JP2004041329A - Communication toy with timer function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication toy with a timer function for curing mind of a user while always keeping direct or indirect contact with the user by communicating with the user except for the time when an alarm time is set, by changing idea away from a tool only for informing the user of the alarm time. <P>SOLUTION: A toy body 1 comprises a drive mechanism B which is operated by a single motor 19 to drive a support plate 4 for supporting hand parts 2, leg parts 3, and the toy body and which is provided with a control mechanism 30 for controlling whether or not the support plate 4 is rotated in the rotation direction of the motor 19; a voice output part 9; a light-emitting display part 5; a time display part 8, a microphone 6 to detect a sound; an operating button 10 operated by the user; and a control part 15 for controlling operations of the voice output part 9, the light-emitting display part 5, and the motor 19 based on an input signal from the microphone 6 or the operating button 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication toy having a timer function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various timers have been proposed as tools for notifying a set time, and are put into practical use.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional timer simply notifies the user of the set time by some means (basically a sound), and the timer does not contact the user until the set time is reached, It simply existed as an object. For this purpose, various designs have been proposed to be visually effective as ornaments, but they have not been actively engaged with users.
[0004]
The present invention solves the above problems, communicates with the user except for the alarm set time, switches the idea from a simple alarm time notification device, and always heals the user's mind while directly and indirectly contacting the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication toy having a timer function that can be used.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a communication toy having a timer function according to the present invention has the following requirements for operating a foot and a hand provided on a toy main body and notifying a user of a set alarm time. It is characterized by the following.
(A) A first drive mechanism for moving the hand, a second drive mechanism for moving the foot, and a third drive mechanism for rotating the support plate are arranged on the toy body, and all the drive mechanisms are (B) The first mechanism has a control mechanism for controlling whether or not to rotate the support plate according to the rotation direction of the motor. (C) The toy body has an audio output unit and a light emitting unit. (2) The toy body includes a microphone for detecting sound, an operation button operated by a user, and the sound output unit and the light emitting unit based on an input signal of the microphone or the operation button. A display unit and a control unit for controlling operation of the motor are provided.
The toy body is supported at three points: a support plate arranged on the bottom and two feet arranged on both sides. When the feet move, the toy body can swing back and forth. preferable.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, reference symbol A denotes a communication toy having a timer function according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a communication toy). It outputs a sound to notify the user of the alarm, and communicates with the user except for the alarm time to operate.
[0008]
In this communication toy, the toy body 1 is formed in a spherical shape, hands 2 and 2 and feet 3 and 3 are arranged on both sides, and the hands 2 and 2 are moved up and down by a driving mechanism B arranged inside. The toys 3 are pivotable to the left and right. The toy main body 1 is supported by the toy main body at three places: a support plate 4 provided at the bottom and heels 3a, 3a of the feet 3,3. Have been.
[0009]
Further, the cheek portion a illuminates the inner wall surface when the LED (light emitting display) 5 arranged inside emits light, so that the cheek looks red and the mouth portion b has a microphone 6. It is arranged and senses the sound generated around it.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2, a time display unit 8 provided with a setting button for setting a time, a speaker (sound output unit) 9 and operation buttons 10 are arranged on the back surface. The time display is made invisible from outside except when the cover timer is set, so that the timer cannot be recognized in appearance. When the cover 12 is opened, the batteries set in the battery box 13 disposed inside can be replaced.
[0011]
The time display section 8 is constituted by a 7-segment 4-digit display LCD (liquid crystal display), and displays the time based on display data from the control section 15 described later.
[0012]
Inside the toy body 1, an LCD driver for storing voice data and a control program for controlling the operation of the toy body 1, reading the stored voice data, outputting the voice to the speaker 9 and displaying the time data on the LCD 8 is provided. A control unit 15 composed of a programmable voice synthesis IC and a drive mechanism B for operating the hands 2, the feet 3, and the support plate 4 are arranged. The drive mechanism B drives a motor 19 that is controlled to be operated by the control unit 15. Source.
[0013]
The control unit 15 operates a clock counter set internally using the clock as a reference clock, and outputs the data of the counter to the LCD 8 as clock data. Further, the state of the pressing operation of the operation button 10 is determined, and a program corresponding to the operation result is selected from a plurality of programs and executed.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the communication toy. The toy main body 1 is formed in a spherical shape with a hemispherical front member 1a and a rear member 1b, and a hand part 2, a foot part 3, and a support plate 4 are provided inside. A driving mechanism B for driving, an LCD 8, a support 7 for holding a microphone 6 and an LED 5, a speaker 9, and an operation button 10 are arranged.
[0015]
The drive mechanism B includes first, second, and third drive mechanisms 16, 17, and 18 that drive the hand 2, foot 3 and support plate 4 using one motor 19 as a driving force. The rotational force of the motor 19 is transmitted to a drive gear 22 via a worm 20 fixed to a rotating shaft of the motor and a worm wheel 21 meshing with the worm 20. An eccentric cam 24 is fixed to a shaft 23 of the drive gear 22, and the drive gear 22 and the eccentric cam 24 rotate integrally with the shaft 23.
[0016]
A cam 25 having a substantially elliptical cross section is integrally formed on the same axis of the drive gear 22. The cam 25 operates the first drive mechanism 16, and the eccentric shaft 24a of the eccentric cam 24 has the second eccentric shaft 24a. The drive mechanism 17 is operated.
[0017]
Further, a crown gear 26 meshes with the drive gear 22, and the crown gear 26 operates the third drive mechanism 18.
[0018]
The first drive mechanism 16 includes swing members 40 and 41, as shown in FIG. Hands 2 are attached to the tips of the swinging members 40 and 41, respectively, and project outward from openings in the side surfaces of the toy body 1. The rear ends of the swing members 40 and 41 are rotatably supported by a support shaft 43 formed on the front frame 42 so as to be vertically rotatable, and are always rotated downward by their own weight.
[0019]
In the vicinity of the support shaft 43 of the swing members 40 and 41, engagement portions 44 and 45 that engage with the cam 25 formed on the drive gear 22 are formed to protrude downward, respectively. The cam 25 is sandwiched between both sides by 44 and 45. When the drive gear 22 rotates and the long diameter of the cam 25 engages with the engagements 44 and 45 as shown in FIG. As the engaging portions 44 and 45 are pressed to the left and right, the swing plates 40 and 41 rotate upward around the support shaft 43, and the short diameter of the cam 25 is changed to the engaging portion as shown in FIG. When the engaging portions 44 and 45 are engaged, the pressing of the engaging portions 44 and 45 is released, so that the swing plates 40 and 41 rotate downward by their own weight around the support shaft 43, and the driving gear 22 (motor 19) During the rotation of, the hands 2, 2 are repeatedly moved up and down.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 3, the second drive mechanism 17 is pivotally supported by support shafts 51 and 52 formed on both sides of the rear frame 50 so as to be vertically rotatable, and has a square shape having an open center. A first sector gear 58 including arm members 54 and 55 connected by a connecting member 53 and a substantially U-shaped engaging piece 57 that engages with a connecting shaft 56 fixed to the distal ends of the arm members 54 and 55. And a second fan gear 59 that meshes with the first fan gear 58. The rotating shafts 60 and 61 of the fan gears 58 and 59 are fixed to the inner wall surface of the front cover 1a by screws (not shown). Of the rotating shafts 60, 61 project obliquely downward from holes 65, 66 formed in the front cover 1 a, and the feet 3 are attached to the leading ends via friction 67 respectively. ing.
