GB2349836A

GB2349836A - Talking doll with bar-code optical reader

Info

Publication number: GB2349836A
Application number: GB0009931A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Deborah Wong Simmons
Original assignee: Tri-State Products Inc
Current assignee: Tri-State Products Inc
Priority date: 1999-04-23
Filing date: 2000-04-20
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB0009931D0

Abstract

A talking doll has a bar-code optical reader connected to a microprocessor within the doll which is programmed to reproduce as spoken words a text selected according to the bar-code recognised by the reader. The reader may be in a hand, eye or spectacles of the doll or in a separate "pen" connected to the doll. The doll is used with a book printed in the form of bar codes, which is held in the hands of the doll and "read" by it. The microprocessor may be programmed to respond to simple words or sounds picked up by an included microphone and the sound output may include songs accompanied by music.

Description

2349836 TAliKING DOLL

Background cf, the InveritiQ;1

1. Field of the In-vention

The invention relates to a talking doll.

2. Description of the Prior Art Talking dolls are already known that respond to children's requests or talk to each other using infra-red communications signals for example. Typically, such dolls respond to physical stimuli that require the child 10 to press or switch ON the doll to carry out various tacks. By and large, the (lolls are not "independently,, pro-reactive at least to an initial request, which means some of the thrill or pleas.ure in playing with the dolls is lacking. is Summary Qf the Inv,bntion it is an object of the invention to overcome or at least reduce this problem. According to the invention there is provided a talking doll having a microprocessor mounted therein programmed 20 to reproduce a number of texts in the form of spoken

2 - words and an externally mounted bar code optical reader for use in selecting the text and initiating the reproduction of each selected text.

The bar code optical reader may be mounted on a hand of the doll, adjacent an eye of the doll, on a pen electrically connected to the doll, or elsewhere.

A manually operated switck: may be used to turn ON the doll. That switch may be! mcunr-ed in a trunk of the doll's body.

The microprocessor may be programmed to ask the child initially to select a text to be reproduced.

A microphone may be mounted to the doll for picking up commands or other signals for initiating the running or continuing certain programmes or routines in the microprocessor.

Brief Descriijtion pf the -12.rlwinqa A talking doll according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a doll; - 3 Figure 2 shows an electrical schematic diagram of the doll; and Figure 3 shows a flow chart; for the doll, Description of the Preferre,,!j Embp _dmentr, Re:erring to the drawing:5, in Figure 1 a doll 10, representing a grandmothe:r, has an optical bar code reader 11 mounted to a pal:: of spectacles 12. The doll has outstretched hands 13 that are formed to slidably receive a book 14 to initiate the start of "reading" of 10 a text in the book. Each page of the book has a typically formed bar code display (not shown) that is used for selecting a text to be reproduced by the doll, as explained below. A manually operable switch 15 (see Figure 2) is mounted at A under a waist band 16 for is turning ON the doll by a child simply exerting pressure on the waist band 16. In Figure 2, the switch 15 is connected to a microprocessor 17 that is powered by a baEtery pack is and connected to the pair of spectacles 12. A second 20 pressure switch 19 is mounted in one of the hands 13 of the dol:l that responds to the insertion of the open book into the hand 13. The microprocessor has a conventional memory that stores 4 a number of appropriate texts that are reproduced at a loudspeaker in a manner well-understood for talking dolls. in use, the mic=oprocessor is controlled to reproduce an appropriate text selected by scanning the bar code reader over a bar code display provided on each page of the book 14.

In Figure 3, the flow chart illustrates a normal sequence of events carried out when playing with the doll. it will be appreciated that the doll may be provided with a 10. microphone 21. The microprocessor can he programmed to respond at least to fairly igimply noises picked up by the microphone so that, for example, the doll may respond to claps to start and stop a ll:t-eading" of a text. Also, the microprocessor may be pro( rammed to distinguish words is such as "YES" and "NO", so that whether a new story is read or not, can be determined vocally by the microphone picking up such words, to fit in with an appropriate step in the f low chart. it is quite possible and within fairly simple and well-known current technology for the microprocessor to recognise such commands as "Please READ AGAINO, or similar.

The optical reader may be mounted on other parts of the doll such as on the hands of doll, or in a separate pen that is electrical connected to the microprocessor.

In any 'event, the described doll is pro-reactive in a pleasurable and interesting manner. it will be appreciated that the stored texts, that correspond or respond to texts according to selected pages of one or more books, may also take the form of simple songs, and be reproduced accompanied by musical sounds if desired.

Claims

- 6 1 Clai;

A talking doll having a microprocessor mounted therein programmed to reproduce a number of texts in the form of spoken words and an externally mounted bar code optical reader for use in selecting the text and initiating the reproduction of each selected text.

2. A talking doll according to claim 1, in which the bar code optical reader is mounted on a hand of the doll.

3. A talking doll according to claim 1, in which the bar code optical reader is mounted to an eye of the doll. 4. A talking doll according to claim 1, in which the bar code optical reader is mounted to a pen electrically connected to the doll5. A talking doll according to claim 1, in which the bar code optical rea5Ier is mounted to reading glasses that fit on a head of the doll. 6. A talking doll according to claim 1, including a manually operated switch that turns ON the doll. 7. A talking doll according to claim 6, in which the 20 switch is mounted in a. trunk of the doll's body.

1 1 1 7 - 8. A talking doll according to claim 6, in which the microprocessor is programmed to ask the child to select a text to be reproduced.

9. A talking doll according to claim 1, including a microphone mounted to the doll for picking up commands or other signals for initiating the running or continuing of certain programmes or routines in the microprocessor.