Rotating toy with electronic display

Abstract

A rotating object, such as a toy top or yo-yo, is provided with a display mechanism which permits the display of letters, number and graphics as the object moves. In one embodiment a toy top is taught which incorporates such a display made up of string of light emitting diodes. As the top is spun a switch is closed by centrifugal force which activates the display circuitry. A message previously stored in the display circuitry memory is then read out of memory and is used to control the illumination of the LED's. As the top reaches a revolutionary speed which is in synchronization with the clocking speed of the display, the message is viewable by the user, and remains viewable until the rotational speed of the top slows enough to defeat the visual synchronization. Alternative embodiments are provided which permit the message to be displayed to be chosen at random or by further incorporating a photosensor which may read a message which has been encoded in a bar code or other visual code, and using the barcode to program the action of the display or provide a synchronization mechanism to enable the display to be continuously viewable over a wide range or rotation speeds.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.