Electronic figurines

• US 6,558,225 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Original Assignee: Rehco LLC
• Inventors: Bryce, Daniel, Zawitz, Richard X., Rehkemper, Steven, OʼPatka, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/054,489
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 446/268, 446/297, 446/298, 446/299, 446/300, 446/301-303, 446/321, 446/337, 446/338, 446/339, 446/484, 404/55, 404/48, 463/37, 345/156, 341/21
• US Class Current: 446/484
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/003 specially adapted for a particular function not connected with dolls as electric lighting devices A63H3/006
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/365 allowing a choice of facial features, e.g. to change the facial expression change of expression through animation A63H3/48, self-moving A63H13/005; movable eyes A63H3/40

Abstract

An electronic figurine has at least one appendage, a means for displaying electronic images in relation to a virtual character, and a circuit board. The circuit board is programmed to generate images of the virtual character including facial expressions, symbols, virtual activates, games and animated sequences. The electronic figurine further includes means for activating pre-programmed responses when a user interacts with the appendages or orientation of the figurine. Moreover, the electronic figurine may also include various audible sounds and responses that may also be activated and interacted with by a user interacting with the physical figurine.

Claims

1. An electronic figurine comprising:

a means for displaying electronic images;

a circuit board pre-programmed to generate images associated with a virtual figurine on said display means; and

a plurality of appendages extending from the displaying means, defining a physical figurine, and at least one appendage, of the plurality of appendages, is in communication with a switch that is in further communication with the circuit board to activate a pre-programmed response associated with the virtual figurine when said appendage is interacted with by a user,

whereby when a user interacts with said appendage, the circuit board plays pre-programmed responses associated with the virtual figurine, thereby permitting a user to interact with the virtual figurine by interacting with the physical figurine.

2. The electronic figurine of claim 1 wherein, the at least one appendage includes hair in communication with a hair switch that is in further communication with the circuit board, the hair switch being configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the hair is pulled or moved, such that when a user pulls or moves the hair, the hair switch sends a signal to the circuit board triggering a pre-programmed response.

3. The electronic figurine of claim 1 wherein the at least one appendage includes feet in communication with a foot switch that is in further communication with the circuit board, the foot switch being configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the foot switch is pushed or rubbed, such that when a user pushes against or rubs the foot switch, the foot switch sends a signal to the circuit board triggering a pre-programmed response.

4. The electronic figurine of claim 1 wherein at least one appendage includes a tail in communication with a tail switch that is in further communication with the circuit board, the tail switch being configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the tail is pulled, such that when a user pulls the tail, the tail switch sends a signal to the circuit board triggering a pre-programmed response.

5. The electronic figurine of claim 1 wherein at least one appendage includes a pair of arms in communication with an arm switch that is in further communication with the circuit board, the arm switch being configured to send a signal to the circuit board when one of the arms is pulled, such that when a user pulls at least one of the arms, the arm switch sends a signal to the circuit board triggering a pre-programmed response.

6. The electronic figurine of claim 2 further comprising light pipes attached to a multi-color LED source and intertwined within the hair, the LED source is further in communication with the circuit board such that a pre-programmed response includes changing the color of the multi-color LED source.

7. The electronic figurine of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for interconnecting at least two similarly configured electronic figurines such that the two electronic figurines may exchange information.

8. An electronic figurine having at least two appendages defining a physical figurine, further comprising:

a means for displaying electronic images;

a means for emitting sounds;

a circuit board in communication with the displaying means and emitting means, and when activated, the circuit board generates pre-programmed response associated to virtual images on the displaying means and sounds through the emitting means, wherein the virtual images and sounds are associated with a virtual figurine corresponding to the physical figurine,

a means for activating the circuit board to generate a pre-programmed response when a user interacts with one of the appendages of said at least two appendages, whereby a user interacting with said appendage interacts with the virtual figuring by generating pre-programmed responses.

9. The electronic figurine of claim 8 wherein the virtual images includes virtual facial expressions, symbols, activities, games or animated sequences.

10. The electronic figurine of claim 9 wherein the at least one appendage includes hair and the activating means includes a hair switch that is configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the hair is pulled and moved.

11. The electronic figurine of claim 9 wherein the at least one appendage includes feet and the activating means includes a foot switch that is configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the foot switch is pushed or rubbed.

12. The electronic figurine of claim 9 wherein the at least one appendage includes a tail and the activating means includes a tail switch that is configured to send a signal to the circuit board when the tail is pulled.

13. The electronic figurine of claim 9 further comprising:

a second means for activating the circuit board to generate a pre-programmed response when a user interacts with an orientation of the physical figurine, wherein a user interacting with said orientation interacts with the virtual figurine by generating pre-programmed response.

14. The electronic figurine of claim 9 further comprising:

a gravity switch for activating the circuit board to generate a pre-programmed response when a user turns the physical figurine upside down.

15. The electronic figurine of claim 9 wherein a pre-programmed response includes the ability to change the color of the hair, wherein the ability to change the color of the hair includes light pipes attached to a multi-color LED source, wherein the circuit board is programmed to change the color emitting from the light pipes in response to the user interacting with the appendages.

16. An electronic figurine comprising:

a means for displaying electronic images;

a plurality of appendages extending from the displaying means, wherein the displaying means and the plurality of appendages are arrange to define a physical figurine;

a circuit board programmed to generate images on the image displaying means, wherein the images include facial expressions, virtual activities, games or animated sequences that define a virtual character associated with the physical figurine; and

a means for activating the circuit board to display pre-programmed responses that include facial expressions, virtual activates, games or animated sequences, when a user interacts with the appendages of the physical figurine.

17. The electronic figurine of claim 16 further comprising a speaker in communication with the circuit board, and the circuit board is further programmed to emit pre-programmed sounds through the speaker and wherein the pre-programmed responses include sounds such that when a user interacts with the appendages of the physical figurine the circuit board emits various pre-programmed sounds.

18. The electronic figurine of claim 17 wherein at least one appendage includes feet and the activating means includes a foot switch in communication with the circuit board to activate a pre-programmed response when the foot switch is pushed or rubbed.

19. The electronic figurine of claim 18 wherein at least one appendage further includes a tail and the activating means includes a tail switch in communication with the circuit board to activate a pre-programmed response when the tail is pulled.

20. The electronic figurine of claim 19 further comprising:

a means for interconnecting and communicating information between at least two electronic figurines similarly configured.