Abstract:
A sound segment recording system is used in conjunction with a conventional camera (C) that by itself cannot record sounds. A sound recorder ( 100 ) has a mounting device ( 120, 190 ) for mounting the recorder on the camera, a microphone ( 110 ) and a sound-record switch ( 130 ) that is placed adjacent the shutter button when the recorder is mounted. A “sound stick” ( 200 ) has a connector ( 210 ) on one end to transfer sound data from the recorder when the sound stick is inserted in an opening ( 170 ). It contains memories ( 230 ) that record sound segments, selectable to one minute long, when the switch is pressed. The juxtaposition of the record switch to the camera shutter button (SB) permits the user to start the sound recording before the taking of the associated picture. A separate playback device is provided, into which the sound stick also plugs for downloading the sound segment data, or else the recorder is made to double as a playback device. To correlate the sound segments with the pictures, the sound stick includes a reading head  270  that can scan a bar code. Bar codes are preferably included as part of the system, to be peeled off a backing sheet and attached to a picture as a label identifiable by the sound stick bar code reader. This allows the user to select the proper sound segment for playback by scanning the bar code on the picture.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to combined still photography and sound recording, where a sound playback of short interval, or sound segment, is associated with a respective photograph and can be heard while viewing the finished photograph. The sound recording can be made at the time of taking the photograph, or made at a later time and then associated with the photograph, so that a dual record of one time is made.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0002]    Prior workers in this field have used various systems to combine a sound segment (short sound recording) with a still photograph, by recording sound, directly or indirectly, onto a photograph.  
           [0003]    One approach incorporates a sound recording directly onto the photograph. An example of this approach is found in Kinoshita&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,996. Kinoshita records the sound segment in the form of a bar code set in a photographic print along the border of the photographic picture. The bar code is made directly on the print, using the silver salts of the film, just as is the picture itself. Because the bar code can only contain a small amount of data, the sound quality and length are quite limited. Kinoshita&#39;s invention integrates the image recording and the audio recording mechanisms into the camera and the image and audio recordings into the film.  
           [0004]    Also in the prior technology, movie films record sound directly onto the film, with a sound track recorded alongside the images as a strip of varying density. This is direct, unlike the bar-code recording of Kinoshita.  
           [0005]    Another example is U.S. Pat. Re. No. 36,589 to Akamine. This patent discloses traditional silver-salt photographic prints with a magnetic strip embedded in the film. Rather than being used directly, the magnetically-recorded sound is converted into a two-dimensional pattern of light and dark that is placed on the back of the finished photograph. The user sweeps a scanner over the back of the photograph, where the audio data is printed, to hear the sound.  
           [0006]    Kelley, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,029, shows a camera that has a built-in magnetic sound recorder including separate recording and playback transducers  30 ,  32  (FIG. 1). In one embodiment (FIGS.  2 - 3 ), the camera has a built-in tape recorder that transfers the sound data to a magnetic strip  102  held in a separate sound playback unit (FIG. 3). The magnetic strip  102  can be glued onto the photograph with which it is associated.  
           [0007]    The second approach is to record the sound segments separately from the film and/or print, and to label the photograph. The information on the label is then used to select the proper sound segment from multitude of recorded sound segments.  
           [0008]    Inoue et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,700, shows a system that uses a sound card  8  insertable into a sound card holder  9  that mounts on the camera. The camera includes a microphone and miniature speaker. A shutter release button  11  is disposed near a sound recording button  14 . The sound from the sound card  8  is transferred to a diskette (FIG. 22) which is played back on a playback unit that also accepts the sound card (FIG. 21). The photographs have bar codes along the bottom edge that can electronically identify that particular photograph. When the photograph edge is inserted into the reader the playback unit plays the associated sound from the diskette. An alternative embodiment (drawing sheet  23 ) uses magnetic recording media mounted directly on the photograph.  
           [0009]    Bell et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,292, shows a photograph with a memory chip embedded on the back side.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,950 to Stephenson discloses using the built-in film and frame markers of the APS (Advanced Photographic Standard), which come with the APS film, to associate the picture of one frame with the sound segment for that picture.  
           [0011]    Anderson, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,037, discloses combining digital picture data and sound segment data.  
           [0012]    All of these previous systems require special camera, film, and playback equipment to combine or associate the still image and the sound segment. They cannot be adapted to use with a camera of the conventional type that only takes pictures, and does not record sound.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The invention provides a system of recording and playing back sound segments, and associating those segments with particular photographs, that can be used with a conventional camera, either chemical or electronic. This allows adding sound without the expense of a completely new camera. Most people already own a conventional camera delivering high quality pictures. Also, this invention allows for sound recording and playback of sound segments and associating those segments with existing photographs.  
