Voice book system

A voice book system includes a sound generating device equipped with at least a voice book. The voice book includes a front cover, a back cover and a plurality of page sheets. The voice book further contains an information storing device for storing a plurality of sound messages with respect to the content of each of the page sheets and a book connector for electrically communicating the information storing device with the sound generating device. The sound generating device includes a housing, a book holder provided on the housing for holding the back cover of the voice book on the housing, an audio device for converting the sound messages from the voice book to speaking sound, at least a speaker for boardcasting the speaking sound, a device connector for electrically connecting with the book connector when the voice book is held on the housing by the book holder for transmitting the sound messages stored in the information storing device to the audio device, and a detecting device which is electrically communicated with the audio device for detecting which page sheet of the voice book is turned in so that the audio device will select the particular sound messages with respect to the content of that turned in page sheet which is then converted to the speaking sound to broadcast through the speaker.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention relates to books, and more particularly to a voice 
book system which comprises a sound generating device adapted to equip 
with a specifically constructed voice book in order to read out the 
content of the book for blind people and children. 
Most people enjoy reading for amusement and gaining knowledge. Unluckily, 
blind people are not capable to read. They can only read by touching that 
is slow and inefficient. A book that can read out its content is 
absolutely an ideal of most blind people. 
Besides, babies learn how to speak before how to read; therefore it is a 
great headache for every parent to teach his or her pre-school child to 
read. Parents have to repeatedly read the content of a book word by word 
until the children recognize the meaning of each word. Moreover, many kids 
would like to listen to their parents' reading of their favorite storybook 
before sleeping. It is an additional burden to a parent who has been 
worked for a busy day. Therefore, it is certainly an excellent idea for 
every parent to have a voice book that can read out its story by itself so 
that his or her child can view the drawings of the book and listen to its 
story at the same time. 
Furthermore, the major difficulty of language students is that they are not 
sure whether their pronunciation is correct or not. Therefore, it is a 
long felt need for every language student to have a voice book that can 
read out its content by itself. It is the most efficient way to study the 
correct pronunciation and learn by heart the vocabularies. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
It is thus a first object of the present invention to provide a voice book 
system which comprises a sound generating device adapted to equip with a 
specifically constructed voice book in order to read out the content of 
the book for blind people, children and language student. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a voice book system 
wherein the audio content of the voice book is stored in the book and the 
sound generating device is generally adapted to equip with every voice 
book. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voice book 
system in which the sound generating device will only read out the 
particular page that the reader is reading. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a voice book 
system wherein its sound generating device can generate a specific 
background music for each particular page content of the voice book in 
order to enhance the artistic appeal and sensation of the book content. 
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a 
voice book system which comprises a sound generating device equipped with 
at least a voice book. 
The voice book comprises a front cover, a back cover and a plurality of 
page sheets bound between the front cover and the back cover for 
respectively printing a predetermined content or information thereon. The 
voice book further contains an information storing means for storing a 
plurality of sound messages with respect to the content of each of the 
page sheets and a book connector for electrically communicating the 
information storing means with the sound generating device. 
The sound generating device comprises a housing, a book holder provided on 
the housing for holding the back cover of the voice book on the housing, 
an audio means which is installed inside the housing for converting the 
sound messages from the voice book to speaking sound, at least a speaker 
installed inside the housing for boardcasting the speaking sound, a device 
connector for electrically connecting with the book connector when the 
voice book is held on the housing by the book holder for transmitting the 
sound messages stored in the information storing means to the audio means, 
and a detecting means which is electrically communicated with the audio 
means for detecting which page sheet of the voice book is turned in so 
that the audio means will select the particular sound messages with 
respect to the content of that turned in page sheet which is then 
converted to the speaking sound to broadcast through the speaker. 
