Toy having detachable central processing unit

• US 6,676,477 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Song, In Sang, Dan, Byung Ju, Lim, Jong Rak, Na, Jae Ho, Boo, Jang Won, Kim, Nam Woong, Wang, Hee Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US09/931,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 446/297, 446/298, 446/299, 446/300, 446/301, 446/175, 463/1, 463/35, 463/39, 463/30, 463/36, 463/31, 706/11, 706/45
• US Class Current: 446/298
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys

Abstract

A toy having a detachable central processing unit is disclosed and includes a central processing unit having a growth algorithm for learning purposes, a driving unit for exhibiting learned actions and functions, and a link unit for linking the central processing unit and the driving unit. When the central processing unit is detached from the driving unit, the toy can learn via a cyber character or can be utilized as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), mobile phone, or a personal computer. When the driving unit is linked to the central processing unit, the toy'"'"'s learning abilities are improved.

Claims

1. An operation method of a toy having a detachable central processing unit, comprising the steps of:

initializing a main board in the central processing unit, which includes a growth algorithm of the toy;

determining whether the central processing unit is linked to a driving unit by communicating with a Digital Signal Processing Unit (DSPU) installed in the driving unit;

switching to a self-control mode if the driving unit is linked to the central processing unit;

initializing one or more motion control routines of the Digital Signal Processing Unit, a vision processor and an audio codec; and

executing software stored in a flash memory to operate the toy in the self-control.

2. The operation method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

switching to a separate growth mode if the driving unit is not linked to the central processing unit;

exhibiting a graphic user interface on a visual display including a built-in type touch panel to provide for a user interactions with a virtual cyber character;

executing software stored in the flash memory to operate the toy in the separate growth mode; and

having the cyber character learn based on the a user interaction, wherein the cyber character interacts with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the toy exhibits motor functions by receiving information inputted from a posture/manner generation unit, outputs audio information by receiving information inputted from a voice/sound generation unit, and performs vision tracking of a substance by receiving information inputted from a visual input unit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the central processing unit outputs audio information by receiving information inputted from a voice/sound generation unit and exhibits actions performed by the cyber character on the visual display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user inputs one or more function commands into the built-in type touch panel of the visual display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cyber character functions according to the a programmed growth period and growth step.