Handheld record and playback device with flash memory

1. A record/playback device for use with a removable, interchangeable, flash memory recording medium which enables extended recording comparable with tape cassette dictating equipment, said device comprising:

a housing;

a microphone element coupled to the housing and configured to receive and process sound into electrical signals;

control circuitry coupled to the microphone element and including signal input circuitry, amplification circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, memory control circuitry, signal output circuitry and control logic circuitry for performing record and playback functional operations with respect to the electrical signals and other regulated components of the record/playback device;

said switch means coupled to the control circuitry for selecting the desired functional operations to be performed;

a receiving socket electrically coupled to the memory control circuitry and configured for electrical coupling with a flash memory module which operates as sole memory of the received processed sound electrical signals and is capable of retaining recorded digital information for storage in nonvolatile form;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for playback of recorded digital information; and

a power source coupled to the control circuitry for supplying electrical power to the device.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, comprises a flash memory module inserted within the receiving socket and which has the capacity to store digital information without need for ongoing power support.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the flash memory module includes write protect circuitry operable independent of the record/playback device.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the write protect circuitry includes power down circuitry which reduces the voltage of signal being sent to the flash memory module to a level below a required threshold voltage level required to modify memory within the flash memory module.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein the threshold voltage level for the flash memory module is approximately 12 volts, said control circuitry including a DC to DC converter for increasing voltage supplied by the battery source to the 12 volts, said power down circuitry of the write protect circuitry comprising means for disabling the DC to DC converter which supplies the required 12 volts.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a hand held, dictation recording device, configured operation with one-hand control means for performing operational functions including play, record, stop, and rewind.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the switch means comprises a manually operable rocker pad mounted upon the housing such that the rocker pad is pivotable on respective right-angle directions responsive to manipulation of the user's thumb.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, further comprising a record control button isolated from the rocker pad to prevent inadvertent over-write when performing other operational functions.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the receiving socket of the device is configured to be Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) compatible and sized to receive the flash memory module.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, said device further comprising compression circuitry coupled to the memory circuitry for compressing digital signal for storage in the flash memory module.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein the control circuitry includes a Digital Support Processor (DSP) and Coder/Decoder (CODEC) which cooperate to compress data at a ratio of at least 16:1 for storage.

12. A device as defined in claim 1, which further includes a single input jack for alternately receiving both an external Alternating Current/Direct Current (AC/DC) power plug and an earphone plug, thereby eliminating need for separate input plugs.

13. A device as defined in claim 12, wherein the single input jack includes power sensing circuitry to sense a presence of a power input signal applied to the jack and to electrically switch off the speaker and associated circuitry.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, wherein the power sensing circuitry includes (i) means for generating a voltage signal at the single input jack, (ii) means to transmit the voltage signal to a Direct Current (DC) power input of the control circuit and (iii) means within the control circuit for maintaining an electrical connection with the speaker when the voltage signal is present.

15. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a microprocessor having logic instructions for detecting and disabling circuits within the device which can be disabled while not in use, while maintaining other systems in operable status for battery power conservation.

16. A device as defined in claim 15, wherein the microprocessor also includes circuitry shut down means for reducing power requirements of the circuitry on the battery power source down to a minimum circuitry operating level equal to the minimum operational power level of the microprocessor.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein the microprocessor also includes circuitry shut down means for reducing power requirements of the circuitry on the battery power source down to a minimum voltage level sufficient only to trigger the microprocessor to awaken the microprocessor to at least a minimum operating level.

18. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is of sufficiently small dimensions so as to rest within a hand to enable fingers of the hand to simultaneously grip the housing while manipulating a switch means mounted thereon.

19. A record/playback device for use with a removable, interchangeable, flash memory recording medium which enables extended recording comparable with tape cassette dictating equipment, said device comprising:

a housing;

a microphone element coupled to the housing and configured to receive and process sound into electrical signals;

control circuitry coupled to the microphone element and including signal input circuitry, amplification circuitry, memory control circuitry, signal output circuitry and control logic circuitry for performing record and playback functional operations with respect to the electrical signals and other regulated components of the record/playback device;

said switch means coupled to the control circuitry for selecting the desired functional operations to be performed;

a receiving socket electrically coupled to the memory control circuitry and configured for electrical coupling with a recording medium which is capable of retaining recorded digital information for storage;

a flash memory module which operates as sole memory of the received processed sound electrical signals and is capable of retaining recorded digital information for storage in nonvolatile form;

a speaker coupled to the control circuitry for playback of recorded digital information; and

a power source coupled to the control circuitry for supplying electrical power to the device.

20. A device as defined in claim 19, wherein the single input jack includes power sensing circuitry to sense a presence of a power input signal applied to the jack and to electrically switch off the speaker and associated circuitry.

21. A device as defined in claim 19, wherein said power source includes a single input jack for alternately receiving both an external AC/DC power plug and an earphone plug, said single input jack being coupled to the signal output circuitry to provide audio signal to the earphone plug when inserted within the single input jack.

22. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein the power sensing circuitry includes (i) means for generating a voltage signal at the single input jack, (ii) means to transmit the voltage signal to a DC power input of the control circuit and (iii) means within the control circuit for maintaining an electrical connection with the speaker when the voltage signal is present.