Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
203327b
AN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CD AUDIO PLAYER TO PLAYBACK CD ROM
BtICS~ROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a data reproducing
apparatus suitable for use in a CD (compact disc) recording and
reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces, for example,
a digital audio signal. More particularly, this invention relates
to a digital data recording disc control method which is suitably
applied to a digital data recording disc called a CD ROM (read
only memory).
Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an apparatus called a CD ROM apparatus has
been developed as a digital data reproducing apparatus for
program data and so on for computers. This CD ROM apparatus is
- adapted to record a variety of digital data such as program data
and so on on a disc with a similar standard to that of a compact
disc on which a digital audio signal is recorded and is used as a
read only memory (ROM). The CD ROM apparatus is composed of a
disk-shaped CD ROM having predetermined data stored therein and a
disc drive apparatus as a data reproducing apparatus. According
to this CD ROM apparatus, it is possible to store an extremely
large amount of data.
However, this CD ROM apparatus requires an exclusive disc
drive apparatus in addition to a CD player for reproducing a
digital audio signal. One for the CD ROM apparatus is
constructed so as to enable a high speed access to an arbitrary
track such that necessary data can be promptly taken out, and is
generally expensive compared with the relatively inexpensive CD
reproducing apparatus for reproducing a digital audio signal.
OBJECTS AND SUl~'2A.RY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
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provide an improved data reproducing apparatus in which the
aforenoted shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art can be
eliminated.
More specifically, it is an object of the present invention
to provide a data reproducing apparatus in which necessary data
can be read out at speed equal to or higher than that of an
exclusive digital data reproducing apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
data reproducing apparatus in which various reproducing apparatus
such as a digital audio signal reproducing CD (compact disc)
player and so on can be utilized as a digital data reproducing
apparatus which reproduces computer program data or the like.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a data
- reproducing apparatus is comprised of a reproducing section for
reproducing digital data and whose reproducing state is
controlled by a signal transmitted in a wireless fashion to
thereby output reproduced data as digital data, and a control
section for transmitting a reproducing position information to
the reproducing section in a wireless fashion and decoding the
digital data from the reproducing section such that, when it is
determined that the data is necessary data, the data is stored in
the control section, wherein a track number information near the
position in which the necessary data is recorded is transmitted
from the control section to the reproducing section by a wireless
signal to thereby reproduce the necessary data.
The preceding, and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments to be read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
are used to identify the same or similar parts in the several
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2~33~~fi
views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a first
embodiment of a data reproducing apparatus according to the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of an
example of an infrared ray signal, and to which reference will be
made.in explaining the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a data format of a CD-ROM,
and to which references will be made in explaining the present
invention;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart to which references will be made in
explaining an operation of the first embodiment of the present
. invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of another
example of the infrared ray signal, and to which reference will
be made in explaining an operation of a second embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the
data reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a flowchart to which references will be made in
explaining an operation of the third embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the
data reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a flowchart to which references will be made in
explaining an operation of the fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 10 is a diagram of frequency spectrum of signals of a
video disc, and to which references will be made in explaining a
fifth embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus according to
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the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the fifth embodiment of
the data reproducing~apparatus according to the present
invention;
Fig. 12 is a flowchart to which references will be made in
explaining an operation of the fifth embodiment; and
Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a seventh embodiment of
the data reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will hereinafter be described in
detail with reference to the drawings.
In Fig. 1 which shown a first embodiment of the present
invention, reference numeral I designates a CD player, and this
CD player 1 is adapted to reproduce a CD on which a digital audio
signal has been recorded, wherein a digital audio signal
reproduced from a CD carried on a CD holder 2 is converted to an
analog audio signal which is output from an analog audio signal
output terminal 3, and the audio signal is reproduced from a
speaker of an audio equipment (not shown) connected to this CD
player 1. Also, this CD player l is provided with a digital
signal output terminal 4, such~that a digital signal reproduced
from the CD is directly output from this digital signal output
terminal 4. For. example, by connecting this digital signal
output terminal 4 with an audio equipment provided with a digital
signal input terminal, an audio signal in the form.of digital
signal is transmitted the amplifier side, to thereby suppressress
deterioration in reproduced sound quality at minimum.
This CD player I is provided with an infrared ray signal
receiving section 5 such that a variety of reproducing controls
:~.....
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20~32'~~
can be performed by receiving an infrared ray signal emitted from
a remote commander (not shown). That is, a variety of controls,
such as indication of a reproduction start position, a pause, a
fast forward, a playback stop and so on can be performed by a
track number and an index number. For example, it is constructed
in a manner that a reproduced track number is indicated by an
infrared ray signal from the remote commander to start a
reproduction of a music on the indicated track. In this case,
when a reproduction start position has been indicated by a track
number and an index number, information of a track named TOC
(Table of Contents) in the innermost periphery of a disc is read,
address positions of the indicated track number and index number
are determined, an optical pickup head is moved to the address
- positions of these track number and index number, and the
location of the indicated track number and index number is
reproduced.
Fig. 2 shows an example of the infrared ray signal output
from the remote commander.
As shown in Fig. 2, assuming that a sequence of infrared ray
signals output by an operation is one packet, this one packet has
one cycle of 45 milliseconds which is repeated three times and an
off-interval is composed of 150 milliseconds. In each cycle, a
guide pulse (a synchronizing signal), a data code and an
apparatus code are output, and the same signals are output in
each cycle. In this case, a CD player is indicated by the
apparatus code, and a variety of control data such as the track
number, the index number and so on are transmitted by the data
code.
In this embodiment, the digital signal output terminal 4 of
this CD player 1 is connected to a CD ROM control apparatus 10,
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and the CD player I and the CD ROM control apparatus 10
constitute a CD ROM drive apparatus. This CD ROM control
apparatus 10 supplies a digital signal output from the digital
signal output terminal 4 of the-CD player I to its serial-to-
parallel (S/P) converter 11, and digital serial data reproduced
from a disk is converted to parallel data by this serial-to-
parallel converter 11.
The thus converted parallel data. is supplied to a descramble
circuit 12. In the descramble circuit 12, reproduced data is
descrambled on the basis of a control of a central control
apparatus 15, and the descrambled reproduced data is.supplied to
a subcode detecting circuit 13 and a data memory 14. In the
subcode detecting circuit 13, subcode information is detected
from reproduced data supplied thereto, and the detected subcode
information is supplied to the central control apparatus 15
formed of a microcomputer. Also, the condition that reproduced
data is stored in the data memory 14 is controlled by the central
control apparatus 15, and stored data is supplied to this central
control apparatus 15. Further, the central control apparatus 15
is connected with an infrared ray signal emitting section 16, and
a predetermined infrared ray signal is~output from this infrared
signal emitting section 16 under the control of the central
control apparatus 15. In this case, the infrared ray signal
emitting section 16 is placed at a position from which an emitted
infrared ray signal reaches the infrared ray signal~receiving
section 5 of the above-mentioned CD player l, and from-the
infrared ray signal emitting section 16 of this CD ROM,control
apparatus 10, control signals such as a track number~indicating a
track to be reproduced from a disc, an index number and so on,
''~; are output in a condition as shown in Fig. 2.
Predetermined data stored in the data memory 14 of the CD
ROM control apparatus 10 is supplied to a predetermined data
processing apparatus (not shown) for performing a variety of data
processing.
By the above construction, the CD player 1 and the CD ROM
control apparatus 10 function as a CD ROM drive apparatus by
placing a CD ROM on which necessary data is recorded on the disc
holder 2 of the CD player 1.
An operation of this embodiment in which the present
invention is utilized as the CD ROM drive apparatus will be
described hereinafter.
A data recording mode of the CD ROM will be described first.
Since a CD ROM has a very large data recording capacity, a
- plurality of data may be recorded, wherein each data is recorded
in a region corresponding to a digital audio data recording area
on a CD in a similar block format to digital audio data. More
specifically, showing an example of a recording format of the CD
ROM in Fig. 3, data is divided into a plurality of blocks and
recorded, and 75 blocks are formed on a recording track of a one-
second portion. One second in this case corresponds to the
length of a one-second portion of a recording track in the case
of recording digital audio signal as data. Each block is formed
of 2352 bytes, wherein in each block first 12 bytes are assigned
to a synchronizing signal, and the next four bytes are assigned
to a header. In this header, address information (minute, second,
sector) of a recording sector and recording mode information are
recorded. The next 2048 bytes are assigned to an arbitrary data
recording area, four bytes subsequent to this data recording area
are assigned to an error detecting code, the next eight bytes are
assigned to a space, and thereafter, the last four bytes are
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2033276
assigned to an error correcting code. Incidentally, data except
for the synchronizing signal in each block is descrambled in a
predetermined manner and recorded. First predetermined bytes
including the header are called the subcode, and address
information included in this subcode enables a search as will be
described later. The address information included in this
subcode is constructed in a similar manner to the case of a CD on
which a digital audio signal is recorded as data.
