Abstract:
An educational/entertainment apparatus generally includes a controller ( 20 ) for use with a multimedia device ( 10 ). The controller includes a platform ( 26 ) for receiving a disc ( 50 ), the disc including a plurality of graphical images on at least one surface that correspond to a plurality of multimedia options, the disc also including an identifier that identifies the disc. The controller further includes a reader ( 42 ) for reading the identity of the disc, a selector ( 28 ) for a user to select one of the plurality of graphical images, and a controller/transmitter ( 61, 63 ) for determining the selected graphical image and transmitting a multimedia control signal ( 60 ) that contains information that identifies the selected graphical image.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/719,372, filed Sep. 22, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The embodiments described herein relate generally to devices for educational entertainment and, more specifically, to children&#39;s devices for educational entertainment.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The spinning, audio-educational toy sold by Mattel Inc./Fisher Price under the Trademark “SEE &#39;N SAY,” has for years helped children learn the names and sounds of various barnyard animals (such as cows, pigs, roosters, etc.). The SEE &#39;N SAY® toy is a mechanical device with a variety of images printed on its face in a circular arrangement similar to the arrangement of numbers on a clock face. At the center of the “clock face” is a large arrow that can be pointed by the child-user to any one of a variety of animals. Moving the arrow toward a specific animal on the perimeter of the device and pulling a string, a lever, or otherwise activating the toy causes a short, recorded audio message to play. For example, pointing to the cow and activating the device would cause the device to play the recording “The cow says Moo.” For more information about how the SEE &#39;N SAY® mechanical device works, see http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/see-say.htm.  
         [0004]     In contrast to contemporary multimedia players that allow children to visually as well as aurally interact with their chosen forms of educational entertainment, the SEE &#39;N SAY® mechanical device is limited to audio interaction. This invention is directed to combining educational entertainment of the type provided by the original SEE &#39;N SAY® toy with the technology enhancements provided by multimedia devices and systems, such as DVD players combined with televisions.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.  
         [0006]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a controller for use with a multimedia device is provided. The controller includes a platform for receiving a disc, the disc including a plurality of graphical images on at least one surface that correspond to a plurality of multimedia options, the disc also including an identifier that identifies the disc. The controller further includes a reader for reading the identity of the disc, a selector for a user to select one of the plurality of graphical images, and a controller/transmitter for determining the selected graphical image and transmitting a multimedia control signal that contains information that identifies the selected graphical image.  
         [0007]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, an educational/entertainment apparatus is provided. The educational/entertainment apparatus includes a DVD-Video disc containing a plurality of video clips, a disc including a plurality of graphical images on at least one face of the disc that are related to the video clips, and a controller for reading the disc and controlling the operation of the multimedia device.  
         [0008]     In accordance with still other embodiments of the present disclosure, an educational/entertainment apparatus is provided. The educational/entertainment apparatus includes a multimedia device for displaying video clips in response to control signals, a disc including a plurality of graphical images on at least one face of the disc that are related to the video clips, and a controller for reading the disc and controlling the operation of the multimedia device. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this disclosure will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a DVD controller formed in accordance with the present invention used by a child to control the images displayed on the television by a DVD player;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a child&#39;s educational DVD controller suitable for use in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the platform of a child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIG. 2  with a disc storage compartment in the open position and an interchangeable disc being inserted;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the platform of a child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the platform of a child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  with the interchangeable disc being inserted;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a functional flow diagram illustrating the operation of the child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a functional flow diagram illustrating the operation of the DVD player in response to the operation of the child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an alternative functional flow diagram illustrating the operation of the DVD player in response to the operation of the child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is an alternative functional flow diagram illustrating the operation of the child&#39;s DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a first alternate embodiment of a child&#39;s DVD controller; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a second alternate embodiment of a child&#39;s DVD controller. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     A device for educational entertainment constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The device includes a child&#39;s DVD controller  20  used in conjunction with a multimedia device or system, such as a DVD player  10  and a television  12 , to educate and/or entertain a child. As will be better understood from the following description, a disc inserted into the DVD controller  20  causes the DVD controller  20  to send control signals to the DVD player  10  in response to a child&#39;s input actions. The DVD player  10  responds to the signals produced by the DVD controller  20 , reads the content of a DVD-Video disc or DVD  14  inserted into the DVD player  10 , and causes images to be displayed on the television  12 .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the DVD controller  20  includes a casing  22  having a base  24  in the form of a truncated cone that defines a circular, horizontal platform  26 . Extending upwardly from the base  24  in the center of the platform  26  is a depressible spin dial  28  with a central arrow  30 . The platform  26  accepts interchangeable printed discs  50  having multiple different images on them, such as graphical images of farm animals (not shown, but may include cows, horses, chickens, pigs, roosters, etc.). The discs may be printed on both sides, or may be single-sided. Preferably, a character  32 , depicted as a caricature of a wise owl, is attached to the base  24 . Also, preferably, the casing  22  and the character  32 , and other exemplary components, such as the spin dial  28 , are molded plastic elements.  
