Method and Apparatus Using a Stationary Magnetic Body for Effecting Signal Transfers Between a Moving Magnetic Core and a Magnetic Storage Medium

With reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views of embodiments of the invention where the transducer core is providing a reciprocating movement with respect to a stationary keeper;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the invention where the transducer core is rotating with respect to a stationary keeper;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus utilizing the transducer-keeper combination of the invention for recording on and/or reproducing from transverse tracks along a magnetic record medium;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus utilizing the transducer-keeper combination of the invention for recording on and/or reproducing from tracks established on a magnetic record medium transported along a helical path;

FIG. 6 is an example of a flux density versus permeability characteristic of a well known magnetic material; and

FIG. 7 shows flux density versus permeability characteristic across the length of a transducing zone established in the differentially permeable layer of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description and drawings, like elements will be designated by like reference numerals to facilitate comparison between various embodiments. The description of similar elements and circuit portions illustrated in more than one figure of the drawings may not be repeated with reference to each of the figures.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention will be described now with reference to the FIGS. 1-7 that have a body 20 of magnetic material having characteristics like those used to fabricate magnetic transducers, commonly referred to as a core, defining a pair of magnetic poles 22, 24 that form therebetween in accordance with conventional practice, a physical gap 26 of the type used to cause magnetic signal transfers. This body or core 20 is mounted for movement relative to a stationary body 28 of magnetic material, preferably having the characteristics of a keeper, which does not have a physical gap. The keeper 28 defines a transducing zone 50 within it that follows the movement of the core 20, if the physical gap 26 defined by the core is responsible for the formation of the transducing zone. With further reference to FIG. 1 there is shown schematically a magnetic transducer 10 formed by the core 20, made of a suitable magnetic material, for example ferrite. A nonmagnetic material, for example glass or silicon dioxide is provided between the poles 22, 24 to obtain a well defined physical gap 26 of the type typically used and referred to as a transducing gap. The transducer core 20, poles 22, 24 and gap 26 may be constructed by well known magnetic head fabrication methods, and therefore a detailed description thereof is not provided.

An elongated keeper 28 of a thin, soft magnetic material, for example permalloy, having characteristics as described hereinbefore, is arranged adjacent to the poles 22, 24 to bridge gap 26. In this embodiment, the transducer core 20 and keeper 28 are maintained in a closely spaced relationship, with no physical contact between these two elements, as illustrated by a spacing 29. As will be appreciated from the following description, the spacing prevents objectionable wear of the transducer 10 as it is moved relative to the keeper 28. In the presently described embodiment, the width dimension of the gap 26, which corresponds to the width dimension W of the tracks 64 recorded along the magnetic storage medium 56, extends at a right angle to the longitudinal direction 62 of the keeper 28.

The keeper 28 is constructed as a solid, continuous piece or layer of magnetic material with no physical gap in the transducing area. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the width of the keeper is equal to the width W of the gap 26, but the keeper may be made wider, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. The keeper 28 preferably has a very small thickness t in the direction of the gap depth, for example between 0.00025 and 0.002 inch. It may be made in the form of a thin foil or deposited by sputtering in vacuum or plating on a thin substrate such as Mylar or Kepton, manufactured by Dupont Corporation. For example, the substrate may have a thickness between 0.0001 and 0.0005 inch.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a body 30 of magnetic material forming a transducing signal core 30 is disposed in magnetic coupling relation with the keeper 28. The core 30 may be made, for example, of magnetic materials commonly used for the fabrication of magnetic transducer cores. The signal core 30 abuts a lateral surface of the keeper 28 at opposite ends 32, 34 thereof to form a closed signal flux path 36 therewith.

A transducing signal winding 38 is wound around the signal core 30. Winding 38 is utilized for converting electrical signals applied to it from an external signal source, schematically shown at 40, into magnetic signals for recording by the transducer-keeper combination on a record medium, such as magnetic tape 56. In addition, winding 38 is utilized for converting signals recorded on the magnetic tape 56 and picked up by the transducer-keeper combination into electrical signals, as will be described further in more detail hereinafter. To better distinguish between the signal core 30 and transducer core 20, core 20 will be hereinafter referred to as the rear core, and core 30 as the front core. The front core 30 is preferably arranged at an angle, m, sloping away from a front surface 41 of the keeper 28, which faces the record medium 56, to avoid contact with the medium. A bias control winding 42 is wound around the rear core 20 and a control current I.sub.c is applied thereto by a variable current source, including variable resistor 44 and a D.C. control voltage source 46. Alternatively, an adjustable A.C. control current source may be utilized in this embodiment in place of the D.C. source.

