Panels with animation and sound

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to entertainment or educational pages or panels having animation and stored sound recordings operated by a user.

BACKGROUND ART

Electroluminescent (EL) devices, used in pages, panels, displays and board games, generally comprise a layer of phosphor disposed between two electrodes, at least one of which is light-transmissive. A dielectric is also disposed between the electrodes, so the EL device functions essentially as a capacitor. When a voltage of alternating current is applied across the electrodes, the phosphor material is activated and emits light.

EL devices may be manufactured as discrete cells or as large panels or rolls and either on rigid or flexible substrates. In addition, each component of the device may be formed as a separate layer, such as a foil sheet serving as an electrode, and a planar dielectric sheet, with the layers later laminated together as by heat and pressure. Alternatively, the layers may be combined into overlapping coatings printed on a substrate, as is the case for a layer of light-transmissive conductive ink serving as a top electrode followed by a layer of phosphor ink in a dielectric matrix and then another conductive ink coating serving as a back electrode. EL devices have found widespread uses, e.g. in signs, watch faces, and as backlighting for keyboards.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,360 to Maser discloses a combined electroluminescent panel activated by a flexible membrane switch. The flexible membrane switch is generally constructed of two spaced-apart electrically conductive surfaces on separate substrates. At least one substrate is flexible. For example, each conductive surface may be a pattern of electrically conductive ink. A spacer layer with an aperture is positioned between the two facing conductive surfaces. When a user depresses the flexible substrate containing one of the conductive surfaces, the two conductive surfaces come into contact, thereby causing activation of the switch and closing a circuit.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,395 to Zukowski discloses a combination flexible membrane switch panel disposed adjacent to flexible EL material. The flexible membrane switch includes two spaced-apart electrically conductive surfaces on separate substrates with a spacer layer, having an aperture positioned therebetween. One of the conductive surfaces is flexible, with another flexible layer, having translucent indicia, positioned adjacent to and spaced apart therefrom. Disposed between the translucent indicia and the flexible membrane is a flexible layer of EL material. In this manner, both the indicia layer and the EL material may be depressed to allow operation of the flexible membrane switch.

Many interactive games and learning devices include flexible membrane switches to allow a user to control some elements of the stimuli these devices produce. In this fashion, the games and learning devices are more likely to hold the attention of a user for a longer period of time when compared to passive devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,043 to Billings et al. discloses an interactive audio-visual puzzle that includes, in pertinent part, a rigid puzzle form defining a predetermined number of form cutouts, an upper graphic disposed on the form upper surface and a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces. Each of the puzzle pieces includes a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bears a piece graphic. A flexible membrane bears on the underside thereof, along with a plurality of conductors in a predetermined relative disposition. A plurality of respective lower graphics overlie the flexible membrane and underlie the form cutouts. A sound generator produces respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals applied thereto. The flexible membrane conductors, space and ground plane cooperate to form a touch-pad which corresponds to each of the lower graphics electrically connected to the sound generator. In this manner, the sound generator is selectively actuated to produce sounds in response to input signals. A drawback with Billings et al. is that no animation is provided which would provide the puzzle with more appeal to a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,573 to Montgomery et al. discloses a visual audible activated work that includes, in pertinent part, at least two pages pivotally attached to each other so that the pages are pivotal from a juxtaposed closed position to an adjacent opened position. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is affixed to one of the pages. A sound generator is attached to the LCD, and a power supply is coupled to automatically provide power to both the sound generator and the LCD when the pages are paced in the opened position. A drawback with Montgomery et al. is that the LCD display limits the number and variety of interactive devices that may be present on any given page.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an interactive page or panel device with audio visual stimuli in which the visual aspect of the stimuli provides an illusion of movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an increased number of interactive devices per unit area than interactive devices of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an audio visual system which is easily adaptable to existing interactive devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objects have been achieved by providing a substrate including a tier of electroluminescent (EL) material forming a pattern which corresponds to a series of images that provide an illusion of movement when illuminated in accord with a predetermined sequence. A sound generator is used to produce predetermined audible tones or words linked in meaning to the images. A flexible membrane switch is coupled to simultaneously activate both the EL material and the sound generator when depressed by a user. A layer includes a plurality of icons, with each of the plurality of icons being associated with one of a first and second set of illustrations. The first set of illustrations is adapted to be viewable with an unaided eye on a continuous basis, and the second set of illustrations comprises the pattern of the EL material and are selectively viewable with the unaided eye, when the EL material illuminates. The sound produced by the generator may or may not be a succession of audible responses corresponding to the predetermined sequence. Each audible response of the succession may or may not be uniquely associated with one of the illustrations of the second set.

