Patent Publication Number: US-2015073806-A1

Title: Heirloom Article with Sound Recording and Playback Feature

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an audio recording and playback device, and more particularly an audio data storage device and recording and playback docking station which may be configured as an heirloom memory holder, such as a toy, figurine or stuffed figure keepsake in certain embodiments. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Human children and adults alike have, throughout history, collected keepsake and heirloom memory items, in a great variety of forms. For example, Toy dolls and figurines have long been used, by children as well as adults, as objects of play, as well as object of affection. Among well known examples is a “teddy bear,” among many other forms of stuffed animals, which may become an object of sentimental attachment both in view of fondness for the stuffed animal itself and, often, in view of an emotional or familial bond with a person giving the stuffed animal as a gift. That is, for example, such a keepsake or heirloom item received by a child from a grandparent or other loved one may hold a particularly special place in the child&#39;s hear and memories. Of course, such attachments are not reserved for children and teddy bears, since adults may similarly develop or maintain such attachments to certain keepsake and heirloom memory items, including an certainly not limited to ones obtained in childhood. 
     Various articles that may be regarded as having some value as a keepsake or heirloom, have been provided with means for playing a prerecorded sound, to provide or enhance an interactive experience with, or simple enjoyment of, such articles. And, the addition of such a sound feature may increase the potential for a keepsake or heirloom value of such an article, especially if the sound may be a voice of a loved one, perhaps delivering a special and personal message. 
     It is desirable to further enhance a person&#39;s interaction with, and enjoyment of, such articles by providing a further emotionally fulfilling aspect wherein, as in the present invention, a wearable keepsake or heirloom element is provided in functional conjunction with such a collectible article, such that the owner may carry or wear the wearable keepsake or heirloom element, deriving positive emotional impact both from wearable keepsake or heirloom itself and the playback enabled by a companion keepsake or heirloom article. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the present invention can be characterized as a keepsake or heirloom article including voice recording and playback feature, comprising broadly a sound storage device configured as a wearable article, and an article configured as a “docking station” to receive the wearable sound storage device and to play back a sound recording stored by the sound storage device. The wearable sound storage device may be configured as a pendant necklace, bracelet, jewelry item or in another wearable or portably carryable form, and the “docking station” article may be of any of numerous different configurations including, but not limited to, a toy, doll, figurine or stuffed animal or doll (such as “plush” doll or figurine) or the like. 
     Considering by way of example a configuration embodied as a stuffed animal, a data storage device is provided comprising a waterproof flash memory module, an optical data interface for transferring sound data to and from the flash memory module, and an inductive power receiver. A stuffed animal is provided with a receiving space for receiving the data storage device, configured essentially as a “docking station” for the data storage device. Further disposed in the stuffed animal are an optical data interface configured to receive sound data from the data storage device, a sound playback device disposed within the stuffed animal and connected to the optical data interface, and an inductive power supply element arranged to inductively provide power to the inductive power receiver of the data storage device. 
     The data storage device may be further embodied as a wearable object, such as a necklace, pendant, bracelet, pin or the like. For example, a data storage device may be formed as a heart-shaped pendant, and the receiving space provided in a suitable location for the stuffed animal&#39;s “heart” such as within a figure&#39;s chest. 
     Additional embodiments of the data storage device and a sound playback device comprising an optical data interface configured to receive sound data from the data storage device and an inductive power supply element arranged to inductively provide power to the inductive power receiver of the data storage device may be provided apart from a stuffed animal and in conjunction with another toy or another type of device. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a keepsake article according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an audio processing arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a data storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown as a keepsake article  100 , having an internally disposed audio processing arrangement  102  and an externally disposed and removable audio storage device  104 . The audio storage device  104  is configured to store audio data, such as a digitally encoded sound recording, and to communicate wirelessly with the audio processing arrangement  102 . The audio processing arrangement  102  is configured for playback of the audio data. More broadly stated, the present invention can be described as an audio storage device  104  and an audio processing arrangement  102  or docking station wherein the audio storage device  104  can be removably coupled to the audio processing arrangement  102  to play a recorded sound. 
     Considering the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in greater detail, along with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the removable audio storage device  104  can be provided in a decorative or wearable form, for example such as the heart-shaped pendant  106  shown in the drawing. A corresponding receptacle  108  is formed in the keepsake article  100 , and for example when the keepsake article  100  is configured as a stuffed animal, the receptacle  108  may be formed in the body of the stuffed animal. Hence, the keepsake article  100  may be considered broadly speaking as a form of “docking station” for the removable audio storage device  104 . The receptacle  108  is configured to receive the audio storage device  104  such that a wireless communication interface  109  between the audio storage device  104  and the audio processing arrangement  102  is enabled. In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless communication interface  109  is provided as an optical communication interface  110 , comprising a first optical transmitter/receiver  112  disposed in the audio storage device  104 , and a second optical transmitter/receiver  114  correspondingly disposed in the receptacle  108 . Thus, digital audio data stored on the audio storage device  104  can be communicated to the audio processing arrangement  102  upon placement of the audio storage device  104  within the receptacle  108  or in such proximity to the receptacle  108  as to establish data communication via the wireless communication interface  109 . 
     In addition to the wireless communication interface  109  between the audio storage device  104  and the audio processing arrangement  102 , a wireless power interface  116  may be provided, whereby an electrical power supply is provided to one of the audio storage device  104  and the audio processing arrangement  102  wirelessly by the other. For example, an electrical power supply such as, but not limited to, a battery power supply  118 , may be provided in the keepsake article  100 , with the battery power supply  118  used in part to power the audio processing arrangement  102  and in part to power the wireless power interface  116  for providing an electrical power source to the audio storage device  104 . Although, in certain embodiments, the electrical power supply could be provided in conjunction with the audio storage device  104  and the audio processing arrangement  102  powered by the wireless power interface  116 , it can be recognized as advantageous in embodiments such as that illustrated that the audio storage device  104  be the device powered by the wireless power interface  116  in the interest of compactness and portability of the audio storage device  104 . 
