Control of toys and devices by sounds

• US 7,183,929 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dialware Communication, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beep Card, Inc.
• Inventors: Antebi, Amit, Atsmon, Alon
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/743,065
• Time in Patent Office: 3,086 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/574.4, 340/573.5, 340/573.7, 340/505, 340/506, 340/330, 340/384.1, 446/175, 446/303, 473/212, 348/121
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A method of controlling at least one device by incidental sound produced by a living creature and including: attaching a sound-maker to a living creature so that the natural movements of the living creature will cause the sound-maker to emit a sound; receiving the sound by at least one device; and responding by some physical response to the sound, by the at least one device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one device by incidental sound produced by a living creature, comprising:

attaching a sound-maker to a portion of the living creature;

positioning at least one device which responds to sounds, in a location in which the device senses sounds from the sound maker;

sensing, by the at least one device, sounds from the sound-maker which are caused by movements of the portion of the living creature to which the sound-maker is attached; and

responding by a physical response to the sensed sounds, by the at least one device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the movements comprise movements which in the absence of the sound-maker do not generate sounds to which the at least one device responds.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the movements comprise movements which in the absence of the sound-maker do not normally generate sounds.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the movements comprise movements routinely performed by the living creature even in the absence of the sound-maker.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the movements comprise bending of an arm of the living creature.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the movements comprise crawling.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein sensing sounds from the sound-maker comprises sensing sounds which are incidental to the movements.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein attaching the sound maker comprises attaching the sound maker to clothes worn by the living creature.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein attaching the sound maker comprises placing the sound marker around an organ of the living creature.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein attaching the sound maker comprises attaching an anklet or bracelet.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein attaching the sound maker comprises wearing socks.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sounds caused by the movements are due to movements of the sound-maker.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein positioning the at least one device comprises positioning the at least one device near the sound maker.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein positioning the at least one device comprises positioning at least one toy.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one device comprises at least one electrical appliance.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one device comprises at least one lighting device.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one device comprises a plurality of devices.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the living creature is a child.

19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the living creature is an infant lacking fine motor control.

20. A method according to claim 10 wherein the living creature is an invalid.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the living creature is an animal.

22. A method according to claim 1 wherein responding comprises producing an audio output.

23. A method according to claim 1 wherein responding comprises producing a light display.

24. A method according to claim 1 wherein responding comprises producing a response on a computer screen.

25. A method according to claim 24, comprising controlling at least one element in a computer game responsive to said received sounds.

26. A method according to claim 25, comprising sensing the direction of the sound maker and wherein controlling comprises moving the at least one element responsive to the sensed direction.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein responding comprises generating motion on the at least one device.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein generating motion comprises turning a head.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein generating motion comprises moving eyes.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein generating motion comprises moving a nose.

31. A method according to claim 27 wherein generating motion comprises moving ears.

33. A method according to claim 1 wherein responding comprises moving the device.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein moving comprises moving on limbs.

35. A method according to claim 33 wherein moving comprises moving on wheels.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein moving comprises moving on treads.

37. A method according to claim 33 wherein moving comprises moving at a predetermined angular orientation.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein moving comprises moving at a variable angle.

39. A method according to claim 1 wherein sensing sounds comprises sensing ultrasounds.

40. A method according to claim 1 wherein sensing sounds comprises sensing infra-sounds.

41. A method according to claim 1 comprising analyzing the sensed sounds for at least one parameter of a distance from the at least one device to the sound maker, whether the sound maker is approaching or moving away, an amplitude of the sounds, a pitch of the sounds and a sound-production rate, and wherein responding by the physical response to the sensed sounds comprises responding differently by the at least one device responsive to the at least one analyzed parameter.

42. A method according to claim 1 wherein sensing sounds comprises stereophonically sensing sounds, and including analyzing the direction of the sensed sounds, wherein responding comprises responding responsive to the analyzed direction.

43. A method according to claim 1, wherein sensing sounds comprises differentially sensing sounds, and including analyzing the direction of the sensed sounds, wherein responding comprises responding responsive to the analyzed direction.

44. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one device responds substantially only to sounds having characteristics of the sound maker.

32. A method according to 27 wherein generating motion comprises moving a mouth.

45. A method of controlling at least one device by sound, comprising:

generating a sound;

receiving the sound by the at least one device;

analyzing the received sound for at least one parameter of a distance from the at least one device to a source of the sound, whether the source of the sound is approaching or moving away, an amplitude of the sound and a pitch of the sound; and

responding by the at least one device with different physical responses to sounds with different values of the at least one parameter.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein generating the sound comprises generating the sound by a sound maker.

47. A method according to claim 45, wherein responding by the at least one device with different physical responses comprises responding with a physical response having a changeable value which is a function of the at least one parameter.

48. A method according to claim 45 wherein a living creature causes the sound to be generated.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein generating the sound comprises generating the sound by movements of the living creature.

50. A method according to claim 45 wherein receiving the sound comprises receiving stereophonically.

51. A method according to claim 45, wherein receiving the sound comprises receiving differentially.

52. A method according to claim 45 wherein the at least one device comprises at least one toy.

53. A sound-controlled device, comprising:

a sound receiver that receives sounds in frequencies inaudible to 20 year old human males but audible to pets, and produces at least one sound signal responsive thereto;

a sound analyzer, that analyzes the at least one sound signal to determine at least one parameter of the sound; and

a response element that performs a physical response, responsive to at least some of the analyzed sound signals according to the determined at least one parameter.

54. A device according to claim 53, wherein the sound analyzer determines, for at least some of the received sounds, whether a sound source is approaching or receding using the Doppler effect on the sound frequency of the sound signals.

55. A device according to claim 53, wherein the sound analyzer determines, for at least some of the received sounds, whether a sound source is approaching or receding responsive to a change in amplitude of the sound with time.

56. A device according to claim 53, wherein the response element is included in a toy.

57. A device according claim 53 wherein the sound receiver comprises a stereophonic receiver.

58. A device according claim 53, wherein the sound receiver comprises a differential receiver.

59. A device according to claim 53 wherein the response element is capable of performing a plurality of different responses, and a specific response to the received sound is chosen responsive to the at least one determined parameter.

60. Apparatus for sound control, comprising:

a plurality of sound makers which produce different sounds; and

a device according to claim 59, wherein the plurality of different responses are performed responsive to the different sounds of the sound makers, respectively.

61. A device according to claim 53 wherein the sound receiver receives sounds in frequencies within a child'"'"'s hearing range.

62. A device according to claim 53 wherein the sound receiver receives sounds in frequencies outside a child'"'"'s hearing range.

63. A device according to claim 53 wherein the response element comprises a computer screen.

64. A device according to claim 53 wherein the response element responds by displaying a display chosen responsive to the determined at least one parameter.

65. A method of controlling at least one device by sound, comprising:

generating a sound;

receiving the sound by the at least one device;

analyzing the received sound for a parameter of a sound production rate of the received sound; and

responding by a physical response, which has a speed which is a function of the sound production rate.

66. A method according to claim 65, wherein generating the sound comprises generating the sound by a sound maker and wherein the sound production rate comprises a rate of movement of the sound maker.

67. A method according to claim 65, wherein responding by a physical response comprises moving an object at a speed which is a function of the sound production rate.

68. A method according to claim 65 wherein responding by a physical response comprises sounding a tune which has a speed which is a function of the sound production rate.