Abstract: An apparatus, such as a handheld electronic learning system, is provided with at least one multi-function, repositionable controller assembly. The controller assembly includes a first user input device, such as a joystick, and a second user input device, such as a pushbutton switch. The controller assembly, carried by the housing of the apparatus, is rotatable between a first position and a second position. When the controller assembly is in the first position, they joystick is accessible on the exterior surface of the apparatus, while the pushbutton switch is concealed within the housing and inhibited from use. When the controller is rotated to the second position, the pushbutton switch is accessible on the exterior surface of the apparatus, while the joystick is concealed within the housing and inhibited from use.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining the identification of selected objects for use in connection with an electronic children's toy, which apparatus includes a plurality of objects, each of the objects including several object contact elements, and an identification member, including several member contact elements. The identification member is configured such that at least two of the member contact elements come into electrical contact with at least two of the object contact elements when the identification member is engaged with one of the objects, forming a complete electrical circuit. A processing unit associated with the identification member then is able to uniquely identify the particular object which is engaged with the identification member by means of an electrical signal generated by the processing unit. The processing unit then provides feedback to the user by audio, visual and/or tactile means corresponding to the particular object selected by the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a book device corresponding to at least one narrative story, including a spine, at least three pages pivotably connected to the spine, a sound producing apparatus, and a plurality of switch elements which activate the sound producing apparatus to play desired audio segments corresponding to a particular story element. Each of the pages contains illustrative material, such as text and/or pictures, and at least one of the pages is partially transparent, so that illustrative material on subsequent pages is visible to the reader through the transparent portion of the page. In another embodiment, the illustrative material is not affixed to the pages themselves, but takes the form of inserts which may be removed and interchanged, with the book device able to determine which story corresponds to the particular inserts being used and play the desired audio segments corresponding to that story.

Abstract: A graphic video display system including at least one graphic layer having sizable, positionable windows and programmable priority values the sprites having fixed priority values. Portions of graphic layer windows and sprites which overlap with a current horizontal scan line of a video display are written to a line buffer. Overlapping objects are resolved by writing portions of objects overlapping the current horizontal scan line to the line buffer in order of the priority values of the objects.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for uniquely identifying an actuated key on a keyboard and an actuated location in a drawing tablet. The scanning apparatus includes independently actuatable switches associated with the keyboard. The scanning apparatus also includes vertical and horizontal conducting traces juxtaposed one to another and electrically connected to a horizontal and vertical resistive bar, respectively, associated with the drawing tablet. The switches and traces are energized under control of the apparatus such that portions of each can be actuated by a user resulting in the generation of unique analog signals indicative of the particular key and particular location upon the drawing tablet actuated by the user. These unique analog signals are converted to digital signals for further processing.

Abstract: A method for encoding and decoding still video frames, and a sequence of frames of digitized motion picture video data, using inter-frame analysis. Sequences of frames are encoded by first subdividing each frame within a set of adjacent frames into a plurality of blocks, each corresponding to at least one other block within at least one adjacent frame, so as to create a group of corresponding of blocks. A luminance component of each pixel within each group of corresponding blocks is averaged to generate a mean luminance value for each group of corresponding blocks. An upper color value for each group of corresponding blocks is determined, as well as a lower color value. A one-bit value is assigned to each pixel within each block. The one-bit value is set to a first binary level when the luminance component of an associated pixel value is greater in magnitude than the corresponding mean luminance value.