# US 11,305,205 B2 · Electronic toy with radial independent connector and associated communication protocol > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,205 B2 - Document ID: US11305205B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/241,400 - Filed: 2019-01-07 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-15 - Assignees: Vtech Electronics, Ltd. - Applicants: VTech Electronics, Ltd. - Inventors: Dong Gou Chen; Pui Lam Cho; Wai Sing Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305205B2 ## CPC - A63H 3/28: Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds - A63H 3/50: Frames, stands, or wheels for dolls or toy animals - A63H 33/26: Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) - A63H 2200/00: Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS ## Abstract An expandable play set as well as associated methods, communication protocols, and tangible computer-readable media are disclosed. The play set may generate interactive responses based upon which characters are coupled to a base unit and to which connectors of the base unit the characters are coupled. A character may include circuitry that permits the character to identify to which connector of the base unit the character is coupled. Such circuitry may also permit the character to identify and communicate with other characters that are also coupled to the base unit. Based upon obtained identifiers, the character may generate or otherwise cause suitable interactive responses such as activating a load in the base unit, turning on a light in the base unit and/or character, and/or generating a suitable audible response via an audio speaker of the character. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A play set, comprising: a base unit comprising base connectors and a data line that couples the base connectors together; a first character comprising a first housing shaped as a first figurine, a first connector coupled to the data line via a first base connector of the base connectors, a first memory storing a first program, and a first processor coupled to the data line via the first connector; a second character comprising a second housing shaped as a second figurine, a second connector coupled the data line via a second base connector of the base connectors, a second memory storing a second program, and a second processor coupled to the data line via the second connector; wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character to: determine, based on a signal level of the data line, whether a master device is presently coupled to the data line; and attempt to become the master device in response to determining that no master device is presently coupled to the data line; and wherein, execution of the second program by the second processor causes the second character to: determine, based on the signal level of on the data line, whether a master device is presently coupled to the data line; and attempt to become the master device if no master device is presently coupled to the data line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The play set of claim 1, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character to transmit first data symbols on the data line after the first character becomes the master device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The play set of claim 2, wherein execution of the second program by the second processor causes the second character to: become a slave device in response to determining, based on the signal level of the data line, that a master device is presently coupled to the data line; and transmit second data symbols on the data line during reply slots that follow the first data symbols. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The play set of claim 1, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character, when the master device, to pull the data line to a low level for at least half of each reply slot of a plurality of reply slots that are reserved for one or more slave devices to transmit symbols. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The play set of claim 4, wherein: the base unit further includes a load coupled to the data line; and the load is turned on in response to the data line obtaining a high level for at least a plurality of data symbol periods. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The play set of claim 4, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character, when the master device, to: release the data line during a read interval of a reply slot; and permit the second character to drive the data line during the read interval of the reply slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The play set of claim 4, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character, when the master device, to pull the data line to a high level for a synchronization period at a start of a reply slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The play set of claim 1, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character to: pull the data line to a low level for a period greater than a data symbol period; release the data line after pulling the data line to the low level for the period greater than the data symbol period; and assume a master role in response to detecting that the data line obtained a high level after the data line was released. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The play set of claim 1, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character to: pull the data line to a low level for a period greater than a data symbol period; release the data line after pulling the data line to the low level for the period greater than the data symbol period; and assume a slave role in response to detecting that the data line remained at the low level after the data line was released. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The play set of claim 1, wherein execution of the first program by the first processor causes the first character to: pull the data line to a low level for a period greater than a data symbol period; release the data line after pulling the data line to the low level for the period greater than the data symbol period; update a counter in response to detecting that the data line obtained a high level after the data line was released; and assume a master role in response to the counter having a predetermined relationship to a predetermined count. ### Claim 11 A character for use with a play set comprising a base unit having a data line, the character comprising: a housing shaped as a figurine; a memory storing a program; a processor configured to execute the program; and a connector configured to couple the processor to the data line of the base unit; wherein execution of the program by the processor causes the character to at least: obtain a master role after determining based on a signal level of the data line that a master device is not present; transmit first data symbols on the data line after obtaining the master role; and receive second data symbols on the data line from one or more slave devices during reply slots that follow the first data symbols and are reserved for the one or more slave devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The character of claim 11, wherein execution of the program by the processor causes the character to: pull the data line to a low level for at least half of a reply slot; and release the data line during a read interval of the reply slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The character of claim 12, wherein execution of the program by the processor causes the character to pull the data line to a high level for a synchronization period at a start of a reply slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The character of claim 11, wherein execution of the program to obtain the master role by the processor causes the character to: pull the data line to a low level for a period greater than a data symbol period; release the data line after pulling the data line to the low level for the period greater than the data symbol period; and assume the master role in response to detecting that the data line obtained a high level after the data line was released. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The character of claim 11, wherein execution of the program by the processor causes the character to: pull the data line to a low level for a period greater than a data symbol period; release the data line after pulling the data line to the low level for the period greater than the data symbol period; and assume a slave role in response to detecting that the data line remained at the low level after the data line was released. ### Claim 16 A method for communicating via a data line that connects a first play set character to a second play set character, the method comprising: determining, based on a signal level of the data line, whether a master device is presently coupled to the data line; obtaining, with the first play set character, a master role for the first play set character after determining, based on a signal level of the data line, that no master device is presently coupled to the data line; transmitting first data symbols from the first play set character on the data line after obtaining the master role for the first play set character; and receiving second data symbols transmitted by the second play set character on the data line during reply slots that follow the first data symbols. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: pulling the data line to a low level with the first play set character for at least half of a reply slot; and releasing the data line from the first play set character during a read interval of the reply slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising pulling the data line to a high level with the first play set character for a synchronization period at a start of a reply slot. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: pulling the data line to a low level with the first play set character for a period greater than a data symbol period; releasing the data line from the first play set character after said pulling the data line to the low level; and assuming the master role with the first play set character in response to detecting that the data line obtained a high level after the releasing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: pulling the data line to a low level with the first play set character for a period greater than a data symbol period; releasing the data line from the first play set character after said pulling the data line to the low level; updating a counter with the first play set character in response to detecting that the data line obtained a high level after the releasing; and assuming the master role with the first play set character in response to the counter having a predetermined relationship to a predetermined count.