Print media receiving unit including platform and print media

• US 6,668,156 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Musolf, Tom, Conroy, Dave, Flowers, Mark, Lynch, Larry, Marggraff, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John
• Application Number:
  US09/777,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20010051329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 434/317, 434/178, 434/319
• US Class Current: 434/317
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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 print media receiving unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the print media receiving unit comprises a platform that includes a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine. The spine may be disposed in a spine receiving portion in the platform. A location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium may be associated with the platform.

Claims

1. A print media receiving unit comprising:

a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium;

b) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium;

c) a socket in the platform wherein the socket is capable of receiving a memory device;

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d) a stylus operatively coupled to the platform, wherein the memory device comprises a flash memory device.

2. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the surface is defined by a recess in the platform.

3. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the location detection system comprises a radio-frequency antennae system.

4. The print media receiving unit of claim 1, further comprising a finger well to the side of the surface.

5. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the platform is foldable.

6. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 further comprising a spine receiving portion in the platform configured to receive a spine of the print medium.

7. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 further comprising a spine receiving portion in the platform in the form of an open slot.

8. The prim media receiving unit of claim 1 further comprising a spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion.

9. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 further comprising a spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first or the second end of the spine receiving portion, wherein the print medium is a spiral book comprising a spiral spine, and wherein the tabs at the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion are offset from each other a distance that is substantially equal to a pitch of the spine.

10. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 wherein the flash memory device is in the form of a data cartridge.

11. The print media receiving unit of claim 1 further comprising an indentation for receiving the stylus.

12. An interactive print media system comprising:

a print media receiving unit comprising a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium, b) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium, c) a socket in the platform wherein the socket is capable of receiving a memory device, and d) a stylus operatively coupled to the platform, wherein the memory device comprises a flash memory device; and

the print medium, wherein the print medium is a book with a spiral spine.

13. The interactive print media system of claim 12 wherein the print medium has pages that are substantially free of sharp corners.

14. The interactive print media system of claim 12 wherein the print medium has pages with printed symbols for at least one of playing interactive games or adjusting the volume of the print media receiving unit.

15. A print media receiving unit comprising:

a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine;

b) a spine receiving portion in the platform configured to receive the spine of the print medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end;

c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium; and

d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion, and further comprising a socket associated with the platform, wherein the socket is adapted to receive a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a flash memory device.

16. The print media receiving unit of claim 15 wherein the tabs at the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion are offset from each other.

17. A print media receiving unit comprising:

a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine;

b) a spine receiving portion in the platform configured to receive the spine of the print medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end;

c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium; and

d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are disposed at a location proximate to at least one of the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion, wherein the print medium is a spiral book comprising a spiral spine, and wherein the tabs at the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion are offset from each other a distance that is substantially equal to a pitch of the spiral spine.

18. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the surface is defined by a recess in the platform.

19. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the location detection system comprises a radio-frequency antennae system.

20. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 further comprising a finger well to the side of the surface.

21. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the platform is foldable.

22. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 further comprising a stylus that is coupled to the platform, and wherein the location detection system comprises a radio-frequency antennae system.

23. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the spine receiving portion in the platform is in the form of an open slot.

24. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the platform further comprises a slot, and wherein a memory device is received in the slot.

25. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein each of the tabs is tapered.

26. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 wherein the location detection system is housed in the platform.

27. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 further comprising a stylus coupled to the platform, and wherein the platform has an indentation for receiving the stylus.

28. The print media receiving unit of claim 17 further comprising a stylus coupled to the platform.

29. A print media receiving unit comprising:

a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine;

b) a spine receiving portion in the platform configured to receive the spine of the print medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end;

c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium; and

d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion, wherein the tabs comprise side walls that are tapered.

30. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the surface is defined by a recess in the platform.

31. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the location detection system comprises a radio-frequency antennae system.

32. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 further comprising a finger well to the side of the surface, and wherein the platform has hinges.

33. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the platform is foldable and comprises a slot that is configured to receive a memory device.

34. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 further comprising a stylus that is coupled to the platform, and wherein the location detection system comprises a radio-frequency antennae system.

35. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the spine receiving portion is in the form of an open slot.

36. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the platform further comprises a slot, and wherein a memory device is received in the slot.

37. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 further comprising a stylus coupled to the platform.

38. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 wherein the location detection system is housed in the platform.

39. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 further comprising an indentation for receiving the stylus.

40. The print media receiving unit of claim 29 further comprising a stylus coupled to the platform, and wherein the location detection system is housed in the platform.

41. An interactive print media system comprising:

a print media receiving unit comprising a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine, b) a spine receiving portion in the platform configured to receive the spine of the print medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end, c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium, and d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are disposed at a location proximate to at least one of the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion, wherein the tabs comprise side walls that are tapered; and

the print medium, wherein the spine is a spiral spine.

42. The interactive print media system of claim 41 wherein the print medium has pages that are substantially free of sharp corners.

43. The interactive print media system of claim 41 wherein the print medium has pages with printed symbols for at least one of playing interactive games or adjusting the volume of the print media receiving unit.

44. A print media receiving unit comprising:

a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine, wherein the surface is defined by edges that restrict the movement of the print medium while the print medium is on the platform;

b) a spine receiving portion configured to receive the spine of the pant medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end;

c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium;

d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the spine receiving portion;

e) a socket in the platform wherein the socket is capable of receiving a memory device; and

f) a stylus operatively coupled to the platform, wherein the stylus is adapted to select regions of the print medium, wherein the print medium is a spiral book comprising a spiral spine, and wherein tabs at the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion are offset from each other a distance that is substantially equal to a pitch of the spiral spine.

45. The print media receiving unit of claim 44 further comprising a retractable cable, wherein the retractable cable couples the stylus to the platform.

46. The print media receiving unit of claim 44 further comprising a stylus storage indentation in the platform.

47. An interactive print media system comprising:

a print media receiving unit comprising a) a platform comprising a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine, wherein the surface is defined by edges that restrict the movement of the print medium while the print medium is on the platform, b) a spine receiving portion configured to receive the spine of the print medium, the spine receiving portion having a first end and a second end, c) a location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium, d) a plurality of tabs in the platform, wherein the tabs are proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the spine receiving portion, e) a socket in the platform wherein the socket is capable of receiving a memory device, and f) a stylus operatively coupled to the platform, wherein the stylus is adapted to select regions of the print medium, wherein the print medium is a spiral book comprising a spiral spine, and wherein tabs at the first end or the second end of the spine receiving portion are offset from each other a distance that is substantially equal to a pitch of the spiral spine; and

the print medium.

48. The interactive print media system of claim 47 wherein the print medium has pages that are substantially free of sharp corners.

49. The interactive print media system of claim 47 wherein the print medium has pages with printed symbols for at least one of playing interactive games or adjusting the volume of the print media receiving unit.