Solid state audio system

Details Solid state audio system Solid state audio system

1998-12-28

2001-12-04

Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)

Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/

Input/output data processing

Peripheral adapting

C369S002000, C235S492000, C235S486000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06327633

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of cassette tape players, and more particularly, to solid state cassette tape players.
Current audio cassette tapes allow prerecorded audio information to be replayed using a standard audio cassette tape player. Standard cassette tape players are used in automobiles, home stereo systems, etc. Due to physical space limitations, however, standard audio tapes can only store and play approximately 60-90 minutes of audio information. In contrast, computer memories can store large amounts of digital information and can be easily reprogrammed or updated with new information. In addition, standard magnetic audio tapes are subject to distortion due to unwanted magnetization of the audio tape. Moreover, current audio cassette tape systems or stereos do not allow for high capacity memories to provide recorded audio or music information.
As a result, there is a need for an improved cassette tape or audio system that allows music or audio information stored on a computer memory to be played or output on standard audio cassette tape players. In addition, there is a need for a tape player that can store and output audio signals without using magnetic recording media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A solid state audio system is provided which addresses some of the drawbacks of the prior art. The solid state audio system is provided in a casing that is approximately the same size as a standard audio cassette tape. The audio system provides or outputs audio signals when played in an audio cassette player, and includes an audio tape, a sensing mechanism providing signals indicating a speed and a direction of travel of the audio tape, a processor coupled to the sensing mechanism and a memory card coupled to the processor and storing digitized audio information. The audio system also includes an audio transfer (or recording) system coupled to the processor and magnetically coupled to the audio tape for transferring audio signals onto the tape corresponding to the digitized audio information in response to signals from the processor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, digitized audio information is played using an audio cassette player, and includes the steps of storing digitized audio information in a memory, detecting a state of the cassette player, calculating an updated memory location based on the detected state of the cassette player and transferring the digitized audio information beginning from the updated memory location onto an audio tape to be played on the audio cassette player.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a solid state audio player is provided that includes a memory card having digitized audio information stored thereon, a processor coupled to the memory card, a D/A converter coupled to the memory card and the processor. The D/A converter outputs an analog audio signal. The player also includes a plurality of control inputs, the control inputs selectable for placing the audio player in one of several states and a control circuit coupled to the control inputs and outputting a signal to the processor corresponding to a selected one of the control inputs. The processor causes a selected portion of the digitized audio information to be output to the D/A converter in response to the signal received from the control circuit.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5159182 (1992-10-01), Eisele
patent: 5790423 (1998-08-01), Lau et al.
patent: 5822145 (1998-10-01), Nishida et al.
patent: 6039260 (2000-03-01), Eisele
patent: 6061306 (2000-05-01), Buchheim
patent: 6089459 (2000-07-01), Eisele et al.

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