Electronic interactive play environment for toy characters

• US 6,227,931 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J Shackelford Associates LLC
• Original Assignee: Judith Ann Shackelford
• Inventors: Shackelford, Judith Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US09/347,623
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/219, 446/268, 446/476, 446/477, 446/482, 446/484, 446/485, 434/156, 434/157
• US Class Current: 446/268
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/52 Dolls' houses, furniture or other equipment simulating liquid flow A63H33/3022; Dolls' clothing or footwear
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

A child'"'"'s electronic playset defines a setting or character environment (1) for various toy characters (57-62), play pieces, representing persons or fantasy characters, which the player may move about that environment. Through its electronics (90) the environment possesses built-in intelligence and defines virtual beings through spoken messages which are attributed by the player to the toy characters, creating a virtual universe. Markers (65) identify each toy character to the environment when checked by the environment'"'"'s sensors (90, S1-S48) enabling the environment to know which characters are present and to call up an appropriate dialog there between to broadcast through a loudspeaker (92). The environment also keeps track of the time of day, enabling it to know the order in which toy characters are placed in the environment and possess the ability to call up a dialog appropriate to certain hours in the day.

Claims

1. A child'"'"'s playset, comprising:

a plurality of toy characters, each of said plurality of toy characters being visually distinguishable from one another;

a character environment for receiving said toy characters therein;

said character environment including;

a plurality of locations for receiving toy characters, whereby a toy character may be positioned at any one of said plurality of locations if said location is unoccupied;

a loudspeaker associated with said character environment; and

an electronic controller associated with said character environment;

said electronic controller including at least one output for controlling said loudspeaker;

a store of virtual beings, said virtual beings being defined by audio elements associated therewith characteristic of each personality, and each said virtual being associated with a respective one of said plurality of toy characters;

said electronic controller for selecting from said store and audibly displaying through said loudspeaker audible elements of the respective virtual being associated with said toy characters, responsive to the presence of said toy characters in respective ones of said plurality of locations, whereby said character environment audibly reproduces audible elements of said virtual beings associated with said toy characters in lieu of audible reproduction of said audible elements directly by said toy characters.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said toy characters includes an identifying marker, said identifying marker containing an indicium unique to the respective toy character, whereby said toy figures may be distinguished from one another by an associated indicium;

and said character environment further includes;

a plurality of indicium sensors, said indicium sensors being distributed at said plurality of locations for receiving indicium information from said toy characters and supplying that indicium information to said electronic controller;

said electronic controller further including;

a store of indicium correlation information, correlating indicium information for each of said plurality of toy characters with respective ones of said plurality of virtual beings.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said electronic controller includes information defining the location of each said indicium sensor within said character environment.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said character environment comprises a simulated house to provide simulated living quarters for said toy characters, said house containing a plurality of compartments for simulating rooms.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said rooms further comprise:

a simulated kitchen, a simulated living room, a simulated bathroom and at least one simulated bedroom.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said character environment further includes a plurality of simulated furniture, simulated utilities and simulated appliances disposed about said simulated rooms.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said electronic controller comprises a programmed digital microcontroller, said microcontroller including a microprocessor and a memory.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said electronic controller comprises a programmed digital microcontroller, said microcontroller including a microprocessor and a memory.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said audio elements comprise verbal statements stored in digital electronic form.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said electronic controller further comprises:

digital-to-analog conversion means for converting verbal statements in digital electronic form to analog electronic form for application to said loudspeaker, whereby said loudspeaker acoustically reproduces said verbal statements.

11. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said toy characters includes an identifying marker, said identifying marker containing an indicium unique to the respective toy character, whereby said toy figures may be distinguished from one another by an associated indicium;

and said character environment further includes;

a plurality of indicium sensors, said indicium sensors being distributed at said plurality of locations for receiving indicium information from said toy characters and supplying that indicium information to said electronic controller;

said electronic controller further including;

a store of indicium correlation information, correlating indicium information for each of said plurality of toy characters with respective ones of said plurality of virtual beings.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11, wherein each said identifying marker comprises an electrical resistance and a pair of electrical contacts, said electrical resistance being in series circuit between said electrical contacts, and wherein said indicium comprises the resistance value of said electrical resistance;

and wherein said resistance value of each of said identifying markers is distinct from one another.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein said toy characters comprise:

a body containing an end;

wherein said electrical resistance is encased in said body; and

wherein said end includes said pair of electrical contacts to define therewith an electric plug.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein said indicium sensor comprises:

a socket for mating engagement with said electrical plug;

a pair of electrical contacts in said socket for respective connection with said electrical contacts in said plug; and

electrical leads for coupling said pair of electrical contacts in said socket to said electronic controller, wherein said electronic controller identifies a toy character installed in the respective indicium sensor as a function of said resistance value.

15. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said electronic controller further includes:

a programmable electronic clock calendar for keeping track of time of day and date;

a visual display;

means for coupling said electronic clock calendar to said visual display for displaying at least the time of day;

a clock setting program for setting said electronic clock calendar to a time of day and date, said program including;

cuing means for querying a player for the time of day and date;

a data entry device for enabling a player to enter data into said electronic controller;

said clock setting program, responsive to data entered by operation of said data entry device in response to a query, for setting said clock calendar.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15, wherein said electronic controller further includes:

a mode switch for switching said electronic calendar &

clock to an artificial time that progresses at a rate faster than real time, whereby the character environment operates in accordance with said artificial time.

17. The invention as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a visual display coupled to said electronic controller;

a data entry pad coupled to said electronic controller permitting data to be entered into said electronic controller; and

wherein said electronic controller includes;

an electronic clock for keeping track of time and an output coupled to said display for displaying said time from said electronic clock on said visual display, said electronic clock normally outputting real time; and

a mode switch coupled to said controller for switching said electronic clock to an artificial time that progresses at a rate faster than real time, whereby the environment operates in accordance with said artificial time.

18. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said character environment comprises a basic environment and a supplementary environment, said supplementary environment being electronically dependent on said basic environment and being detachably connected thereto.

19. The invention as defined in claim 18, wherein each of said toy characters includes an identifying marker, said identifying marker containing an indicium unique to the respective toy character, whereby said toy figures may be distinguished from one another through said indicium;

and further comprising;

a plurality of indicium sensors, said indicium sensors being distributed at said plurality of positions in said character environment, including said basic character environment and said supplemental character environment for receiving indicium information from said toy characters and supplying that indicium information to said electronic controller;

said electronic controller further including;

an indicium store correlating indicium information for each of said plurality of toy characters with respective ones of said plurality of virtual beings.

20. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said toy characters include:

a plurality of person characters for simulating humans;

a plurality of article characters for simulating foodstuffs consumed by humans;

wherein said store of virtual beings includes;

a virtual being for each of said person characters and a virtual being for each of said article characters.

21. The invention as defined in claim 20, wherein said plurality of indicium sensors include:

a first plurality of indicium sensors for detecting and identification of person characters;

a second plurality of indicium sensors for detection and identification of article characters.

22. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said electronic controller further includes a sound effects store containing a plurality of sound effects simulating operation of various home appliances and utilities in operation.

23. The invention as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of switches, said switches being distributed about said environment and associated with respective ones of said home appliances and utilities;

said electronic controller for selecting and audibly displaying, through said speaker, a sound effect associated with a respective home appliance or utility, responsive to operation of a respective one of said plurality of switches associated with said respective home appliance or utility.

24. The invention as defined in claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality momentary operate switches, said switches being distributed about said environment and associated with respective ones of said home appliances and utilities;

wherein said electronic controller further includes a sound effects store containing a plurality of sound effects, each of said plurality of sound effects being associated with a respective one of said house appliances, and a correlation store correlating each of said momentary operate switches with a particular one of said plurality of sound effects; and

wherein said electronic controller, responsive to momentary operation of a respective one of said plurality of momentary operate switches for selecting and audibly displaying, through said speaker, the one of said plurality of sound effects associated with said respective one of said plurality of momentary operate switches.

25. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said electronic controller further includes:

a dialog store, said dialog store storing a plurality of dialogues to simulate verbal conversation carried on between toy characters at each of a plurality of particular times of day;

clock means for determining the time of day; and

wherein said controller is programmed to initiate a selected dialogue from said dialog store to simulate verbal communication between toy characters at said time of day, responsive to detection of said toy characters at said indicium sensors.

26. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said character environment comprises at least a first structure and a second structure separate from said first structure.

