Patent Publication Number: US-2005135792-A1

Title: Compact multimedia player

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
      The present application claims the benefit of priority from pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/531,437, entitled “Compact Multimedia Player,” filed on Dec. 19, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a compact multimedia player.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Portable electronic media players, such as portable versions of CD players, DVD players, TVs, and radios are well known. However, no known device provides the capability to play back multiple media formats and provide broadcast-receiving, computing, or recording functionalities.  
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact multimedia player capable of playing a variety of audio and visual data embedded in a variety of media data formats, including but not limited to CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and SD memory card formats.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact multimedia player capable of recording media data to a variety of optical disc data formats including but not limited to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and SD memory card formats.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact multimedia player capable of performing computing functions and receiving TV broadcast signals and radio broadcast signals in AM, FM and XM formats.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact multimedia player capable of interfacing with a wide variety of other media devices through A/V (Audio/Visual), USB (Universal Serial Bus) and wireless interfaces and recording incoming media data from those devices through those interfaces.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      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 where:  
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention with the antennas extended;  
       FIG. 2B  is a close-up view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the open position;  
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention with the antennas extended;  
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention with the antennas retracted;  
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention in the open position;  
       FIG. 4A  is a cut-away view showing the A/V connector interface and volume control on one side of the player;  
       FIG. 4B  is another cut-away view showing the connector interfaces on the other side of the player;  
       FIG. 4C  is a view showing the battery compartment on the back side of the player;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of internal components of an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart diagram outlining the software control functions of an embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1A  to  6 , several preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. The present invention is directed to a portable, compact media player capable of (1) providing media playback for a variety of multimedia data formats, (2) receiving and playing back television and radio broadcast signals, (3) performing computation functions, and (4) recording multimedia data onto a SD (Secure Digital) memory card or to an optical disc in formats including but not limited to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1A , a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, including a display screen  14  in the center of media player  10 . In one embodiment, the display screen is a 3.5 inch TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display. The display may be a full color display or a single color display. Though a 3.5 inch TFT is shown in this embodiment, displays using other technologies and/or sizes can be used in the present invention. In one embodiment, when the player is in PDA mode, the display also serves as a touch-screen input for the selection of menu items with a stylus pen. Along with display screen  14 , a pair of stereo speakers  26  is also provided. Preferably, by default and upon power up, the player displays a menu on display  14  and launches applications embedded in the operating system of the player in response to a user selection. In the preferred embodiment, control panel  20  or touch-screen interface  14  is provided for the selection of an application.  
      Media source selection buttons  12 , or source selectors, are provided for the selection of media play-back functions of the player. As indicated in the figure, the source of the display can be from the media player (the “player” button), broadcast television (the “TV” button), AM radio (the “AM” button), or FM radio (the “FM” button). Other radio such as XM radio signals are also within the scope of the present invention. The media player is capable of playing a wide variety of optical disc media types such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, etc.  FIG. 2C  shows media player  10 &#39;s capability to open like a clam-shell and to receive an optical disc within the shell of the player. Using conventional techniques the player detects the type of disc inserted and plays back data on the disc accordingly. For example, when an audio disc such as a CD is inserted, the player plays back the audio recorded on the disc. When a CD with MP3 media files is inserted, the player decodes the MP3 files on the disc and plays back the MP3 media. When a video disc such as a VCD or DVD is inserted, the player plays the video recorded on the disc. The player is also adapted to receive a blank disc and record multimedia signals such as video and audio onto the disc. In the preferred embodiment, the player is capable of recording in formats including, but not limited to, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW formats. The player can record an external video or audio source through the external A/V connection on the player or record directly the received broadcast TV or radio signals. As shown in  FIG. 2A  antenna  22  is provided to receive AM/FM/XM signals while antenna  24  is provided to receive TV broadcast signals.  
      One source button is a “memory” button that provides access to the memory card media playback functionality. As shown in  FIG. 1A , memory card slot  16  is provided to receive a SD (secure digital) memory card. In one embodiment, the compact media player displays the media content (e.g. video, digital still images) stored on the memory card. In another embodiment, the compact media player records multi-media content onto the memory card.  
       FIG. 1A  shows an example combination of media buttons and their associated functionalities. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other combinations, sub-combinations and configurations are possible. Also, in other embodiments, media source selection can be provided by interfacing with touch-screen  14 .  
