Apparatus and method for stand-alone scanning and audio generation from printed material
First Claim
1. A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising:
- (a) an elongated, substantially tubular housing;
(b) a code scanner-reader supported by the housing and having an output for signals identifying selected sounds;
(c) a synthesizer supported by the housing, electrically coupled to the output of the code scanner-reader, and comprising;
(i) a memory holding a multitude of sets of data, each set corresponding to at least one different selected sound; and
(ii) a processor coupled to the memory and structured to select from the memory the set of data that corresponds to the signals on the output of the code scanner-reader;
(d) an audio output supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the synthesizer;
(f) a power source supported by the housing and coupled to the code scanner-reader and the synthesizer; and
(g) a contact switch located on the surface of the housing and structured to activate the code scanner-reader when the housing is gripped.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained, hand-held, portable code reading and processing system within an elongated tubular housing forms a wand that transduces coded data into selected speech or music. A simple-to-use reading and processing system can be used as part of a learning and activity game. In one form, a scanning guide is hingedly attached to a book. When the guide is folded over a page of the book, a path is created across the coded data to enable children and others to easily scan the coded data with the hand-held wand. A contact switch at or near the scanning end of the system is actuated by the scanning guide to activate the code reading and processing system. An energy-saving power shutdown feature turns off the code reading and processing system when no coded data are scanned in a given time period. The contact switch and the automatic power shutdown system act in concert as a safety system to prevent small children from staring at the light source for prolonged periods of time. Audio data may be provided in the form of a removable memory cartridge, to allow use of the system in a variety of applications.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising:
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(a) an elongated, substantially tubular housing; (b) a code scanner-reader supported by the housing and having an output for signals identifying selected sounds; (c) a synthesizer supported by the housing, electrically coupled to the output of the code scanner-reader, and comprising; (i) a memory holding a multitude of sets of data, each set corresponding to at least one different selected sound; and (ii) a processor coupled to the memory and structured to select from the memory the set of data that corresponds to the signals on the output of the code scanner-reader; (d) an audio output supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the synthesizer; (f) a power source supported by the housing and coupled to the code scanner-reader and the synthesizer; and (g) a contact switch located on the surface of the housing and structured to activate the code scanner-reader when the housing is gripped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28)
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20. A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising:
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(a) an elongated substantially tubular housing; (b) a code scanner-reader supported by the housing and having an output for signals identifying selected sounds; (c) a synthesizer supported by the housing, electrically coupled to the output of the code scanner-reader, and comprising; (i) a memory holding a multitude of sets of data, each set corresponding to at least one different selected sound; and (ii) a processor coupled to the memory and structured to select from the memory the set of data that corresponds to the signals on the output of the code scanner-reader; (d) an audio output supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the synthesizer; (f) a power source supported by the housing and coupled to the code scanner-reader and the synthesizer; (g) a contact switch supported by the housing; and (h) a guide attached to a book and positioned across coded data in the book; (i) wherein the contact switch and the guide are configured to interact with one another to activate the code scanner-reader when the contact switch contacts the surface guide. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising the following elements, all supported by an elongated, substantially tubular housing:
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(a) means for scanning and reading coded data and producing therefrom digital signals identifying the scanned, coded data; (b) means for transducing the digital signals into selected sounds comprising; (i) means for storing a multitude of sets of audio data, each set corresponding to at least one different selected sound; (ii) means for selecting a set of audio data corresponding to the digital signals produced by said means for scanning and reading coded data; and (iii) means for converting the selected set of audio data to audible form; and (c) means for automatically activating the system when the scanning and reading means is placed in a predetermined position. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method for reading scannable indicia and transducing the indicia into selected sounds, the method comprising:
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(a) activating an elongated, substantially tubular, hand-held code scanner-reader containing a memory by gripping a surface of the scanner-reader; (b) using the scanner-reader to scan printed indicia and produce code signals that identify the printed indicia; (c) using the code signals to read from memory a selected one of a multitude of sets of data prestored in the memory, each set identifying a distinct sound pattern; and (d) converting the selected set of data read from the memory into audible sounds corresponding to the sound pattern identified by the selected set of data. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for reading scannable indicia and transducing the indicia into selected sounds, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a guide; (b) positioning the guide across printed indicia; (c) activating an elongated substantially tubular, hand-held code scanner-reader containing a memory by pressing a switch, located on the hand-held scanner-reader, against the guide; (d) scanning the printed indicia by causing the code scanner-reader to follow the guide and thereby to produce code signals that identify the printed indicia; (e) using the code signals to read from memory a selected one of a multitude of sets of data prestored in the memory, each set identifying a distinct sound pattern; and (f) converting the selected set of data read from the memory into audible sounds corresponding to the sound pattern identified by the selected set of data. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification