WO2000065587A1

WO2000065587A1 - Solid state audio player in a compact cassette case

Info

Publication number: WO2000065587A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/008846
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raza Hasan
Original assignee: Recoton Corporation
Priority date: 1999-04-22
Filing date: 2000-04-03
Publication date: 2000-11-02
Also published as: AU4192300A

Abstract

A MPEG 1, level 3 coded audio player is placed in a cassette-shaped shell (10) which may be played in a standard cassette player (12).

Description

SOLID STATE AUDIO PLAYER IN A COMPACT CASSETTE CASE

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to digital audio recording and playing devices.

More specifically, the invention relates to a device capable of storing and

playing back audio files which are downloaded from the Internet in MP3 or

other formats or recorded from another audio source. The solid state audio

player, in accordance with the present invention, can either play back audio

through a pair of headphones or be coupled magnetically, optically, or any

other way to the pick up mechanism of another playback device like a

cassette player or a mini-disc (MD) player.

Background of the Invention

The Internet is fostering new paradigms and ways of life. The music

industry is no exception. Using the Internet, customers today can purchase

musical content selections from their favorite artists. Several different digital

audio formats are now available for digital music sales on the Internet. Of

those digital formats, MP3 (MPEG Layer 3) is the most preferred audio

compression algorithm on the Internet. A five-minute CD song takes about

50 MB of storage space, an MP3 file of the same time length occupies only

about 4-5 MB. MP3 is a standard using which audio files can be transferred

over the Internet with little loss in quality from the original content and stored

in the computer or other devices with some kind of storage mechanism. There are two types of MP3 players: software driven and hardware

driven. The software MP3 players are programs that allow a computer to play

MP3 files stored on the hard-drive using the computer's sound card and

speakers. Hardware MP3 players are small devices with memory in which

MP3 files can be stored and listened to while away from the computer.

Since memory in the hardware audio player can be rewritten any number of

times, it can be used to record new audio files. These devices are now

capable of storing up to 60 minutes of digital quality sound, and thus can be

used not only for music recordings but also for audio books, news broadcasts

and more.

Recently, many companies have introduced digital music

recorders/players which store music in a non-volatile memory. Users can

download music in the form of MP3 files from the Internet, World Wide Web

(WWW) or from their CD players into the memory which can then be played

back. As these devices store music in solid state memory devices, they do

not have any moving parts resulting in virtually skip free playback. The

biggest advantage of these devices, therefore, is during exercising, cycling,

running, or any other physical activity during which a regular CD player will

skip because of shocks. These devices are also ideally suited for automotive

environments.

MP3 players are currently available with headphones, suitable for personal listening only. To listen to this music aloud, they must be attached

to some kind of an amplifier using either an electrical or optical connection so

that the audio signal can be amplified and reproduced by large speakers.

These connections are easily possible in an indoor environment but can prove

to be a hassle in an outdoor or automobile environment especially in light of

the fact that most car stereos do not have input connections for an audio

signal. Thus, there is a considerable interest in the industry for an MP3 audio

recorder/player which can be easily, and preferably wirelessly, connected to

other music playing devices for amplification of its signal.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid state audio

recorder/player which can be easily connected to other music playing devices

for amplification of its signal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a solid state

audio recorder/player which can be wirelessly connected to other music

playing devices for amplification of its signal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a solid state

audio recorder/player which can record audio signals directly from different

audio sources including CD players, MD players, record players, etc. Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be more

apparent hereinafter.

The invention accomplishing the above enumerated objects is the solid

state audio player, which can either play back music through a pair of

headphones or be coupled magnetically, optically or any other way to the

pick up mechanism of another playback device like a cassette player or MD

player. The solid state player can be snapped into a holder, which is

equipped with either a serial or parallel port (or a combination of both) to

enable a direct interface to digital audio sources like computer, CD player,

MD player or DVD player. Additionally, the holder is equipped with an

analog-to-digital converter to allow the user to record audio files from analog

audio sources like tape deck.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following

description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block-diagram of the solid state audio player

within a cassette-shaped shell, the cassette player and the removable control

panel, which is detached from the solid state player before it is inserted into

the cassette player; and Fig. 2 is a schematic block-diagram of the solid state player with its

holder, which is shown to have a plurality of different ports interfacing the

holder to different audio sources.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment and the Drawings

In accordance with the present invention, a small solid state audio

player 1 0 is provided, enclosed within a shell shaped as a conventional

recorded data device (like a cassette or a mini-disc), which is typically used

for playing back this recorded data. The solid state player can play back

audio files, previously stored in its memory, either through a pair of

headphones or be magnetically, optically or otherwise coupled to a pick up

mechanism of another audio device like a cassette player 1 2.

In the preferred embodiment, the solid state audio player comprises

standard electronic components such as ROM (Read Only Memory) or built-in

flash memory storage for music files and audio playback circuitry. It can also

be equipped with a micro hard drive (such hard drives had been recently

introduced by IBM) or use standard removable PCMCIA flash memory cards

for additional storage of audio data. The audio files stored in the memory of

the player can be rewritten any desired number of times, thus allowing

listeners unlimited number of audio compilations. The player also has an

induction coil 1 4 the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. In one embodiment, all of the above electronic components are

enclosed within a standard-size audio cassette-shaped shell insertable into

any regular cassette player. The cassette-shaped solid state player then can

be placed into a cassette slot and play music by way of magnetic coupling

with the cassette player's pick-up head, as described hereinafter.