           [0014]    To achieve this object, the present invention provides a sound recording unit that can be mounted on the body of a conventional camera to record sounds at the time the picture is taken, with a sound-record button that is also mountable on the camera, preferably adjacent to the shutter button of the camera. That position allows the user to depress the sound button just before, or at the same time as, the shutter button. The present invention is conveniently used with a conventional camera that has no sound recording capability.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the sound-record button is adjacent the shutter button and in the preferred embodiment is directly above it. To adapt to different cameras, the sound-record button is preferably adjustable in position relative to the recorder, and may be independently mountable on the camera.  
           [0016]    To maintain a record of what sound segment goes with what picture, a number of pull-off, press-on strips are provided on a card. The strips, each with a distinct bar code, are pulled off and put on the border of each finished print.  
           [0017]    A playback device, preferably separate from the recorder, includes a loudspeaker and circuitry to play back the sound segment corresponding to the bar code of any picture, which the playback device can read.  
           [0018]    The preferred embodiment of the invention employs a “sound stick” that fits into both the recorder and the playback device, with an electrical connector to mate with each, and that includes a digital memory.  
           [0019]    Alternative embodiments produce short segments of magnetic tape that can be mounted on finished photographs.  
           [0020]    With these and other objects, advantages and features of the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims and to the several drawings attached herein. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the recording device and sound stick of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an attachment screw.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a playback device of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet of stick-on bar codes.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a detail view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of operating software of the invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of playback and restore software of the invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cradle device for connection to a computer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A sound recording unit or recorder  100  is fastened to a conventional camera C (shown in dashed outline), for example by a screw hole SH on the bottom of the camera body and a thumb screw  190  passing through the body of the recorder  100  and engaging the screw hole SH. The thumb screw  190  is preferably of the conventional type. The recorder  100  may also be fastened to the camera C by straps, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. VELCRO), or any other means, either removably or permanently, and it may mount in any position relative to the camera body, e.g. in back instead of underneath.  
         [0032]    The recorder  100  includes a microphone  110  (preferably directional) to pick up sound segments to be recorded for later playback. The illustrated microphone is built in, but a remote microphone plugged into a receptacle  112  can also be used. Controls and/or indicators  114  may be provided. Power to the recorder is preferably provided by an insertable transfer device or “sound stick”  200 , which is also the preferred sound storage device. Its operation will be described below.  
         [0033]    The recorder  100  may include a bracket  120  fastened permanently or removably to the recorder, having a vertical leg which serves to locate a sound-record switch  130 .  
         [0034]    The preferred sound-record switch  130  is a “bubble” type push-button switch positioned directly over the shutter button SB of the camera. When pressed partially, the bubble switch closes, which is communicated to the electronics in the recorder  100  by wire cable  132  (preferably of the flat-cable type) and commences recording of the sound segment. When more fully depressed by increased finger pressure, the sound-record button  130  deflects so that the user&#39;s finger depresses the camera shutter button SB below the bubble switch. With the sound-record switch  130  located directly over the camera shutter button SB, the user can start the sound segment (selectable to run up to one minute, but preferably about five to ten seconds long) before the picture is “snapped”, or press both simultaneously to record the sound after the picture is taken. The sound-record switch  130  may also be located adjacent to the camera shutter where a slight movement of the user&#39;s finger position can start the sound recording and shutter the picture. Alternatively, the sound recorder  100  may incorporate electronics that introduce a delay between activating the switch  130  and the start of recording.  
         [0035]    The sound-record switch  130  is mounted on an switch-holding arm  122  that is adjustably fixed on the bracket  120 , for example with a set screw  124 . The adjustment allows the invention to be used with different cameras. Alternatively, the invention may omit adjustment. The arm  122  may be flexible enough that the switch  130  can be a non-deflecting type of switch, but the shutter button SB can be activated by depressing the end of the arm  122 .  
         [0036]    The position of the switch  130  may be adjustable vertically and also horizontally, to adjust for various cameras used with the invention.  
         [0037]    The switch  130  may be located in another position, for example at the top of the vertical leg of the bracket  120  (this is not illustrated), where it would be generally alongside the shutter button SB. The user would then have the option of taking the picture before closing the sound-record switch  130 . The sound-record switch  130  can be located in any position where it is usable.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention that omits the arm bracket  120  and mounts the sound-record switch  130  on the camera C by a separate attaching means. In FIG. 5 the shutter button SB is of the type that includes a central threaded opening for use with a remote shutter release. In the present invention the switch  130  threads into that opening and thereby is attached directly to the button SB. The cable runs down to the body of the recorder  100 , and is preferably flexible. In alternative embodiments the sound-record switch  130  may be attached to the body of the camera C, preferably near the shutter button SB, by any other means, such as VELCRO, adhesive, clips, and so on. The invention also includes a permanently-or semi-permanently-attached device onto which the sound-record switch  130  is removably mounted. The cable  132  may alternatively plug into the receptacle  112 , or a second receptacle like it (not shown), instead of being directly attached to the body of the recorder  100 . The sound-record switch  130  may also be located directly on the body of the recorder  100 .  
