(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`
`(12) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication (A)
`
`(11) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication
`2001-128280
`(P2001-128280A)
`
`(43) Publication date: May 11, 2001
`
`Theme code (reference)
`
`5D020
`
`
`
`
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7
`
`Identification codes
`
`FI
`
`H04R 3/00
`G11B 31/00
`
`
`310
`511
`519
`525
`
`H04R 3/00
`G11B 31/00
`
`
`
`
`310
`511Z
`519A
`525Z
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Request for examination: Not yet requested Number of claims: 6; OL (Total of 16 pages)
`
`000002185
`Sony Corp.
`7-35 Kita Shinagawa 6-chome, Shinagawa-
`ku, Tokyo
`
`Hitoshi ONISHI
`℅ Sony Corp.
`7-35 Kita Shinagawa 6-chome, Shinagawa-
`ku, Tokyo
`
`Kimihisa KOMURASAKI
`℅ Sony Corp.
`7-35 Kita Shinagawa 6-chome, Shinagawa-
`ku, Tokyo
`
`
`100086841
`Tokuo WAKI, Patent Attorney (one other
`agent)
`
`5D020 AC01 AC10
`
`(71) Applicant
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor
`
`
`(74) Agent
`
` term (reference)
`
` F
`
`(21) Application number
`
`Japanese Patent Application
`H11-309663
`
`
`(22) Date of application
`
`October 29, 1999
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`audio device can be realized by the on-vehicle audio
`device.
`
`(54) [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] AUDIO DEVICE
`
`(57) Abstract
`[PURPOSE]
`To enhance the operability of a user interface function in
`a system where the sound of a portable audio device is
`output by an on-vehicle audio device.
`
`[CONSTITUTION] A headphone terminal of a portable
`audio device is connected to an AUX terminal of an on-
`vehicle audio device. Thus, display information and
`operation information signal can be communicated as
`user interface information. Then in the on-vehicle audio
`device, an operation information signal in response to an
`operation applied to its own operating unit is output to
`the portable audio device to be controlled. Furthermore,
`based on the display information output from the
`portable audio device, the operating state of the portable
`audio device is displayed by its own display unit.
`Thereby, the user interface function of the portable
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 1
`
`

`
`(2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 2
`
`

`
`(3) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`
`
`characterized in that the audio device is used as an on-
`vehicle device.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to
`an audio device that can input an audio signal output from
`an external audio device, by being connected to the
`external audio device, and output it as a sound to a
`speaker, for example.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art] In recent years, portable audio devices
`adopting a configuration suitable to be carried around as
`audio devices have been known widely. Such portable
`audio devices have been known to be able to play media,
`such as cassette tapes, CDs (Compact Disc), MDs (Mini
`Disc), for example, and to record on recordable media.
`[0003] Such portable audio device is usually connected to
`a headphone to listen to this audio output device. Such
`headphone has been known to be provided with an
`operating unit to a cable between an ear driver of the
`headphone and the portable audio device, for example. A
`user operates this operating unit to perform various
`operations such as playback, and so forth, to the portable
`audio device. Also, said operating unit has been known to
`be provided with a small display unit by a liquid crystal
`display, or the like, allowing the user to see the display
`content displayed on this display unit to know the present
`playback status of the portable audio device. For example,
`it is possible to know various statuses including the track
`number being played, the playback progress time of the
`track, and so on.
`[0004] Audio devices mounted on vehicles have been
`popular in recent years. As one of those on-vehicle audio
`devices, for example, audio devices called head unit are
`known. This head unit is mounted with an audio device,
`such as a playback apparatus corresponding
`to a
`predetermined recording medium and a
`tuner, for
`example, and the audio signal output from this audio
`device can be output as a sound by a speaker. It has an
`operation panel for comprehensively controlling this
`audio device and a display unit for displaying its
`operating status. As necessary, for example, a user can
`connect another audio device to this head unit and build
`an audio system that can reproduce a sound via this head
`unit.
`[0005]
`[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, it is
`naturally conceivable that, depending on each user, one
`may wish to hear the sound reproduced by a portable
`audio device inside a car. To fulfil such a
`
`
`
`[Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1] An audio device, characterized in that the audio
`device comprises
`an audio signal input terminal for inputting an audio
`signal output from an external audio device,
`an output means capable of outputting the audio signal
`input from said audio signal input terminal,
`a user interface input/output terminal for inputting or
`outputting a predetermined user interface information
`between said external audio device and the audio device,
`and
`a control means that can perform a necessary control
`based on an output of a predetermined user interface
`information via said user interface input/output terminal
`or a predetermined user interface information input via
`said user interface input/output terminal.
`[Claim 2] The audio device according to claim 1,
`characterized in that said control means is configured to
`be able to output as said user interface information the
`control information for controlling said external audio
`device; the information of which was generated based on
`the operation performed to the operation means provided
`in the audio device.
`[Claim 3] The audio device according to claim 1,
`characterized in that said control means is configured to
`be able to perform a necessary display on a display means
`provided in the audio device based on the display
`information as said interface information output from said
`external audio device, the display information of which
`was input via said user interface input means.
`[Claim 4] The audio device according to claim 1,
`characterized in that, in said external audio device, a
`terminal group comprising a terminal connected to said
`audio signal input terminal and a terminal connected to
`said user interface input/output terminal is arranged in a
`form of capable being connected to one connector, and a
`terminal group comprising said audio signal input
`terminal of said audio device and said user interface
`input/output terminal is arranged in a form of capable of
`being connected to one connector of the other side
`connected via a cable to the connector to which said
`terminal group of said external audio device is connected.
`[Claim 5] The audio device according to claim 1,
`characterized in that, in said external audio device, the
`terminal group comprising a terminal connected to said
`audio signal input terminal and a terminal connected to
`said user interface input/output terminal outputs as a
`sound an audio signal output from this external audio
`device, and at the same time, is connected to a connector
`of a voice output means with a user interface function
`having
`a predetermined user
`interface
`function
`corresponding
`to
`the
`input and output of
`the
`predetermined user interface information.
`[Claim 6] The audio device according to claim 1,
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 3
`
`

`
`(4) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`
`
`input terminal for inputting an audio signal output from
`an external audio device, an output means capable of
`outputting the audio signal input from this audio signal
`input terminal, a user interface input/output terminal for
`inputting or outputting a predetermined user interface
`information between the external audio device and the
`audio device, and a control means that can perform a
`necessary control based on an output of
`the
`predetermined user interface information via this user
`interface input/output terminal or a predetermined user
`interface
`information
`input via
`the user
`interface
`input/output terminal.
`[0011] According to the above-mentioned configuration,
`in addition to the function of inputting the sound output
`from an external audio device to be output as a sound in
`the audio device of the present invention, the audio
`device of the present invention can be added with a
`predetermined user interface function corresponding to
`the external audio device based on the user interface
`information input/output between the audio device of the
`present invention and the external audio device.
`[0012]
`[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] Examples of
`embodiment of the invention will be described below.
`Here, an on-vehicle audio device called a head unit will
`be made as an example of the audio device of the
`embodiment of the invention. Although there is no need
`to particularly limit the external audio device connected
`to the on-vehicle audio device of this embodiment, used
`in this example was an MD recorder/player capable of
`recording and playing audio data on a magneto-optical
`disc called MD (Mini Disc). This MD recorder/player has
`a portable configuration.
`[0013] First, the outline of the audio system as this
`embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1
`and FIG. 2. The audio system of the present invention
`shall be the on-vehicle audio device as the above-
`mentioned head unit and the portable MD recorder/player.
`[0014] FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the portable MD
`recorder/player, which is the external audio device. The
`MD recorder/player 1 shown in this drawing has a
`predetermined size as a portable. A disk cartridge 91 that
`stores MD 90 can be loaded to this MD recorder/player 1.
