Interactive apparatus using print media

• US 6,608,618 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Flowers, Mark, Grunert, Margaret E., Jedrzejek, Tracey Hope, Freeman, Richard Glen, Avery, Jason, Wood, Michael C., Shuler, Eric Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/886,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20020197588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 434/169, 434/178, 434/308, 434/309, 434/317, 434/318, 434/338
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.

Claims

1. A method of generating audio output, the method comprising:

a) placing a sheet having a print element printed on the sheet on a surface of a base unit;

b) marking on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument; and

c) generating an audio output that corresponds to the print element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the print element comprises a letter and wherein the audio output comprises information relating to the letter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein c) comprises marking on the print element with the marking instrument.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sheet is a sheet of paper and the marking instrument is a crayon.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the print element comprises a letter and wherein the audio output comprises the sound of the letter, a description of the letter, or a word that begins with the letter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein c) is performed before b).

7. The method of claim 1 wherein an array of electrical elements is underneath the surface of the base unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein an array of pressure-sensitive elements is underneath the surface of the base unit, and wherein the method further comprises:

applying pressure to a pressure-sensitive element within the array of pressure-sensitive elements.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the base unit includes iwo portions coupled together with a hinge.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio output comprises a question, and wherein the first sheet is adapted to teach about letters.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the print element is a first print element, the sheet is a first sheet and the identifier is a first identifier, and wherein the method further comprises:

placing a second sheet including a second print element and a second identifier on the surface ofd the base unit, wherein the second print element is different than the first print element and the first identifier and the second identifier are the same; and

manually selecting the second identifier while the sheet is on the surface of the base unit to identify the second sheet to the base unit.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the base unit includes a learning mode, a game mode, and a music mode, and wherein the base unit further includes a selecting device to allow a user to select between the learning mode, game mode, and music mode.

10. An interactive apparatus comprising:

a) a base unit comprising

i) a surface for receiving a first sheet having a print element and a first identifier printed on the first sheet to identify the first sheet and for receiving a second sheet having a second identifier on the second sheet, wherein the first and second identifiers are substantially the same and are at different locations on the first and second sheets,

ii) an array of electrical elements under the surface,

iii) a processor operatively coupled to the array of electrical elements,

iv) a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and

v) an audio output device operatively coupled to the processor; and

b) a marking instrument that is adapted to mark on the first sheet in the vicinity of the print element,

wherein the audio output device is adapted to provide audio output that relates to the print element when a user makes a mark in the vicinity of the print element with the marking instrument and

wherein the first sheet is identified to the base unit after the first identifier is manually selected when the first shet is on the surface of the base unit, and

wherein the second sheet is identified to the base unit after the second identifier is manually selected when the second sheet is on the base unit.

11. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the marking instrument is separated from the base unit.

12. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the marking instrument includes a receiving antenna.

13. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the print element comprises a letter.

14. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base unit comprises two portions coupled together with a hinge.

15. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a removable template that secures the first sheet to the base unit.

16. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a transferable information storage medium, and wherein the base unit further comprises a slot for the transferable information storage medium.

17. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the marking instrument is physically coupled to the base unit.

18. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the marking instrument is a crayon.

19. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the audio output device is a speaker.

20. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the array of electrical elements is an array of pressure-sensitive switches.

21. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the interactive apparatus uses an asymmetric debounce technique to determine if the user is interacting with the first sheet within a predetermined period of time.

25. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the interactive apparatus is preprogrammed to ask questions to prompt the user for a response.

26. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first sheet is adapted to teach the user about phonics or letters.

27. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base unit includes a learning mode, a game mode, and a music mode, and wherein the base unit further includes a selecting device to allow a user to select between the learning mode, game mode, and music mode.

28. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a removable template that includes a portion including a window, and wherein the removable template secures the first sheet to the base unit and the first identifier is shown through the window when the removable template and the first sheet are on the base unit, and wherein the removable template is removably secured to the base unit.

29. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a removable template including a first portion including a window and a second portion including a window secured to the first portion via a hinge, and wherein the removable template secures the first sheet to the base unit and the first identifier is shown through the window in the first portion when the removable template and the first sheet are on the base unit.

30. The interactive apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a set of sheets, each sheet having different print elements than other sheets in the set, and wherein the sheets in the set have the same printed identifier at different locations on the respective sheets.