Recording and reproducing device

[Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention<u style="single">Recording / playback device and recording / playback method using a recording medium such as flash memory</u>Regarding.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording / reproducing device capable of easily recording / reproducing audio as if writing the contents of a conference or a lecture on a memo paper. The recording / playback device uses a flash memory as a recording medium, stores one audio signal as a predetermined number of files, reproduces the audio signal for each file, and outputs the audio. Specifically, the recording / playback device stores audio composed of a plurality of files in a flash memory, and at the time of reproduction, the audio signals are reproduced in order from the oldest file.

[0003] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, as a user, not only the voice data is stored in order, but also the recording of another message (follow-up recording) in addition to the already recorded message. ) May be desired. In such a case, it is desirable that the recording / playback device also records the additional file in the already recorded file in the same manner as when the new content is additionally described in the message described on the memo paper.

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned recording / playback device, when another message is to be recorded later on the already recorded message, the content to be added next to the message to be added is recorded or the content to be added is recorded. It is necessary to move to the next message to be added and erase the ID (marking) between these messages to combine the two messages into one. Since it was necessary to perform the two-step operation in this way, it took a lot of time and effort, and the operation procedure was complicated and inconvenient.

[0005] Further, with a recording / playback device that cannot erase or move the message, the above-mentioned follow-up recording cannot be performed in the first place.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and provides a recording / playback device capable of adding another file after a file already recorded by a simple operation and recording the file. The purpose is.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the recording / reproducing device according to the present invention uses input voice.<u style="single">On the basis of</u>Audio signal<u style="single">Output</u>A storage means for storing the voice input means and the management information for managing the playback order for each file while dividing and storing the voice signal from the voice input means for each file, and the playback order based on the management information. Store the audio signal file in the above storage means<u style="single">To read</u>Control means and read<u style="single">Ru</u>For audio signals<u style="single">On the basis of</u>The control means includes a voice output means for outputting voice, and the control means<u style="single">When a recording instruction is input when the file stored in the storage means is not read, the voice signal from the voice input means is newly written in the storage means, and the newly stored voice signal is written. Rewrite the management information by sliding the playback order of the files stored in the storage means one by one so that the playback order of</u>Memory in the above storage means<u style="single">Be done</u>Recording instructions when a particular file is being read<u style="single">If entered,</u>The reading of the specific file is stopped, the voice signal from the voice input means is newly written to the storage means, and the newly recorded voice signal is recorded.<u style="single">File</u>To have the same playback order as the above specific files<u style="single">To</u>, Slide the playback order of the files after the above specific file one by one<u style="single">the above</u>Management information<u style="single">rewrite</u>。

【0008】<u style="single">Then, the control means stops reading the specific file by giving a recording instruction when the specific file stored in the storage means is being read, and the voice signal from the voice input means. Is newly written to the storage means, and the playback order of the files after the specific file is slid one by one so that the newly recorded audio signal has the same playback order as the specific file. Control to rewrite information</u>。

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is applied to an IC recorder 1 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

The IC recorder 1 stores audio data in an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable / Programmable Read-Only Memory), that is, a flash memory 9, which is a non-volatile memory in which data can be electrically erased / rewritten by the recording unit 10. It has a control unit 30 that controls the playback of the audio data of the flash memory 9 by the playback unit 20, and causes the display unit 40 to display the operation content from the operation unit 50 and the content of the audio data of the flash memory 9. is there.

[0011] The recording unit 10 is a microphone 11 that converts audio into an electric signal and outputs an audio signal, an amplifier 12 that amplifies the audio signal from the microhorn 11, and an audio signal amplified by the amplifier 12. An automatic gain control circuit (hereinafter referred to as "AGC": Automatic Gain Controller) 13 that performs gain control, an encoder 14 that converts an audio signal from the AGC 13 into audio data, and a buffer that temporarily stores the audio data from the encoder 14. It has a memory 15.

[0012] The microphone 11 converts the input sound into an audio signal and supplies it to the amplifier 12, and the amplifier 12 amplifies the audio signal and supplies it to the AGC 13. The AGC 13 supplies the audio signal amplified by the amplifier 12 to the encoder 14 by performing gain control so that the gain becomes a predetermined value.

[0013] Since the audio signal has a strong temporal correlation, the encoder 14 encodes the audio signal by, for example, an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (hereinafter referred to as ADPCM) method. Audio data is generated, and this audio data is supplied to the flash memory 9 via the buffer memory 15.

[0014] Further, the encoder 14 can adjust the coding amount of the audio data according to the two modes. For example, in the SP mode, sampling is performed at 8 kHz, and in the LP mode, sampling is performed at 4 kHz. , Adjust the amount of audio signal coding in the time axis direction.

On the other hand, the reproduction unit 20 amplifies the audio signal from the decoder 21, the decoder 21 that converts the audio data read from the flash memory 9 into the original audio signal, the filter 22 that removes high frequency components, and the filter 22. It is provided with an amplifier 23 that supplies the speaker 24.

[0016] The decoder 21 corresponds to the encoder 14 of the recording unit 10, and is the audio data read from the flash memory 9 according to the above-mentioned SP mode or LP mode, that is, the audio encoded by the ADPCM method. The data is decoded to generate a so-called PAM signal. The filter 22 removes high frequency components above the audio band from the PAM signal and outputs an audio signal. The amplifier 23 amplifies the audio signal supplied from the decoder 21 to drive the speaker 24. Thus, the recorded sound is output from the speaker 24.

The control unit 30 executes the ROM 31 in which the program for controlling the operation of the IC recorder 1 is stored and the program stored in the ROM 31, and executes the flash memory 9, the recording unit 10, and the playback unit. 20, A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 32 that controls the display unit 30, a timer 33 that generates time information, and a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that temporarily stores the time and program execution results. RAM: Random Access Memory.) 34 is provided, and each circuit is controlled based on the operation settings of the operation unit 50.

Further, the CPU 32 controls to read the voice data recorded in the flash memory 9 when, for example, the timer 33 reaches a predetermined time.

[0019] The display unit 40 includes a low power consumption liquid crystal display panel 41 and a backlight 42 for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel 41, and displays an operating state and an operating procedure of the IC recorder 1.

[0020] Further, the above-mentioned recording unit 10, reproduction unit 20, and control unit 30 are provided in the housing 60 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the display panel 41 is provided on the operation surface of the housing 60 so as to face the outside, and an operation unit 50 for performing operations such as recording and playback is further arranged.

Specifically, the operation unit 50 includes a file button 51, a menu button 52, a priority button 53, a jog dial 54, a stop button 55, a record button 56, an erase button 57, and a hold switch 58. And have.

[0022] The file button 51 is for changing a file. One audio data is composed of one or more files. The menu button 52 sets the mode state to the menu mode. Further, when the menu mode is set, various operation settings can be made by the jog dial 54. The priority button 53 switches and sets the priority of the recorded file. The stop button 55 stops the operation during recording or playback. The record button 56 is for starting recording. The erase button 57 is for erasing one audio data during playback or stop. The hold switch 58 is a slide switch for maintaining a state of being in operation or stopped, and enables or disables button operation by setting hold-on / off switching.

[0023] Here, the flash memory 9 described above is, for example, a NAND type. The flash memory 9 stores the voice data supplied from the buffer memory 15 and also stores management information (hereinafter, referred to as TOC information) for managing the voice data indicating in which area the flash memory 9 is stored. The flash memory 9 has a capacity of 8 × 16 Mbits, can store 16 minutes of audio data corresponding to an audio signal of 200 to 3400 Hz in SP mode, and an audio signal of 200 to 1700 Hz in LP mode. It is possible to store 24 minutes of audio data corresponding to.

[0024] Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the flash memory 9, audio data and the like are divided and stored for each 512 blocks as an erasing unit. And these blocks are divided into 6 types. Specifically, the eternal block (1 block), the index stage 0 block (6 blocks), the index stage 1 block (6 blocks), the backup block (1 block), the work area block (15 blocks), and so on. There are 6 types of PCM data blocks (469 blocks).

