초록 ▼

A self-contained, hand-held, portable code reading and processing system within an elongated tubular housing forms a wand that transduces coded data into selected speech or music. A simple-to-use reading and processing system can be used as part of a learning and activity game. In one form, a scanni

A self-contained, hand-held, portable code reading and processing system within an elongated tubular housing forms a wand that transduces coded data into selected speech or music. A simple-to-use reading and processing system can be used as part of a learning and activity game. In one form, a scanning guide is hingedly attached to a book. When the guide is folded over a page of the book, a path is created across the coded data to enable children and others to easily scan the coded data with the hand-held wand. A contact switch at or near the scanning end of the system is actuated by the scanning guide to activate the code reading and processing system. An energy-saving power shutdown feature turns off the code reading and processing system when no coded data are scanned in a given time period. The contact switch and the automatic power shutdown system act in concert as a safety system to prevent small children from staring at the light source for prolonged periods of time. Audio data may be provided in the form of a removable memory cartridge, to allow use of the system in a variety of applications.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising:(a) an elongated, substantially tubular housing;(b) a code scanner-reader supported by the housing and having an output for signals identifying selected

[ I claim:] [1.] A self-contained, hand-held system for reading coded data and transducing the coded data to selected sounds, the system comprising:(a) an elongated, substantially tubular housing;(b) a code scanner-reader supported by the housing and having an output for signals identifying selected sounds;(c) a synthesizer supported by the housing, electrically coupled to the output of the code scanner-reader, and comprising:(i) a memory holding a multitude of sets of data, each set corresponding to at least one different selected sound; and(ii) a processor coupled to the memory and structured to select from the memory the set of data that corresponds to the signals on the output of the code scanner-reader;(d) an audio output supported by the housing and electrically coupled to the synthesizer;(f) a power source supported by the housing and coupled to the code scanner-reader and the synthesizer; and(g) a contact switch located on the surface of the housing and structured to activate the code scanner-reader when the housing is gripped.