GB1604881A - Toys - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TOYS (71) We, JOHN ERNEST BENNEY WORTH, of 7 Broome Close, Chandlers Lane, Yateley, Camberley, Surrey; ADRIAN DUD GEON, of 5 Minstead Drive, Yateley, Camberley, Surrey; and RONALD KENNETH JANES, of 10 Rosemary Lane, Blackwater, Camberley, Surrey, all British subjects, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to toys and more particularly it is concerned with toys provided with audio-visual effects.

The present invention provides a toy comprising electronic circuitry, a sounder device connected to the circuitry for producing at least one audio effect, and a plurality of light emitting devices connected to the circuitry for producing a visual effect in the form of pulse of light, the pulses being at at least one frequency.

The preferred embodiment will be described in relation to a toy gun but the invention is not limited to this application as it can be applied to other toys such as, space ships, flying saucers, laser swords, trains, boats and motor cars.

One embodiment comprises a toy gun provided with an audio-visual effect which includes a sequentially operated set of light emitting devices giving the impression of at least one pulse of light travelling down the barrel of the gun and a simultaneous audio effect.

The audio and visual effects can preferably be simultaneously activated by a switch mounted on the handle of the gun so as to resemble a trigger. In another embodiment the switch is provided with at least a second switchable position for varying either of both of the effects. The audio effect produced may be a constant tone modulated by a rising ramp waveform of comparatively low frequency. In this case, the second switch position may increase the frequency of the modulating ramp, as may any subsequent switch position.

A further embodiment has the visual and audio effects linked so that the sequential operation of the light emitting devices is triggered by the ramp waveform generating means. In this case, selection of the second, or any further switch position, if provided, will alter both the audio and visual effects.

A still further embodiment uses a trigger signal from the ramp waveform generating means to operate a visual display comprising light emitting devices activated in unison in response to the waveform, rather than se- quentially.

Yet another embodiment utilises a circuit for activating light emitting devices in unison at a constant frequency and controlling the operation, at the same frequency, of an audio oscillator, either to continuously switch the oscillator on and off, or else to vary the tone of the oscillator.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a toy according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for use with the toy of Figure 1; Figure 4 is part of the circuit of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a circuit diagram showing a possible addition to that of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an alternative circuit diagram showing a further possible addition to that of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a further embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the toy gun comprises a housing I containing a circuit board 2, a switch 3, and an audio transducer 4, shown as a loudspeaker. There is provision for the fitting of a power source in the form of a battery 5. Switch 3 is mounted on the handle of the gun such that it is used as a trigger when the gun is held in the hand. In the preferred embodiment switch 3 is of a variable pressure type such that when it is initially depressed, a pair of contacts 6 and 7 are brought together completing an electrical circuit. When further depressed, the switch 3 causes the contacts 6 and 7 to complete another electrical circuit through a contact 8.

Apertures 9 are provided in the barrel of the housing 1 such that light emitting diodes (L.E.D.'s) 10 mounted on the circuit board 2 are visible along the length of the barrel. The housing 1 further includes apertures 11 to allow the sound produced by the transducer 4 to pass to the exterior.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the invention. An inverter 20 has its output connected to the input of a second inverter 21. The output of inverter 21 is fed back to its own input through a capacitor 22 and a resistor 23 connected in series, and to the input of inverter 20 through the capacitor 22 and a resistor 24. The components 20 to 24 form an oscillator which acts as a clock generator with a time constant dependant on the value of resistor 23 and capacitor 22. The output of the inverter 21, which acts as the output of the clock generator, is fed to the clock input of a D-type flip-flop 25a.The D input of flip-flop 25a is connected to its inverting output , Its non-inverting output Q is connected to the clock input of a further D-type flip-flop 25b whose other connections are similar to those of flip-flop 25a. By this means, there are four possible output states of the two flip-flops 25a and 25b and these will be clocked sequentially by pulses from the clock generator. These four sequential output states are sensed by four NAND gates 26 to 29 to provide outputs, in combination with buffers 30 to 33, which give a sequential count of four. The outputs of buffers 30 to 33 are fed to eight L.E.D.'s 10, each buffer driving two L.E.D.'s. Each L.E.D. is connected to a positive line 34 through one of eight current limiting resistors 35.Thus when the output of one of the buffers 30 to 33 goes low, then the two L.E.D.'s associated with it will pass current and emit light, and if the L.E.D.'s 10 are suitably arranged in the housing I of Figures 1 and 2, the count of four provided by the aforementioned circuit illuminating selected L.E.D.'s sequentially will give the impression of pulses of light transmitSed down the barrel of the gun.

The power for the circuit is derived from the battery 5 which is applied to the positive line 34 through the switch 3. When switch 3 is initially depressed, contacts 6 and 7 are closed and the line 34 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Thus the above described circuit is activated.

A timer 36 is connected as shown in Figure 3 with trigger input TR, discharge input D and threshold input TH connected together and to a line 37. The output OP of the timer 36 is connected to a load 38 which is shown as including a resistor and further L.E.D.

connected in series. This L.E.D. may be disposed at a convenient location in the housing I for example at the tip of the barrel or it may be dispensed with altogether. A capacitor 39 is connected between the control voltage input C and an earth reference line 40 which is connected to the battery negative terminal. A resistor 41 is connected between contact 7 of switch 3 and the line 37, and a capacitor 42 is connected between the line 37.

and the earth line 40. In operation, closing of the switch 3 to its first position causes charging of the capacitor 42 through the resistor 41. When the threshold voltage of the timer 36 is reached, the capacitor 42 is discharged through the timer until the voltage on the capacitor 42 reaches the trigger level of the timer when the process is repeated and the capacitor 42 begins to charge again. Thus an approximation to a ramp waveform is produced on the line 37 upon depression of the switch 3.

A second timer 43 is connected in a similar fashion to the timer 36, except that its output is connected to the transducer 4, and its control voltage input C is connected to the line 37. The components setting the time constant for oscillation of the timer are a resistor 44 and a capacitor 45. The values of these components are chosen to give a higher frequency of oscillation than that of the timer 36. In operation closing of the switch 3 causes the timer 43 to oscillate in a similar fashion to that described above for the timer 36 but at a higher frequency. The control voltage input C is fed by a ramp waveform of lower frequency which modulates the square wave tone fed to the audio transducer 4.

Switch 3 is also provided with a further contact 8 which makes electrical connection with contacts 6 and 7 upon application of greater pressure. Contact 8 is connected through a resistor 46 to the line 37. When contact 8 is connected to the battery positive terminal, resistor 46 parallels resistor 41, thus effectively reducing the overall charging resistance of the modulator timer 36. Therefore the frequency of the ramp waveform increases and the tone produced by the transducer 4 is modulated at a higher frequency.

The operation of the circuit is thus that when the switch 3 is depressed to its first position, the sequential illumination of the L.E.D.'s takes place and the output tone modulated at a certain rate is produced by the transducer. Further pressure on the switch to its second position increases the modulation rate of the output tone.

The circuit can conveniently utilise proprietary digital integrated circuits for many of its functions. For instance, the inverters 20, 21, 30 to 33 can conveniently be provided by a hex inverter I.C., the NAND gates 26 to 29 can be provided by a quad 2-input NAND I.C., and the two flip-flops by a dual D flipflop I.C.

As shown in Figure 3, the operation of the L.E.D.'s and the modulated tone takes place at different frequencies, but these can be synchronised if desired by using an output from one of the timers to drive the sequential count of four circuit either directly or through further counting circuitry to reduce the clocking frequency.

Figure 4 shows the modulator and audio oscillator sections of Figure 3. However, the output terminal OP of the timer 36 is in this case connected to a point X. Figure 5 shows a circuit in which synchronisation between operation of the L.E.D.'s and the modulated tone can be achieved as mentioned above.

The circuit is that of the clock generator of Figure 3 comprising components 20 to 24.

However in this case the input of the inverter 20 is connected to point X of Figure 4 and pulses produced by the timer 36 are fed to the inverter 20 to trigger the generation of clock pulses in synchronism with the ramp waveform produced by the timer 36. The clock pulses are then fed to the flip-flop 25a as shown in Figure 3.

Another embodiment is shown in Figure 6.

In this case pulses from point X of Figure 4 are fed through a resistor 47 to the base of a bipolar N.P.N. transistor 48. The transistor 48, connected as shown, acts as a switch to permit current flow through L.E.D.'s 49 and their current limiting resistor 50 between the positive line 34 and the earth line 40. Pulses at point X will switch the transistor 48 on and cause the L.E.D.'s 49 to flash in unison at the pulse frequency. Any number of L.E.D.'s 49 may be provided consistent with the ability of the transistor 48 and the power supply to handle the necessary current.

A further embodiment is shown in Figure 7. A bistable circuit arranged to operate at a relatively low frequency includes resistors 51 to 54 capacitors 55 and 56 and N.P.N.

transistors 57 and 58 connected as shown.

Pulses generated at the collector of transistor 57 switch a further transistor 59 in order to activate L.E.D.'s 60 through a current limited resistor 61 in similar fashion to that described for Figure 6. Inverse pulses produced at the collector of transistor 58 switch a further transistor 62 in like manner. An integrated circuit amplifier 63 is connected as an audio oscillator as shown in association with resistors 64 to 67, capacitors 68 and 69 and a transducer 70. The switching transistor 62 switches out the tone produced by the oscillator at the frequency of the bistable.

Closing of a switch 71 activates the circuit and in response to the switching of states of the bistable, the L.E.D.'s are illuminated alternately with the sounding of the tone produced by the transducer 70. It is possible for the oscillator to produce tones at two different pitches in response to the change of state of the bistable by using appropriate circuitry.

In all of the aforedescribed embodiments and in particular that shown in Figure 3 it may be desirable to interpose an audio amplifier between any sound transducer and the existing output circuitry if the volume produced otherwise is too low for the particular application.

Furthermore, where L.E.D.'s are shown connected together in a particular configuration, e.g. in parallel, it may be that in certain applications an alternative configuration is preferable. Thus if the L.E.D.'s were connected in series, current consumption of the circuit would be reduced assuming that the power supply was able to provide the requisite voltage.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A toy comprising electronic circuitry, a sounder device connected to the circuitry for producing at least one audio effect, and a plurality of light emitting devices connected to the circuitry for producing a visual effect in the form of pulses of light, the pulses being at at least one frequency.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is digital circuitry.

3. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of discrete digital integrated circuits.

4. A toy according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said circuitry comprises means for generating a signal at a first frequency, and means for modulating said signal by at least one modulating frequency, the sounder device being arranged to receive the modulated signal.

5. A toy according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said circuitry includes means for activating the light emitting devices in unison.

6. A toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said circuitry includes means for activating the light emitting devices sequentially.

7. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said means for activating the light emitting devices comprises generating means for generating pulses and counting means for counting said generated pulses, the light emitting devices being arranged to be activated sequentially according to the count of the counting means.

8. A toy according to claim 5, 6 or 7 when dependent on claim 4, wherein said means for activating the light emitting devices is responsive to the signal modulating means whereby the flashing of the light emitting devices is synchronised with the modulation of the sounder.

