GB2331396A

GB2331396A - Voice recording/reproducing apparatus using both solid state memory and a tape-like recording medium

Info

Publication number: GB2331396A
Application number: GB9827513A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nobuo Terui; Takafumi Ohnishi; Kenji Furuta
Original assignee: Olympus Optical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Olympus Corp
Priority date: 1994-10-13
Filing date: 1995-04-13
Publication date: 1999-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-13
Also published as: GB2331396B; GB9827513D0

Abstract

A voice information recording and reproducing apparatus which is particularly suitable for use with an optical voice information transfer system allows for easy transfer of voice data between a solid-state memory and a tape-like recording medium. The apparatus includes a solid-state electronic memory with associated record and reproducing means into which digital voice information can be stored and reproduced therefrom. There is further included a magnetic tape-like recording medium with associated recording and reproducing means upon which reproduced voice information from the solid-state memory can be stored. Output switching means are also provided so that an output voice signal can be output directly from either of the solid-state memory or from the tape-like recording medium.

Description

a 1 2331396 VOICE INFORMATION RECORDrNG AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS The

present invention relates to a voice information recording and reproducing apparatus particularly suitable for use as part of an optical voice information transfer system.

As an example of a voice information transfer system for performing, voice Information transfer between two apparatuses, there is a system for writingfteading voice information in/from an IC card. In tffis case, a contact terminal is provided to the IC card, and this contact terminal is mechanically connected to a terniffial on the information Wrliting/reading apparatus side to electrically exchange a signal, thereby realizmig the system. However, when the IC card is repeatedly used in this manner, the contact surface of the contact terminal is worn to tend to cause occurrence of an information write or read error.

For this reason, malfunction of the IC card itself tends to occur, resulting in a degradation in reliability and a difficulty in ensuring predetermined durability.

To solve this problem, Jpn. Pat. AppIn. KOKAI Publication No. 5 46824 discloses an information wnite/read system for an IC card, which converts information ffito an optical signal and transfers the optical signal, thereby writing/reading information without mechanical contact.

To record voice information transferred and stored by this method, a solid-state memory is generally used. However, smice the recording capacity of a solid-state memory is smaller than those of other media, the voice information need to be transferred to a recording medium capable of recording data mi a larger quantity. For example, a tape recorder is connected to an external output terminal of the apparatus to transfer voice information stored in a solid-state memory to a magnetic tape.

However, when voice information stored in a solid-state memory is to be transferred to a magnetic tape, troublesome operations including connection are required. Additionally, the sound quality of the recorded voice information is undesirably degraded because of mismatching between the signal level of the c) 0 C 2 external output ternllinal and that of the input terminal of a tape recorder.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a voice information recording and reproducing apparatus particularly suitable for use with a voice information transfer system which transmits the transferred and recorded voice information to another recording medium while keeping its sound qualitv.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a voice recordmig/reproducing apparatus comphismig:

first recording means for recording voice data. converted into a digital signal 'm a solid-state memory, data read means for reading out the voice data which is written mi the solid-state memory by the first recording means, D/A conversion means for converfing the voice data which is read out from the solid-state memory by the data read means into an analog voice signal, second recording means for recording the analog voice signal output from the D/A conversion means on a tape-like recording medium, reproduction means for reproducing the analog voice signal which is recorded on the tape-like recording medium by the second recording means, and output switching means for switching between the analog voice signal from the D/A conversion means and an analog voice signal from the reproduction means and outputting the selected analog voice signal.

This ffivention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying dra gs, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a voice recordmg/reproducm'g apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the apparatus shown 'm FIG. I; FIG. ' J is a flow chart for explaining the dubbing operation of the voice recording/reproducing apparatus; and is 3 FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the reproduction operation of the apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a voice recording/reproducing apparatus as a desktop equipment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a photodlode 10 1 serving as a reception unit for receiving an optical signal as a digital voice signal is connected to a %Antelread circuit 104 serving as both a data write means and a data read means through an optical amplifier 102. The write/read circuit 104 is connected to a semiconductor memory 103 as a solid-state memory and also connected to one stationary ternuinal D of a digital/MC switching circuit (to be referred to as a D/M switching circuit hereinafter) 107 through a DIA converter 105 serving as a D/A conversion means and an LPF (low-pass filter) 106. A loudspeaker 112 is connected to the movable terminal of the D/M switching circuit 107 through a power amplifier 111. On the other hand, the other stationary terminal M of the D/M switching circuit 107 is connected to one stationary terminal P of an MC copy switching circuit 115 through a reproduction amplifier 113 for arnplifymg a voice signal reproduced from a magnetic tape 130 incorporated 'm a compact cassette called a microcassette. The other stationary terminal R of the MC copy switching circuit is connected to the output terminal of the LPF 106 through a recording amplifier 114. The moving terminal of the MC copy switching circuit 115 is connected to a magnetic head 1 16a constituting an MC mechanism (tape driv-L'n.e mechanism) 116. The MC mechanism 116 has constituent elements including a motor, a solenoid, and a switch, all of which are necessary for driving the magnetic tape 13)0. These elements are controlled through a connected mechanism controller 117.

