Electronic educational video system apparatus

Claim 2

An electronic educational video system apparatus [20] for connection to a standard television receiver [30] for teaching basic skills to a child through the use of graphic displays which serve to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing digital data corresponding to a plurality of pictorial representations, digital data corresponding to requests associated with said pictorial representation directing said child to provide a proposed correct response and digital data corresponding to the correct response to said requests associated with said pictorial prepresentations; - display generation means [52] [59] electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said plurality of pictorial representations; - interface means [61] electrically connected to said display generation means for providing a video signal to said television receiver towards displaying said pictorial representations and said associated requests thereon; - processor means [50] electrically connected to said memory means and said display generation means; - said processor means for selecting one of said pictorial representations stored in said memory means [51] and causing said selected pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver [33] and for causing said associated request to be presented to said child; -plurality of interchangeable input means [32] [200] [300] for permitting said child to provide a proposed correct response to said request; -means [50], [51], [53], [58] for comparing said child's proposed correct response with said correct response stored in said memory means; and - means for providing said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed correct response.

Claim 3

The invention characterized in Claim 1 in which said memory means [300] is further characterized as read-­only-memory integrated circuit devices.

Claim 4

The invention characterized in Claim 1 in which said input means [32] is further characterized as an alpha-­numeric keyboard.

Claim 5

The invention characterized in Claim 1 in which said input means [300] is further characterized as a touch-­sensitive input pad.

Claim 6

The invention characterized in Claim 1 in which said input means [200] is further characterized as a mouse cursor control device.

Claim 7

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] characterized in Claim 1 in which said memory means [51], said display generation means [52], [59], said interface means [61], said proces means [50], means for comparing and means for indicating the correctness of said proposed correct response are contained within a first housing means [23] and wherein said input means [32],[300], [200] is contained within a second housing means [22], [201], [301].

Claim 8

The invention characterized in Claim 6 in which said second housing means [22] is telescopically and removably received by said first housing means [23] for permitting storage of said second housing means.

Claim 9

The invention characterized in Claim 1 in which said input means [32], [300], [200] communicates with said processor means [50] by infra-red light wave signals [37] thereby permitting said input means to be operated by said child remote from said processor [50] means and said television receiver [33] thereby obviating the need for hardwire connection therebetween.

Claim 10

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] of Claim 1 further characterized by read-only-memory cartridges [31] electrically and removably connected to said processor means [50] enabling said apparatus [20] to display additional pictorial representations having correct responses associated therewith.

Claim 11

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] of Claim 1 further characterized by sound generation means [54] electrically connected to said processor means [50] and said interface means [61] for providing audio output signals to said child as an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed response.

Claim 12

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] of Claim 1 further characterized by voice synthesis means [56] operably and electrically connected to said processor means [50] and said interface means [61] for providing said requests for proposed correct responses associated with said pictorial representations to said child in synthesized human speech and for providing said indication of the correctness of said child's proposed correct response in synthesized human speech.

Claim 13

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] of Claim 1 further characterized by means for presenting to said child clues to aid the child in determining the correct response to said presented request.

Claim 14

The electronic educational video system apparatus [20] of Claim 1 further characterizec by means [50], [51], [52] for animating said displayed pictorial representation associated with said request for proposed correct responses presented to said child to further provide said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed correct response.

Claim 15

An electronic educational video system apparatus [20] for connection to a standard television receiver [33] for teaching basic skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serve to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing data corresponding to a plurality of pictorial representations, digital data corresponding to requests associated with said pictorial representation directing said child to provide a proposed correct response and digital data corresponding to the correct response to said associated requests; - display generation means [52], [59] operably and electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said plurality of pictorial representations; - interface means [61] operably and electrically connected to said display generation means [52, [59] for providing a video signal to said television receiver towards displaying said pictorial representations and said associated requests thereon; - processor means [50] operably and electrically connected to said memory means [51] and said display generation means; - said processor means [50] for selecting one of said pictorial representations stored in said memory means and causing said selected pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver and for causing said associated request for proposed correct responses to be presented to said child; - plurality of interchangeable input means [32] [200] [300] for permitting said child to provide a proposed correct response to said request; - means [50], [51], [53], [58] for comparing said child's proposed correct response with said proper response stored in said memory means; - means [50], [51], [52] for animating said displayed pictorial representation so as to provide said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed correct response.

Claim 16

An electronic educational video system apparatus [20] for connection to a standard television receiver [33] for teaching basic skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serve to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing data corresponding to a plurality of pictorial representations, digital data corresponding to requests associated with said pictorial representation directing said child to provide a proposed correct response and digital data corresponding to the correct response to said associated requests; - display generation means [52], [59] operably and electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said plurality of pictorial representations; - interface means [61] operably and electrically connected to said display generation means [52, [59] for providing a video signal to said television receiver towards displaying said pictorial representations and said associated requests thereon; - processor means [50] operably and electrically connected to said memory means [51] and said display generation means; - said processor means [50] for selecting one of said pictorial representations stored in said memory means and causing said selected pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver and for causing said associated request for proposed correct responses to be presented to said child; - plurality of interchangeable input means [32] [200] [300] for permitting said child to provide a proposed correct response to said request; - means [50], [51], [53], [58] for comparing said child's proposed correct response with said proper response stored in said memory means; - means [50], [51], [52] for animating said displayed pictorial representation so as to provide said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed correct response.

Claim 17

An electronic educational video system apparatus for connection to a standard television receiver for teaching spelling skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serves to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing digital data corresponding to a plurality of unique pictorial representations of common objects, digital data corresponding to requests associated with each one of said unique pictorial representations directing said child to provide the correct spelling of said unique pictorial representations and digital data corresponding to the correct spelling of each of said unique pictorial representations; - display generation means [52], [59] operably and electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said plurality of unique pictorial representations; - interface means [61] operably and electrically connected to said display generation means for providing a video signal to said television receiver towards the display of said pictorial representations and said associated requests thereon; - processor means [50] operably and electrically connected to said memory means [51[ and said display generation means [52] [59]; - said processor means [50] for selecting one of said unique pictorial representations stored in said memory means and causing said selected pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver [33] and for causing said associated request to be presented to said child; - plurality of interchangeable input means [32] [200] [300] for permitting said child to provide a proposed correct spelling corresponding to said displayed pictorial representation; - means [50], [51], [53], [58] for comparing said child's proposed correct spelling with said correct spelling of said displayed pictorial representation stored in said memory means; - means [50], [51], [52] for animating said displayed pictorial representation so as to provide said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed 45 correct spelling.

Claim 18

An electronic educational video system apparatus for connection to a standard television receiver for teaching spelling skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serves to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing digital data corresponding to a plurality of unique pictorial representations of common objects, digital data corresponding to requests associated with each one of said unique pictorial representations directing said child to provide the correct spelling of said unique pictorial representations and digital data corresponding to the correct spelling of each of said unique pictorial representations; - display generation means [52], [59] operably and electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said plurality of unique pictorial representations; - interface means [61] operably and electrically connected to said display generation means for providing a video signal to said television receiver towards the display of said pictorial representations and said associated requests thereon; - processor means [50] operably and electrically connected to said memory means [51[ and said display generation means [52] [59]; - said processor means [50] for selecting one of said unique pictorial representations stored in said memory means and causing said selected pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver [33] and for causing said associated request to be presented to said child; - plurality of interchangeable input means [32] [200] [300] for permitting said child to provide a proposed correct spelling corresponding to said displayed pictorial representation; - means [50], [51], [53], [58] for comparing said child's proposed correct spelling with said correct spelling of said displayed pictorial representation stored in said memory means; - means [50], [51], [52] for animating said displayed pictorial representation so as to provide said child with an indication of the correctness of said child's proposed 45 correct spelling.

Claim 19

An electronic educational video system apparatus for connection to a standard television receiver for teaching music skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serve to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing digital data corresponding to a pictorial representation of a musical keyboard and digital data corresponding to a plurality of musical notes; - display generation means [52], [59] electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said pictorial representation; - sound generation means [54] electrically connected to said memory means [51] for generating digital audio signals representative of said plurality of musical notes; - interface means [61] electrically connected to said display generation means and said sound generation means [54] for providing a combined video and audio signal to said television receiver [33] toward the display of said pictorial representation and the playing of said musical notes; - input means [32] for permitting said child to designate a plurality of musical notes which are desired to be heard; - processor means [50] electrically connected to said memory means [51], said display generation means [52], [59] and said sound generation means [54]; - said processor means [50] for causing said pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver [33] and for animating said displayed keyboard so as to simulate the movement of keys thereon in relation to the musical notes designated by said child and for causing said sound generation means [54] to generate digital audio signals representative of said musical notes designated by said child whereby said child is taught to associate specific musical notes with their respective position upon said keyboard.

Claim 20

An electronic educational video system apparatus for connection to a standard television receiver for teaching music skills to a child through the use of animated graphic displays which serve to motivate said child to utilize said apparatus and enhance said child's learning, said electronic educational video system apparatus characterized by: - memory means [51] for storing digital data corresponding to a pictorial representation of a musical keyboard and digital data corresponding to a plurality of musical notes; - display generation means [52], [59] electrically connected to said memory means for generating digital video signals representative of said pictorial representation; - sound generation means [54] electrically connected to said memory means [51] for generating digital audio signals representative of said plurality of musical notes; - interface means [61] electrically connected to said display generation means and said sound generation means [54] for providing a combined video and audio signal to said television receiver [33] toward the display of said pictorial representation and the playing of said musical notes; - input means [32] for permitting said child to designate a plurality of musical notes which are desired to be heard; - processor means [50] electrically connected to said memory means [51], said display generation means [52], [59] and said sound generation means [54]; - said processor means [50] for causing said pictorial representation to be displayed upon said television receiver [33] and for animating said displayed keyboard so as to simulate the movement of keys thereon in relation to the musical notes designated by said child and for causing said sound generation means [54] to generate digital audio signals representative of said musical notes designated by said child whereby said child is taught to associate specific musical notes with their respective position upon said keyboard.