How Ampex Invented Modern Video Recording on Magnetic Tape
This 1955 invention enabled the recording of high-frequency television signals onto magnetic tape, replacing the expensive and low-quality film recording methods of the era.
Original patent title: “Broad band magnetic tape system and method”
This 1955 invention enabled the recording of high-frequency television signals onto magnetic tape, replacing the expensive and low-quality film recording methods of the era. Granted to Ampex Corp in 1960 with 11 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system uses a rotating head assembly that spins at high speeds perpendicular to the direction of the moving magnetic tape. By scanning the tape transversely, the system achieves the high relative speeds necessary to capture the massive amount of data required for a television signal. This allows for the storage of high-frequency video information on a relatively slow-moving strip of tape. It effectively solved the problem of how to record a signal that required a bandwidth far beyond what stationary heads could handle at the time.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover digital video recording or compression formats.
- Does not cover helical scan recording, which uses a different tape path geometry.
- Does not cover optical disc storage or solid-state memory.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
By rotating the recording heads across the tape width instead of moving the tape at impossible speeds, the engineers achieved the necessary bandwidth while keeping the physical tape manageable.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Ampex VR-1000 broadcast video tape recorder
Early television studio master recording equipment
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention, known as the VR-1000, transformed the television industry by allowing for high-quality delayed broadcasts and editing. It ended the era of 'kinescope' recording, where cameras simply filmed a television monitor, which resulted in poor image quality. It became the industry standard for decades.
Filed
July 25, 1955
Granted
October 11, 1960
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Ampex pioneered this space, and their technology served as the foundation for the entire broadcast video industry. Modern digital storage companies and archival systems continue to trace their lineage back to these fundamental magnetic recording principles.
Market impact
This patent enabled the creation of the modern television broadcast workflow, allowing for time-shifted programming and professional video editing. It effectively killed the kinescope industry and set the technical standard for global television production for over 30 years.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system uses a rotating head assembly that spins at high speeds perpendicular to the direction of the moving magnetic tape. By scanning the tape transversely, the system achieves the high relative speeds necessary to capture the massive amount of data required for a television signal. This allows for the storage of high-frequency video information on a relatively slow-moving strip of tape. It effectively solved the problem of how to record a signal that required a bandwidth far beyond what stationary heads could handle at the time.
The clever bit
By rotating the recording heads across the tape width instead of moving the tape at impossible speeds, the engineers achieved the necessary bandwidth while keeping the physical tape manageable.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover digital video recording or compression formats.
- Does not cover helical scan recording, which uses a different tape path geometry.
- Does not cover optical disc storage or solid-state memory.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
22/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$8K – $26K
Midpoint $16K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Ginsburg, C. P., Henderson, J. S. F., Dolby, R. M., & Anderson, C. E. (1960). How Ampex Invented Modern Video Recording on Magnetic Tape (U.S. Patent No. 2,956,114). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2956114/videotape-recorder-ampex
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Ampex Invented Modern Video Recording on Magnetic Tape cover?
This 1955 invention enabled the recording of high-frequency television signals onto magnetic tape, replacing the expensive and low-quality film recording methods of the era.
Who owns patent US 2956114?
Ampex Corp owns this patent, granted in 1960.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2956114 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 11 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention, known as the VR-1000, transformed the television industry by allowing for high-quality delayed broadcasts and editing. It ended the era of 'kinescope' recording, where cameras simply filmed a television monitor, which resulted in poor image quality. It became the industry standard for decades.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover digital video recording or compression formats.
Patent monitoring