U.S. patent application number 09/736621 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for data reproducing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Sakai, Tadashi, Sawada, Takeshi, Tanaka, Toru.
Application Number | 20010003941 09/736621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18474291 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sawada, Takeshi ; et
al. |
June 21, 2001 |
Data reproducing apparatus
Abstract
There is provided a music reproducing apparatus by which audio
data or the like can be downloaded into an internal memory means
with ease. A connector portion that can be connected to a
predetermined card slot of a data processing apparatus, an audio
data memory means, an audio reproducing circuit and an audio data
outputting section are integrally incorporated within a card-type
housing of a music reproducing apparatus and hence the music
reproducing apparatus can be easily connected to a data processing
apparatus such as a personal computer apparatus.
Inventors: |
Sawada, Takeshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tanaka, Toru; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Sakai,
Tadashi; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jay H. Maioli
Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
18474291 |
Appl. No.: |
09/736621 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
84/601 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11C 2207/16 20130101;
G11C 7/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
84/601 |
International
Class: |
G10H 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 1999 |
JP |
P11-361613 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A data reproducing apparatus comprising: connecting means
connectable to a data processing apparatus when it is connected to
a predetermined card slot of said data processing apparatus;
storage means for storing data obtained from said data processing
apparatus through said connecting means; data reproducing means for
reproducing data from said storage means; output means for
outputting data reproduced by said data reproducing means; control
means for controlling operation of said data reproducing means; and
a card-like housing for integrally housing therein said connecting
means, said storage means, said data reproducing means, said output
means and said control means.
2. A data reproducing means according to claim 1, wherein said data
is audio data.
3. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
memory means is detachable from said housing.
4. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: a headphone apparatus connected to said output means
for enabling a user to listen to audio data outputted from said
output means; and an operating means connected to said control
means for instructing operation of said data reproducing apparatus,
wherein said control means controls said data reproducing apparatus
in such a manner that said data reproducing apparatus is operated
in response to an operating instruction issued from said operating
means.
5. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said
operating apparatus further includes display means for displaying
the state in which said data reproducing means is reproducing
data.
6. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising a power-supply apparatus connectable to said housing and
which includes power-supply means for energizing respective means
provided within said housing.
7. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, further
comprising a power-supply apparatus connectable to said housing and
which includes power-supply means for energizing respective means
provided within said housing.
8. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
housing further housing therein an operating means connected to
said control means and which instructs operation of said data
reproducing means and display means for displaying the state in
which said data reproducing means is reproducing data.
9. A data reproducing apparatus comprising: a first card-like
housing for integrally housing therein connecting means connectable
to a data processing apparatus when it is connected to a
predetermined card slot of said data processing apparatus, storage
means for storing therein data obtained from said data processing
apparatus through said connecting means, data reproducing means for
reproducing data from said storage means, first communication means
for transmitting data reproduced by said data reproducing means and
receiving instruction contents instructed by operating means and
control means for controlling operation of said data reproducing
means; and a second housing for integrally housing therein
operating means for instructing operation of said data reproducing
means, second communication means for transmitting instruction
contents instructed by said operating means to said control means
and receiving data transmitted from said first communication means
and output means for outputting data received by said second
communication means.
10. A data reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said
second housing further houses therein display mean for displaying
the state in which said data reproducing means is reproducing data.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable data reproducing
apparatus, and particularly relates to a music reproducing
apparatus capable of downloading audio data when it is connected to
a data processing apparatus such as a personal computer
apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Heretofore, a variety of portable music reproducing
apparatus using a recording medium such as a tape cassette and a
disk have been put into use. As a storage capacity of a
semiconductor memory increases and audio data compression
technologies are improved in recent years, there has been proposed
a music reproducing apparatus using semiconductor memories as an
audio data storage means.
[0005] The music reproducing apparatus using the semiconductor
memory can be made smaller in size because the size of the storage
medium can be made smaller as compared with a tape cassette and a
disk. In the following description, the semiconductor memory will
hereinafter be simply referred to as a memory.
[0006] The music reproducing apparatus using the memory as the
audio data storage medium has to store audio data from the outside
in the memory. Accordingly, the music reproducing apparatus is
connected to a data processing apparatus such as a personal
computer apparatus including a program to be able to process audio
data, for example, and audio data from the personal computer
apparatus has to be downloaded into the memory within the
reproducing apparatus.
[0007] Therefore, some suitable means such as cables for joining
the data processing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus are
required and downloading itself takes a lot of time and labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the aforesaid aspect, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a music reproducing apparatus in which
audio data can be downloaded with ease.
[0009] According to the present invention, a connector portion that
can be connected to a predetermined card slot of a data processing
apparatus, an audio data memory means, an audio reproducing circuit
and an audio data outputting section are integrally incorporated
within a card-type housing.
[0010] Accordingly, when the card-type housing is joined to the
predetermined card slot of the data processing apparatus, it
becomes possible to download audio data from the data processing
apparatus. When a headphone apparatus is connected to the
outputting section, a user becomes able to listen to reproduced
sounds of audio data stored in the memory means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system
configuration according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the
manner in which an audio reproducing card is connected to a
personal computer apparatus when audio data is being downloaded
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a shape
of a reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a system
configuration according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a shape
of a reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a system
configuration according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a shape
of a reproducing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a system
configuration according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] A first embodiment according to the present invention will
be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system
configuration of a music reproducing apparatus according to the
embodiment of the present invention. The data reproducing apparatus
according to this embodiment is an apparatus for reproducing music,
and is configured as a card standardized by the PCMCIA (Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association) standards for data
processing apparatus such as personal computers and which can be
inserted into the card slot. According to the PCMCIA standards,
type I cards and type II cards are standardized based on the
thickness of the card. This card has a thickness of type II, for
example. Card slots into which PCMCIA standard cards can be
inserted are very familiar to relatively small information
terminals such as a notebook size computer apparatus.
[0021] The system configuration will be described below with
reference to FIG. 1. A data reproducing apparatus body (this
card-like music reproducing apparatus body will be below referred
to as an audio reproducing card) 100 arranged as the PCMCIA
standard card includes a memory attachment portion 101 to which a
memory device 10 including a built-in semiconductor memory can be
attached detachably. The memory device 10 that can be attached to
the memory attachment portion 101 might be a stick-like
(stick-like) memory device. This stick-like memory device 10
includes a stick-like housing made of a resin material to
incorporate therein a nonvolatile memory having a predetermined
storage capacity (e.g. capacity which falls within a range of from
approximately several M bytes to several 10s of M bytes) in which
data can be freely rewritten and a control circuit for managing
writing and reading of data in and from the memory and connection
terminals. A plurality of kinds of storage capacities are available
in this memory device. The memory device 10 includes a stored data
miss-erase prevention switch.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an example of the manner in which the audio
reproducing card 100 is inserted into a card slot 21 of a personal
computer apparatus 20. After the stick-like memory device 10 is
being attached to the memory attachment portion 101 of the audio
reproducing card 100, the card 100 is inserted into the card slot
21 and the connector portion 104 of the card 100 is connected to
the terminal disposed within the card slot 21.
[0023] Referring back to FIG. 1, the stick-like memory device 10
attached to the audio reproducing card 100 is connected through a
memory interface section 102 within the card to an internal bus
103. The internal bus 103 is also connected to a connector portion
104 of the card 100. When the audio reproducing card is inserted
into the card slot of the data processing apparatus, the internal
bus 103 is connected through the connector portion 104 to circuits
on the data processing apparatus. The connector patt 104 is
disposed on the end face of the card 100, for example. When the
card is inserted into the card slot, a low direct current voltage
at the power supply may be supplied to the connector portion 104
from the external device such as the data processing apparatus.
[0024] The audio reproducing card 100 includes a central processing
unit (CPU) 105 for controlling writing and reading of data in and
from the memory and audio reproducing operation, a digital signal
processor (DSP) 106 for executing data processing such as digital
audio data compression and de-compression and an audio unit 107 for
executing reproduction processing of audio data. These circuits are
respectively connected to the bus 103.
