).

Referring now to Figure 4A, a memory map includes a start memory SM (hereinafter referred to as SM) consisting of two bytes for recording the counted data of a beginning point; Figure 4B shows an end memory EM (hereinafter referred to as an EM) consisting of two bytes for recording the counted data of an end point, wherein the counting data is the output data from T-MPU 28; Figure 4C shows a repeating number memory RN (hereinafter referred to as a RN) consisting of 4 bits for recording the number of repeating times set by a user;Figure 4D shows an operating counter OC CNT (hereinafter referred to as an OC-CNT) for reading and storing the displacement information of the first deck from the T-MPU 28 during a given access period, which period may be determined by a timer interruption; and Figure 4E shows an operating number counter ON-CNT (hereinafter referred to as an ON-CNT) for storing the data to detect whether a given region of program has been dubbed by a selected number of times. In this case, the data storing of the ON-CNT memories is performed by the MPU 32. The SM, EM, RN, OC-CNT and ON-CNT are installed in an internal RAM of the MPU 32 that records or clears data onto, or from them according to an external command and the execution thereof.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a menu displayed on the monitor 36 under the control of the MPU 32 and OSD 34. An indication 300 shows a message "setting region", 400 a counted value of the starting point of the given region, 500 a counted value of the end point of the given region, 600 a message of "repeat number", and 700 a number of recording repetitions set by a user.

For describing the operation of the above in detail, it is assumed that a cassette tape D1 (hereinafter referred to as a playback tape) containing a previously recorded program is loaded in the first deck 12 as shown in Figure 6A, rewound to the starting point PO, and the tape displacement information for the first and second decks 12, 16 is cleared from the T-MPU 28.

In the state described as above, if a key signal to play the first deck 12 is applied to MPU 32 through a bus line 38, MPU 32 generates a play mode control signal through a control bus 42. First deck servo circuit 20 controls the first deck 12 to play the playback tape according to the play mode control signal from MPU 32 and generates up-counting pulses to detect the displacement of the playback tape driven by the first deck 12. The upcounting pulses are supplied to the T-MPU 28 by a given period. Then reproducing head 14 picks up the program information (program 1) recorded on the playback tape D1 to apply the program information to the first signal processing circuit 24. The T-MPU 28 detects the displacement of the tape in the first deck 12 by counting up the up-counting pulses from the first deck servo circuit 20. First signal processing circuit 24 demodulates video signals picked up by reproducing head 14 into a demodulated signal having a state similar to its state prior to recording. The demodulated (e.g., video) signals are applied to the monitor 36 through the output line 53.

Meanwhile, while in the play mode, the MPU 32 detects whether or not a key signal is applied through the key input line 38 by scanning the input signal by a given period in step 100 of Figure 2A. In this case, the key signal may be obtained from a conventional key matrix or from a remote controller to which a record repetition command key, a key or keys for selecting a desired number of recording repetitions and a recording repetition execution key, have been added.

The MPU 32 returns to the play mode of first deck 12 when key signal is not detected in step 100, and it determines whether or not key signal indicates the recording repetition command in step 102 when the key is detected. MPU 32 performs service in accordance with the operational instruction represented by the instructional signal applied by the corresponding manually operated key, in step 104 and returns to the first step 100 when the key signal is not the recording repetition command in step 102. When the recording repetition command key is depressed (i.e. activated) by a user at point P1 of the playback tape D1 in step 102, MPU 32 generates repeating mode menu indication data to apply that data to the OSD 34 through an output bus 40 in step 106.The repeating mode menu indication data represents a menu as shown in Figure 5, and the OSD 34 generates display data, as shown in Figure 5, to display that data to monitor 36. Accordingly monitor 36 displays the video signal reproduced from the first signal processing circuit 24 and the repeating mode menu in a manner such as a picture-in-picture (PIP), as shown in Figure 5. In this case, the repeating mode menu is displayed in either a corner or in a central region of the reproduced picture.

Then the MPU 32 generates through line 46, a command signal for requiring the current displacement count information to T-MPU 28 in step 108. Accordingly the T-MPU 28 supplies the tape displacement count information of two bytes for the first deck 12 to MPU 32 through line 48.

Thus, in step 110, the tape displacement count information for the first deck 12 is stored in SM formed in the internal RAM region shown in (A) of Figure 4. In step 112, MPU 32 supplies the data stored in the SM to the OSD 34 so as to display that data on the start region 400 of Figure 5, and detects whether or not a recording repetition command key signal is again depressed by a user in step 114. If the recording repetition command key signal is not received in step 114, MPU 32 repeats step 114 until it is received. While the MPU 32 is repeating step 114, the first deck 12 continues to reproduce the information recorded on the reproducing tape D1 as shown in Figure 6A, and the reproduced video signal is displayed on the monitor 36.

In step 114, if the recording repetition command key signal is applied to MPU 32 through the line 38 in order to repeatedly record the region between P1 and P2 shown in Figures 6A and 6B when the first deck 12 reproduces the video signal at the point P2, MPU 32 generates a command to T-MPU 28 to provide the tape displacement counting information of the first deck 12 in step 116. Then, the T-MPU 28 provides the MPU 32 with the tape displacement counting information of the first deck 12. The tape displacement counting information is obtained by counting up the pulses generated from the first deck servo circuit 20, and the counted value P2 is larger than the counted value P1 (P2 > P1).

In step 118, the MPU 32 stores the tape displacement counting value of the T-MPU 28 in the EM location of its internal memory as shown in Figure 4B and generates a control data to the OSD 34 for displaying the data stored in the EM. OSD 34 applies the on-screen display data to monitor 36 for displaying the displacement counting information of point P2 on the end region 500 in Figure 5. Accordingly, MPU 32 stores the position information of P1 and P2 of the playback tape D1 in the SM and the EM locations, respectively, and the region between P1 and P2 is the region that is to be repeatedly reproduced onto the second deck's tape D2.

In step 120, the MPU 32 detects whether the recording repetition number key signal is applied through line 38. The recording repetition number key signal sets how many times the region between points P1 and P2 is to be reproduced/recorded, and it may be applied by using the number keys. Upon receiving the recording repetition number, the MPU 32 writes the number data applied through line 38 in the RN memory location consisting of four bits, as shown in Figure 4C, of its internal memory in step 124, and jumps to step 128.If the recording repetition number key signal is not received in step 120, MPU 32 writes "1" in the RN location in step 126 by detecting the lapse of a given time in step 122 and then goes to step 128 After writing the recording repetition number data of the RN location in step 124 or 126, MPU 32 controls the OSD 34 to display the data stored in the RN location on the recording repetition number indication region 700 of the repeating mode menu indicating region, as shown in Figure 5, in step 128, clears the indication of the menu in step 130, and returns to step 100.Thus, the start and end indication regions 400 and 500 respectively, display the position data P1 and P2 of the repeating execution region stored in the SM and EM respectively, and the recording repetition number indication region 700 displays the recording repetition number. The menu indication is cleared automatically after given time.

After setting the repeating region between P1 and P2 of the playback tape D1 loaded in first deck 12, the recording tape D2 is loaded in second deck 16, and a key signal applied to the MPU 32 is looked for in step 100 of Figure 3 which is the same step 100 of Figure 2A. In step 202, when depression of a key is detected, MPU 32 determines whether or not the key signal indicates that the recording repetition execution command has been selected. In step 206, the MPU 32 applies a rewinding mode control signal to the first deck 12 through the control bus 42 when the recording repetition execution key signal is detected in step 202. In addition, MPU 32 resets the ON-CNT locations and the OC-CNT of the internal memory in step 208, and checks the first deck servo circuit 20 in step 209 to detect whether or not the first deck 12 is stopped.The tape displacement counting information of the first deck supplied by the T-MPU 28 is stored in the OC-CNT location of Figure 4D, and up-dated at a given period by the timer interrupt routine of MPU 32.

