Interactive electronic device with optical page identification system

Abstract

An electronic learning device for receiving a book having a plurality of successive page spreads, at least one page spread having selectable content and an optically readable page identifier. The device includes a housing configured to receive the book, a position sensor in the housing configured to determine the location of the selectable content on the at least one page spread, an optical sensor in the housing configured to irradiate and detect the page identifier on the at least one page spread and control electronics in the housing operatively coupled to the optical sensor and to the position sensor and configured to synchronize operation of the position sensor and the optical sensor.

1 . An electronic learning device for receiving a book having a plurality of successive page spreads, at least one page spread having selectable content and an optically readable page identifier, the device comprising:
 a housing configured to receive the book;   a position sensor in the housing, the position sensor configured to determine the location of the selectable content on the at least one page spread;   an optical sensor in the housing, the optical sensor configured to irradiate and detect the page identifier on the at least one page spread;   control electronics in the housing, the control electronics operatively coupled to the optical sensor and to the position sensor, the control electronics configured to synchronize operation of the position sensor and the optical sensor.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position sensor comprises 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 housing, a radio frequency oscillating signal generator cyclically coupled to individual conductive lines of 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. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the optical sensor comprises an array of optical emitter and optical detector pairs, a radio frequency oscillating signal generator cyclically coupled to each individual optical emitter, and a synchronous detection circuit operatively coupled with the optical detectors. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the position sensor comprises 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 housing, a radio frequency oscillating signal generator cyclically coupled to individual conductive lines of 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; and
 the optical sensor comprises a plurality of optical emitter and optical detector pairs controlled and synchronized with the operation of the position sensor by an optical switch and gate under the control of the control electronics in the housing.   
   
   
       5 . An electronic learning device comprising:
 a page having an optical identification code and selectable content;   a housing configured to support the page;   an integrated sensor system configured to irradiate and detect the optical identification code and to detect the location of the selectable content; and   control electronics in the housing, the control electronics operatively coupled to the integrated sensor system and configured to synchronize the irradiation and detection of the optical identification code and the detection of the location of the selectable content and to produce an audible response associated with the selectable content when the page is supported by the housing and the selectable content is selected.   
   
   
       6 . The electronic learning device according to  claim 5 , wherein the integrated sensor system comprises a position sensor and an optical sensor, the position sensor comprising a plurality of at least touch-responsive, mutually adjoining sensors organized in a two-dimensional array, the optical sensor comprising a plurality of optical emitter and optical detector pairs. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic learning device according to  claim 6 , wherein the optical sensor is controlled and synchronized with the operation of the position sensor by an optical switch and gate under the control of the control electronics in the housing.