In this example, track numbers are assigned to recording
tracks of a CD ROM at predetermined intervals (not limited to
equal interval), and if necessary, an index number is assigned to
each track number at a predetermined location of the track,
wherein address information on the track numbers is recorded on a
- track referred to as TOC in the innermost periphery.
An operation of reading out data thus recorded on a CD ROM
will be explained with reference to a flowchart forming Fig. 4.
First, record address information for each data is recorded
on a predetermined track on a CD ROM or on a separate floppy
disk, and the central control apparatus 15 for controlling read-
out operation of the CD ROM judges this data record address
information, indicates an address of necessary data, and has the
necessary data read out. That is, by the central control
apparatus 15 of the CD ROM control apparatus 10, when
predetermined data is required to be read from a CD ROM loaded on
the CD player 1, an address position at which this data has been
recorded is judged. Since the CD player 1 of this embodiment can
indicate reproduction start position by means of the track number
and index number, an information of the track number and the
index number including an address at which each data has been
recorded is included in record address information for each data.
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When these track number and index number have been judged,
track number data is output from the infrared ray signal emitting
section 16 under instruction of the central control apparatus 15
as shown in the flowchart of Fig. 4. When the infrared ray
signal receiving section 5 of the CD player 1 receives this track
number data, a control section of this CD player 1 moves the
optical pickup head to the address of a track number indicated on
the basis of address information on the track number recorded on
the TOC track. If it is necessary to indicate an index number,
index number data is subsequently output from the infrared ray
signal emitting section 16. When the infrared ray signal
receiving section 5 of the CD player 1 receives this index number
data, in this CD player 1 searches a track of a number at which
the optical pickup head is currently positioned is searched from
the head thereof, the number of index signals is counted, it is
determined whether or not the counted value coincides with an
indicated value of an index number, and repeats the search until
this counted value coincides. When the counted value has
coincided, it is determined to be the concerned index number, and
the location of this index number is reproduced.
When the location of the indicated track number and index
number is thus reproduced, all reproduced digital data is output
from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1, and
the CD ROM control apparatus 10 is supplied with the reproduced
digital data In this CD ROM control apparatus 10, subcode
information is detected from the reproduced digital data by the
subcode detecting circuit 13, the detected subcode information is
supplied to the central control apparatus 15, and the address of
the reproduced location is checked by address information
included in this subcode information. Simultaneously, a parity
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check is also performed. Then, it is determined whether or not
the detected address of the reproduced location is the recording
address (sector) of necessary data. At this time, if it is not
the address of the concerned sector, reproduction is continued
until the address of the concerned sector is detected.
Incidentally, if a fast forward reproduction can be indicated by
an infrared ray signal, this fast forward reproduction can be
indicated to skip so as to promptly reach the address at which
necessary data has been recorded.
When the address of a sector on which necessary data has
been recorded is detected, reproduced data at that time is
descrambled by the descramble circuit I2 and stored in the data
memory l4 under the control of the central control apparatus 15.
The header of the read data is verified, and when verified, it is
judged that data read has been correctly performed. This data is
supplied to a predetermined data processing apparatus (not shown)
under the control of the central control apparatus 15, and a
predetermined operation is performed based on the read data.
When the data read has been correctly performed, a stop of a
reproducing operation is indicated to the CD player 1 by an
infrared ray signal to stop the reproducing operation. Whereas,
when the header of the read data has not been verified, it is
judged that the data read has not been correctly performed, and
the operation is repeated from the indication of the track number
and the index number by transmitting again the infrared ray
signal. When the reading of data cannot be correctly performed
with this control operation repeated a plurality of times, an
occurrence of trouble is displayed.
Thus, according to this embodiment, data can be read from a
CD ROM by the use of the CD player 1 for reproducing a digital
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2033216
audio signal. In this case, since necessary data recording area
is searched by the use of a search function for the track number
and the index number by an infrared ray signal from a remote
commander provided for the ordinary CD player 1, a special search
function for data read is not necessary, whereby a variety of CD
players available on the market can be used as a disk drive
apparatus for the CD ROM apparatus.
Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example
of using a CD player having a search function for the track
number and the index number has been explained. However, in the
case of using a CD player capable of directly indicating an
absolute reproducing position in minute, second and sector by an
infrared ray signal, as the CD player 1, a location at which
- necessary data has been recorded may be immediately reproduced
by outputting an infrared ray signal for indicating an address in
minute, second and sector indicative of the location at which the
necessary data has been recorded directly from the infrared ray
signal emitting section 16 of the CD ROM control apparatus 10.
More specifically, as, for example, shown in Fig. 5, as the
infrared ray signal output from the infrared ray signal emitting
section 16 of the CD ROM control apparatus 10, one packet is
composed of eight cycles (one cycle is 45 milliseconds), wherein
a starting code is transmitted in the first three cycles, data
indicative of minute, second and sector are transmitted at each
cycle of the next three cycles, and a check code and an end code
are transmitted in the last two cycles. When the infrared ray
signal receiving section 5 of the CD player 1 receives this
infrared ray signal, a control section of this CD player 1
directly moves the optical pickup head to the address position
indicated by the infrared ray signal, and the location indicated
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by the track number and the index number is reproduced. In this
case, it is possible to judge whether or not a control has been
correctly performed by judging subcode information in reproduced
data by the central control apparatus 15 of the CD ROM control
apparatus 10. Incidentally, if the subcode information in the
reproduced data can be output from the digital signal output
terminal 4 even during a search for an indicated track, and if
this reproduced data in course of search is judged by this
central control apparatus 15 of the CD ROM control apparatus 10,
a highly accurate disk reproducing control operation can be
performed from the side of the CD ROM control apparatus 10. By
thus construction, a time for searching a location at which
necessary data has been recorded can be reduced.
- Also, in the above-described embodiment, a CD ROM apparatus
is used, however, it is possible to apply to a ROM apparatus
using a digital audio signal recording area of a video disk. In
this case, a video disk player provided with a digital audio
signal output terminal may be connected to the CD ROM control
apparatus 10 instead of a CD player. Further, other digital
signal reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio tape
recorder and so on may be used.
According to the above embodiment of the present invention,
a variety of reproducing apparatus such as a CD player for
reproducing a digital audio signal, the reproducing condition of
which can be controlled by wirelessly transmitting an infrared
ray signal or the like, can be used as a digital data reproducing
apparatus for program data for computer and so on, and a digital
data reproducing apparatus can be constructed by using existing
apparatus at a low cost. In this case, by wirelessly
transmitting information on an absolute position at which
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necessary data has been recorded to a reproducing section and
reproducing the necessary data, the necessary data can be
immediately derived, whereby a high speed data read can be
achieved which bears comparison with the exclusive digital data
reproducing apparatus.
A third embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention will hereinafter be described
with reference to Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, like parts corresponding to
those of Fig. 1 are marked with the same references and therefore
need not be described in detail.
Referring to Fig. 6, the CD player 1 is adapted to reproduce
a CD on which a digital audio signal has been recorded, wherein a
digital audio signal reproduced from a CD carried on the CD
- holder 2 is converted to an analog audio signal which is output
from then analog audio signal output terminal 3, and the audio
signal is reproduced from a speaker of an audio equipment (not
shown) connected to this CD player 1. Also, this CD player 1 is
provided with the digital signal output terminal 4, such that a
digital signal reproduced from a CD is directly output from this
digital signal output terminal 4. For example, by connecting
this digital signal output terminal 4 with an audio equipment
provided with a digital signal input terminal, an audio signal in
the form of digital signal is transmitted to the amplifier side,
to thereby suppress deterioration in reproduced sound quality at
minimum.
This CD player 1 is provided with the infrared ray signal
receiving section 5 such that a variety of reproducing controls
can be performed by receiving an infrared ray signal emitted from
a remote commander (not shown). For example, in a certain
reproducing apparatus, a variety of controls, such as indication
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of a reproduction start position, a pause, a fast forward, a
playback stop and so on can be performed by a track number and an
index number. In other reproducing apparatus, a control of a
reproducing start position can be directly performed by a command
indicative of an elapsed time (minute, second and sector) from
the head of the reproduction. The types of this control are
different with the types of reproducing apparatus. For example,
in the case of reproducing apparatus whose operation can be
controlled by the track number, it is constructed in a manner
that a reproduced track number is indicated by an infrared ray
signal from the remote commander to start a reproduction of a
music on the indicated track. Further, in the case of
reproducing apparatus whose reproduction start position can be
- designated by the elapsed time, the command of minute, second and
sector can be issued by the infrared ray signal from the remote
commander. In this case, when a reproduction start position has
been indicated by a track number and an index number, information
on a track named TOC (Table of Contents) in the innermost
periphery of a disc is read, address positions of the indicated
track number and index number are determined, an optical pickup
head is moved to the address positions of these track number and
index number, and the location of the indicated track number and
index number is reproduced.
The format of the infrared ray signal output from the remote
commander is similar to that of Fig. 2, and let us explain this
format one more time for understanding the third embodiment more
clearly.
As shown in Fig. 2, assuming that a sequence of infrared ray
signals output by an operation is one packet, this one packet has
one cycle of 45 milliseconds which is repeated three times and an
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off-interval is composed of 150 milliseconds. In each cycle, a
guide pulse (a synchronizing signal), a data code and an
apparatus code are output, and the same signals are output in
each cycle. In this case, a CD player is indicated by the
apparatus code, and a variety of control data such as the track
number, the index number and so on are transmitted by the data
code.
In the case of the CD player 1, the absolute reproducing
position of minute, second and sector of which can be designated
directly, as, for example, shown in Fig. 5, as the infrared ray
signal output from the infrared ray signal emitting section 16
of the CD ROM control apparatus 10, one packet is composed of
eight cycles (one cycle is 45 milliseconds), wherein a starting
- code is transmitted in the first three cycles, data indicative of
minute, second and sector are transmitted at each cycle of the
next three cycles, and a check code and an end code are
transmitted in the last two cycles.
A protocol (signal format) of the thus arranged infrared
ray signal is different with the types of reproducing apparatus
(mainly because of different manufacturers) even when the same
control operation is performed, and Figs. 2 and 5 illustrate one
example thereof.
In the third embodiment, the digital signal output terminal
4 of this CD player 1 is connected to the CD ROM control
apparatus 10, and the CD player 1 and the CD ROM control
apparatus 10 constitute the CD ROM drive apparatus. This CD ROM
control apparatus 10 supplies a digital signal output from the
digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1 to its
serial-to-parallel (S/P) converter 11, and digital serial data
reproduced from a disk is converted to parallel data by this
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serial-to-parallel converter 11. The thus converted parallel
data is supplied to the descramble circuit 12. In the descramble
circuit 12, reproduced data is descrambled on the basis of a
control of the central control apparatus 15, and the descrambled
reproduced data is supplied to the subcode detecting circuit 13
and the data memory 14. In the subcode detecting circuit 13,
subcode information is detected from reproduced data supplied
thereto, and the detected subcode information is supplied to the
central control apparatus 15 formed of a microcomputer. Also,
the condition that reproduced data is stored in the data memory
14 is controlled by the central control apparatus 15, and stored
data is supplied to this central control apparatus 15. Further,
the central control apparatus 15 is connected with with the
infrared ray signal emitting section 16, and a predetermined
infrared ray signal is output from this infrared ray signal
emitting section 16 under the control of the central control
apparatus 15. In this case, the infrared ray signal emitting
section 16 is placed at a position from which an emitted infrared
ray signal reaches the infrared signal receiving section 5 of the
above-mentioned CD player 1, and the infrared ray signal emitting
section 16 of this CD ROM control apparatus 10 generates a
control signal indicative of the reproducing mode of the disc.
Particularly, in the third embodiment, a control data
storing section 17 is connected to the central control apparatus
15, and various infrared ray signals for controlling various CD
playersare stored beforehand in this control data storing section
17. More specifically, a control signal for indicating the
absolute reproducing start position by minute, second and sector
and a control signal for indicating the reproducing start
position by the track number and the index number are stored in
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the control data storing section 17 in the form of a plurality of
protocols (signal formats). An infrared ray signal receiving
section 18 is connected to the control data storing section 17,
whereby the infrared ray signal received by the infrared ray
signal receiving section 18 is stored in the control data storing
section 17 by a predetermined operation.
Predetermined data stored in the data memory 14 of the CD
ROM apparatus 10 is supplied to a predetermined data processing
apparatus (not shown) which therefore performs various data
processings.
In the thus made arrangement, when a CD ROM on which
necessary data has been stored is loaded on the disc holding
portion 2 of the CD player 1, the CD player 1 and the CD ROM
- control apparatus 10 can function as the CD ROM drive apparatus.
An operation in which the present invention is used as the
CD ROM drive apparatus will be described hereinafter.
Explaining the condition that data is recorded in the CD
ROM, since a CD ROM has a very large data recording capacity, a
plurality of data may be recorded, wherein each data is recorded
in a region corresponding to a digital audio data recording area
on a CD in a similar block format to digital audio data. More
specifically, showing an example of a recording format of the CD
in Fig. 3, data is divided into a plurality of blocks and
recorded, and 75 blocks area formed on a recording track of a
one-second portion. One second in this case corresponds to the
length of a one-second portion of a recording track in the case
of recording digital audio signal as data. Each block is formed
of 2352 bytes, wherein in each block first 12 bytes are assigned
to a synchronizing signal, and the next four bytes are assigned
to header. In this header, address information (minute, second,
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sector) of a recording sector and recording mode information are
recorded. The next 2048 bytes are assigned to an arbitrary data
recording area, four bytes subsequent to this data recording area
are assigned to an error detecting code, the next eight bytes are
assigned to a space, and thereafter, the last four bytes are
assigned to an error correcting code. Incidentally, data except
for the synchronizing signal in each block is descrambled and
recorded. First predetermined bytes including the header are
called the subcode, and address information included in this
subcode enables a search as will be described later. The address
information included in this subcode is constructed in a similar
manner to the case of a CD on which digital audio signal is
recorded as data.
- In this example, track numbers are assigned to a recording
track of a CD ROM at predetermined intervals (not limited to
equal intervals), and if necessary, an index number is assigned
to each track number at a predetermined location of the track,
wherein address information on the track numbers is recorded on a
track referred to as TOC in the innermost periphery.
An operation of reading out data thus recorded on a CD ROM
will be explained. First, record address information for each
data is recorded on a predetermined track of a CD ROM or on a
separate floppy disk, and the central control apparatus 15 for
controlling read-out operation of the CD ROM judges this data
record address information, indicates an address of necessary
data, and has the necessary data read out. That is, by the
central control apparatus 15 of the CD ROM control apparatus 10,
when predetermined data is required to be read from a CD ROM
loaded on the CD player 1, an address position at which this data
has been recorded is judged. In this embodiment, information of
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the track number and the index number including the address in
which each data is recorded is included in recording address
information for each data.
When the address on which necessary data have been recorded
(minute, second, sector, track number and index number) has been
judged, the infrared ray signal emitting portion 16 derives an
infrared ray signal on the basis of a command from the central
control apparatus 15. At that time, the infrared ray signal
emitting portion 16 forms the infrared ray signal on the basis of
control data of predetermined protocol stored in the control data
storing section 17 and outputs infrared ray signals in the
sequential order of control systems by which necessary data can
be read out at highest speed.
- As shown in a flowchart forming Fig. 7, data indicative of
minute, second and sector which enables the disc to be controlled
with highest accuracy is emitted from the infrared ray signal
emitting section 16 as an infrared ray signal. When the infrared
ray signal receiving section 5 of the CD player 1 receives the
data indicative of minute, second and sector, if the CD player 1
is of such type that the reproducing position can be controlled
by minute, second and sector, the optical pickup head is moved to
the address of the minute, second and sector instructed to
reproduce the CD from the designated position. Then, reproduced
digital data output from the digital signal output terminal 4 of
the CD player 1 is supplied to the CD ROM control apparatus 10.
In this CD ROM control apparatus 10, subcode information is
detected from the reproduced digital data by the subcode
detecting circuit 13 and the detected subcode information is
supplied to the central control apparatus 15, whereby an address
of a reproducing portion is checked on the basis of address
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information included in this subcode information. At that time,
when the subcode detecting circuit 13 detects the same address as
the address designated by the infrared ray signal, the central
control apparatus 15 determines that the CD player 1 connected
can control the reproducing position on the basis of minute,
second and sector. Then, under the control of the central
control apparatus 15, reproduced data at that time is descrambled
by the descramble circuit 12 and stored in the data memory 14.
The header of the stored data is confirmed, and if confirmed, it
is determined that the read-in of the data has been correctly
performed, and this data is supplied to a predetermined data
processing apparatus (not shown) under the control of the central
control apparatus 15 which therefore performs a predetermined
- operation based on the read-out data. Then, at a timing point in
which data is stored in the data memory 14 correctly, a command
for stopping the reproducing operation is given to the CD player
1 by the infrared ray signal and the CD player 1 stops its
reproducing operation. When data is read out hereinafter, the
minute, second and sector are instructed by the infrared ray
signal of the protocol provided at that time.