[0025] When audio data is transmitted from the outside through the
connector portion 104, under control of the central processing unit
105, transmitted data is supplied to the digital signal processor
106. The processor 106 compression-codes the transmitted data to
provide compression-coded audio data that can be stored in the
memory. Under control of the central processing unit 105, the
compression-coded audio data from the digital signal processor 106
is transmitted through the memory interface section 102 to the
stick-like memory device 10 and thereby written in the built-in
memory of this memory device 10. If audio data supplied from the
outside is audio data that had already been compression-coded, then
such audio data is not processed by the digital signal processor
106 but is directly transmitted to the memory device 10, in which
it is stored. Data other than the audio data may be written in the
memory device 10. For example, data accompanied with audio data,
such as track numbers and text data such as titles of music and
names of players may be written in the memory device at the same
time audio data is written in the memory device.
[0026] When the audio data stored in the stick-like memory device
10 is read out from the memory device, under control of the central
processing unit 105, audio data is transmitted to the digital
signal processor 106, and the digital signal processor 106
de-compression-codes the audio data to provide de-compressed
digital audio data. The digital audio data, reconverted by the
digital signal processor 106, is transmitted to the audio unit 107,
in which it is reproduced and an analog audio signal is developed
at an output terminal 108. Reproduction processing executed within
the audio unit 107 is digital/analog conversion processing for
converting digital audio data into an analog audio signal and
analog processing for amplifying the converted analog audio signal.
The output terminal 108 is a jack into which the plug of the
headphone apparatus can be inserted. This output terminal is
disposed on the end face of the card 100 on the opposite side of
the end face in which the connector portion 104, for example, is
disposed.
[0027] The system includes a remote controller connection terminal
109 disposed near the position at which the output terminal 108 is
located. A remote controller 140, which will be described later on,
connected to the terminal 109 can communicate with the central
processing unit 105.
[0028] The audio reproducing card 100 according to this embodiment
is preparing a power-supply unit 120 of substantially the same
shape as that of this card 100. When this power-supply unit 120 is
connected to the audio reproducing card 100, reproducing electric
power is supplied from a battery disposed within the power-supply
unit 120 to the audio reproducing card 100. The power-supply unit
120 is shaped with a thickness equal to that of the type II card of
the PCMCIA standards. The thickness of two type II cards is equal
to that of the type I card. Accordingly, while the power-supply
unit 120 is being connected to the audio reproducing card 100, the
audio reproducing card can be inserted into the card slot of the
type I card of the PCMCIA standards. While the power-supply unit
120 is being connected to the audio reproducing card 100, when the
audio reproducing card is inserted into the card slot conforming to
the type II card of the PCMCIA standards, the power-supply unit 120
may automatically be disconnected from the audio reproducing card
100 by some suitable mechanism.
[0029] The power-supply unit 120 incorporates a thin secondary
battery 121 such as a lithium polymer battery and a control unit
122 for controlling charging and discharging of the secondary
battery 121. The control unit 122 is connected through a terminal
123 on the power-supply unit 120 and the terminal 110 on the audio
reproducing card 100 to the bus 3 and is able to communicate with
the central processing unit 105 within the audio reproducing card
100. A charging and discharging terminal 124 of the secondary
battery 121 is connected to a power-supply terminal (not shown) on
the audio reproducing card 100.
[0030] A headphone apparatus 130 is connected to the audio output
terminal 108 of the audio reproducing card 100 and includes
headphone units 131, 132 which the listener wears on the ears and a
remote control section 140 attached to somewhere of a signal line.
The remote control section 140 is connected to the remote
controller connection terminal 109 and includes operation keys 141,
a display driver 142 and a display panel 143. The operation keys
141 are those used to start reproducing audio data, to stop
reproducing audio data, to forward audio data and to reverse audio
data and those used to increase and decrease of the volume of
reproduced sounds.
[0031] When the listener operates the operation keys 141 within the
remote control section 140, data obtained when the operation keys
are operated is supplied to the central processing unit 105 and the
central processing unit 105 reproduces audio data as it has been
instructed. The central processing unit 105 supplies display data
to the display driver 142 to display necessary data such as played
music number, play time, title of music and the amount of remaining
energy obtainable from the battery.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows an example of the manner in which the
power-supply unit 120 and the headphone apparatus 130 are connected
to the audio reproducing card 100 according to this embodiment and
the audio reproducing card is reproducing audio data. A plug 133 of
the headphone apparatus 130 is of the type that can simultaneously
be connected to both of the audio output terminal 108 and the
remote controller connection terminal 109. While the headphone
units 131, 132 of the headphone apparatus 130 are illustrated as
so-called inner-ear type headphone units directly placed into
listener's auricles in the example of FIG. 3, the present invention
is not limited thereto, and can be applied to headphone units of
other shapes.
