Electronic drawing device

• US 5,604,517 A
• Filed: 01/14/1994
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optum Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Binney & Smith Inc.
• Inventors: Filo, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/182,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 434/156, 434/162, 434/163, 434/164, 434/165, 434/308, 434/309, 434/317, 434/318, 345/179, 345/180, 345/181, 345/182, 345/183, 345/173, 84/600, 84/643, 84/696, 446/397
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2476 Speech or voice synthesisers, e.g. using a speech chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00097 Board games with labyrinths, path finding, line forming labyrinths in boxes with small balls A63F7/04; other labyrinth games A63F9/0078
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0641 using a marker or means for drawing, e.g. pen, pencil, chalk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 11/10 Teaching painting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Abstract

A drawing device for providing entertainment as well as promoting the development of children, including a plurality of drawing instruments, such as crayons, a drawing instrument detector for determining the color of the particular crayon selected for use, a pressure sensitive drawing tablet that is responsive to pressure contact from the drawing instrument, and a computer that is adapted drive an audible device, such as a speaker, to generate various audible output, including both speech and melody which, in a preferred embodiment, may vary depending upon movement from the drawing instrument. Various uniquely identified drawing sheets, which may be preprinted with a wide variety of scenes, are included to directly insert into the device and overlay the drawing tablet. In connection with these drawing sheets, the computer may be adapted to further vary the audible output of the speaker dependent upon the identity of the particular drawing sheet that is inserted.

Claims

1. An interactive drawing device for use with a drawing instrument, the interactive drawing device comprising:

a housing;

a drawing tablet disposed in the housing and having a drawing surface, the drawing tablet being adapted to generate a series of electrical pulses in response to a drawing instrument moving across its drawing surface, the frequency with which the electrical pulses occur being substantially proportional to the speed of the moving drawing instrument, the individual electrical pulses of the series being substantially the same regardless of the position of the drawing instrument when the drawing instrument moves across the drawing surface at a constant speed;

a sound generating computer electrically connected to the drawing tablet for receiving the electrical pulses generated by the translation of the drawing instrument across the drawing surface of the drawing tablet and for generating output signals in response thereto; and

an audible device connected to the sound generating computer for receiving the output signals and for converting the output signals into an audible output, the tempo of the audible output corresponding to the frequency at which the electrical pulses generated by the drawing tablet occur.

2. The drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet is adapted to receive a drawing sheet that is attached to overlay at least a portion of the drawing tablet.

3. The drawing device according to claim 2, further including a decoder connected to the sound generating computer, wherein the drawing sheet is coded, the decoder decodes the drawing sheet, and the decoder generates a decoder signal that identifies the drawing sheet.

4. The drawing device according to claim 3, wherein the decoder signal causes the sound generating computer to generate predetermined output signals corresponding to predetermined sounds associated with the drawing sheet when the drawing tablet generates electrical pulses.

5. The drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing surface of the drawing tablet is an erasable surface thereby allowing repeated use of the drawing tablet.

6. The drawing device according to claim 2, wherein the drawing sheet includes an erasable surface allowing repeated use of the drawing sheet.

7. The drawing device according to claim 2, wherein the drawing sheet is nonerasable.

8. The drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the drawing tablet is pressure sensitive and includes a matrix of switches for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

9. The drawing device according to claim 4, wherein the drawing tablet includes at least one theme switch having an active and an inactive position.

10. The drawing device according to claim 1, further including at least one theme switch having an active and an inactive position.

11. The drawing device according to claim 9, wherein the drawing tablet generates a theme switch signal which is indicative of the position of the theme switch.

12. The drawing device according to claim 11, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer in response to the theme switch signal causes the audible output of the audible device to be a predetermined audible sequence when the theme switch enters its active position.

13. The drawing device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined audible sequence is dependent upon the identity of the drawing sheet as indicated by the decoder signal.

14. The drawing device according to claim 12, wherein the audible sequence is a series of words.

15. The drawing device according to claim 12, wherein the audible sequence is a melody.

16. The drawing device according to claim 3, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer causes the audible output of the audible device to be a predetermined audible sequence when the drawing tablet detects the presence of the drawing instrument.

17. The drawing device according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined audible sequence is dependent upon the identity of the drawing sheet.

18. The drawing device according to claim 17, wherein the drawing tablet is pressure sensitive and includes a matrix of switches for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

19. The drawing device according to claim 18, wherein the tempo of the predetermined audible sequence varies in proportion to the rate at which individual switches of the matrix of switches open and close in response to pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

20. The drawing device according to claim 1, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer causes the audible output of the audible device to be a predetermined audible sequence when the drawing tablet detects the presence of the drawing instrument.