      Control panel  20  controls the operation of compact media player  10  in the  FIG. 1  embodiment. Control panel  20  provides an on/off button for turning on or off the compact media player and a plurality of other buttons for accessing the menu displayed on display  14 . The arrow-shaped buttons can also be used to forward, backward, or otherwise locate tracks on an audio or video optical disc during playback. The control panel also provides an interface to the device&#39;s operating system. In one embodiment, the compact media player runs a Linux operating system on an Intel XScale processor, a commercially available microprocessor, and a conventional DVD chip controller. Other operating systems and microprocessors can be used as well.  
       FIGS. 2A  to  2 C show the various perspective views of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 2A  shows media player  10  from  FIG. 1A , with antennas  22  and  24  fully extended. Antennas  22  and  24  are retractable and can be retracted into player  10  when not it use.  FIG. 2B  shows the antennas retracted.  FIG. 2C  shows compact media player  10  in an “opened” position, whereby an optical disc with media data can be inserted into the player.  
      With reference to  FIG. 1B , a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, fold-down screen  34  covers a portion of the front face of compact media player  32 . Source buttons are concealed by fold-down screen  34 . Control panel  36  is still accessible. Player  32 , as with the first embodiment, also includes speakers  46 .  
       FIGS. 3A  to  3 C show the various perspective views of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 3A  shows the fold-down screen  34  in the “open” position. Display screen  34  is folded up and its angle can be adjusted for optimal viewing. In one embodiment, the display screen is a 3.5 inch TFT display. The display may be a full color display or a single color display. Although a 3.5 inch TFT is shown in this embodiment, displays using other technologies and/or sizes can be used. In one embodiment, when the player is in PDA mode, the display also serves as a touch-screen input for the selection of menu items with a stylus pen. In this embodiment various regions on the touch screen are provided with appropriate, preferably descriptive graphics and these regions then function as the source selectors.  
      Preferably, by default, upon power up, the player displays a menu on interface  34  and launches applications embedded in the operating system of the player in response to a user selection. In the preferred embodiment, control panel  36  or touch-screen interface  34  is provided for the selection of an application.  
      As with the first preferred embodiment, this embodiment includes media source buttons  38 . As indicated in the figure, the source of the display can be from the media player (the “player” button), broadcast television (the “TV” button), AM radio (the “AM” button), and FM radio (the “FM” button). The media player is capable of playing a wide variety of optical disc media types such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, etc.  FIG. 3C  shows that media player  32  can be opened like a clam-shell and is adapted to receive an optical disc into the player. Using conventional techniques, the player detects the type of disc inserted and plays back media on the disc accordingly. For example, when an audio disc such as a CD is inserted, the player plays back the audio recorded on the disc. When a CD with MP3 media files is inserted, the player decodes the MP3 files on the disc and plays back the media. When a video disc such as a VCD or DVD is inserted, the player plays the video recorded on the disc. The player is also adapted to receive a blank disc and record multimedia signals such as video and audio onto the disc. In the preferred embodiment, the player is capable of recording in formats including, but not limited to, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW formats. The player can record an external video or audio source through the external A/V connection on the player or record directly the received broadcast TV or radio signals.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3A , antenna  42  is provided to receive AM/FM signals while antenna  44  is provided to receive TV broadcast signals. Memory card slot  40 , which is behind screen  34 , is provided for receiving a SD memory card into player  32 . In one embodiment, the compact media player displays the media content (e.g. video, digital still images) stored on the memory card. In another embodiment, the compact media player records multi-media content onto the memory card. Antennas  42  and  44  are retractable and can be retracted into player  32  when not it use.  FIG. 3B  shows the antennas retracted.  FIG. 3C  shows compact media player  32  in an “opened” position, whereby an optical disc with media data can be inserted into the player.  
       FIG. 1B  shows an example combination of media buttons and their associated functionalities. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any other combination, sub-combination and configuration are possible. Also, in other embodiments, media source selection can be provided by interfacing with touch-screen  34 .  
