Abstract:
An oscillatory circuit for driving a magnetic recording head to record analog intelligence signals in either one of two selectable modes, i.e., frequency modulation of a carrier supplied by the oscillator, or amplitude modulation resembling signals recorded by ordinary AC-biased techniques, the latter also being claimed as a method. The system employs the same oscillatory circuit in both cases, this circuit operating in one mode as a voltage-controlled oscillator wherein both half-cycles of the oscillations are either lengthened or shortened depending upon the polarity of said analog input signal, and operating in the other mode in such a way that the analog input, depending upon its polarity, either shortens or lengthens one half-cycle of oscillation with respect to the other, whereby the zero axis of the oscillations is shifted up or down with changes in amplitude and polarity of the analog input signal to produce in the magnetic recording head a single oscillation signal resembling the composite of an analog signal plus AC-bias which is normally introduced into a recording head by prior art recording techniques. The mode of recording is conveniently determined by simple switch means.