`The MD recorder/player 1 records or replays [the audio
`data] of MD 90 in this disk cartridge that has been loaded.
`In addition to a predetermined terminal group provided as
`a headphone terminal 21, the main part of this MD
`recorder/player 1 in this case is also provided with an
`audio signal input terminal, and so on, that can input the
`audio signal for recording such as a microphone jack, a
`line input terminal, or the like; and as necessary, a line
`output that outputs a play-
`
`
`
`
`
`request, a configuration has been known where the on-
`vehicle audio device like a head unit is connected to a
`portable audio device using, for example, a cable, or the
`like, to input the audio signal output from this portable
`audio device. And this head unit operates to output this
`input audio signal as a sound from a speaker.
`[0006] However, under
`the present circumstances,
`connecting a portable audio device and a head unit only
`inputs/outputs the audio signal. To put it another way,
`this means that there is no input/output of the control
`information on a user interface, and so forth, between the
`portable audio device and the head unit.
`[0007] This presents the following problems. That is,
`when the sound currently reproduced by the portable
`audio device is output by the head unit, the operation of
`the portable audio device must be controlled using the
`operating unit on the portable audio device side. When
`one would like to check the playback status, one would
`need to look at the display unit on the portable audio
`device side. This display unit is small, so it is hard for the
`user to see. Some display units of such portable audio
`devices may not have a backlight, so it becomes almost
`impossible to see the display content of such a display
`unit at night. Some portable audio devices have a display
`unit only in the middle of the cable of the headphone,
`without having a display unit in the device itself. In such
`type of a device, when an audio output terminal is only
`this headphone terminal, it becomes impossible to check
`the playback status since the audio output terminal in this
`headphone terminal is used for connection to the head
`unit.
`[0008] Thus, when the audio signal reproduced by the
`portable audio device is output by an audio device, such
`as a head unit; user interface such display and operation
`such as playback must be performed at the portable audio
`device side, so these devices are not user-friendly, which
`is a problem.
`[0009]
`[Means for solving problem] Taking the above problem
`into consideration, the present invention has an objective
`to improve usability by achieving a user interface
`function of an external audio device on an audio device
`when a system is built so that the sound output from the
`external audio device can be output as a sound by the
`audio device.
`[0010] For this reason, the audio device is constituted as
`follows. The audio device comprises an audio signal
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 4
`
`

`
`(5) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`
`
`the user side, with respect to the front console inside an
`automobile. In this case, the front panel 51 of the on-
`vehicle audio device 50 has a function as a user interface
`by being provided with an operating unit 54 and a display
`unit 53.
`[0019] Operators, such as various keys, a jog dial, and
`other components, for operating the on-vehicle audio
`device 50 are arranged as the operating unit 54 at a
`predetermined position on the front panel 51.
`[0020] The display unit 53 displays necessary
`information according to the operation status of the on-
`vehicle audio device 50. For example, the on-vehicle
`audio device 50 allows a user to select an AUX sound,
`which is the input sound of the external audio device
`connected to the on-vehicle audio device 50, a CD sound,
`or a tuner sound as the audio source as will be mentioned
`below, and the display unit 53 displays the selection
`choice of these audio sources. The operating status
`according to this selected source is also displayed. For
`example, when the CD sound is selected, the track of CD
`currently played, its playback time, and other information
`will be displayed.
`[0021] A CD loading slot 52 into which a CD is inserted
`is provided at the front panel 51. A user can insert a CD
`into or eject it from this CD loading slot 5.
`[0022] As has been described above, the on-vehicle audio
`device 50 is provided with a CD player that plays a CD
`and a tuner as an output source of an audio source. The
`AUX sound for corresponding to the external audio
`device can also be input. [A user] can choose any of these
`audio sources by a certain operation to the operating unit
`54 to allow the sound output from the speaker in the car,
`not illustrated here.
