A toy that plays music or an orally told story

Abstract

The present invention is a toy that plays music or an orally told story, comprising a speaker and / or speaker terminals, a first sensor capable of detecting ambient characteristics or characteristic changes within its surrounding area, the first sensor being a reader device that communicates with a passive RFID transponder and / or communicates with an active RFID transponder, and a control unit that can drive and control the speaker or speaker terminals to play music or an orally told story when the first sensor detects specific ambient characteristics or specific characteristic changes within its surrounding area, or when the control unit detects specific characteristic changes detected by the first sensor, and a second sensor capable of detecting the direction of a magnetic field with respect to a priority direction acting on the second sensor, the control unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toy for playing music or an orally told story. Further, the present invention relates to a system comprising such a toy and a magnet support.

Background Art

[0002] From International Publication No. WO 2015 / 104222, toys that play music or spoken stories are known. The toys described herein have a speaker or speaker terminals. Further, the toys described herein have a sensor that can detect the characteristics or changes in characteristics of its surrounding area within its own surrounding area, where the sensor may be a reader device that communicates with a passive RFID transponder and / or an active RFID transponder. The toys described herein further have a control unit that can drive and control the speaker or speaker terminals to play music or a spoken story when a first sensor detects a specific characteristic or a specific change in characteristics of the surrounding area within its own surrounding area, or when the control unit detects a specific change in characteristics detected by the first sensor. In the preferred embodiments described herein, the toy can have a proximity sensor, a motion sensor (acceleration sensor), an ambient light sensor, a humidity sensor, an inclination sensor, a GPS sensor and / or a gyro sensor. In particular, International Publication No. WO 2015 / 104222 describes means for forming further operation commands for the control unit by such sensors. That is, in this document, it is proposed that rocking is distinguishable and an operation signal for the control unit can be formed from this rocking. The rocking of the device can be used to play data of various audio information in a random order. Similarly, a device configured in this way can identify whether a light impact on the device is applied from the left side or the right side. This can be used, for example, to jump to the next chapter or the previous chapter within a data set. Similarly, according to the proposal of International Publication No. WO 2015 / 104222, a device configured in this way can identify whether it has been thrown and form an operation signal therefrom. Similarly, as also described in International Publication No. WO 2015 / 104222, a device configured in this way can also identify whether it is tilted in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. Such signals can also be used to form an operation signal for the control unit according to the proposal of International Publication No. WO 2015 / 104222.Here, it is proposed that the vertical inclination is used for navigation within the playlist, and the horizontal inclination enables switching between applications.

[0003] Despite the various possible developments described in WO 2015 / 104222, in the form of toys described in detail in WO 2015 / 104222, there is a need to supplement the known operating concepts by an operating concept that can be realized without changing the position of the toy, i.e., without tilting the toy or without knocking on the toy. Furthermore, there is a requirement for operating concepts that are only available in specific operating situations and not in other operating situations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0004] Such problems are solved by the toy according to claim 1, the system according to claim 9, the method according to claim 13, and the use according to claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are described in each dependent claim and in the following description.

[0005] The present invention is based on the basic idea that a toy is equipped with, in addition to a first sensor known from the prior art, which is a reader device that communicates with a passive RFID transponder and / or communicates with an active RFID transponder, another second sensor that can determine the direction of the magnetic field acting on itself with respect to a preferred direction. By such a development of a toy known from the prior art, an action is caused on the second sensor by a magnet brought close to the toy from the outside, and by selecting a specific position of the magnet with respect to the toy, the second sensor can form a signal that depends on the position of the magnet with respect to the preferred direction. Such a signal formed by the second sensor can be used for the control of the control unit.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor is configured to determine only the direction of a magnetic field having a magnetic field strength exceeding the geomagnetic field strength within the second sensor among the directions of the magnetic fields acting on the second sensor. Here, it is assumed that at the equator, the geomagnetism has a magnetic field strength of about 30 microtesla (μT), at the north and south poles, the geomagnetism has a magnetic field strength of about twice that value (about 60 μT), and in central Europe, about 48 μT is applied. To prevent interference by the geomagnetism, the second sensor is particularly preferably configured to be able to determine the direction of the magnetic field only when the magnetic field acting on the second sensor in the preferred direction has a magnitude exceeding 100 μT, preferably exceeding 1000 μT, and preferably exceeding 0.01 T. Therefore, the developed form of the present invention of a toy known from the prior art is not used to determine the direction of the geomagnetism with respect to the preferred direction, but is used to determine a magnet that generates a recognizable magnetic field stronger than the geomagnetism brought near the toy.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor is a Hall sensor. From the structural form of the Hall sensor, the preferred direction is typically obtained. Particularly preferably, the Hall sensor has a casing connectable to a circuit board. The Hall sensor supplies a signal depending on how the magnetic field acting on the sensor from the outside is oriented with respect to the casing. Therefore, when the casing of the Hall sensor is fixedly positioned and assembled within the toy, for example, when a circuit board on which the Hall sensor is fixedly positioned and assembled is fixedly positioned and assembled within the toy, the Hall sensor can supply a signal depending on how the magnetic field acting on the sensor from the outside is oriented with respect to the toy.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a placement portion. In a preferred embodiment, the outward-facing surface of the placement portion forms a part of the outer surface of the toy. In a preferred embodiment, the outward-facing surface of the placement portion is different from another surface of the toy surrounding the placement portion. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is manufactured from a material different from the material used to form the surface portion of the toy surrounding the placement portion. For example, a preferred embodiment is possible where the toy has an outer coating made of a foam material and the foam material is also coated by the outer coating. In this case, the outer coating is a leather or synthetic leather or soft plastic outer coating, while the placement portion is formed of a hard plastic and is preferably inserted into a notch provided in the foam material. By the shape of the placement portion being different due to another surface portion surrounding the placement portion of the toy, the placement portion can be emphasized to the operator. With such different shapes, it becomes clear to the operator where the placement portion is located. In another embodiment, the placement portion can be emphasized by a different surface structure compared to the surface portion surrounding the placement portion, for example, by a rough surface structure when the surface portion surrounding the placement portion is smooth, or by a smooth surface structure when the surface portion surrounding the placement portion is rough. Similarly, it is also conceivable to emphasize the placement portion by coloring. Also, the placement portion can be made easier to grasp by the shape setting of the surface portion surrounding the placement portion of the toy, for example, by making the placement portion a concave portion, for example, the bottom surface of the concave portion.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor is disposed below the placement portion. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is formed by the outward-facing surface of a plate-shaped body and the second sensor is fixed to the plate-shaped body. In an alternative embodiment, a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement portion and the second sensor is disposed on the substrate.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the first sensor is arranged below the placement part. In a preferred embodiment, the placement part is formed by the outward-facing surface of a plate-shaped body, and at least a part of the first sensor is fixed to the plate-shaped body. In an alternative embodiment, a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement part, and at least a part of the first sensor is arranged on the substrate.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the first sensor has an antenna and an evaluation unit connected to the antenna. In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit of the first sensor is arranged below the placement part. In a preferred embodiment, the placement part is formed by the outward-facing surface of a plate-shaped body, and in this preferred embodiment, the evaluation unit of the first sensor is fixed to the plate-shaped body. In an alternative embodiment, a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement part, and the evaluation unit of the first sensor is arranged on the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna of the first sensor is provided on the plate-shaped body, and the evaluation unit of the first sensor is arranged on a substrate provided below the plate-shaped body, and the antenna is provided on the plate-shaped body, particularly preferably at least partially, preferably completely, so as to surround the placement part.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement part, and the first sensor and the second sensor, preferably the first sensor, the second sensor, and the control unit are arranged on the substrate. Similarly, in a preferred alternative embodiment, · A first substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement part, and at least a part of the first sensor, preferably the evaluation unit of the first sensor having an antenna and an evaluation unit, is arranged on the first substrate. · A second substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)) is provided below the placement portion, and the second sensor is disposed on the second substrate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the second substrate is disposed closer to the placement portion than the first substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the first substrate is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the second substrate, preferably at an angle of 75° to 105°, preferably perpendicularly. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is formed by the outer surface of the plate-shaped body, the second substrate extends parallel to the outer surface of the plate-shaped body, and the first substrate extends at an angle of 75° to 105° with respect to the outer surface of the plate-shaped body, preferably perpendicularly.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is provided on a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)), and on the printed circuit board (PCB), at least a part of the first sensor, preferably the evaluation unit of the first sensor having an antenna and an evaluation unit, is also provided. Preferably, the control unit is disposed on the first substrate.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a head plate. In a preferred embodiment, the head plate forms the upper end of the toy. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is formed as a part of the head plate. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate on which the second sensor is disposed as a preferred embodiment is connected to the head plate. The use of the head plate has advantages in the manufacture of the toy according to the present invention. That is, the base body of the toy can be manufactured in a separate working step, the head plate can be manufactured in a separate manufacturing step, and then the head plate is placed on the base body from above in an assembly step.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is the recessed part. In an embodiment where the toy according to the present invention has a head plate, the head plate may have a recessed part or a notch that can be used as a recess. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion has a diameter or a maximum cross-section of 15 mm to 150 mm, preferably 30 mm to 100 mm, and preferably 50 mm to 100 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is formed as the recessed part. Preferably, the recess is formed in a circular shape. Preferably, the recess has a diameter of 15 mm to 150 mm, preferably 30 mm to 100 mm, and preferably 50 mm to 100 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the recess has a depth of 0.3 mm to 5 mm, preferably 0.3 mm to 3 mm, and preferably 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion has a notch or a recess. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the notch or the recess when the notch or the recess is circular, or the maximum cross-section of the notch or the recess when the notch or the recess is not circular, is smaller by a plurality of coefficients, particularly a coefficient of 5, particularly preferably a coefficient of 10, and particularly preferably a coefficient of 15, compared to the diameter of the placement portion when the placement portion is circular or the maximum cross-section of the placement portion when the placement portion is not circular. The notch or the recess can be used to position an object to be placed on the placement portion, such as a disk, at a corresponding position on the placement portion. When an object to be placed on the placement portion, such as a disk, has a protrusion that can engage with the notch or the recess, such engagement between the protrusion and the notch or the recess can set the relative position of the object, such as a disk, with respect to the placement portion.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor is disposed below the placement portion so as to be in the same plane as the notch or the recess. In a preferred embodiment, the axis extending perpendicular to the outer surface of the placement portion passes through the notch or the recess and further extends through the second sensor, whereby the second sensor is disposed below the placement portion so as to be in the same plane as the notch or the recess. The notch may be a hole. However, preferably, the notch is a blind hole or a groove, which can prevent dirt from reaching the inside of the toy from the outside.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, a metal plate is disposed below the placement portion. The metal plate here can be used to provide means for holding an object placed on the placement portion, such as a disk or even an identifier support, on the placement portion. When a magnet is provided on the disk or the identifier support, by providing a metal plate below the placement portion, a holding force is formed between the disk or the identifier support and the metal plate by the magnet, and this holding force can provide means for holding the disk or the identifier support on the placement portion.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate has holes. In a preferred embodiment, the holes of the metal plate are arranged to be in the same plane as the second sensor. By providing holes in the metal plate, the metal plate can be provided directly below the placement portion, and similarly, the second sensor can be provided below the metal plate. Note that by providing holes, it is ensured that the second sensor can determine the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the priority direction formed by the object placed on the placement portion. The holes can be formed to be in the same plane as the notch or the recess provided in the placement portion, if necessary.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate is provided below the placement portion, but above the second sensor. This allows the metal plate to be placed as close as possible to the placement portion. Further, with this arrangement configuration, the second sensor can be placed on a substrate that can be placed below the metal plate. In a preferred embodiment, the existing substrate is placed below the metal plate, and thus the metal plate is placed between the substrate and the placement portion.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate is formed in a circular shape. In a preferred embodiment where holes are provided in the metal plate, the holes are formed in a circular shape and, in a preferred embodiment, are provided at the center point of the circular metal plate. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the holes is smaller than the diameter of the circular metal plate by a plurality of coefficients, particularly by a factor of 5, particularly preferably by a factor of 10, and particularly preferably by a factor of 15.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is surrounded by an LED ring. When the placement portion is a part of the flat outer surface of a plate-shaped object, the LED ring can be finished to be flat with the outer surface. When the placement portion is formed as a recessed portion, the LED ring can be arranged so as to be recessed inward at the upper edge of the recess, that is, at the starting position of the recess. The LED ring may be a part of the side wall of the recess. The LED ring may also be arranged at the bottom of the recess.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the LED ring is formed from LED columns that can be individually driven and controlled. In a preferred embodiment, each individual LED can be driven and controlled such that each individual LED emits light in a different color in different operating states. Such a configuration of the LED ring allows for an operating situation where the LED ring emits light in a single color as a consistent ring. In another operating situation, such a configured LED ring allows for the formation of a dynamic image sequence. For example, such an LED ring can form "circulating pixels".

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit can drive and control the LED ring, in particular the individual LEDs of the LED ring, in response to the measurement signal of the second sensor. For example, the signal of the second sensor can be used to visualize the orientation of the magnetic field acting on the second sensor by the LED ring, that is, for example, only the LEDs located along the line where the magnetic field acting on the second sensor in the LED ring is oriented emit light, so that the LED ring can be driven and controlled accordingly.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the LED ring has individual LEDs capable of generating light and an optical waveguide (hereinafter referred to as an optical waveguide ring) formed as a ring for propagating the light generated by the LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the LEDs are arranged in a circular shape, and the optical waveguide ring is arranged above the circularly arranged LEDs, so that each LED can preferably completely, at least most of the light generated by each LED, be incident into the arc segment corresponding to each LED in the optical waveguide ring. In a preferred embodiment, the optical waveguide ring is integrally manufactured and has a consistent and equal light transmittance. In an alternative embodiment, by forming the optical waveguide ring from arc-shaped optical waveguides connected to each other at the end sides, preferably in an arc segment shape, to form the optical waveguide ring, the segmentation performed by the individual LEDs can be captured. Here, the individual arc-shaped optical waveguides have a reduced light transmittance at the ends where they are connected to each other, so that the light incident into each arc-shaped optical waveguide is emitted through the optical waveguide but not emitted into the adjacent arc-shaped optical waveguides. Alternatively, in an integrally manufactured optical waveguide ring, segmentation can be performed afterwards to form a region with a reduced light transmittance on the inside.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the individual LEDs of the LED ring are arranged below the placement portion on a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)), and the optical waveguide ring is arranged above the LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the placement portion is surrounded by the optical waveguide ring. When the placement portion is a part of the flat outer surface of a plate-like object, the optical waveguide ring can be finished to be flat with the outer surface. When the placement portion is formed as a recessed portion, the optical waveguide ring can be arranged so as to be recessed inwardly at the upper edge of the recess, i.e., at the starting position of the recess. The optical waveguide ring may be a part of the side wall of the recess. The optical waveguide ring may be arranged at the bottom of the recess.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the individual LEDs of the LED ring are arranged below the placement portion on a substrate (circuit board, printed circuit, "printed circuit board" (PCB)), and the second sensor is arranged on the same substrate or on a separate substrate connected to the substrate on which the individual LEDs are arranged. In a preferred embodiment, these LEDs are not arranged on the substrate on which the first sensor or the evaluation unit of the first sensor is arranged.

[0029] The field of application of the present invention is the reproduction of audio information, in particular music, spoken text or a combination of music and spoken text. Such audio information preferably has a playback duration of at least 10 seconds, more preferably more than 15 seconds, particularly preferably more than 20 seconds, and very particularly preferably more than 25 seconds. Rather, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the playback duration of the audio information lasts at least 30 seconds and can particularly preferably last more than 1 minute. For example, the audio games reproduced by the present invention particularly preferably have a length of more than 5 minutes in many cases and may in some cases be more than 30 minutes. The audio information reproduced by the present invention is not a confirmation signal in particular. In particular, the audio information reproduced by the present invention is not, for example, a confirmation response sound that can be output when a first object is correctly oriented with respect to a second object. Similarly, the audio information is particularly preferably not a jingle that is reproduced when a first object is brought into the vicinity of a second object or when it is brought to a specific relative position with respect to the second object that has been preset. The present invention relates to audio information having a relatively long playback duration, such as music or spoken text. The audio information is particularly preferably information in which various sounds are reproduced in an aperiodic order during its playback.

[0030] The speaker of the toy according to the present invention is particularly preferably a transducer that can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical vibration (sound). The toy according to the present invention can also have speaker terminals, for example, spicon terminals, XLR terminals or, for example, a 6.35 mm jack socket, instead of or in addition to the speaker. Since the control unit drives and controls the speaker terminals, the control unit can also drive and control the speaker when the speaker is connected to the speaker terminals.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the toy according to the present invention has at least two speakers. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the audio information in stereo.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a memory in which data is stored, and based on the data, the control unit can drive and control the speaker to reproduce audio information. The data particularly preferably includes audio information in a specific data format, such as the MP3 format or the WAV format. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the memory has only data of a single audio information. In such an embodiment, the toy of the present invention can be used to reproduce the only audio information when the characteristics of the surrounding area of the first sensor occur correspondingly, or when the characteristic change of the surrounding area of the first sensor occurs correspondingly, and the reproduction duration of the audio information particularly preferably lasts for at least 10 seconds. In a preferred embodiment, data of various audio information is stored in the memory. Particularly preferably, in such an embodiment, when the first sensor detects a specific first characteristic or a specific first characteristic change in the surrounding area within its own surrounding area, or when the control unit detects a specific first characteristic change detected by the first sensor, the control unit drives and controls the speaker to reproduce the first audio information that particularly preferably lasts for at least 10 seconds, while when the first sensor detects a specific second characteristic or a specific second characteristic change in the surrounding area within its own surrounding area, or when the control unit detects a specific second characteristic change detected by the first sensor, the control unit drives and controls the speaker to reproduce the second audio information that particularly preferably lasts for at least 10 seconds. Thus, by controlling the specific characteristics of the surrounding area of the first sensor or by controlling the specific characteristic changes of the surrounding area of the first sensor, it is possible to set which audio information among the plurality of audio information the toy reproduces. For example, when the presence of the first RFID transponder is detected in the surrounding area of the first sensor, the toy can reproduce specific first audio information, and when the presence of the second RFID transponder is detected in the surrounding area of the first sensor, the toy can reproduce the second audio information.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, for example, in order to play an audio book in the form of individual chapters, or to make the individual chapters of an audio book controllable, the data of the audio information is stored as a data set having a data sequence that can be separately read out. Each data sequence of the data set is preferably read out separately and can be used for driving and controlling a speaker.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a unit for receiving data from the Internet and / or for transmitting data to the Internet, particularly preferably an antenna for a wireless local area network (WLAN), mobile data radio technology such as LTE, UMTS or its predecessors or successors, or a connection socket for connecting a cable of a local network having Internet access, for example a connection socket for an Ethernet cable. The presence of a unit for receiving data from the Internet enables the control unit to download from the Internet data containing the audio information to be played in a specific data format. By doing so, the toy can play audio information that was not stored in itself before the first sensor detected a specific characteristic or a specific change in characteristics in its surrounding area, or audio information that was not stored in itself before the control unit detected a specific change in characteristics detected by the first sensor. In this case, the control unit can be configured to receive data from the Internet, continuously store it in the memory, and drive and control the speaker to play the audio information based on the data stored in the memory. Complementarily or alternatively, the control unit can directly use the data received from the Internet (so-called streaming) to drive and control the speaker to play the audio information, and the embodiments herein may also include temporary storage in a buffer memory of the data received from the Internet.

