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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An electronic apparatus capable of individually using one of at lest two
power source units having electrode means with respective different
characteristics and providing sensible indication of which of such two
power source units is disposed in said apparatus, comprising:
A) a single power source unit compartment capable of accommodating each of
said power source units individually; and
B) detecting means disposed in said power source unit compartment and
adapted for detecting respective patterns of configuration of connecting
electrode means of each said power source unit when accommodated in said
power source unit compartment, said detection being sensible exteriorly of
said apparatus and being of respective different detection characteristics
correspondingly with said respective patterns of configuration.
2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said two power
source units have different electrical capacities.
3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said two power
source units include a battery unit.
4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said two power
source units include an external power source device for supplying
electrical power from the exterior of said electronic apparatus.
5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said external
power source device is an AC power source adapter.
6. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein connecting
electrodes of said two source units differ from each other in a pattern of
configuration of each connecting electrode thereof.
7. An electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said connecting
electrodes are electrodes for supplying electrical power to said
electronic apparatus.
8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein connecting
electrodes of said two power source units differ from each other in a
pattern of configuration of one of a plus electrode and a minus electrode
of each connecting electrode.
9. An electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said detecting
means is a switch whose opening and closing is controlled in accordance
with the pattern of configuration of said plus or minus electrode.
10. An electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said switch
includes a plurality of electrical contacts and is closed by electrically
connecting said plurality of electrical contacts through said connecting
electrode.
11. An electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said switch
constitutes a switch together with one of power supplying electrode
terminals which are respectively connected to the plus electrode and the
minus electrode of each of said power source units so as to receive a
supply of electrical power, said switch being closed by electrical
connection created by one connecting electrode of said plus electrode and
said minus electrode.
12. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting
means is a switch whose opening and closing is controlled in accordance
with said respective patterns of configuration of said electrode means.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said switch includes a
plurality of electrical contacts and is closed by electrically connecting
said plurality of electrical contacts through said connecting electrode
means.
14. An electronic apparatus which has a plurality of operating modes and
which is capable of receiving a supply of electrical power from a
plurality of power source devices having different characteristics from
each other, comprising:
A) operating mode setting means for setting each of said plurality of
operating modes, said plurality of operating modes being other than
conversion of the electrical power provided by said power source devices;
B) detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a power source device
accommodated in said electronic apparatus; and
C) control means for controlling an operation of said operating mode
setting means in accordance with the characteristic detected by said
detecting means.
15. An electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
characteristic of said power source device is a power-source capacity,
said detecting means being arranged to detect the kind of said power
source device.
16. An electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said plurality
of power source devices include a battery unit.
17. An electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said plurality
of power source devices include an external power source device for
supplying electrical power from the exterior of said electronic apparatus.
18. An electronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said external
power source device is an AC power source adapter.
19. An electric apparatus according to claim 18, wherein when said
detecting means detects that the power source device accommodated is the
battery unit, said control means inhibits an operating mode which requires
a large power consumption among said plurality of operating modes.
20. An electronic apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said electronic
apparatus is a recording or reproducing apparatus for effecting recording
or reproduction on or from a recording medium, said operating mode to be
inhibited being an erasing mode for erasing information recorded on said
recording medium.
21. An electronic apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising
display means for displaying a state of control provided by said control
means.
22. An electronic apparatus comprising:
A) operating mode setting means for selectively setting a plurality of
operating modes;
B) mode cancelling means for cancelling an operating mode set by the
operating mode setting means among said plurality of operating modes when
a predetermined set period of time has elapsed; and
C) detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a power source device
which supplies electrical power to said electronic apparatus; and
D) control means for controlling a timing at which said mode cancelling
means is activated, by changing said set period of time in accordance with
the characteristic detected by said detecting means.
23. An electronic apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the
characteristic of said power source device is a power-source capacity,
said detecting means being arranged to detect the kind of said power
source device.
24. An electronic apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said detecting
means shortens said set period of time if said power source device used to
supply electrical power to said electronic apparatus has a small
power-source capacity.
25. An electronic apparatus according to claim 24, wherein electrical power
can be selectively supplied from a plurality of power source devices
including a battery to said electronic apparatus.
26. An electronic apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said plurality
of power source devices include an external power source device for
supplying electrical power from the exterior of said electronic apparatus.
27. An electronic apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said external
power source device is an AC power source adapter.
28. An electronic apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said detecting
means shortens said set period of time if the kind of the power source
device used to supply electrical power to said electronic apparatus is a
battery.
29. An electronic apparatus which has a plurality of operating modes and
which is capable of individual using one of at least two power source
units having electrode means with respective different characteristics,
comprising:
A) operating mode setting means for setting each of said plurality of
operating modes, said plurality of operating modes being other than
conversion of the electrical power provided by said power source devices;
B) a power source unit compartment capable of accommodating each of said
power source units individually; and
C) detecting means disposed in said power source unit compartment and
adapted for detecting respective patterns of configuration of connecting
electrode means of each said power source unit when accommodated in said
power source unit compartment, said operating mode setting means being
responsive to the detection by said detecting means in setting an
operating mode of said apparatus. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control device for electronic apparatus
which can use a plurality of different kinds of power sources having
different characteristics from each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power sources for electronic apparatus have heretofore been designed so
that the electronic apparatus can be driven by means of different kinds of
power sources such as batteries, electrical power lines arranged in
general houses (hereinafter referred to as "AC power source"), and power
sources for automobiles, as well as with a view to improving the
operability of the electronic apparatus. For this reason, in many
electronic apparatus, the configurations of different kinds of power
sources and those of various power source adapters are designed to be the
same as that of a battery, whereby each of the power sources and power
source adapters can be accommodated into a common battery compartment. The
tendency of adopting such a design concept is outstanding particularly in
the field of portable electronic apparatus.
In such an electronic apparatus which uses a plurality of different kinds
of power sources, there are some cases where a means for judging the kind
of an accommodated power source is provided since individual power sources
have different characteristics, capacities and so forth or in order to
inform the user what kind of power source is in use.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a conventional battery,
with FIG. 2 being a perspective view showing one example of a conventional
AC power source adapter. Each of the power sources can be accommodated
into a battery compartment provided in an electronic apparatus, and is
arranged to effect supply of electrical power by using in common a power
supplying contact provided in the body of the electronic apparatus. FIG. 3
shows a state wherein the battery is accommodated, with FIG. 4 showing a
state wherein the AC power source adapter is accommodated.
In FIGS. 1 to 4, the battery is denoted by 1, and a plus electrode 1a and a
minus electrode 1b are provided on the battery 1. An AC power source
adapter which is used as another power supplying device is denoted by 2,
and a plus electrode 2a and a minus electrode 2b are provided on the AC
power source adapter 2. The AC power source adapter 2 further includes an
AC power source plug 3 and a projection 2c which serves to discriminate
between the battery 1 and the AC power source adapter 2. A battery
compartment formed in an electronic apparatus is indicated at 4. A plus
contact piece 5a, which is provided in the battery compartment 4, is
connected to the plus electrode 1a of the battery 1 or the plus electrode
2a of the AC power source adapter 2. A minus contact piece 5b, which is
likewise provided in the battery compartment 4, is connected to the minus
electrode 1b of the battery 1 or the minus electrode 2b of the AC power
source adapter 2. A micro-switch 6 is provided in the battery compartment
4, and serves to identify the kind of an accommodated power source by
detecting the presence or absence of the projection 2c.
In the above-described arrangement and construction, if the battery 1 is
accommodated into the battery compartment 4, as can be seen from FIG. 3,
the micro-switch 6 is not switched on and remains off since no projection
is formed on the battery 1. If the AC power source adapter 2 is
accommodated in the battery compartment 4, an activating element of the
micro-switch 6 is pressed by the projection 2c, as shown in FIG. 4, and
thus the micro-switch 6 is switched on.
In this manner, on the basis of the on-off action of the micro-switch 6, it
is possible to judge whether the battery 1 or the AC power source adapter
2 is accommodated in the battery compartment 4, that is, the kind of a
power source.
In the above-described conventional example, however, since it is necessary
to make the configuration of the battery 1 differ from that of any power
supplying device other than the battery 1 in order to judge the kind of a
power source, there is a need to form a large space for the battery
compartment 4 in the electronic apparatus. Accordingly, the conventional
example has the disadvantage that it is difficult to miniaturize the
electronic apparatus. In addition, it is necessary to use as a detecting
means an expensive electronic part such as a micro-switch and to strictly
set the retaining structure and mounting position of the micro-switch in
order to positively switch on and off the micro-switch. Accordingly, there
is a disadvantage in that the construction of the electronic apparatus
becomes complicated and expensive.
In the field of video tape recorders and electronic cameras which have
rapidly come into wide use in recent years, in order to enable outdoor
photography, it is particularly essential that such an electronic
apparatus be reduced in size and weight and can be driven by a battery. In
addition, the aforesaid recorders and cameras are designed so that they
can use an AC power source in a place provided with the AC power source or
the like in order to effect long-time recording or to reproduce and edit
photographed image information for a long time.
It is also necessary that such an electronic apparatus be provided with an
erasing function in order to enable a recording mode, a reproducing mode
and an erasing mode for erasing unnecessary information recorded on a
recording track to thereby enable re-recording on the recording track.
Such modes are commonly incorporated in accordance with the range of
applications of the electronic apparatus. However, since power consumption
depends upon the kinds of modes incorporated, it is necessary to give
consideration to the kind of a power source to be used.
Needless to say, where a battery is used as a power source, it is always
necessary to give consideration to the duration of the battery. In
addition, if the battery is consumed during photography and hence
photographing operation becomes impossible, serious problems may occur.
For example, a photographing chance may be missed or normal recording may
become impossible. For this reason, it is necessary to adopt a measure for
minimizing the consumption of the battery during the use thereof. However,
if the capacity of the battery is merely enlarged as such a measure, the
size of the battery itself and hence the weight must be increased. The
resulting problem is that small size and light weight, both of which
constitute features of a portable apparatus, are not attained.
Problems similar to the above-described problems occur during a reproducing
mode. In general, no problem occurs in a recording mode in which the time
required for one photographing cycle is short. However, in the case of
reproducing operations in particular, the time period of operation varies
depending upon each individual operator and, if the aforementioned
recorder or camera is operated for a long time, the battery will be
consumed to a great extent. For this reason, the above recorder or camera
is provided with a so-called auto shut-off mechanism which is arranged to
automatically switch off a power source if an inoperative state continues
for a predetermined time period or more (for example, several minutes),
thereby preventing the consumption of the power source and the abrasion of
a head and a disc.
However, even if an AC power source whose power consumption is not a
critical problem, the auto shut-off mechanism will operate in several
minutes to automatically switch off the AC power source. This leads to the
disadvantages that the number of operations increases, that the complexity
of operation increases, and that the operability deteriorates. If the time
period which elapses until the auto shut-off mechanism is started is
extended in correspondence with the AC power source, or if the auto
shut-off mechanism is eliminated, it is impossible to solve the
above-described problem that the battery is consumed when in use.
Accordingly, the use of the battery and the AC power source involves a
contradictory problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a
control device for electronic apparatus which is capable of solving the
above-described problems.
It is another object of the invention to detect, through a simple
construction, the kind of a power source which is used to supply
electrical power to an apparatus, as well as to provide a highly reliable
apparatus in which discrimination information obtained from such a
construction is adapted to various forms of control.
It is another object of the invention to make it possible to construct a
means for judging the kind of a power source without any need to form a
special space in an electronic apparatus, thereby enabling a reduction in
the overall size of the electronic apparatus, as well as to reduce the
manufacturing cost by minimizing the differences among the configurations
of the cases of power sources of different kinds.
To achieve the above objects, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus capable of using a
plurality of power source units each having different characteristics from
each other. The electronic apparatus is provided with a power source unit
compartment capable of accommodating each of the plurality of power source
units in common, and detecting means disposed in the power source unit
compartment for detecting a pattern of configuration of a connecting
electrode of a power source unit accommodated in the power source unit
compartment among the plurality of power source units to detect a
characteristic of the accommodated power source unit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable
electronic apparatus by detecting the characteristic of a power source,
exerting control over an operating mode according to the characteristic of
the power source, and effectively utilizing the power source.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus which has a
plurality of operating modes and which is capable of receiving a supply of
electrical power from a plurality of power source devices having different
characteristics from each other. The electronic apparatus is provided with
operating mode setting means for setting each of the plurality of
operating modes, detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a power
source device accommodated in the electronic apparatus among the plurality
of power source devices, and control means for controlling an operation of
the operating mode setting means in accordance with the characteristic
detected by the detecting means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an erasing
apparatus which is capable of effecting erasing operation according to the
capacity of a power source by inhibiting the erasing operation during the
use of a battery or any other power source whose capacity is limited and
preventing the rapid consumption of such a power source, by noting the
fact that when an erasing mode for erasing information recorded on a
recording track is selected during the operation of an electronic camera
or the like, the power consumption of the electronic camera increases
since an extremely large amount of current is needed in the erasing mode,
that is to say, it is not preferable to carry out an erasing operation
when a battery is in use, as well as the fact that erasing operation is
commonly seldom carried out during outdoor photography.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention, there is provided an erasing apparatus which is
provided with erasing means for erasing arbitrary information recorded on
a recording medium, detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a
power source device accommodated in the erasing apparatus, and control
means for controlling an operation of the erasing means in accordance with
the characteristic detected by the detecting means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording
apparatus suitable for use in an electronic camera or the like of the type
which employs a battery or any other small-capacity power source and whose
power consumption is a critical problem, the recording apparatus being
capable of preventing the occurrence of malfunctions or mistakes in
photography due to the consumption of a power source by inhibiting an
erasing operation when a power source having a small capacity is in use.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus which is
provided with recording means for recording information on a recording
medium, erasing means for erasing arbitrary information recorded on the
recording medium, detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a
power source device accommodated in the recording apparatus, and control
means for controlling an operation of the erasing means in accordance with
the characteristic detected by the detecting means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reproducing
apparatus in which it is possible to realize improvements in both the
consumption of a power source and the operability of the apparatus itself
by varying the period of an auto shut-off time during reproduction in
accordance with the result of discrimination of the kind of a power
source. In such a reproducing apparatus, if it is determined, as the
result of the discrimination, that electrical power is supplied from a
battery whose power consumption is a critical problem, the auto shut-off
time is shortened to prevent unnecessary power consumption, while, if it
is determined, as the result of the discrimination, that electrical power
is supplied from an AC power adapter whose power consumption is not
critical, the auto shut-off time is extended within a range in which
abrasion does not occur in a magnetic head or a recording medium, whereby
complicated operation can be omitted.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a reproducing apparatus which is
provided with reproducing means for reproducing information recorded on a
recording medium, detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a
power source which supplies electrical power to the reproducing apparatus,
and control means for controlling an operation of the reproducing means in
accordance with the characteristic detected by the detecting means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic
apparatus capable of preventing unwanted consumption of a power source by
changing, in accordance with the capacity of the power source, the
duration thereof which is required until an operating mode is
automatically cancelled.
To achieve the above object, in accordance with another aspect of the
present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus which is
provided with operating mode setting means for selectively setting a
plurality of operating modes, mode cancelling means for cancelling an
operating mode set by the operating mode setting means among the plurality
of operating modes when a predetermined set period of time has elapsed,
detecting means for detecting a characteristic of a power source device
which supplies electrical power to the electronic apparatus, and control
means for controlling a timing at which the mode cancelling means is
activated, by changing the set period of time in accordance with the
characteristic detected by the detecting means.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description of the
preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery for use in a conventional
electronic apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conventional AC power source
adapter;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state wherein the battery of FIG. 1
is accommodated in the convention electronic apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state wherein the conventional AC
power source adapter of FIG. 2 is accommodated into the conventional
electronic apparatus;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an AC power source adapter according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state wherein the AC power source
adapter of FIG. 5 is accommodated;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state wherein a battery is
accommodated in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state wherein an AC power source
adapter according to a second embodiment of the present invention is
accommodated;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state wherein a battery is
accommodated in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a recording or reproducing apparatus in
which a power source discriminating device is used for the control of an
erasing mode;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a recording or reproducing apparatus in
which the power source discriminating device is used for the control of
auto shut-off operation; and
FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B) flow charts which serve to illustrate the operation
of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of a control device for an electronic apparatus in
accordance with the present invention will be described in detail below
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 5 to 9 respectively show one embodiment of a power source
discriminating means for discriminating between, for example, a battery
and an AC power source adapter in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the AC power source adapter, FIG. 6
is a perspective view showing a state wherein the AC power adapter is
accommodated in a battery compartment in an electronic apparatus, and FIG.
7 is a perspective view showing a state wherein the battery is
accommodated in the same. The elements which are the same as those used in
the conventional example shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be explained by using
the same reference numerals.
In FIGS. 5 to 9, the battery compartment formed in the electronic apparatus
is denoted by 10, and an AC power source adapter 11 is provided with an AC
power source plug 3. A plus electrode 11a and a minus electrode 11b are
provided on an upper surface of the AC power source adapter 11 which
corresponds to the surface of the battery 1 having the plus electrode 1a
and the minus electrode 1b. One of the electrodes 11a and 11b, for
example, the minus electrode 11b is formed to have a width greater than
that of the electrode 1b of the battery 1.
