Voting apparatus and method

• US 7,048,186 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chandler, Dave, Conroy, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/024,959
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 235/386, 235/385, 235/487, 235/489, 235/456
• US Class Current: 235/386
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus

Abstract

A voting apparatus includes a print media receiving unit including a surface suitable for receiving a printed medium containing a list of two or more choices. An electronic position determining system is associated with the print media receiving unit. The electronic position determining system is capable of determining a position of a selection of the two or more choices on the print medium when the print medium is disposed on the surface. An information storage medium in the voting apparatus is capable of storing the selection.

Claims

1. A voting apparatus comprising:

(a) a print medium for an election, the print medium having two or more choices;

(b) a print media receiving unit including a surface suitable for receiving the print medium;

(c) a stylus coupled to the print media receiving unit;

(d) an electronic position determining system capable of determining a position of a selection of the two or more choices on the print medium when the print medium is disposed on the surface, the electronic position determining system including a processor, a first antenna under the surface of the print media receiving unit and electrically coupled to the processor, and a second antenna in the stylus and coupled to the print media receiving unit via an electrical cable; and

(e) an information storage medium capable of storing a selection of the voter.

2. The voting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first antenna transmits a signal to the second antenna through the surface and the print medium during voting.

3. The voting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of language selection buttons representing different languages.

4. The voting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual output device coupled to the processor, wherein the visual output device is adapted to display the selection to the voter.

5. The voting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage medium is a transferable information storage medium.

6. The voting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an automatic page detection system for determining which page of the print medium is currently being displayed to the user.

7. The voting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the voting apparatus is capable of being automatically activated after the print media receiving unit receives the print medium.

8. The voting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print medium comprises perforated regions that can be punched with the stylus.

9. The voting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print media receiving unit further comprises a record vote button.

10. The voting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an LCD display device operatively coupled to the processor.