Abstract: A voice recorder includes a microphone. When a recording mode is selected, surrounding audio is fetched by the microphone, and corresponding audio data is recorded on a flash memory by an encode/decode IC. When a normal reproducing mode is selected, audio data is reproduced from the flash memory by the encode/decode IC, and a corresponding audio signal is output from a speaker. In the recording mode, the CPU assigns status information indicating “0” to each of one or more partial audio components forming the audio data. However, the status information of the partial audio component reproduced in the normal reproducing mode is updated to “1”. When a skip reproducing mode is selected, a partial audio component of which status information indicates “0” is detected and reproduced from the flash memory.

Abstract: A signal reproducing device of the present invention includes a signal storing device, a buffer memory, and a signal processing circuit. The buffer memory is concurrently provided with a first storing area for storing a head portion of a plurality of sequential signals and a second storing area for storing a remaining portion other than the head portion of one sequential signal. The signal processing circuit starts an operation, when a signal selecting manipulation is made, of reading out and reproducing a head portion of a selected sequential signal from the first storing area, during the operation, reads out a remaining portion of the selected sequential signal from the signal storing device for storage in the second storing area, and, after completion of reproduction of the head portion of the selected sequential signal, reads out and reproduces the remaining portion of the sequential signal from the second storing area.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus comprises an open key for inputting an open command for causing a loading unit to move a medium holding member from a closed position to an opened position, a setting unit arranged to set the open key press duration, required for the loading unit to perform an opening operation, to the shortest time period or a longer time period than the shortest time period, and a control unit arranged to cause, in a case where the open key is operated, the loading unit to perform the opening operation when the open key press duration reaches the open key press duration set by the setting unit.

Abstract: An audio recording device is provided with a first casing, which includes a sound collection means, a second casing, which includes a terminal for connection to an external device. One end portion of the second casing is rotatably joined to a lower end portion of the first casing, such that the second casing can be folded and stored on a rear side of the first casing; the sound collection means is provided at an upper portion of the first casing; and the connection terminal is protrudingly provided on another end portion of the second casing. Furthermore, a recessed portion, into which the connection terminal is fitted, may be formed at a raised portion on the rear side of the first casing, and a front end portion of the connection terminal may be covered by a wall of the recessed portion when the second casing is in a folded and stored state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data recording device which starts recording data a to a memory A when a command is given to start recording data. When the remaining capacity of the memory A is not greater than a given capacity value x, data recording to the memory A is concurrent with data recording to a memory B. When the capacity of the memory A is full, recording data x to the memory A is ceased. Thereafter, when a command is given to cease an operation for recording data to the memory B, an inquiry is made as to whether space capacity of the memory B is greater than an amount of data a of the memory A. Only when the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the data a recorded on the memory A is copied to the memory B.

Abstract: In a multi-channel acoustic apparatus with a DVD reproduction function, comprising a DVD reproduction control unit for controlling the reproduction of a DVD, and a system control unit for controlling the overall acoustic apparatus and controlling the reproduction of another input source other than the DVD, the DVD reproduction control unit comprising the function of controlling a first Dolby Pro Logic decoder which can be used at the time of reproducing the DVD, and the system control unit comprising the function of controlling a second Dolby Pro Logic decoder which can be used at the time of reproducing the input source other than the DVD, there are provided means for adjusting a surround delay time period on the basis of a user operation, and means for transmitting to the system control unit the adjusted surround delay time period.

Abstract: A method for reproducing digital information includes the steps of: transferring, with a control circuit, information in a hard disk drive to a memory simultaneously with completion of storage of the information in the hard disk drive from outside of a device body, based on the order or type of information to be reproduced, and reproducing the information from the memory. Furthermore, the method includes the step of providing, with the control circuit, a notification to the user that the transfer of the information to the memory is completed by transmitting a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a component selection control system comprising signal output components 2 to 5, signal input components 4, 5, and an amplifier unit 1 having these components 2 to 5 connected thereto. The signal output components 2 to 5 have respective on-off switches 23, 33, 44, 54 provided on signal output lines 73 to 76 for delivering audio signals to the amplifier unit 1 therethrough, and the amplifier unit 1 has a common input terminal g. The signal output lines 73 to 76 of the output components 2 to 5 are connected to one another at a point connected to a common signal line 71, which is connected to the common input terminal g of the amplifier unit 1. This arrangement greatly reduces the numbers of signal lines and terminals required for connecting the components 2 to 5 to the amplifier unit 1.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus comprises an open key for inputting an open command for causing loading means to move a medium holding member from a closed position to an opened position, setting means for setting the open key press duration, required for the loading means to perform an opening operation, to the shortest time period or a longer time period than the shortest time period, and control means for causing, in a case where the open key is operated, the loading means to perform the opening operation when the open key press duration reaches the open key press duration set by the setting means.

Abstract: A holder, into which a disk is inserted from above and having an opening in its lower portion, is provided in the interior of a panel whose lower end is supported pivotably on a chassis. The panel is provided so as to translatable between a first position in which with the panel closed from an open position the holder comes into contact with the chassis and a center hole in the disk is brought near the fore-end of a turntable, and a second position in which with the panel further closed from the first position with the holder being in contact with the chassis, the disk is fitted onto the turntable. The stop is supported pivotably on the panel, and its free-end enters a lower portion of the holder so as to receive the disk. The chassis is provided with a protuberance for pivoting the stop in a direction in which, in association with the panel pivoting from the first position to the second position, that the stop comes out of abutment with the disk.

Abstract: The number of sectors which are NV_PCK in an ECC block is detected by a number-of-sectors detection circuit 12, and a control circuit 14 considers, when the detected number of sectors is larger than a predetermined value, that NV_PCK reference processing is not terminated within a time period during which the subsequent ECC block is buffered, to suspend the buffering of the subsequent ECC block.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for preventing a slider from inadvertently moving laterally comprises a projecting wall provided on a lower surface of a tray and having a first wall extending forward and a second wall extending from the first wall toward a direction orthogonal to the first wall, and at least two projections provided on the slider for holding therebetween the second wall when the tray is in a completely advanced state and the first wall when the tray is in an advancing or a retracting state.

Abstract: An AV playback system of the present invention is configured by connecting an AV playback output device and a speaker driving device to each other by a cable. The AV playback output device includes a playback device and a cable connector. The connector includes a video output terminal, an audio output terminal, and a power input terminal for supplying power to the playback device. The speaker driving device includes audio external output terminals, a video external output terminal, a power external input terminal, and a cable connector. The connector includes a video input terminal for feeding the video signal to the video external output terminal, an audio input terminal for feeding the audio signal to the audio external output terminals, and a power output terminal for outputting power from the power external input terminal.

Abstract: A signal reproducing device of the present invention includes a signal storing device, a buffer memory, and a signal processing circuit. The buffer memory is concurrently provided with a first storing area for storing a head portion of a plurality of sequential signals and a second storing area for storing a remaining portion other than the head portion of one sequential signal. The signal processing circuit starts an operation, when a signal selecting manipulation is made, of reading out and reproducing a head portion of a selected sequential signal from the first storing area, during the operation, reads out a remaining portion of the selected sequential signal from the signal storing device for storage in the second storing area, and, after completion of reproduction of the head portion of the selected sequential signal, reads out and reproduces the remaining portion of the sequential signal from the second storing area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data recording device which starts recording data a to a memory A when a command is given to start recording data. When the remaining capacity of the memory A is not greater than a given capacity value x, data recording to the memory A is concurrent with data recording to a memory B. When the capacity of the memory A is full, recording data x to the memory A is ceased. Thereafter, when a command is given to cease an operation for recording data to the memory B, an inquiry is made as to whether space capacity of the memory B is greater than an amount of data a of the memory A. Only when the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the data a recorded on the memory A is copied to the memory B.

Abstract: Brackets 9, 9 for supporting respective opposite ends of a guide rod 4 are provided with respective cam faces 95, 95 approximately symmetric about an approximate longitudinal midportion C of the guide rod 4, and at least one of the brackets 9 is provided with an adjusting member for moving the guide rod 4 longitudinally thereof. The cam faces 9 guide the guide rod 4 toward a direction in which the guide rod 4 pivotally moves about the approximate longitudinal midportion C, as the guide rod 4 is moved longitudinally thereof by the adjusting member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk player which includes a switch for detecting that a pickup is positioned for reading signals as opposed to the middle position between a content signal recording area and a reference information recording area. The pickup is moved to an inner periphery of the disk for a predetermined period of time from the time of detection detected by the switch, upon a command given to read information from the reference information recording area. Then the pickup is restrained from moving further by a stopper, upon the pickup reaching the position opposed to the reference information recording area.

Abstract: A portable electronic device according to the invention comprises a USB connector 4, a USB controller 6 for executing predetermined data communication processing attendant on data communication with a personal computer 2 connected to the USB connector 4, and a main CPU 7 for executing device operation processing for the usual operation of the device, and is adapted to receive a power supply from the personal computer 2 or an external power source 3 as connected to the USB connector 4. Discriminating between the sources of supply of power, the main CPU 7 causes the USB controller 6 to execute the predetermined data communication processing while power is supplied from the personal computer 2, or executes the usual device operation processing while power is supplied from the external power source 3. This assures more rapid and simplified processing even when the USB connector is used also as a connector for the external power source.

Abstract: A portable electronic device including a USB connector, an internal power source, a USB controller to execute data communication processing for data communication with a personal computer connected to the USB connector, a main CPU to execute device operation processing for usual operation of the device. When the USB controller executes data communication processing, the device is supplied with power at high voltage from the personal computer through the USB connector. When the main CPU executes device operation processing, the device is supplied with power at low voltage from the internal power source. Accordingly, this makes not only high speed data communication available, but also prolongs the life of the internal power source.

Abstract: In a system which comprises a plurality of audio components 2 to 5 connected to an amplifier unit 1 and wherein an audio signal from one component selected by a selector 17 is fed to a speaker 6 for the production of sound, a control circuit 15 of the amplifier unit 1 and each of control circuits 22, 32, 43, 53 of the respective components are connected to each other by a control bus 7. The amplifier unit 1 transmits a call signal to each of the components 2 to 5 and checks whether an answer signal is received therefrom in response to the call signal. When the component failing to return the answer signal is selected by the selector 17, the unit 1 turns on a muting circuit 16. This eliminates the likelihood that the speaker will produce noise when the sound volume is increased while a nonconnected component is selected.