JP2007048424A - Recording/reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording/reproducing device whereby a user can understand a situation which has occurred in the device and can objectively understand the occurred situation while preventing damages of a magnetic head and a disk thereof when the device is dropped. <P>SOLUTION: A drop sensor 13 detects a drop of the device. When the drop of the device is detected, a sub CPU 14 allows a counter 16 to count a drop time. When the device drops for a predetermined time or more, the sub CPU 14 controls a regulator 12 so that the regulator 12 forcibly disconnects an electric power to be supplied to a hard disk drive 4, and writes a drop occurrence flag into a nonvolatile memory 15. When the power supply is again turned on, a main CPU 11 allows a display section 8 to display information indicating that the power supply is disconnected due to the drop of the device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable recording / reproducing apparatus that records or reproduces information such as video signals and audio signals, and in particular, recording / reproducing that can avoid or reduce various problems occurring in the apparatus when the apparatus falls. Relates to the device.

  Since a hard disk drive, which is one of magnetic disk devices, is relatively vulnerable to external shocks, it has been avoided to use it as a recording medium for portable electronic devices. However, in recent years, as hard disks have increased in capacity and size and have been devised to mitigate external shocks, hard disk drives can be used in various ways such as portable music players and video cameras. It has come to be used as a recording medium for recording / reproducing apparatuses.

In a portable recording / reproducing apparatus, the user may accidentally drop the apparatus. If the hard disk drive is dropped, the magnetic head may collide with the magnetic disk surface and damage recorded data or the hard disk itself. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that a fall of a device equipped with a hard disk drive is detected by a fall sensor, and the magnetic head is retracted to a home position (shipping zone) when the fall is detected. Yes.
JP 2003-263853 A

  When a recording / reproducing device equipped with a hard disk drive falls, the user simply feels uneasy about confirming whether the device operates normally after dropping by simply retracting the magnetic head to the home position. When a device becomes defective, there is a problem that information for repairing is insufficient.

  In a portable recording / reproducing device, the device may be intentionally moved or unintentionally moved depending on the use situation, and it is erroneously detected that the device has been dropped even though the device has not dropped. A configuration that avoids this is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a hard disk drive, how to prevent the magnetic head and the disk from being damaged when the apparatus falls and how the user can use the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus that can understand whether a situation has occurred and can objectively grasp the situation as data. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of avoiding erroneous detection of falling even though the apparatus is not dropped.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing information, a hard disk drive (4) for recording the information, a display unit (8), the hard disk drive A power source (12, 19) for supplying power to the drive to bring the recording / reproducing apparatus into an operating state, a power button (20c) for instructing to turn on and off the power, and a drop for detecting the falling of the recording / reproducing apparatus When the fall of the recording / reproducing device is detected based on the fall detection signal from the sensor (13), the fall sensor, the timer (14, 16) for measuring the fall time, and the recording / reproduction by the timer When it is timed that the device has fallen for a predetermined time or longer, the power supplied to the hard disk drive is forcibly cut off and the recording / reproducing device is in an inoperative state. When the power supplied to the hard disk drive is forcibly cut off by the power supply control unit (14), the memory (15), and the power supply control unit for controlling the power supply, the power is forcibly cut off. A writing unit (14) for writing a flag indicating that the memory is in the memory, and when the power-on is instructed by pressing the power button by a user operation, and the flag is written in the memory, the recording / reproducing device There is provided a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a display control unit (11) configured to control the display unit to display information indicating that the power source has been turned off due to falling.

  Here, the time measuring unit measures the total falling time from when the falling of the recording / reproducing apparatus is detected until the dropping stops, and the writing unit calculates the total falling time or the falling calculated from the total falling time. It is preferable to write data relating to the distance into the memory.

  Further, it is preferable that the writing unit writes in the memory the number of times the power is turned off due to the recording / reproducing device being dropped.

  Furthermore, a setting unit (14) for selectively setting a first mode for enabling forcible disconnection of power supply to the hard disk drive by the power supply control unit and a second mode for disabling the power supply. It is preferable.