In one of the preferable embodiment of the present invention, the detecting 
means comprises a plurality pair of signal emitters and signal receivers 
disposed along a side edge of the housing, wherein each pair of the signal 
emitter and signal receiver must be positioned proximately. Each of the 
page sheets has a tab member which is protruded outwardly from an edge 
side thereof and disposed staggeredly, wherein each of the tab members is 
extended just above a respective pair of the signal emitter and signal 
receiver so as to shelter the detecting signal emitted from the 
corresponding signal emitter and reflect the detecting signal to the 
proximate signal receiver. In other words, when the voice book held on the 
housing of the sound generating device is closed, the detecting signals 
emitted from all the signal emitters are sheltered by the tab members and 
reflected to the signal receivers. At that moment, the audio means is 
deactivated and will not provide any sound. However, if the voice book is 
opened and turned in to a particular page sheet, for example page 5, the 
pages 1 to 4 will be turned aside so that the sheltering and reflecting of 
the detecting signals emitted from the respective four signal emitters 
will be cleared. Therefore, the audio means may detect that the reader is 
reading the page 5 of the voice book, so that the audio means can 
precisely select the sound message of the content of page 5 to convert to 
the speaking sound and broadcast through the speaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a voice book system according to a first 
preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which 
comprises a sound generating device 20 equipped with at least a voice book 
10. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the voice book 10 comprises a front cover 11, a back 
cover 12 and a plurality of page sheets 13 bound between the front cover 
11 and the back cover 12 for respectively printing a predetermined content 
or information thereon. The voice book 10 further contains an information 
storing means 14 for storing a plurality of sound messages with respect to 
the content of each of the page sheets 13 and a book connector 15 for 
electrically communicating the information storing means 14 with the sound 
generating device 20. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sound generating device 20 comprises a 
housing 21, a book holder 22 provided on the housing 21 for connecting the 
voice book 10 with the housing 21 by holding the back cover 12 of the 
voice book 10 in position, an audio means 30 which is installed inside the 
housing 21 for converting the sound messages transmitted from the voice 
book 10 to speaking sound, at least a speaker 40 installed inside the 
housing 21 for boardcasting the speaking sound, a power source 50 
electrically connected with the audio means 30 for power supply, a device 
connector 60 for electrically connecting with the book connector 15 when 
the voice book 10 is held on top of the housing 21 by the book holder 22 
for transmitting the sound messages stored in the information storing 
means 14 to the audio means 30, and a detecting means 70 which is 
electrically communicated with the audio means 30 for detecting which page 
sheet 13 of the voice book 10 is turned in so that the audio means 30 will 
select the particular sound messages with respect to the content of that 
turned in page sheet 13 which is then converted to the speaking sound to 
broadcast through the speaker 40. 
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, as 
shown in FIG. 1, the information storing means 14 comprises a plurality of 
memory chips 141 having a predetermined thickness. Each page sheet 13 
comprises a sheet body 131, which is made of a cardboard or a plastic 
board having a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the memory 
chip 141, and two cover papers 132, 133 adhered on two sides of the sheet 
body 131. Each sheet body 131 has a cavity 134 to receive one of the 
memory chips 141 therein. For example, if there are totally six page 
sheets 13, the information storing means 14 should comprise six memory 
chips 141 too. The written content, pictures and/or drawings of each page 
sheet 13 are printed on the two sheet papers 132, 133. A sound content 
which is a sound message with respect to the written content of each page 
sheet 13 is stored in the respective memory chip 141, where in the sound 
content can be a background music for the written content or a sound 
record of reading the written content. 
A plurality of flashing lights 130, which are made of light emitting diode 
(LED) in color of red, green or amber for decoration purpose, and a 
plurality of touch switches 1301 are also mounted on each page sheet 13 so 
that the reader can interactive with the voice book 10. 