[0035] In an embodiment of receiving data containing audio information in a specific data format from the Internet, for example, the control unit holds a specific server address of a server connected to the Internet in the memory, and can hold in the memory a table in which each specific characteristic or each specific characteristic change is assigned to each identification number. In such an embodiment, when a specific characteristic or a specific characteristic change is identified, the control unit communicates with a specific server, uses the identification number assigned to the specific characteristic or the specific characteristic change, downloads a specific data set from the server, and is configured to be used to drive and control a speaker to play the audio information obtained from these data. For example, the title of a piece of music can be stored on the server as data having a specific data format, and here, the title of each piece of music or the data including the corresponding title of the piece of music is stored on the server with a specific identification code attached. In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention already includes an assignment table that assigns a specific characteristic or a specific characteristic change in the surrounding area of the first sensor to several or a plurality of or rather in a preferred embodiment all identification numbers, and the assignment table is also used on the database of the server. Thereby, the control unit can download a data set from the server according to the purpose. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the control unit is configured to transmit information including the detected specific characteristic or the detected specific characteristic change to a specific server connected to the Internet. In this case, the assignment of the identified specific characteristic or the identified specific characteristic change to the specific audio information can be performed on the server. Here, the control unit is configured to receive data including the audio information to be played back from the server. The server transmits to the toy the data assigned to the specific characteristic transmitted from the control unit to itself or the specific characteristic change transmitted from the control unit to itself.In this embodiment, the need to hold an assignment table within the toy is avoided, thereby enhancing the flexibility of receiving specific data including audio information based on specific characteristics detected in the surrounding area of the first sensor or detected specific characteristic changes. Such an embodiment enables, for example, increasing the number of data sets supplied to the server without the need to adjust the assignment table in the control unit of the toy.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is configured to directly drive and control the speaker to reproduce the audio information. Particularly preferably, there is no need to supply another start signal to the control unit for driving and controlling the speaker to reproduce the audio information. Also, here, the driving control of the speaker by the control unit for reproducing the audio information can be delayed by a delay element.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the toy is configured in a cubic shape. The toy of the present invention may have other shapes, such as spherical, or may have the shape of a larger object particularly preferred by children, for example, the shape of an animal such as a ship, a locomotive, a house or an elephant.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has an operating member in the form of a seesaw switch that can control the playback volume of audio information. Here, the control is such that when the seesaw switch is in the first position, it sends a first signal, for example a signal for increasing the playback volume of audio information, to the control unit, and further when in the second position, it sends a second signal, for example a signal for decreasing the playback volume of audio information, to the control unit. Further, such a seesaw switch may have a neutral intermediate position where no signal for controlling the volume is sent to the control unit. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the toy has a first operating member that can transmit a signal for increasing the playback volume of audio information to the control unit and further has a second operating member that can send a signal for decreasing the playback volume of audio information to the control unit. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the operating member for controlling the increase in volume is formed larger than the operating member for controlling the reduction in the playback volume of audio information. In a particularly preferred embodiment, these two operating members have the shape of ears attached to the casing of the base body of the toy and, for example, protrude from the casing. Such operating members in the shape of ears can output a signal for controlling the playback volume of audio information formed by the operating member when performing a pressing or bending movement. This has the advantage that the user can recognize the function of the operating member without relying on language knowledge.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention has a display. The display may particularly be an E-Ink display. The display may also be a touch panel display. Additionally or alternatively, the toy may have an LED or an LED array.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a proximity sensor, a motion sensor (acceleration sensor), an ambient light sensor, a humidity sensor, an inclination sensor, a GPS sensor and / or a gyro sensor. With such sensors, another operation command for the control unit can be formed. For example, a toy configured in this way can identify rocking and form an operation signal for the control unit from this rocking. For example, the rocking of the toy can be used to play data of various audio information in a random order. Similarly, a toy configured in this way can identify whether a light impact on the toy is applied from the left side or from the right side. This can be used, for example, for jumping to the next chapter or the previous chapter in a dataset. Similarly, a toy configured in this way can identify whether it has been thrown. An operation signal can also be formed from this.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a sensor, such as an ultrasonic sensor, that can form a signal depending on the distance from an object placed within the area of the receiving part to the receiving part. Thereby, in a preferred embodiment of the toy, the drive control of the speaker can be made signal-dependent, for example, depending on whether the object is in contact with or almost in contact with the receiving part. Further, thereby, in additional or alternative embodiments, another operation command can be formed according to a change in distance. For example, the short-term removal and reinstallation of the object can be used for jumping to the next chapter in a dataset.

[0042] A toy oriented in this way can identify whether it is tilted in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction. The signal here can also be used to form an operation signal for the control unit. For example, the vertical tilt can be used for navigation in a playback list, and the horizontal tilt enables switching between applications.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention has a data terminal, for example a USB terminal. Through such a terminal, for example in a preferred embodiment, data including audio information can be provided to a memory provided as part of the toy. Similarly, through such a terminal, the toy of the present invention can be connected to a computer, for example to configure the software of the toy.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the toy is coated with a foamed material or other elastic material. Particularly preferably, the toy of the present invention is completely coated with a foamed material or other elastic material, or in an embodiment with a display, is not coated with a foamed material or elastic material only in the area of the display. On the one hand, other components of the toy are protected by the coating. On the other hand, the child is protected from injury by the coating.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention has an energy accumulator, particularly a battery, particularly preferably a rechargeable battery. In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention is configured to be chargeable, for example by inductive energy transmission, such that the battery is wirelessly chargeable. This provides the advantage that a charging station can be configured for children, for example in the form of a charging stand into which the toy of the present invention only needs to be placed for charging. Thereby, the child does not need to operate an electrical cable to charge the battery of the toy of the present invention.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention can generate light, for example, to function as a night light. In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention has a casing in which a first sensor is arranged so as to be able to detect ambient characteristics or characteristic changes in its surrounding area, where the surrounding area of the first sensor is 1 m or less, particularly preferably 150 mm or less, particularly preferably 100 mm or less, particularly preferably 50 mm or less, particularly preferably 10 mm or less, particularly preferably 5 mm or less, and extends beyond the surface of the casing. This provides the advantage that the characteristics or characteristic changes to be detected by the first sensor for driving and controlling the speaker by the control unit so as to reproduce audio information are identified only in a narrow area centered on the casing of the toy. Thereby, malfunction is avoided.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the toy is made of a non-combustible material or a flame-retardant material.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the toy has a microphone or connection means for an audio signal coming from, for example, a microphone. Thereby, the toy can be controlled by voice or the toy can be made recordable.

[0049] Particularly preferably, the toy can be incorporated into a wireless local area network via a WLAN antenna, and can further receive control commands via the WLAN antenna, and can be controlled, for example, via a smartphone or a PC. The control command here is not a control command that allows a user to control the start of reproduction of audio information in a preferred embodiment. Similarly, the toy of the present invention can be configured to be operated via remote control. In a preferred embodiment, the toy of the present invention has a camera. When the toy of the present invention is configured, for example, as a night light, the camera can perform a monitoring function for a child next to the toy, which is because the camera can be driven and controlled, for example, from a smartphone, and the image captured by the camera can be reproduced on a display, such as a TV, a smartphone, or another mobile display. Complementarily or alternatively, the audio information collected by the microphone or supplied through the connection means can thus be reproduced by the speaker or the smartphone. Similarly, the toy incorporated into the wireless local area network via the WLAN antenna can transmit the audio information to be reproduced to other subscribers of the network. This is, for example, streaming to a TV or other speaker.

[0050] The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a toy according to the present invention. The toy according to the present invention is an article that is already commercially available. By preparing the toy according to the present invention, a third party can achieve the advantages of the present invention by adding a magnet.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a system comprising a toy according to the present invention and a magnet support, wherein the magnet support has a rotation axis about which the magnet support is rotatable and a magnet magnetized in the radial direction, and in the magnet, its magnetic axis is positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis. In a preferred embodiment, the magnet support is a disk. A radially magnetized magnet in which the magnetic axis of the magnet is positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis is understood to be a magnet in which the magnetic axis of the radially magnetized magnet intersects a plane including the rotation axis. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic axis of the radially magnetized magnet intersects the rotation axis.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the magnet support, particularly preferably the disk provided in the preferred embodiment, is placed on a placement portion, particularly on a placement portion formed as part of a recess of the toy according to the present invention.

[0053] By providing a magnet support, particularly a disk, an object is provided that acts on the second sensor and forms a magnetic field by which the second sensor can determine its orientation with respect to the preferred direction.

[0054] The magnet support provided in the system according to the present invention, particularly a disk, has a rotation axis and a magnet magnetized in the radial direction. Thus, by rotating the magnet support, particularly preferably the disk, about the rotation axis, means are provided for changing the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction that acts on the second sensor. Therefore, in the system of the present invention, by rotating the magnet support, particularly the disk, a signal detectable by the second sensor or a signal change detectable by the second sensor can be formed, and the signal or signal change can be used for the control of the control unit.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the magnet support, particularly preferably the disk, is formed by a geometric body, and the shape of the geometric body is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the disk is coin-shaped or ellipsoidal. The body of the magnet can also be formed by two cones or truncated cones arranged adjacent to each other at their respective bottom surfaces.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a diameter of more than 15 mm, particularly preferably more than 20 mm, and particularly preferably more than 25 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a diameter of less than 150 mm, particularly preferably less than 120 mm, and particularly preferably less than 100 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the disk is large enough not to be lost. The application field of the system of the present invention is as a toy. In this case, if the disk is too small, there is a risk that the disk will be lost among all the items generally placed in a child's playroom. On the other hand, in a preferred embodiment, the disk is small enough to be easily handled by the hands of a child, for example, a two-year-old or three-year-old child. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the disk can also be used to form an operation command for the control unit by rapid rotation on the placement portion or in the recess. For such an operation, the disk must be large enough to be easily gripped and rotated rapidly on the one hand, and small enough not to generate an excessive moment of inertia about the axis of rotation on the other hand.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the disk has an upper surface and a lower surface, in which case the radially magnetized magnet is preferably disposed at the center between the upper surface and the lower surface. In an alternative embodiment, the disk has an upper surface and a lower surface, and further has a first radially magnetized magnet disposed near the lower surface and a second radially magnetized magnet disposed near the upper surface. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic axis of the first radially magnetized magnet is parallel to the magnetic axis of the second radially magnetized magnet. In an alternative embodiment, the magnetic axis of the first radially magnetized magnet is not parallel to the magnetic axis of the second radially magnetized magnet. In an alternative embodiment, the disk has an upper surface and a lower surface, and further has a radially magnetized magnet disposed near the lower surface.

[0058] Embodiments are conceivable in which the radially magnetized magnet protrudes from or is attached, for example glued, to the upper or lower surface of the disk. By the radially magnetized magnet protruding beyond the upper or lower surface of the disk, the protruding portion of the magnet can be utilized to insert into a notch or recess in the placement portion of the toy.

[0059] The disk can be formed particularly from plastic, or can be formed from wood, or can be formed from metal, preferably non-magnetic metal.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the magnet support, in particular the disk, in addition to the radially magnetized magnets, further has at least one axially magnetized magnet, and the magnetic axes of the magnets extend through or parallel to the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, at least two, particularly preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four axially magnetized magnets are provided. In a preferred embodiment, less than 100, particularly preferably less than 50, particularly preferably less than 20, particularly preferably less than 10 axially magnetized magnets are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the magnets present in the axially magnetized state are arranged equidistantly from each other around the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, all the magnets present in the axially magnetized state are arranged along a circle centered on the axis of rotation, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, they have equal intervals in the circumferential direction. For example, when three axially magnetized magnets are provided, these magnets particularly preferably have an angle of 120° with each other. When four axially magnetized magnets are provided, these magnets have an angular interval of 90° with each other, for example. The axially magnetized magnets can be used to preferably fix the magnet support, in particular the disk, to the metal plate of the toy arranged below the mounting part. In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets are selected to have sufficient strength to hold the disk on the mounting part, enabling the toy according to the invention having a disk mounted on the mounting part to be held overhead without dropping the disk. On the other hand, the strength of the axially magnetized magnets is selected to be small enough to allow the disk to rotate about the axis of rotation.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnets are configured in a rectangular shape, particularly preferably a square shape, or an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape. Such magnets can be mounted in correspondingly shaped cutouts of the disk, and in this case, the shape setting prevents the radially magnetized magnets from rotating within the cutouts. Thereby, the orientation of the magnetic field of the radially magnetized magnets with respect to the disk is set.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnet has an N50 magnetization. In a preferred embodiment, the radially magnetized magnet has a residual magnetization of 1.00 T to 1.5 T.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnet is formed in a disk shape, and the magnetization direction is provided by the thickness of the disk. In a preferred embodiment, the axially magnetized magnets each have a residual magnetization of 1.00 T to 1.5 T.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the disk has a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. By providing the RFID transponder, the disk can not only cause a magnetic field acting in a specific direction to act on the second sensor, but also provide information that can be read by the first sensor. The information here can exist only in the attribution information for the system according to the present invention. Therefore, only when the first sensor simultaneously derives specific information from a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder provided in the disk, it is conceivable that the control unit of the toy further processes the signal formed by the second sensor or derives a control command from the signal. For example, it is possible to configure such that there is no corresponding signal of the RFID transponder and thus the first sensor in the disk, and the control unit does not further process the signal of the second sensor. Alternatively, the presence of the RFID transponder can be used to trigger a specific program in the control unit. For example, various games can be executed with the toy by the disk. By the specific coding of each RFID transponder, it is possible to transmit to the toy which game each disk belongs to.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, an identifier support is provided inside the system of the present invention, additionally to the magnet support, in particular additionally to the disk, and the identifier support has a characteristic that can be detected by the first sensor, namely a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. Thereby, the functions known from WO 2015 / 104222 can be realized by the toy according to the present invention. When the identifier support is placed on the placement part instead of the magnet support, in particular instead of the disk, the first sensor reads its passive RFID transponder or its active RFID transponder, uses the information for data identification, and for the audio information thereof, the control unit can perform reproduction via the speaker or the speaker terminal as described in WO 2015 / 104222. In such an application case, the magnet support, in particular the disk, is indeed present in the system, but will not be placed on the placement part in a specific operating situation. Similarly, it is also possible to form an operating situation in which both the magnet support, in particular the disk and the identifier support are present. For example, it becomes possible to place the disk on the placement part and set the identifier support on the disk.

