Tape Sensing Device for Magnetic Tape Recording and/or Reproducing Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a device for sensing the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape for use with a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Magnetic tapes coated with various kinds of magnetic materials are now commercially available for use with tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus. For example, magnetic tapes are available that are coated with .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (gamma-ferric oxide) or with CrO.sub.2 (chromium dioxide). By reason of the different magnetic properties of such tapes, it is necessary that certain characteristics of recording and/or reproducing apparatus, for example, the bias signal applied to the magnetic recording head and/or the equalizing function of a frequency equalizing circuit, be changed to obtain the optimum recording conditions of the apparatus when used with the various types of magnetic tapes. Accordingly, the conventional magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus is usually provided with a tape selector switch which has to be manually actuated by the operator of the apparatus for obtaining the proper recording conditions for the magnetic tape to be employed. If the operator forgets to manipulate the tape selector switch to the position corresponding to the type of the tape being employed, or if the type of magnetic coating on the tape is not known to the operator, then recording on the magnetic tape may be effected under less than optimum conditions with consequent loss of the desired recording quality.

In order to avoid the above problem, it has been proposed to pre-record a reference signal, for example, with a frequency of 10 KHz, on an initial portion of each magnetic tape, and to provide the tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus with means by which, prior to a regular recording operation of the apparatus, the pre-recorded reference signal is reproduced and the level of the reproduced reference signal is detected as an indication of the type of magnetic coating on the tape, with the detected level of the reproduced reference signal being employed to automatically select the proper bias signal and equalizing function for the tape in question. However, the foregoing proposed arrangement is disadvantageous in that it requires the pre-recording of the tapes with the reference signal and the reproducing of such reference signal by a reproducing operation of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus prior to the commencement of a recording operation of the latter. In the case of tape cassettes, particularly, the reproducing of the pre-recorded reference signal for establishing the type of tape in the cassette is especially troublesome in that it may require the rewinding of the tape to locate the portion of the latter on which the reference signal is pre-recorded.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device for sensing the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape, particularly when installed in a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and which avoids the above described problems and disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object is to provide a device, as aforesaid, which can sense the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape while the latter is at rest in a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

A further object is to provide a tape sensing device, as aforesaid, which can automatically achieve proper selection of the biasing signal and the equalizing function of the tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the tape is installed.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a device for sensing the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape while the latter is at rest, for example, in a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus, has a DC magnetic recording head energizeable by a predetermined DC voltage for applying a DC magnetic flux to the tape with which such head is engaged, a magnetic sensing element preferably coupled with the DC magnetic recording head for sensing the remanence or residual magnetism in the tape while the latter remains at rest following the application of the DC magnetic flux to the tape, and a level detector for detecting the level of the sensed remanence of the tape as an indication of the type of magnetic coating thereon. Such level detector may be advantageously employed for controlling a frequency equalizing circuit and/or a bias oscillator included in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus so as to automatically obtain the proper equalizing function and bias signal for recording operations on the particular type of tape installed in the apparatus.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the magnetic properties of two magnetic tapes having different types of magnetic coatings, and to which reference will be made in explaining the operation of tape sensing devices according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing portions of a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape sensing device according to one embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another embodiment of a tape sensing device according to this invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the magnetic property of a magnetic tape is indicated or represented by its respective magnetic hysteresis curve. Thus, on FIG. 1, the curve a represents the magnetic property of a magnetic tape employing gamma-ferric oxide in its magnetic coating, while the curve b represents the magnetic property of a magnetic tape using chromium dioxide in its magnetic coating. When a DC magnetic flux of H oersteds is applied to each of the magnetic tapes, the remanence or residual magnetism remaining in the tape upon the discontinuation of such DC magnetic flux has the value B.sub.1 in the case of the magnetic tape having gamma-ferric oxide in its magnetic coating, while the remanence or residual magnetism of the magnetic tape having chromium dioxide in its magnetic coating has the value B.sub.2 which, as shown, is substantially different from the value B.sub.1. Accordingly, a device according to this invention for sensing the type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape is generally effective to apply a DC magnetic flux to the tape while the latter is at rest, and then to sense the remanence or residual magnetism in the tape while the latter remains at rest following the application of the DC magnetic flux to the tape so that the level of the sensed remanence of the tape may be detected as an indication of the type of magnetic coating thereon.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a tape sensing device according to this invention is advantageously incorporated in a magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus which, to the extent necessary for an understanding of the invention, is shown to include an input terminal 1 to which, by way of example, an audio input signal to be recorded may be applied. Such input signal is fed from terminal 1 to an equalizing amplifier 2 which has a frequency equalizing circuit 3 associated therewith. The output signal from amplifier 2 is suitably biased with an oscillating or AC signal from a bias oscillator 4 and then applied to a recording magnetic head 5 which is operative to record such signal on a magnetic tape T as the latter is suitably transported or driven past the recording head. In order to adapt the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording the audio or other informational signal on magnetic tapes having different types of magnetic coatings, the equalizing function of the equalizing amplifier 2 is selectively changeable, for example, by actuation of a switching circuit 6 through which a selected one of capacitors 3a, 3b and 3c shown to be included in the frequency equalizing circuit 3 is connected to amplifier 2. Further, as shown, a switching circuit 7 actuable simultaneously with the switching circuit 6 is provided for connecting a selected one of oscillators 4a, 4b and 4c which form the bias oscillating circuit 4 to the line between the equalizing amplifier 2 and the magnetic recording head 5 so as to select a suitable bias signal to be applied to the output of amplifier 2 for recording on the tape T then installed in the apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, the above described magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus is further provided with a DC magnetic recording head 8 which is engageable with the tape T at a location along the latter in advance of the audio or informational signal recording head 5 considered in the direction of normal transport or movement of the tape, as indicated by the arrow A. The DC magnetic recording head 8 may include a core 8A of magnetic material provided with a gap lg, and a winding 8L on the core which is connected through a switch 17 with a source 10 of DC voltage. Thus, with tape T at rest, the closing of switch 17 causes a DC magnetic flux to be applied across gap lg of head 8 to the portion of tape T adjacent such gap.

The tape sensing device according to this invention further includes a magnetic sensitive element, for example, in the form of a Hall-effect element 9, which is preferably coupled with the DC magnetic recording head 8, as by being interposed between portions of the core 8A thereof, and which is operative to sense the remanence or residual magnetism in the portion of the tape adjacent gap lg while the tape remains at rest following the opening of switch 17, that is, following the discontinuance of the application of DC magnetic flux to the tape. In order to ensure that the remanence or residual magnetism sensed by magnetic sensitive element 9 will be independent of the thickness of the magnetic coating on tape T, the distance across the gap lg preferably is made less than three microns.

The output signal from the Hall-effect or other magnetic sensitive element 9 has a level determined by the remanence or residual magnetism in tape T and is applied to a level detector 11 which may include an amplifier (not shown) and which detects the level of the output signal from element 9 as an indication of the type of magnetic coating on the tape T. The output signal from level detector 11 which is indicative of the type of magnetic coating on tape T is applied to a switching control circuit 12 which is effective to correspondingly actuate switching circuits 6 and 7 so that the equalizing function of amplifier 2 and the bias signal will be suitably selected so as to be proper for the recording of the audio or other informational signal by the head 5 on the tape T in question.

In order that the remanence or residual magnetism of the tape T resulting from the sensing of the type of magnetic coating on the tape in accordance with this invention will not interfere with the subsequent recording of audio or informational signals on the tape, a magnetic erasing head 13 is preferably provided to contact the magnetic tape between the DC magnetic recording head 8 and the information signal recording head 5. Such erasing head 13 is supplied with an erasing current from an oscillator 14 which is also connected to the line between switch 17 and winding 8L through a capacitor 16 and a switch 15. It will be apparent that, when tape T is transported in the direction of the arrow A following the sensing of the type of magnetic coating on the tape, as described above, the erasing current supplied to erasing head 13 is effective to discharge or erase any magnetic charge remaining on the tape as a result of the tape sensing operation prior to the recording of audio or informational signals on the tape by means of the head 5. Further, when switch 15 is closed, any charged magnetic force in the head 8 is discharged or removed by the output signal from oscillator 14. Preferably, at the initiation of a tape sensing operation, as described above, switches 15 and 17 are both closed, and then switch 15 is opened with switch 17 remaining closed for a short interval for the application of the DC magnetic flux to the tape while the latter is at rest. Thereafter, upon the opening of switch 17, magnetic sensitive element 9 senses the remanence or residual magnetism in the tape and level detector 11 and switching control circuit 12 then function to achieve the desired equalizing function and bias signal for recording on the tape in question.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that, in a tape sensing device according to another embodiment of this invention, a bias signal generator 101 has one of its terminals connected through a switch 102 and a capacitor 103 to one end of a coil or winding 104L on a core 104A of a DC magnetic recording head 104, while the other end of winding 104L is connected through a switch 105 to the other terminal of winding 104L. Further, a source 106 of DC voltage is connected, at its opposite terminals, to the line between capacitor 103 and winding 104L and to the line between switch 105 and oscillator 101, respectively. As in the case of the DC magnetic recording head 8 in the previously described embodiment, the head 104 on FIG. 3 has a gap lg at which such head is engageable with the magnetic tape T and a magnetic sensitive element 107, for example, in the form of a Hall-effect element, is interposed in the core 104 and is suitably connected to an amplifier 109. The output of amplifier 109 is adapted to be connected to ground through a switch 110 which is preferably ganged with the switch 105 so as to be opened and closed simultaneously with the latter. The output terminal of amplifier 109 is further connected to an input terminal 108 of a level detecting circuit 135.

