Media playback device and media carrier for this purpose

Abstract

Media playback device (10), especially for children, with the following features: a. the media playback device (10) has at least one loudspeaker (12), and b. the media playback device (10) has at least one coupling device (20) for coupling a media carrier (100), and c. the media playback device (10) is designed to play media that is read from the media carrier (100), d. the media playback device (10) has a connection device (30) for data exchange between the playback device (10) and the media carrier (100), characterized by the following feature: e.The coupling device (20) has a device-side coupling geometry (22) which is designed to enable the coupling of a media carrier (100) by means of a movement sequence in which the media carrier (100) aligned in a coupling orientation is brought into engagement with a coupling device (20) in the extension direction of a coupling axis (2) and is subsequently locked to the media playback device (10) by means of a rotational movement about the coupling axis (2).

Description

SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART The present invention relates to a media playback device, in particular for children, as well as an associated media carrier and a system comprising both components. In the field of children's audio devices, systems are known where content playback is controlled by placing physical figures on the device. Well-known solutions utilize NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, for example, enabling contactless identification of the figure. The figure is often held in place by simple magnetic force, and its orientation is irrelevant to its function. The content is typically retrieved from the internet based on a unique identifier assigned to the figure. However, the problem is that either a permanent online connection is required to reload content, or the mechanical stress on the contacts leads to high wear and tear if handled improperly by children. TASK AND SOLUTION The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a media playback system for children that enables particularly robust, fault-tolerant and intuitive operation. A media playback device is proposed, specifically designed for use by children. The device has at least one loudspeaker for sound output and at least one coupling device for physically receiving a media carrier, particularly in the form of a toy figure. This media playback device can be functionally configured to play media content read directly from the connected media carrier. To enable the necessary communication, the playback device is equipped with a connection device for data exchange between the device and the media carrier. The media playback device is preferably designed as a purely audio device, but can also include a screen for video playback. A key feature of the invention lies in the specific design of the coupling device, which has a device-side coupling geometry. This geometry is structurally shaped in such a way that it allows the coupling of a media carrier only through a precisely defined, at least two-stage movement sequence. In a first step, the media carrier, provided it is in a precisely defined coupling orientation, is brought into engagement with the coupling device in the direction of extension of a coupling axis and, in particular, is inserted into a recess. This coupling axis is understood to be the central vertical axis of the receptacle, along which the media carrier is inserted axially – that is, by a perpendicular insertion movement.Following this axial movement phase, a second step enables a rotational movement of the media carrier around this same coupling axis, thereby securely locking the media carrier to the media playback device. A transitional movement phase with superimposed axial and rotational movements may be provided between these two phases. The coupling geometry provides mechanical guidance that not only guarantees a secure hold but also gives clear haptic feedback confirming a correct connection. Since the figure must first be inserted and then rotated, it is ensured that the sensitive components of the connection device only make full contact in the final, stabilized position. This protects the system from mechanical wear and incorrect operation, as arbitrary insertion is mechanically prevented by the specific coupling orientation and axial guidance. The coupling geometry acts as a stable anchor point that absorbs the entire mechanical load, thus decoupling the electrical interface from external forces. In a further development of the invention, the coupling device includes a magnetic alignment device. This alignment device is specifically designed to apply a magnetic alignment force to a media carrier, particularly in the direction of the correct coupling alignment, as it approaches the media playback device. This magnetic alignment device refers in particular to polarized magnets arranged both in the mounting bracket of the playback device and in the base of the media carrier. Preferably, at least two magnets are provided, one with its north pole pointing towards the media carrier and the other with its south pole. The essential technical advantage of an arrangement with a magnetic alignment device lies in its active guiding function. The magnets serve the purpose of making it easier for the child to find the correct rotational position of the media carrier relative to the device's coupling geometry. In practical operation, this means that the figure is actively drawn into the single defined angular position, or one of a few defined angular positions, necessary for the subsequent axial engagement even before the actual mechanical contact.This achieves a first stage of intuitive user guidance, which helps especially children with limited fine motor skills to correctly position the media carrier without prolonged searching or trial and error. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, a magnetic alignment device, preferably with a weaker magnetic force than the one described above, may be used to apply force to the media carrier in the direction of its locked orientation. This can help the child find the correct rotational position after the media carrier has been correctly inserted. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coupling geometry is designed such that the media carrier can only engage with the coupling geometry in exactly one single, precisely defined coupling orientation. This specific geometric constraint results in a unique orientation constraint for the system. While the previously described magnetic force guides the media carrier in the correct direction beforehand, the coupling geometry here acts as a final mechanical instance that physically blocks insertion at an incorrect angle. While designs with multiple possible rotational positions are also possible, reducing the number of permissible rotational positions offers advantages with regard to data transmission. This ensures that the subsequent rotational movement for locking always begins from the same defined starting point, which improves the reproducibility and longevity of the electrical contact. In a further development of the invention, the previously described precise orientation of the media carrier is achieved through specific structural features within the coupling geometry. For this purpose, the coupling geometry has at least two guide elements specifically designed to guide the media carrier securely during the first step of the coupling process – that is, while it is being lowered into the receptacle in the direction of extension of the coupling axis. These at least two guide elements are arranged distributed around the circumference of the coupling device, for example, two guide elements that are offset from each other by 180°. The guiding elements are physical structures such as ridges, grooves, or projections that interact with corresponding counterparts on the media carrier. These guiding elements can, in particular, be designed as projections that engage in bayonet slots on the media carrier. The arrangement can be chosen to function as a mechanical coding system, ensuring that the media carrier can only engage with the coupling geometry in one precisely defined coupling orientation. The technical advantage of this design lies in preventing operating errors caused by geometric asymmetry. By strategically distributing the guide elements around the circumference—for example, through varying distances between the elements or different widths of the guide slots—a "key and lock principle" is created. A media carrier inserted at an incorrect angle cannot even penetrate axially into the coupling device, as the guide elements physically block its path. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coupling geometry comprises at least two guide elements specifically designed to guide the media carrier during rotation. These guide elements can be identical to the guide elements mentioned above. These elements serve for axial guidance in the first movement phase and / or for guidance during the rotational movement of the final movement phase. In a particularly advantageous design, the at least two guide elements are arranged axially offset from each other with respect to the coupling axis. This axial offset refers to a height difference in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the coupling device. The technical advantage of this axially offset arrangement lies in its added safety against incorrect operation. The different height levels of the guide elements – for example, by positioning a right-hand element higher than a left-hand one – create a mechanical lock. This height difference inherently prevents rotation and thus locking in the wrong orientation, as the media carrier can only be rotated when its corresponding counterparts engage with the offset guide elements, similar to a bayonet fitting. In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a media playback device in which the connection device has a plurality of galvanically conductive contact surfaces for contacting the media carrier. The term "galvanically conductive contact surfaces" refers to an electrical interface that establishes direct metallic contact between the playback device and the media carrier. This contrasts with contactless transmission methods such as NFC or RFID. The technical advantage of this direct contact lies in the reliability of the data exchange and the ability to transmit large amounts of data, thus enabling audio data to be read directly from a local storage location on the media carrier without the need for an internet connection or cloud access. This also simplifies the process of supplying power to sensors and actuators on the media carrier. In a further development of the invention, at least one of these contact surfaces is arranged radially spaced from the coupling axis and is explicitly not designed as a ring-shaped contact surface surrounding the coupling axis. Preferably, a plurality of contact surfaces, in particular preferably between 2 and 6 contact surfaces, are arranged eccentrically. Preferably, at least three of the contact surfaces are arranged in a linear orientation. While rotationally symmetrical ring contacts would allow a connection at any angular angle, the arrangement preferred here forces a specific orientation. The radial distance from the central axis and the absence of a closed ring shape ensure that electrical contact between the device and the media carrier is established only when both components are in the precisely intended locking position. If such a design is provided with a set of contact surfaces, some of which are not rotationally symmetrical, the use of a coupling geometry that only allows coupling in one rotational position is of particular advantage. Furthermore, the invention relates to an embodiment in which the media playback device has a protective cover. The protective cover is preferably designed to be movable between two positions, namely a first position in which it completely covers the contact surfaces, and a second position in which it exposes the contact surfaces for coupling with the media carrier. This protective device is particularly advantageous for use in children's rooms, as it protects the sensitive galvanic contact surfaces from contamination, dust or mechanical damage from foreign objects when not in use. In a further development of the invention, a displacement section is assigned to the protective cover. This section is arranged within the coupling device such that the media carrier acts directly on this displacement section during its rotational movement. The force exerted in this process mechanically displaces the protective cover from its covering position to the releasing position. This mechanism ensures that the release of the contact surfaces occurs automatically and synchronously with the locking process. The technical advantage lies in its intuitive operation, as the child does not need to operate a separate release mechanism for the contacts. The release of the electrical interface is directly coupled to the correct mechanical movement sequence. Furthermore, the invention relates to an embodiment in which the coupling geometry includes a recess for at least partially receiving a coupling base of the media carrier. This recess serves as the central mounting point for the playback device and forms the physical space into which the base of the figurative media carrier is inserted during the coupling process. This recessed design stabilizes the media carrier laterally during axial insertion, increasing the mechanical robustness of the connection. The recess acts as a protective chamber for the components of the coupling and connection device within, ensuring that the coupling base of the media carrier is securely and positively enclosed. This significantly contributes to the effective transfer of leverage forces acting on the figure into the housing of the playback device, instead of stressing the sensitive contact areas. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a raised area is provided at the bottom of the previously described recess. This raised area serves as a specific contact island within the recess, on which the galvanic contact surfaces are arranged. This design of the bottom of the receiving recess with at least two levels offers a significant technical protection mechanism. By raising the contact island relative to the lowest point of the recess, it is ensured that any foreign matter, dust, or liquids that may have entered the receiving recess preferably collect in the lower-lying edge regions instead of directly wetting the electrical contacts. The media playback device preferably includes a control unit. This control unit contains the electronic components necessary for reading audio data from the media carrier and playing back that audio data. The control unit also receives control signals generated by operating elements such as buttons on the device. The control unit is preferably configured to generate and output a specific coupling signal during the establishment of the data connection to the media carrier. This signal can be, in particular, a visual signal, such as the illumination of a light unit at the base, or an audio signal. It can also be a signal emitted directly from the media carrier via a speaker or LED. Such a coupling signal is immediate system-side feedback to the user, indicating that the media carrier has not only been mechanically locked correctly, but also that the electrical connection has been successfully established and the media carrier has been recognized by the system. This allows the child operating the device to immediately recognize the successful coupling and avoid using force under the mistaken belief that the target position has not yet been reached. The invention further relates to a media carrier specifically designed for use with a media playback device of the type described above. The media carrier is structurally designed for coupling to a coupling device of the media playback device and has its own connection device that enables data exchange between the playback device and the media carrier. This connection device is understood to be the interface on the media carrier side, through which the content stored on the media carrier is transferred to the playback device. Preferably, this interface consists of spring-loaded contact pins, while on the playback device side only contact surfaces are provided, which are less sensitive during operation.However, a reverse configuration can also be useful, where the spring-loaded contact pins are located on the side of the playback device and the simple contact surfaces are on the media carriers, since the contact pins are somewhat more expensive and it therefore saves costs to provide them only once on the device instead of equipping each media carrier with them. This aspect of the invention is characterized by the fact that the media carrier has a coupling geometry on the media carrier side. This geometry, as a corresponding counterpart to the device-side geometry, is designed to enable the coupling of the media carrier by a precisely guided, two-stage movement sequence. In a first step, the media carrier, provided it is in a precisely defined coupling orientation, is brought into engagement with the coupling device on the media playback device in the extension direction of a coupling axis. Only after this axial insertion is a rotational movement of the media carrier around the coupling axis enabled in a second step, thereby securely locking the media carrier to the device. This design of the media carrier creates a robust coupling system that is particularly suitable for handling by children. The media carrier acts as an active part of the mechanical locking system, with the rotational movement – ​​for example, by approximately 20 to 30 degrees – creating a secure mechanical connection. A key advantage is that the media carrier's geometry automatically ensures correct positioning, thus preventing operating errors and the associated mechanical stress on the electrical connection. The coupling orientation ensures that the media carrier can preferably only be coupled to the device in a single, functionally correct orientation. Furthermore, the coupling geometry of the media carrier is preferably designed to correspond to the media playback device. The above description of the media playback device is therefore also disclosed for the media carrier. In a further development of the invention, the media carrier is provided with a magnetic alignment device. This device is specifically designed to actively apply a magnetic alignment force to the media carrier as it approaches the coupling device of the media playback unit, thereby forcing it into the correct coupling orientation. The magnetic alignment device preferably comprises polarized magnets arranged in the base of the media carrier, which interact with corresponding magnets in the playback unit. The technical advantage lies in the fact that the media carrier is drawn into a single, defined angular position even before mechanical contact, which constitutes an active guiding function and significantly simplifies operation, especially for children.As with the playback device, an alternative or additional magnetic alignment device can be provided, which promotes the locked alignment, i.e., supports the rotational movement in the direction of the locked end position with a magnetic force. Furthermore, the invention relates to an embodiment in which the media carrier has local storage for audio data, wherein this storage can in particular have a size of at least 64 MB. Preferably, however, a larger storage capacity of 128 MB or more is provided. Audiobooks, radio plays, or music, in particular, can be stored on this storage. This offers the significant advantage that the system can be operated completely offline, since the data is read directly from the media carrier and no reloading of content via a cloud or an internet connection is required. In a further advantageous embodiment, the connection device of the media carrier has multiple galvanically conductive contact surfaces designed to connect to the corresponding contact surfaces of the media playback device. These contact surfaces form the electrical interface on the media carrier side. The use of galvanically conductive surfaces establishes a direct physical contact for data transmission, providing a robust and interference-free alternative to wireless systems. The arrangement of these contact surfaces corresponds to the mechanical end position of the locking system, ensuring that electrical current flow is only permitted when the media carrier is securely fixed to the device. In a further development of the invention, the coupling geometry on the media carrier side has at least one bayonet groove. This groove is structurally shaped such that it comprises a first groove section aligned in the coupling direction and a second groove section angled in the opposite direction. The coupling direction is understood to be the axial direction of movement along the coupling axis in which the media carrier