Abstract:
Child/infant play and entertainment devices including electronic displays provide applications of display technology to the child/infant toy and entertainment industry. Flexible displays are used in infant items that require safety measures such as no sharp corners, hard structures or breakable parts. Battery powered devices provide portability and convenience and remote programming connections are be employed to provide wired or wireless reprogramming of the appearance and/or behavior of a child/infant play or entertainment device. Sound features may also be incorporated in synchrony with the visual display for further enhancing the play or entertainment experience.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to child/infant play and entertainment items and more specifically to child and infant play and entertainment devices including one or more electronic displays.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    Technological innovation associated with electronics and electronic displays has proceeded more slowly in baby and child play and entertainment devices than in other product areas. In part, the slower progress has been due to the additional cost of the electronics and electronic displays, but safety considerations have also been a factor. Electronic displays (such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) typically require a hard case for protection, and include glass and plastic elements that can be dangerous to a child or infant when shattered. Therefore, due to cost and safety considerations, toys which emulate display-based electronic equipment do not include actual displays, but rather include depictions of displays in locations where those displays would normally be included.  
           [0005]    In the recent past, electronic display technology has improved to yield increasingly low-cost, low power and flexible graphical and textual displays, such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. Typically developed for use in electronic books and electronic paper applications, the structure and flexibility of such displays provides an alternative to a hard-cased and rigid LCD display. Also, for some applications, the falling cost of both rigid and flexible displays make them increasingly desirable in applications for infants and children.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide child/infant play and entertainment devices that incorporate flexible displays to provide safety and novel applications for displays in child/infant play and entertainment devices. It would further be desirable to provide child/infant play and entertainment devices that incorporate rigid or flexible displays to novel applications where flexibility is not a requirement.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The above objectives of providing child/infant play and entertainment devices are accomplished in a variety of devices that incorporate electronic displays. Flexible displays are incorporated in baby toys and other infant devices where safety and/or structure dictates that no hard surfaces, sharp corners and/or breakable parts are present. Flexible or rigid displays are incorporated in other child entertainment devices that do not require the use of flexible displays for safety. The devices may be battery operated when desirable for portability or convenience and a wireless or wired interface to a remote programming device such as an Internet-connected computer may be provided for changing the appearance and features of a device. Sound features may also be incorporated in synchrony with the visual display for further enhancing the play or entertainment experience.  
           [0008]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    FIGS.  1  to  18  are pictorial diagrams depicting infant/child play and entertainment devices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 19 is a block diagram depicting an electronic system for operating the displays incorporated within the devices of FIGS.  1  to  18  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The present invention provides various interactive and display improvements to children&#39;s and infant&#39;s play and entertainment devices. The improvements include multipixel graphic displays integrated within a toy or other device body as depicted in the figures. The multipixel graphic displays are indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral  10 A-X which differ by shape and size and may include multiple displays as indicated, but will generally be organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays in applications for infants, where flexibility and lack of breakable parts is required or desirable. The graphic displays are used to display static images, including photographs, which may be digital or digitized photographs of familiar images (e.g., the child/infant or parent&#39;s face). The graphic displays may also be used to display animated figures, or static or animated colors or patterns.  
         [0012]    In other applications where flexibility is not required, an OLED may be employed or another display type such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) may alternatively be used. Sound, supplied by a transducer incorporated within the toy or other device body can be synchronized with the programming of the display to further enhance the entertainment or play experience. The electronics for driving and programming the display can be located within the device, where permitted, as can a battery power supply. Alternatively, for applications where the device does not have to be self-contained, the electronics may be located remotely and the power supply may alternatively be a wall power supply or other suitable power source.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 1-18, along with the descriptions of the figures supplied below, provide illustrative embodiments of the present invention that should be considered exemplary, but not limiting of the present invention.  
         [0014]    Referring now to FIG. 1, such a display-incorporating device is depicted, comprising a thin flexible sheet incorporating a display  10 A for use on a floor as a play mat, or which may be hung on a wall, car seat, crib, changing table, play pen, high chair, car seat or other location for providing attractive displays to infants. FIGS. 2-4 depict embodiments of a mobile or other device for suspension above an infant in a crib. FIG. 2 is a display suspended by an arm  11  for locating a display over a crib. The display may be a curved (convex or concave surface) or may be flat. FIG. 3 is a mobile incorporating displays  10 C hanging from suspension arms  12  and cut in various shapes. The shapes can change patterns or colors by virtue of programming displays  10 C with varying patterns and colors. FIG. 4 is another mobile incorporating shape-cut displays  10 C and further incorporating a center display  10 D similar to the display of FIG. 2. While the “shape-cut” displays are produced with cut figures for the display packaging (generally a plastic laminate enclosing OLED elements), the circuit patterns interconnecting the display elements are designed so as to avoid the cutting lines. Suspension arms  12 A may also be made with wrap-around display material, so that the entire structure of the mobile of FIG. 4 can be made to change as displays  10 C,  10 D and arms  12 A are reprogrammed to take on varying patterns and colors.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 depicts a child&#39;s or infant&#39;s plush toy, such as the teddy bear depicted, incorporating a flexible display  10 E on the surface. A display may be incorporated on any surface or an entire toy may be made of a flexible display. Switches or sensors may be incorporated within the toy to detect pressure on the toy&#39;s surfaces, sound or motion of the toy, so that programming of display  10 E, as well as sound, if incorporated, may be made responsive to touch or motion of the toy.