If the same address as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal is not detected from the subcode information
of the reproduced data (including a case that reproduced data is
not obtained), it is determined that the CD player 1 connected is
of such type which cannot be operated even when the minute,
second and sector are instructed by the infrared ray signal of
the protocol at that time. Then, an infrared ray signal of other
control system in which a search speed is high is emitted from
the infrared raysignal emitting portion 16. More specifically,
data of the same protocol indicative of minute and second is
2033276
output from the infrared ray signal emitting portion 16 as an
infrared ray signal.
When the infrared ray signal receiving section 5 of the CD
player 1 receives this data indicative of minute and second, if
the CD player 1 is of such type that the reproducing position can
be controlled by the minute and second, the optical pickup head
is moved to the address of the instructed minute and second and
starts the reproduction from the instructed position, whereby
reproduced digital data from the digital signal output terminal 4
of the CD player 1 is supplied to the CD ROM control apparatus
10.
When the same address as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal is detected from the address information
- involved in the subcode information detected from the reproduced
digital data in the CD ROM control apparatus 10, the central
control apparatus 15 determines that the CD player 1 connected is
of such type that the reproducing position can be controlled by
the minute and second. Thus, after the sector on which necessary
data has been recorded is reproduced, under the control of the
central control apparatus 15, reproduced data at that time is
descrambled by the descramble circuit 12 and stored in the data
memory 14. After the header is confirmed, this data is supplied
to the predetermined data processing apparatus (not shown) under
the control of the central control apparatus 15, whereby the
predetermined data processing apparatus performs a predetermined
operation based on the read-out data. At a timing point in which
data is stored correctly, the CD player 1 is commanded to stop
its reproducing operation by the infrared ray signal and the
reproduction operation thereof is stopped. When data is read out
hereinafter, the minute and second are instructed by the infrared
21
2033276
ray signal of the protocol provided at that time.
If the same address as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal is not detected from the subcode information
of the reproduced data (including a case that reproduced data is
not obtained), it is determined that the CD player 1 connected is
of such type that it cannot be operated even when the minute and
second are instructed by the infrared ray signal of the protocol
provided at that time. Then, an infrared ray signal of other
control system in which a search speed is high is output. To be
more concrete, data of the same protocol indicative of minute is
output from the infrared ray signal emitting section 16 as an
infrared ray signal. When the infrared ray signal receiving
section 5 of the CD player 1 receives the data indicative of
- minute, if the CD player 1 is of such type that the reproducing
position thereof can be controlled by the minute, the optical
pickup head is moved to the address of the minute instructed and
the reproduction operation is started from the instructed
position, whereby reproduced digital data output from the digital
signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1 is supplied to the CD
ROM control apparatus 10.
When the same address as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal is detected from the address information
involved in the subcode information detected from the reproduced
digital data in the CD ROM control apparatus 10, the central
control apparatus 15 determines that the CD player 1 connected is
of such type that the reproducing position thereof can be
controlled by the minute. Then, after the address of second and
sector on which necessary data has been recorded is reproduced,
under the control of the central control apparatus 15, reproduced
data at that time is descrambled by the descramble circuit 12 and
22
2033276
stored in the data memory 14. After the header is confirmed,
this data is supplied to the predetermined data processing
apparatus (not shown) under the control of the central control
apparatus 15 and a predetermined operation is performed on the
basis of the read-out data. Then, at a timing point in which
data is stored correctly, a command for stopping the reproducing
operation is given to the CD player 1 through the infrared ray
signal and the reproducing operation is stopped. When data is
read out hereinafter, the minute is instructed by the infrared
ray signal of the protocol provided at that time.
If the same address as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal is not detected from the subcode information
of the reproduced data (including a case that reproduced data is
- not obtained), it is determined that the CD player 1 connected is
of such type which cannot be operated even when the minute is
instructed by the infrared ray signal of the protocol provided at
that time. Then, an infrared ray signal of other control system
in which a search speed is high is output. That is, data of the
same protocol indicative of track number and index number is
emitted from the infrared ray signal emitting section 16 as an
infrared ray signal. When the infrared ray signal receiving
section 5 of the CD player 1 receives data indicative of track
number and index number, if the CD player 1 is of such type in
which the reproducing position can be controlled on the basis of
track number and index number, the optical pickup head is moved
to the address of the track number which is instructed on the
basis of information of TOC track. Also, the index signal in the
track of the index track number are searched and counted from
its head by the number instructed by the index number, and the
reproduction is started from the position at which the count
23
-- 20332 76
value coincides with the index number, whereby reproduced digital
data from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1
is supplied to the CD ROM apparatus 10.
When addresses of track number and index number instructed
by the infrared ray signal are detected from address information
involved in the subcode information detected from the reproduced
digital data in the CD ROM apparatus 10, it is determined by the
central control apparatus 15 that the playback position of the CD
player 1 connected can be controlled on the basis of the track
number and the index number. Then, after the reproduction
proceeds to the address at which the necessary data is recorded,
under the control of the central control apparatus 12, data
reproduced at that time is descrambled by the descramble circuit
12 and read in the data memory 14. After the header is
confirmed, this data is supplied to a predetermined data
processing apparatus (not shown) under the control of the central
control apparatus 15 and the data processing apparatus performs
the predetermined operation on the basis of the read-out data.
At time point in when the data is read in correctly, a
reproduction stop command is supplied to the CD player 1 by the
infrared ray signal and the reproduction operation of the CD
player 1 is stopped. When the data is read out from now on,
according to the protocol at that time, the track number and the
index number are taught by the infrared ray signal.
When address the same as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal cannot be detected from the subcode
information of the reproduced data (including the case that the
reproduced data cannot be obtained), it is determined that the CD
player 1 connected is of the type such that it cannot be operated
by the track number and the index number instructed by the
24
w 2033276
infrared ray signal of the protocol at that time. Therefore, an
infrared ray signal of other control system is output. In other
words, data of the same protocol and which shows only the track
number is output from the infrared ray signal emitting section 16
as an infrared ray signal. When the infrared ray signal
receiving section 5 of the CD player 1 receives the data
indicative of the track number, if the CD player 1 is of the type
such that the reproduction position thereof can be controlled by
the track number, the optical pickup head is moved to the
position of the address of the track number instructed on the
basis of the information of the TOC track and the data is
reproduced from that position. Then, the reproduced digital data
from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1 is
- fed to the CD ROM control apparatus 10.
When the address of the track number instructed by the
infrared ray signal is detected from the address information
involved in the subcode information detected from the reproduced
digital data by the CD ROM control apparatus 10, it is determined
by the central control apparatus 15 that the CD player 1
connected is of the type such that the reproduction position
thereof can be controlled by the track number. Then, after the
reproduction proceeds to the address in which necessary data is
recorded, under the control of the central control apparatus 15,
reproduced data at that time is descrambled by the descramble
circuit 12 and is read in the data memory 14. After the header
is confirmed, this data is supplied to the predetermined data
processing apparatus under the control of the central control
apparatus 15, whereby the predetermined operation is carried out
on the basis of the read-out data. Then, at the time point when
the data can be read in correctly, the reproduction operation
2033276
stop command is supplied to the CD player 1 by the infrared ray
signal and the reproduction operation of the CD player 1 is
stopped. When data is read out from now on, the track number at
that time is instructed by the infrared ray signal according to
the protocol at that time.
When the address the same as the address instructed by the
infrared ray signal cannot be detected from the subcode
information of the reproduced data (including the case such that
reproduced data is not obtained), it is determined that the CD
player 1 connected is of the type such that it cannot be operated
even if the track number is instructed by the infrared ray signal
of the protocol at that time. If the CD player 1 connected is
not operated at all, all operations of minute, second, sector,
track number and index number according to the same protocol are
disabled and it is considered that the CD player 1 connected is
of the type such that it can be operated by an infrared ray
signal of other protocol (signal format). Accordingly, a control
signal of other protocol stored in the control data storage
section 17 is read out to the central control apparatus 15, and
on the basis of the control signal of the read-out protocol, the
instruction of minute, second and sector, the instruction of
minute and second, the instruction of minute, the instruction of
the track number and the index number and the instruction of the
track number are sequentially performed by the infrared ray
signals. If the CD player 1 connected is operated by the
infrared ray signal of any one of the above-mentioned
instructions, then data is read out by the infrared ray signal of
the protocol and the control system at that time from now on.
If the CD player 1 connected is not operated at all by the
infrared ray signals of the respective control systems of the
26
2033216 -
protocol at that time, then a control signal of other protocol is
further read out from the control data storage section 17, and
the above-mentioned instructions are sequentially performed by
the infrared ray signals of the respective control signals on the
basis of the control signals of the read-out protocols. These
operations are repeated until the protocol and the infrared ray
signal of the control system by which the CD player 1 connected
is operated.
When the CD player 1 is not operated by the infrared ray
signals of all the protocols stored in the control data storage
section 17, a remote commander belonging to this CD player 1 is
operated to output various kinds of infrared ray control signal
such as minute, second, sector, track number, index number and so
- on toward the infrared ray signal receiving section 18 of the CD
ROM control apparatus 10 whereby these infrared ray control
signals are stored in the control data storage section 17. Then,
on the basis of the signal systems stored, the central control
apparatus 15 generates infrared ray signals which are output from
the infrared ray signalemitting section 16.
As described above, according to this embodiment, data can
be read out from the CD ROM by utilizing the digital audio signal
reproducing CD player 1. In that case, since necessary data
recording areas are searched by utilizing various search
functions effected by the infrared ray signals from the remote
commander prepared for the standard CD player 1, special search
function for reading-out data is not needed and hence, various CD
players available on the market can be utilized as the disk drive
apparatus of the CD ROM apparatus.
In this embodiment, since the search operation of the
necessary data recording area is arranged such that control
27
2033276
systems which can be operated by the CD player 1 connected are
sequentially searched and the earliest control system can be
automatically determined, data are automatically searched while
the control ability of the CD player 1 is demonstrated as much as
possible. Further, since infrared ray signals of a plurality of
protocols are sequentially output, the infrared ray signals can
be suitably applied to CD players of various kinds of protocols
with the result that the kinds of CD players connected are not
limited. Furthermore, if the protocol of the infrared ray signal
of the CD player connected is not stored in the control data
storage section 17, then the corresponding signal is stored in
the control data storage section 17 by utilizing the infrared ray
signal receiving section 18, thereby coping with the above-
mentioned disadvantage.
While the infrared ray signal of other protocol is
transmitted after the infrared ray signals of respective control
systems of the same protocol are sequentially transmitted as
shown in the flow chart of Fig. 7 in the above-mentioned
embodiment, the infrared ray signal is transmitted by the control
system that can be searched earliest while only the protocols are
sequentially changed and then the infrared ray signal is
transmitted by the control system that can be searched next while
only the protocols are sequentially changed. While in the above
embodiment,the CD ROM apparatus is made, the present invention is
not limited thereto and can be applied to a ROM apparatus by
utilizing a digital audio signal recording area of the video
disk. In that case, instead of the CD player, a video disk
player having a digital audio signal output terminal may be
connected to the CD ROM apparatus 10. If such video disk player
is connected to the CD ROM apparatus 10, the search operations at
28
2033276
the unit of minute, second and frame (one frame is a thirtieth of
a second) are possible so that the search operation for obtaining
necessary data can be effected at high speed. Furthermore, the
present invention can be applied to other digital signal
reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio tape recorder and
so on.
As set forth above, according to the third embodiment,
since various reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio
signal reproducing CD player whose reproducing condition can be
controlled by way of wireless transmission of infrared ray rays
or the like are employed as the digital data reproducing
apparatus which reproduces computer program data or the like, the
digital data reproducing apparatus can be made inexpensive by
utilizing the existing apparatus. In that case, since the
control system or the protocol used to reproduce the position in
which necessary data is recorded by means of the wireless signal
is sequentially changed, data reproducing apparatus of various
control systems and various protocols can be utilized as the
digital data reproducing apparatus. Also, since the controllable
systems are sequentially searched for in the earliest order, the
search of data can be automatically performed while the control
ability of the reproducing apparatus connected is demonstrated as
much as possible.
A fourth embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention will hereinafter be described
with reference to Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, like parts corresponding to
those of Fig. 6 are marked with the same references and therefore
need not be described in detail.
Referring to Fig. 8, the CD recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 is adapted to reproduce the CD in which the digital
29
- w 2033216
audio signal is recorded and to record the digital audio signal
on the CD. The digital audio signal reproduced from the CD held
on the CD carrying section 2 is converted into the analog audio
signal and this analog audio signal is delivered through the
analog audio signal output terminal 3, whereby the audio signal
is reproduced from a speaker of an audio appliance (not shown)
connected to this CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1.
Further, this CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is
provided with the digital signal output terminal 4 and the
digital signal reproduced from the CD is directly delivered
through this digital signal output terminal 4. For example, this
digital signal output terminal 4 is connected to an audio
appliance having a digital signal input terminal, whereby the
- audio signal is transmitted to the amplifier side in the form of
the digital signal, thus the deterioration of the quality of the
reproduced sound being suppressed to the minimum.
This CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is provided
with the infrared ray signal receiving section 5 and various
reproduction modes can be controlled by receiving the infrared
ray signal emitted from the remote commander.
Further, this CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is
provided with a digital signal input terminal 6, and the digital
audio signal supplied to this digital signal input terminal 6 can
be recorded on a predetermined recording disc. Furthermore, by
an information of a predetermined format supplied to the digital
signal input terminal 6, the CD recording and reproducing
apparatus 1 can be controlled in various manners. By way of
example, by supplying address information converted into digital
data to the digital signal input terminal 6 from the outside, an
address on the disc and which is instructed by the address
2033276
information can be reproduced. In that case, this address
information is converted into data by the format similar to that
of subcode data recorded on the CD and is fed to the digital
signal input terminal 6.
In this embodiment, the digital signal output terminal 4 of
the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is connected to the
CD ROM control apparatus 10, and the CD recording apparatus and
the CD ROM control apparatus 10 constitute the CD ROM drive
apparatus. In the CD ROM control apparatus 10, the digital
signal from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD
recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is supplied to the serial-
to-parallel converter 11, and digital serial data reproduced from
the disc is converted into parallel data by the serial-to-
- parallel converter 11. The thus converted parallel data is fed
to the descramble circuit 12. In the descramble circuit 12, the
reproduced data is descrambled on the basis of the control of the
central control apparatus 15, and the descrambled reproduced data
is supplied to the subcode detecting circuit 13 and the data
memory 14. In the subcode detecting circuit 13, a subcode
information is detected from the reproduced data supplied
thereto, and the detected subcode information is supplied to the
central control apparatus 15 which is formed of the
microcomputer. The writing of reproduced data in the data memory
14 is controlled by the central control apparatus 15, and the
thus stored data is fed to the central control apparatus 15.
The central control apparatus 15 is connected with an
address generating circuit 26, and this address generating
circuit 26 generates a predetermined address signal under the
control of the central control apparatus 15. In that case, the
address generating circuit 26 is a circuit by which an address
31
203327b
information is converted into data according to the format
similar to that of the subcode data recorded in the CD. The
address signal generated by the address generating circuit 26 is
encoded by a subcode encoder 27 in a predetermined manner and the
thus encoded digital signal is supplied to a mixer 28.
In Fig. 8, reference numeral 29 designates a recording
digital data input terminal. Digital data (digital audio signal
or the like) supplied to the recording digital data input
terminal 29 is supplied to the mixer 28, in which the subcode
data supplied thereto from the subcode encoder 27 and the
recording digital data are mixed together. Output data from the
mixer 28 is supplied to the digital signal input terminal 6 of
the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1.
- Then, the predetermined data read out from the CD recording
and reproducing apparatus 1 and stored in the data memory 14 of
the CD ROM control apparatus 10 is supplied to a predetermined
data processing apparatus (not shown) which performs various data
processings.
In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, the CD
ROM in which necessary data are stored is held on the disc
carrying section 2 of the CD recording and reproducing apparatus
1, whereby the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 and the
CD ROM control apparatus 10 are able to function as the CD ROM
drive apparatus.
An operation of the data reproducing apparatus shown in Fig.
8 will be described next, in which case the data reproducing
apparatus of the present invention is utilized as the CD ROM
drive apparatus.
The data recording state of the CD ROM will be explained
first. Since the data recording capacity of the CD ROM is very
32
2033276
large, a plurality of data are stored in the CD ROM, and each
data is recorded on the CD at its position corresponding to the
digital audio data recording area in the form of a block
arrangement similar to that of the digital audio data. In that
case, the recording format of the CD ROM is the same as that
shown in Fig. 3 and therefore need not be explained herein.
Then, an operation in which the data recorded on the CD ROM
is read out will be explained with reference to a flowchart
forming Fig. 9.
The recording address information of each data is recorded
on the CD ROM at its predetermined track or on another floppy
disk. Then, the central control apparatus 15 which controls the
read-out of the CD ROM judges the data recording address
- information and instructs the address of necessary data so that
necessary data is read out from the CD ROM. More specifically,
when predetermined data must be read out from the CD ROM held on
the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1, the central control
apparatus 15 of the CD ROM apparatus 10 judges the address
(minute, second and sector) in which this data is recorded, as
shown in the flowchart of Fig. 9.
