U.S. patent application number 10/848838 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for supra-voice sound-responsive toy.
Invention is credited to Barri, Darin, Martin, Raymond J..
Application Number | 20050009443 10/848838 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33544270 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050009443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martin, Raymond J. ; et
al. |
January 13, 2005 |
Supra-voice sound-responsive toy
Abstract
A toy responds to sounds having a frequency above the
frequencies of normal speech. The toy may also respond to other
sounds, such as sounds having frequencies corresponding to the
frequencies of normal speech. In such an embodiment, the toy may be
responsive to sounds in different frequency ranges, and may have
different reactions depending on the frequencies of the sounds
detected. Further, the responsive frequency ranges may be separated
by a third range of rejected frequencies. Sounds in the third range
may not activate any toy functions.
Inventors: |
Martin, Raymond J.;
(Torrance, CA) ; Barri, Darin; (El Segundo,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KOLISCH HARTWELL, P.C.
520 S.W. YAMHILL STREET
SUITE 200
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
33544270 |
Appl. No.: |
10/848838 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60472313 |
May 20, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 2200/00 20130101;
A63H 13/00 20130101; A63H 3/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/297 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A toy comprising: a body; a sound detector adapted to detect
sound in at least a first frequency range above normal human
speech; and an output apparatus mounted in the body and adapted to
produce a first sensible action when sound is detected in the first
frequency range.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the sound detector is further
adapted to detect sound in a second frequency range different than
the first frequency range, and the output apparatus is further
configured to produce a second sensible action when sound is
detected in the second frequency range.
3. The toy of claim 2, in which the second frequency range includes
frequencies of normal human speech.
4. The toy of claim 3, in which the sound detector rejects
frequencies in an upper range of normal human speech.
5. The toy of claim 3, in which the sound detector rejects
frequencies between the first and second frequency ranges.
6. The toy of claim 5, in which the first frequency range includes
a frequency of about 10 kHz, and the second frequency range
includes a frequency of about 1 kHz.
7. The toy of claim 6, in which the sound detector rejects a third
frequency range that is more than twice the second frequency
range.
8. The toy of claim 5, in which the sound detector rejects a
frequency of about 3 kHz.
9. The toy of claim 8, in which the sound detector rejects
frequencies in the range of about 2 kHz to 5 kHz.
10. The toy of claim 5, in which the frequencies in the first
frequency range are more than four times the frequencies in the
second frequency range.
11. The toy of claim 1, in which the body includes at least one
movable part, and in which the sensible action includes one or more
of illuminating a light, producing a sound, and moving the at least
one movable part.
12. A toy comprising: a body; a sound detector adapted to detect
sound in first and second frequency ranges and to exclude
frequencies in a third frequency range between the first and second
ranges; and an output apparatus mounted in the body and configured
to produce at least a first sensible action when the detected sound
is determined to be in one or both of the first and second
frequency ranges.
13. The toy of claim 12, in which the first frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech, and the second
frequency range includes frequencies above normal human speech.
14. The toy of claim 13, in which the third frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech.
15. The toy of claim 13, in which the first frequency range
includes a frequency of about 1 kHz, and the second frequency range
includes a frequency of about 10 kHz.
16. The toy of claim 13, in which the third frequency range
includes a frequency of about 3 kHz.
17. The toy of claim 16, in which the third frequency range
includes frequencies in the range of about 2 kHz to 5 kHz.
18. The toy of claim 12, in which the frequencies in the second
frequency range are more than four times the frequencies in the
first frequency range.
19. The toy of claim 12, further comprising at least one movable
part, and in which the sensible action includes one or more of
illuminating one or more lights, producing one or more sounds, and
moving the at least one movable part.
20. A toy comprising: a body; a sound receiver mounted in the body
and adapted to receive sounds in a first frequency range including
sounds having frequencies between at least about 1 kHz and 10 kHz;
a first sound analyzer coupled to the sound receiver and adapted to
produce a first control signal indicative of sound received in a
second frequency range below about 2 kHz; a second sound analyzer
coupled to the sound receiver and adapted to produce a second
control signal indicative of sound received in a third frequency
range above about 5 kHz; a first output device mounted in the body,
responsive to the first control signal, and adapted to produce a
first sensible action when sound in the first frequency range is
received; and a second output device mounted in the body,
responsive to the second control signal, and adapted to produce a
second sensible action when sound in the second frequency range is
received.
21. A method of operating a toy having a body, comprising:
detecting sound in at least a first frequency range above normal
human speech; and producing a sensible action in the body when
sound is detected in the first frequency range.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting sound in a
second frequency range different than the first frequency range,
and producing a second sensible action in the body when sound is
detected in the second frequency range.
23. The method of claim 22, in which the second frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising rejecting
frequencies in an upper range of normal human speech.
