Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Automatic control of a recorder mechanism – Controlling the record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-28
2001-05-22
Sniezek, Andrew L. (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Automatic control of a recorder mechanism
Controlling the record
C360S073040, C360S073120, C360S073140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236526
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to players for magnetic tapes having audio information recorded thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of audio recording and playback devices have been developed. The most popular of these uses a small magnetic tape cassette. Audio information, such as music and speech, can be recorded on the tape and played back in any corresponding playback unit. Many such units have both recording and playback capability. To record these cassettes, the tape is fed past a recording head at a constant standard tape speed, conventionally 1⅞ inches per second. The tape can then be played back on any standard speed unit that can feed the tape past a pickup head at that speed.
In addition to their general entertainment value, such tape playback units are of great use in providing information, such as recorded books and the like, to persons who are blind or illiterate. In a particularly advantageous application, the Bible or other appropriate literature can be recorded on tape and provided with a player to church members and prospective converts by churches and missionaries. Many of the new converts are in remote locations, with no literature and no trained pastors. Often these people are illiterate or, though literate, have a preference for hearing rather than reading Scripture.
The use of conventional tape players by these persons has not been fully effective. Conventional tape players are relatively expensive and provide capabilities not necessary for these purposes. Further, the internal components of these players are open when the tape is being changed and they have openings for rotary volume controls and the like. Water, dirt and other contaminants may easily enter and damage the unit. Also, since conventional tape players can play all standard speed tape cassettes, the players may be stolen from a person who only wishes to listen to the spoken Bible and used to play general, usually music, cassettes.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improved audio playback systems for use with recordings of the Bible and similar literature that is sturdy, low cost, entirely enclosed and self-contained, sealed against non-destructive opening and that uses standard tape cassettes while preventing the play of cassettes recorded in the normal manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-noted problems, and others, are overcome in accordance with this invention by an audio tape playback unit which comprises a sealed audio cassette player for playing a single cassette, which basically includes an audio tape entrained between two reels mounted on spindles within a cassette, drive motor means for driving at least one tape spindle at a variable speed to move the tape onto the reel on that spindle, a playback head engaging the tape between the reels and an audio output means, typically an audio amplifier and speaker, for producing sounds corresponding to the playback head signal.
In one embodiment, a variable speed drive motor drives the take up spindle, with a microprocessor varying the tape linear speed at a very low rate to significantly increase the amount of spoken information that can be recorded on a conventional tape cassette.
In an alternative embodiment, the linear tape speed can be allowed to vary with the varying speed being the same for recording and playback. Since a conventional tape linear speed controller (generally a capstan and pinch roller), need not be used the actual linear tape speed can vary during playback in accordance of the amount of tape already wound on the take up reel.
Thus, in either case the tape player of this invention cannot play conventional cassette tapes that are recorded with a constant tape linear speed rather than constant reel rotational take-up speed or are intended to use tapes recorded at a higher linear speed. This removes all incentive to open the player (which would lead to rapid contamination and failure of the player in the field) or for others to steal the player from the owner.
While the speed match between the recording and playback as controlled by the motor controller circuit is generally very good, a manual speed control is preferably included to permit slight changes in the take up reel speed to tune the sound for maximum clarity. Generally, very slight variations in take up speed will be fully understandable, only the speakers voice pitch will change slightly. Generally, blind persons prefer to listen at a faster speed. A volume control is also preferably included.
While the embodiment using a constant (subject to slight adjustments) take-up spindle speed with varying tape linear speed is simple, reliable and inexpensive, in order to increase the amount of material recorded on a given tape, if desired, the motor driving the take-up spindle can be controlled to provide a constant slow tape linear speed. Conventional frequency electronic indicia are provided along the tape, to be read by a head and used to vary the motor speed to provide a substantially constant linear speed corrected for the accumulation of tape on the take-up reel.
Preferably, the player is powered by rechargeable batteries with a small solar panel mounted on the player to recharge them. People then will be able to listen to the “audio book” tape while walking, bicycling, etc. Also, the player will be fully useable on farms or small villages there may be no outside power available. However, an external power source jack is preferably included for circumstances where outside power is available.
The tape linear feed rate is preferably less than about 25% of the normal 1⅞ inches per second rate, or less than about ½ inch per second. For maximum recording with excellent playback quality, average tape linear speeds in the about 0.2 to 0.5 inch per second are used. For voice, this low speed provides very good fidelity and greatly increases the recording capability of a conventional cassette. While any suitable number of tracks may be provided on the tape, best results have been obtained with four. With the preferred speed and number of tracks, an entire spoken Bible can be included on a single cassette. All of the four tracks are recorded in one direction, with high speed rewind capability provided to return the tape to the beginning.
Any suitable conventional magnetic indicia may be included along the tape to indicate the page of text being read. Also, conventional frequency indicia are desirable for use in controlling tape speed, where desired. Such page or frame identification is conventionally included with video tapes and the like. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is preferably included housing to indicate the page being heard. A suitable number of push buttons for the number of tracks stored on the tape, e.g., four buttons for four tracks, are preferably included on the housing. Each button corresponds to one of the tracks being played. Thus, the first of four buttons is pressed when the first track is desired. Each of the other tracks is similarly selected by pushing its respective button. Alternately, one button may set the track (from 1 to 4) by pushing the button the number of times equal to the track number desired and the other three buttons may combine to select any page on that track up to 999.
Fast forward and fast reverse buttons are also preferably included so that the user can move quickly forward or back to a desired page number, as shown on the LCD display. This is particularly convenient in allowing the user to move back a few pages to hear a passage again.
The housing should be well sealed against moisture, dust and the like, since the player is likely to be used in less than ideal conditions. The housing can typically be sealed together with any suitable adhesive. The various push buttons are preferably of the type having a soft rubber body sealed to the player housing. Wheel type controls, such as for volume and take up spindle speed adjustment are preferably contained in sealed wells, with only the wheel shaft extending into the housing through a close fitting bearing.
REFERENCES:
patent:
Hoekstra Harvey
Hoekstra Mark
Harms Donn K.
Sniezek Andrew L.
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