Abstract:
A device capable of responding to an outside stimulus is disclosed. The device includes a volume at least partially defined by the device with conductive circuitry electrically coupled to the volume. This conductive circuitry suitable for conducting an electrical charge accumulated on the volume in response to the outside stimulus. The device further includes feedback circuitry electrically coupled to the conductive circuitry. This feedback circuitry suitable for converting the electrical charge into a drive signal. The device further includes feedback driven by the drive signal. This feedback suitable for providing feedback directly indicative of the outside stimulus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to interactive instruments, and more particularly interactive instruments that produce feedback associated with an external stimulus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A device capable of responding to an outside stimulus is disclosed. The device includes: a volume at least partially defined by the device; conductive circuitry electrically coupled to the volume, the conductive circuitry suitable for conducting an electrical charge accumulated on the volume in response to the outside stimulus; feedback circuitry electrically coupled to the conductive circuitry, the feedback circuitry suitable for converting the electrical charge into a drive signal; and, feedback driven by the drive signal, the feedback suitable for providing feedback directly indicative of the outside stimulus.  
         [0003]     Further, a device capable of responding to an outside stimulus is disclosed. The device includes: a volume at least partially defined by the device; a conductive means electrically coupled to the volume, the conductive means suitable for conducting an electrical charge accumulated on the volume in response to the outside stimulus; a feedback means electrically coupled to the conductive means, the feedback means suitable for converting the electrical charge into a drive signal; and, feedback driven by the drive signal, the feedback suitable for providing feedback directly indicative of the outside stimulus.  
         [0004]     Further, a device having a volume at least partially defined by the device, the device being capable of responding to an outside stimulus is disclosed. The device includes: conductive circuitry electrically coupled to the volume, the conductive circuitry suitable for conducting an electrical charge accumulated on the volume in response to the outside stimulus; feedback circuitry electrically coupled to the conductive circuitry, the feedback circuitry suitable for converting the electrical charge into a drive signal; and, feedback driven by the drive signal, the feedback suitable for providing feedback directly indicative of the outside stimulus.  
         [0005]     A method of providing feedback associated with the contact of a device is also disclosed. The method includes: monitoring the device for external contact; inputting a signal responsive to the external contact; switching an output in relation to the input signal; producing an amplified signal associated with the output; generating feedback from the amplified signal, wherein the feedback is directly indicative of the external contact.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]     Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatical view of the instrument according to an aspect of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the method of making or creating feedback associated with the instrument of  FIG. 1 ; and,  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatical view of the instrument according to an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It may be to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements found in a electronic feedback system. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements may be not provided herein.  
         [0011]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an instrument  100  according to an aspect of the present invention. Instrument  100 , as may be seen in  FIG. 1 , may include a volume  110 , a conductive circuitry  120  electrically connected to volume  110 , an acoustical circuitry  130  electrically connected to conductive circuitry  120 , and a feedback  140  electrically connected to acoustical circuitry  130 .  
         [0012]     Volume  110  may take the form of a balloon for example, such that when the balloon is inflated it defines a volume. Additionally, according to an aspect of the present invention, volume may be formed from a material that has electrical properties capable of sustaining and transferring electrical signals. Such materials may be known to those possessing an ordinary skill in the pertinent arts. Such materials may include mylar or other metalized material, for example. As will be discussed hereinbelow, the properties of the material in volume  110  may relate to the signals delivered or received by conductive circuitry  120  and/or acoustical circuitry  130 . In particular, in response to an outside stimulus, volume  110  may produce an electrical charge accumulated on the surface of volume  110  and transmitted therefrom to conductive circuitry  120  and/or acoustical circuitry  130 . Each element of the present invention may be physically located within volume  110 , or alternatively, each element may be located external to volume  110 . Additionally, a subset of the elements of the present invention may be located within volume  110  while other elements may be located external to volume  110 .  
         [0013]     In the alternative, volume  110  may be made from any substance suitable for defining a volume. According to an aspect of the present invention volume  110  may provide a resonance for feedback  140  discussed hereinbelow. If the substance of volume  110  does not possess electrical properties suitable for the transferring of electrical signals as discussed herein, an alternative conduction system may be used. For example, distinct regions or discs electrically connected to circuitry  120  and/or circuitry  130  may be adhered to volume  110  thereby creating a signal transmission mechanism of the present invention.  
         [0014]     In an embodiment of the present invention, instrument  100  may configured with volume  110  including a mylar or metalized nylon balloon outfitted with piezo elements. These elements may be of various or varied sizes and shapes and may be in the range of approximately one inch in diameter up to several inches in diameter depending on the size of volume  110 . In general, the shape of the elements does not have a bearing on the operation of the present invention, but may be guided by design appeal. These elements may be attached to volume  110  by any method known to those possessing an ordinary skill in the pertinent arts. In particular, an adhesive, which may be conductive or non-conductive, such as an acrylic polymer, propylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol, or other adhesive based substance, for example, may be used to attach the elements to each side of volume  110 . In connecting the elements to volume  110 , performance may be heightened when using a volume  110  with conductive properties, if a conductive pathway exists between element and volume  110 . According to an aspect of the present invention, any number of elements may be utilized with a minimum of one per side of volume  110 . Of importance in the present invention, is that at least two sides of volume  110  exist. For example, the shiny, conductive sides may face out, and the dull, non-conductive sides may be adhered to each other. This configuration may create two distinct areas capable of conducting electricity, but not in electrical connection with the other area.  
         [0015]     Conductive circuitry  120  may be electrically connected to volume  110 . Conductive circuitry  120  may include an oscillator, comprised of a transistor, resistors, and capacitor, such as a driver circuit, for example. In particular, conductive circuit  120  may take the form of a simple oscillator circuit suitable for switching the output signal on and off in response to a given drive signal. According to an aspect of the present invention, multiple conductive circuits may be connected in series on one or both sides of the volume  110 . Such a configuration may create several distinct areas on volume  110  and may be electrically connected to independent feedback  140 , as will be discussed hereinbelow.  
         [0016]     Acoustical circuitry  130  may be electrically connected to conductive circuitry  120 . Acoustical circuitry  130  may include an amplifier circuit. Such an amplifier circuit may connect conductive circuitry  120  from multiple areas of volume  110 . Acoustical circuitry  130  may include a simple operational amplifier, such as an audio amplifier like LM386, for example. Such an operational amplifier may produce signals with an average output of 1 watt, for example. For example, signals emanating from one area of volume  110  may be electrically directed through conductive circuitry  120  to an input of acoustical circuit  130 , while signals emanating from another area of volume  110  may be electrically directed through conductive circuitry  120  to an output of acoustical circuit  130 . Aspects or elements of acoustical circuitry  130  may be common with conductive circuitry  120 . The variation in amplification may be directly related to the feedback signal produced. For example, the greater the amplification, the louder the volume of a audio feedback.  
         [0017]     Feedback  140  may be electrically connected to acoustical circuitry  130 . Feedback may include a type of response associated with signals discussed hereinabove. Response may take the form of a visual emission such a light, or color change, a noise emission, or frequency change or volume change of a noise produced, or an odor emission, for example. Feedback  140  may be utilized to initiate or create a variety of sounds that emanate from volume  110  utilizing audio circuitry, for example. In response to a user touching elements discussed hereinabove, one element may become a speaker, and the other a transducer. As touch of the user varies, the electronic coupling may change, and the pitch, rhythm, loudness, and timbre emanating from elements may change. Further, multiple external stimuli creating a chain of stimuli in contact with elements and volume  110  may generate feedback which may increase or decrease with the conductive contact chain created. For example, in the case of a human stimulus, feedback  140  may be associated with the PH level on the skin of the user contacting volume  110 . Sound from the element acting as a speaker may resonate through volume  110 . Volume  110  may act as an acoustic resonator in addition to a conductive volume. This combination of touch and sound may create a positive feedback loop.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the method  200  of making or creating feedback associated with the instrument of  FIG. 1 . In particular, contact  210  with volume may provide an input  220  to conductive circuitry. Conductive circuitry may switch  230  its output in relation to input  220 . Switched output  230  may be input into acoustical circuitry, thereby producing  240  an amplified signal. Amplified signal may be provided to feedback, thereby generating  250  the feedback.  
         [0019]     In this regard, interaction with external sources such as humans for example may cause feedback. Pressure on a piezo transducer affixed to one of the mounted volumes, while simultaneously holding another piezo element may create a feedback loop wherein the natural electrical resistance of the external source has a direct effect on the feedback produced. The transducers may convert contact into electrical impulse, which may be amplified and fed into an oscillator. By varying the external contact, a myriad of feedback variations such as resonance through the volume may be achieved. Generally, the feedback loop requires completion of the circuit by an external source.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an instrument  300  according to an aspect of the present invention. Instrument  300  may incorporate many of the elements discussed hereinabove with respect to instrument  100 . Instrument  300  may utilize a single element on one side of volume  110 , while the other side of volume  110  may be grounded to conductive circuitry  120 . The remaining portions of conductive circuitry  120  may be electrically connected to a small piece of conductive foam, such as if covered in mylar, for example, and may be attached to volume  110 . A varying external stimulus pressure on volume  110  may cause feedback  140  to become electrically excited and feedback may emit a varied feedback method as describe hereinabove.  
         [0021]     Additionally, the present invention may also include circuitry, such as a micro-controller for example, that is capable of listening to the sounds created within instrument  100 . Such a circuit may be able to respond to the created sounds by deflating/inflating instrument  100  or volume  110 , for example. This deflating or inflating may be achieved by electrically connecting the circuit to a blower and solenoid motor suitable for inflating or deflating instrument  100  or volume  110  in response to the circuit signals. The creation of sounds as a middle point in the feedback may be circumvented by driving a micro-controller with the signal output from acoustical circuit. In this way, the inflating/deflating may occur without sound.  
         [0022]     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be implemented. The foregoing description and the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations.