Card with built-in record/playback capability

• US 4,791,741 A
• Filed: 09/03/1987
• Issued: 12/20/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Torio Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Torio Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kondo, Takenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/092,867
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 40/455, 40/124.1, 446/404, 434/309, 434/311, 369/68, 369/63, 369/64
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/022 combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• 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

Card or postal media which comprises a storage member to retain audio information picked up by a microphone, a sound generating member including a speaker, a mode selection signal producing member to allow either record or playback to be selected, a controller performing record or playback according to the mode selection signal from the mode selection signal producing member; converting the audio signal from the microphone from analog to digital and storing it in the storage member when the record mode is selected; retrieving stored information from the storage member, converting it from digital to analog, and outputting the analog signal to the sound generating member when the playback mode is selected, and a card board on which the microphone, speaker, and the other members are mounted.

Claims

1. Card comprising;

(a) means for storing audio information picked up by a microphone,

(b) means for generating sound including a speaker,

(c) means for producing a mode selection signal corresponding to any one of a record mode and a playback mode,

(d) control means for selectively setting any one of the record and playback modes according to the mode selection signal from the producing means;

converting the audio signal from the microphone from analog to digital and storing it in the storage means when the record mode is selected;

retrieving stored information from the storage means, converting it from digital to analog, and outputting the analog signal to the generating means when the playback mode is selected, and

(e) a card board on which the microphone, speaker, and each means are mounted.

2. Card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode selection signal producing means includes a record/playback selection switch and outputs any one of the record and playback selection signals according to the ON/OFF operation of the record/playback selection switch.

3. Card as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a control pin attached to the card board and being able to engage with and separate from the record/playback selection switch, the record/playback selection switch being turned on and off by attaching or removing the pin.

4. Card as claimed in claim 1, wherein the card board is formed into the shape of a thin plate with a cavity and the microphone, speaker, and each means are mounted in the card board.

5. Card as claimed in claim 1, further including a power switch and a control pin attached removably to the card board and being able to engage with and separate from the record/playback selection switch, the pin engaging with the power switch to keep the same open when attached to the card board, the pin separating from the power switch to keep the same close when removed from the card board.

6. Postal media comprising;

(a) means for storing audio information picked up by a microphone,

(b) means for generating sound including a speaker,

(c) means for producing a mode selection signal corresponding to any one of a record mode and a playback mode,

(d) control means for selectively setting any one of the record and playback modes according to the mode selection signal from the producing means;

converting the audio signal from the microphone from analog to digital and storing it in the storage means when the record mode is selected;

retrieving stored information from the storage means, converting it from digital to analog, and outputting the analog signal to the generating means when the playback mode is selected,

(e) a card board on which the microphone, speaker, and each means are mounted.