CA1278862C - Personalized electronic greeting cards and methods and apparatus for providing same - Google Patents

Abstract

PERSONALIZED ELECTRONIC GREETING CARDS
AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SAME

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Greeting cards are provided which include memory devices for storing digital data which controls generation of an audible greeting speech synthesizing circuitry being provided for this purpose. Programming circuitry is provided for storing digital data in the memory device which corresponds to a user's voice. The electronic circuitry of the card is sandwiched between a central portion of layers of sheet material, one layer having a central opening for user access to the circuitry, as for installation of a memory device in the card.

Description

PERSONALIZED ELECTRONIC GREETING CARDS
AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SAME

This invention relates to electronic greeting cards which have physical constructions and electrical and electronic circuitry such that the user may more readily condition a card for operation of the electronic circuitry and such as to facilitate conditioning and use of the card to effect transmission of a selected message to the recipient. A method and apparatus are provided to enhance the user's control of the card and his or her control of the transmitted message.

Background of the Invention Greeting cards have heretofore been provided which have incorporated modules for producing musical tones and there have also been proposals for producing audible sounds from recordings on magnetic tape or the like. Speech synthesizer integrated circuits are also known and have been proposed for use in greeting cards but the proposals have had limitations with respect to recognizing and solving practical problems in implementing manufacture and use of speech synthesi~ in greeting cards, with respect to the types of messages which can be .
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~2'7~3 !362

-2-produced and with respect to recognizing and obtaining many important advantages which can be obtained from the proper utilization of speech synthesis.

Summary of the Invention This invention was evolvéd with the general object of providing greeting cards which p~rmit enhanced control of circuitry and transmitted messages while being highly reliable and economically manufacturable.
Another object of the invention is to provida methods and apparatus to facilitate control o~
conditioning of the cards and the messages transmitted thereby.
The invention is based in part upon the discovery and recognition of problems with prior arrangements and upon an analysis of various possibilities for overcoming such problems and otherwiss improving the performance and usefulness of electronic greeting cards.
In gree~ing cards constructed in accordance with the invention, personalization processes are used~ In particular, digital data may be stored in a digital memory device of electronic circuitry carried within a greeting card, the data being such that a message personally selected by the user is reproduced through speech synthesis and sound reproducing circuitry, also carried within the card. The circuitry may be activated by the recipient, through the operation of a switch upon opening o~ the card, and a truly personal message is thus transmitted to the recipient.

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A method and apparatus are provided to facilitate personalization of the message to be transmitted. Preferably, a supply of cards are provided, each including a digital memory device, speech synthesis means and sound reproducing means. The user may transmit a selected audible message to the recipient of a card, either by selection of one of a number of cards having different messages stored in the digital memories thereof, or by storing a message i.n the memory of a card after selection of the card.
In one preferred system, the use determines the message to be transmitted by generating or otherwise supplying an electrical signal. For example, the user may talk or sing into a microphone to supply the electrical signal, or may provide a magnetic tape or other medium on which the electrical signal has been previously recorded.
Any signal from any source may be selected by the user and processed to develop corresponding digital data which is stored in the digital memory device of the card selected by the user and which is subsequently used to develop an audible message for the recipient of the card.
In accordance with important features oE the invention, an audible message which is substantially identical to that to be transmitted to the recipient of the card is reproduced for the user for his or her approval prior to sending of the card and if it is not satisfactory, the processing may be repeated with a different signal being supplied and/or with different processing criteria. In one system of the invention, the digital data developed from processing of the user-supplied signal is stored temporarily in a volatile memory or RAM which is separate from the memory device of the ~:7~ Z

card. Then the speech synthesis and sound reproduction circuitry of the card, or circuitry substantially identical thereto, is used in conjunction with the RAM to reproduce an audible message corresponding to the user-supplied electrical signal. If it is satisfactory to theuser, the digital data is then transferred from the RAM to the digital memory device of the card. If not satisfactory, the prior steps may be repeated. The user may again talk or sing into the microphone to supply a new signal, or may supply a different pre-recorded signal.
The user may also use different processing criteria.
The use of a RAM separate from the memory device of the card is advantageous in that the memory device of the card can be a PROM, EPROM, EEPROM or other device which is capable of storing the data indefinitely without power supplied thereto and/or which may have cost or other advantages bu~ which is such that storage of new data is impossible or time-consuming. However, the memory device of the card may be a volatile device and may, for example, be a CMOS ~AM or the equivalent having a very low current drain with a fresh battery being preferably installed in the card when it is to be sent to thea recipient. In this case, the memory device of the card may be used for reproduction and approval by the user, and if the recorded data is not satisfactory, new data may be stored in the memory device of the card. A separate processing RAM
would not be necessary in this case, but a separate RAM is nevertheless desirable to permit use of a variety of types of memory devices. The system of the invention is thus very flexible with respect to the type of memory device usable the card and many variations in operation are possible.

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78~3~2 Addi-tional important -features of the invention relate to -the construction of the greeting cards. Preferably, the electronic circu:itry of each card is sandwiched between central portions of front and rear layers of sheet material of the same shape and in registering relation with means being provided for securing together the peripheral edge portions of the two layer.s. One of the layers has a central opening for providing user access to the electronic circuitry. In one arrangement of the invention, such access permits installation and removal of a digital memory device used for controlling an audible message signal developed by the circuitry. In another arrangement, such access permits installation and removal of a battery used for supplying electrical power for operation of the circuitry.
It will be understood that the access provided by the opening may be such as to permit installation and removal of other components and/or may be such as to permit the user to operate switch means of the circuitry or otherwise control or adjust its opera-tion, without removal of a component thereof.
The use of an opening to provide access to the circuitry has an importan-t advantage in simplifying the opera-tions to be performed by the user and is also advantageous with respect to providing a card which is aesthetically pleasing to the user and to the recipient of the card.

~Z7~6Z
- 6 - 60~2-~767 Pre~erably ancl :in accordance with specific features, one or more hinged flaps are struck-out to provide an access opening which may preferably be in a rear layer and decorative seal means are provided to al.low the user to cover the openiny after using the opening for access to the eircuitry.
The ele~tronlc circuitry is quite thin and when it is sandwiched het~een central portions of the layers and when the peripheral edye portions of the layers are secured toye-ther, the perception of card thickness is minimized. Location between central portions of the layers is also advantageous in providing ma~imum protection for the circuitry.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a greeting card, comprising front and rear layers of sheet material of the same shape and in xeyistering relation, means securing p~ripheral edge portions of said layers together, and eleetronic circuitry sandwiched between eentral portions of said layers, said electronic circuitry including a digital memory deviee, speech synthesis circuitry for yenerating an electrical voice message signal corresponding to digital data stored in said memory deviee, and sound reproducing means responsive to said voice message signal for produeing a corresponding audible sicJnal, said dicJital memory device and said speech syn-thesis circuitry being arranged for proyramminy by a user of said ard prior to sencling of said card to a reclpient to permit storiny of diyital data in said memory dev:lce correspondiny to a personalizecl voice meSSaCJe uniquely associated with ei-ther or both l;he user and intended recipient of said card, and access means for providiny user access to saicl electronic circuitry and said memory device to permit said programmi.ng of said digital memory device and speech synthesis circuitry by the user prior to sending of the card to the intended recipien-t.

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~88~ 60332--176-/ .

Accordlng to another broacl aspect of the inven-tion there is provicled a system for suppl~ving gree-ting cards for transmission by a user of the svstem of viewable gree-tings and audible messages to the recipients of the eards whieh .inclucles a supply of eards bearing various forms of greetinc3 indleia for selection by the user, eaeh eard comprising electronic circuitry ineluding a cligital memory device, speeeh synthesis means conneeted to said dicJital memory device and operative to generate an electrieal signal for development of an audible message eorresponding to diyital clata stored in saicl cligital memory device, said circuitry being arranged for storing Orc digital data in said memory deviee eorresponding to a personalized voiee message uniquel~ associated with either or both the user and intencded reeipient of said eard ancl being arranged for audible reproduction of said personali~ed voiee message to produee an audible message, ancl greeting means responsive to said eleetrieal signal for transmit-ting said audible message to -the reeipient of said eard, eaeh of said eards bei.ng so eonstrueted and arranged that the user may seleet one of said eards having a seleeted form of yree-ting indicia and may also select the digital data stored in the memory deviee -thereof to transmit the seLeeted audible message to the reeipient of the selected earcl which eorresponds to said persona:Lized voice InessacJe uniquely a.ssociclted with either or both the user and intended recipient of saicl card.
This invention contemplates other objeets, features and advantages wh.ieh will beeome more fully apparent from -the Eollowing detailed deserip-tlon, -taken in eonjunetion ~7ith the accompanying drawlngs.
Brief Des~rlP_lon of_the l_rawincls FIGURE 1 is a perspec-tive view of greeting card apparacus constructed in accordance with the invention;

78136;~
- 6b - 60332-1767 FIGURE 2 is a rear perspec-tive view of a gree-ting card constructed in accordance with the invention and arranged to be personalized through use of the apparatus of E'igure 1;
FIGUR~ 3 ls a view showiny the card of Figure 2 with a digital memory device installed therein;

78~
- 7 - ~0332-1767 FIGURE 4 is a view showing the card of Figures 2 and

3, after applying a seal thereto;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic block diagram of the electri-cal circuitry of an instrument of the apparatus of Figure l;
FIGURE 6 is a diagram of t~e internal circuitry of an integrated circuit usable in the instrumen-t of Figure 5;
FIGURE 7 is a schematic block diagram of electrical circuitry of -the card of E'igures 2-4;

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FIGURE 8 is a diagram of the internal circuitry of an integrated circuit usable in the circuitry of Figure 7;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the card of Figure 2 in the process of being constructed;
FIGURE 10 is a front perspective view of the card of Figures 2 and 9, after construction and ready for use;
FIGURES 11-14 are views illustrating various forms of seals usable with the card of the invention;
FIGURE 15 is a rear perspective view similar to Figure 3, but illustrating a modified card according to the invention;
FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along line XVI-XVI of Figure 15;
FIGURE 17 is a view of a portion of a rear flap of a card, showing a portion of a circuit board therein and illustrating a modified battery holding arrangement;
FIGURE 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, illustrating a movable contact member in a battery-holding position; and FIGURE 19 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line XIX-XIX of Figure 18.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Reference numeral 10 generally designates apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, designed for use in producing personalized greeting cards. A number of cards 11 with various greetings printed or otherwise provided thereon are disposed on a display and card storage unit 12 ~or ?~S -,' *A~,.,~, , `~ ,.

. ' ~2~ 62 examination by a user. After finding a suitabl~ card, the user may obtain a new but otherwise identical card from a drawer of the display and card storage unit 12 and may then proceed to personalize the selected card.
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a card 11 constructed to be personalized in accordance with the invention. A rear layer 13 of a réar flap 14 of the card 11 includes a pair o~ flaps 15 and 16 which are formed as struck-out portions of the layer 13 of sheet material.
When such flaps are moved to open positions as shown in Figure 2, access is obtained to a socket 18. Socket 18 is arranged to receive a digital memory device 19 such as a PROM containing digital data corresponding to a message to be audibly reproduced to the recipient of the card. After installation of the device 19, as shown in Figure 3, the flaps 15 and 16 are closed and then a protective saal 20 is adhesively or otherwise attached, as shown in Figure 4.
Preferably, seal 20 is shaped and carries indicia or is otherwise formed to provide an attractive ornamental appearance, while covering struck-out closed flaps 15 and 16.
The card 11 may then ~e mailed or otherwise delivQred to the intended recipient of the message. Upon receipt, circuitry within the card 11 is activated by the reclpient, through the automatic closure of a switch upon ! opaning of the card 11, and an audihle message is reproduced which corresponds to digital data store~ in the memory device 19.
The illustrated app~ratus 10 includes an instrument 22 for programming of the device 19 and for performing other functions. Among other things, it may be , ~

used to store digital data corresponding to the user's voice and a microphone 23 is provided for that purpose, connected through a cable 24 to the instrument 22.
In one mode of operation, the user presses a "DIGITIZE" button 25 on the instrument 22 and then presses a button 26 on the microphone 23 and talks or sings to record a message such as "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM". Circuitry of the instrument 22 operates to process an electrical signal developed by -the microphone 23 and to produce a corresponding digital signal which is stored -temporarily in a random access memory or RAM of the instrument 22.
Next, a "PLAYBACK" button is pressed to cause -the instrument to audibly reproduce the digitized message which is stored temporarily in the RAM of the instrument. The message may be reproduced as many times as may be desired. If it is not satisfactory, a new message may be generated and, if desired, the criteria used in digitizing the message may be changed as by changing frequency response characteristics of circuitry of the instrument.
When a message is reproduced which is satisfactory to the user, a memory device such as a PROM is inserted into a socket 30 on the instrument, and a "MEMORY STORE" button 32 is pressed to cause the digital data which is stored in the RAM to be loaded or stored in the device inserted into socket 30 which then forms the device 19 and which is inserted in the socket 18 of the card ll.

~2~8~36Z
- lOa - 60332-1767 At this time and prior to application of the seal 20, a front flap 34 (shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10) of the card 11 may be moved from a closed position to an open position to cause a switch within the card 11 to be closed and to energize circuitry of the card 11 and audibly reproduce the message. If ~7~7138~;2 after such a final chack, the m~6Bage i~ found to be sati~factory, the ~lap~ 15 and 16 aro clo~d and the seal 20 i9 applied, th~ card being then ~aLlQd or otherwi~e doliv~red to the intended recipient o~ th~ message.
The use of a P~OM a~ tha memory d~vice 19 of th~
card 11 i~ d~irable fro~ the standpoint o~ co~t but it i~
possibl~ to uo~ an EP~OM, an EEPROM or oth~r mclmory devic~. It i9 al~o po~ible to u~e a volatile devic~ as the memory d~vic~ 19. For exampl0, a C~OS R~ might b0 u~ed in the card 11 in conjunction with b~ttary which ia fre~h at tho tim0 o~ proC~ssing and sonding o~ th3 card.
Figure 5 is a schematic di~gram o~ ths circuitry o~ th~ inatru~nt 22. A koy componsnt o~ tho circuitry i8 a ~peech analy i~ and 6ynthe~izer circuit 36 which may, for ~xampls, be a circuit ~f a typ~ which us~ a~
adaptiv~ di~f~rsntial pul~a code modulation mQthod ~or analy~i~ o~ a digital signal obtained from an input speech signal, i.e., an analog 6ignal in the aud~o fr~quency range, into digital data o~ compr~ed ~orm which can ba stored and which can b~ used to r~cr~at~ tho input ~pQ~ch signal. In the illu~trated sy~tem, the digital data i~
temporarily stored in a random acce3~ memory 37 and may be mors parman~ntly ~tor~d in a PROM or dovic~ mount~d in the ~ockot 30, a burn or ~torago control circuit 38 b~ing provided ~or this purpo~e! Th~ circuit 36 al~o includa~ a synthæsizer circuitry for r~c~iving digital data from tho memory 37 and dsveloping an analog ~ignal which ia applied through a ~ilt~r 39 and an a~pli~ier 40 to a ~peaksr 41 o~
th2 instru~ont 22.
An analog-to-digital conv~rt~r 42 ha~ an output coupl~d through a p~rallol-to-~erial shi~t rogi~t~r 43 to ~upply input digital data to ths analyzer and ~ynth~iz0r " ~2~7~38~

