Method and apparatus for recording and detecting indicating signals in a recording and/or reproducing device

In apparatus for recording information on a record medium, said apparatus including a programmed processing unit for selecting and controlling predetermined operating conditions, a method of selectively recording an indicating signal comprising the sequential steps of (a) detecting the selective actuation of a cue signal switch;

• (b) sensing if a cue signal cycle counter has reached a predetermined count following the actuation of said cue signal switch;
• (c) incrementing said cue signal cycle counter by one count if said predetermined count has not been reached, and resetting said cue signal cycle counter to an initial count if said predetermined count has been reached and also incrementing a cue counter by one count;
• (d) sensing if the count of said cue counter is less than a first count;
• (e) recording a cue signal if said cue counter is less than said first count;
• (f) interrupting the recording of said cue signal when said cue counter reaches said first count;
• (h) resuming the recording of said cue signal when said cue counter reaches a second count;
• (i) terminating the recording of said cue signal when said cue counter reaches a third count;
• and (j) substantially periodically repeating steps (a) through (i).

In apparatus for recording information on a record medium, said apparatus including a programmed processor unit for selecting and controlling predetermined operating conditions, a method of selectively recording a first or second type of indicating signal, comprising the steps of (a) detecting the actuation of a cue signal switch;

• (b) if said cue signal switch is actuated, incrementing the count of a cue counter by one count at substantially periodic intervals in the program of said processor unit;
• (c) sensing if the count of said cue counter is less than a first count;
• (d) recording a cue signal if the count of said cue counter is less than said first count;
• (e) detecting the deactuation of said cue signal switch when the count of said cue counter is less than said first count;
• (f) interrupting the recording of said cue signal when the count of said cue counter reaches said first count;
• (g) detecting the re-actuation of said cue signal switch prior to the count of said cue counter reaching said first count;
• (h) commencing the recording of another cue signal when the count of said cue counter reaches a second count provided that said cue signal switch has been re-actuated prior to the count of said cue counter reaching said first count;
• (i) terminating the recording of said cue signal when the count of said cue counter reaches a third count and resetting said cue counter to an initial count;
• and (j) substantially periodically repeating steps (a) through (i).

A method of operating a programmed processor unit for selecting and controlling predetermined operating conditions in dictating apparatus, comprising carrying out sequential instructional routines during a program cycle including a pause routine to stop temporarily the recording medium used with said dictating apparatus upon the detection of predetermined conditions and to provide an indication to the user of said dictating apparatus;

• a fast execution routine carried out repeatedly a predetermined plural number of times during each program cycle;
• a first switch routine to sense the selected actuation of a first group of switches and to establish an operating condition in accordance therewith;
• and at least a second switch routine to sense the selected actuation of at least a second group of switches and to establish an operating condition in accordance therewith, said routines including the steps of (a) detecting the actuation of a cue signal switch;
• (b) if said cue signal switch is actuated, incrementing the count of a cue counter by one count;
• (c) sensing the count of said cue counter;
• (d) recording a cue signal if said cue signal switch is actuated and said count of said cue counter remains less than a predetermined value;
• (e) terminating the recording of said cue signal when said count reaches said predetermined value;
• and (f) repeating at least some of steps (a) through (e) once during each performance of said fast execution routine.

Cue signal recording apparatus operative in a dictation device to record a cue signal on a record medium, said apparatus comprising cue signal switch means actuable to initiate the recording of a cue signal;

• switch detecting means for detecting when sad cue signal switch means is actuated and for detecting when said cue signal switch means is not actuated;
• a cue counter;
• count sensing means for sensing the count then present in said cue counter and for determining if said count is less than a predetermined value;
• means for incrementing said cue counter by one count if said sensed count is less than said predetermined value;
• a source of cue signal;
• recording means for recording said cue signal if said switch detecting means detects that said cue signal switch means has been actuated;
• and interrupt means for interrupting the recording of said cue signal when said count sensing means determines that the count then present in said cue counter has reached said predetermined value.

Indicating signal recording apparatus operative in a dictation device to record an indicating signal on a record medium, said apparatus comprising switch means selectively actuable to initiate the recording of an indicating signal;

• switch detecting means for detecting when said switch means is actuated for the recording of said indicating signal;
• a counter;
• count sensing means for sensing the count then present in said counter;
• means for incrementing said counter by one count if the sensed count is less than a threshold level;
• a source of cue signal;
• recording means for recording said cue signal if said switch detecting means detects that said switch means has been actuated;
• interrupt means for interrupting the recording of said cue signal when the sensed count reaches a first count;
• and means for resuming the recording of said cue signal when the sensed count reaches a second count and for continuing the recording of said cue signal until the sensed count reaches said threshold level.

