DE29617096U1 - Electronic module for the acoustic addition of books - Google Patents

Description

Carl-Heinz Jagenberg P11/96

70794 Filderstadt

Electronic module for acoustic supplementation of books

The invention relates to an electronic module for acoustically supplementing books, which enriches book texts, notes and/or images, drawings or graphic representations with acoustic additions in the form of noises, sounds, melodies and/or verbal explanations. The electronic module is primarily applicable for children's books but also for small encyclopedias, technical or artistic reference works, etc. The book reader and/or viewer has the option of triggering a corresponding tone, noise, etc. by lightly pressing on a certain symbol. A possibility which, as corresponding studies show, has been proven to generate greater interest in books and a greater educational effect, especially among children.

The use of electronic modules of this type is well known in children's books. However, these electronic modules only have mono playback of individual sounds in a short time range of approx. 1 second. The sound effects produced often do not match their natural sound, so that the additional learning effect for children that is intended with the acoustic addition to the books is only minimal. In addition, sound effects such as a telephone ring, the hum of a bar or the squeak of a mouse are only of interest to very young children up to one year old. Children in the age group from 1.5 to 8 years are not encouraged by these sound effects to memorize book content, the voices of forest animals or songs. Last but not least, the monotonous acoustic effects in mono playback can sometimes become uninteresting or even annoying in the long run. The well-known modules are not well suited for small encyclopedias or songbooks.

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From these circumstances, the object of the invention is to create an electronic module for the acoustic supplementation of books, which can reproduce entire melodies, polyphonically with several instruments, texts or other technical background noises in stereo, whereby the playback times should be at least 15 to 60 seconds and the possibility of interrupting the sound reproduction should be given and in which the structural design is simpler, more cost-effective and less susceptible to interference than in the known modules of this type.

This object is achieved by an electronic module for the acoustic supplementation of books with the characterizing features of claim 1.

The structural design of the electronic module according to claims 1 and 2 ensures simplified assembly of the module and significantly shortens assembly times through the arrangement of two loudspeakers in conjunction with a modified wireless electrical connection between the contacts of the circuit board and the sensors on the sensor strip in the form of vapor-deposited electrical conductors on a plastic film. The wireless electrical connection also reduces the susceptibility of the electronic module to interference, which is significantly supported by the precise clamp connection according to claim 3.

The electronic equipment of the circuit board according to claims 4 and 5, which in conjunction with the two loudspeakers serve to reproduce entire melodies as a supplement to notes, especially for children's songs and the corresponding lyrics in the book, can be reproduced in stereo in a much better quality. In addition, this electronic equipment made it possible to extend the playback time from approx. 1 second to 15 to 30 seconds.

A particular advantage is the extension of the sensor bar by a sensor to interrupt each individual

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triggered sound effect, according to claim 6, whereby a short-term correction or the immediate interruption of a text or a melody is provided.

What is also particularly noteworthy is the variety of ways in which the electronic module can be arranged, in particular its visible or invisible sensors, on books of different types and at different places in the book, according to claim 7. The sensors can also be arranged in the book cover, in particular thanks to the wireless electrical connection to the circuit board, and when turning a page of a children's book, a child can trigger the sensor arranged invisibly underneath by pointing to a bird and hear the bird's voice. Or the child points to Little Red Riding Hood in the fairy tale of the same name, and the sensor for Little Red Riding Hood's voice is triggered.

But even in small encyclopedias for students over the age of 6, working noises from machines, motors, or other technical devices can be triggered in addition to the text or images in the book.

The wireless connection between the sensors and the circuit board significantly expands the application area of the electronic module according to the invention for the acoustic supplement of children's books to include small encyclopedias, songbooks, art or tourist guides, etc.

The following embodiments show the advantageous features and special features of the invention, which are described in more detail with reference to the illustration in the drawings. Identical parts are designated by the same numbers.

Show it:

Fig. 1 the perspective top view of the electronic module with toolbar,

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Fig. 2 the top view of the inside of the housing cover with battery compartment,
Windows and openings,

Fig. 3 the top view of the inside of the housing base with exemplary
indicated support, plug and screw guide elements as well as
Speaker recordings,

Fig. 4 a top view of the inside of the sensor strip with two sensors shown as examples and the plastic film with connection part and vapor-deposited conductor tracks,

Fig. 5 the top view of the circuit board with contact strip and exemplary contacts, discrete electronic components and an integrated circuit,

Fig. 6 the top view of the support surface on the inside of the housing base with locked connection part and vapor-deposited conductor tracks,

Fig. 7 a variant arrangement of the electronic module on a book,

Fig. 8 a second arrangement variant of the electronic module on a book,

Fig. 9 a third arrangement variant of the electronic module on a book,

Fig. 10 a fourth arrangement variant of the electronic module on a book,

Fig. 11 a fifth arrangement variant of the electronic module on a book,

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A preferred embodiment of the electronic module 1 according to the invention is shown in completed form in Fig. 1 as a perspective top view. In particular, the upper part of the housing with window 2', in which the toolbar 9 with several symbols 9' and a symbol 9" as well as two openings 2"" for the sound passage of the preferably 2 loudspeakers 3 arranged underneath in stereo playback can be seen.

