JP2001155473A - Data recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data recording and reproducing device in which erroneous operation of an operation switch can be prevented with constitution. SOLUTION: In a data recording and reproducing device having a first operation switch which is arranged at a first plane and can be operated manually and a second operation switch which is arranged at a second plane being almost parallel to the first plane, the device is characterized in that the device has the part of difference in level between the first plane at which the first operation switch is arranged and the second plane at which the second operation switch is arranged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to the position of various manually operable operation switches provided on the data recording / reproducing apparatus by a tactile sensation of a finger during manual operation by an operator. The present invention relates to a data recording / reproducing device which can be known.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a data recording / reproducing apparatus or the like, when arranging a plurality of operation switches and buttons necessary for operating the data recording / reproducing apparatus, when operating the operation switches and buttons, an operator operates a fingertip. It is desired that the type of the operation switch or button can be distinguished by the tactile sensation.

[0003] As a general one that fulfills such a demand, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-91540 is known.

[0004] That is, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-91540, a projection is provided on a recording start button as a normal means for allowing an operator to distinguish the type of the operation switch or button by the tactile sense of a fingertip. It is provided.

[0005]

However, when the projections are provided on the upper surface of the operation switch as described above, when the upper surface of the operation switch is painted, etc.
It is easy for the paint to come off only at the protrusions.

[0006] In addition, such projections are usually provided as small as possible so as not to impair the appearance.
In such a case, it becomes difficult to distinguish a desired operation switch only by a touch with a fingertip, and there is a possibility that an erroneous operation may occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the position of various manually operable operation switches provided in a data recording / reproducing apparatus is determined by the tactile sensation of a finger during manual operation by an operator. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording / reproducing apparatus capable of preventing erroneous operation of an operation switch with a simple configuration.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (1) a manually operable first operation switch arranged on a first plane; A manually operable second disposed in a substantially parallel second plane;
In the data recording / reproducing apparatus having the operation switches described above, a step is provided between the first plane on which the first operation switches are arranged and the second plane on which the second operation switches are arranged. A featured data recording / reproducing apparatus is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (2) a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body, and a display portion arranged on one end side of a front portion of the main body and displaying various data, A first operation switch disposed on a front portion of the main body and instructing a first operation of the main body; and a second operation switch disposed on a front portion of the main body and instructing a second operation of the main body. In the data recording / reproducing apparatus having the above, on the front part of the main body, the one end side where the display part is arranged is set to the upper side, and substantially between the first operation switch and the second operation switch. A data recording / reproducing apparatus is provided, wherein a step portion is formed from upper left to substantially lower right.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (3) the front portion is formed such that the right surface of the step portion is lower than the lower left surface of the step portion. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to (2) is provided.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (4) the first operation switch is an operation switch for instructing a start operation or a stop operation of recording or reproduction, and The operation switch of (2) is an operation switch for instructing erasure of data recorded in a recording medium or an operation switch for setting an environment of the data recording / reproducing apparatus. A data recording / reproducing apparatus as described above is provided.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of a data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a data recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 of the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment has a vertically long, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

A recording (recording, REC) button 2 provided on an upper part of the front panel surface of the main body 1 prevents an audio signal input from a microphone 12 provided on an upper side surface of the main body 1 from being input. The audio data is converted into audio data via the audio data conversion circuit shown in the figure, and the audio data is instructed to start a recording operation for recording the audio data in a non-volatile semiconductor memory (not shown). is there.

A reproduction (PLAY) button 3 provided on the right side of the recording (recording, REC) button 2 on the front panel surface of the main body 1 is provided with a sound recorded in the semiconductor memory. The data is converted into an audio signal using an audio signal conversion circuit (not shown), and the audio signal is converted to a speaker 1 provided at a lower portion of a front panel surface of the main body 1.
3 is a button for instructing the start of a reproducing operation for reproducing through the third button.

A stop (STOP) button 4 provided on the front panel surface of the main body 1 below the play (PLAY) button 3 in the figure is used for recording (recording, recording,
This is a button for instructing stop of the recording or reproduction operation by the EC (EC) button 2 or the reproduction (PLAY) button 3.

Since the stop (STOP) button 4 is used relatively frequently, the stop button 4 is larger than the operation buttons arranged around the stop button so as to be easily operated.

A reverse skip (reverse playback,-) button 5 provided on the lower left side of the stop (STOP) button 4 on the front panel surface of the main body 1 is used during recording or playback operation. By being operated, it is instructed that the audio data to be reproduced in the semiconductor memory described above is changed to the audio data of the immediately preceding sequence, and that the fast reverse reproduction operation is performed by being operated during the reproduction operation. It is a button for giving an instruction.

A fast-forward button (+) 6 provided on the lower right side of the stop (STOP) button 4 on the front panel surface of the main body 1 is provided with a reverse skip (fast-reverse reproduction,-) button 5. The operation opposite to the operation described above, that is, an operation performed while the recording or reproduction operation is stopped, instructs that the audio data to be reproduced in the above-described semiconductor memory be changed to the next sequential audio data, and the reproduction operation is performed. It is a button for instructing to perform a fast-forward playback operation by being operated during.

A menu button (MENU) 7 provided on the left side of the stop (STOP) button 4 on the front panel surface of the main body 1 is a button for instructing various environment settings. .

More specifically, the various environmental settings made by the menu (MENU) button 7 include the time setting of the clock function and the setting of the recording sound quality (high sound quality SP mode / lower sound quality compared to the SP mode, but longer). LP mode that allows time recording), ON / OFF of operation sound, voice-activated recording function (function to start recording when voice input level exceeds a certain level),
The setting of microphone sensitivity (high sensitivity / low sensitivity), the setting of alarm, and the like.

These settings are made in the menu (MEN).
U) Press the button 7 to select a setting item,
The content of each setting item is changed using the reverse skip (fast reverse playback,-) button 5 and the fast forward button (+) 6.

Further, an erase (ERASE) button 8 provided directly below the stop (STOP) button 4 on the front panel surface of the main body 1 is provided with an unnecessary sound selected in the semiconductor memory. This button is used to instruct to delete data.

A display section 9 provided at one end, which is the uppermost part in the drawing, on the front panel surface of the main body 1 uses a liquid crystal display device, and displays various information related to the present data recording / reproducing apparatus. Things.

An output terminal 10 provided on the upper side of the main body 1 can be connected to an external reproducing device such as an earphone, headphones or an external speaker, and outputs an audio signal to the external device. It is.

An input terminal 11 provided on the upper side of the main body 1 is connected to an external microphone or another external device instead of the built-in microphone 12, and inputs an audio signal from an external device. Terminal.

A volume knob 14 provided on the right side of the main body 1 is used to adjust a reproduction volume from a speaker 13 provided at the lowermost end of the main body 1 or an output level of a signal from the output terminal 10. Is a rotary member for adjusting.

The first plane 15 on the front panel of the main body 1 is a plane including operation switches such as the fast-return button 5, the menu button 7 and the delete button 8, and the speaker 13.

The second flat surface 16 on the front panel of the main body 1 includes operation switches such as the record button 2, the play button 3, the stop button 4, and the fast forward button 6, and the display unit 4. It is a plane.

The first plane 15 and the second plane 16 are substantially parallel to each other.

However, the second plane 16 is the first plane 1
It is about 1 mm lower than 5.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, a step 17 connecting the first plane 15 and the second plane 16 passes between the left side of the display section 9 and each button, and 13, it is formed diagonally from upper left to lower right when viewed from the front panel surface of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 shows a first plane 15 and a second plane 16 formed on the front panel surface of the main body 1 described above.
Further, the relationship with the step 17 is shown.

The cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.
This is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the operator actually uses the data recording / reproducing apparatus configured as described above while holding it by hand.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present data recording / reproducing apparatus usually allows the operator to see the display unit 9 provided at the uppermost end of the front panel surface of the main unit 1 in the drawing. It is assumed that the user holds the main body 1 with the right hand with the loudspeaker 13 on the top and the speaker 13 on the lower side for operation.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operator performs an operation while holding the operator's right hand, most of the operation switches are operated using the thumb.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the recording button 2 is to be pressed.
Since the playback button 3 and the playback button 3 are relatively spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction as viewed from the front panel surface of the main body 1, the dotted line 1
As shown by 8, the amount of moving the thumb increases.

Therefore, it is considered that the recording button 2 and the reproduction button 3 are hardly operated by the operator by mistake in the buttons to be operated.

The recording button 2 and the stop button 4
Since it is arranged vertically apart from the front panel surface of the main body 1, it is necessary to bend the thumb again, and the amount of movement is large.

Therefore, it is considered that the recording button 2 and the stop button 4 are rarely operated by the operator by mistake in the buttons to be operated.

However, although the recording button 2 and the menu button 7 are slightly different in size, as shown by a dotted line 19 in the figure, the recording button 2 and the menu button 7 are slightly shifted from the base of the thumb, in other words, the thumb bending operation. You can press both buttons without much need for.

Accordingly, when the recording button 2 and the menu button 7 are not displayed or the buttons are not clearly seen due to darkness or the like, there is a possibility that the operator may operate the button to be operated by mistake and operate it erroneously.

However, in the case of the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the step 17 of about 1 mm is provided between the recording button 2 and the menu button 7, the operator needs The step 17 is sensed with a fingertip, and these buttons can be distinguished only by the sense of the fingertip, such as the recording button 2 on the right side and the menu button 7 on the left side. It is.

In the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the step 17 is set to about 1 mm. However, it is sufficient that the operator only needs to touch the fingertip to recognize the existence of the step 17 and to determine the step. By doing so, its purpose is achieved.

However, in an actual design, it may be necessary to take care not to impair the appearance. Therefore, the value of the step of the step 17 may be set after considering these factors.

In consideration of the above, it is considered that the value of the step of the step 17 is suitably about 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

In addition, some consideration is given to the step portion 17.

First, the step 17 is formed obliquely from the upper left to the lower right as viewed from the front panel surface of the main body 1.

This is the recording button 2 and the menu button 7
The movement of the thumb in the vicinity is centered around the base of the thumb,
Since the movement is from the upper right to the lower left when viewed from the front of the main body 1, the step portion 17 is oriented in such a way as to resist the movement.
This is because the operator can more easily sense with the fingertip.

The second point is that the second plane 16 is lower than the first plane 15 with the step 17 as a boundary.

Although this does not impair the effect of the operator touching the fingertip with the fingertip even if the relationship is reversed, the second plane 16 is formed so as to be lower. 3, the thumb is easier to move from the position 20 pressing the record button to the position 19 pressing the menu button 7 than pressing the menu button 7 in the opposite direction. This is because the effect of preventing erroneous operation can be further added by providing.

Third, operation switches for reading and writing data such as recording button 2, playback button 3 and stop button 4 which are usually used such as recording, playback and stop, and environmental setting and data deletion. By arranging the menu button 7 and the erase button 8 for performing the operations on the left and right sides of the drawing with the step 17 as a boundary, the functions of those buttons are easily understood by the operator. is there.

As described above, the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment considers that the operator operates with the right hand. It goes without saying that the configuration of the unit 17 may be reversed in accordance with the above-described concept.

That is, the display unit 9 for displaying various data is set as the front face of the main body 1, and the first
And a second operation switch for instructing a second operation of the main body, wherein the first operation switch and the second operation switch are arranged on the front surface.
It is preferable to form a step between the upper right switch and the lower right switch.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an external front view of the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment.
Members having the same functions as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Therefore, here, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the data recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the recording button 2 and the reproduction button 3 are substantially in the upper half of the front panel surface of the main body 1. Are arranged so as to be distributed to the left and right sides in the figure with the first step 17a formed therebetween.

The fast-return button 5 and the fast-forward button 6 are distributed to the left and right sides in the figure with a second step 17b formed in a substantially lower half of the front panel surface of the main body 1 interposed therebetween. Are located.