21. The drawing device according to claim 20, wherein the drawing tablet is pressure sensitive and includes a matrix of switches for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

22. The drawing device according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of the electrical pulses is proportional to the rate at which individual switches of the matrix of switches open and close in response to pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

23. The drawing device according to claim 1, further comprising a drawing instrument detector, the drawing instrument detector including a holder for holding the drawing instrument.

24. The drawing device according to claim 23, further comprising a second holder and a second drawing instrument, wherein the drawing instrument detector is adapted to detect whether each of the two drawing instruments is disposed in its respective holder.

25. The drawing device according to claim 24, wherein each of the two drawing instruments has an associated color.

26. The drawing device according to claim 24, wherein the drawing instrument detector generates an instrument output signal which is indicative of whether the drawing instruments are within their respective holders.

27. The drawing device according to claim 26, wherein the instrument output signal changes upon removal of one of the drawing instruments from its respective holder.

28. The drawing device according to claim 27, wherein the sound generating computer causes the audible output of the audible device to be a predetermined audible sequence upon detecting a change in the instrument output signal indicative of the removal of one of the drawing instruments from its respective holder.

29. The drawing device according to claim 28, wherein the predetermined audible sequence is a series of words identifying the color of the drawing instrument removed from its respective holder.

30. The drawing device according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined audible sequence is dependent upon the identity of the drawing instrument.

31. The drawing device according to claim 16, further comprising a multi-position function switch.

32. The drawing device according to claim 31, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer are dependent upon the position of the function switch.

33. The drawing device according to claim 32, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer are also dependent upon the identity of the drawing instrument.

34. The drawing device according to claim 33, wherein the output signals generated by the sound generating computer are also dependent upon the identity of the drawing sheet.

35. The drawing device according to claim 1, further comprising a cartridge adapted for connection to a connector of the drawing device.

36. The drawing device according to claim 35, wherein a portion of the sound generating computer is housed in the cartridge, and is adapted for electrical communication with the drawing tablet, the drawing instrument detector, and the audible device through the connector.

37. The drawing device according to claim 35, wherein the sound generating computer includes a programmable device capable of storing instructions for directing operation of the device.

38. The drawing device according to claim 36, wherein a plurality of cartridges are provided, each of the cartridges having a programmable device containing a unique set of instructions whereby particular operations of the device are effectuated by connection of a particular cartridge to the connector.

39. An interactive drawing device providing audible stimuli for providing drawing and coloring entertainment comprising:

at least one drawing instrument;

a drawing instrument detector for indicating the identity of the drawing instrument;

a pressure sensitive drawing tablet that is responsive to pressure contact from the drawing instrument;

at least one drawing sheet having an identifier for uniquely identifying the drawing sheet;

a computer adapted to monitor the drawing instrument detector, the drawing tablet, and the drawing sheet identifier, said computer being electrically connected to an audible device, wherein the computer controls the output of the audible device based upon the state of the drawing instrument detector, the drawing tablet, and the drawing sheet identifier.

43. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing instrument detector output signal is indicative of the color of the drawing instrument.

44. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing instrument detector output signal is indicative of the position of the drawing instrument.

45. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing tablet is adapted to receive a drawing sheet that is attached to overlay at least a portion of the drawing tablet.

46. The drawing device according to claim 45, further including a decoder in electrical communication with the computer, wherein the decoder generates an output signal that uniquely identifies the drawing sheet.

47. The drawing device according to claim 46, wherein the computer output signal is responsive to the operation of the combination of the drawing tablet output signal, the drawing instrument detector output signal, and the decoder output signal.

48. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing tablet includes an erasable surface allowing repeated use of the drawing tablet.

49. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing tablet includes a matrix of switches for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

50. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing tablet includes a single switch for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

51. The drawing device according to claim 47, wherein the drawing tablet includes at least one theme switch having an active and inactive position.

52. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein further including at least one theme switch having an active and an inactive position.

53. The drawing device according to claim 51, wherein the drawing tablet output signal is indicative of both pressure contact from the drawing instrument and the position of the theme switch.

54. The drawing device according to claim 53, wherein the computer output signal directs the audible device to sound a predetermined audible sequence when the theme switch enters its active position.

55. The drawing device according to claim 54, wherein the predetermined audible sequence is dependent upon the identity of the drawing sheet as indicated by the decoder output signal.

56. The drawing device according to claim 54, wherein the audible sequence is a series of words.

57. The drawing device according to claim 54, wherein the audible sequence is a melody.

58. The drawing device according to claim 39, wherein the drawing instrument detector includes a holder for the at least one drawing instrument.

