WO2001025955A1

WO2001025955A1 - Portable digital audio device

Info

Publication number: WO2001025955A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/027222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Caville; Tsuen Wan
Original assignee: Yaboom Limited
Priority date: 1999-10-05
Filing date: 2000-10-03
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Also published as: AU7749200A

Abstract

A portable digital audio device digitally generates audio using a speaker (36) and a digital audio circuit (66) having associated memory for electronically storing audio data. The digital audio circuit causes the speaker to generate audio corresponding to the electronically stored audio data. A housing of the device simulates, in miniature, the appearance of a compact disk (CD) jewel box (10) or other audio device or component, etc. The audio device is sized to be held in the palm of a hand. The device is provided with indicia related to the stored digital audio data. For example, the indicia are disposed on a sheet (15) visible through the housing. The housing may be openable, and the sheet removable, and the memory may be removable, so that the device may be provided with different sheets and memories, with each sheet having indicia related to a particular memory coupled to the device.

Description

PORTABLE DIGITAL AUDIO DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to audio devices, and more particularly, to a portable audio device which simulates in miniature a recognized audio package or component, such as a compact disk (CD) package or player, a radio, a tape cassette package or player, or a CD or a tape cassette, or a speaker, etc., and plays audio generated from electronic memory.

Portable compact disk (CD) players and other portable audio devices such as cassette tape players rely on optical and magnetic reading devices which require mechanical components for movement to play back stored music. While these players provide high quality audio, are portable and are held in a hand by many people, they are relatively large and bulky for hand-held use. They are also incompatible with recent compressed audio formats such as the MP3 standard, upon which many sources of digital and high quality audio are being stored, both as players and recorders. In short, these players are no longer compact, and do not take advantage of current advances in audio technology. In addition, they do not provide any novelty, entertainment or fun value aside from the entertainment value of the audio they play.

A need exists for a smaller portable audio device capable of playing high quality audio, which employs current advances in audio technology and which provides a novelty, entertainment or play value in addition to the entertainment value of the audio. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention disclosed herein to provide a portable audio device which is of small size and convenient to hold in one's hand or to carry in a pocket, for example, as a "key chain" item.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable audio device of small size which plays high quality audio.

It is another object of the invention to provide novelty, or entertainment or fun value in connection with the use or carrying of such an audio device in addition to the entertainment value provided by the audio itself.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable audio device which receives and stores the audio without the use of mechanically driven mechanisms for recording and/or playback. It is another object of the invention to provide a portable audio device which is compatible with compressed audio formats.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by an audio device having one or more of the following features: has or receives an electronic memory for storing digital audio data which can be played without the use of mechanically driven mechanisms for recording and/or playback; small size, e.g. as small as 2 inches by 2 inches, and can be carried in the palm of a hand or in a pocket; resembles in miniature an audio device or component such as a compact disk (CD) package (e.g., a CD jewel box) or player, a tape cassette package or player, or a CD or a tape cassette, or a speaker, or a radio, etc., or resemble in actual size such an audio device or component which is palm-sized; the device may or may not be openable; includes indicia, i.e., graphics and/or printed matter, relating to the audio played by the device, e.g., related to an artist or a musical selection played by the device; only plays certain audio, e.g., musical selections related to indicia carried by the device; has a removable and/or re-writable electronic memory; includes a connector for audio input or downloading to the device, e.g., from the Internet or from a computer, e.g., for playing in a streaming mode or for electronic storage; matches indicia with audio to be played by the device, i.e., both the indicia and the audio which the device may play are changeable, so that the device provides added entertainment novelty, or play value in that device can play different audio while still relating the audio and the indicia; the audio device may be configured to only play audio that is related to the indicia currently associated with the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the audio device includes an electronic circuit which generates audio signals based on digital signals input to the device and/or stored (temporarily or permanently) on electronic memory, and a speaker coupled to the electronic circuit, to generate audio corresponding to the digital signals stored in the memory or input to the device. The electronic memory may be removable and replaceable with memory having different digital audio signals, or the memory may be non-removable. The memory may be read only or read/write. The memory may be large enough to store an entire audio piece selected to be played, or may only store part of the selection and be updated with digital audio data stored in or input to device 10 in real time so that the audio is played continuously. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the device may include circuitry for decompressing compressed digital audio signals.

