Abstract:
Disclosed is an automotive CD player/receiver with an integrated digital recorder that improves over conventional digital audio playback devices commonly found in automobiles and the like. The present invention improves;over conventional car audio technology by providing an otherwise conventional CD player for automotive use with a built-in magnetic media hard drive of a capacity sufficient to store the music of several CDs. By storing a variety of chosen individual songs or entire CDs on hard drive they are ready for instant playback, eliminating the need to carry several CDs and their cases, while still allowing the users to have their favorite songs at their fingertips.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to audio systems, and more specifically to an audio component with an integrated digital recording and storage media. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Audio recording and playback for use both in homes and automobiles is a constantly evolving technology wherein new products are being introduced and existing products are being improved upon in order to achieve a high quality sound. Manufacturers of these audio components continually add to the long list of features and functionality of the components in order to set their products above the rest. 
     The arrival of digital recording and playback technology has revolutionized this industry, combining the fields of sound amplification and acoustics with computer electronics. As a result, a high degree of audio clarity and quality can be achieved at a relatively low cost, incorporating the virtually unending functionality that modern micro-processing electronics offer. As a result of these significant advancements in the field, competition among the producers of this type of equipment is fierce as consumers demand cutting edge technology for their money. One of the products resulting from this customer demand are the CD changers wherein several compact discs are inserted and selectively played over the audio system. In an automobile scenario, typically mounted in the trunk, beneath the seat or in the glove compartment, these systems can be burdensome to use because the user must select the few favorite CD&#39;s he or she wishes to use, must access a remote location to access the changer and, depending upon the system, memorize or otherwise record the identity of the particular discs currently in the changer. Furthermore, the user may have a favorite song or track from a CD in which the remaining songs do not suit his or her taste, but nevertheless must include the entire disc if access to that song is desired. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which an audio system can provide access to both the user&#39;s favorite CD&#39;s and track selections that is easy to use and access and that eliminates the burdens associated with the use of conventional CD changers. The present invention fulfills this need. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, several references are directed to digital audio recording means incorporating a variety of storage mediums including hard drives, magnetic tapes, and optical disks and the like. None of these disclosures, however, disclose any incorporation of these devices in a home or automotive audio CD player or audio system and, as such, they neither anticipate nor disclose any embodiment that would negate the novelty of, or make obvious the utilitarian functionality of the present invention. 
     Several patents disclose digital recording methods and apparatuses used to convert audio signals from analog and digital formats and store them on magnetic media such as hard discs: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,378 issued in the name of Miyake; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,466 issued in the name of Fisher et. al.; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,779 issued in the name of lizuka; and 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,352 issued in the name of lizuka. 
     All of these disclosures are directed solely to the methods involved in data compression, transfer and conversion required to store an audio signal in a digital format and methods by which to tag individual tracks for identification and location purposes. Although the main feature of these devices is the ability to provide instantaneous selection and access to a variety of digitally recorded tracks, the purpose demonstrated by these disclosures is that of simplifying the procedures involved in editing the audio data, particularly in professional recording applications and environments. None of these disclosures, however, identify or anticipate incorporation of these methods and devices into recording and playback apparatuses intended for consumer level use in either homes or automobiles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,509 issued in the name of Knowles, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,350 issued in the name of Frank et. al., disclose audio/visual jukebox type devices that incorporate the use of magnetic mass storage media to store a variety of audio tracks and accompanying video signals for selective playback by the user. 
     The Knowles patent describes a audio/video jukebox having an interactive touch-screen menu in which the user can select a music video to sing along with karaoke-style. The Frank et al. patent discloses an audio/video jukebox system wherein a centralized storage unit distributes music videos to a variety of remotely located video screen/speaker arrangements. Intended primarily for entertainment purposes at the individual tables of restaurants and the like, the system allows patrons to select the tracks desired to be listened to at individual tables rather than relying on the selections of all of the patrons as a whole as is the case where a single jukebox services the entire location. While these disclosures do describe magnetic media recording for selective playback in a consumer entertainment environment, none of these disclosures identify or anticipate incorporation of these methods and devices into recording and playback apparatuses intended for consumer level use in either homes or automobiles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,593 issued in the name of Kanai et. al. discloses a method and apparatus that incorporated the use of a magnetic hard drive storage device to allow for level adjustments when converting audio signals from one format to another in a recording environment. The disclosure fails to identify or anticipate incorporation of these methods and devices into recording and playback apparatuses intended for consumer level use in either homes or automobiles. 
     While several features exhibited within these references may be incorporated into this invention, alone and in combination with other elements, the present invention is sufficiently different so as to make it distinguishable over the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention consists of an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media that improves over conventional digital audio playback devices. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention improves over conventional car audio technology by providing an otherwise conventional CD player for automotive use with a built-in magnetic media hard drive of a capacity sufficient to store the music of several CDs. The device includes the same user-friendly interface that is typical of other modern electronic audio components that make it easy for him/her to record the individual songs or CDs of choice. The user simply stores the chosen individual songs or entire CDs on hard drive and they are ready for playback. Use of the present invention eliminates the need to carry several CDs and their cases, while still allowing the users to have their favorite songs at their fingertips. Alternative embodiments of the present invention anticipate the use of such a digital recording and storage media system in a home environment and in various configurations that include totally integrated CD, AM/FM receiver, amplifiers and loudspeakers as well as a stand alone component for use in conjunction with separate audio components. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media in which the use of a magnetic media hard drive allows for customized storage of several digital audio tracks recorded from CDs inserted into the CD player portion of the device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media in which the use of a magnetic media hard-drive allows for customized storage of several digital audio tracks recorded from receiver portion of the device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media in which the capacity of the hard drive is equivalent to that of several conventional audio CDs. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media in which the user can program information associated with each track in order to identify the track title, artist, album title, and any other information deemed necessary by the user. 
     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media in which a variety of features found on conventional CD players, such as random play, repeat and sample modes, are available for the enhancement of user&#39;s listening pleasure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the major electronic components incorporated into the audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 Audio Digital Recorder 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 CD/receiver Section 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 Amplification Section 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 Controller Section 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 Recorder Section 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 Display Section 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 Microprocessor 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 CPU 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 RAM 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 ROM 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 System Clock 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 Pushbutton Inputs 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 CD Player 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 CD Control Commands 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 CD Status And Data Feedback 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 CD Digital Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 CD Digital To Analog Converter 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 CD Analog Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 AM/FM Receiver 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 AM/FM Control Commands 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 AM/FM Analog Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 AM/FM Analog To Digital 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Converter 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 AM/FM Digital Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 Hard Drive Digital To Analog 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Converter 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 Hard Drive Digital Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 Hard Drive Analog Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 Pre Amplifier 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 Conditioned Analog Signal 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 Amplifier 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 Amplified Audio Signal 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 Loudspeakers 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 Display Driver 
               