25. The method of claim 23, further comprising rejecting
frequencies between the first and second frequency ranges.
26. The method of claim 25, in which the first frequency range
includes a frequency of about 10 kHz, and the second frequency
range includes a frequency of about 1 kHz.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising rejecting a third
frequency range that is more than twice the second frequency
range.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising rejecting a
frequency of about 3 kHz.
29. The method of claim 28, in which rejecting a frequency includes
rejecting frequencies in a range of about 2 kHz to 5 kHz.
30. The method of claim 25, in which the frequencies in the first
frequency range are more than four times the frequencies in the
second frequency range.
31. The method of claim 21, in which the body includes at least one
movable part, and in which producing a sensible action includes one
or more of illuminating a light, producing a sound, and moving the
at least one movable part.
32. A method of operating a toy having a body, comprising:
detecting sound in first and second frequency ranges; rejecting
frequencies in a third frequency range between the first and second
ranges; and producing in the body at least a first sensible action
when the detected sound is determined to be in one or both of the
first and second frequency ranges.
33. The method of claim 32, in which the first frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech, and the second
frequency range includes frequencies above normal human speech.
34. The method of claim 33, in which the third frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech.
35. The method of claim 33, in which the first frequency range
includes a frequency of about 1 kHz, and the second frequency range
includes a frequency of about 10 kHz.
36. The method of claim 33, in which the third frequency range
includes a frequency of about 3 kHz.
37. The method of claim 36, in which the third frequency range
includes frequencies in the range of about 2 kHz to 5 kHz.
38. The method of claim 32, in which the frequencies in the second
frequency range are more than four times the frequencies in the
first frequency range.
39. The method of claim 32, further comprising at least one movable
part, and wherein the sensible action includes one or more of
illuminating one or more lights, producing one or more sounds, and
moving the at least one movable part.
40. A method of operating a toy having a body, comprising:
receiving in the body sounds in a first frequency range including
sounds having frequencies between at least about 1 kHz and 10 kHz;
producing first and second sound signals representative of sound
received in the first frequency range; filtering out of the first
sound signal portions of the first sound signal representative of
sound having frequencies above about 2 kHz; producing from the
filtered first sound signal, a first control signal indicative of
sound received in a second frequency range below about 2 kHz;
filtering out of the second sound signal portions of the second
sound signal representative of sound having frequencies below about
5 kHz; producing from the filtered second sound signal, a second
control signal indicative of sound received in a third frequency
range above about 5 kHz; producing a first sensible action in the
body when the first control signal is produced; and producing a
second sensible action in the body when the second control signal
is produced.
41. A toy comprising: a body; means for detecting sound in at least
a first frequency range above normal human speech; and means for
producing a sensible action in the body when sound is detected in
the first frequency range.
42. The toy of claim 41, further comprising means for detecting
sound in a second frequency range different than the first
frequency range, and means for producing a second sensible action
in the body when sound is detected in the second frequency
range.
43. The toy of claim 42, in which the second frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech.
44. A toy comprising: a body; means for detecting sound in first
and second frequency ranges; means for rejecting frequencies in a
third frequency range between the first and second ranges; and
means for producing in the body at least a first sensible action
when the detected sound is determined to be in one or both of the
first and second frequency ranges.
45. The toy of claim 44, in which the first frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech, and the second
frequency range includes frequencies above normal human speech.
46. The method of claim 45, in which the third frequency range
includes frequencies of normal human speech.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/472,313, filed May 20,
2003, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to sound-activated
toys, and particularly to toys that respond to sounds in one or
more ranges of frequencies, such as sounds in a range of
frequencies above frequencies of normal human speech.
[0003] Sound responsive toys with non-voice-recognition based
circuits are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,119,201, 3,770,981,
4,207,696, 4,221,927, 4,775,351, 5,090,936, 5,176,560, 5,324,225,
5,407,376, 5,429,513, 6,039,626, and 6,413,141, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference. Recognition based
circuits are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,688,126, 4,780,906, and
4,817,155, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
SUMMARY
[0004] As mentioned, the present disclosure is directed to a toy
that responds to sounds having a frequency range above the
frequencies of normal speech. The toy may also respond to other
sounds, such as sounds having frequencies corresponding to the
frequencies of normal speech. In some embodiments, the toy is
responsive to two or more ranges of spaced-apart frequencies. In
other words there may be a range of reject frequencies to which the
toy is not responsive, which reject frequencies are between ranges
of frequencies to which the toy responds. In some embodiments such
a range of reject frequencies may include a range of normal human
speech.
