Electronic toy using prerecorded messages

• US 6,692,328 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolstenholme, Graham R., Reinberg, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US08/824,110
• Time in Patent Office: 2,520 Days
• Field of Search: 446/303, 446/302, 446/301, 446/142, 446/456
• US Class Current: 446/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/3016 Telephones

Abstract

A toy, such as a toy pager or a toy telephone, generates an attention signal and plays a recorded message to the user. The attention signal is generated in a seemingly random fashion to simulate the operation of a real pager or telephone.

Claims

1. A toy comprising:

a message timer, said message timer generating a random timing signal;

a message selector operatively coupled to the message timer, said message selector storing a plurality of messages; and

a display operatively coupled to the message timer and the message selector, said display displaying one of said plurality of messages in response to receiving said timing signal.

2. The toy, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said message timer generates a first random signal and a second random signal, said display receiving said first random signal and generating an attention signal in response thereto, and said message selector receiving said second random signal and selecting one of said plurality of messages in response thereto.

3. A toy comprising:

a clock circuit, said clock circuit generating a clock signal;

a random number generator generating a first random number and a second random number;

a scaler operatively coupled to the random number generator for receiving said first random number, said scaler generating a timing signal correlative to said first random number;

a counter operatively coupled to the clock circuit for receiving said clock signal, the counter generating a count signal correlative thereto;

a comparator operatively coupled to the scaler and the counter receiving said timing signal and said count signal and generating a first trigger signal in response to said timing signal and said count signal being equal;

a display operatively coupled to the comparator for receiving said first trigger signal, the display generating an attention signal in response thereto;

a switch generating a second trigger signal, said second trigger signal ceasing generation of said attention signal; and

a message selector storing a plurality of messages, said message selector operatively coupled to the random number generator, the comparator, and the switch for receiving said second random number, said first trigger signal, and said second trigger signal, said message selector selecting one of said plurality of messages in response to said second random number, and said message selector delivering said selected one of said plurality of messages to said display in response to coincidence of said first trigger signal and said second trigger signal.

4. A toy pager comprising:

a visual display;

a transducer;

a message timer operatively coupled to the transducer, said message timer delivering a first trigger signal to said transducer, wherein said transducer generates an attention signal in response to said first trigger signal;

a play switch, said play switch being actuatable to generate a second trigger signal; and

a message selector operatively coupled to the play switch and to the visual display, said message selector having a memory for storing a message, said message selector delivering said message to said visual display in response to said second trigger signal.

5. The toy pager, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said visual display comprises a liquid crystal display.

6. The toy pager, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transducer comprises a beeper that generates an audible attention signal.

7. The toy pager, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transducer comprises a vibrator that generates a vibrating attention signal.

8. The toy pager, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said message timer comprises:

a clock circuit, said clock circuit generating a clock signal;

a random number generator generating a first random number and a second random number;

a scaler receiving said first random number, said scaler generating a timing signal correlative to said first random number;

a counter receiving said clock signal and generating a count signal correlative thereto; and

a comparator receiving said timing signal and said count signal and generating said first trigger signal in response to said timing signal and said count signal being equal.

9. The toy pager, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said message selector stores a plurality of messages and receives said second random number, said first trigger signal, and said second trigger signal, said message selector selecting one of said plurality of messages in response to said second random number, and said message selector delivering said selected one of said plurality of messages to said display in response to coincidence of said first trigger signal and said second trigger signal.

10. A toy telephone comprising:

a handset having a speaker therein;

a ringer;

a message timer operatively coupled to the ringer, said message timer delivering a first trigger signal to said ringer, wherein said ringer generates an attention signal in response to said first trigger signal;

a switch coupled to the handset, said switch being actuatable in response to movement of the handset to generate a second trigger signal; and

a message selector operatively coupled to the switch and to the speaker, said message selector having a memory for storing a message, said message selector delivering said message to said speaker in response to said second trigger signals

wherein said message timer comprises;

a clock circuit, said clock circuit generating a clock signal;

a random number generator generating a first random number and a second random number;

a scaler receiving said first random number, said scaler generating a timing signal correlative to said first random number;

a counter receiving said clock signal and generating a count signal correlative thereto; and

a comparator receiving said timing signal and said count signal and generating said first trigger signal in response to said timing signal and said count signal being equal.

11. The toy telephone, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said message selector stores a plurality of messages and receives said second random number, said first trigger signal, and said second trigger signal, said message selector selecting one of said plurality of messages in response to said second random number, and said message selector delivering said selected one of said plurality of messages to said display in response to coincidence of said first trigger signal and said second trigger signal.

12. The toy telephone, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a keypad having a plurality of actuatable keys.

13. The toy telephone, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said message selector delivers said message to said speaker in response to actuation of a selected number of said keys.

14. The toy telephone, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a visual display, said visual display displaying numbers associated with the actuation of said keys.

15. A toy comprising:

means for generating a random timing signal;

means for storing a message;

means for displaying said message in response to said timing signal.