Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7202663 | Method for generating fast magnetic resonance images The subject invention pertains to a method for acquiring and reconstructing a collection of time crucial magnetic resonance images. The subject invention is applicable for speeding up acquisition of or improving the quality of the set of images. In one specific embo... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7180694 | Recording and/or reproducing apparatus, recording and/or reproducing method, recording medium and program A recording apparatus of a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium includes a transfer unit, a recording head, a signal-processing unit and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium having an anisotropic property oblique with ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7157871 | Intermittent drive control apparatus of motor Rotation of a capstan motor is detected by a frequency detector, and supplied to a CPU as a rotation detection signal CFG. The CPU derives a period of the rotation detection signal CFG, calculates an average rotational speed of the capstan motor on the basis of the ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7154695 | System and method for controlling the speed of a tape drive A control system and method for operating a system comprising a host computer, a buffer, a tape drive and a tape is provided. The method includes writing data to the tape while the tape is traveling at a first speed; stopping the tape; determining an optimum second ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7092192 | Videotape recording and playback device, and videotape player The object of the present invention is to reduce the load and specification requirements on the network and the video server. The buffer usage rate is counted and supplied to the tape driving controller 7. In the reproduction mode, the tape driving controller... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7046466 | Dual density recording for direction-dependent linear media The invention provides a linear data storage medium, such as magnetic tape, in which data tracks that extend in one direction are recorded at a different density than data tracks recorded in the opposite direction. Various techniques are also described to facilitate... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6963467 | Method and apparatus for compensating for media shift due to tape guide A method and apparatus for compensating for media shift due to spiral groove roller tape guide is disclosed. The lateral tape shift is measured. Then the control of the coarse actuator is adjusted for the lateral tape shift so that the movement of the coarse actuato... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6961510 | Reproducing device with automatic change-over between trick-play speeds In a reproducing device (1) for the reproduction of reproduction data (WD) recorded on a magnetic tape (2), having transport means (7) for the transport of the magnetic tape (2) with a normal-play speed (VNS, VNLS2, ... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6950039 | Information encoding apparatus, information encoding method, information re-encoding apparatus and information re-encoding method An information encoding apparatus for encoding N pieces of information, the information encoding apparatus includes a scrambling pattern generation section for generating M scrambling patterns (N>M≧1; where M and N are each an integer); a scrambled information gen... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6929206 | Method and apparatus for controlling speed in recording/reproducing apparatus A method and apparatus can control a tape speed in a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus. The method can include operating the brake unit at a determined operating point to reduce the rotating speed of the supply or take-up reel, sensing the rotating speed... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6768604 | Method for reduction of off-track errors in data storage tape systems Embodiments of a data storage tape control system are disclosed that works to prevent or reduce frequency of off-track errors. The invented method slows tape speed in response to the writing head or writing element moving transversely away from a track center a pred... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6282047 | Recording and/or reproducing apparatus A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a plurality of tape transport modes is arranged such that, in changing a stop mode over to a desired mode through an intermediate tape transport mode among the plurality of tape transport modes, the tape is ... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6222693 | Re-recording/re-producing device for magnetic tape and head cleaning A re-recording/re-reproducing device cleans both the magnetic tape and head of dregs which cause errors in writing and reading. A magnetic head records and reproduces input digital data to and from a magnetic tape at a normal speed. When an error in writi... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6219487 | Record mode discriminating apparatus using non-pilot repetitive signals A record mode discriminating apparatus used in a magnetic recording/reproducing system records a record mode discriminating signal having a predetermined periodicity that is dependent upon the record mode being used to record an audio/video signal. The re... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6157772 | Method and apparatus for reserved-recording a plurality of broadcast programs A reserved-recording method and apparatus is provided in which a plurality of broadcast programs reserved within a certain time are recorded as many as possible within the limit of capacity of a recording medium. The apparatus includes a key input portion... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6154332 | System for recording and reproducing data having scheme for minimizing variation in record track width when recording at different data rates At least three heads are mounted on a rotary drum. Between the first and third heads which are located in close proximity to each other and have different azimuth angles, an intentionally provided minute height difference is formed in the rotation shaft d... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6122129 | Apparatus for reproducing signals from a tape medium An apparatus for reproducing signals which are recorded on a tape to form oblique tracks thereon. The apparatus includes a drum which has a plurality of rotary heads adjoining each other for scanning respective oblique tracks simultaneously to produce rep... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6031678 | Reproducing apparatus settable in a search reproduction mode from operation in a normal reproduction mode A reproducing apparatus having a phase-locked loop for controlling recording medium transport has selectable normal and search reproduction modes and is settable to the search reproduction mode upon an output of the phase-locked loop obtained in operation... | 02/29/2000 |
| 6031679 | Magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing digital data at minimum error rate A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is provided which is designed to record and reproduce digital information signals on and from a magnetic tape at a reduced error rate in a long play mode. When the long play mode is entered, the travel speed of ... | 02/29/2000 |