An operating button 108 and a switch 109, which can set various modes, are connected to a CPU 140 servm'g as a control unit. The switch 109 includes a copy switch 109a and a D/M change-over switch 109b. The CPU 140 4 is also connected to the Wrlite/read circuit 104, the D/A converter 105, the LPF 106, the D/M switching circuit 107, the MC copy switching circuit 115, the mechanism controller 117, and a display unit 118, all of which are controlled in accordance with control signals from the CPU 140.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the voice recording/reproducmig apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as Mi FIG. 1 denote the same elements in FIG. 2.

A hinge portion 123) Is provided to the rear surface portion of the apparatus. An opening/closing lid 120 is attached to freely pivot about the hinge portion 123 to be opened. A tape driving mecharuisrn 116 for mounting and driving a microcassette 122 is arranged in the main body under the operuing/closing lid 120. In mountincy the microcassette 122, the user inserts a thumb and a pointing finger into finger insertion portions 124, thereby loading or removing the microcassette 122 held by the fingers.

The upper surface portion has the display unit 118 such as a liquid crystal display, a power button 108a, a fast-rewind button 108b, a play button 108C, a fastforward button 108d, an erase button 108e, a search button 108f, a data transfer button 108g. a stop button 108h, a dubbing button 109A, and a D/M switching button 10913. The D/M switching button 109B is used for selecting whether the operating button 108 including the fast-rewind button 108b, play button 108c, fast-forward button 108d, erase button 108e, search button 108f, and stop button 108h is used for the semiconductor memory 10-31 or the nuicrocassette 122. The loudspeaker 112 is arranged on the front side surface portion. An optical data reception window 119 is provided on the left side surface portion for receiving optical data from e.g., portable equipment such as are for instance described uil the parent specification GB-A-2291297 to this divisional specification. In optical data transfer processing, a suitable portable equipment is attached to the left side surface portion, and data is transferred from a corresponding optical data transmission window on the lower surface of the 0 portable equipment.

The function of the voice recordmg/reproducm'g apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

When voice data is to be recorded from a compact recorder such as the portable equipment of GB-A-2291297 to the semiconductor memory 103 of the present invention through optical communication, the power button 108a is turned on. Thereafter, the data transfer button 108g is also turned on. A digital optical voice signal output from the portable equipment 'm accordance with a command from the CPU 111 is received by the photodiode 10 1 through the optical data reception Window 119 and amplified by the optical amplifier 102. The voice data is written M" the semiconductor memory 103 by the Wrlite/read circuit 104.

In the actual optical communication, first of all data representing a to-be-transrruitted voice data amount is sent from the portable equipment, and subsequently, voice data is transmitted.

Mlen transmission starts, predetermined bar display is made by the display unit 118. Defining a to-be-sent data amount as 100%, the length of a bar sequentially increases as the data is sent. For example, when 30% of data is sent, a bar having a length corresponding to 30% of an entire bar is displayed. The data transfer speed mi optical communication is several times higher than that in commurucation performed through a connection code between the portable equipment and the apparatus of this embodiment.

The dubbing operation of this embodiment will be descriffied below with reference to FIG. 3.

In a power ON state, the dubbing button 109A operated to copy the recorded contents in the semiconductor memory 103 to the magnetic tape 13 0. The CPU 111 deternimes whether the copy switch 109a is in an ON state (step S5 1).

