Audio label

• US 5,905,429 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: City Of Lights, Inc.
• Original Assignee: City Of Lights, Inc.
• Inventors: Mackenroth, Joseph R. III, Hornstein, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US08/845,675
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/384.6, 340/568, 340/547, 340/583, 704/272, 704/274
• US Class Current: 340/384.6
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00

Abstract

An audio label comprising a circuit board substrate with a sound-generating microchip and a photovoltaic cell both attached to the substrate such that the microchip is electrically connected to the photovoltaic cell so that power is provided to the sound-generating microchip. A sound reproduction unit is also attached to the substrate and is connected to the sound-generating microchip communicates signals to the sound reproduction unit which are then converted by the sound reproduction unit to audible sounds. A system for audio label operation is also disclosed. The system includes a separate transmitter which transmits electromagnetic waves, such as light, infrared or radio waves to one or more audio labels which have electromagnetic wave receiving circuit elements, such as phototransistors disposed thereon. The transmitter thus sends wave signals to each label each of which then converts the wave signals to electric signals which each sound reproduction unit then converts to audible sounds.

Claims

1. A stand-alone audio label for use in product presentation adapted for attachment to a product to be sold, said audio label comprising:

a circuit board substrate;

an adhesive layer attached to said substrate so that said audio label may be affixed to a product to be sold;

a photovoltaic cell attached to said circuit board substrate;

a sound-storing, sound-retrieving microchip attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said photovoltaic cell so that said photovoltaic cell provides power to said microchip, said microchip being adapted to have audible sounds pre-recorded thereon in the form of signals which said microchip, upon activation, can communicate to replay said audible sounds; and

a sound reproduction unit attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said microchip so that when said microchip communicates signals to said sound reproduction unit, said signals are converted into audible sounds;

said sound reproduction unit having;

a circular electromagnetic coil with a circular opening defined therein and top and bottom surfaces, a thin magnetic disk having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to said top surface;

said magnetic disk being movably disposed within the circular opening of said circular electromagnetic coil;

said magnetic disk being held in moveable relationship therein by first and second flexible rubber membranes, said first membrane being connected to the respective top surfaces of said magnetic disk and said electromagnetic coil, and said second membrane being connected to the respective bottom surfaces of said magnetic disk; and

said electromagnetic coil, said magnetic disk further having a protrusion with a rounded nose attached to the bottom surface thereof so that said rounded nose of said protrusion is disposed in moveable contact with said product;

whereby upon the communication of the signals from the microchip to the sound reproduction unit, the electromagnetic coil is energized intermittently in response to said signals and upon the intermittent energization of said electromagnetic coil, said magnetic disk is moved intermittently in a vibratory fashion such that said protrusion vibrates said product to reproduce an audible sound.

2. A stand-alone audio label for use in product presentation adapted for attachment to a product to be sold, said audio label comprising:

a circuit board substrate;

an adhesive layer attached to said substrate so that said audio label may be affixed to a product to be sold;

a photovoltaic cell attached to said circuit board substrate;

a sound-storing, sound-retrieving microchip attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said photovoltaic cell so that said photovoltaic cell provides power to said microchip, said microchip being adapted to have audible sounds pre-recorded thereon in the form of signals which said microchip, upon activation, can communicate to replay said audible sounds; and

a sound reproduction unit attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said microchip so that when said microchip communicates signals to said sound reproduction unit, said signals are converted into audible sounds and a timer connected, to said sound-generating microchip to actuate said sound-generating microchip at timed intervals.

3. A stand-alone audio label for use in product presentation adapted for attachment to a product to be sold, said audio label comprising:

a circuit board substrate;

an adhesive layer attached to said substrate so that said audio label may be affixed to a product to be sold;

a photovoltaic cell attached to said circuit board substrate;

a sound-storing, sound-retrieving microchip attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said photovoltaic cell so that said photovoltaic cell provides power to said microchip, said microchip being adapted to have audible sounds pre-recorded thereon in the form of signals which said microchip, upon activation, can communicate to replay said audible sounds; and

a sound reproduction unit attached to said circuit board substrate and connected to said microchip so that when said microchip communicates signals to said sound reproduction unit, said signals are converted into audible sounds, and a removable cover, detachably attachable to the photovoltaic cell to block light waves from reaching the photovoltaic cell when the removable cover is attached thereto and to permit light waves to access the photovoltaic cell when the removable cover is removed therefrom.

4. An audio label according to claim 3 in which said removable cover is a removable sticker.

5. An audio label according to claim 3 in which said removable cover has a bar code printed thereon.

6. An audio label according to claim 3 in which said bar code identifies the sounds pre-recorded on the audio label.

7. An audio label according to claim 5 in which said bar code identifies the product to which the label is to be affixed.

8. An audio label according to claim 5 in which said bar code is a Universal Product Code which provides for product identification during purchasing.