Abstract: A toy is disclosed. In one embodiment, the toy includes a base. A rotating element is on the base and rotates about an axis. A child can cause the rotating element to rotate about the axis by pressing an actuator at the center of the rotating element. A set of image elements can be on the rotating element.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes a base unit. The base unit can has a surface and an array of electrical elements under the surface. A removable template is placed on the base unit and is positioned over the surface. The removable template has a movable element that the user can move and a speaker in the apparatus can produce an audio output in response to the movement of the movable element.

Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sports toy with multiple instructional modalities which combine auditory, visual, and kinesthetic stimulation to teach and reinforce language skills. In one embodiment, a sports toy comprises a goal defining an aperture and a switch associated with the goal for indicating that a goal has been scored. A memory is operatively associated with the switch. A voice synthesizer is operatively associated with the memory and a speaker is in turn operatively associated with the voice synthesizer. Code stored in the memory causes sounds associated with language to sound from the speaker after the switch is activated. The sounds associated with the language include letter names, letter sounds, words, or phonics. The sports toy may also comprise an electronic visual display operatively associated with the memory for displaying stored images, such as letters or words, after the switch is activated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to interactive toys. In one embodiment, the interactive toy includes a housing, and a receiving region on the housing. A detection device including a plurality of detectors is in the receiving region. A processor operatively coupled to the detection device. A solid object is received in the receiving region. The toy could be a toy electronic train, or an interactive book.

Abstract: A portable, hand held interactive learning appliance for assisting a user in learning is disclosed. The interactive learning appliance includes a housing, a processor disposed in the housing, an input device operatively coupled to the processor, an output device operatively coupled to the processor, and a computer readable medium including code for causing the portable, hand held interactive learning appliance to adapt to the user's intelligence or knowledge level by presenting problems that are suitable for the user's intelligence or knowledge level to the user.

Abstract: A method of using a study aid apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving supplemental information associated with a printed textbook. After receiving the supplemental information, it can be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus. The study aid apparatus is then used to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to educational toys. In one embodiment, the educational toy includes (a) a figure having an exterior surface, and wherein the figure has a chest, hands and feet, (b) at least one indicium on the chest of the figure, (c) switching circuitry coupled to the indicia, (d) a sound synthesizer, (e) a speaker, (f) a memory, (g) a plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities in the memory, wherein the plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities comprises a first preprogrammed instruction modality and a second preprogrammed instruction modality, and (h) a logic circuit having a microprocessor, input terminals that are electrically coupled to the switching circuitry, and output terminals electrically coupled to the sound synthesizer and the speaker. The logic circuit controls the interaction between the switching circuitry and the plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a interactive ball includes (a) a plurality of indicia, (b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the plurality of indicia, (c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit, (d) a first outer surface; and (e) a second outer surface that is recessed with respect to the first outer surface, wherein the plurality of indicia are present at the second outer surface.

Abstract: A toy is disclosed. In one embodiment, the toy includes a base. A rotating element is on the base and rotates about an axis. A child can cause the rotating element to rotate about the axis by pressing an actuator at the center of the rotating element. A set of image elements can be on the rotating element.

Abstract: A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes a base unit. The base unit can has a surface and an array of electrical elements under the surface. A removable template is placed on the base unit and is positioned over the surface. The removable template has a movable element that the user can move and a speaker in the apparatus can produce an audio output in response to the movement of the movable element.

Abstract: An interactive learning apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiments, the interactive learning apparatus comprises: (a) a housing; (b) an impact sensor unit in the housing; (c) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the impact sensor unit; (d) a display unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit; and (e) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit, wherein the display unit is adapted to display an image in response to the user striking a portion of the housing.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interactive apparatus includes an array of switches, an array of numbers respectively associated with the array of switches, a speaker, a processor coupling the array of switches and the speaker, a memory and a set of movable physical objects. The physical objects are spatially separated from the array of numbers and movable objects within the set are capable of being grouped together to form a group of objects that represents at least some of the numbers in array of numbers.

Abstract: A system comprising a supply voltage isolation module (50), and a battery detector (52), both responsive to a battery pin (41). The system further including a voltage detection module (54) responsive to a voltage supply pin (42), where the voltage detection module (54) compares a supply voltage from the voltage supply pin (42) to a threshold. The system also including control logic (56) responsive to the battery detector (52) and the voltage detection module (54). Also disclosed are methods for responding to connection of a battery (36) to a logic device (12), placing a logic device (12) into a low power state in response to connection of a battery (36) to the logic device (12), and detecting a battery condition for a logic device (12) having a battery pin (41).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a teaching toy that invites a child's interaction using an attractive play figure, for example a stuffed animal, to present more than one instructional modality in mixed formats. The child is presented with a declarative instruction, songs, and moving lights and kinesthetic and reasoning connections are induced in the child's mind via games, songs, and visual stimuli. Particularly, the present invention teaches and reinforces a child's knowledge of geometric shapes, colors, melody and rhythm by use of visual, audial, and kinesthetic involvement of the child. If the inventive is presented in the form of a stuffed animal, the exterior of the animal would have a plurality of indicia that the child could press. The indicia is electrically coupled to switching circuitry and those switches activate a logic circuit containing preprogrammed instruction modalities and play methods.

Abstract: A debug module (20) is provided which allows a developer to capture three types of debug information. The three types of debug information are: change-of-flow addresses, CPU data, and current instruction addresses. The debug information is captured in an on-chip debug FIFO memory (30) during program development. The debug information is provided to an external host via a serial communication interface (14) for post-processing and analysis. Storing and retrieving program information in this way is useful in microcontrollers that do not provide external access to address and data bus signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mechanism to prevent the oscillator from being stopped when a host development system is coupled to the background debug communications interface and the background debug mode has been enabled. This allows background debugging operations to continue when the target data processing system is in a low power mode. Other embodiments relate to a mechanism for allowing a host development system to request a synchronization timing pulse from a target data processing system so the correct clock speed can be determined for background communications. Alternate embodiments relate to a data processing system having a system clock unit and a background debug system where the background debug system includes a background debug clock unit, separate from the system clock unit, and an enable control. When the enable control is asserted, the background debug clock unit is enabled, independent of the system clock unit.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an electronic learning game that provides a plurality of pedagogical and instructional modalities which combine strong kinesthetic, auditory, and visual stimulation to assist a child to learn basic arithmetical concepts. The inventive game utilizes a combination of voice statements, rhythmic music, a visual display, and manual inputs from number dials and a response switch to achieve multi-modal learning or arithmetic concepts. The ergonometric size and structure of the present invention promotes a strong kinesthetic learning modality.