JP2006221755A - Recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording and reproducing apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of errors caused by the lowering of a battery capacity at the time of writing or reading data in or from a storage media drive. <P>SOLUTION: The recording and reproducing apparatus operates in such a manner that: an HDD 25 is started for a recording or reading operation; the battery capacity is checked in a process of seek operation after the start of the HDD 25; data recording and/or reading operation with respect to the HDD 25 is prohibited when a result of the battery check shows that the voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage; when the data recording operation to the HDD 25 is prohibited, the data for recording to the HDD 25 are temporarily shunted to a nonvolatile memory 22 which is operative at a voltage lower than that of the HDD 25; and when the battery capacity check shows that the voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage, and also when the data shunted into the nonvolatile memory 22 are exist, a system control section 20 controls so that the shunted data are recorded on the HDD 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of storing and reproducing an audio signal or an image signal.

  As is well known, a portable audio recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an IC recorder) that uses a flash memory as a rewritable recording medium to record and reproduce audio has been in full swing since the late 1990s. Has been put to practical use. This IC recorder converts an analog audio signal acquired from a microphone into digital data and stores it in a flash memory during audio recording. Further, the IC recorder reads audio data recorded in the flash memory, converts it into an analog audio signal, and reproduces it with a speaker or the like when reproducing the audio.

  Furthermore, in 2002, an IC recorder with an imaging function having an imaging function in addition to a recording function was commercialized, and an image can be simultaneously recorded while recording.

  These IC recorders are generally configured so that each operation mode such as recording, playback, fast forward, and fast reverse can be selectively functioned by operating a predetermined operation switch. is there. For example, a recording operation is performed by pressing a recording switch as an operation switch. During this recording operation, the audio data converted into a digital signal is stored in an audio data area provided in advance in the flash memory, and index information (audio data address, recording date and time, etc.) relating to the audio data is stored in the audio data area. It is stored in an index information area provided in advance in the flash memory.

  At this time, a file number and a folder symbol are assigned to the audio data stored in the flash memory, thereby facilitating subsequent file search and reproduction. Further, in order to efficiently manage and manage files that continue to increase every time recording is performed, a plurality of such folders are usually provided, such as A folder, B folder, and C folder. Then, the folder mark is pop-displayed on a display device such as an LCD provided in the main body of the IC recorder so that the operator can easily recognize which folder is being selected. It has been devised.

By the way, in recent years, a small-diameter HDD (Hard Disk Drive) has been put to practical use as a large-capacity storage medium capable of recording for a longer time (long-time recording) than the flash memory as described above, and a portable music player. It is mounted on various devices.
JP 2002-352424 A

  However, many of the above-described IC recorders (with an imaging function) have a strong tendency to prioritize small size and light weight, that is, the design, even at the expense of battery capacity. As a result, a plurality of sequences are executed simultaneously. When the battery is overloaded, the battery voltage suddenly drops, making it difficult to access the recording medium.

  For example, optical disk recording media such as CD-RW and DVD-RW, and magnetic disk recording media such as HDD are very vulnerable to power interruptions during writing or reading control. In particular, fluctuations in the power supply voltage that exceed the rated range at the time of writing may cause the disk recording medium itself to physically crash (cannot continue writing).

  In view of this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-352424 discloses that information necessary for resuming recording (such as the address on the disk at the interruption point and the data being encoded) is saved in the nonvolatile memory or the HDD on the transfer source PC. Is described.

  However, since the technique described in the above publication performs the battery check during the writing operation to the disk recording medium, there is a possibility that it cannot follow the sudden decrease in the battery capacity.

  In other words, the standby transition processing after detecting a decrease in battery capacity (position information retention when the write operation is interrupted, transition to a low power consumption state, etc.) is not in time, and as a result, the write operation after the power source state is recovered May not be able to resume normally.

  As described above, the backup sequence does not function sufficiently only by checking the battery during operation, and as described above, a small portable set often equipped with a relatively low-capacity secondary battery is used for, for example, photographing. Write errors tend to occur frequently immediately after the heavy load sequence.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of preventing an error in writing or reading data to or from a storage media drive due to a decrease in battery capacity.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an activation unit that activates a storage media drive, and a battery check unit that performs a battery capacity check during a seek operation immediately after the storage media drive is activated. And a prohibiting means for prohibiting a data recording operation to the storage media drive and / or a data reading operation from the storage media drive based on the result of the battery check.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the battery check means performs a data recording operation to the storage media drive and / or a data read operation from the storage media drive. Whether or not is possible is detected.

  Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the second invention, wherein the activation of the storage media drive in the activation means is activation for recording data in the storage media drive and / or This is an activation for performing a data read operation from the storage media drive.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fourth invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third invention, wherein the activation means activates the storage media drive based on a user operation.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fifth invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth invention, wherein the activation means activates the storage media drive after an image capturing operation or a sound recording operation by a user. is there.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein when the data recording operation to the storage media drive is prohibited by the prohibiting means, the recording to the storage media drive is performed. Are temporarily saved in a predetermined recording medium.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the predetermined recording medium is a nonvolatile memory.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to an eighth invention is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth invention, wherein it is determined that a recording operation to the storage media drive is possible when the battery capacity is checked by the battery check means. If there is data saved in the predetermined recording medium, the saved data is recorded in the storage media drive.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the storage media drive is a hard disk drive.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an error at the time of writing or reading data to / from a storage media drive due to a decrease in battery capacity.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 to FIG. 13 show Embodiment 1 as a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an audio recording / reproducing apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the audio recording / reproducing apparatus includes an encoding unit 1 that encodes audio signals and image signals into audio data and image data in a predetermined format, and a switch provided with a plurality of operation switches. When the operation unit 9, the control unit 6 that executes a predetermined sequence according to the input state of the operation switch in the switch operation unit 9, and a specific switch of the switch operation unit 9 are operated, a video signal (image Signal) to the encoding means 1, storage means 2 for storing the audio data and image data associated with the audio data, and the read out from the storage means 2 at the time of reproduction Decoding means 3 for decoding audio data and image data into audio signals and image signals in accordance with a predetermined decoding format; An audio reproduction unit 4 that reproduces the audio signal as audio, an image reproduction unit 8 that reproduces the decoded image signal as an image, and the image reproduction unit that selectively selects only the image signal associated with the audio signal. And a second selection means 7 for outputting to 8.

  The specific switch of the switch operation unit 9 is configured as a two-stage push switch of a first release switch and a second release switch, and the first release switch is operated by pressing the release button in the first stage. Is closed, and an imaging operation is started in the imaging unit (see the CCD 11 and the image input unit 12 in a more specific example shown in FIG. 2), and the image signal is generated. Then, the second release switch is closed by the second pressing operation of the release button thereafter, and the image signal is recorded.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus.

  This audio recording / reproducing apparatus includes a microphone (MIC) 15 that converts sound into an electric signal, and an image pickup device 11 that is made of, for example, a CCD or a CMOS that converts an optical subject image into an electric image signal. Yes.

  The sound output from the microphone 15 is input to the sound input unit 16. The audio input unit 16 is an encoding unit configured to include a microphone amplifier (not shown), a low-pass filter, and an A / D converter. When an analog audio signal from the microphone 15 is input to the audio input unit 16, it is amplified by a microphone amplifier, an unnecessary frequency band is cut by a low-pass filter, and then converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter. It is supposed to convert.

  Similarly, the image output from the image sensor 11 is input to the image input unit 12. The image input unit 12 is an encoding unit configured to include control circuits such as an iris control circuit, a gain control circuit, and a white balance control circuit (not shown), and an A / D converter. The iris control circuit controls a diaphragm (not shown) provided in the imaging lens 37 (see FIG. 12). The subject image formed on the image sensor 11 by the imaging lens 37 with the aperture controlled is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 11 and output as an analog image signal. When an analog image signal is input, the image input unit 12 performs white balance processing by the white balance control circuit after being amplified by the gain control circuit. Thereafter, the image input unit 12 performs conversion into a digital signal by the A / D converter.

  The audio digital signal output from the audio input unit 16 and the image digital signal output from the image input unit 12 are input to a digital signal processing unit (DSP) 24 serving both as an encoding unit and a decoding unit. The The digital signal processing unit 24 is controlled by the system control unit 20 during recording (recording and recording), and encodes each digital signal into audio data and image data in a predetermined encoding format in units of frames. (Compress). Each encoded data is temporarily stored in a buffer memory (not shown) provided in the system control unit 20.

  On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, the digital signal processing unit 24 is controlled by the system control unit 20 to perform processing for decoding (decompressing) audio data and image data from the buffer memory of the system control unit 20 in units of frames.

  The audio digital signal decoded by the digital signal processing unit 24 is input to the audio reproduction unit 17. The audio reproduction unit 17 is a decoding unit configured to include a D / A converter (not shown), a low-pass filter, and a power amplifier. When a digital audio signal from the digital signal processing unit 24 is input to the audio reproduction unit 17, it is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter and an unnecessary frequency band is cut by a low-pass filter. It is designed to amplify with a power amplifier. When the amplified audio signal is input to the speaker (SP) 18 which is an audio reproduction unit, it is pronounced as sound.

  Similarly, the digital signal of the image decoded by the digital signal processing unit 24 is input to the image reproduction unit 13. The image reproduction unit 13 is a decoding unit configured to include a video control circuit (not shown) and a D / A converter. When a digital image signal from the digital signal processing unit 24 is input to the image reproducing unit 13, the video control circuit performs signal processing and then converts the analog image signal into a D / A converter. The analog image signal converted in this way is displayed as an image on the image display unit 14 which is an image reproduction unit constituted by, for example, a TFT-LCD.

  The system control unit 20 is a control unit that also serves as a first selection unit and a second selection unit configured to include, for example, a CPU. As described above, the digital signal processing unit 24 is connected, and further, The volatile memory 23, the nonvolatile memory 22, the operation unit 21, the display unit 19, and the HDD 25 are connected. In addition, the system control unit 20 functions as an activation unit that activates the HDD 25 that is a storage media drive, functions as a battery check unit that performs a capacity check of the battery during a seek operation immediately after the activation of the HDD 25, and a result of the battery check And a function as a prohibiting means for prohibiting a data recording operation to the HDD 25 and / or a data reading operation from the HDD 25 as described below.

  The non-volatile memory 22 is a predetermined recording medium that is a storage unit configured using, for example, a flash memory, and is mainly used for storing various sequence codes (firmware) of the system control unit 20. In addition, an empty area is intentionally provided in the nonvolatile memory 22. This empty area can be used for various purposes, but also functions as a temporary save memory for temporarily storing image data in an image acquisition process described later. The nonvolatile memory 22 can operate even when the voltage is lower than the HDD 25 or the battery capacity is reduced.

  The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 25 is a storage media drive that includes a hard disk as a storage medium for storing the audio data encoded by the digital signal processing unit 24 and the encoded image data. Under the control of the system control unit 20, the HDD 25 stores index information related to recording of audio data and image data.

  The volatile memory 23 is a storage unit configured using, for example, SDRAM or the like, and mainly functions as an external expansion memory that compensates for a shortage of a buffer memory (not shown) of the system control unit 20.

  The operation unit 21 includes a recording switch (REC), a playback switch (PLAY), a stop switch (STOP), a fast forward switch (FF), a fast reverse switch (REW), a menu switch (MENU), a hold switch (HOLD), and the like. This is a switch operation unit in which switches are arranged according to function.

  The display unit 19 displays the operation mode, the operation status after the start of the sequence, and the like when a predetermined sequence is started by operating any switch of the operation unit 21. Specifically, when the recording switch (REC) is pressed, the display unit 19 displays the elapsed recording time, the remaining recordable time, the file number, and the like. When the menu switch (MENU) is pressed, the display unit 19 relates to function selection such as microphone sensitivity (high / low), recording mode (standard / long), and alarm (on / off). Display. Further, the display unit 19 displays the current date and time when the system control unit 20 has a clock function. Here, these pieces of information are displayed on the display unit 19, but instead, this information may be displayed on the image display unit 14.

  Next, the operation of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus.

  When the audio recording / reproducing apparatus is powered on, the system control unit 20 executes predetermined initial settings (step S1) and starts a timer (step S2). After a predetermined time has passed without any operation (see step S11 described later), the audio recording / reproducing apparatus changes from the normal operation mode to the standby mode (low current consumption mode) (step S21 described later). Time) to enter (see).

  Then, when the operation mode of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus is entered, the recording switch (REC SW), the reproduction switch (PLAY SW), the fast forward switch (FF SW), and the fast reverse switch (REW SW) are detected by the switch detection operation shown in steps S3 to S10. ), A stop switch (STOP SW), a menu switch (MENU SW), an erase switch (ERASE SW), and a camera switch (CAMERA SW).

  That is, it is first detected whether or not the recording switch is turned on (step S3), and if it is turned on, a recording processing subroutine is executed (step S12).

  Next, it is detected whether or not the reproduction switch is turned on (step S4). If it is turned on, a reproduction processing subroutine is executed (step S13).

  Subsequently, it is detected whether or not the fast-forward switch is turned on (step S5). If it is turned on, a fast-forward processing subroutine is executed (step S14).

  Further, it is detected whether or not the fast reverse switch is turned on (step S6). If it is turned on, a fast reverse processing subroutine is executed (step S15).

  Then, it is detected whether or not the stop switch is turned on (step S7). If it is turned on, a stop processing subroutine is executed (step S16).

  Thereafter, it is detected whether or not the menu switch is turned on (step S8). If it is turned on, a menu change processing subroutine is executed (step S17).

  Next, it is detected whether or not the erasure switch is turned on (step S9). If it is turned on, a erasure processing subroutine is executed (step S18).

  Further, it is detected whether or not the camera switch is turned on (step S10), and if it is turned on, a release processing subroutine is executed (step S19).

  After executing any of the subroutines of steps S12, S13, S14, S15, S16, S17, S18, or S19, the timer is restarted (step S20), and then the steps S3 to S10 are performed. Return to the main loop related to the switch detection operation.

  Of the subroutines described above, the fast-forward process, the fast-rewind process, the stop process, the menu change process, the erase process, and the release process are performed using well-known technical means, and the contents of the present invention Detailed description will be omitted because it is not directly related to.

  Further, in the switch detection operation in steps S3 to S10, if all the switches are off, it is determined whether or not the time counted by the timer has exceeded a predetermined time (step S11). If the predetermined time has not been exceeded, the process returns to step S3, and the switch detection operation as described above is performed until the predetermined time is reached.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the predetermined time has passed, a standby mode subroutine is entered (step S21). This standby mode is a mode in which the audio recording / reproducing apparatus operates at a low current consumption.

  More specifically, the audio input unit 16, the image input unit 12, the audio reproduction unit 17, the image reproduction unit 13, the image display unit 14, the digital signal processing unit 24, the display unit 19, the volatile memory 23 illustrated in FIG. Low power consumption by shutting off the power source of the nonvolatile memory 22 and the HDD 25 or outputting a non-selection signal from the system control unit 20 to a chip enable terminal provided in an IC (not shown) constituting each block. Set the current state. At this time, the CPU of the system control unit 20 itself switches to the low-speed clock with the lowest current consumption by switching the operation clock to the lowest current consumption state. In some cases, the operation clock is switched from the main clock (for example, 27.000 MHz) to the sub clock (for example, 32.768 kHz), and then the main clock is completely stopped until a switch input is detected. Also good.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the recording process in step S12 of FIG. This recording process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When this recording process is started, the HDD 25 is first accessed (step S31), and a sequence such as battery check and various information acquisition is executed. Details of these sequences will be described later.

  Subsequently, the release flag is “1” (where “1” indicates that the flag is set and “0” indicates that the flag is not set (reset)). It is determined whether or not there is (step S32). If the release flag is not “1”, it is determined whether or not the 1st release switch is turned on (step S33).

  Here, when the 1st release switch is on, energization of the image sensor 11 is started (step S34), and a release flag is set (step S35).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the release flag is “1”, it is then determined whether or not the 1st release switch is turned off (step S36). If the first release switch is off, the release flag is reset (step S37).

  If it is determined in step S36 that the 1st release switch remains on, it is next determined whether or not the 2nd release switch is on (step S38). If it is determined that the 2nd release switch is turned on, an image acquisition flag is set (step S39).

  Then, an image acquisition process is performed (step S40). In this image acquisition process, an image is acquired by the image sensor 11 only when the image acquisition flag is set. If the image acquisition flag is not set, the next step is performed without acquiring an image. It has come to go.

  Then, the audio signal is encoded in units of frames by the digital signal processing unit 24 (step S41). The encoded audio data is stored in a buffer memory (not shown) of the system control unit 20 as described above.

  Here, the encoding process of the image signal in step S40 and the encoding process of the audio signal in step S41 are simultaneously performed by the digital signal processing unit 24 (that is, by one DSP). Yes.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the audio data has reached a predetermined number of frames (step S42), and if the predetermined number of frames is not reached, the process of step S41 is continued.

  Here, the predetermined number of frames is determined in advance according to the amount of information per frame before and after encoding and the amount of information in a storage unit (specifically, sector, cluster, etc.) in the HDD 25. For example, when audio data obtained by encoding an audio signal of 10 bits / frame up to 4 bits / frame is written to the HDD 25 in units of 512 bytes, the predetermined number of frames is 1024.

  Thus, if it is determined in step S42 that the audio data has reached the predetermined number of frames, the system control unit 20 transfers the audio data from the buffer memory to the HDD 25, and transfers the audio data to the audio data area of the HDD 25. From the area specified by the start address, data is written and stored in the order of addresses (step S43).

  Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio data area and an index information area provided in the HDD 25.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the audio data area, for example, an audio data area A, an audio data area B,... Are created in order from the head address, and the audio data is stored.

  In the index information area, the start addresses corresponding to the audio data area A, the audio data area B,... Are stored as the start address of the audio data area A, the start address of the audio data area B,. Therefore, each time a new voice data area such as the voice data area C, the voice data area D, etc. is secured, the head address of each voice data area is stored in the index information area.

  Further, the image data is stored retroactively from the last address in the audio data area. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, first, the image data area R, then the image data area Q, and further the image data area P are created in this order, and the image data is stored in each area. The same applies when a new image data area is created in addition.

  As for the image data, the head address of each image data area is stored in the index information area as in the case of the audio data. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the start address corresponding to the image data area P, the image data area Q, the image data area R,... Is the start address of the image data area P, the start address of the image data area Q, and the image data. It is stored in the index information area as the head address of the area R,. Therefore, each time a new image data area such as the image data area O or the image data area N is secured, the head address of each image data area is stored in the index information area. At this time, also in the index information area, as in the case of the audio data area, the head address of each image data is stored retroactively from the last address of the index information area.

  It should be noted that in order to prevent interruption of sound even if shooting is performed during recording, in HDD access in step S43 and HDD access in step S64 (see FIG. 6) described later, audio data and image data are: The data are alternately stored in the HDD 25 every predetermined number of frames. Furthermore, when the writing to the HDD 25 is not in time, the audio data and the image data may be temporarily stored in the volatile memory 23.

  The description of the recording process shown in FIG.

  When the process of step S43 is completed, it is determined whether or not the image acquisition flag is “0” (step S44). If it is set, the process returns to step S40 and the above-described processing is performed.

  If it is determined that the image acquisition flag is not set, it is determined whether an image acquisition end flag is set (step S45).

  If it is determined that the image acquisition end flag is set, it is detected whether or not the 1st release switch is turned off (step S46). Here, if it remains on, the process proceeds to step S40, and the above-described processing is performed.

  If it is detected that the first release switch is turned off, the energization of the image sensor 11 is stopped (step S47), the image acquisition end flag is reset (step S48), and the release flag is reset. (Step S49).

  When the process of step S49 ends or when it is determined in step S45 that the image acquisition flag is not set, it is detected whether or not the stop switch is turned on (step S50). If the stop switch is not turned on, the process returns to step S32 and the above-described process is repeated.

  If it is detected that the stop switch is turned on, a recording end process is executed (step S51), and the process returns from the recording process to the main operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the image acquisition process will be described along FIG. 6 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 as well. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the image acquisition process of step S40 shown in FIG.

  When this image acquisition process is started, first, it is detected whether or not an image acquisition flag is set (step S61). Here, when set, the image signal is encoded in units of frames by the digital signal processing unit 24 as in the case of the audio data described above (step S62). The encoded image data is stored in a buffer memory (not shown) of the system control unit 20 as described above.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the image data has reached a predetermined number of frames (step S63). If the number of frames is less than the predetermined number, the process of step S62 is continued.

  Thus, if it is determined in step S63 that the image data has reached the predetermined number of frames, the system control unit 20 transfers the image data from the buffer memory to the HDD 25, and transfers the image data area to the audio data area of the HDD 25. From the area specified by the start address, data is written and stored as described above (step S64).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the image acquisition is completed (step S65). If it is determined that the image acquisition has ended, the audio data association flag is set (step S66), the image acquisition flag is reset (step S67), and the image acquisition end flag is set (step S68). . The audio data association flag will be described in detail in the image reproduction process described later.

  If it is determined that the process of step S68 ends, the image acquisition flag is not set in step S61, or the image acquisition is not ended in step S65, the image acquisition process is skipped. Then, the process returns to the recording process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the reproduction process in step S13 of FIG. This reproduction process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When this reproduction process is started, the HDD 25 is first accessed (step S71), and a sequence such as battery check and various information acquisition is executed.

  Then, after executing a subroutine for image reproduction processing (step S72), the audio data stored in the HDD 25 is read in order from the audio data area start address (step S73), and the digital signal processing unit 24 performs frame units. Decryption is performed (step S74). The decoded audio data is output to the audio reproduction unit 17 as an audio signal while being sequentially stored in a buffer memory (not shown) of the system control unit 20.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the image data has reached a predetermined number of frames (step S75). If the number of frames is less than the predetermined number of frames, the processes of steps S73 and S74 are continued.