is initially inserted into the playback device. The angled groove section then guides the media carrier into the final locking position during the rotational movement. This positive guidance ensures that the media carrier is mechanically stabilized and that the electrical contacts engage in a defined and reproducible manner. In a further advantageous embodiment, the media carrier has a base on which the coupling geometry is provided. The base preferably has a rotationally symmetrical and, in particular, preferably cylindrical or conical shape. Furthermore, the media carrier preferably has a figuratively designed section that is firmly connected to the base. The figuratively designed section is understood to be, in particular, a three-dimensional figure that can, for example, depict Christian motifs such as biblical figures or animals. The base serves as a technical foundation, encompassing the coupling interface and electronic components, while the figurative section promotes child-friendly handling and the play value of the media carrier. According to a further development of the invention, the storage medium of the media carrier is arranged entirely within the base. This offers the technical advantage that the sensitive electronics and the data storage are housed in the solid and mechanically stable part of the media carrier. This effectively protects the storage medium from leverage forces or mechanical impacts that could be introduced via the figurative section during gameplay or pairing. Furthermore, arranging the storage medium within the base allows for simplified manufacturing, since the media carrier can comprise a single base including all technical components, onto which a suitable figure is attached, depending on the specific media carrier. Although the audio output is primarily via the media playback device, in another embodiment the media carrier can have at least one of its own output devices, which can be designed, in particular, as a light source or a loudspeaker. Such an output device is understood to be an active component of the media carrier that, for example, generates visual effects corresponding to the audio content or reproduces supplementary acoustic signals directly at the figure. This expands the interactive possibilities of the system and increases immersion for the child. Finally, the invention relates to a further development in which the media carrier has at least one switch. Activation of this switch, for example by pressing a section of the figure, can be transmitted to the media playback device via the connection device. In this context, "switch" refers to all technical devices that manually interrupt or otherwise influence an electrical circuit. This turns the figure itself into a control element for the playback device. For example, by interacting with the figure, the child can trigger functions such as starting, stopping, or changing chapters of the audio playback, with the switching signal being transmitted to the playback device's control unit primarily via the contact surfaces. Regarding the design of the base, the following dimensions have proven advantageous. The base of the media carrier preferably has an outer diameter between 44 mm and 48 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the base can have a height between 8 mm and 12 mm. This dimensioning ensures that the media carrier provides sufficient surface area and stability for the figurative section and is compact enough to be securely gripped by children and inserted into the playback device. A further essential functional feature of this design lies in the construction of the mechanical locking mechanism. For this purpose, the base preferably has a circumferentially oriented first groove section of a bayonet slot and a circumferentially oriented second groove section.The bayonet slots are offset from each other, preferably by 180°, and form the media-side counterpart to the guide elements of the playback device. The arrangement of the second slot sections at different height levels relative to the coupling axis is particularly advantageous. The invention further relates to a set consisting of a media playback device and a media carrier, which function as systemically coordinated components. The special feature of this set lies in the synergistic combination of mechanical forced guidance and magnetic support. According to this aspect of the invention, the media playback device and the media carrier have precisely interacting coupling geometries. These are structurally adapted to each other in such a way that they force the coupling of the media carrier to the device by means of the two-stage movement sequence already described. In a first phase, the media carrier, which is in a precisely defined coupling orientation, is brought into engagement with the coupling device of the device in the direction of extension of the coupling axis. In a subsequent second phase, locking to the playback device occurs through a targeted rotational movement about this coupling axis. Preferably, the media playback device and the media carrier have cooperating magnetic alignment devices. These are specifically designed to actively apply a magnetic alignment force to the media carrier as it approaches the device. These magnetic devices are, in particular, polarized magnet pairs that generate a preferred magnetic direction. The technical advantage of this overall system is that the magnetic force pulls the media carrier into the starting position for axial engagement even before mechanical contact, while the mechanical locking mechanism subsequently ensures a robust and permanent connection. Preferably, the magnetic alignment devices are designed such that they inevitably guide the media carrier into precisely one defined coupling orientation as it approaches. The set may include, in particular, a media playback device of the type described above and / or a media carrier of the type described above. According to a further advantageous embodiment, the coupling geometries are adapted to one another such that the rotational movement during the coupling process is limited to an angle of less than 60°, preferably to an angle of less than 40°. In practice, this rotation can be, for example, approximately 20° to 30°. This limitation of the rotation angle enables a particularly fast and intuitive locking action, which is well-suited to children's motor skills and simultaneously guarantees precise alignment of the electrical interface. The invention further relates to a media playback device, which is designed in particular for use by children and has at least one loudspeaker for acoustic playback. Preferably, the media playback device is designed in the manner described above, particularly with regard to the coupling geometry. According to a further aspect of the invention, the device described here is characterized by having at least two coupling devices designed for the simultaneous coupling of a first media carrier and a second media carrier. To enable parallel communication with both carriers, the playback device has corresponding connection devices for data exchange between the device and the respective media carriers. Such a system allows multiple figure media carriers to be placed on the base simultaneously. In the simplest case, one can simply switch between the media carriers to listen to the respective audio content. However, the design with the ability to connect two media carriers simultaneously enables a new level of interactivity, as the device can play the audio data from both media carriers alternately or play audio data that requires both media carriers to be connected at the same time. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the media playback device includes a control unit specifically designed to check logical conditions for playback. The control unit is configured such that it only plays content stored on the first media carrier if the second media carrier is also connected to the media playback device. This technical setup implements a dependency or unlock system. In practical application, this could mean, for example, that a lengthy audiobook on a first character's media carrier will only play if a second character—for instance, a friend character—is present. This allows for playful interactions where a story only continues if two related characters are simultaneously present on the device. The invention further relates to a set consisting of a media playback device and two media carriers. The media playback device is configured such that it has at least two coupling devices for simultaneously receiving a first and a second media carrier. Furthermore, the invention relates to a set comprising a media playback device and a media carrier, in which bidirectional data exchange is used to write to the storage medium of the media carrier. The media playback device is configured for connection with the media carrier, while the media carrier has a storage device on which audio content or an identifier referencing this content is stored. In this context, the media playback device is not only designed to play audio content from the media carrier's memory, but can also actively store data in the media carrier's memory. In particular, the device is configured to store information that references the current playback position. The technical advantage of this solution is that the information about where playback was interrupted remains inextricably linked to the physical figure. If the media is removed from the playback device and reconnected at a later time—or even on a completely different, identical device—the control unit can read the stored playback position and resume playback exactly where it left off. This significantly increases ease of use for the child, as there is no need to manually search for the last heard position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a system according to the invention, consisting of a media playback device and a media carrier, before the coupling process. Fig. 1A shows another perspective view of the media carrier to illustrate the asymmetric coupling geometry. Fig. 2A shows a schematic side view of a media carrier with internal data storage. Fig. 2B shows a bottom view of the media carrier to illustrate the connection device on the media carrier side and the magnetic alignment device. Figs. 3A to 3C show a sequence of the coupling process in a top view, from the first axial insertion to the locked end position after the rotational movement.Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the system in its operational, coupled state. Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of one embodiment of the media player with two coupling devices for simultaneously receiving two media carriers. Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of the media carrier with an integrated output device and a switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION EXAMPLES Fig. 1 shows a media playback system according to the invention in a perspective exploded view. The media playback system essentially consists of a media playback device 10 and an associated media carrier 100. The media playback device 10 has a housing containing a control unit 14 for data processing and playback control. A coupling device 20, designed as a central, circular recess 38 for receiving the media carrier 100, is located on the top of the device. At the bottom of this depression 38, a stepped raised area 40 is provided, on which a plurality of galvanically conductive contact surfaces 32 of a device-side connection device 30 are arranged. This raised arrangement serves to protect the contacts from contamination or liquids that could collect at the lower bottom of the depression. Furthermore, within the recess 38 magnetic alignment device 24 is positioned, which serves to magnetically guide the media carrier 100 into the correct coupling alignment as it approaches. On the inner edge of the recess 38, a device-side coupling geometry 22 with various guide elements 26 and 28 can be seen, which define the mechanical path for the locking process. For acoustic playback, the device has a loudspeaker 12, while an optical element 15 is provided on the front. The media carrier 100 comprises a lower coupling base 102 and a figuratively shaped subsection 106 attached thereto, which in this embodiment is depicted as a donkey. The base 102 has a media carrier-side coupling geometry 122 on its outer circumference, which in particular comprises one or more bayonet slots 128 with two slot sections 128A, 128B. The coupling process is carried out as intended in a two-stage movement sequence: First, the media carrier 100 is lowered axially along the coupling axis 2 in the coupling direction 6 into the recess 38 of the playback device 10 in a precisely defined coupling orientation. During this process, the guide element 28 engages in the groove section 128A of the bayonet slot 128. Only when the base 102 has reached its final depth do the guide elements 28, in conjunction with the groove sections 128B of the bayonet slots 128, enable a guided rotational movement of the media carrier 100 around the coupling axis 2, thereby securely locking it to the media playback device 10. In addition to the illustration in Fig. 1, Fig. 1A shows the media carrier 100 in a perspective rotated about the coupling axis 2 to clarify the asymmetrical arrangement of the bayonet slots 128. While in Fig. 1 the first slot section 128A is visible at a first higher axial level, Fig. 1A illustrates that the opposite slot section 128A is arranged at a correspondingly lower height level. This axial offset corresponds directly to the arrangement of the device-side guide elements 28, which are also positioned at different heights within the coupling device 20. The media carrier 100 can only be fully lowered in the coupling direction 6 or rotated in the lowered state if the specific heights of the slot sections 128A are exactly aligned with the positions of the guide elements 28.Incorrect operation, such as placing the product at an angle of 180°, is thus physically prevented in the first step of the movement sequence. Fig. 