Apparatus and methods for displaying text in conjunction with recorded audio programs

Claim 2

An adapter for selectively providing an incoming audio signal to either a sound transducer or to a signal decoder and a display in response to a first or second information type, respectively, the incoming audio signal containing the first and second information types and being generated by an audio source and communicated to the adapter, and displaying the second information type in synchronization with the first information type, the first information type containing audio information, the second information type containing data related to the audio information, the adapter comprising: means for determining whether the first or second information type is contained in the audio signals communicated to the adapter; means for processing the second information type to generate first display information representative of the second information type; sound transducer means for generating sound representative of the first information type; switching means for electrically connecting the incoming audio signal to either the sound transducer in response to the first information type or to the processing means in response to the second information type; means for generating from the first display information second display information in synchronization with the first information type; and a display for displaying the second display information.

Claim 3

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the audio source is a magnetic tape player.

Claim 4

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the sound transducer is speakers or headphones.

Claim 5

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the first information type is music and the second information type is lyrics to the music.

Claim 6

The adapter of claim 1 wherein the first information type is spoken words in a first language and the second information type is a translation of the spoken words in a second language.

Claim 7

An adapter for playing audio and displaying text related to the audio in synchronization with the audio, the adapter being adaptable so that the adapter unalterably communicates audio information on left and right channels from an audio source with two channels to a sound transducer, in response to a first user selected command, and so that the adapter selectively provides the audio to the sound transducer or provides the text to a display, in response to a first and second data type on a magnetic tape respectively, the first data type being audio signals containing audio information and the second data type containing information related to the audio information, in response to the second user selected command, the adapter comprising: input means for receiving audio information and the first and second data types from an audio source; means for identifying the first and second data types; means for processing the second data type to generate display information representative of the second data type; a plurality of sound transducers for generating sound representative of the first data type or the audio information; means for providing the audio information to the plurality of sound transducers in response to the first user selected command; means for electrically providing the first data type connecting the cassette tape player to either the processing means in response to the second data type or the sound transducers in response to the first data type, in response to the second user selected command; and means for displaying the display information representative of the second data type.

Claim 8

An adapter for playing audio and displaying text related to the audio in synchronization with the audio, the adapter being adaptable so that the adapter unalterably communicates audio information on left and right channels from an audio source with two channels to a sound transducer, in response to a first user selected command, and so that the adapter selectively provides the audio to the sound transducer or provides the text to a display, in response to a first and second data type on a magnetic tape respectively, the first data type being audio signals containing audio information and the second data type containing information related to the audio information, in response to the second user selected command, the adapter comprising: input means for receiving audio information and the first and second data types from an audio source; means for identifying the first and second data types; means for processing the second data type to generate display information representative of the second data type; a plurality of sound transducers for generating sound representative of the first data type or the audio information; means for providing the audio information to the plurality of sound transducers in response to the first user selected command; means for electrically providing the first data type connecting the cassette tape player to either the processing means in response to the second data type or the sound transducers in response to the first data type, in response to the second user selected command; and means for displaying the display information representative of the second data type.

Claim 11

An adaptor for displaying text information contained in a first signal type of incoming audio signals from a sound transducer, wherein timing information for displaying portions of the text data is also contained in the first signal type, the adaptor comprising: means for monitoring the incoming audio signals from the sound transducer; means for detecting the first signal type containing text information and timing information; means for converting the text information into display information; means for displaying the display information; means for calculating the time to display portions of the text information based on the timing information; means for controlling the display of portions of the display information on the display means responsive to the calculating means; means for calculating the time to highlight portions of the displayed portions of the second signal; and means for highlighting portions of the displayed portions of the second signal at the calculated time for the highlight.