[0025] Further, the above-mentioned TOC information is composed of an eternal block, an index stage 0 block, an index stage 1 block, a backup block, and a work area block. The audio data is written in the PCM data block.

As shown in FIG. 3, each block is composed of 16 pages (= 528 bytes), and has page 0, page 1, ..., Page 14, and page 15. This page consists of a 512-byte data area and a 16-byte redundant area. There are a maximum of 10 blocks in which data cannot be recorded and reproduced (hereinafter referred to as "invalid blocks").

[0027] Here, the eternal block is provided other than the first or last block of the flash memory 9, that is, other than the beginning or the end of the address. The eternal block is the TOC information to be read first, and the index stage 0 block, the index stage 1 block, and the like are read based on this data. In this way, the eternal block is important for reading data, and is arranged avoiding the beginning or end of the address, which is the place most likely to be destroyed during abnormal operation such as static electricity and abnormal voltage. There is. That is, for example, even if the block in which the voice data is recorded is destroyed, once the data of the block is deleted, no problem occurs thereafter. However, if the eternal block is destroyed, it becomes impossible to read all the data. To avoid this, the eternal block is provided in a block other than the beginning or the end of the address as described above. ..

[0028] In the eternal block, there is data only on page 0, and there is no data on pages 1 to 15.

[0029] Page 0 of the eternal block specifically shows, as shown in FIG. 4, a 4-byte data for recognizing the eternal block, a 2-byte eternal block address, a 2-byte index stage 0 address, and 2 It has a byte index stage 1 address, a 2-byte work area block start address, 4-byte dummy data, and a 128-byte blank map. The blank map shows the location of the above-mentioned invalid block.

[0030] The index stage 0 block and the index stage 1 block have the same configuration, and each time the data is rewritten, they are rewritten alternately. That is, when the voice data is written, for example, the data of the index stage 0 block is rewritten, and when the voice data is written again, the data of the index stage 1 block is rewritten. Hereinafter, these blocks will be collectively referred to as index stage blocks.

As described above, each of the index stage blocks has 6 blocks, and there are one consisting of file data (5 blocks) and one consisting of stage data (1 block).

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the index stage block composed of file data is composed of an ADR data section on pages 0 to 11 and an HDR section on pages 12 to 15.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the ADR data unit has, for example, the ID numbers of "01" to "06" and the SP or LP of the file for each file in which the voice data is recorded. "SP" indicating the mode, "STH" indicating the upper start address of the file, "STM" indicating the lower start address, "ENH" indicating the upper end address of the file, and the lower end address. It has "ENM" to indicate.

[0034] For example, when 6 voice data are recorded, as shown in FIG. 7, ID numbers from "01" to "06" corresponding to each of the 6 voice data are recorded in the ADR data section. To. Note that this ID number indicates the order in which the six recorded voice data are played back. Then, for each ID number, the recording mode (SP) and the start address (STH, STM) and end address (ENH, ENM) of the place where the voice data of the ID number is recorded are recorded. Since the voice data capacity of the ID number 01 and the ID 03 is large, for example, the ID number 01 is composed of two files and the ID number 03 is composed of four files, as shown in FIG. At this time, the recording mode, start address, and end address are recorded for each file.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the HDR data unit has, for each file, "PRI" indicating the priority of the file, "ALM" indicating the on / off of the alarm set, and the month in which the alarm is sounded. It has "AMO", "ADA", "AHO", "AMI", and "AOW" indicating the day, hour, minute, and day of the week. Here, the priority indicates the priority of reproduction of the audio data file. Further, even if the audio data is not updated, the HDR data unit is updated every time the priority or alarm setting is changed.

[0036] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the index stage block composed of the stage data is on the valid mark on page 0, the mode interruption mark on page 1, the blank map on page 2, and the page 3. It has an eternal block blank map.

The backup block is a backup of the above-mentioned eternal block, and is a copy of the eternal block. Therefore, when the eternal block is newly rewritten, the backup block is also rewritten as well. The number of backup blocks does not have to be one, and there may be a plurality of backup blocks.

