AU701722B1 - An animated tree - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a novelty device in the form of an artificial Christmas tree and a method for animating Christmas trees to incorporate visual and sound effects that simulate lifelike speech.

BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART There is little prior art specific to the animation of Christmas trees. There are, however, numerous citations of prior art implementations of facial animation schemes for talking dolls, toys, and robotics.

Animated artificial trees 15 The form of animation seen in prior art examples of Christmas trees does not address the *implementation of simulated speech, but rather nonanthropomorphic motions. A first example is U. S. Pat.

e No. 3,905,140 to Damiano which discloses an artificial tree having a hollow trunk and hollow branches through which air is pumped. Simulated snow flake material is pumped from the tree base, through the trunk, and out the top of the tree. The snow flake material then falls o ***downward simulating a snow fall. The hollow branches support various air powered novelty devices such as *merry-go-rounds, spinning wheels, etc. Screens prevent the snow flake material from entering the hollow branches. U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,750 to Davis et al.

discloses an artificial Christmas tree that incorporates a scent-producing mechanism, a flashing light, and sound producing means contained within the trunk. These features are controlled by an external control box. U.S.

Design Pat. No. 252,076 to Pardus depicts a Christmas tree figurine with a face.

Facial animation in dolls and toys There are several forms of animation found in the prior art that relate to facial animation and sound production. These are found primarily in art dealing with dolls and toys. Rather rudimentary examples include U.S.

Pat. No. 4,103,455 to Silvey discloses a toy chest containing sound generation means and means to move simulated animal eyes of an animal figure on the lid to the trunk. A tape player in the form of a character is the subject of U. S. Pat. No. 4,521,205 to Spector. Sound from a tape causes light to be emanated from both the eyes and mouth of the character. U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,074 to Kinberg et al. discloses a pressure actuated toy in which pressure on the body of the toy figure causes the eyes to light and sound to be produced.

An first example of audio tape driven animation s 15 is U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,352 to Curran et al. which discloses a doll containing a two-track cassette tape player. These tracks provide speech and animation control S. signals, respectively. Coordinated movement of the eyes and mouth are achieved by motor control. U.S. Pat. No.

4,900,289 to May et al. describes a mechanism for animating a doll's features. In this invention, a single motor powers the motion of jaw, eyes, and eyelids.

Movement of the jaw can be synchronized with a recorded ooooo sound track. The eyes are caused to move in an apparently random side-to-side path. Eye movement drive is obtained by gearing down the motor drive to the jaw. Friction disk coupling to this drive mechanism allows apparently random blinking of the eyelids. An animation method that uses a dual track tape recording is the subject of U.S. Pat. No.

5,079,821 to McKeefery et al. On one track is the speech recording, on the other is the animation control signal.

The animation control signal is a tone signal with an instantaneous frequency indicative of the correct state of animation of the rotatable eyes and moveable mouth.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,516 to Lam discloses a talking toy doll that includes an internal audio cassette tape player for generating speech sounds. A button on the doll activates the tape player, causing speech from an internal speaker and coordinated flexion of the doll face. This flexion results in opening and closing of the doll's lips.

External activation of facial features is demonstrated in toys which are activated by speech or sound from a source outside the invention as in U.S. Pat.

No. 4,850,930 to Sato et al. This invention is an animated toy in which eye and mouth movement are responsive to outside sound. The toy contains a pickup microphone that detects outside speech which is converted to an electrical signal for driving a motor. The motor actuates the movement of both eyes and mouth. U.S. Pat.

No. 5,407,376 to Avital et al. teaches a mechanism for rolling of doll eyes upon pickup of speech from a child.

15 A microphone within the doll detects an outside speech signal that is used to control a motor that actuates eye movement.

Extremely detailed control of facial and body i animation is demonstrated in more sophisticated multichannel control inventions as exemplified in U.S.

Pat. No. 4,846,693 to Baer which provides an animated doll figure that is controlled via signals from a video tape that is played on a conventional video cassette o ee recorder (VCR) The VCR is connected to both a conventional television and a control box that in turn connects to the animated doll. This control box routes audio and movement control information to the doll which is capable of eyebrow, eyelid, eye, and mouth motion and contains a speaker for emanation of speech. When playing an appropriately recorded video tape, an illusion is created that the animated doll is conversing with characters on the television. Also, U.S. Pat. No.

5,289,273 to Lang discusses a system for remote control of an animated character. Servos in the character provide for a plurality of body movements under control of a central computer station. An operator at the station thereby controls motion of the character and the speech emanated by the character. The character includes a mounted camera and audio pickup so that video and audio are transmitted back to the computer station.

