Receiver-recorder of television broadcasts.

p0001The invention relates to a recorder-receiver of TV shows.

p0002The VCR is now a very common device. It is mostly used to view prerecorded tapes by specialized publishers. Generally these devices enable automatic recording of TV shows and have, for this purpose, means for programming in advance of such recordings. But programming a VCR involves operations which are often experienced as complicated by the user; Furthermore, care must be taken in that a cassette is inserted into the device. Therefore VCRs are less used for recording television programs for viewing of prerecorded cassettes.

p0003The invention aims to facilitate the recording of TV shows or viewing offline such emissions.

p0004The recorder-receiver according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises means for the unit is constantly on standby (or active) to continuously record TV shows at least one channel on a support reversible recording (reusable) of capacity.

p0005With such an apparatus, the user does not need to perform programming operations. Suffice it usually leave plugged in so that it remains on standby. However, it can provide for a simplified programming of choosing it (or them) channel (s) to register. Just then, for example, assign each channel a key and the function of the recorder is then as easy as that of a simple TV. Preferably the apparatus according to the invention is arranged to enable simultaneous recording of multiple channels.

p0006According to another of its aspects, the invention relates to a receiving apparatus and recording television programs is characterized in that it comprises means for the device is constantly in standby to record permanently TV shows at least one channel on a reversible recording medium random access associated with means for registration and reproduction ensuring exploration without wear of the storage medium of the beach, recording emission being performed without user intervention so as to have during reproduction of a portion of transmission (s) sufficiently large to allow visualization and / or registration offline and integer of at less emissions.

p0007To allow the device continues to write information to where it left off, especially after an interruption of its power, in a preferred embodiment there is provided an index to distinguish a recent recording of an older recording partially covered by the recent registration.

p0008To minimize the risk of operator error (or use) it is preferable that the support is not readily removable from the device, such as a recorder (or computer memory) to disk.

p0009Preferably does not perform a recording when a transmission is present. Therefore, in one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a presence emission detecting means. This sensor is constituted, for example, by an identification unit of the presence of the line scanning frequency.

p0010The recording medium with limited capacity is expected to fill detection of memory that is this support which, when the memory is completely filled, controls the stopping of recording or back to the beginning of the memory in order to erasing the information recorded at the beginning and replace it with new information.

p0011The recorder portion is preferably a magneto-optical type recorder, the recording medium being in the form of a disc. The advantage of such a recorder is, firstly, that the support and the recording / reading are not subject to mechanical wear, since there is no contact between these elements, and, secondly, that the magnetic materials used in MO disks are infinitely reversible (reusable). Further a magneto-optical disk has a large capacity and can provide a plurality of discs in the same recorder.

p0012In the following, unless otherwise stated, reference only to a magneto-optical type recorder.

p0013For the selection of programs is expected to see a rapid scrolling means to quickly locate the beginning of the program chosen by the user.

p0014Preferably the player-recorder has two heads, one for recording and one for reading, and means for use independently of the other read head and the recording head. It is then possible - using separate ranges of medium - to record a program received while viewing (on screen), independently, a previously recorded program.

p0015Although, as explained above, the main object of the invention is to facilitate the handling of the recorder, it may, however, provide the same opportunities for programming with a conventional VCR, in combination with continuously recording . Thus in one embodiment there is provided a programmatic way to save a specified subsequent emission and means for then this show is kept in memory when you re-recorded on the information carrier.

p0016a clock can be associated with the recorder to permanently register the date information related to television programs. It is then possible to achieve almost immediately the start of a program to display the date of the beginning, the research being conducted in the same manner as the beginning of a recording track in a compact disk type (audio or video).

p0017In one embodiment, the reader / magneto-optical recorder has two write heads, one for permanently recording and one to relocate to another memory location already recorded programs.

p0018According to another of its aspects, usable independently of other aspects, the invention relates to a data recording apparatus on a support, for example of magnetic type or magneto-optical, which is characterized in that it comprises a means to register periodically on the support a code representing a filling of this support, this code being the same at a certain filling and varying when returns to the beginning of recording medium, that is to say when is performed subsequent grants.

p0019According to yet another of its aspects, usable independently of other aspects, the invention relates to an apparatus enrgistrement data on a support, for example of magnetic type or magneto-optical, which is characterized in that, being fed running through the area, it includes a power source the emergency, such as a low-capacity battery buffer, detection means of a supply disruption and means, fed by the emergency source for register a recording stop code at the location of the course enrollment support.

p0020Other features and advantages of the invention appear from the description of some of its embodiments, this being given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: <ul><li>Figure 1 is a schematic of an apparatus according to the invention,</li><li>Figures 2 and 3 are similar figures to the diagram of Figure 1 for variants, and</li><li>Figure 4 is a disc recorded pattern.</li></ul>

p0021In all examples, the recording medium is magneto-optical type in the form of a rotating disc 10 with a vertical axis 11.

