Book spread identification arrangement for a board book

Abstract

A book spread identification arrangement for a board book is provided, the arrangement comprising a plurality of conductive paths, a contact apparatus disposed adjacent to at least part of at least one of the conductive paths and processing apparatus connected to the conductive paths and configured for processing signals associated with the conductive paths. One selection end of each path is disposed adjacent the spine surface of the book. The contact apparatus comprises one or more conductive surfaces and is arranged, upon opening of the book to a spread, to contact one of a plurality of combinations of one or more of the conductive paths. Each of the plurality of combinations is in a predetermined unique association with a respective single spread of the book. From the processed signals, the processing apparatus is able to determine the particular combination of conductive paths contacted by the contact apparatus and identify to which spread the book is open.

1 . A book spread identification arrangement for a board book having a spine, a back page and a front page or cover having a rear edge, the arrangement comprising: 
 a plurality of conductive paths, each having a selection end and a processing end, one selection end of each path being disposed adjacent the spine surface of the book;    a contact apparatus, comprising one or more conductive surfaces, the contact apparatus being disposed adjacent to at least a part of at least one of the plurality of conductive paths and arranged, upon opening of the book to a spread, to contact one of a plurality of combinations of one or more of the conductive paths, each of the plurality of combinations being in a predetermined unique association with a respective spread of the book; and    a processing apparatus connected to the plurality of conductive paths for processing signals associated with the conductive paths to determine the combination of conductive paths contacted by the contact apparatus and to identify the spread the book is open to.    
   
   
       2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact apparatus is arranged to contact the plurality of conductive paths adjacent to said selection ends, the other processing end of each of said plurality of conductive paths being connected to the processing apparatus, the arrangement being such that contact between at least one of the one or more conductive surfaces of the contact apparatus and each of the plurality of combinations of one or more of said plurality of conductive paths closes a predetermined unique combination of one or more circuits associated with the processing apparatus, the processing apparatus being arranged to determine the combination of closed circuits and to identify the corresponding spread.  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the contact apparatus is maintained at a predetermined common potential such that contact with the contact apparatus brings the particular combination of contacted paths under the common potential.  
   
   
       4 . The arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 at least one of the plurality of conductive paths is of unique length and is, at least partially, disposed in or parallel to the spine surface of the book.    
   
   
       5 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the contact apparatus comprises at least a first conductive strip protruding beyond the spine surface of the book for, upon opening of the book to at least some of the spreads, effecting the contact with the corresponding unique combinations of conductive paths.    
   
   
       6 . The arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the contact apparatus further comprises a second conductive strip electrically connected to the first conductive strip, the second conductive strip being arranged on the side of the book, opposite to the side having the first contacting strip and protrudes beyond the spine surface of the book for, upon opening of the book to at least some of the spreads, effecting the contact with the corresponding unique combinations of conductive paths.  
   
   
       7 . The arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein the conductive paths are divided into two sets, each conductive strip being arranged for contacting only conductive paths of a single set.  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the conductive strip located at said front page of the book contacts conductive paths disposed on the rear edge of the front page of a respective spread, upon opening the book to a spread in the first half of the book, while the conductive strip located at said back page of the book contacts conductive paths on the rear edge of the back page of a respective spread, upon opening the book to spreads in the second half of the book.  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of conductive paths partially extend in, or parallel to, said front page or cover of the book, wherein the selection ends of the plurality of conductive paths configured for contact with the conductive strip associated with said back page of the book and the plurality of conductive paths configured for contact with the conductive strip associated with said front page of the book are symmetrically disposed with respect to a conductive path associated with the conductive strips.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive paths comprises a conductive trace deposited onto a flexible thin film attached to the book and comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, silver ink, carbon and any other conductive material.  
   
   
       11 . The arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the processing apparatus comprises at least one integrated circuit.  
   
   
       12 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of combinations of one or more conductive paths has a unique predetermined resistance, wherein the contact apparatus, upon opening of the book to a spread, contacts the selection ends of conductive paths within a single combination of conductive paths so that the processing apparatus, connected to the processing ends of the paths and the contact apparatus for measuring the resistance of the path and for identifying the corresponding spread.  
   
   
       13 . The arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of conductive paths is disposed, at least partially, along the length of the spine of the book.  
   
   
       14 . The arrangement according to  claim 12  wherein the unique resistance of each of the plurality of conductive paths is defined, at least partially, by a unique length, thickness, width and/or material of the plurality of conductive paths.  
   
   
       15 . The arrangement according to  claim 2  further comprising at least one zebra-type connector, wherein the selection ends of at least some of the conductive paths are connected to said at least one zebra-type connector and the contact apparatus comprises sets of conductive surfaces, the sets being disposed in or parallel to the spine surface of the book, and wherein at least one of said at least one zebra-type connectors effects contact of said set with a predetermined unique combination of paths, upon opening of the book to a particular spread.  
   
   
       16 . The arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of conductive surfaces disposed in or parallel to the spine surface of the book so that, upon opening of the book to a particular spread, at least one of the conductive surfaces contacts a unique combination of two paths, adjacent said selection ends, so as to close a unique circuit associated with the processing apparatus.  
   
   
       17 . The arrangement according to  claim 2  wherein each unique combination of circuits comprises by a unique resistance, the unique resistance of each combination being defined, at least partially, by the unique length, thickness, width and/or material of at least one of the conductive paths included in the combination.  
   
   
       18 . The arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of conductive surfaces extend in, or are parallel to, the spine surface of the book and wherein at least one surface, upon opening of the book to a particular spread, contacts a unique combination of one or more paths, adjacent said selection ends, for defining a unique circuit associated with the processing apparatus, each circuit having unique predetermined resistance, the processing apparatus being arranged to measure the resistance of the circuit and identify the corresponding spread.  
   
   
       19 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer inserted in the book for introducing an offset and for allowing the contact apparatus to contact at least one conductive path when the book is open at the central spread, if the book comprises an odd number of spreads.  
   
   
       20 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon identification of the spread, the processing apparatus triggers at least one presentation selected from the group consisting of audio, visual and audio/visual associated with the spread, the presentation including at least one function selected from the group consisting of reading of a text, singing a song, playing music, presenting images on a screen associated with the book and actuating mechanical movements of parts of a mechanical structure associated with the book.  
   
   
       21 . A book spread identification arrangement for a board book having a spine surface, the arrangement comprising: 
 a plurality of conductive paths each having a selection end, at least a section of each path being disposed adjacent the spine surface of the book;    a contact apparatus, comprising one or more conductive surfaces disposed adjacent the selection end of at least one of the plurality of conductive paths and arranged so that, upon opening of the book to a spread, at least one of the surfaces contacts a single conductive path of a predetermined length, the contact apparatus being configured for sending an electromagnetic pulse along the contacted path and receiving the return pulse; and    a processing apparatus connected to the conductive surfaces of the contact means and configured for processing signals associated with the conductive paths, calculating the time of a return trip of a pulse, estimating the travelled length and identifying the particular conductive path to determine the corresponding spread the book is open to.