Miniature multiple audio highlight playback device

• US 5,973,250 A
• Filed: 09/12/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony M. Zirille
• Original Assignee: Anthony M. Zirelle
• Inventors: Kondo, Takaaki, Zirille, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US08/713,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 84/600, 84/644, 84/670, 84/94.1, 84/94.2, 84/95.1, 84/95.2, 84/609-614, 84/633-638
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/545 Aliasing, i.e. preventing, eliminating or deliberately using aliasing noise, distortions or artifacts in sampled or synthesised waveforms, e.g. by band limiting, oversampling or undersampling, respectively

Abstract

The present invention involves a microelectronic device capable of audio playback of highlights, in conjunction with products such as a gift box or a "base" for nostalgia and memorabilia such as a gift or music box (20) with its base (22) and hingedly attached lid (24), or a base supporting an object of interest. A switch (26) or light sensor or other actuation device is mounted in or on the base and is coupled to a circuit board (28) also disposed in the base. The switch is open and the circuit is inactive when lid (24) rests atop base (22), but the switch closes when the lid is opened to activate the circuit board. In the alternative a manual switch, such as a press-button switch, may be used to activate the replay function. The circuit board, when activated, audibly reproduces "highlights", which is audio information sufficiently long to cover a significant event, e.g., a portion of a political speech, a play from a sporting event, a climatic point of a drama or movie, or a broadcast news event yet short enough not to take an inordinate amount of time from the present. Further, the "highlights" should be able to be played in a multiple, consecutive or semi-random order. A ROM chip (30) digitally stores a plurality of highlights which are retrieved and audibly reproduced by a processor (34) on the circuit board when actuated by the switch. The circuit board may be disposed in a gift, music or keepsake box, sports and entertainment memorabilia, cards, frames, statuettes, bases, clocks, and similar items.

Claims

1. A compact and hand-held microelectronic device capable of audio playback of highlights, said device comprising:

an electric power source;

an actuator having a first position and a second position;

a circuit board coupled to said electric power source and said actuator, said circuit board including;

means for storing a plurality of highlights in analog form in addressable memory cells; and

means for audibly reproducing one of said highlights from said storing means when actuated by said actuator transitioning from said first position to said second position, said reproducing means operatively connected to said storing means and having an input adapted to receive stored highlights therefrom, said power source operatively connected to said storing means and said reproducing means and adapted to provide a source of power thereto, said reproducing means successively playing different ones of said plurality of highlights upon each successive actuation of said actuator.

2. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a light sensitive sensor.

3. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a mechanically actuatable switch.

4. The audio playback device of claim 3 wherein said mechanically actuatable switch comprises a push-button switch.

5. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said reproducing means comprises a power amplifier and a speaker.

6. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein each of said highlights is at least ten seconds in duration.

7. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of highlights comprises at least three highlights.

8. The audio playback device of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the output volume of said reproducing means.

9. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said storing means is capable of storing at least three highlights each containing a message of at least twenty words or 10-20 seconds in duration.

10. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said storing means is interchangeable with a second means for storing a second plurality of highlights.

11. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said storing means is randomly accessible.

12. The audio playback device of claim 1 wherein said audible reproducing means includes a means for muting noise such as caused by voltage spikes.

13. A compact and hand-held microelectronic device for replaying a plurality of pre-recorded audio excerpts comprising:

a container;

a lid disposed on said container;

means for sensing when said lid is opened and closed and for generating a signal indicating whether said lid is open or closed;

an electric power source;

a circuit board disposed within said container and coupled to said elelctric power source and said sensing means;

said circuit board including;

means for storing said plurality of audio excerpts in analog form in addressable memory cells;

means for audibly reproducing said audio excerpts; and

control means receiving said signal and indexing said storing means, said control means coupled to said storing means and said reproducing means, said control means selecting one of said audio excerpts responsive to said signal, said reproducing means having an input adapted to receive said audio excerpts, said power source operatively connected to said storing means, said reproducing means, and said control means and adapted to provide a source of power thereto, said reproducing means successsively playing different ones of said plurality of audio excerpts upon each successive signal generated by said sensing means.

14. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said sensing means comprises a light sensitive sensor.

15. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said sensing means comprises a mechanically activated switch.

16. The audio playback device of claim 15 wherein said mechanically activated switch is a push-button switch.

17. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said reproducing means comprises a power amplifier and a speaker.

18. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein each of said audio excerpts is at least ten seconds in duration.

19. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said plurality of audio excerpts comprises at least three excerpts.

