BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The field of the invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a photo-manager with audio playing and
recording functions, and more particularly to photo-manager comprising an identifying
device adapted for identifying an identification code of a photo and transmitting
the code to a micro-controller where the micro-controller locates a corresponding
address from an audio recorder/player chip according to the identification code in
order to play the audio signal stored at the address using an audio device or store
the audio signal received by the audio device into the address. Thus, the user can
record various sound signal related to photos without using other storage devices
and thereby reducing the cost and make the product very attractive to users.
2. Description of related art
[0002] Presently, new technologies are rapidly being developed with view of providing more
convenience to users and improve efficiency. For example, the technology developed
from development of camera in the olden days to video camera and further to latest
digital video camera allowing users to record and store the text/image data as pleasant
memories. However, digital video camera requires other hi-tech products to coordinate
with to play the recorded data, such as the computer, and therefore the cost is high.
Furthermore, video camera captures motion images consisting of a plurality of serial
frame images, which cannot be converted into still pictures, and that users can view
motion picture on the monitor using video player. For preserving any interesting images
as a memory, a user may choose to use a camera to capture these images in a film and
develop the film to obtain photos that can be viewed anytime, and such convenience
to users is indispensable. However, the drawback is that the camera cannot express
the feeling or the situation at the time of capturing the picture. Accordingly, some
manufactures proposed to develop a product including a photo frame with the audio
player and recorder for providing sound output and recording functions. Referring
to Figs.
6 and
7, the frame
A comprises a space
A1 for placing the photo and a circuit board
B is disposed inside the frame
A. The circuit board
B comprises an audio processor
B1, a DRAM
B2, a sound receiver
B3, an amplifier
B4, a speaker
B5, a touch mode switch
B6 and an extended recording button
A2. When the user presses the recording button
A2, the sound signal is transmitted via the sound receiver
B3 to the audio processor
B1 where it is converted into the digital signal and stored into the DRAM
B2. When the user touches the touch mode switch
B6, the audio play function is activated for converting the audio digital signal into
the audio analog signal and the sound is output via the amplifier
B4 to the speaker
B5.
[0003] However, the conventional touch mode photo frame product with the audio recorder
and player functions described above has several defects as follows.
[0004] Only one audio signal for one photo can be stored and played, and it is usual for
users desiring to have more photos, which would require more frames for storing corresponding
audio signal and therefore not cost effective.
[0005] The audio signal recorded cannot change according to the photo, and therefore the
user has to redo the recording when changing the photo. Accordingly, it provides inconvenience
to the users and cannot be commercially attractive on the market.
[0006] Therefore, to overcome the above defects is an important issue to the manufacturer
in the field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, in the view of the foregoing, the present inventor makes a detailed
study of related art to evaluate and consider, and uses years of accumulated experience
in this field, and through several experiments, to create a new photo-manager. The
present invention provides an innovated cost effective photo-manager for providing
more convenience to users.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, an identifying device is adapted
for identifying an identification code of a photo and for transmitting the identification
code to a micro-controller, and the micro-controller locates the corresponding address
from a audio recorder/player chip according to the identification code in order to
play the audio signal stored at the address through an audio device or the audio signal
received by the audio device is stored in the address. Accordingly, users may record
various sound data related to the photos without requiring other storage devices,
and therefore the photo-manger according to an embodiment of the present invention
is comparatively inexpensive and more attractive on the market.
[0009] It would be more relevant and appropriate to parallel the current invention with
the photo album whether a talking or convention non-talking photo album. The key feature
of the current invention is giving each photo an ID, thereby providing these advantages.
[0010] 1. Unlike conventional talking photo album, the current invention does not require
individual photo to be assembled together, each photo can be recorded and playback
independent of others.
[0011] 2. The photo can be stored randomly or arranged in any order and category.
[0012] 3. Numbers of photos are expandable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference will now be
made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction
with the following accompanying drawings.
[0014] Fig.
1 is a flowchart of a photo-manager according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Fig.
2 is an exemplary photo according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] Fig.
3 is an elevational view of a photo-manager according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] Fig.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of playing audio data according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0018] Fig.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of recording audio data according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0019] Fig.
6 is an elevational view of a conventional touch mode photo frame product.
[0020] Fig.
7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a conventional touch mode photo frame
product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Reference will be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples
of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same
reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same
or like parts.
[0022] Referring to Figs.
1,
2 and
3, the photo-manager comprises a micro-controller
1, an audio recorder/player chip
2, an identifying device
3, a controller
4, an audio device
5, an indication device
6, a power supplier
7, photos
8, a manager device
9 and a buzzer
10.
[0023] The manager device
9 according to an embodiment of the present invention is adapted for receiving and
managing the photos
8.
[0024] The micro-controller
1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in the manager device
9 and is adapted for receiving an identification code
81 of each photo
8 identified by the identification device
3 and for locating storage address corresponding to the identification code
81 in the audio recorder/player chip
2.
[0025] The audio recorder/player chip
2 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1 and is adapted for storing or playing the audio signal.
[0026] The identifying device
3 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1 and comprises a reader
31 for reading an identification code
81 of each photo
8 and a positioning switch
32 for sensing whether or not the photos
8 are in correct position.
[0027] The controller
4 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1. The controller
4 comprises a recording button
41 and the playing button
42. The recording button
41 and the playing button
42 are adapted for giving command to the audio recorder/player chip
2 for recording/playing the audio signal.
[0028] The audio device
5 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microphone
51 and a speaker
52 connected to the audio recorder/player chip
2 via pre-amplifiers
53 and amplifiers
54 respectively.
[0029] The indication device
6 according to embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1 and comprises the playing indicator
61 and the recording indicator
62 for displaying the operation status.
[0030] The power supplier
7 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1 and the audio recorder/player chip
2 and is adapted for supplying the power needed for operating the photo-manager.
[0031] The buzzer
10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to the micro-controller
1, wherein when an error occurs, for example, due to an unidentifiable code, the micro-controller
1 enables the buzzer
10 for outputting a warning sound.
[0032] Hereinafter, procedure for playing the audio signal according to an embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.
1,
2 and
4 as follows:
at step 300, the procedure starts;
at step 310, the photo 8 is placed into the identifying device 3 such that the photo contacts the positioning switch 32, and the reader 31 reads the identification code 81 of the photo 8;
at step 320, the identification code 81 read by the identifying device 3 is transmitted to the micro-controller 1 where whether or not the identification code 81 is acceptable by the manager device 9 is judged, wherein when it is judged that the identification code 81 is acceptable, the procedure proceeds to step 330 and if not, the procedure proceeds to step 340;
at step 330, the micro-controller 1 transmits the identification code 81 to the audio recorder/player chip 2 for playing the audio signal corresponding to the identification code 81 via the amplifier 54 to the speaker 52, and meanwhile, the micro-controller 1 turns on the playing indicator 61 of the indication device 6.
at step 340, the micro-controller 1 sends an error signal to activate the buzzer 10 to output a warning sound; and
the procedure ends at step 350.
[0033] Furthermore, when there is no photo
8 and the user executes the audio player function by pressing the playing button
42, the micro-controller
1 replays the audio signal according to the previously stored address.
[0034] Hereinafter, the procedure of recording audio signal according to an embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.