When no control current is applied to the bias control winding 42, the keeper 28 magnetically shunts the gap 26 and no signal transfers with the record medium 56 take place. However, when a control current I.sub.c is applied from source 46 to the control winding 42, that current induces a control flux 48 in the rear core 20. The control flux 48 is coupled by the gap 26 into the closely spaced thin keeper 28 magnetically bridging the gap 26. The keeper thus serves as a return path to the rear core 20 for the bias control flux 48.

Because of the very small cross sectional area of the keeper 28 in a direction perpendicular to the control flux path 48 bridging gap 26, the fringing flux from the gap 26 locally saturates the keeper 28 in a region 50 which bridges the gap 26, as is shown by a hatched area. This establishes a low permeability in the region 50 corresponding to that of a non-magnetic material, such as air. The flux density in other areas of the keeper 28 surrounding the saturated region 50 and extending in close proximity over the magnetic core 20 is much lower than in region 50 and therefore these areas do not saturate and remain highly permeable. Consequently, the saturated region 50 is localized between two confronting highly permeable areas 52, 54 of the keeper 28 to provide a "gap-less" transducing zone.

When the region 50 of the keeper 28 is saturated as previously described, a record signal flux 36 extending through the signal core 30 and permeable portions 52, 54 of keeper 28 is coupled by the keeper to intercept the magnetic storage medium or tape 56, when in close proximity of the keeper. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a tape 56 is slowly advanced in a longitudinal direction 57 past the keeper 28 and in direct contact therewith. When a recording current I.sub.s from signal source 40 is applied to signal winding 38, a recording flux is induced in flux path 36, which extends through the transducing signal core 30 and keeper 28. Because of the adjacent magnetically saturated and unsaturated regions defining the transducing zone 50, the flux is directed thereby along the wavelength independent, low reluctance flux path extending from the magnetically unsaturated areas 52 and 54 of the keeper 28 to the tape 56. Alternatively, when the transducer-keeper combination of FIG. 1 is utilized in playback operations, a signal flux from the tape 56 intercepts the keeper 28 at the transducing zone 50 and it follows the flux path 36 in the keeper 28 and signal core 30 and intercepts the signal winding 38 to produce an output voltage Vs on output lines 59.

The length l and the width W of the saturated region 50 correspond to equivalent dimensions of the physical gap 26 of back core 20. The magnetic characteristics of the keeper are selected such that the bias control flux which is necessary to saturate the region 50 bridging the transducing gap 26 is far below the level that could result in objectionable levels of control flux fringing from the keeper to effect the magnetic state of the medium. The level of bias control flux is primarily a function of the magnetic material of the keeper 28 and of its cross sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the bias control flux path 48. That cross sectional area, on the other hand, is defined by the width W and thickness t of the keeper. For a selected width W, a thicker keeper requires more flux for the saturation of region 50. It is desirable to have the thickness t of the keeper 28 small for the many reasons discussed previously. However, an important reason for keeping dimension t small in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that the effective transducing zone depth in the direction of t is small, which maintains the reluctance through the saturated transducing zone 50 high, hence, the shunt losses through the transducing zone 50 low. However, in wideband, high density recording and playback devices where the keeper 28 is in contact with the record medium 56, it is also desirable to avoid or minimize life-shortening wear of the keeper. Consequently, selection of the thickness t of the keeper 28 usually involves a compromise between minimizing shunt losses and maximizing the life of the keeper.

The previously mentioned mechanical movement of the rear transducer core 20 with respect to the stationary keeper 28 is obtained in the embodiment of FIG. 1 as follows. The rear core 20 is rigidly attached to one end of a shaft 58, whose other end is attached to a device 60 for providing a reciprocating translational movement in the direction of arrow 62. For example, device 60 may be implemented as an electromagnetic actuator or other well known reciprocating device. It is important to obtain a linear velocity of movement of the gap 26 relative to the keeper 28 to avoid time-varying or non-linear signal transfers during recording and playback operations. In operation, a control current I.sub.c is applied by voltage source 46 to the control winding 42 of a sufficient magnitude to saturate region 50 of the keeper 28. The tape 56 is advanced in the direction of arrow 57 in contact with the keeper 28, as previously described. The rear core 20 is moved by the reciprocating device 60 in the direction of arrow 62, thereby mechanically advancing the physical transducing gap 26 along the keeper 28. As described previously, the location of the saturated region 50 along the keeper 28 in the direction 62 follows the movement of the physical gap 26 along the keeper.