20. The audio playback device of claim 13 further comprising a means for adjusting the volume of the audible reproduction.

21. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said device is capable of storing at least three excerpts each having a duration of at least ten seconds.

22. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said storing means containing said excerpts is capable of being replaced with a second storing means containing a second selection of excerpts.

23. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said storing means is randomly accessible.

24. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said control means sequentially indexes said storing means to selectively replay said excerpts in a predetermined sequence upon successive opening and closing of said lid.

25. The audio playback device of claim 13 wherein said control means randomly indexes said storing means to randomly replay said excerpts in a random sequence upon successive opening and closing of said lid.

26. A compact and hand-held microelectronic device for replaying a plurality of pre-recorded audio excerpts comprising:

a base for supporting an object of interest wherein said audio excerpts relate to said object of interest;

an electric power source;

an actuator having a first position and a second position, and capable of generating a signal for prompting audio excerpt playback;

a circuit board within said base and coupled to said electric power source and said actuator, said circuit board including;

means for storing said plurality of audio excerpts in analog form in addressable memory cells;

means for audibly reproducing said audio excerpts; and

control means receiving said signal and indexing said storing means, said control means coupled to said storing means and said reproducing means, said control means selecting one of said audio excerpts responsive to said signal, said reproducing means having an input adapted to receive said audio excerpts, said power source operatively connected to said storing means, said reproducing means, said control means and adapted to provide a source of power thereto, said reproducing means successively playing different ones of said plurality of audio excerpts upon each successive actuation of said actuator.

27. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said control means sequentially indexes said storing means to selectively replay said excerpts in a predetermined sequence upon successive actuation of said actuator.

28. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said control means randomly indexes said storing means to randomly replay said excerpts in a random sequence upon successive actuation of said actuator.

29. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said indexing means comprises a mechanically activated switch.

30. The audio playback device of claim 29 wherein said mechanically activated switch is a push-button switch.

31. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said reproducing means comprises a power amplifier and a speaker.

32. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein each of said audio excerpts is at least ten seconds in duration.

33. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said plurality of audio excerpts comprises at least three excerpts.

34. The audio playback device of claim 26 further comprising means for adjusting the output volume of said reproducing means.

35. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said storing means is capable of storing at least three excerpts each having a duration of at least ten seconds.

36. The audio playback device of claim 26 wherein said storing means is capable of being replaced with a second means for storing a second plurality of excerpts.

37. A compact and hand-held music box capable of playing a musical excerpt from a plurality of musical excerpts, said music box comprising:

a lid alternately positionable between an open position and a closed position;

means for sensing when said lid is opened and closed and for generating a signal indicating whether said lid is open or closed; and

a microelectronic device coupled to said sensing means and disposed within said compact and hand-held music box for replaying said musical excerpt, said microelectronic device including;

an electric power source;

means for storing said plurality of musical excerpt in analog form in addressable memory cells;

means for audibly reproducing said musical excerpts; and

control means receiving said signal and indexing said storing means, said control means operatively disposed between said storing means and said reproducing means, said control means selecting one of said audio excerpts responsive to said signal, said reproducing means having an input adapted to receive said audio excerpts, said power source operatively connected to said storing means, said reproducing means, and said control means and adapted to provide a source of power thereto, said reproducing means successively playing different ones of said plurality of musical excerpts upon each successive signal generated by said sensing means.

38. The music box of claim 37 wherein said control means sequentially indexes said storing means to selectively replay said excerpts in a predetermined sequence upon successive opening and closing of said lid.

39. The music box of claim 37 wherein said control means randomly indexes said storing means to randomly replay said excerpts in a random sequence upon successive opening and closing of said lid.

40. The music box of claim 37 wherein said sensing means comprises a mechanically activated switch.

41. The music box of claim 40 wherein said mechanically activated switch is a push-button switch.

42. The music box of claim 37 wherein said sensing means comprises a light sensitive sensor.

43. The music box of claim 37 wherein said reproducing means comprises a power amplifier and a speaker.

44. The music box of claim 37 wherein each of said music excerpts is at least ten seconds in duration.

45. The music box of claim 37 wherein said plurality of musical excerpts comprises at least three excerpts.

46. The music box of claim 37 further comprising a means for adjusting the output volume of said reproducing means.

47. The music box of claims 37 wherein said storing means is capable of storing at least three excerpts each having a duration of at least ten seconds.

48. The music box of claim 37 wherein said storing means is interchangeable with a second means for storing a second plurality of musical excerpts.