JP3711991B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus capable of recording audio data, for example, on a disc-shaped recording medium having management information for managing data recording / reproducing operations using the management information.

  Data rewritable disc media that allow users to record music data and the like are known, and in such disc media, data areas for managing areas where data such as music has already been recorded and unrecorded areas (User TOC, hereinafter referred to as U-TOC) is provided, and this management data is also rewritten at the end of operations such as recording, editing, and erasing.

  For example, when recording a certain piece of music, the recording device finds an unrecorded area on the disk from the U-TOC and records audio data therein. Further, in the playback device, an area in which a music (track) to be played back is recorded is determined from the U-TOC, and the playback operation is performed by accessing the area.

  By the way, in recordable disk media such as magneto-optical disks (MO disks), random access is extremely easy compared to tape-like recording media such as DAT and compact cassette tapes. There is no need to record in order from the first track to the nth track toward the outer periphery. In other words, even if each song is physically recorded at different positions on the disc, as long as the recorded addresses of each song from the first track to the nth track are managed, they are played in the correct song order. Can continue.

  Furthermore, for example, a single track (musical piece) does not necessarily have to be recorded in a continuous segment (a segment means a portion where physically continuous data is recorded). There is no problem even if it is divided into a plurality of segments and recorded.

  In particular, in a system in which data read from a magneto-optical disk is temporarily stored in a buffer RAM at a high rate, and read out from the buffer RAM at a low rate and demodulated as an audio reproduction signal, temporary access is caused by access between segments. Therefore, even if data reading from the magneto-optical disk is interrupted, the reproduced sound can be output without interruption.

  Therefore, if a recording / playback operation within a segment and a high-speed access operation (access operation that ends within a reproducible time due to the amount of data accumulated due to the difference between the write rate and read rate of the buffer RAM) are repeated, one piece of music Even if the track is physically divided into a plurality of segments, it is possible to prevent the music from being recorded / reproduced.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the first music is continuously recorded as segment M ₁ and the second music is recorded as segment M ₂ , but segments M _{4 (1) to} M _{4 (4} are recorded as the fourth music and the fifth music. ₎ , As shown in M _{5 (1) to} M _{5 (2)} , it is also possible to divide and record on the disc. (Note that FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration only, and in practice, one segment often spans several to several hundreds of tracks or more.)

  When recording and erasing of music is repeated on the magneto-optical disk, empty areas on the track are irregularly generated due to the difference in the performance time of the recorded music and the performance time of the erased music. By performing discrete recording, it becomes possible to record, for example, a song longer than the erased song by utilizing the erased portion, and the data recording area is wasted due to repeated recording / erasing. That is solved. Note that what is recorded is not necessarily limited to “music”, and any audio signal may be included. However, in this specification, music is recorded as one unit of data (track) that is continuous in content. The explanation will be made assuming that.

For such discs, recording continues while accessing multiple unrecorded segments during recording, and segments are accessed so that one piece of music is played back correctly and continuously during playback. It must be done. For this purpose, the data for connecting the segments (for example, M _{4 (1) to} M _{4 (4)} ) in one piece of music and the data indicating the unrecorded area are recorded and erased as described above. It is held as U-TOC information that is rewritten for each operation, and the recording / reproducing apparatus is controlled to properly perform the recording / reproducing operation by reading this U-TOC information and accessing the head.

The recording data on the disk is formed in units of clusters CL (= 36 sectors−), which are composed of a sub-data area of 4 sectors (1 sector = 2352 bytes) and a main data area of 32 sectors as shown in FIG. One cluster is the minimum unit for recording. One cluster corresponds to two to three rounds of tracks. The address is recorded for each sector.
The 4-sector sub-data area is used as sub-data and a linking area, and TOC data, audio data, etc. are recorded in the 32-sector main data area.

  The sectors are further subdivided into sound groups, and two sectors are divided into 11 sound groups. In the sound group, 512-sample data is recorded separately for the L channel and the R channel. One sound group has an audio data amount corresponding to a time of 11.6 msec.

  By the way, at the time of recording on a disc on which several songs are recorded, as described above, an unrecorded area (free area) is searched and recorded there. For example, a certain disc is recorded until now. There is a case where it is desired to erase all the music pieces that have been recorded and to newly record music pieces from the beginning of the disc.

For this purpose, all track erase processing, which is one of U-TOC editing operations, is performed to erase all data (actually, the management data is stored so that there is no track recorded in the U-TOC. It was necessary to rewrite).
Although it is possible to simplify the operation of such processing and the operation will not become difficult, as a further improvement in operability, it is possible to start with a disc that has been used so far without editing operation. It is desired to be able to cope with the case where it is desired to record music and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a disc in which unrecorded areas and recorded areas can exist discretely and management information for managing the unrecorded areas and recorded areas is recorded. In a recording apparatus for recording data, a recording mode setting for selectively setting and operating a first recording mode for recording data even in a recorded area and a second recording mode for recording data only in an unrecorded area Operating means, recording operating means for instructing recording of data on the disc, discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a recording operation has been performed on the disc after the disc has been mounted, and the recording mode comprises the recording mode Even when the first recording mode is set, if the discriminating means discriminates that the recording operation is being performed on the disc after the disc is loaded, the recording is performed. So that a control means for controlling to start transferring records recording head to the unrecorded area on the basis of the operation and the management information of the work unit.
Further, in addition to this configuration, the display means, the calculation means for calculating the recordable time of the loaded disc based on the management information, the recording operation means are operated, and the discriminating means operates the disc. When it is determined that a recording operation is being performed after mounting, a notification in a recording standby state and a recordable time calculated by the calculation means are displayed on the display means prior to the start of recording. Display control means for controlling to do so.

Further, the present invention provides a recording apparatus for recording data on a disc on which management information for managing the unrecorded area and the recorded area can be recorded. The first recording mode in which overwriting of data already recorded in the area is permitted and recording is started from the head position of the disc, and the unrecorded area is searched based on the management information, and from the searched unrecorded area Operating means for selecting a second recording mode for starting recording;
If the recording operation is not the first operation to the disc after the mounting of the disc, and a control means for controlling to start recording in the second recording mode.

In the present invention, in the first recording mode, when the recording operation is performed, the recording head means is accessed at the head position in the data recording area of the disc and the recording operation is started with the management information as an initial state. If it is desired to start recording from the beginning on a disc that has been used up to that point, the erase process for all recorded data is not required.
In addition, even if the first recording mode is set, the operation of the first recording mode is performed only when the recording operation is the first operation accompanied by the recording or reproducing operation of the disc after the disc is mounted. It is. In the case of other operations, the operation in the second recording mode is performed.

