U.S. patent application number 14/918452 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-11 for toy reactive to a signal.
This patent application is currently assigned to DONGGUAN SILVERLIT TOYS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is DONGGUAN SILVERLIT TOYS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Choi Kei Fung.
Application Number | 20180008902 14/918452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60892974 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180008902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fung; Choi Kei |
January 11, 2018 |
TOY REACTIVE TO A SIGNAL
Abstract
A toy flowerpot with a movable toy flower includes a battery to
power a mechanism in the toy flower. The flower includes the parts
of a stem, sepal, petals and a front flower face around which the
petals are mounted, at least one of which parts is a reactive part.
A mechanism moves one or more parts of the flower; and includes an
actuator with a magnet and electromagnetic coil with the flower. A
signal receiver or sensor of changes causes at least one of
movement of the flower parts. A microprocessor processes the signal
or sensed change and generates instructions to change the operation
of the electromagnetic coil in response to the signal or sensed
change.
Inventors: |
Fung; Choi Kei; (Causeway
Bay, HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DONGGUAN SILVERLIT TOYS CO., LTD. |
Dongguan |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
DONGGUAN SILVERLIT TOYS CO.,
LTD.
Dongguan
CN
|
Family ID: |
60892974 |
Appl. No.: |
14/918452 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/26 20130101;
A63H 13/00 20130101; A63H 2200/00 20130101; A63H 5/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/26 20060101
A63H033/26; A63H 5/00 20060101 A63H005/00 |
Claims
1. A toy flowerpot with a movable toy flower as an integrated toy
comprising a pot being formed by a wall, a battery compartment
within the wall for accommodating a battery to power a mechanism in
the toy flower; the flower including the parts of a stem, sepal,
petals and a front flower face around which the petals are mounted,
at least two of which parts are reactive parts; wires in the stem
of the flower for directing power from the battery to the mechanism
for moving two or more parts of the flower; an actuator including a
single magnet and electromagnetic coil in the sepal of the flower;
a signal receiver located at least partly within the pot or the
flower for receiving a change in a signal caused by selectively at
least one of movement of the flower or an entity in the environment
of the flower or pot, temperature, sound in the environment,
pressure in the vicinity of the flower or pot; a microprocessor
located at least partly within the pot or the flower for processing
the received signal and generating an electrical signal through the
wires to change the operation of the electromagnetic coil in
response to the sensed change, the electrical signal being for
causing solely a linear and non-rotational movement of the magnet
and a subsequent reaction of at least two of the reactive parts of
the flower, and the electric signal effecting a push linear
movement of the magnet and effecting firstly a movement of petals
between a first position retracted partly in the sepal and a second
position extended from the retracted position in the sepal, and
secondly a movement of a representative mouth on the flower and
thirdly representative eyes on the flower, the movement of the
mouth and the eyes being effected by a single push plate for
operating the mouth and eyes.
2. The toy as claimed in claim 1 comprising the signal receiver
being in the pot or flower for receiving a change in a signal
caused by selectively at least one of a rhyme of a song, movement
of the flower or an entity in the environment of the flower or pot,
temperature, sound in the environment, pressure in the vicinity of
the flower or pot and a mechanism in the flower for simulating a
blooming artificial flower, the mechanism including an
electromagnetic actuator, and wherein varying a voltage level
and/or current direction of the actuator, the mechanism controls
the petal to open and close with a different range and speed.
3. The toy as claimed in claim 1 including a space in the pot for a
battery to provide power by wires up the stem of the flower to
other parts of the flower, including in one or more parts of the
flowers including the actuator mechanism being directly or
indirectly powered through the wires to effect movement of parts of
the flower, and including having the movement operate to open or
close of parts of the flower relative to open and closed positions
of the flower.
4. The toy as claimed in claim 3 wherein the mechanism includes a
tube connected for longitudinal movement relative to the axis of
the tube, and a sensor operating through the microprocessor to
activate the electromagnetic coil for operation to change the
position of a permanent magnet located inside the coil and move the
tube, and the change in position moving directly or indirectly one
or more parts of the flower.
5. The toy as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tube includes a
cylindrical iron component; the magnet being affixed at a center
and bottom of cylindrical iron, and wherein the actuator provides a
motive force to the petal by the reaction of a magnetic field to
the current passing through the coil.
6. The toy as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sepal includes a
trumpet shaped base, and wherein the coil of the actuator and a
coil stand are fixed at a base of the sepal, and the tube and
magnet of the actuator are fixed at the center of the petal.
7. The toy as claimed in claim 6 including a plate for pushing a
hinged mouth inside the front flower face, the plate being
mechanically mounted with the sepal and being hinged to the mouth
inside the flower face.
8. A toy being a movable toy flower as an integrated toy,
comprising a battery to power a mechanism in the toy flower; the
flower including the parts of a stem, sepal, petals and a front
flower face around which the petals are mounted, at least two of
which parts are reactive parts; connections to direct power from
the battery to the mechanism for moving two or more parts of the
flower; an actuator including a magnet and electromagnetic coil
with the flower; a signal receiver located at least partly in the
flower for receiving a change in a signal caused by selectively at
least one of movement of the flower or an entity in the environment
of the flower or pot, temperature, sound in the environment,
pressure in the vicinity of the flower or pot; a microprocessor
located at least partly within the pot or the flower for processing
the received signal and generating an electrical signal through the
wires, the signal being to change the operation of the
electromagnetic coil in response to the sensed change, the
electrical signal being for causing solely a linear and
non-rotational movement of the magnet and a subsequent reaction of
at least two of the reactive parts of the flower, and the electric
signal effecting a push linear movement of the magnet, wherein the
electric signal effects the movement of parts without the use of a
motor having a rotational part.
9. (canceled)
10. The toy as claimed in claim 1 including mounting the coil on a
side of the petal and mounting the iron and magnet module on a base
for the sepal.
11. The toy as claimed in claim 8 including mounting the coil on a
side of a petal and mounting the iron and magnet module on a base
for the sepal.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. A method of operating a toy flowerpot with a movable toy flower
as an integrated toy, comprising a pot being formed by a wall, a
battery compartment within the wall for accommodating a battery to
power a mechanism in the toy flower; the flower including the parts
of a stem, sepal, petals and a front flower face around which the
petals are mounted, at least two of which parts are reactive parts,
including the steps of directing power from the battery to the
mechanism for moving two or more parts of the flower; operating a
magnet through power applied to an electromagnetic coil with the
flower; receiving a change in a signal caused by selectively at
least one of a rhyme of a song, movement of the flower or an entity
in the environment of the flower or pot, temperature, sound in the
environment, pressure in the vicinity of the flower or pot; and
processing the signal change and generating an electrical signal to
change the operation of the electromagnetic coil in response to the
signal change, the electrical signal being for causing solely a
linear and non-rotational movement of the magnet and a subsequent
reaction of at least two of the reactive parts of the flower, the
electric signal effecting a push linear movement of the magnet,
fixing an activation module comprising the magnet and coil at or
adjacent a central area of a petal whereby the petal is guided by
an open end of trumpet shaped sepal and pulled inside the sepal to
present the flower in a closed state, and wherein the petal
includes an elastic material and the elastic nature of the petal
material causes the petal to return to a neutral position when the
coil is de-energized, and operating a pushing plate on a petal to
push the hinged mouth inside the flower face and thereby to open
the mouth, and wherein the petal returns to its neutral position
and the mouth closes when the coil is de-energized.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein when the coil is
non-energized, the petal is in neutral, or in a semi open position,
and when an electric current is applied to the coil in one
direction, the coil becomes an electromagnet and attracts an iron
tube and magnet module towards the coil along the longitudinal
axis.
16. (canceled)
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein applying an opposite
current to the coil, repels the iron and magnet module away from
the coil along the longitudinal axis, and thereby the flower petal
is represented in an open state.
18. (canceled)
19. The method as claimed in claim 14 including effecting at least
one of applying different voltage levels to the coil, thereby
generating a different magnetic field strength and thereby
effecting a different petal moving range; or changing the coil
voltage polarity, and reversing the magnetic field direction so
that the petal changes from opening to closing state or vice versa;
or applying a rate of voltage change or rate of Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) change to obtain a different petal moving
speed.
20. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein a blooming effect of
the toy flower is activated by triggering at least one of a
different type of sensor, selectively a light sensor, sound level
sensor, touch sensor, motion sensor, or moisture sensor, clapping,
different sound level or ultrasonic sound command.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to application Ser. No. 14/467,886
filed Aug. 25, 2014 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,115 entitled "Toy
Responsive to Blowing or Sound". The content of this application is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE
[0002] The disclosure relates to a toy that can interact with a
user of the toy.
[0003] The present disclosure is concerned with the technology for
one or more toys to be reactive to the sensing, for instance, of
sound, movement, moisture, heat, and voltage and to be interactive
or independent in their reaction.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] The disclosure is an interactive artificial flower toy and
method for operating a flower toy where the toy comprises flower
parts and one or more of which are structured to move under the
direct or indirect action of movement of a magnet operated by an
electromagnetic coil.
[0005] A sensor is located with the flower toy for sensing a sound,
movement, voltage heat or the like caused for instance by a human
user in the vicinity of the toy. A microprocessor processes the
sensed signal generates instructions in response to, the
instructions causing operation of one or more reactive portions of
the toy. There can be a speaker for emitting sound as part of the
operation. A reaction by the first flower toy can cause a
responsive reaction by the second flower toy.
[0006] The sound can be provided by a user or one of the toys or of
multiple toys. Many flower toys can be interactive to develop a
reaction of other flower toys to the sensing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The novel features of this disclosure, as well as the
disclosure itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will
be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar
reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
[0008] FIG. 1. Front view of artificial flower
[0009] FIG. 2. Side view of artificial flower
[0010] FIG. 3. Exploded view of sepal
[0011] FIG. 4a. Front view of petal
[0012] FIG. 4b. Rear view of petal
[0013] FIG. 5. Rear view of flower face
[0014] FIG. 6. Cross-sectional view of artificial flower
[0015] FIG. 7. Exploded view of artificial flower for showing the
direction of closing petal and iron and permanent magnet module
[0016] FIG. 8. Exploded view of artificial flower for showing the
direction of opening petal and iron and permanent magnet module
[0017] FIG. 9. Cross-sectional view of alternative design by
swapping the position of iron and magnet module and electric
coil
[0018] FIG. 10. Exploded view of alternative design by putting all
electronics and battery inside sepal
[0019] FIGS. 11a and 11b. Alternative front views of the
flower.
[0020] FIG. 12. Alternative front view of the flower.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] A mechanism simulating a blooming artificial flower includes
an electromagnetic actuator, a petal, a sepal and a flower face. By
varying the voltage level and/or current direction of the actuator,
this mechanism is able to control the petal to open and close with
different range and speed.
[0022] A toy flowerpot with a movable toy flower, comprises a pot
with a wall, a battery compartment within the wall for
accommodating a battery to power a mechanism in the toy flower. The
flower includes the parts of a stem, sepal, petals and a front
flower face around which the petals are mounted, at least one of
which parts is a reactive part.
[0023] There are wires in the stem of the flower for directing
power from the battery to the mechanism for moving one or more
parts of the flower. An actuator includes a magnet and
electromagnetic coil with the flower. Alternatively the battery is
in the flower.
[0024] A signal receiver or sensor with the pot or flower receives
a signal or senses a change caused by selectively at least one of
movement of the flower or an entity in the environment of the
flower or pot, temperature, sound in the environment, pressure in
the vicinity of the flower or pot.
[0025] A microprocessor for processing the received signal or
sensed change and generates instructions to change the operation of
the electromagnetic coil in response to the signal or sensed
change. The instructions cause movement of the magnet and a
subsequent reaction of at least one of the reactive parts of the
flower.
[0026] The signal receiver with the pot or flower receives a change
in a signal caused by selectively at least one of a built in rhyme
of a song, movement of the flower or an entity in the environment
of the flower or pot, temperature, sound in the environment,
pressure in the vicinity of the flower or pot and a mechanism in
the flower for simulating a blooming artificial flower.