In the level detecting circuit 135, input terminal 108 is connected to ground through a parallel arrangement of series connected bias setting resistors 116a and 117, series connected bias setting resistors 116b and 118, and series connected bias setting resistors 116c and 119. The level detecting circuit 135 is further shown to include three NPN-type transistors 120, 121 and 122 having their emitter electrodes connected to ground, while their collector electrodes are connected through resistors 123, 124 and 125, respectively, to a power source V.sub.cc. Further, the base electrode of transistor 120 is connected to the connection point between resistors 116a and 117, the base electrode of transistor 121 is connected to the connection point between the resistors 116b and 118, and the base electrode of transistor 122 is connected to the connection point between resistors 116c and 119. The series connected resistors 116a and 117, 116b and 118, and 116c and 119 are respectively dimensioned so that the corresponding transistors 120, 121 and 122, respectively, will be turned ON in response to different, progressively increasing levels of the signal applied to input terminal 108 from amplifier 109 when switch 110 is open, as hereinafter described in detail.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a switching control circuit 136 of the tape sensing device embodying this invention may include first, second and third flip-flop circuits 126, 127 and 128 having trigger terminals connected to the collector electrodes of transistors 120, 121 and 122, respectively. Each of the flip-flop circuits 126, 127 and 128 is shown to have two output terminals x and y at which signals "1" and "0" respectively appear in a first or normal state of the flip-flop circuit, with such signals being reversed, that is, the signals "1" and "0" appearing at the output terminals y and x, respectively, when the flip-flop circuit 126, 127 or 128 is triggered to its second state by means of a signal being applied to its trigger terminal in response to the turning ON of the respective transistor 120, 121 or 122. The switching control circuit 136 is further shown to include first, second and third NAND-circuits 129, 130 and 131, respectively, having their outputs connected to output terminals 132, 133 and 134, respectively, of the switching control circuit. Further, each of the NAND-circuits 129, 130 and 131 is provided with three input terminals u, v and w, with the second output terminal y of flip-flop circuit 126 being connected to the first input terminal u of each of the NAND-circuits 129, 130 and 131. The first output terminal x of flip-flop circuit 127 is connected to the second input terminal v of NAND-circuit 129, while the second output terminal y of flip-flop circuit 127 is connected to the second input terminals v of NAND-circuits 130 and 131. Finally, as shown, the first output terminal x of flip-flop circuit 128 is connected to the third input terminals w of NAND-circuits 129 and 130, while the second output terminal y of flip-flop circuit 128 is connected to the third input terminal w of NAND-circuit 131. Each of the NAND-circuits 129, 130 and 131 is arranged to provide a signal "0" at its output terminal when the signals applied to its input terminals u,v and w all have the value "1". Conversely, each of the NAND-circuits 129, 130 and 131 provides a signal having the value "1" at its output terminal when any one or more of the signals applied to its input terminals u, v and w has the value "0". Finally, the output terminals 132, 133 and 134 of switching control circuit 136 are suitably connected to switching circuits, for example, the switching circuits shown schematically at 6 and 7 of FIG. 2 so that the various combinations of output signals appearing at terminals 132, 133 and 134 will be effective to obtain the equalizing function and biasing signal necessary for recording operations on magnetic tapes having various magnetic coating materials thereon.

The tape sensing device described above with reference to FIG. 3 operates as follows:

Initially, switch 102 and ganged switches 105 and 110 are all closed so that with tape T at rest, a DC signal or voltage having a bias or AC signal added thereto is applied to the coil or winding 104L of head 104, while the output of amplifier 109 is grounded. Then, switch 102 is opened, while switches 105 and 110 remain closed, so that the AC or bias current applied through capacitor 103 to winding 104L is converged to zero amplitude, whereby any magnetic charge previously existing on head 104 is removed from the latter. After the bias current has been converged or reduced to zero by the opening of switch 102, the continued application of the DC voltage to winding 104L through closed switch 105 is effective to apply a DC magnetic flux across gap lg to the adjacent portion of tape T which remains at rest. Following the application of the DC magnetic flux to the tape, ganged switches 105 and 110 are opened, with the result that the magnetic sensitive or Hall-effect element 107 interposed in core 104A senses the remanence or residual magnetism in the stationary tape T and the resulting output of element 107 as amplified by amplifier 109, is applied to input terminal 108 of level detector 135. It will be apparent that the level of the signal applied to input terminal 108 will be dependent upon the remanence or residual magnetic flux density of the tape T, and hence will be determined by the type of magnetic coating on the tape. Further, it will be apparent that the transistors 120, 121 and 122, which are originally in their OFF states, will be selectively turned ON in response to the level of the signal applied to input terminal 108 and that, in response to the selective turning ON of transistors 120, 121 and 122, three different patterns of output signals will be provided at output terminals 132, 133 and 134 of switching control circuit 136.