[0033] Next, an example of the manner in which the listener uses
the audio reproducing card 100 will be described. As shown in FIG.
2, while the memory device 100 is being attached to the audio
reproducing card 100, this reproducing card 100 is inserted into
the card slot 21 of the personal computer apparatus 20. If the card
slot 21 is the card slot corresponding to the thickness of the type
II card, then the power-supply unit 120 is removed and the audio
reproducing card is inserted into the card slot. While the audio
reproducing card is being inserted into the card slot 21, electric
power required within the card 100 is supplied from the personal
computer apparatus 20. If the card slot 21 is the card slot
corresponding to the thickness of the type I card, then the
power-supply unit 120 remains connected to the audio reproducing
card and the audio reproducing card 100 can be inserted into the
card slot 21. The secondary battery 121 within the power supply
unit 120 can be charged by electric power supplied to the audio
reproducing card 100 from the personal computer apparatus 20.
[0034] In this state, when the listener operates the personal
computer apparatus 20 in a predetermined manner, audio data
obtained at the personal computer apparatus 20 is downloaded into
the audio reproducing card 100. Programs for protecting a copyright
of audio data to be downloaded may be transferred into the audio
reproducing card at the same time (or before) audio data is
downloaded.
[0035] The audio data downloaded into the audio reproducing card
100 is supplied to the digital signal processor 106 under control
of the central processing unit 105 and thereby compression-coded.
The audio data thus compression-coded is stored in the memory
device 10. The audio data compression-coded on the personal
computer apparatus 20 may directly be supplied to the audio
reproducing card 100.
[0036] When the downloaded audio data is reproduced, the headphone
apparatus 130 is connected to the audio output terminal 108 as
shown in FIG. 3. When the power-supply unit 120 is not attached,
the power-supply unit 120 is attached. When the secondary battery
121 within the power-supply unit 120 is not yet charged, the
secondary battery can properly be charged by a charging apparatus,
not shown, connected thereto.
[0037] While the headphone apparatus 130 is being attached to the
audio reproducing card 100, when the listener operates the
operation keys on the remote control section 140 of the headphone
apparatus 130, the central processing unit 105 reads audio data
stored in the memory device 10. The audio data thus read out is
de-compressed, converted into an analog signal, amplified for
reproduction processing, and outputted from the headphone units
131, 132.
[0038] With the above arrangement of the audio reproducing card
100, when audio data is downloaded, audio data can easily be
downloaded by inserting the audio reproducing card into the card
slot of the personal computer apparatus or the like. After audio
data had been downloaded, if the listener removes the audio
reproducing card 100 from the personal computer apparatus and
connects the headphone apparatus and the power-supply unit, then
the listener can freely carry and use the music reproducing
apparatus as a small audio reproducing apparatus. Since the
listener executes necessary playback operation by the remote
control section attached to the headphone apparatus, the listener
can easily execute the operation. Since the state in which audio
data is reproduced is displayed on the remote control section, the
listener can easily and visually confirm the state in which audio
data is reproduced.
[0039] Since the memory device 10 is detachably attached to the
audio reproducing card 100 as the storage medium, the listener can
easily change a piece of music to be reproduced by chaging the
memory device 10. If programs necessary for protecting a copyright
of a piece of music to be reproduced is incorporated within the
card 100 in advance, then even when the memory device 10 is
exchanged, illegal use of a piece of music can properly be
prevented. Specifically, if a protecting program for inhibiting
audio data that had been downloaded to the memory device 10 by
other device from being reproduced is incorporated within the audio
reproducing card, then audio data illegally downloaded onto the
memory device 10 can automatically be prevented from being
reproduced.
[0040] Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Also in the
second embodiment, an audio reproducing card is arranged as a card
that can be inserted into a PCMCIA standards card slot similarly to
the first embodiment.