1,
2 and
5 as follows:
at step 400, the procedure starts;
at step 410, the recording button 41 is activated;
at step 420, whether any acceptable photo 8 in the identifying device 3 is determined, when an acceptable photo 8 is determined in the identifying device 3, the procedure proceeds to step 430 and if not, the procedure proceeds to step 450;
at step 430, the micro-controller 1 transmits the identification code 81 to the audio recorder/player chip 2 and the recording indicator 62 of the indication device 6 is turned on at the same time, the audio signal received by the microphone 51 is transmitted via the pre-amplifier 53 to the audio recorder/player chip 2 and the audio recorder/player chip 2 stores the audio signal in the address corresponding to the identification code 81;
at step 440, after the recording is completed, the micro-controller 1 turns off the recording indicator 62 of the indication device 6 and the audio recorder/player chip 2 plays the audio signal stored in the address corresponding to the identification
code 81 via the amplifier 54 to the speaker 52, and the procedure proceeds step 460;
at step 450, the micro-controller 1 sends an error signal to activate the buzzer 10 to output a warning sound; and
the procedure ends at step 460.
[0035] Further, the latest data stored overwrites the previously recorded data.
[0036] And, the reader
31 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be a barcode reader, an optical
sensor, a mechanical card reader or an electrical carbon or conductive copper foil
reader.
[0037] According to an aspect of the present invention, the identifying device
3 is adapted for reading the identification code
81 of the photo
8, which is then transmitted to the micro-controller
1 where the storage address stored in the audio recorder/player chip
2 corresponding to the identification code
81 is located and the audio signal is output via the audio device
5. The micro-controller
1 is also adapted for storing the audio signal received by the audio device
5 into the corresponding address, and therefore the audio signal can be altered according
to the photos and the sound signal for different photos can be output without requiring
any other storage device. Accordingly, the photo-manager of the present invention
is substantially inexpensive compared to the conventional touch mode photo frame product.
[0038] While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific best mode,
it is to be understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly,
it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations in
which fall within the spirit and scope of the included claims. All matters set forth
herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted in an illustrative
and non-limiting sense.
1. A photo-manager, comprising:
an identifying device, for identifying an identification code of a photo;
a micro-controller, connected to said identifying device;
an audio recorder/player chip, connected to an audio device, for recording/playing
audio signal stored therein, wherein when said identifying device identifies said
identification code of said photo and transmits said identification code to said micro-controller,
said micro-controller locates an address corresponding to said identification code
stored in said audio recorder/player chip to play an audio signal corresponding to
said address via said audio device or an audio signal received by said audio device
is stored in said corresponding address.
2. The photo-manager according to claim 1, wherein said identifying device comprises
a reader and a positioning switch.
3. The photo-manager according to claim 2, wherein said reader comprises a barcode reader.
4. The photo-manager according to claim 2, wherein said reader comprises an optical sensor.
5. The photo-manager according to claim 1, wherein said identification code comprises
a barcode.
6. The photo-manager according to claim 1, wherein said identification code comprises
an optical coded aperture.
7. The photo-manager according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a recording
button and a playing button.
8. The photo-manager according to claim 1, wherein said manager device comprises a photo
album.
9. A method of playing an audio signal using a photo-manager comprising:
(a) starting said method of playing audio signal in said photo-manager;
(b) placing a photo into an identifying device and reading said identification code
of said photo;
(c) transmitting said identification code read by said identifying device to a micro-controller
and judging whether said identification code is acceptable by said identifying device,
wherein when it is determined that said identification code is acceptable, proceeding
to step (d);
(d) transmitting said identification code to said audio recorder/player chip for playing
audio signal stored in an address corresponding to said identification code via an
audio device; and
(e) ending said method of playing in said photo-manager.
10. A method of recording an audio signal using a photo-manager comprising:
(a) starting said method of recording audio signal in said photo-manager;
(b) pressing said recording button;
(c) judging whether an acceptable photo is loaded in an identifying device of said
photo-manager, wherein when it is determined that an acceptable photo is loaded in
said identifying device, proceeding to step (d);
(d) transmitting said identification code to said audio recorder/player chip, and
storing said audio signal in said audio recorder/player chip to an address corresponding
to said identification code;
(e) playing said audio signal stored in said address corresponding to said identification
code via said audio device; and
(f) ending said method of recording audio signal in photo-manager.