FR2662532A1 - VOICE MESSAGE CARD. - Google Patents

Abstract

A recorder / player (7) for recording and reproducing digital voice signals is sealed in an envelope portion (3) of a flexible collapsible thin sheet of paper or synthetic resin. The recorder / player (7) has a voice message input section to which is connected a cable (5) extending from the casing (3). A plug (5e) serving as an input terminal for digital voice signals is provided at one end of the cable (5). After a desired voice message has been recorded in the recorder / player (7) via the cable (5), the cable is cut using a cutting tool.

Description

VOICE MESSAGE CARD

  The present invention relates to a voice message card for reproducing recorded voice sounds, and more particularly to a voice message card containing the voice message of a sender which is recorded in a voice message recorder in the card, and who can play the recorded voice message

  when desired by a recipient of the card.

  The exchange, by post, Christmas greeting cards, for anniversaries of relationships and close friends, and for other occasions of celebration is a widespread custom around the world With the development of electronic technology it has become customary to record a sender's voice as an analog signal on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, to send the recording medium to a recipient by post, and to reproduce the recorded voice with However, this form of message exchange has not gained much popularity because the recipient must use a recorder / player to reproduce the recorded voice message from the recording medium and also because that the postal tax was relatively high and that care had to be taken to manipulate the recording medium because it was much larger and t heavier than the cards

ordinary wishes.

  The recent miniaturization of electronic devices has led to small recording media and recorders / players Various devices have been developed and offered for use in the form of cards that contain recording media and recorders / readers For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63 (1988) -153299 discloses a message card having a voice memory circuit, a voice input connector plug connectable to a microphone, a speaker , a voice input / output power supply, input and output amplifiers and a voice message output contactor These components of the message card are supported on a single thin substrate. When a voice message is inputted by means of the microphone, it is converted into an electrical signal and stored in the voice memory circuit. The stored message can be reproduced from the speaker when the

  voicemail output is pressed.

  The Japanese utility model published under No. 1 (1989) -166000 discloses a voice memory and reproduction device in the form of a similar card

  to the message card shown in the first publication.

  The voice storage and reproduction device can store 20 messages, and any of the desired stored messages can be selected and heard by a user.

  recipient using a contactor.

  The conventional devices disclosed in the above publications incorporate only a reader assembled in a single substrate, and which serves as a card-like reproduction device for reproducing voice messages by itself. The disclosed devices do not contain any recorders for recording at the same time.

inside the voice messages.

  Known card-shaped reproducing devices have a voice recording input connection plug on one side of the card. To record a voice message in the card-shaped reproducing device, the connecting plug of entry is entered into the receptacle of a separate recorder, and a desired voice message is recorded in the reproduction device in the form of a card by the recorder. After the voice message has been recorded, the reproduction device in the form of a card is separate from the recorder so that the input connector plug is disconnected from it If the card-type reproducing device is to be non-releasably sealed in a collapsible paper card and sent from a sender to a recipient, the sender must record a voice message in the reproduction device in the form of a card before it is sealed In foldable paper card Since the card-shaped copying device is not non-releasably sealed in the foldable paper card unless the voice message is previously in the card-type copying device, it is it is impossible for a retailer to sell an unregistered card copying device already sealed in a collapsible paper card and consequently for a user to record a desired voice message in the card-type reproduction device and to post the

  reproduction device in the form of a registered card.

  In addition, since the recording input connection plug of the voice of the card-shaped playback device is large, when the voice recording input connector plug is placed in the card of the recording device. collapsible paper, constituting a voice message card, the resulting voice message card becomes relatively thick The voice message card is also expensive due to the fact that

  the input connection plug is expensive.

  In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional voice message cards, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a voice message card that allows a sender to record a desired voice message in a speech device. reproduction in the form of a card which has already been sealed in a non-removable manner in a foldable thin sheet on

  which message can be written.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice message card which allows a voice message to be recorded in a card-like reproduction device, free of an input connection plug, which has already been sealed not removable in a foldable thin sheet on which a

message can be written.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voice message card from which a voice message input cable can be removed after a voice message has been recorded in a card-like reproducing device which has already been sealed in a non-removable manner in a foldable thin sheet

  on which a message can be written.

  The present invention provides for this purpose a voice message card for reproducing a recorded voice message, comprising a flexible foldable thin sheet containing an envelope portion, a recorder / player for recording and reproducing digital voice signals, the recorder / reader being sealed in the envelope portion and having a voice message input section, a cable connected to the voice message input section and extending outwardly from the inside of the envelope portion, and a plug disposed at one end of the cable and serving as an input connector for digital voice signals

  to be recorded in the recorder / player.

  The voice mail card with the recorder / player not registered and sealed in the envelope part is offered for sale After purchasing the voicemail card, the buyer can record in the recorder / player a desired voice message. composed of letters can also be written on the soft foldable flexible sheet Therefore, the voice message card can be used in a variety of different applications The portion of cable that extends outside the envelope portion can be cut after the voice message has been recorded Therefore, the voicemail card can be handled easily when sent by the Post Office Since the voicemail card is free from any conventional plug, it is thinner and less expensive to manufacture. The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the following description at

  by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a voice message card according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a voicemail card whose cover is open; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a voice message card whose envelope portion is removed; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a recorder / reader of the voice message card; Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a flat cable of the voice message card; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flat cable; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a conductive connector; Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the recorder / reader; and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a recorder / reader according to another embodiment of FIG.

the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a voice message card according to the present invention. The voice message card comprises a foldable thin sheet of relatively thick paper or of flexible synthetic resin, the thin sheet comprises two sheets, one serving as cover 1 and the The voice message card also has a detachable flat cable 5 (which will be described later) extending from the inside of the envelope portion 3 The face of the cover 1 bears a written mention which indicates "voicemail card" at the top and has a printed image below the written entry When the cover 1 is open, the back of the cover 1 is positioned on the left side of a double page and is marked with rules for writing a message on it The envelope part 3 is placed on the right side of the double page and consists of two sheets of paper 3 a, 3 b (figure 3) contreco The envelope portion 3 can be printed with a quote from the Bible or the like and has an upper area where a photograph can be glued. The envelope portion 3 also has a lower portion thereof. a mark that indicates the position of a pressure switch on a contactor to power a recorder / reader (which will be described later) and an indication that the

  mark represents the pressure key of the contactor.

  FIG. 3 represents the open envelope portion 3 A recorder / reader 7 having a flat shape

  thin is fixedly mounted in the shell portion 3.

  The recorder / reader 7 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 The recorder / reader 7 comprises a base plate 7a, a recorder / reader unit 7b, a spacer piece 7c, a loudspeaker ceramic 7 d, and a resonant plate 7 e The base plate 7 a is made of fairly rigid paper or synthetic resin The recorder / reader unit 7 b comprises a number of electronic elements mounted on a circuit board The flat cable 5, which serves to transmit the voice information to the recorder / reader unit 7b, is connected to a voice message input section of the printed circuit board. The detailed structure and operation of the The recorder / reader unit 7b will be described later. The intermediate piece 7c is made of paper and has the form of a square frame open in its central part. The ceramic speaker 7d is of a configuration circular plate The resonant plate 7 e is cons formed by a thin flat sheet of hard synthetic resin and has a central circular hole 7 f above which the ceramic speaker 7 d is attached. The circular hole 7 f has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ceramic speaker 7 d. The process of assembling the recorder / reader 7

  will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

  An electrically insulative adhesive is adhered to the reverse side of the recorder / reader unit, then the recorder / reader unit 7b is attached to an area of the base plate 7a which is indicated by a dotted line Then, the insert 7 c is glued to a

  hatched area of the base plate 7 a.

  Then, the ceramic speaker 7 d is attached to the back side of the resonant plate 7 e on the central circular hole 7 f the resonant plate 7 e with the loudspeaker

  ceramic 7 d is then glued to the insert 7 c.

  Finally, conductors (see FIG. 3) are connected between the recorder / reader unit 7b and the ceramic speaker 7d, whereby

  the recorder / reader 7 is completely assembled.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the recorder / reader 7 thus assembled is glued to the sheet 3a of the envelope portion 3 adjacent to the cover 1, and then the other sheet 3b is folded over the sheet 3a. In the overlapping relation of the recorder / reader 7 The peripheral edge of the sheet 3b is glued to the peripheral edge of the sheet 3 a In this way, the voice message card is assembled The flat frame 5 extends outside the the voice message card,

  as shown in Figure 1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the flat frame 5 comprises a plurality of parallel strip-shaped conductors 5b embedded in a ribbon Sa made of a flexible synthetic resin such as an ABS resin

  (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) or a vinyl resin.

