Toy including motion-detecting means for activating same

A toy has a base member, a motion-detecting element mounted on the base member and detecting the presence of a motion of an object in the vicinity of the toy and the absence of a moving object in the vicinity of the toy, an action-performing element mounted on the base member for cooperating with the motion-detecting element, and electrical elements connecting the motion-detecting element and the action-performing element whereby the latter is operated in response to the detection by the motion-detecting element, wherein the motion-detecting element includes an objective arranged to transmit light to establish an image of an object in the vicinity of the toy, an image-distorting element located after the objective as considered in direction of light passage and arranged to distort the image, and a photosensing element arranged to sense the distorted image and produce a signal for operation of the action-performing element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a toy, and particularly to an electric toy 
capable to act in different ways, e.g. to produce a mechanical motion, 
sounds, light etc. 
Toys of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. Known toys 
operate when a playing person turns on a respective mechanism to produce 
the respective action from those listed above. There are, however, no toys 
which are controlled by a motion of a person or an object in the vicinity 
of the toy. Thus, it can be said that in this sence playing attractiveness 
of the known toys are limited. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy 
which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
toy with action or actions controlled by a motion of an object or person 
moving in the vicinity thereof. 
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent 
hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, 
in a toy which has motion detecting means arranged to detect the presence 
or absence of a motion of an object in the vicinity of the toy, and action 
performing means cooperating with the motion detecting means and arranged 
to operate in response to the detection performed by the motion detecting 
means. 
When the toy designed in accordance with the present invention, its action 
is performed in response to the detection of a motion or the absence 
thereof. For example, a toy dog barks when he sees a stranger and stops 
barking when the stranger disappears, a toy doll cries when it does not 
see a girl and stops crying when the girl comes close to the doll, a 
fortress with guns fires when an enemy approaches and stops firing when 
the enemy retreats, a rattle snake appears from a basket when a child 
playing flute is present and hides in the basket when the child leaves the 
scene. 
Thus, a mechanical motion, a generation of sounds, an emission of light of 
a toy can be controlled by a motion of a playing child or an object in the 
vicinity of the toy. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present 
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The 
invention itself, however, including its construction and mode of 
operation, will be best understood from the following description of 
preferred embodiments which is accompanied by the following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A toy in accordance with the present invention acts when an object moves or 
does not move in the vicinity of the toy, or more particularly, in a field 
of view which is identified by reference numeral 1. 
The toy has a motion detector identified by reference numeral 14 and 
arranged to produce a signal 12 as long as a moving object is present in 
the field of view 1. A timer 7 is connected with the motion detector 14 
and has outputs which are inverted relative to one another. The timer 
outputs are identified as Q and Q A respective one of the timer outputs, 
in the shown embodiment the output Q, is connected with a switch 8 
operating for supplying power from a power source 9 or interrupting the 
power supply to an output mechanism 10. 
When a toy is to act in response to a presence of a motion in the field of 
view, for example, a barking dog, and a child turns on an On/Off switch S 
being within the field of view, or a child enters the field of view after 
the switch S has been turned on earlier, the motion detector 14 generates 
pulses 12 indicating that the motion is detected. 
The pulses 12 initiate starting input of the timer 7 with the above 
mentioned two outputs represented by two complementary voltages. A voltage 
13 remains positive during the entire timing period, starting from the 
instant when the motion was detected. The voltage 13 keeps the switch 8 
closed so as to provide power supply from the power source 9 to the output 
mechanism 10. 
In the event when the mechanism 10 must be activated only if the motion is 
not detected, the reset input of the timer 7 is used for the command 
signal 12, and the inverted output Q0 supplies voltage for activation of 
the switch 8. 
The output mechanism 10 can be formed as a mechanism producing a mechanical 
motion, generating a sound, emitting a light or providing a combination of 
the above mentioned action, etc. It is not limited to the above listed 
modes and can provide for any action required for each particular toy. 
Thus, in accordance with the described embodiment, the output mechanism of 
for example a barking dog acts in response to the motion detected in the 
field of view and the dog barks for a period of time determined by the 
timer. Upon expiration of this time and in condition of absence of a 
moving object in the field of view, the action of the output mechanism 
terminates and the dog stops barking. 