[0021]
In the second drive mechanism 17, since the eccentric shaft 25 of the eccentric cam 24 is inserted through the opening 53a of the connecting member 53, when the eccentric cam 24 rotates, the arm members 54 and 55 are centered on the support shafts 51 and 52. Pivots vertically. When the arm members 54 and 55 rotate, the U-shaped engaging piece 57 protruding from the rear side of the first sector gear 58 is engaged with the connecting shaft 56 so as to sandwich the connecting shaft 56. The first sector gear 58 repeats forward and reverse rotation about the shaft 60. Since the second sector gear 59 meshes with the first sector gear 58, the second sector gear 59 also synchronizes with the first sector gear 58 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the first sector gear 58. (See FIG. 6).
[0022]
When the first and second sector gears 58 and 59 rotate forward and reverse, the legs 3 and 3 are attached to the ends of the shafts 60 and 61 of the sector gears 58 and 59 via frictions 67 and 67, respectively. The feet 3, 3 rotate forward and backward in opposite directions, respectively. When the foot rotates left and right, the heel 3a separates from the mounting surface or touches the ground (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), so that the toy body 1 supported by the feet 3, 3 and the support plate 4 Will swing slightly back and forth.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3, the third drive mechanism 18 includes a gear 27 and a drive disk 28 that are interlocked with a crown gear 26 via a clutch. When the drive gear 22 rotates, the gear 27 is driven via the clutch. It is designed to rotate. As shown in FIG. 4A, a planetary gear (control mechanism) 30 disposed in a guide recess 29 formed in the driving disk 28 meshes with the gear 27, and the motor 19 rotates forward to rotate the gear 27. When the gear rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the planetary gear 30 moves in the guide recess 29 in the counterclockwise direction, contacts the arc-shaped inner wall surface 29a and idles, the motor 19 rotates in the reverse direction, and the gear 27 rotates clockwise. When rotating, the planetary gear 30 moves clockwise as shown in FIG. 4 (b), meshes with a claw 29b projecting from the inner wall surface of the guide recess 29, and rotates the driving disk 28 because it cannot idle. (See FIG. 4C).
[0024]
An engaging projection 31 is formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the driving disk 28 so as to turn on / off a rotation detection switch 32 described later by rotating the driving disk 28. The rotation detection switch 32 is for counting the number of rotations of the drive disk 28, and the control unit 15 counts the number of times the rotation detection switch 32 is turned on so that the rotation number of the drive disk 28 can be recognized. Has become.
[0025]
A square shaft 35 protrudes from the lower surface of the drive disk 28, and a square hole 36 formed in the center of the support plate 4 is fitted to the square shaft 35, and the support plate is integrally formed with the rotation of the drive disk 28. 4 rotates. The support plate 4 is made of rubber so as to increase the frictional resistance with the mounting surface. When the driving disk 28 rotates, the support plate 4 does not rotate and the toy body 1 relatively rotates counterclockwise. It has become.
[0026]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the communication toy. Reference numeral 15 denotes a control unit. The control unit 15 includes an internal memory for storing voice data and a control program for controlling the toy body 1. It comprises a programmable voice synthesis IC having an LCD driver for displaying time data on the LCD 8. The control unit 15 operates with a reference clock 70 and counts a clock counter set therein with a clock for time 71, and displays the time on the LCD 8 based on data of the clock counter.
[0027]
The rotation detection switch 32 is for confirming how many rotations of the toy main body 1 when the motor 19 rotates in the reverse direction and the toy main body 1 rotates. The number of times that the engagement protrusion 31 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the disk 28 turns on the rotation detection switch 32 is counted. Is programmed as
[0028]
As described above, the LEDs 5 and 5 are arranged inside the cheek a of the front cover 1a, and illuminate the cheek from the inside at the time of light emission so that the cheeks appear red.
[0029]
The microphone 6 detects a sound generated around the toy body 1, and the detection result is determined by the control unit 15 as a continuous sound or an intermittent sound, and a predetermined operation (rotation of the motor 19) is performed based on the determination result. , Sound output, and LED lighting).
