Method and system for interactive toys

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for an interactive toy which synthesizes sound in real time in response to changing events. At least one sensor provides continuous motion information, including at least information related to the angular position and the velocity of at least one toy portion's motion relative to a second toy portion. Each toy portion resembles portions of a vehicle. A memory is used to store data relating to a plurality of play scenarios as well as to store information related to a user's play pattern. A processor is coupled to the memory and the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to select one of the play scenarios based on at least the continuous motion information and to produce synthesized sounds resembling sounds made by real versions of at least one of the two toy portions in response to at least the continuous motion information, the play pattern information, and the selected play scenario.

Description

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 089,969 filed on Jun. 19, 1998. The contents of that application, in its entirety, is hereby incorporated by reference.[0002] The present invention relates to methods and systems for interactive toys, and in particular, to methods and systems toy sound generation.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003] Great efforts have been expended on making toys more fun and more stimulating. Typically, toys are either "reproductions" of real objects, such as jets, cars, and dolls, or are imagined-type objects, such as aliens, space ships, and the like. To make these toys more interesting to children, additional features have been added to toys to make them seem more active and real. For example, toys, such as dolls, have been equipped with devices for reproducing prerecorded or predetermined crying sounds. However, prior art toys still provide inadequate simulation of the reproduced object.[0004] One dis...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, prior art toys still provide inadequate simulation of the reproduced object.

One disadvantage of conventional toy sound generation systems is that they simply play back a limited set of prerecorded sounds.

Thus, prior art toys are disadvantageously limited to reproducing a limited prerecorded or predetermined vocabulary of sounds in response to a corresponding single stimulus.

This limitation greatly reduces toy realism, thus reducing the toy "fun factor."

These motorized toys are disadvantageously expensive and are not suitable for younger children or for non-motorized, non-remote control applications.

Furthermore, those prior art toys that emit a sound in response to the movement of the toy or pressure on the toy typically incorporate very simple sensors that provide limited information.

Furthermore, the sensors used in prior art toys typically fail to impart information on the three dimensional, X,Y,Z motion of the toy or of a portion of the toy.

Another disadvantage of prior art toys, such as toy action figures, is their limited modularity.

Thus, if an action figure includes electronic circuits for detecting pressure on the action figure or for producing audio signals, those electronics cannot be reused in another action figure.

Thus, if a child has ten electronic action figures then the toy purchaser must wastefully pay for ten sets of electronics included in the corresponding action figures.

In addition, many prior art toys that include movable elements use joints that allow only limited ranges of motion.

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