US 5,417,575 A · Electronic book

Abstract

An electronic book apparatus that comprises multiple pages (122) with printed information (126), a visual signal (125) for identifying the printed information in a sequentially organized manner, a synchronized audio signal (154) for describing and further identifying the information concurrently with the visual signal, and a switch (127) for electronically controlling the generation and transmission of these signals when each particular page is opened for viewing. Each page of the electronic book includes a laminated sheet (124), on which the printed material is arranged, and an electronic backdrop (121) containing the visual signal for display through the laminated sheet. Separate intelligent electronics (160) in the spine (140) and top portion (150) of the book, coupled to the a switch, activate the illuminating circuitry and a voice synthesizer (168) that are synchronized and sequenced to produce a concurrent visual and audio enhancement of the printed matter being viewed on the page.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner, comprising:

(a) a multiplicity of modular core sheets, each bearing a circuit board layer printed by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets;
(b) printed information sheets laminated onto said modular core sheets for communicating visual information to a user;
(c) a multiplicity of visual signal means incorporated into said circuit board layer and visible to a user through said printed information sheets;
(d) a power source;
(e) sequence control means, coupled to said visual signal means, for sequentially energizing said visual signal means to highlight said printed information being viewed by the user according to a predetermined sequence;
(f) switching means in said circuit board layer electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means for activating said sequence control means to highlight and describe the printed information being viewed by the user;
and
(g) means for binding said multiplicity of modular core sheets into multi-leaf book format;
wherein said multiplicity of modular core sheets is assembled into book format by joining all modular core sheets so that said electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets come together to form a book spine;
and
wherein said electrical connections electrically coupled to corresponding electrical connections in said adjacent core sheets in the book spine form continuous electrical paths to terminals connected to said power source, sequence control means and synchronization control means.

8 more elements

An electronic book for identifying and describing printed information by audio signals in a sequentially organized manner, comprising:

(a) a multiplicity of modular core sheets, each bearing a circuit board layer printed by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets;
(b) printed information sheets laminated onto said modular core sheets for communicating visual information to a user;
(c) a power source;
(d) voice synthesizer means containing audio information corresponding to said printed information;
(e) audio signal means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio information to the user, said audio signal means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means;
(f) sequence control means, coupled to said voice synthesizer means, for sequentially activating said voice synthesizer means to identify and describe said printed information being viewed by the user according to a predetermined sequence;
(g) switching means in said circuit board layer electrically connected to said power source and said sequence control means for activating said sequence control means to identify and describe the printed information being viewed by the user;
and
(h) means for binding said multiplicity of modular core sheets into multi-leaf book format;
wherein said multiplicity of modular core sheets is assembled into book format by joining all modular core sheets so that said electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets come together to form a book spine;
and
wherein said electrical connections electrically coupled to corresponding electrical connections in said adjacent core sheets in the book spine form continuous electrical paths to terminals connected to said power source, sequence control means and synchronization control means.

9 more elements

An electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising:

(a) a multiplicity of modular core sheets, each bearing a circuit board layer printed by means of flexible conductive ink and having electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets;
(b) printed information sheets laminated onto said modular core sheets for communicating visual information to a user;
(c) a multiplicity of visual signal means incorporated into said circuit board layer and visible to a user through said printed information sheets;
(d) a power source;
(e) voice synthesizer means containing audio information corresponding to said printed information;
(f) audio signal means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio information to the user, said audio signal means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means;
(g) sequence control means, coupled to said visual signal means and to said voice synthesizer means, for sequentially energizing said visual signal means to highlight said printed information being viewed by the user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence;
(h) synchronization control means, coupled to said visual signal means, said voice synthesizer means and said sequence control means, for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said visual signal means and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery;
(i) switching means in said circuit board layer electrically connected to said power source, said sequence control means and said synchronization control means for activating said sequence and synchronization control means to highlight and describe the printed information being viewed by the user;
and
(j) means for binding said multiplicity of modular core sheets into multi-leaf book format;
wherein said multiplicity of modular core sheets is assembled into book format by joining all modular core sheets so that said electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets come together to form a book spine;
and
wherein said electrical connections electrically coupled to corresponding electrical connections in said adjacent core sheets in the book spine form continuous electrical paths to terminals connected to said power source, sequence control means and synchronization control means.

11 more elements

A method for constructing an electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals in a sequentially organized manner and for further identifying and describing such printed information by synchronized audio signals, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a multiplicity of modular core sheets;
(b) printing a circuit board layer on each of said modular core sheets by means of flexible conductive ink, said circuit board layer having electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets;
(c) laminating printed information sheets onto said modular core sheets for communicating visual information to a user;
(d) incorporating a multiplicity of visual signal means into said circuit board layer printed on each modular core sheet, wherein said visual signal means are visible to a user through said printed information sheets;
(e) providing a power source;
(f) providing voice synthesizer means containing audio information corresponding to said printed information;
(f) providing audio signal means coupled to said voice synthesizer means for communicating said audio information to the user, said audio signal means being responsive to a drive signal from said voice synthesizer means;
(g) providing sequence control means, coupled to said visual signal means and to said voice synthesizer means, for sequentially energizing said visual signal means to highlight said printed information being viewed by the user and for activating said voice synthesizer means to describe said printed information according to a predetermined sequence;
(h) providing synchronization control means, coupled to said visual signal means, said voice synthesizer means and said sequence control means, for synchronizing the operation of said sequence control means so that the energizing of said visual signal means and the activation of said voice synthesizer means are synchronized according to a predetermined schedule of delivery;
(i) providing switching means in said circuit beard layer electrically connected to said power source, said sequence control means and said synchronization control means for activating said sequence and synchronization control means to highlight and describe the printed information being viewed by the user;
and
(j) binding said multiplicity of modular core sheets into multi-leaf book format;
wherein said multiplicity of modular core sheets is assembled into book format by joining all modular core sheets so that said electrical connections positioned in overlapping relationship with corresponding electrical connections in adjacent modular core sheets come together to form a book spine;
and
wherein said electrical connections electrically coupled to corresponding electrical connections in said adjacent core sheets in the book spine form continuous electrical paths to said power source, sequence control means and synchronization control means.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic book

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Electronic book

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Abstract

Claims38