Patent Publication Number: US-2006003664-A1

Title: Interactive toy

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an interactive toy, and more particularly, to an interactive toy, which enables users to record and display randomly and produces a corresponding response according to various controls to provide with interactive learning purpose.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Generally, a toy in the form of doll has various cute shapes, such as animal or human, to attract attention of people. Another type of funnier toy is capable of producing sounds. For example, the toy Santa Claus, if the hand of this toy is pressed, the Christmas songs or the tinkle of bells will be produced. One further example is the toy dog, in which the bark sound of a dog will be produced once its body is hit. Although the conventional toy that is motionless is upgraded by this kind of funnier toy, the produced sound of the toy is pre-recorded by the manufacturer and completed following the same pattern. Identical sound or music that is changeless is shown for each time of use. Also, it cannot be varied in compliance with the changing of user. Following several times of use, the toy is finally discarded because of boredom. Owing to that sound is pre-recorded by the manufacturer, the user cannot make it produce the desired music or sounds according to their fondness. For the function of keeping company with the child, the toy described above provides with insufficient humanization. It still cannot satisfy entertainment and interactive learning requirements of the child.  
      In addition, the child always needs his parents to accompany him, however sometime his parents are too busy to play with him, or his parents need to go to work. At this moment, the toy will be a good tool. If the toy can be felt like the child&#39;s parents, the accompanying purpose of the toy will be promoted.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One aspect of the present invention is to provide an interactive toy, in which the user can randomly record an image and a sound, and a corresponding response with the image and the sound is produced by controlling several sensors. Thus, an interaction purpose is provided.  
      Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an interactive toy, in which an inputted signal is compared and a corresponding pre-set response is performed to provide interactive and learning purposes.  
      According to the aforementioned aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interactive toy having a toy body. The toy body comprises a control processing unit used as a central processing unit of a signal. A recording device is connected to the control processing unit for recording an image and a sound, wherein the recording device further comprises an image capture unit for capturing the image, an image processing unit for digitizing the inputted image, a microphone for inputting an audio signal, and a sound recording unit for recording the sound. A storage device is connected to the control processing unit for storing the image and the sound. The control processing unit is connected to a display device through a transmission interface for controlling the showing of the pre-recorded image and sound. The display device comprises a monitor for showing the image and a speaker for broadcasting the sound or music. Sensors are mounted on each position of the toy body, and connected to the control processing unit for inputting a control signal. In respond to the receiving of various control signal by the control processing unit, the display device is enabled to show various corresponding sounds or images  
      Thus, the user can pre-record required images or sounds of mother, father, or something else. Their child can also get a specific response by inputting a specific signal into the control processing unit through different sensors located on the toy body. For example, the father&#39;s image and talk for the child are displayed if the child pats the toy bear&#39;s head, and the mother&#39;s singing is showed if the child pulls the toy bear&#39;s hand. Thus, an interaction purpose between parents and child is accomplished and the child will feel that his parents are accompanying him.  
      The present invention further comprises a signal comparing processing unit, which is used to analyze, compare, and identify the inputted signal and the pre-recorded image and sound, and to output a signal to the control processing unit for performing a responsive movement. Thus, the interaction and language learning purposes are provided.  
      The present invention further comprises a wireless transmission/reception unit so that parents can remote control a status of the house to interact with the child at home or to handle household affairs.  
      The invention is now detailed in the hereafter description of examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in reference with the enclosed drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram, showing a construction of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram, showing a toy of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram, showing a signal comparing processing of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram, showing a wireless transmission of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , which show a constructional block diagram and a schematic diagram of a toy of the present invention. The toy comprises a toy body  1 . The toy body  1  comprises:  
      A control processing unit  2 , which is used as a central controlling and processing unit of a signal.  
      A recording device  3 , which is connected to the control processing unit  2  for recording an image and a sound, wherein the recording device  3  further comprises an image capture unit  31  for capturing and inputting the image; an image processing unit  32  for digitizing the inputted image; a microphone  33  for inputting an audio signal; and a sound recording unit  34  for recording the sound.  
      A storage device  4 , which is connected to the control processing unit  2  for storing data of the image and the sound.  
      A display device  5 , which is through a transmission interface  6  connected to the control processing unit  2  for showing the image and the sound, wherein the display device  5  comprises a monitor  51  for showing the pre-recorded image and a speaker  52  for broadcasting the pre-recorded sound or music.  
      A plurality of sensors  7 , wherein the sensors are distributed on each position, for example, hand, foot, head, or the like, of the toy body  1 , and connected to the control processing unit  2  to be used as control switches for inputting a specific control signal by a specific sensor  7 . The specific control signal is then transmitted to the control processing unit  2  for processing so as to enable a display device  5  to perform a corresponding responsive movement, for example, broadcasting the music or showing the image. The sensors  7  are, for example, thermal sensors, pressure sensors, touch-activated switches, sound-activated switches, or the likes.  
      According to the above description, the user can use a recording device  3  to input the desired sound and image. The sound and the image are then processed by the control processing unit  2 . Thereafter, the data of the sound and the image are stored in the storage device  4 . The data can be, for example, the pre-recorded image and sound of father or mother, or talk for teaching the child to learn. The child can input different control signals into the control processing unit  2  by using the different sensors  7  distributed on each position of the toy. The receiving of different signals enables the control processing unit  2  to issue corresponding commands, the showing is then performed by the display device  5  through a transmission interface  6 . The sensors are respectively located on the head, the hands, the feet, and other portions of the body of the toy bear. The corresponding father&#39;s image and sound similar to talk to the child are shown if the child pats the toy bear&#39;s body. Moreover, by using the sound activated switch, the toy can reply the child with the mother&#39;s sound to tell him that you are good, if the child talks to the toy. Accordingly, using this structure that is able to record and show randomly can provide various utilizations. Thus, an interaction purpose between parents and children is accomplished.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 3 , the present invention further comprises a signal comparing processing unit  8  connected to the control processing unit  2 . The comparing processing unit  8  is a digital signal processor for comparing the signal inputted from the sensor  7  and performing the related processing, the signal is then transmitted to the control processing unit  2  to perform the corresponding movement. Thus, the user must pre-record the image and sound. When a specific signal, for example, a cry sound of the child, is detected by the sensor  7 , and then transmitted to the signal comparing processing unit  8 . The signal comparing processing unit  8  will compare the sound with the pre-recorded sound to determine whether these two sounds are the same. The comparing result is then transmitted to the control processing unit  2  for processing. If they are the same, a corresponding command is then executed for, for example, showing the mother&#39;s image on a monitor or broadcasting the mother&#39;s sound of taking care of this child by a speaker. Thus, the toy provides the responsive function. It enables accomplishment of the interaction purpose between parents and their children, and can be used as a language-learning tool as well.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 4 , the present invention further comprises a wireless transmission/reception unit  9  connected to the control processing unit  2  for controlling a status of a house remotely. Parents can transmit a control signal by way of a remote wireless transmission, if they are not at home. After the wireless transmission/reception unit  9  receives the control signal, the control signal is then transmitted to the control processing unit  2  for processing so as to activate the recording device  3  to perform the video and audio recording. The recorded status of the house is then transmitted outwardly through the wireless transmission/reception unit  9  to be received and monitored by parents. Moreover, parents at a remote place can make a direct conversation with their children at home through the wireless transmission/reception unit  9 . By using a toy interface, more convenient ways for remote control and communication are provided.  
      Therefore, as is understood by a person skilled in the art, the present invention achieves the aforementioned purpose according to the above description and satisfies requirements of patent law. The application for a patent is therefore submitted.  
      As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.