Reproduction apparatus for reproducing video, audio or code signals

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus conducts reproduction of data from a recording medium on which picture information and audio information related to the picture information are recorded for each block in a mixed state. The reproduction apparatus is designed to display only pictures on a multi-picture screen by reproducing information recorded in the individual blocks except for that information recorded in blocks in which the sound information is recorded when the information recorded in the individual blocks 19 to be reproduced for the multi-picture display.

Description: The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus capable of discriminating between video and audio signals. Examples of known reproducing apparatuses include one for recording on a medium using the still video format. This format, conforming to the standard of CP-3901 "Still Video Floppy Disc System" of "Standard Electronic Industries Association of Japan" held by Technical Committee on Video Recording in September in 1988, can be used to record and reproduce not only images but also sounds for a predetermined period of time. That is, sound which is time compressed and affixed with a flag and a control code is frequency-modulated and then recorded on one of the tracks of a video floppy. Recording of sound therefore reduces the number of tracks on which pictures can be recorded. The control code for an audio track (the track on which sound is recorded) can contain the track number of the corresponding video track (on which the corresponding picture is recorded), by which the picture and sound can be simultaneously reproduced in one-to-one correspondence. The known methods of retrieving the pictures recorded on a video floppy include the display of the recorded pictures in a multi-picture format, e.g., the display of the picture frames in a 5 x 5 array (25 frames). Since there are fifty tracks on a video floppy, pictures recorded on all the tracks can be displayed on two multi-picture screens each containing an array of 5 x 5 frames. In a case where hard copies of the multi-picture screens are produced using a video printer, two prints are enough to check the contents of a single video floppy. However, in the conventional multi-picture display method, the first multi-picture screen is created from the pictures recorded on the first to twenty-fifth tracks, and the second multi-picture screen is created from the pictures recorded on the twenty-sixth to fiftieth tracks. Hence, even if the number of video tracks is 25 or less, when all the pictures recorded on the floppy are to be checked, two multi-picture screens must be prepared except when all the pictures are recorded from the first to twenty-fifth tracks. This is very inconvenient. Furthermore, in a case where hard copies of the multi-picture screens are produced, two prints must always be obtained, which is troublesome and wasteful. The aforementioned problem may occur with a reproducing apparatus other than that for the still video. Furthermore, from document US-A-4 791 496 there is known a further conventional system for presenting audiovisual information to an audience, storing video data and corresponding audio data in one to one correspondence in the same recording medium. Moreover, the system is adapted to simultaneously display a predetermined number of stored image data on a display unit. In addition, with the multi-picture screen of this arrangement only a predetermined number of previously already displayed pictures are displayed. Moreover, document US-A-4 763 208 discloses another prior art playback apparatus in an electronic still camera system storing only image data on the used recording medium. This arrangement is adapted to simultaneously display a predetermined number of recorded image data on a screen as a so-called multi-picture screen. An object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus which enables the user to readily observe a plurality of images. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus which enables reproduction of unnecessary images to be eliminated. To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides, in one aspect thereof, a reproducing apparatus as claimed in appended claim 1, for conducting reproduction of data from a recording medium on which picture information and sound information related to the picture information are recorded for each block in a mixed state. Other aspects of the invention are defined in dependent claims 2 to 6. Objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are flowcharts of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 5 and 6 show examples of a multi-picture display screen; Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 shows the essential parts of an operating unit 117 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. A reproducing apparatus includes a magnetic disk 10 which is a still video floppy, a magnetic head 12, a pre-amplifier 14, an FM demodulator 16, an ID information demodulator 18 for demodulating ID information, an empty track detection circuit 20 for detecting an empty track i.e., a non-recorded track, an A/D converter 22, a video memory 24, a D/A converter 26, a picture reproduction circuit 28, and a picture output terminal 30. The reproducing apparatus further includes a horizontal address counter 32 for the video memory 24, a vertical address counter 34 for the video memory 24, a synchronization signal separation circuit 36 for separating a synchronizing signal from the output of the FM demodulator 16, a synchronizing signal generation circuit (SSG) 38 for generating clocks for the individual components in response to the synchronizing signal separated by the synchronization signal separation circuit 36, a memory control circuit 40 for controlling the video memory 24 through the address counters 32 and 34, an audio discrimination circuit 42 for discriminating the audio signal recorded on a reproducing track, (i.e., for determining whether or not the signal recorded on the reproducing track is sound,) a spindle motor 44 for rotating the magnetic disk 10, a step motor 46 for feeding the magnetic head 12 in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 10, a system control circuit 48 for controlling the entirety of the apparatus, an input device 50 for inputting predetermined instructions to the system control circuit 48, a display device 52, and a general-purpose memory 54 for storing various data. The operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. After initialization (S1), the system control unit 48 waits for and confirms loading of the magnetic disk 10 (S2), and then conducts pre-scanning (S3). Fig. 3 is the flowchart of the pre-scanning. In pre-scanning, the system control circuit 48 rotates the magnetic disk 10 by means of the spindle motor 44 at a predetermined speed, and moves the magnetic head 12 to the first track by means of the step motor 46 (S11). The output of the magnetic head 12 located at the first track is supplied through the pre-amplifier 14 to the FM demodulator 16, the ID demodulator 18 and the empty track detection circuit 20. The output of the FM demodulator 16 is input to the synchronization signal separation circuit 36 and to the audio discrimination circuit 42. The system control circuit 48 determines from the output of the empty track detection circuit 20 whether or not the track is a recorded one (S12). If the track is a non-recorded track (empty), the system control circuit 48 sets a non-recorded track code and stores it in the memory 54 together with the track number (S16). If the track is a recorded one, the system control circuit 48 determines from the output of the ID demodulator 18 whether or not the track is a video track (S13). If the track is a video track, the system control circuit 48 determines from the output of the ID demodulator 18 whether the track is a field or frame recorded track (S15). If the track is a frame recorded track, the system control circuit 48 sets a frame picture track code and stores it in the memory 54 together with the track number (S20). If the track is a field recorded track, a field picture track code is set and stored in the memory 54 together with the track number (S19). When the track is neither a video track nor a non-recorded track, the system control circuit 48 determines from the output of the audio discrimination circuit 42 whether or not the track is an audio track (S14). If the track is an audio track, the system control circuit 48 sets an audio track code and stores it in the memory 54 together with the track number (S18). If the track is not an audio track, a discrimination disable code is set in the memory 54 together with the track number (S17). The above-described discrimination is conducted over all the tracks (S21). In the pre-scanning (S3), the recorded state of all the tracks is stored in the memory 54, that is, a directory is created. Thereafter, the system control circuit 48 refers to the memory 54 and thereby determines whether or not there is an audio track (S4). If there is no audio track, the system control circuit 48 performs multi-freezing (see Fig. 4) (S7). If there is an audio track, the system control circuit 48 determines whether or not the number of field or frame video tracks is more than 25 screens (S5). If more than 25 field or frame video tracks are present, multi-freezing is performed (S7). If the number of field or frame video tracks is not more than 25, the system control circuit 48 stores in the memory 54 the track numbers which are neither field nor frame video tracks together with the skip codes (S6), and then performs multi-freezing (S7). Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the multi-freezing (S7). During the multi-freezing, the SSG 38 supplies a clock to the A/D converter 22 and to the D/A converter 26, a horizontal address clock to the horizontal address counter 32 and a vertical address clock to the vertical address counter 34 in accordance with the synchronizing signal separated by the synchronization signal separation circuit 36. Also, the SSG 38 supplies a clock, a horizontal synchronizing signal, and a vertical synchronizing signal to the memory control circuit 40. The system control circuit 48 moves the magnetic head 12 to the first track (S31). Thereafter, the system control circuit 48 determines whether or not the track is to be skipped by examining the skip code stored in the memory 54 (S32). If the track is to be skipped (S32), the system control circuit 48 moves the magnetic head 12 to a subsequent track (S31). If the track is not to be skipped, the system control circuit 48 sets a predetermined address in the horizontal and vertical address counters 32 and 34 through the memory control circuit 40 (S33), and thereby freezes an image to be reproduced in the video memory 24 (S34). Thereafter, the system control circuit 48 determines whether or not the magnetic head 12 is to be moved to a subsequent track (S35). If the magnetic head 12 is to be moved, the process returns to step S31. If the answer is negative, multi-freezing is ended. In this way, the video signals reproduced from the video tracks are frozen in the form of a multi-picture in the video memory 24. The system control circuit 48 sets through the memory control circuit 40 a predetermined address in the horizontal address counter 32 and in the vertical address counter 34, by which the picture data in the video memory 24 is read out in accordance with the address in the horizontal address counter 32 and that in the vertical address counter 34. The read-out picture data is converted into an analog signal by the D/A converter 26, and the obtained analog signal is processed by the picture reproduction circuit 28 before it is output from the video output terminal 30. That is, the data of the plurality of pictures constituting the multi-picture screen is read out substantially simultaneously. The display area of the tracks other than the video and audio tracks is muted to white or black. Fig. 5 shows an example of the multi-freezing in which the video and audio tracks are in one-to-one correspondence. Whereas two multi-picture screens are required in the conventional technique, as shown in Figs. 5 (a) and (b), all the video signals are shown on one multi-picture screen in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5 (c). When there are no audio tracks, if non-recorded tracks or erased tracks are present, the signals stored on the tracks are displayed on the multi-picture screens at positions corresponding to their track numbers, as shown in Figs. 6 (a) and (b). This makes checking of the usage of the individual tracks easy. In that case, the signals stored on the tracks may be packed by skipping the non-recorded tracks and displayed on the multi-picture screens, as shown in Figs.6 (c) and (d). However, this requires two screens, and makes checking of the usage of the tracks difficult. As will be understood from the foregoing description, it is possible according to the present embodiment to display the pictures recorded on a recording medium on a reduced number of multi-picture screens. Furthermore, since the multi-picture screen of the video tracks is created without the non-recorded tracks being omitted, checking of the usage of the recording medium can be facilitated. A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 7 which shows the same