U.S. patent application number 11/261769 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-11 for picture frame device capable of playing and recording sounds.
Invention is credited to Shiang-Li Chen, Wei-Hsiang Liao.
Application Number | 20060096142 11/261769 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36314838 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060096142 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Shiang-Li ; et
al. |
May 11, 2006 |
Picture frame device capable of playing and recording sounds
Abstract
A picture frame capable of playing sounds having a frame fixing
a picture therein, a code reader disposed on the frame and reading
a bar code on the picture by moving the code reader, a decoder
coupled to the code reader and decoding the bar code into an audio
file and a player coupled to the decoder and outputting the audio
file. Alternatively, sounds are inputted to be recorded by a sound
recorder. The inputted sounds from the sound recorder are
transmitted to an encoder where audio information of the sounds is
generated, which is next transmitted to a bar code generator. In
the bar code generator, a two dimension bar code is generated.
Then, the two-dimension bar code is stored in a bar code
storage.
Inventors: |
Chen; Shiang-Li; (Jhudong
Township, TW) ; Liao; Wei-Hsiang; (Sien Dian City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RABIN & Berdo, PC
1101 14TH STREET, NW
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
36314838 |
Appl. No.: |
11/261769 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/717 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 1/0616
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
040/717 |
International
Class: |
A47G 1/06 20060101
A47G001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 2004 |
TW |
93133863 |
Claims
1. A picture frame device capable of playing sounds, comprising: a
frame fixing a picture therein; a code reader disposed on the frame
and reading a bar code having audio information on the picture when
the code reader is moved; a decoder coupled to the code reader and
decoding the bar code into a voice file; and a player coupled to
the decoder and outputting the voice file.
2. The picture frame device as recited in claim 1, wherein the read
audio information is encoded in the bar code by two dimension audio
code image technology.
3. The picture frame device as recited in claim 1, wherein the code
reader further comprises: a scan unit reading the bar code; and a
bearing unit bearing and connected pivotally to the scan unit so
that the scan unit moves freely between two ends of the bearing
unit.
4. The picture frame device as recited in claim 1, wherein the
audio file is in the format selected from the group consisting of
MP3, WAV and MIDI.
5. The picture frame device as recited in claim 1, wherein the bar
code is located at one of the top side, bottom side, left side and
right side of the back of the picture.
6. A picture frame device capable of recording sounds, comprising:
a frame fixing a picture therein; a recorder inputting receiving an
audio information; an encoder coupled to the recorder and encoding
the audio information into an audio file; a bar code generator
coupled to the encoder and converting the audio file into a bar
code; a bar code storage coupled to the bar code generator and
storing the bar code into a record file; and a print unit coupled
to the bar code storage and printing the bar code, wherein the bar
code is combined with the picture.
7. The picture frame device as recited in claim 6, wherein the
audio file is encoded in the bar code by two dimension audio code
image technology.
8. The picture frame device as recited in claim 6, wherein the
audio file is in the format selected from the group consisting of
MP3, WAV and MIDI.
9. The picture frame device as recited in claim 6, wherein the
print unit prints the bar code on the back of the picture.
10. The picture frame device as recited in claim 6, further
comprising a decoder coupled to the bar code storage and encoding
the record file into an audio file.
11. The picture frame device as recited in claim 10, further
comprising a player coupled to the decoder and outputting the audio
file.
12. The picture frame device as recited in claim 6, wherein the bar
code is located at one of the top side, bottom side, left side and
right side of the back of the picture.
13. A picture frame device capable of recording sounds, comprising:
a frame fixing a picture therein; a code reader disposed on the
frame and reading a bar code on the picture; and a bar code storage
coupled to the code reader and storing the bar code into a record
file.
14. The picture frame device as recited in claim 13, wherein the
code reader further comprises: a scan unit reading the bar code;
and a bearing unit bearing and connected pivotally to scan unit so
that the scan unit moves freely between two ends of the bearing
unit.
15. The picture frame device as recited in claim 13, further
comprising a decoder coupled to the code reader and the bar code
storage and decoding the record file into an audio file.
16. The picture frame device as recited in claim 15, further
comprising a player coupled to the decoder and outputting the audio
file.
17. The picture frame device as recited in claim 13, wherein the
bar code is located at one of the top side, bottom side, left side
and right side of the back of the picture.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a picture frame device and
particularly to a picture frame device capable of playing and
recording sounds. 2. Related Art
[0003] In recent years, audio code image technology has matured up
to a considerable extent. Through an algorithm technology similar
to a particular two-dimension image encoding technology, sounds may
be transformed into a bar code for being printed out or displayed
on a displayer. As such, the sounds may be visually encoded and the
audio information may be used in an extended range of
applications.
