Electronic educational toy having a contact-sensitive display screen

• US 7,217,135 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tinkers & Chance
• Original Assignee: Tinkers & Chance
• Inventors: Marcus, Brian I., Heit, Warren S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng; Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20040146844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 434/201, 434/309, 434/323, 434/335, 434/339, 434/359, 434/362, 434/156, 434/167, 434/169, 434/172, 434/176, 434/322, 345/173
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/06 and being attachable to, or mounted on, the support
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/16 the elements each bearing a plurality of different symbols, signs, or combinations of symbols and signs, only one symbol, sign, or combination thereof, of each element to be used at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/36 the elements being connectible by corresponding projections and recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 11/00 Teaching hand-writing, shorthand, drawing, or painting
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/00 Teaching reading teaching lip-reading G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 with electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 3/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

An electronic educational toy designed to teach letters, words and numbers and stimulate the development of a child'"'"'s mind using audio feedback, the educational toy including an enclosure enclosing a processor, a data storage medium and a speaker and having a substantially planar surface, at least a portion of which comprises a contact-sensitive display screen for being contacted by a child.

Claims

1. An electronic educational toy for a child, the electronic educational toy capable of executing educational software, the educational software designed to teach the child about letters by providing problems about letters to the child and positive reinforcement when the child has solved a letter problem correctly, comprising:

a housing having an upper face, the upper face of the housing including;

a substantially planar contact-sensitive display screen having one or more sensors associated therewith capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive display screen, the display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive display screen from the child by the child causing contact with the display screen, and

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the child through which the child may make an input to the toy,

the housing enclosing;

a speaker, and

a processor, the processor configured to execute educational software;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the child causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

a plurality of audio problem prompts output by the speaker, an audio problem prompt including a question or instruction having at least one correct response, the question or instruction designed to present the child with a problem about a letter of an alphabet and to encourage a child to make a cognitive selection relating to the letter;

the processor receiving information indicative of the child'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the child making contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the child actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode;

the processor determining whether the child'"'"'s cognitive selection corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

a first audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

a second audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

2. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, further comprising an audio retry prompt output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the audio retry prompt encouraging the child to attempt to respond to the question or instruction again.

3. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, wherein the child causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

4. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, wherein the processor generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

5. An electronic educational toy as in claim 4, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

6. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, further comprising a portable memory having educational software thereon and wherein the end user adds educational software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the educational toy.

7. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, wherein the processor displays a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen to facilitate interaction between the educational software and the child.

8. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, wherein eduational software is received from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

9. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, further comprising an alternative learning mode wherein the child explores letters, words, numbers or pictures by causing contact with the display screen without there being an incorrect selection, or indication of an incorrect selection, of a letter, word, number or picture and the toy provides audio feedback to the child when such contact corresponds to the selection of a letter, word, number or picture, the audio feedback relating to the selected letter, word, number or picture.

17. An electronic educational toy as in claim 1, wherein educational software is received from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

10. An electronic educational toy for a child, the electronic educational toy capable of executing educational software, the educational software designed to teach the child about words by providing problems about words to the child and positive reinforcement when the child has solved a word problem correctly, comprising:

a housing having an upper face, the upper face of the housing including;

a substantially planar contact-sensitive display screen having one or more sensors capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive display screen, the display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive display screen from the child by the child causing contact with the display screen, and

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the child through which the child may make an input to the toy;

the housing enclosing;

a speaker, and

a processor, the processor configured to execute educational software;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the child causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

a plurality of audio problem prompts output by the speaker, an audio problem prompt including a question or instruction having at least one correct response, the question or instruction designed to present the child with a problem about a word and to encourage a child to make a cognitive selection relating to the word;

the processor receiving information indicative of the child'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the child making contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the child actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode;

the processor determining whether the child'"'"'s cognitive selection corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

a first audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

a second audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

11. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, further comprising an audio retry prompt output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the audio retry prompt encouraging the child to attempt to respond to the question or instruction again.

12. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, wherein the child causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

13. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, wherein the processor generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

14. An electronic educational toy as in claim 13, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

15. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, further comprising a portable memory having educational software thereon and wherein the end user adds educational software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the educational toy.

16. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, wherein the processor displays a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen to facilitate interaction between the educational software and the child.

18. An electronic educational toy as in claim 10, further comprising an alternative learning mode wherein the child explores letters, words, numbers or pictures by causing contact with the display screen without there being an incorrect selection, or indication of an incorrect selection, of a letter, word, number or picture and the toy provides audio feedback to the child when such contact corresponds to the selection of a letter, word, number or picture, the audio feedback relating to the selected letter, word, number or picture.

19. An electronic educational toy for a child, the electronic educational toy capable of executing educational software, the educational software designed to teach the child about numbers by providing problems about numbers to the child and positive reinforcement when the child has solved a number problem correctly, comprising:

a housing having an upper face, the upper face of the housing including;

a substantially planar contact-sensitive display screen having one or more sensors associated therewith capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive display screen, the display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive display screen from the child by the child causing contact with the display screen, and

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the child through which the child may make an input to the toy,

the housing enclosing;

a speaker, and a processor, the processor configured to execute educational software;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the child causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

a plurality of audio problem prompts output by the speaker, an audio problem prompt including a question or instruction having at least one correct response, the question or instruction designed to present the child with a problem about a number and to encourage a child to make a cognitive selection relating to the number;

the processor receiving information indicative of the child'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the child making contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the child actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode;

the processor determining whether the child'"'"'s cognitive selection corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

a first audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

a second audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

20. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, further comprising an audio retry prompt output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the audio retry prompt encouraging the child to attempt to respond to the question or instruction again.

21. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, wherein the child causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

22. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, wherein the processor generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

23. An electronic educational toy as in claim 22, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

24. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, further comprising a portable memory having educational software thereon and wherein the end user adds educational software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the educational toy.

25. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, wherein the processor displays a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen to facilitate interaction between the educational software and the child.

26. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, wherein eduational software is received from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

27. An electronic educational toy as in claim 19, further comprising an alternative learning mode wherein the child explores letters, words, numbers or pictures by causing contact with the display screen without there being an incorrect selection, or indication of an incorrect selection, of a letter, word, number or picture and the toy provides audio feedback to the child when such contact corresponds to the selection of a letter, word, number or picture, the audio feedback relating to the selected letter, word, number or picture.

28. An electronic educational toy for a child, the electronic educational toy capable of executing educational software, the educational software designed to teach the child about numerical operations by providing problems about numerical operations to the child and positive reinforcement when the child has solved a problem correctly, comprising:

a housing having an upper face, the upper face of the housing including;

a substantially planar contact-sensitive display screen having one or more sensors associated therewith capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive display screen, the display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive display screen from the child by the child causing contact with the display screen, and

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the child through which the child may make an input to the toy, the housing enclosing;

a speaker, and

a processor, the processor configured to execute educational software;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the child causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

a plurality of audio problem prompts output by the speaker, an audio problem prompt including a question or instruction having at least one correct response, the question or instruction designed to present the child with a problem about a numerical operation and to encourage a child to make a cognitive selection relating to the numerical operation;

the processor receiving information indicative of the child'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the child making contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the child actuating the button

when the toy employs the second input mode;

the processor determining whether the child'"'"'s cognitive selection corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

a first audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

a second audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

29. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, further comprising an audio retry prompt output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the audio retry prompt encouraging the child to attempt to respond to the question or instruction again.

30. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, wherein the child causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

31. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, wherein the processor generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

32. An electronic educational toy as in claim 31, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

33. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, further comprising a portable memory having educational software thereon and wherein the end user adds educational software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the educational toy.

34. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, wherein the processor displays a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen to facilitate interaction between the educational software and the child.

35. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, wherein educational software is received from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

36. An electronic educational toy as in claim 28, further comprising an a lternative learning mode wherein the child explores letters, words, numbers or pictures by causing contact with the display screen without there being an incorrect selection, or indication of an incorrect selection, of a letter, word, number or picture and the toy provides audio feedback to the child when such contact corresponds to the selection of a letter, word, number or picture, the audio feedback relating to the selected letter, word, number or picture.

