JP2000222139A - Cartridge type recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need of a cable, a dedicated connection device, or an adapter for connecting with a personal computer and to improve the operation convenience by allowing the cartridge type recording and reproducing device to have the same size and the same shape as an existing disk cartridge and using the same interface. SOLUTION: The cartridge type recording and reproducing device has the same shape and interface with an existing cartridge (e.g. floppy disk) which can be inserted into a drive device of a personal computer, etc. Then a cartridge having the same external shape as the disk cartridge is included. When a signal is sent from a magnetic head, a magnetic interface 3 receives the signal. The signal sent from the magnetic head is an MFM-modulated signal, which is passed through a magnetic interface 3 and demodulated into digital data by an MFM modulating/demodulating circuit 4, so that the data are sent to a microcontroller. The microcontroller 5 records the received digital data in a semiconductor memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus which can be used as a portable digital audio device or the like, and more particularly to digital data stored in a semiconductor memory using a floppy disk drive or the like built in a personal computer as an interface. The present invention relates to a cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus for recording digital data and converting the digital data into analog data for reproduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a portable audio recording / reproducing apparatus using a cassette tape, MD, or the like as a medium, a digitally compressed audio file is recorded in a built-in semiconductor memory by connecting to a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer. Sound recording / reproducing device (cartridge type recording / reproducing device)
Are commercially available.

[0003] This type of sound recording / reproducing apparatus is characterized in that a digitally compressed sound file is recorded in a semiconductor memory so that sound skipping due to vibration or impact does not occur, and since there is no rotating mechanism, power consumption is reduced. is there.

[0004]

However, the conventional sound recording / reproducing apparatus has a problem that it is not easy to use because it requires a cable, a dedicated connecting device or an adapter when connecting to a personal computer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus which solves the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and is easy to use.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has the same shape and the same interface as a cartridge (for example, a floppy disk) which can be inserted into an existing drive device such as a personal computer. It is to be.

More specifically, the first means is a magnetic interface provided at a magnetic head insertion slot, a demodulation means for demodulating a modulation signal input via the magnetic interface into a digital signal, and a demodulation means for the demodulation signal. Storage means for storing the digital signal demodulated by the means, D / A conversion means for reading the digital signal stored in the storage means and converting the digital signal into an analog signal, and analog data converted by the D / A conversion means. An output terminal for outputting an acoustic signal of
A power supply unit for driving a circuit, the magnetic interface,
It is characterized by including a demodulator, a storage, a D / A converter, an output terminal, and a power supply unit, and a cartridge case having the same outer shape as the disk cartridge.

[0008] The second means is the first means,
The power supply unit includes a magnet rotor that is rotated by a rotation drive mechanism of a drive device, a power generation mechanism including a stator coil, and a rechargeable secondary battery, and the power generated by the rotation of the magnet rotor is used as the power source. The secondary battery is characterized in that it can be charged.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a 3.5-inch floppy disk cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter, this apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus has a case main body 1, a magnetic head insertion port 2, a magnetic interface 3, an MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4, a microcontroller 5, a semiconductor memory 6, a digital / analog conversion circuit 7,
Analog signal output terminal 8, power switch 10, battery 1
1, a power switch 15 and the like.

The case body 1 has substantially the same shape and size as a 3.5-inch floppy disk cartridge. A magnetic interface 3 including a core having a gap provided inside the magnetic head insertion slot 2 and a signal coil wound around the core is connected to an MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4. The MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4, microcontroller 5, semiconductor memory 6, digital / analog conversion circuit 7, and analog signal output terminal 8 are connected as shown in the figure.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation during data recording will be described. When the device is inserted into the drive device, the power switch 15 of the device is turned on by the shutter opening / closing mechanism of the drive device, and power is supplied to the MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4, the microcontroller 5, and the semiconductor memory 6. At about the same time, the magnetic head of the drive device is inserted from the magnetic head insertion slot 2 and closely faces the core gap of the magnetic interface 3.

When a signal is sent from the magnetic head, the magnetic interface 3 receives the signal. The signal sent from the magnetic head is a modulated signal subjected to MFM modulation. The modulated signal is demodulated into digital data by an MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4 via a magnetic interface 3 and sent to a microcontroller 5. The microcontroller 5
The received digital data is recorded in the semiconductor memory 6 (for example, a flash memory).

When the eject button of the drive device is pressed after the data recording is completed, the magnetic head moves away from the core gap of the magnetic interface 3 and the head insertion port 2, and the magnetic head is moved from the disk drive device in the same manner as a normal disk cartridge. The device is automatically ejected.