An increased number of interactive devices/membrane switches may be provided in a given area by placing the first set of illustrations over both the EL material and the flexible membrane switches. To that end, an array of flexible membrane switches are provided, with each switch including a flexible membrane layer, having a first conductive element, and a contact layer, having a second conductive element. The flexible membrane layer is spaced apart from the contact layer, with the first and second conductive elements in opposing relation. An insulative layer includes an aperture which is positioned so that the aperture is disposed between the first and second conductive elements. The icon bearing layer is disposed adjacent to, but spaced apart from, the flexible membrane layer, with the EL layer disposed therebetween. By printing with various inks and on various surfaces, the EL devices can be used to make illustrations appear and disappear, as well as change color.

In addition, a sequencing circuit is operably connected to electrical circuitry associated with EL material. The sequencing circuit is typically triggered by the touch of a membrane switch, as with the circuitry for the simple illumination of the second set of illustrations. The sequencer is set for a specific pulse rate and order, causing timed and ordered activation of the EL material to illuminate the figures of the second set in accord with a predetermined sequence. Precise timing and ordering of the sequenced series in combination with careful placement of printed illustrations on icon bearing layer provides an illusion of motion associated with illustrations of the first set.

A typical layout for a icon bearing layer will have icons, membrane switches and text, which may be one any one of a plurality of substrates, e.g. board games, greeting cards, pages of a book, etc. Some of the icons are activated by membrane switches that cause simple illumination. Other portions of the icons appear animated upon activation by a membrane switch because of the sequencing circuit interposed in the circuitry of the EL material underlying those icons. Still other portions of the icons may remain unactivated and simply function as completions of the partially-activatable scene, or motif, on a substrate. In this manner, the unactivated icons are viewable with the unaided eye on a continuous basis. The text or the sound generator may indicate when the user is to depress a membrane switch so as to cause activation of some portion of the icons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

shows a typical layout for an icon bearing layer which is associated with a substrate in accord with the present invention.

FIG. 2

is an exploded view of some of the layers of a typical substrate of the present invention, with most of the electrical circuitry removed.

FIG. 3

provides an exploded view of a flexible membrane switch in accord with the present invention.

FIG. 4

is an exploded perspective view of electric circuitry and a housing associated with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a typical page layout for the icon bearing, printable layer

10

of a substrate contains a graphics portion

12

and a text portion

14

. The substrate may be a greeting card, a page of a book, a panel or other sheet material. For purposes of description, the substrate will be an interactive board game. Graphics portion

12

and text portion

14

are shown in separate regions for ease of illustration and may be interspersed, e.g., with the text positioned proximate to a particular graphic providing detailed information about the same. Additionally, text may be illuminated according to the present invention.

Layer

10

typically includes two sets of icons. A first set of icons

16

, shown with solid lines, are formed to be viewable with the unaided eye on an essentially continuous basis. In this manner, icons

16

reflect light which is incident thereon. A second set of icons

18

, shown in dashed lines, are formed to be selectively viewable with the unaided eye. Typically, icons

18

are translucent regions, which are printed on the inner face only of layer

10

. A layer of EL material

20

underlies layer

10

and is formed to luminesce in areas adjacent to the translucent regions, which correspond to icons

18

. For example, an EL area may be positioned under sun

22

, as well as areas

22

a-c.

Another EL area may be positioned to illuminate two closely-spaced parts of the illustration, such as clouds

24

a-b.

The icons may be the result of printing a positive silhouette, such as sun

22

, on the outer face of printable layer

10

and a negative silhouette with dark ink directly underneath layer

10

adjacent to the positive silhouette and proximate to the areas

22

a-c.

