Image with sound playback apparatus

Photography – With data recording

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C396S312000, C396S315000, C396S321000, C235S439000, C235S454000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06229964

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to apparatus for playing pre-recorded audio segments associated with a viewed image and, more particularly, to apparatus for associating printed, encoded identification data on an image with a corresponding sound bite for retrieval of that sound bite for playback purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Photographs have been and continue to be a popular means for capturing and storing visual images. However, conventional cameras are somewhat limited in terms of the features they offer, especially with the advent of video cameras that allow for simultaneously capturing both visual images and sound recordings. Many people still prefer photographs to moving pictures, but wish to simultaneously record sound bites along with photographs, and to be able to retrieve and play the appropriate sound bite when viewing a particular photograph to therefore enjoy both visual and aural stimulation.
In commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/705,350 to Patton et al., filed Aug. 29, 1996, there is described an arrangement for creating image prints having sound icons printed on or attached to the face of the print. The icon identifies the image to the viewer as one having sound recorded in association with the print and contains a code that provides a pointer that can be associated with an address to a sound memory location for accessing the corresponding sound data file for playback purposes.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,700 and 5,313,235, both assigned to Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, describe a system for recording sound bites in a photographic camera in association with taking a picture and forming an image in the form of a longitudinal bar code on the resulting image print. The bar code contains a code identifying a corresponding sound memory card and an address on the card for identifying the memory location at which the corresponding sound data is stored for that particular picture. The use of a tethered wand-type bar code reader is disclosed as the means for reading the bar code on the image print to identify the memory address so that the corresponding sound data may be retrieved and played back. Such an arrangement requires a steady hand to guide the wand accurately across the longitudinal bar code to correctly read the code. Furthermore, because photo finishers typically do not print the edges of negatives, such a system requires that a relatively large and unsightly bar code be placed into the printed image area, thereby detracting from the available area for the image itself.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,996, assigned to Casio, discloses a camera system that captures and records sound bites as well as capturing visual images. The system disclosed teaches that the sound bites captured by the camera are converted into digital data, and then imprinted directly on the negative in the form of a bar code. Thus, this system also requires that the bar code be placed into the printed image area. In addition, in order to play back the sound bite, a steady hand must accurately guide a bar code reader across the bar code on the image.
Thus, it will be apparent that there continues to be a need for an apparatus for reliably and efficiently reading encoded identification data on a printed image in order to accurately retrieve the corresponding sound data from a location in memory. The instant invention addresses these needs and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention comprises an icon reader working in concert with an icon formed on an image to accurately and conveniently read the code contained in the icon while the icon reader remains stationary relative to the icon. Thus steady hand motion is not a concern, as there is no need to displace the icon reader relative to the icon in order to read the code contained in the icon. The code comprises picture ID data and is decoded to link the image with a corresponding sound bite contained in a sound data file, which is played back in a sound playback apparatus.
Thus, in one preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises: an optical data reader module having an optical area substantially corresponding with that of the icon for alignment over the icon, the module being operative to optically illuminate and sense encoded data from the icon. In another embodiment, a decoder device is provided and decodes the sensed data which represents picture ID data, and discerns the corresponding sound data file associated with the identified picture.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a data reader in the form of a wand comprising an optical data reader module, a decoder, and a data port to which is connected a sound IC card. Thus the invention provides a self-contained unit, with the data reader module sensing the encoded data, the decoder decoding the sensed data, and the sound IC card providing the corresponding sound bite for playback thereof.
In still another embodiment, the present invention includes a transmission module in place of the sound IC card for remote communication with an archive unit that stores plural sound IC cards or chips.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1
a
and
1
b
show an image print with a sound icon located on the print, and an icon reader embodying one aspect of the present invention being positioned over the icon for reading the identification data contained in the icon;
FIGS. 2
a
and
2
b
are full and partial schematic illustrations of a sound icon containing encoded picture identification data;
FIG. 3
is a side view of the icon reader of the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a schematic illustration of an LCD mask comprising one component of a data reader module of the icon reader of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a schematic illustration of the data reader module incorporated in the icon reader of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 6
is a block diagram of the electronic components of the icon reader of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 7
is a flow chart diagram illustrating the operational flow of the icon reader of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 8
is a schematic illustration of a sound playback system in communication with the icon reader of
FIG. 3
which is used to access sound data stored in a separate playback unit;
FIG. 9
is a plan view of a sound chip archive board incorporated in one embodiment of the playback system of
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a block diagram of the electronic components included in one embodiment of the sound playback apparatus of
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 11
is a flow chart diagram depicting the operational flow of the playback apparatus embodiment of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 12
is a block diagram of the electronic components included in a second embodiment of the playback apparatus of
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 13
is a flow chart diagram depicting the operational flow of the playback apparatus embodiment of
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 14
illustrates a file storage architecture including an association table which links picture identification data to sound bite file addresses; and
FIG. 15
is a portion of an APS photographic film strip on which identification data is magnetically recorded in a data track adjacent image frames for which sound has been recorded in association with capture of the image.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3585367 (1971-06-01), Humbarger
patent: 3643068 (1972-02-01), Mohan et al.
patent: 3743820 (1973-07-01), Willits et al.
patent: 3770942 (1973-11-01), McMurtry
patent: 4375058 (1983-02-01), Bouma et al.
patent: 4983996 (1991-01-01), Kinoshita
patent: 5128700 (1992-07-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5313235 (1994-05-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5359698 (1994-10-01), Goldberg et al.
patent: 5451178 (1995-09-01), Yorozu et al.
patent: 5757468 (1998-05-01), Patton et al.
patent: 5814803 (1998-09-01), Olmstead et al.

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