Tracking control in apparatus for fast reproducing digital information signal from magnetic tape

摘要

The helical scan reproducing apparatus for magnetically recorded digital information signal reproduces the digital information from the magnetic tape wrapped around the rotary cylinder. The digital information signal is recorded on a plurality of recorded tracks of the magnetic tape. The magnetic heads of the rotary cylinder scan the recorded tracks to reproduce the digital information signal. The reproducing apparatus has the standard playback mode in which it is operated to reproduce at the standard speed and the fast playback mode in which it is operated to reproduce at a higher speed than the standard speed. The tracking control in the reproducing apparatus controls the speed of the magnetic tape so that in the fast playback mode the magnetic heads precisely trace the particular regions of the tracks which particular regions have data for fast playback mode recorded. Each of the tracks is divided into a plurality of blocks. Each of the blocks has recorded therein the digital information signal and an identification signal formed of a track number for indicating the corresponding track and a block number for indicating the corresponding block. At least one particular block of the blocks on each track has the digital information signal recorded for the fast playback mode. The particular blocks are dispersedly arranged over the plurality of tracks in such a manner that in the fast playback mode the magnetic heads scan the particular blocks along their scan path on the magnetic tape.