GB2032677A

GB2032677A - Sound reproduction devices

Info

Publication number: GB2032677A
Application number: GB7933717A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-10-04
Filing date: 1979-09-28
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: GB2032677B

Abstract

A coin operated sound reproduction device in which recordings for selection are recorded on one or more tapes, the recordings being identifiable on the tape by reference signals present on the tape which are compared with identification signals stored in a memory. If more than one tape is used the selection of recordings from more than one tape preferably causes the selected tapes to be moved to a position of readiness to play the selected recording. A display device may be incorporated to display the information of the recordings available to the user on actuation of one or more switches. This obviates the requirement for printed labels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sound reproduction devices This invention relates to sound reproduction devices and more particularly concerns such reproduction devices which are arranged to be coin-operated.

Conventional coin-operated sound reproduction devices e.g. juke boxes contain a bank of disc recordings and selection means whereby a selected disc recording can be played in response to the insertion of the appropriate coin.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the coin operated sound reproduction device incorporates at least one tape loop having recorded thereon a plurality of individual recorded sequences, said sequences being separated by a recorded reference signal, transducer means for reproducing sound from the recording of said tape, and selection means operable by a user of the device to select a particular sequence on said tape, said selection means being arranged to identify the appropriate sequence by means of the recorded reference signals.

The selection means may comprise a selector unit which is arranged to set-up a preselected pulse code whereby a particular sequence on said tape may be selected by identifying the appropriate recorded reference signal.

The selection means may incorporate a pulse sensor device which counts pulses comprising the recorded reference signal as a fast wind motor advances the tape rapidly, and when the appropriate pulse count has been achieved stops the fast wind motor.

Advantageously, the selection means includes a selector unit which has a plurality of selection banks, each selection bank corresponding to a different one of a plurality of pre-recorded tape loops. This arrangement reduces the number of sequences to be recorded on each tape loop for a given total number of recorded sequences and thereby reduces the time required for a reproduction of the appropriate sequence after selection thereof.

Advantageously, the coin operated arrangement is associated with a credit unit and the arrangement is such that a plurality of sequences can be selected by the selection means and maintained in a memory and such sequences will then be reproduced in order of selection until the credit is used up.

Conveniently the selection means is associated with the display means which displays a visual description of the sequence which has been selected. This display may be provided by a projection device which projects the information on to a display screen visible to the user.

In the present specification the term "coin operated" is used to refer to the operation of the device by means of monetary coins or notes or tokens.

It is desirable that the control for the device is a microelectronic device e.g. a micro-processor.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying schematic diagram which illustrates a micro-processor unit 10 on the left hand side and a plurality of associated equipment on the right hand side.

The device comprises credit unit 11 which establishes a credit in response to the number of coins which have been inserted in the machine. The credit unit 11 registers a credit in the micro-processor which actuates a selector unit which forms part of the selection means and may comprise one or more banks of operating buttons. Chosen recordings are then selected by the machine operator and the identity of these recordings is stored in the memory of the micro-processor.

The selector unit 12 generates a pulse chain which is transmitted to the memory of the micro-processor and in response to which signals are sent to a fast tape wind motor 13 and a pulse sensor 14. The pulse sensor 14 senses pre-recorded reference signals e.g. digital codes or bursts of known frequencies on the tape as it is advanced by the fast wind motor 13 and the output pulse from the pulse sensor 14 is recognised by the micro-processor until the appropriate reference signal for the first recording selected is reached. At this point the micro-processor stops the fast wind motor 13 and actuates the play motor 15 which advances the tape at a speed suitable for sound reproduction. It also actuates the transducer in the form of a tape play head 16 and suitable amplifier 17 which is connected to output speakers 18.

The pulse sensor 14 will sense the reference signal which occurs at the end of the sequence being played and before the next successive sequence. Pulses from the pulse sensor 14 will then be delivered to the microprocessor which will then stop the play motor 15 and scan for the next selection, if any, which is stored in the memory. Having found this selection then the tape fast wind motor 13 will be actuated and the procedure described above will be repeated until the next sequence has been played.

Record selections are preferably grouped in a number of sections e.g. A, B, C, D, E with a specified number of recordings e.g. 10 in each bank.

In order to display the selections to a user it is possible to use a plurality of section illumination buttons connected to the micro-processor which can trigger projection means to project, on to a screen, visual information indicating the choice of recordings in that particular section. The micro-processor can be pre-programmed to display this information for a predetermined time such as 30 seconds, or to change the display on operation of the next section illumination button.

If the sound reproduction device has several selection banks then, if selections are made from more than one bank within a short period of time, whilst the first selected recording is being played the tape associated with the second selected bank will be moved to the required position to play the recording selected from that bank. If three or more banks are selected then each associated tape is moved to the required position to play the first selected recording in that bank. This is made possible using the micro-processor by presenting in turn the selections for each bank to be consecutively compared with the reference signals from the associated tapes as each is consecutively wound at high speed.This pre-selection and positioning procedure enables recordings to be played more quickly than for conventional record "juke boxes" which produce a gap of variable length between records due to the movement of the playing arm to the next selected record.

For a sound reproduction device with several selection banks each associated tape loop will preferably have its own tape read head and will be equipped with individual means to move that tape at both high and low speed.

The sound reproduction device described has a number of advantages over disc playing juke boxes. The provision of the sequences on tape is extremely convenient as it not only considerably reduces the size of the device but also greatly facilitates the changing of the pre-recorded sequences since it is merely necessary to insert one or more fresh tape loops which may be in cassettes. It is envisaged that where a plurality of tape loops are employed each tape loop will be pre-recorded with a particular type of sequence.

In addition the device has a considerably reduced number of mechanical moving parts and employs electronic selection and memory which also facilitates reduction in size and contributes to the reliability of the device.

Claims

1. A coin operated sound production device including a credit meter and a selector unit operable to play one or more desired recordings from a plurality of recordings in response to the insertion of a pre-determined fee into the credit meter and to selection of the desired recording by operation of the selector unit, in which the plurality of recordings are recorded in a serial manner on a tape, each recording being identifiable by a recorded reference signal, said device including high and low speed tape drive means and transducer means for reproducing sound and for reading said reference signals from said tape, and in which to play a selected recording the high speed tape drive means and transducer means are initially energised and the reference signals from the tape are compared with the identity of the selected recording as stored in a memory until a match is obtained, at which a signal is generated to reduce the tape drive to low speed and to energise amplification and sound reproduction means to play the selected recording.

2. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 1 in which the identity of a selected recording is a specific pulse code and in which the same specific pulse code is recorded on said tape for comparison on selection of the recording.

3. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the selector unit includes a plurality of selection banks, each selection bank corresponding to a different one of a plurality of pre-recorded tapes, and in which selection of a record from a specific selection bank causes only tape drive means to be actuated for the respective associated pre-recorded tape.

4. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which, in accordance with the valve of the inserted fee a credit is inserted into said credit member and a corresponding plurality of recordings may be selected, each selection being recorded in sequence in said memory.

5. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which on selection of a plurality of recordings from different selection banks the tape associated with each selection bank from which a recording is selected is moved to a position to play the selected recording.

6. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which a further selection means is provided, associated with display means which provides a visual display of the selectabie record sequencies.

7. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in claim 6 in which the display is provided by a projection device which projects the information on to a display screen for a pre-determined period of time.

8. A coin operated sound reproduction device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the memory is electronic and in which the sequence of operations is controlled by instructions stored in a micro-processor.

9. A coin operated sound reproduction device substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.