JPH07168600A - Digital voice recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record a voice without interrupting even when a cartridge in which a semiconductor memory as a voice memory section is stored is exchanged. CONSTITUTION:When a system control section 15 detects that residual quantity of recording capacity of a semiconductor memory 31 in a voice cartridge 30 becomes the prescribed capacity or less by information from a memory control section 14 and that the voice cartridge 30 is extracted from the device by a cartridge detecting device 20, the system control section 15 makes the memory control section 14 record a voice in an auxiliary memory 19 without interruption. After that, when loading of a new voice cartridge is detected by the cartridge detecting device 20, after voice data is transferred from the auxiliary memory 19 of the device to a semiconductor memory 31 of the new voice cartridge 30, voice data is continuously recorded in the semiconductor memory 31 of the new voice cartridge 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus for converting an analog voice signal into digital voice data and recording the voice data in a semiconductor memory stored in a removable cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus for converting an analog voice signal into digital voice data and recording the voice data in a semiconductor memory as a voice memory unit stored in a removable cartridge. Are known.

In such a voice recording / reproducing apparatus,
When the remaining capacity of the voice memory unit runs out during recording, the user of the device once stops recording, quickly removes the cartridge and inserts a new cartridge at the same time.
The method was to start recording again.

[0004]

However, apart from the case where the user records his / her self-confidence as a memo for himself / herself, normally, when the important information is spoken, such as a conference recording, etc. Since it could not be predicted, it was a big problem that the recorded content was lost even for a short time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus capable of recording voice without interruption even during replacement of a cartridge storing a semiconductor memory as a voice memory unit. The purpose is to

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an analog / digital converter for converting voice into digital data, and a semiconductor contained in a removable cartridge. Control means for reading and writing audio data digitized by the analog / digital converter to the memory, and digital / digital converter for converting the audio data read from the semiconductor memory in the cartridge by the control means into an analog signal. An analog converter, an auxiliary memory for temporarily storing digital audio data, cartridge detection means for detecting whether or not a cartridge is mounted, and a remaining capacity of the semiconductor memory in the mounted cartridge are predetermined. Is it below capacity The remaining capacity detecting means for detecting whether or not the semiconductor memory in the cartridge mounted by the remaining capacity detecting means is below the predetermined capacity during the voice recording operation. When the cartridge detecting means detects that the cartridge is pulled out, the audio data digitized by the analog / digital converter thereafter is recorded in the auxiliary memory, and then the cartridge is newly added by the cartridge detecting means. When the mounting is detected, the audio data in the auxiliary memory is transferred to the semiconductor memory in the newly mounted cartridge, and then the semiconductor memory in the cartridge is digitized by the analog / digital converter. Continue recording audio data It is characterized in Rukoto.

Further, as the auxiliary memory, when the cartridge is mounted, a memory for transferring and storing voice management data in the semiconductor memory stored in the cartridge may be used.

[0008]

According to the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, during the voice recording operation, that is, during the recording operation, the recording capacity of the semiconductor memory in the cartridge becomes the predetermined capacity or less,
Moreover, if the cartridge is removed from the main body, the voice is recorded in the auxiliary memory of the main body without interruption. After that, when a new cartridge is inserted, the audio data is transferred from the main body auxiliary memory to the semiconductor memory side of the cartridge, and then the audio data is continuously recorded in the semiconductor memory of the cartridge.

Further, in the digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, for example, when the semiconductor memory in the cartridge uses a non-volatile memory called a flash memory, a management data buffer required on the apparatus main body side is provided. Alternatively, it may be used as an auxiliary memory for temporarily accumulating input voice data during cartridge replacement.
In other words, when using the flash memory, data is erased in blocks, and rewriting of data cannot be processed at high speed.Therefore, transfer the management data that manages the audio data file of the cartridge and rewrite it when recording the data. It is necessary to provide a management buffer for performing the operation on the apparatus main body side. Since the main body side management data is not written back to the cartridge side when the cartridge is pulled out and becomes unnecessary, it can be used as an auxiliary memory for accumulating voice during cartridge exchange.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a voice input from a microphone 11 is amplified by a microphone amplifier 12 to be converted into analog / digital (hereinafter,
It is converted into a digital signal by a converter 13 (abbreviated as A / D). The memory control section 14 which constitutes a part of the control means outputs the digitized voice data in response to a command from the system control section 15 which also constitutes a part of the control means and also functions as the remaining capacity detecting means. ,
Digital / analog (hereinafter abbreviated as D / A) is written in the semiconductor memory 31 in the audio cartridge 30 which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus, and audio data is read from the semiconductor memory 31 in the audio cartridge 30.
Supply to the converter 16. Then, this voice data is returned to analog voice by the D / A converter 16,
It is amplified by the power amplifier 17 and output from the speaker 18.

The auxiliary memory 19 is a memory in which digitized voice data is written and read by the memory control unit 14. The cartridge detecting device 20 as a cartridge detecting means detects whether or not the audio cartridge 30 is attached to the main body of the device.

In the digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus having such a structure, the system control section 15 performs the control operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the recording mode is set by operating the recording (REC) button or the like (not shown) in the apparatus (step S11), the sound input from the microphone 11 is amplified by the microphone amplifier 12, Since it is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 13, the memory controller 14 is caused to write the digitized audio data in the semiconductor memory 31 in the audio cartridge 30 (step S12).

At this time, the system control unit 15 always determines whether the remaining capacity of the semiconductor memory 31 in the voice cartridge 30 is less than a predetermined amount, based on the information from the memory control unit 14 ( If the capacity becomes equal to or less than the predetermined capacity in step S13), the cartridge detecting device 20 further detects whether or not the audio cartridge 30 is pulled out from the main body of the device (step S14). Although not shown in the drawing, when the capacity becomes less than the predetermined capacity, the user is notified of the fact by, for example, a warning light or a warning sound to prompt the replacement of the audio cartridge 30.

When the voice cartridge 30 is removed, the memory control unit 14 is instructed to send the voice data sent from the memory control unit 14 to the cartridge 30 side to the auxiliary memory 19 side (step S15). As a result, the audio data after the audio cartridge 30 is removed is temporarily stored in the auxiliary memory 19.

From this state, the system controller 15 monitors whether a predetermined time has passed (step S16),
When the predetermined time has elapsed, the memory control unit 14 clears the stored contents of the auxiliary memory 19 (step S1).
7). The predetermined time period is determined according to the storage capacity of the auxiliary memory 19.

If the voice cartridge 30 is reattached within the predetermined time (step S18),
A command is issued to the memory control unit 14, the audio data temporarily stored in the auxiliary memory 19 is transferred to the newly installed audio cartridge 30 and written in the semiconductor memory 31 (step S19), and the A / D converter is used. The audio data input from the 13 side is continuously written in the semiconductor memory 31 of the audio cartridge 30 (step S2).
0).

By the way, as the semiconductor memory 31 in the voice cartridge 30, a non-volatile memory called a flash memory can be used. When such a flash memory is used, data is erased in blocks, and rewriting of data cannot be processed at high speed. Therefore, management data for managing the audio data file of the audio cartridge 30 is transferred to record the data. It is necessary to provide a management buffer on the apparatus main body side for rewriting due to the above. However, when the audio cartridge 30 is removed, the main body side management data is
Since it is written back to the side, the management buffer becomes unnecessary. Therefore, this management buffer can be used as the auxiliary memory for accumulating the voice during the cartridge exchange.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention when the management data buffer is used as the auxiliary memory as described above. In the figure, a management data buffer 21 controlled by the memory controller 14 and the system controller 15 is provided instead of the auxiliary memory 19 of the first embodiment.

In the apparatus having such a structure, the system control section 15 operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the system control unit 15 first confirms whether or not the voice cartridge 30 is locked (step S21), and if it is in the locked state, the voice cartridge 3
The management data stored in the semiconductor memory 31 in 0 is transferred to the management data buffer 21 on the apparatus main body side (step S22).

The reason why the lock of the voice cartridge 30 is confirmed is as follows. That is, the memory control unit 1
If the audio cartridge 30 is removed during the data communication between the audio cartridge 4 and the audio cartridge 30, defective data may be generated. To prevent this, the audio cartridge 30
It is usual that a lock button for locking the is provided separately. In order to confirm the lock, the cartridge detection device 20 is assumed to be configured to detect both the inserted state and the locked state of the audio cartridge 30.

The management data, together with attribute information such as the title of recorded voice, recording date and time, erasure prevention, etc.,
It includes address information indicating where in the semiconductor memory 31 the data is recorded. This management data must be rewritten at high speed in the editing operation such as partially erasing or inserting the recorded voice.

Then, this device does not show recording (REC).
When a recording state is entered by operating a button or the like (step S2
3), the memory controller 14 controls the A / D converter 13
The digitized voice data from the device is written in the semiconductor memory 31 in the voice cartridge 30 (step S
24), and at the same time, management data such as attribute information and memory addresses related to the written voice data,
It is written in the management data buffer 21.

