Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a karaoke device and more particularly to a karaoke device that works with an existing content source and output device such as a DVD player and television. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Karaoke devices are well known in the industry. Generally, these devices include a source of music and lyrics that are played/displayed while the user(s) sing along. Early karaoke devices included a magnetic tape or compact disc with music recorded thereon. The music recorded is without vocal sound track or the vocal track is significantly muted so that the user can sing along with the music. 
         [0005]    A professional karaoke system includes a source of music and lyrics, one or more microphones, a sound processing/amplification system for enhancing the user&#39;s voice and a display system for displaying lyrics and cues for the user(s). Some sound processing and amplification systems includes circuitry for adding echo to the user&#39;s voice and possibly additional circuitry to enhance the user&#39;s voice. It may also include a mixer for mixing the sound track with the user&#39;s voice. The display system is for displaying video information about the music, lyrics and a cue (e.g., color changes of lyrics) to help keep the user&#39;s singing on track with the music. 
         [0006]    Home karaoke players have become popular in recent years. These systems include a player that accepts a microphone input and a karaoke disc or tape and mixes the user&#39;s voice with music from the disc, amplifies the sound and reproduces the sound with a speaker. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,302 to Decker. There are several drawbacks to karaoke systems as described. The first drawback relates to having a separate device that duplicates many of the functions that are already performed by other components often found in homes and business. Many users already have a device that is capable of playing karaoke tapes or disks; for example, a CD player or DVD player. These users often have another device for amplifying and reproducing the music; for example, a stereo system or television. These users often have a device for displaying the lyrics and cues; for example, a television. Therefore, having another device that replicates many of these functions is wasteful and increases clutter. Another drawback to these types of systems is that the controls are often on the device, not the microphone. Being such, the user must approach the device with the microphone to adjust the volume, echo, etc, often causing undesirable feedback and noise. A third drawback is the requirement for a wire from the microphone to the karaoke device. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a karaoke device that interfaces with a standard home CD/DVD player and television and provide all effects and controls within its housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, a karaoke device is disclosed including an enclosure with a voice pickup element integrated into the enclosure, the voice pickup element for converting sound waves into an electrical signal. An audio input signal passing into the enclosure and into an electronic circuit for amplifying the electrical signal, for controlling the amplitude of the electrical signal and for mixing the electrical signal and the audio input signal into a mixed audio signal. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a karaoke device is disclosed including an enclosure in the shape of a hand-held microphone with a voice pickup element integrated within the enclosure. The voice pickup element converts sound waves into an electrical signal. A left and right audio input signal passes into the enclosure on wires and is connected to an electronic circuit within the enclosure for amplifying the electrical signal, for controlling the amplitude of the electrical signal, for adding echo to the electrical signal, for mixing the electrical signal with the left audio input signal into a mixed left audio signal and for mixing the electrical signal with the right audio input signal into a mixed right audio signal. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a karaoke device is disclosed including a voice pickup element integrated into a wireless microphone housing for converting sound waves into a first electrical signal. The first electrical signal is modulated onto a wireless signal within the wireless microphone housing and emitted by an antenna attached to the wireless microphone housing. A left and right audio input signal pass on a wire into an enclosure that has an electronic circuit for receiving the wireless signal and demodulating it into a second electrical signal, for controlling the amplitude of the second electrical signal, for adding echo to the second electrical signal, for mixing the second electrical signal with the left audio input signal into a mixed left audio signal and for mixing the second electrical signal with the right audio input signal into a mixed right audio signal. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of a system of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. In the following description, a DVD player is used as an example of a source of karaoke content (e.g., music with suppressed vocal tracks, lyrics and video) and a television or TV is used as an example of an output device that includes sound amplification and reproduction as well as video display. There are many other content sources such as personal computers, CD players, tape players, laser disc players, and the present invention is not limited in any way. There are many other output devices that include sound amplification and reproduction as well as a display, either in an integrated package or in individual components. Examples of such are stereo systems, monitors, personal computers, etc. 