59. The drawing device according to claim 58, wherein the detector is adapted to detect the presence of each drawing instrument.

60. The drawing device according to claim 59, further including a plurality of variously colored drawing instruments.

40. An interactive drawing device for use with at least one drawing instrument and having an audible output for encouraging drawing and coloring activity, the drawing device comprising:

a pressure sensitive drawing surface;

at least one drawing sheet, the drawing sheet encoded for unique identification;

an encoder that generates an output signal indicative of the identity of the drawing sheet;

an audible device; and

an electronic computer in electrical communication with the drawing surface, the encoder, and the audible device, the computer being programmed to control the audible device so as to vary its output in response the combination of pressure applied to the drawing surface and the output signal of the encoder.

41. The drawing device according to claim 40, further including a plurality of drawing instrument detectors in electrical communication with the computer, each drawing instrument detector having an output representative of the identity of a drawing instrument.

42. The drawing device according to claim 41, wherein the computer is programmed to control the audible device so as to vary its output in response to the output of the drawing instrument detectors.

61. The drawing device according to claim 40, wherein the computer output directs the audible device to sound a predetermined audible sequence when the drawing tablet detects pressure from the drawing instrument.

62. The drawing device according to claim 40, wherein the computer output directs the audible device to sound a predetermined audible sequence when the drawing tablet detects pressure from the drawing instrument.

63. The drawing device according to claim 62, wherein the predetermined audible sequence varies according to the rate at which the drawing instrument moves across the drawing tablet.

64. The drawing device according to claim 63, wherein the tempo of the predetermined audible sequence varies in proportion to the rate at which the drawing instrument moves across the drawing tablet.

65. The drawing device according to claim 62, wherein the drawing tablet includes a matrix of switches for detecting pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

66. The drawing device according to claim 65, wherein the tempo of the predetermined audible sequence varies in proportion to the rate at which individual switches of the matrix of switches open and close in response to pressure contact from the drawing instrument.

67. The drawing device according to claim 61, further comprising a multi-position function switch.

68. The drawing device according to claim 67, wherein the computer output is dependent upon the position of the function switch.

69. The drawing device according to claim 68, wherein the computer output is dependent upon the identity of the drawing instrument.

70. The drawing device according to claim 69, wherein computer output is dependent upon the identity of the drawing sheet.

71. A drawing device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of instrument holders disposed in the housing;

a plurality of drawing instruments, each of the instruments being associated with one of the instrument holders, and each of the instruments having an associated color;

an instrument detector associated with the plurality of instrument holders to detect the removal of the drawing instruments from the instrument holders, the instrument detector generating a predetermined instrument signal indicating which of the plurality of drawing instruments has been removed from its respective holder;

sound sourcing means for producing a plurality of sound signals;

processing means coupled to the instrument detector and to the sound sourcing means for receiving the predetermined instrument signal from the instrument detector and for selecting a sound signal from the sound sourcing means which corresponds to the predetermined instrument signal; and

,

sound generating means for converting the sound signal selected by the processing means to an audible sound, wherein the sound signal selected by the processing means corresponds to the drawing instrument removed from its respective holder.

72. A drawing device as defined in claim 71 wherein the sound signal selected by the processing means corresponds to the color of the drawing instrument removed from its respective holder.

73. A drawing device as defined in claim 71 wherein the sound sourcing means comprises an addressable memory.

74. A drawing device as defined in claim 71 wherein the sound sourcing means comprises a voice synthesis support chip.

75. A drawing device as defined in claim 71 wherein the sound sourcing means comprises a melody support chip.

76. An interactive drawing device for use with a drawing instrument, the interactive drawing device comprising:

a housing;

a pressure sensitive drawing tablet disposed in the housing and having a drawing surface, the drawing surface including a matrix of switches, the switches being resiliently closeable such that pressure exerted by a drawing instrument against the drawing surface will close adjacent ones of the switches which will re-open when the pressure exerted by the drawing instrument is removed, the switches of the matrix being electrically connected in parallel such that closing any one switch in the matrix is electrically the same as closing any other switch in the matrix, wherein closing any switch in the matrix generates an electrical pulse such that translating a drawing instrument across the drawing surface will generate a plurality of electrical pulses having a frequency proportional to the velocity of the drawing instrument;

a sound generating computer electrically connected to the matrix of switches for receiving the electrical pulses generated by the pressure exerted by the drawing instrument on the drawing surface of the pressure sensitive tablet and for generating output signals corresponding to sounds in response thereto; and

an audible device connected to the sound generating computer for receiving the output signals and for converting the output signals into an audible output having a tempo corresponding to the frequency of the electrical pulses generated by the matrix of switches.