[0038] The work area block is an area for temporarily recording index data when recording voice data. Work area blocks, as shown in FIG. 9, has substantially the same configuration as the index stage block, and ID number, and SP / LP information, sound and upper start address of voice data, the lower start address of the audio data And 1 byte each of the upper end address of the voice data and the lower end address of the voice data. Therefore, in this work area block, the index stage block is rewritten while reading the data of the work area block, and the data such as the start address is written as it is.

[0039] The PCM data block is an area where audio data is mainly recorded. Further, in the PCM data block, as shown in FIG. 10, not only the audio data but also the year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and day of the week in which the audio data is recorded are recorded for each page. Specifically, on one page, 512 bytes of audio data, 1 byte of year, month, day, hour, minute, second, day of the week data, and 1 byte of clock set flag are recorded.

[0040] In the IC recorder 1 configured as described above, when the record button 56 is pressed while recording or reproduction is not performed, the CPU 32 controls to write the audio data to the flash memory 9. As shown in FIG. 6 above, it is assumed that six audio data have already been recorded in the flash memory 9.

Specifically, when the recording button 56 is pressed, the CPU 32 reads a program corresponding to the recording mode from the ROM 31 and executes the program to operate the amplifier 12, the AGC 13, the encoder 14, and the like, and the buffer memory 15. The audio data delayed for a predetermined time is stored in the PCM data block of the flash memory 9.

[0042] The CPU 32 records 512 bytes of audio data for each PCM data block, and also records the date and hour at the time of recording in the PCM data block. The CPU32 controls to write the above voice data to each PCM data block as one case until the stop button 55 is pressed.

[0043] When the stop button 55 is pressed, the CPU 32 stops the control of recording the voice data in the PCM data block and rewrites the TOC information. Specifically, the index stage block is rewritten.

[0044] The CPU 32 writes the mode setting, the start address, and the end address data to the ADR data unit of the index stage block composed of the file data, using the seventh voice data as the ID number 01. Then, the CPU32 writes the data of the mode setting, the start address, and the end address of each ID number with the original ID number 01 to ID number 06 as the ID number 02 to ID number 07.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 32 uses the ID number 1 of the newly recorded 7th voice data, and the original ID numbers 01 to 06 are the ID numbers 02 to ID, respectively. Rewrite the TOC information by sliding one by one as number 07. That is, the latest voice data is recorded as ID number 1.

[0046] Next, a case where audio data is reproduced will be described. When the user presses the jog dial 54 shown in FIG. 2 in the Z direction while recording or playback is stopped, the CPU 32 starts playback. That is, the CPU 32 recognizes the eternal block from the flash memory 9 based on the data for recognizing the eternal block of the eternal block, and reads out the data of the eternal block. When the CPU 32 cannot recognize the eternal block shown in FIG. 3, it recognizes the backup block and reads the data of this backup block.

The CPU 32 reads the data of the index stage block based on the index stage 0 address or the index stage 1 address in the eternal block or the backup block.

[0048] The CPU 32 controls to read the audio data in the PCM data block based on the ADR data unit of the index stage block composed of file data. At this time, the CPU32 reads the voice data in the order of ID number 01, ID number 02, ID number 03, .... Specifically, the CPU32 first reads the voice data of the ID number 01 based on the start address (STH, STM) and the end address (ENH, ENM) of the ID number 01 of the ADR data unit. The read voice data is converted into a voice signal via the decoder 21, the filter 22, and the like, and supplied to the speaker 24. Therefore, the speaker 24 can output the sound of the ID number 01.

The CPU 32 continues to read the voice data until the stop button 55 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed. Therefore, when the voice of the ID number 01 is output from the speaker 24 as described above, the CPU 32 reads the voice data in the order of ID number 02, ID number 03, ....

As described above, as shown in FIG. 11, the IC recorder 1 stores the latest voice data as the ID number 01 in the flash memory 9 each time the voice is recorded, and when the voice is output, the ID is used. Number 01, ID number 02, ID number 03, ... are performed in this order. Since the voice data of the new ID number tends to be more important than the voice data of the old ID number, the above control makes it possible to set the important requirements to the beginning of the ID number, which is important. Eliminates the need to search for the latest requirements with, improving operability.

