WO2000074021A1 - Livre interactif, particulierement utile avec des ordinateurs - Google Patents

Livre interactif, particulierement utile avec des ordinateurs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000074021A1
WO2000074021A1 PCT/IL2000/000297 IL0000297W WO0074021A1 WO 2000074021 A1 WO2000074021 A1 WO 2000074021A1 IL 0000297 W IL0000297 W IL 0000297W WO 0074021 A1 WO0074021 A1 WO 0074021A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
book
electrically
pages
layer
layers
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2000/000297
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Itai Kohavi
Osnat Emanuel
Shai Sharir
Adam Dunsky
Tali Gruber
Original Assignee
Comfynet Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Comfynet Ltd. filed Critical Comfynet Ltd.
Priority to AU47757/00A priority Critical patent/AU4775700A/en
Publication of WO2000074021A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000074021A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B5/00—Electrically-operated educational appliances
    • G09B5/06—Electrically-operated educational appliances with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
    • G09B5/062—Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an interactive book, and particularly to interactive books especially for use by children with computers for educational or amusement purposes.
  • Cummings U.S. Patent 4,990,092 describes a talking book which includes a line of pressure-sensitive switches and a speaker actuated to reproduce words or other sounds according to the switch depressed.
  • a similar interactive book is described in Billings, et al. U.S. Patent 5,453,013 which includes a touch pad along one side of the book containing a plurality of electrical switches, and a digital sound generator responsive to actuation by one of the switches.
  • McTaggart U.S. Patents 5,167,508, 5,417,575 and 5,609,488, disclose electronic books in which the electrical circuits, including the electrical switches, are formed in each leaf of the book.
  • Jessop U.S. Patent 5,645,432 discloses a book in which the covers carry the electrical switches in the form of capacitive couplings such as to be responsive to the touch position of the user's finger.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an interactive book having a number of advantages, as will be described more particularly below, making the book especially useful with computers by children.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide the combination of an interactive book with a computer to be used particularly by children.
  • an interactive book comprising: a stiff backing panel hinged along a center line thereof to define a front cover and a back cover for the book, with each cover having an outer face and an inner face; a plurality of flexible book pages mounted along the center line between the inner faces of the front and back covers, each of the book pages containing printed information at various locations thereon; and a pressure-sensitive switch assembly carried on the inner face of at least one cover and defining a plurality of electrical switches adapted to be selectively actuated by the application of localized pressure to one of the pages.
  • the switching assembly includes a pair of layers in overlying relation to each other between the cover and the book pages, each layer carrying an electrically-conductive pattern normally spaced from the other.
  • the layer adjacent the book pages is deformable such that its electrically-conductive pattern is engageable with that of the other layer at points thereof according to the localized pressure applied to one of the book pages and transmitted through the underlying pages to the switch assembly carried on the inner face of said cover.
  • the electrically-conductive patterns are normally spaced from each other by localized deposits of an insulating material on one of the layers.
  • the book pages contain printed information on both faces, and therefore there are a pair of the layers defining a pressure-sensitive switch assembly also on the inner face of the front cover.
  • an interactive book is particularly useful with a programmable computer having a display screen and a speaker for producing displays and audio outputs according to the electrical switch actuated by the localized pressure applied to a book page.
  • the user such as a child
  • the switch will then actuate the computer to display an animation clip or the like, and / or to produce an audio output, corresponding to the location of the pressure applied to the page.
  • Such an interactive book could therefore include an electrical plug to be received in a port of a programmable computer for producing the display and / or audio output according to the selected program.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the interactive book included in the apparatus of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the two layers of the pressure-sensitive switch assembly included in the book of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical system included in the book of FIGS. 2 - 4;
  • FIG. 6a - 6e illustrate different ways of connecting the interactive book to a computer
  • FIG. 7 illustrates one program which the apparatus of FIG. 1 may execute.
  • the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed particularly for children to provide an interactive system for educational or amusement purposes. It includes an interactive book, generally designated 2, adapted to be connected by cable 3 to a computer 4 having a display screen 5, speakers 6, and a keyboard 7.
  • the computer 4 is adapted to be programmed by a data input device, such as a disc 8, for producing a visual output via screen 5, and / or an audio output via speakers 6, according to the specific pictures or other information selected by the child in the interactive book 2.
  • the selection is made by the child applying the child's finger, or a pressing implement, such as a pencil or stylus, to a selected region on a selected page of the interactive book 2, which thereby actuates a switching assembly within the book according to the location of the page pressed by the child.
  • the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is particularly suitable for children of 2 - 6 years in age, and allows them to be active participants in an interactive story or game taking place on the screen.
  • the structure of the interactive book 2 is more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 2 - 5. It includes a stiff backing panel 10 of stiff sheet material and of rectangular configuration. Panel 10 is folded or hinged along its center Iine11 , to define a front cover 10a and a back cover 10b. Preferably, the panel 10 is constituted of two rectangular cardboard sheets and a slim sheet spaced between them all joined together by a plastic sheet to define the two covers and the spring between them.
  • the illustrated book further includes a plurality of flexible book pages 12 (FIG. 2) mounted along the center line 11 between the inner faces of the front cover 10a and back cover 10b. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the book pages 12 contains printed information 13, such as pictures, instructions, etc., at various specific locations on both of its faces.
  • the interactive book 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a housing 14 extending along one side of the back cover 10b, for housing the electrical components of the book. As will be described below, these electrical components are connected by cable 3 and plug 15 to the computer 4, and do not require a battery since the book may be powered by the computer 4.
  • the interactive book further includes a pressure-sensitive switch assembly carried on the inner face of both the front cover 10a and the back cover 10b.
  • the switch assembly includes an outer layer or membrane, generally designated 20, applied to the inner face of both covers 10a, 10b, and an inner layer or membrane 30 applied between membrane 20 and the book pages 12.
  • Each of the two layers 20, 30 carries an electrically-conductive pattern which patterns are normally spaced from each other so as not to make electrical contact with each other.
  • layer 30, directly underlying the book pages 12, is in the form a deformable membrane, or the portions thereof carrying the electrically-conducting pattern, such that its electrically conductive pattern is engageable with the electrically-conductive pattern of layer 20 at selected points of the two layers according to the localized pressure applied to one of the faces of the book page 12. It will thus be seen that when localized pressure is applied to the front face of a page 12, the pressure is transmitted through the underlying pages to the switch assembly carried by the back cover 10b; and when localized pressure is applied to the obverse face of a book page 12, the pressure is transferred via the underlying pages to the switch assembly carried by the front cover 10a.
  • FIG. 3 more particularly illustrates the construction of layer 20, and FIG. 4 more particularly illustrates the construction of layer 30.
  • the electrically-conductive pattern on the bottom layer 20 includes a plurality of fields 21 at different locations, corresponding to the different locations on the book pages 12.
  • Each field 21 defines spaced, normally-open contacts of an electrical switch which contacts are bhdgeable by the electrically conductive pattern of layer 30 upon the application of pressure to the respective location on a book page.
  • the electrically conductive pattern in each field 21 on layer 20 includes a plurality of electrically interconnected segments 22 defining the contacts on one side of an electrical circuit, and another plurality of electrically interconnected segments 23 spaced from segments 22 and defining the contacts on the opposite side of the electrical circuit. Since segments 23 are spaced from segments 22, the electrical switches defined by each of the fields 21 is normally open. The contacts of a selected field, however, are closed by the electrically-conductive pattern in the overlying layer 30 upon the application of localized pressure to a back page 12, as will be described more particularly below.
  • FIG. 3 there are 14 fields 21 on the front cover 10a, and 14 fields on the back cover 10b. Accordingly, such an arrangement is capable of selecting 14 different locations on each face of the book pages 12, or a total of 28 locations.
  • Conductive pathways 24 extending across the center hinge line or spine 11 interconnect the conductive fields 21 of the two covers 10a, 10b.
  • Further conductive pathways 25 are provided at one side of the back cover 10b to serve as the input and output connections to the switch assembly defined by the conductive pathways in the two layers 20 and 30.
  • layer 30 includes a plurality of conductive deposits
  • Conductive deposits 31 are configured to electrically bridge a segment 22 with an adjoining segment 23 wherever local pressure is applied to an overlying book page 12, to thereby actuate the switch corresponding to the location at which the pressure was applied.
  • layer 30 would be provided with 14 conductive deposits 31 for both covers, or a total of 28 such conductive deposits.
  • Layer 20 is preferably in the form a plastic membrane or sheet bonded to the inner face of back cover 10b.
  • Layer 30 is also preferably in the form of a plastic membrane or sheet and is adhesively bonded to layer 20 at selected points in the spaces between the fields 21 , so that the adhesive does not prevent the actuation of any of the switches defined by the fields.
  • the electrically-conductive patterns are normally spaced from each other by localized deposits of an insulating material, as shown at 26, on one of the two layers, preferably the outer layer 20 carrying the spaced contacts.
  • That layer may also include an adhesive, such as shown at 27 in FIG. 3, in some of the spaces between the contact fields 21 for holding the two layers together.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the electrical circuitry that may be included in housing 14 of the book 2.
  • the switch assembly described above, defined by the conductive segments in the two layers 20, 30, is schematically indicated by reference numeral 41 in FIG. 5.
  • This switch assembly controls a microprocessor 42 within housing 14.
  • the microprocessor is designed to perform cyclic scans of the switch assembly 41 and to transmit an electrical signal to the computer 4 to indicate the specific field 21 of the switch assembly 41 which has been actuated, and thereby to indicate to the computer which location of a book page 12 has been pressed by the user.
  • the interactive book 10 does not require a battery or other power supply. Rather, it includes an in circuit adapter, shown as 43 in FIG. 5, which is connected by the plug 15 to receive the power from the computer.
  • FIGS. 6a - 6e illustrate various ways in which the interactive book 2 may be connected to a computer via cables 3 and plug 15. Thus, it may be connected to the parallel port of a printer 50 (FIG. 6a), to one of the serial ports 51 of the computer (FIG. 6b), to the game / midi port 52 of the computer (FIG 6c), directly to the computer keyboard port 53 (FIG 6d), or to the computer keyboard port 53 via a keyboard input adapter 54 (FIG. 6e), which allows simultaneous and uninterrupted operation of the interactive book 2 and the keyboard 7.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a program for operating the interactive book 2 when plugged into the computer 4.
  • the book is plugged into the exit port of the computer's sound card, Midi / Joy stick (block 60).
  • Disc 8 (FIGJ) is inserted into the CD-ROM drive of the computer 4 (block 61), whereupon the software incorporated in that disc installs the game (block 62). The user may then select one of three game levels (box 63), and enables the book for play at the selected level (box 64).
  • the book pages 12 include 23 pictures, instructions, etc. at various specific pages and locations, each of which may be selected by pressing the location of the respective picture or instruction.
  • Pressing a selected figure or number causes a short animation clip relating to the figure or number to be screened on the screen 5, and also to be explained via the speaker 6 (block 66). Pressing another location of a book page may cause a scene to be screened requiring some reaction or interactivity on the part of the viewer (block 67). Another possibility is to cause the pressing of a figure to move a scene to the scene of the selected figure (block 68). A further possibility is to press an arrow, which causes the scene to move forwards or backwards, according to the direction of the arrow, in the context of the story being screened.
  • the book may be connected to a pre-programmed general purpose computer, to a dedicated computer, or to the internet for one-way or two-way communication with the internet. Pressing a spot on a book page to actuate a switch may be effective to produce a response from the computer or from an external device, e.g., a projector, a television set, etc.
  • the book pages may be of paper, plastic or any other suitable material, preferably of non-tearable material.
  • the circuitry or part of the circuitry within housing 14 may be placed externally of the book.
  • the communication between the book and the computer may be wireless, such as by IR, RF or acoustical.
  • the cable connection may be detachable from the book so that the book will have the external appearance of a regular book; also the book pages could be detachable to permit the use of the cover with other book pages, in which case it would be preferable to have the conductive deposits of FIG. 4 printed on the book pages.
  • a family of books, each including its own covers, pages and switching assembly could be individually connectable to a common controller and a common computer servicing each book as connected by the user.
  • a sounding device could be included in the book actuated by the closing of a switch to inform the user that a switch has been closed.
  • the electrically-conductive pattern shown in FIG. 3 may be in the form of a rectangular matrix of dots which, when bridged by the application of pressure, will inform the computer of the exact location of the pressure point.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

Livre interactif (2), qui comporte un panneau de support rigide (10) présentant le long de sa ligne centrale une charnière qui définit des couvertures avant et arrière, une pluralité de pages souples montées le long de la ligne centrale entre les faces internes desdites couvertures avant et arrière (10a et 10b) et un ensemble de commutation sensible à la pression placé sur la face interne d'une couverture ou des deux et définissant une pluralité de commutateurs électriques adaptés pour être sélectivement actionnés par l'application d'une pression localisée sur l'une des pages. L'ensemble de commutation comporte deux couches superposées, chaque couche portant un motif électriquement conducteur normalement espacé de l'autre. L'une des couches est déformable, si bien que son motif électriquement conducteur peut être mis en contact avec celui de l'autre couche en des points du motif correspondant à la pression localisée appliquée sur l'une des pages du livre et transmise à travers les pages sous-jacentes à l'ensemble de commutation.
PCT/IL2000/000297 1999-05-26 2000-05-25 Livre interactif, particulierement utile avec des ordinateurs WO2000074021A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU47757/00A AU4775700A (en) 1999-05-26 2000-05-25 An interactive book particularly useful with computers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US32085099A 1999-05-26 1999-05-26
US09/320,850 1999-05-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000074021A1 true WO2000074021A1 (fr) 2000-12-07