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 depicts a child&#39;s entertainment device provided by displays  10 F and/or  10 G attached to a stroller. Display  10 F is a wrap-around display for attachment to a stroller bar  14 , which includes an attachment feature such as VELCRO strips for securing display  10 F to stroller bar  14 , snaps or other suitable attachment arrangement. Wrap-around display  10 F can also be used in other child/infant devices that have bars, such as hi-chairs, baby carriers and car seats. Display  10 G is a flat-panel display attached to the stroller body (or stroller bar  14 ) via a clamping arrangement or other suitable attachment, whereby display  10 G is presented for viewing by a child or infant. FIG. 7 similarly depicts a child or infant&#39;s car seat including flat-panel display  10 G, wrap-around display  10 F (this time attached to a car seat bar  14 A) and shape-cut displays  10 C as included in the above-described mobiles of FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 depicts the use of a flexible display for entertaining a child or infant while in an automobile. Display  10 H, provided in a thin, flexible package similar to the playmat/screen of FIG. 1, can be positioned over the back of the front seat of the automobile and either draped for holding by the weight of the device or attached with straps, loop fasteners (such as VELCRO) or other suitable means. Display  10 H can also be positioned for infants in rear-facing car seats as shown toward the rear of the figure.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary display  10 J programming scheme for a child. While programming screens for infants will include images and colors (such as the animals depicted in some of the figures), display  10 J is programmed with smaller images including letters, images of shapes, animals, etc. for use in puzzles, tests and games for challenging children, providing an educational as well as an entertainment function. A touchscreen may be incorporated in any of the displays for interaction with the shapes and solving puzzles, taking tests and playing games.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 depicts a flexible display  10 K affixed to a crib for holding an infant or small child. Display  10 K provides entertainment and stimulus via programming. Straps  16  (such as VELCRO straps) or another attachment device are provided for affixing display  10 K to the crib bars. (Alternatively, attachment points may be provided on the crib via snap or other fasteners and display  10 K may be attached to other points on the crib). Also shown is the use of mobile  10 C as described above in conjunction with display  10 K.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 depicts a shaped object for play by an infant and incorporating a display  10 L on a face thereof. FIG. 12 is illustrative of another shaped play object having displays  10 M incorporated on multiple faces. FIG. 13 depicts a ball having displays  10 N incorporated on sections approximating the spherical surface of the ball. All of the above described play items will generally incorporate flexible displays, but may also be made incorporating more rigid displays and structures where the play items are intended for use by older children, and safety does not dictate the use of flexible displays.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 14-17 depict play devices that emulate actual items used by adults or other children. FIG. 14 depicts a well-known toy shape referred to as a “popper” that emulates a cleaning device in child play. A display  10 P is incorporated that can be programmed to display colors and shapes, or even balls moving within a clear plastic tube (as the original toy employed) providing a visually stimulating display. FIG. 15 depicts a play desk including display device  10 R incorporated conformal to the top surface, display  10 Q angled above the top surface and display  10 S incorporated on an object on the surface. FIG. 16A depicts a toy car of a type that may be entered or propelled by a child and alternatively a child&#39;s play car of a smaller size. Displays  10 T provide a road-view and dashboard control view, which may be separate displays, to enhance the car-play experience. FIG. 17 is exemplary of a toy mobile telephone that incorporates a display  10 U that may be programmed to provide non-standard display (such as flashing colors) for an infant, or more typical mobile phone type of display for an older child. Each of the above-described play devices of FIGS. 14-17 can be made of a-flexible soft material (such as open-cell foam) and include flexible displays making them suitable for use by infants.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 18 is an illustration of a baby carrier in accordance incorporating shape-cut displays  10 C as described for the mobiles of FIGS. 3 and 4, as well as the car carrier of FIG. 7 and the crib of FIG. 10.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 19, driver circuits  30  suitable for use within the above-described devices are shown in a block diagram. Displays  31  and  31 A (to illustrate multiple displays not limited to two) which are affixed to the body of a child&#39;s or infant&#39;s play or entertainment device, are coupled to a set of matrix drivers  32 . Displays  31  and  31 A may each comprise a further plurality of electronic displays all connected to matrix driver  32  and may be individually selectable via matrix drivers  32 . Matrix drivers  32  are coupled to processor  33  for receiving information corresponding to text, graphics and colors displayed on display  31  and processor  33  is coupled to a memory  34  for storing program instructions for execution by processor  33  and data corresponding to graphical images, text and colors for display on display  31 . A sound subsystem  41  is coupled to processor  33  for providing audio to further enhance the play or entertainment experience.  
         [0024]    A wireless network node  39 A, which may be an Internet node, is coupled to processor  33  to provide receipt of wireless communications and information from a wireless remote programming device  40 , such as images, sound and graphics as well as parent (or other child) interactivity via controls or remote programming device  40  or via a computer connected via the Internet or direct connection to remote programming device  40 . Remote programming device can be connected via a wireless interface as described above, or detachably coupled through a connector  35 A directly to a hardwired programming interface  35 . Alternatively, cartridges may be provided an inserted in connector  35 A for loading data from the cartridges into the device.  
         [0025]    Sensor/switch input interface  36  is coupled to processor  33  and may be coupled to sensors (such as motion sensors, touch sensors and sound sensors), switches or buttons mounted on the play device or display. Sensor/switch input interface  36  also couples any provided touch-screens integrated with displays  31  and  31 A. Power for displays  31  and driver circuit  30  may be provided by a battery, and solar cells or kinetic electrical devices may be used to either re-charge the battery, or may be used in some embodiments for providing all of the power source. Alternatively, for some play devices a wall AC or DC power supply may be used or a full line power supply incorporated within the device body, as long as safety requirements are met.  
         [0026]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.