GB2045504A - Musical toys - Google Patents

Abstract

A musical toy which is arranged to read a pattern 44 of colour or shading and give as an output an audible tone includes a light emitter 12 and a light receiver 14, the light emitter being arranged to illuminate a discrete area of the pattern of colour or shading 44 and the light receiver being arranged to receive reflected light from that discrete area of the pattern. Thus as the toy is moved over the pattern 44, the amount of reflected light will vary. Means are provided (Fig. 1) to convert the light received to an electrical signal which is in turn converted to an oscillating signal whose frequency is proportional to the electrical signal and is in the audible range. The oscillating signal is used to drive a loudspeaker. Thus a child can reproduce a musical tune by moving the toy over a preselected pattern or colour or shading. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to musical toys This invention relates to a musical toy and in particular a musical toy which can be used solely for amusement purposes or both for educational and amusement purposes.

Musical toys which have a keyboard are well known but very young children cannot play a proper tune on such an instrument. It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a musical toy by means of which a child can reproduce in a very simple fashion a preselected tune.

According to the invention in one aspect, there is provided a musical toy comprising a light emitter, means for energising the light emitter so as to give a substantially constant light output, a light receiver positioned to receive light reflected from a surface illuminated by the light emitter, the light receiver being capable of giving an electrical output signal proportional to the amount of light received, light from the light emitter being incapable of passing directly to the light receiver, an oscillator having an oscillating electrical output, the oscillation frequency of which is within the audible range, means for varying the oscillation frequency of the oscillating electrical output from the oscillator in dependence upon the voltage of the ,said electrical output signal, and a loudspeader driven by the oscillating electrical output.

With such a toy, a child can move the light emitter and receiver so that they are placed against different colours and as a result a different tone output will be given from the loudspeaker. The child can play for amusement only in which case he can produce sounds at random or try himself to experiment and learn how different colours will produce different audible notes. Alternatively, a child can be provided with a path marked with a varying shade or colour pattern in which various shades or colours follow in sequence along a predetermined path. Then as the child moves the light emitter and receiver along that path, the shade or colour will vary in a predetermined way and so the sound output will be varied and can be arranged to be a reproduction of a recognisable tune.Such an arrangement is useful inter alia for teaching a child to coordinate the movement of his hands along a predetermined path and recognise different tones and simple tunes.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of generating a sound output from a musical toy having a light sensor, in which at least the sensor of the toy is moved along a path under the control of an operator, the path being marked with a predetermined sequence of area of colours or shades capable of giving varying degrees of light reflection from incident light, the sensor receiving reflected light from each area of track in turn and converting the light received to an electrical output proportional to the degree of light reflectance from each area, electrically converting said electrical output to an oscillating electrical signal whose frequency of oscillation is dependent upon the value of said electrical output, driving a lougspeaker by the oscillating electrical signal to give a note within the audible range of frequencies, whereby the arrangement of areas along the path provides a series of output tones from the loudspeaker.

The printed path can take any convenient form and, for example, could be a path marked across or around a printed page which is printed with varying colours or shades of grey to which the light receiver is sensitive.

Alternatively, the support could be a printed page of writing such as a children's story with the words printed in different colours so that as the child moves the light emitter or receiver along a line of writing, a varying sound output is produced which could be in the form of a tune related to the information contained in the printed line of writing.

The musical toy of the invention can be in a number of forms. For example, it could be in the shape of a probe analogous to a pen containing all the parts of the toy or simply the light emitter and the light receiver. The child would grasp this probe and move it across, for example, a printed page. In the case where the probe only contains the light emitter and receiver, it is connected by wires to the remainder of the apparatus containing the electronic components. Also the loudspeaker, electronic circuitry and the means for energising the various components could be in a container forming part of a book having pages across which the child should move the probe to obtain the sound output.

