INTERACTIVE INTELLIGENT TOY

• US 20100261408A1
• Filed: 05/09/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cepia LLC
• Original Assignee: Cepia LLC
• Inventors: Hornsby, James Russell, Reynolds, Michael, McGowan, Joseph, Benson, Marcellus
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/484
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/36 Steering-mechanisms for toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/08 with mechanical means for guiding or steering
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/16 Control of vehicle drives by interaction between vehicle and track; Control of track elements by vehicles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an interactive intelligent toy that provides the appearance and experience of a toy hamster moving in, and interacting with, its environment and habitat. In an exemplary embodiment, the interactive intelligent toy comprises an intelligent motive and control component enclosed by a cover resembling a hamster, with fur coat, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and whiskers. The motive component includes a drive mechanism and circuitry operable to control the drive mechanism, monitor and detect user and event inputs, and detect and decode embedded codes from a pathway and perform predetermined actions or generate predetermined sounds in response. The motive component moves along and through a pathway component having one or more embedded codes detectable by the motive component, the embedded codes providing information to the motive component to direct desired action of the motive component.

Claims

1. An interactive intelligent toy, comprising:

a pathway component configured to contain and guide a motive component, said pathway component comprising at least one embedded code detectable by said motive component; and

a motive component operable to travel along said pathway component, said motive component operable to detect said embedded code and perform a predetermined action in response.

2. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 1, wherein said embedded code comprises encoded raised bumps, a bar code, an RFID tag, and combinations thereof.

3. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 2, wherein said motive component comprises circuitry operable to detect raised bumps, bar codes, RFID tags, and combinations thereof.

4. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 1, wherein said embedded code comprises a plurality of raised bumps and wherein said motive component comprises at least one sensor operable to sense said raised bumps.

5. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 4, wherein said plurality of raised bumps comprises a pattern arranged in two rows.

6. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 4, wherein said plurality of raised bumps comprises a pattern arranged to provide information identifying a pathway component.

7. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 6, wherein said pattern comprises a first identification code when read from a first direction and a second identification code when read from a second direction.

8. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 1, wherein said predetermined action comprises a movement, a sound, or a combination thereof.

9. An interactive intelligent toy, comprising:

a pathway component configured to contain and guide a motive component, said pathway component comprising at least one embedded code detectable by said motive component; and

a motive component comprising a drive mechanism, control circuitry, and sensors, said sensors operable to detect said embedded codes and communicate a detected code to said control circuitry.

10. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 9, wherein said sensors comprise mechanical switches operable to detect raised bumps in a surface under said motive component.

11. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 9, wherein said control circuitry is operable to communicate with said drive mechanism and wherein said control circuitry commands said drive mechanism in response to receiving said detected code.

12. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 9, wherein said control circuitry is operable to generate a sound in response to receiving said detected code.

13. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 9, wherein said motive component is directed by said control circuitry to perform at least one predetermined action in response to said detected code.

14. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 9, wherein said predetermined action comprises a movement action, a sound action, or combinations thereof.

15. An interactive intelligent toy, comprising:

a motive component comprising a drive mechanism, control circuitry, and sensors all in electrical communication, wherein said sensors are operable to detect an embedded code in a surface and wherein said control circuitry is operable to command said drive mechanism in response to said detected code.

16. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 15, wherein said sensors comprise mechanical switches operable to detect raised bumps in a surface.

17. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 15, wherein said control circuitry is operable to generate a sound in response to said detected code.

18. An interactive intelligent toy, comprising:

a pathway component comprising an embedded code, said embedded code representing a desired predetermined action to be performed by a motive component traveling along said pathway component.

19. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 18, wherein said embedded code comprises a plurality of raised bumps in a surface of said pathway.

20. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 19, wherein said plurality of bumps comprise a bit pattern detectable by said motive component.

21. An interactive intelligent toy, comprising:

a pathway component configured to contain and guide a motive component, said pathway component comprising at least one embedded code detectable by said motive component, wherein said pathway component is configured to attach to additional pathway components to form an expandable habitat environment; and

a motive component operable to travel along said pathway component, said motive component operable to detect said embedded code and perform a predetermined action in response.

22. The interactive intelligent toy of claim 21, wherein said pathway component comprises at least one connector configured to engage with a mating connector located on a second pathway component such that said pathway components interconnect to form an expandable habitat.