GB2335532A

GB2335532A - CD player able to pause play in response to signals recorded in CD subcode

Info

Publication number: GB2335532A
Application number: GB9805530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Charles Bradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-17
Filing date: 1998-03-17
Publication date: 1999-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-17
Also published as: GB9805530D0; GB2335532B

Abstract

A disc player including a CD drive motor 2, a pick-up head 3, a pick-up radial drive 4 and a printed circuit board 5 adapted to play audio information recorded on a CD and to read pause information also recorded on the CD. The CD player also includes a pause controller 5 adapted to pause the playing of the CD when the pause information indicated that the audio information should be paused, and a manual control 11 restarting the playing of the CD. A CD including both audio and pause information is also provided.

Description

2335532 DISC PLAYER The present invention relates to a compact disc player

and compact discs therefor.

Compact discs - hereinafter "CDs" - are manufactured to a standard to enable them to be played in a standard player. Digital audio CDs in accordance with a CDDA standard have digital audio data stored in a number of audio tracks. Additionally they have a number of sub-channels which are used, for instance, to identify the track being played.

The object of the present invention is to provide a CD player which can play discs containing audio information, particularly sets of instructions and pause the playing automatically at predetermined places until a command is given for further playing.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a CD player comprising:

reproduction means including a CD drive motor, pick-up head, a pick-up radial drive and an audio reproduction circuit, the reproduction means being adapted to play audio information recorded on a CD and to read pause information also recorded on the CD, a pause controller adapted to pause the reproduction means when the pause information indicates that the audio information should be paused and 0 a manual control for causing the reproduction means to resume reproduction in response to a command.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a CD having recorded audio information and recorded pause information for pausing playing at predetermined places. Preferably the disc is a CDDA disc and the pause information is recorded in its S to W sub-channels. Normally the recorded audio information will be a set of instructions such as recipes.

1.

2 To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a CD player of the invention when closed, Figure 2 is a side view of the player, Figure 3 is a plan beneath a lid of the player and Figure 4 is a block diagram of the player.

The CD player shown in the drawings has a base 1, in which is mounted a CD drive motor 2, a pick-up head 3 and a pick-up radial drive 4. A printed circuit board 5 is also mounted in the base. A lid 6, having edges 7 shaped to surround the base when the lid is closed, is pivotally connected to the base at its rear edge 8. The lid incorporates a speaker 9 having a membrane cover 9, an LCI) display 10 and a set of touch switch controls 11. A volume control touch switch 12 is provided on one side of the base towards its rear. Self sealing jack points - not shown - are provided at the back of the base. The design of the player is such that it can be used in a kitchen and easily wiped clean.

The touch switch controls 11 comprise: ON/OFF 111, Fast Forward 112, Play/Pause 11', Timer Setting 114, Fast Reverse 115, Programme (Track or Timer) Selection 116.

The printed circuit board incorporates components making up an audio drive circuit 5', a CD player control circuit 5 2, a microprocessor 5 3, enabling the player to operate in accordance with the block diagram of Figure 4.

In use, a CD - not shown - having recorded audio information, e.g. recipes, and pause information is installed in the player. A track to be played is chosen by use of the fast forward and reverse buttons, in accordance with track information displayed on the LCD. Touching the play button causes a track for a recipe for instance to be played. It is likely to require the assembly both of ingredients and utensils. Therefore its audio information will have pause information recorded in synchronism with it so as to cause the microprocessor to generate a signal causing the 3 player control circuit to pause, allowing time for assembly of these items. Once the user is ready to hear the recipe as such, he/she touches the play button and hears the first part of the recipe. Playing will pause whenever necessary to allow the user to prepare food in accordance with the recipe. When the time comes for cooking, a timer function can be used, whereby the programme button is touched and the cooking time is set on the LCD, using the time setting button. The play button is then touched to initiate the timer. A tone is generated at the end of the timed period. One touch on the play button will stop the tone and another will cause playing to be resumed.

After removal of the CD, the default display on the LCD is the time of day.

Programming of the microprocessor to effect the functions described is within the capability of the man skilled in the art and will not be described, 4 CLAEWS:

1. A compact disc player comprising:

reproduction means including a compact disc drive motor, pick-up head, a pick-up radial drive and an audio reproduction circuit, the reproduction means being adapted to play audio information recorded on a compact disc and to read pause information also recorded on the compact disc, a pause controller adapted to pause the reproduction means when the pause information indicates that the audio information should be paused and a manual control for causing the reproduction means to resume reproduction in response to a command.

2. A compact disc player as claimed in claim 1, further including a speaker incorporated into a lid of the compact disc player.

3. A compact disc player as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further including a LCD display in the lid of the compact disc player.

4. A compact disc player as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a timer function adapted to pause the reproduction means for a programmable period of time, and to generate a tone at the end of the time period.

5. A compact disc player substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A compact disc having recorded audio information and recorded pause information for pausing playing at predetermined places.

7. A compact disc as claimed in claim 6, wherein the disc is a CDDA disc and the pause information is recorded in its S to W sub-channels.

8. A compact disc as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the recorded audio information is a set of instructions such as recipes.

9. A compact disc substantially as hereinbefore described.

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