According to the present invention, for example, when the first recording operation after the disc is loaded or when the recording operation is performed as the first operation for the disc operation after the disc is loaded, the user There is a high possibility that an operation was performed to erase the past data and perform a new recording. In these cases, the data is overwritten even in the recorded area, for example, recording from the head position in the data recording area of the disc. Execution of the first recording mode process for starting the operation is suitable for improving operability. In addition, since the user often does not want to erase past data during other recording operations, even if the first recording mode is set, recording in an unrecorded area prevents erroneous data erasure. It is valid.
Further, if the display means notifies the recording standby state and displays the recordable time, it is effective for confirming the recording execution by the user.

  In addition, the recording apparatus includes an operation means for selecting the first recording mode and the second recording mode, a recording operation from the first position of the disc accompanied by erasing of past data, and an unrecorded area in which past data is not erased. By enabling the recording operation to be selected, it is possible to cope with the circumstances of each user. Furthermore, even when the first recording mode is selected, data erasure can be prevented by performing recording in an unrecorded area as a different recording mode, that is, the operation of the second recording mode, depending on the progress of the operation. It is effective for.

Hereinafter, a recording / reproducing apparatus using a magneto-optical disk (mini disk) as a recording medium will be described as an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

[A. First Embodiment]
1. 1. Configuration of recording / reproducing apparatus P-TOC sector U-TOC sector ・ U-TOC sector 0
・ U-TOC sector 1
・ U-TOC sector 2
4). 4. Area structure of the disc Recording method of recording / reproducing apparatus 6. 6. Select recording mode Recording operation in all recording mode 8. Recording operation in blank recording mode [B. Second Embodiment]
[C. Third Embodiment]
[D. Fourth Embodiment]
[E. Fifth embodiment]

[A. First Embodiment]
1. Configuration of recording / playback device

FIG. 1A is a front view showing the appearance of the recording / reproducing apparatus.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a recording / reproducing apparatus main body, and reference numeral 31 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, which is provided with an operation state display unit 31M, a level display unit 31L, and a music calendar display unit 31C as shown in FIG. The operation state display unit 31M displays a track number, a reproduction time, a recording / reproduction progress time, a title character, an operation mode, an operation state, and the like according to various conditions such as an operation and a mode at that time.

The level display unit 31L displays the recording level at the time of recording and the reproduction level at the time of reproduction in a bar form. The music calendar display section 31C displays a track number recorded on the loaded disc. FIG. 1B exemplifies the display state during the playback operation of the second song of a disc on which, for example, 15 songs are recorded. The operation status display unit 31M displays the track number, playback progress time, and playback operation status. Is displayed. In the music calendar, the display of the first song is erased and the track numbers 2 to 15 are displayed.
The display operation that is the main point of the present embodiment will be described later.
Reference numeral 32 denotes a disk insertion portion, into which a magneto-optical disk housed in a cartridge is inserted and loaded into an internal recording / reproducing optical drive system.

The recording / reproducing apparatus main body 30 is provided with various operation means as an operation input unit. 33 is a recording key, 34 is a stop key, and 35 is a reproduction key. The reproduction key 35 is also used as a pause (pause) key.
Reference numeral 36 denotes an eject key for taking out a loaded disc, and reference numeral 37 denotes a power key.

Further, 38 is a fast reverse playback key, 39 is a fast forward playback key, 40 is an edit key, 41 is an enter key (yes key), and 42 is a clock setting key.
Various editing modes are selected by operating the edit key 40, and a predetermined operation is executed by the enter key 41 depending on the mode state at that time. The edit mode includes an erase mode that deletes a specified song (track), an all erase mode that deletes all recorded songs, a divide mode that divides a song at a specified location, and two specified songs that are linked. Combined mode for a single song, Move mode for changing the order of recorded songs, Name-in mode for entering and storing the title of the specified song and the disc title for the loaded disc, There is a name erase mode that erases the names of songs and disc titles.

  The clock setting key 42 is an operation key for setting the internal clock of the recording / reproducing apparatus 30. By pressing the clock setting key 42, the clock setting mode is entered, and the user can input and set the current year / month / day / hour / minute / second.

  Reference numeral 43 denotes a jog dial which functions as an AMS (head search) operation unit during stop or playback. That is, it becomes a music selection operation part. This rotation of the jog dial 43 is set to about 30 clicks. That is, when the jog dial 43 is rotated once, the heading operation of the music 30 ahead or 30 music ahead is performed. In particular, in the case of a mini-disc system, as will be described later, a maximum of 255 songs can be recorded. However, by performing a song selection operation using the jog dial 43, it is possible to easily and quickly select songs that are considerably distant from each other as the song order. .

  The jog dial 43 is configured to be able to perform a pressing operation as well as a rotating operation. When the jog dial 43 is pressed, it is determined as a reproduction operation. Therefore, when the jog dial 43 is rotated to stop the music selection and the jog dial 43 is pressed as it is, playback of the selected music is started. The AMS operation is a music selection operation for the rear music as the music order when rotated in the clockwise direction, and a music selection operation for the front music as the music order when rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

  Further, the jog dial 43 is used to input a numerical value such as time in the clock setting mode, to input a program order when setting program playback (playback in the music order specified by the user), to input a setting of a divide point in the divide mode, and in a move mode. It is used for selection of music order movement target music, input of designation of movement destination, and selection input of input characters (characters such as alphabets and various marks) in the name-in mode.

  Further, the jog dial 43 is pressed by entering an input numerical value in the clock setting mode (digit shift instruction), an enter at the time of setting the program reproduction (instruction for completing the song order input), an enter in the divide mode (execution instruction), The operations are an enter (execution instruction) in the move mode and an input character entry (shift instruction) in the name-in mode.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a microphone input terminal, which is connected to a microphone to enable microphone sound input. Reference numeral 45 denotes a recording level (microphone input level) adjustment knob.
Reference numeral 46 denotes a headphone output terminal to which headphones are connected. 47 is a headphone level adjustment knob.

  Although not shown, on the rear side of the housing, there are provided a line input terminal and a line output terminal for analog audio signals, an optical input terminal for inputting and outputting digital audio signals with an audio optical cable, an optical output terminal, and the like.

  Further, the recording / reproducing apparatus main body 30 is provided with an infrared light receiving section 47 so as to receive a command signal of a remote commander 90 that transmits a command signal by infrared rays as shown in FIG.