  According to the present invention, in a recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a hard disk drive, the user understands what happened to the apparatus while preventing damage to the magnetic head and disk when the apparatus falls. The situation that occurred can be objectively grasped as data. According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid erroneous detection of falling even though the device is not falling.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of file recording management in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a fall detection process in the first embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data recorded in the nonvolatile memory in the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing power-off processing in the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is from power-on to steady processing in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on the display unit in the first embodiment, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a second embodiment. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment of the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus including a hard disk drive, and a video camera is taken as an example of the recording / reproducing apparatus. The present invention is not limited to a video camera, and can be applied to all recording / reproducing apparatuses including a hard disk (or other recording / reproducing unit) such as a recording / reproducing apparatus dedicated to music. In the first embodiment, the user can understand what happened to the apparatus while preventing damage to the magnetic head and the disk when the apparatus falls, and the occurrence can be objectively used as data. It is configured so that it can be grasped. In addition, the apparatus is configured to avoid erroneous detection of falling even though the apparatus is not falling. Further, when the recording / reproducing apparatus is dropped and data recording is interrupted, the data recorded before the interruption is reproduced.

  In FIG. 1, an optical signal from a subject is input to the imaging element 1 of the imaging unit 3 via an imaging lens (not shown). The image sensor 1 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The imaging device 1 converts the input optical signal into an electrical signal and supplies the electrical signal to the camera signal processing unit 2 of the imaging unit 3. The camera signal processing unit 2 performs predetermined signal processing on the input electrical signal and outputs it as a video signal. The video signal output from the camera signal processing unit 2 is input to the terminal a of the recording processing unit 5 and the switching unit 7.

  The recording processing unit 5 performs A / D conversion on the input video signal and compresses data using, for example, the MPEG2 compression method. Here, the audio signal processing system is omitted, but the recording processing unit 5 also compresses the audio signal input from a microphone (not shown) to generate actual data including video data and audio data. Further, the recording processing unit 5 generates management information used when reproducing the compressed data of the video signal based on the shooting date / time information from the main CPU 11 or the sub CPU 14 or the time information of the file data. In the first embodiment, the recording processing unit 5 generates a file based on the SD-Video standard based on the actual data and the management information. The SD-Video standard includes an MOD file that is an MPEG file of video data and audio data, and an MOI file that is a management information file.

  The recording processing unit 5 is a file generation unit that generates a file of a predetermined format that is a pair of an actual data file including video data and a management information file that is management information of the actual data file. Although the SD-Video standard is taken as an example in the first embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the recording management of files on the hard disk 40 of the hard disk drive 4. This file recording management is performed by the main CPU 11. That is, the main CPU 11 is a file recording management unit. The hard disk 40 is provided with a folder 401 for recording SD-Video standard files and another folder 402. The folder 402 will be described later. One SD-Video standard file is created by the recording processing unit 5 from the start to the end of one shooting in the video camera, and is recorded in the folder 401 in the hard disk 40 under the control of the main CPU 11. Here, a state in which two files F11 and F12 are recorded is shown. As shown in the figure, the files F11 and F12 are a pair of a MOD file F _MOD and an MOI file F _MOI . The MOI file F _MOI is used to accurately perform special reproduction such as fast-forward reproduction and reverse reproduction when reproducing the MOD file F _MOD, for example.

  Returning to FIG. 1, when a file recorded on the hard disk drive 4 is reproduced, the file is reproduced under the control of the main CPU 11, and the data of the reproduced file is input to the reproduction processing unit 6. The reproduction processing unit 6 performs reproduction processing such as decoding and D / A conversion of the compressed data, and supplies it to the terminal b of the switching unit 7. The switching unit 7 selects either the terminal a or b under the control of the main CPU 11 and outputs either the video signal being shot from the imaging unit 3 or the video signal reproduced from the hard disk drive 4. The video signal output from the switching unit 7 is input to the character superimposing unit 9, and characters such as characters and symbols are superimposed on the video signal as needed under the control of the main CPU 11. The video signal is displayed on the display unit 8 such as a liquid crystal panel. The output of the character superimposing unit 9 is also supplied to the video output terminal 10, and a video signal can be output to the outside.

  The main CPU 11 is for overall control of the recording / reproducing apparatus. An input / output interface 17, an infrared light receiving unit 18, and a voice synthesis unit 22 are connected to the main CPU 11. The roles of the input / output interface 17 and the infrared light receiver 18 and the voice synthesizer 22 will be described later. A portion from the imaging unit 3 to the infrared light receiving unit 18 surrounded by a two-dot chain line is a main unit 100 that operates when the power of the recording / reproducing apparatus is turned on. A battery 19 is connected to the regulator 12, and the regulator 12 adjusts the direct current from the battery 19 by voltage conversion or the like, and supplies electric power (electric energy) to each part. The regulator 12 and the battery 19 are a power source for the apparatus. Electric power (power supply line) supplied from the regulator 12 to each unit is indicated by a thick solid line. Here, power is supplied only to the hard disk drive 4 and the main CPU 11, but the imaging unit 3, recording processing unit 5, reproduction processing unit 6, switching unit 7, character superimposing unit 9, display unit 8, etc. Power is supplied to each part that requires power.

  1 includes a drop sensor 13, a sub CPU 14, a nonvolatile memory 15, a counter 16, and an operation unit 20. A portion composed of the drop sensor 13, the sub CPU 14, the nonvolatile memory 15, and the counter 16 surrounded by a two-dot chain line is a sub-unit 200 to which power is supplied from the regulator 12 even when the power of the recording / reproducing apparatus is turned off. Yes. For example, the drop sensor 13 is an acceleration sensor that measures the magnitude of acceleration in the three-axis directions of the X, Y, and Z axes, and detects whether or not the apparatus is falling. Specifically, in the state where the device is freely falling, the accelerations in the three axes of the X, Y, and Z axes are almost zero, so whether the device is falling based on the accelerations in the three axes. Can be detected.

  The detection output of the drop sensor 13 is input to the sub CPU 14. A non-volatile memory 15, a counter 16, and an operation unit 20 are connected to the sub CPU 14. The roles of the nonvolatile memory 15 and the counter 16 will be described later. Although the counter 16 is separated from the sub CPU 14 here, the counter 16 may be built in the sub CPU 14. The operation unit 20 includes, for example, a setting button 20a, a cursor button 20b, and a power button 20c. When an instruction to turn on the power of the recording / reproducing apparatus is issued by pressing the power button 20c, the sub CPU 14 controls the regulator 12 to control the power supply to each part of the main part 100. As a result, the recording / reproducing apparatus enters an operating state. As long as the battery 19 is not removed, the sub unit 200 is supplied with power from the regulator 12 even when the power of the recording / reproducing apparatus is cut off, and the sub unit 200 is in an operating state.

  Next, the apparatus drop detection process will be described with reference to FIG. The drop detection process shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the sub CPU 14 when the main part 100 is in the operating state. In FIG. 3, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus is in a fall state based on the detection output (fall detection signal) of the drop sensor 13 in step S1. The sub CPU 14 determines that the vehicle is in the fall state if the detection output of the drop sensor 13 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value that is substantially zero. If it is not determined that the vehicle is in the fall state (No), the process returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S1 that the vehicle is in the fall state (Yes), the sub CPU 14 causes the counter 16 to count the time from the drop state in step S2 and starts measuring the fall time. The sub CPU 14 and the counter 16 serve as a time measuring unit for measuring the falling time.

  Subsequently, in step S3, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus has stopped falling within a predetermined distance, for example, less than a time corresponding to 20 cm, based on the count value of the counter 16. If it is determined in step S3 that the apparatus has stopped falling in less than the time corresponding to 20 cm (Yes), the process proceeds to step S7, and if it is not determined that the apparatus has stopped falling in less than the time corresponding to 20 cm ( No), go to step S4.

  In step S4, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the device has dropped for a time corresponding to 20 cm based on the count value of the counter 16. If it is not determined in step S4 that it has dropped for 20 cm (No), the process returns to step S4. If it is determined that it has dropped for 20 cm (Yes), the sub CPU 14 turns off the power in step S5. Execute the process. The specific process of the power-off process in step S5 will be described in detail later. Here, the reason why the power supply is cut off by dropping for a time corresponding to 20 cm is because the fall guarantee of the hard disk drive 4 is set to 30 cm as the specification of the apparatus, The distance) may be set as appropriate according to the height of drop guarantee.

