Abstract:
A toy, particularly an educational toy that has a light-emitting diode device attached thereto. Instead of a whole array of light-emitting diodes, the light-emitting diode device has only one or multiple cross rows of light-emitting diodes rotating about an axis. The light-emitting diode device is operative to generate a plurality of illumination patterns or images by selectively switching on/off the light-emitting diodes at a specific orientation. The light-emitting diode device further has a sound-generating device interactive with the light-emitting diodes. That is, the sound-generating device is operative to generate a sound to represent an audio form of the illumination patterns or images displayed by the light-emitting diodes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/264,797 entitled INTERACTIVE DEVICE LED DISPLAY filed Oct. 4, 2002 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/365,112 entitled INTERACTIVE LED DEVICE filed Feb. 12, 2003, which are incorporated by reference hereinwith. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates in general to a light-emitting diode (LED) display, and more particular, to a light-emitting diode device including a sound-generating portion and a sound-generating system interactive with each other.  
         [0004]     Light-emitting diode devices having various sizes and display effects have been developed and are available in the market. Depending on the complexity of required illumination pattern, most of the light-emitting diode devices include arrays of light-emitting diodes selectively switched on/off to generate such illumination pattern. When a complex illumination pattern is desired, the number of required light-emitting diodes can be magnificent. In addition, when the light-emitting diode devices are applied to educational toy, the educational value is limited to the image only.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a toy, particularly an educational toy that includes a light-emitting diode device attached thereto. Instead of a multiple-row and/or multiple-column array of light-emitting diodes, the light-emitting diode device includes only a single row or cross rows of light-emitting diodes rotating about an axis. The light-emitting diode device is operative to generate a plurality of illumination patterns or images by selectively switching on/off the light-emitting diodes at a specific orientation. The light-emitting diode device further comprises a sound-generating device interactive with the light-emitting diodes. That is, the sound-generating device is operative to generate a sound to represent an audio form of the illumination patterns or images displayed by the light-emitting diodes.  
         [0006]     The light-emitting diode device as provided comprises a housing with a clear front cover, at least one row of light-emitting diodes, and a speaker. The row of light-emitting diodes is mounted on a light-emitting diode printed circuit board, on which a first transmitter and a first receiver are mounted. A spinning mechanism is also installed in the housing for driving the row of light-emitting diodes to rotate. The sound-generating device includes a speaker electrically connected to a main printed-circuit board. A second transmitter and a second receiver are mounted to the main printed circuit board. Preferably, infrared communication is adapted between the first and second transmitters and receivers. When an illumination pattern is generated by the light-emitting diodes, an activation signal is transmitted from the first transmitter to the second receiver, such that the speaker is activated to generate a sound coordinating the illumination pattern. The sound and the illumination pattern can be generated synchronously or in a predetermined time sequence. The light-emitting diodes can also be activated by an activation signal transmitted from the second transmitter to the first receiver.  
         [0007]     The housing of the light-emitting diode can be in various forms, including a circular dish, a rectangular prism or cube. The front cover is fabricated from clear material such that illumination patterns or images generated by the light-emitting diodes can be easily observed through the front cover. Preferably, a divider such as a supporting frame or an internal frame is installed in the housing to divide the light-emitting diodes and the sound-generating devices. To obtain a uniform brightness of the illumination pattern, a spacer for supporting the light-emitting diodes is configured to ensure a substantially identical length of optical path for the light-emitting diodes. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing a first embodiment of a light-emitting diode device;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the light-emitting diode device observing from another direction;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the light-emitting diode device as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is shows a local enlargement of the light-emitting diode device as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view showing a second embodiment of a light-emitting diode device;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing the second embodiment from another direction;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the second embodiment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a light-generating portion of a light-emitting diode device in a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the light-generating portion observing from another direction;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a sound-generating portion of the light-emitting diode device; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the third embodiment of light-emitting diode device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purpose of limiting the same.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show exploded view of a first embodiment of a light-emitting diode device,  FIG. 3  shows a cutaway view of the light-emitting diode device as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and  FIG. 4  shows a local enlargement of the light-emitting diode device as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In the first embodiment, the light-emitting diode device includes a light-generating portion operative to generate an image or an illumination pattern and a sound-generating portion operative to generate a sound coordinated with the image or illumination pattern. Preferably, the light-generating portion and sound-generating portion are coordinated with each other such that the image and the sound can be generated synchronously or in a preferred time sequence. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the light-emitting diode device is in the form of a circular dish that has a front cover  10 , a rear cover  12 , and a supporting frame  23  between the front cover  10  and the rear cover  12 . Preferably, the supporting frame  23  is attached to the rear cover  12  by fastening members such as screws at the peripheries thereof, and the front cover  10  is then tightly fitted to the supporting frame  23 . The supporting frame  23  between the front cover  10  and the rear cover  12  partitions the light-emitting diode device into a front compartment and a rear compartment. In this embodiment, the light-generating portion of the light-emitting diode device is installed in the front compartment and comprises a light-emitting diode guide  14 , at least one row of light-emitting diodes  16 , a spacer  18 , and a printed circuit board  20 , while the sound-generating portion is installed in the rear compartment and includes another printed circuit board  24 , a divider plate  26 , and a speaker  28 . The light-emitting diode device further comprises a spinning mechanism that includes a shaft member  22  extending through the supporting frame  23  for rotating the printed circuit board  20  and the light-emitting diodes  16 . The spinning mechanism will be further described later in this specification.  
         [0021]     The front cover  10  is preferably fabricated from a clear material such that light and illumination pattern generated by the light-emitting diodes  16  can be easily observed from outside of the light emitting diode device. In this embodiment, both the front cover  10  and the light-emitting diode guide  14  are configured with curved surfaces each having a gradually protruding center. The light-emitting diode guide  14  can be fabricated from metal or other materials such as plastic. The light-emitting diode guide  14  can be formed with a row of perforations  14 A allowing the light-emitting diodes  16  aligned therewith and inserted therein, such that light emitted from the light-emitting diodes  16  can propagate through the light-emitting diode guide  14 . However, when the light-emitting diode guide  14  is fabricated from material that has insufficient ductility, the perforations  14 A is easily to cause breakage. Therefore, when the light-emitting diode guide  14  is fabricated from material such as plastic or the like, the light-emitting diode guide  14  may be coated by paint or ink opaque to the light generated by the light-emitting diodes  16 , while leaving a plurality of transparent windows allowing the light-emitting diodes  16  to emit light through. The spacer  18  for supporting the light-emitting diodes  16  is configured with a plurality of steps at various heights to ensure a substantially identical length of optical path for the light emitted from each of the light-emitting diodes  16 . The substantially identical length of optical path between the light-emitting diodes  16  and the front cover  10  results in a uniform brightness of light emitted from the light-emitting diodes  16 . As shown, the spacer  18  has an arc top surface for mounting the light-emitting diodes  16  and a flat bottom surface to be mounted on a first surface of the printed circuit board  20 . In this embodiment, the terminals of the light-emitting diodes  16  extend through the spacer  18  to electrically connect to the printed circuit board  20 .  
         [0022]     The printed circuit board  20  includes a microprocessor (not shown) selectively switching on/off the light-emitting diode  16  at various orientations. A second surface of the printed circuit board  20  is attached to the spinning mechanism of which the spinning pattern is controlled by the microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board  20 . By accurately timing the on/off status and spinning motion of the light-emitting diodes  18 , a plurality of illumination patterns such as a moving letter or message, symbol, number and multi-color graphic can be generated.  
         [0023]     As mentioned above, the light-emitting diode device further comprises a spinning mechanism for driving the light-emitting diodes  16  to rotate. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the spinning mechanism includes a shaft member  22  comprised of a conductive shaft a 4 , an insulating bushing a 5  and a conductive busing a 6  tightly fitted together for rotating the printed circuit board  20  as well as the light-emitting diodes  16 . The shaft member  22  extends through the supporting frame  23 , and the spinning mechanism further includes a cam member a 7  in the rear compartment for actuating the spinning motion of the shaft member  22 . The cam member a 7  is preferably an eccentric cam with a rubber belt a 9  driven by a motor a 10  for generating the rotation thereof. A cam follower a 8  is preferably installed between the cam member a 7  and the supporting frame  23  to follow the rotating motion of the cam member a 7 . The cam follower a 8  includes an arm movably inserted into a slot  23 A formed at a rear surface of the supporting frame  23  for actuating a leaf switch all mounted to either the housing or the printed circuit board  24 , such that the leaf switch a 11  is intermittently switched on and off by the actuation of the cam follower a 8 . The on/off operation of the leaf switch a 11  can be used for counting the number of rotation or the spinning rate of the light-emitting diodes  16  as well as determining orientation of the Light-emitting diodes  16 . In addition to the leaf switch a 11  that mechanically counts the spinning rate and detects the position of the light-emitting diodes  16 , other devices such as signal transmitter and receiver can also be used for providing the spinning rate and the position of the light-emitting diodes  16  optically or electronically. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , two signal generators b 1 , which include two light-emitting diodes in this embodiment, may be attached to the rear surface of the printed circuit board  20  in the front compartment, and a signal receiver b 2 , which includes a light sensor in this embodiment, is disposed in the rear compartment. The light sensor b 2  includes a sensor element encapsulated within a cap and a back plate as shown in  FIG. 2 . Both the cap and the back plate are opaque to avoid ambient stray light received by the sensor element. The tip of the cap is transparent to the signal generated from the signal transmitter b 1 , a signal will be detected only when the signal generator b 1  is aligned with the signal receiver b 2 . For each 360° rotation of the light-emitting diodes  16  or the printed circuit board  20 , the light sensor b 2  will be aligned with each of the light-emitting diodes b 1  once. As a result, two signals will be detected for each 360° rotation. It will be appreciated that the light-emitting diodes b 1  are symmetrically disposed at two ends of the printed circuit board  20  to avoid unbalanced weight that tilts the printed circuit board  20 . One of the light-emitting diode b 1  may be removed or switched off all the time for accurately counting the spinning rate and determining the orientation of the light-emitting diodes  16 . Further, the optical/electronic signal transmitter and receiver b 1  and b 2 , and the cam follower a 8  and the leaf switch a 11  may be used simultaneously to ensure the accuracy of the orientation and spinning rate of the light-emitting diodes  16 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the spinning mechanism further comprises a retainer a 3  for binding the tightly fitted conductive shaft a 4 , the insulating bushing a 5  and the conductive busing a 6  with the cam follower a 8  and the cam a 7 . At the rear compartment, contact plates a 1  and a 2  are provided in contact with the conductive shaft a 4  and the conductive bushing a 6 , respectively. The contact plates a 1  and a 2  are connected to the electric terminals DC power source for supplying power to the printed circuit board  20  and the light-emitting diodes  16  through the conductive shaft a 4  and the bushing a 6 .  
         [0025]     The timing and duration for the spinning motion of the spinning mechanism can be preprogrammed and saved in a memory of the microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board  20  and/or the printed circuit board  24 . The microprocessor is then operative to retrieve the information stored in the memory in response to an activation signal.  
         [0026]     The second printed circuit board  24  also comprises a microprocessor for controlling the generation of sound. Similarly, a memory of the microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board  24  may be used for storing a plurality of preprogrammed sounds. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the light-emitting diode device further comprises a first transmitter  30 A and a first receiver  30 B mounted to the second surface of the printed circuit board  20  and a second transmitter  32 A and a second receiver  32 B mounted to a first surface of the second printed circuit board  24 . The first transmitter  30 A is operative to transmit a signal to the second receiver  32 B and the first receiver  30 B is operative to receive a signal transmitted from the second transmitter  32 A. Therefore, when the microprocessor of the first printed circuit board  20  generates a signal for activating the light-emitting diodes  16 , a signal carrying the information of image or illumination pattern to be displayed by the light-emitting diodes  16  is also transmitted to the microprocessor of the second printed circuit board  24  via the first transmitter  30 A and the second receiver  32 B. An activation signal may then be generated by the second microprocessor to activate the speaker  28 , so as to generate a sound corresponding to the image displayed by the light-emitting diodes  16 . Similarly, the microprocessor on the second printed circuit board  24  may also generate an activation signal transmitted from the second transmitter  32 A to the first received  30 B. Upon receiving the activation signal, the light-emitting diodes  16  may be activated to display an image or an illumination pattern corresponding to a sound generated by the speaker  28 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 5-7  show a second embodiment of a light-emitting diode device. Similar to the first embodiment, the light-emitting diode device includes a light-generating portion and a sound generating portion installed in a housing. In this embodiment, the housing is in the form of a table-top or wall-hanging rectangular unit that includes an enclosure  40 , a clear front panel  42  and a rear panel  44 . A compartment  46  is formed at a corner portion on the rear panel  44  for receiving the sound-generating portion therein, and an inner frame  48  is mounted to the rear panel  44  for supporting the light-generating portion thereon. The structures and components of the sound- and light-generating portions of the light-emitting diode device are similar to that as discussed in the first embodiment apart from that the light-generating portion in the second embodiment includes two rows of light-emitting diodes  16  arranged as a cross. The light-emitting diodes  16  are rotatable about the center of the printed circuit board  20 , that is, the intersection of these two rows of light-emitting diodes  16 . In this embodiment, as the front cover  42  is a clear flat panel, the light-emitting diode guide and the spacer are not required. The spinning mechanism, including the shaft member  22 , the cam a 7 , and the motor a 10  are installed between the inner frame  48  and the printed circuit board  20 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 8-11  show a third embodiment of a light-emitting diode device which includes a light-generating portion and a sound-generating portion interactive with each other. Different from the second embodiment, the light-generating portion  60  and the sound-generating portion  62  are installed at different housings. In addition, three rows of light-emitting diodes  16  are joined at a common center and spinning thereabout. When the light-generating portion  60  and the sound-generating portion  62  are located within an effective range of the transmitters and receivers  31 A,  31 B,  32 A,  32 B, the light-generating portion  60  and the sound-generating portion  62  can interact with each other to generate corresponding illumination patterns and sounds simultaneously or in a preferred sequence.  
         [0029]     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the various features of this invention can be used along, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but is to be defined by the following claims when read in the broadest reasonable manner to preserve the validity of the claims.