Interchangeable sound effect device

• US 5,648,753 A
• Filed: 11/22/1994
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank A. Martin
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/343,668
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.1, 340/384.3, 340/384.7, 446/302, 446/299, 446/404, 446/408, 446/484, 273/435, 273/436
• US Class Current: 340/384.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments

Abstract

An interchangeable sound effect device which incorporates and plays sound effects that have been digitally recorded on interchangeable sound cartridges. This device is designed to be used with entertainment and educational type products such as toys, dolls, figurines, books and instructional guides. The sound effect device employs an infrared receiver housed within a durable encasement which straps around the user'"'"'s waist or is embedded within the doll, figurine, toy, or book. The receiver unit contains an infrared detector, an electronic diving means, an audio speaker, and a sound cartridge that rests within a sound cartridge chamber. The sound cartridge contains a sound enabler chip that stores, in digital form, a number of prerecorded sound effects. In addition, the user can easily remove the sound cartridge and insert one of many other sound cartridges each containing a different set of sound effects. Finally, the sound effect device uses an infrared transmitter that attaches to an adjustable glove. This transmitter contains several buttons which the user presses to select the desired sound effect. When the user actuates a button, the transmitter directs an infrared signal indicative of a sound effect to the receiver which will in turn access the sound enabler chip and play the sound effect. In another embodiment, the transmitter and receiver functions are eliminated and the sound effect device is contained within a single housing unit that would be physically incorporated into the doll, toy, book, etc. for convenience. The one-piece embodiment also employs easy to use, interchangeable sound cartridges and the user would operate both embodiments in the same manner.

Claims

1. A sound effect device comprising:

an actuator means for selecting a sound effect and producing a signal indicative of the selected sound effect, said actuator means being housed in a wearable article to be worn by a user,

a sound effect storage means for storing at least one prerecorded sound effect,

a playback means for receiving said signal from said actuator means and for accessing and playing back the selected sound effect from said sound effect storage means in response to said signal,

and an audio amplifier and speaker means for amplifying and audibly emitting the selected sound effect.

2. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said sound effect storage means comprises a sound enabler integrated circuit for storing a plurality of sounds, and accessing each of said sounds by storing said sounds in a partitioned segment of memory within said sound enabler integrated circuit.

3. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said sound effect storage means comprises an interchangeable sound cartridge for storing a plurality of sound effects.

4. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said article is a glove-like garment.

5. The sound effect device of claim 4 wherein said playback means is housed in a unit to be worn on the user'"'"'s waist.

6. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said playback means is housed in said article.

7. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said sound effect device is contained within a single unit.

8. The sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said sound effect device is used in combination with a unit chosen from a family of units comprising dolls, figurines, toys, games, and books.

9. The sound effect device of claim 1 further comprising:

a microcontroller means for monitoring the status of said actuator means,

an external memory means for storing program instructions,

and a power supply and voltage regulator means for providing voltage to said microcontroller means, said external memory means and said audio amplifier and speaker means.

10. The sound effect device of claim 9 wherein said microcontroller means comprises:

means for retrieving and executing said program instructions,

means for controlling interrupt logic which initiates said sound effect,

and means for resetting program logic following each of said sound effects.

11. The sound effect device of claim 9 wherein said voltage regulator means is a 5 volt voltage regulator.

12. A sound effect device comprising:

an actuator means for selecting a sound effect and producing a signal indicative of the selected sound effect,

a sound effect storage means for storing at least one prerecorded sound effect,

a playback means for receiving said signal from said actuator means and for accessing and playing back the selected sound effect from said sound effect storage means in response to said signal,

an audio amplifier and speaker means for amplifying and audibly emitting the selected sound effect,

and a signal transmission means for transmitting said signal from said actuator means to said playback means.

13. The sound effect device of claim 12 wherein said sound effect storage means comprises an interchangeable sound cartridge for storing a plurality of sound effects.

14. The sound effect device of claim 13 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge means has a sound enabler integrated circuit means for storing and accessing said plurality of sound effects in digital form.

15. An interchangeable sound effect device comprising:

a transmitter means for selecting a sound effect and transmitting a signal indicative of the selected sound effect,

a receiver means for receiving said signal from said transmitter means,

means for storing and executing program instructions,

an interchangeable sound cartridge means for storing and accessing at least one sound effect,

and an audio amplifier and speaker means for amplifying and playing back said sound effect.

16. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge means is a sound enabler integrated circuit for storing a plurality of sounds, and accessing each of said sounds by storing said sounds in a partitioned segment of memory within said sound enabler integrated circuit.

17. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 16 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge means is further comprised of:

connector extensions for connecting said sound enabler integrated circuit to said receiver means,

and a clamping means for securing said sound cartridge to said receiver means.

18. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said transmitter means is further comprised of:

a plurality of triggering means for selecting said sound effect,

programmable electrically erasable logic means for monitoring the status of said triggering means and generating an electrical signal indicative of the selected sound effect,

a transistor-based modulation circuit, means for converting said electrical signal that is indicative of said sound effect into a transmission signal that is to be transmitted in the direction of said receiver,

and a power supply and voltage regulator means for supplying voltage levels to said receiver means and said amplifier and speaker means.

19. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 18 wherein said voltage regulator means is a 5 volt voltage regulator.

20. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said signal from said transmitter means is one from a family of signals comprising infrared signals, radio frequency signals, and ultrasonic signals.

21. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said transmitter means is mounted in a glove-like garment to be worn by a user.

22. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said receiver means is further comprised of:

a detector means for detecting said signal from said transmitter means indicative of the selected sound effect,

a microcontroller means for executing program instructions which control the reception of said signal from said transmitter means, an interrupt logic which initiates the playing of said sound effect, and a reset logic following each of said sound effects,

an external memory means for storing said program instructions,

a sound cartridge chamber with a zero-insertion-force socket means for inserting said sound cartridge and means for connecting said sound cartridge to the receiver means,

a low noise filter and gain adjustment means for improving the quality of said sound effect,

and a power supply and voltage regulator means for providing voltage to all of the control logic devices.

23. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge means is easily removed by the user and exchanged with other interchangeable sound cartridges each containing a different set of sound effects to meet a given application.

24. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said receiver means, said interchangeable sound cartridge means, and said amplifier and speaker means are physically housed within a single unit.

25. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 24 wherein said single unit is a unit chosen from a family of units comprising dolls, figurines, toys, games, and books.

26. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 24 wherein said single unit is designed to be worn around a user'"'"'s waist.