Abstract:
Disclosed is an video/audio player/receiver with an integrated digital recorder that improves over conventional digital audio or video 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:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/175,517, filed Oct. 20, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,xxx,xxx. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to audio systems, and more specifically to an audio component with an integrated digital recording and storage media.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    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.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    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 vehicle audio technology by providing a solid state audio player for automotive, boat or airplane 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.  
           [0008]    Alternative embodiments of the present invention anticipate the use of such a digital recording and storage media system in a home environment, such as mobile entertainment devices or karaoke machines, 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.  
           [0009]    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.  
           [0010]    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.  
           [0011]    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.  
           [0012]    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  
       [0013]    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:  
         [0014]    [0014]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.  
                                                       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 Receivcr           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  
       [0015]    1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
         [0016]    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/video digital recorder  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The audio/video 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.  
         [0017]    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/video 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.  
         [0018]    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. Similarly, and alternately, a DVD/receiver can be used in place of the CD/receiver section  11  to function in a video playing and recording capacity as well. In any case, 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 .  
         [0019]    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 .  
         [0020]    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/video digital recorder  10  including, but not limited to information such as CD track number, track time, radio stations, sound conditioning settings, recording information, etc.  
         [0021]    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. Similarly, in the event a DVD is used as the output source for recording video images, such a storage medium has a capacity of just over 100 gigabytes.  
         [0022]    2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0023]    In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 1, the audio/video digital recorder  10  functions similarly to conventional audio systems, especially those commonly found in automobiles, boats, airplanes, and the like, in that CDs or DVD&#39;s can be played via the 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 a mass data transfer wherein the entire CD or selected tracks thereon are transferred rapidly from the CD player  25  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.  
         [0024]    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 .  
         [0025]    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. Further, integration of the teachings of the present invention are anticipated as being incorporated into other consumer electronics, such as portable audio players, portable video players, and the like. Therefore, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.