Radio with recording and reproducing function

Abstract: A radio system has a detector detecting a required radio program, and supplying an instruction signal when the program is detected thereby. In accordance with the instruction signal, a recording unit begins to record the program.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a radio which may record radio programs, and more particularly to an improved radio by which broadcasted programs may be easily reproduced at need. Radios have the advantage that a variety of information may be acquired, with doing something, for example, driving cars. However, people tend to easily miss important information, such as traffic information, weather information and the like. In order to solve the above mentioned problem, traditionally, the currently broadcasted program is recorded on a tape and is reproduced at need. The speed of rewinding the tape is faster than that for reproducing, so that the reproduction program may overtake the currently broadcasted program. According to the conventional radio, however, there is a disadvantage in that only currently broadcasted program may be recorded. Therefore, if a listener misses to tune the radio to the needed program or misses to turn on the radio itself, needed information may not be acquired quickly . The document DE 9109796 U1 which has been used to formulate the preamble part of patent claim 1 discloses a radio with recording and reproducing function and with a receiving unit for receiving radio waves in a predetermined range of frequency to generate sound signals. A recording and reproducing unit is provided for operating in a recording mode in which said sound signals are recorded on a recording medium, for example a magnetic tape cassette, a compact disc or a digital memory means, in a predetermined period, and for operating in a reproduction mode in which said sound signals recorded on the recording medium are reproduced. Amplifier and loudspeakers are provided for amplifying sound signals from the receiving unit and reproduced signals from the recording and reproducing unit to generate audible sound. A controller controls the modes of the recording and reproducing unit in accordance with instructions of the recording and reproduction modes. A timer is provided for storing broadcast messages at predetermined times without operating the radio and the amplifier or loudspeaker, respectively. The timer can be operated with and without a tuner to record information automatically when the radio wave of traffic information is received. Another radio is described in DE 41 18 970 A1. EP 0 203 797 discloses in an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a digital signal to transport the recording medium at a high speed to reproduce programs other then the predetermined programs and to reproduce predetermined programs at a normal speed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a radio by which needed information may be acquired anytime easily. This object is solved by a radio as defined in claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a radio with recording and reproducing functions. Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing reproduction operation of the radio of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a radio according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A radio according to the invention is now described in conjunction with appended drawings. The same reference numerals are used in Figs. 1 and 3 for same or similar parts. Fig. 1 shows a radio system, which includes an antenna 10, a receiving unit 16 for receiving radio waves in a predetermined range of frequency, a recording and reproducing unit 26 for operating in recording and reproduction modes, a sound data output unit 17 for amplifying sound signals supplied from the receiving unit and reproduced signals from the recording and reproduction unit, and a controller 27 for controlling the operation modes of the recording and reproducing unit. In the recording mode, the sound signals supplied from receiving unit 16 are recorded in a so-called mini-disk (or mini-card), which will be described later. In the reproduction mode, the sound signals recorded in the mini-disk are reproduced. The controller controls the' recording and reproduction unit in response to instructions transferred from an external device. The receiving unit includes a tuning amplifier 11 for amplifying the radio waves only in the predetermined range of frequency, an oscillator 13 for generating an oscillating frequency, a frequency mixer 12 for mixing the received radio waves and oscillating frequency to convert the frequency of the received radio waves into a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier 14 for amplifying the intermediate frequency, and a wave detector 15 for detecting the sound signals in an output signal of the intermediate frequency amplifier. The recording and reproduction unit 16 includes a switch unit 24, an A/D converter 25, an optomagnetic head unit 20, a D/A converter 23 and a disk driver 25. The switch unit is turned on and off to select one operation mode from the recording and reproduction modes. The A/D converter converts the sound signal (analog signal), which is supplied from the wave detector, into a digital signal. The optomagnetic head unit records the digital signal from the A/D converter on the mini-disk, and reproduces the recorded digital sound. The D/A converter converts the digital sound signal, which is supplied from the optomagnetic head unit, into analog signal. The disk driver rotates the mini-disk at a predetermined speed. The sound output unit includes a low frequency amplifier 18 for amplifying sound signals supplied from the wave detector and mini-disk, and a loudspeaker 19 for converting the sound signals to audible sound. The controller is connected to a sound recognition device 28, an input device 29, and a ROM 30, which is for storing a predetermined program. The sound recognition device recognizes predetermined radio programs, 'such as traffic information, weather information and the like, from the sound signal supplied from the D/A converter. A variety of instructions and information may be supplied through the input device, such as a keyboard, to the radio. The controller controls the receiving unit, sound output unit and recording and reproduction unit, in accordance with information supplied from the sound recognition device, input device and ROM. When the sound recognition device detects sound corresponding to the needed program, the switches 24A and 24B turn on and off, respectively, to select the recording mode independently of the condition (on or off) of the low frequency amplifier. In the recording mode, the optomagnetic head unit records the detected radio program on the mini-disk. When the reproduction mode is selected by the input device, the low frequency amplifier turns on and the switches 24A and 24B turn off and on, respectively. In the reproduction mode, the optomagnetic head unit reproduces the recorded program, and the reproduced sound is supplied to the loudspeaker. In the reproduction mode, when a search instruction is supplied from the input device, the controller controls the operation speed of the disk driver. When the required program is found, the program is reproduced at a normal speed, but the other programs are reproduced at a high speed. Such search processing may be performed manually by using high-speed and normal-speed reproduction keys (not shown) on'the input device. The mini disk is loaded in the optomagnetic head unit, and the receiving unit is tuned to a predetermined frequency in advance. The required program, such as traffic information, is memorized in the sound recognition device. When the sound recognition device detects sound for the traffic information from the sound signal supplied from the wave detector, a recognition signal is supplied to the controller. In response to the recognition signal, the recording and reproduction unit comes in the recording mode under control of the controller. That is, the switches 24A and 24B turn on and off, respectively, to make the optomagnetic head unit being in the recording mode. In the recording mode, sound signals of the traffic information, which is supplied from the wave detector, are converted into digital sound signals by the A/D converter, and the digital signals are recorded on the mini-disk. Fig. 2 shows steps to reproduce the recorded sound information on the mini-disk. When the mini disk is loaded in the optomagnetic head unit, and the instruction for searching the traffic information program is given, the recording and reproduction unit comes in the reproduction mode by the controller. That is, the switches 24A and 24B turn on and off, respectively and the optomagnetic head unit operates in the reproduction mode, so that the mini-disk is rotated at a high speed by the disk driver. Programs other than the traffic information are reproduced at a high speed, and the reproduced sound signals are supplied through the low frequency amplifier to the loudspeaker. When the sound recognition device detects the traffic information program, the program is reproduced at the normal speed under control of the controller. The mini-disk may be available in homes, offices, cars and the like. In the above mentioned embodiment, if the traffic information program is recorded on the mini-disk at a region starting from a predetermined start address, the program may be reproduced without such searching processing. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention, which is applied to a radio in car. In response to a turn on signal of an ignition switch 31, a recording and reproducing unit 26 comes in a recording mode by a controller 27. The recording period of each radio program is limited. In the above mentioned embodiment, the mini-disk is employed as a recording medium; however, cassette tapes and IC cards may be employed instead.