In the preferred embodiment, the device includes a solid prismatic housing holding the electronic circuit, the electronic memory and the speaker, which is configured to simulate in miniature a music CD jewel box and having length and width dimensions substantially smaller than those of a music CD jewel box. However, the device may be configured to simulate other audio devices or components. The housing may be fixed closed, i.e., not intended to be opened in normal use, or it may be openeable similar to a CD jewel box.

The audio device may include indicia related to the electronically stored audio data, which may be positioned below a transparent outer upper panel of the housing, similar to a CD music jewel box. At least one folded or unfolded sheet may be provided for the indicia, again similar to a music CD jewel box. The sheet may be a folded or unfolded single sheet. The indicia may also be affixed to the housing so that it is visible from the exterior thereof, similar to a CD jewel box.

As mentioned, the electronic memory may be non-removably or coupled removable in the electronic circuit. Where the memory is removable, removable sheets of indicia may be provided, each related to the digital audio data stored on at least one removable memory. In addition to the entertainment provided by the audio played by the device, as indicated above, entertainment, novelty or play value is provided by the CD jewel box-like (or other audio device or component) appearance of the device, the indicia associated with the device, the relationships among the indicia, the device and removable memory storing digital audio data, the configuration of the device and/or the electronic memory to play only certain audio according to these relationships, downloading from the Internet or a computer and changing and collecting memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references refer to like or corresponding features, functions or parts, and in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an audio device incorporating the invention; Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the audio device depicted in Fig. 1 held in the palm of a person's hand;

Fig. 3 is a bottom, exploded perspective view of the audio device depicted in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is a top, exploded perspective view of the audio device depicted in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a top, exploded perspective view of an audio device incorporating the invention according to another embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a bottom, perspective exploded view of the audio device depicted in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of an the audio device incorporating the invention according to another embodiment;

Fig. 8 is a side, exploded perspective view of the audio device depicted in Fig. 7 in an open configuration; and

Fig. 9 is a circuit schematic diagram of the electronics in the audio player depicted in any of Figs. 1-8. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Fig. 1, the audio device 10, which resembles in miniature a CD jewel box, plays audio represented by 24 (Fig. 2) from digital audio data permanently or temporarily stored in an electronic memory (external memory 84 or memory in controller 102 in Fig. 9). However, as mentioned above, the device 10 may be configured to resemble or simulate in miniature another audio device or component such as a CD, a CD player, a tape cassette package, a tape cassette player, a tape cassette, a speaker, etc., that is not palm-sized, and in actual size for a device that is palm-sized. The audio may be music, speech, sound effects, etc. The audio device 10 is small enough to be conveniently held in one's hand, and is preferably palm-sized, e.g., 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches, but can be larger or smaller, e.g., from about 2 inches by 2 inches to about 4 inches by 4 inches, or larger. The audio device 10 is of solid prismatic configuration and includes a rectangular outer upper panel 12 and a rectangular outer lower panel 18 (Fig. 3). While the audio device 10 resembles in miniature a CD jewel box holding a music CD, it does not hold an actual miniature CD and is not a miniature CD player. The upper outer panel 12 is connected to the lower outer panel 18 (Figs. 2-4) and forms a housing. Alternatively, a one-piece housing may be provided, which preferably appears to have an upper and lower panel like a CD jewel box. The device 10 may include an aperture or eyelet 20 (Fig. 1) for holding a keychain 22 (Fig. 2) or other device, such as a strap or carrying device, as well as attaching devices such as clips to removably secure the audio device 10 to a garment of a user. The eyelet 20 may also serve to secure and/or to guide external components such as headphones and associated wires.

In the embodiments of the audio devices 10 and 10a shown in Fig. 3-4 and 5-6, respectively, the upper and lower outer panels 12 and 18 are fixed together and not intended to be opened, so that the respective audio device 10, 10a is not openable in normal use, i.e., is permanently closed. For example, the outer upper and lower panels 12, 18 may be attached by screws (not shown) passing through holes 26 in the outer lower panel 18 received in threaded posts 27 in the outer and upper panel 12. Thus, the devices 10 and 10a are not operable as a CD jewel box (miniature or otherwise) during normal use. However, in the embodiment of the audio device 10b depicted in Figs. 7-8, the upper and lower outer panels 12b and 18b are pivoted together so that the audio device 10b is openable and resembles more closely (in miniature) an operating CD jewel box.

The audio devices 10 (Figs. 3-4), 10a (Figs. 5-6) and 10b (Figs. 7-8) all include an electronic circuit 64 (Fig. 9) and a speaker 36. The embodiment of the audio device 10 depicted in Figs. 3-4 includes a speaker housing 32 comprised of an upper speaker panel 33 and a lower speaker panel 34, between which is mounted the speaker 36. The upper speaker panel 33 includes holes 42, and the sound projecting side of the speaker 36 is seated in the speaker housing 32 facing the holes 42, which are registered with the holes 16 and 17 in the outer upper panel 12 and the printed sheet 15 so that the audio 24 from the speaker 36 passes through the registered holes for emission by the audio device 10.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the speaker 36 is held between the upper and lower speaker panels 33, 34 as follows. A concave or cup-like receptacle 43 (Fig. 3) is provided on the inner side 40 of the upper speaker panel 33. The lower speaker panel 34 has a central hole 44 surrounded by a rim 45 (Fig. 4). The speaker 36 has a central hub 46 (Fig. 3) which is received in the central hole 44. A ring 47, made, e.g. of natural or synthetic rubber or other flexible or cushioning material, is positioned around the central hole 44 between the rim 45 of the lower speaker panel 34 and the speaker 36. The speaker 36 includes a peripheral recess 48 (Fig. 3) against which the ring 47 is positioned in the assembled condition of the speaker house 32. The upper and lower speaker panels 33 and 34 are attached by screws (not shown) which pass through holes 49 in the lower speaker panel 34 and are received in threaded posts 50 in the upper speaker panel 33. Alternatively, the coupling of the panels 12, 18 may be by adhesive or by heat-sealing techniques.

5 The inner side 51 (Fig. 3) of the receptacle 43 is curved, e.g., spherically, for better sound transmission from the speaker 36. The outer lower panel 18 may also have a hole 52 therethrough to allow better quality transmission of the sound from the speaker 36. More holes of different sizes and different patterns may also be provided for this function. The speaker 36 may be provided as a diaphragm having a hollow portion or portions, and the ring

10 47 may also be hollow to provide for better transmission of sound as well as to provide a shock absorption function.

The audio device 10 includes indicia 14 (Fig. 1), such as graphics and/or printed matter, related in some way to the audio to be played, similar to jewel boxes holding music CDs. In one embodiment. The indicia 14 may be imprinted on a sheet 15 (Fig. 3)

15 positioned below the upper outer panel 12 and visible therethrough. The outer upper panel 12 may be made of transparent material such as clear plastic, allowing the indicia 14 to be viewable through the outer upper panel 12. Holes 16 are formed through the upper outer panel 12 for emitting the audio. Where a sheet 15 is used, it preferably has holes 17 (Fig. 3) registered with the holes 16 in the upper outer panel 12.

20 In an alternative embodiment, the indicia 14 may be fixed onto the inner or outer surface of the outer upper panel 12, or to the outer surface of the upper speaker panel 33, for example, as a separate sheet by adhesive, or fixed or imprinted as paint or other colored materials. When the indicia 14 is affixed to the outer surface of the outer upper panel 12, the outer upper panel need not be transparent.

25 The indicia 14 may include text and/or artwork to identify the audio to be played by the audio player 10. For example, the indicia 14 may include the name of a singer or a music group, and/or graphics such as individual album artwork, the distinctive iconography of a music group such as the group CHICAGO, or symbols such as the symbol representing the Artist Formerly Known as Prince.

30 To further enhance the simulation of the appearance of a compact disk (CD) jewel box, the upper and lower speaker panels 33, 34 (Fig. 3) may be opaque. Transparent outer panels 12, 18 substantially adjacent to the opaque speaker panels 33, 34 provide an outward appearance simulating a CD jewel box which typically has non-transparent inner surfaces and transparent outer surfaces. In addition, grooves 55 (Fig. 4) are provided along one end portion of the outer surface of the outer upper panel 12 similar to the grooves in a CD jewel box.

The audio device 10 also includes control components 57 (Fig. 3) such as a push button switch 57a, and a slide switch 57b which may be manually activated by the user 28. Referring to Fig. 9, switches 57a and 57b provide trigger inputs to the controller 102, and may be used to activate the audio device, adjust volume, reset the audio device to replay a selection, etc. Where the audio device 10 also receives digital data through an input (e.g. 85 in Fig. 9), one of the switches or an additional switch (e.g., 57c) may be used to control writing digital data to a memory such as memory 84 (Fig. 9).

A battery compartment 58 (Figs. 3-4) is provided in the speaker housing 32 closed by a door 59 hinged to the upper outer panel 12 by a hinge post 60 passing through a bore in the door 59 and received in opposed holes 61 in the outer upper and lower panels. A screw (not shown) passing through a hole (not shown) in the door 59 engages a nut 62 held in the speaker housing 32 to secure the door 59 closed. Removing the screw from the nut 62 allows the door 59 to pivot open and provide access to the battery compartment 58. Button batteries 63 are employed to reduce space requirements in the speaker housing 32. Recesses, referenced generally by 65, are provided in corresponding sides of the upper and lower speaker panels 33, 34 and in the outer upper and lower panels 12, 18 to engage the control components 57 and form the battery compartment 58.

The audio device 10 may also include a connector receptacle 65a (Fig. 3) for receiving a connector such as a plug for audio output 90 (Fig. 9), e.g. to a set of earphones, or a plug for audio input (either analog 91 or digital 85) for playing or storing in memory 84, or a DC power input.

The recesses 65 may also provide for a connection 92 (Fig. 9) to be made from a computing device to the circuit 64 via an interface device 93. The computing device may be a personal computer, a laptop, a palmtop, a kiosk, or a modem for providing the audio data, and such computing devices may include or be connected to a telephone network, the Internet, and/or databases storing and providing such audio data, such as Websites with the audio data in predetermined audio formats.

Fig. 9 illustrates these inputs and outputs only schematically. However, those having skill in the electronics, computer and audio arts can implement audio input and output as described herein from the disclosure herein.

The control components 57 and the batteries 63 are operatively connected in the electronic circuit 64 (Fig. 9), mounted on a printed circuit board 66 (Figs. 3-4) which in turn is operatively connected to the speaker 36 for generating the audio 24. The electronic circuit 64 may be mounted, for example, in a region in the lower speaker panel 34 substantially adjacent to the control components 57 and the batteries 63. The electronic circuit 64 may include or be coupled to the electronic memory 84 (Fig. 9) for storing audio data corresponding to the audio 24 to be generated, and the electronic circuit 64 includes a controller 102 and other circuitry, for example, as shown in Fig. 9 and described herein, for converting the stored audio data to analog audio signals for causing the speaker 36 to generate the audio 24.

It is to be understood that one having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that additional components known in the art may also be included which are not described herein or are not shown. For example, suitable wiring or other connections between the batteries 63, the control components 57, and the audio circuit 64 may be provided. Also, the door 59 may include a conductive portion or surface for electrically engaging the batteries 63 to establish a portion of a conductive path to the circuit 64.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-6, an audio device 10a is provided which is similar to the audio device 10 shown in Fig. 3-4, and similarly is permanently closed and has components and features identical or comparable to those of audio device 10. However, the speaker 36 is mounted to a single panel 72 rather than in a housing 32 formed by upper and lower panels 33, 34. For example, as in audio device 10 (Figs. 3-4), screws (not shown) passing through holes 26 in the outer lower panel 18 may be threaded to threaded posts 50 (Fig. 4) in the outer upper panel 12. The outer panels 12, 18, which may be made of plastic may also be fused together or bonded together, etc. The speaker panel 72 has a speaker receptacle 74 defined by a hole 75 in an inclined shoulder 76. The speaker 36 is held on the speaker panel 72 by a mounting bracket 77 and screws (not shown) pressing through holes 78 in the bracket 77 threaded to posts 79 in the panel 72. The speaker 36 is held inclined relative to the outer panels 12, 18. The inclination of the speaker 36 may be, for example, about 15°. Apertures and recesses 65 are provided in the upper speaker housing 32 to accommodate the control components 57, the door 59, and the batteries 63 which are not shown in Figs. 5-6. Providing a separate speaker housing 32 (Figs. 3-4) or a separate speaker panel 72

(Figs. 5-6) for the speaker provides for good sound quality and secure mounting of the speaker to withstand relatively rough handling. The mounting arrangements at the same time are relatively simple and relatively inexpensive to implement.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of an audio device 10b. Unlike audio devices 10 and 10a, audio device 10b depicted in Figs. 7 and 8 opens. The audio device 10b is shown in a closed configuration in Fig. 7, in which an outer upper panel 12a is pivotally mounted to a base 86. The outer upper panel 12a is transparent so that the indicia 14 on the sheet 15, including artwork, is viewable therethrough in the closed configuration of the device 10b. The outer upper panel 12a may be clear, colored, and/or have holograms, and may be made of, for example, plastic.

Audio device 10b may be of similar construction to that of audio device 10, with the base 86 functioning as a speaker housing having an outer lower panel 18a. The outer upper panel 12a is rotatably mounted to the base 86 using known attachment mechanisms such as a pivot joint 88. Fig. 8 illustrates the audio device 10b in an open configuration, simulating an opened

CD jewel box. As shown in Fig. 8, the indicia 14 may be provided on a separate sheet or sheets 15 of material, such as paper, plastic, glossy paper, etc. to be positioned under the transparent outer upper panel 12a. The inner side of the outer upper panel 12a may have structure such a small tabs 89 along opposite edges thereof for receiving and holding the sheet(s) 15, in the same or generally the same way as in jewel boxes containing CD's. A user 28 may then insert or remove the sheet(s) 15. Where more than one sheet 15 is provided, the sheets may be joined or be part of a larger folded sheet. The sheet or sheets 15 here also simulate the insert provided with many music CDs, which provide lyrics or information about the artist or group, etc.. As described above, the sheet(s) 15 may include apertures 17 through which the audio

24 is transmitted. However, in alternative embodiments, the sheet(s) 15 may lack the apertures 17 in order to preserve the appearance of the artwork, and the audio 24 may be transmitted through the sheet(s) 15 and/or using another audio device, such as a set of earphones. The outer upper panel 12a may also include apertures 16 (Fig. 7) substantially registering with the apertures 17 to facilitate transmission of the audio 24 when the audio device 10b is in the closed position shown in Fig. 7.

To further enhance the simulation of CD jewel box by the audio device 10b, the upper speaker panel 32a may include a portion 96 which simulates a CD stored in the device 10b. The portion 96 may be circular and the area surrounding portion 96 may be depressed so that portion 96 appears raised as a raised disc. A circular depression 97 may be formed in the center of portion 96 to simulate the hole in the center of the CD. The circular portion 96 may also include indicia (not shown) to further enhance the simulation of a CD. In another embodiment, a miniature disk simulating a CD, which may include indicia and a central hole, may be affixed to the outer surface of the upper speaker panel 32a.

In further alternative embodiments, the recesses and apertures 65 (Figs. 3 and 6) may include or may be adapted to support ports for headphones, external power sources, data connections such as serial jacks to receive audio data in, for example, the MP3 format, etc., e.g., downloaded from the Internet or a computer, and appropriate connections (e.g., 85, 90, 91 in Fig. 9) to the electronic circuit 64 may be provided, depending upon the application, as described above. As mentioned above, audio data may be stored in memory internal or external to controller 102 (Fig. 9) which may be any suitable integrated circuit. The audio data stored in such memory may be compressed audio such as data in the MP3 format or compressed in other formats using a public and/or proprietary compression/decompression (CODEC) techniques. The audio devices 10, 10a, 10b and/or the associated electronic circuit 64 may include propriety and/or prior art CODECs for receiving and decompressing such audio data. The memory 84 may also only temporarily store digital audio data as it is input and played by the device 10, 10a, 10b, e.g., in a streaming mode. The audio device 10, 10a, 10b may have a predetermined song initially stored as a predetermined set of audio data in the memory. For example, the memory may be initially loaded at manufacture, and so the audio device 10 is pre-loaded with a single song at the time of purchase. As mentioned above, the indicia 14 can be related in some way to the song. Alternatively, digital audio data may be recorded in the electronic circuit 64 by the user, e.g., downloaded from the Internet or from a computer, or the electronic circuit 64 may be configured to operate with a removable portion (e.g., memory 84) so that different audio may be stored or loaded into the audio device 10. In one embodiment, stored audio data may correspond to a selection or single song, and depending on the size of the memory and the compression of the audio, more than one selection may be stored. The memory 84 may be permanent memory, may be read-only, and/or may be rewritable for retaining audio data corresponding to, for example, six minutes of audio, which is typically sufficient memory for at least a single song. As mentioned, above, the memory can be internal or external to an IC (e.g. 102) including audio circuitry and decompression circuitry. For example, an external memory element or elements 84 may be coupled to the electronic circuit 64. The memory element(s) may be removable, for example, in the form of stick memory for retaining 4, 8, 16, 32 or more megabytes of audio data. Alternatively, the memory elements 84 may be non-removable. The memory may also include the "ZIP CLICK" memory storage devices of "IOMEGA". For example, slots 65b,c (Fig. 4) may be provided in the lower speaker panel 34 and the outer upper panel 12 adjacent PC board 66 for inserting a removable memory element 84.

Those having skill in the electronic and audio arts will know how to implement these features from the disclosure herein. See also U.S. Patent No. 5,607,336, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As discussed above, the audio data stored in the memory used by the electronic circuit 64 may relate to the indicia 14. That is, the audio 24, such as music, generated by the electronic circuit 64 of a particular audio device 10, 10a, 10b may correspond to a particular artist or group represented by the indicia 14. For example, individual audio players 10, 10a, 10b may have a particular song or a relatively small selection of songs from a particular artist, and the indicia 14 on or of the audio devices 10, 10a, 10b reflects the particular artist, such as graphics and/or pictures of the artist, and/or text identifying the artist and/or songs played as audio 24 by the audio devices 10, 10a, 10b. A package may be provided separate from the audio device 10, 10a, 10b, which includes a memory element of a particular artist as well as matching sheets 15 of indicia 14 of the particular artist. Such packages of matching indicia 14 and audio (e.g., removable memory 84) may be sold as a kit with or separate from the audio devices 10, 10a, 10b. Users may then collect matched memory elements 84 and sheets 15. Thus, such packages of graphics and memory may be bought and/or given as gifts, as well as lent or traded to friends. In use, such packages may be applied to one's audio device 10, 10a, 10b by inserting the memory to generate the artist's audio and by inserting the indicia 14 into the audio device 10, 10a, 10b to be viewed as the audio 24 is generated.

5 Accordingly, the audio device 10b readily identifies, by the indicia 14, what music is being played as well as the associated artist.

Audio players 10, 10a, 10b can be configured so they only accept memory elements corresponding to the indicia on the particular device, or enabled electronically only to play audio corresponding to the indicia 14. Those having skill in the electronic and computer arts

10 will also know how to implement this feature mechanically and/or electronically.

Fig. 9 illustrates a circuit diagram of the audio circuit 64. The controller 102 may be implemented by an integrated circuit, as discussed above, and connected to the batteries and to the speaker 36 (via a driver 95) for generating audio from audio data received from memory, such as the memory element 84. The user 28 may control the audio device 10, 10a,

15 10b using simple control functions, such the switches 57a, b, c as described above The controller 102 may be programmed to pause in mid-song, to reset to the beginning of a song, etc. Since the audio 24 is generated digitally, the controller 102 may perform numerous other functions, such as play a song backwards, or even to purge a given song from the memory, if the memory is rewritable. The controller 102 may also mediate (e.g., via interface device 93)

20 the downloading of new or additional audio data from an external data sources, such as the Internet, to internal memory and/or removably inserted memory. Such functions of the controller 102 may incorporate digital audio generation and programming known in the art. While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications, as will be apparent to those of skill in the

25 art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the preferred embodiment discusses using an internal speaker, it is wholly within the purview of the invention to contemplate the incorporation of a jack for headphones or speakers external to, and optionally instead of, an internal speaker in the manner as set forth above. Also, the configuration of the audio device may differ from those shown in the

30 drawings as indicated above. Also, the audio device which is hand-held and preferably palm- sized, may simulate an actual device in miniature or approximately actual size depending upon the actual size of the actual device. Further, audio data may be provided to the audio device in a number of ways, only some of which may have been discussed herein. Accordingly, the invention has been described by way of illustration rather than limitation, and the invention as set forth in the appended clams is thus not limited to the precise details of construction set forth above as such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the defined claims.

Claims

1. A portable audio device comprising: a speaker; an electronic circuit including or having coupled thereto an electronic memory, the speaker being coupled to the electronic circuit, the electronic memory storing audio data and the electronic circuit providing electrical audio signals to the speaker corresponding to audio data stored in the electronic memory; and a solid prismatic housing holding the electronic circuit, the electronic memory and the speaker, the housing being configured to simulate in miniature a music CD jewel box and having length and width dimensions substantially smaller than those of a music CD jewel box.

2. The audio device of claim 1 including indicia related to the electronically stored audio data.

3. The audio device of claim 2 wherein the housing has a transparent outer upper panel under which the indicia is disposed and through which the indicia is visible.

4. The audio device of claim 3 comprising at least one sheet on which the indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel.

5. The audio device of claim 1 comprising an outer upper panel pivotally coupled to the device and rotatable between closed and open configurations.

6. The audio device of claim 5 including indicia related to the electronically stored audio data.

7. The audio device of claim 6 wherein the outer upper panel is transparent and the indicia is disposed under the panel and is visible therethrough.

8. The audio device of claim 7 comprising at least one sheet on which the indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel and being removable from the housing in the open configuration of the device.

9. The audio device of claim 1 wherein the electronic memory is removable, and wherein the device includes means for removably holding the electronic memory coupled in the electronic circuit.

10. The audio device of claim 1 comprising an outer upper panel pivotally coupled to the device and rotatable between closed and open configurations, and at least one sheet on which indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel and being removable from the housing in the open configuration of the device, the sheet having indicia related to the audio data stored on the electronic memory.

11. The audio device of claim 1 wherein the memory permanently stores the digital audio data.

12. A portable audio device comprising: a speaker; at least one speaker panel to which the speaker is mounted; a solid prismatic housing which resembles a music CD jewel box but having length and width dimensions substantially smaller than those of a music CD jewel box, the at least one speaker panel being mounted in the housing; an electronic circuit including or having coupled thereto electronic memory, the speaker being coupled to the electronic circuit, the electronic memory storing audio data and the electronic circuit providing electrical audio signals to the speaker corresponding to audio data stored in the electronic memory.

