Educational toy set

Abstract

The present invention relates to educational toy sets and methods for generating an auditive signal. An educational toy set according to the present invention comprises a shape 2, 2′, 3, 4 having at least one shape-identifier 2, 1, 2, 2 corresponding to one or more shape-features. The toy set further comprises an identification element having at least one reader to detect and/or activate at least one shape-identifier inside an effective range of the at least one reader and a processing unit adapted at processing a detecting and/or activating of at least one shape-identifier by the reader. It also comprises an output unit adapted at giving an auditive input reflective of the processing of said detecting and/or activating in conjunction with the one or more shape-features.

1 . An educational toy set comprising:
 a. a shape ( 2 ,  2 ′,  3 ,  4 ) having at least one shape-identifier ( 2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 ) corresponding to one or more shape feature(s);   b. a shape-identification element having at least one reader ( 10 ,  10 ′) to detect and/or activate at least one shape-identifier inside an effective range of the at least one reader;   c. a processing unit ( 11 ), adapted at processing a detecting and/or activating of at least one shape-identifier ( 2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 ) by the reader ( 10 ,  10 ′), and   d. an output unit ( 17 ), adapted at giving an auditive output, reflective of the processing of said detecting and/or activating in conjunction with the one or more shape feature(s).   
     
     
         2 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of shapes ( 2 ,  2 ′,  3 ,  4 ), each having at least one shape-identifier ( 2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 ) corresponding to one or more shape feature(s). 
     
     
         3 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of shape-identification elements each having at least one reader and each having an effective range of the at least one reader. 
     
     
         4 . The educational toy set of  claim 3 , where the output is reflective of a feature of the plurality of shape-identification elements has performed the detecting and/or activating of at least one shape-identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , comprising a memory unit for storing a sequence of detecting and/or activating of at least one shape-identifier(s) by any one number of reader(s). 
     
     
         6 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , comprising an interface for connecting the processing unit with at least one further information processing device. 
     
     
         7 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of effective ranges, each of a particular reader, and the effective ranges are adjusted so that they essentially do not overlap. 
     
     
         8 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , wherein the output in conjunction with the one or more shape feature(s) is reflective of a feature such as shape form value, number value, letter value, picture value of the shape. 
     
     
         9 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , whereby shape-identification element comprises at least one shape receptacle adapted at receiving a shape such as to bring the shape into an effective range associated with said shape receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , whereby the shape has a shape surface essentially made of wood. 
     
     
         11 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , whereby the processing unit is further adapted at prompting a user by means of auditive output by the output unit. 
     
     
         12 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , whereby the shape-identification element(s), the processing unit and the output unit, and preferably also the shape receptacle, are part of a play tray ( 1 ) and the shape(s) are separate and adapted to be brought into an effective range of at least one reader inside the play tray, in particular by fitting a shape into a shape receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The educational toy set of  claim 1 , whereby at least two of a plurality of shapes are designed to be stackable. 
     
     
         14 . A method for generating an auditive output by an educational toy set according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. triggering a detecting and/or activating of at least one shape-identifier by bringing at least one shape inside an effective range of the least one reader;   b. processing the triggering dependent on at least one parameter dependent on either one or a combination of: shape feature(s), number of shape-identifier(s), position of the reader; time of reading;   C. outputting an auditive output by means of an output unit as a result of that processing.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the shape feature(s) are reflective of any one or a combination of: shape form value, number value, letter value, picture value of the shape and the processing comprises setting that value in context with a sequence of shape feature(s) to generate a meaningful output reflective of this sequence in the form of an auditive output. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , where the processing unit matches the sequence of shape feature(s) with a set of predetermined operations stored in a memory. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , where the processing unit prompts an error notification if a sequence of one or more shape feature(s) does not match a predetermined operation stored in a memory.