27. The invention as defined in claim 26, wherein said second structure is located contiguous to and is detachably attached to said first structure;

said second structure, further including;

at least one of said plurality of character sensors;

a supplemental memory, said supplemental memory containing additional verbal statements, and at least some of said additional verbal statements being in reference to said second structure; and

coupling means for operatively coupling said at least one sensor and said semiconductor memory in said second region to said electronic controller for enabling said electronic controller to selectively access and broadcast verbal statements stored in said supplemental memory and to detect the presence of a toy character in said second structure.

28. The invention as defined in claim 26, wherein

said second structure, includes:

at least one of said plurality of character sensors;

a supplemental memory, said supplemental memory containing additional verbal statements, and at least some of said additional verbal statements being in reference to said second structure; and

coupling means for operatively coupling said at least one sensor and said semiconductor memory in said second region to said electronic controller for enabling said electronic controller to selectively access and broadcast verbal statements stored in said supplemental memory and to detect the presence of a toy character in said second structure.

29. The invention as defined in claim 28, wherein said coupling means comprises electric cables and connectors.

30. The invention as defined in claim 28, wherein said coupling means comprises wireless transceivers.

31. The invention as defined in claim 28, wherein said coupling means includes:

a first electrical connector supported by said first structure;

a second electrical connector supported by said second structure;

said second electrical connector for mating with said first electrical connector to extend electrical connections therethrough; and

said electronic controller having a port, said port being connected to first electrical connector;

said electronic controller further including means for detecting coupling to said second structure and for retrieving there through verbal statements stored in said supplemental memory of said second structure and identifying any toy character in said second structure sensed by said at least one character sensor in said second structure.

32. The invention as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a supplemental toy character;

a supplemental store of verbal messages defining a virtual being to said supplemental toy character;

said electronic controller including coupling means for providing access to said supplemental store, whereby said virtual being of said supplemental character is included within said character environment.

33. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said audio elements comprise verbal statements stored in digital electronic form.

34. The invention as defined in claim 33, wherein said electronic controller further comprises:

digital-to-analog conversion means for converting verbal statements in digital electronic form to analog electronic form for application to said speaker, whereby said speaker reproduces said verbal statements.

35. The invention as defined in claim 34 wherein each said identifying marker comprises an electrical resistance and a pair of electrical contacts, said electrical resistance being in series circuit between said electrical contacts, and wherein said indicium comprises the resistance value of said electrical resistance;

and wherein said resistance value of each of said identifying markers is distinct from one another.

36. The invention as contained in claim 26 wherein said second structure is located contiguous to and is detachably attached to said first structure;

said second structure, further including;

at least one of said plurality of character sensors;

a local controller, said local controller including;

a supplemental memory, said supplemental memory containing additional verbal statements, and at least some of said additional verbal statements being in reference to said second structure; and

coupling means for operatively coupling said at least one sensor to said local controller to permit said local controller to identify toy characters placed in said at least one character sensor;

said electronic controller and said local controller being configured in a principal and auxiliary relationship, wherein said local controller sends information on any toy character identified by said local controller to said electronic controller.

37. The invention as defined in claim 36, wherein said electronic controller includes means for accessing said supplementary memory in said second region wherein said electronic controller may broadcast verbal statements stored in said supplemental memory based on toy character information sent by said local controller.

38. The invention as defined in claim 26 wherein said electronic control further includes:

program means for determining the state of well-being of said toy characters.

39. An accessory for an interactive electronic play environment for toy characters, said interactive electronic play environment, including a microprocessor with an accessible microprocessor port, comprising:

an accessory toy character; and

a semiconductor read only memory, said semiconductor read only memory containing digital information defining a virtual being for said accessory toy character, said semiconductor read only memory further including electrical contacts for enabling said semiconductor read only memory to plug into said microprocessor port of said electronic play environment wherein said accessory toy character and said digital information defining a virtual being associated with said accessory toy character is integrated within and identified by said play environment at any of a plurality of locations in said play environment.

