Recordable greeting card with user-definable touch zones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027571-B2
Application number	US-201816155865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A greeting card and associated techniques for storing audio tracks corresponding to definable touch zones of the greeting card is provided. In one aspect, the greeting card includes a body for securing a photograph thereon. A sensor array can be disposed within the body of the greeting card to detect touch gestures through the secured photograph, among other things. The greeting card can include a microprocessor that enables touch zones to be defined via the sensor array, such that a touch zone can correspond to various objects depicted on the card or a photograph secured thereon. Among other things, the greeting card can include a microphone for recording an audio track corresponding to each generated touch zone, a speaker for playing back an audio track corresponding to a selected touch zone, and a memory for storing touch zones and/or associated audio tracks.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A greeting card having user-definable touch zones, the greeting card comprising:
a body having at least a first layer that is at least partially affixed to a second layer, wherein the body includes at least one fold that defines each of a cover portion and a content portion of the greeting card, wherein based on the at least one fold, the greeting card is adapted to open to an open state that exposes the content portion and close to a closed state that hides the content portion with the cover portion; and
an audible greeting assembly at least partially disposed within the body between the first layer and the second layer, the audible greeting assembly including:
a sensor array having a plurality of sensors operable to detect touch gestures through at least the first layer,
a microprocessor coupled to the sensor array and configured to generate a touch zone based on a determination that a detected touch gesture encircles a set of sensors of the plurality of sensors, wherein the generated touch zone corresponds to the encircled set of sensors,
a memory coupled to the microprocessor and configured to store the generated touch zone,
a microphone coupled to the microprocessor and operable to receive, based on the generation of the touch zone, an associated audio track for storage in the memory, and
a sliding switch, coupled to the cover portion and the microprocessor, the microprocessor being further configured to determine that the greeting card is in one of the open state and the closed state based on a corresponding position of the sliding switch, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to store the generated touch zone in a first segment of the memory when generated while the greeting card is in the closed state and in a second segment of the memory when generated while the greeting card is in the open state.

2. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first layer includes a first outer face and a first inner face, at least a portion of the second layer includes a second outer face and a second inner face, and the first layer is at least partially affixed to the second layer via the first and second inner faces.

3. The greeting card of claim 2 , the audible greeting assembly further including:
a selectively accessible chamber presented through an opening of the second outer face, the selectively accessible chamber adapted to house a power supply for selectively providing a current to the audible greeting assembly.

4. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors is further operable to detect the touch gestures through the first layer and a portion of the second layer that corresponds to the cover portion when the greeting card is in the closed state.

5. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to generate a different touch zone based on another determination that another detected touch gesture encircles a different set of sensors of the plurality of sensors, wherein the generated different touch zone corresponds to the encircled different set of sensors, wherein the microphone is operable to receive, based on the generation of the different touch zone, an associated different audio track for storage in the memory.

6. The greeting card of claim 5 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to determine that the encircled different set of sensors corresponding to the generated different touch zone and the encircled set of sensors corresponding to the generated touch zone each include a common subset of sensors, and based on the determination, remove the common subset of sensors from the encircled set of sensors corresponding to the generated touch zone while the common subset of sensors continue to correspond with the encircled different set of sensors.

7. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to activate the microphone to receive the associated audio track based on the determination that the detected touch gesture encircles the set of sensors.

8. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to select the generated touch zone based on a determination that another detected touch gesture corresponds to one of the corresponding encircled set of sensors.

9. The greeting card of claim 8 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to play back, via a speaker coupled thereto, the stored audio track associated with the generated touch zone based on the selection.

10. The greeting card of claim 8 , further comprising:
a switch module coupled to the microprocessor and operable to toggle between at least a recording mode and a playback mode of the microprocessor, wherein the recording mode enables the generation of the touch zone, and the playback mode enables the selection of the generated touch zone.

11. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the detected touch gesture defines a path that encircles the set of sensors, and wherein the generated touch zone further corresponds to another set of sensors that corresponds to the defined path.

12. The greeting card of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are further operable to detect touch gestures through a photograph removably secured to the first layer.

Assignees

• Hallmark Cards

Inventors

• Garbos Jennifer R
• Richmond Tyler James
• Shields Christopher Jason
• Pedersen Nicholas
• Caldwell Danielle M

Classifications

• B42D15/047 Primary

  with photographs or slides · CPC title

• B42D15/042

  Foldable cards or sheets (B42D15/045 and B42D15/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• B42D15/022

  combined with permanently fastened sound-producing or light-emitting means or carrying sound records · CPC title