  The flat frame 5 comprises at one of its ends a conductive connector 5c which consists of exposed ends of the strip-shaped conductors 5b whose support tape 5 has been peeled As shown in FIG. 6 , the flat frame 5 comprises at the other end a plug 5 e which also consists of the exposed ends of the strip-shaped conductors 5b whose support tape 5 has been peeled and a support 5 d of synthetic resin which is fixed to the back of the conductors 5b and the support ribbon 5a As shown in FIG. 7, the conductive connector 5c is fixed by a 5h solder to a conductor plate 7i on the printed circuit board,

  designated 7 g, of the recorder / reader unit 7 b.

  Since the flat cable 5 is in the form of a thin ribbon, it can be cut freely by means of a cutting tool, such as a knife or scissors. The cable can, however, be of circular cross section while being able to be

easily cut.

  The recorder / reader 7 will be described below in

referring to Figure 8.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the recorder / reader 7 comprises a CPU (central processing unit) 101 for controlling the recording and reproducing operation of the recorder / reader 7 A RAM (random access memory) 103 is connected to the CPU 101 and serves as a working memory for the CPU 101 A ROM (read only memory) 105 which is also connected to the CPU 101 stores a control program for controlling the CPU 101 A P-ROM (programmable read-only memory) ) 107 is also connected to the CPU 101 and is used to store the voice information as digital signals A voice converter 109 is connected to the CPU 101 for converting the digital voice information read from the P-ROM 107 In Analog Signals A bandpass filter (PBF) 111 is connected to voice converter 109 to pass only those voice signals that have frequencies ranging from 100 to 2500 cycles per second. amplifies the voice signals that are passed through the bandpass filter 111 The voice amplifier 113 has

  an output terminal connected to the ceramic speaker 7 d.

  The various components described above of the recorder / reader 7 are supplied with electric current from a battery 115 which is controlled by a power control circuit 119 which can be switched on.

  operated by a normally open start contactor 117.

  The power control circuit 119 has a built-in timer which implements the power control circuit 119 for a preselected time period necessary for reading the digital voice information of all the memory areas of the P. -ROM 107 in response to the pressure on a start contactor 117, and it automatically cuts the power control circuit 119 after the flow

  of the predetermined period of time.

  A digital voice recorder 200, which is connectable to the flat cable 5 serves to record a

  digital voice information in the recorder / reader 7.

  The digital voice recorder 200 can be of various different structures as long as it can provide a

  digital voice information as an output signal.

  A process of recording digital voice information in the recorder / reader 7 will be described

briefly below.

  In order to record digital voice information, an operating voltage is applied from the digital voice recorder 200 via a power supply line B of the flat cable 5 to the CPU 101, the RAM 103 , the ROM 105 and the P-ROM 107 of the recorder / reader 7, and an activation signal is also applied from the digital voice recorder 200 via an activation signal line. from the flat cable 5 to the CPU 101 In response to the activation signal, the CPU 101 reads a launcher from the ROM 105 and executes the launcher by thereby applying a write signal W to the P-ROM 107 to ensure that the P-ROM 107 is ready to record the information, so that the recorder / reader 7 is placed in a state

  ready to record digital voice information.

  When a first synchronization signal SY is applied from the digital voice recorder 200, the RAM 103 is erased, and immediately thereafter a digital voice signal block is output from the voice signal line VS of the flat cable 5 to the CPU 101 The digital speech signal is read, by the synchronization signal SY, in the RAM 103 which has been erased. In response to a second synchronization signal SY, an address counter in the CPU 101 is loaded with a first address "O" When the first address "O" is indicated to the P-ROM 107 by the address counter, the CPU 101 transfers the stored digital voice signal block from the RAM 103 to the P-ROM 107, which writes the digital voice signal block transferred to address "O" After the digital voice signal block has been read from RAM 103, a next block of digital voice signal is delivered from the voice signal line VS to the CPU 107 and he is stored in the RAM 103. Upon the arrival of a third synchronization signal SY, the address counter in the CPU 101 is incremented by "1", and therefore it is loaded with a new address "1" When the second address "1 'is indicated to the P-ROM 107 by the address counter, the CPU 101 transfers the stored digital voice signal block from the RAM 103 to the PROM 107, which writes the digital voice signal block transferred to address "1" Next, a next block of digital voice signal is output from the voice signal line VS to the CPU 107 and it

is stored in the RAM 103.

  The above sequence of the recording operation is repeated until a desired number of signals

  digital vocals are written in P-ROM 107.

  Even after the entire recording operation is completed, the address counter continues to be incremented until a carry signal is generated by the address counter. output, the CPU 101 detects the transfer signal, clears the address counter, and cuts off the power supply The recording process

is finished.

  A process of reproduction of the vocal information

  memorized will be described below.

  When the starting contactor 117 is momentarily pressed, the current supply control circuit 119 is used to deliver electric current from the battery 115 to all

  recorder / reader circuits 7.

  In response to the pressure exerted on the start contactor 117, the CPU 101 reads the launcher stored in the RAM 105 and executes the launcher With the start contactor 117 in circuit, the CPU 101 enters a mode operating

reproduction.

  When the electric current from the battery 115 is delivered to the voice converter 109, the voice converter 109 sends a first synchronization signal SY to the CPU 101. The RAM 103 is then erased and the address counter in the CPU 101 is loaded with the first address "O" The first address "O" is indicated to the P-ROM 107 by the address counter, and a read signal r is applied from the CPU 101 to the P-ROM 107, which then reads the first digital voice signal block in the CPU 101 The CPU 101 then stores the first digital voice signal block in the erased RAM 103 When a second synchronization signal is output, the CPU 101 reads the stored digital voice signal block from the RAM 103 and sends it to the voice converter 109 When the second synchronization signal SY arrives, the address counter in the CPU 101 is incremented by "1" and is loaded with the new address " 1 "Therefore, the new address "1" is indicated to the P-ROM 107 by the address counter Then, that is to say, after the first block of digital voice signal has been sent from the RAM 103 to the speech converter 109 , the CPU 101 reads the second digital voice signal block from the first address in

  the P-ROM 107 and stores it in the RAM 103.

  The digital voice signal sent to the speech converter 109 is converted into an analog signal, which is applied to the bandpass filter 111. The analog voice signal then passes through the bandpass filter 111 and is amplified by the speech amplifier 113. amplified analog is then reproduced in a voice message

by the speaker 7 d.

  The above reproduction process is performed continuously until all the digital voice signals stored in the P-ROM 107 have been read. Even after the reproduction process is completed, the address counter is incremented by Continuously until it produces a carry signal When the carry signal is generated by the address counter, it is detected by the CPU 101, which gives the command to the power supply control circuit. 119 to cut off the power The reproductive process is then

completely finished.

  The recorder / reader 7 is not limited to the arrangements shown but it can be different

kinds of recorders / readers.

  When the assembled voice message card as shown in Figure 1 is brand new no voice message is recorded in the recorder / player 7 The brand new voicemail card is offered for sale in the paper mills and department stores Stationers and department stores that sell new voicemail cards are equipped with digital voice recorder 200 to record voice messages in voicemail cards that are sold. A person who has purchased a voicemail card can obtain a desired voice message recorded in the voice message card using the digital voice recorder 200 as follows: The buyer of the voice message card issues the message to a microphone M of the voice recorder 200, or it reproduces a magnetic tape MT which contains the message recorded in a cassette player of the digital voice recorder 200, so that the desired message is stored in a voice recording unit in the digital voice recorder 200 Then, the operator determines whether the length of the recorded message is shorter than the maximum recording time of the voice message card , and also if the audition quality of the voice message is greater than a predetermined level, that is, if the recorded voice message can be reproduced from the voice message card with a certain quality of hearing higher than a predetermined quality of hearing After such a check process, the 5 th plug of the flat cable 5 extending from the voice message card is introduced into a receptacle of the digital voice recorder 200 Then, the voice recorder 200 transmits digital voice signals, which have been converted from the recorded voice message, to the recorder / player 7 of the voice message card in which the signals transmitted digital voice is recorded semi-permanently After the voice message has been recorded in the voice message card, the flat cable 5 is no longer needed Therefore, the cable 5 is removed from the digital voice recorder 200, and the part of the flat cable 5 which extends outside the voice message card 1 is cut with the aid of a cutting tool such as a knife or scissors Then, a photograph can at will be applied to the voicemail card, and then the voicemail card is placed in a

  envelope and addressed by the Post Office to a recipient.