In this completed form, the electronic module can be attached to any book at various points using conventional adhesive or screw connections.

Figures 2 to 4 show the interior view of the parts of the housing 2, which are preferably made of injection-molded plastic, since they are lightweight, easy to maintain, not electrically conductive and therefore harmless and harmless to the health of the user.

In Figure 2, the inserted battery compartment 2' is equipped with preferably three mono cells, which serve as a power source, which can be inserted or pulled out from the outside when the housing 2 is closed and can be attached to the housing 2 by conventional fastening means such as screws or a clamping device.

Fig. 3 shows the inside of the lower part of the housing 2, from which the two loudspeaker mounts 2'" each for accommodating a loudspeaker 3 (not shown in detail) as well as some screw guide and plug elements 2'"" shown as examples can be seen. The plug elements 2'"" shown serve to accommodate and hold the only wires for the electrical connection of the two loudspeakers 3 with the symbolically indicated and force-fitted circuit board 4, under which the connection part 11' of the plastic film 11, provided with vapor-deposited electrical conductors 10, is locked in contact symmetrically and securely clamped.

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Continuing the illustration of the wireless electrical connection of the circuit board 4 with the sensors 8, Fig. 4 shows the sensor strip 7, which has a flat surface facing the inside of the housing, which ensures that it rests on the support elements 2'"" inside the lower part of the housing 2 without tipping over. The underside of the sensor strip 7 preferably has eleven recesses in which metal plates serving as switches are inserted, which form a plane with the underside of the sensor strip 7. The one-piece plastic film 11 equipped with the connection part 11' is attached to this plane in such a way that the conductor tracks 10 of the sensors 8 vapor-deposited on the film, two of which are shown in more detail symbolically in Fig. 4, are arranged above the metal plates. The symbol strip 9 is arranged on the plastic film 11 in such a way that the symbols 9' and 9" are each located above a sensor 8.

The connection part 11' of the one-piece plastic film 11 with its vapor-deposited conductor tracks 10 protrudes between the sensor strip 7 and the symbol strip 9 and can be locked with the aid of preferably two locking holes provided in the connection part 11' on the support surface 12, which is preferably non-conductive due to a rubber strip, in the lower part of the housing 2 by two molded-on plug elements 2"'", which is shown in more detail in Fig. 6.

In connection with Fig. 5 it can be seen that the circuit board 4 equipped with discrete components 4 ¹ and an integrated circuit 4" as well as with the attached wires of the loudspeakers 3 (not shown in detail) can be placed on the locked connection part 1 Γ in such a way that the contacts 5' of the contact strip 5 of the circuit board 4 rest on the conductor tracks 10 of the connection part 11" and the circuit board 4 on the support surface 12 is connected in a force-fitting manner, for example by a conventional screw connection, contact-symmetrically via the connection part 11' wirelessly to the sensor strip 7 by a clamp connection.

After mounting the circuit board 4, the position indicated in Fig. 6

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Sensor strip 7 with its smooth surface can be placed on the support surfaces 2""' (not shown in detail), which is easily possible due to the flexibility of the connection part 11'.

The electronic module 1 can be closed with the upper part of the housing 2, whereby the toolbar 9 with the symbols 9' and 9" in the window 2" is visible and usable by the user.

Figures 7 to 11 show different arrangement options for the electronic module 1 on different books.

A preferred embodiment of the arrangement of the electronic module 1 is shown in more detail in Fig. 7. Here, the lower book cover is made wider by the width of the module 1, so that the module 1 is arranged to the right of the book. The book is opened to the left and a symbol 9' visible on the symbol bar 9 through the window 2" of the housing 2 can be activated for the corresponding text. By lightly pressing the symbol 9 ¹ , the contact of the sensor 8 is closed wirelessly via the switch elements arranged below in the sensor bar 7 and the associated conductor track 10 on the connection part 11" of the plastic film 10 through the exact clamp connection to the contacts 5' of the contact bar 5 on the circuit board 4 and the electronic discrete components 4' and the integrated electronic circuit 4" trigger the melody or text assigned to the activated sensor 8, which is reproduced in stereo via the two loudspeakers 3.

If an incorrect symbol 9' was printed and you do not want to hear the unwanted sound effect, you can stop or cancel it by pressing the symbol 9".

