None.
This invention was not federally sponsored.
This invention relates to the general field of toy dolls, and more specifically toward an interactive doll where the doll is controlled by a remote control. When the user pushes a button on the remote control, it can cause the doll and the remote control to interact via electromagnetic transmissions where both emit sounds simultaneously or at different times. The remote control can represent various items, including mobile phones and birthday cakes.
Dolls have been around for thousands of years, mainly as toys for small children. As times have progressed, these dolls have become more and more sophisticated. Batteries and electronics have been added to these dolls, as well as moving parts. Children and parents continue to expect more technologically advanced features present in the dolls they purchase. With this, they expect dolls to reflect current societal interests and practices.
Mobile phones have become common tools around the world. Individuals of all ages use cell phones and interact with them every day. There are even mobile phones specifically designed for young children.
Many people celebrate birthdays with birthday cakes. The birthday boy or girl often gets a cake with one or more lit candles on top. The participants in the celebration sing a song, and at the conclusion, the birthday boy or girl blows out the candles.
Some dolls have been designed to represent these events. However, these dolls lack sound and lights that create a more realistic and entertaining toy. Further, these dolls are not controlled by wireless remotes that allow the user to control and participate in the social interest or practice.
Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a technologically advanced doll that not only reflects current societal interests and practices, but also entertains children of various ages. The doll must be interactive and respond to various commands, and give feedback to the user. Further, the doll should be designed so that it is safe to use and will also operate for an extended period of time without excessive power requirements.
The current invention provides just such a solution by having an interactive doll where the doll is controlled by a remote control. When the user pushes a button on the remote control, it can cause the doll and the remote control to interact via electromagnetic transmissions where both emit sounds simultaneously or at different times. The remote control can represent various items, including mobile phones and birthday cakes.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
This invention is a toy doll where the user can interact with the doll by using a remote control.
The doll and the remote control interact via electromagnetic transmissions that travel from the remote control to the doll. When the user presses a button on the remote control, the remote control can emit sound, transmit an electromagnetic transmission, or both. The doll, depending on the electromagnetic transmission that it receives, emits a particular sound. These sounds can be short or long in duration, and comprise of words, music, or both. By combining a series of electromagnetic transmissions and sounds, conversations, songs, parties, and many other social interests and practices can be replicated.
The interaction between the remote control and the doll is achieved by electromagnetic transmissions, or more preferably, infrared light transmission. When the user presses a button on the remote control, infrared light is emitted from the infrared transmitter in the remote control. This light travels from the remote control to the doll. The doll receives this infrared light transmission in its infrared receiver. The circuitry located inside of the doll processes this infrared light transmission. Based on the input it receives, the circuitry causes the speaker to emit sound.
The doll is preferably powered by standard “AA” sized batteries. The remote control can be powered by standard “AA” sized batteries, or by “R44” sized batteries, depending on the size and power requirements of the remote control. The batteries are configured to meet the power requirements of the specific device.
Both the doll and the remote control include integrated circuits. These circuits receive input from various sources, such as from buttons, switches, microphones, or electromagnetic receivers. Based upon the input that it receives, the integrated circuit is pre-programmed to create output for various other electronic components, such as LEDs, speakers, or electromagnetic transmitters. By way of example, when a user presses a button, this button acts as input to the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit processes this input and sends an output to a component, such as a speaker. This output will cause the speaker to emit sound, such as a song or spoken words. Alternatively, the input could come from an electromagnetic receiver, where the electromagnetic receiver, upon receiving a transmission, sends this input to the integrated circuit. Depending on the input it receives, the integrated circuit will output a signal to the speaker to emit sound and will output a signal to the LED to emit light. Various input sources and output components can be used to create a wide variety of possibilities.
Once such embodiment of the invention is a toy doll where the doll has a mobile phone in one hand, and where the remote control also resembles a mobile phone. This embodiment is known as a “Mobile Phone Doll.” The remote control mobile phone has buttons similar to those of real mobile phones, including a send button, an end button, a voicemail button, and the normal 1-9, star, and pound phone buttons. The send button and the end button are known as interactive buttons since they cause the remote control and the doll to interact. The other buttons that do not cause the remote control and the doll to interact are known as non-interactive buttons. When the user presses the send button, both the remote control mobile phone and the mobile phone that the doll is holding ring. Then the doll and the remote control mobile phone have a conversation. At any time, the conversation can end by simply pressing the end button on the remote control mobile phone. When the user presses the end button, the conversation stops and both the remote control mobile phone and the doll say goodbye. If the user presses the voicemail button, the remote control plays a sound recording as if the doll had called the remote control mobile phone and left a message. Further, any of the remaining 1-9, star, and pound buttons may be pressed and a beeping noise is emitted, similar to that of actual mobile phones.