         [0039]    The record unit  100  contains electronics, such as an amplifier, A/D converter, and so on, for processing sound segments picked up by the microphone  110 .  
         [0040]    The insertable transfer device or sound stick  200  is also shown in FIG. 1. This device, also called a “sound exposure stick” or “SES,” is insertable into an opening  170  in the body of the recorder  100  as shown by the dashed line. When inserted, a connector  210  at the inserted end makes electrical contact with a mating connector inside (not shown). The connector  210  and its mate allow the transfer of sound data from the microphone  110  through the signal processing of the record unit  100  to the sound stick  200 , which contains memories  230  that record the sound for later playback in the playback device  300  of FIG. 3. The sound stick memories  230  preferably contain about 100 Mb of digital memory where sound segments are stored in identifiable areas of memory for separate recall. The memory may be of any type, but preferably is solid state.  
         [0041]    The sound stick  200  includes a bar-code-reading head  270 , which can be scanned over printed bar codes, and a read button  272  that actuates the reading head  270 . FIG. 4 shows a sheet  400  with twelve removable, stick-on bar codes strips  470  (one for each exposure of a twelve-exposure roll of film). Each strip  470  has a distinct individual bar code, and the entire sheet  400  is also coded with a master or sheet code  450 . The barcodes may be ultraviolet to minimize bar code impact on the picture.  
         [0042]    To use the sound stick to record sounds associated with a photograph, the user first presses the read button  272  to instruct the sound stick  200  to input the next master bar code sheet as a directory, and then scans over the master bar code  450 , which contains the number of records to be expected for storage (twelve in the case of a twelve-exposure roll of film and the twelve-bar-code sheet of exemplary FIG. 4).  
         [0043]    An LCD (liquid crystal display)  240  is the preferred device for presenting a menu to the user. A second button  251  serves as a “scroll” button and a third button  252  serves as an “enter” button for negotiating the display on the LCD  240 . The program that controls the screen display on the display device  240  is discussed below.  
         [0044]    After the sound stick is programmed, it is then inserted and is ready to record all sound segments into memory each time that the sound-record switch  130  is actuated or closed. The sound segment data records are grouped under the index of the master code  450  until the next master code in inputted.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 3 shows the playback device  300  that, after the film is developed and the prints are obtained (or after digital picture data is retrieved and imaged on paper or a screen), recreates the sound segment recorded for each picture. The sound stick is put into an opening  370  of the playback device  300 , where another internal connector (not shown) makes electrical contact with the connector  210  of the sound stick  200 . Sound data stored in the sound stick  200  is retrieved from memory, turned into a sound signal by D/A converter, amplifiers, and the like contained in the playback device  300 , and emitted as sound from a loudspeaker  330 . Headphones (not shown) can also be used.  
         [0046]    The bar codes of FIG. 4 preferably are by this time mounted on the prints respectively corresponding to them, for example with adhesive. To view the pictures from one roll of film, the user scans the reading head  270 , which is part of the sound stick  200 , while attached to the playback device  300  as shown in FIG. 3, over any of the picture bar codes  470  on any picture. The sound segment is heard immediately upon scanning and is available to hear again. The playback device  300  preferably includes controls  314  such as volume control, play and repeat sound segment replay controls, and/or a read button for bar code scanning. These controls  314  may be omitted in lieu of providing control through the scroll button  251  and enter button  252 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 10 shows a cradle connector  902  for connecting the sound stick  200  to a PC  900 . Sound stick  200  (transfer device) connector  210  plugs into a receptacle  998  on the cradle while connector  997  is preferably a serial port connector to the PC. Software routines allow for the recorded sound exposures to be backed up within the PC. This same cradle connector  902  and associated software allows for transmitting sound exposures across e-mail or the internet as required for various applications (e.g., magazines and periodicals).  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3 also shows a jack  312  leading from the playback device  300 . This jack can mate with the receptacle  112  of FIG. 1, and transfer data, for example, sound data from the sound stick  200  when it is inserted into the recorder  100 . It could also supply low-voltage power from a transformer.  
         [0049]    A preferred embodiment of software for the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The software logic of FIGS. 8 and 9 conforms to the description of operation contained herein. Additionally the software logic describes the function of recognizing the end of the allotted number of sound exposures within a directory; a method for re-establishing a master bar code sheet in the event it had been lost before the bar code strips could be put on the specified pictures; and a method for detecting when the sound stick memory  200  is full.  
