USB desktop toy

• US 20070072511A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Pomerantz, Itzhak, Zernovizky, Shuka
• Application Number:
  US11/349,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20070072511A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/330
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/02 imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

An amusing desktop toy, and methods of its use. The toy, in the shape of a realistic or imaginary creature, is connected to a local computer via a communication port, and is actuated by a local or remote user to move so as to directly express gestures visually in three dimensions. The remote user sends gesture instructions to actuate the toy via a telecommunication mechanism from a remote computer. The remote user can program the gesture instructions via a graphical user interface. Optionally, the toy includes a speaker and/or a UFD.

Claims

1. A system for expressing a gesture in three dimensions, the system comprising:

(a) a mechanical device operative to perceptively move at least three parts thereof in response to gesture instructions;

(b) a gesture instruction, for controlling said mechanical device, embedded in a correspondence, said gesture instruction originating from a remote computer;

(c) a local computer for supplying said gesture instruction to said mechanical device during the course of said correspondence between said remote computer and said local computer; and

(d) a gesture instruction interpreter operative to extract said gesture instruction from said correspondence, and convey said gesture instruction to said mechanical device, thereby directly expressing the gesture visually.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) a telecommunication mechanism for sending said gesture instruction from said remote computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said telecommunication mechanism includes an internet.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said remote computer includes a graphical user interface (GUI) for programming said gesture instruction via said telecommunication mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

(e) a communication mechanism for sending at least one said gesture instruction from said local computer to said mechanical device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said communication mechanism is a generic, wired serial port or a wireless port.

7. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

(e) a UFD housed in said mechanical device for storing and retrieving data to and from said local computer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said UFD is detachable.

9. An amusing physical model controlled by a computer, the model comprising:

(a) at least three movable parts;

(b) at least one mechanical actuator for moving said at least three movable parts, number of said at least one mechanical actuator less than number of said at least three movable parts; and

(c) a communication port for receiving a gesture instruction from the computer for controlling said mechanical actuator to directly express a gesture visually.

10. The model of claim 9, wherein the model is shaped as a realistic creature.

11. The model of claim 9, wherein the model is shaped as a fictitious creature.

12. The model of claim 9, wherein said movable parts represent limbs.

13. The model of claim 9, the model further comprising:

(d) a UFD housed in the model for storing and retrieving data to and from said local computer.

14. The model of claim 13, wherein said UFD is detachable.

15. The model of claim 9, the model further comprising:

(d) a speaker housed in the model for receiving signals from the computer via said communication port for conveying sound.

16. The model of claim 9, wherein a single said mechanical actuator is operative to move said at least three movable parts using at least one flexible mechanical linkage for controlling the model to express said gesture.

17. The model of claim 9, wherein said mechanical actuator is pneumatically-controlled.

18. The model of claim 9, wherein said mechanical actuator is hydraulically-controlled.

19. The model of claim 9, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises at least one gear for moving said at least three movable parts.

20. The model of claim 9, wherein said communication port is a generic, wired serial port or a wireless port.

21. The model of claim 9, the model further comprising:

(d) a computer-readable storage medium that includes a data file of said gesture instruction.

22. An amusing physical model controlled by a computer, the model comprising:

(a) at least three movable parts;

(b) a mechanical actuator for moving said at least three movable parts;

(c) a communication port for receiving a gesture instruction from the computer for controlling said mechanical actuator to directly express a gesture visually; and

(d) a UFD housed in the model for storing and retrieving data to and from the computer via said communication port.

23. The model of claim 22, wherein the model is shaped as a realistic creature.

24. The model of claim 22, wherein the model is shaped as a fictitious creature.

25. The model of claim 22, wherein said movable parts represent limbs.

26. The model of claim 22, wherein said UFD is detachable.

27. The model of claim 22, the model further comprising:

(e) a speaker housed in the model for receiving signals from the computer via said communication port for conveying sound.

28. The model of claim 22, wherein a single said mechanical actuator is operative to move said at least three movable parts using at least one flexible mechanical linkage for controlling the model to express said gesture.

29. The model of claim 22, wherein said mechanical actuator is pneumatically-controlled.

30. The model of claim 22, wherein said mechanical actuator is hydraulically-controlled.

31. The model of claim 22, wherein said mechanical actuator comprises at least one gear for moving said at least three movable parts.

32. The model of claim 22, wherein said communication port is a generic, wired serial port or a wireless port.

33. The model of claim 22, wherein the model further comprising:

(e) a computer-readable storage medium that includes a data file of said gesture instruction.

34. A method of directly expressing a gesture of a physical model with at least three movable parts visually in three dimensions by a remote user of a remote computer to a local user of a local computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the local user with a computer-controlled mechanical device operationally connected to the local computer; and

(b) remotely activating said mechanical device to move in a manner that expresses the gesture visually by the remote user to the local user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said step of activating said mechanical device is effected by an application running on the remote computer.

36. A method of self-expression through a three-dimensional visual gesture of a physical model with at least three movable parts, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming a computer with at least one software module that activates the model to perform the gesture by moving parts of the model;

(b) operationally connecting the model to said computer; and

(c) activating at least one said software module from said computer, thereby directly expressing the gesture.