9. A toy according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the circuitry, the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. I.C., and the two flip-flops by a dual D flipflop I.C. As shown in Figure 3, the operation of the L.E.D.'s and the modulated tone takes place at different frequencies, but these can be synchronised if desired by using an output from one of the timers to drive the sequential count of four circuit either directly or through further counting circuitry to reduce the clocking frequency. Figure 4 shows the modulator and audio oscillator sections of Figure 3. However, the output terminal OP of the timer 36 is in this case connected to a point X. Figure 5 shows a circuit in which synchronisation between operation of the L.E.D.'s and the modulated tone can be achieved as mentioned above. The circuit is that of the clock generator of Figure 3 comprising components 20 to 24. However in this case the input of the inverter 20 is connected to point X of Figure 4 and pulses produced by the timer 36 are fed to the inverter 20 to trigger the generation of clock pulses in synchronism with the ramp waveform produced by the timer 36. The clock pulses are then fed to the flip-flop 25a as shown in Figure 3. Another embodiment is shown in Figure 6. In this case pulses from point X of Figure 4 are fed through a resistor 47 to the base of a bipolar N.P.N. transistor 48. The transistor 48, connected as shown, acts as a switch to permit current flow through L.E.D.'s 49 and their current limiting resistor 50 between the positive line 34 and the earth line 40. Pulses at point X will switch the transistor 48 on and cause the L.E.D.'s 49 to flash in unison at the pulse frequency. Any number of L.E.D.'s 49 may be provided consistent with the ability of the transistor 48 and the power supply to handle the necessary current. A further embodiment is shown in Figure 7. A bistable circuit arranged to operate at a relatively low frequency includes resistors 51 to 54 capacitors 55 and 56 and N.P.N. transistors 57 and 58 connected as shown. Pulses generated at the collector of transistor 57 switch a further transistor 59 in order to activate L.E.D.'s 60 through a current limited resistor 61 in similar fashion to that described for Figure 6. Inverse pulses produced at the collector of transistor 58 switch a further transistor 62 in like manner. An integrated circuit amplifier 63 is connected as an audio oscillator as shown in association with resistors 64 to 67, capacitors 68 and 69 and a transducer 70. The switching transistor 62 switches out the tone produced by the oscillator at the frequency of the bistable. Closing of a switch 71 activates the circuit and in response to the switching of states of the bistable, the L.E.D.'s are illuminated alternately with the sounding of the tone produced by the transducer 70. It is possible for the oscillator to produce tones at two different pitches in response to the change of state of the bistable by using appropriate circuitry. In all of the aforedescribed embodiments and in particular that shown in Figure 3 it may be desirable to interpose an audio amplifier between any sound transducer and the existing output circuitry if the volume produced otherwise is too low for the particular application. Furthermore, where L.E.D.'s are shown connected together in a particular configuration, e.g. in parallel, it may be that in certain applications an alternative configuration is preferable. Thus if the L.E.D.'s were connected in series, current consumption of the circuit would be reduced assuming that the power supply was able to provide the requisite voltage. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A toy comprising electronic circuitry, a sounder device connected to the circuitry for producing at least one audio effect, and a plurality of light emitting devices connected to the circuitry for producing a visual effect in the form of pulses of light, the pulses being at at least one frequency.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is digital circuitry.

3. A toy according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a plurality of discrete digital integrated circuits.

4. A toy according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said circuitry comprises means for generating a signal at a first frequency, and means for modulating said signal by at least one modulating frequency, the sounder device being arranged to receive the modulated signal.

5. A toy according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said circuitry includes means for activating the light emitting devices in unison.

6. A toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said circuitry includes means for activating the light emitting devices sequentially.

7. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said means for activating the light emitting devices comprises generating means for generating pulses and counting means for counting said generated pulses, the light emitting devices being arranged to be activated sequentially according to the count of the counting means.

8. A toy according to claim 5, 6 or 7 when dependent on claim 4, wherein said means for activating the light emitting devices is responsive to the signal modulating means whereby the flashing of the light emitting devices is synchronised with the modulation of the sounder.

9. A toy according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the circuitry, the

sounder and the light emitting devices are chosen so as to be capable of being powered by a battery.

10. A toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.