         [0023]     When the child-user spins or otherwise moves the arrow  30  of the depressible spin dial  28 , such that the arrow  30  points to an image, and depresses the spin dial  28 , an infrared (IR) beam  60  causes the DVD player  10  to read the DVD  14 , generating a video clip or segment related to the image for display on the television  12 . For example, if the child points the central arrow  30  of the dial  28  to the image of a cow and depresses the spin dial  28 , the DVD controller  20  sends an IR beam  60  to the DVD player  10 , instructing the DVD player  10  to access and play a cow segment stored on the DVD  14 . The cow segment may cause a mooing cow to be displayed on the television  12 . Additionally, the cow segment might include a host character who introduces the cow segment.  
         [0024]     Multiple segments may be stored on the DVD  14 , any one of which may be chosen by the DVD controller  20  and displayed on the television  12 . For instance, in the cow segment example, when the child-user moves the arrow  30  of the depressible spin dial  28  to point to an image of a cow and depresses the spin dial  28 , any one of several segments involving a cow could be generated for display on the television  12 . For example, the first cow segment may be of a cow mooing, the second cow segment may be of a farmer milking a cow, the third cow segment may be of a herd of cows grazing in a field, etc. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the decision regarding which segment to display can, depending on design, be made by either the DVD controller  20  or the DVD player  10 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the DVD controller  20  will now be described in greater detail. The circular, horizontal platform  26  is sized for receiving a disc  50  with a center hole  52 . The center hole  52  is sized to fit over the spin dial  28 . The spin dial  28  may be stepped, as shown, or may have the shape of a truncated cone. The spin dial  28  is rotatably mounted in the casing  22  and rotates either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, or in both directions, relative to the base  24  and the disc  50 . The base  24  includes a storage drawer  34  located beneath the platform  26  for storing discs  50 . The storage drawer  34  is positioned in the base  24  opposite the character  32 . The storage drawer  34  is shown closed in  FIG. 2  and open in  FIG. 3 . As clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the storage drawer  34  is suitable for storing several discs  50 . A disc retention and reading assembly  36 , located on the exterior perimeter of the casing  22  around the circular platform  26 , maintains the disc  50  in position upon the platform  26  during use, and also identifies the inserted disc  50 , for example, by reading or sensing the identity of the disc  50 . The disc retention and reading assembly  26  also aligns the disc  50  on the platform  26 .  
         [0026]     Still referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the disc retention and reading assembly  36  will now be described in detail. The disc retention and reading assembly  36  includes a lip  40  located on the exterior perimeter of the outer casing  22 , a plurality of spring-loaded sensing pins  42 , and two rounded ribs  44 . The lip  40  lies atop a wall  41  that surrounds the platform  26  “in front” of the character  32 , i.e., on the opposite side of the casing  22  from the drawer  34 . The lip  40  covers a relatively small arc, in the range of 30° or so, centered on the centerline of the character  32 . The spring-loaded sensing pins  42  lie beneath the lip  40  and are biased in an upward position, but moveable downward by the exertion of longitudinal pressure on the pins  42 . The two rounded ribs  44  extend downwardly from the lip  40 , and extend radially inwardly from the periphery of the base  24  above the platform  26 . The two rounded ribs  44  have rounded lower ends on their inner ends, thereby creating a decreasing distance between the ribs  44  and the platform  26 , with the smallest distance at the exterior perimeter of the ribs, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the two rounded ribs  44  are positioned to guide and secure a disc  50  under the lip  40  when a disc  50  is slipped into place on the platform  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and described below. Located between the two rounded ribs  44  is a tapered alignment tooth  46 . The alignment tooth  46  projects outwardly from the wall  41  that surrounds the platform  26  and lies beneath the lip  40  to maintain an inserted disc  50  in the correct radial position vis-à-vis the platform  26 . The alignment tooth  46  may co-act with a slot (not shown) on the disc  50  to align the disc  50  on the platform  26 .  