If YES mi step S5 1, 1 is detennined whether voice data is present m the semiconductor memory 10-3) (step S52). If NO in step S52, the operation is stopped. If YES in step S52, it is determined whether a cassette is mounted in the tape driving mechamisrn116 (step S53). If NO in step S53), the operation is 6 stopped. Otherwise, the reading speed of the Wrlite/read circuit 104 is set to N times the nonnal speed (step S54). Subsequently, the D/A conversion speed of the D/A converter 105 is set to N times (step S55). In addition, the frequency of the LPF 106 is set to N times, and the D/M switching circuit 107 is set to the D side.

The copy switching circuit 115 is set to the R side, and the magnetic tape 13 0 IS rewound (step S59). It is determined whether the tape 130 is rewound to its end, i.e., the start position. If it is determined that the tape 130 is rewound to the start end, the tape speed is set to N times (step S6 1). Subsequently, voice data reading from the semiconductor memory 103 is started (step S62), and at the same time, data recording in the magnetic tape 13 0 is also started (step S63)). It is deternuined whether voice data is left 'm the semiconductor memory 103 (step S64). If YES in step S64, it is determined whether the magnetic tape 130 is fed to its end, i.e., the terminal end (step S65). When the voice data in the semiconductor memory 103 is completely read out (step S64), or when the tape 130 is fed to its end position (step S65), the processing is ended.

The reproduction operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

When the play button 108c is operated to set a reproduction mode, the CPU 140 determines whether the play button 108c is operated (step S7 1). If YES in step S7 1, it is determined whether the D/M change-over switch 109b is set to the D side (step S72). If YES 'm step S72, the D/M switching circuit 107 is set to the D side (step S73), voice data is read out from the serruiconductor memory 103 (step S74), and D/A conversion is subsequently started (step S75). The obtafflied analog signal is supplied through the LPF 106 and the power amplifier ill, thereby driving the loudspeaker 112 (step S 79). On the other hand, if the D/M change-over switch 109b is set not to the D side but to the M side, the D/M switching circuit 107 is set to the M side (step S76). The copy switching circuit is set to the P side to set the tape driving mechani sm 116 in a reproduction mode. A signal detected by the magnetic head 116a is supplied through the reproduction amplifier 113 and the power amplifier 111, thereby driving the 7 loudspeaker 112.

In this manner, in accordance with the state of the D/M change-over switch 109b (I)/M switching button 10913), voice data recorded in the serruconductor memory 103 or the magnetic tape 130 of the microcassette 122 can be subjected to predetermined processing according to the operation mode of the operating button 108 including the fast-rewind button 108b, play button 108c, fastforward button 108d, erase button 108e, search button 108f, and stop button 108h.

As described above, according to the voice recordm'g/reproducm"g apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, voice data in the semiconductor memory can be copied easily to a tape-like recording medium with a high sound quality. With the above arrangement, the copied voice data can be reproduced and listened to through the loudspeaker, as well as the voice data read from the semiconductor memory 103 can be directly reproduced and listened to from the loudspeaker after D/A conversion, thereby efficiently perfornuing a document creation operation.

According to the present invention, voice data in a solid-state memory can be easily copied to a tape-like recording medium with a high sound quality.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. 8 A voice record Mig/reproduc mig apparatus comprising:

1 1 into a first recording means for record rig voice data converted i digital signal in a solid-state memory; data read means for reading out the voice data which is written in said solid-state memory by said first recording means; D/A conversion means for converting the voice data which is read out from said solid-state memory by said data read means into an analog voice signal., second recording means for recording the analog voice signal output from said D/A conversion means on a tape-like recordmig medium- lz Y reproduction means for reproducing the analog voice signal which is recorded on said tape-like recording medium by said second recording means; and output switching means for switching between the analog voice signal from said D/A conversion means and an analog voice signal from said reproduction means and outputting the selected analog voice signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first operating member for processing the analog voice signal recorded Mi said solid state memory, a second operating member for processing the analog voice signal recorded on said tape-like recording medium, at least part of said first and second operating members being a common operating member, and function selection means for selecting whether said common operating member is used for said solid state memory or said tape-like recording medium.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising speed change means for increasing a speed for readmig out the voice data from said solid-state memory and a running speed of said tape-like recording medium as compared to 0 9 those in a normal voice reproduction operation when the voice data recorded in said solid-state memory is to be recorded on said tape-like recording medium.

4. A voice recording/reproducing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.