JP2002540480A - Digital audio playback device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] A character input by a computer keyboard, data obtained by recording type-printed information such as books and magazines in voice, and a type-printed character by a scanner (Scanner) and an optical character reader ( A large amount of information can be easily handled by reproducing data converted into data using Optical Character Reader (OCR). A digital audio playback device includes a storage medium and a playback device, wherein data in the storage medium converts information into voice, and includes character data input by a keyboard of a computer and voice of a person (Voice). , And character data obtained by converting printed characters into digital characters using a scanner and an optical character reader (OCR). As the storage medium, a semiconductor memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory (Flash memory), and a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), and a recording medium such as a compact disk can be used. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[Field of the Invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital audio reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a reproducing apparatus capable of converting audio information and digital character data compressed and stored in a predetermined storage device into audible sound and outputting the audible sound. is there.

[0002] A scanner (Sc) converts character data input from a computer keyboard, voice data created by converting text information of a book or magazine into voice, and printed characters.
anner) and an optical character reader (OCR) to reproduce the data provided from the storage device that stores the character data created by converting to digital characters, so that a large amount of information can be easily handled. That's what I did.

[0003]

[Prior art]

The development of the electronic communication industry is due to the development of information equipment such as computers and the Internet, and the development of peripheral software industries, and the transfer of personal information is not limited to the exchange of print media using existing paper to the exchange of electronic characters. Office).

[0004] However, in transmitting mass information, newspapers, magazines, books, and the like mostly use print media, so when the amount of information is large, storage space increases, and it can be used while being carried. Not easy. As a result, in recent years, in Japan and overseas, a so-called electronic book that reproduces printed character data and video data such as images on a display device (Display) has been studied as a portable information device.

Since such a portable information device is used for reading, a display device is required to have a certain size or more, and an input / output drive system such as a keyboard in a computer is required. However, there is a disadvantage in that the size, weight, and manufacturing cost of the device are large.

In addition, when the electronic book is used while moving, the apparatus may be shaken and the eye fatigue may be increased, so that it is difficult to use the electronic book.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital audio reproducing apparatus capable of expressing character information in an audible sound.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an audio reproducing apparatus capable of easily exchanging a storage medium storing compressed digital audio information.

It is another object of the present invention to provide information to a user who cannot read character information by providing character information to the voice information.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a reproducing apparatus that can have a simple structure by converting only character information into voice and storing the converted voice, and reproducing this only as voice. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital audio reproducing apparatus which receives characters provided by input from a computer keyboard and reproduces the audio.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a text-to-speech character information (TTS: Text
An object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus which can have a simple structure by reproducing sound by using To Speech.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital audio reproducing apparatus characterized in that data of a storage medium can be easily exchanged by mounting an interface connector that can be connected to an external device. .

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing data, a restoration unit for converting the data stored in the storage medium into audio, and an audio data provided through the restoration unit. And a control unit for outputting a signal for controlling the restoring unit and the output unit according to a user's intention of adjustment.

A detailed feature of the present invention is that the data stored in the storage medium is character data.

Still another detailed feature of the present invention is that the data stored in the storage medium is compressed audio data. Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the configuration and operation of the digital audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0017] An external interface connector (Interface Connector) that can be connected to an external device.
tor) (111), a memory (112) that stores compressed digital voice data created by converting characters into voice, and a voice data stored in the memory (112). Restoring unit (1) for restoring data
20), an output unit (130) for expressing the data provided through the restoration unit (120) as an audible sound that can be recognized by the user, and the restoration unit (12) according to the user's intention to adjust.
0) and a control unit (140) for outputting a signal for controlling the output unit (130).

The interface connector (111) includes:
It can be realized using an infrared communication port, an RS-232C and a USB port, and the like.

The storage medium stores data obtained by converting characters into voice and compressing the data. The device may be a semiconductor memory or a compact disk, or the like. Semiconductor memory is common ROHM (Read Onl
Semiconductor devices such as y memory, flash memory, and ferroelectric random access memory (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) can be used. In addition, it is assumed that the storage medium is detachable from the reproducing apparatus and can be easily replaced for the purpose of the present invention.

