Interactive virtual character doll

• US 6,554,679 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Playmates Toys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Playmates Toys Incorporated
• Inventors: Okada, David, Shackelford, Judy, Slate, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/240,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 496/72, 496/268, 496/295, 496/296, 496/297, 496/302, 496/304, 463/1, 463/46, 463/35, 463/36
• US Class Current: 446/268
• 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

Abstract

The interactive doll simulates the character of a live person or, in other embodiments a fantasy figure or animal, in essence, simulating a living being that possesses respective human or animal qualities: displaying specific needs, tenderness, intelligence and/or understanding. The doll contains a clock or other timekeeping device and thereby knows of the time of day. It automatically enters a sleep mode at a preset sleep time during which the playtoy remains quiet, and wakens at a preset hour of the day, issuing a verbal statement to let the player know it is time to again play. By issuing a sequence of verbal requests from time to time to the player to take action of various kinds on or with the doll, determines the player'"'"'s compliance or noncompliance with each such request and issues a verbal message appropriate to such compliance or non-compliance. Some of the verbal requests made are of a kind that occur at a particular time of day in the life of the character being synthesized, such as a request for a food or beverage at breakfast time, lunch time or supper time. And, from time to time at its own initiative, the playtoy may issue verbal messages of affection to the player. That doll is accompanied by external objects that simulate a variety of foods, a beverage, medicine and the like, which the doll is to be applied by the player to the doll pursuant to specific verbal requests from the doll and the doll is able to identify those objects for enhanced interactive play with the player.

Claims

1. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a doll, said doll including a head, containing a mouth, and torso;

said torso including two arms, each with a hand and two legs; and

a plurality of coded keys, each said key simulating a respective one of a plurality of items normally placed in the mouth by a person, including food, beverage and medicine, each of said coded keys being of a size to fit within said mouth;

said doll further including;

battery powered microprocessor;

speaker;

speech synthesizer coupled to said speaker for converting digital electronic statements into audible statements;

a plurality of sensors coupled to said microprocessor, whereby said computer is able to determine when a respective sensor is activated;

said sensors being distributed at different positions about said doll, including;

first and second sensors respectively in said two hands;

third sensor on the top side of said head;

a fourth sensor in the front side of said torso;

a fifth sensor on the bottom of said torso;

a coded key sensor coupled to said microprocessor, said coded key sensor being located within said mouth, whereby said microprocessor is able to identify coded keys inserted within said mouth;

liquid crystal display;

a settable electronic clock for tracking the time of day;

said electronic clock being coupled at least to said liquid crystal display and having an output coupled to said microprocessor for providing time of day information to said microprocessor;

a memory;

said memory storing a plurality of verbal statements in digital electronic form;

said verbal statements including;

a plurality of request statements, said request statements each identifying an action to be taken that produces activation of a particular one of said sensors or said coded key sensor;

a plurality of acknowledgment statements;

a plurality of general statements;

a plurality of request statements, including at least one request statement associated respectively with each of said plurality of coded keys;

said plurality of acknowledgment statements including a statement associated with each of said plurality of coded keys indicating that the coded key inserted was incorrect;

said plurality of general statements including a statement that it is time to sleep and that one doll does not wish to play;

said memory further storing a wake time at an hour during the morning and a sleep time at an hour during the evening;

said memory further including a program for said microprocessor;

said program correlating at least some of said request statements with a specific hour of the day, whereby said microprocessor issues a request statement at a specific hour during the day;

said program checking said electronic clock to determine the hour of the day and determining whether the hour is after said wake time and prior to said sleep time, and, if so, determining whether any request statement is correlated to the hour;

said program further selecting a first one of said request statements from amongst request statement correlated to the particular time of day for broadcast through said speaker and issuing said one request statement through said speech synthesizer and said speaker;

determining whether the request has been satisfied within a predetermined interval, and, if not, repeating said first one of said request statements for broadcast through said speaker, and, if satisfied, selecting a first acknowledgment statement for broadcast through said speaker, whereby said doll simulates human understanding of an activity; and

, after a subsequent interval, selecting another one of said request statements for broadcast through said speaker;

wherein said program in determining whether the request has been satisfied within a predetermined interval further includes checking of said sensors and said coded key sensor to detect compliance with a request statement that requires a particular sensor be activated or a particular coded key be inserted within said doll'"'"'s mouth;

said program checking said clock to determine whether the time of day is after said sleep time and prior to said wake time, and inhibiting the generation of request statements during the time interval between said sleep time and said wake time, defining a sleep interval, and, responsive to actuation of any of said sensors or said coded key sensor during said sleep interval, for selecting and issuing the one of said general statements representing that it is time to sleep and that one doll does not wish to play.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, further including calendar means for keeping track of the current date and special events, including birthdays, holidays and religious events for enabling the doll to broadcast statements concerning said special event in advance thereof.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said program further maintains a count of sensor actuations occurring within a predetermined interval, said count defining a state of happiness for said doll;

and further including means for symbolically displaying said count on said Liquid crystal display to display said state of happiness.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said memory storing a plurality of verbal statements in digital electronic form, further comprises a means for storing verbal words and phrases in digital electronic form from which verbal statements are constructed;

and wherein said program further comprises;

a verbal statement program for assembling a selected verbal statement from words and phrases stored in said memory.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, further comprising a hairbrush;

and wherein said third sensor positioned at said top side of said head detects placement of said hairbrush on said top side of said head.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, further comprising a diaper, said diaper being affixed to said torso, and wherein said fifth sensor positioned on said bottom side of said torso detects the presence of said diaper.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said fourth sensor positioned at the front of said torso detects the application of a squeezing force to said torso.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said general statements include a statement that it is time to get up and that the doll does not wish to sleep.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, further comprising an electronic calendar for providing the date, said electronic calendar being user programmable;

and wherein said memory includes data identifying special events, including holidays and religious events, and the dates thereof;

wherein at least said general statements includes statements correlated to each of said special events; and

wherein said program checks the current date and determines the one of said special events that is occurring and from time to time issues general statements correlated to that one special event or, if none is occurring, the one of said special events that is next to occur following said current date and the number of days between said current date and said next to occur special event and, if said number of days is less than a predetermined number, from time to time issues general statements correlated with that next to occur special event.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, further comprising user programmable means for inserting a birth date in memory as a special event.

18. An interactive talking doll as in claim 10, further comprising a settable electronic clock for tracking the time of day;

and wherein said processing means checks the time of day tracked by said electronic clock.

11. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

a speaker;

at least one sensor for interactive input by a player; and

processing means to check time of day and, responsive to determination of particular times of day, audibly communicate to a player through said speaker a request to undertake a player input and to identify an input by the player received by said sensor in response to said request or failure of an input by said player and thereafter audibly communicate to a player a reaction with respect to a player'"'"'s input or lack thereof, wherein said doll and a player may interactively simulate daily time-based activities relating to basic human functions,

wherein said torso includes a head and said head includes an open mouth; and

wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of individual sensors, said plurality of sensors being distributed about the torso of said doll, and one of said plurality of sensors being located in said open mouth.

12. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

a speaker;

at least one sensor for interactive input by a player; and

processing means to check time of day and, responsive to determination of particular times of day, audibly communicate to a player through said speaker a request to undertake a player input and to identify an input by the player received by said sensor in response to said request or failure of an input by said player and thereafter audibly communicate to a player a reaction with respect to a player'"'"'s input or lack thereof, wherein said doll and a player may interactively simulate daily time-based activities relating to basic human functions,

wherein said torso includes a head having a mouth opened and sized to receive a play-piece from a plurality of play-pieces;

wherein said mouth includes said sensor;

wherein each of said play-pieces simulating a respective one of a plurality of food items customarily fed to a living child, each of said play-pieces including a code that is sensor detectable and that identifies the respective food item, and each of said play-pieces for insertion by a player into said mouth; and

wherein at least some of said requests communicated to the player requires player selection of an appropriate one of said plurality of play-pieces and insertion of said selected play piece into said mouth, thereby simulating feeding a child.

13. An interactive talking doll as in claim 12, wherein said processing means includes:

means for comparing the code of said requested one of said plurality of coded play-pieces with the code of the play-piece inserted in said mouth by the player

means for audibly communicating to the player a message indicative of player action when said codes compared are identical or a message indicative of incorrect player action when said codes compared are dissimilar; and

means for audibly communicating a repeated request for said one of said plurality of play-pieces when the player fails to insert any play-piece in said mouth within a predetermined time interval following said request.

14. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

at least one appendage extending from the torso;

an article of clothing dressed on said torso, said article being removable from said torso, wherein said torso may be undressed and dress at the option of a player;

a speaker;

at least one sensor for interactive input by a player; and

processing means to check time of day and, responsive to determination of particular times of day, audibly communicate to a player through said speaker a request to undertake a player input and to identify an input by the player received by said sensor in response to said request or failure of an input by said player and thereafter audibly communicate to a player a reaction with respect to a player'"'"'s input or lack thereof, wherein said doll and a player may interactively simulate daily time-based activities relating to basic human functions.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14, further comprising a diaper for said torso, and wherein said torso includes a diaper sensor to detect presence of said diaper;

said sensor comprising a casing of a first heart shape geometry, said diaper containing an actuator for actuating said diaper sensor, said actuator comprising a second heart shape geometry for mating snap-fit engagement with said casing.

16. The invention as defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of playpieces each containing a separate coding, a head to said torso, said head including a mouth cavity therein for receiving a play piece selected by a player, a mouth sensor located within said mouth cavity for receiving the coding of a play piece inserted into said mouth, said coding for each of said play pieces comprising a respective value of electrical resistance.

17. An interactive talking doll as in claim 14, wherein said human functions simulated include at least one of the following activities:

feeding, sleeping, crying, laughing, drinking, and playing, and further comprising a settable electronic clock-calendar for tracking the date and time of day; and

wherein said processing means checks the date and time of day tracked by said electronic clock-calender.

19. An interactive talking doll as in claim 14, wherein said processing means further includes play rules for playing a game with a player, said game requiring verbal communications from the doll to the player, and sensor inputs by the player responsive to said verbal communications.

20. An interactive talking doll as in claim 14, wherein said audible communications comprise spoken human-language words.

21. An interactive talking doll as in claim 14, wherein said doll is of an appearance that resembles one of the following characters:

(a) human beings;

(b) animals;

(c) fantasy characters;

(d) human or non-human cartoon characters;

or

(e) personified objects.

22. The invention as defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of playpieces each containing a separate coding, a head to said torso, said head including an exterior vinyl surface and a mouth cavity therein for receiving a play piece selected by a player, a mouth sensor located within said mouth cavity for receiving the coding of a play piece inserted into said mouth, and a rigid plastic mouthpiece fitted within said cavity to provide a support for play pieces inserted therewithin.

23. An interactive talking doll as in claim 14, further comprising at least one appendage extending from the torso.

24. An interactive talking doll as in claim 23, further comprising at least one sensor provided on said at least one appendage.

25. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a doll, including at least a head and torso;

a plurality of coded keys, each said key simulating a respective one of a plurality of items normally placed in a person'"'"'s mouth, each of said coded keys being of a size to be applied to a receiving passage in said doll;

said doll further including;

a battery powered microprocessor;

a speaker;

speech synthesizer means coupled to said speaker for converting digital electronic statements into audible statements;

a plurality of sensors coupled to said microprocessor, whereby said computer is able to determine when a respective sensor is activated, said sensors being distributed at different positions about said doll;

one of said sensors further comprising a coded key sensor coupled to said microprocessor, said coded key sensor being located within opening in said doll, whereby said microprocessor is able to identify coded keys inserted within said opening; and

at least one touch sensor, whereby said microprocessor is able to identify the location on said doll being touched;

liquid crystal display;

a settable electronic clock for tracking the time of day;

said electronic clock being coupled at least to said liquid crystal display and having an output coupled to said microprocessor for providing time of day information to said microprocessor;

a memory means for storing a program and data;

said data including a plurality of verbal statements in digital electronic form;

said verbal statements including;

request statements, said request statements action to be taken that produces activation of said touch sensors or said coded key;

acknowledgment statements;

general statements;

said plurality of request statements, including at least one request statement associated respectively with each of said plurality of coded keys;

said plurality of acknowledgment statements including a statement associated with each of said plurality of coded keys indicating that the coded key inserted was incorrect;

said plurality of general statements including a statement that it is time to sleep and that one doll does not wish to play;

said data stored in said memory further comprising a wake time at a time during a morning hour and a sleep time at a time during an evening hour;

said program including a correlation of at least some of said request statements with a specific hour of the day, whereby said microprocessor issues a request statement at a specific hour during the day;

said program further including a check of said clock to determine the time of the day and determine whether the time of day is after said wake time and prior to said sleep time, and, if so, determine whether any request statement is correlated to the determined time of day, and, if affirmative, issuing the request statement to said voice synthesizer for broadcast from said speaker;

said program further selecting a first one of said request statements for broadcast through said speaker and issuing said one request statement through said speech synthesizer and said speaker;

determining whether the request has been satisfied within a predetermined interval, and, if not, repeating said first one of said request statements for broadcast through said speaker, and, if satisfied, selecting a first acknowledgment statement for broadcast through said speaker; and