Upon receiving the rewinding mode control signal from MPU 32 in step 206, the first deck servo circuit 20 rewinds the first deck 12. When the first deck 12 is rewound, first deck servo circuit 20 generates down-counting pulses applied to T-MPU 28, and T-MPU 28 counts down the tape displacement information for the first deck 12 by counting the down-counting pulses. The first deck 12 automatically stops its rewinding operation at the start point of the playback. For example, when the rewinding of first deck 12 is started at tape displacement position P3, the rewinding thereof is stopped at point PO shown in Figure 6A, where the first deck has started the reproduction mode. This automatic stopping of the rewinding is well-known in itself in this technical field.When the first deck 12 is stopped at the starting point P0 of the reproduction, MPU 32 detects the stopping of the first deck in step 209 to supply a reproduction mode signal and a recording mode control signal, respectively through the control buses 42 and 44, to the first and second servo circuits 20 and 22 in step 210.

The first deck servo circuit 20 puts the first deck 12 into the reproduction mode in response to the reproduction mode signal received through the line 42, and generates the up-counting pulses to T-MPU 28 according to the reproduction operation of the first deck 12. If the playback tape of the first deck 12 is played back from the point P0 of Figure 6A, T MPU 28 counts the input up-counting pulses starting from point PO and records the tape displacement information for the first deck 12. In this case, the tape displacement information of the first deck 12 is transferred to MPU 32 by a given period by the timer interruption of the MPU 32 and up-dated to the OC-CNT location of Figure 4D.The reproducing head 14 of the first deck 12 picks up the information of the playback tape D1 from point PO to and transmits the information to the first signal processing circuit 24. The first signal processing circuit 24 demodulates the signal picked up by the reproducing head 14 to transmit the demodulated signal to the second signal processing circuit 26 and the monitor 36 through lines 50 and 53, respectively. Accordingly, monitor 36 displays the demodulated signal from the first signal processing circuit 24. Meanwhile, the second deck servo circuit 22 places the second deck 16 in a recording mode in response to the recording mode signal through the control bus 44, and the second signal processing circuit 26 modulates the reproduced signals through line 50 into the recording signals to transmit the reproduced signals through line 52.The record/reproducing head 18 of the second deck 16 records the recording signals through line 52 on the record tape D2, as is shown in Figure 6B.

After performing step 210, the MPU 32 detects whether or not the displaced position of the playback tape D1 has reached end point P2 of the recording repetition region by checking in step 212 whether the value of the OC-CNT location is equal to the value of the EM location. Referring now to Figure 3B, if the value of the OC-CNT location is equal to that of the EM location, then in step 214 MPU 32 increases the value of the ON-CNT of Figure 4E. Then, MPU 32 checks in step 216 whether the value of the ON CNT location is larger than that of the RN location.If the value of the ON CNT location is equal to or less than that of the RN location, in step 220 MPU 32 supplies the rewinding mode and pause mode signals to the first and second decks 12 and 16 through the control buses 42 and 44 respectively, because the recording has not been repeatedly the number of times set by the user. The first deck servo circuit 20 puts the first deck 12 in the rewinding mode in response to the rewinding mode control signal and supplies downcounting pulses according to the rewinding to T-MPU 28. Then, T-MPU 28 counts down the tape displacement counting information OC-CNT of the first deck 12, thus decreasing its value. While the first deck 12 is rewound, the second deck servo circuit 22 puts the second deck 16 into the pause mode.

Thus, the position of the playback tape D1 returns from the point P2 to point P1, and the recording tape D2 is positioned at point P2'.

In step 222, MPU 32 checks the value of the OC-CNT to determine whether the value is equal to that of the SM location, and MPU 32 repeats step 220 if the value of the OC-CNT location is not equal to that of the SM location. When the value of the OC-CNT location is equal to that of the SM location, MPU 32 jumps to step 210. Accordingly, the first deck 12 performs the reproduction operation from point P1 of playback tape D1 shown in Figure 6A, and the second deck 16 performs the recording operation from the point P2' of the recording tape D2 shown in Figure 6B.

