Abstract: A process classifies objects in a scene. The process receives a captured IR image of a scene taken by a 2-dimensional image sensor array of a camera system while one or more IR illuminators of the camera system are emitting IR light, thereby forming an IR intensity map of the scene with a respective intensity value determined for each pixel of the IR image. The process uses the IR intensity map to identify a plurality of pixels whose corresponding intensity values are within a predefined intensity range, and clusters the identified plurality of pixels into one or more regions that are substantially contiguous. The process determines that a first region of the one or more regions corresponds to a specific material based, at least in part, on the intensity values of the pixels in the first region. The process then stores information in the memory that identifies the first region.

Abstract: A housing supports a keypad having a four by three matrix of depressible buttons each baring an appropriate number or symbol in correspondence to the four by three arrangement of a conventional telephone dial pad. The housing further supports a pageable book having a plurality of pivotally secured pages each baring a selected image and corresponding number. A simulated telephone hand unit is secured to the housing by a safety cord and is receivable within a cradle formed in the housing. Each depressible button includes a lighting device and a push button switch in association therewith. The depressible button operates the switch when the button is pressed and the button is illuminated when the light is energized. An electronic circuit within the housing operates the plurality of switches and lights associated with the plurality of buttons in accordance with a stored instruction set.

Abstract: An electronic toy for teaching a child language and arithmetic skills utilizing a keyboard which is associated with the toy. Various illustrated cards intended to assist the child in learning language and mathematical skills are inserted into a slot associated with the keyboard. The portion of the card would include some sort of indicia which would prompt a child to utilize one or more keys in a particular order of the keyboard to spell a word or solve a mathematical problem. The portion of the card inserted into the slot has machine readable information included thereon which, a computer contained in the toy, would compare to the keys depressed by the child. Proper depression of the keys would be vocalized by the toy as well as appear on a display. Furthermore, various portions of the toy would move based upon the correct depression of the keys.

Abstract: Teaching and amusement apparatus includes a self-contained electronic pen which is used in conjunction with specially printed material to provide an interactive system, e.g. in the form of a worksheet or book having question and answer areas. The pen senses differences, not visually discernable, in the infra-red radiation reflectivities of the answer areas to indicate audibly and visually whether a correct or incorrect answer has been selected. The pen operates in a programming mode wherein a program for the particular game to be played is loaded into the apparatus by sensing the reflectivities of areas on the worksheet or book and then is switched automatically into an active mode wherein correct and incorrect answers are sensed. The pen confirms to the user that the program has been correctly loaded into the apparatus.

Abstract: A teaching system utilizing prerecorded tape which is prepared in sectors with a message segment and position indicators in the form of transparent windows which are photoelectrically detected. After a message or question is played, a first window is detected by a first detector and the tape drive motor is deenergized with another window positioned before one of a plurality of other detectors. The operator then attempts to answer or identify the message by making a selection corresponding to one of the plurality of detectors, and if a correct answer is given, a signal is given to the operator. All of the photoelectric detecting devices are on a carrier which is removably mounted to a cassette.

Abstract: A printed substrate has areas printed in a screen of carbon black ink dots and other areas printed in a corresponding screen of infrared transparent ink dots, whereby, the presence of the carbon black ink dots is made visually undetectable but can readily be detected by an infrared emitter and detector.

Abstract: A teaching system utilizing magnetic tape which is prepared in sectors with a message segment and position indicators in the form of transparent windows which are photoelectrically detected. After a message or question is played, a first window is detected by a first detector and the tape drive motor is de-engergized with another window positioned before one of a plurality of other detectors. The operator then attempts to answer or identify the message by making a selection corresponding to one of the plurality of detectors, and if a correct answer is given, a signal is given to the operator.

Abstract: A system for detecting the position of a light responsive pen with respect to a TV display wherein successive frames of a video recording are encoded by placing a lighted area in a different place on each such successive frame. Then, by determining the frame number of the frame appearing when there is a response from the light pen, the position of the pen is identified and an appropriate system response is initiated and controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic learning aid which employs a scanning device for reading printed coded indicia which includes random number modes. A first random number mode provides a flat distribution random number in accordance to a range command. This mode is actuated by scanning coded indicia, firstly, a random number generation command and secondly, a range command. The apparatus then generates a random number from a set of numbers, this set of numbers being determined by the range command. This random number is then employed to select a response which is provided to the user by a speech synthesizer speaking one or more words of human language. In a second embodiment, the random number command enables generation of a random number from among a set in which the probability of selecting one member of the set is different from the probability of selecting other members of the set. This mode could be employed to simulate the number of spots turned upon tossing of two or more dice.

Abstract: My present invention relates to didactic apparatus as particularly adapted to the tutelage of mathematical fundamentals, multiple choice statements, and the like. A set of inexpensive instructional problem or "flash" cards is prepared for the student for use in conjunction with, and as an essential part of my invention. Each interrogative card in the set contains a problem statement in student readable form, together with a machine readable cryptogrammic answer for the problem. As each problem card is methodically inserted into my didactic machine, the machine elements interpret the answer cryptogram, while the instructional problem remains visable to the student. The student summarily provides a response by inserting his separately selected answer elements from another set of answer cards which, in a way similar to the problem cards, have the plainly visible response elements clearly inscribed on each card, together with a machine readable code or cryptogram for each response element.

Abstract: A self-teaching instrument designed to enable answering a multiple-choice test rapidly and precisely has a separate card compartment attached to the lower front of the unit. Cards can be pushed out vertically one at a time by a roller which is controlled by a driving portion. A card carrier with two hooks transports the card from the card compartment to a predetermined position by a conveyer. On both sides of the conveyer conductive films are attached at six equally divided places. The conductive films aid in locating the holes on the card for hole detectors. In the top row, on the top of the instrument, there are four switches for selecting answers. In the lower row there are the power switch, reverse and forward switch buttons. The upper portion of the switch panel has a transparent viewing screen for visualizing a problem and selected answers. For simplified viewing this is built at a slight angle.

Abstract: An electronic learning apparatus and methodology is disclosed wherein answer codes to a plurality of questions or tasks are disposed on the periphery of a disc. The answer codes are photo-optically read from the periphery of the disc as the disc is rotated with the answer thus read being stored in a register. The user inputs a student's answer through a keyboard into a second register. The answer code as read from the disc is compared to the keyed answer from the user to give an indication of correctness or error. The invention also includes a method for teaching arithmetic operations wherein the user must input the nature of the arithmetic operation as well as the result in order to complete the questions. The invention is also characterized in that the keyboard is adapted to be combined with a plurality of keyboard overlays whereby an arbitrary number of associations may be made between the fixed number of keys and an indefinite number of response types.

Abstract: Described is a method for utilizing a unique hand-held probe or the like, in conjunction with a responsive apparatus, as the means to establish cooperative response evaluation between an intelligent being and an evaluatory system. The method involves the emplacement of a translucent document, such as ordinary bond paper, over a field of individual light sources laid out in some predefined pattern which effects correspondence between the sources and indicia which is usually included on the document obverse surface. The copulative probe is positioned, usually by the being's hand, so as to receive some part of the light rays which permeate the paper and to convert the energy into a pattern of electrical signals which tell-tale which particular light element in the field of sources has been selected. The light rays which diffuse through the document also act to provide visible energy which can be perceived by the being to help guide the probe placement for strongest signal response.