In the second example when the toy must act in response to the absence of a 
moving object in the field of view, the switch 8 is closed only after the 
time determined by the timer has ellapsed. The output mechanism of the toy 
for example a doll acts when the dolls eyes do not see a playing child and 
the doll cries until somebody approaches her. In this case the timer must 
be reset by the signal 12 of the motion detector every time when the 
motion is detected. 
Additional feedback F can further be provided from the timer 7, output 
voltage 13 to the motion detector. This feedback disables the motion 
detector while the output mechanism is operating. Otherwise, movements of 
the toy due to the mechanism 10 can reactivate the timer keeping the toy 
in a continuous operation. The feedback prevents appearance of the pulses 
12 while the switch 8 is closed. 
FIG. 2 presents a voltage 11 amplified at the output of an amplifier 5 of 
the motion detector 14. This voltage is originally produced by a 
photosensitive means 4 reacting to variations in illumination. FIG. 2 also 
illustrates the pulse or voltage 12 and the voltage 13. 
The motion detector 14 includes an objective formed as an optical lens, 
pinhole aperture etc. When a moving object is present in the field of view 
1, its image is created by the objective 2 on an image distortion means 
which forms a next part of the motion detector. Then the image is 
projected on the photosensitive means 4. The image distortion means 3 
consists of a nonuniform surface and a condenser lens. Nonuniform surface 
can be formed, for example, as an opaque and transparent mask (grid). Any 
image created on this mask will be distorted. General illumination on the 
means 4 will depend on the motions in the image, because each moving part 
crossing the borders between the opaque and transparent lines on the mask 
will modulate illumination. A photodiode, photoresistor, or 
phototransistor can be used as the means 4. When the objective 2 is formed 
as a lens, it can be single, multiple, made of glass, plastic. The angle 
of view is between 45.degree. and 90.degree.. 
The image distortion means may be formed not as a separate means similar to 
the means 3, but formed in a different way. For example, the 
photosensitive means 4 may have a nonuniform photosensitive surface 
thereby forming an image distortion means combined with the photosensitive 
means. An example of such means is a photoresistor 20, with wave-shaped 
sensor shown in FIG. 3. The motion detector finally includes the above 
mentioned amplifier 5 and an amplitude comparator 6. 
FIG. 3 represents a preferable circuit diagram for the motion detector. A 
transistor Q1 identified by reference numeral 15 with diodes 16 and 
capacitor 17 establish operating current through a photosensor 20. The 
amplifier 5 is an AC amplifier whose gain and band width depends on a 
capacitor 19. The transistor 6 is an amplitude comparator having threshold 
of about 0.7 V, depending on base-emitter turn on voltage. As soon as the 
voltage between the input of the amplifier 5 and its output reaches the 
threshod voltage, the transistor 6 opens passing current through the 
resistor 19' and provides the output voltage 12. 
As soon as the transistor 6 opens, current starts to pass across its base 
resistor 18 creating a positive feedback to the amplifier 5. This assures 
a rectangular output pulse. Therefore, a very simple circuit having just 
one operational amplifier and two transistors forms the sensitive motion 
detector. The timer 7 and switch 8 are conventional and therefore not 
described in detail. 
FIG. 4 shows several examples of toys designed in accordance with the 
present invention. 
FIG. 4a illustrates a watchdog. A power supply and motion detector 21 are 
accommodated in a kennel 22. The dog barks when anyone approaches the 
same. A puppy dog of FIG. 4b has the motion detector 21 in its eye and a 
power supply 23 in the belly. The dog barks and waves the tail when anyone 
approaches. In a doll shown in FIG. 4c the power supply is located inside 
and it is off when the doll is laying down. When the doll is up, her eyes 
open and motion detector is activated, identified by 21. The doll is 
silent when anyone moves nearby, but it cries when she does not see a 
playing child. There are two ways to stop her crying: to lay down or to 
play with her. Finally, a snake in a basket 24 of FIG. 4d does not move 
when the cover is closed, since the power is off. When the cover opens, 
the motion detector 21 is activated and the snake moves and hiss if it 
sees a playing person. 
The invention is not limited to the details shown since various 
modifications and structural changes can be made without departing in any 
way from the spirit of the present invention. Different toys and modes of 
their operation may be provided within the basic idea of the present 
invention of reaction to the presence or absence of motion in the vicinity 
of the toy. The term "vicinity" is utilized here in a broad sence to 
define a distance which does not exceed the detection limit of the motion 
detecting means. 
What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in 
particular in the appended claims.