Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Memory configuring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-05
2001-07-31
Yoo, Do Hyun (Department: 2185)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Memory configuring
C711S202000, C711S103000, C707S793000, C714S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269434
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus which includes a nonvolatile memory acting as a recording medium for recording digital data and a microcomputer for executing recording and reproduction of data on the nonvolatile memory.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 7
shows a conventional recording and reproducing apparatus and
FIG. 8
shows a data structure of a nonvolatile memory of the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus of FIG.
7
. In
FIG. 7
, the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus includes a power source
21
formed by a battery or the like, a booster
22
, a decoupling capacitor
34
, a flash memory
27
acting as the nonvolatile memory, a microcomputer
25
, a display
33
, a sound signal processor
28
, a microphone
31
and a speaker
32
. The sound signal processor
28
is constituted by a compression and expansion controller
29
and an A/D and D/A converting means
30
. The power source
21
supplies a fixed voltage VDD to the whole conventional recording and reproducing apparatus through the booster
22
. The decoupling capacitor
34
is provided at an output of the booster
22
so as to absorb variations of the fixed voltage VDD due to load variations.
Although not specifically shown, the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus includes various operating switches such as a recording key, a playback key, an erasure key and a stop key. For example, when the recording key has been operated, sound picked up by the microphone
31
is converted into digital data by the A/D and D/A converting means
30
and then, the digital data is compressed by compression function of the compression and expansion controller
29
so as to be recorded on the flash memory
27
via the microcomputer
25
. On the other hand, when the playback key has been operated, compressed digital data recorded on the flash memory
27
is read out of the flash memory
27
and then, is delivered to the compression and expansion controller
29
by way of the microcomputer
25
so as to be expanded by expansion function of the compression and expansion controller
29
. Subsequently, the expanded digital data is subjected to D/A conversion by the A/D and D/A converting means
30
so as to be converted into analog data such that the analog data is reproduced by the speaker
32
.
Generally, in order to perform file management efficiently, a file management table (referred to as a “FMT”, hereinafter) area (file management area) for collectively managing start addresses of files, etc. is provided in the flash memory
27
as shown in
FIG. 8
so as to manage file information recorded in a data area of the flash memory
27
.
In the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus in which the nonvolatile memory such as the flash memory
27
is employed as the recording medium and file management is performed by ordinary management of the FMT, the following disadvantages are incurred. Namely, if the battery is instantaneously detached from the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus due to vibrations during recording, data which is being recorded is invalidated. Meanwhile, if the battery is instantaneously detached from the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus during rewriting of the FMT area, the whole remaining file information may also be invalidated. Furthermore, if recording and reproduction are repeated in the conventional recording and reproducing apparatus, damage at the time of erasure and recording is concentrated at the FMT area and thus, service life of the nonvolatile memory is shortened extremely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to provide, with a view to eliminating the above mentioned drawbacks of prior art recording and reproducing apparatuses, a recording and reproducing apparatus in which recorded data is not erased even at the time of instantaneous interruption or voltage reduction of a power source and service life of a nonvolatile memory can be lengthened by eliminating frequent access to a specific portion of the nonvolatile memory.
In order to accomplish this object of the present invention, a recording and reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a nonvolatile memory which acts as a recording medium; and a control means for executing recording and reproduction on the nonvolatile memory; wherein the nonvolatile memory includes a first area for recording management information of whole of the nonvolatile memory and a second area for recording data of respective files; wherein the first area has a first file management table produced at the time of start of recording of the files and including at least a first management area for managing information on addresses of start sectors of the files and a second management area for managing information on usable space areas of the files; wherein the second area has a second file management table produced at a leading portion of each of sectors of each of the files on a real-time basis during recording of the files and formed by link information on corresponding ones of the sectors; wherein when the control means executes recording and reproduction on the nonvolatile memory, the control means performs file management on the basis of information from the first and second file management tables; wherein at the time of start of use of the nonvolatile memory, the control means secures a space area from a leading portion of the second area so as to use the second area as a data area sequentially from the leading portion of the second area.
In accordance with the present invention, even at the time instantaneous interruption or voltage reduction of the power source happens, latest management information on the data recorded in the nonvolatile memory is properly written in the nonvolatile memory and the data recorded in the nonvolatile memory is not invalidated.
Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, since frequent access to the specific portion of the nonvolatile memory is eliminated, service life of the nonvolatile memory can be lengthened.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5515333 (1996-05-01), Fujita et al.
patent: 5541359 (1996-07-01), Lee
patent: 5544312 (1996-08-01), Hasbun
patent: 5585845 (1996-12-01), Kawamura et al.
patent: 5630093 (1997-05-01), Holzhammer et al.
patent: 5832493 (1998-11-01), Marshall et al.
patent: 5867466 (1999-02-01), Igarashi eta l.
patent: 5890188 (1999-03-01), Okamoto et al.
patent: 5930467 (1999-07-01), Morita
patent: 6078520 (2000-06-01), Tobita et al.
patent: 6094693 (2000-07-01), Haneda
patent: 6141489 (2000-10-01), Honda
patent: 6170066 (2001-01-01), See
patent: 196 33 648 (1998-02-01), None
patent: 0867884 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 0924708 (1999-06-01), None
Kim Hong
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
Yoo Do Hyun
LandOfFree
Recording and reproducing apparatus including a nonvolatile... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Recording and reproducing apparatus including a nonvolatile..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Recording and reproducing apparatus including a nonvolatile... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2451805