Abstract:
A toy scanner is disclosed capable of scanning printed price indicators and audibly and visually displaying the scanned price. The price indicators are printed in carbon ink and the toy scanner includes a conductive rubber strip located on the reading face of the scanner for reading the carbon ink printed price indicators. The scanned price is visually displayed on an LCD display. The scanned price is audibly displayed by a voice synthesizer and loud speaker combination which “talks” the scanned price. A mute switch is included for turning off the talk feature. The scanner also includes a random number generator for generating a random price, which is also audibly and visually displayed, upon activation of a random price activation switch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to children&#39;s toys. More particularly, the present invention relates to a talking toy scanner capable of reading carbon ink price indicators and audibly and visually indicating the scanned price. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior art toy scanners typically come attached to toy cash registers as opposed to being separate units. Often times these prior art toy scanners do not actually scan anything. Instead, they merely make beeping sounds and light up but do not display an actual scanned price. 
     In systems where the toy scanner actually scans a bar code price indicator, a price value may be displayed on the attached cash register. However, these systems do not audibly indicate the price scanned, so the child must be capable of reading the displayed price in order to obtain play value. Further, these systems generally must include special metal probes on the scanner that read magnetic strips on bar code price indicators specifically configured to work with these toy scanner systems. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a separate hand-held toy scanner capable of reading a carbon ink printed price indicator and audibly and visually indicating the scanned price. This would provide a more realistic play experience by simulating the way real price scanners work, and reinforce money and shopping skills. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a talking toy scanner comprises a processor for controlling operation of the toy scanner, a conductive rubber strip operatively connected to the processor for scanning printed price indicators, a sound generator for audibly displaying the price associated with the scanned price indicator and a display for visually displaying the price associated with the scanned price indicator. In one embodiment, the printed price indicator is printed in carbon ink. 
     The toy scanner can include a random price generator for generating a random price. Upon generation of the random price the sound generator and display are configured to display the random price. A random price switch can also be included for activating the random price generator and a mute switch for deactivating the sound generator. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy scanner and holding stand according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the toy scanner of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical view of price indicators according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic block diagram of the electronics of the toy scanner of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4B is a schematic block diagram of the conductive rubber strip of the toy scanner of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4C is a schematic block diagram of the power supply electronics of the toy scanner of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the present invention, a toy scanner is described that provides distinct advantages when compared to those of the prior art. The invention can best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. 
     Referring now to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a toy scanner  10  according to the present invention includes a stand-alone, hand-held scanning wand  10  having a handle  14  and a head  16 . A conductive rubber strip  18 , such as zebra strip model number YL0118P sold by Li Seng Technology Limited, is included on the head  16  for scanning bar code price indicators  20  (FIG. 3) printed in carbon ink. 
     The scanning wand  10  is a separate stand-alone toy such that it is not mechanically or electronically attached to a toy cash register or the like. Preferably, the scanning wand  10  includes a battery compartment  23  for holding a portable power source such as a battery  25  (FIG.  4 C). A holding stand  21  can also be included for holding the hand-held scanning wand  10  when it is not in use. 
     The toy scanner  10  also includes a display  22 , such as an LCD, for visually displaying the price associated with a scanned price indicator  20  (FIG.  3 ), as well as a sound generator, such as a voice synthesizer and loud speaker  24 , for audibly presenting the price associated with the scanned price indicator  20 . A mute switch  26  can be included on the toy scanner  10  for deactivating the sound generator, thus muting the audio presentation of scanned price. Preferably, the display  22  includes a price value indicator  27  (shown as $88.88 in FIG. 1) for displaying the scanned price and a sound icon  29  for indicating whether the sound generator is activated or deactivated. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the voice synthesizer is part of a microprocessor  28  (FIG. 4A) that controls operation of the toy scanner  10 . The microprocessor  28  can also include a random price generator for generating a random price value, which can be displayed by the toy scanner  10 . The random price generator is activated by a random price switch  30  on the toy scanner  10 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4A,  4 B and  4 C, the operational electronics of the toy scanner  10  are shown in schematic form. Microprocessor  28  is configured to control operation of the toy scanner  10 . Operational software, such as control software, random price generation software and voice synthesizing software, is stored in the microprocessor  28  and is run for performing specific microprocessor tasks. In one embodiment, the microprocessor  28  comprises an 8-bit microprocessor control unit and LCD driver such as HEC model HE83115 microprocessor and the LCD display  22  comprises a conventional 7-segment display such VIKAY LcD-V62634 (EQ 2158). However, other types, makes and models of microprocessor and LCD display can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     The conductive rubber strip  18 , LCD display  22 , loud speaker  24  and mute  26  and random price generator switches  30  are electrically connected to microprocessor  28 . The conductive rubber strip  18  is connected to the microprocessor  28  via input lines P 140 -P 147 , PD 0 -PD 5  and PC 0 -PC 3 . The LCD display  22  is connected to the microprocessor  28  via communication lines SEG 0 -SEG 7  and COM 0 -COM 3 . The loud speaker  24  is connected to output line VO of the microprocessor  28 . The mute  26  and random price generator switches  30  are connected to input lines PD 7  and PD 6  of the microprocessor  28 , respectively. 
     A power supply circuit  32  is included for regulating the power supplied to the toy scanner electronics by the battery  25  and protecting the electronics from overcurrent situations. In one embodiment, the power supply circuit  32  includes a resistor  34  and two capacitors  36  and  38  connected in parallel. Preferably, the battery  25  comprises a 3-volt battery, resistor  34  comprises a 1Ω, ¼ watt resistor, capacitor  36  comprises a 0.1 μf, 50 volt capacitor, and capacitor  38  comprises a 220 μf, 18 volt capacitor. However, other conventional power supply circuits can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     A speaker driver circuit  40  is included for driving loud speaker  24 . In one embodiment, the speaker driver circuit  40  comprises a conventional transistor  42  biased by two resistors  44  and  46 . Preferably, transistor  42  comprises a SAMSUNG model 8050 C transistor, resistor  44  comprises a 5.6Ω, ¼ watt resistor, resistor  46  comprises a 5.6Ω, ¼ watt resistor, and loud speaker  24  comprises an 8Ω loud speaker. However, other convention speaker driver circuits can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     Additional microprocessor control circuitry  48  is also included for controlling operation of the microprocessor  28 . For example, power is connected to the FX 1  input of the microprocessor  28  through a 6.2 kΩ resistor  50  and  25  pf capacitor  52  for providing a fast system clock. A 200 kΩ resistor  54  is connected between inputs SX 0  and SX 1  for providing a slow system clock. Test and reset functions are provided by supplying power to the RST and TEST inputs through a test/reset circuit  56  comprising a 10 kΩ resistor  58 , a 10 μf, 16 volt capacitor  60  and a diode  62 . Capacitor  64 , connected between inputs LC 1  and LC 2 , capacitors  66 ,  68  and  70 , connected to inputs LV 1 -LV 3 , act as charging capacitors for LCD display  22 . In one embodiment, capacitors  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  comprise 0.1 μf, 50 volt capacitors, with power being supplied to LV 1 -LV 3  through capacitors  66 ,  68 , and  70 . Microprocessor input VDD is connected to the battery  25  through the power supply circuit  32  and input GND and unused inputs OPIN and OPIP are connected to ground. While specific microprocessor control circuitry is described above, it can be appreciated that alternative conventional circuitry can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     The price indicators  20 (FIG. 3) are preferably printed with carbon ink in a bar code format  31  to simulate conventional skipped numbers, such as Arabic numerals  33 , so that the user can visually read the prices. 
     In operation, the conductive rubber strip  18  senses and scans the carbon ink printed price indicators  20  when pressed on the price indicators  20 . Electro-magnetic signals, indicative of the scanned price indicator  20 , are generated by and passed from the conductive rubber strip  18  to the microprocessor  28 . The carbon ink creates an electrical potential across the conductive rubber strip when the conductive rubber strip is pressed on the printed price indicator. This electrical potential is picked up by the data lines connecting the conductive rubber strip to the microprocessor. The data lines directly adjacent to the carbon ink are turned or carry a “high” electrical potential to the microprocessor while data lines that are not directly adjacent to the carbon ink remain “off” or carry a “low” electrical potential to the microprocessor. The configuration of the printed price indicator can be determined by the pattern of “high” and “low” potentials carried to the microprocessor by the data lines. The microprocessor  28  sends the price information to the LCD display  22 , which visually displays the price information. Assuming the sound generator is activated (i.e. the mute switch  26  is not closed), the voice synthesizer of the microprocessor  28  generates an audio signal corresponding to the price associated with the scanned price indicator  20  and sends the audio signal to the loud speaker  24 , which audibly announces the price information. Alternatively, upon activation of the random price generator switch  30 , the random price generator of the microprocessor  28  generates random price information, which is displayed visually on the LCD display  22  and announced audibly from the loud speaker  24  in the same manner as price information input through the conductive rubber strip  18 . 
     With this invention, a child can play in a manner that closely simulates a real shopping experience. The invention teaches even very young children that bar codes express price information, so that when the children visit stores, they can understand the check-out and payment process. The invention also reinforces the idea that products bearing bar codes cost money. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except as may be necessary in view of the appended claims.