Interactive handheld apparatus with stylus

• US 7,083,420 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Flowers, Mark, Wood, Michael C., Cole, Curtis, Chen, Alice, Goldstein, David, Fitts, Michelle, Adolf, Rick, Thies, Carol, Kohl, Antonia, Miller, Joseph B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US10/775,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.R, 434/322, 434/323, 434/356, 434/357, 434/359, 434/362, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 434/322
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An interactive, handheld apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a display screen on the housing, an electronic position location system, a stylus for selecting images on the display screen, a directional control pad on the housing and a memory device. The electronic position location system includes a processor that is capable of determining a location of a selected region of the display screen. The memory device includes computer code for an educational game and is operatively coupled to the processor.

Claims

1. An interactive, handheld apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a display screen on the housing, the display screen configured to display a plurality of images;

an electronic position location system, wherein the electronic position location system includes a processor that is capable of determining a location of a selected region of the display screen;

a stylus for selecting one or more of the plurality of images on the display screen;

a directional control pad on the housing; and

a memory device comprising code for a first educational program and code for a second educational program, wherein the first educational program comprises an educational game that uses the directional control pad and wherein the second educational program uses the stylus and the electronic position location system.

2. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory device is in the form of a data cartridge.

3. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a light associated with the directional control pad, wherein the light associated with directional control pad is illuminated to indicate that the directional control pad is available for use during operation of the educational game.

4. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stylus is coupled to the housing with a cord.

5. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory device comprises an internal memory chip.

6. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing has a trapezoidal shape.

7. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second educational program comprises a painting program.

8. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first educational program comprises a spelling game, a memory game, a number recognition game, or a musical game.

9. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a speaker operatively coupled to the processor.

10. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first program and the second educational program are suitable for use by a child less than about 8 years of age.

11. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 wherein the direction pad is at a left side of the display screen and wherein at least one input button as at a right side of the display screen.

12. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hint button, a home button, and a pause button coupled to the housing.

13. A method for using the interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

interacting with the apparatus using the stylus when using the first educational program; and

interacting with the apparatus using the direction pad when using the second educational program.

14. An interactive, handheld apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an LCD display screen on the housing, the display screen configured to display a plurality of images;

an electronic position location system, wherein the electronic position location system includes a processor that is capable of determining a location of a selected region of the display screen;

a stylus for selecting one or more of the plurality of images on the display screen;

a directional control pad on the housing and being on a left side of the display screen;

at least one input button on the housing and being to a right side of the display screen; and

a memory device comprising code for a first educational program and code for a second educational program, wherein the first educational program comprises an educational game that uses the directional control pad and wherein the second educational program uses the stylus and the electronic position location system.

15. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a hint button, a home button, and a pause button coupled to the housing.

16. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second educational program comprises a painting program.

17. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first educational program comprises a spelling game, a memory game, a number recognition game, or a musical game.

18. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a speaker operatively coupled to the processor.

19. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first program and the second educational program are suitable for use by a child less than about 8 years of age.

20. The interactive, handheld apparatus of claim 14 wherein the stylus is coupled to the housing with a cord.