US 6,012,961 AGranted

Electronic toy including a reprogrammable data storage device

AssigneeDesign Lab, LLC

InventorsHenry D. Sharpe, III, Ralph Beckman, Stephen A. Schwartz

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Abstract

An electronic toy includes a user reprogrammable data storage device, such as recordable tape media, or digital memory, whereby a user can selectively download program information into the data storage device to change the independent operating characteristics of the toy. The program information is preferably generated by a personal computer wherein program information can be accessed from various media, including magnetic disc, CD-ROM, and/or a remote computer system via modem. In one preferred embodiment, the toy consists of an animatronic teddy bear having a reprogrammable digital memory. The program information, which may include audio data for speech and control data for movement of animatronic body parts, is transferred into the toy's reprogrammable memory by removable cables connected between the computer and a control processor in the toy. Program information can also be provided by, and/or downloaded from a remote computer system. After the download of information is complete, the cables are disconnected, and the toy can operate in a stand-alone mode wherein the stored program information is played back to operate the device. Alternatively, the toy can be operated directly from output generated in real-time by the computer while connected to the computer, or by remote computer connected to the local personal computer.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An interactive toy comprising:

a base unit having a movable part;
an electromechanical actuator mounted on board said base unit and connected to said movable part of said base unit for actuating said movable part of said base unit responsive to control data;
an audio output device mounted on board said base unit, said audio output device outputting audio responsive to audio data;
a digital processing device mounted on board the base unit, said digital processing device being in electrical communication with said electromechanical actuator for directing control data to said electromechanical actuator and directly controlling operation of said electromechanical actuator, said digital processing device being in electrical communication with said audio output device for directing sound data to said audio output device for controlling operation thereof;
a reprogrammable data storage device mounted on board said base unit in electrical communication with said digital processing device for selectively storing program data for controlling operation of said digital processing device, control data to be accessed by said digital processing device during operation thereof, and sound data to be accessed by said digital processing device during operation thereof;
a data input port mounted on board said base unit in electrical communication with said digital processing device for selectively receiving said program data, said control data and said audio data from an external data source and for routing commands from an external source to said digital processing device;
and
a standalone power source mounted on board said base unit for providing standalone power to said electromechanical actuator, said audio output device, said digital processing device and said data storage device,
said interactive toy being operative in a first tethered mode wherein said digital processing device is connected to said external data source through said data input port, said digital processing device receiving control data and sound data from said external data source, said digital processing device further receiving command data from said external data source for control of said digital processing device;
said interactive toy being operative in a second tethered mode wherein said digital processing device is connected to said external data source through said data input port, said digital processing device receiving a stream of program data, control data and audio data which are stored in said reprogrammable data storage device, and
said interactive toy being operative in a third untethered mode wherein said digital processing device is not connected to said external data source, said digital processing device executing an on-board program and accessing said control data and said audio data from said reprogrammable data storage device to automatically control operation of said electromechanical actuator and said audio output device.

8 more elements

A method of operating an electronic interactive toy of the type comprising a base unit having a movable part, an electromechanical actuator mounted on board said base unit and connected to said movable part of said base unit for actuating said movable part of said base unit responsive to control data, an audio output device mounted on board said base unit, said audio output device outputting audio responsive to audio data, a digital processing device mounted on board the base unit, said digital processing device being in electrical communication with said electromechanical actuator for directing control data to said electromechanical actuator and directly controlling operation of said electromechanical actuator, said digital processing device being in electrical communication with said audio output device for directing sound data to said audio output device for controlling operation thereof, a reprogrammable data storage device mounted on board said base unit in electrical communication with said digital processing device for selectively storing program data for controlling operation of said digital processing device, control data to be accessed by said digital processing device during operation thereof, and sound data to be accessed by said digital processing device during operation thereof, a data input port mounted on board said base unit in electrical communication with said digital processing device for selectively receiving said program data, said control data and said audio data from an external data source, and a standalone power source mounted on board said base unit for providing standalone power to said electromechanical actuator, said audio output device, said digital processing device and said data storage device,

said method comprising the steps of:
connecting said on board digital processing device to said external data source through said data input port;
selectively receiving program data, control data and audio data from said external data source;
selectively storing said program data, control data and audio data into said reprogrammable data storage device for use by said digital processing device;
selectively controlling operation of said digital processing device responsive to commands from said external data source;
disconnecting said digital processing device from said external data source;
and
executing an on board program in a stand alone operation which accesses said program data, said control data and said audio data whereby said digital processing device is independently operative responsive to said program data for independent autonomous control of said electromechanical actuator and said audio output device.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.