`[0023] An AUX input terminal 55 is provided to the side
`surface of the front panel 51 to allow the on-vehicle audio
`device 50 of this embodiment to be connected with the
`portable MD recorder/player 1, which is the external
`audio device. The MD recorder/player 1 can be connected
`to the on-vehicle audio device 50 as the source of an
`AUX sound by connecting the AUX input terminal 55 of
`this on-vehicle audio device 50 and the headphone
`terminal 21 of the MD recorder/player 1 with an adapter
`cable 40.
`[0024] In this case, the adapter cable 40 is configured to
`have connectors 42 and 42 to be connected to both ends
`of the cable 41. Here, the form of the AUX input terminal
`55 is configured to be the same as that of the headphone
`terminal 21, and both connectors 42 and 42 of the adapter
`cable 40 also have the same form of plug. Although the
`shape of the AUX input terminal 55 is not always
`
`
`
`
`
`back audio signal may also be provided. The graphic
`illustration thereof will be omitted here. An operating unit
`for performing a certain operation on recording playback,
`and so on, and a display unit may also be provided here;
`however, those graphic illustrations are also omitted here.
`A headphone terminal 21 is provided to connect a
`headphone 30, which will be described next.
`[0015] The headphone 30 is attached so that a user can
`hear the playback sound of the MD recorder/player 1. The
`headphone 30 in this case is provided with a connector
`part 32 at one end of the cable 31 and an ear driver 34
`comprising a pair of ear drivers for right and left ears at
`the other end as shown in the drawing, for example. The
`connector 32 is connected to fit the headphone terminal
`21 of the MD recorder/player 1. And when the disk is
`played in the MD recorder/player 1, the playback sound
`will be output to the ear driver 34.
`[0016] An operating/display unit 33 is provided in the
`middle of the cable 31 of the headphone 30. This
`operating/display unit 33 is provided with various
`operators for performing a certain operation on playback,
`and so forth, to the MD recorder/player 1; for example, a
`user holds this operating/display unit 33 to perform a
`certain operation to operate the MD recorder/player 1. A
`small window is provided on the operating/display unit
`33 as a display panel 33a. This display panel 33a is
`constituted by a liquid crystal display, or the like, for
`example. If registered, the track number or the track name
`will be displayed in character on this display panel 33a.
`The setting of playback modes, such as the progress time
`of playback track, repeat, shuffle, and program playback,
`is also displayed. The user can grasp the playback status
`of the MD recorder/player 1 by viewing this display panel
`33a.
`[0017] The function of such operating/display unit 33 is
`achieved by forming, via the headphone terminal 21 and
`the connector area 32, a route that transmits the audio
`signal (analog audio signal) reproduced at least by the
`MD recorder/player 1 to the ear driver 34, a route that
`transmits to the MD recorder/player 1 the operation
`information signal based on the operation performed to
`the operating/display unit 33, and a route that transmits
`the display
`information for display from
`the MD
`recorder/player 1 to the operating/display unit 33.
`[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a system
`comprising the MD recorder/player 1 as an external
`device shown in FIG. 1 and an on-vehicle audio device,
`which is the audio device of this embodiment. The on-
`vehicle audio device 50 shown in this drawing is used by
`mounting the front panel 51 so as to be exposed to
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 5
`
`

`
`(6) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`50 side to the MD recorder/player 1. Thereby, it is
`possible to control a certain playback operation in the
`MD recorder/player 1 by the operation performed to the
`operating unit 54 of the on-vehicle audio device 50.
`
`
`
`necessarily the same as that of the headphone terminal 21,
`for example, as in the present invention,
`
`
`
`doing so eliminates the hassle to check the shape of the
`connector of the adapter cable according to the shape
`difference of the AUX input terminal at the on-vehicle
`audio device 50 side and the headphone output terminal
`at the MD recorder/player side before a user makes a
`connection using the adapter cable.
