Action figure toy with graphics display

• US 4,802,879 A
• Filed: 05/05/1986
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tiger Electronic Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tiger Electronics, Ltd. (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Rissman, Owen R., Tai, Henry T. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US06/859,699
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 446/101, 446/175, 446/295, 446/297, 446/302, 446/303, 446/321, 446/472, 446/487, 273/310, 273/311
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories

Abstract

An action figure toy construction is disclosed which has been configured to exhibit animate characteristics for enhanced entertainment for children. In particular, the present toy construction inludes a liquid crystal graphics display mounted on a humanoid torso portion of the action figure. Suitable micro-processor controls are provided which are operatively connected to the graphics display for controlling and regulating the graphic representation of a plurality of simulated life functions shown by the display, thus lending animation to the toy construction. Embodiments of the toy constructon may include interchangeable limbs for connection to the torso portion, as well as light and sound sensors, and light and sound generating devices.

Claims

1. An action figure toy construction having animated characteristics, comprising:

a humanoid torso portion for said action figure construction configured to resemble a human torso;

graphics display means mounted on said torso portion and comprising a liquid crystal graphics display, said graphics display means being configured to display a plurality of simulated life functions and being operable to correspond to a plurality of varying levels of activity for said action figure construction to lend animated characteristics to said construction, said levels of activity including modes wherein said graphics display means reflects differing activities for said action figure toy construction, with the rate at which the features of said graphics display means are operated varying commensurate with the mode of the graphics display means;

micro-processor means operatively connected to said graphics display means for effecting operation and control thereof, including variations in said plurality of levels of activity of said simulated life functions displayed by said graphics display means;

at least one switch means on said torso portion, said switch means being operatively connected to said micro-processor means whereby operation of said switch means effects alteration of the simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means; and

light sensor means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for receiving light signals,

said graphics display means including target indicator means operated in response to said light-sensor means receiving predetermined light signals.

2. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 1, including

a humanoid head portion joined to said torso portion of said action figure construction and,

a pair of light-emitting means positioned in said head portion to represent eyes for said action figure construction, said light-emitting means being operatively connected with said micro-processor means for operation of said light-emitting means in coordination with changes in said simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means.

3. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 1, including

sound detector means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for operating said graphics display means responsively to sound signals received by said sound detector means.

4. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 1, including

sound generator means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for generation of sound in coordination with operation of said graphics display means displaying said simulated life functions.

5. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said torso portion includes means for interchangeably connecting humanoid limb portions to said torso portion.

6. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein

accessory electrical coupling means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for electrically coupling an associated accessory toy with said micro-processor means.

7. An action figure toy construction having animated characteristics, comprising:

a humanoid torso portion for said action figure construction configured to resemble a human torso, including a humanoid head portion joined to said torso portion;

liquid crystal graphics display means mounted on said torso portion, said graphics display means being configured to display a plurality of simulated life functions in a plurality of levels of activity for said action figure construction to lend animated characteristics thereto;

said levels of activity including modes wherein said graphics display means reflects differing activities for said action figure toy construction, with the rate at which the features of said graphics display means are operated varying commensurate with the mode of the graphics display means, said graphics display means including means displaying an energy level for said action figure toy construction which reflects energy consumption at a rate commensurate with the mode of said graphics display means;

micro-processor means operatively connected to said graphics display means for effecting operation and control thereof, including variations in said plurality of levels of activity of said simulated life functions displayed by said graphics display means;

at least one switch means on said torso portion, said switch means being operatively connected to said micro-processor means whereby operation of said switch means effects operation of said graphics display means;

light-emitting diode means positioned in said head portion to represent eyes for said action figure, said light-emitting diode means being operatively connected with said micro-processor means for operation of said light-emitting diode means in coordination with changes in the simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means;

light-sensor means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for operating said graphics display means responsively to light signals received by said light sensor means; and

sound generator means operatively connected to said micro-processor means for generation of sound in coordination with said simulated life function shown by said graphics display means.

8. An action figure toy construction in accordance with claim 7, wherein

said micro-processor means includes timer means for generating an electrical timer signal reflecting the passage of time, said graphics display means including a numerical display operatively connected with said timer means for displaying changing numerals reflecting passage of time to provide a display of the age of said action figure toy construction.

9. An action figure toy construction having animated characteristics, comprising:

a humanoid torso portion for said action figure construction configured to resemble a human torso;

graphics display means mounted on said torso portion and comprising a liquid crystal graphics display, said graphics display means being configured to display a plurality of simulated life functions and being operable to correspond to a plurality of varying levels of activity for said action figure construction to lend animated characteristics to said construction, said levels of activity including modes wherein said graphics display means reflects differing activities for said action figure toy construction, with the rate at which the features of said graphics display means are operated varying commensurate with the mode of the graphics display means;

micro-processor means operatively connected to said graphics display means for effecting operation and control thereof, including variations in said plurality of levels of activity of said simulated life functions displayed by said graphics display means; and

at least one switch means on said torso portion, said switch means being operatively connected to said micro-processor means whereby operation of said switch means effects alteration of the simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means, said micro-processor means including timer means for generating an electrical timer signal reflecting the passage of time,

said graphics display means including a numerical display operatively connected with said timer means for displaying changing numerals reflecting passage of time to provide a display of the age of said action figure toy construction.

10. An action figure toy construction having animated characteristics, comprising:

a humanoid torso portion for said action figure construction configured to resemble a human torso;

graphics display means mounted on said torso portion and comprising a liquid crystal graphics display, said graphics display means being configured to display a plurality of simulated life functions and being operable to correspond to a plurality of varying levels of activity for said action figure construction to lend animated characteristics to said construction, said levels of activity including modes wherein said graphics display means reflects differing activities for said action figure toy construction, with the rate at which the features of said graphics display means are operated varying commensurate with the mode of the graphics display means;

micro-processor means operatively connected to said graphics display means for effecting operation and control thereof, including variations in said plurality of levels of activity of said simulated life functions displayed by said graphics display means; and

at least one switch means on said torso portion, said switch means being operatively connected to said micro-processor means whereby operation of said switch means effects alteration of the simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means,

said micro-processor means including timer means for generating an electrical timer signal reflecting the passage of time, said time signal being provided to alter the rate of said simulated life functions shown by said graphics display means to represent aging of said action figure toy construction.