p0022Referring now to Figure 1: the recorder / player receives television broadcasts through a 15 or cable antenna. It conventionally comprises a tuner or tuner 16 associated with the demodulation means of sound and image and for receiving a television broadcast via cana. Such a circuit is conventional in television sets or VCRs.

p0023At the output of tuner 16 is provided an element 17 which detects the presence or absence of line frequency signals and whose role is to control a unit 18 for recording control. If a transmission is detected, block 18 allows the recording and transmits the output signals from the tuner 16 to a recording head 19 via an analog / digital converter 20.

p0024In the absence of received transmission element 17 inhibits the operation of the recorder.

p0025The apparatus also includes a read head 21 remote from the recording head 19 so that the magnetic field produced by the recording head does not interfere with the reading.

p0026The read head 21 is connected to a digital / analog converter 22 and 23 conventional circuits for viewing pictures on a television tube 24 and for sound reproduction.

p0027For the recording part, the equipment is functioning in principle no control accessible to the user. The device works, that is to say, record programs, as it is electrically powered.

p0028By cons for reproduction, the apparatus includes the usual controls of a television receiver with further opportunity to play the recording from any desired track on the disc. In this case the command is one that conventionally found in a compact disc player or a video disc player.

p0029Alternatively, recording, and therefore the reading, are carried out analogically.

p0030Recording starts eg from the center and ends at the periphery of the disc. When the disc was fully subscribed, the recording head 19 returns to the center of the disc and erase the previously recorded shows and record the new. Alternatively, when the disc is completely filled, it provides automatic control acting on the circuit 18 to stop recording. This interruption is reflected for example by lighting a lamp on the front of the unit. To start recording you press a reset button.

p0031To take account of the electric power supply interruptions, such as power outages, there is provided an information coding system, each turn of the disc, a registered information, such as a binary digit and exchange this information when resumes recording at the beginning of the disc. Thus, during initial filling with each rotation is assigned the number 0 when read second filling each turn the number 1 is assigned at the third filling each turn again is assigned the number 0, etc ...

p0032Figure 4 shows a disk 10 on which we started recording from the center and 25 at every turn 26 the figure is assigned 1. The last round has registered the reference 27. Then the following rounds 28, 29 etc ... also contain records. But they are assigned the binary number 0 corresponding to the previous filling.

p0033In this way, in case of power interruption in power, the head 19 for recording and reading able to determine the location, namely around 27, where the disc was finished recording since it is the last round (from the center) of index 1.

p0034In a variant the device has an emergency source of energy such as a temporary store (not shown) of low capacity that allows the continued operation of the device for a specified time, relatively short, for example 30 seconds. During this delay period allows a circuit to include information on where is checked in. On resumption of power, the recorded code is easily recognizable.

p0035In the example the coding of television programs is carried out analogously to the MAC-PACK coding as regards the sound and the separation of the luminance and chrominance. However, unlike the MAC standards, the video information is recorded digitally evening and not in analog form. Thus in a line the digital information is first transmitted sound, then the digital information chrominance and finally the digital luminance information.

p0036Alternatively recording is done in analog form.

p0037In addition, or instead, the detector 17 for recognizing a television signal at line frequency is provided a member (not shown) for recognizing a pilot signal provided by the transmitter and represents the beginning of a TV show.

p0038In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the apparatus is intended to allow the simultaneous recording of several television channels. To this end it includes a number of sections i receivers 16₁ tuners, 16₂ ... 16_i equal to the number of channels that it is desired to receive and 10₁ several discs, 10₂ etc ... increasing the recording capacity.

p0039In this example the signals provided by the tuners sections 16₁, 16₂, ..., the A / D converter 20 pass through a multiplexer 35. In this way it is possible to simultaneously record several television channels on one disk 10₁ and there is then provided a single recording head 19 and a read head 21. When 10₁ disk is completely filled with information, a mechanism allows movement of the recording head 19 in the disk 10₁ 10₂ to the next disc. Similarly, a transfer mechanism is provided to allow the displacement of the read head 21 to another disk.

p0040In the example shown in Figure 3, the number of recording heads 19₁, 19₂, ... 19 etc._i equals the number of sections 16₁ tuners, 16₂ ... 16_i. In this case the number of discs 10₁, 10₂ ... 10_i is the same, each disc being assigned a recording head. Similarly to each drive is assigned a read head 21₁ ... 21_i.

p0041With this embodiment it is not necessary to provide a multiplexer as in the example of FIG 2.

p0042Whatever embodiment is advantageous for the recording head 19 allows visualization of the program which is being recorded, for example by keying in the image read with the read head or the image received by the tuner.