Importance

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Abstract

A picture or photo album is provided with an audio module for recording (optionally), storing and playing back audio messages associated with the pictures contained thereby. The audio module responds to predetermined control signals indicating that the album has been opened to a particular page to automatically play back a prerecorded message associated with the information displayed on that page. Such control signals are produced by different combinations or codes of output signals provided by a plurality of photodetectors mounted in the album cover. Radiant energy emitted by one or more light sources, also mounted in the album cover, is optically coupled to the photodetectors by light pipes mounted on or integral with each album page. As each album page is turned, the light pipe on that page de-couples the light source from a photodetector, thereby changing the output code of the photodetectors. According to a preferred embodiment, user-activated light source/photodetector pairs are disposed at spaced locations in the album cover to provide the user with a means for indicating to an audio control system which one of a plurality of different pictures on the same page calls for the playback of an audio message.

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First Claim