Electronic learning device for an interactive multi-sensory reading system

• US 7,402,042 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Matthew K., McIlvain, Scott H., Kelley, Miriam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hadizonooz; Banafsheh
• Application Number:
  US10/448,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20040043365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 434/317, 434/319, 434/178, 412/1
• US Class Current: 434/178
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/006 with audible presentation of the material to be studied audio and audio-visual teaching apparatus in general G09B5/04, G09B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

An electronic learning device configured to receive in a predetermined orientation a book having an arrangement of selectable mode icons, selectable content and a page identifier. Non-volatile memory in the electronic learning device has instructions associated with each mode icon, and data associated with the selectable content. A controller is in electrical communication with a page identification sensor and a position sensor for detecting the presence of a selector. The controller is configured a) to operate in accordance with instructions associated with each mode icon, b) to determine the position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor, c) to recognize the page identifier, and a selection by the selector of one of the selectable mode icons, the selectable indicia or the selectable content and d) to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.

Claims

1. An interactive electronic device for receiving a book associated with an interactive electronic learning system responsive to a selector, the book having selectable content, the device comprising:

a housing assembly having a book well configured to receive the book;

a physical user interface in the book well, the physical interface comprising an arrangement of selectable indicia;

an electronic user interface in the housing assembly, the electronic user interface comprising a position sensor having an active range including the selectable content of the book when the book is in the book well and the selectable indicia of the book well;

control electronics in the housing assembly, the control electronics comprising;

non-volatile memory having therein instructions associated with the selectable content of the book and the selectable indicia of the book well; and

a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the controller configured

a) to operate in accordance with the instructions in the non-volatile memory,

b) to determine a position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor,

c) to recognize a selection by the selector of the selectable content of the book or one of the selectable indicia of the book well, and

d) to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.

2. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is expanded by a removable memory.

3. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selector is a stylus.

4. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises language symbols.

5. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises an arrangement of letters.

6. The interactive electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement of letters are arranged alphabetically.

7. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises letter pairs, each pair comprising an upper case representation of a letter and a lower case representation of the letter.

8. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises numbers.

9. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises symbols associated with music.

10. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of selectable indicia comprises a plurality of mode icons, each representing a mode of operation of the control electronics and selection of one of the plurality of mode icons causes the control electronics to operate in the corresponding mode of operation.

11. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selectable content comprises a graphic.

12. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selectable content comprises a word.

13. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selectable content comprises a letter.

14. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the selectable content comprises a plurality of mode icons, each representing a mode of operation of the control electronics and selection of one of the plurality of mode icons causes the control electronics to operate in the corresponding mode of operation.

15. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic user interface generates a user perceivable signal associated with the selection.

16. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control electronics is configured to operate in a reading mode.

17. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches a name of a letter in an alphabet.

18. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches a sound associated with a letter in an alphabet.

19. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches a sound associated with a letter in a letter sequence spoken in continuous speech.

20. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches an order of a sequence of letters in an alphabet.

21. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches spelling.

22. The interactive electronic device according to claim 16, wherein the reading mode teaches a pronunciation of a word.

23. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control electronics is configured to operate in an activity mode.

24. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode teaches shapes.

25. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode teaches visual discrimination skill.

26. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode teaches at least one of rhyming, matching and patterning.

27. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode requires compound selection.

28. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode teaches counting.

29. The interactive electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the activity mode teaches a music skill.

30. The interactive electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the instructions correspond to a template.

31. The interactive electronic device according to claim 30, wherein the template provides a question regarding one of the plurality of indicia and provides a response based on the selection.

32. An interactive electronic device for receiving a book associated with an interactive electronic learning system responsive to a selector, the device comprising:

a housing assembly having a book well configured to receive the book;

a physical user interface in the book well, the physical user interface comprising an arrangement of selectable mode icons;

an electronic user interface in the housing assembly, the electronic user interface comprising a position sensor having an active range including the selectable mode icons of the book well;

control electronics in the housing assembly, the control electronics comprising;

non-volatile memory having therein instructions associated with the selectable mode icons in the book well; and

a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the controller configured

a) to operate in accordance with the instructions associated with the selectable mode icon in the book well,

b) to determine a position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor,

c) to recognize a selection by the selector of the selectable mode icons in the book well, and

d) to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.

33. An interactive electronic device for receiving a book associated with an interactive electronic learning system responsive to a selector, the book having selectable content and an arrangement of selectable mode icons, the device comprising:

a housing assembly having a book well configured to receive the book;

an electronic user interface in the housing assembly, the electronic user interface comprising a position sensor and a visible signal generator, the position sensor having an active range including the selectable content and the arrangement of selectable mode icons when the book is in the book well, wherein the visible signal generator is an arrangement of light emitting diodes and each of the selectable mode icons of the book is in registry with one of the light emitting diodes when the book is in the book well;

control electronics in the housing assembly, the control electronics comprising;

non-volatile memory having therein instructions associated with the selectable content and the selectable mode icons; and

a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the controller configured

a) to operate in accordance with the instructions in the non-volatile memory,

b) to determine a position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor,

c) to recognize a first selection by the selector of one of the selectable mode icons and send to the visible signal generator a first signal corresponding to the first selection, and

d) to recognize a second selection by the selector of the selectable content and send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the second selection,

wherein the visible signal generator is an arrangement of light emitting diodes and each of the selectable mode icons is in registry with one of the light emitting diodes.

