1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic learning and entertainment system. It should be noted that “edutainment” is a term commonly utilized in the toy industry to describe a product that functions in the dual capacity of both an educational learning product as well as an entertainment product. “Edutainment” is also used to describe the category for such products.
2. Prior Art
There have been marketed various interactive learning and entertainment systems. For example, Leapfrog marketed products under the names “LeapPad” and “Leapster” that provided electronic/human interaction. The LeapPad product included a plurality of different books, one of which could be placed on a housing. A user could touch a page of a book to produce a sound that is generated by electronic devices within the housing. Each book and each printed page within a book would produce a different sound. The different sounds typically coordinated with a story depicted by the printed pages of the book.
The Leapster product has no book accommodation, but included a screen that would display different images in response to input from the user. The Leapster product included an electronic port that would accept electronic cards. The interactive play of the game would vary depending on which card was inserted into the electronic port.
Fisher Price marketed a product under the name “Power Touch” which included a main housing and a plurality of printed books. One of the books could be placed on the housing. The product included touch pads that could be pressed by the user to generate sounds from the housing. Each book would produce different sounds.
The prior art products were designed for specific age groups of users. The products could not be used as the user progressed in age beyond the age group for which the product was intended. Instead, the parents would typically have to purchase a new system that was now age-graded to their growing child. It would be desirable to provide an interactive electronic learning and entertainment system that can be used by multiple age groups.
An electronic learning and entertainment system that includes a plurality of housings and an electronic module. Each housing has a plurality of input devices that are unique to the housing, and compatible with the specific age of child for which it was intended. The electronic module can be coupled to one of the housings and generate outputs that are unique to the coupled housing.
Disclosed is an electronic learning and entertainment system that includes a plurality of housings that can be coupled to an electronic module. Each housing has a plurality of input devices. The electronic module can be plugged into one of the housings and generate outputs that are unique to the housing. The input devices and corresponding module outputs may be designed for play by a specific age group. Thus each housing can be operated by a user of a certain age. By way of example, one housing may be designed to be operated by an infant, another housing may be designed to be operated by a user in the 2-3 year age group, etc.
Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers,
The module 14 may include a processor 22 that performs operations in accordance with data and instructions as is understood in the art. The instructions and data may be stored in memory (not shown).
The processor 22 may connected to a display screen 24 and a speaker 26. The processor 22 may create output signal that generate images displayed by the screen 24 and sound emitted by the speaker 26. The module 14 and housing 12 may be powered by batteries 28.
The housing 12 may include an electrical device 30 with a plug 18 that is connected to the connector 20. Coupled to electrical device 30 is a plurality of input devices 32, 34, 36 and 38. The input devices 32, 34, 36 and 38 can be operated by a user. Each input device 32, 34, 36 and 38 may provide a different mode of play. For example, input device 32 may be a subassembly that can slide, input device 34 may rotate, input device 36 can be pulled, and input device 38 can be rolled by the user.
Each input device 32, 34, 36 and 38 may include a mechanical to electrical transducer (not shown) that provides an electrical output which corresponds to movement of the device 32, 34, 36 and 38. For example, the transducer of input device 32 can provide an electrical output that corresponds with a sliding motion of the device 32. The electrical device 30 may route the transducer outputs to the processor 22 of the module 14. The processor 22 may generate outputs in response to the inputs from devices 32, 34, 36 and 38. For example, the processor 22 may vary the image displayed by the screen 24 and/or sound generated by the speaker 26 as the user slides the input device 32. For example, in an embodiment designed for a young child, input device 32 might be styled to look like a turtle. As the child slides the turtle, an image of a turtle can appear to be moving on the screen 24, designating both the selection, by the child, of the turtle input device and also the activation of that device.
The electrical device 30 may store an identification that is unique to the housing. The processor 22 of the module 12 can read the ID to determine the type of housing and generate outputs that are unique to the housing. For example as shown in
As shown in
As an alternate embodiment, the electronic card 64 may be separate from the book 62′ and plugged directly into a port 68 of a module 14 that is coupled to a housing 60′ as shown in
It should be noted that the child's interaction with the system could include gaming activity, by means of the child activating buttons 65, 67, 68, and 71; or, when the electronic module 14 is installed in alternative housings, by way of example 12 or 50, when the child manipulates devices 32, 34, 36, 38, or 52.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/699,601 filed on Jul. 18, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60699601 | Jul 2005 | US |