-12~ 60332-1767 circuit 36. The input of the converter 42 is connected to the output of a sample and hold circuit 44 which has its input connected to the output of filter circuit 46, the input of the circuit 46 being connected to the output of an amplifier 47 which has an input connected to jack 48 for connection through the cable 24 to the microphone, or to another source of an input analog siqnal in the audio range.
To control the operation of the various circuits, a controller 50 is provided which may preferably include a microprocessor, and which is connected to a keyboard circuit 51 connected to the pushbuttons 25, 26, 28 and 32 and other buttons of a key pad 52 of the instrument 22. Circuit 51 i~ also connected through a line 53 and a conductor of cable 24 to a switch operated by microphone button 26.
When the ~DIGITIZE~ button 25 is pressed and the microphone button 26 is subsequently dèpressed, the controller 50 supplies control signals through lines 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 to the amplifier 47, filter circuit 46, sample and hold circuit 44, A/D converter 42, parallel to serial shift register 43 and spee~h analysis and synthesizer circuit 36 to cause the analog output signal of the microphone to be converted to digital signals which are proces~ed and analyzed to develop corresponding compres~ed digital signals which are applied to the memory 37 and ~tored therein, memory 37 being controlled through a line 60.
When the ~PLAYBACK~ button 28 is depressed, the controller 50 supplies control signals through lines 59 and 60 to th2 circuit 36 and memory 37 and through a line 62 to amplifier 40 to effect audible reproduction of the ~278~36Z
- 13 - 6033~ 1767 signal after conv~r~ion to and Prom ~ compr~s6~d digital signal stored in the memory 37. Tho r~production pr~f~rably correspond~ to that which will be produc~d by tho circuitry of th~ card, so that tho us~r obtains an accurate impression of th~ audibla ~ignal to be reproduced to th~ recipient o~ th~ card.
When tho memory ~tore button 32 i~ pre~a~d, the burn or storage control circuit i~ op~ratsd to transfar and stora the digital data in the PROM d~vic~ inserted into th~ sock~t 30, the controller 50 boing connected to th~ circuit 3~ through a control lina 64.
The illu~trated in~trum~nt 22 ~urther includea a cabl~ 65 which i~ connect~d at ono ~nd to a ~onnector 66 insertabla into ~n int~grat~d circuit sock~t of a c~rd.
At tho oppo~it~ end, the cable 65 is connsctabl~ to a jack 67 which i~ connected to th~ burn or storage control circuit 38 or to a jack 68 which i8 ccnnected to memory 37. An intarfac~ circuit 70 may b~ provided betw~sn ~ack 68 m~mory 37 and may b~ connectod through a line 72 to the controll~r 50 ~or controll~d tran~er o~ signala between th~ memory 37 and circuitry o~ th0 card, for te~ting or oth~r purpos~ Whan cable 65 i5 connocted to the jack 67 and th~ burn or ~torago control circuit 38 digital data may b~ stored in the PROM or other memory circuitry which i9 installed in a card ~ither a~ a aeparato circuit or as part o~ an LSI circuit which may also includ~ s~eQch ~ynthesia and/or microcomputer circuitry.
Figure 6 ia a diagram o~ ono typ~ o~
commercially availablo circuit which may b~ u3ed a~ the circuit 36. Thi~ circuit i~ a typ~ MSM5218 integratod circuit markatod by OKI Semiconductor, Inc n 0~ Santa ~88~;2 Clara, CaliEornia, which is a CMOS device having processing circuitry operative to analyze and compress the input data into 3 or 4 bits at a parallel output. This illustrated circuit uses adaptive differential pulse code modulation principles ~or compression of the data but it will be unders-tood that the system may operate without compression of data and also that systems opera-ting on other data compression principles may be used. As shown, the circ~it 36 includes a ADPCM analysis stage 74 which has a 12 bit parallel input connected to the output of a 12 bit shif-t register 75. Shift register 75 has a clock input connected to a pin 76 and a data input connected to an analog data input pin 77, pin 76 being connected to a clock signal output terminal of the A/D converter and pin 77 being connected to an analog data output of t'ne A/D conver-ter 42.
The stage 74 also has an input connected to a pin 78 to which a control signal is applied according to whether the input serial data is in binary or 2's complement form. A 4-bit parallel output of the s-tage 74 is connected to pins 79-82 forming data pins D0-D3 of a I/O port, such pins 79-82 being connec-ted through a ~-line da-ta bus to the memory 37.
The circui-t 36 further includes an internal timing circuit 84 which is connected to an oscillator 86 connected to pins 87 which are connected to a 384 kHz resonator 88. Timing circuit 84 is also connected to a pair of pins 89 and 90 to which signals are applied to selectively obtain sampling requencies oE 4 kHz, 6 kHz, 8 kHz or a sampling frequency applied to an I/O pin 91 Erom an external ~.~q~6Z~

source, per the following table:

