Code image recording apparatus having a loudspeaker and a printer contained in a same cabinet

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a coder image recording apparatus for recording a speech entered through a microphone by printing it on a predetermined printing medium in the form of an optically readable code image and reproducing the entered speech from a loudspeaker.

The assignee of the present patent application has proposed a recording apparatus for recording speech by printing it on a predetermined printing medium in the form of an optically readable code image of dot codes in EP 0,670,555 A1 (U.S. Ser. No. 08/407,018).

FIGS. 1A and 1B

of the accompanying drawings schematically illustrate the configuration of the physical format of dot codes to be used for the proposed recording apparatus. The code pattern

1

comprises a plurality of blocks

2

arranged two-dimensionally on a side by side basis. Each block

2

in turn comprises a data area

3

, markers

4

and a block address pattern

5

.

The data area

3

contains white dots and black dots representing respective data values of “0s” and “1s” that are assigned to each block as speech data and arranged according to a predetermined format of arrangement to produce a white dot image or a black dot image. The markers

4

are black markers arranged at the four corners of the block

12

to provide a reference point for detecting each dot in the data area

3

, each of the markers

4

being formed by a certain number of consecutively arranged black dots. The block address pattern

5

is arranged between adjacently located markers

4

to make the block

2

discriminable from other blocks

2

and contains white dots and black dots representing respective data values of “0s” and “1s” that are assigned to each block as address data including an error detecting or error correcting code. The vertical and horizontal lines connecting the dots in the drawing are used for the ease of understanding and they do not exist in real code images.

A system using dot codes arranged with the above described physical format provides an advantage that the original data can be restored by rearranging the data of the blocks according to their respective addresses if all the dot codes of the data covers an area greater than the area that can be taken by the solid state image sensing device of the image reader or, differently stated, if the entire dot codes of the data cannot be picked up by a single shot, provided that the address of each of the blocks is contained in any of the images taken by the image reader. Therefore, such a dot code system can store a huge volume of data on a single sheet of paper in a matter that can be achieved by no other known one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code system so that speech data can be transmitted or transported in a simple manner by means of a recording medium such as paper. Thus, the dot code system may have a wide variety of applications that are not conceivable with known code systems.

The code image recording apparatus may be an ordinary printer or a label printer adapted to print and record optically readable dot codes continuously on label-like sheets of paper being fed also continuously along a given direction.

The use of a label printer for a code image recording apparatus is very promising because it is portable and easy to use and hence provides a broad opportunity of utilization.

However, label printers or not, known code image recording apparatuses have problems to be overcome they get a high market value.

More specifically, with a code image recording apparatus of the type under consideration comprising speech input means such as microphone for speech input, code image converting means for encoding the input speech and converting it into a code image of dot codes, a printer for printing and recording the code image obtained by the code image converting means as optically readable image and a loudspeaker for outputting the speech entered by the speech input means, that are contained in a single cabinet, the faint vibrations generated at the time of speech output from the loudspeaker can be transmitted to the printer to interfere with the operation of printing fine dots to deform all or some of the dot codes being printed and adversely affect the operation of reading the printed and recorded dot codes of the code image.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above identified problem, it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a code image recording apparatus that can minimize the adverse effect of the vibrations generated at the time of speech output from the loudspeaker on the operation of printing and recording a code image.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, and wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting (i) means for setting a speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input means, and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for controlling the operation mode setting means so as to set only one of said speech output mode and said printing/recording mode and prohibiting said operation mode setting means to select the other of said modes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, and wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting (i) means for setting a speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input means, and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for prohibiting the operation mode setting means to set the printing/recording mode if the operation mode setting means has set the speech output mode.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, and wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting (i) means for setting a speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input means, and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for prohibiting the operation mode setting means to set the speech output mode if the operation mode setting means has selected the printing/recording mode.

Additional object and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A

is a schematic illustration of a physical format of dot codes to be printed on a printing medium for the purpose of the invention.

FIG. 1B

is a schematic illustration of the block address of the dot code of FIG.

1

A.

FIG. 2

is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of code image recording apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 3

is a schematic block diagram of the embodiment of code image recording apparatus of FIG.

2

.

FIG. 4

is a flow chart of the printing operation of the embodiment of FIG.

2

.

FIG. 5

is a chart illustrating operation mode flags to be used for the embodiment of FIG.

2

.

FIG. 6

is a flow chart of the speech output operation of the loudspeaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now, the present invention will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2

is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of code image recording apparatus according to the invention and

FIG. 3

is a schematic block diagram of the embodiment of code image recording apparatus of FIG.

2

. The code image recording apparatus comprises a microphone

10

for speech input, a loudspeaker

12

for reproducing the input speech for the purpose of confirmation and a printer

16

for printing a dot code pattern

1

on a label-like printing medium

14

, the microphone

10

, the loudspeaker

12

and the printer

16

being contained in a single cabinet.

The code image recording apparatus is provided with a speech input start operation section

20

, a replay operation section

22

, a printing operation section

24

, a stop operation section

26

, a data volume display section

28

and a parameter setting section

30

arranged on the top and lateral sides of the cabinet.

The speech input start operation section

20

is in fact a “REC” button

20

A for starting a speech input operation through the microphone

10

whereas the replay operation section

22

is in fact a “PLAY” button

22

A for starting a speech reproducing operation through the loudspeaker

12

. The printing operation section

24

and the stop operation section refer respectively to a “PRINT” button

24

A for starting an operation of printing a dot code pattern

1

by means of the printer

16

and a “STOP” button

26

A for terminating the current operation. The data volume display section

28

is in fact a volume of receivable input/progress of speech reproduction indicator

28

A typically comprising five LEDs for indicating the volume of receivable input determined by the preselected total volume of speech input and the volume of input received by microphone

10

and the progress of speech reproduction through the loudspeaker

12

.

The parameter setting section

30

includes a long/short mode selector switch

30

A for specifying the mode of recording a dot code pattern

1

on a label-like printing medium

14

, a total volume of speech input preselecting section and a parameter input section for entering parameters necessary for preparing a dot code pattern

1

, although the parameter setting section

30

may alternatively comprise a ROM for storing parameters so that the user may not be required to enter parameters. The long mode and the short mode described above as mode of recording the dot code pattern

1

refer to the respective lengths of the parts to be used when a dot code pattern is divided into a plurality of parts with an interval arranged between any two successive parts so that the dot code pattern may be printed on so many label-like pieces of printing medium

14

. For example, the long mode may refer to the use of A4 size (of the A Series Standard used in Japan) sheets of paper arranged vertically and applying label-like sheets of printing medium thereto horizontally, whereas the short mode may refer to the use of blank post cards arranged horizontally (or vertically) and applying label-like sheets of printing medium thereto horizontally.

Reference numeral

32

in

FIG. 2

denotes a volume control for controlling the volume with which the input speech is sounded for replaying and reference numeral

34

denotes a cutter lever for operating the built-in cutter to cut and separate the printed label-like sheet of printing medium

14

from the unprinted sheets. Reference numeral

36

denotes a number of jacks to be used for externally inputting/outputting a speech.

The speech input start operation section

20

, the replay operation section

22

, the printing operation section

24

and the stop operation section

26

operate as part of operation mode selector

42

with an input/output operation control section

38

and an operation mode control section

40

. The operation signals from the speech input start operation section

20

, the replay operation section

22

, the printing operation section

24

and the stop operation section

26

are entered to the operation mode control section

40

by way of the input/output operation control section

38

. The operation mode control section

40

controls the operation of each of speech input processing section

44

, speech output control section

46

, code image converting section

48

and printer output control section

50

according to the present operation mode and the corresponding operation signal it receives as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The speech input control section

44

performs processing operations including amplification, filtering and A/D conversion on the speech signal input through the microphone

10

. The speech input processing section

44

is made ready for starting its operation by an operation signal from the speech input start operation section

20

and for stopping its operation by an operation signal from the stop operation section

26

, although it does not start its operation until authorized by the operation mode control section

40

.