         [0027]     A disc  50  is placed on the platform  26  by sliding an edge of the disc  50  underneath the lip  40 , the edge containing a tapered depression that mates with the tapered alignment tooth  46 . As the disc  50  is guided by the rounded ribs  44 , the spring-loaded sensing pins  42  are forced downwardly. As the disk  50  slides beneath the lip  40 , the center hole  52  in the disc  50  becomes aligned with the top of the spin dial  28 . As this occurs, the outer edge of the disc  50 , i.e., the edge remote from the edge lying under the lip  40 , drops downwardly until the disc  50  lies flat on the platform  26 . When lying on the platform  26 , the disc  50  is pressed downwardly by the lip  40  and the two rounded ribs  44  against any upward pressure created by any depressed, spring-loaded sensing pins  42 .  
         [0028]     The disc  50  is removed by lifting the edge of the disc  50  positioned opposite the edge lying under the lip  40 , and sliding the disc  50  out from under the lip  40 , i.e., reversing the insertion procedure.  
         [0029]     The sensing pins  42  can be in either of two positions, depressed or extended. A sensing pin  42  is depressed if a disc  50  does not include a hole that is aligned with the pin when the disc is inserted. A sensing pin  42  is extended if the disc  50  includes a hole that is aligned with the pin when the disc is inserted. The state of each pin is determined by a suitable sensor, such as a micro switch, an eddy current switch, etc. The state of the pins  42  (extension/depression pattern) forms a binary code that identifies the inserted disc  50  as the disc relates to the DVD disc  14  controlling the DVD player  10 . The use of pins should be construed as exemplary, not limiting. The pin sensing mechanism could be replaced with any suitable binary or other coding mechanism, e.g., electro optical, magnetic, etc., which are well known to those familiar with the coding of individual items read by a code reader.  
         [0030]     As noted above, the discs  50  are interchangeable, may be double-sided or single-sided, and can cover a variety of areas of interest to children. If double-sided, each unique side of each disc  50  can be identified by a unique identifier or pin extension/depression pattern that corresponds with related video segments stored on the corresponding DVD  14 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the operation of the DVD controller  20  will now be described. The DVD controller  20  includes embedded software included in a controller  61  ( FIG. 5 ) that determines whether the button  28  (i.e., the depressible spin dial) has been pressed, the nature of the disc  50 , and the pointing direction of the arrow  30  (i.e., the image the arrow is pointing at). The determined information modulates the IR beam  60  transmitted to the DVD player  10  by a transmitter  63  ( FIG. 5 ) in a conventional manner. More specifically, the software is normally in a wait loop, checking to determine if the button  28  has been depressed to select a graphical image, as shown in  FIG. 6  by test block  90 . When the software senses that the button  28  has been depressed, the software reads the nature of the disc  50  by reading the extension/depression pattern of the pins  42 , as shown by block  92 . Then, the direction of the arrow  30  is determined, as shown by block  94 . (The functions of blocks  92  and  94  can be reversed, if desired.) The nature of the disc and the direction of the arrow information are transmitted to the DVD player  10 , as shown by block  96 , i.e., the IR beam  60  is modulated by the nature of the disc  50  and the direction of the arrow information. Thereafter, the software cycles to the wait loop and waits for another button depression.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the operation of the DVD player  10  in response to information transmitted to the DVD player  10  by the DVD controller  20  will now be described. The DVD player  10  includes embedded software that determines whether information has been received from a DVD controller, such as the DVD controller  20 , by detecting an IR beam  60 ; analyzes the received IR beam  60  for information from the DVD controller  20 ; accesses the segment of the DVD  14  corresponding to the selected image on the disc  50 ; and causes the DVD segment to be displayed on the television  12 . More specifically, the software is normally in a wait loop, checking to determine if information has been received from the DVD controller  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7  by test block  100 . When information is received, the software analyzes the information to determine the nature of the disc  50  and the segment pointed to by the arrow, as shown by block  102 . The result of the analysis is used to access the appropriate DVD segment, as shown by block  104 . Then, the accessed segment is displayed as shown by block  106 . Thereafter, the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for more information from the DVD controller  20 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative operation of the DVD player  10  in response to information transmitted to the DVD player  10  by the DVD controller  20 . The alternative operation of the DVD player  10  allows for the selection of a segment from a group of multiple segments stored on the DVD  14  corresponding to the selected image on the disc  50 . The illustrated operation randomly selects a segment for available multiple segments until all segments have been selected. Thus, all segments are selected before segments that have already been played are repeated.  
