Interactive toys
First Claim
1. An interactive toy, comprising:
- a memory for storing digital data representative of speech phrases;
a speech synthesizer, connected to the memory, for converting the digital data into audible synthesized speech phrases;
an infra-red transceiver for communicating infra-red signals over a field-of-view to a second toy;
a switch for enabling a user of the toy to select between a stand-alone mode and an infra-red transmission mode;
a microphone; and
a processor, connected to the switch, the microphone, the infra-red transceiver, the speech synthesizer, and the memory, for determining the selected mode and,(i) in the event the stand-alone mode is selected,(a) monitoring the microphone for sound input, and(b) in the event that sound input is present, selecting digital speech data representative of a speech phrase and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer; and
(ii) in the event the infra-red transmission mode is selected,(a) receiving a first infra-red signal from the second toy indicative of a speech phrase audibly generated by the second toy,(b) selecting digital speech data representative of a reply speech phrase in response to the first signal and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer, and(c) transmitting a second signal to the second toy indicative of the selected phrase.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The interactive toy includes a speech synthesizer for converting digital data representative of speech into audible synthesized speech; an infra-red transceiver for wirelessly communicating infra-red messages over a field-of-view to a second toy; a microphone; and a selector for selecting between a transmission mode and a stand-alone mode. The toy is programmed so that, in the transmission mode, it receives a first infra-red signal from a second toy identifying a synthesized speech phrase generated by the second toy, supplies selected digital speech data representative of a reply synthesized speech phrase to the speech synthesizer in response to the first signal, and transmits a second infra-red signal to the second toy indicative of the selected reply phrase. In the stand-alone mode, the toy monitors the microphone for sound input, and supplies selected digital speech data to the speech synthesizer after the sound input has ceased. The toy also includes a motor, connected to a movable body part, which is actuated in timed relation to the synthesized speech, in order to mimic human mannerisms when speaking.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interactive toy, comprising:
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a memory for storing digital data representative of speech phrases; a speech synthesizer, connected to the memory, for converting the digital data into audible synthesized speech phrases; an infra-red transceiver for communicating infra-red signals over a field-of-view to a second toy; a switch for enabling a user of the toy to select between a stand-alone mode and an infra-red transmission mode; a microphone; and a processor, connected to the switch, the microphone, the infra-red transceiver, the speech synthesizer, and the memory, for determining the selected mode and, (i) in the event the stand-alone mode is selected, (a) monitoring the microphone for sound input, and (b) in the event that sound input is present, selecting digital speech data representative of a speech phrase and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer; and (ii) in the event the infra-red transmission mode is selected, (a) receiving a first infra-red signal from the second toy indicative of a speech phrase audibly generated by the second toy, (b) selecting digital speech data representative of a reply speech phrase in response to the first signal and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer, and (c) transmitting a second signal to the second toy indicative of the selected phrase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interactive toy, comprising:
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a microphone; a movable body part having a motor connected thereto; a memory for storing digital data representative of speech phrases; a speech synthesizer, connected to the memory, for converting the digital data into audible synthesized speech phrases; an infra-red transceiver for communicating infra-red signals over a field-of-view to a second toy; a switch for enabling a user of the toy to select between a stand-alone mode and a dual mode; and a processor connected to the motor, the microphone, the infra-red transceiver, the speech synthesizer, and the memory, for receiving a first infra-red signal from the second toy indicative of a speech phrase audibly generated by the second toy, selecting digital speech data representative of a reply speech phrase in response to the first signal and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer, actuating the motor in timed relation to the synthesized speech produced by the speech synthesizer, and transmitting a second signal to the second toy indicative of the selected phrase, all in response to the switch being set in the dual-mode, and for monitoring the microphone for sound input, selecting digital speech data representative of a speech phrase, and supplying such data to the speech synthesizer after the sound input has ceased, all in response to the switch being set in the stand-alone mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification