GB2262826A

GB2262826A - Sound recording/playing device.

Info

Publication number: GB2262826A
Application number: GB9126130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rick C T Horng
Original assignee: AND ELECTRONICS CO Ltd
Current assignee: AND ELECTRONICS CO Ltd
Priority date: 1991-12-09
Filing date: 1991-12-09
Publication date: 1993-06-30
Also published as: GB9126130D0

Abstract

A sound recording/playing device includes a digital memory circuit which replaces the conventional mechanical mechanism of a recorder. The sound processor (1) converts the input sound signal (analogue signal) into a digital signal and stores the same in a memory device (5) until the sound is to be outputted when required. The sound-processor will retrieve the digital signal from the memory device (5) and convert the same into the sound signal (analogue signal) which is amplified by a sound-outputting device (4). Playback may be timed to occur after a preset time period. <IMAGE>

Description

AN IMPROVED SOUND RECORDINGIPLAYING DEVICE The present invention relates to an improved sound recording/playing device.

A conventional recorder is mechanically operated and such a recorder is relatively heavy with complex structure and is likely to be damaged.

Moreover, once a single part thereof is damaged, the whole mechanical recorder becomes useless. Also, after a long period of use, the conventional mechanical recorder is apt to jam the tape.

Moreover, a motor is necessary for driving the tape and thus the electricity consumption is great. The above drawbacks make the cost of the conventional recorder relatively high and the efficiency thereof quite low.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved sound recording/playing device which avoids the drawbacks existing in the conventional mechanical recorder.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the above device in which the tape and motor are not needed and the data-inputting time is shortened and the cost is lowered.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows the application of this invention.

With reference to Figure 1, the present invention comprises a sequential pulse-generator 2, a sound-processor 1, a sound-inputting device 3, a sound-outputting device 4 and a memory device 5. The sound-processor 1 converts the sound signal (analogue signal) sent from the sound-inputting device 3 (which amplifies the signal received by a microphone) to a level required for inputting the signal and stores the same in the memory device 5. When the sound is to be outputted, the sound-processor 1 retrieves the signal from the memory device 5 and converts the digital signal into the sound signal (analogue signal) and then sends the same to the sound-outputting device 4 which amplifies the sound signal sent from the sound-processor 1 to a proper level so that a user can hear the sound.The sequential pulse-generator 2 is used to provide the reference pulse necessary for the sound-processor 1 to convert an analogue signal into a digital signal or convert a digital signal into an analogue signal.

Because the sound is stored in the memory device 5 in a digital pattern, the input data can be freely moved. Therefore, this digital type of processing can entirely replace the conventional operation of the recorder in which a tape must be played from the beginning to the end. Moreover, the drawbacks existing in the mechanical mechanism of the conventional recorder can be overcome.

Figure 2 shows an application of the present invention, wherein by incorporating the display 28 and keyboard device 29 of a central processor 27, the present invention can be used in various ways. By means of the keyboard device 29, the current time can be inputted and the time can be preset. Also, the sound-inputting device 1 can input a reminding sound. Thereafter, the central processor 27 processes the signal sent from the keyboard device 29 and controls the display 28 to display a proper signal and control the sound-processor 1 to convert the sound signal sent from the sound-inputting device 3 into a digital signal and store the same in the memory device 5. At this time, an inner timing circuit of the central processor 27 automatically counts the time and checks whether the input current time complies with the preset time. If in the negative, then the counting will be continued. If in the affirmative, then a signal is sent out to control the sound-processor 1 to retrieve the digital signal stored in the memory device 5 and convert the same into the original reminding sound signal and then send the same to the sound-outputting device 4 to be amplified to a suitable level thereby so that a user can hear the sound and the reminding effect can be achieved.

Therefore, the present invention can be variously applied to meet the different requirements of the user.

In Fig. 2, the sequential pulse-generator 26 provides the reference pulse for the central processor 27 to work and time while the sequential pulse-generator 2 provides the reference pulse for the sound-processor to convert an analogue signal into a digital signal or convert a digital signal into an analogue signal.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An improved sound recording/playing device comprising a sequential pulse-generator, a sound-processor, a sound-inputting device, a sound-outputting device and a memory device, characterised in that said sound-processor is connected to said memory device and the output terminal of said sound-inputting device is connected to the input terminal of said sound-processor, while the output terminal of said sound-processor is connected to the input terminal of said sount-outputting device, said sequential pulse-generator providing the necessary sequential pulse for said sound-processor, said sound-processor converting the sound signal (analogue signal) sent from said sound-inputting device into a digital signal and storing the same in said memory device until the sound is to be outputted, at which point said sound-processor retrieves the digital signal from said memory device and converts the same into the sound signal (analogue signal) and then sends the same to said sound-outputting device to be amplified to the required level.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an inner timing circuit of a central microprocessor automatically counts the time and checks whether the current time complies with a preset time, and if in the negative, the counting is continued, while if in the affirmative, then a signal is sent out to control said sound-processor to retrieve the digital signal stored in said memory device and convert the same into an original input reminding sound signal and then to send the same to said sound-outputting device to be amplified to the required level so that a user can hear the sound and the reminding effect can be achieved.

3. An improved sound recording/playing device substantially as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.