  The recipient, having received the voice message card addressed by the Post Office, removes the voice message card from the envelope turns the cover 1, and presses the zone marked contactor at the lower part of the envelope part 3 on the right page of the voice message card The recorder / player 7 is then powered to reproduce the recorded voice message via the ceramic speaker 7 d, so that

  the recipient can hear the voice message played back.

  Since the ceramic speaker 7 d is attached to the resonant plate 7 e, the reproduced voice sounds generated by the

  7 d speaker are amplified as resonant sounds.

  Figure 9 shows a recorder / reader according to a

  another embodiment of the present invention.

  The recorder / reader shown in FIG. 9 comprises a base plate 17a of fairly stiff paper or synthetic resin. The base plate 17a has a rectangular through hole 17b defined in a portion constituting the upper half thereof and a shallow rectangular recess 17c and a groove 17d which are defined in a portion constituting the lower half thereof, the groove 17d communicating with the recess 17c The recorder / reader also includes a unit recorder / reader 7b which is identical to the recorder / reader unit shown in FIG. 4 A 17 th resonant plate consists of a thin flat sheet of hard synthetic resin and has a central circular hole on which a Ceramic speaker 7 d identical to the ceramic loudspeaker shown in Figure 4, is attached The resonant plate 17 e with the ceramic speaker 7 d attached thereto is glued to the base plate 17 aa The top of the hole 17b The recorder / reader unit 7b is positioned and glued into the recess 17c, and a flat cable 5, which is identical to the flat cable shown in FIG.

  4, is introduced into the groove 17 d.

  The recorder / reader shown in Figure 9 is slightly

  thinner than the recorder / reader shown in Figure 4.

  Although some preferred embodiments have been shown and described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that many changes and modifications can be made by persons experienced in this art without departing from the field.

of the invention.

Claims (11)

  A voice message card for reproducing a recorded voice message, characterized by comprising: a flexible foldable thin sheet (1, 3) containing an envelope portion (3); a recorder / player (7) for recording and reproducing digital voice signals, the recorder / player (7) being sealed in the envelope portion (3) and having a voice message input section; a cable (5) connected to the voice message input section and extending outwardly from the inside of the envelope portion (3); and a plug (5e) disposed at one end of the cable (5) and serving as an input connection plug for digital voice signals to be recorded in the recorder / reader (7).   Voice message card according to claim 1, characterized in that said cable (5) consists of a flat cable.   Voice message card according to claim 2, characterized in that said flat cable (5) can be cut by a cutting tool.   4 voice message card according to claim 1, characterized in that said plug (5 e) consists of conductors exposed said flat cable (5) to said one end of it.   Voice message card according to claim 1, characterized in that said foldable thin sheet Soft (1, 3) is made of paper.   Voice message card according to claim 5, characterized in that the flexible foldable thin paper sheet (1, 3) comprises an area in which a message can be written.   Voice message card according to claim 1, characterized in that said recorder / reader (7) is   the blank origin of any recorded digital voice signal.   Voice message card according to claim 1, characterized in that said recorder / reader (7)   includes a flat ceramic speaker (7d).   9 voice message card according to claim 8, characterized in that said recorder / reader (7) further comprises a resonant plate (7 e), said ceramic speaker (7 d) being mounted on said plate resonant (7th).   A method of preparing a voice message card comprising the steps of: providing a card having a recorder / reader sealed within an envelope portion (3) of the card and a cable (5) of the recorder / reader (7) extending inside the card; storing a message in a message storage device (200); connecting the cable (5) to the message storage device (200) to transfer the message stored in the message storage device (200) to the recorder / reader (7); and disconnecting the cable (5) from the storage device message (200).   11 Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises the step of cutting the cable so that the cable does not extend outside the card after the step of disconnecting the cable from the   message storage device (200).   The method of claim 10, characterized in that the message storing device (200) comprises a digital voice recorder and in that the step of storing a message in the message storing device (200) comprises the step of speaking into a microphone coupled to the digital voice recorder. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the message storage device comprises a digital voice recorder and in that the step of storing a message (200) in a message storage device comprises the step of coupling of a recorder containing a message stored inside to the digital voice recorder.   The method of claim 10, characterized in that the step of storing a message in the message memory device (200) is followed by the determining steps that the message stored in the message storing device (200) ) is shorter than a predetermined maximum recording time and has a quality level of not less than one predetermined quality level.