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2000/000297 WO2000074021A1 (fr) 1999-05-26 2000-05-25 Livre interactif, particulierement utile avec des ordinateurs

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AU (1) AU4775700A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000074021A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014057251A1 (fr) * 2012-10-09 2014-04-17 Novalia Ltd Livre

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4990092A (en) * 1989-08-14 1991-02-05 Tonka Corporation Talking book
US5167508A (en) * 1989-08-21 1992-12-01 Mc Taggart Stephen I Electronic book
US5413486A (en) * 1993-06-18 1995-05-09 Joshua Morris Publishing, Inc. Interactive book
US5453013A (en) * 1989-10-12 1995-09-26 Western Publishing Co., Inc. Interactive audio visual work
US5466158A (en) * 1994-02-14 1995-11-14 Smith, Iii; Jay Interactive book device
US5631883A (en) * 1992-12-22 1997-05-20 Li; Yi-Yang Combination of book with audio device
US5645432A (en) * 1992-02-26 1997-07-08 Jessop; Richard Vernon Toy or educational device
US5803748A (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-09-08 Publications International, Ltd. Apparatus for producing audible sounds in response to visual indicia
US5810604A (en) * 1995-12-28 1998-09-22 Pioneer Publishing Electronic book and method
US5845160A (en) * 1997-05-08 1998-12-01 Eastman Kodak Company Method for transferring a recording from a sound index print and player-transfer apparatus
US5851119A (en) * 1995-01-17 1998-12-22 Stephen A. Schwartz And Design Lab, Llc Interactive story book and methods for operating the same
US5897324A (en) * 1997-02-03 1999-04-27 Atop Technologies, Inc. Multimedia-book operable with removable data storage media implemented with universal interfacing book-adapting processor

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4990092A (en) * 1989-08-14 1991-02-05 Tonka Corporation Talking book
US4990092B1 (en) * 1989-08-14 1998-08-04 Tonka Corp Talking book
US5167508A (en) * 1989-08-21 1992-12-01 Mc Taggart Stephen I Electronic book
US5417575A (en) * 1989-08-21 1995-05-23 Mctaggart; Stephen I. Electronic book
US5453013A (en) * 1989-10-12 1995-09-26 Western Publishing Co., Inc. Interactive audio visual work
US5645432A (en) * 1992-02-26 1997-07-08 Jessop; Richard Vernon Toy or educational device
US5631883A (en) * 1992-12-22 1997-05-20 Li; Yi-Yang Combination of book with audio device
US5413486A (en) * 1993-06-18 1995-05-09 Joshua Morris Publishing, Inc. Interactive book
US5466158A (en) * 1994-02-14 1995-11-14 Smith, Iii; Jay Interactive book device
US5851119A (en) * 1995-01-17 1998-12-22 Stephen A. Schwartz And Design Lab, Llc Interactive story book and methods for operating the same
US5810604A (en) * 1995-12-28 1998-09-22 Pioneer Publishing Electronic book and method
US5803748A (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-09-08 Publications International, Ltd. Apparatus for producing audible sounds in response to visual indicia
US5897324A (en) * 1997-02-03 1999-04-27 Atop Technologies, Inc. Multimedia-book operable with removable data storage media implemented with universal interfacing book-adapting processor
US5845160A (en) * 1997-05-08 1998-12-01 Eastman Kodak Company Method for transferring a recording from a sound index print and player-transfer apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014057251A1 (fr) * 2012-10-09 2014-04-17 Novalia Ltd Livre
CN104838435A (zh) * 2012-10-09 2015-08-12 诺瓦利亚公司 书
CN109032462A (zh) * 2012-10-09 2018-12-18 诺瓦利亚公司 书、方法、计算机程序以及计算机可读介质

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