The digital speech data output from the speech input processing section

44

is compressed/encoded for every speech frame unit of 30 msec by a speech data compression/encoding section

52

and stored in a temporary data storage section

54

. Speech data volume detecting section

56

has a receivable input data computing section

58

that computes the speech volume that can still be input into the recording apparatus on the basis of the number of frames compressed by the speech data compression/encoding section

52

and the number of frames corresponding to the total speech volume to be input set by the parameter setting section

30

and sends the outcome of the computation to a data volume display drive section

60

by way of the input/output operation control section

38

. The data volume display drive section

60

energize the five LEDs of the volume of receivable input/progress of speech reproduction indicator

28

A to display the speech volume that can still be received by the recording apparatus.

The speech output control section

46

performs processing operations including amplification, filtering and D/A conversion on the speech data to be reproduced from the loudspeaker

12

. The speech output control section

46

is made ready for starting its operation by an operation signal from the replay operation section

22

and stopping its operation by an operation signal from the stop operation section

26

, although it does not start its operation until authorized by the operation mode control section

40

.

The speech data sent to the speech output control section

46

is a data obtained by expanding the compressed/encoded data stored in the temporary data storage section

54

by means of a speech data expansion processing section

62

. At this time, a data indicating the number of frames subjected to the expansion processing operation of the speech data expansion processing section

62

is fed to replay data volume computing section

64

of the speech data volume detecting section

56

from the speech data expansion processing section

62

. The replay data volume computing section

64

determines by computation the volume of data reproduced from data stored in the temporary data storage section

54

. The outcome of the computing operation is then fed to the data volume display drive section

60

by way of the input/output operation control section

38

so that the progress of speech reproduction is indicated as the five LEDs of the volume of receivable input/progress of speech reproduction indicator

28

A are energized.

The printer output control section

50

controls the printer

16

to print the code image of the dot codes converted by the code image converting section

48

. The printer output control section

50

is made ready for starting its operation by an operation signal from the printing operation section

24

and stopping its operation by an operation signal from the stop operation section

26

, although it does not start its operation until authorized by the operation mode control section

40

.

The code image converting section

48

that feed the printer output control section

50

with a code image of dot codes comprises an encoding processing section

66

for encoding compressed/encoded speech data stored in the temporary data storage section

54

and a code image generation/output section

68

for converting coded data into a code image and outputting the generated code image. The operation of the encoding processing section

66

is controlled by the operation mode control section

40

. Parameters including the compression ratio, the resolution, the number of block rows and the length of the parts obtained by dividing the dot codes necessary for encoding and outputting a code image are set by means of the parameter setting section

30

.

The code image generation/output section

68

has a memory (not shown) for storing the generated code image so that a same dot code pattern

1

can be duplicatively reproduced simply by operating the printing operation section

24

.

Now, the operation of the embodiment of code image recording apparatus having the above described configuration will be described below.

FIG. 4

is a flow chart of the printing operation of the embodiment. It is assumed here that the speech entered through the microphone

10

has been compressed and encoded and the operation of encoding data and generating a code image has been completed.

As the “PRINT” button

24

A of the printing operation section

24

is depressed (Step S

10

), the operation mode control section

40

reads the current status of the operation mode flag and determines if a printer output operation is permitted or not (Step S

12

). As shown in

FIG. 5

, the operation mode flag is a 8-bit data, where bit “1” indicates if a speech input operation using the built-in microphone

10

is permitted or not and bit “2” indicates if a speech output operation using the loudspeaker

12

is permitted or not, whereas bit “3” indicates if an operation of printing the dot code pattern

1

that corresponds to the input speech on the label-like recording medium by means of the printer

16

is permitted or not and bit “4” indicates if the overall operation of the code image recording apparatus is authorized or not. Thus, “00000001” indicates a state where only a speech input operation using the microphone

10

is authorized and “00000010” indicates a state where only a speech reproducing operation using the loudspeaker

12

is authorized, whereas “00000100” indicates a state where only an operation of printing a dot code pattern by means of the printer

16

is authorized and “00001000” indicates a states where all the above operations are authorized and can be conducted simultaneously.

In an operation mode where no printer output operation is authorized, the stand-by state is typically displayed to the user in the form of an error message (not shown) (Step S

14

) and the processing operation returns to Step S

12

. Thus, if mechanical vibrations occur as the loudspeaker

12

is driven to operate, the printing operation of the printer

16

would not be affected because the printer is not operated while the loudspeaker

12

is replaying a speech.

On the other hand, in an operation mode where a printer output operation is authorized, the operation mode flag is set to “00000100” to prohibit any speech output from the loudspeaker

12

and any speech input operation through the microphone

10

(Step S

16

). Thus, the speech output control section

46

is not driven to generate mechanical vibrations that adversely affect the printing operation of the printer

16

while the printer

16

is in operation.

The operation mode control section

40

authorizes the printer output control section

50

to carry out a printer output processing operation of printing a code image of dot codes sent from the code image converting section

48

on a label-like printing medium

14

by means of the printer

26

(Step S

18

).

The operation mode control section

40

checks if an order for forced termination of printer output operation is given by the user by depressing the “STOP” button

26

A of the stop operation section

26

during the printer output processing operation (Step S

20

) and, if such an order is given, it proceeds to Step S

24

, which will be discussed hereinafter. If an order for forced termination of printer output operation is not given, it determines if all the code image expressed in terms of output unit and generated by the code image generation/output section

68

has been output or not (Step S

22

) and returns to Step S

18

if all the code image has not been output.

If, on the other hand, it is found that all the code image expressed in terms of output unit has been output, the operation mode control section

40

sets the operation mode flag to “00001000” to indicate that all intended operations of the code image recording apparatus are authorized (Step S

24

) before terminating the current printing operation.

FIG. 6

is a flow chart of the speech replay operation of the loudspeaker

12

. It is assumed here that the speech entered through the microphone

10

has been compressed/encoded and stored in the temporary storage section

54

.

More specifically, as the “PLAY” button

22

A of the replay operation section

22

is depressed (Step S

30

), the operation mode control section

40

reads the operation mode flag and determines if a replay operation using the loudspeaker

12

is permitted or not (Step S

32

). If the operation mode flag shows that the replay operation using the loudspeaker

12

is not permitted, the stand-by state is typically displayed to the user in the form of an error message (not shown) (Step S

34

) and the processing operation returns to Step S

32

. Thus, the speech output control section

46

is not driven while the printer

16

is in operation so that no mechanical vibration is generated by the loudspeaker

12

to adversely affect the printing operation of the printer

16

because the loudspeaker

12

is not driven.

On the other hand, in an operation mode where a replay operation using the loudspeaker

12

is authorized, the operation mode flag is set to “00000010” to prohibit any speech input operation using the microphone

10

and any printing output operation of the printer

16

(Step S

36

). Thus, the printer

16

is held to a stand-by state when a speech replay operation is in progress at the loudspeaker

12

so that the printing operation of the printer

16

would not be adversely affected if mechanical vibrations are generated by the loudspeaker

12

that is driven.

The operation mode control section

40

authorizes the speech output control section

46

to operate and cause the speech data expansion processing section

62

to expand the compressed and encoded speech data stored in the temporary data storage section

54

(Step S

38

) and the loudspeaker

12

to output the obtained speech (Step S

40

). The replay volume computation section

64

determines by computation the volume of speech data expanded by the speech data expansion processing section

62

and causes the data volume display drive section

60

to make the volume of receivable input/progress of speech reproduction indicator

28

A of the data volume display section

28

display the progress of the relay operation (Step S

42

).