In the battery compartment 10 of the electronic apparatus, there are
provided a plus contact piece 12a and a minus contact piece 12b both of
which serve as power supply terminals. When the battery 1 or the AC power
source adapter 11 is accommodated in the battery compartment 10, the plus
contact piece 12a is connected to the plus electrode 1a of the battery 1
or the plus electrode 11a of the AC power source adapter 11, with the
minus contact piece 12b connected to the minus electrode 1b or the minus
electrode 11b. In the battery compartment 10, there is further provided a
discriminating contact piece 12c. When the battery 1 is accommodated in
the battery compartment 10, the discriminating contact piece 12c, as shown
in FIG. 7, is not connected to either the plus electrode 1a or the minus
electrode 1b. On the other hand, when the AC power source adapter 11 is
accommodated, the piece 12c together with the minus contact piece 12b, as
shown in FIG. 6, is connected to the minus electrode 11b which is formed
to have an enlarged width. The contact pieces 12b and 12c are arranged to
form a switch S independently of the circuit associated with the supply of
electrical power. If the battery 1 is accommodated, the contact pieces 12a
and 12b for supply of electrical power are connected to the corresponding
electrodes 1a and 1b, but the discriminating contact piece 12c makes
contact with the upper surface of the battery 1 alone and does not come
into contact with either the electrode 1a or the electrode 1b. Therefore,
the switch S constituted by the contact pieces 12b and 12c is opened.
If the AC power source adapter 11 is accommodated, the contact pieces 12a
and 12b for supply of electrical power are connected to the respective
electrodes 11a and 11b to form a power supply path, with the
discriminating contact piece 12c connected to the electrode 11b.
Therefore, the contact pieces 12b and 12c are electrically connected to
each other by the electrode 11b and thus the switch S is closed. In this
fashion, on the basis of the on-off action of the switch S, it is possible
to electrically discriminate between the cases where the battery 1 is
accommodated in the battery compartment 10 and where the AC power source
adapter 11 is accommodated int he same.
The above embodiment is described with illustrative reference to the
structure in which the minus electrode 11b of the AC power source adapter
11 is formed to have such an enlarged width that allows the contact piece
12b and the discriminating contact piece 12c to be electrically connected
to each other. However, another structure may be adapted in which the plus
electrode 11a of the AC power source adapter 11 is formed to have such an
enlarged width that allows the contact piece 12a and he discriminating
contact piece 12c to be electrically connected to each other.
The following is an illustrative description of a case where discrimination
information provided by the above-described discriminating means for
discriminating the kind of a power source is employed to control the
operating mode of an electronic apparatus, concretely, a case where such
discrimination information is employed to control the erasing operation of
the electronic apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a case where the present invention is
applied to an electronic camera arranged to record image information or
sound information on concentric tracks of a rotating magnetic disc or
reproduce such information from the same.
This kind of electronic camera needs to have a portable form and it is very
important that such a camera has a small size and a light weight.
Accordingly, it is an indispensable requirement that batteries can be used
particularly during recording, that is, during photography. In addition,
it is necessary to provide the electronic camera with various modes such
as a reproducing mode for reproducing an image recorded on a recording
medium and an erasing mode for erasing unnecessary information recorded on
a track to enable re-recording on the track.
Needless to say, where a battery is used as a power source, it is always
necessary to give consideration to the duration of the battery. In
addition, if the battery is consumed during photography and thus
photographing operation becomes impossible, serious problems may occur;
for example, a photographing chance may be missed or normal recording may
become impossible. For this reason, it is necessary to adopt a treasure
for minimizing the consumption of the battery when it is in use.
Accordingly, each of the present embodiments is arranged to inhibit the
erasing operation itself if it is determined that a battery is in use, by
means of the aforesaid switch S serving as means for discriminating the
kind of a power source, and to allow an erasing operation if electrical
power is supplied through an AC power source adapter connected to a
home-use AC power source and it is, therefore, unnecessary to take account
of power consumption. Such an arrangement is accomplished by noting the
fact that, when an erasing mode for erasing information recorded on a
recording track is selected during the operation of the electronic camera
or the like, the power consumption of the electronic camera increases
since an extremely large amount of current is needed in the erasing mode,
that is to say, it is not preferable to carry out an erasing operation
when a battery is in use, as well as the fact that the erasing operation
is commonly seldom carried out during outdoor photography.
