Interactive book and toy

Abstract

Interactive book and toy assemblies are described. One embodiment relates to an interactive book and toy device including a book having a plurality of pages with text and pictures thereon. A controller is mounted on the book. The device also includes a toy having a speaker positioned therein. The device also includes a connection mechanism adapted to electrically couple the book to the toy. The connection mechanism is also adapted to physically secure the book to the toy. The controller is adapted to transmit a signal to the speaker in the toy, through the connection mechanism, in response to activation of a switch in the book. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . A device comprising: 
 a book including a plurality of pages having text and pictures thereon;    a controller mounted on the book;    a toy including a speaker positioned therein;    a connection mechanism adapted to electrically couple the book to the toy, the connection mechanism also adapted to physically secure the book to the toy; and    wherein the controller is adapted to transmit a signal to the speaker in the toy, through the connection mechanism, in response to activation of at least one switch in the book.    
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1:   wherein the switch is adapted to be activated by the application of a sufficient pressure to a location on a page that includes at least one of the text and pictures;    wherein the controller includes memory;    wherein in response to activation of the switch, the controller accesses information from the memory, the information related to the at least one of the text and pictures at the location on the page; and    wherein the signal directs the speaker to play at least one of speech and music related to the information.    
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply positioned in the toy.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the book further includes a front cover and a back cover, the device further comprising a plurality of pressure switches positioned in the front cover and in the back cover  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism comprises a plurality of snap connectors, each snap connector including a male shaped portion and a female shaped portion.  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the connection mechanism includes two snap connectors coupling the toy and front cover, and two snap connectors coupling the toy and back cover.  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein one of the front cover and the back cover includes two male portions of the snap connectors, and the other of the front cover and the back cover includes two female portions of the snap connectors.  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the toy comprises an animal shape having arms and legs, and wherein the connection mechanism is attached to the arms.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is adapted to permit repeated connection and disconnection of the book and toy.  
   
   
       10 . A device comprising: 
 a book including front and back covers and a plurality of pages including text and pictures relating to a story;    a plurality of switches in each of the front and back covers, wherein the switches are activated by the application of a sufficient pressure to various locations on the pages;    a controller mounted on the book;    a toy in the form of an animal;    a speaker positioned within the toy;    a power supply positioned within the toy;    a connection mechanism adapted to electrically couple the book to the toy, the connection also adapted to physically secure the book to the toy; and    wherein the controller is adapted to transmit a signal to the speaker in the toy, through the connection, in response to activation of one or more of the switches.    
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 10:   wherein the controller includes memory;    wherein in response to activation of one of the switches, the controller accesses information in the memory, the information related to the at least one of the text and pictures at the location on the page wherein sufficient pressure was applied; and    wherein the signal directs the speaker to play at least one of speech and music related to the information.    
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the connection mechanism comprises a plurality of snap connectors, each snap connector including a male shaped portion and a female shaped portion.  
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the connection mechanism includes two snap connectors coupling the toy and front cover, and two snap connectors coupling the toy and back cover.  
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the front cover and the back cover includes two male portions of the snap connectors, and the other of the front cover and the back cover includes two female portions of the snap connectors.  
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of additional switches, the additional switches being magnetically activated switches, wherein the additional switches are adapted to transmit a signal to the controller when the pages are turned.  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising: 
 physically securing a book to a toy through a connection mechanism comprising a first portion connected to the toy and a second portion connected to the book;    applying power to a controller on the book, the power being transmitted through a first portion of the connection mechanism;    applying pressure to a position on a page in the book and transmitting an input signal to the controller on the book in response to the pressure applied to the position on the page in the book; and    generating an output signal in the controller on the book in response to the input signal, and delivering the output signal through a second portion of the connection mechanism to a speaker positioned in the toy.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16:   wherein the page in the book includes at least one of text and pictures relating to a story;    wherein the controller includes memory;    wherein the generating an output signal in the controller comprises accessing information related to the story from the memory, the information related to the at least one of text and pictures at the position on the page where the pressure was applied; and    wherein the output signal directs the speaker to play at least one of speech and music related to the information.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising using a plurality of snap connectors as the connection mechanism and coupling a first portion of each of the snap connectors to the toy and a second portion of each of the snap connectors to the book.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising removing the book from the toy and positioning another book on the toy.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising sensing a page turn in the book using a magnetic sensor positioned in the book.