  Further, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus has stopped dropping in step S6. If it is not determined in step S6 that the fall has stopped (No), the process returns to step S6. If it is determined in step S6 that the drop has stopped (Yes), the sub CPU 14 stops counting the time by the counter 16 in step S7 and ends the measurement of the drop time. The drop time here is the total drop time from when the fall of the apparatus is detected until the drop stops. In step S8, the sub CPU 14 calculates the fall distance of the apparatus. The fall distance L can be calculated from the fall time t by the following equation (1), where g is the gravitational acceleration.

^{L = gt 2/2 ... (} 1)
Then, the sub CPU 14 writes data relating to the drop in the nonvolatile memory 15 in step S9, and ends. The data relating to the drop includes, for example, the number of times the apparatus has been dropped and the power has been turned off, a drop history including a drop date and a drop distance, and a drop occurrence flag. The drop occurrence flag will be described later. The drop distance may be the drop distance itself calculated in step S8 of FIG. 3, but may indicate the drop distance at which the drop distance is divided into a plurality of stages. For example, the power source is not cut off, less than 20 cm, 20 cm or more and less than 40 cm, 40 or more and less than 60 cm, 60 cm or more and less than 80 cm, 80 cm or more and less than 100 cm, and 100 cm or more.

  In FIG. 4, an example of data related to dropping written in the nonvolatile memory 15 is shown in a table format so that it can be easily understood. The drop history may be stored a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) from the latest one. Moreover, less than 20 cm may be excluded from the fall history, and what kind of history is stored may be appropriately set. Here, the number of times of power-off, the date and time of dropping, the dropping distance, and the dropping occurrence flag are data relating to dropping, but at least one of them may be added, and other data may be added. Also, the drop distance is memorized because what happened to the device when a failure occurred in the device, specifically whether the device has fallen, or how much distance if dropped This is because we want to get information on what happened. The drop time may be stored in place of the drop distance, and the drop distance may be calculated based on the drop time during failure diagnosis or repair.

  Next, a specific process of the power-off process in step S5 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the power-off function for turning off the power of the device when the device falls in step S51 is valid. Whether the power-off function is valid or invalid is set as follows as an example. For example, when the setting button 20a of the operation unit 20 is pressed, the sub CPU 14 causes the main CPU 11 to display on the display unit 8 a menu for switching the power-off function between valid (first mode) / invalid (second mode). Instructs the CPU 11. By selecting either valid / invalid with the cursor button 20b, the sub CPU 14 sets valid / invalid of the power-off function. The sub CPU 14 is a setting unit that selectively sets the first mode and the second mode.

  Instead of switching the validity / invalidity of the power-off function by the menu, for example, a switch is provided between the drop sensor 13 and the sub CPU 14, and whether or not the drop detection signal from the drop sensor 13 is input to the sub CPU 14 by this switch. You may comprise so that it may switch. Means for setting the validity / invalidity of the power-off function is not limited to these.

  The reason why it is possible to switch between enabling and disabling the power-off function and providing step S51 in the power-off processing is as follows.

  For example, when shooting in amusement parks while riding on a vehicle such as a roller coaster, the fall sensor 13 serving as an acceleration sensor causes the device to fall from the photographer (user) when the roller coaster descends. In spite of the absence, a fall detection signal is output. In this case, the power of the apparatus is cut off, and subsequent photographing cannot be performed. Therefore, a function for disabling the power-off function due to dropping is provided, and the power of the apparatus is cut off only when the power-off function is valid. Thereby, even if a fall detection signal is output from the fall sensor 13 and the sub CPU 14 detects the fall of the apparatus (even if it is determined that the apparatus is in the fall state in step S1 in FIG. 3), the apparatus is powered off. First, it is possible to take a picture during the downward movement of the roller coaster or the like. According to the present embodiment, when the apparatus is intentionally moved largely or unintentionally, it is erroneously detected as falling in a situation where the apparatus is not actually falling away from the photographer's hand. You can avoid that.

  In FIG. 5, if the power-off function is valid in step S51 (Yes), the process proceeds to step S52, and if not valid (No), the process is terminated without cutting off the power. In step S52, the sub CPU 14 sets a drop flag indicating whether or not the device stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 has dropped, from “1” indicating that no drop has occurred. It is rewritten to “0” indicating that it has been performed. The sub CPU 14 is a writing unit that writes data related to dropping, such as a drop occurrence flag, into the nonvolatile memory 15.

  Then, the sub CPU 14 controls the regulator 12 to forcibly cut off the power supply of the main part 100 in step S53 and ends. The regulator 12 stops the power supply to the main part 100 in response to an instruction to turn off the power by the sub CPU 14, and puts the main part 100 into an inoperative state. The sub CPU 14 is a power source control unit that controls whether to supply power to the main unit 100 by the regulator 12.

  When the power is turned off, the hard disk drive 4 retracts the magnetic head to a home position (shipping zone) that is a retreat area other than the recording / reproduction area of the hard disk 40. In the present embodiment, the power is turned off before the hard disk drive 4 is impacted by the apparatus falling by the drop detection process of FIG. 3 and the power-off process of FIG. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the hard disk 40 and the magnetic head from being damaged due to the collision of the magnetic head with the recording / reproducing area. Alternatively, the possibility of damage to the hard disk 40 or the magnetic head can be greatly reduced.

  Next, a process from when the user presses the power button 20c to turn on the apparatus and shifts to a steady process will be described with reference to FIG. The process shown in FIG. 6 is the same whether the sub CPU 14 described with reference to FIG. 5 detects the fall of the apparatus and turns off the apparatus, or even when the user turns off the apparatus by pressing the power button 20c. Done. The process shown in FIG. 6 is performed in cooperation with the main CPU and the sub CPU 14.

  In FIG. 6, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the power button 20c is pressed in step S101. If it is determined that the power button 20c is pressed (Yes), the sub CPU 14 controls the regulator 12 in step S102. Then turn on the device. If it is not determined that the power button 20c has been pressed (No), the process returns to step S101. When the power is turned on, the main CPU 11 reads the fall occurrence flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 via the sub CPU 14 in step S103, and determines whether or not the fall occurrence flag is “0”. The main CPU 11 may directly read the drop occurrence flag of the nonvolatile memory 15.

  If the drop occurrence flag is “0” (Yes), the main CPU 11 controls the character superimposing unit 9 to display on the display unit 8 a message indicating that the power has been turned off due to the detection of the drop in step S104. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), a sentence C01 “The fall detection function has been activated and the power has been turned off” is displayed on the display unit 8 as an example. The character superimposing unit 9 stores a plurality of characters such as characters and symbols in a built-in table, and superimposes information corresponding to an instruction from the main CPU 11 on the video signal output from the switching unit 7. The main CPU 11 is a display control unit that controls the display unit 8 to display various types of information.

  By displaying a message as shown in FIG. 7A on the display unit 8, the user can know what caused the power to be cut off. Since the user can understand the situation that has occurred in the device that the device has been dropped and the power supply has been cut off, the user can feel secure when using the device thereafter.

  The main CPU 11 returns the drop occurrence flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 to “1” via the sub CPU 14 in step S105. Note that the process of returning the drop occurrence flag to “1” does not have to be performed immediately after the display of FIG.

  If the drop occurrence flag is not “0” in step S103 (No), the main CPU 11 determines whether or not the data recorded in the hard disk 40 is damaged in step S106, and determines that it is damaged. If yes (Yes), it is determined in step S107 whether or not the data can be restored. If the data is not damaged in step S106, the process proceeds to step S114. The term “data corruption” as used herein includes both a case where data is created but the data is corrupted and a case where data that should originally be created cannot be created.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, an SD-Video standard file is recorded on the hard disk 40. When the power supply of the main part 100 is forcibly cut off when the fall of the apparatus is detected, even if the MOD file is recorded on the hard disk 40, the MOI file to be paired with the MOD file is not created and recorded on the hard disk 40. Otherwise, it cannot be played back as an SD-Video standard file. The MOD file can be reproduced as an MPEG file. Whether or not the data can be restored in step S107 cannot be saved on the hard disk 40 as an SD-Video standard file, but is determined whether or not the data can be saved on the hard disk 40 as an MPEG file. It is.