The level of facial animation control for high fidelity emulation of human speech is demonstrated in robotic applications such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,589 to Villa which discloses an artificial animated face with three-dimensional features formed from flexible material.

Included in this invention, are actuators for manipulating the jaw, rounding the mouth, and drawing the lower lip inward. Signals from an audio source are processed to provide control signals to these actuators.

Detection of certain consonants in speech provided by the audio source cause appropriate facial articulation.

Additionally, random eye blinking is controlled by a signal derived from the audio signal.

*Various prior art citations discuss methods for asynchronous control of eye and mouth features for S- *simulated speech that are different from the novel and simple electronic method used in the present invention. A further aspect of the present invention not addressed in the prior art concerns the movement of the mouth when speech and music are present at the same time in a prerecorded audio signal. The present invention allows S"mouth or jaw actuation to be governed by the speech component of such signals so that the animation simulates singing to music. Another novel aspect of the present invention regards the camouflage of facial features so that they are hidden from view until the invention is activated. This functionality provides a startling and engaging aspect of the invention that occurs upon activation. Finally, the modular embodiment of the present invention allows for portability of the animation. The present invention can be installed in a real or artificial Christmas tree. The inventors are not aware of prior art that demonstrates a talking Christmas tree with lifelike animation of facial features coordinated with voice and sound and disclosed and claimed in this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an animated Christmas tree with facial animation that is sufficiently lifelike to not only amuse children and adults, but to provide such interest as to engage children in conversation.

The basic embodiment of the invention is an artificial talking and singing Christmas tree that incorporates sound producing means and facial animation that is controlled by the emanated sound. Mounted within the branches on one side of the tree are the animated facial features of the tree comprising a pair of illuminated eyes with moveable eyelids, and a moveable 15 "U-shaped" jaw that is basically a flat plate. The generally spherically-shaped eyelids are retractable over the eyes and are covered with artificial Christmas tree leaves. The perimeter of the moveable "U-shaped" jaw is also camouflaged with artificial Christmas trees leaves and/or branches.

As the jaw is opened, i.e. made to drop from its closed position, a red tongue is revealed that is attached to the black upper surface of the plate that S"forms this jaw, thereby providing a simulation of an open mouth. In an inactive state, the eyelids are down, covering the eyes, and the moveable jaw is retracted upward to a closed position. In this state, the facial features are not visible they are completely camouflaged by the Christmas tree leaf covering that is attached to each of these moveable parts.

Also camouflaged in this way is a motion sensor located vertically between the eyes and jaw in the position of a nose. It is this sensor that causes the tree to "come to life" when someone or something passes in proximity to it. Upon activation of the sensor, prerecorded speech and music from either a digital or tape source within the trunk of the tree is played through a speaker that is also located in the trunk of the tree. Electronic circuits within the tree process this sound to provide drive signals to two motors, one which moves the jaw and the other which moves the eyelids. A signal is also generated to modulate the light emanated from lights located in the eyes.

In this way lifelike facial movements are actuated by sound and music. A typical set of audio recordings that are played by the tree are Christmas songs sung by a human voice. Processing of the sound by electronic circuits incorporated in the invention allows primarily the voiced component of the songs to actuate the facial motions. Therefore, the effect is that of a tree singing with a human voice.

Among the preferred features that make this S- 15 invention particularly engaging are, among other things, eyelid movement that is smooth and asynchronous with jaw movement; S* jaw motion that is synchronous with recorded or transmitted speech, but allows the presence of background music; the hidden nature of the facial features when the invention is not operational; a startling "come-alive" feature that is activated by the proximity of a person or moving object.

Several embodiments of the invention include a standalone artificial talking Christmas tree that is battery powered or powered from a wall plug AC-to-DC adapter. Speech, music or other sounds can be stored within the tree in the form of digital memory, or can be played from tape cassette. An audio input can be provided for external sources of sound such as phone, microphone, external tape player, CD-ROM player, phonograph, computer, VCR, or radio. A collection of such Christmas trees can be used to present a singing Christmas tree chorus with each tree driven by a separate voice or source of audio sound. Another main embodiment provides 8 for the animation and sound mechanisms to be incorporated into a modular assembly that is camouflaged by artificial Christmas tree foliage and is removably attachable to a large real or artificial Christmas tree. In this case the size of the features is made larger to correspond to the larger tree into which it will be installed. An embodiment that allows two way conversations includes a microphone pickup with amplifier in the tree and an audio transceiver that allows a remote operator to hear speech directed to the tree and to respond with his voice to actuate the tree's facial features.

The following definitions serve to clarify the described invention: Audio signal source refers to electronic

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15 circuit means for converting audio signals into feature

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actuation drive signals and eye illumination drive signals.

