Electronic book
First Claim
1. An electronic book for identifying and describing printed information by audio signals in a sequentially organized manner, comprising:
- (a) a multiplicity of book leaves consisting of a continuous core sheet folded in accordion fashion to form pairs of adjacent segments, the inside folds of which are bound to constitute the book'"'"'s spine, while the outside folds constitute the outer edges of the book'"'"'s pages;
(b) a continuous circuit board layer printed on one side of said continuous core sheet by means of flexible conductive ink;
(c) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user;
(d) a power source;
(e) voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information;
(f) audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user viewing a page of the book, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means;
(g) sequence control means for sequentially activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence;
(h) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said circuit board layer for activating said sequence control means to describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and
(i) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves into multi-leaf book format;
wherein said circuit board layer is provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic book apparatus that comprises multiple pages with printed information, visual signal means for identifying the printed information in a sequentially organized manner, synchronized audio signal means for describing or further identifying the information concurrently with the visual signal means, and electromechanical or photo-sensitive means for electronically controlling the generation and transmission of these signals when each particular page is opened for viewing. Each page of the electronic book includes a laminated sheet, on which the printed material is arranged, and an electronic backdrop containing the visual signal means for display through the laminated sheet. Separate intelligent electronic means in the spine and top portion of the book, coupled to the electrical or photo-sensitive means, activate the illuminating circuitry and a voice synthesizer that are synchronized and sequenced to produce a concurrent visual and audio enhancement of the printed matter being viewed on the page. The apparatus controls the presentation in a predetermined sequence deemed appropriate to enhance comprehension of the material and, if desired, provide entertainment. In one embodiment of the invention, the user is provided at each page with alternative options to repeat certain sequences or continue through the book.
175 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electronic book for identifying and describing printed information by audio signals in a sequentially organized manner, comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of book leaves consisting of a continuous core sheet folded in accordion fashion to form pairs of adjacent segments, the inside folds of which are bound to constitute the book'"'"'s spine, while the outside folds constitute the outer edges of the book'"'"'s pages; (b) a continuous circuit board layer printed on one side of said continuous core sheet by means of flexible conductive ink; (c) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (d) a power source; (e) voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (f) audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user viewing a page of the book, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (g) sequence control means for sequentially activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (h) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said circuit board layer for activating said sequence control means to describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (i) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves into multi-leaf book format; wherein said circuit board layer is provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book.
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2. An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner, comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of book leaves consisting of a continuous core sheet folded in accordion fashion to form pairs of adjacent segments, the inside folds of which are bound to constitute the book'"'"'s spine, while the outside folds constitute the outer edges of the book'"'"'s pages; (b) a continuous circuit board layer printed on one side of said continuous core sheet by means of flexible conductive ink; (c) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (d) a multiplicity of light emitter diodes incorporated into said continuous circuit board layer and visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets; (e) a power source; (f) sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user according to a predetermined sequence; (g) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said circuit board layer for activating said sequence control means to highlight the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (h) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves into multi-leaf book format; wherein said circuit board layer is provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book.
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3. An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of book leaves consisting of a continuous core sheet folded in accordion fashion to form pairs of adjacent segments, wherein the inside folds of said continuous core sheet are bound to constitute the book'"'"'s spine, while the outside folds constitute the outer edges of the book'"'"'s pages; (b) a continuous circuit board layer printed on one side of said continuous core sheet by means of flexible conductive ink; (c) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (d) a multiplicity of light emitter diodes incorporated into said continuous circuit board layer and visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets; (e) a power source; (f) voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (g) audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (h) sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (i) synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (j) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said circuit board layer for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (k) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves into multi-leaf book format; wherein said circuit board layer is provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of book leaves, each leaf comprising a modular core sheet folded to form two opposite book pages; (b) modular circuit board layers printed on the front side of said modular core sheets by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections between said two opposite pages; (c) a fan-like spine having flexible conductive circuitry printed thereon for receiving said multiplicity of book leaves, each leaf being sandwiched between corresponding flaps in said spine, wherein said electrical connections between said two opposite pages of each leaf are coupled to corresponding electrical paths in said spine; (d) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said two opposite pages of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (e) a multiplicity of light emitter diodes incorporated into said modular circuit board layers and visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets; (f) a power source; (g) voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (h) audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (i) sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (j) synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (k) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said modular circuit board layers and spine for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (l) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves and said fan-like spine into multi-leaf book format; wherein said modular circuit board layers and said flexible conductive circuitry in said fan-like spine are provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising:
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(a) a multiplicity of book spreads assembled into book leaves, each spread comprising a modular core sheet folded to form two facing book pages; (b) modular circuit board layers printed on the back side of said modular core sheets by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections between said two facing pages; (c) a fan-like spine having flexible conductive circuitry printed thereon for receiving said multiplicity of book spreads, each spread being sandwiched between corresponding flaps in said spine, wherein said electrical connections between said two facing pages of each spread are coupled to corresponding electrical paths in the spine; (d) printed information sheets laminated onto both sides of said two facing pages of said book spreads for communicating visual information to a user; (e) a multiplicity of light emitter diodes incorporated into said modular circuit board layers and visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets and through perforations in said modular core sheets; (f) a power source; (g) voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (h) audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (i) sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (j) synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (k) switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said modular circuit board layers and spine for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (l) means for covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book spreads assembled into book leaves and said fan-like spine into multi-leaf book format; wherein said modular circuit board layers and said flexible conductive circuitry in said fan-like spine are provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for constructing an electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a multiplicity of book leaves consisting of a continuous core sheet folded in accordion fashion to form pairs of adjacent segments, wherein the inside folds are bound to constitute the book'"'"'s spine, while the outside folds constitute the outer edges of the book'"'"'s pages; (b) printing a continuous circuit board layer on one side of said continuous core sheet by means of flexible conductive ink; (c) laminating printed information sheets onto both sides of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (d) incorporating a multiplicity of light emitter diodes into said continuous circuit board layer, said diodes being visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets; (e) providing a power source; (f) providing voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (g) providing audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (h) providing sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (i) providing synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (h) providing switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said continuous circuit board layer for activating said sequence control means to describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (k) covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves into multi-leaf book format; wherein said continuous circuit board layer is provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method for constructing an electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a multiplicity of book leaves, each leaf comprising a modular core sheet folded to form two opposite book pages; (b) printing modular circuit board layers on the front side of said modular core sheets by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections between said two opposite pages; (c) sandwiching each leaf of said multiplicity of book leaves between corresponding flaps of a fan-like spine, wherein said electrical connections between said two opposite pages of each leaf are coupled to corresponding electrical paths in said spine; (d) laminating printed information sheets onto both sides of said two opposite pages of said book leaves for communicating visual information to a user; (e) incorporating a multiplicity of light emitter diodes into said modular circuit board layers, said diodes being visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets; (f) providing a power source; (g) providing voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (h) providing audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (i) providing sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (j) providing synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (k) providing switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said modular circuit board layers and spine for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (l) covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book leaves and said fan-like spine into multi-leaf book format; wherein said modular circuit board layers are provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method for constructing an electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a multiplicity of book spreads assembled into book leaves, each spread comprising a modular core sheet folded to form two facing book pages; (b) printing modular circuit board layers on the back side of said modular core sheets by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections between said two facing pages; (c) providing a fan-like spine having flexible conductive circuitry printed thereon for receiving said multiplicity of book spreads, each spread being sandwiched between corresponding flaps in said spine, wherein said electrical connections between said two facing pages of each spread are coupled to corresponding electrical paths in the spine; (d) laminating printed information sheets onto both sides of said two facing pages of said book spreads for communicating visual information to a user; (e) incorporating a multiplicity of light emitter diodes into said modular circuit board layers, said diodes being visible to a user through apertures in said printed information sheets and through perforations in said modular core sheets; (f) providing a power source; (g) providing voice synthesizer means containing audio signal information corresponding to said printed information; (h) providing audio means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio signal information to a user, said audio means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means; (i) providing sequence control means for sequentially energizing said light emitter diodes to highlight said printed information on a page being viewed by a user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence; (j) providing synchronization control means for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said light emitter diodes and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery; (k) providing switching means associated with each page of the book and electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means through said modular circuit board layers and spine for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information on said page being viewed by a user; and (l) covering and binding said multiplicity of laminated book spreads assembled into book leaves and said fan-like spine into multi-leaf book format; wherein said circuit board layers and said flexible conductive circuitry in said fan-like spine are provided for electrical connection of said sequence control means and said power source with said switching means associated with each page of the book. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification