JP3010905U - External storage device with voice playback function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To add a playback means for high-quality audio to an external storage device for a personal computer. [Structure] A record carrier 2 and a record unit 2 in a box 1
And a signal for driving the speaker 8 in an external storage device that has a power source 3 for operating the above, and that is independent of the personal computer main body, and that uses the box 1 as a resonance or holding means. An external input means 9 for receiving the signal, an amplifier 11 for driving the speaker, and a dedicated power source 12 are provided. [Effect] The function of the speaker amplifier can be provided in the external storage device, and the added value can be provided.
Also, when playing back high quality audio on a PC system,
Miniaturization becomes easy.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an external storage device such as a fixed magnetic disk device used in a computer device, and more particularly to an external storage device having a box body and a structure independent of the computer body.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, various devices have been provided as external storage devices for computer devices, particularly personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers). For example, there is provided a device that has a rotating magnetic disk inside a box and is capable of reading and writing high-speed and large-capacity signals. These are called fixed magnetic disk device or hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) and have a dedicated power source, so that they can be connected to many kinds of personal computers only by connecting signal lines. . In addition, there are some that can connect a plurality of units according to a standard called SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).

Besides, an external floppy disk device, a magneto-optical storage device (also referred to as MO), an external storage device having a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a record carrier, a so-called flash memory (electrically collectively A device equipped with a record carrier (erasable / writable read-only memory) is provided.

On the other hand, in a personal computer, the amount of information that can be handled has dramatically improved due to the high performance of the device and the advent of new software. That is, the display is highly refined and the voice is made high quality (high fidelity). For example, software called Windows (registered trademark) is capable of handling high-quality digital audio (music), and is capable of handling the latest video and audio media called so-called multimedia. It corresponds to.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in order to handle the latest video and audio (multimedia) mentioned above, there is a current situation in which conventional personal computers cannot adequately deal with audio, in particular. In other words, high-definition images are sufficient if the display is of high-definition type, but a special speaker box is required to obtain high-quality (high-fidelity) voice. Moreover, it is preferable to support stereo (a method in which the left and right ears recognize different voices), so multiple speaker boxes are required. In the process of manufacturing a personal computer, lowering the price and downsizing are important issues, and it is difficult and difficult to adopt a dedicated speaker for voice reproduction. For this reason, consumers must either be patient with the sound produced by a small, relatively low-quality speaker attached to their computer, or purchase a new speaker box specifically for sound reproduction.

On the other hand, as a result of enabling multimedia to be used in personal computers, the required amount of information has dramatically increased, and, for example, a single image data requires a capacity of several megabytes. For this reason, the external storage device described above is indispensable, and it is necessary to use a plurality of external storage devices for these backups (preliminary recording), and the overall volume of the personal computer system tends to increase.

Therefore, in purchasing a new speaker box for voice reproduction, it is difficult to find a place for the speaker box, and in consideration of price and the like, the purchase is not common. That is, it is not possible to hear high quality voice. High-performance software will not be utilized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, effective means which can easily equip a high-quality speaker without increasing the overall volume of the personal computer system is desired. However, no means are available to meet these conflicting requirements.

In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide means for enabling reproduction of high-quality voice by an external storage device in a personal computer.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the external storage device with a voice reproducing function according to the present invention employs the following means.

That is, in an external storage device having a record carrier and a power supply for operating this recording unit in the box body and having a structure that can be independent of the main body of the personal computer, A speaker, an external input means for receiving a signal for driving the speaker, an amplifier for driving the speaker, and a dedicated power supply.

The terms used in the claims have at least the following meanings.

The “box” is a container for housing the device, and is preferably a rectangular box-shaped product made of a metal plate, and made of synthetic resin, ceramics, wood, or the like. Including a curved surface, a polygonal shape, a part of the surface is omitted, a hole or a hole, a mesh shape, and a grid shape.

The “record carrier” is a medium for recording information, and includes a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disc, and a semiconductor element, and is fixed to the device and cannot be inserted or removed. Including those.