[0004] Moreover, the current pictures have been gradually taken
digitally and successive storing, editing and outputting operations
of the digital pictures are also performed digitally. However, for
conventional filming devices or picture frames, the taken pictures
may not be performed or combined with sounds in a human way.
Although audio code image technology has been easily used in
filming devices nowadays, an application associated with the
combination of picture and sound is still not available to meet
users' requirements in terms of practical operation of the
application and use of general-purpose pictures. For example, the
combination of a picture and an audio code image should be capable
of playing sounds, and the combination with respect to a general
picture should be provided with an added value by using the audio
code image technology.
[0005] Furthermore, there is still no picture frame device that may
be used for the above applications with respect to current
arrangements of pictures. Therefore, there is a need to provide a
picture fame device, capable of playing and recording sounds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A picture frame device capable of playing sounds,
comprising: a frame fixing a picture therein, a code reader
disposed on the frame and reading a bar code on the picture by
moving the code reader. A decoder coupled to the code reader and
decoding the bar code into an audio file, and a player coupled to
the decoder and outputting the audio file.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow illustration only and thus
doesn't limit the present invention, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts schematically an outline of a picture frame
device capable of playing and recording sounds according to the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts schematically a block diagram of the picture
frame device capable of playing and recording sounds according to
the present invention;
[0010] FIGS. 3A-3D depicts schematically the outlines of the
picture frame device capable of playing and recording sounds
according to embodiments of the present invention,
respectively;
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts schematically a first embodiment of the
structure of the code reader of the picture frame device capable of
playing and recording sounds according to the present invention;
and
[0012] FIG. 5 depicts schematically a second embodiment of the
structure of the code reader of the picture frame device capable of
playing and recording sounds according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In this invention, a picture frame device capable of playing
and recording sounds is disclosed. Referring to FIG. 1, an outline
of the picture frame device is depicted therein. To achieve the
function of playing sound, the picture frame device comprises: a
frame 10 fixing a picture 11 therein, the picture 11 comprising a
bar code 20 including at least a set of audio information, a code
reader 12 disposed on the frame 10 at a position associated with
the bar code 20 and reading the audio information in the bar code
20 by moving the code reader 12. The code reader 12 further
comprises a scan unit 13 and a bearing unit 14. Through the scan
unit 13, the audio information in the bar code 20 is read. The
bearing unit 14 is used to bear and connect pivotally to the scan
unit 13 so that the scan unit 13 may move freely between two ends
of the bearing unit 14, wherein the scan unit 13 may move manually
or automatically. In case the scan unit 13 moves automatically, a
sound playing key 15 is used to trigger the code reader 12. Upon
triggered, the code reader 12 moves over the bar code 20 and the
scan unit 13 scans on the bar code 20. After the scan operation is
finished, a decoder 21 (described in detail in FIG. 2) decodes the
scanned information into an audio file. Finally, the audio file may
be played by a player 16 connected to the decoder 21 (also
described in detail in FIG. 2).
[0014] In case the scan unit 13 moves manually, the scan unit 13 is
moved by a user to scan the information carried in the bar code 20.
After the bar code 20 is read, the above-mentioned decoding and
playing operations are performed in the same manner.
[0015] On the other hand, to achieve the function of sound
recording, a sound record key 17 is used to record sounds from the
user. Through the provided sound recording function, the picture 11
may additionally be provided with a vocal description so that the
picture 11 may be more completely and vividly recorded. The vocal
description may be associated with, for example, information of
location, time, context and the like. The sound recording function
may perform recording sounds through a sound reception hole 18.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the sound recording provided in the
invention will be described in connection with FIG. 2.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, a record function key 19 is
provided to select a plurality of record information and a liquid
crystal display (LCD) is provided to display information state
associated with the operation of the picture frame device.
[0017] Next, reference is made to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, a block
diagram of the picture frame device capable of playing and
recording sounds is depicted. To achieve the function of sound
playing, the picture frame device comprises: a frame 10 fixing a
picture 11 therein, the fixing picture 11 further comprising a bar
code 20 containing at least a set of audio information, wherein the
bar code 20 is generated by encoding the audio information by two
dimension audio code image encoding technology, a code reader 12
disposed on the frame 10 at a position associated with the bar code
20 and reading the audio information in the bar code 20 on the
picture 11 by moving the code reader 12, a decoder 21 coupled to
the code reader 12 and decoding the audio information through an
inverse decoding operation by the two dimension audio code image
encoding technology, wherein the audio file may be in the format of
MP3, WAV, MIDI and the like, and a player 16 coupled to the decoder
21 and outputting the audio file. In this example, the audio
information read above is stored in a record file (No.001) in a
code storage 22.
[0018] Furthermore, to achieve the function of sound recording with
respect to a general picture and a picture containing a bar code
respectively, a first embodiment of the picture frame device
comprises: a recorder 23 used to receive audio information, an
encoder 24 coupled to the recorder 23 used to encode the audio
information into an audio file, wherein the audio file may be in
the format of, for example, MP3, WAV and MIDI, a bar code generator
25 coupled to the encoder 24 and used to encode the audio file into
a bar code 20, wherein the bar code 20 is obtained by encoding the
audio file by the two dimension audio code image encoding, a bar
code storage 22 coupled to the bar code generator 25 and used to
store the bar code 20 as a record file (No.002,) and a print unit
26 coupled to the bar code storage 22 and used to print the bar
code 20 on the picture 11 and preferably printed on the back side
thereof. When a user presses the record key 17, sounds are inputted
via the sound reception hole 18 and recorded in the recorder 23.
Next, the recorded sounds are transmitted into the encoder 24 where
the recorded sounds are encoded and transformed into a two
dimension bar code. Then, the two dimension bar code is stored in
the bar code storage 22. In a particular embodiment, the two
dimension bar code stored in the bar code storage 22 is printed on
the picture 11 by a print unit 26. Alternatively, the user may
select the desired audio information by the record key 19 and the
play key 15 and play the audio information by a player 16.
[0019] To achieve the function of sound recording with respect to a
picture containing a bar code, a second embodiment of the picture
frame device comprises: a frame 10 fixing a picture 11 therein, the
picture 11 further comprising a first bar code 201 containing at
least a set of audio information, wherein the first bar code 201 is
encoded by the two dimension audio code image encoding technology,
a code reader 12 disposed on the frame 10 at a position associated
with the first bar code 201 and reading the first bar code 201 by
moving the code reader 12, a recorder 23 receiving audio
information, an encoder 24 coupled to the recorder 23 and encoding
the audio information into a second audio file in the format of,
for example, MP3, WAV and MIDI, a bar code generator 25 coupled to
the encoder 24 and used to encode the second audio file into a
second bar code 202, wherein the bar code 202 is obtained by
encoding the second audio file by the two dimension audio image
encoding technology; a bar code storage 22 coupled to the code
reader 12 and the bar code generator 25 and used to store the first
and second bar codes 201, 202 as a record file (No.003) and a print
unit 26 coupled to the bar code storage 22 and used to print the
bar code 20. Through the record file (No.003), a relationship of
mutual index between the first and second bar codes 201, 202 may be
recorded and outputted by a print unit 26 or a display unit 27. In
case the bar codes 201, 202 are not intended to be printed out,
when the picture 11 is disposed into the picture frame device
again, the second bar code 202 may be located through the index of
the record file (NO.003) and fully outputted.
[0020] In above two embodiments, a record function key 19 may be
provided to select a plurality of information. With the operation
of the record key 17, functions of clearing, recording, playing,
displaying or printing may be achieved. In addition, a liquid
crystal display (LCD) 101 may be provided to display information
status associated with the above operations of the picture frame
device.
[0021] FIGS. 3A-3D depict the outlines of the picture frame device
capable of playing and recording sounds according to embodiments of
the present invention, respectively. As shown, each of the bar
codes associated with the code reader may be positioned at the
topside, bottom side, left side or right side of the picture.
Alternatively, the bar codes may be at the topside, bottom side,
left side or right side of the back of the picture.
[0022] FIG. 4 depicts a structure of the code reader of the picture
frame device capable of playing and recording sounds according to a
first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the
code reader 12 is moved manually where the scan unit 13 moves
freely between two ends of the bearing unit 14 so that the reading
of bar code 20 can be achieved. FIG. 5 depicts a structure of the
code reader of the picture frame device capable of playing and
recording sounds according to the second embodiment of present
invention. In this embodiment, the code reader 12 is moved
automatically where the scan unit 13 is triggered to move and scan
through a sound playing key 15. To trigger the scan unit 13, a
first gear 102 is provided on the bearing unit 14 and a second gear
103 is provided on the scan unit 13. The first gear 102 is meshed
and connected electrically to the second gear 103 (the electrical
connection is not shown) so that the second gear 103 is driven to
rotate and the bar code 20 is read automatically.
[0023] While embodiments and applications of this invention have
been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in
the art having the benefit of this disclosure that more
modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing
from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is
not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims
and their equivalents.
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