More specifically, if the tape T being sensed has a magnetic coating which provides a relatively low remanence or residual magnetism so that the signal appearing at input terminal 108 when switches 105 and 110 are open has a relatively low level sufficient to turn ON only transistor 120, then only flip-flop circuit 126 is triggered to its second state and flip-flop circuits 127 and 128 remain in their first state, as shown on FIG. 3. As a result of the foregoing, flip-flop circuit 126 provides the signal 1 at its output terminal y so that input terminals u, v and w of NAND-circuit 129 all receive signals at the level "1" to provide the signal "0" at the respective output terminal 132. At the same time, input terminals u, v and w of NAND-circuit 130 will receive signals at the levels "1", "0" and "1", respectively, so that a signal at the level "1" will appear at the respective output terminal 133, while input terminals u, v and w of NAND-circuit 131 will receive signals "1", "0" and 0, respectively, so that the signal at the respective output terminal 134 will also remain at the level 1. Such signals at the levels "0" , "1" and "1" appearing at the output terminals 132, 133 and 134, respectively, of switching control circuit 136 will be effective to cause switching circuits 6 and 7 to select the equalizing function and biasing signal suitable for the recording of audio or informational signals on the tape which exhibited the respective relatively low remanence or residual magnetic flux. If the remanence or residual magnetic flux sensed by element 107 results in a signal at input terminal 108 having a level sufficient to turn ON transistor 121 in addition to transistor 120, then both flip-flops 126 and 127 are triggered to their second states, while flip-flop circuit 128 remains in its first state. As a result of the foregoing, the signals appearing at output terminals 132, 133 and 134 have the values "1", "0" and "1", respectively, and circuits 6 and 7 are suitably controlled by such signals to again provide an equalizing function and biasing signal suitable for recording of the audio or informational signals on the tape having the type of magnetic coating with a remanence or residual magnetic flux sufficient to provide the signal at terminal 108 for turning ON both transistors 120 and 121. Finally, if the magnetic tape which is being sensed has a magnetic coating with a remanence or residual magnetic flux sufficient to provide a signal at input terminal 108 of a relatively high level which turns ON all of the transistors 120, 121 and 122, the resulting triggering of the three flip-flop circuits 126, 127 and 128 results in signals at the output terminals 132, 133 and 134 having the values "1", "1" and "0", respectively. Once again, these output signals at the terminals 132, 133 and 134 are effective to control switching circuits 6 and 7 to provide an equalizing function and biasing signal which are proper for recording on the respective tape.

It will be apparent that, with the tape sensing devices according to this invention, as described above, the type of magnetic coating on the tape can be sensed or detected while the tape is at rest and, if desired, the sensing of the type of magnetic coating on the tape can be made effective to automatically establish the required equalizing function and biasing level for recording on such tape. Thus, even if the kind or type of magnetic coating on a magnetic tape is not known, the conditions for proper recording on such tape can be automatically and conveniently established without requiring the transport or movement of the tape or of the handling thereof. It will further be seen that, in a tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a tape sensing device according to this invention, improper or defective recording of the tape can be avoided, as contrasted with conventional apparatus in which the equalizing function and biasing signal have to be manually selected by manipulation of a tape selector switch, in which latter case the failure to manipulate the switch or the selection of an improper switch position can result in an equalizing function and biasing signal that are not adapted or correct for the tape installed in the apparatus.

It will be apparent that, if desired, suitable lamps or other indicators may be connected with the switching control circuit 12 or 136 so as to be selectively illuminated for indicating the type of magnetic tape which is the subject of a sensing operation.

In the embodiments of this invention which have been described above with reference to the drawings, provision has been made for discriminating between magnetic tapes having three different types of magnetic coatings thereon and for correspondingly establishing the preferred equalizing functions and biasing signals for such tapes. However, it will be obvious that tape sensing devices according to this invention may be provided for discriminating between more than three different types of magnetic tapes.

The bias oscillating circuit 4 and the associated switching circuit 7 may be effective to change the level of the biasing signal and/or the frequency of such signal. Further, although particular circuits have been shown on FIG. 3 as being suitable for the level detector 135 and switching control circuit 136, it will be apparent that various other circuits can be provided to perform the respective functions of those circuits in response to variations in the level of the output signal from the magnetic sensitive element 107. Finally, such magnetic sensitive element 107 may be a Hall-effect element, as previously mentioned, a planar Hall element (PHE), a magneto-resistive element or the like.

Although specific embodiments of this invention and various modifications thereof have been described above with reference to the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments or modifications, and that additional changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.