Patent Publication Number: US-2023136468-A1

Title: Collectible with themed design and content

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/002,798, filed in the U.S. Pat. and Trademark Office on Mar. 31, 2020, all of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to collectibles. In at least one example, the present disclosure relates to a collectible which can be used in a diorama, the collectible including a viewer and a remote with a design corresponding to a theme, where the viewer displays content corresponding to the theme. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Collectibles are desired by consumers because the collectibles provide a unique and interesting experience. Additionally, the consumer may be motivated to acquire the entire series or collection of the collectibles. 
     Television systems can display visual and audio content. The content can be recordings accessed through storage media such as VHS tapes, hard disk drives, DVDs, flash drives, Blue-ray discs, and/or online. The content can also be transmitted through radio-frequency receivers, coaxial cables, optical fiber, satellite systems, and/or the internet. The content can be, for example shows, songs, and/or images. Throughout the years, many shows became household favorites. 
     Televisions screens are measured diagonally, from corner to corner. The television systems are conventionally large devices with screen sizes ranging from 19 inches to 85 inches, with some screens being even larger than 85 inches. As display technology improves, the trend for newly developed screens are to be larger and provide a clearer image. 
     Additionally, the designs of the television systems evolved over time. Many consumers may fondly relate designs of television systems or objects such as furniture or toys with certain content from that time period. 
     A collectible with a tiny display which is designed and displays content corresponding to a theme such as a time period provides a unique experience which has not previously existed. Accordingly, the collectible fills a need for the consumer to acquire the collectible or collection of collectibles and any corresponding accessories. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG.  1 A  is a diagram illustrating an example of a collectible in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  1 B  is a diagram illustrating a front-perspective, partially exploded view of the collectible of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 C  is a diagram illustrating a rear-perspective, partially exploded view of the collectible of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 D  is a diagram illustrating a front-perspective, exploded view of the collectible of  FIG.  1 A . 
         FIG.  1 E  is a diagram illustrating an example environment of a diorama which can include a collectible. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating a processor in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a diagram illustrating a collectible interacting with a physical trigger. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a diagram illustrating a collectible with connector components to interact with a physical trigger. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating a collectible with a digital trigger interacting with an external device. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram illustrating a collectible with an audible trigger emitting from an external device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Features discussed in relation to a figure may be utilized in combination with features discussed in other figures. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Disclosed herein is a collectible which includes a viewer and a remote operable to control the viewer. The design of the collectible corresponds to a theme, such as a television set from the 1960s, 1970, etc. The viewer is operable to at least partially receive the remote such that the viewer and the remote together form the design of the collectible. The collectible is operable to display content such as videos, images, and/or audio which corresponds to the theme. For example, the collectible may have a design of a 1960s television set, and the content may include shows, clips, bloopers, trailers, behind the scenes, images, games, and/or songs which were popular during the 1960s. Additionally, the collectible has a very small size. For example, the display of the viewer may be less than 2 inches. All together, the design, the content, and the size of the collectible create a product which is very enticing to consumers. 
     To further excite the consumers, additional content may be unlocked when certain conditions are met. Different triggers and/or actions may unlock the additional content and/or a next step in unlocking the additional content. The triggers may include interactions with the collectible such as a certain combination of buttons or scrolling through a certain number of pieces of content. The triggers may also include a physical trigger such as an accessory corresponding to the theme which interacts with the collectible, for example through radio-frequency identification (RFID), resistors, and/or EEPROM. The triggers may also include a digital trigger such as a QR code which can be scanned by an external device to unlock the additional content either on the collectible or on the external device. The triggers may also include an audible trigger. The audible trigger can include an audible signal emitted by an external device such as a phone, a television set, and/or an additional collectible. The audible signal can include a hypersonic tone which includes a signal to be demodulated by the collectible. The signal from the hypersonic tone then instructs the collectible to unlock the additional content and/or a next step in unlocking the additional content. 
     The disclosure now turns to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D , which illustrate a diagrammatic view of an exemplary collectible  100 . The collectible  100  includes a viewer  102  and a remote  110  operable to control the viewer  102 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D , the viewer  102  includes a body  103  which at least partially encapsulates a display  104 , a processor  200 , a power component  150  which is operable to provide power to the collectible  100 , and/or a speaker  160  which is operable to emit audio from the viewer  102 . As shown in  FIG.  1 D , a rear panel  180  may enclose the display  104 , processor  200 , power component  150 , and/or speaker  160  in the body  103  of the viewer  102 . In some examples, as illustrated in  FIG.  1 D , the collectible  100  can include a main processor  200  and a display processor  201 . The main processor  200  may control functions such as the audio, content, and/or interaction with triggers  300  as discussed below. The display processor  201  may control the display  104 . In other examples, the collectible  100  may only include the main processor  200  which can control all functions of the collectible  100 . In yet other examples, the collectible  100  may include more processors to control different functions within the collectible  100 . Also, in some examples as shown in  FIG.  1 D , the viewer  102  may include an electronics carrier  170  which may at least partially encapsulate electronic components such as the processors  200 ,  201  and/or the speaker  160 . In some examples, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the body  103  of the viewer  102  includes buttons  106  which may adjust the shows, content, channels, volume, power, and/or any other controls for the viewer  102 . 