The remote commander 90 is provided with, for example, a power key 91, a numeric key 92, various mode keys 93, a recording / playback operation key 94, and the like, and when these keys are pressed, a corresponding command signal is sent to the internal ROM or RAM. Is read out from the signal, and the infrared luminance is modulated and output. The command signal is taken from the infrared light receiving unit 47.
In the remote commander 90, as shown in the figure, predetermined keys correspond to alphabets and symbols, respectively, and characters can be input by operating them in the name-in mode.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the main part inside the recording / reproducing apparatus 30 of FIG.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes, for example, a magneto-optical disk on which audio data is recorded, and schematically shows a state loaded from the disk insertion portion 32.
The audio data such as music recorded on the disc 1 is compressed to about 1/5 by a modified DCT (Modified Discreate Cosine Transform) compression technique with 44.1KHz sampling and 16-bit quantization, and further, EFM modulation and CIRC It is assumed that the data has been encoded.

  The magneto-optical disk 1 is rotationally driven by a spindle motor 2. An optical head 3 irradiates a laser beam to the magneto-optical disk 1 at the time of recording / reproducing, and at the time of recording provides a high level laser output for heating the recording track to the Curie temperature, and at the time of reproduction by the magnetic Kerr effect. A relatively low level laser output for detecting data from the reflected light.

  For this reason, the optical head 3 is equipped with a laser diode as laser output means, an optical system including a polarizing beam splitter, an objective lens, and the like, and a detector for detecting reflected light. The objective lens 3a is held by a biaxial mechanism 4 so as to be displaceable in the radial direction of the disc and in the direction in which the objective lens 3a is in contact with or separated from the disc.

  Reference numeral 6a denotes a magnetic head for applying a magnetic field modulated by the supplied data to the magneto-optical disk, which is disposed at a position facing the optical head 3 with the magneto-optical disk 1 in between. The entire optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 a can be moved in the radial direction of the disk by the thread mechanism 5.

  Information detected from the magneto-optical disk 1 by the optical head 3 by the reproducing operation is supplied to the RF amplifier 7. The RF amplifier 7 performs processing of the supplied information to reproduce RF signals, tracking error signals, focus error signals, absolute position information (absolute position information recorded as a pregroove (wobbling groove) on the magneto-optical disk 1), Address information, focus monitor signal, etc. are extracted. The extracted reproduction RF signal is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 8. The tracking error signal and the focus error signal are supplied to the servo circuit 9, and the address information is supplied to the address decoder 10. Further, the absolute position information and the focus monitor signal are supplied to a system controller 11 constituted by, for example, a microcomputer.

  The servo circuit 9 generates various servo drive signals based on the supplied tracking error signal, focus error signal, track jump command, seek command from the system controller 11, information on the rotational speed detection of the spindle motor 2, and the like. And the thread mechanism 5 is controlled to perform focus and tracking control, and the spindle motor 2 is controlled to a constant angular velocity (CAV) or a constant linear velocity (CLV).

  The reproduction RF signal is subjected to decoding processing such as EFM demodulation and CIRC by the encoder / decoder unit 8, and then temporarily written in the buffer RAM 13 by the memory controller 12. The reading of data from the magneto-optical disk 1 by the optical head 3 and the transfer of reproduction data in the system from the optical head 3 to the buffer RAM 13 are performed at 1.41 Mbit / sec and intermittently.

  The data written in the buffer RAM 13 is read out at the timing when the reproduction data is transferred at 0.3 Mbit / sec and supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 14. Then, a 16-bit quantized output digital signal is obtained by the decoding process for the audio compression process by the modified DCT process.

The output digital signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 15 and supplied to the terminal 16A. Then, the signal is supplied from the terminal 16 to the headphones 46 and the line output terminal via a predetermined circuit unit. Alternatively, the output digital signal from the encoder / decoder unit 14 is supplied from the terminal 16D to the optical output terminal without being converted into an analog signal.

  Here, writing / reading of data to / from the buffer RAM 13 is performed by the memory controller 12 being addressed under the control of the write pointer and the read pointer, but the write pointer (write address) is 1.41 as described above. On the other hand, the read pointer (read address) is incremented at the timing of 0.3 Mbit / sec while being incremented at the timing of Mbit / sec. The data is accumulated to some extent. When the full capacity data is accumulated in the buffer RAM 13, the increment of the write pointer is stopped, and the data read operation from the magneto-optical disk 1 by the optical head 3 is also stopped. However, since the read pointer is continuously incremented, the playback sound output is not interrupted.

  Thereafter, only the reading operation from the buffer RAM 13 is continued, and if the amount of data stored in the buffer RAM 13 falls below a predetermined amount at a certain point in time, the data reading operation by the optical head 3 and the increment of the write pointer are resumed. Then, the data in the buffer RAM 13 is stored again.

  By outputting the playback sound signal via the buffer RAM 13 in this way, for example, even when tracking is lost due to a disturbance or the like, the playback sound output is not interrupted. By accessing the correct tracking position and restarting data reading, the operation can be continued without affecting the reproduction output. That is, the vibration resistance function can be remarkably improved.

In FIG. 2, the address information output from the address decoder 10 and the subcode data used for the control operation are supplied to the system controller 11 via the encoder / decoder unit 8 and used for various control operations.
Further, a lock detection signal of a PLL circuit that generates a bit clock for recording / reproducing operation, and a monitor signal of a frame synchronization signal missing state of reproduced data (L and R channels) are also supplied to the system controller 11.

In addition, the system controller 11 outputs a laser control signal _SLP for controlling the operation of the laser diode in the optical head 3, and controls on / off of the output of the laser diode. It is possible to switch between an output during reproduction, which is a low level, and an output during recording, which is a relatively high level.

  When a recording operation is performed on the magneto-optical disk 1, an analog audio signal input from the microphone input terminal 44 or the line input terminal is supplied to the terminal 17A. Then, after being converted into 44,1 kHz sampling and quantization 16-bit digital data in the A / D converter 18, it is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 14. Alternatively, the digital audio signal input from the optical input terminal is supplied to the encoder / decoder unit 14 from the terminal 17D.

  The encoder / decoder unit 14 performs audio compression encoding by modified DCT processing on the input digital audio signal. The recording data compressed by the encoder / decoder unit 14 is once written in the buffer RAM 13 by the memory controller 12, read at a predetermined timing, and sent to the encoder / decoder unit 8. The encoder / decoder 8 performs encoding processing such as CIRC encoding and EFM modulation, and then supplies the magnetic head driving circuit 6 with the encoding processing.

  The magnetic head drive circuit 6 supplies a magnetic head drive signal to the magnetic head 6a in accordance with the encoded recording data. That is, an N or S magnetic field is applied to the magneto-optical disk 1 by the magnetic head 6a. At this time, the system controller 11 supplies a control signal to the optical head so as to output a recording level laser beam.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an operation input unit provided with keys for user operation, and the above-described keys 33 to 43 and the jog dial correspond to this.
The infrared light receiving unit 47 receives the infrared command signal from the remote commander 90, converts it into an electrical signal, and supplies it to the system controller 11 as a command pulse. By performing various processes, remote operation by the remote commander 90 is possible.

  By the way, when recording / reproducing operation is performed on the disc 1, management information recorded on the disc 1, that is, P-TOC (pre-mastered TOC), U-TOC (user TOC) is read out, and the system controller is read out. 11 determines the address of the segment to be recorded on the disk 1 and the address of the segment to be reproduced according to the management information. This management information is held in the buffer RAM 13. Therefore, the buffer RAM 13 is divided into the recording data / reproduction data buffer area and the area for holding the management information.

  Then, the system controller 11 reads out the management information by executing the reproducing operation on the innermost circumference side of the disc on which the management information is recorded when the disc 1 is loaded, and stores it in the buffer RAM 13. Thereafter, it can be referred to when recording / reproducing the disc 1.

The U-TOC is edited and rewritten according to data recording or erasing, but the system controller 11 changes this editing processing to U-TOC information stored in the buffer RAM 13 every time recording / erasing is performed. The U-TOC area of the disk 1 is also rewritten at a predetermined timing according to the rewriting operation.

2. P-TOC sector

Here, the audio data sector recorded in the sector data form on the disk 1 and the management information for managing the audio data recording / reproducing operation will be described first with respect to the P-TOC sector.
As the P-TOC information, area designation such as a recordable area (recordable user area) of the disc, management of the U-TOC area, and the like are performed. When the disc 1 is a pre-mastered disc that is a reproduction-only optical disc, it is possible to manage music recorded in ROM by the P-TOC.

The format of P-TOC is shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 shows one sector (sector 0) of P-TOC information repeatedly recorded in an area for P-TOC (for example, the ROM area on the innermost side of the disk). The P-TOC format is an option after sector 1.

  The P-TOC sector data area (4 bytes x 588 2352 bytes) includes a 12-byte synchronization pattern consisting of all 0 or all 1 1 byte data at the head position, an address indicating the cluster address and sector address, etc. 4 bytes are added, and the header is used to indicate the P-TOC area.

Further, an identification ID by an ASCII code corresponding to the characters “MINI” is added to a predetermined address position following the header.
Next, the disc type and recording level, the first track number (First TNO) recorded, the last track number (Last TNO), the lead-out start address RO _A , and the power cal area start address PC _A , start address UST _a of U-TOC (data area of U-TOC sector 0 of FIG. 5 to be described later), a start address RST _a, etc. recordable area (recordable user area) is recorded.

  Subsequently, a correspondence table instruction data portion having table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) for associating each recorded music and the like with a parts table in a management table portion described later is prepared.

  In the area following the correspondence table instruction data portion, 255 part tables from (01h) to (FFh) are provided corresponding to the table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) in the correspondence table indication data portion. (The numerical value with “h” in this specification is a so-called hexadecimal notation). Each part table is capable of recording a start address for a certain segment, an end address for the end, and mode information (track mode) of the segment (track).

  The track mode information in each part table includes information indicating whether the segment is set to prohibit overwriting or data copying, whether it is audio information, the type of monaural / stereo, and the like. .

  Each part table from (01h) to (FFh) in the management table part is indicated by the contents of the segment by the table pointer (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) in the corresponding table instruction data part. In other words, the first music piece has a part table (for example, (01h) as the table pointer P-TNO1. However, the table pointer is actually a byte position in the P-TOC sector 0 by a predetermined calculation process. In this case, the start address of the parts table (01h) is the start address of the recording position of the first song, and the end address is the same as the end address. This is the end address of the position where the first song is recorded. Further, the track mode information is information about the first music piece.

Similarly, for the second music, the start address, end address, and track mode information of the recording position of the second music are recorded in the parts table (for example, (02h)) indicated by the table pointer P-TNO2.
Similarly, since the table pointers are prepared up to P-TNO255, it is possible to manage up to the 255th music piece on the P-TOC.
Then, by forming the P-TOC sector 0 in this way, it is possible to access and reproduce a predetermined musical piece at the time of reproduction, for example.

In the case of a recordable / reproducible magneto-optical disk, since there is no so-called pre-mastered music area, the above-described correspondence table instruction data part and management table part are not used (these are managed by the U-TOC described later). Therefore, all the bytes are set to “00h”.
However, for pre-mastered type discs in which all music pieces are recorded in ROM form (pit form), and for hybrid type discs that have both a ROM area and a magneto-optical area as areas where music pieces are recorded, The correspondence table instruction data part and the management table part are used for management of music in the ROM area.

3. U-TOC sector

Next, U-TOC will be described for U-TOC sector 0 to U-TOC sector 2.

・ U-TOC sector 0
FIG. 5 shows the format of the U-TOC sector 0, and is a data area in which management information is recorded mainly on music recorded by the user and unrecorded areas (free areas) where new music can be recorded. It is said. The U-TOC is also an option after sector 1.
For example, when recording a certain piece of music on the disc 1, the system controller 11 can search the free area on the disc from the U-TOC and record the audio data here. ing. Further, at the time of reproduction, the area where the music to be reproduced is recorded is determined from the U-TOC, and the area is accessed to perform the reproduction operation.

  The U-TOC sector 0 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a header in the same manner as the P-TOC, followed by a manufacturer code, a model code, the first song number (First TNO), and the last at a predetermined address position. Data such as song number (Last TNO), sector usage status, disk serial number, disk ID, etc. are recorded, and the recorded and recorded music areas recorded by the user are managed later. In order to identify the table by making it correspond to the table part, an area for recording various table pointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) is prepared as the correspondence table instruction data part. ing.

  Then, 255 part tables (01h) to (FFh) are provided as management table parts to be associated with the table pointers (P-DFA to P-TNO255) of the correspondence table instruction data part. In the same manner as the P-TOC sector 0 in FIG. 4, a start address for a certain segment, an end address for the end, and mode information (track mode) of the segment are recorded. In the case of TOC sector 0, since the segment indicated in each part table may be connected to another segment in some cases, link information indicating the part table in which the start address and end address of the connected segment are recorded. Can be recorded.

  In this type of recording / reproducing apparatus, as described above, even if the data of one musical piece is physically discontinuous, that is, even if it is recorded over a plurality of segments, it is reproduced while being accessed between the segments. Since there is no hindrance, music recorded by the user may be divided into a plurality of segments for the purpose of efficient use of the recordable area. For this reason, link information is provided, for example, the numbers (01h) to (FFh) given to each part table (actually indicated by a numerical value that is a byte position in the U-TOC sector 0 by a predetermined arithmetic process) By specifying the parts table to be linked, the parts table can be linked. (Note that the music recorded in the pit form on the pre-mastered disc or the like is not usually divided into segments, so that the link information is all “(00h)” in the P-TOC sector 0 as shown in FIG. ing.)

  That is, in the management table section in the U-TOC sector 0, one part table represents one segment. For example, for a music composed of three segments connected, three parts connected by link information. The segment position is managed by the table.

  Each part table from (01h) to (FFh) in the management table part of U-TOC sector 0 is the table pointer (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1-P in the corresponding table instruction data part) -TNO255) shows the contents of the segment as follows:

  The table pointer P-DFA indicates a defective area on the magneto-optical disk 1 and is the head of one part table or a plurality of part tables indicating a track portion (= segment) that becomes a defective area due to a scratch or the like. The parts table is specified. In other words, if a defective segment exists, one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded in the table pointer P-DFA, and the defective segment is indicated by the start and end addresses in the corresponding parts table. . When there are other defective segments, other part tables are designated as link information in the parts table, and the defective segments are also indicated in the parts table. If there is no other defective segment, the link information is, for example, “(00h)”, and there is no link thereafter.

  The table pointer P-EMPTY indicates the first part table of one or more unused part tables in the management table section. If there is an unused part table, the table pointer P-EMPTY is (01h ) ~ (FFh) is recorded. When there are multiple unused part tables, the part tables are specified sequentially by link information from the part table specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY, and all unused part tables are linked on the management table section. Is done.

  The table pointer P-FRA indicates a free area (including an erase area) in which data can be written on the magneto-optical disk 1, and one or a plurality of parts indicating a track portion (= segment) as a free area. The first part table in the table is specified. In other words, if there is a free area, one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded in the table pointer P-FRA, and the corresponding part table indicates the segment that is the free area by the start and end addresses. Has been. Further, when there are a plurality of such segments, that is, there are a plurality of parts tables, the link information sequentially designates the parts tables whose link information is “(00h)”.

  FIG. 6 schematically shows a management state of a segment that becomes a free area by a parts table. This is because when the segment (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h) is a free area, this state continues to the corresponding table instruction data P-FRA and the parts table (03h) (18h) (1Fh) The state represented by the link (2Bh) (E3h) is shown. The above-described defect area and unused part table management form are also the same.

By the way, if the magneto-optical disc has no recording of audio data such as music and has no defects, the parts table (01h) is specified by the table pointer P-FRA, which makes the entire recordable user area of the disc. Is an unrecorded area (free area). In this case, since the remaining (02h) to (FFh) parts tables are not used, the parts table (02h) is specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY described above, and the parts table (02h) The parts table (03h) is specified as the link information, the parts table (04h) is specified as the link information of the parts table (03h), and so on up to the parts table (FFh). In this case, the link information of the parts table (FFh) is “(00h)” indicating no connection thereafter.
At this time, in the parts table (01h), the start address of the recordable user area is recorded as the start address, and the address immediately before the lead-out start address is recorded as the end address.

  Table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 indicate the music recorded by the user on the magneto-optical disk 1. For example, the table pointer P-TNO1 includes one or more segments in which data of the first music is recorded. The parts table that shows the first segment in time is specified.

  For example, if the first song is recorded on the disc without the track being divided (that is, in one segment), the recording area of the first song is the start in the parts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1. And the end address.

  Also, for example, when the second music piece is recorded discretely on a plurality of segments on the disc, each segment is designated according to the temporal order to indicate the recording position of the music piece. In other words, from the part table specified in the table pointer P-TNO2, other part tables are further specified in accordance with the time order in accordance with the link information, and the part table in which the link information becomes “(00h)” is linked. (The same form as FIG. 6 above). In this way, for example, all segments in which data constituting the second music is recorded are sequentially designated and recorded, so that the data of this U-TOC sector 0 is used to reproduce the second music or the second music. When overwriting the area, it is possible to access the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6a to extract continuous music information from discrete segments, or to record using the recording area efficiently.

・ U-TOC sector 1
FIG. 7 shows the format of the U-TOC sector 1, which is a data area for recording input character information when a song title is given to a song recorded by the user or a disc title is given.

  In this U-TOC sector 1, table pointers P-TNA1 to P-TNA255 are prepared as character table instruction data portions corresponding to each recorded music, and designated by the table pointers P-TNA1 to P-TNA255. The character table portion is prepared as a part table (01h) to (FFh) of 255 units with one unit of 8 bytes, and manages character data in the same form as the U-TOC sector 0 described above.

  In the part tables (01h) to (FFh), character information as a disc title (disc name) and a song name (track name) is recorded in ASCII code. The 8 bytes before the parts table (01h) are a dedicated area for the disk name.

For example, in the parts table designated by the table pointer P-TNA1, characters input by the user corresponding to the first music (of course, not limited to the music title) are recorded.
In addition, since the parts table is linked by the link information, the character input corresponding to one piece of music can be handled even if it becomes larger than 7 bytes (7 characters).
In this U-TOC sector 1 as well, the table pointer P-EMPTY manages unused parts tables.

When a user inputs characters such as a song name for a predetermined song, after specifying the song during recording, playback or stop, the edit key 40 is operated to enter the name-in mode, and the jog dial 43 is rotated. Then, each character is input by pressing and pressing, and at the stage where all input character strings are input, the enter key 41 is entered. Alternatively, character input and enter operation are performed using the remote commander 90.
Then, the system controller 11 writes the inputted character in the U-TOC information held in the buffer RAM 13, and rewrites the U-TOC area on the disk 1 at a predetermined time.

・ U-TOC sector 2
FIG. 8 shows the format of the U-TOC sector 2, which is mainly used as a data area for recording the recording date and time of music recorded by the user.

  In this U-TOC sector 2, table pointers P-TRD1 to P-TRD255 are prepared as date and time table instruction data portions corresponding to each recorded music, and designated by the table pointers P-TRD1 to P-TRD255. The date and time table portion is prepared as a part table (01h) to (FFh) of 255 units with one unit of 8 bytes, and character data is managed in the same form as the U-TOC sector 0 described above.

In the parts table (01h) to (FFh), the recording date of the music (track) is recorded in 6 bytes. Each 6 bytes is recorded with a numerical value corresponding to year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, one byte at a time. The remaining 2 bytes are used as a manufacturer code and a model code, and code data indicating the manufacturer of the recording apparatus that recorded the music and code data indicating the model of the recording apparatus that recorded the music are recorded.
The 8 bytes before the parts table (01h) are an area for recording date / time data for the disc.

  For example, when a song is recorded as the first song on the disc, the recording date and time, the manufacturer code of the recording device, and the model code are recorded in the parts table specified by the table pointer P-TRD1. The recording date and time data is automatically recorded with reference to the internal clock of the recording device.

  In this U-TOC sector 1, the table pointer P-EMPTY manages the parts table that is not used. For the parts table that is not used, link information is recorded instead of the model code. Each unused part table is linked and managed by link information with the table pointer P-EMPTY at the head.

The recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment for the magneto-optical disk 1 on which the TOC information is recorded as described above manages the recording area on the disk using the TOC information read into the TOC memory 21, and performs the recording / reproducing operation. To control.
In addition, the display unit 31 can display a song name, recording date and time, etc., using numbers and characters read as TOC information.

4). Disc area structure

The area structure of the disk 1 on which data is recorded by the recording / reproducing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 (a) schematically shows the area structure of the disc in the radial direction.
In the case of a magneto-optical disk, roughly, an area where data is recorded by embossed pits (pre-mastered area) as shown in FIG. 9A as a pit area, and a so-called magneto-optical area are provided with grooves. Divided into groove areas.

Examples of the pit area is recorded repeatedly P-TOC, in this P-TOC as described above, each address in the figure, i.e. U-TOC start address UST _A, lead-out start address RO _A, the recordable A user area start address RST _A and a power cal area start address PC _A are shown.

A groove area is formed following the innermost pit area of the disc. The area up to the address indicated as the lead-out start address RO _A in the P-TOC in the groove area can be recorded. The recordable area is designated as the lead-out area.

Further, in this recordable area, the recordable user area where the music data track is actually recorded is from the recordable user area start address RST _A to the position immediately before the lead-out start address RO _A.

The area before the recordable user area start address RST _A in the groove area is a management area for recording / reproducing operation, and the above-mentioned U-TOC is recorded, and the power cal area start address PC _A is recorded. One cluster from the position shown as is provided as a laser power calibration area.
U-TOC in the management area U-TOC start address 3 clusters (1 cluster = 36 sectors) from the position shown in UST _A continuously recorded for the recording and reproducing operation.

5. Recording method of recording and playback device

As described above, the recording / reproducing apparatus 30 of the present embodiment can perform recording on the recordable user area, but two types of recording methods are prepared.
One is that even if music has been recorded on the disc 1 so far, this is regarded as a virgin disc, and recording is started from the first position, that is, the recordable user area start address RST _A. This is a recording method that deletes recorded music. Hereinafter, this recording method is referred to as an all recording method. For example, as shown in FIG. 9B, songs M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ are recorded in the recordable user area, and after song M ₃ , the free area F ₁ is between songs M ₂ and M ₃ . Assume that the free area is F ₂ . Here, when recording is performed by the all recording method, recording is performed ignoring the recorded state as shown by a one-dot chain line.

The other is to search the free area managed from the table pointer P-FRA of U-TOC sector 0 so as not to erase the music previously recorded on the disc 1, and to record there. It is a method. Hereinafter, this recording method is referred to as a blank recording method. For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, songs M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ are recorded in the recordable user area, and after the song M ₃ , the free area F ₁ is between the songs M ₂ and M ₃ . Assume that the free area is F ₂ . Here, when recording is performed with the blank recording method, a free area is searched, and recording is performed in the free areas F ₁ and F ₂ as indicated by a one-dot chain line.

In the blank recording method, a free area is automatically searched and recorded. The previously recorded music is not erased, so that the user can perform the recording operation without worrying about the recording position.
On the other hand, the all recording method is convenient when, for example, the user desires to newly record music from the beginning of the disk, since the music recorded on the disk that has been used so far becomes unnecessary. That is, the user does not have to perform the all erase editing process for deleting all the music.

6). Select recording mode

In the present embodiment, an all recording mode capable of executing an all recording method at the time of recording operation and a blank recording mode for executing a blank recording method at the time of recording operation are prepared, and the user can select this recording mode. .

  When a recording operation is performed when the all recording mode is set, the recording is not always performed by the all recording method. For example, after the disc 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus 30, the recording operation and the recording operation are performed. All-recording recording is performed only when the recording is not performed, that is, when the operation accompanied by the first disk operation is a recording operation. This process will be described later.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the system controller 11 for selecting the all recording mode and the blank recording mode.
If the edit key 40 is pressed while the disc 1 is not loaded, the process proceeds from step F101 → F102 → F103, and the display unit 31 displays a screen to confirm to the user whether or not the recording mode selection mode can be entered. As in 11 (a), “Select REC? Is displayed.

  Here, when the user presses the enter key 41, the recording mode selection mode is entered, and the system controller 11 determines whether the all recording mode is currently set (F104 → F105).

  If it is currently in the all recording mode, as a confirmation display for changing the recording mode to the blank recording mode, “All REC OFF ??” is displayed on the display unit 31 as shown in FIG. Is displayed (F106). In response to this display, when the user presses the enter key 41 (F107), the system controller 11 changes the recording mode to the blank recording mode, and accordingly, on the display unit 31, as shown in FIG. The display “OFF” is executed (F108).

  On the other hand, if the recording mode is the blank recording mode at step F105, as a confirmation display for changing the recording mode to the all recording mode, “All REC ON?” Is displayed on the display unit 31 as shown in FIG. Is displayed (F109). In response to this display, when the user presses the enter key 41 (F110), the system controller 11 changes the recording mode to the all recording mode, and accordingly, the display unit 31 displays “All REC” as shown in FIG. “ON” is displayed (F111).

Although omitted in this flowchart, the recording mode selection mode is exited when another key is operated in step F104 or later.

7. Recording operation in all recording mode

Recording operation processing when the system is in the all recording mode will be described with reference to FIG.
When the recording key 33 is pressed, the processing of the system controller 11 proceeds from step F201 to F202, and it is first determined whether or not the recording operation is the first recording operation after the disc 1 is loaded. If it is the first recording operation, it is subsequently determined whether or not a reproduction operation has been performed before the current recording operation after the disc 1 is loaded in step F203.
The case where an affirmative result is obtained in steps F202 and F203 is a case where the recording operation input in step F201 this time is the first operation accompanied with a disc recording or reproducing operation after the disc is loaded.
In this embodiment, when the all recording mode is set, only in such a case, recording is performed by the all recording method, and recording is performed after the recording or playback operation is performed even once after the disc is mounted. During the operation, a blank recording method is performed.

That is, when a positive result is obtained in step F203, the process proceeds to step F204, and the system controller 11 causes the optical head 3 to access the point of the recordable user area start address of the disk 1, and controls the recording pause state at that point. To do.
At this time, a display operation as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B is alternately executed on the display unit 31 (F205).

First, a character indicated as RP is displayed in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) to display that the recording is paused.
In addition, the track number recorded on the disc is displayed on the music calendar display unit 31C. However, since all of these songs are automatically deleted when recording is performed by the all recording method, The music calendar blinks for warning and confirmation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14A, “AllREC Ready” is displayed in order to indicate that there is a recording start standby state in the all recording method.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 14B, the maximum recordable time (remaining recordable time) of the loaded disc is displayed. For example, if the disc 1 can record for 61 minutes and 7 seconds as a whole, the display "-61m 07s" is performed.

Here, in order to calculate the maximum recordable time, the system controller 11 first subtracts the recordable user area start address RST _A from the lead-out start address RO _A in the P-TOC read from the disc 1 to obtain the recordable user area. How many clusters and how many sectors is calculated.

The performance time of one sound group (1 sector = 11 sound groups) is
512 / (44.1 × 1000)
Therefore, the performance time of one sector is
{512 / (44.1 × 1000)} × 5.5
It becomes. Since data is recorded in 32 sectors in one cluster of 36 sectors, the performance time of one cluster is
{512 / (44.1 × 1000)} × 5.5 × 32
It becomes.

Therefore, if the number of clusters is X and the number of sectors is Y, the recording / playback time is
(X × 32 + Y) × 512 / (44.1 × 1000)
Is required.
That is, once it is determined how many clusters and how many sectors the recordable user area is, the maximum recordable time of the disc can be obtained by substituting the cluster and the number of sectors into this equation.

  In step F205, the displays in FIGS. 14A and 14B are alternately performed at intervals of, for example, about 0.5 to 1 second. Therefore, the display of “ALLREC Ready” and the display of the maximum recordable time are alternately switched. It will be replaced.

The system controller 11 waits for the operation of the reproduction key 35 or the stop key 34 while performing such display control during the recording pause (F206, F207). In this case, the operation of the reproduction key 35 functions as a recording start operation, and the operation of the stop key 34 functions as a recording cancellation operation.
If the user does not want all-recording, the stop key 34 is operated here. Then, the system controller 11 cancels the recording operation and leaves the recording mode (F210).

  In order to start recording by the all recording method, the user operates the reproduction key 35 here. Then, the process proceeds to step F208, and the system controller 11 initializes the U-TOC stored in the buffer RAM 13. That is, in the U-TOC sector 0, the entire recordable user area is managed from the table pointer P-FRA, and the characters stored in the U-TOC sector 1 and the U-TOC sector 2 are stored. Data, recording date and time information, etc. are erased (table pointers P-TNA1 to P-TNA255 and P-TRD1 to P-TRD255 are all "00h").

Once carried out the initialization of such U-TOC data, to start the recording operation from the recordable user area start address RST _A (F209).
After the end of recording, the U-TOC data in the buffer RAM 13 is in a state in which the recorded music and the remaining free area can be managed based on the recording operation. Data is updated by writing new U-TOC data in the buffer RAM 13 in the TOC area.

  By the way, as described above, when a negative result is obtained in either step F202 or F203, the process proceeds to step F211 in order to perform the recording process by the blank recording method.

  First, the system controller 11 searches the U-TOC data read into the buffer RAM 13 for a free area, and starts the position of the free area (a part table that is sequentially linked and managed starting from the table pointer P-FRA). The optical head 3 is accessed at the start address recorded in the first part table), and the recording is paused at that point.

At this time, a display operation as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B is alternately executed on the display unit 31 (F212).
First, a character indicated as RP is displayed in FIGS. 15A and 15B in order to display that the recording is paused.
The track number recorded on the disc is displayed on the music calendar display section 31C, and the track number given to the music recorded this time is also displayed. For example, if the disc contains 18 songs, up to 19 songs are displayed on the music calendar. The number of the track recorded this time may be blinked.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), “REC Ready” is displayed to indicate that the recording is in a standby state in the blank recording system, and the track of the music to be recorded this time is indicated as TN _R. A number (for example, “19”) is displayed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, the remaining recording time on the disc is displayed. For example, if it is possible to record another 12 minutes and 8 seconds on the disk 1 on which 18 songs are recorded, a display of “−12m 08s” is performed. The remaining time in this case corresponds to the size of the free area in the U-TOC. Therefore, the above-mentioned (X × 32 + Y) × regarding the number of clusters X and the number of sectors Y of the entire free area obtained as the sum of the end address-start address of each part table linked as a free area in the U-TOC. 512 / (44.1 × 1000).

  In step F212, the displays shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B are alternately performed at intervals of about 0.5 to 1 second, for example, so that the display of “REC Ready” and the display of the remaining time are alternately switched. become.

  The system controller 11 waits for the operation of the playback key 35 or the stop key 34 while performing such display control during the recording pause (F213, F214). Also in this case, the operation of the reproduction key 35 functions as a recording start operation, and the operation of the stop key 34 functions as a recording cancellation operation. If the user does not want to record in the blank recording system, the stop key 34 is operated here. Then, the system controller 11 cancels the recording operation and leaves the recording mode (F216).

In addition, the user operates the playback key 35 to start recording in the blank recording system. Then, the process proceeds to step F215 to start a recording operation from the beginning position of the free area.
Note that after the recording is completed, the U-TOC data in the buffer RAM 13 is changed based on the recording operation. In other words, the data is rewritten in the portion related to the newly recorded music and the remaining free area. Then, new U-TOC data in the buffer RAM 13 is actually written in the U-TOC area on the disk 1 to update the data.

As described above, in the all recording mode, the user can automatically initialize the U-TOC without performing an erasure process, and a new recording can be performed from the first position on the disc.
Also, the all recording method is actually executed only when the recording operation is the first operation accompanied by the recording or reproducing operation of the disc after the disc is loaded. In other cases, it is likely that the user does not want the all-recording method in many cases, so automatically performing recording with the blank recording method improves the operability and erroneously records the past. It is also possible to prevent erasing the music recorded in.

  Furthermore, in order to execute recording, two operations of the recording key 33 and the reproduction key 35 are required. Then, the recording pause state is set based on the operation of the recording key 33, and the display unit 31 prompts the user to confirm. This is a safety measure against accidentally executing the all recording method and erasing the music. Yes.

  In this case, a sufficient effect can be obtained as a warning / confirmation by blinking the music calendar or displaying the execution of the all recording method. In addition, the maximum recordable time is displayed to guide the user's recording operation, and the display of the maximum recordable time and the execution of the all-recording method are alternately performed, so that visibility is more effectively demonstrated. .

Further, by displaying that the recording is paused, a recording start timing guide is provided to the user.
Further, even during blank recording, the remaining recordable time is displayed before recording is started, that is, when the recording is paused, which is convenient for the user's recording operation.

