GB2201025A

GB2201025A - Language practising set

Info

Publication number: GB2201025A
Application number: GB08703014A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu-Ching Tsai
Original assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1986-12-29
Filing date: 1987-02-10
Publication date: 1988-08-17
Also published as: KR910001140Y1; GB8703014D0; KR880013164U

Abstract

A language practising set, which can, under recording state, store voice signals, by means of a voice synthesizer, into a memory with different addresses, through different coding holes 20...24 on each of the message cards 4. Upon replay, the various coding holes on the message cards are decoded and the voice signals are replayed through the voice synthesizer. A mother of a child can record her voice concerning a picture 26 for combined voice-and-picture teaching. The set could be used to record telephone calls. <IMAGE>

Description

A NESSAGE CARD TYPE OF LANGUAGE PRACTISING SET FOR CHILDREN The conventional language practising set usually has two cassette tapes, i.e., a master tape and a secondary tape. When practising a language or singing, speech or song is to be played with the master tape. When a given section of the language or song is necessary to be replayed, push down the pause key to let the secondary tape play that section of language recorded for 20 seconds( The time length is subject to the cyclic tape, and generally there are two types of tapes, i.e., a ten second type and 20 second: type.) The present invention provides a language practising set, particularly a message card type of language practising set for children.

The feature of this invention is that the pattern or picture on a card is interpreted into the equivalent voice meaning by a mother , and is recorded into the language practising set. When a child inserts one of the message cards into the language practising set, the voice equivalent to the meaning of the picture shown on the card will be replayed immediately to provide a combined voice-and-picture teaching result; in other words, the present invention can provide the children with a learning method to link the visual and linguistic education together. Furthermore, this invention can also serve as a message recorder.

Figure 1 is a perspective vinos of the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional view of the present invention.

Figure 3 is the schematic diagram of the circuit 1 of the present invention.

Figure 4 is the schematic of the circuit 2 of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the input interface circuit of the present invention.

The main object of this invention is to provide a language practising set designed for children in the age of learning to speak, to sing and to read pictures; it is a joyful learning method through the mother-and-son relation so as to achieve a combined visual and linguistic education at the same time.

It is another object of the present invention to serve as message recorder to record the message of phone-call visitors. Upon the family member coming home, he or she can hear the message by pressing down the message card to replay the message.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a language practising set, which can operate without recording tapes, and mechanical structure, and which is shock-proof, and is easy to operate by children.

The structure and circuit of this invention are further described in detail, with reference to the drawings attached, as follows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is fragmental sectional view of the present invention.

The present invention comprises an external casing 1, an electric circuit board 2, a battery holder 3 and a message card 4.

The casing 1 are furnished with a handle 5 and a start button 6, a recording indicator LED 7 and a memory-full indicator LED 8 on the -Eft side, and a volume knob 9 and microphone 10 on the right side.

On the top face of the language practising set, there is a speaker 11 and a card slot 12 for message card. A power switch 13 and a recordreplay switch 14 are furnished on the right side of the casing.

The electric circuit board 2, in addition to IC's and components, has five sensors located beneath the card slot 13 of the-casing 1. Sensor 15 is used to detect the check hole 20 of message card 4; the sensors 16, 17, 18, 19 are used to decode the coding holes 21, 22, 23, 24 on the message card 4. There is also a U-shaped transparent slot 25 on the card 4 to hold pictures 26.

The battery holder 3 provides the operating -power.

Fig. 3 and 4 illustrate the whole circuit of the present invention, which include a microphone 27, a memory 28, a power amplifier 29, a voice synthesizer 30, an input interface circuit 31, a controll circuit 32, a voltage regulator circuit 33, and a memoryfull indicating circuit 34.

The voice synthesizer, upon recording, stores the voice signals into memory 28;upon replaying,the voice synthesizer retrieves data from the memory,and transfers the data into analog data before bein coupled to the power amplifier 29. The voice signals are also controlled by the input interface circuit 31, record-replay switch 14, and the start button 6.

Sensors 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 detect the check hole 20 and the coding holes 21, 22, 23, 24 on the message card 4.The check signal sent out by input interface circuit 31 activates relay 36 through TRI 35, and controls EûS signal from the voice synthesizer 30.

When memory is full, TR2 37 is driven by the start button, end TR3 38 receives EOS signal from voice synthesizer. TR2 AND TR3 triggers SCR 39, and then memory-full indicator LED 8 is turned on.

Power can also be supplied with an external source through power plug 40 . When the power switch is turned on, the record-replay switch 4 is first set to record position; the recording indicator LED 8 lights up, indicating the voice synthesizer 30 being in recording state. Insert message card 4 into the card slot 12, i.e., the input interface circuit 31; push down the start button 6; then, the voice signals can be put, through microphone, into the voice synthesizer, which stores the signal into memory according to the address of message card 4. The address takes 4 bits and provides 16 sectors to be chosen. To replay the voice or speech recorded, set the record-replay switch to replay position, and insert the message card 4 back to the card slot. The control circuit will detect the check and coding signals from holes on the card.

The voice signals are then repeatedly read from addressed memory by the voice synthesizer, and amplified by the power amplifier, and finally sent out through the speaker. Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the input interface circuit, in which SW1 41, SW2 42, SW3 43, SW4 44, SW5 45, serving the same function as the sensors described above, control the input interface circuit.

Briefly, this invention not only serves as an excellent tool for children linguistic education, but also can serve as a message recorder. Its compact design can meet the requirements of today's market.

Claims

1. A message card type of language practising set comprising: a microphone to convert an audio signal into an electric signal; a power amplifier to amplify a voice signal output with a voice synthesizer before being converted into a voice through a speaker; 8 voice synthesizer for storing voice signals from microphone into a memory upon being recorded, and retrieving voice signals from said memory, and converting the signals into analog signal to be coupled to said power amplifier; and said synthesizer also receiving control signals from input interface circuit, recordreplay switch and start button; an input interface circuit that detects signals from check hole and coding holes on the message cards by means of sensors, and then the signals being coupled into the voice synthesizer; a voltage regulator circuit to provide a stable power source for the integrated circuit; a memory-full indicating circuit which will turn the memory-full indicator LED on when memory being full, and TR2 being driven by the start button signal, and TR3 being controlled by EOS signal from said voice synthesizer; and TR2 AND TR3 triggering SCR; a message card with check hole and address holes on the lower end thereof ; and on the upper end thereof, a U-shaped slot being furnished for holding pictures; and the features of present invention are as follows: upon inserting said message card with address holes being sensed by the input interface circuit, memory address being distributed by said voice synthesizer; and simultaneously, the record-replay switch being set at recroding position; and upon said microphone sending a voice signal, said signal can be stored, through said voice synthesizer a memory; and when said recordreplay switch being set at replaying state, the voice signal data selected by the message card inserted is re-generated by said voice synthesizer, and being amplified by said power amplifier and then replayed through speaker so as to achieve goal of learning language through pictorial aid.

2. According to claim 1, wherein said input interface circuit includes five sensors, in which the sensor 1 is used to detect check hole on the message card, and the rest sensors (2,3,4,5) are used for detecting the coding holes on said message card.

3. According to claim 2, wherein said sensors can also be controlled with five micro switches, in which SW1 is used to detect check hole of said message card, and the other microswitches are used for detecting the coding holes on said message card.