Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 BAC~GROuND OF THE INVE~TION
2 This invention relates to a display for a
8 record/playback device and, more particularly, to such a
4 display which unambiguously indicates the numker of the
~ particula~ message that has been reached on a
6 bi-directionally movable record medium.
7 The invention disclosed herein is usable with and
8 is an improvement of the invention described in co-pending
9 Canadian patent application Serial No. 469,788 filed December
11, 1984 and assi~ned to the assignee of the present invention. As
11 ¦ described therein, record/playback devices, such as
12 ¦ dictation and/or transcription machines, provide indications
1~ I of messages, such as letters, that have been recorded.
14 ¦ ¦ Typically, a predetermined signal, such as a special tone
15 ¦ signal, referred to generally as a "cue" tone, is recorded
16 under the control of the machine user at the completion of
17 I each message or letter which he dictates. Such cue tones
18 ll are utilized during transcription to control the
19 ¦¦ energization of a light element display to apprise the
20 ¦~ transcriptionist of the relative locations and lengths of
21 1i the respective messages, or letters, that have been
22 1l dictated. ~xamples of liyht element displays of the
23 ! aforementioned type are described generally in ~. S. Patents
24 I Nos. 4,051,540, 4,200,893 and 4,378,577.
2$ I In addition to, or in place of, these light
element displays~ a numerical display may be provided to
27 , indicate the number of the particular message which has been
æ 1. dictated or which now is in position to be played back, as
2g , during transcription or during a review of previously
80l dictated messages. One type of message-number display is
31 ¦I described in copending application Serial No. 469~788
32 1l There, when an end-of-message cue signal, referred to herein
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1 as a letter cue signal, is recorded, numerical information
2 representing the number of messages that had been recorded
8 up until then is updated. This numerical information is
4 selectively accessed and displayed, thus indicating to the
~ user the number of messages, or letters, which had been
6 recorded previously. Thus, if the user has just completed
7 recording message number 3, and has signified the end of
8 that message by recording a letter cue signal, the display
9 will indi~cate "3" when the message number information is
accessed. As the user then records his fourth message,
11 further access of the message number information will,
12 1 nevertheless, result in the display "3". Of course, this
1~ ¦ numerical information is updated once the next ~i. e. the
14 fourth) letter cue signal is recorded.
As also described in the aforementioned copending
, 16 application, cue signals representing the location of
17 jl dictated instructions also may be recorded on the record
18 jj medium. These cue signals are referred to as instruction
19 ¦I cue signals; and the numerical display may be selectively
20 !~ controlled to indicate to the user the number of
21 ij instructions which have been recorded. ~hus, the display
22 1l control arrangement is provided with means for storing
23 1I numerical information representing the number of messages
2~ that have been recorded as well as means for storin~
numerical information representing the number of
26 instructions that have been recorded. Each type of
27 numerical information may be selectively accessed and
2~ 1i displayed.
2g 1, In the display described in the aforementioned
30ll application, a position counter is incremented and
81l~ decremented as the record medium (which, typically, is a
32 I magnetic tape) moves in the forward and reverse directions,
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1 respectively. Cooperating with the record medium transport
2 apparatus is a pulse generator which supplies pulses to a
8 counter that provides a position count representing the
4 position of the record medium relative to a reference
6 location. As an example, if the record medium is a maynetic
6 tape bi-directionally driven between supply and take-up
7 reels, a so-called chopper wheel mechanically coupled to the
8 supply reel generates pulses at a rate corresponding to the
g rotary speed of that supply reel. Hence, the position count
10 I is obtained simply by counting the chopper pulses. When a
11 letter cue signal is recorded, the count then present in the
12 position counter is stored at an addressed location in a
13 memory; and each address is used as the aforementioned
14 numerical information representing the number of the message
that had just been recorded. When the tape is rewound, for
16 example, the position counter is decremented; and when the
17 ~ position count is decremented to a count e~ual to a stored
18 ii end-of-message count, the address at which that
9 ll end-of-message count is stored is utilized to display the
20 ~l number of the letter which has been reached.
21 l~ Similarly, when an instruction cue signal is
' 1, recorded, the count of the position counter is stored as an
23 , instruction count at an addressed memory location, and the
24 address of that location is used to display the number of
the instruction which has been recorded. When the tape is
26 moved to a position at which the instruction cue signal is ¦
27 recorded, the address at which the instruction count is
28 I stored is used to display the number of the instruction
29 j which has been reached.
30 I It had been thought preferable to reset the
81 I aforementioned position counter each time a fresh record
32 1 medium (e. g. a fresh tape cassette) is loaded into the
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l dictation/transcription machine. By resetting the position
2 counter, the position count then will be incremented from a
~ reference ~0000] count as the record medium advances for the
4 purpose of dictation. Such resetting of the position count
~ to [0000] presents no problem if the tape included in the
6 freshly loaded cassette is fully Ie~ound. That i5, if the
7 reference location of the newly-loaded tape corresponds to
the very beginning thereof, the position counter merely will
9 ¦ increment from its 1000O] count and, since the tape cannot
lO I be rewound further, the counter cannot be decremented below
11 , its [0000] count.
12 1 However, ambiguity is introduced into the
13 1 aforementioned message number display if the fresh cassette
14 that is loaded into the dictation/transcription machine
initially is positioned at some arbitrary reference
16 location. That is, if the tape therein is not fully
17 li rewound, the resetting of the position counter to ~0000]
~ does not represent the beginning of the tape. The user may
l9 ¦! dictate one or more messages on the newly-loaded tape,
20 jl resulting in the storage of end-of-message counts and the
21 1I provision of numeriral information representing the number
9~ 1 of each recorded message, as in the manner mentioned above
23 ~i and as more fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent
24 application. As the tape is reve~sed, the position counter
2G is decremented; and when the position count becomes equal to
26 a stored end-of-message count, the address at which that
2~ ! end-of-message count is stored is used to display the number
28 1 f the letter that has been reached. It is possible,
29 ¦~ however, that the user may rewind the tape beyond the
~0 , arbitrary reference location thereof, that is, beyond the
81 j! starting point at which dictation commenced. The position
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~ ¦ counter then will be decremented below its [0000] count
2 ¦ which, as is typical, results in a "roll over" of the count
8 I to a maximum value, such as l9999]. Purther reversal of the
4 ¦ tape results in further decementing of the position CouJlt
from 19999] towards a lower value.
6 A technique that can be used for displaying the
7 number oI the message that has been xeached on the tape is
¦ 8 based upon a comparison of the position count to the stored
9 end-of-message counts. If the position count is greater
~0 than one stored end-of-message count but is less than
11 another, the number of the message which has been reached,
12 I that is, the number of the message then juxtaposed the
1 13 ¦ record/playback transducer of the dictation/transcription
14 ¦ machine, is the number associated with the larger
15 ¦ end-of-message count (i. e. the number of the message is
16 egual to, or derived from, the address at which the larger
~ end-of-message count is st~red). Alternatively, the number
18 , of the message which is displayed may be equal to the number
13 l that is associated with the smaller stored end-of-message
counts plus one (i. e. the displayed message number is equal
21 1 to 1 plus the addréss of the location at which the smaller
22 1 end-of-message count is stored).
23 i, An example of the aforementioned technique for
determining the number of the message which has been reached
is best understood from a numerical example. Let it be
26 assumed that the tape included in a newly-loaded cassette
27 has not been fully rewound but, nevertheless, the position
28 1 count is reset to lO000]. Let it be further assumed that a
29 il first letter cue signal is recorded at a location
30i corresponding to a position count of [950], a second letter
81 ¦I cue signal is recorded at a location corresponding to a
321j count of [1140], and the user presently is in the process of
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- 1 dictating a third message. The position count will be
2 greater than 11140] and, consequently, the message number
8 display, when accessed, will indicate to the user that the
4 tape presently is at a location corresponding to letter ~ 3 n,
6 This is hecause the position count is greater than the
6 last-stored end-of-message count 11140], and this stored
7 end-of-message count is associated with letter "2n. Now, if
8 the tape is rewound such that the position count is
9 decremented to a count less than [1140] but greater than a
0 I! count of [950], the message number display will indicate
11 ¦ that the tape has reached letter "2". with further reverse
12 ¦ movement of the tape, the position count continues to
1~ ¦ decrement; and when this count becomes less than 1950], the
14 ¦ message number "1" is displayed, indicating that the first
16 ¦ message which had been dictated on the tape has been reached
16 ¦ and is juxtaposed the record/playback transducer. Now, if
17 ¦I the tape is further rewound to a location which precedes the
18 1¦ reference location, that is, if the tape is rewound beyond
19 ¦, its starting point, the position count is decremented below
20 ~ [0000] and "rolls over" to a count of [9999]. This count is
21 1I greater than the largest stored end-of-message count [1140]
22 ¦i and, thus, the message number which is displayed is message
æ, 1 number "3". Thus, the user is erroneously apprised that the
24 I third message (which he had been in the process of
dictating) has been reached.
, ~ The foregoing explains the ambiguity which may
occux when the position count normally is reset to a zero
28 1I count [0000] when a cassette is replaced, and the new
- 2g j cassette has not been fully rewound prior to resetting the
~0l position count. This ambiguity may erroneously indicate to
81 l¦ the user that a particular message recorded on the tape has
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1 been reached when, in fact, the tape actually is nowhere
2 near that message.
8 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
4 Therefore, it is an object of the present
6 invention to provide an improved display which overcomes the
6 aforenot~d disadvantages and which unambiguously indicates
7 the actual number of the particular message that has been
8 reached on a record medium.
9 Another object of this invention is to-provide a
message number display for unambiguously indicating the
ll number of the recorded message which is juxtaposed the
12 transducer of a record/playback device.
13 A further object of this invention is to provide a
14 method and apparatus for controlling a message numoer
display of a record/playbac~ device operable with a
16 I bi-directionally movable record medium, even if that medium
17 I is not initially positioned at its beginning locati~n when
~ loaded into the record/playback device.
19 ¦ An additional object of this invention is to
20 i~ provide a method and apparatus for controlling a position
21 1l counter such that it is constrained from providing counts
22 Il resulting in ambiguous indications o~ the number of the
23 1 message that has been reached on a record medium in a device
24 of the aforementioned type.
2$ Various other objects, advantages and features of
26 the present invention will become readily apparent from the
27 ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be
28 ,' particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
29 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
80 l~ In accordance with this invention, a method and
31 li apparatus are provided for unambiguously indicating the
32 ¦, number of the particular message recorded on a
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1 bi-directionally movable record medium that is jw:taposed
2 the transducer of a record/playback device. A position
8 count is incremented and decremented as the record medium
4 moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively, and
~ end-of-message counts representing the location of the end
6 of a message relative to an arbitrary reference location of
~he record medium, and derived from the position count, are
stored. Information representing the number of each message
9 whose end-of-message count is stored also is provided. The
number of the message juxtaposed the transducer is
11 determined as a function of which stored end-of-message
12 1 count is greater than the position count and which stored
1~ ¦ end-of-message count is less than the position count. When
14 ¦ the record medium used by the device is replaced, the
lb ¦ position count is preset to a predetermined count such that,
16 1 regardless of the arbitrary reference location of a new
17 I record medium that is loaded into the device, the position
18 i count will not be decremented below a count of zero when the
19 I record medium moves in the reverse direction to a location
20 , that precedes the reference location.
I As a feature of this invention, the predetermined
æ I count to which the position count is preset is at least
23 I equal to the maximum position count that can be obtained if
24 the record medium is advanced from its very beginning to its
2$ very end.
Preferably, the record medium comprises a fixed
27 length of magnetic tape housed in a cassette and transported
28 between supply and take-up reels.
2g I It is a desirable feature of this invention to
30 , prevent the position count from being decremented below a
~1 1 zero count, which otherwise would result in a "rolled over"
32 ¦ count that would be yreater than any stored end-of-message
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1 ¦ count and that would result i~ a~ erroneous indication of
2 ¦ the number of the message juxtaposed the transducer of the
8 ¦ record/playback device (e. g. if n messages have been
4 ¦ recorded, an erroneous indication that message number
~ ¦ "n ~ l" is juxtap~sed the transducer).
6 ¦ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
7 ¦ The following detailed description, given by way
8 of example, and not intended to limit the invention solely
9 to the illustrated embodiments, should be read in
10 ¦ conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
11 ¦ PIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a front
12 ¦ view of a typical embodiment of the record/playback device
1~ in which the present invention may be used;
14 FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a memory
15 ¦ in which are stored end-of-message counts;
16 ! FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a record
17 ' medium having messages recorded thereon;
18 1, FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of
19 ! memories in which end-of-message counts are stored; and
!I PIG. 6 is a flow chart corresponding to the
21 ¦I programmed set of instructions that are used by processor
22 1i apparatus in accordance with the present invention to
23 ¦, control the operation of the message number display.
24 I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED E~lBODIMENT
~he present invention, to be described, is
26 particularly adapted for use in a portable, battery-operated
27 dictate device, although so-called desk-top dictation/tran-
28 I scription devices may be used with this invention. However,
29 ,l as will be apparent, this invention is equally applicable to
~0 ll a sound recorder that may be used for other applications and
81 l¦ need not be limited solely for use as a dictate machine.
321~ The record/playback device described herein preferably is
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1¦ used with a miniature, thumb-sized, capstan-driven magnetic
2 ¦ tape cassette, such as the tape cassette described in
8 ¦ Canadian Patents 1,1~4,9~4 and 1,194t995.
4 ¦ However, it should be readily appreciated that, if desired,
~ the record/playback device described herein need not be
6 ¦ limited solely for use with magnetic tape cassettes but,
7 rather, may be used with other record media, such as
8 magnetic discs which may be rotatably driven and may be
9 selectively engaged by a magnetic head that is moved in the
forward and reverse directions. Also, the record medium may
11 comprise a bubble-memory device wherein forward and reverse
12 ¦ "movements" are simulated by forward and reverse shifting of
15 ¦ "bubbles" which, as is known, represent information.
14 1 Similarly, the record medium may comprise a solid state
lb ¦ memory "chip" wherein movements are simulated by shifting
16 I the addresses of locations in which digitized information is
17 ¦ written and read. As used herein, the expression ~movable
1~ i record medium" is intended to include the foregoing media
19 I and other analogous media for recording/reproducing or
20 I storing/reading information.
21 1 For convenience, the record/playback device is
22 li described herein in the context of a portable,
23 !I battery-operated dictate machine. As shown in FIG. 1,
device lO is provided with a plûrality of manually operable
2$ controls, plural displays, a microphone 12 (illustrated, as
26 an example, at the upper xight-hand corner of the device)
27 and a speaker 52~ In one embodiment, the manually operable
28 I controls comprise push-button elements, each being
2g selectively operable to control or initiate a corresponding
~0 1I function. Alternatively, these controls may be formed as
81 ¦¦ touch-sensitive switches adapted to produce signals
32 ¦ representing ~he actuation .hereof when touched by the user
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1 I o~ the device. In either embodiment, a respective signal is
2 produced in response to the operation of a corresponding
~ control element, and this signal is produced for so long as
4 that element is operated. Upon release of the element, the
~ signal l:erminates. Suitable push-buttons, switches and the
6 like for pr~viding these functions are conventional and are
7 well known.
8 The displays, identified as displays 40,
9 preferably are formed as LCD display devices which, as is
conventional, require relatively little electrical energy to
ll ¦ provide suitable indications; and, thus, advantageously
12 ¦ impose little drain on the electrical storage battery which
lS ¦ is used to energize device 10. Alternatively, other visual
14 ¦ indicator display devices, such as LED devices,
electroluminescent devices, and the like may be used to
16 implement display 40.
17 I Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be
18 I appreciated that~ in the embodiment described herein, device
19 10 is operable with a removable record medium. As mentioned
above, this record medium preferably comprises a miniature,
21 I thumb-sized tape cassette. On the reverse, or backside of
;¦ device 10 (not shown) there is provided a door to a
23 ¦ cassette-receiving compartment in which the cassette is
¦ contained for operation. A suitable switch (also not shown)
25 1 may be coupled to this door or may be contacted by a
~`26 ¦ cassette loaded into the cassette compartment so as to
produce a suitable signal when the cassette is removed. As
¦ an alternative, this signal may be produced when a fresh
2g 1 cassette is loaded into the compartment. As will be
30 ! described, this signal functions as a "preset~ signal.
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1 The manual controls provided with record/playoack
2 device 10 include various switches, such as pushbutton
8 switches which, for convenience, are referred to merely as
4 buttons. These buttons include a conference record button
6 22, a momentary record button 24, a stop button 26, a
6 rewind/play button 28, a cue/erase button 30, a reset/mode
7 button 32, a fast forward button 34 and a keyboard enable
8 button 36. For convenience, these elements are referred to
9 merely as buttons. In a~dition, a volume adjustment control
knob 38, such as a potentiometer, also is provided.
11 Conference record button 22 and momentary record
12 button 24 are manually operable to dispose record/playback
13 device 10 in the so-called "conference record" and
14 "momentary record" modes of operation, respectively. When
disposed in the conference record mode, the gain in the
16 recording electronics is increased such that device 10 can
17 ¦ be used to record a "conference" among individuals who are
18 I disposed at some distance from microphone 12. In the
19 ¦ momentary record mode, the gain of the recording electronics
20 , is reduced, thus making the pick-up sensitivity of the
21 ¦ device less sensitive. In the momentary record mode, it is
22 ¦ expected that the user will hold device 10 in close
23 ¦ proximity to his mouth. With reduced pick-up sensitivity,
24 am`oient noises will not be recoraed and, thus, such noises
2$ will not interfere with the user's dictation. ~urthermore,
26 the operation of record button 24 establishes the momentary
27 record mode for so long as this button is operated. Upon
28 release of the record button, the mode of device 10 is
2g changed over to an inactive, or stop, mode. ~owever, when
conference record button 22 is operated, the conference
31 record mode is established, and this mode remains "latchedr
32 even when the conference record button is released.
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1 Rewind/play button 28 is adapted, when operated,
2 to dispose device 10 in a rewind mode, whexeby the magnetic
8 tape is driven in the reverse direction at a relatively high
rate of speed. Upon release of button 28, the direction in
~ which th~ tape is driven is reversed, and the rate at which
6 the tape now is moved in the forward direction iB reduced to
q the speed at which information can be played ~ack. It is
8 appreciated that this speed is equal to the speed at which
g the tape is driven when either conference record button 22
or momentary record button 24 is operated. Stop button 26,
11 when operated, functions to change over device 10 from an
12 active mode (e.g. record, play, etc.) to an inactive, or
18 stop mode. It is appreciated that, in this inactive or stop
14 mode, the tape is maintained stationary. I
Cue/erase button 30 is adapted, when operated
16 momentarily, to record a "cue" signal on the magnetic tape
17 and, additionally, to provide a cue indication which
18 represents the location along the tape at which the cue
19 ¦ signal is recorded. This cue indication enables the user to
20 l¦ rapidly move the tape in either the rewind or fast forward
21 modes to the location at which that cue signal is recorded.
: æ Preferably, cue indications representing "letter~ and
23 "instruction" cues, respectively, may be recorded by
selectively operating the cue button. For example, the
"letter" cue indication is provided, and a corresponding
26 "letter~ cue signal is recorded, upon a single momentary
27 operation of cue button 30. This designates the end of a
28 letter, or message, or segment of dictation, that has been
recorded. Upon a repeated momentary operation of the cue
button within a predetermined time period, for example, if
81 the cue button is operated twice within a period of 1
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1 ¦ second, an "instruction" c~e is indicated and recorded to
2 ¦ designate the location of a recorded instruction.
8 ¦ As will be described below, display 40 includes a
4 ¦ plural-digit (e.g. a 3-digit) numerical display 42 which
~ ¦ normally functions as a tape counter to provide a numerical
6 ¦ indication of the amount of tape which has been transported,
7 ¦ thereby repres~nting the present position of the tape.
~ ¦ ~eset/mode button 32 is adapted, when operated,or pushed for
9 ¦ a prolonged period of time, to reset numerical display 42.
10 ¦ When the reset/mode button is operated momentarily, the
11 ¦ information displayed by numerical display 42 is changed
12 ¦ over, or toggled, to display the number of the letter, or
18 ¦ message that has been recorded~ and/or the number of the
1~ ¦ particular letter or message which is in position to be (or
15 ¦ is in the process of being) played back. Also, if device 10 _
16 ! is in its record or fast forward or rewind mode, numerical
17 1 display 42 displays the number o~ the instruction that has
lg ! been recorded or that has been reached, respectively.
19 ~ast forward button 34, when operated, functions
to dispose device l~ in its fast forward mode in which the
æl magnetic tape is transported at a relatively rapid speed in
22 the forward direction. In this mode, when the tape has been
23 transported to the end of a letter (or message) or to a
24 location at which an instruction had been recorded, the tape
26 transport provided in device 10 is temporarily interrupted
26 so as to npause" at that location and the number of the next
2~ letter or of the instruction which has been reached is
28 displayed. Hence, the tape may be rapidly transported to
29 the beginning of a letter or an instruction. Similarly, the
tape may be rapidly transported in the reverse direction to
81 a letter or instruction upon the operation of rewindiplay
32 button 28. ~hat is, when device lO is disposed in the
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1 ¦ rewind mode of operation, the tape is rapidly rewound until
2 ¦ the end of a letter (or message) or the location at which an
8 instruction had been recorded is reached, whereupon the tape
4 transport "pauses" thereat and the number of the next letter
~ or of the instruction is displayed.
6 ~nable button 36 functions in a manner analogous
~ to a POW~ ON switch. Device 10 is provided with a
8 ¦ programmed microprocessor which is responsive to the
9 ¦ selective actuation of the illustrated control buttons to
10 ¦ control both the operation of the device and the information
11 ¦ displayed by display 40. The manner in which this
12 ¦ microprocessor operates is described in detail in copending
13 ¦ application Serial No. 469~788- When not in use, device 10
14 and the microprocessor therein are disposed in a dormant, or
non-operating condition. When the device is to be opera~ed
16 by the user, enable button 36 is operated so as to change
17 ¦ over the device from itc dormant condition to an inactive
18 ¦ mode, thus awaiting subsequent actuation of a control
I 19 ¦ button. As will be described below, when device 10 is
20 ¦ disposed in its inactive mode, which corresponds to a "stop"
21 ¦ mode, both the device and the microprocessor will change
22 ¦ over to the dormant condition automatically if no active
23 ¦ mode is initiated within a predetermined time period.
æ4 ¦ Stated otherwise, when the device is disposed in its stop
25 1 mode it will revert to its dormant condition unless
26 ¦ conference record button 22, momentary record button 24,
27 ¦ rewind/play button 28 or fast forward button 34 is operated
28 ¦ within the aforementioned time period. The operation of
¦ enable button 36 will bring the microprocessor out of the
~0 1 dormant condition.
31 ¦ As mentioned above, display 40 is provided with a
32 ¦ plural-digit numerical display 42. As one example thereof,
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1 ¦ numerical display 42 may be comprised of a 3-digit display,
2 ¦ each digit being represented by a 7-segment LCD element or
8 other conventional visual indication numerical display
¦ device. This numerical display is adapted to be incremented
~ ¦ and decremented as the tape is driven so as to provide a
6 ¦ numerical indication of the amcunt of tape which has been
7 ¦ transported.
8 ¦ Display 40 also is provided with a bar graph, or
9 ¦ index, display 44, a "record/play~ indicator 45, and a
10 ¦ rletter/instruction" indicator 48. Bar graph display 44 is
11 ¦ comprised of a plurality of individual elements or segments,
12 such as LCD segments, which are adapted to be selectively
13 energized to provide an indication of the approximate
14 quantity of tape which has been transported, thereby
1~ providing a bar graph display of the present position of the
16 ¦ tape. As an example, if bar graph display 44 is formed of
17 ¦ ten segments, each segment may represent approximately 10
18 I of the overall length of tape; and as successive tape is
19 1I transported in the forward direction, additional ones of
20 ¦! segments 44 are energized. Preferably, the segments which
21 11 comprise the bar graph display are selectively energized to
22 1 provide a left~to-right shiftiny effect when device 10 is
23 ,I disposed in the fast forward mode; and these segments are
24 , energized to provide a right-to-left shifting effect when
26 the device is disposed in its rewind mode.
26 "Record/play" indicator 46 is adapted to be
27 energized to display REC when device 10 is disposed in its
28 ~ record mode and to display PLAY when the device is disposed
i in its playback mode. This provides the user with an
~0 indication of the particular mode of operation in which the
device is disposed. "Letter/instruction" indicator 48 is
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1 adapted to display LTR when a letter cue signal is recorded
2 and to display INS when an instruction cue signal is
8 recorded. Also, upon the momentary operation of reset/mode
4 but~on 32, the indication LT~ is displayed together with a
B numerical indication by display ~2 to indicate the number of
~ the paxticular letter then juxtaposed the recordJplayback
7 head of device 10. Additionally, when the record medium
8 with which device 10 is used is rewound or advanced rapidly
9 to the end of a previously recorded letter, or to a
previously recorded instruction, the indication LTR or INS,
11 respectively, and the number of that letter or instruction
12 which has been accessed are displayed.
13 In the preferred embodiment, the record medium
14 which i5 used with device 10 is a capstan-driven cassette
having a magnetic tape which extends between supply and
16 take-up reels. ~ single, bi-directional two-speed motor is
17 provided to drive the capstan and, also, to drive supply and
18 take-up reel spindles, respectively. A relatively simple
19 transmission, such as a belt-drive, is used to couple the
motor to the capstan and also to the supply and take-up reel
21 spindles. Preferably, suitable clutches are provided in the
22 spindles to permit the tape to be bi-directionally driven
between the reels.
24 A pinch roller is mounted on a movable device,
referred to herein as an actuator, in a manner
26 similar to that described in U.S. patent 4,547,821.
27 During record and play modes of operation, the actuator is
energized such that the pinch roller fully engages the
capstan, thereby "pinching" the tape therebetween. The
800 capstan is driven by energizing the motor in the forward
81 direction, thereby transporting the tape from the supply
32 reel to the take-up reel. A suitable record/playback head
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1, ,~1
1 als~ i5 m~unted on the actuator so as to be in good magnetic
~ contact with the tape when the pinch roller is engaged.
$ Consequently, information may be recorded on or played back
from the tape by this head.
~ As described in copending application Serial No.
6 469,788, when letter cue signals are recorded, the
7 instantaneous count of the tape counter, also referred to
8 herein as a position counter, is stored in an addressed
9 location of a letter cue memory. ~As a simplified example,
the position count is stored in the fixst addressable
11 location of the letter cue memory when the first letter cue
12 signal is recorded, thus resulting in the storage of an
13 end-of-message count which represents the location of the
14 end of the first message. After the user completes his
dictation of the second message, another letter cue signal
16 is recorded; and the position count is stored as an
17 end-of-message count in the second addressable location of
18 the letter cue memory. A similar operation is carried out
19 for the third, fourth, and other end-of-message counts.
Thus, the particular address at which an end-of-message
21 count is stored represents the number of the message
associated with that stored end-of-message count.
23 ¦ A schematic representation of a letter cue memory
24 ¦ 14 in which are stored five separate end-of-message counts
25 ¦ is illustrated in PIG. 2. As a numerical example, position
26 ¦ count ~950] is stored at address 1, position count ~114~] is
2~ 1 stored at address 2, and so on, as illustrated.
28 ¦ As will be explained, the letter cue memory
29 ¦ location addresses serve as information representing the
80 ¦ number of the message whose end-of-message count is stored
gl ¦ at that address. This information, the memory location
32 address, is used to display the number of the message then
I ..
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~ 331-2230
1 ¦ juxtaposed the transducer of the record/playback device,
2 ¦ that is, the num'oer of the message that has been reached.
8 ¦ One te~hnique for displa~ing the number of the message that
4 ¦ has been reached is aescri`oed in copending application
5 ¦ Serial No. 469,788. Another technique that can be used to
6 ¦ display the number of the message that has been reached is
7 ¦ based upon a determination of which stored end-of-message
8 ¦ count is less than the instantaneous position count and
9 ¦ which stored end-of-message count is greater than that
10 ¦ position count. If the position count is represented as x,
11 ¦ then the end-of-message counts that are stored in the
12 ¦ respective cue memory addresses are read out in sequence
13 ¦ and each end of-message count is compared to position count
14 ¦ x. When it is determined that x is greater than'the
15 ¦ end-of-message count read out of one address location but is
16 ¦ less than the end-of-message count read out from the next
17 ¦ address location, it is concluded that the number of the
18 l message then juxtaposed the transducer is the message
19 ¦ associated with the larger end-of-message count. The
2N ¦ address at which is stored this larger end-of-message count
21 is displayed as the num`oer of the message that has been
22 reached.
23 As an alternative, the difference between x and
24 1 each stored end-of-message count that is greater than x is
25 ¦ sensed and the address at which is stDred the
26 ¦ end-of-message count having the smallest difference is used
27 ¦ to indicate the number of the message that has been reached.
28 ¦ As yet another alternative, each stored
29 ¦ end-of-message count is read out from letter cue memory 14
and is compared tD x. ~he address of the memory location at
~1 which is stored the last end-of-message count that is less
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~ r~ 1 331-2230
1 ¦ than x is incremented by 1 and used to display the number of
2 ¦ the message that has been reached.
8 ¦ In accordance with any of the foregoing
4 ¦ alternatives, if it is assumed that x equals [1400~, this
6 ¦ position ccunt is compared to each of the end-of-message
6 ¦ counts stored in letter cue memory 14. It is seen that, in
7 1 accordance with this example, x is greater than the
8 ¦ end-of-message count stored at address 3, but x is less than
9 ¦ the end-of-message count stored at address 4. ~ence, it is
10 ¦ concluded that some portion of message "4" is juxtaposed the
11 ¦ transducer and address 4 is displayed as the number of
12 ¦ the message which has been reached.
13 ¦ ~IG. 3 is a schematic representation of a length
14 ¦ of magnetic tape 20 upon which five messages have been
15 ¦ recorded with letter cue signals designating the ends of
16 ¦ those messages recorded at locations corresponding to
17 position counts 195D], [1140], [1375], [1590] and [1750],
18 consistent with the schematic representation of the letter
19 cue memory of PIG. 2. It is, of course, recognized that the
; position count may be an actual count that is obtained by a
21 counter which counts chopper pulses that are generated as
22 magnetic tape 20 is driven, and as described more
23 ¦ particularly in copending application Serial No.469~788.
24 ¦ Normally, when a cassette is removed from the
2$ ¦ recc~rd/playback device or when a fresh cassette is loaded
26 ¦ thereinto, the tape position counter is reset to an initial
27 ¦ count [0000]. This automatic resetting may be achieved by a
2B ¦ suitable switch that is opened upon the removal of the
29 ¦ cassette or that is closed upon the insertion of a fresh
30 ¦ cassette. Although no ambiguity in the number of the
31 ¦ message that is displayed will occur if the position counter
32 ¦ is reset to [0000] at the very beginning of the magnetic
i ~ 3~
1 tape, that is, if the tape of a fresh cassette i.s fully
2 rewound before being loaded into the device, ambiguity may
8 result in the display of the message number if magnetic tape
4 20 has been partially rewound, or partially used, prior to
its loading into the record/playback device. Let it be
6 assumed that, as shown in FIG. 3, an arbitrary reference .
7 location is assumed by the magnetic tape at the time that it
8 is loaded into the device. Hence, although a portion of the
9 ¦ tape already has been transported from its supply reel to
10 ¦ its take-up reel, the position counter nevertheless is reset
11 ¦ to a count of [ODOD] when the cassette is loaded into the
12 ¦ device, this count identifying the reference location of the
18 I magnetic tape, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Let it be further
~4 ¦ assumed that tape 20 is transported in the usual manner, and
15 ¦ that letter cue signals are recorded at locations
16 I represented by end-of-message counts [9S0~, [1140], and so
17 l, on, as is also illustrated.
18 ,' So long as magnetic tape 20 is not rewound to a
19 ¦~ location that precedes reference location 1000O], a proper
20 ii display of the message then juxtaposed the transducer will
21 I be pro~ided, as discussed above. ~owever, if tape 2~ is
22 I rewound sufficiently, the position count will decrement to
23 il the count 10000] and then will reach the count l9999] from
24 i which it will be further decremented. Thus, after passing
25 ¦ beyond the reference location of tape 20, the instantaneous
26 1 count of the positiDn counter will exceed the maximum
2~ ¦ end-of-message count that is stored in letter cue memory 14.
28 ¦ When this greater positioll count is compared to the
29 i end-of-message counts read out from the letter cue memory, ¦
~01I the message number determining operation will erroneously
~1 j conclude that the tape is at some position downstream of the
82 location corresponding to end-of-message count,11750], and
i' I
~ 21-
I ~Jl~
~ ;4~ 1
1 it will conclude that message "6" has been reached. Thus,
2 even though the tape merely has been rewound to a location
8 that precedes the reference location, the message number
4 display, if accessed, will indicate that message r6" is
~ juxtaposed the transducer.
6 The foregoinq ambiguity is removed by the present
7 invention in which, rather than reset the position counter
8 to the count ~0000] when a cassette is replaced (i. e. when
9 a previously used cassette is removed or when a fresh
cassette is loadedJ, the present invention proceeds by
11 presetting the position count to a predetermined count which
12 cannot be decremented to [0000] even if the entire length of
13 tape 20 is rewound. Thus, if tape 20 had been fully wound
14 onto the take-up reel at the time it is loaded into the
record/playback device, thus re~uiring the full length of
16 tape to be rewound, the preset position counter, although
17 ¦ decremented, will not be decremented below the count [0000].
18 1! Hence~ the position count will not "roll over"; and an
19 1l ambiguous indication of the number of the message that has
20 1I been reached on tape 20 will not occur.
21 1~ ~efore describing the manner in which the
22 (, microprocessor that is used with display 40 operates,
23 il reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which schematically
24 represent other embodiments of a.letter cue memory 16 or a
letter/instruction cue memory 18. In the FIG. 4 embodiment,
26 in addition to storing each end-of-message count at a
27 respective addressed location, the number of the message
28 whose end is represented by the stored count also is stored
2g 1, in the same ~or associated~ memory address. Thus, when an
30 ¦~ end-of-message count is read out from memory 16 r the number
~ of the letter associated with that count also is read out.
32 When using the embodiment of PIG. 4, the read-out message
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:
1 "~ '31
1 ¦ number (referred to as a letter count) may be used in place
2 ¦ f the memory address to indicate the number of the ~essage
that has been reached. The schematic illustration in FIG. 5
4 of cue memory 18 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4,~except
~ that in the FI~. 5 embodiment each addressable location
6 stores, in addition to a tape count~ the number of the
7 message or instruction that is associated with that ~ape
8 ! count. For example, in the first addressable location of
9 ¦ cue memory 18, the end-of-message count 1950] is stored,
lO I together with a letter count 18Ll which, in this example,
~l represents that the end of the first message is recorded at
12 position L950]. Similarly, in the second addressable
l~ location of cue memory 18 is stored the count ~1140]
14 together with a letter count lBL2. This letter count lBL2
~5 represents that the end of the second message (or l~tter~ is
16 ¦, recorded at position count [1140]. -
1 17 1 The count 1l250] is stored at the third
18 ¦ addressable location of cue memory lB, and this position
l9 ¦ count is associated with an instruction count 18Il which
represents that the first instruction is recorded at
21 j` position 1125~}.
22 1 In similar manner, letter count lBL3 is stored at
23 ~ the same address as position count [1375], representing that
24 I the end of the third message is recorded at this position;
2$ and instruction lBI2 is recorded at the same address as
26 position count [1450], representing that this is the
27 location at which the second instruction is recorded.
2~ 1 Alternatively, the letter or instruction counts may be
29 '` stored at addresses which are associated (e. g. linked) with
80 , the addresses at which the position counts are stored. When
; 81 ll the e~bodiment shown in FIG. 5 is used, the number of the
32 ~ message that is associated with a stored end-of-message
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331-2230
' 1''`'''~'',~
1 ¦ count or, alternati~ely, the number of an instruction that
2 ¦ is associated with a stored position count, is read out and
8 I used to display the number of the message (or letter) or the
4 ¦ number of the instruction that has been reached. It is
~ ¦ appreciated that the number of the message or instruction is
6 ¦ determined as a function of the comparison between the
7 ¦ instantan20us position count and the counts stored in cue
8 ¦ memory lB. If one end-of-message count is greater than the
9 ¦ instantaneous position count and the next successive
end-of-message is less than the position count, the message
11 number associated with the gxeater end-of-message count is
12 ¦ utilized to indicate the number of the message which has
18 ¦ been reached.
14 I Turning now to the flow chart shown in PIG. 6, it
15 ¦ will be appreciated that only the relevant portion of the
16 ¦ overall program of the microprocessor is described. This
17 ¦I microprocessor may be similar to the one described in
18 ¦~ cop~nding application Serial No.469r7E8~ and the overall
19 ,¦ proyram thereof may be similar to that shown in FIG. 2 of
20 1, that application. This overall program is referred to in
21 ~1, FIG. 6 as main loop 60. PIG. 6 also illustrates the routine
æ 1, that, for example, may be en~ered from the main loop, this
23 ;, routine serving to avoid ambiguities in determining the
24 ¦ particular number of the message which is juxtaposed the
2~ ¦ record/playback transducer. The routine shown by the flow
26 I chart in FIG. 6 may be executed periodically, for example,
27 ¦ once during each cycle of main loop 60, or the routine may
28 !I be executed more or less often, as may be desired. The
' !
2g , periodicity of the execution of this routine need not be
~0 I dependent or contingent upon the occurrence of other events
81 I but, rather, may simply be designed into the microprocessor
32 program.
' -24-
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1 In the routine shown in FIG. 6, inquiry 62 first
2 is made as to w}-ether a cassette ~or other record medium)
8 has been removed from the record/playback device. If this
~ inquiry is answered in the aflirmative, the routine advances
6 to instruction 64 whereat the position counter is preset to
6 a predetermined count. As one numerical example, if the
7 record/playback device is used with a cassette having a
8 fixed length of tape on which thirty minutes of dictation
9 may be recorded, it is expected that less than 2,048 chopper
pulses will be generated if the entire length of tape is
11 ~ transported. Thus, by presetting the position counter to a
12 , count of [2048], it is recognized that, even if the entire
lS length of tape is rewound, the position counter will not be
14 decremented below the count [0000~. It is to be noted here
that the position counter should have a counting capacity
16 i sufficient to be incremented to a count of [4096]. More -
17 !~ generally, the position counter should be able to be
18 l incremented to a count that is twice the preset count.
19 " Hence, if a fresh cassette happens to be fully rewound
~0 1I before being loaded into the device, the counter can be
~1 il incremented from its preset count to a count of, for example
22 1 ~4096], or twice the preset count, when the entire length of
23 1, tape is transported.
24 ' After presetting the position counter, or if
25 I inquiry 6~ is answered in the negative, the routine advances
2~ ~ to inquiry 66 to determine if a chopper pulse transition has
2~ occurred. A chopper pulse transition is represented as a
2~ transition from a binary "l" level to a binary "o~, or vice
29 ' versa, in the voltage output generated from the chopper
~0 wheel that, as described above, preferably is mechanically
81 ll coupled to the supply reel drive spindle of the
32l, record/playback device. Xf a chopper pulse transition has
I
!
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_ . 1 ' ., ... U
~ l''`','li~il
1 not occurred, the routine returns to main loop 60. ~owever,
2 if a chopper pulse transition is present, the routine
~ advances to inquiry 68 to determine if the tape is
4 transported in the forward or reverse direction.
6 If tape is being transported in the forward
6 direction, the position counter is incremented, as at 70;
7 and this position counter is decremented, as at 72, if tape
8 is being transported in the reverse direction. After the
9 counter is incremented or-decremented, the routine advances
10 ¦ to instruction 74 (which may comprise a set of
11 ¦ instructions), whereat the position count is compared to the
12 ¦ end-of-message counts stored in the cue memory, as discussed
13 ¦ above. Then, depending upon which end-of-message count is
14 ¦ greater than the position count and which end-of-message
15 ¦ count is less than the position count, the appropriate
16 i number of the letter that has been reached is displayed, as
17 1 at 76. The routine then returns to main loop 60.
18 ! It is recognized that the position counter is
19 I preset to the predetermined count of, for example, 2,048 (or
20 1 greater), when a cassette has been removed from the
21 , record/playback device. If a cassette has not been removed,
22 1I this preset operation is not carried out. As an
23 ,1 alternative, the position counter may be preset to the
24 j predetermined count when a fresh cassette is loaded into the
i 26 I device. ln either embodiment, it is sufficient if the
26 ! position counter is preset to the predetermined count before
2~ any forward movement of tape is initiated. It isl
2~ appreciated, therefore, that other means may be used to
Z9 I preset the position counter accordingly. Although
~0 conventional switches or other sensing devices responsive to
the removal or insertion of a cassette may be relied upon,
32,' other means, such as a forward movement sensor, a sensor
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l ~ ~ ~r~ l 331-2230
1 responsive to the first chopper pulse generated when t~pe
2 moves in the forward direction, a sensor responsive to a
~ control button which commands ~orward tape movement, or the
4 like, may be used.
6 While the present invention has been particularly
6 shown and described with reference to a preferred
7 embodiment, it will be readily appreciated that various
8 changes and modifications may be made without departing from
g the spirit and scope of the invent1on. For example, other
record media may be used with this invention, such as a
11 magnetic disk, a bubble memory, a solid-state semiconductor
12 memory, or the like. Also, the position counter may be
lS preset to any desired count, provided that this count will
~4 not be decremented below a zero count if the entire length
1~ of record medium is rewound. Further, any suitable means,
16 ¦ such as, but Dot limited to, those described above may be
17 I used to preset the position counter, as when the record
~ medium is removed from or loaded into the record/playback
l9 I device, or at any other suitable time. While this careful
preset operation preferably should be carried out
21 I automatically, manual means may be provided for presetting
22 ~ the counter, such as, in addition to those described above,
23 ¦ the manual operation of the enable button.
24 It is intended that the appended claims be
interpreted as including the foregoing as well as other
26 chaDges and modifications.
29 1'
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