JP2002182804A - Inormation reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption by eliminating power feed from a power source to an AMP circuit at the time of being on standby without actually performing a read operation, etc., and at the time of reading a CD for a personal computer. SOLUTION: A deciding part 3 decides whether or not a music signal is inputted from a D/A converter 12, and when the deciding part 3 decides that the music signal is not inputted and that a CD for music is not reproduced, a cutoff signal is outputted to a changeover circuit 7. When the cutoff signal is inputted, the changeover circuit 7 disconnects the power source 11 from the AMP circuit 2 to stop power feed to the AMP circuit 2, thereby reducing power consumption.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus which is used as a peripheral device of a computer and for reproducing music, and which can reduce power consumption in a standby state or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there are various information reproducing apparatuses for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium. For example,
This is a disk reproducing apparatus that reads and reproduces data recorded on a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “personal computer”) CD, which is a disk-shaped recording medium, and reproduces a music CD. Among them, CD-ROM drives, which are CD-ROM playback devices, are widely used.
It has become standard on PCs.

As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional CD-ROM drive includes an AMP circuit 2, a CPU 5, and an optical disk (C).
D) A power supply 11, a D / A converter 12, a CD decoder 24, a CD-ROM decoder 2 together with a mechanical mechanism unit 10 having a motor and an optical pickup for rotating D).
6 and a host interface 29.

The CD-ROM drive has a line output unit 13 which is an output terminal of a music reproduction signal (hereinafter, referred to as a "music signal") read from information recorded on a music CD and reproduced, and a head. Horn jack 1 is equipped. The headphone jack 1 is used to directly hear a reproduced sound by the headphone. The line output unit 13 is used to output amplified sound from an external speaker by connecting to a sound board inside the personal computer or an externally connected audio amplifier.

[0005] Such a disk reproducing apparatus uses a CD-R.
It is constantly evolving by adding new functions to the OM drive. For example, a CD-R drive that can write once, a CD-RW that can write many times
Drive, and further a DVD drive. Such a CD-ROM drive, CD-R drive, CD-
Disc playback devices such as RW drives and DVD drives mainly have functions such as reading of CDs for personal computers and playback of music CDs. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-7483
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-176,087 discloses a disk reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing a large number of types of disks and reducing power consumption.

[0006]

Conventionally, when a disk reproducing apparatus is used as a peripheral device of a personal computer, the power of the disk reproducing apparatus may be used as a common power supply with the personal computer, or both may be simultaneously turned on with separate power supplies. Use is made. Therefore, while the power is on,
There is a problem that the standby time without actually performing a read operation or the like is extremely long.

Further, since the AMP circuit 2 of the CD-ROM drive is used only when a music CD is reproduced, the actual read operation is performed when reading a personal computer CD.
There is also a problem that unnecessary power is generated or power is wasted unnecessarily because power is continuously supplied even though the power is not used at all.

On the other hand, low power consumption is required for disc reproducing devices in terms of prevention of heat generation and energy saving. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a disk-shaped recording medium such as a CD-ROM drive, a read operation and the like are actually performed. When waiting without performing, when reading the CD for the personal computer, the voltage is not supplied from the power supply to the AMP circuit,
An object is to reduce power consumption.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for reading information recorded on a recording medium and outputting a reproduction signal, and generating a music signal from the reproduction signal. An information reproducing apparatus comprising: a generation output unit for outputting; a music signal amplification unit for amplifying and outputting the music signal; and a power supply unit for supplying power to the music signal amplification unit. Means for determining whether or not the signal has been output from the generation and output means, and, if the means determines that the music signal has not been output, shuts off the music signal amplifying means from the power supply means and stops power supply. And switching means for causing the switching.

Further, a means for outputting an instruction signal for instructing the start of reproduction in response to a request for reproducing the recording medium, and when the instruction signal is inputted, the music signal amplifying means is cut off from the power supply means. Switching means for releasing the state and starting power supply to the music signal amplifying means may be provided.

