Interactive apparatus with templates
AssigneeLeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsMichael C. Wood, Tracey Hope Jedrzejek, Richard Glen Freeman, Mark Flowers, Eric Thomas Shuler, Margaret E. Grunert, Jason Avery
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Abstract
An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes a base unit. The base unit can has a surface and an array of electrical elements under the surface. A removable template is placed on the base unit and is positioned over the surface. The removable template has a movable element that the user can move and a speaker in the apparatus can produce an audio output in response to the movement of the movable element.
Claims38
An interactive apparatus comprising:
- a) a base unit comprising
- i) a substantially planar surface and
- ii) an array of electrical elements under the surface;
- b) a processor operatively coupled to the array of electrical elements;
- c) a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
- d) an audio output device operatively coupled to the processor;
- and
- e) a removable template over the surface of the base unit, wherein the removable template comprises a movable element that is over an electrical element in the array of electrical elements, wherein the electrical element is assigned to provide audio output that is related to the movable element.
An interactive apparatus comprising:
- a) a base unit comprising
- i) a surface,
- ii) an array of switches under the surface,
- iii) a memory,
- iv) a processor operatively coupled to the array of switches and the processor,
- v) a slot, and
- vi) a speaker;
- b) a transferable information storage medium removably insertable in the slot;
- and
- c) a removable template over the surface of the base unit, wherein the removable template comprises a stationary portion and a plurality of movable elements, wherein each of the movable elements is capable of being moved while the stationary portion remains stationary and has a structure that is distinct from the stationary portion, and
- wherein the plurality of movable elements is disposed over a set of switches within the array of switches, each switch within the set of switches being assigned to provide output relating to the movable element that is disposed over the switch.
A removable template for use over a surface of a base unit of an interactive apparatus, the removable template comprising:
- a) a stationary region;
- and
- b) a movable element that is structurally distinct from the stationary region and moves independently of the stationary region, and wherein the movable element comprises an upper portion capable of being moved by a user and a lower portion capable of contacting the surface in response to the movement by the user, and wherein the base unit produces an audio output that is related to the movable element.
A method of using an interactive apparatus, the method comprising:
- a) providing a base unit comprising a substantially planar surface;
- b) placing a removable template over the substantially planar surface;
- c) moving a movable element in the removable template;
- and
- d) producing an audio output that relates to the movable element in response to moving the movable element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.