Picture frame with associated audio messages

• US 6,185,851 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1996
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LJ Talk LLC
• Original Assignee: LJ Laboratories L.L.C.
• Inventors: Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/617,708
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 407/17, 407/20, 409/06, 404/55, 407/35, 401/240.3, 434/308, 434/309, 434/311, 434/169, 434/397, 446/297, 446/397
• US Class Current: 40/717
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A picture frame and accompanying audio message circuit is provided such that one or more desired audio messages stored in the audio message circuit associated with one or more display pictures can be played upon the touching of the pictures or the frame. When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under a protective cover for the picture is activated by touching. Under CPU control, digital information representing the desired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which is subsequently converted to an analog signal and transmitted to a speaker which produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. In other embodiments, multiple picture and multiple messages are provided such that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switch associated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to the picture is then played through the speaker. In still other embodiments, a system is provided with a plurality of pictures mounted in the perimeter faces of a cube or other geometrical shape, each picture having associated with it a switch for activating a message or plurality of messages.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving and displaying a plurality of pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures, comprising:

a frame having a plurality of locations for displaying the pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage circuit attached to the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the audio messages;

a plurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned under the transparent covering in locations that correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures and the transparent covering is adapted so that the switches are activated by touching the transparent covering at locations above the locations for displaying the pictures;

a speaker connected to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture; and

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over each of the faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face is played back in response to touching of the transparent covering at a location above the particular face.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio message are stored in digital form.

14. An apparatus for receiving and displaying one or more pictures that are to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages correspondingly associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures and having a speaker for playing of the one or more audio messages;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the frame and positioned under the transparent covering in locations that correspond to the one or more pictures and the transparent covering is adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches is activated by touching of the transparent covering in a location above a corresponding one of the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the frame for converting input audio messages into electrical representations;

an audio storage circuit coupled to the microphone for storing electrical representations of the audio messages, and

a clocking/control circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking/control circuit;

wherein an audio message associated with a particular one of the one or more displayed pictures is played through the speaker in response to touching of the transparent covering at a location above the particular one of the one or more displayed pictures.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a battery coupled to the voice storage circuit and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, audio message playback is disabled.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a control switch for disabling audio message playback.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a light sensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio message is played through the speaker in response to a signal from the light sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio message are stored in digital form.

24. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage circuit attached to the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned under the transparent covering in locations that correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures and the transparent covering is adapted so that the switches are activated by touching the transparent covering at locations above the locations for displaying the pictures;

a speaker connected to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture and

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the transparent covering comprises a flexible plastic plate.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over each of the faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face is played back in response to touching of the transparent covering at a location above the particular face.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

35. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

33. A picture display apparatus adapted for displaying one or more pictures and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;

a transparent covering that covers the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

an audio storage circuit attached to the frame wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned under the transparent covering in locations that correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures and the transparent covering is adapted so that the switches are activated by touching the transparent covering at locations above the locations for displaying the pictures; and

a speaker connected to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

36. A picture display apparatus adapted for and displaying at least one picture of a person and playing back at least one audio message associated with the person, comprising:

a frame adapted for holding and displaying the at least one picture and having at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

a transparent covering that covers the at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

an audio storage circuit coupled to the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the at least one audio message associated with the person, wherein the electrical representations of the at least one audio message are input to the audio storage circuit via an input port;

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through a speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit;

at least one touch sensitive switch coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit; and

a speaker coupled to the frame and coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the at least one audio message, wherein the at least one audio message associated with the person is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the at least one picture.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the audio message comprises the voice of the person.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one touch sensitive switch comprises a capacitive or membrane switch.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog or digital form.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

43. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein a plurality of audio messages associated with the person are stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the person are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one touch sensitive switch.