In step 212, MPU detects whether the value of the OC-CNT is equal to that of the EM location, and MPU 32 increases the value of the ON-CNT location by one, in step 214, when the value of the OC-CNT is equal to that of the EM location. Thereafter, in step 216, MPU 32 goes to step 220 if the value of the ON-CNT location is equal to or less than that of the RN location, and to step 218 when the value of the ON-CNT location is larger than that of the RN location. If the value of the ON-CNT location is larger than that of the RN location, MPU 32 places first deck 12 in the reproducing mode and the second deck 16 in the recording mode, respectively, in step 218, and terminates the recording repetition mode because the recording has been repeated by the number of times set by the user.For example, if the region between point P1 and point P2 of the playback tape D1 is selected as the recording repetition region, and if the number of the repeating times is set as two, program 2 is recorded on the recording tape D2 twice, as is shown in Figure 6B.

The above-described example of the current invention enables a double cassette deck tape recorder system to automatically record a playback tape and to repeatedly record a given region of the playback tape by setting the region and the number of recording repetition times.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications in detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, Figures 7A and 7B illustrate an alternative embodiment.

Illustrated by Figures 7A and 7B, in which the steps that are similar to those of Figures 3A and 3B are numbered the same, after detection of the repeat recording execution key in step 202, the ON-CNT location would be reset in step 706. In step 708 the rewinding mode control signal from MPU 32 is applied to the first deck servo circuit 20 which rewinds the first deck 12.

When the first deck 12 is rewound, the first deck servo circuit 20 generates down-counting pulses applied to T-MPU 28, and T-MPU 28 counts down the tape displacement information of the first deck 12 by counting the downcounting pulses. The first deck 12 automatically stops its rewinding at the point P1 when the value of the OC-CNT location is equal to that of the SM location in step 709; MPU 32 repeats step 708 when the value of the OC CNT is not equal to that of the SM location. When the value of the OC-CNT location is equal to that of the SM location, MPU 32 goes to step 210 and the further steps as described in Figure 3B are performed, with the exception of step 218. Instead of step 218, step 718 of Figure 7B is performed, wherein the second deck is placed in a stop mode while the first deck is placed in the reproduction mode. This alternative embodiment allows for the repeated recording on a recording tape of only the information of the selected region of the playback tape, instead of a recording of the whole playback tape, including the repeatedly recorded region, on the recording tape. Other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (24)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of repeatedly recording a given region of magnetic recording medium in a tape recorder system comprising a first deck and a second deck, recording medium position monitor means for monitoring positions of first and second magnetic recording media in said first and second decks, respectively, means for controlling said system, memory means having a plurality of regions for storing start and end positions of said first magnetic recording medium and a number of recording repetition times, and counting means for making a cumulative count of each said recording of said given region onto the second recording medium, the method comprising the steps of:: monitoring the positions of said first and second magnetic recording media, respectively, by counting pulses generated with displacements of said first and second recording media so as to generate signals for indicating the positions of said first and second recording media; setting a recording repetition region by storing position values of said start and end positions for said first magnetic recording medium into corresponding start and end position memory regions in response to respective first and second recording repetition command signals; storing a selected number representing a number of times for recording said given region onto said second recording medium;; operating said first and second decks in reproduction and recording modes respectively, in response to a recording repetition execution signal and providing previously recorded signals from said given region of the first magnetic medium within said first deck to said second deck as recording signals until the position value of the first magnetic recording medium monitored by said recording medium position monitor means is equal to the end data stored in said end position memory region; operating said first and second decks respectively in rewind and pause modes, counting down current position values of the first magnetic recording medium from said recording medium position monitor means, and comparing the current position values being counted down with the start position stored in said start position memory region; and if the current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means is determined to be equal to said start position, placing said first and second decks in the reproduction and recording modes respectively.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of setting a recording repetition region comprises the steps of: setting said start position of the repetition recording region by storing a current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means monitored by said recording medium position monitor means into said start position memory region in response to the first recording repetition command signal; and setting said end position of said repetition recording region by storing a current position value of said first magnetic recording medium means monitored by said monitoring means into said end position memory region in response to the second recording repetition command signal.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of: selecting and storing said number of recording repetition times to indicate how many times said recording repetition region is to be recorded after setting said end position.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising the step of producing the data stored in said plurality of regions as display data.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said step of providing the previously recorded signals of said first deck to said second deck as the recording signals comprises the steps of: producing the previously recorded signals as the recording signals by resetting the counting means in response to said recording repetition execution signal, and placing said first and second decks in said reproduction and recording modes respectively; comparing the current position values of said first magnetic recording medium means with the value stored in said end position memory region;; increasing a quantity generated by said counting means when a current position value provided by said recording medium position monitor means is equal to the value stored in said end position memory region and comparing the increased quantity provided by said recording repetition times counter means with the stored selected number; operating said first and second decks respectively in said reproduction and recording modes when said increased quantity is greater than the stored selected number; returning to the step of operating said first and second decks respectively in rewind and pause modes; counting down the position value of the first magnetic recording medium from said recording medium position monitor means; and comparing the position value being counted down with the value stored in said start position memory region when said increased quantity is less than said stored selected number.

6. A method of repeatedly recording information of a selected region of a first magnetic recording medium onto a second magnetic recording medium, wherein said first and second magnetic recording media are mounted in a dual cassette recorder, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first magnetic recording medium in a playback mode; generating count values by counting displacement pulses generated in response to movement of said first magnetic recording medium, wherein said displacement pulses are counted up during playback of said first magnetic recording medium and counted down during rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium; storing, in a first memory location, one of said count values generated in said counting step simultaneously in response to a first recording command signal;; storing, in a second memory location, another one of said count values generated in said counting step simultaneously in response to a second recording command signal, said count values stored in said first and second memory locations respectively defining start and end points of said selected region; storing, in a third memory location, a recording repetition number representing how many times said selected region is to be repeatedly recorded onto said second magnetic recording medium; rewinding said first magnetic recording medium in response to an input recording repetition execution signal and setting a recording repetition value of a fourth memory location to zero; stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point;; returning said first magnetic recording medium to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second magnetic recording medium in a recording mode; counting-up said displacement pulses, comparing count values generated during said counting-up step to said count value stored in said second memory location, increasing by one said recording repetition value stored in said fourth memory location and storing an increased recording repetition value in said fourth memory location; determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; pausing said second magnetic recording medium and rewinding said first magnetic recording medium if said determining step determines said increased recording repetition value is not greater than said recording repetition number; ; counting-down said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium; comparing count values generated during said counting-down step to said count value stored in said first memory location; repeating, when said count values generated during said counting-down step equal said count value stored in said first memory location, said step of returning said first magnetic recording medium to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second magnetic recording medium in a recording mode, and the subsequent steps, until said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location.

7. A method according to claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and second magnetic recording media are magnetic tapes and said dual cassette recorder is a tape recorder, further comprising the steps of: displaying a repeat mode menu on a visual display means and displaying said count value stored in said first memory location in response to said first recording command signal; displaying said count value stored in said second memory location in response to said second recording command signal; displaying said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; and clearing said display of said repeat mode menu, said count values and said recording repetition number after said step of displaying said recording repetition number.

8. A method according to in claim 6 or 7, wherein said first magnetic recording medium has video information recorded thereon, and said step of storing said recording repetition number in said third location further comprises the steps of: determining whether a number key signal is input; writing number data, represented by said number key signal, into said third memory location as said recording repetition number if said number key signal is determined to have been input; and writing number data representing "1" into said third memory location as said recording repetition number after a predetermined time period if said number key signal is determined not to have been input.

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 7 and 8, wherein said display means is a monitor, and the method further comprises the steps of: displaying said video information during said playback mode; and displaying said repeat mode menu, said count values and said recording repetition number as picture-in-picture information simultaneously with the displaying of said video information.

10. A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein: said count values generated by said step of counting displacement values are stored in a fifth memory location; said step of setting said recording repetition value of said fourth memory to zero further comprises resetting said fifth memory location to contain a count value of zero; and said starting point in said step of stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point comprises a beginning point of said magnetic recording medium.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: maintaining said first magnetic recording medium in said playback mode when said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location for reproducing the information of said first magnetic recording medium which follows said selected region; and recording said reproduced information which follows said selected region onto said second magnetic recording medium.

12. A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein: said count values generated by said step of counting displacement values are stored, in a fifth memory location; and said step of stopping said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium at a starting point comprises the steps of: decreasing said count values stored in said fifth memory location in response to the counting down of said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first magnetic recording medium, comparing said decreased count values of said fifth memory location to said count value of said first memory location, and performing said stopping step when said count values of said first memory location and said fifth memory location are equal.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: maintaining said first magnetic recording medium in said playback mode when said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition number value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased recording repetition number value is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location for reproducing the information of said first magnetic recording medium which follows said selected region; and placing said second magnetic recording medium into a stop mode.

14. An apparatus for repeatedly recording a selected region of a first memory onto a second memory, the apparatus comprising: a dual cassette tape player/recorder having first deck means for playing back the first memory to reproduce information recorded within said selected region on the first memory, and second deck means for recording the information reproduced from the first memory; and controlling means for: placing said first deck means in a playback mode; generating count data by counting displacement pulses generated in response to movement of the first memory, wherein said displacement pulses are counted up during playback of the first memory and counted down during rewinding of the first memory; in response to a first recording command signal, defining a start point of said selected region by storing, in a first memory location, a first one of said count data generated in said step of counting displacement data; in response to a second recording command signal, defining an end point of said selected region by storing, in a second memory location, a second one of said count data generated in said step of counting displacement data;; storing, in a third memory location, a recording repetition number representing how many times said selected region is to be repeatedly recorded onto said second memory; rewinding said first memory in response to an input recording repetition execution signal and setting recording repetition data of a fourth memory location to zero; stopping said rewinding of said first memory at said start point; returning said first deck means to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second deck means in a recording mode; changing said count data by counting-up said displacement pulses while said first deck means is in said playback mode;; comparing count data generated during said counting-up step to said count data stored in said second memory location, generating increased repetition data by increasing incrementally said recording repetition data stored in said fourth memory location and storing said increased repetition data in said fourth memory location; determining whether said increased repetition data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location; interrupting recording of said information onto said second memory and rewinding said first memory if said determining step determines that said increased repetition data is not greater than said recording repetition number; changing said count data by counting-down said displacement pulses during said rewinding of said first memory; ; comparing count data generated during said counting-down step to said count data stored in said first memory location; and repeating, when said count data generated during said countingdown step equals said count data stored in said first memory location, said step of returning said first deck means to said playback mode while simultaneously placing said second deck means in said recording mode, until said step of determining whether said increased recording repetition number data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location determines that said increased repetition data is greater than said recording repetition number stored in said third memory location.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said first deck means comprises: reproducing means for reproducing information recorded on said first memory; first deck servo means for controlling said first deck means in response to control signals from said controlling means and for generating said displacement pulses; and first signal processor means for amplifying and demodulating a signal obtained by the reproducing head from the first memory.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second deck means comprises: second signal processor means for generating a modulated signal by modulating said signal amplified and demodulated by said first signal processor means; recording means for recording said modulated signal onto said second memory; and second deck servo means for controlling said second deck means in response to control signals from said controlling means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said controlling means comprises: timer means for performing said counting of said displacement pulses generated by said first deck servo means and for generating said count data in response to a data required command signal; and controller means for generating said control signals and said command signals, for receiving said count data, and for controlling said first and second deck servo means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising; means for displaying said count data generated by said timer means; an on-screen display generator for generating picture-in-picture information for display in response to display control data output from said controller means; and a monitor for displaying said information reproduced from said first memory and for displaying said first memory location, said second memory location, and said third memory location as picture-in-picture information superimposed upon a background display.

19. A method of copying a program portion from a first to a second recording medium in reproducing means and recording means respectively of a dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: entering start and end positions of the first recording medium to define a program portion to be copied; entering a desired number of copies of said program portion to be made; and controlling said reproducing and recording apparatus to repeatedly reproduce said program portion from said first medium and, concurrently with each such reproduction, record said program portion on said second medium, such that said number of copies of said program portion are recorded sequentially on said second recording medium.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising any one or more of the features disclosed in the accompanying specification, claims, abstract and/or drawings, in any combination.

21. A dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus adapted to perform a method according to claim 19 or 20.

22. A program recording method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A dual recording medium reproducing and recording apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, or adapted to perform a method according to any of the preceding claims, being a video reproducing and recording apparatus.