JPH08263891A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the mistake in a timer recording from occurring by providing a system controller 2, etc., and confirming the recordable time of a recording medium at the time of setting a timer or at the point of a time when a timer recording is completed for performing prescribed processing. CONSTITUTION: The system controller 2 is provided with respective functions of a timer operation control means, a timer setting means, etc., and controls next processings. At first, after time information for setting a timer are inputted, the controller 2 calculates recordable times of loaded recording mediums MD90, CD91. Simultaneously, the controller 2 discriminates whether the calculated recordable time is deficient or not compared with the time required for a recording operation to be executed based on the inputted time information to display a warning in a display part 4 according to the discriminated result. Moreover, at the point of a time when one time recording operation is completed, also when a next timer setting to be executed thereafter is present, the controller 2 similarily discriminates whether the recordable time is deficient or not and executes a prescribed warning operation according to the discriminated result.

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 recording apparatus capable of executing an automatic recording operation by setting a timer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called timer reservation recording function has been widely adopted in various audio equipment, and is effectively used for air check recording when going out, for example, in a cassette tape recorder integrated with a radio. Taking a cassette tape recorder with an integrated radio as an example, the user sets the cassette tape when making timer reservations, and then inputs the recording source (type such as Chena / line input), recording start time, and recording end time. To do. Then, the timer reservation standby state is set.
As a result, the microcomputer inside the device performs the required recording operation at the start time and ends the recording at the end time.

[0003]

By the way, when considering such timer-reserved recording, good recording cannot be made unless the user pays attention to the remaining recordable time of the recording medium (eg, cassette tape or magneto-optical disk). It will not be possible. For example, the start time of making a reservation is 17
If the remaining recordable time of the cassette tape is about 40 minutes when the time is 30 minutes and the end time is 18:30, the last 20 minutes cannot be recorded in the reserved recording.

When setting timer reservation, it is necessary to check the recordable time of the recording medium so as to prevent such a recording error. However, in reality, the confirmation of the recordable time is troublesome, and even when the confirmation is made. In the case of analog cassette tapes, etc., the exact remaining time is unknown, so timer recording errors often occurred. Furthermore, when using the recently known mini disk system as a recording device, it is possible to know the recordable time accurately, but it is not possible for the user to check the recordable time when setting the timer as the actual usage situation. It became troublesome, and this also caused a timer recording error due to lack of remaining time on the disc.

[0005]

In view of these problems, the present invention determines the recordable time of a recording medium when the timer is set or when the timer standby state is resumed when the timer recording is finished. The purpose is to make it possible to prevent a timer recording error by confirming and performing a predetermined process.

Therefore, in the recording device, the recordable time of the loaded recording medium is calculated at a predetermined time after the time information for setting the timer is input, and the calculated recordable time is calculated. A timer setting control means for determining whether or not the time required for the recording operation to be executed based on the input time information is insufficient and executing a predetermined operation according to the result of the determination. To The predetermined operation is, for example, a warning presenting operation.

Further, as a recording device, when the timer recording operation is completed, it is confirmed whether or not there is a next timer setting to be executed thereafter, and if the timer setting is present, the recordable time of the recording medium loaded. To determine whether the recordable time is insufficient for the time required for the recording operation by the timer setting,
A timer operation end time control means for executing a predetermined operation according to the determination result is provided. The predetermined operation is, for example, a recording medium ejection operation or a warning operation.

[0008]

In the timer setting operation in which the recording start time and the recording end time are input, the time required for the timer reserved recording operation is known. Therefore, if the recordable time of the loaded recording medium is calculated and compared, It is possible to determine whether the reservation recording can be normally executed. Similarly, when one timer recording operation is completed and the standby for the next timer reserved recording is directly entered, the timer reserved recording is normally performed based on the recordable time of the recording medium and the time required for the timer recording operation at that time. Whether or not it can be executed can be determined.

[0009]

Embodiments of the recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a mini disk unit capable of recording / reproducing operation using a magneto-optical disc as a recording medium, a CD unit capable of reproducing operation using a compact disc (CD) as a recording medium, and a radio tuner unit are integrated. A device (which will be referred to as a CD-MD radio for the sake of description) will be taken as an example. In this case, the timer recording function is mainly used in the operation of performing the air check recording on the mini disc. The description will be given in the following order. 1. Structure of CD-MD radio 2. Minidisk cluster format 3. Mini disc U-TOC 4. Recording operation of mini disk 5. Operation when setting timer 6. Operation during timer recording standby operation 7. Operation during timer recording standby 8. Processing at the end of timer recording

[0010] 1. Configuration of CD-MD Radio FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of the CD-MD radio 1.
The system controller 2 is formed by a microcomputer and controls the operation of each section by a control signal C _NT based on operation information from the operation section 5 and an internal program. ROM, RAM, C inside the microcomputer
It is composed of a PU and an interface unit. The RAM 3 shown in particular is a memory for storing data relating to timer setting, which will be described later, and this may be configured as an internal RAM of the system controller 2, but at least the contents stored in the main power-off state (sleep state) are also stored. Should not disappear. For example, a nonvolatile RAM may be used, or an S-RAM or D-RAM may be used as a power source backup configuration.