The book connector 15, according to the preferred embodiment, as shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a plurality, of electrical contact-strip 
terminals 151 adjacently aligned in parallel manner. The book connector 15 
is affixed to an outer bottom corner of an exterior side of the back cover 
12. A plurality of electrical wires 152 are respectively connected between 
the contact-strip terminals 151 and the memory chips 141 so as to 
electrically connect each of the memory chips 141 with each of the 
contact-strip terminals 151. The book connector 15 also provides 
electrical connections for the control of the flashing lights 130 and the 
touch switches 1301 and the sound generating device also provides control 
signals for the flashing lights 130 and the touch switches 1301. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 21 has a top platform 211 for 
supporting the back cover 12 of the voice 10 to flatly sit thereon. The 
book holder 22 comprises a pocket shelter 221 raised above a side edge of 
the top platform 211 to define a receiving pocket 222 between the top 
platform 211 and the pocket shelter 221, wherein a height of the 
receiving, pocket 222 must be slightly larger or equal to the thickness of 
the back cover 12 of the voice book 10, so that an outer side portion of 
the back cover 12 of the voice book 10 can be fitly inserted into the 
receiving pocket 222. The top platform 211 has a communication opening 212 
which is positioned at a side corner of the top platform 211 and 
underneath the pocket shelter 221. 
The audio means 30, which is installed inside the housing 21, comprises a 
circuit board 31 electrically connected with the speaker 40 and the power 
source 50, and a switch 32 for switching the power supply of the circuit 
board 31 on or off. The speaker 40 is positioned in a top compartment 213 
of the housing 21 for sound broadcasting. The power source 50 comprises at 
least a battery 51 electrically installed inside a battery chamber 52. 
The device connector 60, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a 
plurality of electrical contact springs 61 disposed at the communication 
opening 212 of the top platform 211. Each of the contact springs 61, which 
is made of resilient metal wire, has a connected leg 611 electrically 
connected to the circuit board 31 and an elongated arm 612 having a 
V-shaped tip 613 upwardly extended into the receiving pocket 222. 
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3, when the outer side portion of the back 
cover 12 of the voice book 10 is inserted into the receiving pocket 222 of 
the housing 21, the contact-strip terminals 151 of the book connector 15 
will respectively press down the V-shaped tips 613 of the contact springs 
61 to a lower position, so that each contact spring 61 is in good 
electrical contact with the respective contact-strip terminal 151. 
Moreover, each of the resilient contact springs 61 has a tendency to 
spring back to its upper position that renders each contact spring 61 
propping against the respective contact-strip terminal 151 so as to ensure 
good electrical connection for signals or messages transmission. 
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 
detecting means 70 comprises a plurality pair of signal emitters 71 and 
signal receivers 72 disposed along a side edge of the top platform 211 of 
the housing 21. Each pair of the signal emitter 71 and signal receiver 72, 
which are electrically connected to the audio means 30, can be encased 
into a single unit shell 73 or must be positioned proximately. 
The signal emitter and receiver 71, 72 can be an optical signal emitter and 
receiver such as an infrared emitter and receiver, wherein a detecting 
signal, i.e. an infrared beam, is continuously emitted upwardly from the 
signal emitter 71 when the switch 32 is turned on and the back cover 12 of 
the voice book 10 is held in position on the housing 21. When a 
non-transparent surface is provided above the signal emitter 71, the 
infrared beam will just be reflected to the signal receiver 72. 
In order to equipped with the detecting means 70 of the present invention 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the page sheets 13 has a tab member 131 
which is protruded outwardly from an edge side thereof and disposed 
staggeredly. Moreover, each of the tab members 131 is extended just above 
a respective pair of the signal emitter 71 and signal receiver 72 so as to 
shelter the detecting signal emitted from the corresponding signal emitter 
71 and reflect the detecting signal to the proximate signal receiver 72. 
In other words, when the voice book 10 held on the housing 21 of the sound 
generating device 20 is closed, the detecting signals emitted from all the 
signal emitters 71 are sheltered by the tab members 131 and reflected 
toward the signal receivers 72. At that moment, the audio means 30 is 
deactivated and will not provide any sound. However, if the voice book 10 
is opened and turned in to a particular page sheet 13, for example the 
fifth page sheet, the first, second, third, and fourth page sheets will be 
turned aside so that the sheltering and reflecting of the detecting 
signals emitted from the respective four signal emitters 71 will in 
cleared. Therefore, the audio means 30 may detect that the reader is 
reading the fifth page sheet of the voice book 10, so that the audio means 
30 can precisely select the sound message of the content of the fifth page 
sheet to convert to the speaking sound and broadcast through the speaker. 