This refinement confines the illumination of the EL material to a region of layer

10

associated with icons of either the first

16

or second

18

set. In this manner, illumination of icons

18

via EL material allows icons to seem as though they “appear out of nowhere” on the outer surface of printable layer

10

. EL material

20

and printing can be combined to achieve a variety of effects. For example, a graphic may be printed on a translucent portion of a material of a single color and then change color when illuminated by an EL device of a different color. The icons themselves of the first set

16

may be illuminated, such as sun

22

, or may be printed in dark ink and be backlighted when an EL device illuminates the background as is the case for the dark airplane in front of cloud

26

. The graphics portion

12

may also contain non-activatable portions which simply complete the illustrated scene.

The shapes of the translucent regions are logically associated with one or more of the icons of the first set

16

. For example, water

30

may be one of the icons of first set

16

and may have, associated therewith, dolphins

30

a-d,

which may be four of the icons of the second set

18

. Dolphins

30

a-d

would not be viewable until EL material

20

is activated. To activate EL material

20

, a plurality of switches/buttons

32

may be employed, or a microphone may be connected to allow voice activation of the EL material. Although switches are shown positioned in a region separate from graphics portion

12

, it is preferred that switches

32

be positioned so as to lie underneath dolphins

30

a-d.

With this design, it is necessary to use flexible membrane switches, which are well known in the art. To operate the switches

32

, it is understood that both EL material

20

and layer

10

must also be formed from a flexible material.

By properly sequencing the illumination of EL material

20

, an illusion of motion may be achieved with respect to icons

18

. In another instance, the icons may be printed on the inner surface of layer

10

in overlapping form, and the EL material may be set at a rate designed to provide a smoother appearance of motion. Overlapping EL areas could include sun

22

b

and cloud

17

. Sun

22

b

and cloud

17

may be disposed so that they are not viewable until the EL area positioned underneath the same illuminates, as discussed above with respect to icons

18

. In this fashion, at the initiation of the illumination sequence of

22

c

,

22

b

and sun

22

a

, the EL material associated with cloud

17

would be illuminated. Upon illumination of sun

22

b,

EL material corresponding to cloud

17

extinguishes, momentarily leaving only sun

22

b

illuminated. By carefully overlapping a succession of similar images in this manner, a relatively smooth appearance of motion may be achieved.

A sound generator, shown more clearly in

FIG. 4

, is coupled to a speaker

34

to produce an audible response which may be associated with icons of the first

16

second

18

sets. When the sequencing circuitry is properly timed and ordered with the icons and audible responses, visual animation may be achieved with corresponding audio accompaniment. For example, upon illumination of dolphin

30

a

, sound generator may produce the sound of breaking water to imitate the sound of a dolphin emerging from water

30

. During the illumination of dolphins

30

b-c,

sound generator may produce the sounds of the dolphin clatter, or speech. In this fashion, the sound generator may produce a sequence of audible responses associated with the sequence of illumination of icons of the first

16

and second

18

sets. Further, each audible response in a sequence may be uniquely associated with the illumination of a particular icon of either the first

16

or second

18

sets.

If an amusing scenario is to be produced, the sound generator may imitate the sound of a jet air-liner, missile or Apollo-NASA Communications sequence during the illumination of dolphins

30

b-c,

exaggerating the flight of the same across water

30

. Finally, upon illumination of dolphin

30

d,

sound generator may produce the sound of a large splash, emphasizing the return of the dolphin to water

30

. The combined audio visual stimuli provides the full effects of a motion picture.