     The viewer  102  has very small dimensions, which increases the collectability and uniqueness of the collectible  100 . For example, a conventional television set may have a display size which starts at about 19 inches and can exceed 85 inches in size. The display  104  of the viewer  102  can have a size 104S measured diagonally from corner to corner of the display  104 . The size 104S of the display  104  can be, for example, less than 2 inches. In some examples, the size 104S of the display  104  can be about 1.77 inches. Accordingly, the display  104  of the viewer  102  is smaller than 10% of a conventional-sized television set. A consumer would not consider watching content on such a small display  104 , but the small display  104  provides a distinctly unique experience and increases the desirability of the collectible  100 . Similarly, the collectible  100  may have a small size. For example, the height  100 H may be less than 4 inches. In some examples, the height  100 H may be less than 3.5 inches. In some examples, the height may be 3 inches or smaller. The width  100 W may be less than 4.5 inches, alternatively less than 4 inches, alternatively less than 3.5 inches, or alternatively less than 3 inches. The depth 100D may be less than 2 inches. 
     In at least one example, as shown in  FIG.  1 D , the display  104  can include a lens  1040  and a shadow box  1042 . The lens  1040  can be a transparent or at least partially transparent material. For example, the lens  1040  can be made of glass, a transparent plastic, or any other suitable material. In some examples, the lens  1040  may be tinted at least one color. In some examples, the lens  1040  may be clear. The shadow box  1042  can assist in directing the light for the display  104 . 
     In at least one example, the power component  150  may be a battery, which can be a rechargeable battery and/or an alkaline or removable battery. In at least one example, the power component  150  can include a plug or a conduit which can be plugged into a power outlet (not shown). The power component  150  can provide power to the viewer  102 . In some examples, the power component  150  can provide power to the remote  110 , whether through a male and female connection or wirelessly transmitting power. In some examples, the remote  110  may be powered by a battery. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the remote  110  may be configured to seamlessly incorporate with the design of the collectible  100 . For example as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the remote  110  may be configured to be inserted and at least partially received within a recess  108  within the viewer  102 . The viewer  102  and the remote  110  when coupled together form the collectible  100 . The remote  110  may communicate with the viewer  102  wirelessly, for example by infrared or radiofrequency signals. The remote  110  may control the viewer  102  by one or more buttons  112  on the remote  110 . The buttons  112  may correspond to and adjust the shows, content, channels, volume, power, joystick game buttons, and/or any other controls for the viewer  102 . 
     The collectible  100  may have a design which corresponds to a theme. The theme may be, for example, decade, product line, television show, movie, band, company, and/or any other desirable theme. For example, the collectible  100  illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D  has a retro design correlating with television sets in the 1960s. Other collectibles  100  in the product series may have, for example, designs correlating with television sets in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and/or 2000s. The theme creates desirability of the collectible to consumers. 
     The viewer  102  is operable to display content in the form of videos, images, games, and/or audio. For example, the viewer  102  can display content such as television shows, clips from television shows, behind the scenes videos, and/or bloopers from television shows. In at least one example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 C and  1 D , the content may be stored within the viewer  102 . For example, the content may be stored in memory storage  246  such as a flash memory or cartridge/removable memory. In some examples, the content may be downloaded and/or streamed from an external source, for example the Internet. In such a case, the collectible  100  may include a wireless processor to connect wirelessly with the external source. As the display  104  has such a small size 104S, the content may need to be formatted to fit such a small display  104 . 
     Along with the external design theme of the collectible  100 , the content may also correlate with the theme. For example, the collectible  100  illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D  has the 1960s retro theme. The content displayed and/or emitted by the collectible  100  may include videos, games, images, and/or audio from television shows that were popular in the 1960s, for example Batman, Lost in Space, The Twilight Zone, I Dream of Jeannie, Gilligan’s Island, The Monkees, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc. With both design and content corresponding to a theme, the collectible  100  becomes a very desirable object for consumers as the collectible  100  may evoke fond memories or fascination of that theme. 