During record operation modes, a recording signal current I.sub.s applied to the signal winding 38 causes a corresponding signal flux 36 to flow through path 36, which is coupled by the transducing zone 50 to effect recording along transverse tracks 63, 64 on the tape 56. One set of parallel tracks, such as 63, is recorded during a movement of the front core 20 in one direction, while a second set of parallel tracks, such as 64, is recorded during movement of the front core in the opposite direction. Either set of tracks 63 or 64 may be eliminated by turning off either the recording current I.sub.s or the bias control current I.sub.c during movement of the core 20 in one of the directions.

The reproduction of signals recorded along parallel transverse tracks of the tape record medium 56 is obtained by the transducer-keeper combination of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a manner analogous to the recording of signals, that is, by reciprocating the front core 20 in the direction 62, while the transducing zone 50 is moved over recorded tracks on the medium 56. However, instead of applying a record current to the signal winding 38, the transducer-keeper combination functions to detect a playback signal flux emanating from the medium 56, which enters the keeper 28 via the unsaturated regions 52, 54, adjacent to the saturated region 50. The playback signal flux 36 intercepts the signal winding 38 which, in turn, provides to output line 59 a playback voltage Vs for further processing in a conventional manner.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the transducer-keeper combination of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may provide a recorded track pattern in a direction transverse to a relatively slowly advancing tape 56 by rapidly scanning the transducer rear core 20 along the stationary keeper 28. The tape 56 is in direct contact with the stationary keeper 28, which does not have a physical gap therein. As described hereinbefore, this contact results in the establishment of a flux path between the tape 56 and signal winding 38 that is not wavelength dependent, which reduces the effects of spacing losses. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention the need for a rotatable member for carrying the transducer, such as is common in video recorders, is obviated while a relatively high transducer-to-medium scanning speed is obtained. Moreover, no rotary transformers or slip rings are needed to transfer the signal between the transducer and record medium.

As briefly discussed hereinbefore, the control current source 46 can be eliminated for record operations, if sufficient record signal current I.sub.s is provided by source 40 to saturate the region 50 of keeper 28. However, for playback operations, saturation of region 50 requires a bias flux, obtained in the embodiment of FIG. 1 by applying current I.sub.c to the control winding 42.

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the invention similar to that of FIG. 1, but differing in that the embodiment of FIG. 2A has no front core. In this embodiment, the signal and control windings 38, 42 are combined into a single winding 39 arranged around the rear core 20. The single winding 39 is connected to the previously described bias control current source 46 via resistor 44 to receive the previously described control current I.sub.c. In addition, the single winding 39 is also connected to a record or playback amplifier (not shown in FIG. 2A) via lines 64. A series capacitor 66 is connected in line 64 to isolate the bias control current source 46 and signal amplifiers coupled to lines 64. Consequently, both the recording signal flux 36 and the control flux 48 extend in parallel through the core 20 and keeper 28. In record operation modes, where a record current I.sub.s is applied via line 64 of sufficient magnitude to saturate the transducing zone 50 of the keeper 28, the control current source 46 and resistor 44 may be omitted, as represented by interrupted lines coupling the current source and resistor to winding 39. However, in playback applications, saturation of the transducing zone 50 requires a bias flux, such as obtained by applying a control current I.sub.c from source 46 to the single winding 39. In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, an AC control signal source may be utilized instead of the DC source 46. In that event, it is necessary to connect a filter (not shown) in line 64, instead of capacitor 66, for isolating the AC control signal from the information signal being recorded on or played back from the magnetic storage medium.

With respect to the foregoing description, it will be understood that FIGS. 1 and 2A are schematic representations of structures in accordance with the present invention. There are numerous ways in which that basic structure may be implemented. For example, the keeper 28 may have a width greater than the width W of the rear core 20, as shown in FIG. 2A. By extending the width of the keeper 28 beyond one or both sides of the rear core 20, the length l and width W of the saturation region 50 are substantially unchanged and correspond to that of gap 26, as previously described. As a further example, the shaft 58 may be held in a rigid supporting bracket and the rear core 20 moveably mounted thereto by various known suspension systems (not shown). The keeper 28 and transducing signal core 30 may be fixedly supported by such bracket as well. The control winding 42 may be wound around the rear core 20 and move therewith, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2A. Alternatively, the control winding 42 may be made stationary, and attached to the bracket, while the rear core 20 is mounted for vertical movement along that winding out of contact therewith. A separate signal winding may also be arranged in this manner. If desired, a plurality of rear cores 20 may be mounted on a common shaft and driven by a common translating device 60. In such arrangement, each core 20 may be associated with a separate stationary keeper and signal winding, while a common stationary control winding may thread all the cores. The thusly obtained transducers may be utilized for synchronous, either sequential or simultaneous, recording and/or playback relative to a plurality of parallel tracks along a record medium.

FIG. 2B illustrates a further emodiment of the transducer-keeper combination of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the rear core 20 forming a closed magnetic circuit through the physical gap 26 as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2A, the gap 26 is formed between two discrete magnetic core members 20a, 20b fabricated from highly permeable magnetic material of low coercivity, such as commonly used to fabricate conventional magnetic heads. As will become more apparent from the following description, each of the cores 20a, 20b has a length about equal to the length of the stationary keeper 28 in the direction of the reciprocating movement of the cores indicated by arrow 62. The members 20a, 20b are held together by a non-magnetic member 13, for example of aluminum, serving as a bracket. The bracket 13 is attached to the rod 58, which in turn is driven by the previously described translating device 60. The device 60 drives the cores 20a, 20 b in a reciprocating movement in the direction of arrows 62, in a similar manner as previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1. A combined control and signal winding 39 is wound around the front core 30. Consequently, the bias control signal path 48 extends through the front core 30, permeable portions 52, 54 of keeper 28 and magnetic back cores 20a, 20b. The signal flux path 36 is substantially the same as previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, but instead of extending through the length of the keeper 28, it extends with the bias flux through the back cores 20a, 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. In operation, the region 50 is saturated by the control flux 48 established by a control current I.sub.c from either a DC or AC control source, as previously described. Because of the length of each of the back cores 20a, 20b, the bias flux established by the control current remains in the cores regardless of the locations of the physical gap 26 along the length of the keeper 28, except at the location of the physical gap. In this manner, the desired saturated transducing zone 50 is established in the keeper 28 opposite the physical gap 26 and follows such gap as the back cores are reciprocated by the translating device 60.

Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. In these embodiments, the rear core 20 is rotated in close proximity to a stationary keeper. One or more such rear cores are arranged about the periphery of a rotating head wheel, with their portions defining the physical gaps projecting therefrom. The keeper is formed as a thin cylindrical segment, and is disposed in nested relation with the periphery of the rotating wheel. The keeper is maintained stationary and in closely spaced relationship with respect to the rotating cores to bridge the rotating gaps defined by the rear cores, whereby the rotating gaps sweep across the keeper in sequence. The tape is transported in a longitudinal direction past the stationary keeper and preferably in contact therewith. In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 the physical gap formed in each rear core scans the tape in a transverse direction, while in the embodiment of FIG. 5 the tape is transported in a helical path, as it is scanned by a moving transducing zone established by a transducer rotated relative to the stationary keeper, as will be described hereinafter.

With further reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a base 70 of a nonmagnetic material, for example, aluminum, on which a rotating transducer-stationary keeper assembly 72 is mounted. A head wheel 74 holds one or more rear cores 20, which are similar to those previously described with reference to and shown in FIG. 1. A control winding 42 is wound around each rear core 20. If more than one core 20 is used, they are preferably spaced equally about the circumference of the wheel. The wheel 74 is made of a nonmagnetic material, for example, aluminum, and is fixedly mounted to a motor shaft 75. The shaft 75 and wheel 74 are driven by a motor 76. The motor 76 is held on the base 70 by means of a nonmagnetic bracket 77, for example of aluminum. A keeper 78 of a thin, magnetic material, for example permalloy or another one of the previously described keeper materials, is fixedly attached to the base 70 by means of a nonmagnetic bracket 79, for example of aluminum. The thickness of the keeper 78 is preferably within the range previously described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the keeper 78 is a cylindrical segment supported concentrically relative to and spaced from the periphery of the rotatably mounted head wheel 74, to obtain a uniform spacing between the rotating physical gaps 26 and the keeper 78. A tape 80 is transported in longitudinal direction indicated by arrow 82 past the keeper 78 and in physical contact with an outer surface 85 thereof. A front core 86 having a signal winding 87 arranged thereon is rigidly mounted to the keeper 78 in a manner similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The front core 86 preferably has a U-shape with both open ends thereof in physical contact with a lateral surface of the keeper 78 to form a substantially closed magnetic circuit therewith in the manner previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

A slip ring assembly 88 and a brush or wiper assembly 89 are also provided in the embodiment of FIG. 3. The slip ring assembly comprises a rod 93 of insulating material, such as plastic, and a plurality of slip rings 90 disposed along the rod, the assembly firmly attached to the motor shaft 75 to rotate therewith. Each slip ring 90 is connected by means of an electrical conductor 91 to a particular control winding 42 arranged on a particular rear core 20. For example, the slip rings 90 may be gold plated onto the surface of the insulting rod 93.

The brush or wiper assembly comprises a plurality of individual brushes 95 commonly coupled to an adjustable D.C. control voltage source 46. Individual adjustable series resistors 44 are coupled to each brush 95 to permit adjustment of the control current provided to the individual control windings 42. The assembly 89 is rigidly mounted to base 70 by means of an insulating bracket 94, for example of aluminum. Well known and commercially available brush and slip ring assemblies 89, 90 may be utilized to connect the control currents provided by the source 46 to the respective rotating control windings 42. For example, brush block, part number 3751-001, and slip ring assembly, part number 3857-01, both manufactured by Poly-Scientific, Litton Systems Inc., are suitable for use as the brush and slip ring assemblies 89 and 90, respectively. The signal winding 87 is coupled to a record signal circuit or alternatively to a playback signal circuit in the manner that will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the transducing assembly 72 of FIG. 3 will be now described. The principles of the record and playback operation modes utilizing the rotating rear cores and the stationary keeper of FIG. 3 are the same as previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1. However, instead of the previously described reciprocal movement, the rear cores are rotated in a circular path in one direction relative to the keeper and tape. A more uniform and linear scanning of the record medium is thereby obtained. Synchronization of the rotational speed with respect to the longitudinal tape movement is also facilitated by such movement of the rear cores.

When the above-described rotating transducer-stationary keeper assembly is utilized for signal recording along a longitudinally moving tape 80, a record current is applied to the transducing winding 87 from a conventional record circuit (not shown). Simultaneously, the control current I.sub.c is applied via the brush and slip ring assemblies 88, 89 to the rotating control windings. As each physical gap 26 sequentially rotates past the keeper 78, the flux emanating therefrom saturates a region of the keeper bridging the gap. That saturated region in effect is an extension of the gap 26, as has been described previously with respect to the various transducer-keeper combination embodiments. The flux from the permeable portions of the keeper 78 which surround the saturated region pass into an adjacent medium. Thus, when tape 80 passes the keeper 78 in contact with its outer surface 85, the signal flux from the keeper records a signal along parallel tracks 97 on the tape.

It will be appreciated that in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the mechanically rotating physical gap 26 is out of contact with both the keeper 78 and medium 80. Gap wear and erosion due to transducer-to-medium contact are eliminated. In addition, the wear of the keeper is minimal, because only a respectively slow moving medium in contact with a smooth gap-less surface of a stationary keeper. Tape shedding, characteristic of recorders having a high relative transducer-to-tape speed, is also reduced because of the much lower keeper-to-tape speed.

Signal transfers occur with each track during one pass of one transducer core 20 by the keeper 78. Preferably, the rear cores 20 are spaced around the wheel 74 such that a continuous information signal, i.e., a signal having no interruptions in time, may be transferred between the tape 80 and transducing winding 87 by adjacent rear cores consecutively rotating past the stationary keeper 78. However, signal transfers can be arranged to occur selectively, such as in time-spaced bursts, by switching the bias control current on and off (for record operation modes, the record signal current can be so controlled for this purpose) as the keeper is scanned by the plurality of rotating adjacent rear cores.

With reference to the foregoing description of the transducer-keeper combination embodiment of FIG. 2B, it will be understood that it may be utilized in the apparatus of FIG. 3 by attaching the rear cores 20a, 20b of the embodiment of FIG. 2B to the rotating wheel 74.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a wideband, high density recording and reproducing apparatus utilizing a rotating transducer-stationary keeper assembly 107, similar to the assembly 72 of the embodiment of FIG. 3. Here, the keeper 78 is attached to a nonmagnetic supporting bracket 79, for example by epoxy. A slot 81 is provided in the bracket 79 to allow the head wheel 74 to rotate in close proximity to the keeper 78. The transducer-keeper combinations in this embodiment differ from those of FIG. 3 in that a single winding 39 is wound around the rear core 20 and is coupled to receive both the signal current and bias control current. Thus, the rear core 20 serves to provide control and signal flux paths, as has been described previously with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 2A, and a front core is not needed in the embodiment of FIG. 4. In the apparatus of FIG. 4, the control current I.sub.c as well as the recording current I.sub.s or playback voltage Vs are coupled to the windings 39 of the rotating rear cores 20 by means of rotating coupling elements, such as the slip ring and brush assemblies 88, 89 previously described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The recording signal current or playback voltage are coupled to the windings 39 via a rotary transformer assembly, having a primary portion 110 and a secondary portion 112. The primary portion 110 is rigidly attached together with the head wheel 74 to the rotating motor shaft 75 and rotates therewith. There is one rotating primary transformer portion 110 for each rear core 20. Each primary transformer portion 110 has a primary winding 114 attached to one winding 39. A capacitor 66 is coupled between the winding 39 and primary winding 114 to isolate the signal processing circuits from the D.C. bias control circuits.

The apparatus of FIG. 4 includes a record signal processor 116 and a playback signal processor 118, for processing a signal prior to transfers between them and the tape 80. The apparatus of FIG. 4 may be utilized for high density recording and playback of television signals or other high frequency, wideband signals along tracks 97 extending transversely across a longitudinally moving tape. A switch 124 is shown for selecting a record or playback operation mode. During a record mode of operation, the record current I.sub.s is coupled from the record amplifier 120 to a secondary winding 128 of the transformer via switch 124 and line 126. During a playback mode of operation, the line 126 and switch 124 connect a playback voltage Vs from the secondary winding 128 to the playback amplifier 122. Record and playback signal processors 116, 118 and amplifiers 120, 122 employed in the art of recording and reproducing wideband signals, such as television signals may be employed in the apparatus of FIG. 4. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be given.

Moreover, for the apparatus of FIG. 4, tape transport mechanisms (not shown) of the kind employed in known rotary head transverse scan tape record and reproduce apparatus for television signal applications can be utilized to transport the tape 80 in a longitudinal direction 82 in contact with an outer surface 85 of the keeper 78. Furthermore, less complex tape transport mechanisms utilized in known audio tape record and repoduce apparatus may be employed as well.

A servo system 130 is provided for coordinating the rotation of the head wheel drive motor 76 with the longitudinal transport of the tape 80. During record position modes, the servo system 130 functions to coordinate the rotation of the head wheel 74, hence, the scanning rate of the transducing zone in the keeper 78, and speed of transport of the tape 80 so that the recorded tracks 97 are uniformally distributed along the tape transversely at a precise angle relative to the tape's longitudinal direction. In addition a track 184 of control signal is recorded in the longitudinal direction 82 on tape 80 by a stationary transducer 182 to facilitate during reproduction coordination of the scanning of the transducing zone 29b and transport of the tape 80. During reproduction, the transducer 182 is utilized to reproduce the recorded control signal from track 184 in a manner well known in the art and is employed to synchronize the transport of the tape 180 with the rotation of the head wheel 74, hence, scanning of the transducing zone in the keeper 78. A multiple pole switch 186 connects the winding 183 of transducer 182 and a servo circuit 191 with an input line 187 when in the position indicated during a record operation mode. When in the other position indicated, the switch 186 connects the winding 183 with the servo circuit 191 and disconnects the input line 187, hence, control signal from the servo circuit and transducer 182. In place of the control signal, switch 186 couples a reproduce or play reference signal received on line 196 to the servo circuit 191 for use in a mannner that will be described further hereinafter.

During record operation modes, a control signal, typically, at a rate of one-half the vertical television field rate, is received on line 187. The signal on line 187 is applied via the switch 186 and line 188 to the winding 183 of transducer 182. Consequently, the transducer 182 records that signal along track 184 on tape 80 simultaneously as information signals are recorded along the transversely extending tracks 97. The control signal on line 187 is applied at that time via switch 186 and line 189 to the servo circuit 191, which in turn controls the operation of the head wheel motor 76 to be synchronous with the signal on line 187. The synchronous condition is obtained by comparing the control signal to a signal received from a tachometer mechanism operatively coupled to the head wheel motor 76 via line 190 that is indicative of the rotational rate and position of the head wheel 74, hence, the transducing zone in the keeper 78. The servo circuit 191 responsively generates a correction signal that corrects deviations of the actual location of the head wheel 74, hence, the transducing zone, from the desired location indicated by the control signal on line 187.