Layer

10

is shown with a printed positive silhouette

22

on its outer surface. A negative silhouette

22

′ of the same icon is printed on the backside, or inner surface, of layer

10

, as also indicated by

22

a-c

. The icons may be printed with ink on the outer surface, inner surface, or both depending on the desired effect, as discussed above. Below layer

10

lies the EL material

20

. EL material

20

of the present invention includes a plurality of electroluminescent regions each of which comprises of EL phosphor

38

disposed between a top conductor

40

and a bottom conductor

42

. Preferably, each electroluminescent region is situated proximate to layer

10

for maximum brightness of the overlying icons of second set

18

. For ease of illustration, EL material

20

has been separated into its components, but the connecting circuitry is not shown. Top conductor

40

is typically formed on EL polymer thick-film as an electrically conductive ink. Preferably, top conductor

40

is disposed on the underside, or inner surface, of layer

44

proximate to graphics of first set

18

and is light-transmissive to allow light from EL phosphor

38

to pass therethrough. Bottom electrode

42

is preferably disposed on the top, or outer surface, of layer

46

. “Inner” and “outer” surfaces, as used here, refer to positions relative to a core or base, such as base substrate

48

, of a typical display page or display sheet. EL phosphor

38

is typically in the form of a conductive ink disposed on a dielectric

50

. Electroluminescent regions, shown in

FIG. 2

, correspond to selected icons of layer

10

.

Although the various components of EL material

20

are shown as being incorporated in different segments of film, such as

44

,

46

and

50

, the present invention may be manufactured with all components of EL material

20

being “printed” directly on the inner surface of layer

10

. The components are thus laid down as successive coatings of first conductive ink, phosphor, dielectric matrix material, and second conductive ink. A combination of the coating and separate layer methods may be used to effectively combine layers

10

and

44

or

46

and

48

, so that the conductive ink patterns are printed directly on layers

10

or

48

and only a separate dielectric and phosphor layer is between them. This combination of layers is also applicable to the conductive ink traces for the membrane switches, described below. Other types of EL material, such as those utilizing foil electrodes or phosphor-impregnated resins may also be used.

Referring also to

FIG. 3

, below selected icons are the inner components of flexible membrane switches

32

. Switches

32

are shown without connecting circuitry for ease of discussion. Each membrane switch

32

includes a top pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

52

on a first surface, such as the underside of layer

54

and a bottom pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

56

on a second surface, such as the top surface of layer

58

. The two sets of spirals are positioned to face each other, but are spaced apart with a spacer layer

60

of predetermined thickness. Spacer layer

60

contains apertures

62

which are aligned with the top and bottom sets of spirals

52

and

56

, respectively. As discussed above, in the preferred embodiment, membrane switches

32

may be disposed underneath one of the electroluminescent regions of EL layer

20

which switch

32

will cause to illuminate. Upon depressing the selected icon on layer

10

, the top spiral set

52

comes into contact with bottom spiral set

56

through aperture

62

, thus activating switch

32

, closing a circuit and illuminating electroluminescent regions of EL layer

20

. To this end, switch

32

is typically positioned proximate to layer

48

, with layer

10

and all of the intervening layers between switch

32

and layer

10

being flexible. Upon depressing the appropriate switch

32

, an icon of the first set

16

may be provided motion by icons of the second set

18

. For example, the sound generator may prompt a user with an audible response as follows: “Watch the sun rise”. After hearing the aforementioned audible response, a user would press on icon

22

. This would cause switch

32

, shown on layer

48

, to cause phosphor A to irradiate light. Timing circuitry, discussed later with respect to

FIG. 4

, would sequentially illuminate and unilluminate phosphor B, C, and D. This in turn would cause icons

22

c

,

22

b

and

22

a

to appear and disappear, leaving only icon

22

illuminated. After the illumination sequence of

22

c

,

22

b

and

22

a

has ended, an appropriate audible response could be generated.

In addition, some or all of switches

32

may not be disposed underneath EL material

20

. Rather, some flexible membrane switches

64

may be formed in the same layers as EL material

20

. In this manner, switch

64

may be disposed in the graphic portion

12

underneath a graphic associated with the first set

16

, to indicate where a user can locate switch

64

. Switch

64

includes a top pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

66

which may be disposed on surface

44

, as well as a bottom pair of parallel spiral conductive ink traces

68

, which may be on the top surface of layer

46

, or base substrate

48

. An aperture

70

may be positioned between top

66

and bottom

68

traces to perform the same functions as aperture

62

, discussed above. Switches

64

not included in the graphic portion

12

typically have, associated therewith, an activation region

72

to indicate where the user should depress switch

64

to activate EL material

20

. When the activation region

72

of a switch is depressed, top spiral set comes into contact with bottom spiral set, as discussed above.

