Home control system with an interface assembly

• US 6,813,221 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig Barr
• Original Assignee: Craig Barr
• Inventors: Barr, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamilton, Kimberly
• Application Number:
  US09/925,049
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/540, 340/552, 700/245, 367/198
• US Class Current: 367/198
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35453 Voice announcement, oral, speech input

Abstract

An interface assembly with an animated character/prop has at least one speaker for generating language and mechanisms for generating correlated movement. A logic controlling device has a plurality of inputs and outputs and is adapted to configure and synchronize message request signals from the various sensors, relays, thermostats, user controls and the like, with the appropriate audible words and movement commands from the generating devices as required to convey messages relating to the environment to the user. The interface assembly provides an audio component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the speaker. The interface assembly provides a movement component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the mechanisms for generating movement. The interface assembly provides a drive converter assembly operatively coupled to and adapted to convert and transfer signals between the movement component and the character/prop.

Claims

1. A home control system with an interface assembly in the form of a speaking, moving, three dimensional animated character/prop operable in response to sensed signals comprising in combination:

a three dimensional animatronic character/prop having a plurality of speakers, motors and actuators adapted to deliver system status messages and requested information to a user verbally as a function of input signals from a home control system;

the home control system comprising a home security system and a home automation system, the home control system adapted to control and maintain an environment associated with a building as well as survey for occurrences, the home control system having a plurality of inputs from various sensors, relays, thermostats, and user controls, the home control system further having a plurality or outputs to convey messages relating to the environment to the user;

a microphone operatively coupled to the home control system and adapted to offer the user hands free operation of the home control system;

a logic controlling device having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, the logic controlling device adapted to configure and synchronize message request signals from the home control system with appropriate prerecorded audible words and movement commands from random access storage devices as required to convey messages relating to the environment to the user;

a modem/network connection operatively coupled to the logic controlling device and adapted to provide the user access to the worldwide web, email, and networks;

an audio component operatively coupled to the logic controlling device, to the character/prop and a movement synthesizer, whereby the audio component produces choreographed word phrases upon receipt of a signal from the logic controlling device and transmits the word phrases to the character/prop to perform, the audio component having text reading capabilities enabling it to convert text into words, the movement synthesizer being operatively coupled to the audio component and a drive converter assembly, the movement synthesizer adapted to produce a choreographed command signal upon receipt of the word phrase; and

a drive converter assembly operatively coupled to the movement synthesizer and adapted to receive the command signals, the drive converter assembly further being operatively coupled to the character/prop and adapted to transmit drive signals to the character/prop to perform.

2. An interface assembly in the form of a speaking, moving, three dimensional animated character/prop operable in response to sensed signals comprising in combination:

an animated character/prop having at least one speaker for generating language and mechanisms for generating movement, the language and movement being correlated;

a logic controlling device having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, the logic controlling device adapted to configure and synchronize message request signals from sensors, relays, thermostats, and user controls with the appropriate audible words and movement commands from generating devices as required to convey messages relating to the environment to a user;

an audio component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the speaker;

a movement component adapted to receive output signals from the logic controlling device to actuate the mechanisms for generating movement; and

a drive converter assembly operatively coupled to the movement component and the character/prop and adapted to convert and transfer signals therebetween.

3. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the output signals from the logic controlling device separately provide inputs to the audio component and the movement component.

4. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the audio component is a random access digital audio storage, assembly and playback device and the movement component is a random access digital movement data storage, assembly and playback device.

5. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the audio component has text reading capabilities enabling it to convert text into word phrases and the movement component is a movement synthesizer adapted to produce a choreographed command signal upon receipt of the word phrases.

6. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the output signals from the logic controlling device provide input to the audio component with subsequent signals from the audio component being fed to the movement component.

7. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 and further including a microphone operatively coupled to the logic controlling device and adapted to offer the user hands free operation.

8. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the input signals received by the logic controlling device are generated by a home control system, such home control system being adapted to control and maintain an environment associated with a building as well as survey for occurrences, the home control system having a plurality of inputs from sensors, relays, thermostats, and user controls, the home control system further having a plurality of outputs to convey messages relating to the environment to the user.

9. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the home control system is a home security system.

10. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the home control system is a home automation system.

11. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the home control system comprises a home security system and a home automation system.

12. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the operative coupling between the home control system and the logic controlling device is a serial connection.

13. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the operative coupling between the home control system, and the logic controlling device is discrete trigger connections.

14. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the operative coupling between the home control system and the logic controlling device is a parallel connection.

15. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the inputs operatively coupled to the logic controlling device is a modem/LAN adapted to provide the user with access to the worldwide web, email, and networks.

16. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the audio component has text reading capabilities enabling it to convert prerecorded typed messages and live text into words for the character/prop to speak.

17. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the audio component has access to prerecorded audio messages.

18. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the audio component has text reading capabilities and access to prerecorded audio messages.

19. The interface assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a home control system simply passes its data to the logic controlling device, the logic controlling device adapted to perform all selection logic.