During playback, the servo circuit 191 receives information related to the rotational rate and position of the head wheel 74, hence, the transducing zone in the keeper 78, received from the tachometer mechanism associated with the head wheel motor 76 via line 190. The servo circuit 191 compares the information received via line 190 to the control signal information reproduced by transducer 182 and received over line 189. In response to this comparison, correction signals are generated on lines 192 and 199. The line 192 couples the received signal to the the head wheel motor 76 to cause acceleration or deceleration of the rotation of the head wheel 74, hence scanning of the transducing zone along the width W of the keeper 28. The line 199 couples the received correction signal to the motor 194, which controls the capstan 193 to adjust correspondingly the transport of the tape 80. This control of the capstan 193 and head wheel 74 results in maintaining registration of the scanning transducing zone over the tracks 97 extending transversely along the tape 80. Such transducer-to-track registration control can be enhanced by use of a high resolution tachometer operatively linked to the capstan 193 that provides a high rate signal indicative of the speed of transport of the tape 143. This tachometer signal is coupled to the servo circuit 191 for comparison with the play reference signal provided over line 196. A resulting correction signal is generated which is provided over line 199 to the motor 194 for corresponding control of the capstan 193.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the apparatus FIG. 4 is suitable for recording and playing back signals along tracks extending transversely along a longitudinally moving medium that is in contact with an outer surface of a keeper. The rotating physical gaps that effect the formation and movement of a gap-less transducing zone are out of contact with both the keeper and the medium and, therefore, such gaps are not exposed to wear or erosion. Wear of the transducer-keeper combination is reduced to that caused by a relatively slowly advancing medium in contact with an outer surface of a stationary, gap-less, smooth keeper.

FIG. 5 illustrates another wideband, high density signal record and reproduce apparatus embodiment of the present invention. While the head wheel of the embodiment FIG. 4 rotates in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of tape movement, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the head wheel rotates in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of tape movement. This arrangement may be particularly useful when it is desired to record substantially longer tracks on tape, such as produced by rotary helical scan and longitudinal tape record and reproduce apparatus. In conventional rotary helical scan apparatus, the tape is introduced to a helical path about a cylindrical tape guide drum from one side of the drum guide for scanning by a rotating transducer, and is wrapped around the drum so that it exists from another location about the circumference of the drum at a different position axially displaced along the drum surface relative to the entry position. Information signals are recorded in discrete parallel tracks that diagonally extend along the tape at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the tape, whereby a track length greatly in excess of the width of the tape can be achieved. For a given helical scan apparatus construction, the angular orientation of the recorded tracks is a function of both the velocity of transport of the tape about the tape guide drum, as well as the speed of rotation of the rotating transducer. The resultant angle, therefore, varies depending upon the relative velocities of both the rotating transducer and the transport of the tape. In most helical scan apparatus, the transducer is carried by the tape guide drum, which in turn is formed by two axially displaced cylindrical sections, one of which (usually the upper most) rotates while the other section remains stationary.

However, the apparatus of FIG. 5 significantly differs from a conventional rotary helical scan apparatus in that the physical gap provided in the transducer core does not contact the tape. Instead, the tape is in contact with a stationary keeper, which in this embodiment is arranged circumferentially around and spaced from a portion of the rotating head wheel to be out of contact with the rotating physical gaps of the transducer cores mounted in the wheel.

With further reference to FIG. 5, a rotating head wheel 162 is arranged coaxially with a stationary upper drum 160, both made of aluminum or other suitable nonmagnetic material. The head wheel 162 has one or more rear cores 20 rigidly attached thereto, and is mounted to a shaft that is rotated by a drive motor 199. A portion of that shaft is shown at 161 in FIG. 5. In the apparatus of FIG. 5, the cores 20 are attached to a lower surface of the head wheel 162, for example by epoxy. However, they may be mounted thereto in any other suitable manner, for example inserted in slots provided in the head wheel and held therein by screws or other fasteners. A stationary lower drum 164 of nonmagnetic material, such as aluminum, is arranged coaxially with the upper drum 160, and has the same diameter as the upper drum. The two drums are axially displaced from each other to define a space or slot 166 between the drums for the rotating rear cores 20. A keeper 167 of a magnetic material, for example permalloy, Sendust or amorphous metal, is arranged circumferentially around a portion of the periphery of drums 160, 164 and is firmly attached thereto, for example by screws. The thickness of the keeper is preferably selected within the range specified previously for the embodiment of FIG. 1. The keeper 167 is spaced from the rotating cores 20 in such a way that these cores rotate in close proximity to the keeper, but out of contact therewith. The core 20 shown in FIG. 5 has a common transducing signal and control winding 168, similar to the previously described winding 39 of FIG. 4.

A magnetic tape 176 is transported in a longitudinal direction 177 along a helical path extending around the stationary drums 160, 164, and in physical contact with the keeper 167. To assure a close contact with the keeper, the tape is guided under tension around the drums by rotating tape guides 190, 191.

A rotary transformer is arranged coaxially with the drum assembly and has a rotating upper portion 169 attached to the motor shaft 161 and a stationary lower portion 170. The winding 168 of each rotating rear core 20 is attached to the primary winding (not shown) provided on the rotating portion 169 of the rotary transformer. A capacitor 166 is coupled to isolate the signal processing circuits from the D.C. bias control circuits, as described with reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 2A and 4. During playback operation modes, the signal induced from the rotating primary windings into the stationary secondary windings (not shown) provided in the stationary portion 170 of the transformer is applied via line 126, switch 124 and amplifier 122 to the playback signal processor 118. In record operation modes, the signal to be recorded is applied from the record signal processor 116, via amplifier 120, switch 124 and lines 126 to the winding 168. The slip ring and brush assemblies 88 and 89 are similar to those previously described with reference to FIG. 4 and, therefore, their respective descriptions will not be repeated with reference to FIG. 5. The slip ring assembly 88 is joined to rotated with the motor shaft 161 by a shaft extension 174.

It will be understood from the previous description of the embodiment of FIG. 2B that when the apparatus of FIG. 4 or 5 is placed in a record operation mode, a separate flux bias-creating control current I.sub.c may be omitted, provided sufficient recording current is coupled to the signal winding to saturate the virtual gap or the transducing zone within the keeper 167.

While the apparatus of FIG. 5 is similar to the embodiment previously described with reference to FIG. 4, there is a difference in the way the tape 176 is transported in the direction 177 past the rotating head wheel 162. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the gap 26 defined by the rotating rear core 20 scans the tape at an angle which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension and direction of transport of the tape 80. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the gap 26 scans the tape 176 at a selected angle, as shown at n, with respect to the longitudinal dimension and direction 177 of transport of the tape 176, which angle is selected in accordance with the desired length for the recorded tracks 175. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated therein produces long tracks 175 of recorded information extending substantially longitudinal to the length of the tape 176 at a very small angle to the length.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that, like the apparatus FIG. 4, the embodiment of FIG. 5 is suitable for recording and playback of signals along tracks extending substantially along the length of a moving tape that is in contact with an outer surface of a keeper, which does not have a physical gap therein. As described hereinbefore, this contact results in the establishment of a flux path between the tape 176 and winding 168 for signal information that is not wavelength dependent, which reduces the effects of spacing losses. Also, the rotating physical gaps that effect the formation and movement of a gap-less transducing zone are out of contact with both the keeper and the medium and, therefore, such gaps are not exposed to wear or erosion. Wear of the transducer-keeper combination is reduced to that caused by a relatively slowly advancing medium in contact with an outer surface of a stationary, gap-less, smooth keeper.

As has been described hereinbefore, forming a gap-less transducing zone in the keeper by creating in the same one or more significant magnetic discontinuities, i.e., areas of substantially different magnetic permeability, such as typically are provided in electromagnetic transducers by the inclusion of a physical transducing gap offers several advantages not realizable with common magnetic transducers relying upon physical gaps to effect signal transfers relative to magnetic storage media. A permeability gradient provides such discontinuity and it is most desirable that there by a steep permeability gradient between the region of the body providing the transducing zone and adjacent regions. The nature of such gradient and a preferred embodiments achieving the same have been described in more detail hereinbefore. Such discontinuity is most simply provided in the body by having adjacent magnetically saturated and unsaturated regions. Moreover, a transducing zone can be easily generated and defined in the keeper through the cooperation of a physical gap in a conventional electromagnetic transducer and a source of magnetic bias flux.

FIG. 6 shows a permeability m versus flux density B characterisitc of a suitable magnetic material for fabrication of the keeper. As seen from that characteristic, the material has a large difference in permeability over a narrow range of flux densities. FIG. 7 illustrates the effect of saturating the keeper at a localized zone. From FIGS. 6 and 7, it is seen that it is desirable that the overall permeability versus flux density gradient be as sharp as possible in order to obtain well defined boundaries between the saturated region and the adjacent unsaturated regions of the tranducing zone 50 through which signal flux is coupled between a magnetic storage medium and a signal utilization device.

The reluctance provided by the keeper to the passage of magnetic flux along a path that shunts the transducer plays an important role in effecting the transfer of signals between the magnetic storage medium and a signal utilization device. This reluctance is selected relative to the reluctance for such flux along a path extending through the operatively associated transducer to assure a desired transmission of information. The relative reluctances are achieved through the selection of appropriate combinations of various characteristics, such as materials, thickness of materials, size of area of transducer pole faces, size of area of saturated keeper region in a plane perpendicular to the face of the transducer, thickness of the keeper, distance (if any) separating the transducer and the keeper of the record medium, and the length, width and depth, of air gap of the transducer.

While the invention has been shown and described with particular reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.