Track selection control means for magnetic signal recording and reproducing systems

Abstract

.Iadd.A multiple track magnetic tape track selector stereo recorder having a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on different levels of the multiple track tape, and having a PLAY SELECTOR control for track selection including selective switching for selectively activating and deactivating the heads connected with recording and erasing circuitry, whereby the PLAY SELECTOR control selectively activates and deactivates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on any one selected track from the operating stereo tracks on the tape to record and erase and rerecord signals thereby particularly controlling track selection of the multiple associated erase heads..Iaddend. NOTE.- Formerly scheduled for issue and publication on Jul. 12, 1977.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: .[.1. A track selection for a magnetic signal recording system, comprising a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on the tracks of a multiple track tape for recording and erasing signals, three individual controls, said recording heads and said erase heads being connected to the three controls, the first control being a play selector control having multiple track selection positions, the second control being a stereo selector control connected to one position of said play selector control and having multiple predetermined sequences of stereo tracks selection positions, the third control being a sequence selector control connected to the off position of said stereo selector control and having multiple predetermined sequences of tracks selection positions, said stereo selector control being activated when the play selector control is disabled, said sequence selector control being activated when the play selector control and the stereo selector control are disabled, each control including selective switch means arranged for selectively activating and deactivating the heads, and means connecting respective recording means, and respective erasing means to the respective operating selective switch means of said each control for energizing same thereby applying track selection means for selectively activating and deactivating respective operating heads disposed on the tracks of the multiple track tape for selected positions of the operating control; whereby said play selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one track at the selected position of said multiple track selection positions, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another track at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head, and whereby when the said play selector control is disabled the said stereo selector control selectively activates one pair of recording heads and one pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on one pair of predetermined stereo tracks at the predetermined position of the selected sequence of said multiple predetermined sequences of stereo tracks selection positions, and activates another pair of recording heads and another pair of respectively associated erase heads, simultaneously on another pair of predetermined stereo tracks while simultaneously deactivating said one pair of recording heads and said one pair of respectively associated erase heads, then deactivates said selected sequence and activates another selected sequence of said multiple predetermined sequences of stereo tracks selection positions thereby selectively activates one pair of recording heads and one pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on one pair of predetermined stereo tracks at the predetermined position of said another selected sequence, and activates another pair of recording heads and another pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on another pair of predetermined stereo tracks while simultaneously deactivating said one pair of recording heads and said one pair of respectively associated erase heads, and also whereby when the said play selector control and the said stereo selector control are both disabled the said sequence selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one predetermined track at the predetermined position of the selected sequence of said multiple predetermined sequences of tracks selection positions, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another predetermined track while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head, then deactivates said selected sequence and activates another selected sequence of said multiple predetermined sequences of tracks selection positions thereby selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one predetermined track at the predetermined position of said another selected sequence, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another predetermined track while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head..]. .[.2. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system according to the construction part of claim 1, wherein is provided means for selectively connecting said recording heads for use as reproducing heads for reproducing the previously recorded signals..]. .[.3. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system, comprising a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on the tracks of a multiple track tape for recording and erasing signals, three individual controls, said recording heads and said erase heads being connected to the three controls, the first control being a play selector control having multiple track selection positions, the second control being a stereo selector control connected to one position of said play selector control and having multiple stereo tracks selection positions, the third control being a sequence selector control connected to the off position of said stereo selector control and having a predetermined sequence of tracks, said stereo selector control being activated when the play selector control is disabled, said sequence selector control being activated when the play selector control and the stereo selector control are disabled, each control including selective switch means arranged for selectively activating and deactivating the heads, and means connecting respective recording means, and respective erasing means to the respective operating selective switch means of said each control for energizing same thereby applying track selection means for selectively activating and deactivating respective operating heads disposed on the tracks of the multiple track tape for selected positions of the operating control; whereby said play selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one track at the selected position of said multiple track selection positions, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another track at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head, and whereby when the said play selector control is disabled the said stereo selector control selectively activates one pair of recording heads and one pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on one pair of stereo tracks at the selected position of said multiple stereo tracks selection positions, and activates another pair of recording heads and another pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on another pair of stereo tracks at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one pair of recording heads and said one pair of respectively associated erase heads, and also whereby when the said play selector control and the said stereo selector control are both disabled the said sequence selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one predetermined track at said predetermined sequence of tracks, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another predetermined track while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head..]. .[.4. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system according to the construction part of claim 3, wherein is provided means for selectively connecting said recording heads for use as reproducing heads for reproducing the previously recorded signals..]. .[.5. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system, comprising a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on the tracks of a multiple track tape for recording and erasing signals, two individual controls, said recording heads and said erase heads being connected to the two controls, the first control being a play selector control having multiple track selection positions, the second control being a stereo selector control connected to one position of said play selector control and having multiple stereo tracks selection positions, said stereo selector control being activated when the play selector control is disabled, each control including selective switch means arranged for selectively activating and deactivating the heads, and means connecting respective recording means, and respective erasing means to the respective operating selective switch means of said each control for energizing same thereby applying track selection means for selectively activating and deactivating respective operating heads disposed on the tracks of the multiple track tape for selected positions of the operating control; whereby said play selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one track at the selected position of said multiple track selection positions, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another track at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head, and whereby when said play selector control is disabled the said stereo selector control selectively activates one pair of recording heads and one pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on one pair of stereo tracks at the selected position of said multiple stereo tracks selection positions, and activates another pair of recording heads and another pair of respectively associated erase heads simultaneously on another pair of stereo tracks at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one pair of recording heads and said one pair of respectively associated erase heads..]. .[.6. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system according to the construction part of claim 5, wherein is provided means for selectively connecting said recording heads for use as reproducing heads for reproducing the previously recorded signals..]. .[.7. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system, comprising a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on the tracks of a multiple track tape for recording and erasing signals, two individual controls, said recording heads and said erase heads being connected to the two controls, the first control being a play selector control having multiple track selection positions, the second control being a sequence selector control connected to one position of said play selector control and having a variable predetermined sequence of tracks, said sequence selector control being activated when the play selector control is disabled, each control including selective switch means arranged for selectively activating and deactivating the heads, and means connecting respective recording means, and respective erasing means to the respective operating selective switch means of said each control for energizing same thereby applying track selection means for selectively activating and deactivating respective operating heads disposed on the tracks of the multiple track tape for selected positions of the operating control; whereby said play selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one track at the selected position of said multiple track selection positions, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another track at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head, and whereby when said play selector control is disabled the said sequence selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one predetermined track at said predetermined sequence of tracks, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another predetermined track while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one respectively associated erase head..]. .[.8. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system according to the construction part of claim 7, wherein is provided means for selectively connecting said recording heads for use as reproducing heads for reproducing the 
     
        previously recorded signals..]. 9. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system, comprising a head assembly including multiple recording heads and multiple associated erase heads disposed on the tracks of a multiple track tape for recording and erasing signals, a play selector control, said recording heads and said erase heads being connected to said play selector control, said play selector control having multiple track selection positions and having a stereo tracks position, said stereo tracks position being disabled when any track selection position is selected, said play selector control including selective switch means arranged for selectively activating and deactivating the heads, and means connecting respective recording means, and respective erasing means to the respective operating selective switch means of said play selector control for energizing same thereby applying track selection means for selectively activating and deactivating respective operating heads disposed on the tracks of the multiple track tape for selected positions of the control; whereby said play selector control selectively activates one recording head and one respectively associated erase head simultaneously on one track at the selected position of said multiple track selection positions thereby disabling said stereo tracks position, and activates another recording head and another respectively associated erase head simultaneously on another track at another selected position while simultaneously deactivating said one recording head and said one 
     
     
        respectively associated erase head. 10. A track selection means for a magnetic signal recording system according to the construction part of claim 9, wherein is provided means for selectively connecting said recording heads for use as reproducing heads for reproducing the previously recorded signals.