Patent Publication Number: US-11389742-B2

Title: Interactive toy

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/CN2019/090609, filed on Jun. 11, 2019, which is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201810829981.9, filed on Jul. 25, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an interactive toy, and more particularly, to a novel interactive toy that enhances interactive fun. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Interactive toys refer to toys that react to users&#39; actions, such as the users&#39; sounds and movements. Interactive toys can better meet users&#39; behavior patterns and needs through intelligent technology of sound production, motion sensing and interaction, while focusing on users&#39; behavior and experience to enhance the interactivity and entertainment. 
     As the artificial intelligence and multimedia technology are increasingly integrated into people&#39;s daily life, interactive toys are emerging to gradually replace some traditional toys in order to meet users&#39; increasing behavioral needs. For example, interactive toys play an extremely important role in the growth of children. Interactive toys use abstract images and brief performances to lead children to cognize things and cultivate their abilities, and promote the development of their thinking and various abilities by combining learning with entertaining activities. Parents and children use interactive toys to enhance the children&#39;s trust and security with respect to adults and the world and cultivate parent-child intimacy. Adults can relax from the stressful work and life environment by means of interactive toys to improve their work and life states. 
     It is, therefore, highly desirable to provide a novel interactive toy that can enhance interactive fun and improve users&#39; experience. 
     SUMMARY 
     The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an interactive toy, through which the user&#39;s reaction sensitivity can be trained. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an interactive toy, including a housing, a control module, a motor, a rotating shaft, and an external member. The housing is electrically connected to the external member, and a control module is arranged inside the housing. The control module is configured to control the motor to drive the rotating shaft to rotate. The rotating shaft is exposed outside the housing and is connected to the external member. The toy further includes a measurement module and an analysis module. The measurement module is connected to one end of the rotating shaft exposed outside the housing and is configured to measure an angle by which the rotating shaft rotates from an initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. The analysis module is connected to the control module and is configured to compare a preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum to determine whether the external member encounters an obstacle. 
     Further, the analysis module compares the preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. When the angle by which the rotating shaft rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is less than the preset reference angle, the analysis module determines that the external member encounters the obstacle. When the angle by which the rotating shaft rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is greater than or equal to the preset reference angle, the analysis module determines that the external member does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the toy further includes an external sensing module, and the external sensing module is connected to the control module. The external sensing module sends an instruction to the control module after detecting the obstacle exists, and the control module starts the motor to drive the rotating shaft to rotate after a random time has elapsed according to the instruction. 
     Further, the external sensing module includes an ultrasonic sensor or a position sensor. 
     Further, the toy further includes a signal receiving module, and the signal receiving module is connected to the control module. The control module starts the motor to drive the rotating shaft to rotate according to the instruction received by the signal receiving module. 
     Further, the toy further includes a sound module, and the sound module is configured to emit or change a sound when the control module starts the motor to drive the rotating shaft to rotate. 
     Further, the toy further includes a display device, and the display device is connected to the analysis module. The display device is configured to display the number of times the external member encounters the obstacle and/or the number of times the external member does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the display device includes a displayer, a mobile phone or a tablet computer. 
     Further, the measurement module includes a photoelectric encoder read head and an encoder grating disk. The encoder grating disk is fixed on the rotating shaft, and is configured to follow the rotating shaft to rotate. 
     Further, when the toy is started, the control module controls the motor to drive the rotating shaft to reversely rotate a preset angle. 
     Further, the toy further includes a stop module, and a position of the rotating shaft in the initial stationary state is set by driving the rotating shaft to rotate reversely through the control module to enable the external member to be stopped by the stop module. 
     By implementing the interactive toy of the present invention described above, the present invention has the following advantages. 
     (1) The toy of the present invention uses human-computer interaction to enable users to relax during the game. 
     (2) The toy of the present invention is user-friendly, integrates sound and picture, and has strong functionality. 
     (3) The toy of the present invention combines learning with entertaining activities, thereby improving parent-child intimacy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Hereinafter, the concept, specific structure and technical effects of the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings to fully understand the objective, features and advantages of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the structure of an interactive toy according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the structure of the interactive toy according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the structure inside the housing of the interactive toy according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the structure inside the housing of the interactive toy according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a structural block diagram of the interactive toy according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In the figures:  1 , housing;  10 , circuit board;  11 , control module;  12 , analysis module;  13 , signal receiving module;  2 , external member;  20 , upper jaw;  21 , lower jaw;  22 , stop module;  3 , external sensing module;  4 , display device;  5 , rotating shaft;  6 , measurement module;  61 , photoelectric encoder read head;  62 , encoder grating disk;  7 , motor; and  8 , sound module. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those having ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. 
     Embodiment 1 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , an interactive toy with the shape of a crocodile includes the housing  1 , the external member  2 , the external sensing module  3 , the motor  7 , the rotating shaft  5 , the measurement module  6 , the control module  11 , and the analysis module  12 . The housing  1  is electrically connected to the external member  2 , and a circuit board is arranged inside the housing  1 . The control module  11  is arranged on the circuit board inside the housing  1 . The rotating shaft  5  is exposed outside the housing  1 , and is connected to the external member  2 . The control module  11  is electrically connected to the motor  7 , and is configured to control the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate. The external sensing module  3  is configured to detect whether an obstacle is located in the external member  2 . The external sensing module  3  is connected to the control module  11 , and sends an instruction to the control module  11  after detecting the obstacle exists. After a random time has elapsed, the control module  11  starts the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate according to the instruction. The measurement module  6  is connected to one end of the rotating shaft  5  exposed outside the housing, and is configured to measure an angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from an initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. The analysis module  12  is arranged on the circuit board inside the housing  1 , and is configured to compare a preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum to determine whether the external member  2  encounters the obstacle. 
     Further, the analysis module  12  compares the preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. When the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is less than the preset reference angle, the analysis module  12  determines that the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile encounters the obstacle. When the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is greater than or equal to the preset reference angle, the analysis module  12  determines that the external member  2  does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the external sensing module  3  includes an ultrasonic sensor or a position sensor. 
     Further, the toy further includes the sound module  8 . The sound module  8  is arranged on the housing  1 , and is electrically connected to the control module  11 . The sound module  8  is configured to emit or change a sound when the control module  11  starts the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate. 
     Further, the toy further includes the display device  4 , and the display device  4  is connected to the analysis module  12 . The display device  4  is configured to display the number of times the external member  2  encounters the obstacle and/or the number of times the external member  2  does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the display device  4  includes a displayer, a mobile phone or a tablet computer. 
     Further, the measurement module  6  includes the photoelectric encoder read head  61  and the encoder grating disk  62 . The encoder grating disk  62  is fixed on the rotating shaft  5 , and is configured to follow the rotating shaft  5  to rotate, so as to obtain the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. 
     Further, when the toy is started, the control module  11  controls the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to reversely rotate a preset angle. 
     Further, the toy further includes the stop module  22 , and the stop module  22  is arranged on the external member  2 . A position of the rotating shaft  5  in the initial stationary state is set by driving the rotating shaft  5  to rotate reversely through the control module  11  to enable the external member  2  to be stopped by the stop module  22 . In other words, the stop module  22  stops the reverse rotation of the upper jaw  20  when the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  of the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile are opened, so as to obtain the position of the rotating shaft  5  in the initial stationary state. In the present embodiment, the stop module  22  is a building block. Different structures or different building positions of the building block of the stop module  22  produce different position settings of the initial stationary state, that is, the position setting of the initial stationary state can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the stop module  22 . 
     Taking the interactive toy with the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile as an example, a single-player game is performed, including the following steps: 
     S1: at the beginning of the game, the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  of the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile are automatically opened to the stop position of the stop module  22 . 
     S2: it is determined whether a foreign body is put between the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  by the ultrasonic sensor. 
     S3: when the foreign body is detected in the mouth, the ultrasonic sensor transmits a signal to the control module  11 , the control module  11  controls the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate, and the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  emit a sound of biting within a random time and are closed at the same time. 
     S4: the code disk data of the photoelectric encoder are obtained, and the analysis module  12  determines whether the user is bitten.
         S4i: if the user does not touch the upper jaw  20  or the lower jaw  21  during the fall of the upper jaw  20 , it is determined that the user successfully escaped, and the display device  4  displays the user scores one point.   S4ii: if the user touches the upper jaw  20  or the lower jaw  21  during the fall of the upper jaw  20 , it is determined that the user is bitten by the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile, and the display device  4  displays the toy scores one point.       

     S5: the game is limited to 2 minutes, and the player with the highest score will win. 
     Embodiment 2 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , an interactive toy with the shape of a crocodile includes the housing  1 , the external member  2 , the external sensing module  3 , the motor  7 , the rotating shaft  5 , the measurement module  6 , the control module  11 , and the analysis module  12 . The housing  1  is electrically connected to the external member  2 , and a circuit board is arranged inside the housing  1 . The control module  11  is arranged on the circuit board inside the housing  1 . The rotating shaft  5  is exposed outside the housing  1 , and is connected to the external member  2 . The control module  11  is electrically connected to the motor  7 , and is configured to control the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate. The external sensing module  3  is configured to detect whether an obstacle is located in the external member  2 . The external sensing module  3  is connected to the control module  11 , and sends an instruction to the control module  11  after detecting the obstacle exists. After a random time has elapsed, the control module  11  starts the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate according to the instruction. The measurement module  6  is connected to one end of the rotating shaft  5  exposed outside the housing, and is configured to measure an angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from an initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. The analysis module  12  is arranged on the circuit board inside the housing  1 , and is configured to compare a preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum to determine whether the external member  2  encounters the obstacle. 
     Further, the analysis module  12  compares the preset reference angle with the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. When the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is less than the preset reference angle, the analysis module  12  determines that the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile encounters the obstacle. When the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum is greater than or equal to the preset reference angle, the analysis module  12  determines that the external member  2  does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the external sensing module  3  includes an ultrasonic sensor or a position sensor. 
     Further, the toy further includes the signal receiving module  13 . The signal receiving module  13  is arranged on the circuit board and is connected to the control module  11 . The control module  11  starts the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate according to the instruction received by the signal receiving module  13 . 
     Further, the toy further includes the sound module  8 . The sound module  8  is arranged on the housing  1 , and is electrically connected to the control module  11 . The sound module  8  is configured to emit or change a sound when the control module  11  starts the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate. 
     Further, the toy further includes the display device  4 , and the display device  4  is connected to the analysis module  12 . The display device  4  is configured to display the number of times the external member  2  encounters the obstacle and/or the number of times the external member  2  does not encounter the obstacle. 
     Further, the display device  4  includes a displayer, a mobile phone or a tablet computer. 
     Further, the measurement module  6  includes the photoelectric encoder read head  61  and the encoder grating disk  62 . The encoder grating disk  62  is fixed on the rotating shaft  5 , and is configured to follow the rotating shaft  5  to rotate, so as to obtain the angle by which the rotating shaft  5  rotates from the initial stationary state to the state in which its rotating speed reaches the maximum. 
     Further, when the toy is started, the control module  11  controls the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to reversely rotate a preset angle. 
     Further, the toy further includes the stop module  22 , and the stop module  22  is arranged on the external member  2 . A position of the rotating shaft  5  in the initial stationary state is set by driving the rotating shaft  5  to rotate reversely through the control module  11  to enable the external member  2  to be stopped by the stop module  22 . In other words, the stop module  22  stops the reverse rotation of the upper jaw  20  when the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  of the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile are opened, so as to obtain the position of the rotating shaft  5  in the initial stationary state. In the present embodiment, the stop module  22  is a building block. Different structures or different building positions of the building block of the stop module  22  produce different position settings of the initial stationary state, that is, the position setting of the initial stationary state can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the stop module  22 . 
     Taking the interactive toy with the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile as an example, a two-player game is performed. User A shakes the mobile phone to control the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  of the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile to be closed, while user B first puts his/her hand between the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  and then escapes when the upper jaw  20  is about to fall. The specific steps are as follows: 
     S1: at the beginning of the game, the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  of the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile are automatically opened to the stop position of the stop module  22 . 
     S2: it is determined whether the user B puts his/her hand between the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  by the ultrasonic sensor. 
     S3: the user A shakes the mobile phone to send an instruction, the signal receiving module  13  receives the instruction and then transmits the instruction to the control module  11 , so that the control module  11  controls the motor  7  to drive the rotating shaft  5  to rotate, and the upper jaw  20  and the lower jaw  21  emit a sound of biting within a random time and are closed at the same time. 
     S4: the code disk data of the photoelectric encoder are obtained, and the analysis module  12  determines whether the user is bitten.
         S4i: if the user B does not touch the upper jaw  20  or the lower jaw  21  during the fall of the upper jaw  20 , it is determined that the user B successfully escaped, and the display device  4  displays the user B scores one point.   S4ii: if the user B touches the upper jaw  20  or the lower jaw  21  during the fall of the upper jaw  20 , it is determined that the user is bitten by the external member  2  shaped as a crocodile, and the display device  4  displays the user A scores one point.       

     S5: the game is limited to 2 minutes, and the player with the highest score will win. 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. It should be understood that those having ordinary skill in the art can make many modifications and changes according to the concept of the present invention without creative efforts. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning or limited experiments based on the concept of the present invention on the basis of the prior art shall fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims.