Gaming apparatus including platform

• US 20050208458A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soto, Jorge G., Hartzell, Andrew, McCabe, Emily, Smith, Rachael S., Denniston, Christine, Norstad, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US10/966,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20050208458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/128
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/063 with hand-placed probe or plug

Abstract

Game apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for interactive play by a user. In preferred embodiments, the game apparatus is comprised of a platform having a surface and a print medium having print elements corresponding to a game, wherein the print medium is capable of being received on the surface of the platform. By positioning the print medium on the platform, the game becomes interactive for the user. The platform includes an array of electrical elements under the surface which are coupled to a processor unit. The processor unit is coupled to a memory device having code which provides for the interactive gaming experience for the user.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a platform including a surface, an array of electrical elements under the surface, and a processor unit coupled to the array of electrical elements;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a user activated switch coupled to the platform, the user activated switch capable of being in electrical communication with the processor; and

a print medium including print elements corresponding to a game, wherein the print medium is capable of being received on the surface.

2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user activated switch comprises a pressure switch.

3. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user activated switch is removably coupled with the platform.

4. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a memory cartridge removably coupled with the platform.

5. The game as in claim 4, wherein the user activated switch is attached to the memory cartridge, and wherein coupling of the memory cartridge with the platform couples the user activated switch with the platform.

6. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user activated switch is a first user activated switch and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second user activated switch.

7. The game apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the memory device includes code for an audio output corresponding to at least one of the print elements.

8. The game apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the memory device includes code for an audio output corresponding to activation of the user activated switch.

9. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical elements comprise transmitting antenna elements.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a platform including a surface, an array of electrical elements under the surface, and a processor unit coupled to the array of electrical elements;

a memory device coupled to the processor;

a print medium including print elements corresponding to a game having marker spaces, wherein the print medium is capable of being received on the surface; and

a marker positionable on the print medium and moveable along the marker spaces.

11. A gaming system as in claim 10, wherein the memory device includes code for identifying the position of the marker on the marker spaces.

12. A gaming system as in claim 10, wherein the marker spaces include at least one subject space correlated to a subject category.

13. A gaming system as in claim 12, wherein the subject category is selected from the group consisting of language arts, math, social studies, life sciences and physical science.

14. A gaming system as in claim 10, wherein the memory device includes code for providing a question related to at least one of the marker spaces.

15. A gaming system as in claim 14, wherein the question comprises a multiple choice question.

16. A gaming system as claim 14, wherein the at least one of the marker spaces is correlated to a subject category and the question is related to the subject category.

17. A gaming system as in claim 10, further comprising a stylus connected with the processor, wherein the stylus transmits a signal indicating a position on the print medium.

18. A gaming system as in claim 10, further comprising a user activated switch coupled to the platform, the user activated switch capable of being in electrical communication with the processor.

19. A game apparatus comprising:

a platform including a surface, an array of electrical elements under the surface, a processor unit coupled to the array of electrical elements, and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device comprises code for a game including at least two players; and

a print medium including print elements corresponding to the game, wherein the print medium is capable of being received on the surface.

20. A method of using a game apparatus comprising:

providing the game apparatus, wherein the game apparatus comprises

a platform including a surface, an array of electrical elements under the surface, and a processor unit coupled to the array of electrical elements,

a memory device coupled to the processor,

a print medium including print elements corresponding to a game, wherein the print medium is capable of being received on the surface;

registering the position of a marker on the print medium; and

receiving an auditory output related to the position of the marker.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the game apparatus includes a stylus connected with the processor, and wherein registering the position of the marker comprises transmitting a signal to the processor with the use of the stylus indicating the position of the marker on the print medium.

22. A method as in claim 20, wherein receiving an auditory output comprises receiving a question.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the question comprises a multiple choice question, a true-or-false question, a head-to-head question, or a double-or-nothing question.

24. A method as in claim 22, wherein the game apparatus further comprises a user activated switch coupled to the platform, the user activated switch capable of being in electrical communication with the processor, the method further comprising activating the user activated switch to answer the question.

25. An electrical device comprising:

a memory device; and

at least one input device coupled to the memory device, wherein the at least one input device is hand or finger operable and is adapted to provide user input to an apparatus to which the memory device is connectable.

26. An electrical device as in claim 25, wherein the at least one input device includes a pressure switch.

27. An electrical device as in claim 25, wherein the at least one input device includes a pressure switch, and wherein the at least one input device is coupleable to the memory device with wires.

28. An electrical device as in claim 25, wherein the memory device comprises a data cartridge.

29. An electrical device as in claim 25, wherein the memory device comprises computer code for playing a game using the at least one input device.