Abstract: An ornament is supported and moved by an apparatus which also includes a cassette tape player for providing accompanying sound.

Abstract: The identity of a desired video disk is compared to the identity of a video disk in use in a video disk player. If the desired video disk is not the same as the video disk in the player, instructions are given to change the video disk, and a comparison is again made.

Abstract: A pillow/audio system combination functioning as both a pillow and an audio system. A substantially rectangularly-shaped pillow casing has stuffing material therein. An audio signal generating device such as a tape recorder is provided within the pillow casing along with a speaker and a battery for providing audible sound. Switches are provided at the corners of the pillow and are connected to the signal generating device for energizing and deenergizing the same. A battery jack is provided on the pillow casing for recharging the batteries therein. An audio jack is also provided on the pillow casing for connecting to a piggyback pillow having therein a speaker, which also generates audible sound via the signal received through the audio jack and an audio extension cord. A pocket is provided within the pillow casing for housing the various components of the audio system.

Abstract: A dictation machine having the physical configuration of a telephone handset. A mouth piece and an ear piece are arranged at opposite ends of a elongated housing having a handgrip between the ends. A tape deck is arranged in the handgrip, preferably in a flat face facing in the same direction as the mouth piece and ear piece. A start/stop key is arranged on a side of the handgrip, and other control keys are arranged in transition areas between the deck and the mouth piece or ear piece, so that the keys can be operated by the fingers of a hand which is holding the handset.

Abstract: A vehicle safety and personal message system primarily designed to be incorporated into a vehicle to provide the driver with a pre-recorded speech message pertaining to either a vehicle safety alert or a personal message. The safety alerts include such events as: door ajar, burgler alarm ON or OFF, speed limit exceeded and a fire/police siren detector. The personalized messages includes reminders such as birth dates, anniversaries, meeting date/time and scheduled maintenance periods. All the messages can be recorded in any language and in any local or ethnic jargon and the personal messages may be programmed to occur at anytime within a one-year period. Although the system's primary usage is for vehicles, it can also be adapted for use on many other products that utilize short messages. These products include robotics, ATM machines, telephone answering machines, fire detection devices, toys and numerous other consumer oriented products.

Abstract: A door message apparatus has a control unit which responds to operation of a doorbell switch to connect a door speaker/microphone to an automatic telephone answering and recording machine. The control unit applies a ring signal to the answering machine so that the machine then plays back a prerecorded message which is broadcast to the door caller. After the playback, the door caller may talk into the door speaker/microphone to produce a message which is recorded by the answering machine.

Abstract: A variable mode numerical display for a record/playback device normally displays a numerical count representing the present position of the record medium used with that device and is operable to interrupt this normal display so as to display the number of a message that was last-recorded or that is in position for playback or to display the number of an instruction that was last-recorded or that has been reached. Also, a bar graph display is comprised of plural visual display elements which are selectively energized as a function of the interval that separates successive pulses that are generated in conjunction with the movement of the record medium. The variable mode and bar graph displays are controlled by a processor.

Abstract: Printer apparatus for use with a dictation system including a changer device having an input stack, a recording deck for recording dictated messages, and an output stack for storing recording media onto which dictated messages have been recorded. The changer device further includes an optical reading element for reading identifying indicia on the recording medium in the recording deck. This information along with other information such as the number of dictated messages recorded on the recording medium, the time of day, etc. are printed out by the printer.

Abstract: A car stereo set is disposed in a dead space inside a car which can be reached by a person sitting on the rear seat of the car, e.g. a central armrest, side armrest, rear side wall, or the back of a front seat. The car stereo set may be reduced to unit configuration so that it may start a sound reproduction operation immediately when it is inserted into a receptacle formed inside or outside the car. Further, the car stereo set may include a pair of car stereo units (both of which include a tape recorder) and a stereo switching mechanism. When a cassette tape is inserted into the tape recorder--of one unit--reproduction of the other car stereo unit is interrupted, a cassette tape inside the tape recorder--of the other unit--is ejected, and a reproduction operation based on the newly inserted cassette is started.

Abstract: A video recording system includes a combination of a cassette type video recorder and a portable video camera, in which the recorder is provided with a battery for supplying power to both parts.The camera has first and second switches which are so made that the switches are operated in sequence for controlling an operating condition of the recorder and camera. When the first switch is actuated, a shooting operation of the camera is started and the recorder is set into a stand-by state for recording. Then by an actuation of the second switch a recording operation of the recorder is started.

Abstract: An audio system for portable high fidelity reproduction, to provide a sensation of being surrounded by a three-dimensional field of lifelike sound events, comprises a set of miniaturized electro-acoustical devices adapted to each other and for battery-operated high fidelity reproductions and designed to be supported by or built into an interconnecting belt-like garment, so as to be worn in contact with the listener's body without causing any discomfort or encumbrance. The system may further employ one or more pairs of small-size binaural transducers with open-air high fidelity characteristics, and its circuitry is designed for binaural radiation and for optimal frequency response and perfect space reproduction through a given transducer type.

Abstract: A pulse generating electronic circuit is utilized as a matching network between a line operated video tape recorder (VTR) and a battery powered portable camera. Through the use of appropriate logic circuitry, the pause control button of the VTR, which normally operates to provide an on or off signal pulse, is disabled, and the time delay experienced by a camera activated electrical signal passing through the VTR electronics is utilized to generate the on or off signal pulse.

Abstract: A improvement in a combination for responding to an emergency, characterized by audible instruction means for instructing a participant in handling the emergency and an activator for activating the instruction means to give particular audible instructions to the participant handling the particular emergency so that the participant can use both hands and eyes in treating the emergency rather than having to read instructions or the like. In specific aspects, multiple instructions may be included with a selector for selecting a particular emergency; or a particular type of emergency such as instruction and precautions for a particular type of fire extinguisher may be implaced at a particular location for a particular type fire extinguisher or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sound distribution system for a drive-in theatre. The system comprises means for converting the sound track of a film into an audio information signal and means for transmitting the signal to at least one sound reproducing apparatus. The sound reproducing apparatus is for use with a magnetic playback apparatus having at least one playback head and a cassette or cartridge receiving aperture. The sound reproducing apparatus includes a transducer having at least one transfer head and alignment means for receiving the transfer head and for maintaining the head in a spatial position relative to the alignment means, whereby when the sound reproducing apparatus is inserted into the receiving aperture the transfer head is aligned opposite a respective playback head of the playback apparatus so that the signals may be reproduced as sound by the playback apparatus.