Eye assembly refers to an assembly that includes simulated eyes. In some embodiments of the 20 invention, animation associated with the eyes is absent.

99:. In other embodiments, the eye assembly would include electrical lamps for illuminated eyes, moveable eyelids, and eyelid actuation means.

**Processing means refers to electronic circuit means for converting audio signals into feature actuation S. drive signals and eye illumination drive signals.

Ooperational refers to the active, sound and motion producing state of the invention.

Activation means refers to sensors that can be used to detect the presence of a person or nearby object and cause the animated talking Christmas tree to become operational. Such sensors include the such varieties of motion sensors as optical, radio frequency, and capacitive, among others.

Speech component refers to that portion of the audio signal energy which represents speech as opposed to music or other sounds.

Tree frame assembly refers to the tree support structure comprising the tree frame which supports animation hardware and the tree trunk base which contains power supply, electronics and switches.

Tree frame refers to the upper portion of the tree frame assembly upon which is mounted the animation hardware such as eyes, eyelids, jaw and associated actuators and wiring.

Tree trunk base refers to the portion of the tree frame assembly that it is not covered with artificial foliage, but simulates the look of an actual tree trunk and encloses power supply, electronics, and switches. The bottom surface of the tree trunk base is .1 planar so as to serve as the resting surface for the S* 15 tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS oIn the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

20 The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. la is a pictorial depiction of the basic embodiment of the invention; FIG. lb is a pictorial depiction of the embodiment of Fig. la in an inactive state; FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram of the frame assembly of the tree; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tree frame assembly of Fig. 2; FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram of the tree foliage depicting the mode of its attachment to the tree frame assembly; FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the processing electronics of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the electronics of the present invention; FIG. 7 is pictorial diagram of modular portable embodiment of the present invention that can be installed in a large, real or artificial Christmas tree; FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram of an animated talking Christmas tree that has provision for two-way communication; FIG. 9a is a functional block diagram of the tree electronics including a transceiver for remote twoway communication; and FIG. 9b is a functional block diagram of a remote transceiver with input/output devices.

S• 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various other forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein 20 are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, **structure or manner.

Incorporated in the present invention is a novel asynchronous electromechanical system that provides remarkably lifelike facial movements when actuated by either speech or speech and music audio signals. The basic embodiment of the invention is an artificial Christmas tree provided with internal sound generating means and facial features present on a side of the tree.

Such features are animated by camouflaged actuation means that are energized in concert with the emanated audio sounds so as to provide a realistic simulation of talking.

Figure la is a pictorial depiction of the basic embodiment of the invention. The structure of the talking Christmas tree comprises a trunk 7 having attached 11 branches 11 each supporting a multiplicity of leaves 9.

Illuminated eyes 3 with moveable eyelids and moveable jaw provide an animated effect when the tree is activated and producing sound. A motion sensor not shown is camouflaged within the center of the tree and activates the invention when an object or person passes in proximity. Speech and singing sound are produced within the tree trunk 7. This sound is processed electronically to provide drive signals for moveable jaw 5, moveable eyelids not shown, and the lamps that illuminate eyes 3.

A motion sensor 10 with associated electrical leads 12 as shown is attached to a branch located between the eyes and jaw features. It is small enough to be easily camouflaged by the artificial foliage. A good 15 candidate for such a compact motion sensor is a

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photoconductive photocell detector contained at the end of a black plastic tube that baffles the detector from S•stray light. Small variations in reflected ambient light will occur at the detector location as an object or 20 person passes nearby thereby causing a change in the **resistance of the detector which is sensed by electronic circuitry to which it is connected. The appearance of the inactive state of the invention is shown in Figure Ib, 555.55 wherein all animation features are camouflaged.

A pictorial diagram of the frame assembly and mechanical components of the tree is provided in Figure 2. A collection of artificial tree branches is attached to the frame assembly. The tree trunk 39 supports the entire tree when placed on a level surface. It contains a speaker, electronic circuitry, batteries and the on/off switch 37 which is shown in the figure. An optional audio jack 43 is useful for input of external sources of sound such as a tape player. A vertical stanchion 41 which serves as the structural backbone of the tree assembly is shown attached atop the tree trunk base 39.

A spring-loaded moveable jaw 31 with tongue is connected by rotatable lever 33 to a first gear train contained in housing 29. The gear train within housing 29 12 is in turn connected to a first dc motor 27. When motor 27 is not activated, the jaw is in the retracted upward position. Because the edge of the jaw is covered with artificial tree foliage in a completed version of the tree, it is not visible in the non-activated position.

