Apparatus and method for teaching
First Claim
1. A teaching toy comprising:
- at least one receptacle with a conductive signal-out pad at an inner surface and a plurality of conductive code-in pads at said inner surface;
at least one remote unit removable from said receptacle having multiple sides and a conductive signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to said signal-out pad and at least one conductive code-out pad electrically connected to said signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to one of said code-in pads, said signal-in pad and said code-out pad being disposed on a first of said multiple sides of said remote unit, said remote unit also having a datum disposed on a second of said multiple sides;
a processor for generating a control signal to said signal-out pad, for detecting data signals from said code-in pads, for associating said data signals with said datum and for generating response data representing said datum;
a memory, in data communication with said processor, for storing instructions for operating said processor; and
an interface device for receiving said response data from said processor and for communicating said datum to a user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A teaching toy (8) includes at least one receptacle (12). Receptacle (12) has a conductive signal-out pad and a plurality of conductive code-in pads (46) at an inner surface. At least one remote unit (14) is included which is removable from receptacle (12). Remote unit (14) has multiple sides and a conductive signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to the signal-out pad. Remote unit (14) also has at least one conductive code-out pad (50) electrically connected to the signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to one of the code-in pads (46). The signal-in pad and the code-out pad (50) are disposed on a first side of unit (14). Remote unit (14) also has a datum disposed on a second side. A processor (20) is included for generating a control signal to the signal-out pad and detecting data signals from the code-in pads (46). Processor (20) associates the data signals with and generates data representing the datum. A memory (22) is included which stores instructions for operating processor (20). An interface device (27) receives the data from processor (20) and communicates the datum to a user.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A teaching toy comprising:
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at least one receptacle with a conductive signal-out pad at an inner surface and a plurality of conductive code-in pads at said inner surface; at least one remote unit removable from said receptacle having multiple sides and a conductive signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to said signal-out pad and at least one conductive code-out pad electrically connected to said signal-in pad for capacitive coupling to one of said code-in pads, said signal-in pad and said code-out pad being disposed on a first of said multiple sides of said remote unit, said remote unit also having a datum disposed on a second of said multiple sides; a processor for generating a control signal to said signal-out pad, for detecting data signals from said code-in pads, for associating said data signals with said datum and for generating response data representing said datum; a memory, in data communication with said processor, for storing instructions for operating said processor; and an interface device for receiving said response data from said processor and for communicating said datum to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A teaching toy comprising:
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at least one receptacle with at least one conductive code-in pad at an inner surface; at least one of a first remote unit, removable from said receptacle, having multiple sides and at least one conductive code-out pad disposed on a first of said sides for capacitively coupling a code signal to said code-in pad, said remote unit having an event signal generator for generating an event signal in response to the occurrence of an event, said remote unit having a remote processor in electrical communication with said code-out pad and said generator for generating said code signal to said code-out pad in response to said event signal; a processor, in a first mode of operation, for detecting said code signal from said code-in pad, for associating said code signal with said event and for generating data representing said event; a memory, in data communication with said processor, for storing instructions for operating said processor; and an interface device for receiving said data from said processor and for communicating said event to a user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of teaching comprising the steps of:
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inserting a remote unit having multiple sides into a receptacle formed in a base, said unit having a datum recorded on a first side; generating a control signal; capacitively coupling said control signal from said base via a conductive signal-out pad to a conductive signal-in pad disposed on a second side of said remote unit; electrically connecting said control signal from said signal-in pad to a conductive code-out pad disposed on said second side to generate a data signal corresponding to said datum; capacitively coupling said data signal from said code-out pad to one of a plurality of conductive code-in pads disposed on said receptacle; delivering said data signal as a code signal to a processor; using said processor and a memory to associate said code signal with said datum; and communicating a message representing said datum to a user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification