Speech unit for dolls and other toys

• US 4,809,335 A
• Filed: 10/24/1985
• Issued: 02/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel S. Rumsey
• Original Assignee: Daniel S. Rumsey
• Inventors: Rumsey, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ault, Anita M.
• Application Number:
  US06/790,949
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/297, 446/303, 446/397, 446/480, 381/51, 381/52, 381/53, 364/513.5, 200/65.45 R
• US Class Current: 704/266
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

A speech unit for producing preselected words or phrases based on the orientation of a toy doll or figure. A gravity sensing means produces an output corresponding to the orientation of the sensing means with respect to gravity. The output of the sensing means is coupled to a speech synthesizer which produces an output based on transitions from one orientation of the sensing means to a second orientation. A timing circuit coupled to the sensing means establishes a time period during which the sensing means must maintain its orientation for an output to be realized. The timing means also is used to shut off power to the speech synthesizer and speaker means to conserve power of the circuit. In an alternate embodiment, the absolute position of the sensing means is used to select a speech output.

Claims

1. A speech unit for use with a toy figure, said speech unit comprising:

a gravity sensing means for providing a plurality of first signals, said first signals corresponding to the orientation of said gravity sensing means with respect to gravity;

a converting means coupled to said gravity sensing means, said converting means for converting said first signals to a plurality of speech signals, each of said speech signals corresponding to one of said first signals;

speaker means coupled to said converting means, said speaker means for producing audible sounds in response to said speech signals.

2. The speech unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gravity sensing means comprises a hollow member partially filled with a conducting medium, a plurality of electrodes disposed on said member such that different combinations of said electrodes will contact said medium when said hollow member is at different positions with respect to gravity.

3. The speech unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hollow member comprises a cube.

4. The speech unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrodes comprises a common contact.

5. The speech unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plurality of electrodes include at least three contacts disposed on orthogonal faces of said cube.

6. The speech unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein said common contact extends to the approximate center of said cube.

7. The speech unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said medium comprises salt water.

8. The speech unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said medium comprises mercury.

9. The speech unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said converting means comprises a digital speech synthesizer coupled to a storage means, said storage means storing a plurality of pre-selected speech signals.

10. The speech unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said toy figure comprises a doll.

11. The speech unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said toy figure comprises a ball.

12. A speech unit for use with a toy figure, said speech unit comprising:

a gravity sensing means for providing a plurality of first signals, said first signals having a first and second state, said first signals corresponding to the orientation of said gravity sensing means with respect to gravity;

first converting means coupled to said gravity sensing means, said first converting means for concerting each change in the orientation of said gravity sensing means to one of a plurality of digital words;

second converting means coupled to said first converting means, said second converting means for converting said digital words to a plurality of speech signals;

speaker means coupled to said second converting means, said speaker means for producing audible sounds in response to said speech signals.

13. The speech unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said gravity sensing means comprises a hollow member partially filled with a conducting medium, said member having a plurality of electrodes disposed on the surface of said member.

14. The speech unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said member comprises a cube.

15. The speech unit as claimed in claim 14 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrodes comprises a common electrode.

16. The speech unit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said plurality of electrodes include at least three contacts disposed on orthogonal faces of said cube.

17. The speech unit as claimed in claim 16 wherein said common electrode is disposed approximately in the center of said cube.

18. The speech unit is claimed in claim 17 wherein said conducting medium comprises salt water.

19. The speech unit as claimed in claim 18 wherein said conducting medium comprises mercury.

20. The speech unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said toy figure comprises a doll.

21. The speech unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said toy figure comprises a ball.

22. The speech unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first converting means comprises a plurality of first and second flip flops, said first flip flops for storing said first signals corresponding to the present sensed orientation of said gravity sensing means, said second flip flops for storing said first signals corresponding to the prior sensed orientation of said gravity sensing means.

23. The speech unit as claimed in claim 22 wherein said first flip flops have as output immediate position signals and said second flip flops have as output delayed position signals, said immediate position signals and said delayed position signals forming said digital words.

