Electronic interactive puppet

• US 6,238,262 B1
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technovation Australia Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Technovation Australia Pty Limited
• Inventors: Pracas, Victor Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jr., Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US09/238,785
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 446/297-303, 446/337, 434/307, 434/308, 369/83, 369/69
• US Class Current: 446/301
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/40 movable
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/48 Mounting of parts within dolls, e.g. automatic eyes or parts for animation self-moving A63H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An electronic interactive puppet 10 has a body 12 with a head 14 that is capable of moving from left to right. The puppet'"'"'s head 14 also has a moveable mouth 16, moveable eyes 18 and moveable eyebrows 20 to give added expression to the puppet'"'"'s facial features. An actuating means 22 is provided for moving the puppet'"'"'s head 14, mouth 16, eyes 18 and eyebrows 20 responsive to an actuating signal. The puppet 10 also includes a sound reproducing means 24 housed within the body 12 for reproducing pre-recorded sounds such as dialogue for the puppet. An electronic control means 26 is operatively connected to the actuating means 22 and sound reproducing means 24 of the puppet. The sound reproducing means 24 and actuating means 22 can be activated in synchronism with a sound track of a video program so that the puppet 10 appears to interact audibly and animatedly with the video program. The puppet 10 can be used with any conventional video program, and does not require a special video recording.

Claims

1. An electronic interactive puppet capable of moving and reproducing sounds that are synchronized with a soundtrack of a conventional video program, the puppet comprising:

a body having at least one moving part associated therewith;

an actuating means provided within said body for moving said at least one part responsive to an actuating signal;

sound reproducing means housed within said body for reproducing pre-recorded sounds, said sound reproducing means including an audio recording medium reproducing means and an audio transducer, said pre-recorded sounds being recorded in a recording track of an audio recording medium inserted for playback in said audio recording medium reproducing means, and said actuating signal being recorded in another track of said audio recording medium; and

,

an electronic control means operatively connected to said actuating means and sound reproducing means, and including a detecting means for detection of a predetermined point in said video program and for activating said sound reproducing means and actuating means responsive to said detection whereby, in use, the puppet appears to audibly and animatedly interact with the video program.

2. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 1, wherein said audio recording medium is magnetic recording medium.

3. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 2, wherein said magnetic recording medium is an audio cassette tape.

4. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 1, wherein the puppet is in the form of a human-like creature and said body has a head capable of moving.

5. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 4, wherein the head has a moveable mouth and moveable eyes.

6. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 5, wherein said actuating means comprises a first electric motor for turning the puppet'"'"'s head sideways.

7. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating means further comprises a second electric motor for moving the puppet'"'"'s mouth open and closed.

8. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a set top box connected to a video output of an apparatus for reproducing said video program, said set top box including means for detecting a video signal from the video output and means for transmitting a VIDEO PLAY signal to the puppet in response thereto.

9. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 8, wherein said detecting means further comprises a receiver provided in the puppet for receiving said VIDEO PLAY signal, wherein said VIDEO PLAY signal enables the control means to ensure that the audible interaction and movement of the puppet remain synchronised with the soundtrack of the video program.

10. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 9, wherein said VIDEO PLAY signal is derived from a vertical frame sync pulse signal embedded in the video signal.

11. An electronic interactive puppet as defined in claim 9, wherein said means for transmitting the VIDEO PLAY signal is an infra-red transmitter which transmits an infra-red signal modulated by said VIDEO PLAY signal.