Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Condition indicating – monitoring – or testing – Of storage or retrieval information signal
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2001-07-17
Tran, Thang V. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Condition indicating, monitoring, or testing
Of storage or retrieval information signal
C369S084000, C369S047120, C369S059240, C385S088000, C439S669000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262958
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission cable for transmitting both an analog signal and a digital signal, a jack to be connected to the transmission cable, and a recording device connected to the transmission cable and the jack and for recording data on a recording medium.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventionally, when dubbing an audio signal on a recording medium loaded in a recording device, a reproducing device is electrically connected to the recording device for transmitting the audio signal. For transferring an information signal, the transmission cable is connected between the recording device and the reproducing device. As such, when dubbing the audio signal, the transmission cables connected among the electronic devices include an analog cable for transmitting an analog signal, a digital cable for transmitting a digital signal, and an optical cable for transmitting a digital light signal.
When dubbing a signal from a first optical disc dedicated to reproduction to a second recordable and reproducible optical disc through these analog, digital, and optical cables, the first electronic device to which the first optical disc is loaded is connected to the second electronic device to which the second optical disc is loaded through those cables, for the purpose of transmitting a signal from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.
When dubbing a signal from the first optical disc to the second optical disc, the signal can be digitally dubbed onto the second optical disc. However, the dubbing of the digital signal from the second optical disc to the third recordable and reproducible optical disc is strictly restricted and thus is made substantially impossible. That is, the digital dubbing to the first generation is enabled, while the digital dubbing to the second generation is prohibited in light of the copyright. If a user would like to dub a signal to the second optical disc, the user is permitted to dub the signal in an analog manner.
Hence, the second electronic device is required to provide a capability of transmitting and receiving a digital signal and an analog signal. Further, when the first electronic device transmits a signal to the second electronic device for dubbing the signal recorded on the first optical disc to the second optical disc, some users do not prefer to digitally dub the signal on the second optical disc but prefer to analogously dub the signal thereon. Hence, the first electronic device is required to provide a capability of transmitting and receiving a digital signal and an analog signal.
As described above, the second electronic device to which the second optical disc is loaded is required to provide a capability of transmitting and receiving a digital signal and an analog signal. Hence, the second electronic device provides a jack having a capability of transmitting and receiving a digital signal and an analog signal. The digital cable, the analog cable and the optical cable provide at their tips plugs designed to fit into the jack, so that the jack may be connected to the digital cable and the analog cable.
By providing the jack fitted to each system, the second electronic device may be reduced in size. This jack contains two types for a signal input and a signal output. Though the jack has one mechanical structure, the jack type for a signal output provides a laser diode for transmitting a light signal, while the jack type for a signal input provides a photo detector for receiving a light signal.
However, the user who uses the electronic device provided with this type of jack possesses both of the optical cable and the analog cable. For example, when dubbing the signal recorded on the first optical disc loaded on the first electronic device onto the second optical disc loaded on the second electronic device in a digital manner, the optical cable is inserted into the jack. On the other hand, when dubbing the signal recorded on the first optical disc in an analog manner, it is necessary to replace the optical cable with the analog cable. That is, when the user wants to dub the signal, the user is requested to replace one cable with another when selecting the digital system or the analog system.
Further, when dubbing the signal from the first optical disc to the second optical disc in an analog manner, an unfavorable matter takes place where the additional information such as digital text information recorded on the first optical disc cannot be dubbed at a time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission cable which enables to transmit an analog signal and a digital signal, a jack to be connected to this transmission cable, and a recording device.
In carrying out the object, the transmission cable according to the present invention includes a plug having a hole formed at the tip of a projection located on the center thereof and through which a digital signal is inputted and outputted and a terminal section located on the side of the hole and for outputting an analog signal, a digital signal transmission line for transmitting a digital signal to be inputted or outputted from the hole, and an analog signal transmission line for transmitting an analog signal to be inputted or outputted from the terminal section. This transmission cable enables to transmit the analog signal as well as the digital signal at a time.
The jack according to the present invention includes a first plug through which the digital signal and the analog signal are inputted and outputted, a second plug having the substantially same form as the first plug and through which only the analog signal is inputted and outputted, an analog signal I/O portion selectively connected with a third plug through which only a digital signal is inputted and outputted and through which the analog signal is inputted and outputted, a digital signal I/O portion through which the digital signal outputted from the first plug is inputted and outputted, and identifying means for identifying which of the first plug, the second plug and the third plug is inserted. The jack provides a capability of transmitting and receiving both the analog signal and the digital signal.
Further, the recording device according to the present invention includes a jack to be selectively connected with a first plug through which a digital signal and an analog signal are inputted and outputted, a second plug having the substantially same form as the first plug and through which only the analog signal is inputted and outputted, and a third plug through which only the digital signal is inputted and outputted, an analog signal I/O portion to which the analog signal inputted or outputted from the first or the second plug is inputted, a digital signal input unit to which the digital signal inputted or outputted from the first or the third plug is inputted, identifying means for identifying which of the first, the second and the third plugs is connected, converting means for converting the inputted signal into a recording signal to be recorded on the recording medium according to the identified result of the identifying means, and recording means for recording the recording signal converted by the converting means onto the recording medium. The recording device may be inputted with the analog signal transmitted thereto and inputted with or output the digital signal. Hence, this recording device enables to record any signal, that is, an analog signal or a digital signal onto the recording medium.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4846719 (1989-07-01), Iwashita
patent: 4869566 (1989-09-01), Juso et al.
patent: 5352995 (1994-10-01), Mouissie
patent: 5539851 (1996-07-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5790498 (1998-08-01), Jeong
patent: 5812512 (1998-09-01), Tobita et al.
patent: 0053482 (1982-06-01), None
patent: 9642122 (1996-12-01), None
Matsumoto Kissei
Ogihara Akira
Kananen Ronald P.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
Sony Corporation
Tran Thang V.
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