44. An apparatus for receiving and displaying a plurality of pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures, comprising:

a frame having a plurality of locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the audio messages associated with the plurality of pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the audio messages;

a plurality of touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the switches are positioned in locations that correspond to particular pictures of the plurality of pictures and are adapted so that the switches are activated by touching the frame at the locations for displaying the pictures;

a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture; and

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a transparent covering over the locations where the pictures may be positioned by a user.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face is played back in response to activation of the touch sensitive switch positioned correspondingly to the particular face.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

53. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

54. The apparatus of claims 44, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

55. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

56. An apparatus for receiving and displaying one or more pictures that are to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages correspondingly associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame having one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures and having a speaker for playing the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches positioned correspondingly to the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching of the apparatus at the one or more locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

a microphone for converting input audio messages into electrical representations;

an audio storage circuit coupled to the microphone for storing electrical representations of the audio messages; and

a clocking/control circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking/control circuit;

wherein an audio message associated with a particular one of the one or more displayed pictures is played through the speaker in response to activation of one of the touch sensitive switches that is positioned correspondingly to the particular displayed picture.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a battery coupled to the voice storage circuit and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, audio message playback is disabled.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a control switch for disabling audio message playback.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a light sensor coupled to the frame, wherein an audio message is played through the speaker in response to a signal from the light sensor.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio message are stored in digital form.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

63. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a transparent covering over the one or more locations where the pictures may be positioned by a user.

64. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

65. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

66. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the audio message are stored in digital form.

67. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are positioned in one or more locations that correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures and are adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching the frame at the locations for displaying the one or more pictures;

a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture; and

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through the speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane switches.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a transparent covering over the one or more locations where the pictures may be positioned by a user.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

71. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

72. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog form.

73. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the touch sensitive switches is positioned correspondingly to each of the faces, wherein a picture is associated with each of the plurality of faces, wherein a portion of the transparent covering is located over each of the faces, wherein an audio message associated with a particular face is played back in response to touching of the transparent covering at a location above the particular face.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the audio storage circuit is positioned in the interior portion of the frame, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

75. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

76. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the frame displays at least a first picture, wherein a plurality of audio messages are associated with the first picture, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the first picture are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the first picture.

77. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are positioned in one or more locations that correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures and are adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching the frame at the locations for displaying the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein the frame is of a geometric shape having an interior and a plurality of faces, wherein one of the faces includes a clock having an alarm, wherein the alarm initiates playback of a message corresponding to the alarm.

78. A picture display apparatus adapted for receiving and displaying one or more pictures to be inserted by a user and for playing one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures, comprising:

a frame adapted for displaying one or more pictures and having one or more locations for displaying the pictures;

an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the one or more audio messages associated with the one or more pictures;

a microphone coupled to the audio storage circuit for input of electrical representations of the one or more audio messages;

one or more touch sensitive switches coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches are positioned in one or more locations that correspond to particular pictures of the one or more pictures and are adapted so that the one or more touch sensitive switches are activated by touching the frame at the locations for displaying the one or more pictures; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the one or more audio messages, wherein the audio message associated with a particular picture is played through the speaker in response to activation of a switch corresponding to the particular picture;

wherein at least one of the faces has a plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the at least one face are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one face.

79. A picture display apparatus adapted for and displaying at least one picture of a person and playing back at least one audio message associated with the person, comprising:

a frame adapted to display the at least one picture and having at least one location for displaying the at least one picture;

an audio storage circuit, wherein the audio storage circuit stores electrical representations of the at least one audio messages associated with the person, wherein the electrical representations of the at least one audio message are input to the audio storage circuit via an input port;

a clocking circuit coupled to the audio storage circuit, wherein audio messages are played through a speaker in response to signals from the clocking circuit;

at least one touch sensitive switch coupled to the audio storage circuit for initiating the playing of audio messages stored in the audio storage circuit; and

a speaker coupled to the audio storage circuit for playing the at least one audio message, wherein the at least one audio message associated with the person is played through the speaker in response to activation of one of the at least one touch sensitive switch corresponding to the particular picture while the picture of the person is viewable.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the audio message comprises the voice of the person.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the at least one touch sensitive switch comprises a capacitive or membrane switch.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising a battery and a control circuit, wherein, if a low battery condition is detected by the control circuit, message playback is disabled.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, further comprising a control switch for disabling message playback.

84. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the audio messages are stored in analog or digital form.

85. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the audio storage circuit comprises one or more analog storage devices.

86. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein a plurality of audio messages associated with the person are stored in the audio storage circuit, wherein the plurality of audio messages associated with the person are scrolled in response to multiple touchings of the at least one touch sensitive switch.