INTERACTIVE DISPLAY AND VIEWER RESPONSE APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,777,410 A
• Filed: 03/01/1972
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Wesley Robinson
• Original Assignee: John Wesley Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, John Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/230,698
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 35/8R,9R,9A,9B 40/125C
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/02 for teaching control of vehicles or other craft
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

An interactive display and viewer response method utilizing several types of apparatus. A program image and a control image are displayed on a screen, the program image being addressable by the viewer who may either remain inactive or activate the particular apparatus in response to the program image. Simultaneously, the control image activates a photooptical readout assembly with which the viewer interacts by instituting in action in the apparatus.

Claims

1. A visual display and response apparatus, said apparatus comprising a surface means, projection means for providing a visual display on said surface means in the form of a program image containing information and a control image, said control image being within the confines of said program image and being small in relation thereto, a photo-optical readout means on said surface and overlying said control image, said control image containing light signals related to the subject matter of said program image, a viewer response means operatively connected to said photo-optical readout means, said response means including a power source, a housing, a circuit means, a switch means and a plurality of translucent panel means arranged in a grid pattern in said housing, said panel means being individually depressable, and lamp means operatively connected to said circuit means and adapted to selectively illuminate individual panel means upon receipt of an appropriate signal from said control image and switch means operatively connected to said circuit means and adapted to be activated by a viewer depressing a selected panel means to light said lamp means to illuminate said depressed panel means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said panel means are arranged in a rectangular grid and said lamp means comprises individual lamps located under each panel means.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said translucent panel means comprises a plurality of individual translucent panel members and said switch means comprises a plurality of individual switches, each switch located beneath an individual translucent panel member so as to be activated when said panel member is depressed.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said panel members are translucent rectangular plastic members.

5. An aparatus as in claim 3 wherein said lamp means comprises individual lamps located beneath each translucent panel member, said lamps when illuminated adapted to be extinguished by a signal from said control image.

6. An Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said photooptical readout means includes a suction cup for attaching it to said surface means.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said photooptical readout means includes a plurality of photocells.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 and including at least one overlay adapted to fit over said grid, said overlay containing information thereon in the form of a plurality of translucent areas, each translucent area adapted to overlie an individual panel means within said grid.

9. An attachment for allowing a viewer to interact with a visual display presented on a surface and having a program image containing information and a relatively small control image for presenting coded light signals located within the confines of said program image, said attachment comprising a photo-optical readout means adapted to overlie said control image to thereby block it from sight of the viewer and to receive said coded light signals from said control image, a viewer response means, said response means including a housing, circuit means within said housing and connected to said photo-optical readout means, a panel means on said housing including a plurality of translucent panel means arranged in a grid pattern, said panel means being individually depressable, lamp means connected to said circuit means and adapted to illuminate said individual panel means upon receipt of a signal from said control image via said photo-optical readout means and said circuit means, switch means, said switch means operatively connected to said circuit means and adapted to be activated by a viewer depressing a selected panel means and further adapted to light said lamp means to illuminate the depressed panel means.

10. An attachment as in claim 9 wherein said lamp panel means comprises individual lamps located beneath each individual panel means and adapted to remain illuminated by said circuit means until receipt of a signal from said control image to extinguish them.

11. An attachment as in claim 9 wherein said circuit means includes a power source.

12. An attachment as in claim 9 and including at least one overlay adapted to fit over said grid, said overlay containing information thereon in the form of a plurality of translucent areas, each translucent area adapted to overlie an individual panel means within said grid.

13. An attachment as in claim 9 wherein said photo-optical readout means includes a suction cup adapted to secure it to said surface.

14. An attachment as in claim 9 wherein said photooptical readout means further includes a plurality of photocells secured within said suction cup.

15. An attachment as in claim 9 wherein said grid is in the form of a rectangle, said translucent panel means comprises a plurality of rectangular plastic members arranged to form said rectangular grid.