Referring also to

FIG. 4

, an advantage with having the EL material

20

and layer

10

disposed above switch

32

is to make the present invention easily adaptable to existing board games that provide audio stimuli. Such games typically employ sound cards activated by flexible membrane switches. By layering both the EL material

20

and layer

10

over the existing flexible membrane switches, an existing audio board game may be easily upgraded to provide visual stimuli. The existing flexible membrane switches are coupled to both the EL material

20

and the sound generator to simultaneously activate both audio and visual stimuli. The visual stimuli provided may be designed to enhance the existing audio programming of the board game. Alternatively, many of the preexisting board games may be easily reprogrammed to change the sounds generated to enhance the visual stimuli. In this manner, existing board games may be easily and inexpensively altered to keep apace with the rapidly changing trends of children's entertainment.

An additional benefit with the layered design concerns the efficient use of substrate on which the switches and EL material are disposed. Specifically, with the layered design, more switches per unit area may be disposed in the board game, providing more interactive devices for a user. For example, an array or matrix of switches may be included. Top conductive traces

166

may be disposed spaced apart from bottom conductive ink traces

170

, with a plurality of corresponding apertures

168

disposed in an insulative layer therebetween, with corresponding electroluminescent regions being present. The advantage of having more interactive devices is that the game becomes more suitable for children of younger years. By placing the switch

32

underneath the icon which is the subject of attention, a one-to-one correspondence is facilitated between the icon and the visual response expected. This concept is easily demonstrated by considering the sound generator producing the aforementioned audible response of “Watch the sun rise”. Upon hearing this prompt, a user would merely press on icon

22

to elicit the visual response discussed above, thereby providing a one-to-one correspondence between icon

22

and the visual response expected. If the sound generator prompted the user to “see the dolphins jump”, the aforementioned correspondence is not present. The dolphins may not be seen, precluding the user from knowing where a switch is positioned to elicit the usual stimuli expected, i.e., the sequential illumination of dolphins

30

a-d.

Rather, a user would have to embark on an abstract association of water

30

with dolphins

30

a-d

. After making the aforementioned association, a user would understand the need to press on icon

30

to activate icons

30

a-d.

Many users of the present invention would not have developed the cognitive ability to make abstract associations. By placing switch

30

underneath an icon which is the subject of attention, less abstract thought processes need be utilized for a user to enjoy the interactive device. Simply put, the device becomes more suitable for users who have not developed the cognitive abilities necessary to successfully comprehend abstract associations.

The substrate of the present invention is preferably constructed using nonporous, flexible polymer substrate materials such as Mylar. Paper or fabric may also be used. It may be desirable to use core substrates and spacer layers that are semi-rigid, however, for durability. The printable layers are preferably 0.003 to 0.020″ thick. The base substrate

48

is preferably 0.010 to 0.035″ thick. Layers

44

and

46

are preferably 0.010 to 0.020″ thick. The dielectric layer

50

varies depending on the voltage used, but a thickness of 0.010 to 0.030″ is typical. Comparable dimension may be employed for flexible membrane switch layers

54

,

58

and

60

.

Each of the flexible membrane switches

32

is coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB)

74

via traces

76

. A combination sound generator and sequencing circuit is disposed on the PCB

74

and may take the form of an integrated circuit coupled to speaker

34

. A suitable power source, such as batteries

80

, are provided to power the device. A power button

82

is coupled to the power source to selectively actuate the interactive device. A housing is provided which includes upper

84

and lower

86

casings. Upper casing

84

includes a window

88

. Additional openings are provided to mount button

82

and speaker

34

so that they may be operationally coupled to upper casing

84

. Layer

10

is mounted to be adjacent to window

88

, with EL material

20

disposed adjacent thereto. Spaced apart from the EL material

20

is an array of flexible membrane switches. Disposed between the EL material

20

and the switch array are traces

76

, with lower casing

86

fastening to upper casing

84

via screws or the like.