Patent · US Expired

Automatic tape tracking system for magnetic recorder/players

US4582235A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
13References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 1984
Grant dateApr 15, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B15/602
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automatic tape tracking system for magnetic recorder/players which samples tape position and adjusts a number of active guide rollers to maintain the tape along a predetermined track. The present system uses only perfectly cylindrical rollers and requires no edge guiding. The guide rollers are adjustable in height and to change the direction of their axes. Both adjustments are effected with the use of linear stepper motors. The tape position is monitored at various locations throughout the recorder/player by cameras which monitor the position of the edge of the tape. Output signals from the cameras are fed to a microprocessor which controls the stepper motors. Height adjustments are made to instantaneously correct tape position and tilt adjustments are made to allow the guide rollers to remain, in height, in a neutral zone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.