The “power supply for operating the record carrier” is a source of electric power for driving a storage device using the record carrier. Preferably, it refers to a power supply circuit using an AC commercial power supply provided in the apparatus, and includes a battery and a DC power supply line from an external power supply.

The “dedicated power supply” is a power supply for driving the speaker and does not affect the operation of the recording unit. Preferably, it means a dedicated power supply circuit using an AC commercial power supply provided in the device, and includes a battery and a DC power supply line from an external power supply.

A “speaker” is an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electric system into an acoustic system, and is intended to emit sound (JIS Industrial Term Dictionary, 1st edition, edited by the Japanese Standards Association). And preferably refers to a dynamic speaker. Includes electret speakers, piezoelectric speakers, and speakers that use part of the box as a diaphragm.

The “input unit” is a unit that receives an audio signal from the outside in order to reproduce it with a speaker. Preferably, it means a connector, which may be wireless (including electromagnetic waves and infrared rays), and includes connectors such as electric wires and optical fibers, and those in which these transmission means are exposed.

[0019]

[Action]

 Explaining the operation of the external storage device with a voice reproducing function constructed as described above, a speaker is produced which uses a box of the external storage device independent of the computer as a resonance means. That is, the external storage device functions as a speaker box. The volume of this speaker is amplified by an amplifier installed inside this box and a dedicated power supply that drives it. Since the memory device and the speaker device (the speaker and its drive circuit) can form an independent circuit, the memory device and the speaker and its amplifier provided in the same box are not affected by each other in terms of circuit. Exists. That is, the speaker device can store its circuit in the box space (internal space) of the external storage device.

[0020]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an external storage device with a voice reproducing function according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings merely show the outline of the present invention, and of course necessary circuit boards, connections, etc. are omitted.

1 to 3 illustrate an external storage device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view in perspective, FIG. 2 is a block diagram, and FIG. 3 is an external view showing a personal computer system using this external storage device. In FIG. 1, the box body 1 is formed in a box shape using an iron plate or the like. Inside, a disk-shaped (HDD, FD, MO, etc.) or semiconductor (RAM disk, flash memory, etc.) record carrier 2 and a power supply 3 for operating this are provided. There is. A data connector receiving side 4 and an AC power (commercial power) connector receiving side 5 are provided at the rear of the box 1. An external storage device for a personal computer is configured by connecting a data connector 6 from a personal computer (not shown) and an AC power supply connector 7 to these connector receivers. This explanation is similar to the conventional external storage device such as HDD. Therefore, its operation is obvious to those skilled in the art.

Here, in the external storage device with a voice reproducing function according to the present invention, a speaker 8, an amplifier circuit (driving circuit) 11 for the speaker 8, and a dedicated power source 12 for the amplifier circuit are newly provided. ing. Further, external terminals 9 and 9 for supplying a signal to the amplifier circuit 11 are provided. As a result, audio signals (audio signals, minute audio signals) from the main body of the personal computer, or any other audio signals are connected to the external terminals 9 and 9 by the audio signal lines 33 and 33 so that they are independent of the storage device. Any voice (or music) can be reproduced from the speaker 8. In other words, in this example, the speaker 8 uses the box body 1 as a resonator and forms a speaker amplifier (a sound reproducing device with an amplifier) as a whole.

The amplifier circuit 11 is preferably a voice amplification linear IC (functional integrated circuit) having a voice output of about several watts (W), and its power source can be taken from a dedicated power source 12. It should be noted that if a volume output function is provided by the volume control 35, it is more convenient to use. As a result, an audio board of a personal computer (a personal computer or an additional circuit board dedicated to audio provided as an additional device, referred to as MIDI, etc.) (not shown) and a CD-ROM playback device using music ( Read-only If a compact disc memory device is used to play a compact disc for music) (not shown), simply connect the audio signal lines 33, 33 to use the speaker 8 to reproduce high-quality audio. You can

FIG. 2 is a block diagram (outline circuit diagram), and illustrates the circuit configuration of FIG. Since the description is the same as in FIG. 1, the details will be described. The two external terminals 9 and 9 are provided to support stereo sound, and one of the left and right sounds, or It may be selected by a changeover switch or the like (not shown) for synthesizing both or for increasing the width of both voices for a headphone terminal (not shown). The power switch 21 connects and disconnects the power to both power circuits 3 and 12, but the commercial power can be taken from the power outlet of the PC (the power end that outputs in conjunction with the switch of the PC). If not necessary. The volume control 35 changes the amplification degree of the amplifier circuit 11. The indicator LED 45 also shows the operating state of the record carrier 2.