, after a subsequent interval, selecting another one of said request statements for broadcast through said speaker;

said program, responsive to a determination that the time of day indicated by said clock occurs after said sleep time and prior to said wake time, for inhibiting the generation of request statements during the time interval between said sleep time and said wake time, defining a sleep interval, and, responsive to actuation of any of said sensors during said sleep interval, for selecting and issuing the one of said general statements representing that it is time to sleep and that one doll does not wish to play.

26. The invention as defined in claim 25, wherein said plurality of acknowledgment statements include a statement indicating that the coded key inserted was correct.

27. The invention as defined in claim 25, further including calendar means for keeping track of the current date and special events, including birthdays, holidays and religious events for enabling the doll to broadcast statements concerning said special event in advance thereof.

28. The invention as defined in claim 25, further comprising an electronic calendar for providing the date, said electronic calendar being user programmable;

and wherein said memory includes data identifying special events, including holidays and religious events, and the dates thereof;

wherein at least said general statements includes statements correlated to each of said special events; and

wherein said program checks the current date and determines the one of said special events that is occurring and from time to time issues general statements correlated to that one special event or, if none is occurring, the one of said special events that is next to occur following said current date and the number of days between said current date and said next to occur special event and, if said number of days is less than a predetermined number, from time to time issues general statements correlated with that next to occur special event.

29. The invention as defined in claim 28, further comprising user programmable means for inserting a birth date in memory as a special event.

30. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

speaker;

sensor means for sensing interactive input by a player, said sensor means comprising a clothing sensor; and

processing means including means for audibly communicating to a player through said speaker a request for the player to clothe said torso with a certain kind of garment;

said processing means further including means for identifying player inputs at said clothing sensor, said player input including the input of clothing said torso with a garment, wherein said processing means determines the kind of garment applied to said torso;

said processing means further including means for determining compliance with said request for the player to clothe said torso with a certain kind of garment, and, if determined to be in compliance, communicating a first verbal reaction to the player, and, if determined to be not in compliance, communicating a second verbal reaction to the player.

31. An interactive talking doll as in claim 30, further comprising in combination at least first and second garments for alternative application to said doll, each of said garments including a coded coupling to identify the respective garment;

and wherein said clothing sensor includes means to receive the coded coupling associated with a garment when said garment is applied to clothe said torso.

32. An interactive talking doll as in claim 30, wherein said sensor means further comprises a plurality of additional sensors for interactive input by a player;

wherein said processing means further includes means for audibly communicating to a player through said speaker requests to undertake player inputs through any of said additional sensors; and

wherein said processing means further includes means for determining compliance with said request to undertake player inputs through any of said additional sensors, and, if determined to be in compliance, communicating a verbal reaction of satisfaction to the player, and, if determined to be not in compliance, communicating a verbal reaction of dissatisfaction to the player.

33. An interactive talking doll as in claim 32, wherein:

said torso includes a simulated head, and the top of said head includes simulated hair;

said plurality of additional sensors further includes a brush sensor for sensing the presence of a hair brush;

said brush sensor being located underlying said simulated hair; and

said processing means for detecting a brush positioned on said simulated hair;

at least one of said requests of said processing means to said player including a request for the player to apply said brush to said simulated hair;

said player inputs include the input of applying a brush to said simulated hair, wherein said processing means determines any application of said brush to said hair;

said processing means further including means for determining compliance with said request for the player to brush said simulated hair, and, if determined to be in compliance, communicating a third verbal reaction to the player, and, if determined to be not in compliance, communicating a fourth verbal reaction to the player.

34. An interactive talking doll as in claim 33, further comprising in combination a brush, said brush including a magnet;

and wherein said brush sensor comprises a magnetic reed switch.