Another possible arrangement is shown symbolically in Fig. 11. Here
the plastic film 11 with the sensors in

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the book covers are housed invisibly in such a way that a light pressure on, for example, the wolf's head triggers the sensor 8 located invisibly underneath and the wolf's voice can be heard in the loudspeaker 3 located to the left of the book edge. If the child presses on the head of Little Red Riding Hood shown on the opposite page of the book, the sensor 8 located invisibly underneath is triggered and the voice of Little Red Riding Hood can be heard in the loudspeaker located to the right of the book.

This technical embodiment can be used for any book content.

List of reference symbols used

1 electronic module, 2 multi-part plastic injection-molded housing, 2 ¹ Battery compartment, 2" Window, 2" ¹ Speaker recordings, so breakthroughs, Support, plug-in and screw guide elements 3 Speaker, 4 circuit board, 4' discrete electronic components, 4' integrated electronic circuit, 5 contact strip, 5 ¹ Contacts, 6 7 Sensor bar, 8th Sensors, 9 toolbar, 9 ¹ symbols, 9" interrupt symbol, 10 Ladder tracks, 11 plastic film, ir connecting part, 12 support surface, 13 Book

Claims (7)

Carl-Heinz Jagenberg P11/96 70794 Filderstadt Protection claims 1. Electronic module (1), consisting of a multi-part plastic injection molded housing (2) with battery compartment (2 ¹ ), a window (2"), a loudspeaker holder (2"') with openings (2"") as well as support, plug and screw guide elements {2'""), a loudspeaker (3), a circuit board (4) equipped with discrete electronic components (4 ¹ ) and provided with an integrated electronic circuit {4") and a contact strip (5), the contacts (5') of which are electrically connected by means of individual wires to several sensors (8) arranged on an external sensor strip (7) and covered by a symbol strip (9), the sensor strip (7) being inserted into the window (2") of the plastic injection molded housing (2) in such a way that the sensors (8) respond by lightly pressing on the symbols (9 ¹ ) and a respective associated sound effect sounds for approx. 1 second from the loudspeaker (3), characterized in that in the multi-part At least two loudspeaker receptacles (2'") with openings (2"") and at least two loudspeakers (3) are arranged in the plastic injection-molded housing (2) of the electronic module (1), and the electrical connections between the contacts (5 ¹ ) of the contact strip (5) of the circuit board (4) and the contacts of the sensors (8) arranged on the sensor strip {7) are made wirelessly via a connection part (11') of a plastic film (11) equipped with vapor-deposited electrical conductor tracks {10). 2. Electronic module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection part (11') and the plastic film (11) are made in one piece and the circuit is formed on the one hand by a continuous connection of the vapor-deposited conductor tracks (10) to the contacts of the sensors (8) on the sensor strip (7) and on the other hand by an exact clamp connection of the vapor-deposited conductor tracks (10) to the contacts (5') of the Contact strip (5) of the circuit board (4) and a light pressure on the respective symbol (9 ¹ ). 3. Electronic module (1) according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the exact clamping connection is carried out by a locked support of the connecting part (11') of the plastic film (11) on a non-conductive support surface (12) arranged in the plastic injection-molded housing (2) and a contact-symmetrical support of the contacts (5 ¹ ) of the contact strip (5) of the circuit board (4) on the vapor-deposited conductor tracks (10) of the connecting part (11'), wherein the contacts (5 ¹ ) arranged one above the other and the vapor-deposited conductor tracks (10) are clamped together by a force-fitting connection of the circuit board (4) to the support surface (12). 4. Electronic module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the circuit board (4) is equipped with such discrete electronic components (4') and an integrated electronic circuit (4") and is electrically connected to the two loudspeakers (3) and the sensors (8) that the sound effects associated with the respective symbols (9 ¹ ) can be reproduced in stereo via the two loudspeakers (3). 5. Electronic module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the integrated electronic circuit (4") and the discrete electronic components (4 ¹ ) are defined such that melodies can be played with at least three instruments and speech over a period of at least 15 to 60 seconds. 6. Electronic module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the integrated electronic circuit (4"), the discrete electronic components (4') and the sensors (8) on the sensor bar (7) are defined in such a way that the symbols (9 ¹ ) arranged on the symbol bar (9) are extended by a stop symbol (9"), with which any sound effect assigned to any symbol {9 ¹ } and triggered can be interrupted prematurely. 7. Electronic module (1), characterized in that the electronic module (1) can be arranged in a force-fitting manner on a book (13) in such a way that when the book (13) is opened or the pages of the book are turned, sensors (8) are arranged visibly or invisibly and can be activated as desired by symbols (9', 9") integrated in the text, notes or images and the sound effects assigned to the symbols can be triggered or interrupted.