Audio system programmable for recording preselected audio broadcasts

An audio system capable of being manually controlled to output sound data of a broadcast for immediate listening while automatically recording a preselected broadcast, said audio system comprising:

• (a) at least two radio receiving means, each capable of independently receiving audio signals;
• (b) recording-and-reproducing means comprising a data storage means, for recording audio signals to said data storage means and for reproducing recorded audio signals from said data storage means;
• (c) sound data output means for outputting audio signals generated by either one of said at least two radio receiving means and by said recording-and-reproducing means;
• (d) a plurality of manually-operable input means comprising channel-frequency-setting input means and time-setting input means for setting program data of a program, including program channel-frequency data and program time data;
• (e) memory storing means for storing said program data input by said plurality of manually-operable input means;
• (f) clock means for affording current time data;
• (g) at least two channel selecting means, one being responsive to a signal generated in accordance with automatic activation of said program channel-frequency data for generating and holding a channel selecting signal so as to control one of said at least two radio receiving means for receiving audio signals at a preselected channel frequency in accordance with said program data, and another of said at least two channel selecting means being responsive to a signal generated in accordance with manual activation of said program channel-frequency input means for generating and holding a channel selecting signal so as to control another of said at least two radio receiving means for receiving audio signals at a channel frequency manually selected;
• (h) system control microprocessor means for detecting when a current time from said clock means coincides with said program time data stored in said memory storing means, and for causing said one of said at least two channel selecting means to generate and hold a channel selecting signal in accordance with said program channel-frequency data, so as to actuate said recording-and-reproducing means for performing information recording in accordance with said program data;
• and
• (i) a power supply system comprising a power source means, a first set of power distributing means and a second set of power distributing means, said power source means selectively supplying power to said system control microprocessor means through one of said first and second sets of power distributing means, said first set of power distributing means being manually controllable for distributing power from said power source at least to said another of said two radio receiving means and to said recording-and-reproducing means, and said second set of power distributing means being controllable by said system control microprocessor means for distributing power from said power source at least to said one of said at least two radio receiving means and to said recording-and-reproducing means in accordance with said program data.

An audio system programmable for controlling at least a series of constant-time-length radio broadcast events said audio system comprising:

• (a) at least one radio receiving means for receiving audio signals;
• (b) recording-and-reproducing means for recording audio signals and for reproducing recorded audio signals;
• (c) a plurality of manually-operable input means for setting program data of a program, including program channel-frequency data and program time data;
• (d) writable memory storing means for storing said program data input by said plurality of manually-operable input means;
• (e) read only memory means;
• (f) a first set of basic instructions stored in said read only memory means, for requesting an input of said program time data to include program starting-time data defining the starting time point of the first event of a series of constant-time-length events of a program, event length data defining said constant time length for each event of said program to last each time, event cycle time defining the time length between two successive events, event-cycle value defining the total number of constant-time-length events to take place for one programmed day;
• (g) a second set of basic instructions stored in said read only memory means, for effecting a computation of event ending-time data and next event starting-time data in accordance with said program time data stored in said writable memory storing means;
• (h) dock means for affording current time data;
• (i) microprocessor means for processing the request of inputting said program time data to said writable memory storing means in accordance with said first set of basic instructions, for computing said event ending-time data and said next event starting-time data from said program time data stored in said writable memory storing means in accordance with said second set of basic instructions stored in said read only memory means, for effecting the proceeding of storing said computed time data to said writable memory storing means, and for determining when a current time from said clock means coincides with said computed time data stored in said writable memory storing means, so as to actuate said control system to control a periodic occurrence of said constant-time-length events in accordance with said program data;
• and
• (j) a power supply system comprising a power source means and a set of power distributing means, said power source means selectively supplying power to said microprocessor means through said set of power distributing means, said set of power distributing means being controllable by said microprocessor means for distributing power in accordance with said program data.