[0041] A system configuration will be described below with
reference to FIG. 4. An audio reproducing card 200 as the PCMCIA
standards card includes a memory attachment portion 201 to which
there is detachably attached a stick-like memory device 10 having a
built-in semiconductor memory. The stick-like memory device 10
attached to the audio reproducing card 200 is connected through a
memory interface section 202 to an internal bus 203. The internal
bus 203 is also connected to a connector portion 204 of the card
200. Accordingly, when the audio reproducing card 200 is inserted
into the card slot of the data processing apparatus, the internal
bus 203 is connected through the connector portion 204 to circuits
on the data processing apparatus. The connector portion 204 is
located on the end face of the card 200, for example. In this
embodiment, electric power at a low direct current voltage is
supplied from an external device such as the data processing
apparatus (when the card slot is installed to the external device)
or a power-supply unit 220, which will be described later on, to
the connector portion 204 and the audio reproducing card can be
operated by electric power at the low direct current voltage.
[0042] The audio reproducing card 200 includes a central processing
unit (CPU) 205 for controlling writing and reading data in and from
a memory and audio reproducing operation, a digital signal
processor (DSP) 206 for executing data processing such as digital
audio data compression and de-compression and an audio unit 207 for
executing reproduction of audio data. These circuits are
respectively connected to the bus 203.
[0043] When audio data is transmitted from the outside through the
connector portion 204, under control of the central processing unit
205, data to be transmitted is supplied to the digital signal
processor 206 and the processor 206 converts the transmitted audio
data to compression-coded audio data for storage. Under control of
the central processing unit 205, the audio data compression-coded
by the digital signal processor 206 is transmitted through the
memory interface section 202 to the stick-like memory device 10 and
written in the built-in memory of the memory device 10. If the
audio data supplied from the outside is audio data that had already
been compression-coded, then such audio data is not processed by
the digital signal processor 206 but is directly transmitted to the
memory device 10. Data other than the audio data may be written in
the memory device 10 to be stored. For example, data accompanied
with audio data such as track numbers and text data such as titles
of music and names of players may be written in the memory device
at the same time audio data is written in the memory device.
[0044] When the audio data stored in the stick-like memory device
10 is read out from the memory, under control of the central
processing unit 205, the audio data is transmitted to the digital
signal processor 206 and the processor 206 de-compresses the
digital audio data to provide digital audio data which is not
compressed in code. The digital audio data reconverted by the
digital signal processor 206 is transmitted to the audio unit 207,
in which it is reproduced and outputted at the output terminal 208
as an analog audio signal. The reproduction processing within the
audio unit 207 is digital/analog conversion for converting digital
audio data into an analog audio signal and analog processing for
amplifying the converted analog audio signal. The output terminal
208 is a jack into which a plug of a headphone apparatus can be
inserted. This output terminal is disposed on the end face of the
card 200 at its opposite side of the end face in which the
connector portion 204, for example, is located.
[0045] A plug of a headphone apparatus 210 is connected to the
output terminal 208. In this embodiment, the headphone apparatus
210 might be a headphone apparatus with only the headphone units
211, 212 connected thereto (i.e., headphone apparatus without
remote control section like the first embodiment).
[0046] With the arrangement of the audio reproducing card 200
according to this embodiment, the power-supply unit 220 can be
connected to the connector portion 204 of the card 200.
Specifically, the connector portion 204 is the terminal portion
which is being connected to the terminal disposed within the slot
when the card 200 is inserted into the card slot. While the card is
being removed from the card slot, the power-supply unit 220
separate from the card 200 can be connected to the connector
portion 204.
[0047] FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the power-supply unit 220
is connected to the audio reproducing card. The power-supply unit
220 is thicker than the card 200 and can house therein a relatively
large battery.
[0048] Referring back to FIG. 4, the power-supply unit 220 includes
a connector portion 221 connected to the connector portion 204 on
the card side and the audio reproducing card can be powered by a
battery 223 housed within the power-supply unit 220 through the
connector portion 221. The battery 223 is not limited to a
secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery and a nickel
hydrogen battery, and a primary battery can be attached to the
power-supply unit.
[0049] The power-supply unit 220 includes a bus 222 connected to
the connector portion 221 to enable the control unit 224 of the
battery 223 to communicate with the central processing unit 205 on
the card 200. Accordingly, the central processing unit 205 can
judge the amount of remaining energy obtainable from the battery.
The power-supply unit 220 includes a display panel 226 the display
of which is energized by a display driver 225. The display panel is
able to display the state in which audio data is reproduced under
control of the central processing unit 205. The power-supply unit
220 further includes operation keys 227. While the listener is
operating the operation keys 227 to reproduce audio data, data
obtained when the listener operates the operation keys is supplied
to the central processing unit 205.
[0050] With the above arrangement of the audio reproducing card
200, similarly to the audio reproducing card 100 according to the
first embodiment, when audio data is downloaded, audio data can
easily be downloaded only by inserting the audio reproducing card
into the card slot of the personal computer apparatus or the like.
After audio data had been downloaded, the listener removes the
audio reproducing card 200 from the card slot and becomes able to
freely carry and use the audio reproducing card as a small audio
reproducing apparatus by connecting the headphone apparatus and the
power-supply unit. The listener can reproduce audio data by
operating the operation keys 227 on the power-supply unit 220. The
state in which audio data is being reproduced is displayed on the
display panel 226 on the power-supply unit 220 and hence the
listener can easily confirm the state in which audio data is
reproduced. Similarly to the first embodiment, since the memory
device 10 is detachably attached to the audio reproducing card 200
as the storage medium, the listener can easily change a piece of
music to be reproduced by exchanging the memory device 10.
[0051] According to the second embodiment, since the power-supply
unit 220 is not the card-type power-supply unit, the battery housed
within the power-supply unit 220 is not limited to thin batteries
and various types of batteries can be used.
[0052] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Also in the third
embodiment, an audio reproducing card is arranged as a card that
can be inserted into the PCMCIA standards card slot similarly to
the first and second embodiments.
[0053] A system configuration will be described below with
reference to FIG. 6. An audio reproducing card 300 arranged as a
PCMCIA standards card includes a memory attachment portion 301 to
which the stick-like memory device 10 including a built-in
semiconductor memory can detachably be attached. The stick-like
memory device 10 attached to the audio reproducing card 300 is
connected through a memory interface section 302 to an internal bus
303. The internal bus 303 is also connected to a connection portion
304 of the card 300. Accordingly, when the audio reproducing card
300 is inserted into a card slot of a data processing apparatus,
the internal bus 303 is connected through the connector portion 304
to circuits on the data processing apparatus. The connector portion
304 is disposed on the end face of the card 300, for example. In
this embodiment, a battery (secondary battery or small primary
battery such as a button-type battery) 312 is housed within the
card 300 and the card can be operated by electric power from the
battery 312.
[0054] The audio reproducing card 300 includes a central processing
unit (CPU) 305 for controlling writing and reading of data in and
from a memory and audio data reproduction operation, a digital
signal processor (DSP) 306 for executing data processing such as
compression of digital audio data and de-compression of digital
audio data, an audio unit 307 for executing reproduction processing
of audio data and a display driver 310 for driving a display panel
311. These circuits are connected to the bus 303 respectively. The
display panel 311 is disposed on the surface of the card, for
example. Operation keys 309 are disposed on the surface of the
card. When operation keys are operated, data obtained when
operation keys are operated is directly supplied to the central
processing unit 305.
[0055] When audio data is transmitted through the connector portion
304 from the outside, under control of the central processing unit
305, data to be transmitted is supplied to the digital signal
processor 306 and the processor processes the transmitted data to
provide compression-coded audio data for storage. The audio data
that had been compression-coded by the digital signal processor 306
is transmitted through the memory interface section 302 to the
stick-like memory device 10 under control of the central processing
unit 305 and stored in the built-in memory of the memory device 10.
If audio data supplied from the outside is audio data that had
already been compression-coded, then such audio data is not
processed by the digital signal processor 306 but is directly
transmitted to and stored in the memory device 10. Data other than
the audio data may be written in the memory device 10. For example,
data being accompanied with the audio data such as track number and
text data such as titles of music and names of players may be
written in the memory device at the same time the audio data is
written.
[0056] When the audio data stored in the stick-like memory device
10 in this manner is read out from the memory device, under control
of the central processing unit 305, audio data is transmitted to
the digital signal processor 306 and the processor 306
de-compresses the audio data to provide digital audio data which is
not compressed. The digital audio data reconverted by the digital
signal processor 306 is transmitted to the audio unit 307, in which
it is reproduced and outputted at the output terminal 308 as an
analog audio signal. Reproduction processing within the audio unit
307 is digital/analog conversion processing for converting digital
audio data into an analog audio signal and analog processing for
amplifying the converted analog audio signal. The output terminal
308 is arranged as a jack into which a plug of a headphone
apparatus can be inserted and is located on the end face of the
card 300 on the opposite side of the end face in which the
connector portion 304, for example, is located.