         [0034]     As with  FIG. 7 , the DVD player  10  includes embedded software that determines whether information has been received from a DVD controller, such as the DVD controller  20 , by detecting an IR beam  60 ; analyzes the received IR beam  60  for information from the DVD controller  20 ; accesses the segment(s) of the DVD  14  ( FIG. 1 ) corresponding to the selected image on the disc  50 ; determines if there is more than one segment of the DVD  14  corresponding to the selected image on the disc  50 ; and, if more than one, randomly selects an image in a manner that results in all images being detected before an image is repeated. More specifically, the software is normally in a wait loop, checking to determine if information has been received from the DVD controller  20 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , by block  108 . When information is received, the software analyzes the information to determine the nature of the disc and the segment pointed to by the arrow, as shown by block  110 . The result of the analysis is used to access the appropriate DVD segment or segments, as shown by block  112 . Then, the DVD player  10  determines if there is more than one segment on the DVD  14  that corresponds to the selected image on the disc  50 , as shown by block  114 .  
         [0035]     If there is only one segment,  FIG. 8  functions like  FIG. 7  in that the embedded software causes the DVD segment to be displayed on the television  12 , as shown by block  116  (similar to block  106 , discussed above). Thereafter, the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for more information from the DVD controller  20 .  
         [0036]     If there is more than one segment related to the direction of the arrow  30  (i.e., the image the arrow is pointing at, such as a cow), the DVD player  10  randomly chooses a segment from a list of available segments, as shown by block  118 ; causes the chosen DVD segment to be displayed on the television  12 , as shown by block  120 ; deletes the segment from the list of available segments, as shown by block  122 ; and determines if all segments have already been displayed, as shown by block  124 . If all segments have not been displayed, the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for more information from the DVD controller  20 . If all segments have been displayed, all segments are made available, as shown by block  126 , and the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for more information from the DVD controller  20 .  
         [0037]     Exemplary methods of randomly selecting a segment from a group of multiple segments stored on the DVD  14  and corresponding to the selected image on the disc  50  are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0026699 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,925, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.  
         [0038]     Rather than the random selection employing software embedded in the DVD player  10 , the random selection can occur in the DVD controller  20 , employing, in essence, the same functionality illustrated in  FIG. 8 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Like  FIG. 6 , the DVD controller  20  includes embedded software that determines whether the button  28  (i.e., the depressible spin dial) has been pressed, the nature of the disc  50 , and the pointing direction of the arrow  30  (i.e., the image the arrow is pointing at). The determined information modulates the IR beam  60  transmitted to the DVD player  10  in a conventional manner. More specifically, the software is normally in a wait loop, checking to determine if the button  28  has been depressed, as shown in  FIG. 9 , by test block  128 . When the software senses that the button  28  has been depressed, the software reads the nature of the disc  50  by reading the extension/depression pattern of the pins  42 , as shown by block  130 . Then, the direction of the arrow  30  is determined, as shown by block  132 . (The functions of blocks  92  and  94  can be reversed, if desired.) Then the DVD player  10  determines if there is more than one segment of the DVD  14  that corresponds to the selected image on the disc  50 , as shown by block  134 .  
         [0039]     If there is only one segment,  FIG. 9  functions like  FIG. 6  in that the embedded software causes the nature of the disc and the direction of the arrow information to be transmitted to the DVD player  10 , as shown by block  136 , i.e., the IR beam  60  is modulated by the nature of the disc and the direction of the arrow information. Thereafter, the software cycles to the wait loop and waits for another button depression.  