[0051] Further, the IC recorder 1 can add another message to the already recorded message and record one case in total (follow-up recording). At this time, the CPU32 performs the processing of step S1 or less shown in FIG.

[0052] When the IC recorder 1 is playing, for example, the voice data of the ID number 02 (step S1), when the user presses the record button 56, the CPU 32 activates the timer 33 and the record button 56 is set to 1. Determine if it has been pressed for more than a second (step S2). When it is determined that the record button is pressed for 1 second or longer, the CPU32 stops the playback of the audio data of ID number 02 (step S3), and when it is not pressed for 1 second or longer, the CPU32 continues the playback as it is.

[0053] After stopping the reproduction, the CPU 32 starts recording the voice input to the microphone 11 (step S4), and controls to write the voice data to the PCM data block of the flash memory 9. Then, the CPU 32 continues recording until the stop button 55 is pressed or the capacity of the flash memory 9 is full (step S5). Then, when the stop button 55 is pressed or the capacity of the flash memory 9 becomes full, the CPU 32 stops recording (step S6).

[0054] When the recording is stopped, the CPU 32 rewrites the TOC information of the voice data (step S7). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, in the ADR data section of the index stage block consisting of file data, the CPU32 first has the ID number 01 and the start address (STH, STM) of the ID number 02 that existed before recording. Write the end address (ENH, ENM). Next, the CPU32 writes the start address and end address indicating the recording position of the newly additionally recorded voice data as the ID number 02, and then rewrites the start address and the like of the voice data after the ID number 03 that existed before the recording. Controls writing. In this way, the CPU32 writes the start address (STH, STM) and the end address (ENH, ENM) of the newly additionally recorded voice data as the ID number 02.

Therefore, when the IC recorder 1 starts the reproduction as described above, the IC recorder 1 reproduces the audio data in the order of ID number 01, ID number 02, .... At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the message for which the additional recording has been performed is output from the speaker 24 while the ID number 02 is being reproduced.

[0056] That is, the IC recorder 1 can select one of a plurality of already recorded messages, add it to the message, and record a new message. As a result, when the user newly records a message related to the already recorded message, the voice data of the already recorded message and the voice data of the new message have the same ID number. Can be treated as one requirement. Therefore, when related matters are recorded separately, it is possible to improve the operability by eliminating the trouble of searching for those matters. Further, since it is not necessary to change the configuration of the operation unit 50, the above-mentioned additional recording can be performed without increasing the production cost.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that when the record button 56 is pressed for 1 second or longer while playing a predetermined file, the follow-up recording mode is set. However, in this case, the follow-up recording mode is set. It is not limited to.

[0058] For example, when the user stops playing the file with the ID number 02 and then presses the record button 56 for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), the CPU 32 enters the follow-up recording mode, and the step shown in FIG. By performing the processing of S4 or less, new voice data may be recorded in the flash memory 9 as the ID number 02.

[Effect of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the recording / playback device according to the present invention, when the follow-up recording mode is set, the voice signal from the voice input means is newly used as the storage means. By controlling the rewriting of the above management information so that the newly recorded audio signal becomes the same file as the specific file, the newly recorded audio data can be specified without complicated operations. Can be played with the file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an IC recorder to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the IC recorder.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a flash memory of the IC recorder.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an eternal block of the flash memory.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an index stage block composed of file data of the flash memory.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an ADR data unit of the index stage block.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an HDR data unit of the index stage block.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an index stage block composed of file data of the flash memory.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a work area block of the flash memory.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a PCM data block of the flash memory.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a recording position of newly recorded voice data.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the CPU when newly recording voice data as the ID number 02.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of an ADR data section of an index stage block when new voice data is additionally recorded as an ID number 02.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a recording position of voice data newly additionally recorded as ID number 02.

[Code description] 11 Microhorn, 9 Flash memory, 24 speakers, 32 CPU