[0066] In another embodiment, the system may have a magnet support and an identifier support, in which case both the magnet support and the identifier support are placed on the toy. By doing so, the diversity of the system can be enhanced. For example, a program can be started by the identifier support, and a program can be controlled by the magnet support. In this way, various programs can be made available by the magnet support and the plurality of identifier supports, further enhancing the diversity of the system. For example, games can also be played. Furthermore, the magnet support can have an RFID transponder. Therefore, the toy can select a program or a story based on the RFID transponder of the magnet support or a combination of the RFID transponder of the identifier support and the RFID transponder of the magnet support. The magnet support and the identifier support can be configured such that the identifier support can surround the magnet support. By doing so, the positioning of the magnet support with respect to the identifier support can be facilitated, thus facilitating the operation of the system.

[0067] In another embodiment, the magnet support and / or the identifier support can have an operating element. By doing so, the functions and diversity of the system can be enhanced. The operating element can be, for example, a key or an operating wheel. For example, the RFID transponder can be connectable to the operating element, and in particular, the operating element can be configured to control the communication between the RFID transponder and the first sensor. For example, the communication between the RFID transponder and the first sensor can be controlled by pressing the operating element.

[0068] In another embodiment, the information on the RFID transponder of the disk and / or the identifier support can be changed. Additionally or alternatively, the data file assignable to the information on the RFID transponder can be changed. In this way, the diversity of the system can be easily increased. For example, the program code can be stored on the RFID transponder and / or on the data file as information assignable to the information on the RFID transponder. By storing the program code, for example, another game can be programmed, so that the diversity of the system can be further increased. The program code can be, for example, Google Blockly.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, within the system, · a first magnet support, in particular a first disk, is provided, the first magnet support having a rotation axis about which the first magnet support is rotatable and further having a magnet magnetized in the radial direction, where the magnetic axis of the magnet is positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis, and, · a second magnet support, in particular a second disk, is provided, the second magnet support having a rotation axis about which the second magnet support is rotatable and further having a magnet magnetized in the radial direction, where the magnetic axis of the magnet is positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0070] By providing the first magnet support and the second magnet support, various forms of interaction with the toy become possible.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, the first disk and the second disk each have a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. By providing the RFID transponder, not only can the disk act on the second sensor with a magnetic field acting in a specific direction, but it is also possible to provide information that can be read by the first sensor. Therefore, the first sensor can detect which disk is present on the toy. Depending on the disk, the control unit can drive and control the speaker or the speaker terminal and / or the optionally provided LED ring in various ways.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the contour of the magnet support, particularly the contour of the disk, is circular, elliptical or polygonal, particularly preferably pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal, when viewed in a plan view along the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment of the embodiment having the first magnet support and the second magnet support, the contour of the first magnet support in the plan view along the axis of rotation is different from the contour of the second magnet support in the plan view along the axis of rotation.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment of the embodiment having the first magnet support and the second magnet support, · The first magnet support has a lower surface and an upper surface, where the lower surface is provided for placing the first magnet support on the mounting portion, · The second magnet support has a lower surface and an upper surface, where the lower surface is provided for placing the second magnet support on the mounting portion, Here, the lower surface of the first magnet support has the same shape as the lower surface of the second magnet support, particularly preferably being formed flat, and the upper surface of the first magnet support is shaped differently from the upper surface of the second magnet support. For example, the upper surface of the first magnet support can be formed flat in the same manner as the lower surface of the first magnet support, while the upper surface of the second magnet support is formed in a wavy shape or has protruding pins.

[0074] The method according to the invention for operating the system according to the invention is as follows: · A second sensor is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and determines the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction acting on the second sensor. · A control unit is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor, and drives and controls a speaker or speaker terminal to play music or a spoken story based on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction determined by the second sensor. It is configured as follows.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or spoken story, in which the speaker or speaker terminal is driven and controlled by the control unit to play the music or spoken story, depends on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor and is determined by the second sensor. Thus, for example, in a first direction, a music or spoken story having a first content can be played, and in a second direction different from the first direction, a music or spoken story having a second content different from the first content can be played.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, the method is executed in a toy, where the placement part of the toy is surrounded by an LED ring having LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor, and drives and controls the LEDs of the LED ring based on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction determined by the second sensor. The LED ring can have a plurality of LEDs that are driven and controlled differently in a specific one direction.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, the type of drive control of the LED is dependent on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor and is determined by the second sensor. Thereby, for example, the LED can be drive-controlled in the first direction, and the LED cannot be drive-controlled in a second direction different from the first direction. Alternatively, for example, in the first direction, the LED can be drive-controlled to reproduce light of a first color, and in a second direction different from the first direction, the LED can be drive-controlled to reproduce light of a second color different from the first color.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment, in order to select the content of music or an oral story and drive-control the speaker or speaker terminals by a control unit to reproduce the content, an orientation for the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor, can be indicated by at least one LED of the LED ring. Thereby, the orientation for the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor, can be indicated particularly simply. The orientation can be a setting that can orient or align the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on the second sensor. To indicate the orientation, for example, markings on the magnet support can be aligned with at least one LED of the LED ring.

[0079] In particular, the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a radially magnetized magnet and acts on the second sensor, can be aligned, in particular as an orientation, with respect to at least one LED of the LED ring. Preferably, in particular as an orientation, the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a radially magnetized magnet and acts on the second sensor, can be aligned with respect to at least one LED of the LED ring. For example, in order to enable selection of the content of music or a spoken story, the magnetic field formed by the radially magnetized magnet can be oriented by rotating the magnet support to a defined position with respect to at least one LED. By doing so, the method can perform particularly simple handling and operation. Furthermore, data input for selecting the content of music or a spoken story becomes particularly easy and rapid. Thereby, the method can be made particularly efficient.

[0080] For example, information data in another information means can be assigned to the orientation, where the information data in another information means can be transmitted to the toy by directing or aligning the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction, which is formed by a radially magnetized magnet and acts on the second sensor, with respect to at least one LED of the LED ring. By doing so, particularly simple handling and operation in the method can be achieved. Furthermore, data input of the information data of another information means for selecting the content of music or a spoken story becomes particularly easy and rapid. Thereby, the method becomes particularly efficient.

[0081] At least one LED of the LED ring can indicate the orientation, for example, by at least one color and / or clock. For example, since a plurality of LEDs of the LED ring can display various possible orientations, the selectability of the method can be enhanced. Accordingly, more complex information data can be transmitted, thereby making the method more efficient. The clock of the LED may be a frequency at which the LED can be switched on and off.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, the method is performed in a system comprising a magnet support having a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder. In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or the spoken story, where the speaker or the speaker terminals are driven and controlled by the control unit to play the music or the spoken story, · is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on a second sensor, and the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction determined by the second sensor, and · the information read by the first sensor from a passive RFID transponder or an active RFID transponder depends on.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the method is · a first magnet support having a first passive RFID transponder or a first active RFID transponder, and · a second magnet support having a second passive RFID transponder or a second RFID transponder performed in a system comprising. In a preferred embodiment, the content of the music or the spoken story, where the speaker or the speaker terminals are driven and controlled by the control unit to play the music or the spoken story, · is formed by a magnet magnetized in the radial direction and acts on a second sensor, and the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction determined by the second sensor It depends on, and further depends on whether the first sensor identifies the first passive RFID transponder or the first RFID transponder, or whether it identifies the second passive RFID transponder or the second RFID transponder.

