Enhanced user control operations for portable digital audio recorder
AssigneeDictaphone Corporation
InventorNicholas A. D'Agosto, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable sound recording device includes a microphone, a speaker and recording/playback circuitry connected to the microphone and speaker. The recording/playback circuitry includes a recording medium such as a removable solid state memory card. A control circuit controls operation of the recording/playback circuitry on the basis of input signals generated by a user via an operating switch array. The switch array includes a record switch. If the record switch is actuated for only a brief period of time, a record-lock mode of operation is implemented. If the record switch is actuated for a longer period of time, a momentary-record mode is entered which lasts only as long as the record switch remains in an actuated position.
Claims10
A portable sound recording device, comprising:
- a microphone;
- a speaker;
- recording/playback means connected to the microphone and speaker, said recording/playback means including a recording medium on which a sound signal is recorded and from which the sound signal is reproduced;
- control means for controlling operation of said recording/playback means;
- and
- a plurality of operating switches for providing user input signals to said control means, said plurality of operating switches including a record switch;
- wherein said control means places said recording/playback means in a record-lock mode when the record switch is actuated for less than a predetermined period of time, and said control means places said recording/playback means in a momentary-record mode when the record switch is actuated for more than the predetermined period of time;
- wherein, in said record-lock mode, recording continues with the record switch in an unactuated condition, and said momentary-record mode is entered upon actuation of the record switch in said record-lock mode;
- and
- wherein, in said momentary-record mode, recording continues so long as the record switch remains in an actuated condition and recording ceases when the record switch ceases to be actuated.
A method of operating a portable sound recording device, comprising the steps of:
- entering a record-lock mode of operation if a record switch is actuated for less than a predetermined period of time;
- and
- entering a momentary-record mode of operation if the record switch is actuated for more than the predetermined period of time;
- wherein, in said record-lock mode of operation, recording continues with the record switch in an unactuated condition, and said momentary-record mode of operation is entered upon actuation of the record switch in said record-lock mode of operation;
- and
- wherein, in said momentary-record mode of operation, recording continues so long as the record switch remains in an actuated condition and recording ceases when the record switch ceases to be actuated.
A method of providing rewind functions in a digital portable sound recording device, comprising the steps of:
- entering a latched rewind mode of operation if a rewind key is actuated for less than a predetermined period of time;
- entering a momentary rewind mode of operation if the rewind key is actuated for more than the predetermined period of time;
- and
- rewinding to a beginning point of a currently accessed file if the rewind key is operated in combination with a shift key.
A method of providing fast-forward functions in a digital portable sound recording device, comprising the steps of:
- entering a latched fast-forward mode of operation if a fast-forward key is actuated for less than a predetermined period of time;
- entering a momentary fast-forward mode of operation if the fast-forward key is actuated for more than the predetermined period of time;
- and
- advancing to an end point of a currently accessed file if the fast-forward key is operated in combination with a shift key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.