Book and method that indicates an open page

• US 20190322116A1
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yin Lung Lau
• Original Assignee: Yin Lung Lau
• Inventors: LAU, Yin Lung
• Granted Patent: US 11,440,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 1/007 Sheets or sheet blocks combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 9/001 Devices for indicating a page in a book, e.g. bookmarkers B42D9/02 takes precedence; attached to book covers B42D3/145
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 9/005 clamped on the sheet

Abstract

One embodiment is a book includes a plurality of pages, a plurality of magnets, and a sensor. The plurality of the magnets generate a combined magnetic field strength, which is variable depending on positions of the pages on which the magnets are disposed. The sensor senses the combined magnetic field strength and generates a varying signal based on a varying of the combined magnetic field strength when at least one page is moved. The varying signal indicates a position of at least one page in the book.

Claims

1. A book, comprising:

a plurality of pages;

a plurality of magnets, wherein each magnet is disposed at a pre-determined location of each of at least two of the plurality of pages and generates a magnetic field, the plurality of the magnets generate a combined magnetic field strength, the combined magnetic field strength is variable depending on positions of the pages on which the magnets are disposed; and

a sensor that senses the combined magnetic field strength and generates a varying signal based on a varying of the combined magnetic field strength when at least one page is moved,

wherein the varying signal indicates a position of at least one page in the book.

2. The book of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are stacked coaxially when the book is closed.

3. The book of claim 1 further comprising a binding side, wherein the pre-determined location of each of at least two of the plurality of pages is at a same position in respect to the binding side of the book.

4. The book of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor magnet and the sensor measures the combined magnetic field strength that acts on the sensor magnet.

5. The book of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pages are composed of the plurality of magnets such that each magnet forms as a page in the book.

6. The book of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed in one of the plurality of pages and the sensor senses a decrease of the combined magnetic field strength as the book is opened and one or more magnets stacked on the sensor decreases.

7. The book of claim 1, wherein magnetic dipoles of the plurality of magnets is in a same direction when the book is closed such that the plurality of magnets are attracted to each other when the book is closed.

8. The book of claim 1, wherein

the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a pressure sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, a magnetometer, a Hall effect sensor and a magnetic field sensor.

9. The book of claim 1 further comprising:

a processor that converts the signal into light, motion, sound, image, video or their combinations.

10. A method that indicates a page of a book that is currently open, wherein the book includes a plurality of pages, the method comprising:

producing, by a plurality of magnets with each magnet disposed at each of at least two of the plurality of pages, a combined magnetic field strength, wherein the combined magnetic field strength is variable depending on positions of the pages on which the magnets are disposed;

sensing, by a sensor in the book, the combined magnetic field strength;

generating, by the sensor, a varying signal based on a varying of the combined magnetic field strength when at least one page is moved; and

indicating, based on the varying signal, the page of the book that is currently open.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of magnets are stacked coaxially when the book is closed.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

measuring the combined magnetic field strength that acts on a sensor magnet included in the sensor; and

sensing, by the sensor, a decrease of the combined magnetic field strength as the book is opened and one or more magnets stacked on the sensor decreases.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein magnetic dipoles of the plurality of magnets is in a same direction when the book is closed such that the plurality of magnets are attracted to each other when the book is closed.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein

the sensor is selected from a group consisting of a pressure sensor, a magnetoresistive sensor, a magnetometer, a Hall effect sensor and a magnetic field sensor.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

converting, by a processor, the signal into light, motion, sound, image, video or their combinations.

16. A book, comprising:

a plurality of pages;

a first sensor magnet disposed at a back cover page of the book;

a plurality of magnets, wherein each magnet is disposed at the plurality of pages and generates a magnetic field, one or more of the magnets generate a first combined magnetic field strength that acts on the first sensor magnet, the first combined magnetic field strength is variable depending on positions of the pages on which the magnets are disposed; and

a first sensor in the book that measures the first combined magnetic field strength and generates a first signal based on the first combined magnetic field strength,

wherein the first signal determines a position of at least one page in the book.

17. The book of claim 16 further comprising:

a second sensor magnet disposed at a front cover page of the book; and

a second sensor that measures a second combined magnetic field strength that acts on the second sensor magnet and generates a second signal based on the second combined magnetic field strength,

wherein one or more of the magnets generate the second combined magnetic field strength that acts on the second sensor magnet, the second combined magnetic field strength is variable depending on positions of the pages on which the magnets are disposed,

wherein a difference between the first signal and the second signal indicates the position of at least one page in the book.

18. The book of claim 16 further comprising:

a load provided in the book at a position juxtapose the first sensor magnet, wherein the first sensor is a pressure sensor that measures the first combined magnetic field strength acts on the first sensor magnet against a preloading force produced from the load.

19. The book of claim 16, wherein the plurality of magnets are stacked coaxially when the book is closed.

20. The book of claim 16, wherein magnetic dipoles of the plurality of magnets is in a same direction when the book is closed such that the plurality of magnets are attracted to each other when the book is closed.