Compact portable audio/display electronic apparatus with interactive inquirable and inquisitorial interfacing

• US 5,914,707 A
• Filed: 05/31/1995
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kono, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/455,457
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/179, 345/169, 345/901, 345/902, 345/348, 345/349, 345/352, 345/354, 345/356, 345/357, 345/978, 364/705.06, 364/705.02, 364/705.03, 364/708.01, 434/178, 434/179, 434/307, 434/308, 434/322, 434/323
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2525 Magneto-optical [MO] discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/93 : Regeneration of the television signal or of selected parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 : Electronic book with display

Abstract

A compact size, portable audio/display electronic apparatus having a compact mass memory with the capability of entry of user originated inquirable and inquisitorial input relative to currently displayed information and the random access capability relative to the compact mass memory in retrieving data responsive to such input. The apparatus includes a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing data in the form of alphanumeric information, diagram graphics, animation graphics, music, voice and other audio reproducible material. The reproducing device is employed only for the reproduction of the data, retrieving means for only retrieving the data for reproduction on a random access basis. Further, the display and reproducing device is arranged in one compact housing for the synchronized reproduction of at least two kinds of such data, e.g., the display of information and the audio reproduction of information directly associated with the displayed information.

Claims

1. An interactive, audio-visual electronic apparatus comprising:

a compact portable casing held in one hand by a user and interactively operated with the other hand of a user,

a liquid crystal display supported on a surface of said casing having a viewing surface for display of groups of matrix arranged visually displayed elements as well as pictorial display of information,

digital processing means in said casing for writing and reading audio-visual data to and from a memory in response to user invoked input via a touch key input for pictorial display of said information concurrently with reproduced audio,

said touch key input comprising a transparent matrix formed over said viewing surface of said liquid crystal display, said matrix comprising a plurality of matrix arranged transparent touch keys in corresponding alignment with said matrix arranged visually displayed elements of said liquid crystal display,

each of said touch keys functionally operating as a first set of input keys to said digital processing means in conjunction with a first set of said matrix arranged visually displayed elements and each of said touch keys functionally operating as a second, different set of input keys to said digital processing means in conjunction with a second, different set of said matrix arranged visually displayed elements after selection of at least one of said touch keys functionally operating as said first set of input keys,

a compact mass memory contained within said casing comprising an optic storage medium for recording, storage and retrieval of audio/display digital data comprising a plurality of first data groups having a plurality of second data groups each of which is related to at least one of the first data groups, said second data groups comprising audio/visual data representations in response to an inquirable or inquisitorial query by a user through said transparent touch key input matrix relating to the plurality of first data groups, said inquirable query permitting a user relative to a particular application to inquire into a subject matter provided in said compact mass memory, said inquisitorial query permitting a user to search and examine data and interact with the displayed data via iconic representations to obtain additional displayed or audibly reproduced data,

said first set of said matrix arranged visually displayed elements being provided for selecting one of said plurality of first data groups via said digital processing means and said second set of said matrix arranged visually displayed elements being provided for selecting one of said plurality of second data groups via said digital processing means relating to the plurality of first data groups;

whereby when said touch keys are functionally operating as said second set of input keys, the second set of input keys operate in conjunction with said second set of matrix arranged visually displayed elements for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of said second data groups which comprise audio-visual representations.

2. An interactive, audio-visual electronic apparatus comprising:

a unitary, handheld casing having at least one substantially planar surface,

internally housed, removable optical storage means for storing a plurality of data groups in a random access format, each of said data groups comprising interrelated text, animation, audio and keymenu data,

a keypad for capturing user input, said keypad including a plurality of multifunctional, data specific keys programmable according to said keymenu data,

visual display means disposed on said enclosure surface for displaying at least one screen of text and animation data of a first selected data group retrieved from said optical storage means,

internally housed audio reproduction means for audibly reproducing audio data of said first selected data group synchronized to said at least one displayed screen of said first selected data group, and

an internally housed central system controller electronically coupled to said keypad, optical storage, visual display, and audio reproduction means for programming said data specific keys of said keypad in response to user input of a selection from said keymenu data of said first selected data group, retrieving a second selected data group, including interrelated text, animation, audio and keymenu data, in response to user input selection, and outputting said second selected data group data to said keypad, visual display and audio reproduction means,

wherein each of said plurality of data specific keys are on a touch sensitive matrix arranged transparent key pad and functionally operate as a first set of input keys in conjunction with said first selected data group and each of said plurality of data specific keys functionally operate as a second set of input keys in conjunction with said second selected data group.

3. A portable multimedia device, comprising:

a handheld casing housing an information processor and a mass storage unit in communication with said information processor, said mass storage unit including a medium storing multimedia data contextually arranged in a hierarchy defining a plurality of subject groups, the multimedia data comprising at least one of visual and audio data;

a display disposed on said casing and communicating with said information processor for displaying visual information to a user, the visual information including a plurality of interfacing icons;

an audio reproduction unit communicating with said information processor for reproducing audio information to the user; and

a transparent touch panel disposed on said display, said touch panel defining touch keys aligned with the interfacing icons, user activation of at least one of the touch keys causing said information processor to select one of the subject groups of the multimedia data hierarchy; and

subsequent user activation of at least one of the touch keys permits a user to inquirably and inquisitorily access multimedia data stored on the medium of said mass storage unit based on the selected one of the subject groups of the multimedia hierarchy and at least one of the visual information being displayed on said display and the audio information being reproduced by said audio reproduction unit, said inquirable query permitting a user relative to a particular application to inquire into a subject matter provided in said compact mass memory, said inquisitorial query permitting a user to search and examine data and interact with the displayed data via iconic representations to obtain additional displayed or audibly reproduced data.