Abstract:
A reading book including a partially electronic page display provides a system and method for implementing interactive and/or animated books without the cost associated with typical electronic books, while retaining the multiple page features of a traditional printed book. The reading book may be a split-page design, where a portion of a reader&#39;s view is provided by a fixed electronic display, while a second portion is provided by a plurality of movable pages that may be recirculating electronic pages or printed pages. Alternatively or in concert, the reading book may include partial page areas implemented with electronic displays. Page selection via turning may be detected by optical, electronic or mechanical sensors and the display contents synchronized or activated in response to detected page turning activity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to books including children&#39;s picture or reading books and more specifically to a book including one or more electronic pages.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     A variety of electronic books have been proposed and developed for both the children&#39;s book and other publication markets (for example adult e-books or technical manuals that include animated screens). These “books” typically provide an alternative to a traditional book, in that they replace some or all pages of a traditional book with liquid crystal display (LCD) screens or other light-emitting devices that display all of the content for a given page. Recently, a need for an electronic book that is more than just a single screen capable of displaying pages has been described and solutions have been presented. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,851, 6,021,306 and 5,534,888 disclose electronics book having multiple pages providing a replacement for a more traditional book, while retaining some of the look and feel of a multiple page book. The above recited patents do teach re-use of electronic pages, but typically require the reader to turn back to the beginning of the book once the last electronic page has been reached.  
         [0005]     Other more traditional paper, laminate or cardboard page books have been modified to incorporate features such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that highlight or enhance areas on a page. For example, U.S. Patent Application US2002/0122250 A1 describes a book system that provides highlighting of words on a page using LEDs, U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,575 describes a book having touch sensors and LEDs used to provide an interactive book.  
         [0006]     The cost to manufacture an electronic book is by nature, much higher than printing costs for a traditional book. The number of electronic pages is therefore a determinant in the cost of the electronic books described above.  
         [0007]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an electronic book providing a cost-effective alternative to presently available electronic books, while retaining some of the traditional look and feel of a traditional multi-page book. It would further be desirable to provide a cost-effective alternative to electronic books having full page displays that provides re-use of electronic pages without loosing the look and feel of a traditional multi-page book.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The above objective of providing a cost-effective electronic book that retains some of the look and feel of a traditional multi-page book is met in an electronic book having partial electronic reading area. The electronic book incorporates a fixed electronic display and printed or movable electronic pages viewable simultaneously to provide interactivity and animation.  
         [0009]     In a first embodiment of the invention, an electronic display is provided on a partial area of one or more movable low-cost printed pages, providing an area of animation and/or interactivity on the one or more printed pages, without the manufacturing costs associated with a fully electronic multi-page book.  
         [0010]     In a second embodiment of the invention, a fixed electronic display is provided in a first area of a book page and a plurality of movable low-cost printed pages or electronic pages are provided in a second area so that the fixed electronic display is visible while the movable pages are turned. If the movable pages are electronic pages, the pages can be mounted on a spindle below the fixed electronic display, so that the pages can be turned ad infinitum, re-using (by reprogramming) the movable pages as they wrap around to the viewing position.  
         [0011]     The turning of the movable pages can be detected by a sensing mechanism and the electronic display updated in association with user selection (by turning) of the movable pages, so that user interactivity or animation in association with the movable pages can be implemented on the electronic display.  
         [0012]     The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial diagram depicting an electronic book in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial diagram depicting an electronic book in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an electronic block diagram depicting circuits of an electronic book in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an electronic book  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is depicted. Electronic book  10  incorporates electronic display areas  13  that provides enhancement to a traditional reading book, advertising brochure, magazine, newspaper or any traditional form of printed media. The enhancement encompasses interactively changeable text, colors (including background color) and animations that are not possible with static text media, while providing a low-cost and lower power consumption alternative to an electronic book where all of the pages are completely implemented with electronic displays.  
         [0017]     A plurality of printed pages  11  is provided with text/and or graphics, while some pages  11 A incorporate electronic display areas  13  that can display either static or dynamic animated graphics  14  or text  15 , enhancing the reading experience and optionally providing interactivity via touch sensors using touch screen technology, capacitive touch sensors embedded under the electronic display, membrane switches, or any suitable switching/detection mechanism to provide a signal input for interactively altering the content of electronic display area  13 . Button icons  16  may be implemented as graphics and/or text on electronic display area  13  with sensors located at corresponding locations under the display or with a programmed response to a touchscreen matrix set to areas corresponding to button icons  16 . Additional control of electronic display area  13  may be achieved with detectors (switches) located in the spine or other convenient location for detection the selected (open) pages. Electronic display area  13  may be activated only when the page is selected for viewing, may change in response to the turning (selection) of page  11 A, for example electronic display may randomly or sequentially change in behavior each time the page  11 A is selected, providing an entertaining or educational enhancement to a static book page that cannot change. The front and back cover, as well as the spine of electronic book  10  may include partial displays as well. For example, for displaying the title and other pertinent information regarding currently downloaded electronic book data, as well as cover graphics, etc.  
         [0018]     Electronic display area  13  may also share common driver circuits with other electronic display areas and the page turn detection may select a particular electronic display area  13  from among a plurality of pages incorporating electronic display areas. A connector  17  is provided for uploading data and program instructions to internal electronics of electronic book  10 , battery charging and so forth, whereby the actions of electronic display area  13  can be initialized or updated by connection to an external computer. Connector  17  may be omitted for totally wireless embodiments, where a wireless interface as described below, provides the mechanism for uploading electronic book information.  
         [0019]     Electronic display area  13 , may be an organic light-emitting diode array (OLED) a liquid crystal display (LCD), or other suitable display screen that may be conveniently attached to a page in a book such as that depicted. Preferably, the pages and the electronic display area  13  will be made of flexible material resembling that of a printed paper book, but the pages may also be made rigid. Electronic drivers required to support the operation of one or more electronic display areas  13  may be incorporated within electronics embedded in the page, provided in a front or back cover circuit mounting area, or may be embedded in the spine of the book. The above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,851: “Electronic Book With Multiples Page Displays”, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a variety of driver locations and electronic page technologies that may be employed to generate full page screens. Similar technologies are also suitable for partial page screens in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an electronic book  20  in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is depicted. Electronic book  20  provides enhancement to a traditional reading book, advertising brochure, magazine, newspaper or any traditional form of printed media. The enhancement encompasses interactively changeable text, colors (including background color) and animations that are not possible with static text media, while providing a low-cost and lower power consumption alternative to an electronic book where each page is fully implemented with an electronic display. Or, several pages may be included that are flexible electronic or rigid display pages mounted on a spindle, so that the look and feel of a traditional book is maintained, while providing re-use of the electronic pages below the fixed display position.  
         [0021]     A plurality of printed or moveable electronic pages  21  is provided with text/and or graphics and mounted on a spindle  29  disposed adjacent to a fixed electronic display  23  that can display either static or dynamic animated graphics  24  or text  25 , as described above for the first embodiment of the present invention. Switches or other sensors may provide interactivity with electronic display  23 , and may be touch sensors using touch screen technology, capacitive touch sensors, membrane switches, or the like, embedded under the electronic display or within one or more of printed or movable electronic pages  22 , providing a signal input for interactively altering the content of electronic display  23 . Button icons  26  may be implemented as graphics and/or text on electronic display  23  with sensors located at corresponding locations under electronic display  23  or with a programmed response to a touchscreen matrix set to areas corresponding to button icons  26 .  
         [0022]     Movable pages  22  may be removable/replaceable (if printed pages) in order to re-use the electronic portions of electronic book  20 . Data storage such as read only memory (ROM), may be included within the removable printed sections and interconnected to the electronics within electronic  20  in order to provide content for fixed electronic display  23  that is coordinated with the removable pages. Optionally a CD reader or other optical/electronic reader may be incorporated within electronic book  20  for reading media supplied with removable pages. A sleeve may be incorporated within the book pages (on an inside cover or other location) for retaining such optical or electronic media.  
         [0023]     Control of electronic display  23  (and pages  22  if electronic) may be achieved with detectors (switches) located in the spine/spindle  29  or other convenient location for detection the selected (open) pages. Page turn detection can also be accomplished by means such as optical or magnetic detection of markers  22 A on a page via a camera  28  or other sensor, so that the particular selected (open) page can be determined.  
         [0024]     Electronic display area  23  (and pages  22  if electronic), may be organic light-emitting diode arrays (OLED), liquid crystal displays (LCD), or other suitable display screens that may be conveniently fit within a book such as that depicted. Electronic drivers required to support the operation of electronic display  23  (and pages  22  if electronic) may be incorporated within electronics embedded underneath electronic display  23  (within pages  22  if electronic), provided in a front or back cover circuit mounting area, or may be embedded in the spine of electronic book  20 . A connector  27  is provided for uploading data and program instructions to internal electronics of electronic book  20 , battery charging and so forth, whereby the actions of electronic display  23  can be initialized or updated by connection to an external computer. Connector  27  may be omitted for totally wireless embodiments, where a wireless interface as described below, provides the mechanism for uploading electronic book information.  
         [0025]     Uses of the above-described embodiment include providing such electronic features as navigation controls and other items that stay fixed on electronic display  23 , while other more dynamic information is provided on pages  22 . Educational and conferencing uses are contemplated where fixed display  23  provides navigation, communication (i.e, messages from a teacher or conference participants) and fixed information, while pages  22  provide downloadable display of such information as presentations, class assignments, reading material, and so forth.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , driver circuits suitable for use within electronic books  10  and  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention are shown in a block diagram. Display  31  which may be an electronic display area affixed to a page such as electronic display area  13  or a fixed electronic display  23 , is coupled to a set of matrix drivers  32 . Display  31  may comprise a plurality of electronic displays all connected to matrix driver  32  and may be individually selectable via matrix drivers  32 . Matrix drivers  32  are coupled to processor  33  for receiving information corresponding to text and graphics displayed on display  31  and processor is coupled to a memory  34  for storing program instructions for execution by processor  33  and data corresponding to graphical and text images for display on display  31 . An upload interface  35  is provided for connection via connector  35 A and cable  38  to an external general-purpose computer  37 , which may be connected to a network (such as the Internet) through a network connection  39 , whereby updates or original scripts and graphics for operation of display  31  may be downloaded periodically. Wireless network connection  39 A, provides a mechanism for wireless upload of data to electronic books  10  and  20  without a physical connection. The wireless embodiment is especially suitable for conference and educational applications as a recipient (or owner) of electronic books at such locations may receive to-the-minute updated materials. Touch sensors  36  and page turn detectors  36 A are coupled to processor  33  for providing interactive input functionality as described above.  
         [0027]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.