In the information reproducing apparatus, a judging means for judging whether or not power is supplied to the music signal amplifying means, and if the judging means judges that power is not supplied to the music signal amplifying means, Switching means for interrupting the input of the music signal to the amplification means may be provided.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a CD-ROM drive which is a first embodiment of the information reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining the operation of the CD-ROM drive according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the related art will be described with the same reference numerals.

The CD-ROM drive is controlled by a microcomputer, and includes an AMP circuit 2 and a CPU.
5. A mechanical mechanism 1 having a motor 20 for rotating an optical disk (CD for recording a program of a personal computer or the like) 15 as a recording medium and an optical pickup 21
0, a D / A converter 12, a headphone jack 1 which is a terminal for outputting a music signal obtained by reproducing a music CD, and a line output section 13, a lead AMP 22, a motor driver 23, a CD decoder 24,
It has a servo 25.

This CD-ROM drive is a CD-ROM drive.
-It also has a ROM decoder 26, a buffer RAM 27, a buffer manager 28, a host interface 29, and a volume input circuit 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the determination unit 3 and the switching circuit 7 which are the features of the present invention are provided.
And these will be described later.

The CPU 5 controls the operation of the entire CD-ROM drive, and manages the operation in the CD-ROM drive for each block. The motor 20 drives the optical disk (CD) 15 to rotate. The servo 25 controls the rotation of the motor 20. The servo 25 outputs a control signal to the motor driver 23 to control the optical disk 15 to rotate at a constant linear velocity. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the optical pickup 21 includes a semiconductor laser, an optical system, a focus actuator, a track actuator, a four-division light receiving element, and a position sensor. Read recorded information and output read signal to read AMP
Input to 22.

The read AMP 22 amplifies the input reproduction signal and inputs it to the CD decoder 24. CD decoder 2
4 demodulates the modulated reproduction signal and inputs it to the D / A converter 12 connected to the next stage. When the reproduction signal is a music signal (including a sound), the D / A converter 12 converts the digitally input reproduction signal into two analog left and right audio signals (music signals) and inputs the converted signals to the AMP circuit 2. I do. The AMP circuit 2 is a music signal amplifying unit that amplifies an input music signal and outputs the amplified music signal from the line output unit 13 and the headphone jack 1.

The optical disk 15 is a personal computer CD.
, The reproduced signal output from the CD decoder 24 is output from the CD-ROM decoder 26 and the host interface 2
9 and a host computer 10 such as a personal computer.
Sent to 0.

The host interface 29 has a small computer system (small computer system).
tem interface: SCSI), attack packet inter
face: ATAPI) is widely spread, but in addition, universal serial
bus: USB), i Triple E 1394 (IE)
EE1394) may be used.

Subsequently, the CD-RO having the above-described configuration
The operation of the M drive will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, this CD-ROM drive
CPU 5, switching circuit 7, D / A converter 12, C
The power supply 11 is connected to the D decoder 24, the CD-ROM decoder 26, and the host interface 29, and supplies power to each of them. The power supply 11 may be replaced by a host computer 100 or an external power supply (not shown).

[0020] The judgment section 3 and the switching circuit 7 may be arranged as follows.
This is a characteristic part of the invention according to the present invention. The judgment unit 3 determines D
An analog music signal output from the A / A converter 12 and having a voltage that changes with time is detected to determine whether or not a music signal is input, and determine whether or not reproduction of a music CD is being performed. Means. This can be configured using a voltage detection circuit, a voltage comparison circuit, a frequency measurement circuit, and the like. If the determination unit 3 and the switching circuit 7 are configured by a circuit called an analog switch packaged in one integrated circuit, it is effective for miniaturization. The configuration of the switching circuit 7 will be described later.

When the optical disk 15 reproduced by the CD-ROM drive is a music CD, the music CD
Is started when the host interface 29 requests the CPU 5 to play a music CD. In this case, a signal instructing a reproduction request is input to the host interface 29 from a host computer 100 such as a personal computer (not shown).

When a signal for instructing a reproduction request is input to the host interface 29 from the host computer 100, a reproduction request is input to the CPU 5 from the host interface 29. Thereafter, the CPU 5 starts reproduction to the mechanical mechanism unit 10. Is issued. When the instruction signal is input from the CPU 5, the mechanical mechanism unit 10 performs a CD reading operation and the like. Then, the reproduction signal composed of the digital music data is converted to the D / A converter 12.
And converted into two analog left and right music signals and output. The output music signal is input to the AMP circuit 2.

This music signal is supplied only to the AMP circuit 2 in the case of the conventional CD-ROM drive, but is also supplied to the judgment section 3 in the case of the CD-ROM drive according to the present invention. The determination unit 3 determines whether a music signal is input or not based on whether there is a change in the voltage of the input signal. If there is no change, it is determined that the music CD is not reproduced and no music signal is input. In this case, the AMP circuit 2 is cut off from the power supply 11 and the AMP circuit 2 is A signal (interruption signal) for stopping the power supply to the switching circuit 7 is output to the switching circuit 7.

On the other hand, the switching circuit 7 is constituted by a switching circuit having a function of turning on / off the power supply 11 depending on whether or not a cutoff signal is input and a function of maintaining the state. Switching circuit 7
Is AMP when there is no input of the cutoff signal from the determination unit 3.
The power is supplied to the circuit 2 from the power supply 11 without being cut off.
Power supply is stopped by shutting off from 1. When the input of the cutoff signal is stopped, the power supply is started. That is, the switching circuit 7 cuts off the AMP circuit 2 from the power supply 11 only when a cutoff signal is input.

As described above, C according to this embodiment
The D-ROM drive stops power supply by shutting off the AMP circuit 2 from the power supply 11 when the music CD is not being reproduced, and supplies power to the AMP circuit 2 only when the music CD is being reproduced. It can be done. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the operation of reading the personal computer CD is performed and the reproduction of the music CD is not performed or in the standby state, the power is not supplied to the AMP circuit 2 so that Necessary heat generation can be eliminated, and power consumption can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the CD-ROM drive according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of the CD-ROM drive according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The CD-ROM drive according to the second embodiment differs from the CD-ROM drive according to the first embodiment in that a judgment unit 4 and a switching circuit 8 are provided instead of the judgment unit 3 and the switching circuit 7, respectively. Is different. The following description focuses on the different points, and the description of common points is omitted or simplified.

In the CD-ROM drive according to the first embodiment, when the reproduction of a music CD is started, the judgment unit 3
It is determined that there is an input of a music signal output from the A / A converter 12 and the output of the cutoff signal is stopped.
Switches its operation so that the power supply 11 supplies power to the AMP circuit 2. However, the power supply to the AMP circuit 2
Since the operation is started after the D / A converter 12 outputs the music signal, a time lag occurs between the output timing of the music signal and the power supply timing. Then, even if a music signal is output, the first part of the audio output from the headphone jack 1 or the line output unit 13 is output to the AMP circuit 2.
This results in a period of time when the sound cannot be heard without being amplified. The CD-ROM drive according to the second embodiment includes:
In order to solve this point, the following configuration is provided.

In the CD-ROM drive according to the second embodiment, the input signal to the judgment section 4 is not a music signal but an instruction signal for instructing the start of reproduction. The instruction signal is output when the CPU 5 receives a reproduction request from the host interface 29. The instruction signal is a signal that is output to start the preparation for playing the music CD. The instruction signal is continuously valid during the operation of playing the music CD. When the instruction signal is output, the operation of the motor 20 and the pickup 21 is performed. Preparation is started. However, the reproduction requires a certain amount of time because of a certain operation.

