JP2003263194A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recorder capable of turning on an illumination of a display part interlocking with voice-activated recording in a sound recording/ reproducing device having a recorder provided with an automatic start recording mode. <P>SOLUTION: In the voice recording/reproducing device provided with a voice- activated recording means for automatically starting recording on the basis of the level of a voice signal inputted to the recorder, a display part for displaying recording time or recordable time, an illumination means for illuminating the display part, and an illumination control means for controlling the illumination of the display part on the basis of a recording state, a back light 20 is turned on by a start level decision circuit 15 and a system control part 16 in the voice-activated recording. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a voice-activated recording function in which the recording state is automatically controlled according to the level of an input audio signal and a display section for displaying recording time, recordable time, and the like. The present invention relates to a recording device having a backlight function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an audio signal obtained by a microphone or the like is converted into a digital signal and recorded in a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, and the audio signal is read out from the semiconductor memory at the time of reproduction to obtain an analog signal. So-called IC that is converted into audio and output as sound from a speaker, etc.
A digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus called a recorder is provided.

In such a voice recording / reproducing apparatus,
In order to save the amount of data recorded in the semiconductor memory,
The amount of data to be recorded is minimized by performing highly efficient encoding on the digitized audio signal.

Further, in order to save a recording time, some voice recording / reproducing apparatuses have a voice activated recording mode (hereinafter, referred to as a voice activated recording mode) for determining whether or not to record according to a voice level so as not to record during a silent period. A product having a VCVA mode) has been commercialized.

On the other hand, some audio recording / reproducing devices have been commercialized that have a liquid crystal display with a backlight so that they can be easily operated in a dark place.

[0006]

However, such a backlight is generally turned on for a certain period of time when the user operates a button of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus. Therefore, when trying to confirm the display in a dark place during the voice activated recording as described above, it is necessary to press some operation button. However, if any operation button is operated during voice activated recording, the operation sound of the operation button will be recorded. Further, if a proper operation button is inadvertently operated in a dark place, voice activated recording may be canceled, or an unintended operation may occur.

Further, if it is attempted to keep the backlight on in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, there arises a problem that power is wastefully consumed by that amount.

The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the user can easily know the recording condition by voice activated recording, and the unnecessary consumption of electric power due to this can be suppressed. To provide a recording device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a voice-activated recording means for automatically starting recording based on the level of an input voice signal, and a recording time. And / or a display unit that displays the recordable time, an illumination unit that illuminates the display unit, and an illumination control unit that controls the illumination of the display unit based on the recording condition. And Further, the voice activated recording means compares the level value of the input voice signal with a predetermined activation level value, and when the level value of the input voice signal is larger than the predetermined activation level value, starts recording, and outputs the input voice signal. Recording is stopped when the level value of is lower than a predetermined activation level value, and the lighting control means turns on the lighting of the display section by the lighting means at the start of the recording, The illumination of the display unit is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the recording or when the recording is stopped.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio recording / reproducing device having a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a voice recording / reproducing apparatus includes a microphone (hereinafter, referred to as a microphone) for converting voice into an electric signal.
A microphone 1) and a microphone jack 2 that receives an audio signal from an external device such as an external microphone are connected to fixed terminals 3a and 3b of an input selector switch 3, respectively.
Microphone 1 and microphone jack 2 by switching the switching contact
Is selected. The switching contact terminal 3c is connected to the input terminal of the preamplifier 4, and the output terminal of the preamplifier 4 is connected to the input terminal of the input amplifier 5a in the stereo codec 5.

The output terminal of the input amplifier 5a is connected to the input terminals of the A / D converters 5b and 5c, and the output terminals of the A / D converters 5b and 5c are connected to the input terminal of the digital filter 5d. And this digital filter 5
The output terminal of d is connected to the input terminals of the D / A converters 5e and 5f.

The digital filter 5d converts unnecessary quantization noise (hereinafter referred to as aliasing noise) generated when the signal conversion is performed by the A / D converters 5b and 5c and the D / A converters 5e and 5f. It serves to remove it from later signals.

The output terminals of the D / A converters 5e and 5f are connected to the input terminals of the output amplifiers 5g and 5h, respectively, and the output terminals of the output amplifiers 5g and 5h are connected to the interlocking output changeover switches 6 and 7. The terminals 6c and 7c are respectively connected.

The output changeover switch 6 can be switched to either the fixed terminal 6a or 6b by a changeover contact piece, and the fixed terminal 6a is connected to the input end of the headphone amplifier 8 to output the headphone amplifier 8. The end is connected to the stereo headphone terminal 11, the fixed terminal 6b is connected to the input end of the speaker amplifier 10, and the output end of the speaker amplifier 10 is connected to the speaker 13.

On the other hand, the output selector switch 7 can be switched to either of the fixed terminals 7a and 7b by the switching contact piece, and the fixed terminal 7a is connected to the input end of the headphone amplifier 9 and is connected to the headphone amplifier 9. The output terminal is connected to the stereo headphone terminal 12, the fixed terminal 7b is connected to the input terminal of the speaker amplifier 10, and the output terminal of the speaker amplifier 10 is the speaker 1.
Connected to 3.

Since the output changeover switches 6 and 7 are changed over in conjunction with each other, when the changeover switch 6 is changed over to the fixed terminal 6a, the changeover switch 7 is changed to the fixed terminal 7a.
In addition, when the changeover switch 6 is changed over to the fixed terminal 6b, the changeover switch 7 is changed over to the fixed terminal 7b.

The stereo codec 5 is a DS
P (Digital Signal Processo)
r) 14, a CPU 16 and a memory card 17 are connected to the DSP 14, and a startup level determination circuit 15 is built therein.

The CPU 16 controls the entire apparatus. In addition to the DSP 14 and the memory card 17, the CPU 16 has a display unit 19, a backlight 20 as an illuminating means, and a power source via a display drive circuit 18. Circuit 2
1, a built-in memory 22, a volume control device 23, and an operation switch group 24 are connected to each.

The DSP 14 is controlled by a CPU 16 which controls the entire apparatus, and at the time of recording, an audio signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter is converted into a fixed format data in a frame unit by an ADPCM system (Adaptive). Differential Pu
compression conversion (hereinafter, also referred to as encoding) by a method such as "lse code modulation". And
The encoded voice data is temporarily recorded in the memory card 17 connected to the CPU 16 as an encoded data file.

In addition to the above-described encoding, the DSP 14 determines the input voice signal by the activation level determination circuit 15 inside the DSP 14, and starts and stops recording in the VCVA mode. It also controls to do so.

On the other hand, during reproduction, the DSP 14
Controlled by No. 6, the encoded data file recorded in the memory card 17 is expanded and converted (hereinafter also referred to as decoding). Decoding of the data encoded in this way is performed, and the decoded digital signal is D /
It is output to the A converter 5e or 5f.

Under the control of the display drive circuit 18, the display unit 19 operates the switch of any one of the operation switch groups 24 to start an operation mode of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus when a predetermined sequence is started, or after that. It is for displaying the operation status of.

The backlight 20 serves to illuminate the display unit 19 so that the display unit can be easily seen by the user. In addition, in this embodiment, L
Although the ED is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that an EL element or the like may be used.

The power supply circuit 21 is a circuit for supplying electric power for driving the audio recording / reproducing apparatus.

The built-in memory 22 is composed of a rewritable non-volatile memory (hereinafter referred to as an EEPROM), for example, a flash memory, for example, a user ID, a recording mode selection setting, a BEEP sound selection setting, and voice start recording. Various settings, parameters and the like that should be stored even when power is not supplied to the CPU 16, such as selection settings and data reproduction positions, are also stored. In addition, the built-in memory 22 also stores information such as an alarm reproduction set time in alarm reproduction and an alarm reproduction target file.

The volume adjusting device 23 is configured to supply a voltage from 0 to Vcc as an output voltage V ₀ to the A / D port of the CPU 16 in conjunction with the turning operation of a volume knob (not shown). . The CPU 16 outputs the output voltage V ₀
Is received, A / D converted, divided into 31 steps from 0 to 30, and the set value of the volume is read.

The operation switch group 24 is provided on the exterior of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus and is an operation switch for controlling various functions, and includes a record button, a stop button, an index button, a menu button, an erase button, It is composed of a folder button, a play button, a fast rewind button, a fast forward button, and a hold switch.

The record button is a button for instructing the start of recording of the audio signal, and the stop button is for instructing to stop the operation of the apparatus when the apparatus is in the process of recording, reproducing or the like. The index button is a button for adding an index mark to the encoded data.

The menu button is a button for performing various settings relating to the voice recording / reproducing apparatus having the main recording apparatus, such as recording mode setting, time setting, and automatic voice start recording ON / OFF. Is a button for deleting the selected encoded data file from the memory card 17.

The folder button has a plurality of folders prepared for storing the encoded data files in the memory card 17, and functions as a button for the user to select and switch among them.

The play button is a button for instructing the reproduction of the encoded data file recorded in the memory card 17, and the rewind button is for rewinding the encoded data file being reproduced. The fast-forward button is a button for fast-forwarding the encoded data file being played back, and the hold switch disables the operation input of the operation switch and stops the operation. Is a switch for setting and releasing a so-called "hold function" for shifting the operation mode of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus to the power saving mode.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing in detail the actual operation processing of the audio recording / reproducing apparatus having the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the audio recording / reproducing apparatus is powered on,
By using the menu button of the operation switch group 24, the VCV
When the A mode is set to the ON state, the recording standby state is set in the voice activated recording mode.

In this state, the CPU 16 determines whether the stop button has been pressed or whether the memory of the memory card 17 has a free space as shown in step S1.
Here, if the stop button is not pressed <, and if the memory is empty, the process proceeds to step S2, and the CPU 16 determines whether or not recording is in progress.

In the voice recording / reproducing apparatus, in the recording standby state after power-on, the determination in step S2 is determined not to be recording. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S4, the voice level is detected in the standby state, and step S11 is performed. The activation level determination circuit 15 in the DSP 14 determines whether or not the voice level input in (4) is within the activation range.

If it is within the range of voice activated recording, the process proceeds to step S12, the backlight 20 is turned on, and voice activated recording is started in step S13. (When the recording is started, the recording of the voice is started from the standby state.) When the recording is started, the backlight timer for turning off the backlight 20 after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds, 5 s) is started in step S14. Let Then, the above step S1
In No. 1, when the sound level is not within the activation range, the process returns to the determination in step S1.

When recording is started in step S13, it is determined in step S2 that recording is in progress, the process proceeds to step S3, the voice level is detected, and the voice level input in step S5 is the start range. It is determined whether or not it is inside the activation level determination circuit 1 in the DSP 14.
It is done by 5.

If it is within the voice activated recording range, the CPU 16 shifts to step S6 and determines whether the lighting time of the backlight 20 has passed a predetermined time (5 s).
This is performed using the backlight timer started in step S14 (not shown). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process goes to step S8 to turn off the backlight 20 according to the instruction of the CPU and stop the backlight timer. After the light is turned off, the process returns to the determination process of step S1 when the predetermined time (5 s) has not elapsed in step S6. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the voice level has not reached the voice activated recording range, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the CPU 16 determines whether or not the backlight 20 is turned on, and the backlight is turned on. When 20 is turned on, the backlight 20 is turned off and the backlight timer is stopped in step S9. If the backlight 20 is not turned on in step S7, the backlight is turned off and the process proceeds to step S10 to stop the voice activated recording. (Stop recording the voice and return to the standby state.) After stopping the voice-activated recording, the process returns to the determination in step S1. After returning to step S1, if the stop button is pressed in the determination of step S1 or if there is no free space in the memory, the process proceeds to step S15, recording is finished, and the backlight timer is restarted. , Predetermined time, eg 3
Turn on the backlight for about a second, and then return.

In the present invention thus constructed,
When a voice is input, when the voice is within the activation range by the activation level determination circuit 15 built in the DSP 14 without the user operating the voice at the same time as the voice input,
The PU 16 makes a judgment to start the voice-activated recording, and in conjunction with the start of the recording under the control of the CPU 16 which is the illumination control means, the operation mode of the recording device is displayed on the display unit 19 via the display drive circuit 18 or the subsequent operation. The situation can be displayed and the illumination of the backlight 20 can be turned on in conjunction with the voice activated recording without the user performing the illumination lighting operation.

Further, the lighting time is a predetermined time (for example, 5
By determining whether or not the time (s) has elapsed by using a timer in the CPU 16 (not shown), a predetermined time (5
s) has elapsed, or when the stop button is pressed,
The backlight 20 can be turned off by an instruction from the CPU 16.

In the above embodiment of the present invention,
Although the lighting time of the backlight is specified as 5 s, it goes without saying that this may be set to any number of seconds.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, each time the voice activated recording is started, the backlight is turned on without any operation by the user, so that the user is in a dark place. Even so, it is possible to easily understand the recording situation by voice activated recording. Further, since the backlight is turned on for a predetermined time, it is possible to provide an economical recording device without consuming unnecessary power.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio recording / reproducing device having a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating in detail an actual operation process of the audio recording / reproducing device having the recording device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 ... Digital signal processing unit (DSP) 15 ... Start-up level determination circuit 16 ... System control unit (CPU) (lighting control means) 18 ... Display drive circuit 19 ... Display 20 ... Backlight (illumination means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A voice-activated recording means for automatically starting recording based on a level of an input audio signal, a display section for displaying a recording time and / or a recordable time, and illuminating the display section. A recording device comprising: an illumination unit; and an illumination control unit that controls illumination of the display unit based on the recording condition. 2. The voice-activated recording means compares the level value of the input voice signal with a predetermined activation level value, and starts recording when the level value of the input voice signal is higher than the predetermined activation level value. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording is stopped when the level value of the input audio signal falls below a predetermined activation level value. 3. The lighting control means causes the lighting means to turn on the lighting of the display section at the start of the recording, and after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the recording or when the recording is stopped, The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination of the display unit is turned off.