Recording/Playback Apparatus Facilitating Track Skip Detection

The present invention relates generally to novel video disc recording and playback apparatus facilitating the detection and correction of a disruption in the regular progression of the player stylus along a spiral track on a video disc record during playback.

It is noted that although the invention is herein described in detail in the context of a spirally-grooved disc, the principles of the present invention are also applicable to any disc, including a flat disc, having a spiral information track thereon.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,194 issued on Oct. 15, 1974 to Jon K. Clemens, video disc playback systems of a variable capacitance form are disclosed. In an arrangement therein disclosed, an information track incorporates geometric variations in the bottom of a spiral groove in a disc, the surface of which comprises conductive material covered with a thin coating of dielectric material. Variations in the capacitance presented between a conductive electrode on a tracking stylus and the conductive material of the disc occur as the disc is rotated by a supporting turntable; the capacitance variations are sensed to recover the recorded information.

In the playback of disc records of the above-mentioned type, conditions are occasionally encountered when the presence of some form of defect in the disc groove causes the player stylus to skip across grooves rather than follow the successive convolutions of the spiral groove in a regular progression toward one extremity thereof. For example, as the defect is encountered, the stylus is deflected into a repeat traversal of one or more previously traversed convolutions. In some instances, the outward deflection of the stylus is repeated for a substantial number of successive encounters with the defect. This condition is herein referred to as a "locked groove" condition, producing repetitive replay of the same recorded information, with annoying effects on picture display (and accompanying sound reproduction).

To reduce the effects of groove skips, it is desirable to detect and correct disruptions in the normal progression of the player stylus along the spiral groove during playback. In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,860 issued on June 15, 1976 to T. W. Burrus, a locked groove detection and correction apparatus for a video disc player is disclosed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,984, issued on Apr. 19, 1977 to E. O. Keizer, a system is disclosed for producing records in which picture signal synchronizing components in successive groove convolutions are staggered in a spiral manner. In the Burrus system, advantage is taken of the staggered sync locations of the video disc record having the Keizer format for automatically detecting the existence of a locked groove condition during playback. The Burrus detector includes means responsive to a disturbance of the phasing of recovered sync pulses which accompanies a repeat traversal of one or more previously traversed convolutions.

It is desirable to have the picture signal sync components of the video record aligned radially with respect to the record so as to reduce picture disturbance when the stylus radially traverses the record, for example, to produce various special effects, such as, frame freeze, fast forward, reverse motion, etc.

Pursuant to the principles of the present invention, a novel system for facilitating detection of a groove or track skip condition during playback of a video disc, in which picture signal synchronizing information is radially aligned, is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a recording signal containing picture signal information inclusive of synchronizing components and a pilot signal is impressed on a video disc along a spiral track. The frequencies of the synchronizing components and the pilot signal are such that an integral number of synchronizing components and a non-integral number of pilot signal cycles occupy each convolution of the spiral track.

Pursuant to a further aspect of the present invention, the playback apparatus includes means coupled to the signal pickup for recovering the pilot signal to the exclusion of other components of the recording signal, and means, responsive to the deviations in the phase of the recovered pilot signal due to a disruption in the regular progression of the signal pickup along the spiral track by a sudden radial shift in the location of the signal pickup, for developing an error signal indicative of the magnitude and sense of the disruption in the regular progression. The player apparatus further includes means responsive to the error signal development for correcting the disruption by radially shifting the signal pickup in a manner that substantially restores the regular progression thereof.