Claims: A radio with recording and reproducing functions for use in a vehicle having an ignition switch, comprising: a receiving unit (16) responsive to radio waves in a predetermined range of frequencies for generating sound signals; a recording and reproducing unit (26) for recording the sound signals in a recording mode and for reproducing the recorded sound signals in a reproduction mode; a sound data output unit (17) for amplifying sound signals from the receiving unit and reproduced sound signals from the recording and reproducing unit; characterized by a controller (27) which is responsive to a turn-on signal of the ignition switch (31) for placing the recording and reproducing unit into the recording mode. The radio of claim 1, further comprising an input unit for generating instruction signals for the radio, wherein said controller (27) is responsive to the instruction signals for controlling the receiving unit, the recording and reproducing unit and the sound data output unit. The radio of claim 2, wherein the input unit is a key input unit (29). The radio of claim 2, wherein the input unit is a ROM (30). The radio of claim 1, wherein said recording and reproducing unit (26) comprises an optomagnetic head unit (20) and a disk driver (25).

Inventors: OKADA SETSUO, OKADA, SETSUO, OKADA, SETSUO, C/O HUDSON SOFT CO., LTD.
Applicants: HUDSON SOFT CO LTD, HUDSON SOFT CO., LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H04B1
IPC codes: G11B31, H04B1