If the recording address is determined, on the basis of the
instruction issued by the central control apparatus 15, data of
the determined address is generated by the address generating
circuit 26. Then, the thus generated address data is encoded
into subcode data by the subcode encoder 27 and is transmitted to
the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 through the digital
signal input terminal 6.
When this address data is supplied to the CD recording and
reproducing apparatus l, the control section of the CD recording
and reproducing apparatus 1 moves the optical pickup head to the
33
2033276
address (minute, second and sector) instructed on the basis of
the address information recorded on the subcode area of the disc
and causes the optical pickup head to reproduce the corresponding
position on the disc. In other words, the optical pickup head
reproduces the disc at its portion in which the subcode, which
provides the same address information as the address information
supplied from the CD ROM control apparatus 10.
When the portion of the address instructed is reproduced as
described above, all reproduced digital data are output from the
digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD recording and
reproducing apparatus 1 and the reproduced digital data is
supplied to the CD ROM control apparatus 10. In the CD ROM
control apparatus 10, the subcode information is detected from
- the reproduced digital data by the subcode detecting circuit 13,
and the detected subcode information is supplied to the central
control apparatus 15, whereby the address of the reproduced
portion is checked on the basis of the address information
involved in this subcode information. Simultaneously, the parity
check is performed. Then, it is determined whether the address
of the reproduced portion is the recording address (sector) of
the necessary data or not.
When the address of the sector in which the necessary data
is recorded is detected, under the control of the central control
apparatus 15, reproduced data at that time is descrambled by the
descramble circuit 12 and read in the data memory 14. Then, a
header of the thus read-in data is confirmed, and if the header
is confirmed, it is determined that the read-in of the data can
be carried out correctly. Then, this data is supplied to the
predetermined data processing apparatus (not shown) under the
control of the central control apparatus 15, whereby the
34
-- 2033275
predetermined operation is carried out on the basis of the read-
out data. When the data is read-in the data memory 14 correctly,
data instructing the stop of the reproduction operation is
transmitted through the digital signal input terminal 6 to the CD
recording and reproducing apparatus 1 so that the reproducing
operation of the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1 is
stopped. Further, if the header of the thus read-in data is not
confirmed, it is determined that the data is not correctly read
in the data memory I4, and the address is again instructed by the
transmission of the address.information: If the data cannot be
read in the data memory 14 correctly after the control operation
is performed a plurality of times, the occurrence of abnormal is
displayed.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the data
can be read out from the CD ROM by utilizing the CD recording and
reproducing apparatus I which records and reproduces the digital
audio signal. In that case, since the control information used
to search the necessary.data recording area is supplied to the CD
recording and reproducing apparatus 1 via the digital signal
input terminal 6 of the CD recording and reproducing apparatus 1,
special search function for reading-out the data. is not needed,
and various kinds of'CD recording and reproducing~apparatus can
be utilized as the disc drive~apparatus of the CD ROM apparatus.
While the above embodiment the CD ROM apparatus is made,
the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied
to a ROM apparatus in which a digital audio signal recording area
of the video disc is employed. In that case, instead of the CD
recording and reproducing apparatus, a video disc recording and
reproducing apparatus having digital~audio signal input and
;output terminals may be connected to the CD ROM control apparatus
.r.....,..,..~..~
2033276
10. Further, other digital signal recording and reproducing
apparatus such as a digital audio tape recorder and so on may be
utilized.
According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention,
various reproducing apparatus such as the digital audio signal
reproducing CD recording and reproducing apparatus can be
utilized as the digital data reproducing apparatus which
reproduces computer program data or the like, thus the digital
data reproducing apparatus being constructed by utilizing the
existing apparatus. In that case, if the absolute position
information in which necessary data is recorded is transmitted in
the form of digital data to thereby reproduce the necessary data,
whereby necessary data can be obtained immediately. Therefore,
the data can be read out at high speed equal to or higher than
that of the exclusive digital data reproducing apparatus.
A fifth embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter.
In this embodiment, the data reproducing apparatus of the present
invention is applied to a video disk reproducing apparatus.
Conventionally, it is proposed that various digital data are
recorded in the video disc in which the digital audio signal can
be recorded similarly to the CD so that the video disc can be
utilized as a video disc ROM apparatus. More specifically, as
shown in Fig. 10, an audio signal FM-modulated to the band lower
than the video signal recording band is recorded in the video
disc and an audio signal digitally converted to the lower band is
also recorded therein. This digitally converted audio signal has
the same content as that of the FM-modulated audio signal and the
digital signal having the format substantially the same as the
recording format of the CD is recorded. When the data
36
2033276
reproducing apparatus is employed as the above-mentioned video
disc ROM apparatus, various digital data are recorded instead of
the digital audio signal.
An arrangement of the fifth embodiment of the data
reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will
hereinafter be explained with reference to Fig. 11. In Fig. 11,
like parts corresponding to those of Fig. 6 are marked with the
same references and therefore need not be described in detail.
As shown in Fig. 11, the video disc player 1 is adapted to
reproduce the video disc in which the video signal and the analog
audio signal or the digital audio signal is recorded. The video
signal reproduced from the video disc held on the video disc
carrying section 2 is output from an video signal output terminal
- 3V, and the reproduced digital audio signal is converted into the
analog audio signal and delivered through an analog audio signal
output terminal 3A, thereby fed to a video apparatus (not shown)
connected to the video disc player 1. Alternatively, the analog
audio signal reproduced instead of the digital audio signal and
which is recorded in the form of FM-modulated signal is output
from the analog audio signal output terminal 3A.
This video disc player 1 is provided with the digital signal
output terminal 4, and the digital audio signal reproduced from
the video disc is directly output from this digital signal output
terminal 4. For example, when this digital output terminal 4 is
connected to the audio apparatus having the digital signal input
terminal, the audio signal is transmitted to the amplifier side
in the form of the digital signal, thus the deterioration of the
quality of the reproduced sound being suppressed to the minimum.
This video disc player 1 is provided with the infrared ray
signal receiving section 5 and various kinds of reproduction
37
2033216
modes can be controlled by receiving the infrared ray signals
emitted from the remote commander (not shown). To be more
concrete, the standard reproduction controls such as start of
reproduction, pause mode, fast forward, reproduction stop mode
and so on can be performed by the infrared ray signal. If the
video disc is a CAV disc (disc rotated at a constant angular
velocity), the reproducing track in the units of minute, second
and frame number instructed by the minute, second and the frame
number can be searched by the infrared ray signal, whereas if the
video disc is a CLV disc (disc rotated at a constant linear
velocity), the reproduction track in the units of minute and
second instructed by the instruction of minute and second can be
searched by the infrared ray signal. In that case, when the
- reproduction start position by the minute, second and frame
number or by the minute and second is instructed, the instructed
position on the disc is searched for on the basis of the frame
number, code or the like recorded in the vertical blanking period
of the video signal or the like, and the optical pickup head is
moved to the searched address to thereby reproduce the disc at
its position instructed.
In this embodiment, the digital signal output terminal 4 of
the video disc player 1 is connected to the CD ROM control
apparatus 10, and the video disc player 1 and the video disc ROM
control apparatus 10 constitute the video disc ROM drive
apparatus. In the video disc ROM control apparatus 10, the
digital signal reproduced from the digital audio signal recording
area and delivered from the digital signal output terminal 4 of
the video disc player 1 is supplied to the serial-to-parallel
converter 11, and digital serial data reproduced from the disc is
converted into parallel data by the serial-to-parallel converter
38
2033276
11. The thus converted parallel data is fed to the descramble
circuit 12. In the descramble circuit 12, the reproduced data is
descrambled on the basis of the control of the central control
apparatus 15, and the descrambled reproduced data is supplied to
the subcode detecting circuit 13 and the data memory 14. In the
subcode detecting circuit 13, a subcode information is detected
from the reproduced data supplied thereto, and the detected
subcode information is supplied to the central control apparatus
15 which is formed of the microcomputer. The writing of
reproduced data in the data memoryl4 is controlled by the central
control apparatus 15, and the thus stored data is fed to the
central control apparatus 15.
The central control apparatus 15 is connected with an
- infrared ray signal emitting section 16, and the infrared ray
signal emitting section 16 emits a predetermined infrared ray
signal under the control of the central control apparatus 15. In
that case, the infrared ray signal emitting section 16 is located
at the position such that the infrared ray signal therefrom is
reached to the infrared ray signal receiving section 5 of the
video disc player 1. The infrared ray signal emitting section 16
of the video disc ROM control apparatus 10 outputs control
signals of minute, second and frame or minute, second or the like
to instruct the reproducing track (video track) on the disc.
Then, predetermined data stored in the data memory 14 of the
video disc ROM control apparatus 10 is supplied to a
predetermined data processing apparatus (not shown) which
processes various data.