When the solid state audio player 1 0 inserted into the cassette player

1 2 is activated, the audio output of the solid state player's playback circuitry

generates a magnetic field in the aforementioned induction coil 1 4. The coil

then acts as an inductive magnetic transmitter transmitting electromagnetic

waves toward a magnetic receiver 1 6 within the cassette player 1 2. In a

standard cassette player a magnetic pick up head will serve as such magnetic

receiver.

As shown in the block diagram in Fig. 1 , the solid state player can

have a detachable control panel 1 8 which sends operation commands to the

actual player 10 within a compact cassette shell. The detachable control

panel sends operation commands to the actual player using a wired or

preferably wireless link, infrared or RF based, thus effectively serving as a

remote control. Such control panel can be snapped back on to the solid state

player once the player 1 0 in the cassette shell has been removed from the

cassette player 1 2. Typically, the MP3 files are downloaded to the device from the Internet

or WWW. To record music from a CD to a prior art solid state player, a user

needs to insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive on the computer and then

copy desired files in the MP3 format to the player. This process requires a

special software and usually takes a long time. In accordance with the

present invention, the solid state audio player may have a detachable holder

20 equipped with either a serial (USB, Firewire, RS232, SPDIF or other) or

parallel port interface or, possibly, a combination of them for interfacing to a

computer or other source of digital audio, designated with reference numbers

24, 26 and 28 in Fig. 2. Of course, any of the ports can be placed directly

onto the player itself, but it is more convenient to have them on the holder

20 into which the solid state player 1 0 with the control panel 1 8 can be

snapped and connected.

The holder 20 will read the music from the source and put it out into

the solid state player as an MP3 or other similar format data-stream,

preferably in real or close to real time. Therefore, the user can directly record

and store digital-quality sound from digital sources other than computer, like

CD player, MD player, DVD player, etc. The holder may also read the MP3 or

similar format stream and generate digital data stream (for example SPDIF)

compatible with most digital music players or line level analog signals for

tape-decks. The solid state player 1 0 or its holder 20 can also be equipped

with an analog-to-digital converter accessory 22 to enable users to record from analog mediums like tape deck or record player. The holder 20 may

also have a headphone port (not shown) to connect headphones for individual

listening.

The control panel 1 8 does not have to be detachable from the holder

20, since it can be presented as a single control unit capable of being

attached to the solid state player. When the control panel and the holder are

both attached to the player, they become an integrated solid state unit. Such

unit will be approximately palm-size and lightweight for easy portability.

In an alternative embodiment, the solid state audio player can be

enclosed within a shell shaped as a mini-disc, and can be inserted into an MD

player. In this embodiment the solid state player will be coupled optically

with the laser pick-up mechanism of the MD player.

Additionally, the solid state unit (either the player itself or its holder)

may be capable of modulating and transmitting signals over an FM band so

that the audio signal can be received and played using any conventional

radio, for example a car radio. The modulating and transmitting circuitry can

be added to any of the above described embodiments.

Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it

is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since further variations or modifications may be apparent or may suggest

themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present

application cover such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of

the appended claims.

Claims

I claim as follows:

1 . A solid state audio player comprising

a shell, comprising a shape of a conventional recorded data device;

memory storage for storing audio files;

playback circuitry for audio playback connected to said memory

storage,

wherein said memory storage and said playback circuitry are placed

within said shell and said shell is insertable into a standard playback

device to playback audio signals.

2. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 wherein said

conventional recorded data device is a standard audio cassette.

3. A solid state audio music player according to claim 1 wherein said

Solid state audio player further comprises a magnetic transmitter

transmitting electromagnetic waves which are received by a magnetic

receiver of said standard playback device.

4. A solid state audio player according to claim 3 wherein said magnetic

receiver of said standard playback device is a magnetic pick-up head of

an audio-cassette playing device.

5. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 wherein said

conventional recorded data device is a mini disc.

6. An Solid state audio player according to claim 1 wherein said solid

state audio player is optically coupled to an optical signal receiver of

said standard playback device.

7. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising a

detachable control panel sending operational commands to said Solid

state audio player.

8. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising a

detachable holder.

9. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising a

serial port for interfacing said solid state audio player to digital audio

sources.

1 0. A solid state audio player according to claim 8 wherein said holder

further comprises a serial port for interfacing said solid state audio

player to digital audio sources.

1 1 . A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising a parallel port for interfacing said solid state audio player to a computer.

1 2. A solid state audio player according to claim 8 wherein said holder

further comprises a parallel port for interfacing said solid state audio

player to a computer.

1 3. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising an

analog-to-digital converter for interfacing said solid state audio player

to analog audio sources.

14. A solid state audio player according to claim 8 wherein said holder

further comprises an analog-to-digital converter for interfacing said

solid state audio player to analog audio sources.

1 5. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising a

headphone port for headphones connection.

1 6. A solid state audio player according to claim 8 wherein said holder

further comprises a headphone port for headphones connection.

1 7. A solid state audio player according to claim 1 further comprising an

RF modulator and an RF transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic

waves, which are received by a receiver of a conventional radio.