Claim 12

An adaptor for displaying text information contained in a first signal type of incoming audio signals from a sound transducer, wherein timing information for displaying portions of the text data is also contained in the first signal type, the adaptor comprising: means for monitoring the incoming audio signals from the sound transducer; means for detecting the first signal type containing text information and timing information; means for converting the text information into display information; means for displaying the display information; means for calculating the time to display portions of the text information based on the timing information; means for controlling the display of portions of the display information on the display means responsive to the calculating means; means for calculating the time to highlight portions of the displayed portions of the second signal; and means for highlighting portions of the displayed portions of the second signal at the calculated time for the highlight.

Claim 13

The adaptor of claim 8 where the monitoring means is a microphone.

Claim 14

The adaptor of claim 9 where the display means is a liquid crystal display.

Claim 19

An adapter for an audio source that has an output circuit with an impedance of less than about 5000 ohms, the adapter comprising: an input circuit for receiving an input signal that includes an audio signal and a text signal, the impedance of the input circuit matching the output circuit impedance of the audio source; a visual display; means responsive to the text retrieved signal for generating a digital driving signal for the visual display; means for temporarily storing he text signal means for retrieving the text signal from the storing means in time relationship to the audio signal; means for coupling the driving signal to the display to produce characters representing the text signal; an audio output circuit; and means for routing the audio signal to the audio output circuit so the audio signal sychronized to the characters produced by the display.

Claim 20

An adapter for an audio source that has an output circuit with an impedance of less than about 5000 ohms, the adapter comprising: an input circuit for receiving an input signal that includes an audio signal and a text signal, the impedance of the input circuit matching the output circuit impedance of the audio source; a visual display; means responsive to the text retrieved signal for generating a digital driving signal for the visual display; means for temporarily storing he text signal means for retrieving the text signal from the storing means in time relationship to the audio signal; means for coupling the driving signal to the display to produce characters representing the text signal; an audio output circuit; and means for routing the audio signal to the audio output circuit so the audio signal sychronized to the characters produced by the display.

Claim 21

The adapter of claim 13, in which the output circuit is the audio source is a headphone output jack and the impedance of the adapter input circuit is about 1000 ohms.

Claim 22

The adapter of claim 13, in which the output circuit of the audio source is a line output jack and the impedance of the adapter input circuit is between 1000 and 5000 ohms.

Claim 23

The adapter of claim 13, in which the output circuit of the audio source is a speaker output jack and the impedance of the adapter input circuit is 4 to 8 ohms.

Claim 24

The adapter of claim 13, in which the generating means generates a digital driving signal.

Claim 25

The adapter of claim 13, in which the input circuit receives a stereo input signal.

Claim 26

The adapter of claim 13, in which the frequency response of the input impedance is in the audio frequency band.

Claim 29

The method of claim 20, in which the audio source plays sound signals recorded on a storage medium and the applying step comprises loading into the audio source a storage medium on which an audio program and a coded text signal in the audio frequency band are recorded and operating the audio source to reproduce at the output circuit the audio program and the coded text signal stored on the medium.

Claim 30

The method of claim 21, in which the audio source is a cassette tape player and the loading step comprises loading a cassette tape cartridge in the tape player.

Claim 31

The method of claim 21, in which the audio source is a compact disk player and the loading step comprises loading a compact disk in the compact disk player.

Claim 32

The method of claim 20, in which the audio source is a radio receiver and the applying step comprises broadcasting to the radio receiver a radio signal on which an audio program and a coded text signal in the audio frequency band are modulated and operating the radio receiver to reproduce at the output circuit the audio program and the coded text signal broadcast to the radio receiver.

Claim 33

The method of claim 20, in which the output circuit of the audio source has an output impedance with a frequency response in the audio frequency band.

Claim 34

The method of claim 20, in which the coupling step produces the characters representing the text signal in timed relationship to the audio program.

Claim 35

The method of claim 26, in which the applying step and/or the operating step reproduce the audio program and the coded text signal at the output circuit out of synchronism, the method additionally comprising the step of delaying the coupling to the display driving signal to the display to synchronize the-produced characters to the audio program.