`[0025] As has also been described previously, the
`headphone terminal 21 of the MD recorder/player 1 is
`originally used to connect the headphone 30 to output an
`audio signal reproduced by the MD recorder/player 1,
`output
`the display
`information
`from
`the MD
`recorder/player 1, and input the operation information
`signal to the MD recorder/player 1 via the headphone
`terminal 21 of the MD recorder/player 1.
`[0026] Therefore, when the MD recorder/player 1 is
`connected to the on-vehicle audio device 50 as mentioned
`above, an audio signal as an AUX sound can be supplied
`to
`the on-vehicle audio device 50 from
`the MD
`recorder/player 1, and a path for outputting the display
`information from the MD recorder/player 1 to the on-
`vehicle audio device 50 can also be formed. On the MD
`recorder/player 1 side, it also becomes possible to form a
`path for inputting an operation information signal from
`the on-vehicle audio device 50. One adapter cable 40 can
`form this path in this embodiment.
`[0027] For example, the operating unit 54 of the on-
`vehicle audio device 50 originally operates the on-vehicle
`audio device 50. That is, it mainly operates the built-in
`CD player, a tuner, and so on, for example. The display
`unit 53 originally displays the contents corresponding to
`various operations in the on-vehicle audio device 50 as
`has been mentioned above, for example. For example, as
`mentioned above, when either a built-in CD player or a
`tuner is chosen as the audio source, the display unit
`displays according to the operating status of these parts.
`[0028] When the sound, i.e., the AUX sound of the MD
`recorder/player 1 connected to the on-vehicle audio
`device 50 via the adapter cable 40 is selected as the
`source, this embodiment is configured so that the
`following systematic operations are obtained. When a
`certain operation, for example, a playback operation, is
`performed to the operating unit 54 of the on-vehicle audio
`device 50, an operation information signal according to
`this operation is output from the on-vehicle audio device
`
`[0029] By the way, although the operating unit 54 is
`provided with operators for operating various playback
`functions corresponding to a CD, many of those playback
`functions can also be found in the MD recorder/player 1
`since it is a device that can play a disk medium like the
`CD. Then, the operation for the operator provided
`corresponding to this CD may also be the operation for
`the MD recorder/player 1. By doing so, it will become
`unnecessary
`to provide an additional operator for
`operating the MD recorder/player 1 as an external
`instrument, for example.
`[0030] The display unit 53 of the on-vehicle audio device
`50 also provides display according to the operating status
`of the MD recorder/player 1. As also described in FIG. 1,
`the MD recorder/player 1 also allows the output of the
`display information for displaying on the display panel
`33a of the headphone from a predetermined terminal that
`forms the headphone terminal 21. Then, the on-vehicle
`audio device 50 inputs the display information output
`from this MD recorder/player 1 and operates so that the
`contents according
`to
`this display
`information are
`displayed on the display unit 53.
`[0031] As an example of a conventional device, when an
`external audio device, such as a portable MD
`recorder/player, is connected to an on-vehicle audio
`device, only the audio signal from the external audio
`device is output to the on-vehicle audio device. For this
`reason, in order to operate a playback operation in the
`external audio device, it is necessary to operate the
`operating unit provided at the external audio device side.
`Such operation is troublesome if done inside of a car, for
`example, and when a user is a driver, there will be a
`problem in terms of safety. Since the display of the on-
`vehicle audio device is not linked to those of the external
`audio device, one needs to look at the display on the
`external audio device side to check the operating status of
`the external audio device. As has been mentioned above
`also as a problem on the conventional device, a user will
`have a hard time seeing the display especially inside an
`automobile, compromising the safety of the driving. In
`some cases, it is impossible to see the display on the
`external audio device side depending on conditions like
`during nighttime, or when the device is configured
`without a display unit provided on the main body part.
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 6
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`

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`(7) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
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`[0032] The operation of the system described above is
`achieved in this embodiment; therefore, the on-vehicle
`audio device 50 can perform the operation of the external
`audio device, and the on-vehicle audio device 50 can also
`show the operating status of the external audio device.