The display unit 4 is composed of a fluorescent display tube, a liquid crystal display, etc., and operates in the operating mode of the CD-D radio 1 such as play / stop, track numbers and playing times in CD and MD, and in radio tuner. The reception frequency etc. are displayed. This display operation is controlled by the system controller 2.

As the operation unit 5, operations such as function switching of CD, MD and Chena, recording, reproduction, stop, etc.,
Various operation keys and the like are provided so that various necessary operations such as radio tuning, volume adjustment, timer setting, and timer recording standby can be performed. The clock unit 6 counts the current date and time by using a built-in small battery as a power source. By referring to the clock unit 6, the system controller 2 confirms the current time, and it becomes possible to control execution of a timer recording operation described later.

AM / FM antenna 1 as a tuner unit
9. An AM / FM tuner 7 is provided. The radio wave received by the AM / FM antenna 19 is frequency-selected and demodulated by the AM / FM tuner 7, and is selected as a reception voice signal /
It is supplied to the mixing circuit 11. Further, the input audio signal from the line input terminal 8 is selected / mixed by the resistor unit R.
Is supplied to. Further, the input audio signal from the microphone input terminal 9 is selected / selected via the microphone amplifier / AGC circuit 10.
It is supplied to the mixing circuit 11.

The selection / mixing circuit 11 selects or mixes the audio signals from the AM / FM tuner 7, the line input terminal 8 and the microphone input terminal 9 and outputs the selected audio signal. For example, in the tuner mode, the audio signal from the AM / FM tuner 7 is selected and output. When audio signals are supplied from both the line input terminal 8 and the microphone input terminal 9, one of them can be selected and output, or they can be mixed and output.

The output of the selection / mixing circuit 11 is supplied to the T _TU terminal of the output switch 14 via the AGC / level adjusting circuit 12. The output of the output switch 14 is the volume control circuit 1
5, it is supplied to the speaker 17 or the headphone output terminal 18 via the amplifier circuit 16, and the sound is output.
In the tuner mode, the T _TU terminal is selected for the output switch 14, so that the audio signal received / demodulated by the AM / FM tuner 7 is output to the speaker 17 or the headphone output terminal 18.
Is output from.

The CD 90 is loaded in the CD section. This CD
90 is the spindle motor 2 during the reproduction operation of the CD section
1 drives to rotate at a constant linear velocity (CLV). Then, the data recorded in the pit form on the CD 90 is read by the optical head 22 and supplied to the RF amplifier 23. The output of the RF amplifier 23 is supplied to the servo signal processor 24. Servo signal processor 2
Reference numeral 4 generates various servo signals for focus, tracking, sled, and spindle to execute servo operation. The reproduced RF signal is also supplied to the decoder 25. The decoder 25 performs EFM demodulation, CIRC decoding, etc. to perform C
16-bit quantization of information read from D90, 44.1
Decode to digital audio data format of KHz sampling.

The digital audio data output from the decoder 25 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 26,
It is supplied to the T _CD terminal of the output switch 14. In the CD mode, since the output switch 14 selects the T _CD terminal, the reproduced audio signal from the CD 90 receives the volume control circuit 15,
It is supplied to the speaker 17 or the headphone output terminal 18 via the amplifier circuit 16 and is output as sound.

A mini disk (MD) 91 is loaded in the MD section. The MD 91 is rotationally driven at a constant linear velocity (CLV) by the spindle motor 31 during the recording operation or the reproducing operation of the MD section. During reproduction, the optical head 32 reads data recorded as pit or magnetic field information from the MD 91 and supplies it to the RF amplifier 33. The output of the RF amplifier 33 is supplied to the servo signal processor 34. Then, the servo signal processor 34 generates various servo signals for focus, tracking, sled, and spindle to execute servo operation.

The encoder / decoder 35 performs EFM demodulation and ACIRC decoding during MD reproduction. The data decoded by the encoder / decoder 35 is temporarily stored in the buffer RAM 37 via the memory controller 36. Then, it is read out at a predetermined timing, and the audio compression encoder / decoder 38 performs audio compression processing (modified DCT).
Processing) to obtain digital audio data with 16-bit quantization and 44.1 KHz sampling.

The digital audio data output from the audio compression encoder / decoder 38 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 39 and supplied to the T _MD terminal of the output switch 14. In the MD mode, the output switch 14 is T _MD
Since the terminal is selected, the reproduced audio signal from the MD 91 is sent to the speaker 17 via the volume adjusting circuit 15 and the amplifying circuit 16.
Alternatively, it is supplied to the headphone output terminal 18 and output as sound.

For the MD 91, an AM / FM tuner 7, a line input terminal 8, a microphone input terminal 9 and a CD
Recording can be performed using 90 as a signal source. A
The audio signal from the M / FM tuner 7, the line input terminal 8 or the microphone input terminal 9 is mixed / selected by the mixing / selecting circuit 11, AGC.
/ It is supplied to the A / D converter 13 via the level adjusting circuit 12 and is converted into digital audio data of 16-bit quantization and 44.1 KHz sampling. The digital audio data is then supplied to the audio compression encoder / decoder 38. Further, the digital audio data reproduced from the CD 90 can be supplied to the audio compression encoder / decoder 38.

The audio compression encoder / decoder 38 performs modified DCT processing on the supplied digital audio data to compress the data amount to about 1/5. Then, the compressed data is once written in the buffer RAM 37 by the memory controller 36, read at a predetermined timing, and supplied to the encoder / decoder 35. In the encoder / decoder 35, AC is applied to the supplied data.
IRC encoding and EFM modulation are performed to generate recording data, which is supplied to the magnetic head unit 40. At the time of recording, the optical head 32 continuously irradiates the disc surface of the MD 91 with laser light with high power to raise the irradiated portion to the Curie temperature. At this time, when the magnetic head portions 40 arranged at the opposite positions apply a magnetic field of N or S, the N / S information is recorded on the disc. Therefore, when the magnetic head unit 40 applies an N or S magnetic field according to the recording data, the audio data is recorded in the MD 91.

In the CD-MD radio 1 configured in this way, CD reproduction, radio reception, MD reproduction, line / line
It is understood that operations such as MD recording of microphone input, dubbing recording from CD to MD, and air check recording of radio voice to MD can be performed.

2. Cluster Format of Mini Disc Here, the format of a cluster which is a unit of recording operation in the mini disc system will be described. The cluster format is shown in FIG. As recording tracks in the mini disk system, clusters CL are continuously formed as shown in FIG. 10, and one cluster is the minimum unit for recording. One cluster corresponds to 2 to 3 rounds of tracks. Further, one cluster CL is formed of a sub-data area of 4 sectors (1 sector = 2352 bytes) and a main data area of 32 sectors. The 4-sector sub-data area is used as sub-data or a linking area, and the TOC data, audio data, etc. are recorded in the 32-sector main data area. The address is recorded for each sector.

The sectors are further subdivided into sound groups, and two sectors are divided into 11 sound groups. Then, in the 424-byte sound group, the data is divided into the L channel and the R channel and recorded. 11.6 per sound group
The amount of audio data is equivalent to 1 msec, and one cluster has a reproduction time of about 2 seconds. Note that L
212 that becomes the data area of the channel or R channel
Bite is called a sound frame.

3. U-TOC of Mini Disc Next, the U-TOC (user TOC) in the mini disc system will be described. When the recording / reproducing operation is performed on the MD 91, the management information recorded on the MD 91, that is, P-TOC (pre-mastered TOC),
It is necessary to read the U-TOC (user TOC).
The system controller 2 receives the M information according to the management information.
The address of the area to be recorded on D91 and the address of the area to be reproduced are determined. This management information is held in the buffer RAM 37. For this reason, in the buffer RAM 37, an area as a buffer area for recording data / reproduction data and an area for holding management information are separately set. Then, the system controller 11 reads out these management information by executing a reproducing operation on the innermost circumference side of the disc on which the management information is recorded when the MD 91 is loaded, and stores it in the buffer RAM 37. After that, the MD 91 can be referred to during the recording / reproducing operation.

The U-TOC is edited and rewritten according to the recording and erasing of data, but the system controller 11 stores this editing process in the buffer RAM 13 every time a recording / erasing operation is performed. The TOC information is written and the U-TOC area of the disc 1 is rewritten at a predetermined timing according to the rewriting operation.

Here, the management information for managing the recording / reproducing operation of the track in the MD 91 is U-.
It is the TOC sector. The TOC information is UT
In addition to OC, P-TOC information is provided. This P-TOC is formed in the innermost pit area of the disc 1 and is read-only information. And P-
Recordable area of the disc (recordable user area), lead-out area, U-TO
The position of the C area and the like are managed. In the mini-disc system, a read-only optical disc (pre-mastered disc) in which all data is recorded in the form of pits can also be used, but in the case of a pre-mastered disc, it is recorded in ROM by P-TOC. The music that is being played can also be managed by the U-
No TOC is formed. Detailed description of the P-TOC is omitted, and here, the U-TOC provided in the recordable magneto-optical disk will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the format of the U-TOC sector 0. As the U-TOC sector, sectors 0 to 7 can be provided, but sector 1 and sector 4 are areas for recording character information, and sector 2 is an area for recording the recording date and time. Here, only the U-TOC sector 0 that is absolutely necessary for the recording / reproducing operation of the disc 1 will be described. U-TO
The C sector 0 is mainly a data area in which management information about a song recorded by the user and a free area where a new song can be recorded is recorded.

For example, when an attempt is made to record a certain piece of music on the disc 1, the system controller 2 sets the UT
A free area on the disc is searched from OC sector 0, and the audio data is recorded there. Further, at the time of reproduction, the area in which the music to be reproduced is recorded is discriminated from the U-TOC sector 0, and that area is accessed for reproduction operation.

The data area of U-TOC sector 0 (4 bytes x 588, 2352 bytes) has all 0s at the head position.
Alternatively, a synchronization pattern formed by arranging 1-byte data of all 1s is recorded. Then the cluster address (Clust
er H) (Cluster L) and sector address (Sector), and mode information (MODE) are added in 4 bytes,
This is the header. Sector means 2 as mentioned above.
It is a data unit of 352 bytes, and 36 sectors form one cluster. The address is not limited to this U-TOC sector 0, but is also recorded in the P-TOC sector, or in the sector in which audio data is actually recorded, in that sector unit. The cluster address is the upper address (C
It is described by 2 bytes of luster H) and lower address (Cluster L), and the sector address (Sector) is described by 1 byte.

Next, at a predetermined byte position, the manufacturer code, model code, and the track number (F
irst TNO), the track number of the last track (Last TNO
NO), sector usage status (Used sectors), disk serial number, disk ID, and other data are recorded.

Furthermore, in order to identify the areas (free areas, etc.) of the recorded tracks (songs, etc.) by recording by the user by making them correspond to the management table section, which will be described later, various tables are used as the correspondence table instruction data section. Pointer (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TN
Area for recording (O255) is prepared.

Then, the table pointer (P-DFA to P-TNO25
As the management table section that will correspond to (5) (01h)
Up to 255 (FFh) parts tables are provided. In each parts table, the start address, the end address, and the mode information (track mode) of a certain part are recorded. ing. In addition, since the parts shown in each parts table may be connected to other parts in succession, link information indicating the parts table in which the start address and end address of the connected parts are recorded can be recorded. Has been done. In this specification, the numerical value with "h" is so-called hexadecimal notation. Further, the part means a track portion in which temporally continuous data is physically continuously recorded in one track.

In this type of recording / reproducing apparatus, the reproduction operation is disturbed by physically discontinuously reproducing the data of one music piece, that is, even if the data is recorded over a plurality of parts, the parts are accessed while being reproduced. Therefore, the music recorded by the user may be recorded in multiple parts for the purpose of efficiently using the recordable area.

Therefore, link information is provided so that the parts tables can be linked by designating the parts tables to be linked by the numbers (01h) to (FFh) given to the respective parts tables.
That is, in the management table section in the U-TOC sector 0, one part table represents one part. For example, for a music piece formed by connecting three parts, three parts connected by link information are used. The position of the part is managed by the table. In addition, actually, the link information is represented by a numerical value which is a byte position in the U-TOC sector 0 by a predetermined arithmetic processing. That is, the parts table is designated as 304+ (link information) × 8 (byte).

Each of the parts tables (01h) to (FFh) in the management table section of the U-TOC sector 0 has a table pointer (P-DF) in the corresponding table instruction data section.
A, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TNO255)
The contents of the part are shown as follows.

The table pointer P-DFA is shown attached to a defective area on the magneto-optical disk 1, and is a single part table or a plurality of parts tables in which a track portion (= part) which is a defective area due to a scratch or the like is shown. The top parts table in is specified. In other words, if there is a defective part, (01h) ~
Either (FFh) is recorded, and the defective parts are indicated by the start and end addresses in the corresponding parts table. If another defective part exists, another part table is designated as the link information in the part table, and the defective part is also shown in the part table. If there is no other defective part, the link information is, for example, "(0
0h) ”and no link after that.

The table pointer P-EMPTY indicates the head part table of one or a plurality of unused part tables in the management table section. If there is an unused part table, the table pointer P-EMPTY is used as the table pointer P-EMPTY. , (01h) to (FFh) is recorded.
If there are multiple unused part tables, the part tables specified by the table pointer P-EMPTY are used to sequentially specify the part tables by link information, and all the unused part tables are linked on the management table section. To be done.

The table pointer P-FRA indicates the writable free area (including the erased area) on the magneto-optical disk 1, and 1 or the track portion (= part) which is the free area is indicated. The first part table in multiple part tables is specified. That is,
Table pointer P-FRA when free area exists
In (01h) ~ (FFh) is recorded,
In the corresponding parts table, parts that are free areas are indicated by start and end addresses. Also, if there are multiple such parts, that is, if there are multiple parts tables, the link information
Part tables with link information of "(00h)" are specified in sequence.

FIG. 12 schematically shows the management state of the parts which are the free area by using the parts table. This is when the parts (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h) are set as the free area, this state corresponds to the corresponding table instruction data P-FRA.
Continuing on, the parts table (03h) (18h) (1Fh) (2Bh) (E3h)
Shows the state represented by the link. Note that the management form of the above-mentioned defective area and unused parts table is similar to this.

By the way, in the case of a magneto-optical disk in which no audio data such as music is recorded and there is no defect,
Parts table (01h) by table pointer P-FRA
Is specified, which indicates that the entire recordable user area of the disc is a free area. In this case, the remaining part tables (02h) to (FFh) are not used, so the part table (02h) is specified by the above table pointer P-EMPTY, and the part table (02h) The parts table (03h) is specified as the link information, and so on, and the parts table (FFh) is linked. In this case, the link information of the parts table (FFh) is set to "(00h)" indicating that there is no connection thereafter. At this time, the parts table (0
For 1h), the start address of the recordable user area is recorded as the start address, and the address immediately before the lead-out start address is recorded as the end address.

Table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 indicate tracks such as songs recorded by the user on the magneto-optical disk 1, and for example, table pointers.
The P-TNO1 specifies a parts table that indicates a part that is the first in time among one or a plurality of parts in which the data of the first track is recorded. For example, if the track designated as the first track is not divided on the disc,
In other words, if recorded in one part, the first
The recording area of the track is recorded as the start and end addresses in the parts table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1.