2A shows a schematic side view of the media carrier 100, particularly illustrating the internal structure of the base 102. The media carrier 100 comprises the aforementioned figuratively designed section 106, which is firmly connected to the base 102. A storage device 104 is arranged within the base 102, serving to store audio data or an identifier. By fully integrating the storage device 104 into the solid base 102, the electronics are protected from mechanical impacts that could be introduced via the figuratively designed section 106. The media carrier-side connection device 120 protrudes from the underside of the base 102 with its contact surfaces 126 to establish an electrical connection to the playback device.Fig. 2B shows a bottom view of the media carrier 100 to further illustrate the technical interfaces. In this view, the circular base of the plinth 102 is visible, on which the magnetic alignment device 124 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, this alignment device 124 comprises two oppositely magnetic poles, offset radially from the central axis, to effect magnetic pre-alignment when approaching the playback device. The media carrier-side connection device 120 with the contact surfaces 126 is positioned eccentrically to a center point of the plinth 102. These contact surfaces 126 are arranged side by side in a linear arrangement.The media carrier-side coupling geometry with the elements arranged on the outer circumference of the base 102 corresponds to the arrangement of the contact surfaces 126 in such a way that an electrical data flow is only enabled after complete mechanical locking. Figures 3A to 3C show a sequence of the coupling process in a top view, illustrating the transition of the media carrier 100 from the first axial insertion phase to the final mechanical locking on the media playback device 10. Fig. 3A shows the media carrier 100 in a state where it is still above the coupling device and the elements are completely separated. In this phase, as the media carrier 100 approaches the device, the magnetic alignment devices begin to act in order to pull the media carrier 100 into the angular position required for insertion. Fig. 3B shows the specific position actively facilitated by the magnetic alignment devices. In this precisely defined coupling orientation, the coupling geometries on the media carrier side are aligned with the device-side guide elements of the coupling device. Only in this magnetically supported orientation can the axial lowering of the media carrier 100 along the coupling axis 2 into the recess of the media playback device 10 take place. Fig. 3C illustrates the state after axial lowering and the subsequent rotation about the coupling axis 2. Starting from the insertion position reached in Fig. 3B, the media carrier 100 is manually rotated, causing the bayonet slots on the base of the media carrier 100 to engage with the device-side guide elements and securely lock the media carrier 100 onto the media playback device 10. In this final position, the correct alignment for data exchange between the contact surfaces is ensured. In the end position shown in Fig. 3C, the successful mechanical locking and the associated electrical contact are visually signaled to the user. For this purpose, the control unit 14 is configured to generate a coupling signal immediately after a stable data connection is established. In the illustrated embodiment, this signal causes the optical element 15, in the form of a cross on the front of the housing, to light up. This visual feedback confirms to the child operating the device that the media carrier 100 has reached the target position and that communication between the components is active. Once the final position of Fig. 3C and Fig. 4 is reached, a bidirectional data exchange is initiated via the now precisely aligned contact surfaces 32 and 126. The control unit 14 in the media player 10 reads the audio content stored on the memory 104 of the media carrier 100 and plays it back via the loudspeaker 12, if necessary after pressing the play button on the device. In parallel, information such as the current playback position can be transferred from the device back to the writable memory 104 of the media carrier 100 to enable playback to be resumed at exactly the same point later. Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of another advantageous embodiment of the media playback device 10, which is designed for the simultaneous operation of several media carriers. In this embodiment, the media playback device 10 has at least two coupling devices 20A and 20B, which are designed for the simultaneous coupling of a first media carrier 100A and a second media carrier 100B. Each of these media carriers is assigned its own connection device 30A, 30B, in order to enable parallel data exchange between the control unit 14 and the respective storage devices of the media carriers. Media carriers 100A and 100B are represented here as examples of a donkey and an ox, with the system being able to detect the presence of both figures simultaneously thanks to the two separate recordings. In this configuration, the control unit 14 is specifically configured to check logical conditions for playback. Thus, audio content from the first media carrier 100A can only be played if the second media carrier 100B is also correctly connected to the media playback device 10. This enables playful interactions where, for example, a dialogue or a specific chapter of an audio drama is only unlocked when two related characters are present on the device. Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of another advantageous embodiment of the media carrier 100, which has additional interactive functions. As in the previous examples, the media carrier 100 has a base 102 which houses the memory 104 and the media carrier-side connection device 120 with the contact surfaces 126. The figuratively designed subsection 106, which is permanently connected to the base 102, is designed in this embodiment as an active component of the system. The media carrier 100 has at least one output device 108, which in the example shown is located in the area of ​​the figure's head. This output device 108 can be designed, in particular, as a light source, for example to illuminate the eyes, or as an integrated loudspeaker. These components are controlled via the control unit of the playback device, which transmits the corresponding signals to the media carrier 100 via the galvanic connection of the contact surfaces. In addition, the media carrier 100 has at least one switch 110, which is exemplified by a bendable ear of the figure. This switch 110 allows the child to generate control commands through direct physical interaction with the figure. An activation of the switch 110 is transmitted via the connection device 120 to the media playback device to trigger functions such as starting or stopping playback or changing chapters. Thus, the media carrier 100 functions not only as a passive data storage device but also as an active control element within the system.

Claims

Media playback device (10), especially for children, with the following features: a. the media playback device (10) has at least one loudspeaker (12), and b. the media playback device (10) has at least one coupling device (20) for coupling a media carrier (100), and c. the media playback device (10) is designed to play media that is read from the media carrier (100), d. the media playback device (10) has a connection device (30) for data exchange between the playback device (10) and the media carrier (100), characterized by the following feature: e.The coupling device (20) has a device-side coupling geometry (22) which is designed to enable the coupling of a media carrier (100) by a movement sequence in which the media carrier (100) aligned in a coupling orientation is brought into engagement with a coupling device (20) in the extension direction of a coupling axis (2) and is subsequently locked to the media playback device (10) by means of a rotational movement about the coupling axis (2). Media playback device (10) according to claim 1, with the following feature: a. the coupling device (20) has a magnetic alignment device (24) which is designed to apply a magnetic alignment force to a media carrier (100) in the direction of the coupling alignment when a media carrier (100) is approached. Media playback device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with the following feature: a. the coupling geometry (22) is designed such that the media carrier (100) can only engage with the coupling geometry (22) in exactly one defined coupling orientation. Media playback device (10) according to claim 3, comprising the following features: a. the coupling geometry (22) has at least two guide elements (26) for guiding the media carrier (100) while the media carrier (100) is brought into engagement with the coupling device (20) in the extension direction of the coupling axis (2), and b. the at least two guide elements (26) are distributed over the circumference of the coupling device (20) such that they ensure that the media carrier (100) can only be brought into engagement with the coupling geometry (22) in exactly one defined coupling orientation. Media playback device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, with the following features: a. the coupling geometry (22) has at least two guide elements (28) for guiding the media carrier (100) during the rotational movement, b. the at least two guide elements (28) are arranged axially offset from each other with respect to the coupling axis (2). Media playback device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following feature: a. the connection device (30) has a plurality of galvanically conductive contact surfaces (32) for contacting the media carrier (100). Media playback device (10) according to claim 6, with the following feature: a. at least one contact surface (32) is arranged radially spaced from the coupling axis (2) and is not designed as a ring-shaped contact surface surrounding the coupling axis (2). Media playback device (10) according to claim 6 or 7, comprising the following feature: a. at least three contact surfaces (32) are arranged in a linear orientation. Media playback device (10) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, with the following feature: a. the media playback device (10) has a protective cover which can be moved between a position covering the contact surfaces (32) and a position releasing the contact surfaces (32). Media playback device (10) according to claim 9, with the following feature: a. a displacement section is assigned to the protective cover, which is arranged such that the media carrier (100) exerts a force on this displacement section during its rotational movement and thereby displaces the protective cover. Media playback device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following feature: a. the coupling geometry (22) comprises a recess (38) for at least partially receiving a coupling base (102) of the media carrier (100). Media playback device (10) according to claim 11, with the following feature: a. at the bottom of the recess (38) a raised area (40) is provided on which the contact surfaces (32) are arranged. Media playback device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with the following feature: a. the media playback device (10) has a control unit (14) which is designed to output a coupling signal, in particular a light signal or a sound signal, during the establishment of a data connection to the media carrier (100). Media carrier (100) for the media playback device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following features: a. the media carrier (100) is designed for coupling to a coupling device (20) of the media playback device (10), b. the media carrier (100) has a connection device (120) for data exchange between the playback device (10) and the media carrier (100), characterized by the following feature: c. The media carrier (100) has a media carrier-side coupling geometry (122) which is designed to enable the coupling of the media carrier (100) by a movement sequence in which the media carrier (100) aligned in a coupling orientation is brought into engagement with a coupling device (20) on the media playback device (10) in the extension direction of a coupling axis (2) and is subsequently locked on the media playback device (10) by means of a rotational movement about the coupling axis (2). Media carrier (100) according to claim 14, with the following feature: a. the media carrier (100) has a magnetic alignment device (124) which is designed to apply a magnetic alignment force to the media carrier (100) in the direction of the coupling alignment when the media carrier (100) is brought close to the coupling device (20) of the media playback device (10). Media carrier (100) according to claim 14 or 15, comprising the following feature: a. the media carrier (100) has a memory (104) for storing audio data, in particular a memory (104) of at least 64 Mbytes in size. Media carrier (100) according to claim 14, 15 or 16, with the following feature: a. the connecting device (120) has a plurality of galvanically conductive contact surfaces (126) for contacting contact surfaces (32) of the media playback device (10). Media carrier (100) according to claim 17, with the following feature: a. the media carrier-side contact surfaces (126) are designed as elastically deflectable contact surfaces, in particular as spring-loaded contact pins. Media carrier (100) according to one of claims 14 to 18, with the following feature: a. the coupling geometry (122) has at least one bayonet groove (128) which has a groove section (128A) aligned in the coupling direction (6) and a groove section (128B) angled in relation to it. Media carrier (100) according to one of claims 14 to 19, comprising the following features: a. the media carrier (100) has a base (102) on which the coupling geometry (122) is provided, and b. the media carrier (100) has a shaped subsection (106) which is firmly connected to the base (102). Media carrier (100) according to claim 20, with the following feature: a. the storage (104) is completely arranged in the base (102). Media carrier (100) according to one of claims 14 to 21, comprising the following feature: a. the media carrier (100) has at least one output device (108), in particular in the form of a light source or a loudspeaker. Media carrier (100) according to one of claims 14 to 22, with the following feature: a. the media carrier (100) has at least one switch (110), wherein a switching operation of the switch (110) can be transmitted to the media playback device (10) via the connecting device (120). Media carrier (100) according to one of claims 14 to 23, comprising the following feature: a. the base (102) has an outer diameter between 44 mm and 48 mm, and / or b. the base (102) has a height between 8 mm and 12 mm, and / or c. the base has a circumferentially oriented first bayonet groove and a circumferentially oriented second bayonet groove, wherein the first and the second bayonet groove are preferably arranged at different heights. A set comprising a media playback device (10) and a media carrier (100) with the following feature: a. the media playback device (10) and the media carrier (100) have cooperating coupling geometries (22, 122) designed to enable the coupling of the media carrier (100) to the media playback device (10) by a sequence of movements in which the media carrier (100), aligned in a coupling orientation, is brought into engagement with a coupling device (20) of the media playback device (10) in the extension direction of a coupling axis (2) and is subsequently locked to the media playback device (10) by means of a rotational movement about the coupling axis (2), preferably with the following additional feature: b.The media playback device (10) and the media carrier (100) have cooperating magnetic alignment devices (24, 124) which are designed to apply a magnetic alignment force to a media carrier (100) in the direction of the coupling alignment when it is brought near. Set according to claim 25, comprising at least one of the following features: a. the media playback device (10) is configured according to one of claims 1 to 13 and / or b. the media carrier (100) is configured according to one of claims 14 to 24. Set according to claim 25 or 26, comprising the following feature: a. the coupling geometries (22, 122) are adapted to each other in such a way that the rotational movement during coupling is limited to an angle < 60°, preferably to an angle < 40°. Set according to one of claims 25 to 27, comprising the following feature: a. the magnetic alignment devices (24, 124) have a corresponding magnetic coding which is designed such that it forces the media carrier (100) into exactly one defined coupling alignment when approaching. Media playback device (10), especially for children, with the following feature: a. the media playback device (10) has at least one loudspeaker (12), characterized by the following features: b. the media playback device (10) has at least two coupling devices (20A, 20B) for the simultaneous coupling of a first media carrier (100A) and a second media carrier (100b), and c. the playback device (10) has connection devices (30A, 30B) for data exchange between the playback device (10) and the media carriers (100A, 100B). Media playback device (10) according to claim 29, comprising the following features: a. the media playback device (10) has a control unit (14), and b. the control unit (14) is designed to play content stored on the first media carrier (100A) only under the condition that the second media carrier (100B) is connected to the media playback device (10). Set comprising a media playback device (10) and two media carriers (100A, 100b) with the following features: a. the media playback device (10) is configured according to claim 29, and b. at least one of the two media carriers (100A, 100b) has a data storage device (104) in which a type identifier of the second media carrier is stored. A set consisting of a media playback device (10) and a media carrier (100) with the following features: a. the media playback device (10) is configured for connection with the media carrier (100), and b. the media carrier (100) has a storage device (104) on which audio content or an identifier referencing the audio content is stored, and c. the storage device (104) is configured as a writable storage device, and d. the media playback device (10) is configured to play the audio content, and e. the media playback device (10) is configured to store data in the storage device (104) of the media carrier (100) that references a current playback position.

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