[0084] In one embodiment, the method is executable by a system having a magnet support and an identifier support, where the magnet support and the identifier support can both be placed on the toy. By doing so, the diversity of the method can be increased. For example, a program can be started by the identifier support and the program can be controlled by the magnet support. In this way, with the magnet support and a plurality of identifier supports, various programs can be made available, further increasing the diversity of the method. For example, a game can also be played. Furthermore, the magnet support can also have an RFID transponder. Thus, in the method, the toy can select a program based on, for example, the RFID transponder of the magnet support or based on a combination of the RFID transponder of the identifier support and the RFID transponder of the magnet support. The identifier support can be arranged around the magnet support. By doing so, the positioning of the magnet support relative to the identifier support can be facilitated, making the method easier.

[0085] In another embodiment of the method, the operating elements of the magnet support and / or the identifier support can be operated. By doing so, the functionality and diversity of the method can be increased. The operating element can be, for example, a key or an operating wheel. For example, the RFID transponder can be connectable to the operating element, and the communication between the RFID transponder and the first sensor can be controlled by operating the operating element. For example, the communication between the RFID transponder and the first sensor can be controlled by pressing the operating element.

[0086] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings that specifically illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0087]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0088] FIG. 1 shows a toy 1 that plays music or an orally told story. The toy 1 is formed in a cubic shape in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and has a speaker 2 on its side wall.

[0089] The toy has a jacket 3 made of a foamed material covered with leather on its side walls and a part of its upper and lower surfaces (the lower surface is not visible in the perspective view of FIG. 1). In the region of the speaker 2, the jacket 3 has a plurality of holes that can radiate sound waves to the outside better.

[0090] On the upper surface of the toy 1, a head plate 4 is equipped in the notch of the jacket 3. The possible structure of the head plate 4 is shown in the exploded view of FIG. 11. The head plate 4 has a frame 5. Below the frame 5, a second circuit board 6 in the form of a "printed circuit board (PCB)" is provided. The first circuit board 60 is arranged below the second circuit board 6 at an angle of 90° with respect to the second circuit board 6. On the first circuit board 60, an evaluation unit 61 of the first sensor is arranged, where the first sensor can detect ambient characteristics or characteristic changes within its surrounding area, and is further a reader device that communicates with a passive RFID transponder and / or communicates with an active RFID transponder. The first sensor has an antenna and an evaluation unit not shown in detail. The antenna can be configured in a ring shape and is further configured to surround and be embedded around the placement portion 8 within the frame 5, particularly around the recess 16. A control unit 62 is further provided on the circuit board 60. The control unit 62 can drive and control the speaker 2 to play music or an oral story when the first sensor detects specific ambient characteristics or specific characteristic changes within its surrounding area, or when the control unit 62 detects specific characteristic changes detected by the first sensor.

[0091] The control unit 62 can have, as a processor, a TI CC3200 microcontroller with 80 MHz and 256 kB of RAM, a flash memory ISSI IS25LQ032B 4 MB, a memory SanDisk Edge 8 GB, a DAC / amplifier TI TLV320DAC3100, and an acceleration sensor NXP MMA8451Q.

[0092] A second sensor 9 is provided on the circuit board 6, and the second sensor 9 can determine the direction of the magnetic field acting on itself with respect to the priority direction A. The priority direction A in the embodiment shown here extends parallel to the bottom surface 7 of the mounting portion 8 provided in the head plate 4. The priority direction A extends perpendicularly, that is, in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis B. The second sensor 9 in the embodiment shown here is a Hall sensor. The priority direction A is a characteristic resulting from the structure of the Hall sensor. The position of the priority direction A with respect to the circuit board 6 depends on the orientation in which the Hall sensor is attached to the circuit board 6. The position of the priority direction A with respect to another component of the head plate 4, or the position of the priority direction A with respect to the frame 5, for example, the position of the priority direction A with respect to the operating elements 13, 14 provided on the frame 5, depends on the orientation when the circuit board 6 is assembled in the frame 5. In the structural form shown in FIG. 11, the Hall sensor is attached to the circuit board 6 such that the priority direction A extends below the two operating elements 13, 14 and between these operating elements 13, 14, and further the circuit board 6 is attached to the frame 5.

[0093] The second sensor 9 is arranged in the center on the circular disk-shaped circuit board 6. The rotation axis B extends through the second sensor 9 and intersects at the center point of the circular disk-shaped circuit board 6.

[0094] The head plate 4 further includes an optical waveguide ring 71 of an LED ring. The optical waveguide ring 71 has individually drivable and controllable LEDs 70. Each individual LED 70 can be further individually driven and controlled such that the color of the light emitted from each LED 70 can be individually controlled. The LEDs 70 of the LED ring can be driven and controlled by a control unit 62 on the circuit board 6. The LEDs 70 are arranged below the optical waveguide ring 71 on the circuit board 6, and the light generated by the LEDs 70 is incident on the optical waveguide ring 71, and the optical waveguide ring 71 conveys the light from the LEDs 70 to the region of the mounting portion 8 below the mounting portion 8. This can be seen in a plan view of the head plate 4 looking from above.

[0095] The head plate 4 further has a circular disk-shaped metal plate 10. A hole 12 is provided at the center of the metal plate 10. The relative arrangement of the metal plate 10 with respect to the second sensor 9 is selected such that the second sensor 9 is disposed below the hole 12. Thereby, the magnetic field formed by the disk 20 disposed above the metal plate 10 can be better perceived by the second sensor 9. In an alternative embodiment, the second sensor 9 is not disposed below the hole 12 of the metal plate 10 but is disposed within the hole 12 of the metal plate 10. The relative position of the metal plate 10 with respect to the second sensor 9 can be adjusted by attaching the metal plate 10 to the frame 5, attaching the second sensor 9 to the circuit board 6, and attaching the circuit board 6 to the frame 5.

[0096] The head plate 4 further has a label 15 adhesively attached to the metal plate 10 on the upper side.

[0097] The operating elements 13, 14 are connected to a control unit on the circuit board 6, and the control unit can form control instructions used on the circuit board 6. For example, the operating elements 13, 14 can adjust the playback volume of music or an orally told story.

[0098] The toy 1 has a placement portion 8. The placement portion 8 may be a portion of a recess 16 formed within the head plate 4. For example, the placement portion 8 is formed by the bottom surface 7 of the recess 16 (see, for example, FIG. 9). By providing the recess 16, particularly when the diameter of the recess 16 has only a slight excess with respect to the diameter of the disk 20, positioning of the disk 20 at the placement portion 8 becomes easy.

