# US 12,688,640 B2 · Animated decorative items with sensor inputs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,688,640 B2 - Document ID: US12688640B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/210,414 - Filed: 2023-06-15 - Published: 2024-12-26 - Granted: 2026-07-21 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-15 - Assignees: Mindscope Products - Applicants: Mindscope Products, Inc. - Inventors: George Balanchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12688640B2 ## CPC - G06T 13/00: Animation - G06T 13/80: Two-dimensional [2D] animation, e.g. using sprites - G03B 21/14: Details - H04N 9/3141: {Constructional details thereof (details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)} - H04N 9/3179: {Video signal processing therefor} - H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The present invention is directed to a decorative item, device, or toy that may includes an animated projection and associated audio. The device may further include one or more sensors that may trigger specific actions, audio files, or activity of the device. The device may include animatronic elements that may be triggered by one or more sensors. The device may have communicative capabilities and may communicate with a user device, a network, and/or one or more other devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a projector, contained within cavity and configured to project an animated image that causes at least one physical feature of the decorative shape to appear to be moving, when viewed from an exterior of the device; and an exterior wall defining a cavity therein, the exterior wall comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior wall having a thickness and material composition selected such that, in response to projection of the animated image onto the front portion of the interior surface, the animated image is visible on the exterior surface; a communication module configured to receive wireless instructions to the projector by receiving signals from a wireless communication device through the exterior wall; a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer code stored thereon, that when executed by a processor of a computing device operatively connected to the projector, controls display of the animated image on the exterior surface; at least one sensor, selected from the group of an accelerometer, light sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, motion sensor, accelerometer, spring sensor, ball sensor, and angular velocity sensor; the at least one sensor configured to detect at least one condition of the device comprising motion of the device, orientation of the device, or impact of the device, the at least one sensor operatively connectable to the projector to activate, deactivate, and/or modify display of the animated image and/or any associated audio in response to detection of the condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a remote control configured to control operation of the projector and device by transmitting signals to the device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an audio output device configured to output an audio track, wherein the animated image is projected in synchronization with the audio track. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by a processor, to control display of the animated image by: generating animated image data; initiating transmission of the animated image data to the projector; generating audio data representing an audio track; and initiating transmission of the audio data to an audio output device configured to output the audio track, wherein the animated image is projected in synchronization with the audio track. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by a processor, to control display of the animated image by: causing an input device to receive user input from a user; in response to receipt of the user input, generating the animated image data; and initiating transmission of the animated image data to the projector to cause the projector to display the animated image. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the computer code is further configured, when executed by a processor, to control display of the animated image by: causing a sensor to generate sensor data based on detection of at least one condition of the device or an environment of the device; in response to receipt of the sensor data, generating the animated image data; and initiating transmission of the animated image data to the projector to cause the projector to display the animated image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more of a proximity sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, motion sensor, sound sensor, spring sensor, ball sensor, and/or angular velocity sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one condition of the device or an environment of the device comprises one or more of presence of a user, motion of the user, sound made by the user; motion of the device, impacts of the device, proximity of other devices, and/or control signals received from a user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one physical feature comprises a representation of a mouth; the projected animated image comprises a representation of an animated mouth that causes the physical feature to appear to be vocalizing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to project the animated image in a manner that takes into account the at least one physical feature of the decorative shape.