     In at least one example, as illustrated in  FIG.  1 E , the collectible  100  may be displayed and/or utilized within an environment  10  which enhances the theme and desirability of the collectible  100 . In some examples, the environment  10  may include a diorama which represents a scene correlating with the theme. As illustrated in  FIG.  1 E , the environment  10  is a 1960s living room. The environment  10  can include theme components  20  which enhance the environment  10  and may be relevant to and evoke memories or fascination of the theme. For example, the environment  10  as illustrated in  FIG.  1 E  can include a sofa  23 , a record player  21 , and/or a lamp  22 , all designed in the 1960s style. In some examples, the theme components  20  may interact with the collectible  100  to provide different experiences and/or provide their own functions which enhance the environment  10 . For example, the record player  21  may be operable to play music, audio clips, and/or recordings from the 1960s. The lamp  22  may be operable to emit light when turned on. Together, the theme components  20  and the collectible  100  entice the consumer to collect all of the pieces to fill in the environment  10 . 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an exemplary processor  200 ,  201 . Processor  200 ,  201  is configured to perform processing of data and communicate with the collectible, for example as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 D . In operation, processor  200 ,  201  communicates with one or more of the above-discussed components and may also be configured to communication with remote devices/systems. 
     As shown, processor  200 ,  201  includes hardware and software components such as network interfaces  210 , at least one processor  220 , sensors  260  and a memory  240  interconnected by a system bus  250 . Network interface(s)  210  can include mechanical, electrical, and signaling circuitry for communicating data over communication links, which may include wired or wireless communication links. Network interfaces  210  are configured to transmit and/or receive data using a variety of different communication protocols, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In some examples, the network interfaces  210  may transmit data such as content to the viewer  102  such as the display  104  and/or any audio components in the viewer  102 . Additionally, the network interfaces  210  may transmit and/or receive data with the remote  110 . 
     Processor  220  represents a digital signal processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or a fixed-logic processor, etc.) configured to execute instructions or logic to perform tasks in a collectible  100 . Processor  220  may include a general purpose processor, special-purpose processor (where software instructions are incorporated into the processor), a state machine, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA) including a field PGA, an individual component, a distributed group of processors, and the like. Processor  220  typically operates in conjunction with shared or dedicated hardware, including but not limited to, hardware capable of executing software and hardware. For example, processor  220  may include elements or logic adapted to execute software programs and manipulate data structures  245 , which may reside in memory  240 . Additionally, the processor  220  may be operable to decode video and/or audio data. 
     Sensors  260  typically operate in conjunction with processor  220  to perform measurements, and can include special-purpose processors, detectors, transmitters, receivers, and the like. 
     Memory  240  comprises a plurality of storage locations that are addressable by processor  220  for storing software programs, data structures  245 , and/or content in storage  246  associated with the examples described herein. An operating system  242 , portions of which may be typically resident in memory  240  and executed by processor  220 , functionally organizes the device by, inter alia, invoking operations in support of software processes and/or services  244  executing on processor  200 . These software processes and/or services  244  may perform processing of data and communication with processor  200 , as described herein. Note that while process/service  244  is shown in centralized memory  240 , some examples provide for these processes/services to be operated in a distributed computing network. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other processor and memory types, including various computer-readable media, may be used to store and execute program instructions pertaining to the fluidic channel evaluation techniques described herein. Also, while the description illustrates various processes, it is expressly contemplated that various processes may be embodied as modules having portions of the process/service  244  encoded thereon. In this fashion, the program modules may be encoded in one or more tangible computer readable storage media for execution, such as with fixed logic or programmable logic (e.g., software/computer instructions executed by a processor, and any processor may be a programmable processor, programmable digital logic such as field programmable gate arrays or an ASIC that comprises fixed digital logic. In general, any process logic may be embodied in processor  220  or computer readable medium encoded with instructions for execution by processor  220  that, when executed by the processor, are operable to cause the processor to perform the functions described herein. 
       FIGS.  3 - 5    illustrate different ways to interact with the collectible  100  to enhance the experience. For example, by interacting with the collectible  100  in a predetermined manner, additional content may be unlocked, accessed, and enjoyed by the consumer. This enhances the user experience by sparking a desire to discover all the available content. The additional content may be unlocked by a variety and/or combination of triggers  300 . In at least one example, one trigger  300  may unlock the next step needed in a combination of steps until the additional data is accessible. The one or more triggers  300  may be one of the combination of steps to unlock the additional data or the next step. For example, as will be discussed in more detail below, a physical trigger  301  may interact with the collectible  100 , after which the viewer  102  may display a digital trigger  400 . In some examples, only one trigger  300  may be utilized, and in some examples, multiple different triggers  300  may be required. 