37. An electronic educational toy for a child, the electronic educational toy capable of executing educational software, the educational software designed to teach the child about spelling by providing problems about spelling to the child and positive reinforcement when the child has solved a problem correctly, comprising:

a housing having an upper face, the upper face of the housing including;

a substantially planar contact-sensitive display screen having one or more sensors associated therewith capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive display screen, the display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive display screen from the child by the child causing contact with the display screen, and

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the child through which the child may make an input to the toy,

the housing enclosing;

a speaker, and a processor, the processor configured to execute educational software;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of the child causing contact with the contact-sensitive display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the toy are triggered off of actuation of the button;

a plurality of audio problem prompts output by the speaker, an audio problem prompt including a question or instruction having at least one correct response, the question or instruction designed to present the child with a problem about spelling and to encourage a child to make a cognitive selection relating to the spelling problem;

the processor receiving information indicative of the child'"'"'s cognitive selection triggered off of the child making contact with the contact-sensitive display screen when the toy employs the first input mode and triggered off of the child actuating the button when the toy employs the second input mode;

the processor determining whether the child'"'"'s cognitive selection corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction;

a first audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction, the first audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child corresponds to a correct response to the question or instruction; and

a second audio feedback response output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the second audio feedback response indicating that the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction.

38. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, further comprising an audio retry prompt output by the speaker if the selection by the child is something other than a correct response to the question or instruction, the audio retry prompt encouraging the child to attempt to respond to the question or instruction again.

39. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, wherein the child causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

40. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, wherein the processor generates questions or instructions with different levels of difficulty.

41. An electronic educational toy as in claim 40, wherein the processor generates more difficult questions depending on the user having provided correct previous answers.

42. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, further comprising a portable memory having educational software thereon and wherein the end user adds educational software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the educational toy.

43. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, wherein the processor displays a plurality of images on the contact-sensitive display screen to facilitate interaction between the educational software and the child.

44. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, wherein educational software is received from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

45. An electronic educational toy as in claim 37, further comprising an alternative learning mode wherein the child explores letters, words, numbers or pictures by causing contact with the display screen without there being an incorrect selection, or indication of an incorrect selection, of a letter, word, number or picture and the toy provides audio feedback to the child when such contact corresponds to the selection of a letter, word, number or picture, the audio feedback relating to the selected letter, word, number or picture.

46. An electronic device comprising:

an electronic substantially planar contact-sensitive first display screen having associated therewith one or more sensors capable of sensing the occurrence of contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen, the first display screen capable of receiving input at a plurality of locations over at least a substantial portion of the contact-sensitive first display screen from the user by the user causing contact with the first display screen;

a button apparatus not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad, the button apparatus having a button designed to be actuated by the user through which the user may make an input to the device;

a speaker;

a processor-based control system;

a first input mode of operation and a second input mode of operation, the first input mode being where inputs to the device are triggered off of the user causing contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen and the second input mode being where inputs to the device are triggered off of actuation of the button; and

a second electronic display screen, the second electronic display screen displaying a plurality of visual prompts designed to encourage the user to make a selection in response to the visual prompt, wherein the user makes his/her selection in response to the visual prompt via the first input mode or the second input mode,

the processor-based control system (i) generating images to be displayed on the first and second display screens, (ii) receiving information indicative of the user'"'"'s selection triggered off of the user making contact with the contact-sensitive first display screen when the device employs the first input mode and triggered off of the user actuating the button when the device employs the second input mode, and (iii) generating feedback to the user.

47. An electronic device as in claim 46, wherein the user causes contact with the contact-sensitive display screen by placing an object on the contact-sensitive display screen.

48. An electronic device as in claim 46, further comprising a portable memory having software thereon and wherein the user adds software by inserting the portable memory into a portable memory receiving device associated with the electronic device.

49. An electronic device as in claim 46, wherein data is received into the device from a remote location via a data transmission medium.

50. An electronic device as in claim 46, wherein the processor-based control system includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor.

51. An electronic device as in claim 46, wherein the first display screen is capable of receiving input corresponding to the path of contact as contact is moved laterally across the face of the first display screen.