Removable face plate compressed digital music player

• US 20020077834A1
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Estevez, Leonardo W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/503
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/10 Input/output [I/O] data interface arrangements, e.g. I/O data control circuits, I/O data buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1039 using pipelining techniques, i.e. using latches between functional memory parts, e.g. row/column decoders, I/O buffers, sense amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/16 Storage of analogue signals in digital stores using an arrangement comprising analogue/digital [A/D] converters, digital memories and digital/analogue [D/A] converters

Abstract

This invention comprises a two part audio system in which all of the processing power is allocated to a small, lightweight satellite part that is the face unit. Mass storage, amplification, and wired power for recharging the face unit is provided by the other part, the base. The base runs either from a 120 volts AC source or 12 volts DC. The face unit contains a small amount of flash memory making it capable of carrying music normally stored on two or more compact discs (CDS).

Claims

1. A self-contained, portable music player comprising:

a rechargeable battery pack for powering the music player;

an input/output device including at least a keypad for receiving user inputs and a display;

a memory capable of storing digital music in at least one compressed digital format;

a data processor connected to said input/output device and said memory, said data processor programmed to decompress said digital music into uncompressed digital music samples;

an audio coder-decoder connected to said connected to said data processor for receiving said uncompressed digital music samples from said data processor and converting said uncompressed digital music samples into analog music;

a headset connector connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music to an external headset earphone; and

a base connector including

a power connection connected to said rechargeable battery pack capable of receiving charging power from an external base unit, and

an analog output connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music to an external base unit for amplification and reproduction via speakers;

wherein the self-contained, portable music player operates in

a portable mode disconnected from a base unit and powered by said rechargeable battery pack, wherein a user may listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via an external headset earphone, and

in a base mode connected to a base unit via said base connector and powered via said power connector, wherein a user may listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via speakers of an external base unit.

2. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed in cooperation with input/output device said whereby a user may enter volume control data via said keypad; and

said base connector further includes a volume data connection for transmission of volume control data from the self-contained, portable music player to an external base unit.

3. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, wherein:

said base connector further includes a set of digital connections connected to said data processor and said audio coder-decoder for bi-directional transmission of digital data with an external base unit.

4. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared transmission interface connected to said data processor for bi-directional transmission of digital data with an external base unit.

5. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone;

a pre-amplifier having an input connected to said microphone and an output connected to said audio coder-decoder;

wherein said audio coder-decoder digitizes sound received by said microphone, said data processor programmed to store said digitized sounds in said memory.

6. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 5, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to compress said digitized sounds into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

7. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 5, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to

recall digitized sounds stored in said memory, and

compress said recalled digitized sounds into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

8. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, wherein:

said base connector further includes an analog input connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for receiving an analog input from an external base unit; and

wherein said audio coder-decoder digitizes analog input received via said analog input connection, said data processor programmed to store said digitized analog input in said memory.

9. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 8, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to compress said digitized analog input into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

10. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 8, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to

recall digitized analog input stored in said memory, and

compress said recalled digitized analog input into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

11. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, wherein:

said memory is a non-volatile memory capable of retaining data in the absence of electric power.

12. The self-contained, portable music player of claim 1, wherein:

said data processor is a digital signal processor.

14. The music system of claim 13, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed in cooperation with input/output device said whereby a user may enter volume control data via said keypad;

said first base connector further includes a volume data output connection for transmission of volume control data from the self-contained, portable music player;

said second base connector further includes a volume data input connection for connection to said volume data output connection; and

said pre-amplifier is further connected to said volume data input connection and producing an amount of amplification corresponding thereto.

15. The music system of claim 13, wherein:

said first base connector further includes a set of first digital connections connected to said data processor and said audio coder-decoder for bi-directional transmission of digital data with an external base unit;

said second base connector further includes a set of second digital connections for connection to said set of first digital connections; and

said base unit further includes a disc drive connected to said set of second digital connections of said second base connector capable of storing and recalling digital data.

