Education and demonstration – Cathode ray screen display and audio means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-10
2001-12-11
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Cathode ray screen display and audio means
C434S309000, C434S318000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328570
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to music reproduction, and more specifically to a portable karaoke unit for playing music while displaying corresponding graphics and lyrics.
Karaoke singing has become a popular activity across many segments of society. A so-called karaoke unit reproduces music from popular songs and allows users to sing along into a microphone and mix their voices with the music. To prompt the singers, the karaoke unit displays the lyrics to the song on a screen. The lyrics will often be highlighted or otherwise give cues to the singers as to when each word of the lyrics is to be sung. Graphic or video images may also be displayed along with the lyrics.
Existing karaoke units have been somewhat limited in their operation. For example, existing systems store data on only one type of storage medium, either a memory integrated in the unit or one that is removable from the unit. Further, the data on the media was not programmable by the user, so users were limited in their options for obtaining and altering song and program data on the storage medium.
Due to the nature of karaoke systems, portability is a key element for their usefulness to users. In the past, systems have been large and bulky. While sometimes it is convenient to use large, high quality peripheral equipment such as displays and amplification systems, other times it is more desirable to have a unit that is easy to carry about without cables and external equipment.
In general, it is desirable to provide a karaoke machine that is flexible in the manner in which it may be used. Accordingly, a portable karaoke unit that does not have the limitations of existing systems is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a portable karaoke unit that is more flexible than existing systems. It may operate as a portable unit, or be coupled to conventional external equipment.
In an embodiment of the present invention, song and program data may be stored and retrieved from different sources including an integrated memory and removable storage mediums. The karaoke unit reads the data from either type of media and converts it to audio and visual signals. The visual signals may be displayed on either an integrated internal display, or on an external display. The visual signals may include graphic images stored in the storage medium, or video images from an external source. Audio signals may be output over conventional means such as speakers or headsets, or transmitted wirelessly over radio frequencies. The karaoke unit may be controlled either by a portable keypad built into the unit, or by a remote control device.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the removable storage medium is programmable, so that users may program new data or edit existing data on the removable storage medium. Data can be downloaded from a variety of sources such as personal computers and the Internet for storage on the removable storage medium. Music data may be stored in compressed format, such as MIDI data which is widely used in the industry for storing and manipulating musical data. Other compression formats such as LZW or other formats may also be used.
In another embodiment, program data such as game programs may be stored on the internal memory or on the removable storage medium. Control of the karaoke unit's processor is transferred to the program according to a user's commands.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference designations represent like features throughout the figures.
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Cyberinc Pte Ltd.
Harris Chanda
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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