US5823782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character recognition educational system
Assignee: Tinkers and Chance
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Filing: 1997-07-09
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Granted: 1998-10-20
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Expires: 2017-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A system where a child or other individual arranges one or more computer-recognizable characters on a working platform to spell words or provide a mathematical result in response to computer generated questions or prompts, the system then indicating whether the words or mathematical result is correct.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian I. Marcus
- 👤 Warren S. Heit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:16
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B3/00; G09B3/02; G09B1/00; G09B1/02; G09B1/04; G09B1/06; G09B1/16; G09B1/32; G09B1/36; G09B11/00; G09B17/00; G09B17/003; G09B19/00; G09B19/02; G09B19/025; G09B19/04; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/065; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A system, comprising: an object having at least one visually recognizable symbol thereon; an emitter within said object for actively emitting a signal including encoded information uniquely representative of said at least one visually recognizable symbol; and an enclosure, including: a surface for supporting said object, and a processor, including means for receiving said signal from said emitter, said processor capable of identifying said symbol from said signal, and capable of identifying a position of said object on said surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A system, comprising: an object having at least one visually recognizable symbol thereon; an emitter within said object for actively emitting a signal including encoded information uniquely representative of said at least one visually recognizable symbol; and an enclosure, including: a surface for supporting said object, and a processor, including means for receiving said signal from said emitter, said processor capable of identifying said symbol from said signal, and capable of identifying a position of said object on said surface.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for entering data into a computer, the data being entered via the placement of a plurality of objects on the apparatus, each object having at least one unique item of data associated therewith, comprising: a substantially flat, planar surface for receiving the placement of the plurality of objects; one or more detectors capable of detecting the at least one unique item of data associated with the objects placed on the surface; a communication link capable of communicating the detected data from the apparatus to the computer, the computer capable of providing visual feedback of the data detected from the objects placed on the surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for entering data into a computer, the data being entered via the placement of a plurality of objects on the apparatus, each object having at least one unique item of data associated therewith, comprising: a substantially flat, planar surface for receiving the placement of the plurality of objects; one or more detectors capable of detecting the at least one unique item of data associated with the objects placed on the surface; a communication link capable of communicating the detected data from the apparatus to the computer, the computer capable of providing visual feedback of the data detected from the objects placed on the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, whereby the detectors are capable of detecting the location of an object on the surface.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for receiving data from a data emission means within an object, and relaying the data to a computer, the data uniquely representative of indicia associated with the object, comprising: a surface for supporting the object at a user-defined location on said surface; sensors provided adjacent said surface for sensing the indicia-representative data from the data emission means, and for sensing said user-defined location for the object on the surface; and means for communicating the indicia-representative data and said user-defined location to the computer, the computer capable of providing visual feedback of the data detected from the objects placed on the surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for receiving data from a data emission means within an object, and relaying the data to a computer, the data uniquely representative of indicia associated with the object, comprising: a surface for supporting the object at a user-defined location on said surface; sensors provided adjacent said surface for sensing the indicia-representative data from the data emission means, and for sensing said user-defined location for the object on the surface; and means for communicating the indicia-representative data and said user-defined location to the computer, the computer capable of providing visual feedback of the data detected from the objects placed on the surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for giving off a signal capable of being received by the data emission means, said signal capable of empowering said data emission means to emit the indicia-representative data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for transferring data to a computer, the computer including a surface and means associated with said surface for receiving and forwarding data to the computer, comprising: an object capable of being supported on the surface at a user-defined location on the surface, said object including a character on a face of said object; and an emitter within said object for actively emitting data including encoded information indicative of said character and said user-defined location, said data capable of being transferred to the computer by the data receiving and forwarding means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for transferring data to a computer, the computer including a surface and means associated with said surface for receiving and forwarding data to the computer, comprising: an object capable of being supported on the surface at a user-defined location on the surface, said object including a character on a face of said object; and an emitter within said object for actively emitting data including encoded information indicative of said character and said user-defined location, said data capable of being transferred to the computer by the data receiving and forwarding means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said object comprises a block and said visually recognizable symbol comprises an alphanumeric character on said block.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said visually recognizable symbol comprises a braille character.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for transferring data to a computer, comprising: a block having a character on a surface of said block; a surface for supporting said block at a user defined location on said surface; an emitter provided within said block, said emitter capable of actively emitting a signal including encoded information representative of said character; and a reader in communication with the computer for receiving said signal and for receiving information indicative of said user-defined location of said block on said surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for transferring data to a computer, comprising: a block having a character on a surface of said block; a surface for supporting said block at a user defined location on said surface; an emitter provided within said block, said emitter capable of actively emitting a signal including encoded information representative of said character; and a reader in communication with the computer for receiving said signal and for receiving information indicative of said user-defined location of said block on said surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 9, wherein said character is an alphanumeric character.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 9, wherein said character is a braille character.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for sending a power signal to said emitter, said power signal capable of energizing said emitter to enable said emitter to emit said signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 9, the computer comprising a video screen for prompting the user to select the block and locate the block at the user-defined location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 9, the computer comprising an audio system for prompting the user to select the block and locate the block at the user-defined location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system for transferring data to a computer as recited in claim 13, the computer further comprising an audio system for prompting the user to select the block and locate the block at the user-defined location.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for entering data into a computer, the data being entered via the placement of a plurality of objects on the apparatus, each object having at least one unique item of data associated therewith, comprising: a surface for receiving the object; one or more detectors capable of detecting the at least one unique item of data associated with the object regardless of where the object is placed on the surface; a communication link capable of communicating the detected data from the apparatus to the computer.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for entering data into a computer, the data being entered via the placement of a plurality of objects on the apparatus, each object having at least one unique item of data associated therewith, comprising: a surface for receiving the object; one or more detectors capable of detecting the at least one unique item of data associated with the object regardless of where the object is placed on the surface; a communication link capable of communicating the detected data from the apparatus to the computer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |