Patent Application
20050170744
The present invention relates generally to the field of sound generating amusement devices and, more particularly, to a toy playing media content received from a remote media source.
Children of all ages enjoy playing with toys that generate audio and visual output, such as sounds, music and lights. Such toys include musical mobiles for entertaining an infant in a crib or playpen, interactive teaching toys, such as toys for associating related symbols, words and/or letters, and other toys that produce sounds and/or music in response to the child's input.
Existing sound generating toys, however, have a number of drawbacks for both children and parents or other supervising adults. Many conventional toys are limited to producing sounds/music of a rather low sound quality. For example, most music produced by such toys consists of instrumental melodies without any voice singing.
In addition, existing toys offer a limited selection of lower sound quality music. For example, some devices include a few pre-programmed songs. Other existing devices include a cartridge-based memory, which requires a user to continuously purchase additional music. Typically, these music cartridges include a limited number of songs and require the user to change the cartridges frequently.
Accordingly, a need exists for a toy that provides higher quality sound generation along with versatility in song selection, which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to an amusement device having a remote media source. The amusement device includes a data receiving system for wirelessly receiving media content signals from an associated interface. The interface is electrically coupled to the remote media source.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to a system. The system includes an interface electrically coupled to a remote media source and a toy. The toy includes a receiver/transmitter for wireless communication with the interface to receive media content for playback.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to a system. The system includes a remote media source and an interface electrically coupled to the remote media source. The system further includes a plurality of amusement devices, where the amusement devices each include a receiver/transmitter for wireless communication with the interface to receive media content for playback.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is directed to a method of providing media content to a toy from a remote media source. The method includes electrically coupling an interface to the remote media source and electrically coupling a receiver to the toy. The interface is coupled to the receiver such that media content is wirelessly transmitted by the interface to the receiver for playback through at least one speaker within the toy.
The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
In the detailed description that follows, corresponding components have been given the same reference numerals regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present invention. To illustrate the present invention in a clear and concise manner, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.
With reference to
The remote media source 12 is coupled or otherwise electrically connected to an interface 14, such as a wireless data transmission unit or the like. The interface 14 is in electrical communication with the remote media source 12 such that it receives appropriate signals containing media content. The interface 14 is in wireless communication with a corresponding receiver/transmitter 16 within or otherwise coupled to the amusement device 10. As is described more fully below, media content data received by the receiver/transmitter 16 within the amusement device 10 is processed appropriately for playback by the amusement device 10. In one embodiment, the interface 14 and receiver/transmitter 16 communicate wirelessly via an infrared (IR) light link. Alternatively, the interface 14 can include a radio frequency (RF) link to transmit media content data to the receiver/transmitter 16 within or otherwise coupled to the amusement device 10 for playback by the amusement device 10. As is described more fully below, in one embodiment, the receiver/transmitter 16 can transmit appropriate command signals, which are generated responsive to user input, back to the remote media source 12.
With reference now to
In one embodiment, the transmitter 26 is an infrared (IR) transmitter, which transmits the audio input signal as an infrared electromagnetic wave. Alternatively, the transmitter 26 can be a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for transmitting the audio input signal as a RF electromagnetic wave. It is to be appreciated that other wireless transmission devices, such as ultrasound or infrasound transmitters, can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, it is to be appreciated that other remote media sources, as are described above, can be employed with the present invention.
The amusement device 10 can include a receiver/transmitter 16 for receiving the transmitted signals from the transmitter 26. It is to be appreciated that the transmitter 26 and receiver/transmitter 16 are selected to facilitate wireless data transmission therebetween. For example, if an IR transmitter is employed, the receiver/transmitter 16 will be an IR receiver/transmitter. Likewise, if the transmitter 26 is a radio frequency transmitter, the corresponding receiver/transmitter 16 within the amusement device 10 will be a radio frequency receiver/transmitter. The receiver/transmitter 16 receives the electromagnetic waves from the transmitter 26 and generates a corresponding received media content data signal. The received media content data signal can be demodulated using an appropriate demodulator 28. Artisans will appreciate that the demodulator operates to separate the data signal from the carrier signal. In one embodiment, as is described more fully below, the demodulated audio signal can be mixed, using an appropriate mixer 30, with an amusement device, such as a toy, audio source 32 signal and/or an amusement device visual source 38 signal generated automatically or in response to user input by the amusement device. The mixed audio signal can be amplified using an appropriate amplifier 34 and output to a speaker 36 for playback and/or a visual source signal (e.g., a light output) can be output by a light source 40 in rhythm or in another fashion complementary to the output audio signal. It is to be appreciated that appropriate digital-to-analog conversion, along with reciprocal analog-to-digital conversion, may take place within either or both of the interface 14 and amusement device 10 as appropriate.
It is to be appreciated that the present invention allows a parent, child or other user to provide a variety of high sound quality music to an amusement device using already existing investments in music content, such as CD's, MP3's, and the like. In one embodiment, the interface 14 can be connected to an output of the home audio source, for example, a standard headphone jack output, or another appropriate output, such as a MIDI output. In one embodiment, the amusement device 10 can include one or more user input interfaces 38. Such user input interfaces can include, but are not limited to, buttons, switches, dials, alphanumeric keys, and the like.
The interface 14 can also include a control device or controller 40 capable of receiving commands from the user input interfaces 38 via the receiver/transmitter 16. These commands can, in turn, be relayed to the home audio source for remote control thereof, such that media content is delivered to the amusement device 10 in response to user input. In other words, the amusement device 10, based on user input, can control a variety of functions of the home audio source, including, but not limited to, power on/off, input source (to choose among different audio components), which tracks to play, start music, stop music, skip, and other useful commands normally present on remote controls or audio units. Alternatively, a user can play games by engaging the user input interfaces.
In addition, the user input 38 can trigger other pre-programmed amusement device audio source 32 outputs and/or visual source 38 outputs to be mixed or played concurrently or complementary with the received audio content from the remote audio source. Such amusement device audio device outputs can include a variety of sounds that are pleasing to children, including, but not limited to, bells, whistles, sirens, and musical sounds. In addition, as is described more fully below, the amusement device 10, either in response to user input 38 or automatically in response to signals or data patterns received from the remote audio source, can generate a plurality of light and other output signals via, for example, a light source 40, for the enjoyment of the user. In addition, the amusement device can generate motion output signals via, for example, motors and actuators (e.g., electrically actuated plastics), and/or visual output signals, such as visual content displayed an LCD or full video.
It is to be appreciated that the present invention may be employed in conjunction with any child's amusement device without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, with reference to
With continued reference to
With reference now to
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes, modifications and equivalents.
For example, while the present invention has been described with respect to the amusement devices illustrated in
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