[0030]
The switch SW1 is a switch corresponding to the operation button 10, the switch SW2 is a selector button 72 for a timer, the switch SW3 is a switch corresponding to a timer determination button 73, and the switch SW4 is a switch corresponding to a reset button 74 for initialization. The switch SW2 is used to input the current time or the alarm time every "hour" and "minute". The switch SW3 is used to determine the input result every "hour" and "minute" selected by the switch SW2. This is a known switch for performing an operation.
[0031]
The switch SW1 is a switch that is turned on when the operation button 10 is pressed. The control unit 15 checks the time during which the operation button 10 is pressed and the number of times the operation button 10 is pressed. Select and execute the appropriate program. The switch SW4 is a reset switch for initializing the entire device.
[0032]
Next, the operation mode of the communication toy will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
[0033]
When the power is turned on, a start operation (for example, outputting a sound “hoyoyo”) for notifying the start and turning on the LED is performed (step ST1), and the process proceeds to step ST2 to determine whether or not the microphone 6 detects a sound. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the operation button 10 has been pressed. If there is no input within a predetermined time (set to 30 seconds in the present invention) (step ST3), the power is automatically turned off and the apparatus enters a standby mode. .
[0034]
When there is an input, it is determined whether the microphone 6 has detected a sound or how the operation button 10 has been pressed (steps ST4 to ST8), and a program corresponding to the input situation is executed.
[0035]
When the microphone 6 detects a sound (step ST4), the process proceeds to step ST9, and the conversation mode is executed. In this conversation mode, a voice is output according to the voice spoken and the limbs are operated. If the voice is a long phrase, a long voice (for example, “Hoyo, Hoyo, Hoyo,...”) Is output, and if it is a short phrase, a short voice (for example, “Hoyo”) is output (see FIG. 10D). ), The process proceeds to step ST16, resets the 30-second timer, returns to step ST2, and enters an input waiting state again.
[0036]
If the operation button 10 has been pressed without the microphone 6 detecting a sound, the process proceeds to step ST5, where it is determined whether the operation button 10 has been pressed for a long time (1 second or more in the present invention), and pressed for 1 second or more. If so, it is determined that the user has forcibly operated to enter the standby mode, the power is automatically turned off, and the apparatus enters the standby mode.
[0037]
When the operation button 10 is pressed once for a short time of 1 second or less (step ST6), the process proceeds to step ST10 to output a notification operation (for example, a sound “Hoyo, Hoyoyoyo”) to notify that the dance mode has been entered. , And the left and right LEDs blink simultaneously), and then proceeds to step ST11 to execute the dance mode. In the dance mode, the limb rotates while operating the limbs in accordance with the sound detected by the microphone 6 (see FIG. 10A). If the sound is continuous, the operation is continuous, and if the sound is intermittent, the operation is also intermittent according to the sound. If the microphone 6 does not detect the sound for 30 seconds or more, the dance mode ends.
[0038]
When the operation button 10 is shortly pressed twice (step ST7), the process proceeds to step ST12 to notify that the fortune-telling mode has been entered (for example, a sound "Hoyoyoyoyo" is output and the left and right LEDs blink alternately). After that, the process proceeds to step ST13 to execute the fortune-telling mode. In the fortune-telling mode, the result of fortune-telling is expressed by the output voice and the movement of the body (see FIG. 10B). The result of this fortune-telling is randomly selected from a plurality of patterns. For example, if the result of fortune-telling is good, move the limbs while rotating, and output a sound (eg, "Hoyo, Hoyo, Hoyo, ..."). If the result of fortune-telling is not good, move only the limbs for a short time. Then, a sound (for example, “Hoyo”) may be output. The fortune-telling mode ends when the result of the fortune-telling is output once.
