Digital audio book cartridge and player with manipulation-facilitating features

A cartridge for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content and a player having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge are provided. The cartridge includes a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content and having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and allowing access to the connector of the digital storage device. The casing has a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users which includes bevelled edges, and has dimensions comparable to dimensions of a standard compact audio cassette. Preferably, the cartridge has a hole extending through the casing at its back end and a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing at the back end. The receptacle has a form and shape facilitating insertion of the cartridge therein. It has a lower surface defining an elevated ramp along which the cartridge slides as it is inserted into the player.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of audio books and more particularly concerns a digital audio cartridge and a player both provided with features facilitating their use by a visually impaired, physically disabled or learning disabled user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

“Audio” or “talking” books are an important alternative format to print for providing access to books of all types for print-disabled persons who cannot read conventional print books due to a visual, physical or learning disability.

An audio or talking book is typically created in the following way: the contents of a print document, in its entirety or abridge, is usually read by a professional or a volunteer and recorded on a medium appropriate for distribution, such as a tape cassette or a CD.

With recent improvements in digital memory devices, the audio book industry now uses low cost digital media such as Flash memory devices for storing their products. For example, international patent application published under no. WO 2004/080150 describes a book reading apparatus which is able to receive audio files either through a wireless connection or through a standard digital memory device such as a compact flash card. The use of “off-the-shelf” memory cards is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,399 (BORSUK) and published U.S. patent application No. US 2006/0069456 (STRINGER et al.).

Alternatively, published U.S. patent application No. US 2005/0276570 (REED Jr. et al.) discloses an audio book system wherein the digital book recordings are provided on a memory card shaped and sized as a credit card. A player with a suitably-sized slot is provided for reading these cards.

As mentioned above, recorded audio books are often used by individuals who either cannot read traditional printed books due to a visual impairment or learning disability or cannot manipulate paper documents due to physical disabilities. A significant issue for these readers of digital audio books is the manipulation of standard digital storage media. Such media are usually small in size, with a length and width of the order of a few centimeters and can be as thin as 1 mm in thickness. They can be very difficult to locate and handle for visually impaired users, and the absence of tactile markings complicates their proper insertion into a corresponding player. For a physically disabled user, picking up a standard digital memory card and inserting it in a player can be impossible.

There is therefore a need for a digital audio book player system adapted for use by visually impaired, physically disabled or learning disabled users or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content. The cartridge includes: a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content, the digital storage device having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and having a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users. The casing has dimensions comparable to dimensions of a standard compact audio cassette and has a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the casing allowing access to the connector of the digital storage device.

Preferably, the digital storage device has a hole extending from the top side through to the bottom side, the hole being located proximate the back end of the casing.

Preferably, the back end of the casing includes a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing.

Also preferably, at least one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side includes a bevelled lateral edge extending part way along the top side or bottom side of the casing.

The front end of the casing may be tapered laterally.

The top side of the casing may be provided with a ridge thereon defining a label-receiving area, the label-receiving area being adapted to receive a label associated with the digital audio content.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge for use by print disabled users to play digital audio content. The cartridge includes: a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content, the digital storage device having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and having a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users. The casing allows access to the connector of the digital storage device. The casing includes:a top side;a bottom side opposite the top side;a first lateral side;a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, at least one of the first and second sides including a bevelled lateral edge which extends part way along the bottom side or top side of the casing;a front end; anda back end opposite the front end, the back end comprising a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing.

The casing has a hole extending from the top side through to the bottom side, the hole being located proximate the back end of the casing.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content in an audio book player having a receptacle for receiving the cartridge, the receptacle having a lower surface defining an elevated ramp. The cartridge includes: a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content, the digital storage device having a connector providing access to the digital audio content; and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and having a form facilitating handling of said cartridge by the print-disabled users. The casing has dimensions comparable to dimensions of a standard compact audio cassette and has a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The casing allows access to the connector of the digital storage device at the front end thereof. The back end of the casing includes a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing, the sloped surface being angled so that when the cartridge rests on the sloped surface of the casing, the bottom side at the front end of the casing rests on the elevated ramp for slidably inserting the cartridge into the receptacle.

Preferably, the sloped surface of the casing of the cartridge is inclined at an angle substantially matching an angle of the elevated ramp of the receptacle of the audio book player.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an audio book player for playing digital audio content from a cartridge for use by print-disabled users, the cartridge including a random-access digital storage device storing the digital audio content, the digital storage device having a connector providing access to the digital audio content, and a casing permanently housing the digital storage device and having a form facilitating handling of the cartridge by the print-disabled users, the casing having a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, wherein the back end of the casing includes a sloped surface on the bottom side of the casing, the casing allowing access to the connector of the digital storage device. The audio book player includes:a receptacle for receiving the cartridge, the receptacle comprising:an open front end;a closed back end opposite the open front end, the closed back end comprising a mating connector for connecting to the connector of the digital storage device of the cartridge;a first lateral surface;a second lateral surface opposite the first lateral surface;an upper surface; anda lower surface opposite the upper surface, the lower surface defining an elevated ramp, the elevated ramp being angled and of a height so that when the cartridge rests on the sloped surface of the casing, the bottom side at the front end of the casing rests on the elevated ramp of the receptacle of the audio book player for slidably inserting the cartridge into the receptacle.

Preferably, the elevated ramp is inclined at an angle substantially matching an angle of the sloped surface of the casing.

The receptacle may have a funnel shape for guiding the cartridge therein.

Preferably, the first lateral surface and second lateral surface of the receptacle receivingly match bevelled lateral edges of the cartridge.

The receptacle may include abutment means for impeding further insertion of the cartridge into the receptacle.

The lower surface proximate the open front end may include a recess therein for receiving a tool used by print-disabled users.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood upon reading of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described herein below in conjunction with the drawings inFIGS. 1 to 13B, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention concerns a cartridge and player system for playing digital audio content. Digital audio content refers to data in a digital format corresponding to audio signals, and includes any voice or audio recording appropriate for distribution through such a cartridge and player system. For example, and not exhaustively, the recorded information may be a literary work, reference work, school book, children's book, non-fiction book, compilation, newspaper or magazine articles, or even music, radio recording, video, text, maps, biometric data, or other types of recorded audio material, herein and generally referred to as audio books. The digital format may include any number of formats, for example AMR-WB+, 3gp, wav, mp3, Ogg Vorbis, Daisy, and AINSI/NISO Z39.86 etc, be it an accepted universal standard format or an application specific format. The recording may have been created by any appropriate technique known in the art, such as for example recording an audio file using a Text-To-Speech (TTS) input, or rendering of text files using a TTS engine embedded in the player.

The present invention is particularly directed to facilitating the use of this system by users which are either visually impaired, learning disabled or have one or more physical disabilities. This group will be collectively referred to hereinafter as “print-disabled users” and includes blind or low vision users, users with learning disabilities and/or cognitive difficulties, users with a physical disability preventing or impairing the use of their hands, users with arthritis, elderly users, users with cerebral palsy, users with multiple sclerosis, etc. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that this list is non-exhaustive and that a given print-disabled user may be affected by one or a combination of the disadvantages listed above or other disadvantages.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 9A,10A and10B, there is shown a cartridge20for use by print-disabled users to play digital audio content according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The cartridge is preferably made of plastic or other appropriate material resistant to shock and breakage. The cartridge includes a random-access digital storage device on which is stored the digital audio content and a casing21permanently housing the digital storage device.

The digital storage device29, shown in phantom line inFIG. 2, is practically completely housed within the casing21of the cartridge20and cannot be removed from the casing21by the user. Preferably, the digital storage device is a random-access device that is resistant to kinetic and electric shock. Because flash memory is non-volatile and can be electrically erased and reprogrammed, the data storage device may include flash memory. Appropriate digital storage devices may include a USB flash drive or a memory card. The digital storage device29has a connector22providing access to the digital audio content stored therein. The connector may be used to connect the digital storage device to a mating connector of the audio book player when the cartridge is inserted therein or to a mating connector associated with any appropriate reader, for example a mating connector associated with a computer. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector22is a standard Type A USB male connector, but as mentioned other types of connections may be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The cartridge20is sized and shaped to facilitate its handling by the print-disabled users. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that, in the present context, the expressions “handling” or “manipulating” do not necessarily refer to the use of one's hands, as some print-disabled users are unable to use their hands and may use their feet or intermediary devices such as mouth sticks to move objects. As such, the dimensions of the cartridge are selected so that the cartridge can be easily manipulated using only one hand. The dimensions of the casing may be approximately 9.5 cm by 5.7 cm by 1.0 cm. Of course, it is understood that these dimensions are outer dimensions and do not necessarily designate a perfect rectangular form to the cartridge. Moreover, the dimensions of the casing21of the cartridge are comparable to dimensions of a standard audio compact cassette23, as seen fromFIGS. 9A and 9B), that is to say that the dimensions of the casing21are similar but not necessarily identical to those of a standard audio compact cassette23. A standard audio compact cassette is also often referred to as an audio cassette, a cassette tape, a cassette or simply a tape. The standard audio compact cassette is the typical cassette housing a magnetic tape passed and wound around two miniature spools with which many are familiar (as shown inFIG. 9B). In fact, the dimensions of the present cartridge are comparable to those of the standard audio cassette so as to breed familiarity and facilitate its use by the print-disabled user accustomed to using audio tape players.

The casing21of the cartridge20has a front end24designed to be inserted into a receptacle of the player, a back end26opposite the front end24, a first lateral side45a, a second lateral side45bopposite the first lateral side45a, a top side27and a bottom side25opposite the top side27. The male USB connector22is accessed preferably from the front end24of the casing21. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the connector22is preferably recessed in the casing21of the cartridge20, ensuring a better protection from accidental breakage and preventing insertion in other standard female connectors of the player itself or of other equipment such as Personal Computers (PC). It will be noticed however that if desired, the cartridge could be connected to a PC through the use of a USB cable or other appropriate connecting device.

A hole28extends transversally through the casing, from the top side through to the bottom side proximate its back end26, as most clearly seen inFIGS. 1 to 4,5,9A,10A and10B. The hole28is large enough to receive a finger or object such as a mouth stick as used by print-disabled users who do not have the use of their hands. This hole28therefore serves the dual purpose of allowing the insertion and removal of the cartridge20by various users, and of allowing identification of the back end26of the casing21, both visually and through manipulation thereof.

In addition, the back end26of the casing21includes a sloped surface30on the bottom side25of the casing21, so that by pressing down on the back end26of the casing21, the front end24of the casing is angled upwards which facilitates its positioning for insertion in the player. This feature will be explained further herein below with reference toFIGS. 11A to 11E.

The cartridge20is preferably provided with an identification label32identifying the digital audio content of the book or other recording stored therein, such as seen inFIGS. 10A and 10B. The label32preferably includes Braille markings34for the convenience of visually impaired users, as illustrated inFIG. 10A, and may include printed text, as shown inFIG. 10B. The top side27of the casing21preferably includes a ridge36defining a label receiving area for receiving the label. This ridge36prevents the raised Braille dots34from being damaged or erased when cartridges20are stacked and/or rubbed against each other.

Referring toFIGS. 12A to 13B, there is shown a digital audio book player38for receiving a cartridge according to the present invention. The player38includes a receptacle40for receiving the cartridge, which is provided in the front of the player38in the illustrated embodiment. The receptacle may alternatively be provided in side walls or on top of the player38, and the cartridge need not be enclosed on all sides by the player when inserted therein. The player is provided with the necessary electronic components and an appropriate user interface42.

The present invention facilitates the insertion of the cartridge for all members of the print-disabled user group, while making it virtually impossible to perform such an insertion incorrectly.

The receptacle40of the audio book player38includes an open front end37a, a closed back end37bopposite the open front end37a, a first lateral surface37c, a second lateral surface37dopposite the first lateral surface37c, an upper surface39b, and a lower surface39aopposite the upper surface39b. The closed back end37bof the receptacle40includes a mating connector48for connecting to the connector22of the digital storage device29of the cartridge20(as best seen inFIG. 12A(in phantom line) and inFIG. 13B). A section of the lower surface39aproximate the open front end37aof the receptacle40is sloped and serves as an elevated ramp39c(as best seenFIG. 12A). The elevated ramp39cis angled so that when the cartridge20rests on the sloped surface30of the casing21, the bottom side25at the front end24of the casing21is inclined at an angle substantially matching an angle of the ramp39cof the receptacle40of the player38and rests on the elevated ramp39cfor slidedly inserting the cartridge20into the receptacle40. In the embodiment of the player38shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly inFIGS. 13A and 13B, the player38is further provided with a retractable handle47, which has a form matching the lower surface39aof the receptacle so as not to interfere with the insertion of the cartridge20. Of course, it is understood that the player need not have a handle or that the handle of the player may be found in a convenient out-of-the-way area of the player.

Firstly, the receptacle40in the player38has a corresponding shape so that the cartridge20will fit in this receptacle40only if it is oriented correctly. In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second lateral sides45aand45bhave a bevelled lateral edge44aand44bwhich extends partway along the bottom side25of the casing21(seeFIGS. 1 to 8, and more particularlyFIGS. 1,2,4,5,6and8). The beveling along the bottom sides of the casing of the cartridge advantageously facilitates picking up the cartridge when placed on a smooth surface. Alternatively, at least one of the first and second lateral sides45aand45bof the cartridge20may have a bevelled lateral edge either along the top side27or the bottom side25of the casing21, as long as the cartridge is not horizontally symmetric making the proper orientation of the cartridge20difficult to determine. In the preferred embodiment, the bevelled lateral edges44aand44bdo not extend along the entire length of the cartridge20, which presents a square or otherwise protruding form46at the back end26of the cartridge20serving as abutment means (seeFIGS. 2,4,5, and6) thereby preventing the cartridge from being inserted incorrectly into the receptacle40—back end26first. The casing may also be tapered laterally to facilitate insertion into the receptacle, for example the first and second lateral sides may be tapered from the back end to the front end of the casing or have tapered corners44cat the front end (seeFIGS. 1 to 8). The shape of the receptacle40of the player38is of course adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the casing21of the cartridge20. The first lateral surface37cand the second lateral surface37dof the receptacle match the bevelled lateral edges44aand44bof the casing21for correct guided insertion of the casing into the receptacle and provide abutment means for impeding further forced insertion of the cartridge20into the receptacle40when the cartridge is inserted correctly. To guide the cartridge into the receptacle, the receptacle may further have a funnel shape. In addition, the upper surface39bproximate the open front end37aof the receptacle may be recessed with respect to the lower surface39a. Moreover, the upper surface39bproximate the open front end may have an upper edge that is sloped to guide the front end of the cartridge into the receptacle.

Referring toFIGS. 11A to 13B, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, the receptacle40of the player38may be provided with a recess, an indentation41in its lower surface39awhich may be enclosed on all sides as seen inFIG. 13B, or open on one side as seen inFIG. 12A. The indentation41is positioned so as to be generally vertically aligned with the hole28of the cartridge20when the cartridge20is inserted into the player38. In this manner, the indentation can receive a tool used by print-disabled users, such as a mouthstick or footstick, that is inserted through the hole28and the walls43of the indentation41can provide leverage for the tool to facilitate the removal of the cartridge20.

Referring toFIGS. 11A to 11E, there is illustrated one method of inserting a cartridge20in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention in a player38. This method is particularly advantageous for users with little or no finger dexterity or mouthstick users.

InFIG. 11A, the user positions the cartridge20on a surface, such as a table, with its front end24facing the receptacle40of the player38. The hole28also helps to easily orient the cartridge by easily determining the front and back ends (24and26) of the casing21of the cartridge20.

The user then presses on the back end26of the cartridge20, using a finger (as shown) or mouthstick. The cartridge will rest on its sloped surface30, elevating its front end24. Preferably, the bevel angle of the sloped surface30, the length of the cartridge20and the position of the receptacle40are collectively selected so that the front end24of the casing21of the cartridge20will be naturally aligned with the receptacle40in the situation shown inFIG. 11B.

As shown inFIGS. 11B,11C and11D, the cartridge can be pushed by the user so that its front end24enters the receptacle40. The receptacle40preferably presents a lower surface48defining an elevated ramp39cadapted to receive the front end24of the casing21of the cartridge20so that when the casing21is angled along the sloped surface30of the back end26thereof, its front end24rests easily on the receptacle40of the player38. In this manner, a mouthstick user may position the cartridge at the entrance of the receptacle, for example using the mouthstick inserted through the hole28in the cartridge20, remove the mouthstick while the cartridge stays in place, and then use the mouthstick to push the cartridge from the rear to insert it inside the receptacle without the cartridge falling off the elevated ramp39cof the receptacle. The receiving dock is preferably shaped so that it forms a funnel facilitating entry of the cartridge therein. Also preferably, once the cartridge20has been inserted and the connector20connected to the mating connector of the receptacle, the player announces the title of the book automatically to indicate that the insertion has been successfully completed.

Referring toFIG. 11E, the cartridge20after insertion in the player is shown. Advantageously, the back end26of the cartridge with the hole28may project out of the receptacle40so that a user can simply insert a finger or mouthstick in the hole28to pull the cartridge out of the player38.

Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.