34. An interactive electronic learning device for receiving a book associated with an interactive electronic learning system responsive to a selector, the book having a predetermined orientation, a two-page spread formed by a first page and a second page connected to the first page by a binding attached to a spine, the two-page spread having opposed side edges distal to the binding, each of the opposed side edges having a setback upper portion, a page identifier, selectable content, a first arrangement of selectable mode icons on the two-page spread, the device comprising:

a housing assembly having a base with a base-recess and a cover with a cover-recess;

a hinge assembly connecting the base to the cover, the hinge assembly comprising a first hinge and a second hinge spaced from the first hinge, the first and second hinges having an axis of rotation spaced from the base-recess edge and the cover-recess edge;

a book well formed by the base-recess and the cover-recess, the book well having sidewalls generally conforming to the two-page spread, the sidewalls configured to receive the book when the book is in the predetermined orientation, a portion of each sidewall in registry with the setback upper portion of the two-page spread having a sidewall setback configured, in conjunction with the setback upper portion of the two-page spread, to facilitate access for page turning;

a book mounting assembly having a first mounting element integral with the first hinge and a second mounting element integral with the second hinge, the first and second mounting elements configured to releasably retain the book in the book well;

a physical user interface in the book well, the physical interface comprising a second arrangement of selectable mode icons and an arrangement of selectable indicia;

an electronic user interface in the housing assembly, the electronic user interface comprising a position sensor and an arrangement of light emitting diodes, the position sensor having an active range including the selectable content of the book when the book is in the book well, each of the selectable mode icons is in registry with one light emitting diode of the arrangement of light emitting diodes;

a page identification sensor is in the housing assembly; and

control electronics in the housing assembly, the control electronics comprising;

non-volatile memory having therein instructions associated with each of the selectable mode icons of the first and second arrangements of selectable mode icons and data associated with the selectable indicia and the selectable content; and

a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the position sensor, and the page identification sensor, the controller configured

a) to operate in accordance with the instructions in the non-volatile memory,

b) to determine a position of the selector when the selector is within the active range of the position sensor,

c) to recognize the page identifier;

d) to recognize a first selection by the selector of one of the selectable mode icons of the first and second arrangements of selectable mode icons and to energize the light emitting diode in registry with the first selection, and

e) to recognize a second selection by the selector of the selectable content of the book or the selectable indicia of the book well and send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the second selection.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense the location of a finger when the finger is in the active range of the position sensor.

36. An interactive electronic device comprising:

a housing assembly having a portion of a surface configured to receive a print medium with selectable content;

a physical user interface on the portion of the surface, the physical user interface comprising a plurality of selectable indicia;

an electronic user interface in the housing assembly, the electronic user interface comprising a sensor having an active range including the arrangement of selectable indicia, and the selectable content of the print medium when the print medium is on the portion of the surface; and

control electronics in the housing assembly, the control electronics comprising;

memory having therein instructions associated with the selectable content of the print media and the plurality of selectable indicia; and

a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the controller configured

a) to operate in accordance with the instructions in the memory, and

b) to recognize a selection by a selector of one of the plurality of selectable indicia or the selectable content of the print media when the print medium is on the portion of the surface.

37. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the print medium is a book and the portion of the surface is a book well.

38. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the memory comprises removable memory.

39. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence a finger within the active range of the sensor.

40. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the selector is a stylus.

41. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises language symbols.

42. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises an arrangement of letters.

43. The interactive electronic device according to claim 42, wherein the arrangement of letters are arranged alphabetically.

44. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises letter pairs, each pair comprising an upper case representation of a letter and a lower case representation of the letter.

45. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises numbers.

46. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises a symbol associated with music.

47. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of selectable indicia comprises a plurality of mode icons, each representing a mode of operation of the control electronics and selection of one of the plurality of mode icons causes the control electronics to operate in the corresponding mode of operation.

48. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the selectable content comprises a graphic.

49. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the selectable content comprises a word.

50. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the selectable content comprises a letter.

51. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the selectable content comprises a plurality of mode icons, each representing a mode of operation of the control electronics and selection of one of the plurality of mode icons causes the control electronics to operate in the corresponding mode of operation.

52. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the controller is further configured to send to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection.

53. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the electronic user interface generates a user perceivable signal associated with the selection.

54. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the control electronics is configured to operate in a reading mode.

55. The interactive electronic device according to claim 54 wherein the reading mode teaches a name of a letter in an alphabet.

56. The interactive electronic device according to claim 54, wherein the reading mode teaches a sound of a letter in an alphabet.

57. The interactive electronic device according to claim 54, wherein the reading mode teaches an order of a sequence of letters in an alphabet.

58. The interactive electronic device according to claim 54, wherein the reading mode teaches spelling.

59. The interactive electronic device according to claim 54, wherein the reading mode teaches a pronunciation of a word.

60. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the control electronics is configured to operate in an activity mode.

61. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode teaches shapes.

62. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode teaches a visual discrimination skill.

63. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode teaches at least one of rhyming, matching and patterning.

64. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode requires compound selection.

65. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode teaches counting.

66. The interactive electronic device according to claim 60, wherein the activity mode teaches music skills.

67. The interactive electronic device according to claim 36, wherein the instructions correspond to a template.

68. The interactive electronic device according to claim 67, wherein the template provides a question regarding one of the plurality of indicia and provides a response based on the selection.