In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, the
video disc ROM in which the necessary data are stored is loaded
onto the disc carrying section 2 of the video disc player 1,
39
2033275
whereby the video disc player 1 and the video disc ROM control
apparatus 10 are enabled to function as a video disc ROM drive
apparatus.
An operation of the data reproducing apparatus shown in Fig.
11 will be described next, in which case the data reproducing
apparatus invention is utilized as the video disc ROM drive
apparatus.
The data recording state of the video disc ROM will be
explained first. Since the data recording capacity of the video
disc ROM is very large, a plurality of data are stored in the
video disc ROM, and each data is recorded on the video disc at
its position corresponding to the digital audio data recording
area in the form of a block arrangement similar to that of the
- digital audio data. In that case, the recording format of the
video disc ROM is the same as that shown in Fig. 3 and therefore
need not be explained herein.
Then, an operation in which the data recorded on the video
disc ROM is read out will be explained with reference to a
flowchart forming Fig. 12.
The recording address information of each data is recorded
in the video disc ROM at its predetermined track or on another
floppy disk. Then, the central control apparatus 15 which
controls the read-out of the video disc ROM judges the data
recording address information and instructs the address of
necessary data so that necessary data is read out from the video
disc ROM. More specifically, when predetermined data must be
read out from the video disc ROM held on the video disc player 1,
the central control apparatus 15 of the video disc ROM apparatus
judges the address position at which the necessary data is
recorded. In the video disc player 1 of this embodiment, it is
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possible to instruct the playback start position by the
informations of minute, second and frame number (in the case of
the CAV disc) or the informations of minute and second (in the
case of the CLV disc)sector) recorded in the condition of being
multiplexed with the video signal. Therefore, the informations
of minute, second and frame number or minute and second of the
video image corresponding to the address in which respective data
are recorded are involved in the recording address informations
of respective data.
If the judgement of this address is finished, then by the
instruction of the central control apparatus 15, the infrared ray
signal emitting section 16 is actuated to output address data
which instruct minute, second and frame number or minute and
- second of the video track as shown in the flowchart of Fig. 12.
When this address data is received by the infrared ray signal
receiving section 5 of the video disc player 1, the control
section of this video disc player 1 detects the video track
instructed on the basis of the address information recorded
together with the video signal on the video disc and move the
optical pickup head to the instructed track.
When the track instructed as described above is reproduced,
all reproduced digital data recorded in the digital audio signal
recording area are output from the digital signal output terminal
4 of the video disc player 1, and the reproduced digital data is
supplied to the video disc ROM control apparatus 10. In the video
disc ROM control apparatus 10, the subcode information is
detected from the reproduced digital data by the subcode
detecting circuit 13, and the detected subcode information is
supplied to the central control apparatus 15, whereby the address
of the reproduced portion is checked on the basis of the address
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information involved in this subcode information.
Simultaneously, the parity check is performed. Then, it is
determined whether the address of the reproduced portion detected
is the recording address (sector) of the necessary data or not.
If the address is not the address of the corresponding sector,
the reproduction is continuously carried out until the address of
the corresponding sector is detected.
When the address of the sector in which the necessary data
is recorded is detected, under the control of the central control
apparatus 15, reproduced data at that time is descrambled by the
descramble circuit 12 and read in the data memory 14. Then, a
header of the thus read-in data is confirmed, and if the header
is confirmed, it is determined that the read-in of the data can
- be carried out correctly. Then, this data is supplied to the
predetermined data processing apparatus (not shown) under the
control of the central control apparatus 15, whereby the
predetermined operation is carried out on the basis of the read-
out data. When the data is read-in the data memory 14 correctly,
data instructing the stop of the reproduction operation is
transmitted to the video disc player 1 through the infrared ray
signal. Thus, the reproducing operation of the video disc player
1 is stopped. Further, if the header of the thus read-in data is
not confirmed, it is determined that the data is not correctly
read in the data memory 14, and the address is again instructed
by the transmission of the infrared ray signal. If the data
cannot be read in the data memory 14 correctly after the control
operation is performed a plurality of times, the occurrence of
abnormal is displayed.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the data
can be read out from the video disc ROM by utilizing the video
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disc player 1 which reproduces the digital audio signal together
with the video signal. In that case, since the necessary data
recording area is searched for by utilizing the search function
in which the video track is searched for by the infrared ray
signal derived from the remote commander of the standard video
disc player 1, any special search function used to read out data
is not required and various kinds of video disc players available
on the market can be utilized as the disc drive apparatus of the
video disc ROM apparatus.
According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
various video reproducing apparatus such as the video disc player
for recording the digital audio signal together with the video
signal or the like can be utilized as the digital data
reproducing apparatus which reproduces computer program data or
the like and the digital data reproducing apparatus can be made
inexpensive by using the existing apparatus. In that case, since
necessary data is reproduced by transmitting the address
information of the video track corresponding to the position in
which the necessary data is recorded to the reproducing section
in a wireless fashion, the necessary data can be obtained
immediately by utilizing the search function which is generally
prepared in the reproducing apparatus in order to reproduce the
picture, and hence, data can be read out at speed equal to or
higher than that of an exclusive digital data reproducing
apparatus.
A sixth embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter.
In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the
CD ROM disc in which various digital data such as program data or
the like are recorded on a disc which is standardized similarly
r~<
.,.,..~w.<:~
43
2033276
to the compact disc (CD) in which the digital audio signal is
recorded. The data recorded condition of the CD ROM will be
explained first.
Since the data storage capacity of the CD ROM is very large,
a plurality of data are recorded in the CD ROM. In that case,
each data is recorded in the CD ROM at its position corresponding
to the digital audio data recording area of the CD in the form of
a block arrangement similar to the digital audio data, similarly
as described hereinbefore with reference to Fig. 3.
In this embodiment, the track number and index number are
assigned to the recording track of the CD ROM at equal time
interval. More specifically, in the case of the CD in which the
digital audio signal is recorded as data, 99 track numbers from
- 1 to 99 can be set in one disc, and 99 index numbers from 1 to 99
can be set in the track of each track number. Similarly, in the
CD ROM disc of this embodiment, 99 track numbers from 1 to 99 can
be assigned and set in one disc at an equal time interval, and 99
index numbers from 1 to 99 are set in the track of each track
number at an equal time interval. In that case, the address
information of the track number is recorded in the innermost
track which might be called a TOC (table of contents).
With the above-mentioned arrangement, assuming that digital
audio data of 74 minutes can be recorded, for example, on one
disc, 75 sectors are determined in one second in the case of the
CD ROM. Therefore, the number of all sectors in one disc is
expressed as
74 minutes x 60 x 75 = 333000 sectors
In this case, the setting of 99 track numbers and 99 index
numbers yields 333000 : (99 x 99) = 34 sectors. Accordingly,
about 34 sectors can be arranged in the index of one unit. In
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2033276
actual practice, numbers of 2's square are suitable for the data
processing and therefore, 32 sectors, for example, are
determined.
In this case, if informations of track number and index
number of each data are involved in the data recording address
information, the track number and the index number are determined
on the basis of this information. When only the absolute
position information (minute, second and sector) of each data is
recorded in the data recording address information, the track
numbers and the index numbers are set at the equal time interval
in this embodiment, whereby a predetermined track on the disc is
reproduced to detect the number of sectors existing in the index
of one unit. Then, on the basis of the detected data, the
- absolute position informations of minute, second and sectar are
changed into the track number and the index number. The changed
data are stored in the disc from now on. When the changed data
are stored in the predetermined track of the disc beforehand, the
changed data are read out therefrom and the absolute position
informations of the minute, second and sector are changed into
the track number and the index number.
The arrangements of the CD player 1 and the CD ROM control
apparatus 10 are substantially the same as those of Fig. 1 and
therefore need not be described herein.
According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention,
various reproducing apparatus such as a digital audio signal
reproducing CD player whose reproduction state can be controlled
by the wireless transmission of infrared rays or the like can be
utilized as the digital data reproducing apparatus which
reproduces computer program data or the like, and therefore the
digital data reproducing apparatus can be made inexpensive by
2033276 -
utilizing the existing apparatus. In that case, since the track
search position signals such as the track number, index number
and so on are assigmed and set at the equal time interval, the
absolute position informations such as minute, second, sector and
so on can be changed into the track search position signals.
Thus, the absolute position at which necessary data is stored can
be searched immediately by utilizing the track search position
signal and the necessary data can be obtained without delay.
Therefore, data can be read out at speed equal to or higher than
that of the exclusive digital data reproducing apparatus.
A seventh embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention will hereinafter be described
with reference to Fig. 13. In Fig. 13, like parts corresponding
- to those of Figs. 1, 6 and so on are marked with the same
references and therefore need not be described in detail.