      Both preferred embodiments provide a plurality of input and output interfaces for media data input and output.  FIGS. 4A-4B  show cut-away views of the compact media player with these connections.  FIG. 4A  shows A/V jack  62  provided for outputting video signals to TVs and digital projectors. Volume control  60  is provided for controlling the volume of media playback.  FIG. 4B  shows that stereo phone jack  66  is provided for connecting a headphone to the player. Power adapter input  68  is provided for connecting a power adapter. In the preferred embodiment, the media player can also be powered by batteries, such as 6 AA batteries. For example,  FIG. 4C  shows that battery compartment  70  is provided for 6 AA batteries. Shown in  FIG. 4B  is a USB-On-The-Go interface  64  for data transfer and interfacing with any USB compliant device such as a PC or a mobile phone. Alternatively, a wireless interface may also be included in the player of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of internal components  100  of an embodiment of the media player of the present invention. Intel XScale processor and DVD controller chip  120  are used to process various multi-media signals as well as perform computational tasks associated with Linux operating system  122 . Along with the Linux operating system is a plurality of Linux-based applications for controlling the functionalities of the player (e.g. disc recording software). It can be appreciated that other operating systems such as Windows CE or Palm OS can be used. The Intel XScale processor is readily available on the market and is optimized for low power consumption and high power processing. Hence, the processor is suited for portable computing applications. Also, the XScale processor has built-in TFT output functions and other embedded functions to handle multi-media decoding tasks such as DVD and MP3 playback. Though the XScale processor is used, it is understood that other comparable processors can be used as well.  
      Interface  130  provides an interface to Linux operating system  122 . The interface includes a control panel and/or touch screen display for controlling the operating system. In one embodiment, an on-screen keyboard in provided for input of data. In another embodiment, the display serves as a touch-screen input for the selection of menu items. Multi-media signals  124  from the optical disc player are processed also by processor  120 . The result is output to display  114 , A/V output  112 , or USB on-the-go interface  110 . The term USB on-the-go interface is used as it is generally understood in the field. In general, USB on-the-go interfaces are made for interfacing among portable devices without a PC host. As such, components for USB on-the-go are known in the art and can be readily incorporated into the present invention to provide USB interface capability for the exchange of media data. Also, the present invention preferably uses a 3.5 inch TFT display for TFT display. Such displays are common in camcorders, mobile phones, and PDAs and are manufactured by a number of semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung Semiconductors.  
      The same output options ( 110 ,  112 , and  114 ) are also available for broadcast TV/radio signals  132 , data from memory card  128 , and data from optical disc (e.g. games)  126 . As such, the media player of the present invention can also function as a video game player, wherein a Linux-based game on the optical disc can be launched on embedded Linux operating system  122 . The control panel as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  can be used as a joystick-like control for the playing video games. It will be understood that certain features, alternative combinations and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations as they are outlined in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart that shows the software operation of the media player according to an embodiment of the present invention. Upon power up, the compact media player preferably displays the menu interface in step  148 . The control panel or the touch-screen is provided for the selection of an application. In one embodiment, the player includes PDA functionalities and an application is launched in step  182  upon a selection. Alternatively, one of the source buttons is selected in step  150 . If the “player” button is selected in step  158 , then in step  160  a query is made as to whether a disc has been inserted. If not, a prompt “please insert disc” will be displayed in step  162 . Otherwise, the player will see if it is an audio CD in step  164 . If so, the CD will play in step  166 . If not, the player will see if it is a VCD or DVD in step  168 . If so, the VCD or DVD will play in step  170 . If not, the player will see if it is a data CD in step  172 . If so, the player will check whether it is Linux compatible in step  174 . If not, a “wrong format” message will be displayed in step  180 . Otherwise the Linux applications on the disc will be launched in step  182 . If the disc is not a data CD, a check will be performed in step  176  to see if it is a blank disc. If so, a Linux disc recording application will be launched to write data to the blank disc (step  182 ). If not, a “wrong CD” error message will be displayed to the user in step  178 .  
      If a TV or Radio button is selected (i.e., “TV” or “AM” or “FM”) in step  154 , the appropriate broadcast signal will be played back by the player in step  188 . If the “memory” button is selected in step  156 , the player will check whether a memory card has been inserted in step  190 . If so, the images on the memory card will be displayed in step  192  or media content will be recorded onto the card. If not, a message “please insert memory card” will be displayed in step  194 .  
      It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations as they are outlined within the description above and within the claims appended thereto. While the preferred embodiments and application of the invention have been described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects and features of the present invention are only limited set forth in the claims appended hereto.