Patent Publication Number: US-2004043370-A1

Title: Animated radio/karaoke device

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to a radio/karaoke device which features one or more animated characters that produce movement in synchronization with the sounds of the music played by the device.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Prior Art  
       [0004] Currently, the experience of listening to music that a radio plays, or of singing by using a karaoke apparatus, is limited in the scope of entertainment that it provides. These audio appliances offer little visual stimulation to enable the listener or singer to enjoy a more pleasurable experience when utilizing such devices. Rather, these appliances focus exclusively on producing auditory entertainment, without making use of visual enhancements in the form of various featured characters whose movement could add considerable novelty to the musical listening or singing experience.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0005] The object of the animated radio/karaoke device is to make the activity of listening to music or singing karaoke more pleasurable for adults and children, alike. The invention accomplishes this goal by means of a mechanical apparatus that features one or more characters on it. Such characters may be animals or people. The characters&#39; mouths are linked to a system of transmission that consists of a spring, motor, and oscillating strip. A string attaches the oscillating strip to the motor. The driving circuit inside the mechanical apparatus picks up the frequency of the sound of the radio. Then it causes the motor to rotate at intervals, leading to the characters&#39; periodic mouth movement.  
       [0006] The advantages of this device are the following:  
       [0007] (a) While the device is in use as either a radio or karaoke apparatus, the featured character on the device adds interest and entertainment to the music-listening or singing experience by opening and closing its mouth in synchronization with the sounds of the music.  
       [0008] (b) The device can function as an FM radio or karaoke apparatus. In any of these functions, the device can operate either with or without movement by the featured character or characters on it.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009] This invention consists of a mechanical apparatus that features one or more characters on it. Such characters may be animals or people. The characters&#39; mouths are linked to a system of transmission that consists of a spring, motor, and oscillating strip. A string attaches the oscillating strip to the motor. The driving circuit inside the mechanical apparatus picks up the frequency of the sound of the radio. Then it causes the motor to rotate at intervals, leading to the characters&#39; periodic mouth movement. The animated movement of the character or characters makes the activity of listening to music or singing karaoke more pleasurable for adults and children, alike.  
       DRAWINGS  
       [0010] Drawing Figures  
       [0011] The following numbers correspond to specific drawings of the invention:  
       [0012]FIG. 1 shows the invention from a perspective view  
       [0013]FIG. 2 offers a view of the invention&#39;s driving mechanism  
       [0014]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the invention  
       [0015]FIG. 4 is a diagram of the invention&#39;s radio circuitry 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWING  
     [0016] 4  character&#39;s mouth  
     [0017] 12  motor  
     [0018] 13  string  
     [0019] 14  spring  
     [0020] 15  circuit board  
     [0021] 16  “reset” button  
     [0022] 18  frequency reception adjustment knob  
     [0023] 20  mechanical apparatus  
     [0024] 22  function switch  
     [0025] 28  “scan” button  
     [0026] 30  character  
     [0027] 35  volume control wheel  
     [0028] 36  display window  
     [0029] 48  oscillating strip  
     [0030] 50  sound control circuit  
     [0031] 52  radio reception circuit  
     [0032] 54  AUX (CD, tape) circuit  
     [0033] 56  amplifier  
     [0034] 58  speaker  
     [0035] 60  sound frequency control circuit  
     [0036] 70  output circuit  
     [0037] 80  driving mechanism  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0038] This invention consists of a mechanical apparatus  20  that features a display window  36 . The display window  36 , in turn, features a character  30  that is three-dimensional. The “reset” button  16  and “scan” button  28  are also located on the surface of the apparatus  20 . These buttons allow for the operation of the radio. Additionally, there is a function switch  22  that features three options. When the “off” option is chosen, the power is off. If the “radio” option is chosen, then the apparatus  20  only plays music from the FM radio. If the “motion” option is chosen, then the music from the FM radio plays to the accompaniment of synchronized movements from the mouth  4  of the featured character  30  on the display window  36  of the apparatus  20 . A driving mechanism  80  is connected to the mouth  4  of the character  30  featured on the mechanical apparatus  20 . The mouth  4  of the character  30  is linked to an oscillating strip  48 . By means of a string  13 , this oscillating strip  48  is attached to a motor  12 . The underside of the oscillating strip  48  is attached to a spring  14  that stabilizes the strip  48  when the strip  48  is in operation. This enables the character&#39;s mouth  4  to open and close when the motor  12  rotates.  
     [0039] Operation—FIGS. 3 and 4  
     [0040]FIG. 3 shows the electrical circuitry of this invention. The circuitry system includes a sound control circuit  50 , a radio circuit  52 , and an AUX (CD, tape) circuit  54 . The circuits are each linked to an amplifier  56  that enables a speaker  58  to produce sound. Additionally, the circuits are linked to a sound frequency control circuit  60  that picks up frequency signals. These signals are transmitted by the output circuit  70 . The output circuit  70  then activates different driving mechanisms  80  to create movement of the character&#39;s mouth  4 .  
     [0041] A diagram of the radio reception circuit  52  is presented in FIG. 4. A single-chip integrated circuit IC 1  composes signal reception of FM frequencies. IC 2  amplifies the sound signals that are received prior to their transmission through the speaker. The sound signals are transmitted to IC 2  for amplification. The sound signals that have been amplified are then reamplified by the crystal that is composed from Q 1  to Q 4 , for analysis of frequency signals to activate the motor&#39;s rotation.  
     [0042] Conclusion  
     [0043] In conclusion, this invention is designed to make the activity of listening to music or singing karaoke more pleasurable for adults and children, alike. The invention accomplishes this goal by means of a mechanical apparatus that features one or more characters on it. Such characters may be animals or people. Through a system of transmission that consists of a spring, motor, and oscillating strip, and by means of a driving circuit inside the mechanical apparatus, the characters&#39; mouths produce periodic movement in synchronization with the sounds of the music being played by the device.