Further, for example, when a music piece designated as the second track is discretely recorded in a plurality of parts on the disc, each part is designated in a temporal order to indicate the recording position of the second track. To be done. In other words, from the parts table specified by the table pointer P-TNO2, further parts tables are sequentially specified by the link information according to the temporal order, and the parts table whose link information is "(00h)" is linked. (The above-mentioned form similar to FIG. 12). In this way, for example, all the parts in which the data constituting the second song is recorded are sequentially designated and recorded, so that the data of the U-TOC sector 0 is used to reproduce the second song or the second song. When overwriting the area (1), the optical head 3 and the magnetic head 6 can be accessed to take out continuous music information from discrete parts, and recording can be performed efficiently using the recording area.

4. Recording Operation of Mini Disc Next, two recording modes will be described with respect to the recording mode in the mini disc system. The mini disk system has a free area recording mode and an overwrite recording mode as recording modes. This allows the user to arbitrarily select either one.

In the free area recording mode, the recording device (CD-MD radio 1) searches for an unrecorded portion (free area) on the MD 91 from the U-TOC and records at that position. For example, when three music pieces M _{1 to} M ₃ are recorded on the disc as shown in FIG. 13A, it is considered to newly record the music piece M ₄ . Then
The recording device automatically searches for a free area, and the recording area shown in FIG.
Record the music M ₄ in the free area as shown in. Of course, the songs M _{1 to} M ₃ recorded up to that point are not erased.

On the other hand, in the overwrite recording mode, recording is performed from the head position when recording is started. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, M _{1 to} M _{3 are} recorded on the disc.
Consider recording a new piece of music M ₄ when the above three pieces of music have been recorded. In this case, the user if you want to record the music M ₄ while erasing the music M _3, allowed to access the head position of the music M ₃ as shown previously head. If you start recording the song M _{4 in} this state,
As shown in FIG. 14B, the music M ₄ is overwritten and recorded at the position where the music M ₃ was previously recorded. That is, in this case, the original music M ₃ is erased. In this case, the recorded music M ₄ is a new music M
₃ (3rd track) will be managed by U-TOC.

By being able to select these two recording modes, the user can effectively use the mini disk system in accordance with his or her usage. In the MD-CD radio 1, when recording the voice of the line input or the microphone input in the MD mode, the user can execute either of the two recording modes. That is, in the free area recording mode, the input voice is automatically recorded in the free area on the disc. Further, in the overwrite recording mode, if the user presets an arbitrary position on the disc with the search operation key and performs recording, the overwrite recording is performed from that position. In the timer recording operation described below, recording is performed in the free area recording method.

5. Operation when Timer is Set Hereinafter, the operation related to timer recording performed in the CD-MD radio 1 having the above configuration will be described. The user can set, for example, timer reserved recording in the MD 91 for a broadcast audio signal received by the AM / FM tuner 7 and an audio signal input from the line input terminal 8. Regarding the input from the line input terminal 8, a timer reservation must be made in the external device connected as a matter of course. In the following description, the timer reservation recording operation for recording the broadcast audio signal received by the AM / FM tuner 7 in the MD 91 will be taken as an example.

For timer recording, the user must first perform a timer setting operation to register the recording source and time. FIG. 2 shows a processing example of the system controller 2 at the time of this timer setting operation. When the operation in the timer setting mode is performed, the system controller 2, for example, causes the display unit 4 to perform a display for selecting a source for timer recording and waits for a source selection input (F10).
1). In this case, the selectable sources are radio / external line input / CD. For example, when the user performs an operation of selecting radio as a source, the system controller 2 then waits for input of time information, that is, start time and end time (F102 → F103).

When the user inputs the start time and end time as the timer recording time, the system controller 2 then waits for a set completion operation (so-called enter operation) (F104 → F105). When the user confirms that the timer setting contents are correct and performs the setting completion operation, the setting operation ends. When the setting completion operation is performed, the system controller 2 stores the source, the start time, and the end time as one set in the RAM 3 as one of the inputted timer reservation data, and ends the operation. Above,
This means that one timer reservation recording content is set and registered in the CD-MD radio 1.

6. Operation During Timer Recording Standby Operation Next, the operation during timer recording standby operation will be described. When the user performs the timer recording standby operation after the timer setting is made as described above, the actual timer recording standby state is set. For example, as a user's operation, after performing the timer setting operation, and immediately after that, when the use of the CD-MD radio 1 is finished, or when the timer recording standby operation is performed at a desired time such as before going out, The main power is turned off as the timer recording standby state. Of course, the MD 91, which is a recording medium, must be loaded before performing this operation.

When the user performs the timer recording standby operation, the system controller 2 proceeds from step F201 to step F202 in the processing of FIG. First, the system controller 2 checks how many minutes can be recorded in the currently loaded MD 91. That is, the recordable time is calculated (F202).

Since timer recording is performed by the free area recording method, in order to calculate the recordable time, it is sufficient to determine the size of the free area of the loaded MD 91 and convert it into time. The system controller 2 first reads the UT read from the MD 91.
In OC, one or a plurality of parts tables managed starting from the table pointer P-FRA is searched.

If there is only one part table linked from the table pointer P-FRA, the value obtained by subtracting the start address from the end address in the part table is the size of the existing free area. When a plurality of parts tables are linked as in the example of FIG. 12, the value obtained by adding all the values obtained by subtracting the start address from the end address in each parts table becomes the size of the existing free area. That is, it is possible to confirm how many clusters and sectors the free area exists. Since the recording operation is performed in units of clusters, in the calculation of the recordable time, surplus sectors less than 36 sectors (1 cluster) may be discarded.

When the size (number of clusters) of the free area can be confirmed, the system controller 2 converts it into time. Here, as described in FIG. 10, 1 sound group (1 sector = 11 sound groups)
The playing time is 11.61msec, which is 512 / (44.1 × 1000). This is because the minidisk system handles 512 samples of data at a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz as one sound group.

Considering the playing time of one sector,
Since one sector corresponds to 5.5 sound groups, {512 / (44.1 × 1000)} × 5.5. Since data is recorded in 32 sectors in one cluster of 36 sectors, the recording time of one cluster is {512 / (44.1 × 1000)} × 5.5 × 32.

Therefore, when the number of clusters is X, the recordable time is calculated by (X × 32) × 512 / (44.1 × 1000). In other words, if it is determined how many clusters the size of the free area is, the number of clusters X is substituted into this equation to obtain the recordable time of the MD 91.

When the recordable time of MD91 is calculated,
Next, the system controller 2
Check whether it is enough for timer recording operation
(F203). The time required for the timer recording operation is the time obtained by subtracting the start time from the end time input in the timer setting operation. For example, if the time required for timer recording is 30 minutes and the recordable time of MD 91 is 30 minutes or more, there is no problem and the process directly proceeds to step F204 to enter the timer recording standby state. At this time, the main power of the CD-MD radio 1 is turned off and the system controller 2,
A so-called sleep state is performed in which only the clock unit 6 and the like perform necessary operations.

On the other hand, when the recordable time is shorter than the time required for timer recording, the process proceeds to step F205, the display unit 4 displays that the recordable time is insufficient, and warns the user. . Then, in that state, for the time being, turn off the main power and enter the timer recording standby state.
(F206). It is preferable that the warning display is continuously displayed even in the sleep state. Further, not only the fact that the recordable time is insufficient is displayed, but also the number of minutes that is insufficient may be displayed. Further, not only the display but also an electronic sound or the like indicating a warning may be generated.

By giving a warning on the display or the like, the user can know that the MD 91 currently loaded is short in recordable time for timer recording. For this reason, the user can take measures such as canceling the recording standby and replacing it with another MD 91 having a sufficient recordable time, and the recording error can be prevented.

Further, since the timer recording standby state is entered for the time being, if the user decides that the second half of the broadcast does not have to be recorded, the timer recording is executed for the time that is possible. In some cases, it is convenient. It should be noted that displaying the insufficient time is a useful guide for the user in determining whether to leave the timer recording standby state as it is or to replace the MD 91.

By the way, as a processing example at the time of the timer recording standby operation, various modified examples are conceivable other than this FIG. 3 (processing example 1). These are shown as processing example 2 and processing example 3 in FIGS. I will show you.

As the processing example 2 of FIG. 4, steps F201-
Up to F204, it is the same as the processing example 1 of FIG. However, when the recordable time is shorter than the timer recording time, that is, when a negative result is obtained in step F203, the recordable time is insufficient in the display unit 4 in step F205 as in the processing example 1. Is displayed and the user is warned, and then the operation of ejecting the MD 91 currently loaded is executed (F207). At this time, the timer recording standby state is not entered.

That is, in this case, the fact that the recordable time is insufficient is more positively expressed by the ejecting operation to prompt the user to replace the MD 91. According to this processing example, timer recording is disabled unless the MD 91 having a sufficient recordable time is loaded. It should be noted that the warning display (step F205) does not necessarily have to be executed because the user's warning can be sufficiently expressed by the ejection operation of the MD 91. However, the warning display allows the user to recognize that the ejection of the MD 91 is not an erroneous operation, which is a kind operation.

Also in the processing example 3 of FIG. 5, step F201
Up to F204 are the same as the processing example 1 of FIG. in this case,
The recordable time is insufficient for the timer recording time,
When a negative result is obtained in step F203, the system controller 2 first determines whether or not the recordable time is zero. That is, it is confirmed whether there is no free area (F208). If there is no free area and recording is not possible at all, it is useless to set the timer recording standby state as it is. Therefore, the operation of ejecting MD91 is performed to prompt the user to replace MD91 (F20
9).

On the other hand, if there is a free area but the recordable time is not sufficient, steps F208 to F210
Then, as in the case of the processing example 1 in FIG. 3, after the warning is displayed, the timer recording standby state is set for the time being (F211). In other words, the timer recording will be executed for as long as possible, and the user can leave it as it is if he / she decides that is enough. If he / she wants to perform timer recording properly, replace MD91 and restart. The timer recording standby operation may be performed.

In addition to these, various processing examples can be considered. For example, a process of canceling the timer setting itself with or without ejecting the MD 91 may be considered. Any of these processes may be selected as a design item in consideration of an actual usage pattern of the device and an operation suitable for the user.

