Audio signal reproducing apparatus with semiconductor memory storing coded digital audio data and including a headphone unit

• US 5,930,758 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishiguchi, Masayuki, Fujiwara, Yoshihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Application Number:
  US08/887,417
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 704/201, 704/204, 704/500, 704/501, 704/502, 704/503, 704/504, 704/212, 704/270, 704/278, 704/200
• US Class Current: 704/500
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A small-sized audio signal reproducing apparatus for hearing reproduced audio signals with the aid of a headphone, wherein digitized and compression encoded audio signals, stored in a semiconductor memory, are read out so as to undergo a decoding operation, which is an inverse operation to compression encoding, to reproduce the audio signals, and the reproduced signals are heard by the headphone. The apparatus may be significantly reduced in size and weight as compared to the apparatus in which a tape or a disk is used as the recording medium.

Claims

1. A portable audio signal reproducing apparatus, comprising:

a memory unit for storing a plurality of music data portions and including at least one semiconductor memory having stored therein high-efficiency compression encoded audio data making up said music data portions, said semiconductor memory having a capacity for storing a predetermined amount of said audio data resulting in at least fifteen minutes of an analog signal;

a decoder for decoding said audio data read out from said memory unit and producing a decoded output signal;

a digital/analog converter for converting the decoded output signal from said decoder into said analog signal;

a headphone unit receiving said analog signal from said digital/analog converter and for producing acoustic sounds therefrom; and

an input unit including a plurality of user operated keys, wherein one of said music data portions is read out from said memory unit in response to operation of one of said keys of said input unit.

2. The audio signal reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a housing unit for housing therein said memory unit, said decoder, and said digital/analog convertor and having said input unit arranged thereon.

3. The audio signal reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said memory unit is removably housed in said housing unit.

4. The audio signal reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising electrical connecting means for electrically connecting said headphone unit and said housing unit.