Multi channel digital random access recorder-player

• US 4,963,866 A
• Filed: 03/27/1989
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TranSafe Corp (Trinity Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Digital Recorders Inc. (Clever Devices, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Duncan, Virgil D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Howard L.
• Application Number:
  US07/328,863
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 341/108, 341/110, 341/122, 341/123, 341/126, 341/138, 341/141, 341/143, 341/144, 341/155, 360/32, 364/825, 365/45
• US Class Current: 341/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2207/16 Solid state audio
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/12 Group selection circuits, e.g. for memory block selection, chip selection, array selection

Abstract

A multi-channel digital random access recorder-player receives an analog audio signal, converts the audio signal into a digital signal, and stores the digital signal in a memory for random access. The memory includes sixteen channels, each channel having sixteen memory boards, each channel and each memory board being assigned a unique four bit binary address by an address counter. An external control is provided by which the user selects an address for recording or playback and a comparator compares the selected address with the addresses of the memory. When the memory address corresponding to the selected address is detected, that memory board is enabled so that data can be recorded on the memory board or retrieved from the memory board for playback through an audio output device such as a loudspeaker. The recorder-player thereby provides random access to a memory. Also provided is a system in which several modules, each with a logic board and a memory, are combined into a single system.

Claims

1. A multi-channel digital random access recorder-player comprising:

an analog filter for receiving and filtering an analog signal to produce an analog filter output signal;

a digital filter for digitally filtering said analog filter output signal to produce a digital filter output signal;

an analog to digital converter coupled to said digital filter for converting said digital filter output signal to a digital signal;

logic control means coupled to said analog to digital converter for controlling said recorder-player;

clocking means coupled to said logic control means for generating at least one clocking frequency signal;

memory means coupled to said logic control means having a plurality of channels, each of said channels having a plurality of memory boards for storing data;

addressing means coupled to said memory means for assigning a unique binary address to each of said channels and to each of said memory boards of said memory means;

external control means coupled to said logic control means for selecting one of a record mode and a playback mode of operation for said recorder-player and for selecting binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said channels and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said memory boards;

comparator means for comparing said binary address selected by said external control means with each one of said binary addresses of said channels and with each one of said binary addresses of said memory boards, such that the one of said binary addresses of said channels corresponding to said binary address of said channel selected by said external control is detected and such that the one of said binary addresses of said memory boards corresponding to said binary address of said memory board selected by said external control is detected; and

memory enabling means coupled to said memory means and to said logic control means for enabling said channel and said memory board having said addresses corresponding to said addresses of said channel and said memory board selected by said external control, such that data from said logic control is recorded in said enabled channel and memory board when said external control means selects said record mode of operation.

2. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 1 wherein said memory means is a solid state memory.

3. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 2 wherein said solid state memory is CMOS memory.

4. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 1 wherein said memory means includes sixteen channels, each of said channels including sixteen memory boards.

5. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 1 wherein said analog to digital converter includes a continuous variable slope delta modulator.

6. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 1 wherein said memory means is coupled to said logic control means by a memory buss, said memory buss including a 34 pin edge connector.

7. A multi-channel digital random access recorder-player comprising:

an analog filter for receiving and filtering an analog signal to produce an analog filter output signal;

a digital filter for digitally filtering said analog filter output signal to produce a digital filter output signal;

an analog to digital converter coupled to said digital filter for converting said digital filter output signal to a digital signal;

logic control means coupled to said analog to digital converter;

clocking means coupled to said logic control means for generating at least one clocking frequency signal;

memory means coupled to said logic control means having a plurality of channels, each of said channels having a plurality of memory boards for storing data;

addressing means coupled to said memory means for assigning a unique binary address to each of said channels and to each of said memory boards of said memory means;

external control means coupled to said logic control means for selecting one of a record mode and a playback mode of operation for said recorder-player and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said channels and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said memory boards;

comparator means for comparing said binary address selected by said external control means with each one of said binary addresses of said channels and with each one of said binary addresses of said memory boards, such that the one of said binary addresses of said channels corresponding to said binary address of said channel selected by said external control is detected and such that the on of said binary addresses of said memory boards corresponding to said binary address of said memory board selected by said external control is detected;

audio output means coupled to said analog filter;

digital to analog converter coupled to said logic control means and to said audio output means; and

memory enabling means coupled to said memory means and to said logic control means for enabling said channel and said memory board having said address corresponding to said addresses of said channel and said memory board selected by said external control, such that data from said logic control is retrieved from said enabled channel and memory board and transmitted to said audio output means when said external control means selects said playback mode of operation.

8. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 7 wherein said memory means is a solid state memory.

9. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 8 wherein said solid state memory is CMOS memory.

10. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 7 wherein said memory means includes sixteen channels, each of said channels including sixteen memory boards.

11. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 7 wherein said analog to digital converter includes a continuous variable slope delta modulator.

12. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 7 wherein said digital to analog converter includes a continuous variable slope delta modulator.

13. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 7 wherein said memory means is coupled to said logic control means by a memory buss, said memory buss including a 34 pin edge connector.

14. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player comprising:

a plurality of interconnected random access modules, each of said modules including;

an analog filter for receiving and filtering an analog signal to produce an analog filter output signal;

a digital filter for digitally filtering said analog filter output signal to produce a digital filter output signal;

an analog to digital converter coupled to said digital filter output signal for converting said digital filter output signal to a digital signal;

clocking means coupled to said digital filter for generating at least one clocking frequency signal;

logic control means coupled to said analog to digital converter for controlling said recorder-player;

memory means coupled to said logic control means having a plurality of channels, each of said channels having a plurality of memory boards for storing data;

addressing means coupled to said memory means for assigning a unique binary address to each of said channels and to each of said memory boards of said memory means;

external control means coupled to at least one of said logic control means for selecting one of a record mode and a playback mode of operation for said recorder-player and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said channels and for selecting a binary address corresponding to selected one of said binary addresses of said memory boards;

comparator means for comparing said binary address selected by said external control means with each one of said binary addresses of said channels and with each one of said binary addresses of said memory boards, such that the one of said binary addresses of said channels corresponding to said binary address of said channel selected by said external control is detected and such that the one of said binary addresses of said memory boards corresponding to said binary address of said memory board selected by said external control is detected; and

memory enabling means coupled to said memory means and to said logic control means for enabling said channel and said memory board having said addresses corresponding to said addresses of said channel and said memory board selected by said external control, such that data from said logic control is recorded in said enabled channel and memory board when said external control means selects said record mode of operation.

15. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 14 wherein each of said memory means is coupled to one of said logic control means by a memory buss, said memory buss including a 34 pin edge connector.

16. A multi-channel digital random access recorder-player comprising:

a plurality of interconnected random access modules, each of said modules including;

an analog filter for receiving and filtering an analog signal to produce an analog filter output signal;

a digital filter for digitally filtering said analog filter output signal to produce a digital filter output signal;

an analog to digital converter coupled to said digital filter output signal for converting said digital filter output signal to a digital signal;

clocking means coupled to said digital filter for generating at least one clocking frequency signal;

logic control means coupled to said analog to digital converter for controlling said recorder-player;

memory means coupled to said logic control means having a plurality of channels, each of said channels having a plurality of memory boards for storing data;

addressing means coupled to said memory means for assigning a unique binary address to each of said channels and to each of said memory boards of said memory means;

external control means coupled to at least one of said logic control means for selecting one of a record mode and a playback mode of operation for said recorder-player and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said channels and for selecting a binary address corresponding to a selected one of said binary addresses of said memory boards;

comparator means for comparing said binary address selected by said external control means with each one of said binary addresses of said channels and with each on of said binary addressees of said memory boards, such that the one of said binary addresses of said channels corresponding to said binary address of said channel selected by said external control is detected and such that the one of said binary addresses of said memory boards corresponding to said binary address of said memory board selected by said external control is detected;

audio output means;

digital to analog converter coupled to said logic control means and to said audio output means; and

memory enabling means coupled to said memory means and to said logic control means for enabling said channel and said memory board having said addresses corresponding to said addresses of said channel and said memory board selected by said external control, such that data form said logic control is retrieved from said enabled channel and memory board when said external control means selects said playback mode of operation.

17. The multi-channel digital random access recorder-player of claim 16 wherein said memory means is coupled to said one of said logic control means by a memory buss, said memory buss including a 34 pin edge connector.