Patent Publication Number: US-2011070805-A1

Title: Selectable and Recordable Laughing Doll

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/243,971, filed on Sep. 18, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 USC 119. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of electronic dolls for children, specifically to electrically operated dolls capable of recording and emitting sound. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is always a tragic event when a young child is seriously injured or becomes seriously ill and requires an extended hospital stay. Adding to the trauma or physical pain they are afflicted with, there is also the stress and anxiety of facing a long and arduous treatment process. This coupled together with the possibility of being taken away from home for the first time and thrust into an unfamiliar setting with unfamiliar adult strangers can prove to be too much for many children and as a result they can start to feel depressed, scared, or angry and potentially impede the healing process. 
     What is needed therefore is a device or apparatus for helping maintain a happy and relaxed attitude or demeanor in a young child for the duration of their hospital stay. Not only would a happy and relaxed demeanor make the hospital visit more bearable for the child in need of treatment, but also make the treatment easier to administer as the child may have less fear and apprehension and therefore be more willing to cooperate for certain medical procedures. 
     Preferably the device should portable and small enough to be easily handled by a pair of small hands and intuitive enough to be manipulated by a child as young as a year old. The device should also have a pleasant tactile response and free of any sharp edges or small parts that may become choking hazards. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The illustrated embodiments of the invention include an audio toy including a housing, a programmable audio circuit disposed within the housing for storing and reproducing a plurality of audio signals, an effect dial disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit, a speaker disposed within or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit; and a plurality of keys disposed on or in the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit, each key for activating a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit, the effect dial for providing a control input to the programmable audio circuit for modification of the reproduction of the selected stored audio signal. 
     The plurality of keys coupled to the programmable audio circuit include a plurality laugh keys which when activated select and cause a stored audio signal in the programmable audio circuit to be reproduced and at least one custom key which when activated select and cause a audio signal which is created by a user and stored by the user in the programmable audio circuit to be reproduced. 
     The effect dial includes means for modifying the frequencies of the audio signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of laugh keys as it is being played through the speaker. 
     The toy further includes means for providing an audio signal audibly created by a user and storing the user created audio signal in the programmable audio circuit. 
     The means for providing an audio signal audibly created by a user and storing the user created audio signal in the programmable audio circuit comprises a record key and a play key coupled to the programmable audio circuit. 
     The plurality of custom keys include means for selecting a corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit and where the record key comprises means for initiating the storage of the audio input of the user to that corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit. 
     The play key comprises means for initiating reproduction of the recorded audio input of the user stored in the corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit selected by activation of the corresponding one of the plurality of custom keys. 
     The record key further comprises means for storing a new audio input of the user over the previously stored audio input of the user in the same corresponding slot or pre-allocated space within the programmable audio circuit. 
     The toy further includes an audio headphone jack disposed within or one the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit. 
     The toy further includes a universal serial bus (USB) port disposed within or on the housing and coupled to the programmable audio circuit wherein selected externally stored audio signals may be stored into the programmable audio circuit or a selected data stream of audio signals may be reproduced by the toy 
     The effect dial includes means for initiating at least one kind of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     The effect dial includes means for initiating a selected one of a plurality of kinds of modification of the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit. 
     The effect dial includes means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create an echo effect of the selected audio signal. 
     The effect dial includes means for modifying the reproduction of a selected audio signal stored in the programmable audio circuit to create modulation of a musical instrument or base sound by the selected audio signal. 
     In a more specifically illustrated embodiment the invention includes an electronic laughing toy which includes a housing having a torso portion, a pair of arms coupled to the torso portion, a record key disposed in one of the pair of arms, a play key disposed in the opposing one of the pair of arms, a head portion coupled to the torso portion, a speaker disposed within the torso portion, and a plurality of laugh keys disposed around the speaker on the outside of the torso portion. A programmable audio circuit is disposed within the housing for storing and reproducing a plurality of audio signals. The programmable audio circuit is coupled to the record key, the play key, the speaker and the plurality of laugh keys. 
     In the illustrated embodiment at least twenty of the plurality of laugh keys each correspond to a corresponding permanent non-erasable audio signal and at least four of the plurality of laugh keys correspond to a temporary re-recordable audio input provided by a user. 
     While the apparatus and method has or will be described for the sake of grammatical fluidity with functional explanations, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of “means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents, and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. The invention can be better visualized by turning now to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the front of the doll presented by the illustrated embodiments of the invention with a plurality of laugh keys or buttons disposed thereon or therein. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the back of the doll seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the left side of the doll seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the right side of the doll seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is schematic representation of the electronic circuit board housed within the doll seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of the illustrated microprocessor, memory and DAC and ADC of the circuitry in the doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic of the illustrated microphone amplifier and filter circuitry in the doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic of the illustrated audio output filter and power amplifier circuitry in the doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic of the power circuitry in the doll of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic of the illustrated matrix keypad and USB circuitry in the doll of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , one of the illustrated embodiments of the device can be seen and is generally denoted by reference numeral  10 . The device takes the form of a generalized doll  10  in  FIG. 1 . It is to be understood that the term “generalized doll” for the purposes of this specification is meant to comprise a doll or figure that is generally of human or human-like shape, namely it comprises a head  18 , a torso-like portion  24 , a pair of arms  20 , and a pair of legs  22 . It is to be expressly understood however that other shapes for the doll may be used such as geometric shapes or stuffed animal shapes such as a teddy bear. The doll  10  is preferably comprised of a molded plastic construction while the pair of arms  20  and pair of legs  22  are comprised of low durometer rubber or other suitable malleable material. It is to be expressly understood however that other materials such as cloth made of cotton, polyester, nylon and the like may cover the doll  10  so as to provide additional padding or aesthetic appeal. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the doll  10  comprises an enlarged torso portion  24  allowing for a plurality of laugh keys  14  to be disposed thereon. The doll  10  preferably comprises twenty different laugh keys  14  as shown, however fewer or additional keys laugh  14  may be disposed on the torso  24  without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. Each laugh key  14  is coupled to an internal circuit board  28  which comprises a memory microchip  26  for example, but not limited to a RAM/ROM chip as seen in  FIG. 5  and to a speaker  12  disposed within the center of the torso portion  24 . Each laugh key  14  corresponds to a different pre-recorded laughing sound or noise stored electronically. When a child pushes a laughing key  14 , a signal is sent through the internal circuit to an electronic memory microchip  26 , through an amplifier, and then the respective laughing sound or noise is then communicated through the speaker  12 . For example, if a child pushes a laugh key  14  labeled “Giggle”, a laughing noise typically known as a giggle laughing noise is then emitted through the speaker  12  or other output device. The speaker  12  may be loud enough so that the laughing noise may be heard through the material comprising the doll  10 , or alternatively the speaker may be disposed on the outside of the doll  10  or through a sound transmissive aperture(s) as seen in  FIG. 1 , Additionally, the speaker  12  may comprise a part of the doll  10  itself, namely the speaker  12  may be integrated with the torso portion  24 . Each time the same laugh key  14  is selected, the same pre-recorded laugh is heard. The child may also push a succession of different keys  14  thus emitting a plurality of different types of laughs in the order that they were selected. Preferably, each laugh corresponding to each of the plurality of laugh keys  14  that is heard through the speaker  12  is six seconds in length, however other durations may be used without departing from the original spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The circuit board  28  within the torso  24 , including the memory microchip  26  and speaker  12 , is powered by a standard removable battery or plurality of removable batteries  134  also housed within the torso  24  behind a rear panel  30  disposed in the back of the doll  10  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment, the doll  10  may comprise means for self-sustaining power such photovoltaic cells disposed on the outside surface of the doll  10 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , each of the different laugh keys  14  are labeled with the corresponding laugh that is emitted through the speaker  12  when that specific laugh key  14  is selected, for example the laughs of “Crowd”, “Jolly”, and “Giggle”. However these examples are for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that other types of laughing noises or sounds may also be included. In an alternative embodiment, the laugh keys  14  are not labeled at all and are instead left blank or provided with abstract symbols or graphics, leaving the user to experiment and discover which laugh key  14  emits what type of sound. 