Similarly, the menu button 7 and the delete button 8
Are also arranged so as to be distributed to the left and right sides in the figure with the second step 17b interposed therebetween.

The stop button 4 is set to the first stepped portion 1.
7a and the second step 17b.

Both the first step 17a and the second step 17b are steps connecting the first plane 15 and the second plane 16 with each other.
The second plane 16 is formed to be lower than the first plane 15 by about mm.

Here, as described above, the recordings arranged so as to be distributed to the left and right sides of the drawing with the first stepped portion 17a formed substantially in the upper half of the front panel surface of the main body 1 interposed therebetween. The relationship between the button 2 and the play button 3 will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, both the record button 2 and the play button 3 are arranged on the second plane 16, but in the second embodiment, as described above, By arranging the first step portion 17a on both sides thereof with the first step portion 17a interposed therebetween, the operator can easily distinguish the operation switches of the recording system and the reproduction system, thereby preventing an erroneous operation.

The menu button 7 has the first
In the second embodiment, as compared with the case where the recording button 2 is arranged close to the recording button 2 as shown in FIG. In addition to preventing erroneous operation between them, the possibility that the operator misunderstands that the switch is used when recording by pressing the menu button 7 is reduced.

The stop button 4 is moved to the first step 17a.
This is because the stop button 4 is an operation switch that is used to stop the operation during the recording operation and the reproducing operation.

The stop button 4 is moved to the first step 17
By being on a, there is also an effect that the operator can easily find out only by touching the fingertip.

Further, speaking of the stop button 4, the operator can easily operate the record button 2, the play button 3, the fast-return button 5, and the fast-forward button 6 by groping.

Then, the rewind button 5 and the fast forward button 6 or the menu button 7 and the erase button 8
Are also arranged so as to be distributed to the left and right sides of the drawing with the second step 17b interposed therebetween.

The fast-return button 5 and fast-forward button 6
Or the menu button 7 and the delete button 8 can be easily recognized even by groping by allocating the operation switches arranged in the same place by the second step portion 17b. This has the effect of preventing erroneous operations from occurring.

[0074]

Therefore, as described above, according to the present invention, the position of various manually operable operation switches provided in the data recording / reproducing apparatus is known by the operator by the tactile sensation of the finger during manual operation. In particular, it is possible to provide a data recording / reproducing apparatus capable of preventing erroneous operation of an operation switch with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a data recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a relationship between a first plane 15, a first plane 16, and a step 17 formed on a front panel surface of the main body 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which an operator actually uses the data recording / reproducing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention while holding the device in his / her hand.

FIG. 4 is an external front view showing a data recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... body, 2 ... record (record, REC) button, 3 ... play (PLAY) button, 4 ... stop (STOP) button, 5 ... reverse skip (fast reverse play,-) button, 6 ... fast forward button (+) Reference numeral 7: Menu button (MENU), 8: Erase button, 9: Display, 10: Output terminal, 11: Input terminal, 12: Microphone, 13: Speaker, 14: Volume knob, 15: First plane Reference numeral 16: second plane 17: stepped portion 17a: first stepped portion 17b: second stepped portion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A manually operable first operation switch disposed on a first plane, and a manually operable second operation switch disposed on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. A data recording / reproducing apparatus having a step portion between the first plane on which the first operation switch is arranged and the second plane on which the second operation switch is arranged. Data recording and playback device. 2. A main body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a display portion arranged at one end of the front portion of the main body to display various data, and a first operation of the main body arranged at a front portion of the main body. And a second operation switch disposed on a front portion of the main body and instructing a second operation of the main body. A step is formed between the first operation switch and the second operation switch from substantially upper left to substantially lower right with the one end side on which the display section is disposed as an upper side. A data recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the front portion is formed such that a right surface of the step portion is lower than a lower left surface of the step portion. Data recording and playback device. 4. The first operation switch is an operation switch for instructing a start operation or a stop operation of recording or reproduction, and the second operation switch is for erasing data recorded on a recording medium. 3. The data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation switch is an operation switch for instructing an operation, or an operation switch for setting an environment of the data recording / reproducing apparatus.