7. Operation at the time of timer recording standby Although the main power supply of the CD-MD radio 1 is turned off at the time of the timer recording standby state as described above,
At this time, the system controller 2 executes the processing of FIG. 6 for the actual timer recording operation.

[0070] First, as step F301, always check the current time T _N from the clock unit 6, with respect to the start time T _S of the timer recording the current time T _N has been registered in the RAM3 (T _S
-Tα) is being monitored. Tα is, for example, a time of about several tens of seconds, and (T _S −Tα) is a time of several tens of seconds before the start time T _S.

At a time several tens of seconds before the start time T _S , the system controller 2 turns on the main power source of the CD-MD radio 1 (F302). Then, the operation of the AM / FM tuner 7 is started (F303). In addition, here AM
Needless to say, the operation of the / FM tuner 7 is started only when the source is set to the radio in the timer recording setting. If another source is set, for example, line input selection or CD90 playback,
The operation according to the set source will be executed.

Next, the MD section is started up, and MD91
Set to the recording pause state for (F304). That is, the spindle motor 31 is driven to rotate, CLV servo lock is performed, and servos such as focus / tracking are turned on. Then, when the servo system is locked and the recording / reproducing state becomes possible, the P-TOC and U-TOC are read (unnecessary if already read at this point), and the optical head 32 and the magnetic head 40 are placed at the head position of the free area. Make a recording pause while accessing.

[0073] and waits for the current time T _N in the recording pause state becomes the start time T _S (F305), When the current time T _N is a start time T _S, the voice that has been received by the AM / FM tuner 7 Start air check recording to MD91 for the signal (F306). During this timer recording operation,
It is monitored whether the current time T _N reaches the end time T _E (F307), and when the end time T _E is reached, the recording operation is stopped (F308). Then, the U-TOC update process associated with the recording operation is performed (F309). When the U-TOC update process is completed, one timer recording operation is completed, and normally power off is possible. Here, in this embodiment, the timer recording end process shown as step F310 (hereinafter, End process) is executed. This termination process will be described next.

8. Processing at the time of ending timer recording As processing at the time of ending, as shown in FIG. 7, the system controller 2 first confirms at the time when one timer recording ends, whether or not the timer recording setting to be executed after that time is set. Yes (F401).

When the device described in FIG. 2 is capable of executing a plurality of timer settings, even if one timer recording is completed,
There may be other settings for timer recording. Also, one timer setting is not canceled at the end of one timer recording operation, such as daily reservation or weekly reservation. For example, timer recording is automatically performed every day at the timer set time. In some cases, it will be done. Considering these cases, in step F401, it is confirmed whether or not a valid timer setting still exists. If it does not exist, turn off the main power supply as it is, and end (F
402).

On the other hand, when the valid timer setting exists, the recordable time of the MD 91 at that time is calculated in step F403. Then, the time required for the timer setting to be performed next, that is, the time obtained by subtracting the start time from the end time is compared with the recordable time of the MD 91, and it is confirmed whether the recordable time is sufficient. F
404). If there is sufficient recordable time left, the timer recording standby state is again entered and the main power supply is turned off (F405). Therefore, after that, the processing of FIG. 6 is performed, and the timer recording operation is executed from the next timer recording start time.

However, if the recordable time is shorter than the time required for the next timer recording, step F406
Then, the display unit 4 displays that the recordable time is insufficient, the main power is turned off, and the timer recording standby state is entered. At this point (that is, when a certain timer recording ends), the user may not normally be there, so it is meaningless to simply display the warning for a few seconds. Therefore, it is necessary to always display the warning while the timer recording standby state is entered.

After that, if the timer recording start time is reached, timer recording will be executed for as long as possible, and the user confirms the warning display before the timer recording start time and replaces the MD91. In such a case, the reserved recording will be properly performed without the end of the latter half of the broadcast. In addition, in order to warn more surely,
Processing such as continuously generating a predetermined warning electronic sound may be performed while the timer recording standby state is entered. Also in this case, it is also preferable to display how many minutes are insufficient.

By the way, as the processing example of this end processing, various modified examples are possible other than this FIG. 7 (processing example 1), which are shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 as processing example 2 and processing example 3. Keep it.

As the processing example 2 of FIG. 8, steps F401-
Up to F405, the process is the same as the process example 1 of FIG. However, when the recordable time is insufficient for the next timer recording time, that is, when a negative result is obtained in step F404, an operation of ejecting the MD 91 currently loaded is executed in step F407. (F207) At this time, the timer recording standby state is not entered.

That is, in this case, the shortage of the recordable time is more positively expressed by the discharging operation. And in this case, when the user returns home, CD-M
Looking at the D radio 1, it is possible to recognize at a glance that the recording time is insufficient for the timer reserved recording because the MD 91 is still ejected, and it is possible to deal with it. In this case as well, a warning may be displayed on the display unit 4.

Also in the processing example 3 of FIG. 9, step F401
Up to F405 is the same as the processing example 1 of FIG. in this case,
When the recordable time is insufficient for the next timer recording time and a negative result is obtained in step F404, the system controller 2 first determines whether or not the recordable time of the MD 91 is zero at that time. are doing. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the free area is used up by the timer recording executed immediately before that and the free area does not exist (F409).