[0027] The mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator, and
wherein varying a voltage level and/or current direction of the
actuator, the mechanism controls the petal to open and close with a
different range and speed.
[0028] The toy comprises a mechanism in the flower for simulating a
blooming artificial flower, the mechanism including an
electromagnetic actuator. Varying a voltage level and/or current
direction of the actuator, the mechanism controls the petal to open
and close with a different range and speed.
[0029] A space in the pot for a battery provides power by wires up
the stem of the flower to other parts of the flower. The actuator
mechanism is directly or indirectly powered through the wires to
effect movement of one or more parts of the flower. This includes
having the movement operate to open or close of one or more parts
of the flower relative to open and closed positions of the
flower.
[0030] The mechanism includes one or more tubes connected for
longitudinal and/or rotational movement relative to the axis of the
tube. The sensor operates through the microprocessor to activate
the electromagnetic coil for operation to change the position of a
permanent magnet located strategically with the coil and move the
tube, and the change in position moves directly or indirectly one
or more parts of the flower.
[0031] The tube includes a cylindrical iron component. The magnet
is affixed at a center and bottom of cylindrical iron, and the
actuator provides a motive force to the petal by the reaction of a
magnetic field to the current passing through the coil.
[0032] The sepal includes a trumpet shaped base. The coil of the
actuator and a coil stand are fixed at a base of the sepal, and the
tube and magnet of the actuator are fixed at the center of the
petal.
[0033] The toy includes a plate for pushing a hinged mouth inside
the front flower face, the plate being mechanically mounted with
the sepal and being hinged to the mouth inside the flower face.
[0034] In an alternative form a toy flowerpot with a movable toy
flower comprises a battery to power a mechanism in the toy flower.
The flower includes the parts of a stem, sepal, petals and a front
flower face around which the petals are mounted, at least one of
which parts is a reactive part. Connections to direct power from
the battery to the mechanism for moving one or more parts of the
flower. An actuator includes a magnet and electromagnetic coil with
the flower.
[0035] A sensor senses a change caused by selectively at least one
of movement of the flower or an entity in the environment of the
flower, temperature, sound in the environment, pressure in the
vicinity of the flower.
[0036] A microprocessor processes the sensed change and generating
instructions to change the operation of the electromagnetic coil in
response to the sensed change. The instructions cause movement of
the magnet and a subsequent reaction of at least one of the
reactive parts of the flower.
[0037] The toy can locate a power circuit and/or power supply
inside the sepal.
[0038] The mounting the coil can be on a side of the petal and
mounting the iron and magnet module on a base for the sepal.
[0039] The operation of the actuator without a cylindrical tube
thereby reducing the magnetic field strength.
[0040] A method of operating a toy flowerpot with a movable toy
flower. The steps include directing power from the battery to the
mechanism for moving one or more parts of the flower. A magnet
operates through power applied to an electromagnetic coil with the
flower. A change caused by selectively at least one of movement of
the flower or an entity in the environment of the flower or pot,
temperature, sound in the environment, pressure in the vicinity of
the flower or pot is sensed.
[0041] Processing the sensed change and generating instructions
changes the operation of the electromagnetic coil in response to
the sensed change. The instructions cause movement of the magnet
and a subsequent reaction of at least one of the reactive parts of
the flower.
[0042] When the coil is non-energized, the petal is in neutral, or
in a semi open position, and when an electric current is applied to
the coil in one direction, the coil becomes an electromagnet and
attracts an iron tube and magnet module towards the coil along the
longitudinal axis.
[0043] An activation module comprising the magnet and coil is fixed
at or adjacent a central area of a petal whereby the petal is
guided by an open end of trumpet shaped sepal and pulled inside the
sepal to present the flower in a closed state, and wherein the
petal includes an elastic material and the elastic nature of the
petal material causes the petal to return to a neutral position
when the coil is de-energized.
[0044] The method can apply an opposite current to the coil. This
repels the iron and magnet module away from the coil along the
longitudinal axis, and thereby the flower petal is represented in
an open state.
[0045] The method includes operating a pushing plate on a petal to
push the hinged mouth inside the flower face and thereby to open
the mouth. The petal returns to its neutral position and the mouth
closes when the coil is de-energized.
[0046] The disclosure provides a toy flowerpot with one or more
movable toy flowers. The pot can have a space for battery-power to
provide power by wires up the stem of the flower to other parts of
the flower. In one or more parts of the flowers there is a
mechanism directly or indirectly powered through the wires to
effect movement of one or more parts of the flower. The movement
can include opening and closing of one or more parts of the flower
relative to open and closed positions of the flower. The mechanism
can includes one or more tubes connected for longitudinal and/or
rotational movement relative to the axis of the tube. There are one
or more sensors for activating movement of the tube. The sensors
can be strategically placed in the pot or a part of the flower and
can operate through a PCBA to activate the tube. There is also an
electromagnetic coil for operation to change the position of a
permanent magnet located strategically with the coil. This change
in position can move directly or indirectly one or more parts of
the flower.
[0047] The artificial flower blooming mechanism includes [0048] 1.
Electromagnetic actuator [0049] It comprises 3 parts [0050] a.
Electric coil [0051] b. Cylindrical iron [0052] c. Permanent magnet
fixed at the center and bottom of cylindrical iron [0053] The
actuator provides the motive force to the petal by the reaction of
a magnetic field to the current passing through it. [0054] 2. Sepal
[0055] It is a hard plastic trumpet shaped base [0056] Electric
coil of the actuator and coil stand are fixed at the Sepal base
[0057] 3. Petal [0058] It can be made of soft material such as PP,
PE, PVC, fabric material, paper . . . etc. [0059] Iron and
permanent magnet module of the actuator are fixed at the center of
petal [0060] A plate for pushing a hinged mouth inside flower face
[0061] 4. Flower face [0062] It is mechanically mounted on sepal
[0063] Hinged mouth inside the flower face [0064] An elastic stamen
[0065] 5. Stem & leaves [0066] Hollow stem [0067] For
decoration purpose
[0068] According to the present embodiment, the flower stem is
hollow, it allows 2 coil wires to pass through the stem so that the
coil can be connected to an electrical power source inside a pot.
Without energizing the coil, the petal is in neutral, semi open
position. When an electric current is applied to the coil in one
direction, the coil becomes an electromagnet and it attracts the
iron and permanent magnet module towards the coil along the
longitudinal axis.
[0069] As this module is fixed at the center of petal, the petal
will be guided by the open end of trumpet shaped sepal and pulled
inside the sepal. Then the flower will be in close state. Due to
the elasticity nature of the petal material, the petal will return
to its neutral position when the coil is de-energized.
[0070] Similarly, when opposite current is applied to the coil, it
repels the iron and permanent magnet module away from the coil
along the longitudinal axis. The flower petal will be in open
state. Additionally, the pushing plate on petal will push the
hinged mouth inside flower face so as to open the mouth
simultaneously. Again, the petal will return to its neutral
position and the mouth will close when the coil is de-energized
[0071] Ampere's Law relates that the magnetic field of a coil is
directly proportional to the applied current and hence applied
voltage. [0072] 1. By applying different voltage levels to the
coil, different magnetic field strength and therefore different
petal moving range can be achieved. [0073] 2. By changing the coil
voltage polarity, magnetic field direction can be reversed in
180.degree. so that the petal can change from opening to closing
state or vice versa. [0074] 3. By applying rate of voltage change
or rate of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) change, different petal
moving speed can be obtained.
[0075] All above coil control functions can be easily implemented
by driving the electric coil with a low cost microcontroller.
[0076] Alternative designs include [0077] 1. Mount an electric coil
on petal side and mount the iron and permanent magnet module on
sepal base. (FIG. 9) [0078] 2. When long travel distance of
electromagnetic actuator is not required, the cylindrical iron is
removed so as to reduce the magnetic field strength. [0079] 3. Put
the power circuit and/or power supply inside the sepal rather than
a pot. (FIG. 10) [0080] 4. The artificial flower blooming effect is
activated by triggering different types of sensor such as light
sensor, sound level sensor, touch sensor, motion sensor, moisture
sensor . . . etc.
[0081] Apart from hinged mouth, pushing plate can also be used to
activate different facial expression such as moving eyes, nose,
ears . . . etc.
TABLE-US-00001 Numbering system No Description 1 Petal 2 Stamen 3
Flower face 4 Stem 5 Sepal 6 Hinged mouth 7 Pushing plate 8
Cylindrical iron 9 Permanent magnet 10 Coil stand 11 Electric coil
12 PCBA 13 Battery 14 Wires 15 Eyes 16 Nose 20 Artificial flower 28
Sensor 30 Pot 32 Battery compartment
[0082] A toy flowerpot with a movable toy flower comprises a pot
with a wall. There is a battery compartment within the wall for
accommodating a battery to power a mechanism in the toy flower. The
flower includes the parts of a stem, sepal, petals and a front face
around which the petals are mounted. Wiring in the stem of the
flower is for directing power from the battery to the mechanism for
moving one or more parts of the flower.
[0083] A toy flower pot for an artificial flower 20 includes a pot
30, a battery source 13 and wires 14 directed up the stem 4 of the
flower 20.
[0084] The disclosure is an interactive toy comprising the pot and
flower. A microprocessor generates signals to sequentially activate
and deactivate an electric coil thereby to sequentially attract and
release a magnet thereby to cause movement of one or more parts of
the interactive flower toy. The movement causes relative changes in
position between a non-reactive portion and a reactive portion of
the flower toy.
[0085] The interactive toy is a flower, and the flower has a Petal,
Stamen, Flower face, stem and sepal. One or more of these parts is
a reactive portion and one or more of these parts is a non-reactive
portion. The changes in position of the first reactive portion are
exhibited as the sequentially opening and closing for instance the
mouth in the flower face. A change in position of a second reactive
portion is exhibited as the opening or closed of eyes or movement
of ears and/or opening or closing of petals relative to the
face.
[0086] The interactive toy can include a speaker in the body of the
toy, and the microprocessor can include a routine for analyzing
sound in the vicinity of the body, and cause the sound to develop a
reaction by the toy, the reaction being the emission of a sound
from the speaker.
[0087] The microprocessor includes a routine for analyzing
different sounds in the vicinity of the toy, and classifying the
sounds to develop different reactions by the toy, the reactions
being selected as being at least one of from the group of movement
of a reactive portion of the toy or the emission of sound from the
speaker.
[0088] The interactive flower toy can include an aperture for
instance in the flower face for receiving the blowing pressure to
thereby activate the microprocessor. There is a blow sensor with
the body for sensing a pressure caused by blowing on the shell by a
human user in the vicinity of the body. A microprocessor processes
the blowing pressure and generates instructions in response to the
blowing pressure, the instructions cause operation of the reactive
portion of the toy. A speaker is provided for emitting sound as
part of the operation.
[0089] There can be multiple toy flowers of similar construction
and operation and for interoperation with each other, such that
when the first toy emits a sound a second flower begins to
react.
[0090] The toy can include a communication module wherein the toy
is connectable with a digital input device thereby to link the toy
with digital input device through at least one of a USB, Bluetooth,
Zigbee or WiFi communication protocol whereby the toy is configured
to receive at least one of a predefined object set, voice, melody,
song or sound effect from the digital input device.
[0091] The disclosure also includes a method of operating an
interactive toy comprising including an interactive toy.
[0092] Signals are generated to sequentially activate and
deactivate a first electric coil; sequentially attracting or
releasing a first magnet thereby to cause movement of one or more
parts of the interactive toy flower.
[0093] In an alternative method format there is provided in the
first toy flower a speaker for emitting sound as part of the
operation. A second toy flower includes a speaker for emitting
sound as part of the operation; a sound sensor with the body.
[0094] The method includes analyzing different sounds in the
vicinity of the body, classifying the sounds to develop different
reactions by the toy flower. The reactions are selected as being at
least one of from the group of movement of a reactive portion of
the toy or the emission of sound from the speaker. Also there is
classifying the sounds to develop different reactions by the toy
flower.
