Electronic playset

• US 8,062,089 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Thurman, Tracy, Hardin, Mark, Skifstrom, Eric, Metzler, Ken, Millerick, Jack, Weidetz, Erich, Ly, Martin, Ambriz, Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US11/866,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 446 72- 84, 446/71, 446/175, 446/484, 345204-206, 463/30, 273/142.R
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/52 Dolls' houses, furniture or other equipment simulating liquid flow A63H33/3022; Dolls' clothing or footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/42 Toy models or toy scenery not otherwise covered models or scenery for general purposes G09B
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 13/00 Panoramas, dioramas, stereoramas, or the like

Abstract

A video toy is provided with a video screen and multiple selectable dioramas positioned behind the video screen. The dioramas may be fixed to a shaft so that rotation of a handle of the shaft moves a first diorama to a position behind the screen and visible through the screen. Rotating the handle and shaft again may sequentially move a second diorama to a position behind the screen replacing the first diorama. The video toy may display characters and objects on the screen that engage in activities and appear to interact with objects in the diorama visible through the video display. Virtual characters may be programmed to exhibit development and modify their activities and interactions with the player based on type and frequency of inputs. The video toy may respond to signals from a computer by accessing additional game play modes or options.

Claims

1. An electronic playset comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior;

a see-through monitor disposed on the housing;

a drum disposed in the hollow interior of the housing and including a first region and a second region, the drum being rotatable between a first alignment and a second alignment, wherein the first region is visible through the see-through monitor when the drum is in the first alignment and the second region is visible through the see-through monitor when the drum is in the second alignment, and

a transparent screen disposed on the see-through monitor and configured to display an animated image superimposed over the first region when the drum is in the first alignment and to display an animated image superimposed over the second region when the drum is in the second alignment;

wherein at least one of the first and second regions is a diorama with a three-dimensional object, and the transparent screen is further configured to display an animated image appearing to interact with the three-dimensional object.

2. The electronic playset of claim 1 further comprising a base for supporting the housing on a surface.

3. The electronic playset of claim 2 wherein the drum is rotatable about an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the base when the housing is supported on a surface.

4. The electronic playset of claim 1 further comprising a light source disposed in the interior of the housing, the light source being configured to illuminate the first region when the drum is in the first alignment and to illuminate the second region when the drum is in the second alignment.

5. The electronic playset of claim 4 wherein the light source is further configured to turn off while the drum is rotated between the first and second alignments.

6. An electro-mechanical toy, comprising:

a housing with a transparent monitor;

a multi-faced drum rotatably supported in the housing so that at least some faces of the drum may be hidden from view within the housing, while at least another face of the drum is visible through the transparent monitor;

a sensor that senses a position of the drum relative to the transparent monitor; and

electronics that generate an animated image on the transparent monitor as a function of the sensed position of the drum relative to the transparent monitor;

wherein a three-dimensional diorama is formed as part of at least one face of the drum and the animated image appears to interact with the three-dimensional diorama.

7. The toy of claim 6, further comprising a base for supporting the housing on a surface.

8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the drum rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the base when the housing is supported on a surface.

9. The toy of claim 6, further comprising a light inside the housing, wherein the electronics turn on the light to illuminate the another face of the drum, and turn off the light when the drum is rotated so that the rotation of the drum may be at least partially obscured.

10. The toy of claim 6 further wherein the electronics are configured to cause an animated image displayed on the transparent monitor to respond to acoustic input.

11. The claim of claim 10 wherein the animated image includes a character which appears to dance in response to the acoustic input.

12. An electronic game comprising:

a housing including a transparent screen;

a rotatable drum having a plurality of dioramas and mounted to the housing, the rotatable drum configured to move relative to the transparent screen; and

a switch configured to alter game play in response to alignment of the plurality of dioramas relative to the transparent screen;

wherein at least one of the plurality of dioramas includes a three-dimensional object, and the transparent screen is further configured to display an animated image appearing to interact with the three-dimensional object.

13. The electronic game of claim 12, wherein a selected diorama is visible when the selected diorama is aligned with the transparent screen.

14. The electronic game of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of user inputs configured to provide access to game features associated with the selected diorama.

15. The electronic game of claim 13, wherein the transparent screen is mounted adjacent one or more light sources.

16. An electronic game comprising:

a housing including a transparent screen;

a rotatable drum mounted to the housing and having a first diorama of an environment and a second diorama of an environment, the rotatable drum configured to rotate relative to the screen to align one of the first and second dioramas with the screen; and

a light mounted adjacent the screen and configured to illuminate the screen in response to alignment of one of the first and second dioramas with the screen;

wherein at least one of the first and second dioramas of an environment includes a three-dimensional object, and the transparent screen is further configured to display an animated image appearing to interact with the three-dimensional object.

17. The electronic game of claim 16, wherein the first and second dioramas are coupled to a shaft having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the screen.