If there is no free area and recording is not possible at all, it is useless to set the timer recording standby state in preparation for the next timer setting.
The operation of discharging D91 is performed (F411). Then, the main power supply is turned off and the operation ends (F412). In this case, it is possible to recognize that the MD 91 is ejected when the user returns home and confirms the recording disabled state, and to deal with it.

On the other hand, if there is a free area but the recordable time is not sufficient, steps F409 to F410
As in the case of the processing example 1 of FIG. 7, the timer recording standby state is maintained with the warning displayed. In other words, the next timer recording will be executed for the available time.

The user can take action at the time when this state can be confirmed, and if it is determined that it is sufficient, the user can leave it as it is. Further, for example, if there is an opportunity to confirm when the timer recording start time has not yet been reached, it is possible to replace the MD 91 and perform the timer recording standby operation again.

Other than these, various examples of processing at the time of termination can be considered. For example, a process of canceling the timer setting itself with or without ejecting the MD 91 may be considered. Any of these processes may be selected as a design item in consideration of an actual usage pattern of the device and an operation suitable for the user.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the MD 91 has a short recording time in the timer recording operation, the user is warned by some operation, and the user is informed of this. Good timer recording can be performed by taking appropriate measures. In the embodiment, the device which is the CD-MD radio 1 has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented by various recording devices. The recording device is not limited to the mini disk system, and can be realized by a recording device using a tape or another type of disk.

[0088]

As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the present invention, when the time information for the timer setting is input,
Calculates the recordable time of the loaded recording medium and determines whether the calculated recordable time is short of the time required for the recording operation to be executed based on the input time information. Then, by performing a warning operation or the like according to the determination result, the user can determine whether or not the timer reservation recording can be normally executed at that time, and it becomes possible to take measures such as replacing the recording medium. That is, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent mistakes in the timer recording operation.

Even when the next timer setting to be executed thereafter exists at the time when one timer recording operation is completed, the recordable time of the recording medium is similarly set for the recording operation by the next timer setting. There is an effect that it is possible to give a warning to the user by determining whether or not there is a shortage, and if there is a shortage, performing a recording medium ejection operation or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CD-MD radio according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a timer setting mode process of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a first example of a timer recording standby operation of the embodiment.
5 is a flowchart of a processing example of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a second example of the timer recording standby operation of the embodiment.
5 is a flowchart of a processing example of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a third example of the timer recording standby operation of the embodiment.
5 is a flowchart of a processing example of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process during timer recording standby according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a first processing example of processing at the end of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a second processing example of processing at the end of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a third processing example of processing at the end of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a cluster format of a mini disk.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of U-TOC sector 0 of the mini disc.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a link form of U-TOC sector 0 of the mini disc.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a free area recording mode of a mini disc.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a overwrite recording mode of a mini disc.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CD-MD Radio 2 System Controller 3 RAM 4 Display Section 5 Operation Section 6 Clock Section 7 AM / FM Tuner 8 Line Input Terminal 9 Microphone Input Terminal 13 A / D Converter 21, 31 Spindle Motor 22, 32 Optical Head 23, 33 RF amplifier 24, 34 Servo signal processor 25 Decoder 26, 39 D / A converter 40 Magnetic head part 35 Encoder / decoder 36 Memory controller 37 Buffer RAM 38 Audio compression encoder / decoder

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording unit capable of recording an audio signal on a predetermined recording medium, and supplying an audio signal to the recording unit and recording operation to the recording unit according to timer set time information. The timer operation control means that can be executed and the recordable time of the loaded recording medium are calculated at a predetermined time after the time information for setting the timer is input, and the calculated recordable time is calculated. A timer setting for determining whether or not the time required for the recording operation performed by the timer operation control means is insufficient based on the input time information and executing a predetermined operation according to the determination result. A recording device comprising: a control unit. 2. The present invention further comprises a presenting means, wherein the timer setting control means compares the recordable time of the recording medium with the time required for the recording operation executed by the timer operation control means based on the input time information. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning is executed by the presenting means when it is determined that there is a shortage. 3. Recording means capable of recording an audio signal on a predetermined recording medium, and supplying an audio signal to said recording means and recording operation to said recording means in accordance with timer set time information. When the recording operation by the timer operation control means that can be executed and the timer operation control means is completed, it is checked whether or not there is the next timer setting to be executed thereafter, and if the timer setting exists, it is loaded. Whether the recordable time of the recording medium is determined and whether the recordable time is short of the time required for the recording operation performed by the timer operation control means based on the time information in the timer setting. And a timer operation end time control means for executing a predetermined operation according to the result of the determination. Recording device. 4. The timer operation end time control means executes a recording medium ejection operation when the recordable time of the loaded recording medium is zero when the next timer setting is present. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording apparatus is configured to: 5. When the timer operation end control means is provided with a presenting means, the recordable time of the loaded recording medium is used as time information in the next timer setting when the next timer setting exists. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the time required for the recording operation to be executed based on the time is insufficient, the warning is executed by the presenting unit.