Particularly, in this embodiment, the digital output
terminal 4 of the CD player 1 is connected to a data processing
apparatus 30, and the CD player 1 and the data processing
apparatus 30 constitute a data processing system. This data
processing apparatus 30 is a general-purpose computer wherein a
central control apparatus (or central processing unit, i.e. CPU)
32, a random access memory (RAM) 33 or the like are connected to
a bus line 31. In this embodiment, the digital signal outputted
from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player 1 is
supplied to a decoder 34. This decoder 34 is formed as an
adaptor type together with a software program memory 35 which
will be described later. In this decoder 34, digital serial data
reproduced from the disc is converted into parallel data
according to a method based on a predetermined format. At that
time, reproduced data is descrambled or the like if necessary.
46
2033276
The thus converted parallel data is supplied through the bus line
31 to the RAM 33 and is stored in the RAM 33 under the control of
the central control apparatus 32.
The bus line 31 of this data processing apparatus 30 is
connected with the software program memory 35, and the central
control apparatus 32 processes reproduced data on the basis of
the program stored in the software program memory 35. More
specifically, the central control apparatus 32 reads out the
program stored in the software program memory 35 and the central
control apparatus 32 processes the reproduced data stored in the
RAM 33 by a method instructed by the read-out program. Specific
software programs stored in the software program memory 35 might
be, for example, file structured software, file operating system,
- computer emulation program and so on. In this embodiment, the
software program memory 35 is constructed as an adaptor 30a which
is detachably provided in the data processing apparatus 30 and
the above-mentioned decoder 34 is also integrally formed with the
adaptor 30a, whereby the software program memory 35 and the
decoder 34 can be exchanged in the form of one unit.
The data processing apparatus 30 of this embodiment is
provided with an infrared ray signal emitting section 36, and
when predetermined control data is supplied from the central
control apparatus 32 through the bus line 31 to the infrared ray
signal emitting section 36, the infrared ray signal emitting
section 36 outputs a predetermined infrared ray signal. In that
case, the infrared ray signal emitting section 36 is located at
the position such that the infrared ray signal emitted therefrom
reaches the infrared ray signal receiving section 5 of the above-
mentioned CD player 1. Then, from the infrared ray signal
emitting section 36 of the data processing apparatus 30, the
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2033276
control signals such as the track number, index number and so on
to instruct the reproduced track of the disc are output in the
condition shown in Fig. 2.
The predetermined data stored in the RAM 33 of the data
processing apparatus 30 is supplied to a predetermined data
processing section (not shown) which performs various processing
operations on the basis of the reproduced data. In this
embodiment, a video control circuit 37 and an audio control
circuit 38 are connected to the bus line 31 of the data
processing apparatus 30, whereby video and audio signals based on
the data stored in the RAM 33 are fed to a video signal output
terminal 41 and an audio signal output terminal 42 connected to
the video control circuit 37 and the audio control circuit 38,
respectively.
An operation of the data processing apparatus 30 of this
embodiment will be described hereinafter.
In this embodiment, the CD ROM in which necessary data are
stored is loaded on the disc carrying section 2 of the CD player
1 and an adaptor (i.e. adaptor which stores therein programs so
that the decoder 34 decodes the reproduced data of the CD ROM and
the program for controlling the CD ROM is stored in the memory
35) corresponding to the CD ROM is connected to the data
processing apparatus 30 as the adaptor 30a. Therefore, the CD
player 1 is utilized as the CD ROM drive apparatus. An operation
in which the data reproducing apparatus is utilized as the CD ROM
drive apparatus will be described below.
In this case, the data recording state of the CD ROM is
substantially the same as that of Fig. 3 and therefore need not
be described herein.
In this embodiment, the track numbers are assigned to the
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2033216
recording tracks of the CD ROM at an arbitrary interval (this
interval is not always an equal interval). If necessary, the
index numbers are assigned to predetermined positions of the
tracks of respective track numbers and the address information of
the track number is recorded on the innermost track called the
TOC.
An operation in which data recorded on the CD ROM is read
out will be described first.
Recording address informations of respective data are
recorded on the CD ROM at its predetermined tracks or recorded on
another record medium (floppy disk, etc.). Then, the central
control apparatus 32 judges the data recording address
information in accordance with the program stored in the software
- program memory 35 and instructs the address of necessary data,
thus the necessary data being read out from the CD ROM. More
specifically, when the predetermined data must be read out from
the CD ROM held on the CD player 1 by the central control
apparatus 32 of the data processing apparatus 30, the position of
the address position in which such data is recorded is judged
initially. The CD player 1 of this embodiment can instruct the
reproduction start position by the track number and the index
number, so that the informations of the track number and the
index number involving the address in which each data is recorded
are involved in the recording address informations of respective
data.
If the judgement of the track number and the index number is
finished, under the instruction of the central control apparatus
32 in accordance with the program stored in the software program
memory 35, track number data is output from the infrared ray
signal emitting section 36. If the track number data is received
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by the infrared ray signal receiving section 5 of the CD player
1, then the control section of the CD player 1 moves the optical
pickup head to the address of the track number instructed on the
basis of the address information of the track number recorded on
the TOC track. When the index number must be instructed, the
infrared ray signal emitting section 36 outputs index number data
successively. If the index number data is received by the
infrared ray signal receiving section 5 of the CD player 1, then
the CD player 1 searches for the track of the number at which the
optical pickup head is located at present time from the beginning
thereof to thereby count the number of index signals. Then, the
CD player 1 determines whether or not the count value coincides
with the value of the instructed index number. The CD player 1
. continues this search operation until the count value coincides
with the value of the instructed index number. If the count
value becomes coincident with the value of the instructed index
number, the CD player 1 determines that the index number is the
target index number and reproduces the track of this index
number.
When the position of the instructed track number and the
index number is reproduced, all reproduced digital data are
output from the digital signal output terminal 4 of the CD player
l, and reproduced digital data is supplied to the data processing
apparatus 30. In the data processing apparatus 30, a subcode
information is detected from the reproduced digital data to check
the address of the reproduced position on the basis of the
detected subcode information. Simultaneously, the parity check
is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected
address of the reproduced position is the recording address
(sector) of the necessary data. If the detected address is not
2033276
the address of the corresponding sector, the reproduction is
continuously carried out until the address of the corresponding
sector is detected.
If the address of the sector in which the necessary data is
recorded is detected, under the control of the central control
apparatus 32 in accordance with the program stored in the
software program memory 35, reproduced data at that time is
temporarily stored in the RAM 33, fed to the video control
circuit 37, the audio control circuit 38 and the like, whereby
video and audio signals based, for example, on the reproduced
data are fed to the output terminals 41 and 42, respectively.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the data
can be read out from the CD ROM by utilizing the digital audio
- signal reproducing CD player 1. In that case, since the
necessary data recording area is searched for by utilizing the
search function of track number and the index number based on the
infrared ray signal from the remote commander (not shown) of the
standard CD player 1, no special search function for reading out
the data is required so that various kinds of CD players now
available on the market can be utilized as the disc drive
apparatus of the CD ROM apparatus.
In this embodiment, since the decoder 34 and the software
program memory 35 provided in the data processing apparatus 30
are integrally formed as the independent adaptor 30a, a general-
purpose computer can be utilized as the data processing apparatus
30. More specifically, since the program for controlling the CD
ROM is stored in the memory 35 side and is set in the decoder 34
so that the reproduced data from the CD ROM is decoded, if the
program or the like for controlling the CD ROM is not set in the
data processing apparatus 30 beforehand, the data processing
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apparatus 30 can be operated as the CD ROM control apparatus by
connecting the adaptor 30a. Accordingly, it becomes possible to
utilize various kinds of general-purpose computer apparatus as
the CD ROM control apparatus. Further, if the adaptor 30a is
exchanged to other adaptor, a data reproducing apparatus having a
different signal format can be utilized as the CD player 1.
while the CD ROM apparatus is constructed in the above-
mentioned embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a
ROM apparatus which utilizes a digital audio signal recording
area of the video disc. In that case, instead of the CD player,
the video disc player having the digital audio signal output
terminal may be connected to the CD ROM control apparatus 30.
Furthermore, other digital signal reproducing apparatus such
- as a digital audio tape recorder and so on may be utilized.
As set forth above, according to the seventh embodiment of
the present invention, the decoder and the software program
memory section of the reproducing decoder are detachably provided
so that, if the decoder and the memory section are exchanged,
data recorded according to various signal formats can be read out
from the digital data reproducing section and processed by the
digital data processing section. Therefore, the digital data
reproducing apparatus such as the audio signal reproducing CD
player and various kinds of general-purpose computer apparatus
can be utilized to process reproduced data from the CD ROM or the
like.
Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments
and that various changes and modifications thereof could be
effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the
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spirit or scope of the novel concepts of the invention as defined
in the appended claims.
53