8). Recording operation in blank recording mode

Recording operation processing when the system is in the blank recording mode will be described with reference to FIG.
In this case, when the recording key 33 is pressed, the system controller 11 always performs recording by the blank recording method.
That is, the process proceeds from step F301 to F302 by the operation of the recording key 33, and the system controller 11 sets the free area from the U-TOC data read in the buffer RAM 13 as in the blank recording in the all recording mode. The optical head 3 is accessed at the head position of the free area, and the recording is paused at that point. Then, similarly to the above, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the recording pause state is displayed, and the music calendar is displayed by adding the track number of the recorded music to the track number of the recorded music. Furthermore, the track number of the music to be recorded, the display indicating that recording is possible and the remaining time display are alternately performed (F303).

  If the playback key 35 is pressed in this state, blank recording is started (F304 → F306), and if the stop key 34 is pressed, the recording operation is canceled (F305 → F307).

By providing such a blank recording mode as a recording mode, it is possible to cope with a user who does not need the all-recording recording. In the blank recording mode, as shown in FIG. 13, since the all recording method is not performed at all, no erroneous erasure of the music occurs.
Of course, even during this blank recording, the remaining recordable time is displayed before recording is started, that is, when the recording is paused, which is convenient for the user's recording operation.

[B. Second Embodiment]
As a second embodiment of the present invention, the one shown in FIG. 16 is executed in the all recording mode.
Steps F401, F402, and F403 to F415 in FIG. 16 are the same as steps F201, F202, and F204 to F216 in FIG. 12, and the processing according to the second embodiment includes processing corresponding to step F203 in FIG. It has been omitted.
In other words, after the disc 1 is mounted, the playback operation is not used to determine whether to perform the recording of the all recording method, but only the recording operation is performed for the first recording operation. As for the recording operation, a blank recording method is executed.
In this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[C. Third Embodiment]
FIG. 17 shows a front view of a recording / reproducing apparatus 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
In this case, an all recording key 33a and a blank recording key 33b are provided as recording keys.
When configured in this way, the system controller 11 does not need a recording method determination process or a recording mode change process to be executed during a recording operation. That is, when the all recording key 33a is pressed, the processing of steps F204 to F210 in FIG. 12 is performed, and when the blank recording key 33b is pressed, the processing of steps F211 to F216 in FIG. 12 is performed. Good.
In this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and the user can obtain the advantages that the operation for switching the recording mode is unnecessary and the recording operation based on the operation is easy to understand. It is done.

[D. Fourth Embodiment]
As a modification of display control, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the first embodiment, as the display operation in the recording pause state at the time of all recording, “All REC Ready” display and maximum recordable time display are as shown in FIGS. However, this is displayed simultaneously as shown in FIG.
When there is a margin as the size of the display unit 31, it is particularly easy to see the recordable time, which is convenient.

[E. Fifth embodiment]
In the above description of the embodiment, the recording operation is performed by the two-step operation of the recording key 33 (33a, 33b) and the reproduction key 35. However, all recording or recording is performed by operating the recording key 33 (33a, 33b). An embodiment in which blank recording is started is conceivable.

  In this case, there is a possibility that the so-called recording voice may be cut off depending on the startup time of the optical head 3 for recording, but this can be solved by the function of the buffer RAM 13. That is, the supplied audio data is accumulated in the buffer RAM 13 during the period from the start of recording until the start of the optical head 3 is completed, and the audio data is supplied from the buffer RAM 13 to the magnetic head 6 side after the start is completed. You can do it. This embodiment is particularly suitable as a recording apparatus that needs to be able to cope with sudden recording.

In addition to the embodiments described above, various modifications can be considered in the configuration and processing method. For example, as a two-stage recording operation means, the recording key may be pressed twice, or another key may be provided for recording start operation.
Further, although described as a recording / reproducing apparatus, the present invention can be realized even with a recording-only apparatus.
Furthermore, the present invention can be adopted not only in the mini disk system but also in a recording apparatus and video disk recording system in other audio disk recording systems.

It is the front view of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and explanatory drawing of a display part. It is a block diagram of the principal part of the recording / reproducing apparatus of embodiment. It is a top view of the remote commander used for the recording / reproducing apparatus of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the P-TOC sector 0 in a disc. It is explanatory drawing of the U-TOC sector 0 in a disc. It is explanatory drawing of the link structure of the U-TOC sector in a disk. It is explanatory drawing of the U-TOC sector 1 in a disk. It is explanatory drawing of the U-TOC sector 2 in a disk. It is explanatory drawing of the area structure of a disc, and all recording / blank recording. It is a flowchart of the recording mode selection process of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the display operation at the time of recording mode selection of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart at the time of the all recording mode of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart at the time of the blank recording mode of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the display operation | movement at the time of the all recording of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the display operation in the case of the blank recording of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart at the time of the all recording mode of 2nd Embodiment. It is a front view of the recording / reproducing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the display operation of 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the recording form of a disc. It is explanatory drawing of the sector structure of a disk.

Explanation of symbols

  1 disk, 3 optical head, 8 encoder / decoder unit, 11 system controller, 12 memory controller, 13 buffer RAM, 14 encoder / decoder unit, 15 D / A converter, 18 A / D converter, 19 operation input unit, 30 Recording / playback device, 31 Display section, 33 Recording key, 34 Stop key, 35 Playback key, 36 Eject key, 40 Edit key, 41 Enter key, 42 Clock setting key, 43 Jog dial

Claims (3)

In a recording apparatus for recording data on a disc in which unrecorded areas and recorded areas can exist discretely and management information for managing the unrecorded areas and recorded areas is recorded.
A recording mode setting operation means for selectively setting a first recording mode for recording data even in a recorded area and a second recording mode for recording data only in an unrecorded area;
Recording operation means for instructing recording of data on the disc;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a recording operation to the disc has been performed after the disc is mounted;
Even when the recording mode is set to the first recording mode, if the discriminating unit determines that the recording operation is being performed on the disc after the disc is mounted, Control means for controlling the recording head to move to the unrecorded area and start recording based on the operation of the recording operation means and the management information;
A recording apparatus comprising: Display means;
Calculating means for calculating the recordable time of the loaded disc based on the management information;
When the recording operation means is operated and the determination means determines that a recording operation is being performed after the disc is loaded, a notice that the recording is in a standby state prior to the start of recording, and the calculation Display control means for controlling the recordable time calculated by the means to be displayed on the display means;
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In a recording apparatus for recording data on a disc in which unrecorded areas and recorded areas can exist discretely and management information for managing the unrecorded areas and recorded areas is recorded.
A first recording mode that allows overwriting to data already recorded in the recorded area and starts recording from the head position of the disc, and searches for the unrecorded area based on management information, Operating means for selecting a second recording mode for starting recording from the area;
If the recording operation is not the first operation to the disc after the mounting of the disc, and control means for controlling to start recording in the second recording mode,
A recording apparatus comprising:

Images