               
                   
                 61 
                 Display Signal 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 LCD Signal 
               
               
                   
                 63 
                 LCD Display 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 Hard Drive Controller 
               
               
                   
                 71 
                 Data And Control Signals 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 Data Signals 
               
               
                   
                 73 
                 Read Data 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 Write Data 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 Hard Drive 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, depicted are the major electronic components incorporated into the audio system component with an integrated digital recorder and storage media, hereinafter audio digital recorder  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The audio digital recorder  10  consists generally of a CD/receiver section  11 , an amplification section  12 , a controller section  13 , a recorder section  14  and a display section  15 . The preferred embodiment depicts these components in an integrated state contained within a single audio component, although it is envisioned that a separate recording and storage media component for use with individual CD, receiver, and amplification components would be equally desirable. Therefore, the description hereinbelow is meant in no way to preclude such an embodiment. 
     The controller section  13  consists of a microprocessor  16  that includes a central processing unit, hereinafter CPU  17 , random access memory, hereinafter RAM  18 , non-volatile read-only memory, hereinafter ROM  19  and a system clock  20 . The microprocessor  16  coordinates the operation of the various components in the CD/receiver section  11 , amplification section  12 , recorder section  14  and display section  15  and controls the flow of data therein between. Source code stored in ROM  19  contains the various commands required to perform the functions requested by the user via pushbutton inputs  22  located on the control panel (not shown) of the audio digital recorder  10 . The commands are carried out by the CPU  17  using RAM  18  as a memory buffer in which to temporarily store processing information. 
     The CD/receiver section  11  is similar in nature to that of CD player and AM/FM receiver combinations widely used in a variety of audio systems. A CD player  25  receives CD control commands  26  from and sends CD status and data feedback  27  to the microprocessor  16 . The CD player  25  reads digital audio recordings stored on an audio compact disc (not shown) and sends a CD digital audio signal  28  to a CD digital to analog converter  29 . The CD digital to analog converter  29  converts the CD digital audio signal  28  to a CD analog audio signal  30  that is sent to the amplifier section  12 . An AM/FM receiver  35  receives AM/FM control commands  36  from the microprocessor  16 . The AM/FM receiver  35  sends an AM/FM analog audio signal  37  to the amplifier section  12 . Unlike conventional systems, however, the CD/receiver section  11  includes an AM/FM analog to digital converter  40  that converts the AM/FM analog audio signal  37  to an AM/FM digital audio signal  41  that is sent to the microprocessor  16 . Finally, a hard drive digital to analog converter  45  receives a hard drive digital audio signal  46  from the digital recorder section  14  and converts it to an hard drive analog audio signal  47  that is sent to the amplifier section  12 . 
     The amplifier section  12  consists of a pre amplifier  50  that accepts the CD analog audio signal  30 , AM/FM analog audio signal  37  and hard drive analog audio signal  47 , applies signal conditioning in terms of bass, midrange, treble, balance and volume, as defined by the user via the pushbutton inputs  22  as interpreted by the microprocessor  13 . The pre amplifier  50  sends a conditioned analog signal  51  to an amplifier  52  that amplifies the conditioned analog audio signal  51 , creating an amplified audio signal  53  that is sent to the loudspeakers  54 . 
     The display section  15  consists of a display driver  60  that accepts a display signal  61  from the microprocessor  16  and converts it into an LCD signal  62  that drives the LCD display  63  located on the control panel (not shown). The display. section  15  is used to display information pertaining to the status of the audio digital recorder  10  including, but not limited to information such as CD track number, track time, radio stations, sound conditioning settings, recording information, etc. 
     The recorder section  14  includes a hard drive controller  70  that receives data and control signals  71  from and sends data signals  72  to the microprocessor  16 . The hard drive controller  70  interprets the hard drive control commands and data signals  71 , retrieving read data  73  from and submitting write data  74  to a hard drive  75 . In the preferred embodiment, the hard drive  75  consists of a magnetic media storage device, such as those used in personal computers, although a variety of storage media are equally suited. Incorporation of the recorder section  14  allows the user to record a number of CD track selections or entire CD&#39;s locally on the hard drive  75  for instantaneous playback, thus eliminating the need to constantly change CDs or purchase a separate CD changer. As conventional media storage devices are of a large capacity and knowing that a typical CD has a capacity of just over 1 billion bytes (1 gigabyte), depending on the data format and compression algorithms, hard drives of an 8-12 gigabyte capacity would be capable of storing in upwards of hundreds of song tracks of an average length. 
     2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
     In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 1, the audio digital recorder  10  functions similarly to conventional audio systems, especially those commonly found in automobiles, sin that CDs can be played via the CD player  25  and broadcast radio station signals can be played via the AM/FM receiver  35 . The automotive digital recorder  10 , however, incorporates the additional feature of local digital recording capabilities wherein the microprocessor  16  controls the flow of digital audio data CD/receiver section  11  to the digital recording section  14 , directing the digital audio signal portion of the CD status and data feedback  27  and the AM/FM digital audio signal  41  to the hard drive controller  70  and hard drive  75  to be stored for future retrieval and listening. When recording a CD, the user has the option of performing amass data transfer wherein the entire CD or selected tracks thereon are transferred rapidly from the CD player to the hard drive  75 , without listening to the audio signal. The user can also record the CD as it is played by the CD player  25 . The availability of the storage space on the hard drive  75  allows the user to tag track selections with personalized identification information pertaining to artists, song titles, album titles, etc. by entering information via the pushbutton inputs  22 . Thus, the information will be displayed on the LCD display  63  during playback in order to help further identify the selected tracks. Music recorded from the AM/FM receiver  35  obviously contains no pre-defined track information as do the tracks on a CD. As a result, the length of a track recorded from the AM/FM receiver  35  is user defined as the time between when recording is begun to when it is ended, and therefore can be of an extended length. The user does have the option of tagging a track recorded from the AM/FM receiver  35  with the same type of identifying indicia as that of a recorded CD track. 
     During playback of the tracks stored on the hard drive  75 , as described earlier, a hard drive digital audio signal  46  is sent to the hard drive digital to analog converter  45 , then on to the amplifier section  12  where it is conditioned and amplified to a level sufficient to drive a set of loudspeakers  54 . The user defined track information is read by the microprocessor  16 , sent to the display driver  62  and displayed on the LCD display  63 . 
     While the -preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, illustrated, and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in this field that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, while magnetic media hard drives are described in the preferred embodiment, it is realized that alternative storage mediums such as optical storage means may be available and, perhaps, better suited for incorporation in the present invention. It is for this reason that the scope of the invention is set forth in and is to be limited only by the following claims.