apparatus as that shown in Fig.1 except that the Fig. 7 apparatus is capable of outputting image data to a printer. In Fig. 7, a reference numeral 110 denotes an interface circuit between the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and a printer 120. The interface circuit 110 contains a buffer memory 115 in order to accommodate the difference in the rate at which data is read out from the video memory 24 and at which the printer performs printing. As shown in Fig. 8, the printer 120 has an operating unit 117 which includes a switch 121 for designating a multi-picture screen, a switch 122 for designating a single screen, and a printing instruction switch 125 for designating a desired printing mode. The signal generated in accordance with the operation of the operating unit 117 of the printer 120 is input to the system control circuit 48 through the printer interface 110. The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. In Fig. 9, the same numbers are used to denote steps which are the same as those in Fig. 2, with the description thereof being omitted. In Fig. 9, when a printing instruction is input to the system control circuit 48 from the operating unit 117 of the printer 120 through the printer interface 110, the system control circuit 48 determines from the state of the switch 121 whether or not the operation mode is the multi mode (in which printing of a multi-picture screen is conducted) or a single mode. If the operation mode is the multi mode, the processes from steps 4 to 7 shown in Fig. 2 are executed. If the operation mode is not the multi mode, the process goes to step S125 where the image data recorded on the track on which the magnetic head is accessing at that time is frozen in the video memory 124 (S125). Subsequently, the data is stored in the buffer memory 115 in the printer interface 110 (S130), and a printing permission signal is then output to the printer 120 to perform printing by means of the printer 120 (S140). In step S150, it is determined whether or not the number of video tracks on the disk is more than 25. If the answer is yes, a video signal recorded on a track on which printing is not yet performed is stored in the memory (S7), and printing is performed again. As stated above, it is possible according to the second embodiment to set the desired printing mode at the printer unit. This is convenient for printing. As will be understood from the foregoing description, in the present invention, the multi-picture screen contains twenty-five pictures in total, five pictures in each row and five pictures in each column. When the number of video signals recorded on the disk is more than 25, the signals recorded on all the tracks are stored in the memory 54 including those recorded on the tracks other than the video track. On the other hand, when the number of video signals is 25 or less and when signals other than video signals are recorded, the tracks on which the signals other than video signals are recorded are skipped and the signals recorded on the video tracks are stored in the memory 54. It is however to be noted that the tracks on which the signals other than the video signal are recorded are muted and stored in the memory 54. In consequence, when the number of video signals is more than 25, the signals including those other than the video signal are stored in the memory 54, by which the recorded state of the individual tracks on the disk, i.e., what type of signal is recorded on each track on the disk, can be easily checked. Furthermore, when the number of video signals is 25 or less, all the video signals on the disk are reproduced on one multi-picture screen regardless of the form in which signals are recorded on the tracks on the disk. This makes checking of the video signals on the disk easy. The individual components shown in outline or designated by blocks in the drawings are all well-known in the reproduction arts and their specific construction and operation are not critical to the operation or best mode for carrying out the invention.

Claims: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing signals recorded on a recording medium (10) having a plurality of recording regions on each of which signals regarding a picture or signals regarding other than a picture are respectively recorded, comprising: discriminating means (20, 42; S4, S5; S12, S13, S14) for discriminating said signals regarding a picture from said signals regarding other than a picture on each of said plurality of recording regions; characterized by further comprising generating means (24, 26, 28, 32, 34, 40, 48, 54; S7; S31 - S35) for generating multi-picture information signals forming a large-screen picture consisting of a plurality of small pictures, on the basis of the discrimination performed by said discriminating means, wherein in case said discriminating means discriminates said signals regarding a picture in a number of said plurality of recording regions which is higher than a predetermined number (S5), said generating means generates said multi-picture information signals such that said plurality of small pictures correspond to respective signals recorded on said plurality of recording regions, and in case said discriminating means discriminates said signals regarding a picture in a number of said plurality of recording regions which is lower than the predetermined number (S5), said generating means generates said multi-picture information signals such that said plurality of small pictures correspond to respective signals regarding a picture recorded on said number of said plurality of recording regions. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said signals regarding other than a picture include audio signals. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said recording medium (10) includes a disk-like medium. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said generating means includes storing means (24) for storing sequentially said signals regarding a picture recorded on said recording medium in case said discriminating means discriminates said signals regarding a picture recorded on a number of said plurality of recording regions which is lower than the predetermined number. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said generating means further includes reading out means (26, 40, 48), for reading out said signals stored in said storing means. A reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising printing means (110, 120) for printing the multi-picture information signal generated by said generating means in the form of a visible image.

Inventors: YAMAGISHI YOUICHI, YAMAGISHI, YOUICHI, YAMAGISHI, YOUICHI, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N5, H04N1, G11B20