A Deck Mechanism for High Density Recording and Playback VCRs

This paper describes a new deck mechanism for high density recording and playback by home-use digital VCRs. To obtain high recording densities, a narrow track, shortened wavelength and thin tape are needed. We have developed a tape transport mechanism with low friction, a rotary cylinder mechanism containing a moving head actuator, and a tape tension control mechanism which achieves low tension and a wide controlled band. Experiments performed using these mechanisms and thin tape (8/10 μm thickness) in an experimental digital VCR deck yielded the following results. 1) The track width is 6 μm and the areal recording density is 2 μm²/bit. 2) The tape transport mechanism achieves low friction and a tape tension ratio (capstan/cassette-out) of 4.7. 3) A rotary cylinder containing a moving head actuator was developed, and the controlled band was 300 Hz. 4) A tape tension control mechanism with a moving guide was developed; its controlled band was over 150 Hz.