  If it is confirmed that the decoded audio data has reached the predetermined number of frames, it is determined whether or not the image display flag is set (step S76).

  Here, when the image display flag is set, image display by the image reproduction unit 13 and the image display unit 14 is performed simultaneously with the start of audio reproduction by the audio reproduction unit 17 and the speaker 18. The time for displaying the image (display time) can be set as necessary.

  Whether or not the display time has overflowed when the image display timer that started timing in the image reproduction process of step S72 (which will be described later) measured a predetermined time. , And so on (step S77). If the timer during image display has not overflowed, the processes in steps S72 to S76 are repeated.

  On the other hand, if the image display timer has overflowed, the image display flag is reset (step S78), the time display of the image display timer is stopped (step S79), and the normal audio playback mode is displayed. Display (display of recording time, elapsed playback time, recording mode (standard / long), file number, etc.) is performed (step S80).

  When the process of step S80 ends or when it is determined in step S76 that the image display flag is reset, it is determined whether or not the stop switch is turned on (step S81). If not, the processes in steps S72 to S76 (or the processes in steps S72 to S80) are repeated.

  If the stop switch is turned on, a reproduction end process is executed (step S82), and the reproduction process is terminated.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the image reproduction processing in step S72 of FIG. This image reproduction process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When this image reproduction process is started, first, it is detected whether or not an audio data association flag is set (step S91).

  If it is set, it is further determined whether or not an image data decoding end flag is set (step S92).

  If it is not set, the image data stored in the HDD 25 is read in order from the image data storage area start address (step S93), and the digital signal processing unit 24 performs frame processing similar to the above-described audio data. Decoding is performed in units (step S94). The decoded image data is output to the image reproduction unit 13 as an image signal while being sequentially stored in a buffer memory (not shown) of the system control unit 20.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the image data has reached a predetermined number of frames (step S95). If the number of frames is less than the predetermined number of frames, the processes of steps S93 and S94 are continued.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the image data has reached the predetermined number of frames, it is determined whether or not the decoding of the image data has been completed (step S96), and until the completion, the loop shown in FIG. The processes in steps S91 to S95 are repeated.

  Thus, if it is determined in step S96 that the decoding of the image data has been completed, the image data decoding end flag is immediately set (step S97), the image display flag is set (step S98), and the image is displayed. The display timer is started (step S99), and the image reproduction process is terminated.

  If the audio data association flag is not set in step S91, or if the image data decoding end flag is set in step S92, the decoding of the image data is ended in step S96. If it is determined that there is not, the image reproduction process is terminated and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing HDD access processing. The HDD access process will be described with reference to FIG.

  This HDD access process is based on user operations such as a recording operation or a reproduction operation performed in step S31 and step S43 in FIG. 5, step S64 in FIG. 6, step S71 and step S73 in FIG. 7, step S93 in FIG. Is executed.

  When the HDD access process is started, the HDD 25 is first activated by the system control unit 20 and a seek operation is started. The seek operation referred to here is an operation for moving the head to a target track on a storage medium, that is, a hard disk. Whether or not HDD access is possible by detecting the battery voltage with an A / D converter (not shown) of the system control unit 20 and comparing the detected battery voltage with a predetermined criterion. And the determination result is set in the NG flag (battery check process) (step S101). Here, when the battery voltage is lower than a predetermined criterion, the system control unit 20 sets the NG flag. The battery check process will be described later.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the NG flag is set (step S102).

  Here, when the NG flag is set, it is determined whether or not an image acquisition process is in progress (step S103).

  If it is determined that the image acquisition process is in progress, the image data cannot be written to the HDD 25 because the battery voltage is low. Therefore, the image data being processed for image acquisition is written into a predetermined image data area of the nonvolatile memory 22 that can operate at a lower voltage than the HDD 25 (step S105).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the writing operation is ended depending on whether or not the image acquisition end flag is set (step S106).

  If the image acquisition end flag is set, an image data temporary save flag indicating that the image data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 22 instead of the HDD 25 is set (step S107).

  If it is determined that the process in step S107 is completed or it is determined in step S103 that the image acquisition process is not being performed, a battery check NG process is executed (step S104). When this battery check NG process is performed, processes involving HDD access such as fast-forward process, fast-rewind process, stop process, menu change process, erase process, and release process are prohibited thereafter. That is, until the battery voltage recovers due to charging or the like, for example, a standby mode as shown in step S21 of FIG. 3 is entered, and a low current consumption operation is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the NG flag is not set (reset), any process related to normal recording, reproduction, image acquisition, or image reproduction is executed.

  That is, first, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the recording process is started (step S108). If it is immediately after the recording process is started, various information at the start of recording is stored in the index information area. (Step S109).

  If it is not immediately after the recording process is started in step S108, it is determined whether or not it is immediately after the reproduction process is started (step S110). If it is immediately after the reproduction process is started, the reproduction process is performed. Various information at the start is read from the index information area (step S111).

  If it is not immediately after the reproduction process is started in step S110, it is determined whether or not the recording process is being performed (step S112). The data area is written (step S113).

  In step S112, if the recording process is not being performed, it is determined whether or not the reproduction process is being performed (step S114). If the reproduction process is being performed, the audio data at the time of reproduction is read from a predetermined audio data area. (Step S115).

  If it is determined in step S114 that reproduction processing is not in progress, it is determined whether image acquisition processing is in progress (step S116). If image acquisition processing is in progress, image data is written in a predetermined image data area (step S116). Step S117).

  In step S116, if the image acquisition process is not being performed, it is determined whether or not the image reproduction process is being performed (step S118). If the image reproduction process is being performed, the image data is read from a predetermined image data area. (Step S119).

  In step S118, if the image reproduction process is not in progress, if the process in step S119 is completed, or if the image acquisition end flag is not set in step S106, the HDD access process is terminated.

  Next, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the battery check process in step S101 of FIG. This battery check process will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the system control unit 20 includes the A / D converter (not shown), and the A / D converter detects the battery voltage during the seek operation immediately after the HDD 25 is activated (step S121).

  Then, the system control unit 20 determines whether or not HDD access is possible by comparing the battery voltage during the seek operation detected in step S121 with a predetermined determination voltage (step S122). Here, the predetermined determination voltage is set by predicting that a necessary battery voltage can be secured even in a write operation or a read operation in which current consumption is larger than that in the seek operation. Voltage. Note that the determination voltage may be set to a different value according to need between the write operation and the read operation.

  If it is determined in step S122 that the battery voltage during the seek operation is lower than the determination voltage, the NG flag is set (step S123), and the subsequent writing and reading operations to the HDD 25 are not performed. Returning to the process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S122 that the battery voltage during the seek operation is higher than the determination voltage, the NG flag is reset (step S124). Next, it is determined whether or not the image data temporary save flag is set, that is, whether or not there is data temporarily saved in the nonvolatile memory 22 (step S125). If the image data temporary save flag has not been set in step S125, this routine ends.

  In step S125, if the image data temporary save flag is set, that is, if there is data temporarily saved in the nonvolatile memory 22, the data temporarily saved in the nonvolatile memory 22 is stored in a predetermined area of the HDD 25. Writing to the image area (step S126), the image data temporary saving flag is reset thereafter (step S127), this routine is terminated, and the process returns to the process shown in FIG.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, a configuration that appears in the appearance of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31 and a state of image acquisition during recording will be described. 11 is a front view showing a state where the audio recording / reproducing apparatus is held by hand, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the configuration of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus, and FIG. 13 shows a state where images are acquired by the audio recording / reproducing apparatus. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a microphone hole 36, an imaging lens 37, a microphone jack 38, and an earphone jack 39 are arranged on the upper surface of the audio recording / reproducing device 31 in order from left to right. ing.

  The microphone 15 shown in FIG. 2 is disposed immediately below the microphone hole 36, and the image sensor 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 is disposed immediately below the imaging lens 37.

  On the left side of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31, a recording switch (REC) 32, which is a push button switch for inputting a recording operation instruction, is provided.

  Further, on the front side of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31, a display unit 33 (corresponding to the display unit 19 in FIG. 2 (or in addition to this, the image display unit 14)) is provided at the upper part, and a release switch is provided immediately below the display unit 33. (REL) 34 (corresponding to the above-mentioned 1st release switch and 2nd release switch) is further provided with a speaker hole 35 at the bottom. The speaker 18 shown in FIG. 2 is disposed immediately below the speaker hole 35 among them.

  Although other operation switches are not particularly shown, these other operation switches are arranged at appropriate positions such as the front and side surfaces of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31 so that the operation can be easily performed. Has been.

  Next, a situation when using such an audio recording / reproducing apparatus will be described.

