Patent ID: 7912723

Claim:
A combination of a book and a voice phonation apparatus comprising: a book having a plurality of pages, at least one of which is carrying a plurality of printed words and a plurality of codes associated with said words, said printed words being divided into a plurality of segments; and a voice phonation apparatus forming an integral part of said book and comprising (i) a housing with a plurality of switches and a plurality of keys, (ii) a voice output unit, and (iii) a control unit having a memory for storing data representing spoken words and connected to said switches, said keys, and said voice output unit, wherein said control unit is capable of assuming a plurality of operational modes and carrying out at least the following steps: (i) receiving said codes inputted via said keys into said control unit; (ii) causing the control unit to extract said data representing spoken word(s) associated with said codes from said memory; and (iii) causing the voice output unit to audibly reproduce said spoken word(s); said operational modes comprise one or more of standby mode, setting mode, and segment operation mode; said segment operation mode further comprises one or more of single read mode, repeat mode, continuous read mode, and semi-reset mode; said standby mode is assumed when said POWER ON/RESET switch is pressed; said REPEAT switch, said CONTINUOUS READ switch, and said PAUSE switch are disabled in said standby mode; said setting mode allows for selecting a language in which said spoken words are read by pressing said LANGUAGE SELECTOR switch; pressing said VOLUME SETTING switch or a combination of said keys allows for an increase or a decrease of the volume of spoken words or key tones audibly reproduced by said voice output unit; optionally, pressing of any of said switches or keys causes the voice output unit to audibly display a key tone after said KEYPAD TONE SETTING switch or a combination of said keys is pressed; said standby mode is assumed automatically after said setting mode is completed; said code is selected from a segment code and a word code each having one or two numeric digits; said segment code is inputted first followed by said word code; said segment operation mode is assumed when said segment code is inputted as a two digit number, said segment code is inputted as a one digit number and no other keys are pressed for a predetermined amount of setting time, 0 is inputted, or an invalid word code is inputted; said word code can only be inputted in said segment operation mode; said REPEAT switch, said CONTINUOUS READ switch, and said PAUSE switch are disabled during said predetermined amount of setting time; and said standby mode is assumed when 0 or an invalid segment code is inputted, or said POWER ON/RESET switch is pressed.