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  Book spread identification arrangement for a board bookUSPTO Application #: 20070046483Title: Book spread identification arrangement for a board book Abstract: A book spread identification arrangement for a board book is provided, the arrangement comprising a plurality of conductive paths, a contact apparatus disposed adjacent to at least part of at least one of the conductive paths and processing apparatus connected to the conductive paths and configured for processing signals associated with the conductive paths. One selection end of each path is disposed adjacent the spine surface of the book. The contact apparatus comprises one or more conductive surfaces and is arranged, upon opening of the book to a spread, to contact one of a plurality of combinations of one or more of the conductive paths. Each of the plurality of combinations is in a predetermined unique association with a respective single spread of the book. From the processed signals, the processing apparatus is able to determine the particular combination of conductive paths contacted by the contact apparatus and identify to which spread the book is open. (end of abstract) Agent: D. Peter Hochberg Co. L.p.a. - Cleveland, OH, US Inventors: Craig Allen White, Satyajit Deb, Tao Xu, Zhang Xiaojun, Zhang Rong USPTO Applicaton #: 20070046483 - Class: 340686100 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070046483. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/710,776, filed on Aug. 24, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a page/spread identification arrangement for books, and in particular to such an arrangement for board books. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Identifying to which page/spread a book has been open is very useful since it allows selective interaction with the user of the book depending on the content of the particular page/spread. One application that is particularly popular with board books for children involves an audio/visual presentation to the user of the book. In this case, the opening of the book to a particular spread can trigger recorded pronunciation of the name of a displayed object, recorded reading of a text displayed on the page, recorded song or other audio/visual effects associated with the content of the pages of the spread. [0006] Various systems for page/spread identification have been developed. One system (U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,995 to Song) includes magnetic signature sensors configured to detect the magnetic signature of the pages as they are turned. Thee system is bulky and involves magnets inserted in pages, which is a safety hazard with small children. Another system (U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,748 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,215 to Maddrell et al.) relies on user applying a pressure on pressure sensitive switches inserted in passageways within the leaves of the book. Further system (U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,220 to May) employs flexible sensors affixed to each sheet to identify interaction of the user with the sheet. Another system, suggested by Li in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,883, includes identification labels attached to the edge of the pages. A contact plate is depressed to contact an identification label and trigger identification of the corresponding page. Systems, using external optical devices to read identification codes printed on each page have also been suggested (U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,543 to Arons et al.) [0007] The arrangements in the above systems are either somewhat complex ((U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,995; U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,220 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,543) or require user's participation in identifying the pages (U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,748, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,215 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,883). [0008] Accordingly, it would be preferable if a simple and reliable system for spread identification is designed that is triggered automatically upon opening of the book to a particular spread. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] According to the invention, there is provided a book spread identification arrangement for a board book having a spine, the arrangement comprising: [0010] a plurality of conductive paths, one selection end of each path being disposed adjacent the spine surface of the book; [0011] a contact apparatus, comprising one or more conductive surfaces, the contact apparatus being disposed adjacent at least a part of at least one of the conductive paths and arranged, upon opening of the book to a spread, to contact one of a plurality of combinations of one or more of the conductive paths, each of the plurality of combinations being in a predetermined unique association with a respective spread of the book; and [0012] a processing apparatus connected to the conductive paths and configured for processing signals associated with the conductive paths so as to determine the combination of conductive paths contacted by the contact apparatus and identify the spread the book is open to. [0013] Preferably, upon identification of the spread, the processing apparatus triggers at least one of audio, visual or audio/visual presentation associated with the spread, the presentation including at least on of the following; reading of a text, singing a song, playing music, presenting images on a screen associated with the book and actuating mechanical movements of parts within a mechanical structure associated with the book. [0014] Further according to the invention, the contact apparatus is arranged to contact the paths adjacent their selection ends, the other processing end of each path being connected to the processing apparatus, the arrangement being such that contact between at least one of the conductive surfaces of the contact apparatus and each of the plurality of combinations of one or more conductive paths closes a predetermined unique combination of one or more circuits associated with the processing apparatus, the processing apparatus being arranged to determine the combination of closed circuits and identify the corresponding spread. [0015] Preferably, if the book comprises an odd number of spreads, a spacer is inserted in the book so as to introduce an offset and allow the contact apparatus to contact at least one conductive path when the book is open at the central spread. [0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact apparatus is maintained at a predetermined common potential such that contact with the contact apparatus brings the particular combination of contacted paths under the common potential. [0017] Preferably, at least one of the plurality of conductive paths is of unique length and is, at least partially, disposed in or parallel to the spine surface of the book. [0018] Preferably, the contact apparatus comprises at least a first conductive strip arranged to protrude beyond the spinal surface of the book so as, upon opening of the book to at least some of the spreads, to effect the contact with the corresponding unique combinations of conductive paths. [0019] More preferably, the contact apparatus further comprises a second conductive strip, electrically connected to the first conductive strip, the second strip being arranged on the side of the book, opposite to the side having the first contacting strip, such that to protrude beyond the spine surface of the book so as, upon opening of the book to at least some of the spreads, to effect the contact with the corresponding unique combinations of conductive paths. [0020] Further preferably, the conductive paths are divided into two sets, each conductive strip being arranged for contacting only paths of a single set. [0021] Further preferably, the conductive strip located at a front page of the book is arranged, upon opening to book to a spread in the first half of the book, to contact paths disposed on the rear edge of the front page of a respective spread, while the conductive strip located at a back page of the book is arranged, upon opening the book to spreads in the second half of the book, to contact paths on the rear edge of the back page of a respective spread. Continue reading... Full patent description for Book spread identification arrangement for a board book Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Book spread identification arrangement for a board book patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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