40. In a electronic toy containing a programmed digital micro-controller and an electronic clock for normally tracking the time of day and a display for displaying the time of day supplied by said electronic clock, said programmed digital micro-controller being programmed to run selected time based routines at certain hours of the day and to periodically check said clock device to determine the time of day, said programmed digital micro-controller being programmed to run over the course of said day and initiate and display selected time based activities at preselected hours during a day to simulate an activity normally occurring at those preselected hours, each of said time based activities requiring a respective defined interval of said real time to complete;

the improvement therein wherein said electronic clock includes;

a first time-keeping mode in which to record the progress of real time; and

a second time-keeping mode in which to record the progress of an artificial time, said artificial time advancing at a rate at least twice as fast as said real time; and

user operated mode switch means for permitting a user to change said electronic clock'"'"'s time-keeping mode.

41. The invention as defined in claim 40, wherein said programmed digital micro-controller is responsive to said clock being in said second time-keeping mode for advancing said program at a rate corresponding to said artificial time instead of said real time, except during occurrence of said time based activities.

42. A child'"'"'s playset, comprising:

a plurality of toy characters, each of said plurality of toy characters being visually distinguishable from one another and configured to represent any of a person and animal;

said toy characters including;

a plurality of person characters for simulating humans; and

a plurality of article characters for simulating foodstuffs consumed by humans;

each of said toy characters includes an identifying marker, said identifying marker containing an indicium unique to the respective toy character, whereby said toy figures may also be distinguished from one another by an associated indicium;

each said identifying marker comprising an electrical resistance and a pair of electrical contacts, said electrical resistance being in series circuit between said electrical contacts, and wherein said indicium comprises the resistance value of said electrical resistance, and wherein said resistance value of each of said identifying markers is distinct from one another;

a character environment for receiving said toy characters therein;

said character environment comprising a simulated house to provide simulated living quarters for said toy characters, said house containing a plurality of compartments simulating rooms, said rooms comprising at least a simulated kitchen, a simulated family room, a simulated bathroom and at least one simulated bedroom; and

a plurality of simulated furniture, simulated utilities and simulated appliances disposed about said simulated rooms;

a plurality momentary operate switches, said switches being distributed about said environment and associated with respective ones of said home appliances and utilities;

said character environment further including;

a plurality of locations distributed within said rooms for receiving toy characters, whereby a toy character may be positioned at any one of said plurality of locations if said location is unoccupied;

a plurality of indicium sensors, said indicium sensors being distributed at said plurality of locations for receiving indicium information from said toy characters, each said indicium sensor comprising;

a socket for mating engagement with said electrical plug, a pair of electrical contacts in said socket for respective connection with said electrical contacts in said plug;

a loudspeaker; and

an electronic controller, said electronic controller comprising a programmed digital microcontroller, said digital microcontroller including a microprocessor and a memory;

said electronic controller being coupled to said plurality of indicium sensors for receiving indicium information and identifying a toy character installed in a respective indicium sensor by determining the resistance value associated with the respective toy character;

said electronic controller including;

a store of virtual beings, said virtual beings being defined by audio elements characterizing intelligence and personality, said audio elements comprising verbal statements stored in digital electronic form, and each said virtual being being associated with a respective one of said plurality of toy characters;

digital-to-analog conversion means for converting verbal statements in digital electronic form to analog electronic form for application to said loudspeaker, whereby said loudspeaker acoustically reproduces said verbal statements;

a store of indicium correlation information, correlating indicium information for each of said plurality of toy characters with respective ones of said plurality of virtual beings;

a sound effects store containing a plurality of sound effects, each of said plurality of sound effects being associated with a respective one of said house appliances;

said electronic controller for selecting from said store and audibly displaying through said loudspeaker, audible elements of the respective virtual being associated with said toy characters, responsive to the presence of said toy characters in respective ones of said plurality of locations and for selecting from said store and audibly displaying through said loudspeaker a plurality of sound effects for simulating operation of various home appliances and utilities;

said electronic controller, responsive to momentary operation of a respective one of said plurality of momentary operate switches for selecting and audibly displaying, through said loudspeaker, the one of said plurality of sound effects associated with said respective one of said plurality of momentary operate switches

said electronic controller further including;

a programmable electronic clock calendar for keeping track of time of day and date;

a visual display;

means for coupling electronic clock calendar to said visual display for displaying at least the time of day;

a clock setting program for setting said electronic clock calendar to a time of day and date, said program including;

cuing means for querying a player for the time of day and date;

a data entry device for enabling a player to enter data into said electronic controller;

said clock setting program, responsive to data entered by operation of said data entry device in response to a query, for setting said clock calendar.