It is worth to emphasis that the tab member can also be substituted by a 
though hole 133 formed on each page sheet. As shown in FIGS. 5, the lowest 
page sheet 13a has a series of through holes aligning with respect to the 
number and positions of the pairs of signal emitter and receiver 71, 72. 
Each upper page sheet 13b has one hole less than the number of through 
hole provided on a lower page sheet 13a. The topmost page sheet 13c has 
only one through hole 133. In this mode, all the detecting signals will be 
blocked when the voice book 10 is closed. However, when a particular page 
sheet 13 is turned in, the blocking of the respective detecting signal 
will be cleared, so that the audio means can precisely detect which is the 
turned in page sheet, for example the topmost page sheet 13c in FIG. 5, 
and broadcast the sound content with respect to that page sheet 13c. It is 
an equivalent modification of the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention. 
As shown in FIG. 6, an alternative mode of the detecting means 70 of the 
above First preferred embodiment is illustrated, wherein a plurality 
magnetic field sensors 74 are used to respectively substitute the 
plurality pairs of signal emitter and receiver 71, 72 disclosed above. 
Moreover, a plurality of magnetic field generators 75 are mounted on the 
bottom sides of the tab members 131 respectively. Therefore, when voice 
book 10 is closed, each of the magnetic field sensors 74 detects a 
specific magnetic field generated from the respective magnetic field 
generator 75 so that the audio means 30 will be deactivated and will not 
provide any speaking sound. However, when the voice book 10 is turned into 
a particular page sheet 13, that tab member 131 as well as the magnetic 
filed generator 75 mounted thereon will be turned over, the magnetic filed 
generated by the respective magnetic field generator 75 will not be sensed 
and the audio means 30 will react to broadcast the sound content with 
respect to that particular page sheet 13. 
As shown in FIG. 7, a voice book system according to a second preferred 
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, which is a 
modification of the above first preferred embodiment that has a similar 
structure with the above first preferred embodiment except the following 
features. The information storing means 14 of the voice book system of the 
second preferred embodiment comprises only a single memory chip 141' 
installed inside the back cover 12 of the voice book 10. The memory chip 
141' stores a plurality of segments of sound message with respect to the 
written content of all page sheets and is connected to a book connector 
15' which is also affixed to the outer bottom corner of the back cover 12 
through a plurality of contact-strip terminals 151'. 
Moreover, the detecting means 70' of the second preferred embodiment 
comprises a plurality of mechanical switches such as contact switches 71', 
which are spacedly mounted on a vertical wall 210' adjacent to a top side 
edge of the top platform 211, to substitute the plurality pair of signal 
emitters 71 and signal receivers 72 as disclosed in the above first 
preferred embodiment. The contact switches 71' are electrically connected 
to the audio means 30. Therefore, when the voice book 10 held on the 
housing 21 of the sound generating device 20 is closed, all the tab 
members 131 are in contact with the contact switches 71' respectively, so 
that the audio means 30 (as shown in FIG. 2) is deactivated and will not 
provide any sound. If the voice book 10 is opened and turned in to a 
particular page sheet 13, for example the fifth page sheet, the first, 
second, third, and fourth page sheets will be turned aside so that the 
respective contact switch 71' is non-contact with the tab member 131 of 
the fifth page sheet. Therefore, the audio means 30 may detect that the 
reader is reading the Fifth page sheet 13 of the voice book 10 and 
precisely select the sound message of the content of the fifth page sheet 
13 stored in the memory chip 141' to convert to the speaking sound and 
broadcast through the speaker 40. 
Accordingly, the users of the voice book system of the present invention 
can read the written content of the voice book and, at the same time, 
listen to the sound content of the voice book by equipping with the sound 
generating device. Therefore, the pre-school children may also understand 
and learn the content of the voice book by listening to the sound content 
of the voice book. Undoubtedly, it is an excellent way for the children to 
study vocabularies and pronunciation. Moreover, the blind people can also 
listen to the content of the voice book and study a lot faster. If the 
sound content is a background music, the reader can enjoy a lot more 
reading fun.