Electronic interactive toy for promoting learning in a child

• US 7,050,754 B1
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• 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): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/127,112
• Time in Patent Office: 2,853 Days
• Field of Search: 434112-113, 434/128, 434/156, 434/159, 434/167, 434/169, 434/172, 434/176, 434/177, 434/178, 434/322, 434/323, 434/327, 434/335, 434/337, 434/340, 434/346, 434/351, 434/358, 434/307.R, 434/362, 273237-238, 273/260, 701/300, 345/156, 235/383
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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

A system where a child or other individual arranges one or more computer-recognizable characters on a working platform to spell words or provide a mathematical result in response to computer generated questions or prompts, the system then indicating whether the words or mathematical result is correct.

Claims

1. An interactive activity system for a user comprising:

a first electronic display screen displaying a visual graphical environment for the user, the graphical environment presenting the user with one or more visual prompts, said prompts assisting to prompt the user to cognitively react by manipulating one or more graspable objects;

a support structure, said support structure having a work space including a contact-sensitive second electronic display screen capable of displaying graphical images, said contact-sensitive electronic display screen being separate from the first electronic display screen and capable of receiving input from the user through the detection of the location of one or more graspable objects placed on the work space and the path of one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space, said support structure also having a button not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad with which the user can make entries into the system;

one or more detectors associated with the contact-sensitive nature of the work space, the detectors being capable of generating information corresponding to the location of the one or more graspable objects placed on the work space and the path of the one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space by detecting a mechanical downward force generated by the user'"'"'s placement or manipulation of the one or more graspable objects on the work space; and

a processor capable of generating graphical images on at least one of the first and second display screens, recognizing actuation of the button by the user, receiving information corresponding to the location of the one or more graspable objects placed on the work space and the path of the one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space and generating feedback to the user.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio output device capable of providing one or more audio prompts assisting to prompt the user to cognitively react by manipulating one or more graspable objects.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a loadable memory.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the audio output device is further capable of providing audio feedback to the user depending on the location of the one or more graspable objects placed or manipulated on the work space.

5. An interactive activity system for a user comprising:

a first electronic display screen displaying a visual graphical environment for the user, the graphical environment presenting the user with one or more visual prompts, said prompts assisting to prompt the child to cognitively react by manipulating one or more graspable objects;

a support structure, said support structure having a work space including a contact-sensitive second electronic display screen capable of displaying graphical images, said contact-sensitive electronic display screen being separate from the first electronic display screen and capable of receiving input from the user through the detection of the location of one or more graspable objects placed on the work space and the path of one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space, said support structure also having a button not associated with a keyboard or numeric keypad with which the user can make entries into the system;

one or more detectors associated with the contact-sensitive nature of the work space, the detectors being capable of generating information corresponding to the location of the one or more graspable objects placed on the work space and the path of the one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space; and

a processor capable of generating graphical images on at least one of the first and second electronic display screens, recognizing actuation of the button, receiving information corresponding to the location of the one or more able objects placed on the work space and the path of the one or more graspable objects manipulated laterally across the work space and generating feedback to the user.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising an audio output device capable of providing one or more audio prompts assisting to prompt the user to cognitively react by manipulating one or more graspable objects.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a loadable memory.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the audio output device is further capable of providing audio feedback to the user depending on the location of the one or more graspable objects, placed or manipulated on the work space.