  First, when the recording switch 32 of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31 is turned on, recording is started. At this time, a display at the beginning of recording appears on the display unit 33 to notify the operator that the recording operation is in progress. For example, in this state, as shown in FIG. 13, when the release switch (REL) 34 is turned on with the upper surface of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus 31 facing the dictator 41, the image of the dictator 41 can be acquired. Such image acquisition is performed every time the release switch (REL) 34 is turned on. Therefore, it is possible to reliably record an image for each dictator corresponding to the dictation contents in an interview or the like with a plurality of expert speakers.

  At this time, the image captured by the imaging lens 37 is displayed on the display unit 33 for a while after the release switch (REL) 34 is turned on so that the image can be recorded more reliably. Image acquisition may be performed when the release switch (REL) 34 is turned on again after the operator determines the framing of the subject.

  According to the first embodiment, the battery check is performed before the HDD is accessed, and if the remaining capacity of the battery is not enough, the process involving the HDD access is prohibited until the voltage is recovered thereafter. As a result, the HDD (or data on the HDD) is not inadvertently damaged as the voltage drops.

  Even when the battery voltage is low, if the image is being acquired, the acquired image data is lost because the acquired image is written to the non-volatile memory. There is nothing.

  Thus, even when writing to the HDD is not possible due to the remaining battery level during the shooting operation, the image data immediately after shooting can be reliably stored without loss, so the recording operation can be performed without waste. It is very effective when you want to do it.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of storing and reproducing an audio signal or an image signal.

1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an audio recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice recording / reproducing apparatus in the said Embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main operation of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an audio data area and an index information area provided in the HDD in the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the recording process in step S12 of the said FIG. The flowchart which shows the image acquisition process of step S40 shown in the said FIG. The flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration processing in step S13 of the said FIG. The flowchart which shows the image reproduction process in step S72 of the said FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing HDD access processing in the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the battery check process in step S101 of the said FIG. The front view which shows a mode that the audio | voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the said Embodiment 1 is hold | maintained by hand. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The front view which shows a mode that the image is acquired with the audio | voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the said Embodiment 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Encoding means 2 ... Memory | storage means 3 ... Decoding means 4 ... Audio | voice reproduction | regeneration part 5 ... 1st selection means 6 ... Control means 7 ... 2nd selection means 8 ... Image reproduction part 9 ... Switch operation part 11 ... Imaging element 12 ... Image input unit (encoding means)
13: Image reproduction unit (decoding means, image reproduction unit)
14 ... Image display section (image reproduction section)
15 ... Microphone 16 ... Audio input unit (encoding means)
17 ... Audio reproduction unit (decoding means, audio reproduction unit)
18 ... Speaker (audio playback unit)
19: Display unit 20 ... System control unit (control means, start-up means, battery check means, prohibition means, first selection means, second selection means)
21 ... operation part (switch operation part)
22: Non-volatile memory (predetermined recording medium, storage means)
23. Volatile memory (storage means)
24. Digital signal processing unit (encoding means, decoding means)
25. HDD (storage means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Voice recording / reproducing apparatus 32 ... Recording switch 33 ... Display part 34 ... Release switch 35 ... Speaker hole 36 ... Microphone hole 37 ... Imaging lens 38 ... Microphone jack 39 ... Earphone jack 41 ... Oralist
Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (9)

An activation means for activating the storage media drive;
Battery check means for checking the capacity of the battery during a seek operation immediately after starting the storage media drive;
Prohibiting means for prohibiting a data recording operation to the storage media drive and / or a data reading operation from the storage media drive based on the result of the battery check;
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising:   2. The battery check unit according to claim 1, wherein the battery check means detects whether or not a data recording operation to the storage media drive and / or a data read operation from the storage media drive is possible. Recording and playback device.   The activation of the storage media drive in the activation means is activation for recording data in the storage media drive and / or activation for performing a data read operation from the storage media drive. 2. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to 2.   4. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the activation means activates the storage media drive based on a user operation.   5. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the activation means activates the storage media drive after an image capturing operation or an audio recording operation by a user.   2. The data to be recorded on the storage media drive is temporarily saved in a predetermined recording medium when the data recording operation to the storage media drive is prohibited by the prohibiting means. The recording / reproducing apparatus described in 1.   7. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined recording medium is a non-volatile memory.   If it is determined that the recording operation to the storage media drive is possible at the time of the battery capacity check by the battery check means, and there is data saved in the predetermined recording medium, the saving is performed. 7. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recorded data is recorded in the storage media drive.   The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage media drive is a hard disk drive.

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