JP2001005496A - Digital type voice recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the chances of inadvertently erasing an alarm message file, that is automatically reproduced at a beforehand set time, by separating the regions to store normal digital voice data and the digital voice data of alarm messages to be reproduced at a set time, respectively. SOLUTION: A data zone is divided into a normal data storing region 31, which stores digital voice data of normal voice information, and an alarm data storing region 32 which stores digital voice data of alarm messages. Moreover, an incorporated solid state memory 18 is constituted of by providing a file allocation table(FAT) region 33 which stores data control information such as addresses of the areas that store the normal and alarm data, the amount of the data and distribution information. Furthermore, normal and alarm modes are provided in a menu to record and to reproduce the normal voice information and the alarm messages and these modes are made selectable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an A / D converter for converting an analog audio signal collected by a microphone into digital audio data, and a digital compression circuit for compressing the digital audio data. An internal solid-state memory for storing digital audio data, a digital expansion circuit for expanding digital audio data read from the internal memory, a D / A converter for converting the expanded digital audio data into an analog audio signal,
The present invention relates to a digital recording / reproducing apparatus having reproducing means for reproducing the analog audio signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape recorder using a magnetic tape has been widely used for recording and reproducing audio information.
However, since the tape recorder has a mechanical drive part, regular maintenance of the drive part is necessary. Also, it is difficult to carry small and light weight, it is inconvenient to carry, and the power consumption is large. In addition to handling problems such as the need to perform frequent operations, there are also problems such as elongation and cutting of the magnetic tape itself, and it is troublesome to search for desired information from recorded audio information. There was also a functional problem such as

Further, a device utilizing magneto-optics has been proposed, but there is no inconvenience due to deterioration of the recording medium itself, but mechanical parts for driving the recording medium and driving the recording / reproducing head are required. For this reason, there is a problem that it is weak to vibration and impact.

In order to solve such a problem, a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus incorporating a solid-state memory as a voice information recording medium has been developed. Such a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-238500.
No., published in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. In this known digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus, a semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM is used as a built-in memory, and after digitally converting an analog voice signal, digital voice data obtained by compression is stored in the semiconductor memory. After the digital audio data read from the memory is expanded, it is converted into an analog audio signal and reproduced by a speaker or an earphone.

As described above, in the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus, since the digital voice data obtained by compressing the voice information is stored in the semiconductor memory, no mechanical driving part is required, and the device can be reduced in size and weight. There is an advantage that it is very convenient to carry and random access to recorded audio information is possible, so that desired information can be quickly reproduced. Further, since various digital information can be added to the digital audio data and recorded, specific recognition data can be added to the recorded audio information, for example, which is useful when a desired audio information search is performed.

One of the functions of the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus is a function of automatically reproducing a prerecorded message at a preset time. This function is generally called an alarm function or an alarm playback function. Further, there is a schedule management function as a function similar to such an alarm reproduction function. According to the schedule management function, the user can confirm the time by playing a message or generating a warning sound at a desired time, and can confirm the promised time.
Such an alarm reproduction function and a schedule management function are functions unique to the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0007]

However, in the conventional alarm reproduction function and the conventional schedule management function,
Digital voice data representing a message automatically reproduced at a set time is stored in the same data zone as digital voice data of normal voice information. The digital audio data stored in this data zone is stored for each file, and it is configured so that only a desired file can be deleted by selecting a file. Since the alarm message file is also deleted by exactly the same key operation, there is a high possibility that the alarm message file is accidentally deleted.

In order to reduce such a problem, a special display indicating that the alarm is an alarm can be given to the file of the digital voice data of the alarm message to alert the user not to delete the alarm by mistake. However, there is a possibility that such a display is accidentally erased. Particularly, in order to improve operability, it is common to provide a batch erasure function that can erase all the files stored in the data zone at once, so that the alarm message file is also erased together. The chances are high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, so that an alarm message file which is automatically reproduced at a preset time cannot be accidentally erased by an operation for erasing ordinary voice information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital voice recording / playback apparatus.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an A / D conversion circuit for converting an analog audio signal collected by a microphone into digital audio data, a digital compression circuit for compressing the digital audio data, and a compression circuit for compressing the digital audio data. Built-in solid-state memory for storing the expanded digital audio data, a digital expansion circuit for expanding the digital audio data read from the internal solid-state memory, and a D / A for converting the expanded digital audio data into an analog audio signal.
In a digital voice recording / playback apparatus comprising a conversion circuit and playback means for playing back the analog signal,
The data area of the built-in solid-state memory is divided into an area for storing normal digital audio data and an area for storing digital audio data of an alarm message reproduced at a set time. The digital audio data stored in the area may not be erased by the operation of erasing the digital audio data stored in the area.

In the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the data area of the built-in solid-state memory is divided into an area for storing normal digital voice data and a digital voice of an alarm message reproduced at a set time. Since it is divided into the data storage area and the normal digital audio data erasing operation, the alarm message stored in the digital audio data storage area of the alarm message cannot be erased. The problem of erasing does not occur at all. For example, even if an operation to delete all data files stored in the storage area of the ordinary digital voice data at once is performed, the alarm message file stored in the storage area of the digital voice data of the alarm message is deleted. It will not be done.

In a preferred embodiment of the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, a normal recording / reproducing mode and an alarm recording / reproducing mode are provided. Only the data storage area can be accessed, and when the alarm recording / playback mode is selected, only the area for storing the digital voice data of the alarm message can be accessed. With this configuration, the alarm message is not accidentally erased when recording, reproducing, or erasing the normal voice information, and the user needs to pay no attention to the erroneous erasure of the alarm message file. And the usability is improved. Further, the area for storing the alarm message is usually used as an area for storing audio data that the user does not want to erase, for example, audio data of another person instead of the user himself or audio data that could only be recorded on the spot. It is also possible to do so, in which case the alarm time is not set, but simply stored as audio data.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the same. The audio signal collected by the microphone 11 is appropriately processed by an analog audio signal processing circuit 12, and then converted into digital audio data by an A / D converter 13. If the sampling in this case is, for example, 8 bits and 8 kHz, according to the sampling theorem, an audio signal of 4 kHz or less can be faithfully reproduced, which is at least sufficient for language reproduction.

Next, the compressed digital audio data obtained by supplying the digital audio data from the A / D converter 13 to the compression circuit 14 is supplied to the central processing unit (CPU) 16 provided in the main processing unit 15. Under control, the data is recorded via the data bus 17 into either the built-in memory 18 or the removable memory 19 which is used as a removable external memory. For example, when the removable memory 19 is inserted, the recording can be preferentially performed on the removable memory. However, the user may specify any one of them.

Further, a liquid crystal display 20 for displaying various commands and instruction information, an operation switch 21 for a user to input commands, and a battery 22 for supplying power to the entire apparatus are provided. The main processing unit 15
In addition to the CPU 16 described above, the ROM 23 and the R
AM24 is provided. When storing digital audio data in the memory, data information such as the address of the sector in which the data was recorded, the amount of data, and dispersion information is stored in the RAM 24. When the recording is completed, the data information is stored in the internal memory 18. Alternatively, the writing is completed by storing the data in the FAT area of the removable memory 19 which is an external semiconductor memory.

Next, when reproducing the recorded audio data, the central processing unit 16 of the main processing unit 15 is used.
First, data information stored in the FAT area of the built-in memory 18 or the removable memory 19 is read out and stored in the RAM 24 under the control of, and desired digital audio data is read out based on this data information and supplied to the decompression circuit 25. Here, the data is expanded. The expanded digital data is input to a D / A converter 26, converted into an analog audio signal, supplied from an analog audio signal processing circuit 27 to a speaker 28, and reproduced as audio. Of course, a jack may be provided instead of the speaker 28 in order to reproduce the sound using an earphone.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus is provided with an LED 29, which is turned on during recording and reproduction. For example, red can be lit during recording and green can be lit during playback. Further, the operation switch 21 includes a recording button 21.
a, a play button 21b, a stop button 21c, an erase button 21d, a hold / repeat button 21e, a menu button 21f,
File button 21g for reading the file number of digital audio data, up / down select button 21h for raising / lowering the file number of digital audio data
And 21i are provided.

The above basic configuration is the same as that of a conventional digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus. In this example, a normal mode for recording and reproducing normal audio information and an alarm mode for recording and reproducing an alarm message are provided in a menu, and any one of them can be selected. Here, when the normal mode is selected, compressed digital audio data of normal audio information is stored in the internal memory 1.
The digital audio data is stored in a normal data storage area allocated in the eight data zones, and only digital audio data stored in the normal data storage area can be read or erased. Also, when the alarm mode is selected, the playback time of the alarm message is set, the digital voice data of the alarm message is stored in the alarm data storage area allocated separately from the above-described normal data storage area, Only the digital voice data of the alarm message stored in the alarm data storage area can be reproduced or deleted.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the built-in memory 18. The data zone includes a normal data storage area 31 for storing digital audio data of normal audio information.
An alarm data storage area 32 for storing digital voice data of an alarm message, and an FA for storing data management information such as an address of an area in which normal data and alarm data are stored, a data amount, and distribution information.
And a T (File AllocationTable) area 33. The normal data storage area 31 is divided into three sub-areas A to C.
It is configured to be able to store 75 files. The size of the alarm data storage area 32 can be 255 Kbits, for example, assuming that an alarm message of 30 seconds is recorded at an audio compression rate of 8.5 Kbps per second.