35. An interactive talking doll as in claim 32, wherein said processing means further:

maintains information of the present time and present date;

stores the dates of a plurality of special days in a calendar year;

determines the number of days between said present date and the date of the one of said special days that is next to occur in time, and, when said number of days falls within a predetermined range of days, audibly communicates a spoken message to alert a player to the identity of said one of said special days and the number of days until said one special day arrives, whereby said talking doll simulates human initiative and thinking.

36. An interactive talking doll as in claim 35, wherein said special days includes a birthday date.

37. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

a speaker having an electrical input representative of the sound to be delivered by the speaker;

at least one sensor for interactive input by a player, said sensor comprising a clothing sensor;

a memory device storing a plurality of different verbal reactions; and

a controller, said controller including;

an electronic clock for determining the time of day;

means for audibly communicating to a player through said speaker;

means for identifying player inputs at said at least one sensor, including said clothing sensor, said player inputs including the input of clothing said torso with a garment, whereby the kind of garment applied to said torso is identified;

said controller further including means for selecting a first verbal reaction from amongst the plurality of verbal reactions stored in the memory device for audible communication to the player responsive to the kind of garment applied to said torso by the player, whereby the doll may convey a like or dislike of the garment to the player, wherein said controller checks the time of day provided by said electronic clock prior to selecting said first verbal reaction.

38. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

a speaker having an electrical input representative of the sound to be delivered by the speaker;

at least one sensor for interactive input by a player, said sensor comprising a clothing sensor;

a memory device storing a plurality of different verbal reactions; and

a controller, said controller including;

means for audibly communicating to a player through said speaker;

means for identifying player input at said at least one sensor, including said clothing sensor, said player input including the input of clothing said torso with a garment, whereby the kind of garment applied to said torso is identified, wherein said player input to said clothing sensor is in response to a verbal statement from said controller;

said controller further including means for selecting a first verbal reaction from amongst the plurality of verbal reactions stored in the memory device for audible communication to the player responsive to the kind of garment applied to said torso by the player, whereby the doll may convey a like or dislike of the garment to the player.

39. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

an article of clothing dressed on said torso, said article being removable from said torso, wherein said torso may be undressed and dress at the option of a player;

a speaker having an electrical input representative of the sound to be delivered by the speaker;

at least one sensor for receiving a player input;

a memory device storing a plurality of different verbal statements;

a controller, said controller including;

a clock for keeping the time of day, whereby said controller is able to determine the time of day;

predefined game logic;

means for audibly communicating verbal statements to a player through said speaker, said verbal statements simulating verbally the character of a live person of intelligence and understanding; and

means for identifying a player input to said at least one sensor, determining whether said identified player input was appropriate or inappropriate in accordance with the predefined game logic and selecting a verbal statement from amongst the plurality of different verbal statements stored in the memory device for communication to said player indicating appropriateness or inappropriateness of said identified player input.

40. An interactive talking doll as in claim 39, wherein said determination of appropriateness or inappropriateness by said controller includes a check of said clock to determine the time of day of said player input.

41. An interactive talking doll as in claim 39, wherein said controller further includes:

a sleep mode, whereby the doll may simulate sleep for a period of time, said period of time commencing at a particular hour of the evening and terminating at a particular hour of the following morning; and

wherein said verbal statements include a first statement representing that the doll is going to sleep, and a second statement representing that the doll is waking, said controller issuing said first statement on commencement of said sleep mode and said second statement on termination of said sleep mode.

42. An interactive talking doll, comprising:

a torso;

an article of clothing dressed on said torso, said article being removable from said torso,

wherein said torso may be undressed and dress at the option of a player;

a speaker having an electrical input representative of the sound to be delivered by the speaker;

at least one sensor for receiving a player input;

a memory device storing a plurality of different verbal statements;

a controller, said controller including;

predefined game logic;

means for audibly communicating verbal statements to a player through said speaker, said verbal statements simulating verbally the character of a live person of intelligence and understanding; and

means for identifying a player input to said at least one sensor, determining whether said identified player input was appropriate or inappropriate in accordance with the predefined game logic and selecting a verbal statement from amongst the plurality of different verbal statements stored in the memory device for communication to said player indicating appropriateness or inappropriateness of said identified player input,

wherein said at least one sensor comprises a clothing sensor, wherein said player input comprises clothing said torso with a selected one of a plurality of garments, and wherein said means for identifying a player input includes means for determining the kind of garment applied to said torso.