Input Input Sampling 89 90 F_~gy~y Low Low 4 KHz Low High 6 KHz High Low 8 Khz High High External from 91 When a sampling frequency of 4, 6 or 8 K~z is ~elected, it is available at I/O pin 91 for application to an external circuit as desired. A pin 92 is provided for supplying a signal from timing circuit 84 and through line 93 (Figure 5) to the A/D converter 42, or initiating a conversion operation.

The circuit 36 also includes a ADPCM synthesis stage ; 15 94 which has inputs connected to the pins 7 9-82 o the 4 bit I/O
port. The output of the stage 94 is connected to a 10-bit D/A
converter 95 and to a 12~bit shift register 96. The output of D/A converter 95 is connected to a pin 97 which is connected to the input of the filter circuit 39 in the circuit as shown in Figure 5. A pin 98 is connected either to the D/A convert~r 95 or to the output of the shift register 96 depending upon the mode of operation. If an analog signal output mode is selected, the MSB of the data in the 10-bit D/A converter 95 appears at pin 98.
If a PCM output mode is selected, serial PCM data can be clocked out from pin 98~

Figure 7 is a block diagram of circuitry 100 of the card 11. Circuitry 100 includes the memory device 19 which is connected through an interface circuit 101 to a speech synthesis circuit 102. Interface circuit 101 splits 8-bit data from the ~Z ~ ~ ~6 memory device into 4-bit samples which are applied to the circuit 102 to be decoded and to develop a corresponding analog output signal. The analog output signal is applied through a filter 103 and an amplifier 104 to a speaker 105. A controller 106 .is provided which controls the memory 19, the interface circuit 101 and the speech synthesizer circuit 102, as diagrammatically indicated by lines 107, 108 and 109. Power is applied to the device 19, circuit 101, circuit 102, fi].ter 103, amplifier 104 and controller 106 from a battery 110, connected thereto through a switch 111.

Figure 8 is a diagram of one type of commercially available circuit which may be used as the circuit 102. This circuit is designed for use when the circuit of Figure 5 is used in the instrument 22 and is a type MSM5205RS ADPCM speech synthesis integrated circuit marketed by ORI Semi-conductor, Inc.
Basically, the circuit 102 is a playback-only version of the analyzer/synthesizer circuit 36 of the instrument 22. It includes a ADPCM synthesis stage 112 corresponding to the stage 94 and having an input connected to a 4-bit shift register 114 which has inputs connected to pins 115-118 for connection to DO-D3 data lines from the memory device 19. A 12-bit shift register 120 is connected to the output of the stage 112 and a 10-bit D/A converter 121 is connected to the shift register 120, the output of the converter 121 being connected to the input of the filter 103. A timing circuit 122 and an oscillator circuit 123 are provided, which function in the same manner as the circuits 84 and 86 of the circuit 36 in Figure 6. Timing circuit 122 is connected to pins 124, 125 and 126 having functions like those of pins 89, 90 and 91 in the circuit 36 of Figure 6.
Oscillator circuit 123 is connected to a resonator 127.
Important features of the invention relate to the construction of the card 11 and the mounting of the circuitry 100 therein in a manner such as to simplify the operations to be perEormed by the user and to provide a card which has the appearance of being qui-te thin and which is otherwise aesthe-ti cally pleasing to the user and the recipient of the card.

7~

Figure g illustrates the card 11 in the process of being constructed. As shown, it includes a member of sheet material having three sections, one to form the front flap 34 of the card, a second section to form the rear layer 13 of the rear flap 14 and a third section to form a front layer 128 of the rear ~lap 14. The circuitry 100 includes a circuit board 129 for supporting the components of the circuitry, including an integrated circuit forming the interface circuit 101, the speech lo synthesizer integrated circuit 102, an integrated circuit 130 used in the filter and amplifier circuits 103 and 104 and an integrated circuit forming the controller 106. The circuit board 129 also carries the speaker 105. To receive the memory device 19 and connect it to the other circuit components, a low-profile socket 132 is mounted on the circuit board 129. These devices may be combined in any decired fashion to ~orm a single chip in a packaged or die-on-board forma~.
In the construction as illustrated in Figure 9, the battery 110 is in the ~orm of a flat battery which is disposed on the front layer 128 of the rear flap 14 adjacent the circuit board 129, both being adhesively or otherwise secured to the layer 128. As shown, the circuit board 129 and battery 110 are centrally located in a manner such that the peripheries thereof are spaced from the edges of the flap 14 and also in a manner such as to position the thickest portions at a maximum distance from the peripheral edge portions of the rear flap 14. As a result, the card has a thin ~feel~ and appearance. Also, there is a maximum degree of protection against damage to the device 19 and other integrated circuit components.

-l9- 60332-1767 After securing the circuit board 129 and battery 110 to the front layer 128 of the rear flap 14, an adhesive is applied to the peripheral edge portion of the front layer 128 and/or to the peripheral edge portion of the rear layer 13, in regions as indicated by dotted lines 133 and 134, and then the front layer 128 is folded against the rear layer 13 to securé the peripheral edge portions of the two layers together.
The on-off switch 111 is mounted on the side of the circuit board 129 which faces the front layer 128 and a control button lllA thereof is aligned with an opening 135 in the layer 128 and is resiliently biased forwardly for engagement with the front flap 34 of the card in the closed position of the card, the switch ll being electrically open in the closed condition of the card, as when the card is in an envelope and being electrically closed in the open condition of the card, after a recipient opens an envelope, withdraws the card therefrom, and opens the card. Figure 10 is a ~ront view o~ the card in its open condition after assembly, showing the button lllA and opening 135.
In initially forming the sheet material, prior to assembly of the circuit board and battery in the rear ~lap 14, suitable decorative and greeting-conveying indicia are applied to the material and a die-cutting operation is performed to provide three cuts 136, 137 and 138 for for~ing the ~lap 15 and 16, which have hinge axes a~ indicated by dotted lines 139 and 140. The closeable opening thus provided is, o~ course, positioned to register with the low-pro~ile socket 132 when the assembly iq completed.

, .

, ~Z7~ 2 The seal 20 shown in Figure 4 is a round seal to which greeting indicia are applied, such as "Personal Greetings~. Alternative forms of seals are indicated by reference numeral~ 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a modified card 11' which differs from the card 11 in using a disc-shaped battery 110' and in providing for installation of the battery after assembly of the card as well a~ ~or replacement of the battery when required. As shown, a rear layer 13' of a rear flap 14' includes a pair of flaps 15~ and 16', formed as struck-out portions thereof, to serve the same function as the flaps 15 and 16 in providing acces~ to a socket 132' for ~nstallation of a digital memory dsvice such as the device 19. In addition, the rear layer 13' of the card 11' includes a pair of flaps 147 and 148 which are also formed as struck-out portions of the layer 13' and which provide access to a battery compartment and to connectors.

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~ ~7~3~6~

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for connection to the battery 110'. As shown, a circuit board 129'~ which supports socket 132', has an opening 149 to receive the battery 110'. A contact member 160 is secured to the board 129' for engagement with one terminal of the ba~tery 110', the contact member 150 being positioned against a front layer 128' of the card 11'. A second contact member lSl is secured to the circuit board 129' for engagement with the other terminal of the battery 110'. Preferably, the contact member 151 is of a resilient metal material and is arranged to allow it to be flexed outwardly to a dotted line position as indicated~ for insertion of the battery 110'.