         [0017]    For simplicity, the block diagrams exclude a source of operating power. Power supplies including batteries and transformers are well known in the industry. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this example, a DVD player  10  has a video output  13  connected to a television  20 . The left and right audio output from the DVD player  10  is connected to the karaoke device  30  with wires  12 / 14 . The wires preferably have RCA phono plugs to plug into most standard audio output jacks included on DVD players. The karaoke device  30  is hand-held and preferably shaped similar to a standard microphone. A voice pick-up element  32  is situated on an outer surface of the karaoke device  30  in a location where it can receive sound waves corresponding to the user&#39;s voice. The voice pick-up element converts the sound waves into an electrical signal that is connected to an amplifier  38  that adjustably  39  amplifies the user&#39;s voice to a level compatible with the audio outputs  12 / 14  from the DVD player  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the amplifier&#39;s output is adjusted by a multi-position switch connected to a resistor ladder. In other embodiments, the amplifier&#39;s output is adjusted with a potentiometer or a digital potentiometer having a volume-up and a volume-down push button switch. For most DVD players, the audio output level is usually around 1 volt, peak-to-peak. 
         [0019]    The audio output signal from the adjustable amplifier  38  interfaces to a selector switch  46  and a sound processor  40 . The sound processor  40  enhances the user&#39;s voice by adding, for example, echo. The selector switch  46  lets the user select either audio from the voice pick-up element  32  or from the sound processor  40 . In some embodiments, the selector switch is integrated into an on/off power switch (not shown) having three positions such as off, on and on/echo. 
         [0020]    The audio output from the selector switch is mixed with the left input  12  by amplifier  36  producing a mixed left audio signal and with the right input  14  by amplifier  34  producing a mixed right audio signal. The outputs of the amplifiers  34 / 36  pass to another selector switch  42  that selects to either pass the left and right audio from the DVD player  10  directly to the outputs or pass the mixed audio to the outputs. The outputs of the karaoke device  30  pass on cables  22 / 24  to the television  20 . Again, it is preferred to have RCA phono jacks on the end of the cables  22 / 24  for compatibility with most televisions. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this example, a DVD player  10  has a video output  13  connected to a television  20 . The left and right audio output from the DVD player  10  is connected to an audio transceiver  60  with wires  12 / 14 . The wires preferably have RCA phono plugs to plug into most standard audio output jacks included on DVD players. The audio transceiver  60  has a modulator  62  (either analog or digital modulation) that modulates the left and right audio onto a wireless carrier such as a radio frequency or an infrared light frequency. Many methods of modulation such as Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM) and Quadrature Modulation (QAM) are known in the industry and any can be used without veering from the present invention. In the example shown, the audio signals are modulated onto an RF signal that passes through an antenna mixer  66  to an antenna  68  where the modulated RF signal radiates and is picked up by an antenna  47  on the karaoke device  30 . 
         [0022]    The karaoke device  30  is hand-held and preferably shaped similar to a standard microphone. The modulated audio signal from the antenna  47  passes through an antenna mixer  45  and is demodulated by a demodulator  41  into left and right audio signals representative of the left and right audio signals from the DVD player  10 . A voice pick-up element  32  is situated on an outer surface of the karaoke device  30  in a location where it can receive sound waves corresponding to the user&#39;s voice. The voice pick-up element is connected to an amplifier  38  that adjustably  39  amplifies the user&#39;s voice to a level compatible with the audio outputs  12 / 14  from the demodulator  41 . In the preferred embodiment, the amplifier&#39;s output is adjusted by a multi-position switch connected to a resistor ladder. In other embodiments, the amplifier&#39;s output is adjusted with a potentiometer or a digital potentiometer having a volume-up and a volume-down push button switch. For most DVD players, the audio output level is usually around  1  volt, peak-to-peak. 
         [0023]    The audio output signal from the adjustable amplifier  38  interfaces to a selector switch  46  and a sound processor  40 . The sound processor  40  enhances the user&#39;s voice by adding, for example, echo. The selector switch  46  lets the user select either audio directly from the voice pick-up element  32  or from the sound processor  40 . In some embodiments, the selector switch is integrated into an on/off power switch (not shown) having three positions such as off, on and on/echo. 
         [0024]    The audio output from the selector switch is mixed with the left input by amplifier  36  and with the right input by amplifier  34 . The outputs of the amplifiers  34 / 36  pass to another selector switch  42  that selects to either pass the left and right audio from the DVD player  10  to the outputs or pass the mixed audio to the outputs. The outputs of the karaoke device  30  are modulated in a similar way to the modulator in the audio transceiver  60  modulator  62  by another modulator  43 . The modulated signal passes through the antenna mixer  45  and is radiated by the antenna  47 . The radiated modulated audio signals are received by the audio transceiver&#39;s  60  antenna  68  and pass through the antenna mixer  66  and are demodulated by a demodulator  64 . The audio output of the demodulator  64  passes on cables  22 / 24  to the television  20 . Again, it is preferred to have RCA phono jacks on the end of the cables  22 / 24  for compatibility with most televisions. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a system of a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this example, a DVD player  10  has a video output  13  connected to a television  20 . The left and right audio output from the DVD player  10  is connected to a base station karaoke device  70  with wires  12 / 14 . The wires preferably have RCA phono plugs to plug into most standard audio output jacks included on DVD players. The base station karaoke device  70  is housed within an enclosure that can be located near the user&#39;s DVD player  10  and television  20 . 
         [0026]    A voice pick-up element  32  is situated on an outer surface of a wireless microphone  13  in a location where it can receive sound waves corresponding to the user&#39;s voice. The voice pick-up element converts the sound waves into an electrical signal that is connected to an amplifier and modulator  11  that amplifies the user&#39;s voice and modulates the audio signal onto a wireless signal (e.g., Radio Frequency or Infrared), emitting the wireless signal on an external antenna  9  or IR transducer (not shown). As discussed previously, any known method of modulation can be used to wirelessly send the user&#39;s voice (audio) to the base station karaoke device  70 . 
         [0027]    The wireless signal is picked up by a matching antenna (or IR transducer)  7  at the base station karaoke device  70  and demodulated by a demodulator  5  producing an electrical audio signal similar to the user&#39;s voice. This electrical signal is amplified by an amplifier  38  with volume control  39  to a level compatible with the audio outputs  12 / 14  from the DVD player  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the amplifier&#39;s output (volume) is adjusted by a multi-position switch connected to a resistor ladder. In other embodiments, the amplifier&#39;s output is adjusted with a potentiometer or a digital potentiometer having a volume-up and a volume-down push button switch. For most DVD players, the audio output level is usually around 1 volt, peak-to-peak. 
         [0028]    The audio output signal from the adjustable amplifier  38  interfaces to a selector switch  46  and a sound processor  40 . The sound processor  40  enhances the user&#39;s voice by adding, for example, echo. The selector switch  46  lets the user select either audio from the voice pick-up element  32  or from the sound processor  40 . In some embodiments, the selector switch is integrated into an on/off power switch (not shown) having three positions such as off, on and on/echo. 
         [0029]    The audio output from the selector switch is mixed with the left input by amplifier  36  and with the right input by amplifier  34 . The outputs of the amplifiers  34 / 36  pass to another selector switch  42  that selects to either pass the left and right audio from the DVD player  10  directly to the outputs or pass the mixed audio to the outputs. The outputs of the base station karaoke device  70  pass on cables  22 / 24  to the television  20 . Again, it is preferred to have RCA phono jacks on the end of the cables  22 / 24  for compatibility with most televisions. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic diagram of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this exemplary design, the voice pick-up element or microphone  32  is connected to an amplifier  38  that amplifies the user&#39;s voice to a level compatible with the audio outputs  12 / 14  from the DVD player  10 . In this exemplary design, the amplifier&#39;s  38  output is adjusted by a multi-position switch K 1   39  connected to a resistor ladder (R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 23 , R 39 ). 
         [0031]    The audio output signal from the amplifier  38  interfaces to a selector switch (K 2 ) and a sound processor  40 . The sound processor  40  enhances the user&#39;s voice by adding echo processing. The selector switch (K 2 C) lets the user select either audio directly from the amplifier  38  (e.g., the voice from the microphone  32 ) or the processed audio from the sound processor  40 . In this exemplary design, the selector switch is integrated into an on/off power (K 2 A) switch having three positions: off, on and on/echo. 
         [0032]    The audio output from the selector switch is mixed with the left input  12  by amplifier  36  and with the right input by amplifier  34 . The outputs of the amplifiers  34 / 36  pass to another selector switch (K 2 B and K 2 D) that selects to either pass the left and right audio from the left and right inputs  12 / 14  directly to the outputs  22 / 24  or pass the mixed audio to the outputs  22 / 24 . 
         [0033]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0034]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Technology Category: 3