     The audio processing arrangement  102  includes an audio signal processing module  120  and at least one audio speaker  122 . The audio signal processing module  120  is electrically connected to the second optical transmitter/receiver  114 , and is configured to receive digital audio data received by the second optical transmitter/receiver  114  and convert the received digital audio data to a signal suitable for driving the at least one audio speaker  122 . For example, the audio signal processing module  120  may include a digital-to-analog converter  124  to convert the digital audio data into an analog audio signal, and an amplifier  126  to amplify the analog audio signal suitably for driving the at least one audio speaker  122 . In  FIG. 1 , a pair of audio speakers  122  is disposed within the keepsake article  100 . When the keepsake article  100  is embodied as a stuffed animal, for example, placement of the speakers  122  within a head portion of the keepsake article  100  results in an effect wherein the keepsake article  100  can appear as “speaking ” Of course, the speakers  122  within the keepsake article  100  may be placed in other positions within the keepsake article  100 , and may be replaced or supplemented by an interface for communication to an external speaker or headphone arrangement or the like. 
     In certain embodiments, the audio processing arrangement  102 , may be further configured to receive an audio sound, convert the audio sound to digital audio data and communicate the digital audio data to the audio storage device  104  via the wireless communication interface  109  for storage. In such embodiments, at least one audio microphone  128  is connected to an audio signal processing module  120 , and the audio signal processing module  120  is configured to convert an analog audio signal received from the microphone  128  into a digital audio data format. The audio signal processing module  120  is electrically connected to the second optical transmitter/receiver  114 , and is configured to transmit the digital audio data to the audio storage device  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, wherein the keepsake article  100  is configured as a stuffed animal, the microphone  128  is disposed in the head of the keepsake article  100 , although of course, the microphone  128  may be alternatively disposed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of an audio signal processing module  120  adapted for both digital sound recording and playback functions comprises a computer processing element such as a microcontroller  130  in conjunction with an audio/digital coding/encoding device (CODEC)  132 , with both speakers  122  and microphone  128  connected to the CODEC  132  such that the microcontroller  130  and CODEC  132  are configured to perform both sound recording and playback functions. The CODEC  132  may integrate digital-to-analog converter  124  and amplifier  126 , as well as an analog-to-digital converter supporting sound recording functions, into a single component, or alternatively these elements may be comprised of separate components or circuits. A computer program comprising computer program instructions may be stored in a memory of the microcontroller  130  or in an external memory  134  connected to the microcontroller  130  for configuration and operation of the microcontroller  130  to control audio recording and playback, as well as power management functions. 
     The microcontroller  130  is connected to the wireless communication interface  109 , embodied in the illustrated embodiment as an IrDA (Infrared Data Association) compliant infrared interface circuit or device  136 . The microcontroller  130  is further connected to a coil driver  138  which is in turn connected to a coil  140  forming a supply side of the wireless power interface  116 . Additionally, the audio processing arrangement  102  may include an electrical power source such as rechargeable battery  142 , as well as a battery charging module  144 , power switch  146  and power supplies  148  configured for supply of necessary operating voltages for the microcontroller  130 , CODEC  132 , and interfaces  110  and  116 . 
     The power switch  146  of course is provided to power the circuitry on and off, and may be provided within the keepsake article. For example, where the keepsake article  100  is configured as a stuffed animal or other doll figure, a pressure activated switch may be provided within the stuffed animal or other doll figure, such as an arm or leg, and may be activated by squeezing the extremity. The power switch  146  may be alternatively disposed, such as placed elsewhere within the keepsake article  100 , and may be operated in another manner. For example, a simple toggle switch, slide switch or pushbutton may be provided in an easily accessed location (such as on a back side of the keepsake article  100 ). Additional switches may be provided for example to separately activate a record versus a playback mode, or a single switch may be provided and configured in conjunction with the computer program of the microcontroller  130  to activate different modes by, for example, recognizing different switching sequences of the power switch  146 . 
     It is desirable for the audio signal processing module  120  to be configured for and capable of recording and playback of voice recordings, and as such it is desirable that a suitable audio bandwidth be supported, and that a suitable data format for digital audio storage and playback be employed. For example, a 16-bit digital resolution, and 10 k audio bandwidth are suitable, although persons skilled in the art will recognize that these figures are exemplary only, and that a different resolution and bandwidth may be employed suitably for a given desired audio playback. 
     Turning next to  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of the audio storage device  104  comprises a computer processing element such as a microcontroller  150  in conjunction with a memory device  152  for storage of the digital audio data. A computer program comprising computer program instructions may be stored in a memory of the microcontroller  150  or in an external memory connected to the microcontroller  150  for configuration and operation of the microcontroller  150  to control digital audio data transmit, receive and storage functions, as well as management functions relating to the wireless data and power interfaces  109 ,  116 . The microcontroller  150  is connected to a receiving element  154  of the wireless communication interface  109 , embodied in the illustrated embodiment as an IrDA (Infrared Data Association) compliant infrared interface circuit or device. An electrical power receiving element  155  of the wireless power interface  116  is embodied, in the illustrated embodiment, by a receiving coil  156  connected to an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) converter  158 , further connected to a power supply  160  configured for supply of necessary operating voltages for the microcontroller  150 , and electrical power receiving element  155 . 
     It will be understood that the above-described embodiments of the invention are illustrative in nature, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is to be limited only as defined in the appended claims.