Small light weight voice recorder is worn by a user as a short term memory aid. It has a single, large, readily accessible control button on its front face. The device has two alternating operating modes, each of which is initiated by actuating the same button in the same way. In a first mode the device records a brief spoken message. In the second mode the message is played back. The device has all solid state components with no moving parts for durability, freedom from maintenance and low battery drain. It is especially useful for those with failing memory who may find the complexities and dexterity requirements of conventional recording devices beyond their capabilities. An alternative embodiment of the invention includes covered, rear mounted controls that are easily accessed and operated for playing back the recorded message at a preset time. This feature is designed to not interfere with the primary function of record and playback by alternate operation of a single button.
A data storing/reproducing apparatus includes a storing unit for storing inputted data, a range designating unit for designating an arbitrary range within the inputted data, an outputting unit for outputting the data stored in the storing unit, and a control unit for not outputting data in a range designated by said range designating unit when the data stored in the storing unit is outputted from the outputting unit. In this data storing/reproducing apparatus, when voice or sound is externally entered to be stored in the storing unit, and voice data is reproduced/outputted, a range used to limit the voice data output is set by the range setting unit. Then, when the data stored in the storing means is outputted by the outputting unit, since no data is outputted only in the designated range under control of the control unit, the secrecy of the stored voice data can be maintained.
The invention relates to a portable voice recording device. The device includes a microphone for generating an electrical signal representative of an acoustic speech signal. An analog to digital converter receives the electric signal from the microphone and generates a digital memory signal representative of the electric signal. A memory device stores the digital memory signal. In response to a user's request, a digital to analog converter converts the memory signal to an analog electrical signal which drives a loudspeaker to generate an acoustic reproduction of the original speech signal. Also, in response to a user's request, the device transmits the memory signal to an output terminal for transmission to a processing device.
A portable voice recording device has a microphone for generating an electrical microphone signal representative of an acoustic speech signal, a memory device for storing a memory signal representative of the electric signal, and an output port controller for rapidly transmitting the memory signal to a remote device at a rate greater than the rate at which the microphone signal was generated.
A communication system with interchangeable overlays for recording and playing audio data corresponding to graphical and/or textual elements on an overlay wherein the audio data is stored upon the overlay. The communication system with interchangeable overlays includes a communication device having a touch pad integrated within, an overlay removably positionable within the communication unit, and a control unit attached to the overlay. An interface within the control unit allows communication with the communication unit when the overlay is positioned upon the touch pad. The control unit has two main types of recordable data contained within: "structure data" for identifying one or more elements upon the overlay, and "audio data" that corresponds to the elements of the overlay.
A light-weight adhesive note recording device (12) records sounds (22) and written text (20) and attaches to a plurality of different types of surfaces (14). Recording circuitry (34) receives and records sounds (22) as a plurality of digital signals. Memory circuitry (38) stores digital signals, and speaker circuitry (40) plays back digital signals as recordings of sounds (22). Control circuitry (36) controls operation of recording circuitry (34), memory circuit (38), and speaker circuitry (40). Power source (44) provides power to operate recording device (12). Text surface (26) is used for writing or printing written text or message (20). Adhering mechanism (54) adheres recording device (12) to a wide variety of surfaces (14). Recording device (12) has sufficiently small size and a flat writing or text surface (26) for repeated use as an adhesive note recording device.
