Radio receiver including a recording unit for audio data

• US 5,923,624 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Tuschik, Peter, Groeger, Klaus-Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/939,598
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 369/7, 369/6, 369/10, 369/11, 369/12, 369/1, 369/2, 369/5, 455/95, 455/99
• US Class Current: 369/7
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information

Abstract

A car radio having a removable operating part and a recording unit for audio signals, the recording unit being arranged in the operating part. A microphone connected to the recording unit and arranged in the operating part can record audio signals when the operating part is removed so that it can be used, for example, as a dictation device. The removed operating part is powered via a battery housed in the operating part.

Claims

1. A radio, comprising:

a radio receiver;

an operating part removably attached to the radio receiver;

a recording unit disposed within the operating part;

a microphone connected to the recording unit and disposed within the operating part; and

a circuit arrangement connected to the recording unit when the operating part is attached to the radio receiver, the circuit arrangement detecting identifiers designating information transmitted via a received radio program,

wherein the recording unit includes a memory, the memory including a first memory area and a second memory area, the first memory area being separate from the second memory area, the first memory area storing information transmitted with the received radio program and received from the circuit arrangements the second memory area storing audio data received via the microphone, and

wherein the recording unit is capable of storing the audio data in the second memory area even when the operating part is detached from the radio receiver.

2. The radio according to claim 1, wherein the audio data received via the microphone includes speech information.

3. The radio according to claim 1, further comprising an operating unit connected to the recording unit and disposed within the operating part, the operating unit canceling a separation of the first separate memory area from the second memory area upon receiving an input command.

4. The radio according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery disposed within the operating part, the rechargeable battery supplying power to the operating part when the operating part is separated from the radio receiver.

5. The radio according to claim 1, further comprising a playback unit disposed within the radio receiver, the playback unit playing back the audio data recorded with the recording unit when the operating part is attached to the radio receiver and the recording unit is connected to the playback unit.

6. The radio according to claim 1, further comprising a separate playback unit connected to the operating part to play back the audio data recorded with the recording unit.

7. The radio according to claim 1,

wherein the operating part includes a recording button and a memory button,

wherein the recording unit further includes a buffer memory,

wherein the recording button is actuated to activate a recording of the audio data received via the microphone into the buffer memory, and

wherein the memory button is actuated to activate a storage of a content of the buffer memory into the memory.

8. The radio according to claim 7, wherein the operating part includes a reset button, the reset button being actuated for erasing the content of the buffer memory.

9. The radio according to claim 3, further comprising a clock connected to the recording unit, the clock storing a current time of day in the recording unit in response to an entry via the operating unit.

10. The radio according to claim 1, wherein the operating part further includes an indicator, the indicator indicating at least one of a duration of a recording and a remaining free capacity of the memory.

11. The radio according to claim 1, wherein the operating part is connected to an external playback unit which is not connected to the radio receiver, the playback unit playing back the audio data.