Via wiring not shown, the motor is connected to drive circuitry contained within tree trunk base 39. The jaw assembly comprising jaw 31, lever 33, first gear train within housing 29 and first dc motor 27 is screw-mounted to vertical stanchion 41 at standoff locations 43.

Illuminated eyes 45 are mounted to the housing 23 of a second gear train by means of cantilever posts 47. Spring-loaded rotatable eyelids 25 are connected to the second gear train by means of axle 49. This axle is 15 driven by a second dc motor 21 via the second gear train

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within housing 23. When the motor is not activated, the o o "eyelids are in a closed position, covering the eyes In the completed version of the tree, the eyelids are covered with artificial tree foliage and hence hide the 20 eyes when the eyelids are in the non-activated position.

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Second dc motor 21 is connected via wires not shown to drive circuitry contained with tree trunk base 39. The eye assembly comprising eyes 45, eyelids 25, second gear oooeo S• train contained within housing 23, and second dc motor 21 are screw-attached to vertical stanchion 41 at standoff locations 51.

.5 Figure 3 is an exploded view of the tree frame assembly of Figure 2 providing greater mechanical detail.

Tree trunk base 78 having baseplate 83, is shown containing a speaker 80, electronic circuitry 81, batteries in a battery compartment 82 and an on/off switch assembly 79 that mounts with screws into cutout 86 in the side of tree trunk base 78. The tree frame comprises elongate pieces 54 and 55 that are secured together by screw means to form a vertical stanchion that is mounted into the receptacle 87 having a "U"-shaped cross section in tree trunk base 78. The foliage assembly not shown in this figure is attached to the tree frame 13 and the central stalk of such an assembly is mounted within circular receptacle 88 in tree trunk base 78.

Supporting levers 56 and 57 are affixed to the underside of moveable jaw plate 77 and transfer the rotational motion of the gears within gear drive assembly 59 to jaw plate 77. A dc motor 60, secured to gear drive assembly 59 by plate and rod assembly 61, moves the gear train within gear drive assembly 59 so as to ultimately rotate the jaw plate 77. Spring 58 preloads dc motor so that jaw plate 77 returns to its upwardly retracted position when motor 60 is not energized.

The back hemispheres 64 and 69 of the eyes are immovably attached to the housing of gear drive assembly 74. Receptacles 65 and 70 are provided within these hemispheres for the mounting of lamps 66 and 71, respectively. Transparent front hemispheres 67 and 72 are or centrally decorated with a faux pupil so as to simulate •o the appearance of an eye and obscure the visibility of lamps 66 and 71 while allowing light scattered from the lamps to be emanated from front hemispheres 67 and 72.

*"Hemispheres 67 and 72 are removably snap-fitted onto back hemispheres 64 and 69 so as to allow replacement of burned-out lamps. Eyelids 68 and 73 are attached to a common axle that is geared to the gear train within gear drive assembly 74. A dc motor 75, secured to the housing of gear drive assembly 74 by plate and rod assembly 76, serves to move the gear train within gear drive assembly S" 74 so as to ultimately rotate eyelids 68 and 73. A spring, not shown, but contained within gear drive assembly 74 serves to preload dc motor 75 so that eyelids 68 and 73 are in a position which covers the hemispheres 67 and 72 of the eyes when dc motor 75 is not energized.

Figure 4 is a pictorial diagram of the tree foliage depicting the mode of its attachment to the tree frame assembly 97. Various of the tree frame assembly surfaces are first covered with pieces of artificial Christmas tree foliage by adhesive means. Subsequently, an assembly 91 of artificial Christmas tree branches is attached to the tree frame assembly 97. This is accomplished by adhesive and plastic tie attachment of spine 93 of branch assembly 91 to the vertical stanchion of tree frame assembly 97. The individual branches 99 of branch assembly 91 are wrapped around stanchion 95 so as to produce a three-dimensional distribution of Christmas tree branches.

Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of the processing electronics of the present invention. An electrical audio signal 101 from either an internal source such as digital memory or an external source such as a cassette player drives audio output device 141 such as a speaker and is also input to a another electronic path to generate sound or speech synchronized animation S15 of the Christmas tree. To achieve the animation

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functions, audio signal 101 is input first to a buffered boo.

voltage amplifier 103 to create a large voltage swing "signal 105 that is input to rectifier 107 to create bo unipolar signal 109. The unipolar signal 109 is then input to current amplifier 111 to produce signal 113 that is subsequently routed along two parallel paths. In a first such path, signal 113 is gated by a pulse train from pulse train generator 115. The gate 119 can be "implemented using a digital logic AND gate. The pulses in boo 25 the pulse train signal 177 have a prespecified pulsewidth as discussed below. The gated signal 121 is then power amplified by amplifier 123 to provide a drive signal 125 that powers the jaw actuation motor.

