BOOK WITH AUDIO OUTPUT

Abstract

The invention concerns a book with a front and a back book cover, a spine, at least one book page, and an electronic system comprising first sensors of suitable design so as to detect pressure exerted on a particular area of a book page, wherein a first sensor when pressed being capable of triggering the reproduction of certain audio files, wherein the book pages comprise individual, electronically detectable page indexes and the electronic system of the book comprises at least one second sensor capable of sensing the page index of the opened page. By the invention a book that enables an as variable as possible selection of audio files is provided.

Claims

1. Book with a front and a back book cover, a spine, at least one book page, and an electronic system comprising first sensors of suitable design so as to detect pressure exerted on a particular area of a book page, wherein a first sensor when pressed being capable of triggering the reproduction of certain audio files, wherein the book pages comprise individual, electronically detectable page indexes and the electronic system of the book comprises at least one second sensor capable of sensing the page index of the opened page.

2. Book according to claim 1, wherein the first sensors are capacitive pressure sensors.

3. Book according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are arranged in the front and/or back cover of the book.

4. Book according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor is an inductive sensor and the page indexes are conductive and/or ferromagnetic components.

5. Book according to claim 1, wherein the assignment of an audio file is effected via a matrix comprising the page index and the pressure sensor.

6. Book according to claim 1, wherein the electronic system of the book comprises at least one main processor connected to at least one loudspeaker, an electrical power supply, a memory, a first switching circuit for processing the first sensors and a second switching circuit with at least one second sensor for the detection of the page indexes.

7. Book according to claim 1, wherein the book comprises a switch and a microphone.

8. Book according to claim 1, wherein the book comprises a wireless and/or wired interface for communication and/or data transmission to external devices.

9. Book according to claim 5, wherein the audio files can be transferred via the microphone or the interface into the memory and are assignable to a matrix value derived from page index and pressure sensor.

10. Book according to claim 7, wherein the audio files can be transferred via the microphone or the interface into the memory and are assignable to a matrix value derived from page index and pressure sensor.

11. Book according to claim 8, wherein the audio files can be transferred via the microphone or the interface into the memory and are assignable to a matrix value derived from page index and pressure sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The invention as well as the technical environment are described hereunder in sufficient detail on the basis of the figures. It is to be noted that the figures show an especially preferred embodiment variant of the invention. However, the invention shall not be deemed as being limited to the embodiment variant shown. To the extent it is technically expedient, the invention comprises, in particular, any optional combinations of the technical features that are stated in the claims or in the description as being relevant to the invention.

[0034] Elucidation of the invention is provided by the following figures where

[0035] FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views A of the front cover and B of the back cover of the book proposed by the invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the inventive

[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the design of the front book cover of a book proposed by the invention,

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the design of the book pages of a book proposed by the invention,

[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the design of the back cover of a book proposed by the invention,

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive book with an enclosure accommodating the essential electronic components,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of the electronic system of a preferred embodiment of the book.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1A shows a schematic view of the front side of the front book cover 2 of the inventive book 1 and FIG. 1B shows a schematic view of the rear of the back cover 3 of the book 1 proposed by the invention. Preferably, in the rear side of the back cover 3 access is provided to battery compartment 5 and openings 6 are arranged, especially for a loudspeaker or microphone to improve the acoustics.

[0043] The electronic system of the book 1 in accordance with the invention does not require a wired connection of book pages 4 with the electronic components located in the front and/or back cover 2, 3 and/or in the enclosure 13, since all the sensors, preferably capacitive pressure or touch sensors, required for controlling the audio output are arranged in the front or back cover 2, 3. The sensitivity of these sensors must be selected so as to be sufficiently high to enable the respective sensor located in the front or back book cover 2, 3 to be triggered through the touch or pressure exerted by the user on a contact surface of a book page, however, the sensors must not be triggered by the weight of the pages alone.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of book 1 proposed in accordance with the invention in the partially opened state with the front book cover 2, the back cover 3 and the pages 4 located between the front and back covers 2, 3 of the book. The external design of the inventive book 1 is basically no different from conventional books without audio function.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the design of the front book cover 2 as a possible variant of book 1 proposed by the invention, with said book additionally including electronic elements arranged in the front book cover 2, in particular touch and pressure sensors. The front book cover 2 thus comprises a first layer 2A, a second layer 2B and a third layer 2C. The first and the third layer 2A, 2C correspond to the front and rear sides of the front book cover 2. The second layer 2B is arranged between the first and third layer 2A, 2C and is preferably attached permanently to them, for example, it is glued in place. The second layer 2B comprises one or more cutouts 7 in which various electronic components can be arranged, in particular sensors, preferably capacitive touch or pressure sensors, for activating the stored audio files. The number of the sensors is to be appropriately selected to suit the relevant application purpose of the book 1. At least one audio file can be assigned to each sensor of the front book cover 2 for each book page 4, said file being played back when appropriate pressure or touch is exerted or applied on the corresponding area of the opened page 4. The electronic components located in the front book cover 2 are connected via the spine to the electronic components arranged in the back cover 3 of the book.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the structure of book pages 4 of a book 1 according to the invention with a first layer 4A, a second layer 4B and a third layer 4C. The first and third layers 4A, 4C of the book page correspond to the front and rear sides of the book page 4. The second layer 4B is arranged between the first and the third layer 4A, 4C and preferably permanently attached to these layers 4A, 4C, for example, it is glued in place. The second layer 4B comprises a page index 8, said index can be detected by a second sensor. This enables the electronic system of the book to recognize which page the user has just opened. After a certain page has been opened and depending on the selected mode, the predetermined audio file can be played back automatically or the user selects the desired audio files manually by pressing or touching individual areas of the page.

[0047] The selection is registered by the book's electronic system and the relevant audio file that has been linked with the area on this page 4 is played back.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the structure of the back cover 3 of the book of a preferred variant of book 1 proposed by the invention. The back cover 3 thus comprises a first layer 3A, a second layer 3B and a third layer 3C. The first and third layers 3A, 3C correspond to the front and rear sides of the back cover 3 of the book. The second layer 3B is arranged between the first and third layer 3A, 3C and is preferably attached permanently to them, for example, it is glued in place. The second layer 3B comprises one or more cutouts or recesses intended to accommodate various electronic components, in particular batteries 5 for power supply, loudspeaker 9, circuit boards 10 with elements for controlling and storing the audio files, etc. Additionally, a microphone for recording one's own audio files can be arranged here as well as memory elements, external interfaces for the wireless or wired communication or data transmission with external devices, switches for selecting certain operating modes such as On and Off or recording and playback, sensors for the detection of opened pages or further sensors for the activation or deactivation of the power consuming components. In particular, also the pressure sensors are arranged here, which are capable of detecting the pressure exerted by the user on the contact areas of the respective pages. The number and distribution/arrangement of these pressure sensors is determined by those skilled in the art to suit the intended use. Preferably, in the third layer 3C of the back cover 3 access is provided to battery compartment 5 and openings 6 are arranged, especially for a loudspeaker or microphone.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the book 1 the invention proposes, with an enclosure 13, said enclosure 13 being intended to accommodate at least some of the electronic components. This applies in particular to components that as per the embodiment described hereinbefore are arranged in the back cover 3 of the book, such as batteries 5, loudspeaker 9, mainboard 10, microphone 11 or switch 12. In particular, the pressure sensors are still to be arranged in the book cover 3 because they are to be activated by the user. The enclosure 13 is preferably arranged internally on the front side of the back cover 3 of the book. As an alternative, it is also possible to arrange the enclosure 13 internally on the rear side of the front cover 2 of the book. In any case, the enclosure 13 has to be sufficiently secured to the respective book cover 2, 3. To suit the size of the enclosure 13, at least part of the book pages 4 can be cut to size in such a way that the cut book pages 4D form a recess to accommodate the enclosure 13.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of the electronic system of a preferred embodiment of the inventive book. The main processor 14 is connected to a loudspeaker 9, a microphone 11, a switch 12, electrical power supply 15, memory 16, a first switching circuit 17 for processing the sensors 18 (A to n) and a second switching circuit 19 with a second sensor 20 for the detection of the page indexes 8 (A to n).

[0051] When the book is opened, the second switching circuit 19 passes on the page index 8 (A to n) detected by the second sensor 20 to the main processor 14. Preferably, the second sensor 20 is an inductive sensor, and, accordingly, the page indexes 8 are preferably conductive or ferromagnetic components. Depending on the mode that has been selected via the switch 12, the audio file (or several audio files) associated with this page is now, for example, automatically played back or the user may manually call up individual audio files via the page's contact/touch fields. To this end, the user presses the fields provided on the opened page and in this way activates the respective touch sensor underneath 18 (A to n) arranged in the book cover. The connected first switching circuit 17 transmits the information about which sensor 18 (A to n) was triggered to the main processor 14 that controls the playback of the audio file stored for this sensor 18 (A to n) on this page 8 (A to n). Accordingly, at least one audio file can be created for each combination of page index 8 (A to n) and sensor 18 (A to n). Therefore, which audio file is played at a time does not depend solely on the activated sensor 18 (A to n), but also on the combination of the page index 8 (A to n) of the opened page and the activated sensor 18 (A to n) in combination.

[0052] In a further embodiment of the invention, microphone 11 enables the user to create his or her own audio files for the individual sensors 18 (A to n) of the individual page indexes 8 (A to n). Likewise, an interface can be provided for the wireless or wired communication resp. data transfer of the book with external devices such as computers, smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc., via which the audio files stored in the book can be exported or new audio files can be imported. For example, an external management of the audio files is also conceivable, by means of which a simple and well-organized solution for the assignment of individual audio files to specific sensors 18 (A to n) and page indexes 8 (A to n) is achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0053] 1 Inventive book [0054] 2 Front book cover (A: first layer, B: second layer, C: third layer) [0055] 3 Back book cover (A: first layer, B: second layer, C: third layer) [0056] 4 Book page (A: first layer, B: second layer, C: third layer, D: cut to size) [0057] 5 Battery compartment [0058] 6 Openings [0059] 7 Cutout [0060] 8 Page index (A to n) [0061] 9 Loudspeaker [0062] 10 Mainboard [0063] 11 Microphone [0064] 12 Switch [0065] 13 Enclosure [0066] 14 Main processor [0067] 15 Electrical power supply [0068] 16 Memory [0069] 17 First switching circuit [0070] 18 First sensor, pressure sensor (A to n) [0071] 19 Second switching circuit [0072] 20 Second sensor, inductive sensor