Next, the operation during data reproduction will be described. When playing back data, by inserting an earphone or the like into the analog signal output terminal (earphone jack) 8,
Power is supplied from the battery 11 to the microcontroller 5, the semiconductor memory 6, and the digital / analog conversion circuit 7 by the power switch 10 linked to the analog signal output terminal 8. The microcontroller 5 reads digital data from the semiconductor memory 6 and transfers the digital data to the digital / analog conversion circuit 7. The digital / analog conversion circuit 7 converts digital data into an analog signal, and an analog signal is output from an analog signal output terminal 8.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a 3.5-inch floppy disk cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus (hereinafter, this apparatus) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus has a case body 1, a magnetic head insertion slot 2, a magnetic interface 3,
FM modulation / demodulation circuit 4, microcontroller 5, semiconductor memory 6, digital / analog conversion circuit 7, analog signal output terminal 8, rectification / smoothing circuit 9, power switch 1
0, battery 11, magnet rotor 12, stator coil 1
3. The stator core 14 is provided.

This apparatus differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a power generating mechanism including a magnet rotor 12, a stator coil 13, and a stator core 14 which is rotated by a rotary drive mechanism of a drive device. In addition, the battery 11 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and the power generated by the power generation mechanism is charged to the secondary battery. Therefore,
The power switch 15 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted because there is no need to supply power from the drive device during recording.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation during data recording will be described. When this device is inserted into the drive device, the magnet rotor 12 is rotated by the rotation drive mechanism of the drive device. The rotation of the magnet rotor 12 causes a change in magnetic flux in the stator core 14, and the stator core 14
An electromotive force is generated in the stator coil 13 wound around the coil. This electromotive force is subjected to DC and smoothing by a rectifier / smoothing circuit 9,
The power is supplied to the MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4, the microcontroller 5, and the semiconductor memory 6, and the battery 11 is charged at the same time. At this time, the magnetic head of the drive device is inserted from the magnetic head insertion port 2 and closely faces the core gap of the magnetic interface 3.

When a signal is sent from the magnetic head, the magnetic interface 3 receives the signal. The signal sent from the magnetic head is a modulated signal subjected to MFM modulation. The modulated signal is demodulated into digital data by an MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 4 via a magnetic interface 3 and sent to a microcontroller 5. The microcontroller 5
The received digital data is recorded in the semiconductor memory 6 (for example, a flash memory).

Next, the operation at the time of data reproduction will be described. When playing back data, by inserting an earphone or the like into the analog signal output terminal (earphone jack) 8,
Power is supplied from the battery 11 to the microcontroller 5, the semiconductor memory 6, and the digital / analog conversion circuit 7 by the power switch 10 linked to the analog signal output terminal 8. The microcontroller 5 reads digital data from the semiconductor memory 6 and transfers the digital data to the digital / analog conversion circuit 7. The digital / analog conversion circuit 7 converts digital data into an analog signal, and an analog signal is output from an analog signal output terminal 8.

In the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power switch 10 is connected to the analog signal output terminal 8.
A switch that is linked but not linked may be provided. Further, although the semiconductor memory 6 is used as the storage means for storing the acoustic digital signal, an IC memory card may be used.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus has the same size, the same shape, and the same interface as the existing disk cartridge, so that the cable for connecting to the personal computer is provided. ,
Eliminating the need for a dedicated connection device or adapter can improve usability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, charging can be performed at the same time, so that there is an effect that usability is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 2 Magnetic head insertion opening 3 Magnetic interface 4 MFM modulation / demodulation circuit 5 Microcontroller 6 Semiconductor memory 7 Digital / analog conversion circuit 8 Analog signal output terminal 9 Rectification / smoothing circuit 10, 15 Power switch 11 Battery 12 Magnet rotation Child 13 Stator coil 14 Stator core

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic interface installed at a magnetic head insertion slot, demodulation means for demodulating a modulation signal input via the magnetic interface into a digital signal, and storing the digital signal demodulated by the demodulation means. Storage means, D / A conversion means for reading a digital signal stored in the storage means and converting the digital signal into an analog signal, and an output terminal for outputting an analog sound signal converted by the D / A conversion means; A power supply section for driving a circuit, the magnetic interface, demodulation means, storage means, D / A
A cartridge type recording / reproducing apparatus, comprising: a cartridge case having a built-in conversion means, an output terminal, and a power supply section and having the same outer shape as a disk cartridge. 2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein:
It has a magnet rotor rotated by a rotation drive mechanism of a drive device, a power generation mechanism having a stator coil, and a rechargeable secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery is charged with electricity generated by rotation of the magnet rotor. A cartridge-type recording / reproducing apparatus characterized in that it is configured to be capable of being used.