The restoring unit (120) is configured to selectively read data in the storage medium according to a control signal of the control unit (140), and a memory controller (121) through the memory controller (121). A digital-to-analog converter (Digital / Analog) that converts provided digital data into an analog signal through a decoder (Decoder) (122) that expands the provided data and reduces it to the original data size. Analog
Converter) (123).

The output unit (130) receives the analog data provided through the restoration unit (120), removes a high frequency component signal mixed with the analog data, and is an audible sound which is a region that can be heard by a user. A low-pass filter (131) for passing only the frequency of the band, an amplifier (132) for receiving and amplifying the input of the audio signal filtered by the low-pass filter (131), It comprises a speaker (133) for converting the audio signal amplified through the amplifier (132) into an audible sound and outputting it.

The control unit 140 includes an adjustment signal input unit 141 having a plurality of adjustment keys for receiving an input of a user's adjustment intention, and a signal provided through the adjustment signal input unit 141. System controller that recognizes the
142), a frame address counter (143) for providing a position of digital data according to a control signal of the system controller (142), and an adjustment signal provided through the adjustment signal input unit (141) and a reproduction device. It is configured to include a panel (144) unit (144) for presenting the current operation state and the like so that the user can recognize it.

If the storage medium is a compact disk (Compact Disk),
A servo (Servo) capable of controlling the drive of the compact disk is provided to the control unit (140).
) A control (not shown) should be provided.

The control signal input unit (141) includes a function key (Function Key) used for a general reproducing apparatus such as reproduction, stop, forward, backward, and section repetition. When the user presses a predetermined function key, the system controller (142) recognizes this and outputs a control signal for the function key. The control signal is transmitted to the frame address counter (143), and based on the address counting result, the memory controller (121) is controlled to designate a memory address and capture and provide a digital position.

Since the digital audio data stored in the memory (112) is reduced to the original size, the digital audio signal compressed at a ratio of 1:16 or the like is used in the decoder (122). Can be extended to restore the audio information. The D / A converter (123) converts the restored digital audio signal into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the low-pass filter (131).

The low-pass filter (131) removes unnecessary high-frequency components above the audible sound range from the provided analog audio signal and provides the filtered analog audio signal to the amplifier (132). The amplifier 132 receives the filtered analog audio signal, amplifies the power, and provides the amplified analog audio signal to be output through the speaker 133.

The system controller (142) includes a microprocessor (Micropro
cessor) or Digital Signal Processor
And the like, and has a function of controlling main components in the system.

For example, when an input key is operated, the information processing element supplies a pulse code modulation (PCM) signal to a corresponding element to induce an operation. When reproducing the information signal, the system controller (142)
) Sends a status request command to the memory controller (121).
Digital audio data is compressed and sent to 16-bit (Bit) format (Forma
Receive in t). At this time, a fixed address for designating the position of the compressed digital audio data is stored in a register (Regist) in the system controller (142).
er).

The system controller 142 sequentially receives the byte information stored in the form of a file from the memory controller 121 using the frame address counter 143. That is, the system controller (142
In ()), when the D / A converter (123) is prepared by monitoring the data transmission state (Monitor), the data information at a fixed position can be read in byte units, and the decoder (1) is read.
22). The decoder (122) receives the data in units of 28 bytes or the like, expands the data using pulse code modulation (PCM), and outputs the data.

The output signal is converted to an analog signal through a D / A converter (123). The analog audio signal output from the D / A converter (123) is removed of unnecessary noise by a low-pass filter (131), amplified through an amplifier (132), and output as audio data through a speaker (133). I will be.

Since the system controller (142) includes a logic circuit,
When the earphone is plugged into the earphone jack, this is detected and the operation of the speaker (133) is stopped. When the storage medium is a flash memory, it can be connected to a playback device through a 68-pin PCMCIA connector or the like.

When the storage medium is a compact disk (Compact Disk), the control unit (140) controls the servo (Servo) for controlling the compact disk (CD).
It must be included in the control device, and it is not necessary to mention that further explanation is unnecessary since the technology is already known, so that it is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital audio reproducing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. When data stored in a storage medium is character data unlike FIG. Is represented. At this time, the character data may be provided in a compressed form depending on the storage medium used.

A storage medium storing digital character data, and a memory (
The present invention comprises a restoring unit (220) having a function including a process of converting digital character data stored in (212) into voice. The storage medium stores digital character data created by converting character data input from a computer keyboard and typed character data.