Alternatively, the toy of the invention could be in the form of a toy vehicle or other type of figure. In this case, the light emitter and light receiver should be directed down through the base of the vehicle so that as the child moves the vehicle along, for example, a road printed on a background, a varying sound output is given. In this latter case, the electronic components, the loudspeaker and batteries to power the arrangement could be positioned in the toy vehicle. In addition to this, the toy vehicle could have its own power supply for moving it across the pages, e.g. it could be electrically or mechanically driven so that once it had been set on a particular path, it would follow this path on its own and provide a musical sound output in the nature of a tune.

For simplicity, the light emitter can conveniently be a small filament bulb whilst the light receiver can be a phototransistor. Such devices are well known and readily available quite cheaply. It is also well known that the phototransistor can be arranged in an electrical circuit to give an electrical output, the voltage of which depends on the brightness of the light which it receives. Therefore the phototransistor can be mounted in a conventional circuit and its output used to control a voltage controlled oscillator whose output frequency will vary with the strength of the electrical input signal.

The phototransistor can be calibrated by simple experiment so that its output is in discrete steps, e.g. the steps of a simple major scale, each particular colour or shade giving an output which will provide one note on that scale. It is then possible to provide a colour or printed substrate in which those colours or shades are reproduced to give the desired output. For convenience, the output scale could be an octave from C to C, e.g.

from 523.25 cycles per second to 1046.5 cycles per second, the notes D E F G A and B being respectively 587.33, 659.26, 698.46, 783.99, 880.00 and 987.77 cycles per second. In addition to this in a more sophisticated model, the particular colours or shades required to give sharps within this scale can be determined and provided along the path.

The surface illuminated by the light emitter may be printed with a "bar code" and the digital information from the bar code read by the light receiver which processes the digital information into some form of analogue information in accordance with the digital code.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 its a schematic circuit diagram showing the electrical parts of a toy according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan of a printed sheet having marked on it a predetermined path along which a toy of the invention is to be traversed; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a toy according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional diagram of a further embodiment of a toy according to the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1 this shows an electronic circuit 10 for use in a musical toy according to the invention. The circuit includes a lamp 1 2 and a phototransistor 1 4 arranged to receive light reflected from surfaces illuminated by the bulb 1 2. The output from the phototransistor is supplied to a voltage controlled oscillator circuit 1 6 whose output is in turn fed to amplifying transistors Q3 and Q5 whose output drives a loudspeaker 18. The overall circuit is energised by means of dry batteries 20.

In order to maintain a relatively stable energising voltage for the lamp 1 2 and so substantially constant illumination, a stabilizing circuit 22 is provided. This circuit and its operation are believed to be well known and it includes a transistor Q4, diode D3 and a resistor R9. These components are arranged so that despite any minor fluctuations in the supply voltage from the dry batteries 20, the output from the emitter of the transistor Q4 is substantially constant. This output is supplied to a power line 24 which energises the lamp 12, the phototransistor 14 and the oscillator circuit 1 6.

A variable resistor RW is provided in series with the bulb 1 2 to adjust the brightness of this lamp when setting up or tuning the circuit. In some cases, this variable resistor RW may not be necessary.

The phototransistor 14 is arranged so that its light sensitive area receives reflected light from illumination supplied by the bulb 1 2 but cannot receive light direct from that bulb. The output from the emitter of the phototransistor 1 4 is fed via a line 26 to the voltage controlled oscillator circuit 1 6. As is well known the output at line 26 will be proportional to the brightness of the light received by the phototransistor 14.

The construction and operation of the voltage controlled oscillator circuit 1 6 is entirely conventional. Thus the oscillator is free running and its frequency of oscillation between its two states is dependent upon the voltage of the line 26, i.e. proportional to the output from the phototransistor and in turn proportional to the amount of light received by the phototransistor 14.

An oscillating signal is taken from the circuit 1 6 along a line 28 which is connected between resistors R2 and R3 constituting the load on the transistor Q2 of the oscillating circuit. This output 28 is applied to the base of an amplifying transistor Q3 and the output from the collector of that transistor is supplied through a resistor R8 to the base of another amplifying transistor Q5 part of the load for which is the loudspeaker 1 8. The other part of the load is a resistor R10 in series with the loudspeaker.

