Play and record audio system embedded inside a photograph

Abstract

An audio photograph or picture 2 made of a photograph or picture material 6 having an image area 12 for providing at least one photographic or picture image and further having an audio system 4 embedded within the photograph or picture material 6. The audio system 4 comprises a recording system for recording and storing audio information and a playback system for playing audio information. The components of the audio system 4 are made from ultra-thin, compact, and flexible materials, and these components are made paper-thin. The audio system 4 further comprises a power source, a micro-controller 20 for controlling recording and playing of audio information wherein the micro-controller 20 is coupled to the power source 10, a storage memory 24 coupled to the micro-controller 20 for storing the audio information, a recording system coupled to the micro-controller 20 for picking up and storing the audio information in the storage memory 24, and a playback system coupled to the micro-controller 20 for playing the audio information stored in the storage memory 24. The embedded audio system 4 is able to receivingly couple to an audio device for transferring the audio information between the audio device and the storage memory 24 of the audio system 4.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A photographic and audio recording and play back medium comprising: 
 a. an image recording area located on an external surface of the medium; and    b. an audio system carried by the medium, the audio system including: 
 (i) an audio receiver including an input for audio sound and an output comprised of an analog electrical signal that varies in accordance with variations in the audio sound received at the input;  
 (ii) an analog to digital converter coupled to the audio receiver and configured to convert the analog signals output from the receiver into corresponding digital audio data signal;  
 (iii) a digital memory operable to store digital audio data; and  
 (iv) a digital controller coupled to the analog to digital converter and to the digital memory, and programmed to direct the storage of digital audio data in the digital memory.  
   
     
     
         2 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 1  wherein the audio system further comprises: 
 (a) an audio speaker including an input for a varying analog signal and an output for emitting audio sound that varies in accordance with variations in the analog signal input to the speaker;  
 (b) a digital to analog converter coupled to the digital controller and the audio speaker; and wherein the digital controller is programmed to read digital audio data from the digital memory, direct the read digital data to the digital-to-analog converter, and control the digital-to-analog converter to pass an analog signal to the input of the audio speaker which signal varies in accordance with variations in the digital audio data stored and read from the digital memory.  
 
     
     
         3 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 2  wherein the audio system is at least partially embedded under the image recording area located on an external surface of the medium.  
     
     
         4 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 2  wherein the audio system is at least partially carried by a border area outside the image recording area located on an external surface of the medium.  
     
     
         5 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 2  further comprising a control switch for the audio system.  
     
     
         6 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 5  wherein the control switch is coupled to the digital controller and initiates the controller to read digital audio data from the digital memory, direct the read digital data to the digital-to-analog converter, and control the digital-to-analog converter to pass an analog signal to the input of the audio speaker.  
     
     
         7 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 6  wherein the control switch comprises a pressure sensitive switch carried by the medium.  
     
     
         8 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 6  wherein the control switch comprises an electrical switch carried by the medium.  
     
     
         9 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 8  wherein the electrical control switch includes a secondary input that is activated by an external source.  
     
     
         10 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 9  wherein the external source is a camera.  
     
     
         11 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 9  wherein the external source is a switch located on a camera in which the medium is carried.  
     
     
         12 . The photographic and audio recording and play back medium of  claim 5  wherein the control switch is coupled to the digital controller and selectively initiates the controller to store digital audio data from the analog-to-digital converter.  
     
     
         13 . A photographic and audio recording and play back medium comprising: 
 a. an image recording area located on an external surface of the medium;    b. an audio system carried by the medium, and including: 
 (i) an audio input circuit configured to receive analog audio signals and generate digital audio output signals;  
 (ii) a digital memory operable to store digital audio data corresponding to the digital audio signals output from the audio input circuit;  
 (iii) an audio output circuit including a speaker and configured to receive digital audio signals and emit through the speaker audible sound corresponding to the digital audio signals; and  
 (iv) a digital controller coupled to the audio input circuit, digital memory, and audio output circuit, and programmed to direct storage of digital audio data in the digital memory, reading of digital audio data from the memory, and generation of audible sound through the speaker corresponding to the digital audio data read from the memory.