16. The music system of claim 13, further comprising:

an infrared transmission interface connected to said data processor for bi-directional transmission of digital data with an external base unit.

17. The music system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone;

a pre-amplifier having an input connected to said microphone and an output connected to said audio coder-decoder;

wherein said audio coder-decoder digitizes sound received by said microphone, said data processor programmed to store said digitized sounds in said memory.

18. The music system of claim 17, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to compress said digitized sounds into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

19. The music system of claim 17, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to

recall digitized sounds stored in said memory, and

compress said recalled digitized sounds into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

20. The music system of claim 13, wherein:

said base unit further includes a tuner for receiving and demodulating analog audio signals;

said first base connector further includes a base unit analog output connection

said first base connector further includes a player analog input connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for receiving an analog input from said base unit;

wherein said audio coder-decoder digitizes analog input received via said player analog input connection, said data processor programmed to store said digitized analog input in said memory.

21. The music system of claim 20, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to compress said digitized analog input into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

22. The music system of claim 20, wherein:

said data processor is further programmed to

recall digitized analog input stored in said memory, and

compress said recalled digitized analog input into a compressed digital format and store said compressed digital format in said memory.

23. The music system of claim 13, wherein:

said memory is a non-volatile memory capable of retaining data in the absence of electric power.

24. The music system of claim 13, wherein:

said data processor is a digital signal processor.

26. The base unit of claim 25, wherein:

said base connector further includes a volume data input connection for receiving of volume control data from the self-contained, portable music player;

said pre-amplifier is further connected to said volume data input connection and producing an amount of amplification corresponding thereto.

27. The base unit of claim 25, wherein:

said base connector further includes a set of digital connections for connection to a set of digital connections of the self-contained, portable music player; and

said base unit further includes a disc drive connected to said digital connections of said base connector capable of storing and recalling digital data.

28. The music system of claim 26, further comprising:

a tuner for receiving and demodulating analog audio signals;

said base connector further includes a base unit analog output connection connected to output said analog audio signals.

13. A music system comprising:

a self-contained, portable music player including

a rechargeable battery pack for powering the music player,

an input/output device including at least a keypad for receiving user inputs and a display;

a memory capable of storing digital music in at least one compressed digital format,

a data processor connected to said input/output device and said memory, said data processor programmed to decompress said digital music into uncompressed digital music samples,

an audio coder-decoder connected to said connected to said data processor for receiving said uncompressed digital music samples from said data processor and converting said uncompressed digital music samples into analog music,

a headset connector connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music to an external headset earphone, and

a first base connector including

a first power connection connected to said rechargeable battery pack capable of receiving charging power from an external base unit, and

a player analog output connection connected to said audio coder-decoder for supplying said analog music; and

a base unit including

a second base connector including

a second power connection for connection to said first power connection,

an analog input connection for connection to said analog output connection,

a power source connected to said second power connection for supplying recharging power for said rechargeable battery pack;

a pre-amplifier having an input connected to said analog input connection and an output,

a power amplifier having an input connected to said output of said pre-amplifier and an output, and

a speaker system connected to said output of said power amplifier for reproducing sound corresponding to said output of said power amplifier, wherein the music system operates in

a portable mode wherein said self-contained, portable music player is disconnected from said base unit and powered by said rechargeable battery pack, wherein a user may listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via an external headset earphone, and

in a base mode wherein said self-contained, portable music player is connected to said base unit via said first base connector and said second base connector and powered from said power source, wherein a user may listen to selected digital music stored in said memory via speakers of an external base unit.

25. A base unit for use with a self-contained, portable music player comprising:

a base connector including

a power connection,

an analog input connection for receiving an analog input;

a power source connected to said power connection for supplying recharging power for the self-contained, portable music player;

a pre-amplifier having an input connected to said analog input connection and an output,

a power amplifier having an input connected to said output of said pre-amplifier and an output, and

a speaker system connected to said output of said power amplifier for reproducing sound corresponding to said output of said power amplifier.