         [0050]    In an alternative embodiment the recorder  100  and the playback device  300  can be combined in one unit. For example, the recorder  100  of FIG. 1 could be modified to include a loudspeaker (not shown in FIG. 1), the switch cable  132  could be removable via a jack and receptacle like jack  312  and receptacle  112 , and the body of the recorder  100  could be made removable from the bracket  120 . In such an embodiment, the separable sound stick  200  would not be needed, and the parts of the sound stick and playback device  300  could be incorporated into the recorder  100 . In that case, the recorder  100  advantageously might be removable to permit the reading head  270  to be scanned over a bar code on the sheet  400  or on a photograph or computer-printout picture.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 2 shows screws of a type which would allow the bracket  120  to remain on the camera C while the rest of the recorder  100  were removed: the screw  192  has a base that includes a threaded hole accepting the threaded portion of the shoulder screw  190 . The upper part of the body of the recorder  100  could have a circular depression to accommodate the knurled head of the screw  192 .  
         [0052]    The present invention contemplates another embodiment wherein individual memory units or devices correspond to individual pictures. For example, the sound stick memories  230  may have individual memory units, such as memory chips, that are dedicated to one picture, a pair of pictures, and so on.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6 shows individual memory units  520  mounted on a printed circuit board (or other substrate)  500 . The units  520 , which might comprise individual digital memory chips inside a suitable package, are preferably inserted into sockets  550  permanently mounted on the board  500 . The sockets are connected by solder lines to a connector portion  510  which preferably mates with the recorder  100  and make contact, through the bottom of each memory unit  520 , with the electronic storage medium inside. In this embodiment the recorder  100  includes a port to mate with the connector  510  (not shown) and suitable electronics to record sounds picked up by the microphone  110  on a memory unit corresponding to the picture taken. The units  520  are preferably labeled with number indicia corresponding to one exposure (picture) in a roll of film.  
         [0054]    After all of the pictures are obtained in the form of photographic prints P, the units  520  are removed from the board  500  and mounted on corresponding picture prints P. An adhesive  529  may be used for mounting.  
         [0055]    Each of the memory units  520  includes a suitable number of unit contacts  522  which mate with pickup contacts  532  on a hand-held digital playback unit  530 . The pickup contacts  532  retrieve sound data from the memory unit  520  mounted on the card and play the sound through a loudspeaker  533 . Touching the unit contacts  522  to the pickup contacts  532  and pressing a switch  532  causes sound data to be loaded into electronic circuits of the digital playback unit  530 , converted from digital to analogue signals (if the memory units  520  store digital sound data), and sent to the loudspeaker  533 . Pressing the switch  532  again causes the sound segment to be played back again. The invention also contemplates including several distinct sound segments in each memory unit  520 , which may be accessed or played back sequentially.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention that uses strips of magnetic tape  620  as memory units. Each strip  620  is mounted on its respective picture print P, as shown, preferably with adhesive  629  (that may be incorporated on the tape  620  or on the print P). Sound segments preferably are recorded onto the strips  620  inside the housing of the recorder  100  and played back by a magnetic playback unit  630  having a magnetic pickup head  632  that is scanned over the magnetic strip  620  mounted on the print P.  
         [0057]    The recorder  100  of the third embodiment is shown in cross section in FIG. 7. A preferred embodiment of the recording mechanism provides a roll or cassette  672  of blank magnetic tape that is passed, during recording, over a recording head  674  by a mechanism  676 . The sound segment is thus recorded onto a corresponding tape segment. After the sound segment is recorded, the tape segment is cut off by a cutter  678  and falls out of a slot  106  in the side of the recorder  100  housing. That tape segment is mounted on the print P to be scanned by the magnetic pickup head  632  of the playback unit  630 .  
         [0058]    The magnetic playback unit  630  includes a built-in loudspeaker  633 , a volume switch  636 , a reset/ready switch  634 , and a play/replay switch  638 . An internal circuit  699  accepts signals from the pickup head  632  as it is held against the tape segment  620  and scanned along its length and stores them temporarily in digital format, preferably using an A/D converter. After the input stops, the circuit  699  reconstitutes the sound segment data according to the actual time of recording at the recording head  674  (to avoid overall speedup or slowdown) while also adjusting the timing to avoid wow or flutter due to inconstant sweep of the pickup head  632  across the tape segment  620 .  
         [0059]    To hold the tape segments  620  until the prints P are obtained, the invention preferably includes a print media card (not shown) that includes numbered areas of adhesive of the type that will hold a tape segment but will not stick to the tape segment when it is peeled off. As each segment of tape  620  emerges from the slot  106 , it is pressed onto the next numbered area. When the prints P are obtained, the tape segments are transferred to them.  
         [0060]    Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.