[0057] A plug of a headphone apparatus 320 is connected to the
output terminal 308. In this embodiment, the headphone apparatus
320 might be a headphone apparatus with only the headphone units
321, 322 connected thereto (i.e., headphone apparatus without
remote control section like the first embodiment).
[0058] FIG. 7 shows an example of the manner in which the headphone
apparatus 320 is connected to the audio reproducing card 300. In
this example, various operation keys 309 and the display panel 311
are located on the surface of the audio reproducing card 300. While
the headphone apparatus 320 is being connected to the audio
reproducing card 300, the listener can reproduce a piece of music
only by operating operation keys disposed on the surface of the
card 300.
[0059] With the above arrangement of the audio reproducing card
300, similarly to the audio reproducing card 100 according to the
first embodiment, when audio data is downloaded, the listener can
easily download audio data only by inserting the audio reproducing
card into the card slot of the personal computer apparatus. After
audio data had been downloaded, when the listener removes the audio
reproducing card 300 from the card slot and connects the headphone
apparatus to the audio reproducing card, the listener can freely
carry and use the audio reproducing card as a small audio
reproducing apparatus. The listener can reproduce audio data by
operating the operation keys 309 directly disposed on the audio
reproducing card 300. Since the state in which audio data is
reproduced is displayed on the display panel 311 located on the
card 300, the listener can easily and visually confirm the state in
which audio data is reproduced. Similarly to the first embodiment,
since the memory device 10 is detachably attached to the audio
reproducing card 300 as the storage medium, the listener can easily
change a piece of music to be reproduced by exchanging the memory
device 10.
[0060] Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention
will be described with reference to FIG. 8. Also in the fourth
embodiment, an audio reproducing card is arranged as a card that
can be inserted into the PCMCIA standards card slot similarly to
the first, second and third embodiments.
[0061] A system configuration will be described below with
reference to FIG. 8. An audio reproducing card 400 arranged as the
PCMCIA standards card includes a memory attachment portion 401 to
which the stick-like memory device 10 having the built-in
semiconductor memory can be attached detachably. The stick-like
memory device 10 attached to the audio reproducing card 400 is
connected through a memory interface section 402 to an internal bus
403. This internal bus 403 is also connected to a connector portion
404 of the card 400. When the card is inserted into a card slot of
a data processing apparatus, the internal bus is connected through
the connector portion 404 to circuits on the data processing
apparatus. The connector portion 404 is disposed on the end face of
the card 400, for example. In this embodiment, a battery (secondary
battery or small primary battery such as a button battery) 411 is
housed within the card 400 and the card can be operated by electric
power from the battery 411.
[0062] The audio reproducing card 400 includes a central processing
unit (CPU) 405 for controlling writing and reading data in and from
the memory and audio data reproduction, a digital signal processor
(DSP) 406 for executing data processing such as digital audio data
compression processing and de-compression processing, an audio unit
407 for executing reproduction processing of audio data and a radio
unit 408 for transmitting audio data or the like via radio waves
and receiving control data by radio waves. These circuits are
connected to the bus 403 respectively. An audio output terminal 410
also is connected to the audio unit 407 and the headphone apparatus
can directly be connected to the audio output terminal.
[0063] The radio unit 408 includes an antenna 409 connected thereto
to transmit audio data at a predetermined frequency via radio waves
and can receive control data when the control data for instructing
reproduction or the like is transmitted via radio waves. The
antenna 409 is not limited to the built-in antenna of the card 400
but may be projected to the outside of the card 400.
[0064] When audio data is transmitted from the outside through the
connector portion 404, under control of the central processing unit
405, data to be transmitted is supplied to the digital signal
processor 406 and the processor 406 processes the data to provide
compression-coded audio data for storage. Under control of the
central processing unit 405, the audio data compression-coded by
the digital signal processor 406 is transmitted through the memory
interface section 402 to the stick-like memory device 10 and
written in the built-in memory of the memory device 10. If the
audio data supplied from the outside is audio data that had already
been compression-coded, then such audio data is not processed by
the digital signal processor 406 and may be directly transmitted to
and stored in the memory device 10. Data other than the audio data
can be written in the memory device 10. For example, data being
accompanied with the audio data, such as track number and text data
such as titles of music and names of players can be written in the
memory device at the same time audio data is written.
[0065] When the audio data stored in the stick-like memory device
10 in this manner is read out from the memory device, under control
of the central processing unit 405, audio data is transmitted to
the digital signal processor 406 and the processor 406
de-compresses the audio data to provide de-compressed digital audio
data. The digital audio data reconverted by the digital signal
processor 406 is transmitted to the audio unit 407, in which it is
reproduced. The audio data thus reproduced is transmitted from an
antenna 409 connected to a radio unit 408 via radio waves.
[0066] The audio data transmitted through radio waves is received
at a receiving unit 420. The receiving unit 420 includes a radio
unit 422 with an antenna 421 connected thereto, a digital/analog
converter 423 for converting the audio data received at the radio
unit 422 into an analog audio signal and an audio amplifier 424 for
amplifying the audio signal converted by the converter 423 and
supplies an audio signal amplified by the audio amplifier 424 to
headphone units 441, 442 of a headphone apparatus 440 connected to
an audio output terminal 425.
[0067] The receiving unit 420 incorporates therein a central
processing unit (CPU) 427 for controlling operation within the
receiving unit 420, operation keys 428 and a display panel 430
whose display is driven by a display driver 429. These elements are
connected by an internal bus 426.
[0068] When text data such as titles of music and data such as
reproduced tracks and reproducing time are transmitted together
with audio data via radio waves, these data can be displayed on the
display panel 430. Data obtained when the operation keys 428 were
operated is supplied from the central processing unit 427 to the
radio unit 422 and transmitted from the antenna 421 via radio
waves, whereby control data for instructing reproduction can be
transmitted to the audio reproducing card 400 via radio waves. The
receiving unit 420 also incorporates therein a suitable means such
as a battery.
[0069] With the above arrangement of the audio reproducing card 400
and the receiving unit 420, similarly to the audio reproducing card
100 according to the first embodiment, when audio data is
downloaded, the listener can easily download audio data only by
inserting the audio reproducing card 400 into a card slot of a
personal computer apparatus or the like. After the audio data had
been downloaded, the listener removes the audio reproducing card
400 from the card slot and can freely carry and use the audio
reproducing card as a small audio reproducing apparatus. In this
case, the audio reproducing card 400 and the receiving unit 420 are
connected in a wireless fashion and hence freedom in the
reproduction can increase much more as compared with the first,
second and third embodiments. Since the memory device 10 is
detachably attached to the audio reproducing card 300 as the
storage medium similarly to the first embodiment, the listener can
easily change a piece of music to be reproduced by exchanging the
memory device 10.
[0070] While the stick-like memory device is used as the memory
device that can be detachably attached to the reproducing apparatus
in the above embodiments, memory devices of other shapes may be
used. The memory device may not be limited to the detachable memory
device and a semiconductor memory having a predetermined storage
capacity may be incorporated within a card-type reproducing
apparatus.
[0071] While the music reproducing apparatus is arranged as the
PCMCIA standards card-type reproducing apparatus in the above
embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it
is needless to say that the music reproducing apparatus may be
arranged as card-type reproducing apparatus corresponding to other
card slot standards.
[0072] The card-type reproducing apparatus may be powered by other
arrangement than the power-supply arrangement described in the
above embodiments. For example, a battery compartment may be
provided within the remote control section 140 according to the
first embodiment and the card 100 may be powered by a battery
disposed within the remote control section 140.
[0073] While the audio data inputted from the data processing
apparatus to which the card-type reproducing apparatus is attached
is stored in the memory in the above embodiments, the present
invention is not limited thereto, and the audio reproducing card,
for example, may include an audio input terminal separate from (or
serving also as) the audio output terminal to store an audio signal
picked up by a microphone connected to this input terminal in the
memory. Thus, the audio reproducing card may function as a
recording and reproducing apparatus.
[0074] Having described preferred embodiments of the present
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be
understood that the present invention is not limited to the
above-mentioned embodiments and that various changes and
modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention
as defined in the appended claims.
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