     In at least one example, the trigger  300  may include the manner of interaction with the collectible  100 . For example, additional content may be unlocked after a predetermined number of content have been accessed. The number of content required to be accessed to unlock the additional content may be randomized. In some examples, the additional content may be unlocked after a certain combination of buttons  112  of the remote  110  and/or the buttons  106  of the viewer  102  are pressed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3 A , the trigger  300  may include a physical trigger  301 . The physical trigger  301  such as a figurine or an accessory may interact with the remote  110  and/or the viewer  102  to unlock additional content. The physical trigger  300  as illustrated in  FIG.  3 A  is an 8-ball, but the physical trigger  300  may be any physical accessory. For example, the physical trigger  300  may include accessories that are in line with the theme such that the physical trigger  300  may be added to a collection which includes the collectible  100 , such as the theme components  20  illustrated in  FIG.  1 E . 
     The physical trigger  300  may interact with a portion  302  of the remote  110  and/or the viewer  102 , for example by radio-frequency identification (RFID), a resistor, EEPROM, or any other suitable mechanism to induce the processor  200  to unlock additional content or unlock the next step in a combination of steps to provide additional content. In at least one example, the physical trigger  300  may be placed within a predetermined distance from the portion  302  of the remote  110  and/or the viewer  102 . In some examples, the physical trigger  300  may need to contact the portion  302  of the remote  110  and/or the viewer  102 . In some examples, as illustrated in  FIG.  3 B , the portion  302  of the viewer  102  which interacts with the physical trigger  300  may include one or more connecting components  304 . While  FIG.  3 B  illustrates the connecting components  304  being located on the viewer  102 , in some examples, the remote  110  may include connecting components  304 . The connecting components  304  may include, for example as illustrated in  FIG.  3 B , connector pins such that the connector pins may be inserted into a female connecting component located on the physical trigger  300 . Data may be transferred upon connection between the connecting components  304  of the viewer  102  and the connecting components of the physical trigger  300 . In some examples, the connecting components  304  may include male connectors corresponding to female connecting components on the physical trigger  300  as illustrated in  FIG.  3 B , and in some examples, the connecting components  304  may include female connectors corresponding to male connecting components on the physical trigger  300 . 
     In some examples, the physical trigger  300  may need to itself be manipulated in a certain manner before interacting with the remote  110  and/or the viewer  102 . In some examples, for example with the lamp  22  as illustrated in  FIG.  1 E , turning on the lamp  22  to emit light may serve as a form of interaction with the collectible  100  to unlock additional content. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a trigger  300  which includes a digital trigger  400 . The digital trigger  400  can include an object displayed on the viewer  102  which may be scanned. For example, the digital trigger  400  can include a QR code or a barcode. In at least one example, the digital trigger  400  may be unlocked and shown after another trigger  300  has been activated, for example, after a physical trigger  301  interacts with the collectible  100 . The digital trigger  400  can be shown on the display  104  of the viewer  102  and scanned by a camera  412  on an external device  410  such as a phone or a laptop. The external device  410  may then show the additional content and/or lead the user to the next step to unlock the additional content. The external device  410  may be connected to the Internet  450 , and in some examples, the external device  410  may not require access to the Internet  450 . After scanning the digital trigger  400 , in some examples, the external device  410  may be directed to a website which then shows the additional content and/or leads to the next step to unlock the additional content. In some examples, an app within the external device  410  may show the additional content and/or leads to the next step to unlock the additional content. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a trigger  300  which may include an audible trigger  504 . An external device  500  such as a phone, a laptop, a television set, a physical trigger  301 , and/or another collectible  100  may emit an audible signal  502 . For example, the record player  21  as illustrated in  FIG.  1 E  may emit the audible signal  502  which can include an audible trigger  504 . The remote  110  and/or the viewer  102  can include one or more microphones  510  which are operable to detect the audible signal  502 . In some examples, the speaker  160  for the collectible  100  may function as a microphone  510 . 
     The audible signal  502  can include a hypersonic tone  504  which can, for example, have a frequency of about 19 kilohertz (kHz) to about 20 kHz. The hypersonic tone  504  may not be consciously heard by a human, but is detectable by the microphone(s)  510 . The processor  200  then processes the audible signal  502  and extracts the hypersonic tone  504 . The hypersonic tone  504  includes a signal which is demodulated by the processor  200 . When the processor  200  demodulates the signal, the viewer  102  can then show the additional content and/or lead the user to the next step to unlock the additional content. 
     In at least one example, the collectible  100  may interact with other collectibles  100  through the audible signal(s). The collectibles  100  may then play a message in succession and/or together display content which is only completely shown through the combination of collectibles  100 . Additionally or alternatively, the collectible  100 , upon processing the hypersonic tone  504  within the audible signal  502 , may display a digital trigger  400  for example as discussed above in  FIG.  4   . 
     Through the different combination or options for triggers  300 , the collectible  100  and the accessories associated with the collectible  100  become highly desired products for consumers to purchase and acquire. The combination of such a small sized collectible  100  with a themed design showing themed content, optionally having unlockable content, creates a fun and unique experience to the consumer and entices the consumer to collect the collectible  100  and all of the associated accessories. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.