  If it is determined in step S107 that the restoration is possible (Yes), the main CPU 11 superimposes the character so as to display on the display unit 8 a message inquiring whether or not the data is damaged and is restored in step S108. The unit 9 is controlled. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), as an example, the text C02 “Management information file is broken. Need to be repaired in order to record and play back a movie. Would you repair it?” Then, an option mark M01 for selecting whether or not to repair is displayed. For example, either “Yes” for selecting restoration by the cursor button 20b or “No” for selecting not restoration is selected, and the setting button 20a is selected.

The main CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a repair instruction in step S109. If there is a repair instruction (that is, if “Yes” is selected) (Yes), the main CPU 11 executes the repair process in step S110. If there is no repair instruction (that is, if “No” is selected) (No), the process proceeds to step S114. In the restoration process in step S109, the MOD file F _MOD for which the MOI file F _MOI could not be created as shown in the file F21 shown in FIG. Is recorded in the folder 402 for storing the file. If only the MOD file F _MOD is recorded in the folder 402 in this way, it cannot be reproduced as an SD-Video standard file, but can be reproduced as an MPEG file.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S107 that restoration is possible (No), the main CPU 11 displays a message inquiring whether or not the hard disk 40 needs to be reformatted and whether or not to reformat in step S111. The character superimposing unit 9 is controlled to be displayed on the unit 8. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, as an example, the display unit 8 displays the sentence C03 “reformatting is necessary. Do you want to reformat? All data will be deleted” and whether or not to reformat. An option mark M02 for selecting the item is displayed. The main CPU 11 determines whether or not there is an instruction for reformatting in step S112, and if there is an instruction for reformatting (that is, if “Yes” is selected) (Yes), the reformatting process is executed in step S113. To do. If there is no instruction to reformat (that is, if “No” is selected) (No), the process returns to step S112.

  If the reformatting is not performed, the apparatus cannot be used. If there is no reformatting instruction, the process returns to step S112. However, it may be impossible to delete already recorded data. Therefore, the option mark M02 provides a “No” option. In FIG. 6, the apparatus may be configured to be turned off when there is no reformat instruction in step S112.

  By the way, the processing of steps S106 to S113 in FIG. 6 is performed not only when the power is turned off by dropping the apparatus but also when the user turns off the power by pressing the power button 20c in a normal use state. This is because it is necessary to similarly perform data repair processing and reformatting even when data recorded on the hard disk 40 is abnormal due to a cause other than the fall of the apparatus. By displaying a message as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C on the display unit 8 when some trouble has occurred in the apparatus, the user can determine the recording status of the data (file), the repair method, and the like. It can be easily grasped and convenience when using the apparatus is improved.

  When the repair process in step S110 or the reformat process in step S113 is completed, the process proceeds to step S114. In step S114, the main CPU 11 brings the drop sensor 13 into an operating state via the sub CPU 14. When the main part 100 is powered off and the main part 100 is in an inoperative state, and only the sub part 200 is in an operating state, the fall sensor 13 is put into a sleep state in order to reduce power consumption in the sub part 200 It is said. Therefore, in step S114, the drop sensor 13 is activated so as to be in an operating state. Then, the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 14 execute steady processing including the drop detection processing of FIG. 2 in step S115. The steady process is a process for performing normal operations such as recording and reproduction performed by the recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 in addition to the drop detection process.

  Here, returning to FIG. 1, how to read data stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 at the time of device failure diagnosis and inspection will be described. In FIG. 1, an input / output interface 17 is connected to the main CPU 11. An inspection jig 21 is connected to the input / output interface 17 at the time of device failure diagnosis and inspection, and a read command signal for data stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 is supplied from the inspection jig 21 to the main CPU 11. The main CPU 11 reads data relating to dropping stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 via the sub CPU 14 and supplies the data to the inspection jig 21 via the input / output interface 17. Similar to the drop occurrence flag, the main CPU 11 may directly read the data of the number of times of power-off due to the drop and the drop history stored in the nonvolatile memory 15. By reading the data related to the fall stored in the nonvolatile memory 15, it is possible to objectively grasp the situation that has occurred in the apparatus as data. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose the cause and investigate the cause of the failure.

  An infrared light receiving unit 18 is also connected to the main CPU 11. When a remote control transmitter for inspection is performed for fault diagnosis or inspection, the read command signal for data stored in the nonvolatile memory 15 is supplied to the main CPU 11 via the infrared light receiver 18 by operating the remote control transmitter. Good. In this case, you may comprise so that the data regarding the fall memorize | stored in the non-volatile memory 15 may be displayed on the display part 8. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the apparatus has been configured to display on the display unit 8 as visual information that the apparatus has been dropped and the power supply has been cut off, that the management information file is broken, or that reformatting is necessary. A message similar to the messages 7 (A) to (C) may be generated as an audio signal (auditory information). Or you may generate the warning sound for making a user recognize that the visual information is displayed on the display part 8. FIG. In these cases, the main CPU 11 controls the voice synthesizer 22 to generate a voice signal, and supplies the generated voice signal to the speaker 24 via the amplifier 23. Here, the voice synthesis unit 22 is separated from the main CPU 11, but a voice synthesis program may be built in the main CPU 11.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment of the present invention is configured to prevent damage to the imaging lens when the device falls in a recording / reproducing apparatus including the imaging lens. Also in the second embodiment, a video camera is taken as an example of a recording / reproducing apparatus. The present invention is not limited to a video camera, and can also be applied to a still camera (digital camera) that captures a still image and records / reproduces it. The second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a configuration for preventing damage to the imaging lens is added to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the same parts as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, a lens cover 32 is provided on the front surface (subject side) of the imaging lens 31. Here, a state in which the lens cover 32 is in a closed state and the lens cover 32 covers the imaging lens 31 is shown. When the main unit 100 is turned on and photographing and recording are possible, the lens cover 32 is automatically opened as described later. In a state where the lens cover 32 is opened, the optical signal from the subject is collected by the imaging lens 31 and input to the imaging device 1 of the imaging unit 3.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the lens cover 32 includes a disk part 32a for covering the imaging lens 31, and an arm part 32b connected to the disk part 32a. A motor 33 capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation is connected to the arm portion 32b. The lens cover 32 is rotated approximately 90 ° with respect to the closed state indicated by the solid line covering the imaging lens 31 and the closed lens cover 32 by rotating the motor 33 in the forward or reverse direction of the motor 33. One of the open states indicated by broken lines that do not cover is taken.

  8 and 9, when the sub CPU 14 detects that the apparatus is in a falling state and has fallen a predetermined distance based on the detection output of the drop sensor 13, as in the first embodiment, the sub CPU 14 34 is instructed to operate the motor 33 to close the lens cover 32 in the open state. Upon receiving an instruction to close the lens cover 32, the motor driver 34 drives the motor 33 to close the lens cover 32. The motor 33 and the motor driver 34 are drive units that drive the lens cover 32.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 10, a description will be given of a cooperation process between turning on / off the power of the apparatus by the power button 20c and the opening / closing operation of the lens cover 32. In FIG. 10, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the power button 20c is pressed in step S201. If it is determined that the power button 20c is pressed (Yes), the motor that opens the lens cover 32 in the closed state is opened. The driver 34 is instructed. In step S203, the sub CPU 14 controls the regulator 12 to turn on the power of the apparatus. If it is not determined in step S201 that the power button 20c has been pressed (No), the process returns to step S101. As described above, in the second embodiment, the lens cover 32 is opened in conjunction with an instruction to turn on the apparatus by the user. The order of step S202 and step S203 may be reversed.

  Then, after the apparatus is turned on and the apparatus is in an operating state, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the power button 20c is pressed in step S204, and if it is determined that the power button 20c is pressed ( Yes), the regulator 12 is controlled in step S205 to turn off the power of the apparatus. In step S206, the sub CPU 14 instructs the motor driver 34 to close the lens cover 32 in the open state, and the process ends. If it is not determined in step S204 that the power button 20c has been pressed (No), the process returns to step S204. As described above, in the second embodiment, the lens cover 32 is closed in conjunction with an instruction to turn off the power of the apparatus by the user. The order of step S205 and step S206 may be reversed.