     Disposed at the bottom of the torso  24  is at least one custom key  16  that allows the user to record his or her own laugh or statement. The user first selects to which one of the plurality of custom keys  16  he or she would like to associate with a recording of his or her laugh or message. Alternatively, the adult or gift giver will record his or her voice with a message and/or laugh of their own customized for the recipient or receiving child and occasion. When selected, an LED light  32  or other equivalent device disposed above the selected custom key  16  is illuminated indicating that the doll  10  is ready to record. Next, a record key  34  disposed in one of the arms  20  of the doll  10  is pushed and held down. The LED light  32  then begins to blink on and off indicating to the child that they may then speak or laugh into a microphone (not seen) housed within the doll  10 . The voice or sound is then converted into an electronic signal and stored on the memory microchip  26  as a recorded audio input at a specific slot or pre-allocated space within the memory microchip  26  corresponding to that specific selected custom key  16  of a matrix keypad. When the record key  34  is released, the recording of the sound or voice message stops. Preferably, each custom key  16  comprises enough memory on the memory microchip  26  for recording up to fifteen seconds of audio, however other recording durations may also be used. In order to hear what was just recorded, the child may then push a play key  36  disposed in the opposing arm  20  of the doll  10 . The recorded laugh or voice message corresponding to that selected custom key  16  is then played back through the speaker  12 . 
     To record an additional laugh or message, the child then selects another one of the plurality of custom keys  16  which illuminates the LED light  32  or other equivalent device disposed above that corresponding custom key  16 . The user then repeats the recording process discussed above for any or all of the plurality of custom keys  16 . If the user does not like the previously recorded sound or message or wishes to record a different message, the record key  34  may be pressed again to record over or overwrite the previously recorded audio. The user may re-record their voice or laugh as many times as desired by repeatedly pressing and holding down the record key  34 . Each time the record key  34  is held down, the audio being recorded overwrites the previously recorded audio, thus allowing the user to reuse the same memory microchip  26  over and over again indefinitely. 
     In one embodiment, the doll  10  comprises a volume control dial  40 . The volume control dial  40  is disposed on the side of the head portion  18  of the doll  10  as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . To activate the doll  10 , the volume control dial  10  is rotated clockwise past a predetermined threshold position which allows current to flow from the batteries or other power source to the electronic circuit board  28 . As the volume control dial  40  is continually rotated clockwise, the volume of the audio emitted from the speaker  12  increases by a proportional amount. Rotating the volume control dial  40  back in the counterclockwise direction decreases the volume of the audio emitted from the speaker  12  and if the volume control dial  40  returns to its initial starting position, current flow to the electronic circuit board  28  stops and the doll  10  is deactivated. Alternatively, the doll  10  may become deactivated if a predetermined amount of time of inactivity has elapsed as determined by a microcontroller  44  on the electronic circuit board  28 . 
     In another embodiment, the doll  10  comprises an audio effect dial  38  disposed on the opposing side of the head portion  18  to that of the volume control dial  40  of the doll  10  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The effect dial  38  is a rotary dial that changes or alters the frequency or audio characteristics of the audio being emitted from the speaker  12  when rotated. In one particular embodiment, the frequency of the emitted audio increases when the effect dial  38  is rotated counterclockwise and decreases when the effect dial  38  is rotated clockwise. For example, if a user selects “Giggle” from the plurality of laugh keys  14 , an audio sample corresponding to that laugh key  14  is heard through the speaker  12 . During the playback of that audio sample, the user may then rotate the effect dial  38  and thus change the frequency of the audio sample being heard giving it a “helium” effect or a baritone quality to the laugh or sound being emitted, depending on which direction the effect dial  38  is rotated. Rotation of the effect dial during playback will result in a frequency sliding to give an arbitrary Doppler effect on the voice according to how the effect dial is turned. The effect dial  38  may also be used to change or alter the frequency of the recorded audio input emitted from the speaker  12  after one of the plurality of custom keys  16  is selected as discussed above. Other audio characteristics or parameters of the reproduced sound may be altered according to the effect dial other than modification of the frequencies of the audio signal and as may be programmed into microchip  44 . For example, an echo effect of variable length may be dialed in or modulation of an instrumental tone, like a singing electric guitar, any other musical instrument or base sound (train, boat or car horns etc.) can be dialed in. The number of audio effects which may be chosen is unlimited and nearly uncountable. The audio effect need not be continuously variable, but may be also discretely selected from among a plurality of choices with a rotary detent switch or selectively dialed in according to the angular orientation of the rotary switch. 
     Additionally, the doll  10  comprises an audio jack  42  disposed on the back side of the torso of the doll  10  itself, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The audio jack  42  is a standard 3.5 mm jack known in the art that allows standardized headphones to be plugged into the doll  10  and allowing only one user to hear any noises or sounds being emitted. 
     In an additional embodiment, the doll  10  comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port (not seen) that is disposed on the rear of the torso portion  24  of the doll  10 . The USB port allows the doll  10  to be connected to a personal computer or laptop and have additional or different laughs or audio files downloaded into the memory microchip  26  via the hard drive of the computer or the internet. For example, users who live far away from the doll&#39;s location may pre-record their audio message into the doll  10  directly or send their audio message to the user over the internet in a standard email as is known in the art. The user may then connect their computer to the doll  10  via the USB port and select to download the incoming audio message from the computer to the memory microchip  26  at one of the slots dedicated to one of the plurality of custom keys  16 . When the user selects one of the plurality of custom keys  16  as discussed above, the downloaded audio message is played back through the speaker  12  or other output means. 
     Still further messages, stories or music of any length may be data streamed into doll  10  through the USB port or WiFi connection included in doll  10  which is coupled to an internet connected computer, which provides selected ones of preprogrammed messages, stories or music and/or customized messages, stories or music from the sender according to either the child&#39;s or recipient&#39;s choice or according to the selection of the adult or gift giver, who may be either remote or present at the site of doll  10  during data streaming. Therefore, it is to be understood that the illustrated embodiments of the invention include a method for providing an preprogrammed and/or customized internet greeting or entertainment service to the child or recipient, who may be remotely located from the identified sender or who may be sick or incapacitated in some manner. Doll  10  thus becomes a computerized version of the old fashioned singing telegram. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed schematic of one embodiment of the circuitry included within doll  10 . The circuitry is built around microprocessor  44 , which is shown illustratively as model LPC1343FBD48 and which includes memory  26 . The pin assignments and functions of microprocessor  44  are conventional and will not be further detailed except to denote the data flow within the circuitry. An A-to-D converter  102 , which is shown illustratively as model ADS8325, has its input line  100  coupled to a microphone  118  shown in  FIG. 7 , whereby sound is received by doll  10  and provided as digital audio output on line  104 . The serial digital data is provided to and synchronized by data flash buffer  107 , which is shown illustratively as model AT25-SO. A-to-D converter  102  and buffer  107  are controlled by nand gate logic circuitry  105  coupled to control pins on microprocessor  44 . The buffered data is then clocked into microprocessor  44  from line  106  and assembled into parallel bit digital words on bus  108 . Digital data output from microprocessor  44  is coupled on line  110  to digital-to-analog converter  114 , which is shown illustratively as model DAC 8571, whose output on line  114  is then provided to speaker  12 . The audio effect dial  38  is coupled via line  116  to microprocessor as a control input.  FIG. 10  is a schematic of the matrix keypad  16  coupled to bus  108  of microprocessor  44  and USB port  136  also coupled to the USB input line  140  of microprocessor  44 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic of the microphone circuit wherein microphone  118  in doll  10  is coupled to an amplifier  120 , whose output in turn is filtered by low pass filter  122  to provide the line  100  input to the A-to-D converter  102  of  FIG. 6 . 
     Similarly,  FIG. 8  is a schematic which illustrates the audio output circuitry where the DAC output line  114  from D-to-A converter  112  is provided to a 4 th  order low pass filter  124  whose output is controlled by volume control dial  40  and provided as an input to audio power amplifier  128 , which is shown illustratively as model MAX9705. The output line  126  is coupled to speaker  12 . 
       FIG. 9  is shown for completeness as including the power circuitry comprising replaceable batteries  134 , DC-DC boost regulator  130 , which is shown illustratively as model MAX1797, and power resistance network  132 . 
     Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments. 
     Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conception ally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.