US Patent 7567221 Electronic book with a built-in card scanner

An electronic book includes a housing that defines a card slot. A screen display is mounted on the housing. Microprocessor circuitry is positioned in the housing to control operation of the electronic book. A card scanner is mounted in the housing and is configured to scan a card inserted into the card slot and to convert a two-dimensional pattern on the card into data signals. The card scanner is connected to the microprocessor circuitry, which is configured to convert the data signals into image data to be viewed on the screen display.