The remote control can also have a light-producing object. The most favorable choice for a light source is a light emitting diode (LED) because of its efficiency and longevity. The light can blink or remain lit while the remote control is being operated, or when the remote control and the doll are interacting. Further, the mobile phone that the doll holds can also have a light-producing object. Similar to the remote control, an LED is preferred. It can also blink or remain lit when the doll is being operating or interacting with the remote control.
In the hand of the doll that does not hold a mobile phone there can be a hidden button. The button is not visible on the outside of the hand, but by pressing the palm, the button can be activated. The button serves various functions depending on the position of the three-way switch, described below.
The doll also has a three-way switch, preferably located near the power supply. The switch can be in the on, off, or limited-function positions. When the switch is in the off position, the doll is turned off, and will not function. It will not respond to infrared light transmissions from the remote, nor will it emit any sound or respond to any other input, such as from the button located in the hand. However, when the switch is in the on position, the power supply powers all of the various electrical components that require electricity. Assuming that the batteries in the power supply have a sufficient voltage potential, the doll will be fully functional and will interact with the remote control or any other input devices located in the doll. After a finite period of time, such as sixty seconds, where there is no interaction either from the remote control or the button in the hand, the doll will leave the normal-power mode and enter a low-power mode. In this mode, the doll will not respond to infrared light transmissions from the remote control. Power is not supplied to all of the various components that require electricity in efforts to conserve power and extend the useful life of the batteries. The doll can be returned to a normal-power mode by pressing the button in the hand of the doll. Finally, the switch can be in the limited-function, or “Try-Me” position. In this position, the doll has limited functionality. It will not respond to infrared transmissions from the remote control. However, if the button in the hand is pressed, parts of the conversation between the remote control and the doll are emitted from the doll. This allows potential buyers to hear particular words and phrases used by the doll while not quickly draining the power from the batteries.
Another embodiment of the invention is a toy doll where the doll is celebrating a birthday. In this embodiment, the remote control resembles a birthday cake. This embodiment is known as a “Birthday Doll.” To make the remote control realistically depict a birthday cake, there is a candle that is removable from the remote control base. This candle, however, includes many important features. First of all, the placing of the candle into the remote control base activates the interaction between the remote control and the doll. In other words, the candle is a switch, known as a candle switch or removable interactive switch, where the user places the candle into the remote control base to close this switch. Closing the switch causes the electromagnetic transmitter, preferably an infrared light transmitter, to emit light. The doll receives this light transmission, and outputs sound accordingly. The effect is that when the candle is placed into the remote control, the doll and the remote control start the “Happy Birthday” song.
The candle can also include a light producing object, preferably an LED that lights up. It takes the place of the flame on top of the candle. When the candle is placed into the remote control it will light up as if the candle was lit. Once the “Happy Birthday” song is finished playing, the user can blow out the candle. To do this, the user blows onto the candle. The candle comprises a microphone that that can sense sound, such as the sound from air flowing around the candle. This input from the microphone causes the remote control and the doll to interact once again. Applause and congratulation sounds are emitted from both the doll and the remote control. An additional button can be placed on the remote control limiting the function of the microphone, known as a microphone activating button. In this instance, the microphone will only be activated when the user is depressing the button, thereby decreasing the chances of the microphone receiving other unintentional sounds and “blowing” out the candle.
As described above in the Mobile Phone Doll, the doll in this embodiment can also include a hidden button in the hand of the doll as well as a three-way switch. Further, the remote control itself can have an on-off button to conserve the batteries located inside of the remote control.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a child's toy that reflects a current interest and practice of society.
It is another object of the invention to provide a child's toy that is fun and entertaining to use.
It is a final object of this invention to provide a child's toy that is safe and efficient to operate.
It should be understood the while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090111352 A1 | Apr 2009 | US |