Character Learning Apparatus and Driving Method Thereof for Preschool Child

• US 20070298386A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Min Han Kim
• Original Assignee: Min Han Kim
• Inventors: Kim, Min Han
• Application Number:
  US11/813,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/159
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A character learning apparatus for preschool children and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The apparatus can be easily handle by preschool children. The apparatus originally prevents breakdown sources due to electrically bad contact because the apparatus does not need electrical contact to install elements thereto. For this, the character learning apparatus for preschool children comprising: more than one character input boards which are implemented with rectangular plates on which characters, figures are perforated, respectively; a body having a groove to which the character input boards are buriedly inserted; a piezoelectric device group which are adjacently aligned and coupled to each other in a predetermined area on the bottom side of the groove of the body; a central processing unit which operates electrical signals inputted from piezoelectric devices in the piezoelectric device group and converts the operated signals to character and voice signals to be outputted; speakers outputting voices corresponding to the signals outputted from the central processing unit thereto; a cover having a hinge to cover the body; and a display unit which is implemented with a flat member which displays images corresponding to signals outputted from the central processing unit and which is installed inside the cover.

Claims

1. A character learning apparatus for preschool children comprising:

more than one character input boards which are implemented with rectangular plates on which characters, figures are perforated, respectively;

a body having a groove to which the character input board is buriedly inserted;

a piezoelectric device group which are adjacently aligned and coupled to each other in a predetermined area on the bottom side of the groove of the body;

a central processing unit which operates electrical signals inputted from piezoelectric devices in the piezoelectric device group and converts the operated signals to character and voice signals to be outputted;

speakers outputting voices corresponding to the signals outputted from the central processing unit thereto;

a cover having a hinge to cover the body; and

a display unit which is implemented with a flat member which displays images corresponding to signals outputted from the central processing unit and which is installed inside the cover.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a supporter supporting the character input board, which is installed along the edge of the groove of the body, such that the character input board itself cannot press the piezoelectric devices.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the character input boards includes a Korean character plate on which Korean consonants and vowels are perforated.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the character input boards includes an English character plate on which English alphabet consonants and vowels are perforated.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the character input boards includes a figure operation plate on which figure holes and operation holes are perforated, wherein the figures holes and the operation holes are grouped on the figure/operation plate.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the character input board includes an operation plate in which a form member group and an operation member group are divided and formed, wherein the form member group is constructed such that form members for various animal/fruits/flowers are movably inserted to corresponding holes and coupled to each other, and the operation member group is constructed such that operation members are movably inserted to corresponding holes and coupled to each other.

7. A method for driving a character learning apparatus for preschool children comprising the steps of:

initializing all registers;

based on a character input board which is selected among from various character input boards and which is buriedly inserted to the groove of the body, when a hole of the character input board is partially pressed, inputting an electric signal value which is generated by a corresponding piezoelectric device in the piezoelectric device group, and operating values (character values/figure values/operation values/voice values) corresponding to the electric signal value; and

outputting the values (character values/figure values/operation values/voice values) to a display unit and/or speakers.

8. The method for driving a character learning apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the operation step includes the steps of:

1) determining as to whether a selected character input board is a Korean alphabet plate;

2) if the determination of step a) is positive, storing a value initially inputted from the piezoelectric device group in a register ‘

a1’

;

3) loading a predetermined value (character value/voice value) corresponding to the value stored in the register ‘

a1’ and

then storing it in a register ‘

a2’

;

4) comparing the magnitude of the value stored in register ‘

a1’

with that of the value stored in register ‘

a2’ and

then determining as to whether the comparison value exceeds a limit of error;

5) if the determination of step

     4) is positive, outputting corresponding character value and voice value to the display unit and the speakers, respectively, and, if the determination of step

     4) is negative, loading a predetermined value for a commercialized voice corresponding to a word of praise and then outputting to the speakers;

6) determining as to whether a second value is inputted from the piezoelectric device group;

7) if the determination of step

     6) is positive, storing the second value in a register ‘

b1’

;

8) determining as to whether the value stored in the register ‘

b1’

is in a group in which a value stored in the register ‘

a1’

is stored;

9) if the determination of step

     8) is negative, loading a predetermined value (character value/voice value) corresponding to the register ‘

b1’ and

then storing it in a register ‘

b2’

;

10) comparing the magnitude of the value stored in the register ‘

b1’

with that of the value stored in the register ‘

b2’ and

then determining as to whether the comparison value exceeds a limit of error;

11) if the determination of step

     10) is positive, outputting corresponding character value and voice value to the display unit and the speakers, respectively, and, if the determination of step

     10) is negative, loading a predetermined value for a commercialized voice corresponding to a word of praise and then outputting it to the speakers;

12) determining as to whether a third value is inputted from the piezoelectric device group;

13) if the determination of step

     12) is positive, storing the third value in a register ‘

c1’

;

14) determining as to whether the value stored in the register ‘

c1’

is in a group in which a value stored in the register ‘

b1’

is stored;

15) if the determination of step

     14) is negative, loading a predetermined value (character value/voice value) corresponding to the register ‘

c1’ and

then storing it in a register ‘

c2’

;

16) comparing the magnitude of the value stored in the register ‘

c1’

with that of the value stored in the register ‘

c2’ and

then determining as to whether the comparison value exceeds a limit of error;

17) if the determination of step

     16) is positive, outputting corresponding character value and voice value to the display unit and the speakers, respectively, outputting operation values to the display unit and the speakers, respectively, and, if the determination of step

     16) is negative, loading a predetermined value for a commercialized voice corresponding to a word of praise and then outputting it to the speakers;

18), based on the determination as to whether a selected character input board is a Korean alphabet plate in step of

     1), if the determination of step

     1) is negative, further performing a determination as to whether the selected character input board is English alphabet plate;

19) if the determination of step 18 is positive, returning the procedure to the step of

     2), such that a value initially inputted from the piezoelectric device group is stored in a register ‘

a1’

;

20) if the determination of step

     18) is negative, further performing a determination as to whether the selected character input board is a figure/operation plate;

21) if the determination of step

     20) is positive, returning the procedure to step

     2), such that a value initially inputted from the piezoelectric device group is stored in a register ‘

a1’

;

22) if the determination of step

     20) is negative, further performing a de-termination as to whether the selected character input board is an operation plate;

23) if the determination of step

     22) is positive, returning the procedure to step

     2), such that a value initially inputted from the piezoelectric device group is stored in a register ‘

a1’

; and

24) if the determination of step

     22) is negative, returning the procedure to step

     1).