The use of audio signals that contain both speech and background music, as in the example of a singing human voice with instrumental accompaniment, requires that the aforementioned pulsewidth be large enough to allow realistic operation of the actuated jaw when speech is present, but small enough to prohibit background music from continuing actuation when speech is absent. This is achievable because the speech component of such audio signals will be the larger amplitude component. The other path for signal 113 introduces this signal to a time delay 127. The delayed signal 129 is then power amplified by amplifier 131 so as to produce a drive signal 133 for the eyelid actuator. The delay of the drive signal 133 relative to drive signal 125 ensures that the eyelid actuation will be asynchronous with the jaw actuation.

Figure 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of a candidate audio processing and actuation circuitry of the present invention. At the top of Figure 6, is a diagram of a candidate motion sensor "turn-on" circuit 160. In this version of motion detection, fluctuations in ambient light caused by motion of a nearby person or object are exploited for the purpose of enabling the power to the invention. Circuit 160 is the only circuit that 15 constantly draws current from the supply voltage source.

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This current drain can be made extremely low so as to be compatible with a supply voltage source derived from batteries. Photocell 161 in combination with resistor 162 provides a light dependent voltage divider that delivers a corresponding light-dependent voltage to the positive input of a CMOS voltage comparator 165. A reference S.voltage is supplied to the negative input of comparator 165 by means of a fixed voltage divider comprising S* resistors 163 and 164.

Fluctuations in ambient lighting will cause a voltage swing at the positive input to comparator 165. As this voltage crosses the threshold value, output pulses S"of current will charge capacitor 168 through diode 166 and resistor 167. The resulting voltage on capacitor 168 will turn on field effect transistor 169 so as to provide the +V voltage to the rest of the circuitry. Diode 166 and resistor 167 prevent premature discharge of capacitor 168. The values of capacitor 168 and resistor 167 are chosen to provide a capacitor discharge time constant that is sufficiently long that circuit 160 provides enabling power for a predetermined amount of time.

Sound information in the form of noises, speech, or music is stored in digitized form in digital sound memory 173. This is well established in the prior art and can be accomplished using a single integrated circuit with a small number of discrete components.

Transistor-based clock oscillator 174 clocks the digitized sound samples out of sound memory 173 into audio amplifier 172 which includes a bandpass filter function, not shown, so that an analog audio signal of reasonable fidelity is output to drive speaker 170.

Resistor 171 is used for impedance matching and current limiting. The audio output signal is also input to an operational amplifier 230 via resistor 175. Operation amplifier 230 is configured to perform in open-loop, voltage comparator fashion so as to provide a large voltage swing output signal.

15 The voltage divider comprising resistors 176 and 177 provides a reference voltage to the negative 0* "SO* input of operational amplifier 230. The operational S-amplifier uses a dual polarity voltage supply in order to accommodate the bias on the input signal. Negative voltage supply 179 comprises an oscillator running off *"the +V voltage and charging a bootstrap circuit to create 6000 a negative voltage relative to ground. The output of the operational amplifier 230 is coupled through capacitor 180 to a rectifier circuit comprising diodes 181 and 182 and capacitor 183. The rectified audio signal is input to current gain transistor 185 via resistor 184. Resistor :.:00 186 is a bias and load resistor for transistor 185. The S0 signal output of transistor 185 then is sent along two parallel paths.

The first path inputs the signal to a series of logical NAND gates within integrated circuit 190. The output of free-running pulse oscillator 193 is gated with this audio signal within circuit 190 so as to provide an on time"- limited output. This time-limited output is coupled through capacitor 197 to the jaw and lamp drive circuitry 231 comprising resistors 213, 214, 215, 217, 221, 223, capacitors 216 and 220, and transistors 218, 219, 222, and 224. The current from transistor 224 drives lamps 225 and 226, and dc motor 227. Capacitor 227 is a startup capacitor for motor 227 and diode 229 is a motor voltage protection diode.

The second path is connected through capacitor 187 to eyelid drive circuitry 232. Resistor 188 and capacitor 189 provide a phase shift that delays the signal relative to the signal conducted along the first path. This will make eyelid motion asynchronous with the jaw motion. The phase shifted signal then is input to eyelid drive circuitry 232 comprising resistors 198, 201, 202, 203, 206, and 207, capacitors 199 and 205, and transistors 200, 204, 208, and 209. Motor 210 is driven by current from transistor 209. Capacitor 211 is a 15 startup capacitor and diode 212 is a motor voltage protection diode.

*600 ~The circuitry of Figure 6 serves as an example electronic implementation. The scope of the present 0@ invention is not limited to the circuit configuration disclosed herein, but is intended to include the plethora .0 of alternate implementation schemes supported by a well 0500 established electronic art.