[0039]
When the operation button 10 is shortly pressed three times (step ST8), the process proceeds to step ST14 to notify the user that the rhythm game has been started (for example, a sound “Hoyoyoyoyo” is output, and the left and right LEDs alternately flash rapidly. ), The process proceeds to step ST15 to execute the rhythm game. In this rhythm game, first, voices (eg, “hoyo, hoyo, hoyo,...”) Are output at a rhythm selected at random from preset rhythms. (For example, a clapping sound) (see FIG. 10 (c)) This sound is detected by the microphone 6, the rhythm generated by the user is determined by the control unit 15, and the user If the sound can be generated in rhythm, the sound is output in a more difficult rhythm, and the rhythm game becomes increasingly difficult and continues until the user fails, and the rhythm game ends if the user fails.
[0040]
When each mode or game ends, the process proceeds to step ST16 to reset the 30-second timer, and returns to step ST2 to wait for a new input.
[0041]
When the timer button 72 or 73 is pressed (the switch SW2 or the switch SW3 is turned on), a timer interrupt process is started. In this interrupt processing, the current time can be set and the timer can be set. Then, when the alarm set time comes, the motor 19 rotates forward and backward while swinging forward and backward with the limbs flapping for a predetermined time (set to 30 seconds in the present invention), and sounds (for example, “Hoyo! Hoyo! ) Is continuously output to inform the user that the alarm time has come (see FIG. 11). To stop the alarm, the operation button 10 may be pressed and operated.
[0042]
If the operation button 10 is not pressed, after a predetermined time (for example, one minute), the motor 19 is rotated in the reverse direction to swing back and forth while flapping the limbs and to rotate the body, and to output a voice (for example, “Hoyo! Hoyo!・ ・ 」) Is output continuously. This alarm operation ends at least three times.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, various operations are performed while communicating with the user by detecting a sound or pressing an operation button to perform an input, and an alarm function is provided when an alarm set time comes. Is displayed to inform the user of the alarm time, so that it is possible to provide a communication toy which has a healing effect to soften the user's heart and an alarm function, and has a playfulness and practicality.
[0044]
According to the invention of claim 2, since the toy main body is supported at three points of the support plate arranged at the bottom and the two feet arranged at both sides, the toy body is interlocked with the movement of the feet. The toy body can be swung back and forth, and the movement of the communication toy can be enjoyed without separately providing a mechanism for swinging the toy body.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a communication toy according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the communication toy. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of the communication toy. (C) is an explanatory view of the control state of the control mechanism. (A) and (b) are explanatory views of the operation of the hand section. (FIG. 6) is a perspective view illustrating a second drive mechanism for driving the foot section. 7A and 7B are front views illustrating the swinging of the toy main body. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the communication toy. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation mode of the communication toy. FIGS. 10A to 10D are explanatory diagrams of operation modes of the communication toy. FIG. 11 are explanatory diagrams of alarm operations of the communication toy.
1 Toy body 2 Hand 3 Foot 4 Support plate 5 Light emitting display (LED)
6 Microphone 10 Operation button 16 First drive mechanism 17 Second drive mechanism 18 Third drive mechanism 15 Control unit 30 Planetary gear (control mechanism)
A Communication toy B Drive mechanism

Claims (2)

A communication toy equipped with a timer function for operating a foot and a hand provided on a toy main body and notifying a user of a set alarm time, which has the following requirements.
(A) A first drive mechanism for moving the hand, a second drive mechanism for moving the foot, and a third drive mechanism for rotating the support plate are disposed on the toy body. (B) The first mechanism has a control mechanism for controlling whether or not to rotate the support plate according to the rotation direction of the motor. (C) The toy body has a sound output unit and a light emitting unit. (2) The toy body includes a microphone for detecting sound, an operation button operated by a user, and the sound output unit and the light emitting unit based on an input signal of the microphone or the operation button. Having a display unit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the motor; The communication toy with a timer function according to claim 1, wherein the toy main body is supported at three points: a support plate disposed on a bottom portion and two feet disposed on both sides.

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