CA2199907C - Automobile radio recording system - Google Patents

Automobile radio recording system Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2199907C
CA2199907C CA002199907A CA2199907A CA2199907C CA 2199907 C CA2199907 C CA 2199907C CA 002199907 A CA002199907 A CA 002199907A CA 2199907 A CA2199907 A CA 2199907A CA 2199907 C CA2199907 C CA 2199907C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
analog
output
recorder
automobile
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002199907A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2199907A1 (en
Inventor
Zaidy L. Gantt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US08/541,124 priority Critical patent/US5633837A/en
Priority claimed from US08/541,124 external-priority patent/US5633837A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002199907A priority patent/CA2199907C/en
Priority to PCT/US1997/008267 priority patent/WO1998052311A1/en
Priority to AU32064/97A priority patent/AU3206497A/en
Publication of CA2199907A1 publication Critical patent/CA2199907A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2199907C publication Critical patent/CA2199907C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B20/00Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
    • G11B20/02Analogue recording or reproducing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B20/00Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
    • G11B20/10Digital recording or reproducing
    • G11B20/10527Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/02Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
    • G11B27/022Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
    • G11B27/028Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals with computer assistance
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B31/00Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04BTRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/06Receivers
    • H04B1/16Circuits
    • H04B1/20Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/20Disc-shaped record carriers
    • G11B2220/21Disc-shaped record carriers characterised in that the disc is of read-only, rewritable, or recordable type
    • G11B2220/215Recordable discs
    • G11B2220/218Write-once discs
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/20Disc-shaped record carriers
    • G11B2220/25Disc-shaped record carriers characterised in that the disc is based on a specific recording technology
    • G11B2220/2537Optical discs
    • G11B2220/2545CDs
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/40Combinations of multiple record carriers
    • G11B2220/45Hierarchical combination of record carriers, e.g. HDD for fast access, optical discs for long term storage or tapes for backup
    • G11B2220/455Hierarchical combination of record carriers, e.g. HDD for fast access, optical discs for long term storage or tapes for backup said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/60Solid state media
    • G11B2220/61Solid state media wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B2220/00Record carriers by type
    • G11B2220/90Tape-like record carriers
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/02Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
    • G11B27/022Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
    • G11B27/024Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals on tapes
    • GPHYSICS
    • G11INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11BINFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B27/00Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
    • G11B27/02Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
    • G11B27/031Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
    • G11B27/034Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals on discs

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Input Circuits Of Receivers And Coupling Of Receivers And Audio Equipment (AREA)
  • Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)

Abstract

An auto recorder is provided that allows a user to continuously record the contents of radio programs onto a solid state memory and then transfer selected portions to a cassette tape or recordable compact disk. The auto recorder prevents unnecessary wear on the tape mechanism and tape by requiring use of these only when the tape transfer is made or the tape is being played back. A second optional AM/FM tuner allows the user to listen to one program while recording another program onto the solid state memory. Extended recording capability is provided.

Description

AUTOMOBILE RADIO RECORDING SYSTEM
BA KGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates, generally, to the field of automobile entertainment systems, and, more specifically, to automobile electroinc systems with recording capabilities. At present drivers spend a great deal of time listening to music while driving. Many of the songs heard on the auto radio are the tunes that the driver would like to have as permanent recordings. However, ithis individual is typically forced to purchase the entire album in order to obtain a recording of the desired song. In some instances, auto car radios are equipped with a tape cassette deck; however, if the user attempts to continuously record in order to not miss a song, the tape mechanism and the tape will wear out through constant use.
BACKGRO ND OF THE PRIOR naT
A number of inventions have been suggested to address the above stated problems. For instance, Shu et. al. (U.S. Patent 5,050,021) suggests an expanded micro cassette player-recorder; Yamada et. al (U.S. Patent 5,053,901) suggests a threading device for tape recorder including a tension arm abutted against a slide block in an initial position; and Ohmori et. al. (U.S. Patent 5,065,264) suggest a capstan arrangement for a magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus. However, these inventions do not pertain to auto installations and use magnetic recording media only.
,..
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided an automobile recorder, comprising: a. a conventional automobile radio electronic circuit; b. a conventional cassette recorder connected directly to receive the analog output of the radio electronics circuit; c. an analog to digital converter in parallel with the cassette recorder directly connected to receive the analog output of the radio electronics circuit and has as its output a digitized version of the analog input, the analog to digital converter being normally blocked from receiving the radio circuit output;
d. a random access memory that stores the digitized version for later recording by the cassette recorder without time delay, wherein the input to the random access memory is the output of the analog to digital converter; e. a digital to analog converter whose input is the digitized output of the random access memory, wherein the digital to analog converter has as its output the restored analog output of the automobile radio electronics circuit such that the analog output may be recorded onto the conventional cassette recorder at a later time; f. a microcontroller to unblock the analog to digital converter to receive the analog output of the electronics circuit and to order and operate the conventional automobile radio electronics circuit, the conventional cassette recorder, the analog to digital converter, the random access memory, and the digital to analog converter, according to program instructions; g. a read only memory that permanently stores the program instructions; and h. means comprising a multiplicity of controls under the control of a user that changeably enters the program instructions and initiates the microcontroller to unblock said analog to digital converter to permit recording by the cassette recorder the digitized version of the output of the radio circuit at a later time selected by the user.
To the accomplishment of the above and related features, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

-s-BRIEF D RIPTION OF THE D WINC FIC'I IRFS
The figures in the drawings are briefly described as follows:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, an in-dash stereo unit.
Figure 2 is a view of the front panel of a first embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 is a view of the front panel of a second embodiment of the invention showing the addition of a microphone input and a built-in security system.
Figure 4 is a view of the front panel of a third embodiment of the invention showing the addition to a compact disk recordeNplayer.
Figure 5 is an electronic block diagram of the invention.

~~~9~~7 DETAILED DESr'Ria'nnN n~ Tug oo~~~oo~D EMBODIME I S
The operation of the invention is best understood by first referring to Figure 5, the electronic block diagram of the invention. The auto recorder (10 in Fig. 1 ) contains conventional auto radio electronics circuits 62 with typical volume control 12, tuning knob 24, equalizer 36, and clock display 34. In operation, when the user operates the memory controls 74, comprising memory control buttons 28,30,32, and 38, the microcontroller 70 signals the conventional auto radio circuit 62 to output the radio audio signals to analog-to-digital converter 64. The analog-to-digital converter 64 converts the radio's analog signal to a digitized form capable of storing in solid state memory. This digitized information is stored in random access memory 66. In order to prevent loss of memory should power be disconnected, random access memory 66 may be made non volatile through the use of a battery backup or a nonvolatile semiconductor technology.
a When the user chooses to record the program onto a cassette tape, he ~ depresses one of the memory controls 74, which commands microcontroller 70 to dump _ 7 _ the contents of random access memory 66 into digital to analog converter 68 and thereby into cassette recorder 60. It should be noted that recent advances in recordable compact disks now make it possible to record onto compact disk as well as cassette, so that cassette can be supplemented or replaced by a compact disk recorder.
The permanent operating instructions for microcontroller 70 are contained in read only memory 72. The time and date are displayed on display 34 by clock circuit 76. This clock circuit can also be used to auto record at some predetermined time.
One option to the invention is the addition of a second AM/FM tuner 80. This second tuner allows the user to listen to a radio program through speaker 78 while recording a different program occurring simultaneously on a different radio channel.
The first embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 2.
This embodiment employs a single cassette recorder 14 with eject button 16. It offers a record light 18, Dolby noise reduction button 20, record button 22, and headphones jack 26.

The second embodiment, shown in Figure 3, offers the addition of security circuits operated by security code buttons 43, 44, 46, and 48, as well as a microphone jack 40 and microphone push button switch 42.
The third embodiment, shown in Figure 4, is similar to the second embodiment and adds a compact disk player/recorder 50 with eject button 52.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and the details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims (6)

1. An automobile recorder, comprising:
a. a conventional automobile radio electronic circuit;
b. a conventional cassette recorder connected directly to receive the analog output of said radio electronics circuit;
c. an analog to digital converter in parallel with said cassette recorder directly connected to receive the analog output of said radio electronics circuit and has as its output a digitized version of said analog input, said analog to digital converter being normally blocked from receiving said radio circuit output;
d. a random access memory that stores said digitized version for later recording by said cassette recorder without time delay, wherein the input to said random access memory is the output of said analog to digital converter;
e. a digital to analog converter whose input is the digitized output of said random access memory, wherein said digital to analog converter has as its output the restored analog output of said automobile radio electronics circuit such that said analog output may be recorded onto said conventional cassette recorder at a later time;
f. a microcontroller to unblock said analog to digital converter to receive the analog output of said electronics circuit and to order and operate said conventional automobile radio electronics circuit, said conventional cassette recorder, said analog to digital converter, said random access memory, and said digital to analog converter, according to program instructions;
g. a read only memory that permanently stores said program instructions; and h. means comprising a multiplicity of controls under the control of a user that changeably enters said program instructions and initiates said microcontroller to unblock said analog to digital converter to permit recording by said cassette recorder the digitized version of the output of said radio circuit at a later time selected by said user.
2. An automobile recorder, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clock and minute indicator that displays time and date and is connected to said conventional automobile radio electronics circuit such that said clock and minute circuit is used to program the start and stop times of a recording.
3. An automobile recorder, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone input and a microphone switch whereby a microphone can be used as a recording information source.
4. An automobile recorder, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a self-contained security alarm circuit.
5. An automobile recorder; as recited in claim 1, further comprising a compact disk player.
6. An automobile recorder, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a compact disk recorder, whereby the output of said conventional auto radio electronics circuit can be recorded onto a compact disk.
CA002199907A 1995-10-11 1997-03-13 Automobile radio recording system Expired - Fee Related CA2199907C (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/541,124 US5633837A (en) 1995-10-11 1995-10-11 Automobile radio recording system
CA002199907A CA2199907C (en) 1995-10-11 1997-03-13 Automobile radio recording system
PCT/US1997/008267 WO1998052311A1 (en) 1995-10-11 1997-05-16 Automobile radio recording system
AU32064/97A AU3206497A (en) 1995-10-11 1997-05-16 Automobile radio recording system

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/541,124 US5633837A (en) 1995-10-11 1995-10-11 Automobile radio recording system
CA002199907A CA2199907C (en) 1995-10-11 1997-03-13 Automobile radio recording system
PCT/US1997/008267 WO1998052311A1 (en) 1995-10-11 1997-05-16 Automobile radio recording system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2199907A1 CA2199907A1 (en) 1998-09-13
CA2199907C true CA2199907C (en) 2002-10-15

Family

ID=25679123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002199907A Expired - Fee Related CA2199907C (en) 1995-10-11 1997-03-13 Automobile radio recording system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2199907C (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2199907A1 (en) 1998-09-13

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Effective date: 20090313