13. The audio device of claim 12 comprising another speaker panel, the speaker being held between an upper and a lower of the speaker panels connected together, the connected speaker panels being held in the housing.

14. The audio device of claim 12 wherein housing comprises outer upper and lower panels, and wherein the speaker panel is connected to and under the outer lower panel, the outer upper panel being pivotally mounted to the outer lower panel.

15. The audio device of claim 12 wherein the outer upper panel is positioned closely adjacent the speaker panel, the speaker panel and the outer upper panel each being substantially continuous and having a plurality of holes which are registered for purposes of transmission therethrough of sound.

16. The audio device of claim 15 wherein speaker panel has a curved surface adjacent the speaker in which the plurality of holes is provided.

17. The audio device of claim 15 wherein the speaker panel has an inclined portion to which the speaker is mounted, the inclined portion being at an angle of less than 30 degrees with the outer upper panel.

18. The audio device of claim 12 comprising an eyelet connected to the housing to which a keychain or key ring or the like can be connected.

19. The audio device of claim 12 including indicia related to the electronically stored audio data.

20. The audio device of claim 19 wherein the housing has a transparent outer upper panel under which the indicia is disposed and through which the indicia is visible.

21. The audio device of claim 20 comprising at least one sheet on which the indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel.

22. The audio device of claim 19 comprising at least one sheet on which the indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel and being removable from the housing in the open configuration of the device.

23. The audio device of claim 12 wherein the electronic memory is removable, and wherein the device includes means for removably holding the electronic memory coupled in the electronic circuit.

24. The audio device of claim 12 comprising an outer upper panel pivotally coupled to the device and rotatable between closed and open configurations, and at least one sheet on which indicia is fixed, the at least one sheet being positioned below the outer upper panel and being removable from the housing in the open configuration of the device, the sheet having indicia related to the audio data stored on the electronic memory.

25. The audio device of claim 12 wherein the memory permanently stores the digital audio data.

26. The combination comprising: an electronic memory element in which is stored audio data to be played as audio by an audio device, the memory element being adapted to be removably inserted into the audio device; and at least one sheet of indicia related to the audio data stored in the memory element.

27. The combination of claim 26 wherein the audio data corresponds to a single musical selection and the indicia relates in some way to this selection.

28. The combination comprising: a portable audio device comprising an electronic circuit and a speaker coupled thereto; a plurality of electronic memories in each of which is stored different audio data to be played as audio by the audio device, each memory being removably insertable into the audio device and when inserted in the audio device being coupled in the electronic circuit, the electronic circuit providing electrical audio signals to the speaker based on audio data in the electronic memory coupled to the electronic circuit; a plurality of different sheets of indicia, a different sheet for each memory having different audio data; the audio device removably holding a sheet of indicia.

29. The combination of claim 28 wherein the audio device holds the sheet of indicia visible from outside of the device.

30. A portable audio device comprising: a speaker; an electronic circuit including or having coupled thereto an electronic memory, the speaker being coupled to the electronic circuit, the electronic memory storing audio data and the electronic circuit providing electrical audio signals to the speaker corresponding to audio data stored in the electronic memory; and a housing holding the electronic circuit, the electronic memory and the speaker, the housing being configured to simulate in miniature an actual audio player, recorder or component of recognized configuration and having dimensions substantially smaller than those of an actual audio player, recorder or component that is not palm-sized, or simulate in approximately actual size if the actual device is approximately palm-sized.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the memory is not removable from the device.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the memory is removable from the device.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein the memory is rewritable.

34. The device of claim 30 comprising means for writing audio data into the memory down loaded from the Internet or a computer.

35. The device of claim 30 wherein the memory is not rewritable.