The operation mode control section

40

checks if an order for forced termination of speech replay operation is given by the user by depressing the “STOP” button

26

A of the stop operation section

26

during the speech replay operation (Step S

44

) and, if such an order is given, it proceeds to Step S

48

, which will be discussed hereinafter. If an order for forced termination of speech replay operation is not given, it determines if the volume of speech already output has got to the level corresponding to the input data volume preselected by the parameter setting section

30

or not on the basis of the outcome of the computation of the replay volume computation section

64

(Step S

46

) and returns to Step S

38

if the volume of speech already output has not got to that level.

If, on the other hand, it is found that the volume of speech already output has reached the level corresponding to the input data volume, the operation mode control section

40

sets the operation mode flag to “00001000” to indicate that all intended operations of the code image recording apparatus are authorized (Step S

48

) before terminating the replay operation using the loudspeaker

12

.

Thus, as described above in detail, a speech replay operation of the loudspeaker

12

and a code image printing operation of the printer

16

do not take place concurrently with a code image recording apparatus according to the invention so that the risk of degrading the quality of the operation of printing and recording a code image due to the vibrations generated as a speech is output from the loudspeaker

12

can be minimized.

While the present invention is described above by referring to a preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto and the above embodiment can be altered or modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present invention may be summarized as follows.

(1) A code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, and wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting means for setting a (i) speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input means and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for controlling the operation mode setting means so as to set only one of said speech output mode and said printing recording mode and prohibiting said operation mode setting means to select the other of said modes.

With the above arrangement, the mode selection feature is so controlled that both the printing/recording mode and the speech output mode would not be set concurrently to ensure that the printer can successfully print the code image of densely populated fine dots to an enhanced level of quality.

(2) A code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting a speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, and wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting (i) means for setting a speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input means and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for prohibiting the operation mode setting means to set the printing/recording mode if said operation mode setting means has set the speech output mode.

With the above arrangement of the code image recording apparatus comprising the speech input means, the loudspeaker output means for confirming the speech input by replaying it and the printer for printing/recording the code image converted from the confirmed speech on the recording medium contained in the single cabinet, when the speech output operation mode has priority, any undesired vibrations that can adverse affect the printer should be preventing from entering the printer in order to ensure that the printer can successfully print the code image of densely populated fine dots to an enhanced level of quality. Particularly, in view of the fact that the acoustic vibrations generated by the speech output operation of the loudspeaker provide the largest cause of trouble, any mechanical vibrations produced by the loudspeaker being driven can be prevented from adversely affecting the printing operation of the printer simply by prohibiting the selection of a printing/recording mode for driving the printer when a speech output mode is selected or when a speech output operation is authorized. Additionally, the vibration absorbing measures that may be absolutely required when the printer is driven to operate during a speech output operation will not be necessary to consequently reduced the cost of the code image recording apparatus.

(3) An apparatus according to (2), further comprising:

speech data volume detecting means for detecting volume of the speech data of the speech output in the speech output mode, and determining if the detected volume is short of a predetermined data volume or not, and wherein:

the mode selection control means releases the set speech output mode to allow the operation mode setting means to set a printing/recording mode when the speech data volume detecting means determines that the detected output speech data volume has got to the predetermined data volume.

With a code image recording apparatus comprising speech input means, loudspeaker output means and a printer contained in a single cabinet, the speech output operation may be temporarily suspended so that the output of the speech is reflected only by the volume of the speech data stored in the apparatus. Additionally, any undesired vibrations that can adversely affect the printer should be prevented from entering the printer in order to ensure that the printer can successfully print a code image of densely populated fine dots to an enhanced level of quality. Therefore, the duration of the speech output operation can be determined for certain by detecting the volume of the stored speech data and determining if the volume has got to the preselected volume level so that the printing/recording operation mode and hence the operation of driving the printer may be prohibited reliably for that duration. Thus, any mechanical vibrations produced by the loudspeaker being driven can be prevented from adversely affecting the printing operation of the printer simply by prohibiting the selection of a printing/recording mode for driving the printer. Additionally, the vibration absorbing measures that may be absolutely required when the printer is driven to operate during a speech output operation will not be necessary to consequently reduced the cost of the code image recording apparatus.

(4) A code image recording apparatus comprising:

speech input means for inputting speech;

code image converting means for converting the speech input by the speech input means into a code image of encoded data arranged according to a predetermined format;

a printer for printing the code image converted by the code image converting means on a predetermined printing medium as an optically readable image;

a loudspeaker for outputting the speech input by the speech input means, wherein the speech input means, the code image converting means, the printer and the loudspeaker are all contained in a single cabinet;

operation mode setting means for setting a (i) speech output mode adapted to make the loudspeaker output the speech input by the speech input mean, and (ii) a printing/recording mode adapted to make the printer print and record the code image converted by the code image converting means on a printing medium; and

mode selection control means for prohibiting the operation mode setting means to set the speech output mode if the operation mode setting means has set the printing/recording mode.

With a code image recording apparatus comprising speech input means, loudspeaker output means for confirming the speech input by replaying it and a printer for printing/recording a code image converted from the confirmed speech on a recording medium contained in a single cabinet, any undesired vibrations that can adversely affect the printer should be prevented from entering the printer in order to ensure that the printer can successfully print a code image of densely populated fine dots to an enhanced level of quality when the printing/recording mode has priority. Particularly, in view of the fact that the acoustic vibrations generated by the speech output operation of the loudspeaker provide the largest cause of trouble, any mechanical vibrations produced by the loudspeaker being driven can be prevented from adversely affecting the printing operation of the printer to realize a high printing quality simply by prohibiting the selection of a speech output operation mode for driving the loudspeaker when a printing/recording mode is selected or when a printing/recording operation is authorized. Additionally, the vibration absorbing measures that may be absolutely required for the printer when the loudspeaker is authorized to operate during a printing/recording operation will not be necessary to consequently reduced the cost of the code image recording apparatus.

(5) An apparatus according to (4), further comprising:

code image volume detecting means for detecting the volume of the code image printed and recorded in the printing/recording mode and determining if the detected volume is short of a predetermined volume or not, and wherein:

the mode selection control means releases the set printing/recording mode to allow the operation mode setting means to set a speech output mode when the code image volume detecting means determines that the volume of the printed and recorded code image has got to the predetermined data volume.

With a code image recording apparatus comprising speech input means, loudspeaker output means and a printer contained in a single cabinet, the code image printing/recording operation may be temporarily suspended so that the volume of the code image printed and recorded by the printer is reflected only by the volume of the code image stored in the apparatus. Additionally, any undesired vibrations that can adversely affect the printer should be prevented from entering the printer in order to ensure that the printer can successfully print a code image of densely populated fine dots to an enhanced level of quality. Therefore, the duration of the code image printing operation can be determined for certain by detecting the volume of data of the code image and determining if the volume has got to the preselected volume level so that the operation of driving the loudspeaker may be prohibited reliably for that duration. Thus, any mechanical vibrations produced by the loudspeaker being driven can be prevented from adversely affecting the printing operation of the printer to realize a high printing quality simply by prohibiting the selection of a speech output operation mode for driving the loudspeaker. Still additionally, the vibration absorbing measures that may be absolutely required for the printer when the loudspeaker is authorized to operate during a printing/recording operation will not be necessary to consequently reduced the cost of the code image recording apparatus.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Number	Name	Date
5923624	Groeger et al.	Jul 1999
5970449	Alleva et al.	Oct 1999
6009393	Sasaki	Dec 1999
6043899	Morohashi et al.	Mar 2000

Code image recording apparatus having a loudspeaker and a printer contained in a same cabinet

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