At this time, the system controller 15 determines the audio cartridge 30 from the information in the management data buffer 21.
It is detected whether or not the remaining capacity of the semiconductor memory 31 therein is below a predetermined capacity (step S25). Is detected (step S26). Although not shown in the drawing, when the capacity becomes less than the predetermined capacity, the user is notified of the fact by, for example, a warning light or a warning sound to prompt the replacement of the audio cartridge 30.

If the lock button is turned off, the memory controller 14 is instructed to stop the audio data being written in the semiconductor memory 31 of the audio cartridge 30, and the data in the management data buffer 21 is transferred to the audio cartridge. Three
The data is transferred to the management data area 31A of the semiconductor memory 31 in 0 (step S27). Then, the audio data that is further input is the empty management data buffer 21.
To be stored in. That is, when the audio cartridge 30 is pulled out, the lock button is first released (the audio cartridge 30 is still connected in this state).
Necessary processing is performed until the voice cartridge 30 is actually taken out.

Thereafter, the system control unit 15 confirms whether or not the voice cartridge 30 is pulled out by the cartridge detection device 20 (step S2).
8) Then, it is monitored whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S29). Note that this predetermined time is determined based on the storage capacity of the management data buffer 21.

If the audio cartridge 30 is locked within the predetermined time (the audio cartridge 30 is reattached) (step S30), the memory control unit 14 is writing the management data buffer 21 of the apparatus main body. Is transferred to the audio data area 31B of the semiconductor memory 31 in the newly mounted audio cartridge 30 (step S31), and then stored in the management data area 31A of the semiconductor memory 31 in the audio cartridge 30. The management data is transferred to the management data buffer 21 of the apparatus body (step S32). Then, the input audio data is written into the audio data area 311B of the semiconductor memory 31 in the audio cartridge 30 following the audio data already transferred from the management data buffer 21 (step S33).

As described in detail above, according to the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment, the voice coming from the microphone is stored in the auxiliary memory while the voice cartridge is exchanged during recording. When the new voice cartridge is installed, the voice stored in the auxiliary memory is recorded in that voice cartridge, and the voices after that are recorded in succession to this new voice cartridge. However, the voice will not be interrupted, and it will be possible to prevent the failure to record important contents.

Further, when the flash memory is used as the semiconductor memory stored in the voice cartridge, the management data buffer required for the main body of the apparatus can be used as the auxiliary memory, so that the cost is hardly increased. The same effect can be achieved.

[0029]

According to the digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the voice can be recorded without interruption by utilizing the auxiliary memory even during the replacement of the cartridge. Further, by using the memory for transferring and storing the voice management data in the semiconductor memory as the auxiliary memory, the same effect can be obtained without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are block configuration diagrams of a first and a second embodiments of a digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a system control unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a system control unit in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Microphone, 12 ... Microphone amplifier, 13 ... Analog /
Digital (A / D) converter, 14 ... Memory control section, 15 ... System control section, 16 ... Digital / analog (D / A) converter, 17 ... Power amplifier, 18 ...
Speaker, 19 ... Auxiliary memory, 20 ... Cartridge detection device, 21 ... Management data buffer, 30 ... Voice cartridge, 31 ... Semiconductor memory, 31A ... Management data area,
31B ... Voice data area.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An analog / digital converter for converting audio into digital data, and a control for reading and writing audio data digitized by the analog / digital converter with respect to a semiconductor memory stored in a removable cartridge. In a digital voice recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: means and a digital / analog converter for converting the voice data read from the semiconductor memory in the cartridge by the control means into an analog signal, the digital voice data is temporarily transferred. Auxiliary memory for storing, cartridge detection means for detecting whether or not a cartridge is mounted, and remaining capacity detection for detecting whether or not the remaining capacity of the semiconductor memory in the mounted cartridge is below a predetermined capacity Means and The control means detects that the semiconductor memory in the mounted cartridge is below the predetermined capacity by the remaining capacity detecting means and the cartridge is removed by the cartridge detecting means during the voice recording operation. When it is detected that the audio data digitized by the subsequent analog / digital converter is recorded in the auxiliary memory, and then when the cartridge detecting means detects that a cartridge is newly mounted. After the audio data of the auxiliary memory is transferred to the semiconductor memory in the newly mounted cartridge, recording of the audio data digitized by the analog / digital converter in the semiconductor memory in the cartridge is continued. Digital voice characterized by Recording and reproducing apparatus. 2. The auxiliary memory is a memory for transferring and storing voice management data in a semiconductor memory stored in the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted. 1. A digital audio recording / reproducing apparatus according to 1.