The restoring unit (220) is different from the case of restoring digital audio data in that a speech synthesizer (Text To Speech) (22) converts digital character data into speech.
2).

The configuration of the digital audio reproducing apparatus excluding the audio synthesizing apparatus (222) is shown in FIG.
2 and the storage medium and the interface connector unit (210) of FIG.
The description of the output unit (230) and the control unit (240) will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing connection between the digital audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention and an external device or the like. Interface connector that can be connected to external devices (Interface C
Since the onnector (211) is mounted on the digital audio reproducing apparatus, necessary data can be downloaded and used conveniently.

For example, a printed character information image is scanned (Scnning) (31).
3) The image is converted as digital character information through a process of converting the image into digital characters by an optical character reader (OCR) (312). At this time,
The digital character information is converted into voice by a voice synthesizer (TTS) (222).

Further, the personal terminal device is connected to an interface connector of a digital audio reproducing device.
(Interface Connector) (211) to download character data from the Internet and an information service to a digital audio reproducing apparatus for reproduction. Then, a network device (315) connected to an information network such as the Internet and a database is connected to an interface connector (211) of the digital audio reproducing device to connect electronic characters and electronic mail on the Internet. Download all character data like (
Down Loading) and play it back to the audio.

[0040]

【The invention's effect】

As described above, the present invention reproduces and listens to information converted into digital data, so that the size, weight, and production cost of the reproducing apparatus can be reduced, and the information can be easily used while carrying and moving. can do.

In particular, when the apparatus is moving, even if the apparatus shakes, unlike information output on a screen such as an existing electronic book, obstruction of the visual field can be eliminated, so that information can be easily used. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital audio device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing connection between a digital audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention and external devices and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Storage medium and interface connector unit 120 Restoring unit 130 Output unit 140 Control unit 300 External input device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AU, BR, CA, CN, DE, GB, ID, IL, IN, JP, MX, NZ, PL, SG , US, VN, ZA

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A storage medium storing digital data, a restoration unit for restoring the digital data stored in the storage medium into audio data, and an output unit for expressing an audio signal provided through the restoration unit as audible sound. A digital audio reproducing device, comprising: a control unit that outputs a signal for controlling the restoration unit and the output unit according to a user's intention to adjust. 2. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital data stored in the storage medium is compressed audio data. 3. A memory controller for selectively reading digital data in the storage medium according to a control signal of the controller, and a decoder for expanding audio data provided through the memory controller. And a digital / analog converter for converting the digital data provided through the decoder into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal. The digital audio reproducing device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The digital data stored in the storage medium is a text.
2. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data is data, and the restoring unit includes an audio synthesizer (Text To Speech) that converts the character data into an audio signal. 3. 5. The digital audio playback device according to claim 1, wherein the digital audio playback device is an interface connector for transmitting data provided from an external device to the storage medium.
5. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the digital audio reproducing apparatus is configured by adding an electronic sector. 6. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said interface connector comprises an infrared communication port. 7. The text data is obtained by converting data converted into an image through a scanner into an optical character reader.
5. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the data is data converted into text data using an al Character Reader. 8. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the text data is data in which information input by a user through input means such as a keyboard is stored. 9. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the text data is data in which information provided through a network device is stored. 10. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the text data is provided from a personal communication terminal connected to the interface connector. 11. The control unit includes an adjustment signal input unit having a plurality of adjustment keys for receiving an input of a user's adjustment intention, and recognizes a signal provided through the adjustment signal input unit to perform the control. 11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a system controller that outputs a signal; and a frame address counter that provides a position of digital data according to a control signal of the system controller. 1
A digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1. 12. The output unit removes a high-frequency component signal mixed with analog data provided through a digital-to-analog converter (D / A converter) of the restoration unit, and passes only frequencies in an audible sound band. A low-pass filter; an amplifier for receiving and amplifying the input of the audio signal filtered by the low-pass filter; and a speaker for converting the audio signal amplified through the amplifier into an audible sound and outputting the audible sound. The digital audio reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the digital audio reproducing device is a digital audio reproducing device. 13. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium is a semiconductor memory. 14. The storage medium is a Compact Disk.
The digital audio reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein 15. The digital audio reproducing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control section further includes a servo control section for driving said compact disk.