The instruction signal is output when the CPU 5 executes a program stored in a ROM (not shown) or the like. Although the instruction signal is output from the CPU 5 in FIG. 3, the instruction signal may be output from an output terminal of an external circuit (not shown) and input to the determination unit 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed when CPU 5 shown in FIG. 3 outputs an instruction signal. S in the figure is an abbreviation of step. When the process starts, in step 1, the CPU 5
Inputs a signal output from the host interface 29 and constantly monitors the host interface 29. Then, it is determined in step 2 whether or not a reproduction request has been input. If it is determined that there is an input, the flow advances to step 3 to enable and output the instruction signal, and the flow returns to step 1. Thereafter, the CPU 5 keeps the instruction signal valid, and continues the state until a reproduction stop request described later is input.

If it is determined in step 2 that a reproduction request has not been input, the flow advances to step 4 where the CPU 5 inputs a signal output from the host interface 29, and in step 5 it is determined whether a reproduction stop request has been issued. I do. If there is a reproduction stop request, the flow proceeds to step 6 to invalidate and output the enabled instruction signal. Thereafter, the flow returns to step 1;
Return to Thus, the CPU 5 continues to invalidate the instruction signal until a reproduction request is input.

The instruction signal output as described above is
It is input to the judgment unit 4. The determination unit 4 determines whether a valid instruction signal is input or not, and outputs a cutoff release signal if a valid instruction signal is input. The cutoff release signal is input to the switching circuit 8. The switching circuit 8 switches its operation when the cutoff release signal is input, and the power supply 1
The state in which the AMP circuit 2 is shut off from 1 is released, and A
The power supply to the MP circuit 2 is started. Thereby, the power supply 1
1 to the AMP circuit 2.

Since the above-described series of operations can all be realized by control using electric signals, it is sufficiently faster than when the mechanical mechanism 10 inputs an instruction signal and starts the operation for reproduction. Complete. That is, the power supply to the AMP circuit 2 is always started before the output of the music signal. Therefore, a certain period of time has passed since the instruction signal was output, and the mechanical
By the time the music signal is output from the A / A converter 12, the determination unit 4 and the switching circuit 8 that input the same instruction signal
AMP circuit 2 from power supply 11
Power is supplied to the As a result, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon that a portion of the reproduced sound immediately after the start of the reproduction is not amplified and cannot be heard.

Next, a third embodiment of the CD-ROM drive according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of the CD-ROM drive according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The CD-ROM drive according to the third embodiment is different from the CD-ROM drive according to the second embodiment in that a switching circuit 9 is provided. The following description focuses on the different points, and the description of common points is omitted or simplified.

In the case of the CD-ROM drive according to the first embodiment, the AMP circuit 2 includes a case where power is supplied from the power supply 11 and a case where power is not supplied. And, in this AMP circuit 2,
There is a terminal for inputting a music signal.
Due to the nature of the input of the music signal output by the D / A converter 12, even when a music CD is not being reproduced, some voltage is constantly applied.

Therefore, the operation of the switching circuit 7 is switched in such a state, and the power supply 11 is released from the cut-off state to supply power to the AMP circuit 2.
When a music signal is input from the D / A converter 12 to the circuit 2, an overcurrent or a leakage current is generated, and
There is a possibility that not only the P circuit 2 but also the D / A converter 12 may fail or be damaged. C in the third embodiment
The D-ROM drive has the following configuration to solve this problem.

CD-ROM according to the third embodiment
In the drive, a switching circuit 9 is provided separately from the switching circuit 7 between the D / A converter 12 and the AMP circuit 2. The switching circuit 9 is a circuit for cutting off the input of a music signal when a cutoff signal is input, and is a D / A converter 1 in a state where a music CD is not being reproduced.
2 and a circuit for protecting the AMP circuit 2.

The AMP circuit 2 is a circuit having the purpose of amplifying an input signal. Therefore, even if minute noise is input from the input terminal, it has the function of amplifying it. You can't make it unconnected. Therefore, when the switching circuit 9 is disconnected,
It is desirable to employ a circuit in which the output is grounded in a high resistance state (infinite state: high impedance). For example, a switching circuit using a semiconductor can be used.

The switching circuit 9 is configured to switch between a low resistance state of 0 ohms and a high resistance state of almost infinity, instead of simply cutting the signal lines of the circuit. It has no resistance value in the connected state and is disconnected in the non-connected state. However, disconnection in this case means that electricity is not conducted, and does not mean that the input terminal of the AMP circuit 2 has no physical connection.

The cutoff signal of the CD-ROM drive in the first embodiment is branched and input to the switching circuit 9 and used as a signal for controlling switching. If the music CD is not to be reproduced, the AM
Both the power supply to the P circuit 2 and the input of the audio signal can be cut off.

By providing the switching circuit 9 between the D / A converter 12 and the AMP circuit 2 as described above, the power supply 11 can supply power to the AMP circuit 2 only when a reproduction request is issued from the host interface 29. , Which can operate with low power consumption and can protect the D / A converter 12 and the AMP circuit 2
A D-ROM drive can be realized. When the music CD is not reproduced, the AMP circuit 2 has no power supply and no input signal, so that no overcurrent or leakage current occurs in the circuit, and the AMP circuit 2 is damaged or malfunctions. And no more.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the operation of reading a CD for a personal computer is performed, and when the reproduction of a music CD is not performed or in a standby state. Can suppress unnecessary heat generation and reduce power consumption. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further avoid a phenomenon that a portion immediately after the start of the reproduction of the sound cannot be heard without being amplified. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a CD-ROM drive that can operate with low power consumption and protect the D / A converter and the AMP circuit,
The occurrence of overcurrent and leakage current in the circuit can be eliminated, and the occurrence of breakage and failure can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a CD-RO according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an M drive.

FIG. 2 shows a CD-ROM according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of the ROM drive.

FIG. 3 shows a CD-ROM according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of the ROM drive.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed when CPU 5 shown in FIG. 3 outputs an instruction signal.

FIG. 5 shows a CD-ROM according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of the ROM drive.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main part of an internal configuration for explaining an operation of a conventional CD-ROM drive.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Headphone jack 2: AMP circuit 3, 4: Judgment unit 5: CPU 7, 8: Switching circuit 10: Mechanical mechanism unit 11: Power supply 13: Line output unit 15: Optical disk 20: Motor 21: Optical pickup 22: Read AMP 23: Motor driver 24: CD decoder 25: Servo 27: Buffer RAM 26: CD-ROM decoder 28: Buffer manager 29: Host interface 30: Volume input circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means for reading information recorded on a recording medium to output a reproduction signal, a generation and output means for generating and outputting a music signal from the reproduction signal, and amplifying and outputting the music signal An information reproducing apparatus comprising: a music signal amplifying unit; and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the music signal amplifying unit; and a unit configured to determine whether the music signal is output from the generation output unit. An information reproducing apparatus, comprising: switching means for shutting down the music signal amplifying means from the power supply means and stopping power supply when the means determines that a music signal is not output. 2. A means for reading information recorded on a recording medium and outputting a reproduction signal, a generation and output means for generating and outputting a music signal from the reproduction signal, and amplifying and outputting the music signal. An information reproducing apparatus comprising: a music signal amplifying unit; and a power supply unit for supplying power to the music signal amplifying unit, wherein the unit outputs a reproduction start instruction signal in response to a recording medium reproduction request, When an instruction signal is input, a switching unit that releases a state in which the music signal amplifying unit is shut off from the power supply unit and starts power supply to the music signal amplifying unit is provided. Information playback device. 3. The disc recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not power is supplied to the music signal amplification unit, and the determination unit is supplied with power to the music signal amplification unit. An information reproducing apparatus, further comprising: a switching unit for interrupting the input of the music signal to the music signal amplifying unit when it is determined that the music signal has not been input.