| 6014278 | System for recording and reproducing data having scheme for minimizing variation in record track width when recording at different data rates At least three heads are mounted on a rotary drum. Between the first and third heads which are located in close proximity to each other and have different azimuth angles, a minute height difference is formed in the rotation shaft direction of the rotary d... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5973873 | Motor speed control circuit for a videocassette recorder In a motor control circuit for a VCR, a microcomputer calculates a center frequency to be targeted by a drum motor based on frequency pulses from the capstan motor, and generates a speed control signal for the drum motor based on a frequency deviation of ... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5808823 | Method and circuit for reducing battery power drain in a portable cassette player A technique is disclosed for reducing the power consumption of a battery powered cassette player typically including a motor. The technique includes sequentially operating the motor during a first interval (T1) and turning the motor off during a second in... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5790339 | Video tape playback mode decision circuit and video apparatus using the same A video tape playback mode decision circuit has a mode detection circuit, a control signal presence/absence detection circuit and a mode selection circuit, and is additionally provided with a tape feed suspension detection circuit so that a standard mode ... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5784215 | Method and apparatus for recording and reading variable speed data using a rotating drum device A method and apparatus for recording and replaying variable speed data uses a rotating drum device. When information to be recorded is presented to the transfer rate of the information, be recorded is determined. If this information is not presented at a ... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5745318 | Digital video tape reproducing apparatus for reproducing video signals from tracks in a magnetic tape having reproducing heads having widths the same as or different from that of the recording heads In a digital video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus including a pair of rotary magnetic heads having a predetermined head width and gaps with mutually different azimuth angles which helically scan a magnetic tape as the tape is advanced in orde... | 04/28/1998 |
| 5687037 | Video tape recorder for long-play mode recording/reproducing A video tape recorder for long-play mode recording/reproducing includes a capstan servo circuit including a N-multiplying means for inputting a capstan frequency signal and multiplying the input signal by N times, first switching means for switching each ... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5640629 | Information recording device with control of film transport An information recording device of a camera permits recording of more information with an appropriate recording density without monitoring the film feeding speed constantly. The information recording device includes a feeding assembly to feed film mounted... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5625615 | Optical storage drive employing variable write speed for reduced laser write power By adjusting the advancement rate of an optical data storage medium in response to the amount of data to be written, and operating a laser with a minimum amount of write laser power level for the particular advancement rate to achieve a desired level of w... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5579185 | Video tape recording/reproducing apparatus having automatic predict and mode changing capability An apparatus and process are disclosed for automatically changing the speed of a recording tape from a first speed to a second speed, based on a one-time determination of predicted time of changeover. The second speed is 1/n of the first speed, where n is... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5550682 | Mode discrimination circuit for an image recording/playback system utilizing peak detectors A circuit for detecting the recording/playback mode of a system, e.g., a video tape recorder (VTR), for recording/playing back an image signal on/from a recording medium, using first and second input signals derived from pilot signals also recorded on the... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5499148 | Digital video tape reproducing apparatus compatible with tapes having a track width different from a rotary magnetic head width In a digital video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus including a pair of rotary magnetic heads having a predetermined head width and gaps with mutually different azimuth angles which helically scan a magnetic tape as the tape is advanced in orde... | 03/12/1996 |
| 5493456 | Method and apparatus for increasing the recording time of a digital video tape recorder Method for increasing the recording time of a digital video tape recorder ("VTR") and for supporting multiple normal play modes of digital VTR operation, e.g., a standard play mode of operation and one or more long play modes of operation. To achieve long... | 02/20/1996 |
| 5446605 | Method and apparatus for moving head from one tape track to another against the risk of damaging the tape A bidirectional, multitrack magnetic tape subsystem is disclosed which is for use with a two-reel, belt-driven tape cartridge in which the tape tension increases linearly with tape travel in either direction. Upon completion of writing or reading data alo... | 08/29/1995 |
| 5444580 | Apparatus for recording/reproducing digital data on/from recording medium A helical scan type digital recording/reproducing apparatus arranged such that data corresponding to m fields/frames are divisionally recorded in n tracks on a magnetic tape and a slow, still or frame advance reproduction mode is effected in response to a... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5432657 | Cue and review mechanism for a tape recorder A tape recorder is disclosed in which an accurate cue & review operation is possible without being influenced by the wound state of a magnetic tape or the fluctuation of the mechanical load. In the tape recorder a first controller 21, a second controller 22 an... | 07/11/1995 |
| 5371881 | Universal timing controller for video tape recorder servo system of different formats using time multiplexed switching network A microcomputer constructed on a single semiconductor substrate comprises a microprocessor CPU, a read only memory ROM, a random access memory RAM, a common bus BUS for electrically connecting the microprocessor CPU, the read only memory ROM and the rando... | 12/06/1994 |
| 5363253 | Tape drive fast seek to end-of-track A tape drive control system with improved overall dam transfer rate. A streaming tape drive system for a multi-track serpentine data tape is controlled by a host computer. The data tape has a fixed number of data sectors per track. The host computer monit... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5363254 | Tape recorder capable of varying tape speed A tape recorder comprises a reproducer for reproducing an information signal recorded on a tape-shaped recording medium, a transporter for transporting the tape-shaped recording medium, a dial and a controller for setting a transport speed of the tape-sha... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5353177 | Method and apparatus for positioning a magnetic head unit on a track centerline A read/write head unit is moved across a reference burst track on magnetic tape from one longitudinal edge thereof toward the other through a series of transverse locations. The peak amplitude of the output from a read amplifier, representative of the ref... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5349481 | Apparatus and method for distorted track data recovery by rewinding and re-reading the tape at a slower than nominal speed A helical drive system (10) reads tracks (18) on a storage medium (12), including tracks which appear as distorted tracks. Each track (18) comprises a plurality of blocks of data, with each block having unique block-identifying information. A read head (1... | 09/20/1994 |