To facilitate unambiguous detection of groove skips of more than one groove convolution, the number of pilot signal cycles occupying each convolution of the spiral track differ from the integral number of pilot signal cycles by a small fraction of a cycle, at least several times smaller than half a cycle. Illustratively, the choice of a 0.08 cycle difference permits unambiguous detection of groove skips of up to 6 groove convolutions in either direction.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates, via a block diagram representation, a system for recording a recording signal containing picture signal information inclusive of synchronizing components and a signal inclusive of sound signal information and a pilot signal on a video disc along a spiral track thereon pursuant to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of an arrangement suitable for use in effecting certain functions of the recording system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates, via a block diagram representation, a playback apparatus incorporating a groove skip detection and correction system pursuant to this invention, and suitable for use with a video disc having a pilot signal impressed thereon in accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagram representations of arrangements suitable for use in effecting certain functions of the playback apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a carriage suitable for use with the playback apparatus of FIG. 3, and adapted for housing certain elements of the groove skip detection and correction system;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate, respectively, a sectional end view and a plan view of a stylus arm cartridge which is removably received in a compartment in the carriage of FIG. 6; the stylus arm cartridge being suitable for housing certain other elements of the groove skip detection and correction system of FIG. 3 which are disposed for coaction with the above-mentioned carriage elements;

FIGS. 9-11 show diagrammatic representations of the coaction of the above-mentioned cartridge and carriage elements;

FIG. 12 shows a frequency spectrum of color video signal information in a buried color subcarrier format suitable for use in the recording system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 illustrates a frequency spectrum of a composite signal inclusive of sound signal accompaniment of the video signal information and a pilot signal suitable for use in the recording system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of a video disc having a pilot signal impressed thereon; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate coaction of certain cartridge and carriage elements of FIGS. 6-11.

In the recording system of FIG. 1, a picture signal source 30 supplies a video signal, inclusive of luminance information, encoded chrominance information representative of a succession of scannings of colored images to be recorded and synchronizing information, to a picture carrier frequency modulator 32. The video signal is illustratively in a buried color subcarrier format as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,498, issued on Mar. 18, 1975 to D. H. Pritchard. FIG. 12 shows the frequency spectrum of the video signal in the buried subcarrier format. Pursuant to the principles of the Pritchard invention, a modulated color subcarrier, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 12, is buried in the midband region of the luminance signal.

The picture carrier frequency modulator 32 develops at its output terminal a frequency modulated picture carrier signal, the instantaneous frequency of which is varied over a predetermined high frequency deviation range (e.g., 4.3 MHz to 6.3 MHz) in accordance with the amplitude of the video signal input.

The recording system of FIG. 1 further includes a sound signal source 34 which supplies an audio signal, representative of a desired sound accompaniment for the colored images being recorded, to a low pass filter 36 having a cutoff frequency of 20 KHz.

A recorder 38 includes a turntable for rotatably supporting a disc master on which signals are recorded along a spiral track. The recorder 38 further includes a drive system for rotating the turntable at a speed which is correlated with the picture signal synchronizing components so that the synchronizing components are radially aligned on the disc master. In other words, an integral number of synchronizing components occur per turntable revolution. The correlation between the turntable speed and picture signal synchronizing components is diagramatically represented by the connection between the recorder 38 and a reference oscillator 40.

The reference oscillator 40, operating at the NTSC color subcarrier frequency (i.e., 3.58 MHz), is employed in the television signal generating system to provide the synchronizing components of the picture signal. The output of the reference oscillator 40 is also supplied to a pilot signal generator 42. The pilot signal generator 42 develops at its output a pilot signal having a frequency (21.18 KHz on the playback of the disc record) such that a fixed, non-integral number of pilot signal cycles occur per turntable revolution (2826.92 when fields of picture signal information occur per disc master revolution). Other considerations involved in arriving at this particular choice of pilot signal frequency are (1) the chosen pilot signal frequency should be higher than the useful band of audio signal information (e.g., 20 KHz) so as not to interfere with audio performance, and yet not so high as to introduce substantial increase in the bandwidth of the modulated audio carrier spectrum, (2) the chosen pilot signal frequency should be easily countable from the NTSC color subcarrier (e.g., divided by 169), and (3) the chosen pilot signal frequency should be such that the number of pilot signal cycles occupying each convolution of the spiral track differ from the integral number of pilot signal cycles by a small fraction of a cycle, at least several times smaller than half a cycle, to facilitate unambiguous detection of groove skips of more than one groove convolution. Illustratively, the choice of 0.08 cycle difference permits unambiguous detection of groove skips of up to 6 groove convolutions in either direction. FIG. 14 diagrammatically illustrates a video disc 64 having a pilot signal impressed thereon along a spiral information track. The arrow in FIG. 14 indicates the direction of rotation of the video disc relative to the player stylus.

An adder 44 combines the pilot signal with the sound signal at the output of the low pass filter 36 such that the pilot signal amplitude is one-tenth the peak amplitude of the sound signal. FIG. 13 shows the frequency spectrum of the signal present at the output of the adder 44.

A sound carrier frequency modulator 46 develops at its output terminal a modulated sound carrier signal, the instantaneous frequency of which is varied over a predetermined low frequency deviation range (e.g., 716 KHz.+-.55 KHz) in accordance with the amplitude of the signal at the output of the adder 44.

A combiner 48 combines the signals at the output terminals of the picture carrier modulator 32 and the sound carrier modulator 46 to provide a composite recording signal to the recorder 38. The recorder 38 is used to generate a disc master which is utilized for the production of video disc copies 64 in the manner described in the afore-mentioned Clemens patent. The block 50 in FIG. 1 represents these production processes.

FIG. 2 shows in block diagram form an illustrative pilot signal generator 42 which derives the pilot signal by counting from the reference oscillator 40 used to synchronize the turntable in the recorder 38. A clipper 52 shapes the sinusoidal reference signal (i.e., the NTSC color subcarrier) to a square waveform suitable as an input signal to a digital divide-by-N counter 54. The counter output signal, at a repetition rate 1/169 times that of the reference signal, is shaped to a square wave by the one-shot multivibrator 56 and the fundamental component is selected by the filter 58 to furnish the desired pilot signal sine wave at 1/169 times the frequency of the reference oscillator 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, a video disc player 60 (e.g., of the type shown in the above-mentioned Clemens patent) has a turntable 62 for rotatably supporting a video disc 64 having a spiral information track containing picture signal information inclusive of the synchronizing components and a pilot signal. The frequencies of the synchronizing components and the pilot signal are such that an integral number of synchronizing components and a non-integral number of pilot signal cycles occupy each convolution of the spiral track. The player 60 further includes a carriage 66 (FIG. 6) subject to translation in synchronism with the radial motion of the player stylus during playback. The carriage 66 has a compartment for removably receiving a cartridge 68 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which houses the signal pickup assembly.

A pickup circuit 70, responsive to the output of the signal pickup, develops at its output terminal a pulse train representative of the recorded information. The pickup circuit 70 is illustratively of the type described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,625, issued on Mar. 21, 1978 to Kawamoto, et al. The output of the pickup circuit 70 is delivered to a pair of bandpass filters 72 and 74. The picture carrier bandpass filter 72 has a relatively wide passband encompassing the deviation range of the high frequency picture carrier (e.g., 4.3 to 6.3 MHz) as well as the requisite adjacent sideband regions, and selectively passes the picture carrier component of the recorded signal to the relative exclusion of the sound carrier component thereof.

The sound carrier bandpass filter 74 has a relatively narrow passband encompassing the deviation range of the low frequency sound carrier (e.g., 716 KHz .+-. 55 KHz) as well as the requisite adjacent sideband regions, and selectively passes the sound carrier component of the recorded signal to the relative exclusion of the picture carrier component thereof.

The outputs of the respective bandpass filters 72 and 74 are passed to respective demodulators 76 and 78. The picture demodulator 76 develops at its output terminal the recorded picture signal information inclusive of synchronizing components (e.g., FIG. 12), and the sound demodulator 78 develops at its output the recorded audio signal information and the pilot signal (e.g., FIG. 13).

A picture signal processor 80, coupled to the picture demodulator, effects the separation of the chrominance information from the luminance information. A composite video signal generator 82 recombines the chrominance and the luminance information in accordance with, for example, the NTSC format. A transmitter 84 processes the sound, luminance and the chrominance information to form a signal suitable for delivery to a color TV receiver 86, wherein color image displays may be developed in accordance with the recorded information. Illustratively, where signal delivery to the antenna terminals of a color TV receiver is desired, the circuits include means for combining the separated components to form a new composite signal, which composite signal modulates a suitable RF carrier. U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 747,866, filed on Dec. 6, 1976 for J. P. Yu, and now U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,899, illustratively describes a transmitter apparatus.

A pilot signal bandpass filter 88 having a relatively narrow passband (e.g., 21.18 KHz .+-. 1.5 KHz) passes the recovered pilot signal to the exclusion of other recorded information. A phase locked loop 90, responsive to the deviations in the phase of the recovered pilot signal due to a disruption in the regular progression of the player stylus along the spiral track by a sudden radial shift in the location of the stylus, develops an error signal having an amplitude and a polarity indicative of the magnitude and sense of the disruption in the regular progression. A groove skipper driver circuit 92 responsive to the development of an error signal of a given sense and an amplitude exceeding a given threshold develops a standard correction pulse. A suitable groove skipper mechanism (e.g., FIGS. 9-11) responsive to the correction pulse effects a radial shift in the location of the player stylus in a manner that offsets the disruption in the regular progression of the player stylus.

FIG. 4 shows in block diagram form the elements of a phase-locked loop 90 which is used to sense sudden discontinuities of phase in the recovered pilot signal when the stylus skips to an adjacent groove. The phase of the input signal is compared to that of the reference oscillator 94 by the phase detector 96 yielding an error signal the average component of which is proportional to phase difference between input and reference signals. The error signal is filtered by the filter 98 and applied to control the frequency of the reference oscillator 94 by the voltage control 100 to bring the relative phase between the two signals to the phase detector 96 back to its nominal equilibrium value. The reference oscillator 94 thus tracks the frequency and phase of the pilot signal input with a time constant determined by the loop filter 98. When the stylus skips to another groove, the phase of the input signal jumps abruptly, as does the error signal output of the phase detector. The magnitude of the step in error signal follows the magnitude of the phase discontinuity over a range approaching 180.degree., and is in a direction corresponding to the direction of the input phase change. Thus the error signal can be used to indicate the direction of a stylus skip and the number of grooves skipped up to a limit of nearly one half the number of grooves required for the pilot signal to gain or lose one complete cycle measured along a radius of the record. For the illustrative case of 2826.92 pilot cycles in one revolution, the phase step will be about 28.degree. for each groove skipped; the phase will advance for a backward skip and will retard for a forward skip. After a skip, the error signal returns to its equilibrium value at a rate determined by the filter and the loop gain, and if no further skips occur the reference oscillator 94 continues tracking the newly established phase of the pilot signal input averaged over a time interval determined by the loop filter 98. The functions of the phase detector 96, voltage control 100 and reference oscillator 94 are conveniently combined in the CD4046AE Digital Integrated Circuit (COS/MOS Micropower Phase-Locked Loop).

FIG. 5 shows in block diagram form the elements used to perform limited correction of skipped grooves by energizing the groove skipper on receipt of error signals from the PLL90. The correction system illustrated advances the stylus a nominally fixed number of grooves upon detection of a backward skip of at least one groove. This limited correction suffices to eliminate the very objectionable case of a record defect which causes the stylus to jump backwards one groove and repeatedly play the same groove when the defect is encountered again after one revolution of the record. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that, since the magnitude and direction of a skip can be determined from the PLL error signal, the stylus can be relocated to a continuation of the very same groove from which it was displaced.

The error signal filter 102 in FIG. 5 is chosen together with the PLL loop filter 98 to discriminate most effectively against noise and spurious signals in the error signal and to maximize the peak voltage resulting from a phase step compared to the peak of the spurious and noise signals. The presence of a phase step corresponding to a backwards skip of at least one groove is then detected by a threshold drtector 104, the output of which is used to trigger a one-shot multivibrator 106. The multivibrator 106 serves two purposes: (1) it introduces an inactive period (e.g., 10 milliseconds) during which time the system is unresponsive to PLL error signals and which allows tracking in the new groove to be resumed and the PLL to re-stabilize, and (2) it provides a standardized signal to the pulse generator 108. the pulse generator 108 when triggered by the multivibrator 106 delivers a standard correction pulse (e.g., amplitude =0.3 volts, duration =tb 1.0 millisecond) to the groove skipper electromagnets 110-116 which advances the stylus by about three grooves, as described above. As will be described more fully later, electromagnets 110-116 are located in proximity to the stylus arm.

A nominal advance of 3 grooves has been used and found to correct backward skips with very little subjective interruption of the program being played from the video disc. The current from the pulse generator 108 is proportioned between the front and rear electromagnets 126-132 to secure the most consistent groove skipping action and to compensate for differences in the strengths of magnets 120 and 122 mounted on a particular stylus assembly.

The track skipper apparatus will now be described with the aid of FIGS. 6-11. FIG. 6 depicts a carriage 66 having a compartment 118 for removably receiving a cartridge 68, shown in dotted line in FIG. 6 and also illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, which houses the player stylus assembly. FIGS. 9-11 diagrammatically illustrate the operation of the track skipper apparatus.

The track skipper apparatus comprises a pair of permanent magnets 120 and 122 fixedly attached to the stylus arm 124 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9-11) and a set of electromagnets 126, 128, 130 and 132 mounted in the carriage 66 (FIGS. 6 and 9-11) for coaction with the permanent magnets attached to the stylus arm. The front electromagnets 126 and 128 are energized, respectively, by windings 110 and 112, and are provided with pole faces 134 and 136. The rear electromagnets 130 and 132 are energized, respectively, by windings 114 and 116, and are provided with pole faces 138 and 140.

The carriage 66 houses an armstretcher apparatus 142 for imparting a translatory motion to the stylus arm in a manner that compensates for cyclical deviations in the stylus/record relative velocity during playback. The cyclical deviations in the stylus/record relative velocity result from a number of sources, for example, turntable eccentricity, mounting inaccuracies, record warp, etc., to name a few. U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,318, issued on Sept. 28, 1976 to M. E. Miller, et al., describes an illustrative armstretcher apparatus.

A stylus arm lifting/lowering apparatus 144 is mounted in the carriage 66 for gently lowering the player stylus onto the video disc for playback. U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,161, issued on Oct. 11, 1977 to J. C. Bleazey, et al., illustratively describes a stylus arm lifting/ lowering apparatus.

A pair of stonewalls 146 and 148 provided in the carriage 66 for coaction with a chimney 150 secured to the front end of the stylus arm 124 (FIGS. 7-9) serve to laterally position the stylus for play during stylus set-down on the disc, and also serve as an ultimate locked groove clearance device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,131, issued on June 1, 1976 to B. K. Taylor, describes a passive locked groove clearance mechanism employing a stonewall arrangement. The passive system employing the stonewall/chimney combination is not normally used for clearing locked grooves occurring during operation of the player, and is provided for standby reasons.

The carriage 66, shown in FIGS. 6, is provided with an opening 152 to permit the player stylus to protrude therethrough during playback to effect stylus/ record engagement, when the stylus arm 124 is lowered by the stylus arm lifting/lowering apparatus 144.

A mechanism 154 effects cartridge/armstretcher engagement when the carriage lid 156 is closed during the containment of the cartridge 68 within the carriage compartment 118.

The replaceable cartridge 68, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is generally of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,124, issued on June 14, 1977 to J. A. Allen. Basically, the cartridge 68 comprises a body 158, a compliant coupler 160 securing the stylus arm 124 to the rear plate 162, suspension means 164 for flexibly mounting the rear plate within the cartridge body, a spring 166 for selectively retaining the stylus arm within the confines of the cartridge body, a stylus holder 168 securing the player stylus 170 to the stylus arm, and a leaf spring 172 electrically connecting an electrode incorporated in the player stylus to a terminal 174 provided in the cartridge body.

