Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Speech signal processing – Application
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-15
2001-09-18
Tsang, Fan (Department: 2645)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Speech signal processing
Application
C704S275000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292780
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to collectable cards, and in particular, sports trading cards such as baseball cards, hockey cards and the like.
Baseball cards and other sports trading cards have been available since the turn of the century. These cards typically display an action photograph or other image of a baseball player or other athlete on the front face, and statistics and other personal information about the player on the back face. Collecting and trading baseball cards and other sports cards is a popular hobby engaged in by both children and adults. Sports cards tend to appreciate in value over the years, with rare cards such as the 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card being valued at several hundred thousand dollars.
In recent years, collecting sports cards has increased in popularity, particularly among younger collectors. Card manufacturers have responded to this increase in popularity by introducing innovations such as holographic logos and gold-plated collector sets. However, conventional sports trading cards are passive, and the type of information provided thereon has remained relatively constant over the years. The present inventors have recognized a need and demand for sports cards which provide more information and value than that available from conventional passive sports cards.
An active trading card, which provides sounds in addition to the standard graphics and text contained on a traditional trading card, is the subject of co-pending application Ser. No. 08/433,851 filed May 2, 1995, and owned by the Assignee of the subject application. This talking trading card is self-contained, in that the speaker assembly, the replaceable battery, and the electronic data storage and processing components are all built into the card. It also has a relatively thin card profile. However, this card construction places certain constraints on the size, quality and cost of the components thereof.
There exist card reading devices which utilize scanning mechanisms for reading information from cards. In some cases, these devices are used with trading cards as part an interactive sports game. The information is typically stored in the form of bar-codes or magnetic strips mounted on a card which is scanned by a reader device for use in the relevant application.
These prior art systems have certain disadvantages. They utilize mechanical or quasi-mechanical processes for scanning data and transforming it into an electrical format, which tend to suffer from data entry error arising from mechanical imprecision. Those prior art devices which utilize physical storage methods, for example magnetic strips, sometimes experience data integrity problems resulting from wear caused by frequent use. Data integrity may also be lost through unintentional physical contact between the user and these forms of exposed data storage. Furthermore, the data storage capability of a bar-coded or magnetic strip, or other mechanical or quasi-mechanical means, is very limited. The data so stored is therefore used typically as a key or reference to one of a set of data groups required, for instance, to execute an interactive sports game, and which is stored in the “player” part of the system. The data stored on such cards is inadequate in capacity for even a few seconds of digitized sound message, as offered by this invention.
These prior art systems also tend to be bulky, expensive, and not-easily portable. Accordingly, they are not well suited to the collection of trading cards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved talking trading card system which utilizes a trading card containing sound data stored on an integrated circuit chip embedded within the trading card, and a separate portable card player housing batteries and a speaker.
Eliminating the need for each card to contain its own power source and speaker components reduces the cost of each card. At the same time, placing the power source in the card player allows for the use of a wider range of power sources with various storage capacities and cost levels. The subject trading cards can also achieve a thinner profile than self-contained talking cards. Furthermore, the subject portable player is capable of producing higher quality and louder sound at a lower cost, than cards containing a speaker.
The subject trading card comprises a card body of predetermined dimensions having a front surface and a back surface. Electronic storage means for storing sound pattern data is located between the front surface and the back surface of the card body. Card contact means electrically connected to the electronic storage means enables electrical contact with the subject card player.
The corresponding subject portable player comprises a pocketsized player housing dimensioned to removably receive the card. The player housing contains sound generating means for generating sounds, power means for supplying electrical power to the sound generating means, and player contact means for making electrical contact with the card contact means.
The subject invention further comprises processing means for receiving sound pattern data from the storage means and sending electrical analogue signals to the sound generating means correlatable with the sound pattern data.
In a preferred embodiment, the subject trading card includes a card housing containing the electronic processing means, having flexible sheets containing graphics affixed to the front and back surfaces thereof. This card housing provides rigidity to the trading card, as well as added protection for the processing means.
The subject trading card is preferably provided with a rectangular aperture in the card housing shaped to fit a circuit board containing the electronic storage and processing means. The housing may include a support ledge near the aperture for supporting a portion of the circuit board, assisting to hold the circuit board in place. The card housing may also have a series of small circular apertures positioned to expose the card contact means located on the circuit board.
The currently preferred embodiment of the card player of the subject invention preferably comprises a portable pocket-sized player housing capable of successively playing a plurality of electronic trading cards, each trading card containing therewithin an electronic voice chip for processing stored sound pattern data, and having electrical contacts on the surface thereof for providing electrical contact with the voice chip data. Mounted within the housing are sound generating means for generating sounds from the sound data contained on the card and power means for supplying electrical power to the voice chip and sound generating means. The player housing further comprises retaining means on the top surface of the player housing for removably retaining a leading edge of a trading card and player contact means which protrude from the top surface of the player, thereby making electrical contact with the player contact means when pressure is applied to the face of the trading card forcing it to the top surface of the card player.
The card player retaining means preferably comprises a retaining wall extending upwardly from an edge on the top surface of the player housing and having a card retaining slot along the length of the inside face of the retaining wall, said retaining slot is shaped to receive the edge of a trading card and two parallel side walls extending upwardly from parallel edges of the top surface of the player housing.
The player contact means preferably comprises a plurality of thin narrow conductive contacts having one end fixed and extending from the circuit board within the player housing and the other end free with a curved tip, flexibly biased toward and protruding from the top surface of the player housing containing the retaining means and adapted to fit through the apertures of the card body to make contact with the card contact means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3524272 (1970-08-01), Elwell
patent: 3691312 (1972-09-01), Petersen
patent: 4159417 (1979-06-01), Rubincam
patent
Doederlein Dieter D.
Lucas Michael E.
Newman G. Dale
Sharp Anthony C.
McDermott & Will & Emery
Micra SoundCards, Inc.
Opsasnick Michael N.
Tsang Fan
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