Solid state audio system

• US 6,327,633 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Chawla, Deepak K., Shelby, Kevin Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US09/220,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 710/62, 369/2, 235/492, 235/486
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/60 Solid state media
• 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

Abstract

A solid state audio system provides audio signals when played in an audio cassette player. The audio system is provided in a casing having the same size as a standard audio cassette tape and includes an audio tape, a sensing mechanism providing signals indicating a speed and a direction of travel of the audio tape, a processor coupled to the sensing mechanism and a memory card coupled to the processor and storing digitized audio information. The audio system also includes an audio transfer system coupled to the processor and magnetically coupled to the audio tape for transferring audio signals onto the tape corresponding to the digitized audio information. A solid state audio player is also provided that includes a memory card having digitized audio information stored thereon, a processor coupled to the memory card, a D/A converter coupled to the memory card and the processor. The D/A converter outputs an analog audio signal. The player also includes a plurality of control inputs, the control inputs are selectable for placing the audio player in one of several states. A selected portion of the digitized audio information is output to the D/A converter in response to the state of the player.

Claims

1. A solid state audio system for providing audio signals when played in an audio cassette player, the audio system comprising:

an audio tape;

a sensing mechanism providing signals indicating a speed and a direction of travel of the audio tape;

a processor coupled to the sensing mechanism;

a memory card coupled to the processor and storing digitized audio information; and

an audio transfer system coupled to the processor and magnetically coupled to the audio tape for transferring audio signals onto the tape corresponding to digitized audio information from said memory card selected by said processor in response to signals from said sensing mechanism.

2. The audio system of claim 1 wherein said audio transfer system comprises an audio recording system.

3. The audio system of claim 2 wherein said sensing mechanism comprises an optical sensing mechanism.

4. The audio sensing mechanism of claim 3 wherein said optical sensing mechanism comprises a pattern provided on the audio tape, a LED, and an optical sensor.

5.The audio system of claim 1 wherein said memory card comprises a flash memory card.

5. The audio system of claim 1 and further comprising a battery coupled to the processor, the memory card and the audio transfer system.

6. The audio system of claim 1 wherein said transfer system comprises:

a D/A converter;

an audio encoder coupled to the D/A converter; and

a tape recorder.

7. The audio system of claim 1 and further comprising a power generator.

8. The audio system of claim 1 and further comprising a connector for receiving a DC power supply.

9. The solid state audio system of claim 1 wherein the audio signals transferred onto the tape are analog audio signals.

10. A method of playing digitized audio information on an audio cassette player, comprising the steps of:

storing digitized audio information in a memory;

detecting a state of the cassette player;

calculating an updated memory location based on the detected state of the cassette player;

transferring the audio information beginning from the updated memory location onto an audio tape to be played on the audio cassette player.

11. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of detecting comprises the steps of detecting at least one of a speed and a direction of travel of the audio tape.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of detecting comprises the step of detecting at least one of a stop, play, fast forward and reverse states based on at least one of a speed and a direction of travel of the audio tape.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of calculating an updated memory location comprises the step of calculating an updated memory location based on a period of time the cassette player is in one of the detected states.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of calculating an updated memory location comprises the step of calculating an updated memory location based on a speed and a direction of travel and a length of time.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of calculating comprises the step of calculating an updated memory location after the player is in a stopped state.

17. The method of claim 11 and further comprising the step of converting the digitized audio information to an analog audio information.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of transferring comprises the step of recording the digitized audio information in a digital format onto an audio tape beginning from the updated memory location.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the audio information is transferred onto the audio tape in analog form.

15. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of calculating an updated memory location comprises the step of calculating an updated memory location based on a length the audio tape has traveled.

18. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of transferring comprises the step of recording the analog audio information onto the tape based on the digitized audio information stored beginning from the updated memory location.

21. A solid state audio player comprising:

a memory card having digitized audio information stored thereon;

a processor coupled to the memory card;

a D/A converter coupled to the memory card and the processor, the D/A converter outputting an analog audio signal;

a plurality of control inputs, the control inputs selectable for placing the audio player in one of several states;

a control circuit coupled to the control inputs and outputting a signal to the processor corresponding to a selected one of the control inputs;

the processor causing a selected portion of the digitized audio information to be output to the D/A converter in response to the signal received from the control circuit.

22. The solid state audio player of claim 22 and further comprising an amplifier coupled to the D/A converter and outputting an amplified audio signal.

23. The solid state audio player of claim 22 and further comprising one or more speakers coupled to an output of the D/A converter.

24. The solid state audio player of claim 22 wherein the control inputs comprise one or more of a stop input, a play input, a fast forward input and a reverse input.