[0005] The toy may have advantageous use when embodied in the form
of an action figure, such as a snake. In such an embodiment, the
toy may be responsive to one or more frequency bands, and may have
different reactions depending on the frequency bands detected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a sound-responsive
toy.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a further embodiment of the toy
of FIG. 1, which toy is responsive to different frequency
ranges.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a circuit usable in an embodiment
of the toy of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a table illustrating operating characteristics of
the circuit of FIG. 3.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a chart illustrating graphically operating
characteristics of the circuit of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
[0011] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a toy shown generally at 10,
includes a body 11, a sound detector 12, and an output apparatus
14. Sound detector 12 and output apparatus 14 may be included in
body 11. In some embodiments, sound detector 12 may be remote from
the body, in which case body 11', shown in dashed lines, contains
only output apparatus 14.
[0012] In this example, sound detector 12 is adapted to detect a
sound in a range of frequencies above normal human speech. Normal
human speech is generally considered to be in the range of 300 Hz
to 3000 Hz. Rather, sound detector 12 detects sounds that are
significantly above this usual range, referred to as supra-voice
sounds, are detected and amplified. A range of frequencies can
include a single frequency or a plurality of adjacent frequencies
distributed between a low frequency and a high frequency.
[0013] Sound detector 12 can be of various forms, such as a circuit
or a controller that includes a processor and a memory coupled to
the processor for storing data and operating instructions. Such
circuit or controller may be embodied as one or more of hardware,
firmware, and software. A processor may be any device, such as a
computer, microprocessor, or other logic unit adapted to receive
sounds from a sound receiving device 15 and to control an output
apparatus 14.
[0014] Sound detector 12 may produce one or more control signals,
such as a control signal C, to output apparatus 14. Output
apparatus 14 is adapted to produce a sensible action when sound is
detected in the range of frequencies above normal human speech. A
sensible action is an action that can be sensed by one of the human
senses. Examples of sensible actions that a toy in the form of a
snake may include moving a movable part of the snake body, such as
a snake tongue, eye, tail or other body part, illuminating lights
positioned in the eyes, or making a sound, such as a hissing sound.
The toy may produce one or several of such actions in response to
control signal C.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a toy 10 adapted to respond
to two different ranges of sounds. A sound detector 12 includes a
sound receiver 15 and a sound analyzer 16. Sound receiver 15
includes a microphone 18 and a pre-amp 20. Microphone 18 is adapted
to transduce sound of a broad frequency range including a normal
voice range and a range above the normal voice range, i.e., a
supra-voice range, into an electrical current or sound signal S.
Pre-amp 20 then amplifies the sound signal to a convenient level
for further processing.
[0016] The sound signal output from the pre-amp is split into a
supra-voice path 26 and a second path 28. In the supra-voice path
26, the conditioned received sound signals are transmitted to a
filter 30. In an embodiment in which the frequency range detected
on path 26 is higher than that of path 28, filter 30 is a high-pass
filter. The filtered sound signal is amplified by an op-amp 32 to
raise the sound signal level.
[0017] Filter 30 thus essentially filters out the normal voice
sounds of a person speaking into microphone 18. The high-frequency
sounds are then applied to an amplitude detector 34. The amplitude
detector puts out a control signal with a high value when the sound
signal in the pass band of filter 30 is sufficient. The amplitude
detector produces a control signal C.sub.S indicative of the
receipt of a supra-voice sound. The control signal is then applied
to a first action device 36, and any other associated output
apparatus that performs a sensible action by toy 10.
[0018] Sound signals traveling along voice path 28 pass through a
low pass filter 38 and an op-amp 40. The pass band of filter 38
filters out of the sound signal frequencies in the pass band of
filter 30 in order to provide a distinction between two different
ranges of sounds. In one embodiment of circuit 10, filter 38 allows
normal human voice frequencies to pass.
[0019] Similar to signal path 26, the filtered sound signal is then
applied to an amplitude detector 42. Amplitude detector 42 produces
a control signal C.sub.V indicative of the receipt of a sound in
the pass band of filter 38. The control signal is then applied to a
second action device 44 that performs a designated action by toy 10
that is preferably different than an action produced by action
device 36.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a circuit usable in toy 10 of FIGS.
1 and 2, and includes a sound detector 12 and an output apparatus
14. Sound detector 12 includes a sound receiver 15 in the form of a
microphone 18 and pre-amp 20, and a sound analyzer 16.
[0021] Pre-amp 20 is shown as a two-stage amplifier having first
and second transistors 22 and 24, although it also may be provided
by an op-amp. The output of the pre-amp is identified as TP1.
Representative values for the gain applied to a detected sound are
shown in the table of FIG. 4, which data is represented as a graph
in FIG. 5. The amplifier is seen to have a broad bandwidth or
frequency range extending from sub-audible frequencies to
frequencies well above frequencies normally audible to humans. This
frequency range has a 3 dB bandwidth of about 150 Hz to about 3
kHz, with a maximum gain at about 1 kHz. Signal gain is provided
over a total range of about 10 Hz to about 300 kHz.
[0022] A sound signal S, output by the sound detector, is applied
to sound analyzer 16. The sound signal is split into a supra-voice
path 26 and a second path 28, which in this embodiment is a voice
path. In the supra-voice path 26, the conditioned received sound
signal is transmitted to a high-pass filter 30 having a 3 dB pass
band of about 7 kHz to 15 kHz and a peak at about 10 kHz. This is a
frequency band that is outside the 3 dB pass band of the sound
receiver, so it is amplified by an op-amp 32 to bring the center
frequency up to a gain level similar to that applied to the pass
band of pre-amp 20. The gain curve for the signals output from
op-amp 32 is identified as TP3 in the table and chart in FIGS. 4
and 5.
[0023] Filter 30 thus essentially filters out the normal voice
sounds of a person speaking into microphone 18. The high-frequency
sounds are then applied to an amplitude detector 34 including an
op-amp 46 and a transistor 48, shown in FIG. 3. If the signal
output from op-amp 46 is large enough, transistor 48 is turned on.
This transistor then produces a control signal C.sub.S at the
collector indicative of the receipt of a supra-voice sound. The
control signal is then applied to a first action device,
represented generally at 36, or other output apparatus, that
performs a designated action by toy 10. In the circuit shown, the
action device is a light-emitting diode (LED) 50 that emits a
distinctive color, such as red. This light may be used, for
instance, to illuminate an eye when the toy is in the form of an
action figure, such as a snake.
[0024] Sound signals traveling along voice path 28 pass through a
low pass filter 38 and an op-amp 40. The resulting filtered sound
signal is identified as TP2 in the figures. It is seen that this
filter has a pass band of about 200 Hz to 1500 Hz, and a peak at
about 800 Hz. This pass band thus allows lower common voice
frequencies to pass, while suppressing higher frequencies.
[0025] Similar to signal path 26, the low-frequency sounds are then
applied to an amplitude detector 42, including an op-amp 52 and a
transistor 54. If the signal output from op-amp 52 is large enough,
transistor 54 is turned on. This transistor then produces a control
signal C.sub.V at the collector indicative of the receipt of a
voice sound. The control signal is then applied to an action device
44 that performs a designated action by toy 10 that is preferably
different than an action produced upon receipt of a supra-voice
signal. In this example, the action device is an LED 56 that emits
a distinctive color, such as yellow. Any other action that is
sensible, or combination of sensible actions may be performed.
[0026] Between the pass bands of filters 30 and 34 is essentially a
suppressed or reject band 58. This band is between the frequencies
of about 1.5 kHz and about 7 kHz and has comparatively steep edges.
The suppression of band 58 reduces the likelihood that the sounds
having frequencies in this band will result in activation of both
supra-voice and voice triggered action devices. Further, in order
to activate the voice-activated action device 44, it is necessary
to speak with a lower voice. There is thus substantial contrast
between the sounds that activate action device 44 and the sounds
that activate action device 36, thereby decreasing the likelihood
that they will both be activated at the same time, although it is
possible to do so.
[0027] Although not specifically shown, logic circuits may be
applied to the outputs of the amplitude detectors, to produce
different actions depending on whether only a voice signal or only
a supra-voice signal is received, or both types of signals are
received. As an example, if both types of signals are received,
related or coordinated actions could be produced, such as moving
the same toy part in different ways or moving different parts
connected together.
[0028] Even though the supra-voice signals are above normal speech,
it has been found that people can generate oral sounds in the pass
band of filter 30 if enough energy is used in making the sounds.
For instance, a pronounced and emphatic hissing sound made
primarily by pushing air through the oral cavity while the oral
cavity is nearly blocked by an enlarged tongue, by blowing through
clenched teeth, or a combination of both, it is possible to produce
sounds in this frequency band. It is therefore a challenge for
people to make the toy activate the supra-voice-activated actions,
and it is an even greater challenge to activate such actions
without activating the voice-activated actions. This operation thus
allows a user of the toy to "speak" a "language" understood by the
toy that is not understood in normal human speech. This is
analogous to the ability of the fictional character Harry Potter to
speak to a parsle-mouthed snake.
[0029] It is intended that the disclosure set forth above
encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility.
The specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein are not
to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are
possible. For instance, components having shared functions may be
embodied in separate components and components having separate
functions may be embodied in components having shared functions.
The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and
non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various
elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein.
Similarly, where the disclosure recites "a" or "a first" element or
the equivalent thereof, such language should be understood to
include one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding
two or more such elements. Further, cardinal indicators, such as
first, second or third, for identified elements are used to
distinguish between the elements, and do not indicate a required or
limited number of such elements, nor does it indicate a particular
position or order of such elements unless otherwise specifically
stated.
[0030] Inventions embodied in various combinations and
subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties
may be claimed through presentation of claims in a related
application. Such claims, regardless of their scope, are regarded
as included within the subject matter of the present
disclosure.
* * * * *