When the cartridge 68 is received in the carriage compartment 118 and the lid 156 is closed, the terminal 174 provided in the cartridge body contacts the terminal 176 provided in the carriage for electrically connecting the stylus electrode to the rest of the player circuitry and the armstretcher 142 is coupled to the rear plate 162 of the cartridge for transmitting cyclical armstretcher motion to the stylus 170. From FIG. 6, it will be seen that, when the cartridge 68 is received in the carriage compartment 118, the poles 134 and 136 are located adjacent to the front magnet 120, and the poles 138 and 140 are located near the rear magnet 122. The rear electromagnets 130 and 132 are dimensioned to fit inside the recesses in the cartridge body 158.

The operation of the track skipping apparatus will now be described in conjunction with FIGS. 9-11. The polarity of the pole faces 134-140 is as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 when the respective electromagnets are energized in response to the development of an error signal upon occurrence of a locked groove.

The orientation of the rear magnet 124 is such that energization of the rear electromagnets 130 and 132 causes twisting of the stylus arm about its longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction viewed from the stylus end and as can be seen from FIG. 11, and the offset of the stylus point from the rotational axis results in a consequent inward radial motion of the stylus point across the grooves on the record in a manner that clears the locked groove condition.

While the track skipping apparatus employing the rear magnet system alone can work satisfactorily, it was found that the addition of the front magnet system enhances the performance of the track skipping apparatus when multiple groove skips (e.g., across 3-20 groove convolutions) are desirable.

The orientation of the front magnet 120 is such that energization of the front electromagnets 126 and 128 produces forces that restrain lateral motion of the front end of the stylus arm 124, without hindering the twisting motion thereof. For example, the outward lateral motion of the stylus arm is resisted when effecting inward radial motion of the stylus tip. The resultant reduction in the sideways motion of the stylus arm front end, and reduction in the consequent oscillations thereof, assures more reliable operation of the track skipping apparatus. Further, the lateral restraint assures that the twisting of the stylus arm results in rotation of the stylus about the stylus arm axis, rather than rotation of the stylus arm about the stylus tip.

From FIGS. 15 and 16, it will be seen that the total lateral force on the front magnet 120 is relatively independent of the position of the front magnet within the operating range thereof. In FIG. 16, curves 180 and 182, respectively, represent lateral forces developed by the pole faces 134 and 136. The curve 184 in FIG. 16 represents the total lateral force on the front magnet 120.

Relative excitations of the front and rear electromagnets are adjusted to reduce the sideways motion of the stylus arm to a minimum as the stylus arm is rotated about its longitudinal axis to move the stylus tip from one groove convolution to another. This adjustment is made, for example, by proportioning the energization current passed through the front and rear winding by means of a resistor 178 shown in FIG. 5.

It is desirable to employ a relatively powerful front electromagnet system so that the front magnet secured to the stylus arm can be relatively small, thereby reducing the mass added to the stylus arm assembly at its front end. It will be noted that location of the front magnet 120 at the top of the chimney 150 allows lateral forces to be developed by the front electromagnets contained within the carriage, when the stylus arm 124 is lowered during playback to effect stylus/record engagement.

With respect to the rear magnet system, it will be noted that:

(1)the rear magnet system twists the stylus arm about its longitudinal axis which is an effective way of coupling the point of application of the force and the stylus tip, such that a predictable stylus displacement results from a given force application;

(2) the location of the rear magnet near the rear coupler assures that its motions due to record eccentricity and warpage are reduced;

(3) since the rear portion of the stylus arm to which the rear magnet is attached is inside the arm cage when the stylus arm is lowered during playback to effect stylus/record engagement, the rear electromagnet can be housed within the carriage; and

(4) the rearward location of the rear magnet reduces its effect on the dynamic characteristics of the stylus arm assembly.

It will be noted that while the description herein is in the context of grooved discs, it is equally applicable to flat discs. Various defects on flat discs can cause the player stylus to retrace the same track again and again. The system described herein can be advantageously employed to clear such a condition in the playback of a flat disc in accordance with the principles of the present invention.