KR20020090552A - A direct digital audio encoder and the encoding method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A direct digital audio encoding system and method are provided to directly convert digital audio files into digital music files in an audio system without downloading the digital audio file to a computer. CONSTITUTION: A direct digital audio encoding system(100) includes an analog audio signal input/output unit, a CODEC(12), a digital signal processor(11), and a storage(13,14). The analog audio signal input/output unit receives an analog audio signal from an external audio system(40) through a predetermined cable(30) and outputs an analog audio signal generated according to reproduction of a digital audio file stored in the unit. The CODEC converts the analog audio signal inputted from the input/output unit into a digital audio signal and converts the digital audio signal generated by reproduction of the digital audio file into an analog audio signal. The digital signal processor processes the digital audio signal converted by the CODEC to convert the signal into a digital audio file and reproduces the digital audio file to output a digital audio signal. The storage stores the digital music file generated by the digital signal processor.

Description

A direct digital audio encoder and the encoding method

The present invention relates to a direct digital audio encoding apparatus and method for converting an analog audio file into a digital audio file and playing the digital audio file.

More specifically, instead of downloading and playing a digitally converted digital audio file using a predetermined digital conversion program on a personal computer such as MP3, an analog audio file output from an external audio device is received and converted into a digital audio file in real time. The present invention relates to a direct digital audio encoding apparatus and a method for storing the same, and outputting the same.

Currently developed digital compression technology has significantly increased the capacity of a digital audio file that can be stored on a single CD, compared to a conventional audio CD storing about 10 audio files. Accordingly, digital audio-only players such as MP3 players, which have the convenience of portability and excellent original sound reproduction, which have not been conventionally obtained by converting large-capacity audio files into digital audio, are widely used.

However, the digital audio-only player does not have a function to convert analog audio files into digital audio files in itself, so that the digital audio files for the audio files that the user wants to listen to are downloaded and stored from another medium, such as a personal computer or the Internet. There is a hassle of having to download and connect to the Internet.

Disclosure of Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above problems and to provide a direct digital audio encoding apparatus and method for converting a digital audio file to a digital music file directly from an audio device without downloading from a computer.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an encoding cable in the configuration of FIG. 1;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a direct digital audio encoding method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of Major Symbols in Drawings *

100: digital audio encoding device

30: encoding cable

11 digital signal processor (DSP) 12 codec

13 flash memory 14 extended memory

15 input / output unit 16: magnetic head

17: USB drive unit 18: microphone

20, 21, 22: first, second, third amplifier

In the direct digital audio encoding method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, when the analog audio signal is input by a predetermined cable connected to a predetermined output terminal of the audio output device, by setting the mode of the input and output unit to the input mode, the analog audio signal And converting the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal, converting the digital audio signal into a specific digital music file format and storing the digital audio signal in a storage unit.

Direct digital audio encoding apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, when the analog audio output signal output from an external audio device is input by a predetermined cable, is set to the input mode and receives the input analog audio signal When an analog audio signal is input by playing a digital audio file, the output mode is set to an output mode, and the analog audio signal input / output unit for outputting the analog audio signal and the analog audio signal input from the input / output unit are converted into a digital audio signal, and the stored digital audio signal. A codec unit for converting and outputting a digital audio file generated by reproduction of a file into an analog audio file and an audio signal converted into a digital audio signal by the codec unit are digitally processed to a predetermined digital music file. A digital signal processor 11 for reproducing the stored digital audio file as a digital audio signal and a storage unit (flash memory 13) for storing the digital music file generated by the digital signal processor 11; Memory 14).

Hereinafter, a direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 and a method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The digital audio encoding apparatus 100 receives an analog audio output signal output from an external audio device 40 and outputs an analog audio signal generated by reproduction of a digital audio file stored therein. And the second amplifier 21 for amplifying the analog audio signal inputted from the input / output unit 15 and amplifying the analog audio signal output from the internal codec unit 12 and outputting the analog audio signal to the input / output unit 15. The codec unit 12 converts the analog audio signal amplified by the second amplifier 12 into a digital audio signal, and converts the digital audio signal generated by the reproduction of the digital audio file into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal. And converts the digital audio signal converted by the codec unit 12 into a predetermined digital audio file by processing the digital signal. A digital signal processor (DSP) 11 for reproducing the stored digital audio file and outputting it as a digital audio signal, and a storage unit (flash memory 13) for storing the digital audio file generated by the digital signal processor 11. Memory 14).

The expansion memory 14 stores predetermined storage in the direct digital audio encoding apparatus and the reproducing apparatus 100 so as to overcome the capacity limitation of the flash memory 13 configured in the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100. It may be configured in the form of a pack.

When an analog audio signal is input from an external audio device (in case of encoding an analog audio file), the input / output unit 15 is set to an input mode to receive an analog audio signal, and the storage of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 is performed. When an analog audio file is output (by being used as a portable device) by the reproduction of a digital audio file stored in the flash memory 13 or the expansion memory 14 as a negative output, the external audio output is set. Configured to output an analog audio signal to the device 60.

The input and output unit 15 is preferably composed of an earphone jack.

The output terminal of the third amplifying unit 22 outputs the analog audio signal reproduced by the digital audio file stored in the storage unit to be amplified and output to the input / output unit 15 and the magnetic head 16. And is connected to the magnetic head 16.

The encoding cable 30 may be integrally formed with the input / output unit 15 of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100.

The direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 according to the present invention may further include a microphone 18 for receiving an analog signal and a magnetic head 16 for inputting and outputting an analog audio signal.

In the next stage of the input / output unit 15, a second amplifier 21 may be configured to amplify to a predetermined level in order to reduce the effect of attenuation in converting the input analog audio signal into a digital signal.

The codec unit 12 receives an analog audio signal reproduced by the external audio device 40 or the audio deck 70 amplified by the second amplifier 21, and then performs sampling by quantization of a predetermined reference. The digital audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal having a predetermined bit string, and the digital audio signal is reproduced and output into an analog audio signal.

The digital signal processing unit 11 is a single semiconductor chip having an integrated circuit that is integrally formed and uses a plurality of digital audio signal compression formats that are recognized as a standard in the prior art by converting the digital audio signal converted by the codec unit 12 into a conventional technology. A digital audio file format is converted into a predetermined digital audio file format and output to be stored in the flash memory 13, the expansion memory 14, or the like as the storage unit. The digital signal processor 11 reproduces the digital audio file stored in the storage unit, converts the digital audio file into a digital audio signal, and outputs the digital audio signal to the codec unit 12.

The compression formats of the digital audio signal include MP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer3), AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), AC3, PAC (Perceptual Audio Coder), ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding), Transform Domain Weighted interleaveVector Quantization (QQ), Qdesign Music Format, MS Audio, etc.

The direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 50 or the like to download a digital audio file or transmits and stores a digital audio file generated by the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 to a personal computer. It may be configured to further include a USB driver 17 and a USB port (not shown) to enable. The communication interface configured to input and output the digital audio file with the external personal computer is not limited to the above-described USB, and various communication interfaces such as serial and parallel ports may be used.

The stored digital audio file is connected to a USB port (not shown in the drawing) which is configured together with the above-described USB driver 17, and operates as a dedicated player for digital audio files such as a personal computer (PC) 50 and a portable MP3 player. The digital audio file is transmitted and reproduced by the dedicated player or the dedicated program.

Next, the functions of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 including the above-described components will be described.

First, an operation process in which a digital audio file is generated and stored by the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described.

The above-described direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 includes an earphone jack as an input / output unit 15 that is set to an input mode when an analog audio signal is input from an external audio device 40 such as an external radio, a cassette player, a CD player, or the like. It is input through the drawing (not shown). The analog audio signal input through the earphone as the input / output unit 15 is amplified to a predetermined level by the second amplifier 21 and then transmitted to the codec unit 12. The codec unit 12 receiving the analog audio signal undergoes a predetermined quantization and sampling process to analog-to-digital convert the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal and output the digitally converted audio signal to the digital signal processor 11. The digital signal processor 11 receiving the digital audio signal compresses the input digital audio signal using a predetermined compression format to generate and output a digital audio file. The digital audio file output from the digital signal processing unit 11 is stored in a storage unit such as the flash memory 13 and the expansion memory 14.

Another example of the input / output unit described above includes the microphone 18 and the magnetic head 16.

Next, a process of reproducing digital audio files stored in the flash memory 13 and the expansion memory 14 as the storage unit will be described.

When the digital audio file stored in the storage unit is input to the digital signal processor 11, the digital signal processor 11 converts the input digital audio file into a digital audio signal of a predetermined type and outputs the digital audio file to the codec unit 12. The codec unit 12 converts the received digital audio signal into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal. The output analog audio signal is output to the earphone jack as the input / output unit 15 after being amplified by the third amplifier 22 or to the magnetic head 16.

When the analog audio signal stored in the storage unit is reproduced and outputted to the input / output unit 15, the input / output unit 15 is set to an output mode, and the audio output device connected to the input / output unit 15 ( 60) to output an analog audio signal is converted to a sound signal and output. The audio output device 60 may include a speaker, an earphone, and the like.

When the analog audio signal output from the third amplifier 22 is input to the magnetic head 16, the analog audio signal file is recorded and stored in a recording medium of an audio deck connected to the magnetic head 16. One example of the above-described recording medium is a cassette tape.

In the above-described process, if a cassette tape is inserted into the audio deck 70 as a recording medium, and a speaker or earphone is connected to the earphone jack as the input / output unit 25, the third amplifier AMP 22 Outputs the analog audio signal in both directions so that the analog audio signal is reproduced as a sound signal through a speaker, earphone, headphone, etc. as the audio output device 60, and at the same time as a recording medium inserted into the audio deck 70 as an example. Recorded on the cassette tape.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an encoding cable 30 connecting the encoding device of FIG. 1 to an external audio output device.

As shown, the encoding cable 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is connected to the earphone jack of the external audio device 40 to receive an analog audio signal reproduced by the external audio device 40. The input plug 31 to perform the amplification and filtering to compensate for the loss of the bass, middle and treble of the analog audio signal input from the input plug 31, the analog audio compensated by the filter Output plugs 33 for inputting signals to the above-mentioned direct digital audio encoding and reproducing apparatus 100 are connected to each other by an audio signal cable and integrally formed.

The encoding cable 30 splits an analog audio signal output from an earphone jack of an external audio device 40 to transmit an analog signal to the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 and simultaneously outputs the analog signal to earphones or headphones. It further comprises a monitoring terminal 35 for converting into a sound signal by transmitting an analog audio signal to be heard by the user. In addition, an amplifying circuit 34 is disposed between the monitoring terminal 35 and the filter 32 to amplify the analog audio signal which is branched and output to the monitoring terminal.

The monitoring terminal 35 may be configured as an earphone jack to which a speaker or an earphone having an LCD and a remote controller may be connected. The LCD configured in the earphone may be configured to display an operating state of an external audio device, or may be configured to display an operating state of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 according to the present invention. In addition, the remote controller may be configured to control the external audio device 40 or the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 as described above.

The user may hear a sound signal of an audio signal reproduced and output from the external audio device 40 through an earphone or a speaker connected to the monitoring terminal 35, and the analog audio signal by the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100. Allows you to monitor the rate of change being converted into digital audio files.

Examples of information that can be displayed on the LCD include the total memory capacity of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100, the memory capacity that can be stored, and the stored file when the earphone is configured to interoperate with the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100. The number of files, the file name to be played back, etc. may be displayed. When the earphone is configured to interoperate with an external audio device 40, the operating state of the external audio device and the ratio of the size of the reproduced audio to the size of the total audio played on the external audio device are displayed as a bar graph or a number. Can be.

As another preferred embodiment of the encoding cable 30 according to the present invention, the encoding cable 30 may be integrally configured, including a remote control and an LCD with an earphone jack to which an external earphone terminal is connected. . The remote control configured in the encoding cable 30 controls the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100, and the LCD is a state of the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100, and the total memory capacity, usable memory capacity, and stored digital. The number of audio files and the like may be displayed.

When the remote controller is configured to interoperate with the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100, a control signal generated from the remote controller is transmitted to the direct digital audio encoding apparatus 100 through the encoding cable 30 so that the direct digital audio signal is transmitted. Remote control of the encoding apparatus 100 may be performed.

When the remote controller is configured to interwork with an external audio device 40, a control signal generated from the remote controller is transmitted to the external audio device 40 by the encoding cable 30 to remotely control the audio device 40. Can be done.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a direct digital audio encoding method according to the present invention.

In the direct digital audio encoding method according to the present invention, an analog audio signal output from an external audio device to be converted into a sound signal by a predetermined output means such as a speaker is used for digital signal processing. In order to compensate for the loss of the signal by amplifying and eliminating unnecessary signals, the filtering process is performed while branching the input analog audio signal, outputting it as a sound signal, and monitoring the size of the reproduced capacity. Amplifying the input signal to a level necessary for signal processing, and converting the amplified analog signal into a digital signal through quantization and sampling, and converting the converted digital audio signal directly into a predetermined digital audio file format. Compression conversion Creating a digital audio file, characterized in that W comprises a step of storage.

A direct digital audio encoding method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown, the direct digital audio encoding method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention determines whether an analog audio signal is input from the external audio device 40 (S301). When the analog audio signal is input from the external audio device 40 as a result of the determination in step S301, the input / output terminal 15 is set to an input mode to receive the analog audio signal (S302). The received analog audio signal is amplified and filtered for digital signal processing (S303). Next, the amplified and filtered analog audio signal is converted to digital audio signals by analog to digital conversion (S304). The converted digital audio signal is again processed by digital signal, compressed and converted into a predetermined digital file format and stored (S305).

