Electronic teaching apparatus

Claim 2

A self contained electronic apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of pictorial representations; (b) operator input means responsive to selection by an operator of particular ones of said pictorial representations for generating digital input signals. (c) means for storing digital data including digital speech data representative of descriptive words in a human language for each of said plurality of pictorial representations; (d) means responsive to said digital input signals for selectively accessing stored digital speech data corresponding to said selection; (e) speech synthesis means for converting accessed digital speech data into analog signals representative of an audible presentation of said descriptive words; and (f) means for converting said analog signals into audible speech.

Claim 3

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said plurality of pictorial representations comprises a plurality of printed pictorial representations.

Claim 4

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said operator input means comprises a keyboard.

Claim 5

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said means for storing digital data comprises nonvolatile memory means.

Claim 6

'The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said selective accessing means comprises a microprocessor means.

Claim 7

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said speech synthesis-means comprises a linear predictive speech synthesizer.

Claim 8

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said speech synthesis means is integratable upon a single semiconductive substrate.

Claim 9

' The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said means for converting said analog signals into audible speech comprises a speaker.

Claim 10

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said descriptive words include the spelling of the object depicted in each of said plurality of pictorial representations.

Claim 11

An electronic system comprising: (a) a plurality of similar members each having a plurality of distinct pictorial representations depicted thereon and means indicative of a unique code indicative of said distinct pictorial representations; (b) means for receiving said members, including means responsive to said unique code for generating control signals; (c) operator input means responsive to selection by an operator of particular ones of said plurality of distinct pictorial representations for generating digital input signals; (d) means for storing digital data including digital speech data representative of descriptive words - in a human language for each of said plurality of distinct pictorial representations depicted upon said plurality of similar members; (e) means responsive to said input signals and said control signals for selectively accessing stored digital data corresponding to said selection; (f) speech synthesis means for converting accessed digital data into analog signals representative of an audible presentation of said descriptive words; and (g) means for converting said analog symbols into audible speech.

Claim 12

An electronic system comprising: (a) a plurality of similar members each having a plurality of distinct pictorial representations depicted thereon and means indicative of a unique code indicative of said distinct pictorial representations; (b) means for receiving said members, including means responsive to said unique code for generating control signals; (c) operator input means responsive to selection by an operator of particular ones of said plurality of distinct pictorial representations for generating digital input signals; (d) means for storing digital data including digital speech data representative of descriptive words - in a human language for each of said plurality of distinct pictorial representations depicted upon said plurality of similar members; (e) means responsive to said input signals and said control signals for selectively accessing stored digital data corresponding to said selection; (f) speech synthesis means for converting accessed digital data into analog signals representative of an audible presentation of said descriptive words; and (g) means for converting said analog symbols into audible speech.

Claim 13

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said plurality of members and said plurality of distinct pictorial representations comprise a plurality of flexible overlays and printed pictorial representations.

Claim 14

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said operator input means comprises a keyboard.

Claim 15

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said means for storing digital data comprises nonvolatile memory means.

Claim 16

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said selective accessing means comprises a microprocessor means.

Claim 17

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said speech synthesis means comprises a linear predictive speech synthesizer.

Claim 18

An electronic system according to Claim 15, wherein said speech synthesis means is integratable upon a single semiconductive substrate.

Claim 19

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said means for converting said analog signals into audible speech comprises a speaker.

Claim 20

An electronic system according to Claim 10, wherein said descriptive words include the spelling of the object depicted in each of said plurality of pictorial representations.

Claim 21

A self contained electronic learning aid comprising: (a) a plurality of pictorial representations; (b) means for storing digital data including digital speech data representative of descriptive words in a human language for each of said plurality of pictorial representations and a fixed set of instructions for controlling the operation of said learning aid; (c) means responsive to said fixed set of instructions for selectively accessing said stored digital speech data; (d) speech synthesis means for converting accessed digital speech data into analog signals representative of an audible presentation of said descriptive words for a selected pictorial representation; (e) means for converting said analog signals into audible speech; (f) operator input means responsive to selection by an operator of a particular pictorial representation for generating input signals; and ( g ) means responsive to said input signals and said fixed set of instructions for informing an operator of said learning aid if said particular pictorial representation is said selected pictorial representation.

Claim 22

A self contained electronic learning aid comprising: (a) a plurality of pictorial representations; (b) means for storing digital data including digital speech data representative of descriptive words in a human language for each of said plurality of pictorial representations and a fixed set of instructions for controlling the operation of said learning aid; (c) means responsive to said fixed set of instructions for selectively accessing said stored digital speech data; (d) speech synthesis means for converting accessed digital speech data into analog signals representative of an audible presentation of said descriptive words for a selected pictorial representation; (e) means for converting said analog signals into audible speech; (f) operator input means responsive to selection by an operator of a particular pictorial representation for generating input signals; and ( g ) means responsive to said input signals and said fixed set of instructions for informing an operator of said learning aid if said particular pictorial representation is said selected pictorial representation.

Claim 23

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said plurality of pictorial representations comprises a plurality of printed, pictorial representations.

Claim 24

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said operator input means comprises a keyboard.

Claim 25

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said means for storing digital data comprises nonvolatile memory means.

Claim 26

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said selective accessing means comprises, a microprocessor means.

Claim 27

The electronic apparatus according to Claim,19, wherein said speech synthesis means comprises a linear predictive speech synthesizer.

Claim 28

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said speech synthesis means is integratable upon a single semiconductive substrate.

Claim 29

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said means for converting said analog signals into audible speech comprises a speaker.

Claim 30

The electronic apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said descriptive words include the spelling of the object depicted in each of said plurality of pictorial representations.