FIG. 3 is an example of a personal computer system configured by using an external storage device with a voice reproducing function according to the present invention, which includes a personal computer main body 51, a keyboard 52 for operating the same, and a display device (display) 53. It also has external storage devices 54 and 54 with a voice reproduction function. As a result, the external storage device in the external storage devices 54, 54 with voice reproduction function is used by the personal computer main body 51, and the voice from the personal computer main body 51 is also reproduced by the external storage device 54, 54 with voice reproduction function. It In this example, since the external storage devices 54 and 54 with a voice reproducing function are installed on the left and right sides so that the personal computer main body 51 is inserted, high quality and stereo sound can be easily reproduced. Further, when the software for reproducing the music CD is used by the CD-ROM (read-only memory by compact disc) device 55, the sound can be easily reproduced. Of course, since the audio circuit inside the external storage device 54 with the audio reproduction function functions separately from the storage function as described above, it is necessary to take in and reproduce the audio signal from a completely different computer (not shown). Is also possible.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional personal computer system. A keyboard 52 and a display device 53 are connected to the personal computer body 51, and HDDs 60, 60 are connected as external storage devices. The HDD 60 has a capacity of, for example, 500 megabytes according to the SCSI standard and is connected in series. Therefore, the personal computer main body 51 has an external storage device having a total capacity of 1,000 megabytes. Similarly, a CD-ROM 55 is also connected and used as a high-capacity read-only memory. Here, a dedicated speaker box or speaker amplifiers 61, 61 for reproducing stereo sound when using software capable of handling sound is provided.

In addition to the above-described embodiment, the speaker is provided on a portion other than the front surface (side surface, upper surface, corner portion, etc.) of the box body, and a plurality of speakers and amplifiers (for high sound and low sound) are provided. Various modifications may be made within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, such as provision of a control circuit, provision of a headphone terminal, provision of a light-emitting device that emits an audio signal, and color-coding of this emission according to frequency. It is a thing.

[0028]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the external storage device with a voice reproducing function according to the present invention has at least the following effects. Note that these effects are subjective and not limited.

Since the speaker amplifier provided in the external storage device can reproduce the voice signal supplied from the outside as a voice, (1) provides a high quality voice to a personal computer without installing a new speaker box. be able to. Furthermore, (2) since a plurality of external storage devices can be installed, a plurality of speakers can be installed in this case. As a result, stereo reproduction can be easily performed, and the performance of music software and the like can be utilized. In addition, (3) since the external storage device and the speaker box are integrated, the overall configuration is reduced and the work space such as a desk can be effectively used. (4) It is possible to add value to the hard disk drive and enhance its appeal as a product. (5) The CD-ROM device makes it possible to easily listen to a music CD (compact disc) when it is desired to reproduce the CD.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view and a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an external storage device with a sound reproducing function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram based on the block of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a personal computer system using an external storage device with a voice reproduction function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional personal computer system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Box 1 2 Record Carrier 3 Power Supply 4 Data Connector Receiving Side 5 AC Power Connector Receiving Side 6 Data Connector 7 AC Power Connector 8 Speaker 9 External Terminal 11 Amplifying Circuit 12 Dedicated Power Supply 21 Switch 33 Audio Signal Line 35 Volume 45 Indicator LED 51 PC main body 52 Keyboard 53 Display device 54 External storage device with voice reproduction function 55 CD-ROM 60 HDD 61 Speaker box or speaker amplifier

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An external storage device having a record carrier and a power supply for operating this recording unit in a box body and having a structure that can be independent of a personal computer body, wherein the box body is a resonance means. And an external input means for receiving a signal for driving the speaker, an amplifier for driving the speaker, and a dedicated power source, and an external device with a sound reproducing function. Storage device.