Interactive apparatus with interactive device

• US 20040191733A1
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wood, Michael C., Soto, Jorge Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/206
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

An interactive apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a interactive ball includes (a) a plurality of indicia, (b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the plurality of indicia, (c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit, (d) a first outer surface; and (e) a second outer surface that is recessed with respect to the first outer surface, wherein the plurality of indicia are present at the second outer surface.

Claims

1. An interactive ball comprising:

(a) a plurality of indicia;

(b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the plurality of indicia;

(c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit;

(d) a first outer surface; and

(e) a second outer surface that is recessed with respect to the first outer surface, wherein the plurality of indicia is present at the second outer surface.

2-26. -26. (canceled)

27. An interactive device comprising:

(a) a plurality of indicia;

(b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the plurality of indicia;

(c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit;

(d) a first outer surface; and

(e) a second outer surface that is recessed with respect to the first outer surface, wherein the plurality of indicia is present at the second outer surface.

28. The interactive device of claim 27 further including a motion sensor operatively coupled to the processor and the memory unit.

29. The interactive device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of indicia is in the form of depressible buttons.

30. The interactive device of claim 27 further comprising an input unit, wherein the input unit allows a user to select from among a plurality of different operational modes.

31. The interactive device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of indicia is disposed in an equatorial band that encircles the device.

32. An interactive apparatus comprising:

the interactive device of claim 27;

and

a holder, wherein the holder is adapted to hold the device.

33. The interactive apparatus of claim 32, wherein the holder includes a pair of arms that hold the interactive device and allows the interactive device to be spun by a user while the device is held by the holder.

34. An interactive apparatus comprising:

a holder comprising a pair of arms;

an interactive device comprising a plurality of indicia disposed around an equatorial band around the device,

wherein the pair of arms hold the interactive device so that the plurality of indicia is displayed to the user.

35. The interactive apparatus of claim 34, wherein the device is capable being spun by a user in a uniaxial direction while the device is held by the holder.

36. An interactive device including

(a) a motion sensor unit;

(b) a processor and memory unit operatively coupled to the motion sensor unit; and

(c) an audio output unit operatively coupled to the processor and memory unit,

wherein when the interactive device is undergoing a revolving motion, the interactive device plays a song, and wherein when the playing of the song stops when the interactive device stops revolving.

37. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the song stops at a song halt point, and wherein the song begins playing from the song halt point after the revolving motion re-starts.

38. The interactive device of claim 36 further comprising a plurality of indicia.

39. The interactive device of claim 36 further comprising a plurality of indicia, wherein the plurality of indicia, the processor and memory unit and the audio output unit are configured such that when an indicium of one of the plurality of indicia is pressed, the depressed indicium is phonetically pronounced.

40. The interactive device of claim 36 further comprising a plurality of indicia, wherein each indicium in the plurality of indicia corresponds to a different song.

41. The interactive device of claim 36 further comprising:

a plurality of lights disposed on the interactive device.

42. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the device includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the second outer surface recessed below the first outer surface, and

wherein the plurality of indicia is disposed at the second outer surface are below the first outer surface.

43. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of indicia is in the form of buttons disposed below the first outer surface.

44. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the second outer surface includes an equatorial band.

45. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of indicia is alphanumeric indicia.

46. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the plurality of indicia includes the 26 letters of the alphabet.

47. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the audio output unit includes a sound synthesizer and speaker.

48. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein the motion sensor unit includes at least one ball-in-cage motion sensor.

49. The interactive device of claim 36, wherein an outer surface of the device is formed at least partially of a soft material.