US 2007/0190511 A1 · Interactive Multi-Sensory Reading System Electronic Teaching/Learning Device

Abstract

An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An interactive, electronic teaching/learning device having a platform with a first, generally planar, user contact surface overlying a first, generally planar sensor, the first sensor including a plurality of at least touch-responsive, mutually adjoining sensors organized in a two-dimensional array, the array being formed by separate and separated first and second sets of generally parallel, individual conductive lines transversely crossing over each other beneath an upper surface of the platform, characterized by:

a radio frequency oscillating signal generator cyclically coupled to individual conductive lines the first set;
and
a synchronous detection circuit operatively coupled with the generator and with individual conductive lines of the second set to identify user selected individual cross-points of the first and second sets of lines of the array.

In an interactive electronic teaching/learning device configured to receive a printed sheet product having a predetermined orientation on the device and a selectable content, the device comprising a housing including a platform configured to receive the printed sheet product when the printed sheet product in the predetermined orientation;

an electronic user interface in the housing including a user-responsive position sensor having an active range above the platform and including a plurality of individual sensors arranged in an array in the platform;
and control electronics in the housing including a memory having therein instructions associated with the selectable content of the printed sheet product and a controller in electrical communication with the electronic user interface, the controller being configured to perform at least the steps of operating in accordance with the instructions in the memory, determining a selected position within the active range of the position sensor, recognizing a selection of the selectable content by the selector, and sending to the electronic user interface a signal associated with the selection;
a method of operating the device wherein the determining step comprises the steps of:
identifying a plurality of possible user-selected sensor positions;
and selecting only one of the plurality of possible user-selected sensor positions as the selection.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive Multi-Sensory Reading System Electronic Teaching/Learning Device

Life of this patent

Interactive Multi-Sensory Reading System Electronic Teaching/Learning Device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16