JPH11296198A - Information recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recorder capable of loading plural memory cards to increase memory capacity is increased and recording the desired data quantity without interrupting recording operation. SOLUTION: This recorder is provided with plural card slots 1 (15), 2 (16) to which memory cards A, B for recording information such as sound data are loaded, and a system control section 10 in which residual quantity of memories of memory cards A, B loaded on plural card slots 1 (15), 2 (16) is detected, when residual quantity of a memory is made zero at the time of recording for the memory card A, recording for the memory card A is stopped, also recording for the memory card B loaded on the card slot 2 (16) is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of information recording apparatuses, there is an IC memory recorder using an IC memory as a recording medium. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-35468 discloses an IC memory card attached to an exterior component that is separable from a device body, and the exterior component is replaced to replace the IC memory card and expand the memory capacity. An IC memory recorder that can be easily implemented is disclosed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-35468, even if an IC memory card having a larger memory capacity is replaced, the IC memory card has a limited capacity. There has been a problem that the recording capacity is lost during recording or that the recording is interrupted during the recording if the card is replaced during recording.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to allow a plurality of memory cards to be mounted to increase the memory capacity and without interrupting the recording operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information recording apparatus capable of recording a desired amount of data.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an information recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of mounting sections on which a memory card for recording information such as audio data is mounted. Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of memory of the memory card mounted on the plurality of mounting portions; and performing recording on the memory card mounted on the first mounting portion of the plurality of mounting portions. Stopping recording on the memory card mounted on the first mounting unit based on the detection result of the detecting unit, and mounting the memory card on a mounting unit other than the first mounting unit among the plurality of mounting units. And control means for starting recording on the memory card.

Further, an information recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention
A plurality of mounting sections on which a memory card for recording information such as audio data is mounted; detecting means for detecting a remaining memory capacity of the memory card mounted on the plurality of mounting sections; When recording is performed on the memory card mounted on the first mounting unit, the recording unit may determine whether the recording is to be performed on a mounting unit other than the first mounting unit among the plurality of mounting units based on a detection result of the detection unit. Control means for starting recording on the inserted memory card.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital recorder to which the information recording device of the present invention is applied. A microphone (MIC) 1 includes an amplifier (AMP) 2, a low-pass filter (LPF) 3, an analog / digital (A /
D) Digital signal processing unit (DSP) 5 via converter 4
It is connected to the.

A digital signal processing unit (DSP) 5 is connected to a speaker (SP) 9 via a digital / analog (D / A) converter 6, a low-pass filter (LPF) 7, and an amplifier (AMP) 8. And a system control unit (CPU) 10 having functions as control means and detection means.
Is also connected.

The system control unit 10 includes a power control unit 11,
It is connected to the liquid crystal display unit 12 and the operation switch unit 13, and is connected to two card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16) as mounting units via a slot switching unit 14. The card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16) are mounting portions for mounting a memory card to be recorded or reproduced, and are provided with electrical contacts connected to electrical contacts of the memory card. Also, the slot switching unit 14
Is for switching to the card slot to be used among the two card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16), and switches the card slot to be used based on a slot switching signal from the system control unit 10.

The power control unit 11 controls power from a power battery or the like (not shown) in order to supply stable power to the apparatus main body. The liquid crystal display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal monitor, a light emitting diode, and the like, and displays various operation states, the remaining memory capacity of an IC memory card (hereinafter, referred to as a memory card) mounted in a card slot, and the like.

The operation switch unit 13 has a recording (REC) button,
Stop (STP), Play (PLY) button, Stop (STP)
It comprises a button, a fast-return (REW) button, a fast-forward (FF) button, and the like. The digital recorder according to the present embodiment has operation modes of a recording mode, a playback mode, a stop mode, a fast-forward mode, and a fast-reverse mode, and these operation modes correspond to the operation switch units described above corresponding to the respective operation modes. The setting is made by pressing the 13 operation buttons.

FIG. 2A is an external view of the above-mentioned digital recorder, in which the above-mentioned recording (REC) button 22 and stop (S)
TP) button 23, play (PLY) button 24, fast rewind (RE
W) button 25, fast-forward (FF) button 26, microphone 1, liquid crystal display unit 12, and speaker 9 are shown.

FIG. 2B is an external view of the digital recorder when viewed from the back, and shows a state in which a memory card A and a memory card B in which audio data is digitally recorded are mounted on the recorder main body. Is shown. On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the memory card A and the memory card B have been removed from the recorder main body. A memory card used in such a digital recorder generally has a memory capacity of 1M, 2M, 4M, or 4M.
Types such as M and 8M are prepared. The memory cards A and B do not need to be cards having the same capacity. For example, a memory card A having a capacity of 1M and a memory card B having a capacity of 4M may be used.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a digital recorder according to another embodiment. In this case, the memory cards A and B are not inserted into the card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16), but the lids 31 and 32 are opened and the memory cards A and B are respectively inserted into the memory card insertion sections 1 (15). '),
2 (16 ').

Hereinafter, an outline of recording and reproducing an audio signal with respect to a memory card will be described. First, when an audio signal is recorded, an analog audio signal input from the microphone 1 is amplified by an amplifier (AMP) 2 and unnecessary frequency components are removed by a low-pass filter (LPF) 3. The signal is converted into a digital signal by a digital (A / D) converter 4 and input to a digital signal processing unit (DSP) 5.

After the digital signal processing section (DSP) 5 performs a compression process on the digital signal, the compressed signal is recorded on the memory card A, for example, under the control of the system control section 10.

Next, in the case of reproducing the audio signal, the audio signal recorded on the memory card A is read under the control of the system control unit 10. The read audio signal is sent to the digital signal processing unit (DSP) 5. The digital signal processor (DSP) 5 expands the audio signal and restores the digital audio signal before compression.

This digital audio signal is converted into an analog signal by a digital / analog (D / A) converter 6, and
After unnecessary frequency components are removed by a low-pass filter (LPF) 7, the signal is amplified by an amplifier (AMP) 8 and output from a speaker 8.

Next, the recording operation of the digital recorder according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, card slot 1 of the digital recorder
(15) It is detected whether a memory card is inserted in 2 (16) (step S101). "NO" shown here means that card slots 1 (15), 2
This is the case where the memory card is not mounted in both (16). If a memory card is inserted in at least one of the card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16), the initial memory capacity of the inserted memory card is detected. Here, it is assumed that a memory card is installed in both card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16), and that a memory card installed in card slot 1 (15) is The following description is based on the assumption that the memory card installed in the slot 2 (16) is the memory card B. Therefore, the next step S10
In step 2, the memory initial capacity TA of the memory card A and the memory initial capacity TB of the memory card B are detected.

[0020] Remaining memory amounts TA, T of memory cards A, B
When B is detected, the detection results TA and TB are displayed on the display unit 12 (step S103). Next, the apparatus is set to the recording mode after the recording button of the operation switch section 13 is operated by the operator (step S10).
4) Subsequently, it is determined which of the memory cards A and B is selected (step S105).
Here, select memory card A or select memory card B
Can be selected in various ways. For example, (1) preferentially select one of the two memory cards A and B with the larger initial capacity. (2) Card slot 1
Priorities are assigned to (15) and 2 (16). For example, card slot 1 (15) is replaced with card slot 2 (16).
And (3) the operator manually selects (for example, operates a slot selection switch provided in the slot switching unit 14).

According to one of the above methods (1) to (3), for example, when the memory card A is selected, the card slot 1 (15) is used. 10 is the card slot 1 (1
In order to enable 5), the slot switching unit 14
Is instructed to make an electrical connection with the card slot 1 (15), and the slot switching unit 14 permits an electrical connection between the system control unit 10 and the card slot 1 (15).

Next, recording on the memory card A is started, and the remaining memory amount TA1 of the memory card A is calculated (step S106), and the result is sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12 (step S107). Here, the remaining memory amount TA1 is calculated by subtracting the amount of data actually recorded on the memory card A (the amount of recorded data) from the initial capacity TA.

As shown in FIG. 5, a display example of the liquid crystal display section 12 is the card slot 1 (1).
5), display corresponding to card slot 2 (16), "S
In addition to displaying “LOT1” and “SLOT2”, an underlined display 33 is provided below the card slot (SLOT1 in FIG. 5) in which the memory card currently being recorded is inserted. The converted recordable time, for example, “28 min: 13 sec” is displayed. With such a display, it is possible to inform the operator that the recording is currently being performed on the memory card A attached to the SLOT 1 and that the recordable time is another 28 minutes and 13 seconds.

Thereafter, the recording to the memory card A is continued. At this time, it is always detected whether or not the remaining memory amount TA1 has become 0 (step S108). Then, when the remaining memory amount TA1 of the memory card A becomes 0 (or immediately before the remaining memory amount TA1 becomes 0), the initial capacity TB of the memory card B inserted in the card slot 2 (16) becomes It is determined whether it is greater than 0 (step S109). As a result of this determination, card slot 2 (1
6) No memory card B is inserted, or memory card B inserted in card slot 2 (16).
If the initial capacity TB of the liquid crystal display unit 12 is
Indicates that recording cannot be continued (step S
111). In addition to indicating that recording cannot be continued,
A display may be displayed to prompt the user to immediately insert the memory card B into the card slot 2 (16).

Further, the memory card B is inserted into the card slot 2
(16) and its initial capacity TB is 0
In the case described above, the slot switching unit 14 changes the slot to be used from the card slot 1 (15) to the card slot 2 (1) according to a command from the system control unit 10.
6), making an electrical connection with the card slot 2 (16), starting recording on the memory card B, and continuously calculating the remaining memory capacity TB1 (step S11).
0). Here, the remaining memory amount TB1 is obtained by subtracting the actually recorded data amount (recorded data amount) from the initial capacity TB. When the recording to the memory card B is started, a display prompting to exchange the memory card A mounted in the card slot 1 (15) may be displayed (step S1).
12).

Thereafter, the recording to the memory card B is continued. At this time, the system control unit 10
Are sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12 (step S1).
13) It is always detected whether the memory remaining amount TB1 has become 0 (step S114). Then, when the remaining memory capacity TB1 of the memory card B becomes 0 (or immediately before the remaining memory capacity TB1 becomes 0), the initial capacity TC of the memory card C inserted in the card slot 1 (15) becomes It is determined whether it is greater than 0 (step S1).
15). As a result of this determination, if the memory card C is not inserted in the card slot 1 (15) or the initial capacity TC of the memory card C inserted in the card slot 1 (15) is 0, The display unit 12 displays that recording cannot be continued (step S11).
6). In addition to displaying that recording cannot be continued, a display may be displayed to prompt the user to immediately insert the memory card C into the card slot 1 (15).

When the card slot C is inserted in the card slot 1 (15) and its initial capacity TC is 0 or more, the slot switching section 14 issues a command from the system control section 10 to The slot to be used is changed from the card slot 2 (16) to the card slot 1 (1
5), making an electrical connection with the card slot 1 (15), starting recording on the memory card C, and continuously calculating the remaining memory amount TC1 (step S11).
7). Here, the remaining memory amount TC1 is obtained by subtracting the actually recorded data amount (recorded data amount) from the initial capacity TC. When the recording to the memory card C is started, a display prompting to exchange the memory card B inserted in the card slot 2 (16) may be displayed (step S118).

Thereafter, the recording to the memory card C is continued. At this time, the remaining amount of memory TC1 is sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 12 (step S119). Thereafter, processing according to the instruction of the operator is performed (step S120). For example, when the recording stop button is pressed, the recording is stopped, and when a new memory card is inserted in the card slot 2 (16) instead of the memory card B to continue the recording, After the remaining memory capacity of the memory card C becomes 0, recording is performed on the newly inserted memory card.

As described above, in the present embodiment, two card slots for mounting memory cards are provided so that two memory cards A and B can be mounted.
First, recording on the selected memory card, for example, the memory card A, of the two mounted memory cards A and B is started. Then, the data is recorded to the full memory capacity limit of the memory card A, and if the recording is continued as it is, the recording data is recorded on the memory card B without interruption of the recording operation. And memory card B
During recording into the memory card, it is possible to insert another memory card C by pulling out the memory card A. Then, when the memory capacity of the memory card B becomes full, recording to the inserted memory card C is started. In this manner, in the present embodiment, recording can be continued without interruption while changing memory cards sequentially, so that recording of a desired data amount can be performed.

When data is recorded on the memory card A and the remaining recording capacity becomes small, the recording on the memory card B may be started without stopping the recording on the memory card A. That is, recording may be performed on the memory card A and the memory card B in parallel. The recording of the memory card A is stopped after the recording of the memory card B is started (for example, the recording is stopped when the remaining recording capacity becomes 0).

For example, the slot switching unit 14 in the present embodiment switches the card slots 1 (15) and 2 (16) so that data is recorded continuously, but switches so that the data overlaps. Is also good. That is, assuming that data of 1 to 10 is recorded, in the above-described embodiment, “12345” is recorded in the card slot 1 (15) and card slot 2 (16) is recorded.
In this example, “678910” was recorded, but “12345” was recorded in card slot 1 (15), and “5678910” was recorded in card slot 2 (16). In this case 5
May be recorded).

A memory card lock mechanism may be provided so that the recorded memory card cannot be easily removed. This memory card lock mechanism is controlled by the system control unit 10, and automatically locks the recorded memory card so that the memory card cannot be easily removed. (Memory card) is automatically unlocked so that it can be exchangeably taken out.

In the above embodiment, two card slots are provided as memory card mounting portions. However, three or more card slots may be provided. For example, three card slots 100, 2
00, 300, the memory cards A, B, and C are inserted into their respective card slots 100, 200, and 300, recording is performed on the memory card A, and the remaining recording on the memory card A is performed. When the capacity becomes smaller, the recording capacity of the memory cards B and C may be detected, and as a result, the memory card having the larger recording capacity may be selected to switch the memory card for recording. Further, it is also possible to mount and use only one memory card.

[0034]

According to the present invention, since a plurality of memory cards can be inserted, the memory capacity can be increased.
In addition, a desired amount of data can be recorded without interrupting the recording operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital recorder to which an information recording device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2A is an external view of a digital recorder.
(B) is a diagram showing a state where the memory cards A and B are mounted on the recorder main body.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a memory card A and a memory card B have been removed from a recorder main body.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a digital recorder according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a liquid crystal display unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed recording operation of the digital recorder according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microphone (MIC), 2 ... Amplifier (AMP), 3 ... Low-pass filter (LPF), 4 ... Analog / Digital (A / D) converter, 5 ... Digital signal processing part (DSP), 6 ... Digital / Analog (D / A) converter, 7: low-pass filter (LPF), 8: amplifier (AMP), 9: speaker (SP), 10: system control unit (CPU), 11: power supply control unit, 12 ... liquid crystal display unit, 13 ... operation switch unit, 14 ... slot switching unit, 15 ... card slot 1, 16 ... card slot 2.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of mounting sections on which a memory card for recording information such as audio data is mounted, a detecting means for detecting a remaining memory capacity of the memory card mounted on the plurality of mounting sections, When recording is performed on the memory card mounted on the first mounting section of the plurality of mounting sections, the recording on the memory card mounted on the first mounting section is performed based on the detection result of the detection means. Control means for stopping recording and for starting recording on a memory card mounted on a mounting part other than the first mounting part of the plurality of mounting parts. . 2. A plurality of mounting sections on which a memory card for recording information such as audio data is mounted, a detecting means for detecting a remaining memory capacity of the memory card mounted on the plurality of mounting sections, When recording is performed on a memory card mounted on a first mounting section of the plurality of mounting sections, the first of the plurality of mounting sections is determined based on a detection result of the detection means.
Control means for starting recording on a memory card mounted on a mounting part other than the mounting part.