Audio recording system and method of use

• US 6,718,013 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voicecards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Voicecards Incorporated
• Inventors: Turner, Gerry, Morrison, R. Al
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Ming
• Application Number:
  US09/969,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.28, 379/71, 379/88.07, 379/357, 379/355, 379/91, 401/240.1, 404/55
• US Class Current: 379/88.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form

Abstract

An audio message recording and playback system including a recorder-imprinter device, a self-contained voice module for playback of an audio message and a number of input devices for initially recording the audio message to the recorder-imprinter device.

Claims

1. A recording and playback apparatus comprising:

a recorder-imprinter device including a housing formed with a port of a predetermined configuration and an electrical receptacle in said port;

a storage device in said housing for receiving and storing an audio message, and a microprocessor in circuit with said electrical receptacle and said storage device and operative in response to said stored audio message to generate an analog signal;

a voice module including a casing configured to be complementally received in said port and including a contact for removably engaging said electrical receptacle to receive said analog signal, said module further including a chip having a solid state memory for receipt and storage of said analog signal, a power supply in circuit with said chip, a switch interposed between said power supply and said chip, a timer in circuit with the power supply and chip to regulate power draw, a manual actuator interposed between said casing and said switch for closing said switch, a speaker connected with said chip and operable in response to said analog signal to generate an audio signal to propagate to a listener.

2. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1 that further includes:

a greeting card configured with a lightweight core and formed with a pocket for removable receipt of said module.

3. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said casing is further configured with a diagonally cut corner; and

said pocket is formed with a diagonal wall configured to complementally engage said diagonally cut corner to orient said module in said greeting card.

4. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said card is further configured with a peel-off adhesive backing for attachment to an item to be delivered to said listener.

5. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1 that further includes:

a gift configured with a pocket for removable receipt of said module.

6. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said casing is further configured with a pattern of holes adjacent said speaker to facilitate transmission of said audio signal from said speaker to said listener.

7. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said port is formed in one wall with a first indexer;

said casing is configured with a second indexer configured and oriented to be, when said casing is placed in said port in the desired orientation, complementally engaged with said first indexer.

8. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a telephone interface circuit in circuit with said microprocessor; and

a telephone jack is configured in circuit with said telephone interface circuit with said recorder-imprinter with a telephone network.

9. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes an automatic gain control device interposed between said telephone jack and said microprocessor.

10. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said microprocessor includes instructions for operational modes thereof; and

said recorder-imprinter further includes a keypad on said housing including selection buttons and a display device coupled with said microprocessor and operative upon activation of said buttons to actuate said microprocessor in accordance with said instructions displayed on said display device.

11. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a serial interface comprising connecting means for linking said microprocessor to a personal computer to transmit data therebetween.

12. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a COM port.

13. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a USB port.

14. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a digital-to-analog converter is in circuit between said microprocessor and said electrical receptacle to convert said audio message to analog format for storage in said chip of said voice chip of said voice module.

15. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said port is formed in one wall with a first indexer;

said casing is configured with a second indexer configured and oriented to be, when said casing is placed in said port in the desired orientation, complementally engaged with said first indexer.

16. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a telephone interface circuit in circuit with said microprocessor; and

a telephone jack is configured in circuit with said telephone interface circuit for connecting said recorder-imprinter with a telephone network.

17. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said recorder-imprinter further includes a serial interface comprising connecting means for linking said microprocessor to a personal computer to transmit data therebetween.

18. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a COM port.

19. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said connecting means comprises a USB port.

20. The recording and playback apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

a digital-to-analog converter is in circuit between said microprocessor and said electrical receptacle to convert said audio message to analog format for storage in said chip of said voice module.