Interchangeable sound effect device

• US 6,046,670 A
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• 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 A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/211,299
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.3, 340/384.1, 340/384.73, 340/384.7, 446/302, 446/404, 446/484, 446/408, 446/299
• US Class Current: 340/384.3
• 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 (1) which incorporates and plays sound effects that have been digitally recorded on interchangeable sound cartridges (4). This device (1) is designed to be used with entertainment and educational type products such as toys, dolls, figurines, books and instructional guides. The sound effect device (1) employs an infrared receiver (28) 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 (28) contains an infrared detector (44), an electronic diving means (60), an audio speaker (52), and a sound cartridge (4) that rests within a sound cartridge chamber (32). The sound cartridge (4) contains a sound enabler chip (12) that stores, in digital form, a number of prerecorded sound effects. In addition, the user can easily remove the sound cartridge (4) and insert one of many other sound cartridges each containing a different set of sound effects. Finally, the sound effect device (1) uses an infrared transmitter (76) that attaches to an adjustable glove (92). This transmitter (76) contains several buttons (80) which the user presses to select the desired sound effect. When the user actuates a button (80), the transmitter (76) directs an infrared signal indicative of a sound effect to the receiver (28) which will in turn access the sound enabler chip (12) and play the sound effect. In another embodiment, the transmitter (76) and receiver (28) functions are eliminated and the sound effect device (1) is contained within a single housing unit (120) that would be physically incorporated into the doll, toy, book, etc. for convenience. The one-piece embodiment (120) also employs easy to use, interchangeable sound cartridges (4) and the user would operate both embodiments in the same manner.

Claims

1. An interchangeable sound effect device comprising:

an interchangeable sound cartridge containing at least one sound effect,

a transmitter,

a receiver,

a wire electronically connecting the transmitter and the receiver,

a selector for selecting a signal indicative of a selected sound effect,

and a speaker electronically connected to the receiver.

2. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said wire is telephone wire.

3. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said wire is attached to at least one of said receiver and said transmitter with a jack.

4. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge 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.

5. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 4 wherein said interchangeable sound cartridge is further comprised of:

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

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

6. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said at least one sound effect is a plurality of sound effects and wherein said selector has a plurality of triggers for selecting one of said plurality of sound effects.

7. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is mounted in a glove-like garment to be worn by a user.

8. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said receiver has a sound cartridge chamber with a zero-insertion-force socket configured to receive said sound cartridge.

9. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said receiver is further comprised of:

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

a microcontroller means for executing program instructions which control the reception of said signal from said transmitter, 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 said receiver,

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.

10. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is housed in a wearable article.

11. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said selector is housed in a wearable article.

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

13. The interchangeable sound effect device of claim 1 wherein said receiver and said speaker are housed in a unit designed to be worn around a user'"'"'s waist.

14. 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 cable means connecting said actuator means and said playback means.

15. The sound effect device of claim 14 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.

16. The sound effect device of claim 15 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.

17. The sound effect device of claim 15 wherein said voltage regulator means is a 5 volt voltage regulator.

18. The sound effect device of claim 14 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.

19. The sound effect device of claim 14 wherein said sound effect storage means comprises an interchangeable sound cartridge for storing a plurality of sound effects.

20. The sound effect device of claim 14 wherein said article is a glove-like garment.

21. The sound effect device of claim 20 wherein said playback means is housed in a unit to be worn on the user'"'"'s waist.

22. The sound effect device of claim 14 wherein said playback means is housed in said article.

23. The sound effect device of claim 14 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.