Indicating signal recording apparatus operative in a dictation device to record a first or second type of indicating signal on a record medium, said apparatus comprising switch means selectively actuable to initiate the recording of an indicating signal;

• switch detecting means for detecting the actuation of said switch means;
• a cue signal cycle counter;
• first count sensing means responsive to the actuation of said switch means for sensing the count then present in said cue signal cycle counter;
• means for incrementing the count of said cue signal cycle counter by one count if said count is less than a particular value;
• means for resetting said cue signal cycle counter to an initial count when said sensed count thereof reaches said particular value;
• means for producing an output cue signal whose phase reverses in response to the resetting of said cue signal cycle counter;
• a cue counter;
• means for incrementing the count of said cue counter by one count in response to the resetting of said cue signal cycle counter;
• second count sensing means for sensing the count then present in said cue counter;
• means for recording said output cue signal until the count of said cue counter reaches a first count, whereupon the recording of said output cue signal is interrupted;
• means for resuming the recording of said output cue signal when said count of said cue counter reaches a second count, provided that said switch detecting means detects the de-actuation and re-actuation of said switch means prior to the time that said count of said cue counter reaches said first count;
• and means for terminating the resumed recording of said output cue signal when the count of said cue counter reaches a third count.

A method of selectively detecting a first type of indicating signal, recorded on a record medium as a burst of cue signal, or a second type of indicating signal, recorded on said record medium as successive bursts of said cue signal, said method comprising the sequential steps of (a) detecting the reproduction of a cue signal from said record medium;

• (b) incrementing a counter by one count in response to the detected cue signal;
• (c) detecting if the cue signal reproduced from said record medium has terminated;
• (d) sensing if said counter has reached a preselected count;
• (e) repeating steps (a) through (d);
• and (f) indicating the detection of said first type of indicating signal when said counter reaches said preselected count and indicating the detection of said second type of indicating signal when the reproduction of a cue signal from said record medium is detected once again prior to the time that said counter reaches said preselected count.

A method of controlling a signal reproducing machine in response to first or second types of indicating signals reproduced from a record medium, said first type of indicating signal being formed as a burst of cue signal and said second type of indicating signal being formed as successive bursts of said cue signal, said method comprising the steps of advancing said record medium in a selected mode of operation;

• detecting the reproduction of a cue signal from said record medium;
• if a cue signal is detected while said record medium is being advanced in a first mode of operation, temporarily halting said record medium and providing an indication thereof, and resuming the advance of said record medium;
• if a cue signal is detected while said record medium is being advanced in a second mode of operation, (a) incrementing a counter by one count, (b) detecting if the cue signal has terminated, (c) sensing if said counter has reached a preselected count, (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) until either (i) said counter reaches said preselected count or (ii) the termination followed by the resumption of said cue signal is detected, and (e) indicating the detection of said first type of indicating signal if said counter reaches said preselected count and indicating the detection of said second type of indicating signal if the termination followed by the resumption of said cue signal is detected prior to the time that said counter reaches said preselected count.

A method of operating a programmed processor unit for selecting and controlling predetermined operating conditions in dictating and/or transcribing apparatus, comprising carrying out sequential instructional routines during a program cycle including a pause routine to stop temporarily the record medium used with said apparatus upon the selected detection of indicating signals recorded on said record medium and to provide an indication to the user of said apparatus;

• a fast execution routine carried out repeatedly a predetermined plural number of times during each program cycle;
• a first switch routine to sense the selected actuation of a first group of switches and to establish an operating condition in accordance therewith;
• and at least a second switch routine to sense the selected actuation of at least a second group of switches and to establish an operating condition in accordance therewith;
• said fast execution routine including a method of selectively detecting a first or second type of indicating signal reproduced from said record medium, said first type of indicating signal being formed as a burst of cue signal and said second type of indicating signal being formed as successive bursts of said cue signal, said last-mentioned method comprising the steps of (a) detecting the reproduction of a cue signal from said record medium;
• (b) incrementing a counter by one count if a cue signal has been detected;
• (c) detecting if said cue signal reproduced from said record medium has terminated;
• (d) sensing if said counter has reached a preselected count;
• (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) once during each performance of the fast execution routine;
• and (f) indicating the detection of said first type of indicating signal when said counter reaches said preselected count and indicating the detection of said second type of indicating signal when the reproduction of said cue signal from said record medium resumes prior to the time that said counter reaches said preselected count.

Indicating signal detecting apparatus operative in a recording and/or reproducing device for detecting either a first type of indicating signal, recorded on a record medium as a burst of cue signal, or a second type of indicating signal, recorded on said record medium as successive bursts of said cue signal, said apparatus comprising means for reproducing a cue signal from said record medium;

• detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the reproduced cue signal;
• a counter;
• count sensing means for sensing the count then present in said counter and for determining if said count is less than a preselected count;
• means for periodically incrementing said counter if a reproduced cue signal has been detected and if said sensed count is less than said preselected count;
• first indicating signal means for indicating the detection of said first type of indicating signal when said sensed count reaches said preselected count while said detecting means detects the absence of said reproduced cue signal;
• flag signal means for producing a flag signal when said detecting means detects the presence of said reproduced cue signal followed by the absence thereof;
• and second indicating signal means for indicating the detection of said second type of indicating signal when said detecting means detects the presence of said reproduced cue signal and said flag signal is produced.