Referring to FIG. 10, a magnetic disc serving as a recording medium is
indicated at D. A disc rotating motor is indicated at 20, and a motor
servo circuit 21 is disposed to control the rotary motion of the motor 20.
A magnetic head 22 is arranged to move back and forth in the radial
direction of the rotating magnetic disc D to effect recording or
reproduction on or from concentric tracks. A head movement mechanism 23 is
arranged to cause the head 22 to move to a desired track position on the
magnetic disc D. A camera section 24 is constituted by an optical system
including a photographing lens, a diaphragm, a shutter, an imaging device
for converting image information photographed by the optical system into
electrical signals, and so forth. A recording signal processing circuit 25
operates under the control of a control signal C.sub.1 supplied from a
system control circuit 29 which will be described later, and is arranged
to effect processings, such as frequency modulation and preemphasis, on
the image information signal output from the camera section 24, convert
the signal into a signal suitable for recording on the magnetic disc D,
and supply the converted signal to the magnetic head 22. A reproduced
signal processing circuit 26 operates under the control of a control
signal C.sub.2 supplied from the system control circuit 29, and is
arranged to convert the image signal which has been reproduced from a
track on the magnetic disc D by the magnetic head 22 into the original
image signal by effecting predetermined signal processings on the produced
image signal, to convert the signal into a signal suitable for supply to a
monitor (not shown), and to output the thus-converted signal to the
monitor. An erasing current supplying circuit 27 operates under the
control of a control signal C.sub.3 supplied from the system control
circuit 29, and is arranged to supply an erasing current to the magnetic
head 22. A mode selector switch 28 is responsive to a control signal
C.sub.4 from the system control circuit 29 for selecting from among the
recording signal processing circuit 25, the reproduced signal processing
circuit 26 and the erasing current supplying circuit 27 in accordance with
each individual mode. The system control circuit 29 provides control, in
accordance with each mode, over the operation of the overall system of the
recording or reproducing apparatus, such- as the head movement mechanism
25, the reproduced signal processing circuit 26, the erasing current
supplying circuit 27, the camera section 24 and the mode selector switch
28. An operating section 30 is constituted by a plurality of operating
buttons (not shown) for giving a command corresponding to each mode to the
system control circuit 29. A display section 31 provides display of the
state of control exerted over the recording or reproducing apparatus by
the system control circuit 29 as well as information associated with each
mode. A reproduced-signal output terminal OUT is disposed to output to an
external circuit the reproduced signal output from the reproduced signal
processing circuit 26.
The above-described switch S for discriminating the kind of a power source
is disposed at an intermediate location on a line for supply of the
control signal C.sub.3 which is output from the system control circuit 29
to control the operation of the erasing current supplying circuit 27.
Accordingly, if a desired mode is selected through the operating section
30, the system control circuit 29 controls the operation of each circuit
to execute setting of a corresponding mode. In accordance with each
selected operating mode, the movement of the magnetic head 22 and the
rotation of the magnetic disc D are controlled and, at the same time, each
control state is displayed at the display section 31.
If the erase mode is selected through the operating section 30, the system
control circuit 29 outputs the control signal C.sub.4 so that the mode
selector switch 28 is connected to the erasing current supplying circuit
27. As described above, if the AC power source adapter 11 is accommodated
in the battery compartment 10 and the switch S is closed, the system
control circuit 29 outputs the control signal C.sub.3 so that the erasing
current supplying circuit 27 is activated to supply an erasing current to
the magnetic head 22, thereby erasing the information recorded on the
track opposing the magnetic head 22. If the battery 1 is accommodated in
the battery compartment 10 and the switch S is opened, no control signal
C.sub.3 is supplied from the system control circuit 29 to the erasing
current supplying circuit 27 so that the erasing current supplying circuit
27 is not activated and the information recorded on the magnetic disc D is
not erased.
Incidentally, in response to the on-off action of the switch S, the display
section 31 displays both what kind of power source is presently
accommodated in the battery compartment 10 and the fact that an erasing
operation is impossible during the use of the battery 1.
For the sake of easy understanding, in the above-described recording or
reproducing apparatus, the operation of the erasing current supplying
circuit 27 is controlled by switching the control signal C.sub.3 applied
from the system control circuit 29 to the erasing current supplying
circuit 27. In the case of an actual circuit design, it is also possible
to easily real | | |