When the menu button 21f is pressed, a selection screen for the normal mode and the alarm mode is displayed, and the user operates the select buttons 21h and 21i to select one of them.
For example, when the normal mode is selected, the digital audio data is stored in the normal data storage area 31, and the audio information stored therein can be reproduced. Further, when erasing, it is possible to specify and delete a file stored in the normal data storage area 31, or to delete all files stored in the normal data storage area at once.

When the alarm mode is selected, an operation for setting a desired time is first performed. When an alarm message is subsequently recorded, the digital audio data is stored in the alarm data storage area 32. In this example, when the time is set, it is not always necessary to record an alarm message, and in that case, a warning sound is generated at the set time. Such a function is similar to the schedule management function.
Further, since the alarm message already stored in the alarm data storage area 32 can be deleted only when the alarm mode is selected, the possibility of erroneously deleting the alarm message is greatly reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified and modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the menu button is provided so that the alarm mode can be selected, but the alarm button is provided, and when the alarm button is pressed, the alarm mode is entered, the alarm time is set, and the alarm message is set. It can also be configured so that it can be recorded and erased.
In addition, a plurality of alarm messages can be stored in the alarm data storage area. In such a case, the configuration can be such that a plurality of alarm message files can be deleted specifically or collectively.

[0023]

As described above, according to the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the data area of the built-in solid-state memory is automatically reproduced at the set time by the area for storing normal digital voice data. In the operation of erasing the digital voice data stored in the normal digital voice data storage area, the digital voice data stored in the digital voice data storage area of the alarm message is divided. Since the digital audio data is configured not to be erased, the possibility that the alarm message is accidentally erased is greatly reduced. In particular, even with a digital audio recording / reproducing device having a batch erasing function for erasing all files at once, since the alarm message is not erased by the batch erasing, extra care must be taken when performing the batch erasing. There is no need to use, and the usability will be improved.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the alarm mode, the alarm message is recorded first after the alarm playback time is set, and when the alarm message is not recorded just after setting the time, the setting is performed. Since an alarm sound is generated when the time comes, a function similar to the schedule management function can be provided, which is more convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external appearance of an embodiment of a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data zone allocation of a built-in solid-state memory in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 microphone, 12 analog audio signal processing circuit, 13 A / D converter, 14 compression circuit, 15 main processing unit, 16 central processing unit, 17
Data bus, 18 built-in solid-state memory, 19 removable memory, 20 display, 21 operation switch, 2
2 Battery, 23 ROM, 24 RAM, 25
Expansion circuit, 26 D / A converter, 27 analog audio signal processing circuit, 28 speaker, 29 LED,
31 normal data storage area, 32 alarm data storage area, 33 FAT area

Claims (3)

[Claims] An A / D conversion circuit for converting an analog audio signal collected by a microphone into digital audio data, a digital compression circuit for compressing the digital audio data, and storing the compressed digital audio data. A built-in solid-state memory, a digital expansion circuit for expanding digital audio data read from the internal solid-state memory, a D / A conversion circuit for converting the expanded digital audio data to an analog audio signal, and reproducing the analog signal A digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a data area of the built-in solid-state memory, an area for storing normal digital audio data, and a digital audio data of an alarm message reproduced at a set time. And at least a normal digital The digital voice data stored in the digital voice data storage area of the alarm message cannot be deleted in the operation of deleting the digital voice data stored in the voice voice data storage area. Recording and playback device. 2. A normal recording / reproducing mode and an alarm recording / reproducing mode are provided. When the normal recording / reproducing mode is selected, only the storage area of the normal digital audio data can be accessed, and the alarm recording / reproducing mode is selected. 2. The digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is performed, only an area for storing the digital voice data of the alarm message can be accessed. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an alarm sound is generated when an alarm message is not recorded at a time set to reproduce the alarm message. Digital voice recording and playback device.