Figure 7 is a pictorial diagram of the frame °ooo• assembly and mechanical components of a modular 25 embodiment of the invention. A portable, mechanically actuated face assembly 251 is shown which can be fastened i to the trunk or branches of a large real or artificial S0 Christmas tree. The assembly 251 has a rectangular post 301 that serves as a "backbone" for attachment of the animation hardware. A cord 253 connection provides power and control signals to assembly 251 from a remotely located container 255 that is shown disguised as a Christmas present. Container 255 houses a tape player and processing electronics. Electrical power is delivered to container 255 via cord 257 from AC-to-DC wall plug adapter 259. Jaw plate 261 is actuated by spring loaded dc motor 281. Mechanical torque is transferred from motor 281 to jaw plate 261 via gear train 267. Moveable eyelids 275 and 277 are caused to rotate by dc motor 283 connected to axle 285 via gear train 271. Speaker housing 265 containing a speaker is shown in a position intermediate the eyes and jaw. Motion sensor 263 is mounted adjacent speaker 265. Lamps not shown are affixed behind transparent eye front hemispheres 269 and 273. The assembly 251 is covered with artificial Christmas tree foliage so as to camouflage its presence when installed in a Christmas tree by use of simple wire ties. The cord 253 would be hidden within the branches of the Christmas tree and connect to the disguised container 255 placed under the tree. Operation of assembly 251 is the same as "that of Figure 3.

Another amusing embodiment of the present invention concerns provision for two-way communication, or remote control, as depicted in Figure 8. Animated talking Christmas tree 301 includes a pickup microphone embedded within its foliage. The figure depicts children conversing with the tree. The children's speech is detected by the pickup microphone, amplified and transmitted to a remote location by way of a first "transceiver in the tree, not shown. A person at this location is equipped with a second transceiver 303 which receives the transmitted children's speech and relays it 25 to headphones 305. The person can use the boom microphone 307 to verbally respond to the children. This responsive speech is transmitted back to the Christmas tree transceiver where it is converted to the audio signal that drives the speaker within the tree and the animated features of the tree.

Variations of this embodiment include the use a speaker and an microphone at the location remote from the tree rather than headphones and boom microphone. The transceivers can be of a wireless, freespace type such as infrared, radio frequency, or ultrasonic. Alternatively, they can be connected by wire or fiber optic cable. In addition to verbal cues, the remote person whose voice is driving the animation of the tree can use visual cues to 19 guide his response to children that are interacting with the tree if he is within visual range of the tree.

Otherwise, a low cost video camera of the kind presently used in toy trains and other hobby applications could be mounted in the tree to provide a video channel useful for the remote control of the tree.

Block diagrams of the electronics required in the implementation of the embodiment of Figure 8 are provided in Figures 9a and 9b. Those functions not present in previously discussed embodiments of the invention are highlighted. Figure 9b is a block diagram for the electronics used in the tree. A full duplex S"transceiver 321 transmits sounds and speech picked up by microphone 323. The received voice is output to speaker S 15 325. For completeness, the processing circuitry 327 which S"generates animation drive signals from the audio is shown driving jaw actuator 329, eyelid actuator 331, and eye illumination 333. The hardware represented by Figure 9b comprises that which is located remotely from the tree.

Remote full duplex transceiver 335 transmits a remote persons voice to the tree via microphone 337, and provides the output of sound and speech received from the environment of the tree over speaker 339.

While the invention has been described in 25 connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. An animated talking Christmas tree comprising: a) a tree frame assembly; b) artificial foliage; c) sound producing means; d) processing means; e) eye assembly; g) moveable mouth assembly i) electrical power supply means; and j) electrical connection means, said tree frame assembly further comprising a tree trunk base and tree frame, said tree frame assembly supportive of the other tree components comprising said sound producing means, said processing means, said eye 15 assembly, said moveable mouth assembly, and said electrical power supply means, said artificial foliage in the form of branches with leaves, said branches attached **to said tree frame and other tree components so as to completely cover said tree frame and specific tree components that would otherwise be visible, said sound producing means converting electrical signals from an external audio signal source to radiated sound, said processing means converting said electrical signals from said external audio signal source to electrical drive 25 signals, said electrical drive signals powering said moveable mouth assembly so as to produce speechsynchronized motion of said moveable mouth when said electrical signals contain a speech component, said power supply means providing electrical power for operation of said animated talking Christmas tree, and said electrical connection means connecting said electrical power supply means to said sound producing means and said processing means, said electrical connection means further connecting said processing means to said actuation means.

2. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 1 wherein said moveable mouth assembly further comprises a moveable jaw and jaw actuation means, said electrical drive signals powering said jaw actuation

Claims (25)

1. 3. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 2, which includes illuminated eyes containing electrically powered light sources, said electrically powered light sources electrically connected to said processing means, said processing means providing speech and sound dependent modulation of the intensity of said electrically powered light sources.
2. 4. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 2 wherein said eye assembly further comprises eyes with moveable eyelids and eyelid actuation means, said tree frame assembly further supportive of said eyes 15 with moveable eyelids and said eyelid actuation means, said eyes encloseable by said moveable eyelids, said moveable eyelids covered with said artificial foliage so as to camouflage the presence of said eyes and eyelids when said animated talking Christmas tree is inactive, said electrical drive signals powering said eyelid actuation means in addition to said jaw actuation means [[so as to produce both lifelike, speech-synchronized motion of said jaw and smooth blinking of said eyelids that is asynchronous with said jaw motion when said electrical 25 signals contain a speech component. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, which includes activation means causing said animated talking Christmas tree to be operational.
3. 6. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 5, wherein said activation means comprises a motion sensor that activates said animated talking Christmas tree when an object or person passes nearby said animated talking Christmas tree.
4. 7. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, which includes an audio signal source, said audio signal source connected to said sound producing means and said processing means, said electrical connection means connecting said audio signal source to said electrical power supply means.
5. 8. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 7, wherein said audio signal source comprises digitally stored sound.
6. 9. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 7, wherein said audio signal source comprises a cassette tape and cassette tape player. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, wherein said activation means comprises a motion sensor.
7. 11. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, which includes illuminated eyes containing oelectrically powered light sources, said electrically powered light sources electrically connected to said 15 processing means, said processing means providing speech and sound dependent modulation of the intensity of said electrically powered light sources. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, wherein said eyelid actuation means and said jaw actuation means comprise dc electric motors.
8. 13. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4 which further comprises audio sensor means and transceiver means, said audio sensor means further comprising a first audio sensor capable of picking up 25 conversation and other sounds in the vicinity of said animated talking Christmas tree and a second audio sensor picking up speech from a speaker located remotely from said animated talking Christmas tree, said transceiver means further comprising a first and second transceiver, said first transceiver connected to said first audio sensor means and capable of transmitting audio signals from said first audio sensor to said second transceiver for audible broadcast, said first transceiver receiving an audio signal from said second transceiver and delivering said audio signal to said sound producing means, said second transceiver connected to said second audio sensor and transmitting said speech from said remotely located speaker to said first transceiver, said second transceiver also capable of receiving audio signals from said first transceiver for audible broadcast.
9. 14. An animated talking Christmas tree as recited in Claim 4, wherein said processing means further comprises electronic means, said electronic means first receiving and buffer-amplifying said audio signal to produce an amplified signal, then rectifying said amplified signal to produce a rectified signal, said rectified signal subsequently subject to current amplification to produce a current amplified signal, said current amplified signal subject to processing along two parallel paths, a first said parallel path comprising gating said current amplified signal with a repetitive 15 pulse signal of limited pulse duration and subsequent power amplification to produce a drive signal to drive a first dc motor against a first spring load, a second said parallel path comprising delay of said current amplified signal to produce a delayed signal, subsequent power amplification of said delayed signal to produce a drive signal to drive a second dc motor against a second spring said first and second dc motors comprising said jaw and said eyelid actuation means, respectively, said S.gating of said current amplified signal limiting the 25 actuation time for said first dc motor which moves said jaw so that when both speech and music are present in said audio signal said gating favors actuation of said jaw by the speech component of said audio signal thereby providing realistic speech-associated articulation of said jaw when said audio signal contains both speech and music, said delay of said current amplified signal providing a drive signal to said second dc motor controlling said eyelids so that motion of said eyelids is asynchronous with the said motion of said jaw, said processing thereby providing An animated talking Christmas tree assembly comprising: a) frame assembly; b) artificial foliage; c) sound producing means; d) processing means; e) eye assembly; g) moveable mouth assembly i) electrical power supply means; and j) electrical connection means, said frame assembly supportive of the other animated facial components comprising said sound producing means, said eye assembly, and said moveable mouth assembly, said artificial foliage in the form of branches with leaves, said branches attached to said frame assembly and other tree components so as to completely cover said frame assembly and specific animated facial components that would otherwise be visible, said sound producing means converting electrical signals from an external audio signal source to radiated .**sound, said processing means converting said electrical signals from said external audio signal source to electrical drive signals, said electrical drive signals powering said moveable mouth assembly so as to produce speech-synchronized motion of said moveable mouth when said electrical signals contain a speech component, said power supply means providing electrical power for 25 operation of said animated talking Christmas tree assembly, said electrical connection means connecting said electrical power supply means to said sound producing means and said processing means, said electrical connection means further connecting said processing means to said actuation means, said animated talking Christmas tree assembly installable in a real or artificial Christmas tree.