  Next, a process for closing the lens cover 32 in conjunction with the detection of the fall of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is an embodiment in which a configuration for preventing damage to the imaging lens is added to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The process of turning off the power supply of the apparatus in conjunction with the detection of the fall of the apparatus is also performed. Here, only the process for preventing the imaging lens from being damaged by closing the lens cover 32 will be described. I will do it.

  In FIG. 11, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus is in a fall state based on the detection output of the drop sensor 13 in step S301. The sub CPU 14 determines that the vehicle is in the fall state if the detection output of the drop sensor 13 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value that is substantially zero. If it is not determined that the camera is in the fall state (No), the process returns to step S301. If it is determined in step S301 that it is in the fall state (Yes), the sub CPU 14 causes the counter 16 to count the time from the drop state in step S302 and starts measuring the fall time. Subsequently, in step S303, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus has stopped falling within a predetermined distance, for example, less than a time corresponding to 20 cm, based on the count value of the counter 16. If it is determined in step S303 that the apparatus has stopped dropping in less than the time corresponding to 20 cm (Yes), the process ends. If it is not determined in step S303 that the apparatus has stopped dropping in less than the time corresponding to 20 cm (No), the process proceeds to step S304.

  In step S304, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the apparatus has dropped for a time corresponding to 20 cm based on the count value of the counter 16. If it is not determined in step S304 that the vehicle has dropped for 20 cm (No), the process returns to step S304. If it is determined that the camera has dropped for 20 cm (Yes), the flow proceeds to step S305. A function (lens cover automatic closing control function) that closes the lens cover 32 in conjunction with the fall of the apparatus can be enabled or disabled by selecting a menu or the like. In step S305, the sub CPU 14 determines whether or not the lens cover automatic closing control function is valid. If it is determined that it is valid (Yes), the sub CPU 14 instructs the motor driver 34 to close the lens cover 32 and ends. If it is not determined to be valid (No), the process ends.

1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the file recording management in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the fall detection process in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the data recorded on a non-volatile memory in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the power-off process in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process from power activation in 1st Embodiment to a steady process. It is a figure which shows the example of the message displayed on a display part in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment in detail in detail. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

3 Imaging unit 4 Hard disk drive (recording / playback unit)
5 Recording processing unit (file generation unit)
6 Reproduction Processing Unit 8 Display Unit 9 Character Superimposition Unit 11 Main CPU (Display Control Unit, File Recording Management Unit)
12 Regulator (Power supply)
13 Drop sensor 14 Sub CPU (timer unit, power supply control unit, writing unit, setting unit, control unit)
15 Nonvolatile memory 16 Counter (timer)
19 Battery (Power)
20 Operation part 20a Setting button 20b Cursor button 20c Power button 31 Imaging lens 32 Lens cover 33 Motor (drive part)
34 Motor driver (drive unit)

Claims (4)

In a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing information,
A hard disk drive for recording the information;
A display unit;
A power source for supplying power to the hard disk drive to bring the recording / reproducing apparatus into an operating state;
A power button for instructing to turn on and off the power;
A drop sensor for detecting the fall of the recording / reproducing device;
When a fall of the recording / reproducing device is detected based on a fall detection signal by the fall sensor,
The power supply for forcibly cutting off the power supplied to the hard disk drive and putting the recording / reproducing device into an inoperative state when the time measuring unit has timed the recording / reproducing device to have fallen for a predetermined time or more. A power control unit for controlling
Memory,
When the power supplied to the hard disk drive is forcibly cut by the power control unit, a writing unit that writes a flag indicating that the power is forcibly cut to the memory;
When the user presses the power button to turn on the power and the flag is written in the memory, the display shows information indicating that the power has been turned off because the recording / reproducing device has dropped. A display control unit for controlling to display on the unit,
A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: The timekeeping unit counts the total time from when the fall of the recording / reproducing device is detected until the fall stops,
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit writes data related to a fall distance calculated from the total fall time or the fall total time into the memory.   The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit writes, in the memory, the number of times the power is turned off when the recording / reproducing apparatus is dropped.   And a setting unit that selectively sets a first mode for enabling forcible disconnection of power supply to the hard disk drive by the power supply control unit and a second mode for disabling the power supply. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images