[0099] Note that, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, another configuration of the mounting portion 8 and the disk 20 is also possible. In FIGS. 1, 2, 5 to 8, and 12, the disk 20 is shown in a state of being disposed on the mounting portion 8, where the magnetic axis D of the magnet is on the same line as the priority direction A. By rotating the disk 20 about the rotation axis C, the relative position of the magnetic axis D with respect to the priority direction A can be changed. The second sensor 9 configured as a hall sensor can determine the position of the magnetic axis D with respect to the priority axis A.

[0100] The toy 1 can be a part of a system that also includes the disk 20 in addition to the toy 1. The disk 20 has a rotation axis C and a magnet 21 magnetized in the radial direction, and in the magnet 21, its magnetic axis D is positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis C (see, for example, FIGS. 3, 4, and 10).

[0101] In addition to the magnet 21 magnetized in the radial direction, the disk 20 further has four other magnets 22 magnetized in the axial direction, and the magnetic axes E of these magnets 22 extend parallel to the rotation axis C of the disk 20. Due to the magnetic action of the magnet 22, the disk 20 can be held on the metal plate 10.

[0102] A headphone terminal 17 is provided in the head plate 4.

[0103] A passive RFID transponder 23 capable of reading from the first sensor is provided in the disk 20.

[0104] FIG. 13 shows that the system consisting of the toy 1 and the disk 20 shown in FIG. 1 can be extended by an identifier support 30 in the form of a game figure. The identifier support 30 is provided with a passive RFID transponder capable of reading from the first sensor.

[0105] The system of the present invention is operable, for example, such that a first disk 20 having a first RFID transponder 23 is placed on the placement section 8. The first sensor identifies the RFID transponder 23 and transmits a corresponding signal to the control unit 62. In response, the control unit 62 calls a program routine stored in itself or in the memory. As part of the program routine, the speaker 2 is driven and controlled to reproduce text, and for example, the LEDs 70 of the LED ring are driven and controlled in a predetermined color. For example, the red LED can be driven and controlled, and the speaker can be driven and controlled such that a story such as "Let's rotate the disk until it reaches red light" is output. At this time, the operator rotates the disk so that the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the priority direction A acting on the second sensor 9 from the magnet 21 magnetized in the radial direction occupies a predetermined position (this is recognized by the second sensor 9), and based on the corresponding signal of the second sensor 9, the control unit 62 can drive and control the speaker 2 so that a story such as "That's correct. You are now placing the disk in the correct orientation" is reproduced.

[0106] When another disk having another RFID transponder is used, the operator can be requested to rotate the disk as quickly as possible. In this case, the frequency with which the magnetic field of the magnet 21 magnetized in the radial direction occupies the priority direction A within a predetermined time unit is detected using the second sensor.

[0107] When another disk having another RFID transponder is used, the operator can be requested to move the disk to a specific series of relative positions, for example, in the manner of opening a safe.

[0108] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of the system of the present invention including the toy 1, the magnet support 20 in the form of the disk 20, and the identifier support 30. The disk 20 and the identifier support 30 are both placed on the toy 1. The program is started by the identifier support 30, where the program is open-loop controlled by the disk 20. The disk 20 also has an RFID transponder 23. The disk 20 and the identifier support 30 are configured such that the identifier support 30 surrounds the disk 20 in this case.

[0109] Furthermore, the magnet support 20 in the form of the disk 20 also has an operating element 24. Similarly, it is conceivable that the identifier support 30 has the operating element 24. The operating element 24 is a key. The RFID transponder 23 is connected to the operating element 24, where the operating element 24 is configured to control the communication between the RFID transponder 23 and the first sensor. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the communication between the RFID transponder 23 and the first sensor is controlled by pressing the operating element 24.

Claims

1. A toy (1) that plays music or a dictated story, • Speaker (2) and / or speaker terminals, - A first sensor capable of detecting ambient characteristics or changes in characteristics within its own surrounding area, and a reader device that communicates with a passive RFID transponder (31) and / or an active RFID transponder, - A control unit (62) that can drive and control the speaker (2) or the speaker terminal to play music or a narrated story when the first sensor detects a specific characteristic or a specific characteristic change in the surrounding area within the surrounding region, or when the control unit (62) detects a specific characteristic change detected by the first sensor, In a toy (1) equipped with, A toy (1) is characterized by being provided with a second sensor (9) capable of detecting the direction of a magnetic field acting on itself with respect to a preferred direction (A).

2. The toy according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor (9) is a Hall sensor.

3. The toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a mounting portion (8) is provided, and the second sensor (9) is positioned below the mounting portion (8).

4. The toy according to claim 3, wherein the mounting portion (8) is part of the recess (16).

5. The toy according to claim 3, wherein the mounting portion (8) has a notch or a recess, and the second sensor (9) is positioned below the mounting portion (8) so as to be on the same plane as the notch or the recess.

6. The toy according to claim 3, wherein a metal plate (10) is positioned below the mounting portion (8).

7. The toy according to claim 3, wherein the mounting portion (8) is surrounded by an LED ring.

8. The toy according to claim 1, wherein a circuit board (6) is provided, and the first sensor, the second sensor (9), and the control unit are arranged on the circuit board (6).

9. A system comprising the toy described in claim 1 and a magnetic support, particularly a disc (20), The system comprises a magnetic support having a rotation axis (C) on which the magnetic support can rotate, and a radially magnetized magnet (21), wherein the magnetic axis (D) of the magnet (21) is located perpendicular to the rotation axis (C).

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic support, in particular the disk (20), has at least one axially magnetized magnet (22) in addition to the radially magnetized magnet (21), and the magnetic axis (E) of the magnet (22) extends through the axis of rotation or parallel to the axis of rotation (C).

11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the magnetic support, in particular the disk (20), has a passive RFID transponder (23) or an active RFID transponder.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein an identifier support (30) is provided in addition to the magnetic support, and in particular in addition to the disk (20), and the identifier support has characteristics that the first sensor can detect, namely a passive RFID transponder (31) or an active RFID transponder.

13. A method for operating the system described in claim 9, - The second sensor (9) is formed by a radially magnetized magnet (21), and the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction (A) that acts on the second sensor (9) is determined. - The control unit (62) is formed by a radially magnetized magnet (21) and acts on the second sensor (9), and drives and controls the speaker (2) or the speaker terminal to play music or a narrated story based on the direction of the magnetic field relative to the preferred direction (A) determined by the second sensor (9). A method characterized by the following features.

14. The toy mounting section (8) is surrounded by an LED ring having an LED (70), The method according to claim 13, wherein the control unit (62) is formed by a radially magnetized magnet (21) and acts on the second sensor (9), and drives and controls the LEDs (70) of the LED ring based on the direction of the magnetic field with respect to the preferred direction (A) determined by the second sensor (9).

15. A use of a magnetic support, particularly a disk (20), for forming the system according to claim 9, or for carrying out the method according to claim 13 or 14, The use of the magnetic support comprising a rotation axis (C) on which the magnetic support can rotate and a radially magnetized magnet (21), wherein the magnetic axis (D) of the magnet (21) is located perpendicular to the rotation axis (C).

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