24. The speech unit as claimed in claim 23 wherein said first converting means further includes reversing means for reversing the state of said first signals.

25. The speech unit as claimed in claim 23 wherein said plurality of electrodes include at least three contacts disposed on orthogonal faces of said cube.

26. The speech unit is claimed in claim 25 wherein said common contact is disposed approximately in the center of said cube.

27. The speech unit is claimed in claim 26 wherein said conducting medium comprises salt water.

28. The speech unit as claimed in claim 27 wherein said conducting medium comprises mercury.

29. The speech unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second converting means comprises a digital speech synthesizer coupled to a storage means, said storage means storing a plurality of preselected speech signals, one of said speech signals being selected for each of said digital words.

30. The speech unit as claimed in claim 29 wherein one of said speech signals is selected for every other digital word.

31. A speech unit for use with a toy figure, said speech unit comprising:

a gravity sensing means for providing a plurality of first signals having a first and second state, said first signals corresponding to the orientation of said gravity sensing means with respect to gravity;

a first converting means coupled to said gravity sensing means, said first converting means for converting said first signals into a plurality of second and third signals;

timing means coupled to said first converting means, said timing means outputting a digital word when said gravity sensing means maintains a constant orientation for at least a first period of time, said timing means reducing the power consumption of said speech unit when said gravity sensing means maintains a constant orientation for at least a second period of time;

second converting means coupled to said timing means for converting said digital word to a plurality of speech signals;

speaker means coupled to said second converting means for producing audible sounds in response to said speech signals.

32. The speech unit as claimed in claim 31 wherein said gravity sensing means comprises a hollow member partially filled with a conducting medium, said member having a plurality of electrodes disposed on the surface of said member.

33. The speech unit as claimed in claim 32 wherein said member comprises a cube.

34. The speech unit as claimed in claim 33 wherein at least one of said plurality of electrodes comprises a common contact.

35. The speech unit as claimed in claim 34 wherein said first converting means comprises a plurality of first and second flip flops, said first flip flops for storing said first signals corresponding to the present sensed orientation of said gravity sensing means, said second flip flops for storing said first signals corresponding to the prior sensed orientation of said gravity sensing means.

36. The speech unit as claimed in claim 35 wherein said first flip flops have as output immediate position signals and said second flip flops have as output delayed position signals.

37. The speech unit as claimed in claim 36 wherein said first converting means includes a reversing means for reversing the state of said first signals.

38. The speech unit as claimed in claim 37 wherein said reversing means comprises a plurality of resistors coupled to said electrodes and to the input of an exclusive OR gate, a plurality of Schmidt trigger inverter coupled to said electrodes and to a second input of said exclusive OR gates, an oscillator coupled to said common contact and to said first and second flip flops.

39. The speech unit as claimed in claim 38 wherein said timing means comprises a magnitude comparator coupled to said immediate position signals and to said delayed position signals, said comparator having a first output when said immediate position signals are equal to said delayed position signals and having a second output when said immediate position signals are not equal to said delayed position signals;

first and second multivibrators coupled to the output of said magnitude comparator, said first multivibrator producing a fifth signal when said second output of said comparator is constant for said first period of time, said second multivibrator producing a sixth signal when said second output of said comparator is constant for at least said second period of time;

a plurality of third flip flops coupled to said immediate position signals, a plurality of fourth flip flops coupled to said third flip flops, said fifth signal providing a clocking signal for said third and fourth flip flops, the outputs of said third and fourth flip flops forming said digital word.

40. The speech unit as claimed in claim 39 wherein said second converting means comprises a digital speech synthesizer coupled to a storage means, said storage means storing a plurality of preselected speech signals, said speech synthesizer outputting one of said plurality of speech signals for each of said digital words.

41. The speech unit as claimed in claim 40 wherein one of said speech signals is selected for every other of said digital words.

42. The speech unit as claimed in claim 31 wherein said toy figure comprises a doll.

43. The speech unit as claimed in claim 31 wherein said toy figure comprises a ball.