`This resolves above-mentioned problem, improving the
`usability at the time of outputting the sound of the
`external audio device with the on-vehicle audio device.
`Driving safety impediment can be avoided as long as it is
`the instrument mounted to a vehicle especially like this
`embodiment.
`
`4 has a focusing coil that drives the object lens 3a in the
`direction that attaches to and detaches from the MD 90,
`and a tracking coil that drives the object lens 3a in a
`radial direction of the magneto-optical disc. It is further
`equipped with a thread mechanism 5 that largely moves
`the entire optical head 3 in the radial direction of the MD
`90.
`[0038] The reflected light information detected in the
`light-receiving part in the optical head 3 is supplied to an
`RF amplifier 7, and after current-voltage conversion is
`carried out, matrix arithmetic processing is per-
`
`
`
`formed to generate a focus error signal FE and a tracking
`error signal TE as well as an RF signal. The RF signal,
`which is a playback signal, will be generated based on the
`magnetic field vector detected by detecting the magnetic
`field vector using a magnetic Kerr effect of a reflected
`light, when the light is irradiated by the laser power lower
`than that at the time of recording on MD 90.
`[0039] After the focus error signal FE and the tracking
`error signal TE generated by the RF amplifier 7 are
`subjected to phase compensation, gain control, etc. by a
`servo circuit 9, they are applied to the focusing coil and
`the tracking coil of the biaxial mechanism 4 via a drive
`amplifier (not shown). Furthermore, from the tracking
`error signal TE, a thread error signal is generated via LPF
`(low pass filter) in the servo circuit 9 and applied to a
`thread mechanism 5 via a thread drive amplifier (not
`shown). The RF signal generated by the RF amplifier 7 is
`binarized and EFM-recovered
`(eight
`to
`fourteen
`modulation) by an EFM/CIRC encoder/ decoder 8,
`subjected to CIRC (cross interleave read solomon coding)
`error correction process, and supplied to the memory
`controller 12.
`[0040] The MD 90 is provided with a groove (slot) in a
`meandering direction at a predetermined frequency
`(22.05 kHz in this example), and the address data is
`recorded by FM modulation. This address data is
`extracted by carrying out FM demodulation via BPF
`(band pass filter) that passes only at a predetermined
`frequency by an address decoder 10. An EFM signal
`binarized by the EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 and a
`spindle error signal for rotating the disk based on the
`address decoder extracted by the address decoder 10 are
`generated and applied to the spindle motor 2 via the servo
`circuit 9. A drawing operation of PLL (Phase Locked
`Loop) is controlled based on the EFM signal binarized by
`the EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8, and the playback
`clock for decoding is generated.
`[0041] The memory controller 12 writes the binarized
`data after error correction in a buffer memory 13 at a
`
`
`
`[0033] The AUX input terminal 55 of the on-vehicle
`audio device 50 is provided at the side surface of the front
`panel 51 in FIG. 2; however, it is not limited thereto. For
`example, when usability during actual use is taken into
`consideration, on the basis of the on-vehicle audio device
`50 being properly mounted to the front console of a
`vehicle, the AUX input terminal 55 may be arranged at a
`position where a user can easily connect an MD
`recorder/player 1. Therefore, as shown by a dashed circle
`in FIG. 3, for example, the AUX input terminal 55 may
`be provided at a predetermined position in front of the
`front panel of the on-vehicle audio device 50. Or as
`shown in the same FIG. 3, it may be configured so that a
`cable 56 with a specified length is pulled out from the
`back side of the on-vehicle audio device 50, and the AUX
`input terminal 55 is provided to the end of this cable 56.
`[0034] The configuration for realizing a system operation
`of
`the on-vehicle audio device 50 and
`the MD
`recorder/player 1 will be described next, but
`the
`configuration of the MD recorder/player 1, which is
`external audio device, will be described first.
`the MD
`[0035] FIG. 4
`is a block diagram of
`recorder/player 1 as a portable. As has been described
`before, the MD recorder/player 1 can record and playback
`the audio data of MD 90, which is a magneto-optical disc.
`[0036] MD 90 is configured to be stored in a cartridge, so
`that the magnetic field from the magnetic head can be
`applied, or the light from an optical pickup (optical head
`3) can be irradiated by opening and closing the shutter
`mechanism provided to the cartridge at the time of
`recording or playback. The MD 90 is driven to rotate at a
`CLV (constant linear velocity) by a spindle motor 2.
`[0037] The optical head 3 is provided at a position facing
`the magnetic head 6a, sandwiching the MD 90 loaded.
`This optical head 3 is configured to have an object lens 3a,
`a biaxial mechanism 4, a semiconductor laser, not shown
`in the drawing, and a light-receiving part that receives the
`reflected
`light
`in which
`the emitted
`light of
`the
`semiconductor laser reflects the surface of the above-
`mentioned magneto-optical disc. The biaxial mechanism
`
`
`
`Honda Exhibit 1007
`Page 7
`
`

`
`(8) Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-128280
`
`controlled to achieve these operations. The setting a play
`mode (for example, one-song repeat, all-song repeat,
`shuffle, and so on) or a sound mode is also performed
`according to various mode operations. If recording is
`performed, the control for recording the audio signal
`input to MD 90 as digital data will be performed.
`[0045] When this MD recorder/player 1 records a sound,
`such as a musical piece, on the MD 90, that audio signal
`is supplied to the audio signal input terminal 17. The
`analog audio signal acquired by picking-up a sound with
`a microphone, not shown in the drawing, or the analog
`audio signal output from the analog output terminal of a
`playback device, such as an external CD player, or the
`like, for example, is input into the audio signal input
`terminal 17. The A/D converter 18 converts it to a digital
`signal and supplies it to the audio compression encoder
`and extension decoder 14.
`[0046] The digital audio signal input into the audio
`compression encoder and extension decoder 14
`is
`subjected to compression encoding by means of ATRAC
`(acoustic transferred adapted coding) system, and the
`compressed digital audio signal is once stored in the
`buffer memory 13 via the memory controller 12 at a
`transfer rate of 0.3 Mbit/sec. The memory controller 12
`detects that the compressed data stored in the buffer
`memory 13 has been accumulated in a specified quantity
`and allows reading from the buffer memory 13.
`[0047] The EFM/CIRC encoder/decoder 8 performs error
`correction code addition of a CIRC system, EFM
`modulation, and other processing, to the compressed data
`read from the buffer memory 13, and the data is supplied
`to the magnetic head driving circuit 6. The magnetic head
`driving circuit 6 performs a North or South-pole magnetic
`field application drive of the magnetic head 6a according
`to the supplied data. At the time of recording during
`which such a magnetic field is applied, the system
`controller 11 controls
`the emission power of
`the
`semiconductor laser, not shown in the drawing, of the
`optical head 3 to be in a power higher than that at the
`time of playback, and heats the surface of a magneto-
`optical disc to a Curie temperature. The field information
`applied from the magnetic head 6a in this way will be
`fixed to the disk recording surface. That is, the data will
`be recorded as magnetic field information.
`[0048] Also at the time of recording, the system
`controller 11 performs a spindle servo control and
`encoding processing control by
`the EFM/CIRC
`encoder/decoder 8, by transmitting the command for
`various servos to the servo circuit 9, giving control
`instructions of the buffer memory 13 to the memory
`controller 12, or controlling to display on the display unit
`20 the recording elapsed time, the track number of the
`program currently being recorded, and so forth.
`[0049] In this case, of the terminals that constitute the
`headphone terminal 21, the power supply terminal tVDD,
`common terminal tCOM, display information terminal
`
`transfer rate of 1.4 Mbit/sec. Once the data of more than a
`specified quantity is accumulated in the buffer memory
`13, the memory controller 12 will read the data from the
`buffer memory 13 at a