10. 16. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 15 wherein said moveable mouth assembly further comprises a moveable jaw and jaw actuation means, said electrical drive signals powering said jaw actuation means so as to produce lifelike, speech-synchronized motion of said jaw when said electrical signals contain a speech component.
11. 17. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 16, which includes illuminated eyes containing electrically powered light sources, said electrically powered light sources electrically connected to said processing means, said processing means providing speech and sound dependent modulation of the intensity of said electrically powered light sources.
12. 18. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 16 wherein said eye assembly further comprises eyes with moveable eyelids and eyelid actuation means, said tree frame assembly further supportive of said eyes with moveable eyelids and said eyelid actuation means, said eyes encloseable by said moveable eyelids, Q. 15 said moveable eyelids covered with said artificial foliage so as to camouflage the presence of said eyes and eyelids when said animated talking Christmas tree is inactive, said electrical drive signals powering said eyelid actuation means in addition to said jaw actuation means so as to produce both lifelike, speech-synchronized motion of said jaw and smooth blinking of said eyelids that is asynchronous with said jaw motion when said electrical signals contain a speech component.
13. 19. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as 25 recited in Claim 18, which includes activation means causing said animated talking Christmas tree to be operational. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 19, wherein said activation means comprises a motion sensor that activates said animated talking Christmas tree when an object or person passes nearby said animated talking Christmas tree.
14. 21. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 18, which includes an audio signal source, said audio signal source connected to said sound producing means and said processing means, said electrical connection means connecting said audio signal source to said electrical power supply means.
15. 22. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 21, wherein said audio signal source comprises digitally stored sound.
16. 23. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 21, wherein said audio signal source comprises a cassette tape and cassette tape player.
17. 24. An animated talking Christmas tree assembly as recited in Claim 18, further comprising audio sensor means and transceiver means, said audio sensor means further comprising a first audio sensor capable of picking up conversation and other sounds in the vicinity of said animated talking Christmas tree and a second audio sensor picking up speech from a speaker located remotely from said animated talking Christmas tree, said 15 transceiver means further comprising a first and second on transceiver, said first transceiver connected to said first audio sensor means and capable of transmitting audio signals from said first audio sensor to said second transceiver for audible broadcast, said first transceiver S. 20 receiving an audio signal from said second transceiver and delivering said audio signal to said sound producing means, said second transceiver connected to said second audio sensor and transmitting said speech from said remotely located speaker to said first transceiver, said second transceiver also capable of receiving audio signals from said first transceiver for audible broadcast. A tree having electronically-operated moveable animated facial features.
18. 26. A tree as claimed in claim 25, further comprising sound producing means.
19. 27. A tree as claimed in claim 26, wherein the animated facial features are responsive to the sound produced by the sound producing means.
20. 28. A tree as claimed in claim 27, further comprising activation means responsive to motion of an object in the vicinity of the tree for activating the sound producing means, and hence the animated facial features.
21. 29. A tree as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the facial features are camouflaged so that they are not readily visible in their inactive state. A tree as claimed in claim 27, wherein the facial features include an eye assembly with movable eyelids, and a moveable jaw.
22. 31. A tree as claimed in claim 30, wherein the sound produced by the sound producing means includes a speech component, the jaw having a motion synchronous with the speech component.
23. 32. A tree as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the eyelids have a motion asynchronous with the sound produced by the sound producing means.
24. 33. A tree as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 15 32, wherein the tree is an artificial Christmas tree.
25. 34. An animated Christmas tree substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying S" drawings. S" DATED this fifteenth day of January 1998 MDI INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys Cullen Co. oe r 4 k 28 ABSTRACT An animated talking Christmas tree is disclosed that includes eyes with moveable eyelids, and a moveable jaw. The motion of the jaw is synchronized to the speech component of an internally or externally generated audio signal. The eyelids are caused to blink asynchronously with the motion of the jaw. In the case where the audio signal represents a voice singing to musical accompaniment, processing of the audio signal by circuits incorporated in the invention allows only the voiced component of the songs to actuate the jaw motion. This provides for realistic simulation of a mouth articulating the words of a song while background music is present. Various embodiments of the invention include motion 15 sensor activation, installation of the animation mechanism in a large artificial or real tree, remote transmission of audio signals to the tree, provision for interactive speech, and illuminated eyes having an intensity that is modulated by the audio signal.