In order to improve stability of the output applied to the phototransistor 14 and bulb 12, a capacitor C3 is provided between the power line 24 and a base line 30. This capacitor also has the effect of reducing or eliminating oscillating feedback from the circuit 16.

An on/off switch 32 is provided for controlling the energising and de-energising the whole circuit.

By a suitable choice of the values of the various components of the circuit, it is readily possible for a skilled electronic engineer to arrange for the frequency generated by the circuit 1 6 to be within a desired audible range. For example, it is probably most desirable that the circuit be capable of providing over a typical range of brightness as will be reflected from a printed page that the output frequency should range over an octave of a normal scale, e.g. from C to C such as from 523.5 cycles per second to 1046.5 cycles per second with the notes D E F G A and B being respectively 587.33, 659.26, 698.46, 783.99, 880.00 and 987.77. 1 have found it convenient to choose this particular octave which is one octave above middle C on a piano since it is at a suitable level for a child to discern.If desired, a more extensive range of notes can be covered, e.g. two or more octaves.

Fig. 2 shows a typical printed sheet 40 containing printed words 42 which can, for example, be a children's story or poem and a coloured or shaded path 44. This is shown as being in the shape of a zig-zag path although this is not essential and is made up of a number of blocks 44a and different colour, shade of grey or other varying brightness. The various blocks 44a can be of equal width as measured along the length of the path 44 if all of the notes are to be of approximately the same length or can be made up of longer blocks such as the block 44b or shorter blocks such as the block 44c, if longer or shorter notes are required for a particular tune.

The brightness or the like of each of these blocks 44a is of course chosen so that when used with the circuit shown in Fig. 1, each block will give one discrete note on a musical scale and it is readily possible by simple experiment to determine the appropriate colour or shade to give a particular audible output frequency.

The path 44 shown in Fig. 2 does not, of course, have to be in particular shape but merely a shape such as that a child can understand that it must move the toy of the invention along that path. Thus, for example, the whole page may constitute the path so that the child obtains a tune merely by moving the toy across the path.

Each of the blocks 44a can be constructed in numerous ways. For example, they can be formed by printing a sequence of areas which vary in brightness, e.g. colour or shade. Alternatively, the child can be provided with strips of coloured paper which can be stuck to plain background according to particular instructions so that he can assemble a particular tune or a tune at random. Equally, the sheet can itself be constructed by pre-pasting coloured pieces onto the sheet. According to another possibility the child can either, on instructions or at his will, colour any of the various blocks 44 according to a particular colour code. According to another embodiment, the sheet 40 could form a base onto which coloured components such as small plastic blocks can be temporarily or permanently assembled so as to provide the path or track.

Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of a musical toy 50 according to the invention. The toy is in the shape of a pen or the like. The toy comprises a hollow cylindrical casing carrying the bulb 1 2 and the phototransistor 1 4. They are separated by an opaque divider 54 which stops short of the end of the casing and which prevents light passing directly from the bulb to the transistor. The casing also contains the loudspeaker 18, electronic circuit 10 and battery 20. At its end, the probe has a hole 56 through which light from the bulb 1 2 passes and through which reflected light passes to the transistor. A child holds the casing 52 with the hole 56 near the path 44 (Fig. 2) and moves it along the path 44 from one end to the other.

The speed at which he moves the probe along the path will determine the rate at which the tune is produced, i.e. the tempo or beat of the tune. Provided the probe is moved at a reasonably even rate along the track 44 the relative ranges of the various notes will remain constant and be determined by the lengths of the blocks 44 irrespective of the actual speed which the child moves the probe along the path 44.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the casing 52 is joined by suitable wires to a box 50 which houses the loudspeaker 18, the batteries 20 and the electronic circuit 1 0.

A further embodiment of a toy 80 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the toy is in the shape of a motor vehicle. The toy contains the bulb 1 2, the phototransistor 14, the batteries 20 and the electronic circuit 1 0. It also carries the output speaker 1 8. As the toy vehicle is rolled over a sheet carrying a predetermined path 44, the phototransistor 1 4 will see a varying degree of light reflected from the bulb 1 2 and so the loudspeaker 1 8 will provide a musical tune.

As will be appreciated, children can use the toy of the invention both for pure amusement by moving the toy vehicle 60 or the toy 52 along any surface and this gives excellent play value. Also, the child can experiment to find out what sounds are produced by a particular surface. Alternatively, the child can be shown that he should take the toy along a path such as the predetermined path 44 in Fig. 2 and this will help to teach him musical tunes so that he can distinguish particular notes and will also assist in coordination between hand and eye since the child must follow the zigzag path 44.

Claims (11)

1. A musical toy comprising a light emitter, means for energising the light emitter so as to give a substantially constant light output, a light receiver positioned to receive light reflected from a surface illuminated by the light emitter, the light receiver being capable of giving an electrical output signal propor tional to the amount of light received, light from the light emitter being incapable of passing directly to the light receiver, an oscillator having an oscillating electrical output, the oscillation frequency of which is within the audible range, means for varying the oscillation frequency of the oscillating electrical output from the oscillator in dependence upon the voltage of the said electrical output signal, and a loudspeaker driven by the oscillating electrical output.

2. A musical toy as claimed in Claim 1 in which the light receiver is a phototransistor.

3. A musical toy as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the oscillator is a voltage controlled oscillator and the oscillation frequency of the oscillator is arranged to vary in accordance with the voltage of the electrical output signal.

4. A musical toy as claimed in any preceding claim which includes an amplifier for amplifying the output from the oscillator, the loudspeaker being arranged to be driven by the amplified output.

5. A musical toy as claimed in any preceding claim which is in the form of a toy vehicle, the light emitter and light receiver being arranged to illuminate and receive reflected light from a discrete area over which the vehicle is standing.

6. A musical toy as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cylindrical casing open at one end thereof the light emitter being arranged to emit light through the open end and the light receiver being arranged to receive and detect light entering through the open end.

7. A musical toy substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of generating a sound output from a musical toy having a light sensor, in which at least the sensor of the toy is moved along a path under the control of an operator, the path being marked with a predetermined sequence of area of colours or shades capable of giving varying degrees of light reflection from incident light, the sensor receiving reflected light from each area of track in turn converting the light received to an electrical output proportional to the degree of light reflectance output proportional to the degree of light reflectance from each area, electrically converting said electrical output to an oscillating electrical signal whose frequency of oscillation is dependent upon the value of said electrical output, driving a loudspeaker by the oscillating electrical signal to give a note within the audible range of frequencies, whereby the arrangement of areas along the path provides a series of output tones from the loudspeaker.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 in which a light emitter capable of emitting a substantially constant emitter illuminating a discrete area of the path and the light sensor receiving reflected light from that discrete illuminated area.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the toy is held in the hand of the user and moved along the path manually.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the toy is in the shape of a toy vehicle which is pushed along the path or by the user or which is self-propelled, the light sensor being positioned at the underside of the toy vehicle to sense the light reflected from the discrete area of the path.

1 2. A method of generating a sound output substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 3 or Fig 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A musical toy as claimed in Claim 1 in which the surface illuminated by the light emitter is printed with a bar code, the light receiver reading the digital information from the bar code processing the information and giving an output signal in accordance with information.

1 4. A method of generating a sound output from a musical toy having a light sensor in which at least the sensor of the toy is moved along a path under the control of an operator, the path being marked with a predetermined sequence of bar codes, the sensor reading the digital information from each bar code in turn, processing and converting the information into an output corresponding to the code, electrically converting said output to an oscillating electrical signal whose frequency of oscillation is dependent upon the value of said output, driving a loudspeaker by the oscillating electrical signal to give a note within the audible range of frequencies, whereby the arrangement of bar codes along the path provides a series of output tones from the loudspeaker.