[0095] The method also includes connecting the toy with a digital
input device thereby to link the toy with digital input device
through at least one of a USB, Bluetooth, Zigbee or WiFi
communication protocol whereby the toy is configured to receive at
least one of a predefined object set, voice, melody, song or sound
effect from the digital input device.
[0096] The can be several toys to be responsive to at least one of
the toys or sounds, the responsiveness being generated from the
user or from other of the several toys. Thereby there is obtained a
multiple reaction of multiple toys as a started from an initial
blowing or sound by a user or by a sound generation by of the
multiple toys.
[0097] There can be a different number of coils driven by different
magnets or magnetic systems.
[0098] In one form of operation, there are two control methods to
drive the coils:
[0099] Current flow through a coil in one direction or current flow
in opposite direction to activate the coil or no current to
deactivate the coil so that the magnet can be attracted to one end,
or repelled to other end or in neutral position respectively. A
suitable control method is applied in a second coil and magnet
pair, and is used to operate a second flower toy.
Start Up
[0100] The flower toy listens to the commands in indoor environment
within 6-20'' range, background noise sometimes may affect the
accurateness of command recognition.
Low Battery Detection
[0101] When the battery power is low during the play or while the
user turns on the flower, the flower toy will generate an alert as
a reminder that battery replacement is required.
Interaction with Smartphone App
[0102] By using the Smartphone App, the user can send ultrasonic
sound command to the flower toy for play the song the user
wants.
[0103] The flower toy are interactive toy flowers that can move and
respond to players' commands in clapping, different sound level or
ultrasonic sound command from the Smartphone app.
[0104] The toy can include the microprocessor or a second
microprocessor, the second microprocessor being selected to operate
features selected from the group consisting of handling power
management of the toy, controlling at least one or more magnets of
the toy, driving an LED and playing sound effect, melody, song and
message associated with the toy.
[0105] There can be an external memory for data and program
storage, and for interacting with the microprocessor.
[0106] The interactive toy can include at least one of a microphone
sensor for speech recognition input, capacitive sensor for reaction
to a touching input, or a proximity sensor for detecting when a
user is located at a predetermined distance from the toy.
[0107] The microprocessor can include a routine for interactive
game play, the routine causing the toy to relate to a user the need
to perform one action, and then checking whether the action has
been correctly performed. The toy includes a routine for
determining the right action relative to a preprogrammed pattern,
and providing feedback to a user by causing the toy to react with
different selected movements, the movement including selectively at
least one of shaking or nodding of a reactive portion or an
emission of a sound output.
[0108] In one embodiment a toy can be a doll comprising a plush,
soft or hard plastic head and body. One or more subsidiary MCUs can
be provided for handling power management provided through a
battery, controlling coils, magnets and gear boxes through magnet
drivers, driving LEDs and playing sound effect, melody, song and
messages through an audio output.
[0109] There are external SDRAM and Flash memory devices and
respectively for data and program storage.
[0110] In other forms of the disclosure, recognition of blowing or
sound is used as in different applications recently such as Xbox
Kinect, Nintendo Wii remote controller and iPhone, or smart phones.
Although the disclosure is described of a toy flower, it is
possible to apply the disclosure to other toy embodiments.
[0111] It will be understood that the toy can be formed of a
variety materials and may be modified to include additional
routines, processes, switches and/or buttons. It will be further
understood that a variety of other types of toys and digital inputs
may be used to control the operation of the toy of the present
disclosure.
[0112] The interactive toy can include several reactive portions of
the flower, and there can be a second coil and second magnet.
Generating the signals sequentially activates and deactivates the
second electrical coil thereby sequentially attracting and
releasing a second magnet thereby to cause second movement of the
interactive toy. The movement causes relative changes in position
between non-reactive portion and other reactive portions of the
flower
[0113] One of ordinary skill will appreciate that although the
embodiments discussed above refer to one form of image sensor.
There can be other forms of sensors and there could be more than
one sensor with the toy and other modes of operation could be
used.
[0114] In some cases there is the toy artificial flower without the
pot.
[0115] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
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