Claim 36

A text display adapter for a stereo audio source that has first and second stereo audio output channels, the adapter comprising: a first input circuit adapted to be connected to the first output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing one stereo channel; a second input circuit adapted to be connected to the second output channel of the source and to receive therefrom an audio signal representing another stereo channel; first and second stereo audio output terminals; a mode switch having first and second states; a visual display device; means in the first state of the mode switch for generating a driving signal for the visual display device responsive to the encoded text signal; means for coupling the driving signal to the display device to produce characters representing the text signal; means in the second state of the mode switch for coupling the audio signal representing the one stereo channel to the first output terminal; and means for coupling the audio signal representing the other stereo channel to the second output terminal.

Claim 37

A text display adapter for a stereo audio source that has first and second stereo audio output channels, the adapter comprising: a first input circuit adapted to be connected to the first output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing one stereo channel; a second input circuit adapted to be connected to the second output channel of the source and to receive therefrom an audio signal representing another stereo channel; first and second stereo audio output terminals; a mode switch having first and second states; a visual display device; means in the first state of the mode switch for generating a driving signal for the visual display device responsive to the encoded text signal; means for coupling the driving signal to the display device to produce characters representing the text signal; means in the second state of the mode switch for coupling the audio signal representing the one stereo channel to the first output terminal; and means for coupling the audio signal representing the other stereo channel to the second output terminal.

Claim 38

The adapter of claim 28, additionally comprising a sound transducer connected to the second output terminal.

Claim 39

The adapter of claim 28, in which the mode switch is manually switchable between the first and second states.

Claim 40

The adapter of claim 28, in which the first input circuit is also adapted to receive a switch operating signal between the encoded text signal and the audio signal representative of the one stereo channel, the adapter additionally comprising means for changing the state of the mode switch responsive to the switch operating signal.

Claim 41

The adapter of claim 28, in which the first and second input circuits comprise the contacts of a stereo headphone jack.

Claim 42

The adapter of claim 28, additionally comprising means for sensing a synchronizing signal at one of the input circuits, the driving means generating a driving signal that displays the text signal in predetermined lines that are timed by the synchronizing signal so as to appear with an appropriate portion of the audio signal.

Claim 43

The adapter of claim 33, additionally comprising means timed by the synchronizing signal for highlighting words of the text signal as the appropriate portion of the audio signal is played.

Claim 44

The adapter of claim 34, in which the source is a tape player, the adapter additionally comprising means for sensing variations in the tape transport speed of the tape player and means for adjusting the timing of the synchronizing signal to correct for speed variations.

Claim 45

The adapter of claim 33, in which the source is a tape player, the adapter additionally comprising means for sensing variations n the tape transport speed of the tape player and means for adjusting the timing of the synchronizing signal to correct for speed variations.

Claim 46

A text display adapter for a stereo audio source that has first and second stereo audio output channels, the adapter comprising: a first input circuit adapted to be connected to the first output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing one stereo channel; a second input circuit adapted to be connected to the second output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing another stereo channel; first and second stereo audio output terminals; a mode switch having first and second states; a visual display device; means in the first state of the mode switch for generating a driving signal for the visual display device responsive to the encoded text signals received by the first and second input circuits; means for coupling the driving signal to the display device to produce characters representing the text signal; and means in the second state of the mode switch for coupling the audio signal representing the one stereo channel to the first output terminal and the audio signal representing the other stereo channel to the second output terminal.

Claim 47

A text display adapter for a stereo audio source that has first and second stereo audio output channels, the adapter comprising: a first input circuit adapted to be connected to the first output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing one stereo channel; a second input circuit adapted to be connected to the second output channel of the source and alternatively to receive therefrom an encoded text signal or an audio signal representing another stereo channel; first and second stereo audio output terminals; a mode switch having first and second states; a visual display device; means in the first state of the mode switch for generating a driving signal for the visual display device responsive to the encoded text signals received by the first and second input circuits; means for coupling the driving signal to the display device to produce characters representing the text signal; and means in the second state of the mode switch for coupling the audio signal representing the one stereo channel to the first output terminal and the audio signal representing the other stereo channel to the second output terminal.