If the analog audio signal is not input from the external audio device 40 as a result of the above-described determination in step S301, it is determined whether the analog audio signal by reproduction is output to the digital audio file stored therein (S306). If the analog audio signal is not outputted as a result of the determination in step S306, the operation is terminated. When the analog audio signal is output, the mode of the input / output unit 15 is set to an output mode (S307). The signal is output and ends (S308).

Compressed formats for the digital audio file include MP3, AAC, AC3, PAC, ATRAC, TwinVQ, Qdesign Music Format, MS Audio and the like as described above.

The above process is processed in one device, and the digital audio file converted by the above process can be reproduced by the digital audio file reproducing unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 or downloaded to the personal computer 50 later.

The present invention is additionally configured in a digital audio file playback apparatus such as MP3, without receiving a digital audio file from a computer or the like, directly receiving an analog audio signal output from an external audio device to convert and store the digital audio signal By outputting the digital audio file, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of downloading and storing the digital audio file from the computer or the Internet.

The present invention also receives an analog audio signal directly from an external audio device through a single input and output unit, converts and stores the digital audio, and reproduces and outputs the stored digital audio file, using an earphone jack forming one input and output unit The present invention provides an effect of outputting an analog audio file for generating a digital audio file and an analog audio file generated by reproducing the aforementioned digital audio file.

Claims (12)

An analog audio signal input / output unit for receiving an analog audio output signal output from an external audio device through a predetermined cable and outputting an analog audio signal generated by reproduction of a digital audio file stored therein; A codec unit for converting an analog audio signal input from the input / output unit into a digital audio signal, and converting a digital audio signal generated by reproduction of the digital audio file into an analog audio signal; A digital signal processor for digitally processing the digital audio signal converted by the codec unit and converting the digital audio signal into a predetermined digital audio file, and reproducing the digital audio file to output a digital audio signal; And And a storage unit for storing the digital music file generated by the digital signal processing unit. The analog audio signal output from the external audio device, And an analog audio signal output from an earphone jack of the external audio device. The method of claim 1, wherein the input and output unit, When the analog audio signal is input from the external audio device, the input mode is set, and when the analog audio signal is output to the outside by playing the digital audio file stored in the storage unit, the earphone jack is set to the output mode. Direct digital audio encoding device. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined cable, An input plug connected to an earphone jack of the external audio device to receive an analog audio signal reproduced by an external audio device; A filter positioned at a rear end of the input plug and performing amplification and filtering to compensate for the loss of the analog audio signal input through the input plug; And an encoding cable which is integrally formed with the direct digital audio device through an audio signal cable that connects the respective components integrally. The method of claim 4, wherein the encoding cable, An amplifier circuit branched to a rear end of the filter and amplifying the analog audio file output from the filter; Earphones which are positioned next to the amplification circuit and configured to be connected to any one of the earphone, headphone or speaker to output through any one of the earphone, headphone or speaker to convert the analog signal by the amplification circuit to a sound signal A monitoring terminal consisting of an output terminal; An output plug positioned at a rear end of the filter in parallel with the amplifying circuit and outputting an analog audio signal compensated by the filter to be input to the direct digital audio encoding apparatus; A direct digital audio encoding device, characterized in that it is configured to be detachable from the device. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage unit, Direct memory device, characterized in that the flash memory. The method of claim 6, wherein the storage unit, And an extended memo configured to be detachable from the encoding device. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital audio file, Direct digital audio encoding device characterized in that it has the form of at least one digital audio compression format of MP3, AAC, AC3, PAC, ATRAC, TwinVQ, Qdesign Music Format or MS Audio. A first step of determining whether an analog audio signal is input from an external audio device; A second step of setting a mode of an input / output unit as an input mode when an analog audio signal is output from the external audio device as a result of the determination of the first step; A third step of filtering and amplifying the analog audio signal input through the input / output unit; A fourth step of converting the filtered and amplified analog audio signal into a digital audio signal; And a fifth step of digitally compressing the digital audio signal output as a result of the fourth step by digitally processing the digital audio signal, thereby generating and storing the digital audio file. The method of claim 9, wherein if there is no input of an analog audio signal from the external audio device as a result of the determination in the first step, A sixth step of determining whether there is an output of an analog audio signal generated by reproduction of the digital audio file; If there is no output of the analog audio signal as a result of the sixth step, if the output of the analog audio signal is output, the output unit outputs the analog audio signal to an external audio reproducing apparatus by setting the input / output unit to an output mode and outputs a sound signal. And a seventh step of reproducing. The method of claim 9, wherein the fourth step, And an eighth step of monitoring a process of converting the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital audio file, Direct digital audio encoding method characterized in that it has the form of at least one digital audio compression format of MP3, AAC, AC3, PAC, ATRAC, TwinVQ, Qdesign Music Format or MS Audio.