         [0040]     If there is more than one segment related to the direction of the arrow  30  (i.e., the image the arrow is pointing at, such as a cow), the DVD controller  20  randomly chooses a segment from a list of available segments, as shown by block  138 ; transmits the nature of the disc and the direction of the arrow information to be transmitted to the DVD player  10 , thereby causing the chosen DVD segment to be displayed on the television  12 , as shown by block  140 ; deletes the segment from the list of available segments, as shown by block  142 ; and determines if all segments have already been displaced, as shown by block  144 . If all segments have not been displayed, the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for another depression of the button of the DVD controller  20 . If all segments have been displayed, all segments are made available, as shown by block  136 , and the software cycles back to the wait loop and waits for another depression of the button of the DVD controller  20 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 10  illustrates a first alternative embodiment of a DVD controller  220  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The first alternative DVD controller  220  illustrated in  FIG. 10  is substantially identical in materials and operation to the DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5  and previously described, with the exception that the first alternative DVD controller  220  includes a side button  238  for image selection, rather than a depressible spin dial. That is, the spin dial  228  of the first alternative DVD controller  220  is not depressible; rather, it is only rotatable to point an arrow  230  toward the segments of an inserted disc  250 . After a disc segment selection is made by rotating the spin dial  228  to the desired position, the side button  238  can be depressed, resulting in the same action that occurred when the depressible spin dial  28  ( FIGS. 2-5 ) was depressed.  
         [0042]     The side button  238  is located along the outer perimeter of the casing  222  of the alternative DVD controller  220 . This embodiment is intended to help improve child-user dexterity in allowing a child to use both left and right hands. For example, a child can spin the dial  228  with his or her right hand and press the button  238  with his or her left hand.  
         [0043]      FIG. 11  illustrates a second alternative embodiment of a DVD controller  320  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The second alternative DVD controller  320  illustrated in  FIG. 11  is also substantially identical in materials and operation to the DVD controller illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5  and previously described, with the exception that the second alternative DVD controller  320  includes a side panel keypad  360  including multiple depressible buttons  362 , for interactive play by the child-user. Although the illustrated embodiment includes six depressible buttons  362  on the keypad  360 , it should be appreciated that other embodiments including more or fewer than six depressible buttons  362  on the keypad  360  are also within the scope of the invention.  
         [0044]     The keypad  360  may be used for simple idea branching, with each printed disc  350  identifying specific answers to questions asked of the child-user during the video segment. For example, an inserted disc  350  may have a series of animals on it, and the spin dial  230  may be pointed at a dog image on the disc  350 . Pressing down on the spin dial  330  while it is pointed at the dog image delivers a dog segment (or one of several dog segments) stored on the associated DVD  14 . The end of the dog segment includes a series of questions regarding the dog and/or the dog segment, e.g., “Do you want to see the dog perform a trick?” Pressing one of the buttons  362  on the keypad  360 , for example, marked “YES,” sends a signal to the DVD player to play a segment like this: “You said yes, so here is the dog performing a trick,” and a dog trick video segment will play. Pressing one of the buttons  362  on the keypad  360 , for example, marked “NO,” returns the game to the start screen. If there is no response from the child-user within a short period of time (e.g., one minute), the game will revert back to a start screen.  
         [0045]     The insertable disc  350  may include an extension that covers the keypad  360 . In this embodiment, the extension of the insertable disc  350  includes holes through which the depressible buttons  362  protrude. Thus, the identifications of the buttons  362  may vary, and can be customized to fit the requirements of individual discs  350 . For example, if an insertable disc  350  involves shapes, each depressible button  362  can be identified with a certain shape (e.g., one button is identified with a triangle, another button is identified with a square, another button is identified with a circle, etc.). When the child-user is prompted to “press the square button” by the video segment, another video segment would respond “That&#39;s right” to a correct response by the user, or “Try again” to an incorrect response by the user.  
         [0046]     All embodiments of the DVD controller work in conjunction with any of the above-mentioned embodiments to control the operation of the DVD player  10  in response to information transmitted to the DVD player  10  by the DVD controller  20 .  
         [0047]     While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, while the disc  50  is illustrated as having a circular configuration, the outer periphery of the disc could have other configurations, such as square or hexagonal, for example, and the platform changed to accommodate such other configuration. Hence, within the scope of the appended claims it is to be understood that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.