Figure 17 is a view of a portion of a rear flap 14" of a modified card similar to the card 11' but including an ~alternative arrangement for receiving a disc-shaped battery 110~.
Flaps 147 and 148 are moved to open positions as shown, and the battery 110" is then dropped into an opening 153 in a modified circuit board 129n to engage one battery terminal with a contact member 154 secured on one side of the board 129", as shown in Figure 19. Then a contact member 155 is pivoted from the position as shown in Figure 17 to the position as shown in Figure 18 to engage a central portion of the member 155 with the other terminal of the battery 110" and to frictionally engage the free end of the member 155 under a holding portion of a retaining member 156 secured to the board 129n. A pin 157 pivotally connect~ the opposite end of member 155 to the board 129".

. . , 7~386~

As above noted, it will be understood that the speech synthesis may be accomplished by techniques other than adaptive differential pulse code modulation. It will also be understood that the battery holder could have many variations and could be for a plurality of cells as well as one cell. The activation switch could also be of many different forms and may activate the circuit either upon opening or closing, and the personalization stickers may, of course, be of any desired size and shape with any suitable decoration.

It will be further understood that the microphone could be a "built-in" microphoner the start of the recording could be voice actuating, the user could supply recorded tapes and musical input might be provided to sum with the voice being recorded, etc.

It will be understood that other modifications and variations may be effected without d~parting from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

Claims (9)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A greeting card, comprising front and rear layers of sheet material of the same shape and in registering relation, means securing peripheral edge portions of said layers together, and electronic circuitry sandwiched between central portions of said layers, said electronic circuitry including a digital memory device, speech synthesis circuitry for generating an electrical voice message signal corresponding to digital data stored in said memory device, and sound reproducing means responsive to said voice message signal for producing a corresponding audible signal, said digital memory device and said speech synthesis circuitry being arranged for programming by a user of said card prior to sending of said card to a recipient to permit storing of digital data in said memory device corresponding to a personalized voice message uniquely associated with either or both the user and intended recipient of said card, and access means for providing user access to said electronic circuitry and said memory device to permit said programming of said digital memory device and speech synthesis circuitry by the user prior to sending of the card to the intended recipient.

2. In a card as defined in claim 1, said access means comprising an opening in a central portion of said rear layer, and said front layer having indicia thereon for conveying greetings to a recipient of the card.

3. In a card as defined in claim 1, said digital memory device being disposed opposite said central opening, and said circuitry being so arranged as to permit installation of said digital memory device into an otherwise completed greeting card after programming of said digital memory device by the user.

4. In combination with a card as defined in claim 3, programming means operable by the user of said card for entering digital data of a form selectively controllable by the user into said digital memory device to cause transmission to the recipient of said card of said personalized voice message uniquely associated with either or both the user and intended recipient of said card.

5. In a card as defined in claim 3, said rear layer having integral struck-out hinged flap means defining said opening and movable between an open position for installation and removal of said digital memory device and a closed position in protective relation to said digital memory device.

6. A system for supplying greeting cards for transmission by a user of the system of viewable greetings and audible messages to the recipients of the cards which includes a supply of cards bearing various forms of greeting indicia for selection by the user, each card comprising electronic circuitry including a digital memory device, speech synthesis means connected to said digital memory device and operative to generate an electrical signal for development of an audible message corresponding to digital data stored in said digital memory device, said circuitry being arranged for storing of digital data in said memory device corresponding to a personalized voice message uniquely associated with either or both the user and intended recipient of said card and being arranged for audible reproduction of said personalized voice message to produce an audible message, and greeting means responsive to said electrical signal for transmitting said audible message to the recipient of said card, each of said cards being so constructed and arranged that the user may select one of said cards having a selected form of greeting indicia and may also select the digital data stored in the memory device thereof to transmit the selected audible message to the recipient of the selected card which corresponds to said personalized voice message uniquely associated with either or both the user and intended recipient of said card.

7. In a system as defined in claim 6, means operable by the user for supplying an input electrical signal, and means for processing said electrical signal and storing corresponding digital data in said digital memory device of a card selected by the user.

8. In a system as defined in claim 6, said processing means being arranged to program a digital memory device separate from a card, each of said cards being arranged for installation of said digital memory device after programming by said programming means.

9. In a system as defined in claim 6, means providing a supply of digital memory devices having digital data stored therein corresponding to a plurality of different messages, each of said cards being arranged for installation of a selected one of said digital memory devices.