GB2549355A

GB2549355A - Toy walkie-talkie

Info

Publication number: GB2549355A
Application number: GB1619711.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angel Fernandez Rodriguez Miguel
Original assignee: IMC Toys SA
Current assignee: IMC Toys SA
Priority date: 2016-04-11
Filing date: 2016-11-21
Publication date: 2017-10-18
Also published as: ES1156484U; FR3050084A3; FR3050084B3; GB201619711D0; ES1156484Y

Abstract

A toy walkie-talkie using radio frequency transmission and reception by means of alternate connection, comprising an electronic board 16 having a power switch 17, a sound emission transducer means 2, a sound reception transducer means 3 and a radio frequency (RF) means 4. A selection means 6 is used to select the alternate connection. The RF means are connected to an antenna 5 suitable for transmitting and receiving over the 2.4 GHz band. The electronic board also comprises digital sound processing means 7 disposed between the emission and reception transducers means and the radio frequency means; wherein the digital sound processing means comprises analogue to digital conversion means (9 and 11 Fig 1). The RF means are equipped with digital modulation means (14 Fig 1) and digital demodulation means (15 Fig 1). The digital processing means, the RF means and the selection means are supported by the electronic board.

Description

DESCRIPTION “Toy walkie-talkie”

Technical sector of the invention

The toy walkie-talkie with radio frequency sound emission and reception of the present invention is of the type which allows the intercommunication of sound with other toy walkie-talkies by means of an alternate connection.

Background of the invention

Toy walkie-talkies for children with radio frequency sound emission and reception enable the intercommunication of sound with other toys by means of alternate connection; however, known toys are, on the one hand, susceptible to receiving interferences that can degrade the quality of the sound transmitted and, on the other, require assembly that requires the assembly and connection of multiple components, which not only complicate assembly but also cause the connections between these multiple electronic components and boards to be susceptible to breaking easily during their use since, when children play with the toy, it frequently suffers repeated falls and receives multiple blows that can damage the connections.

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to disclose a toy walkie-talkie with radio frequency emission and reception by means of an alternate connection which, in addition to being more robust against interferences than known toy walkie talkies, allows easy assembly and has greater resistance to blows and falls.

Another objective of the present invention is to disclose a toy walkie-talkie that makes it possible to incorporate different types of antennas.

Explanation of the invention

The toy walkie-talkie with radio frequency sound emission and reception by means of alternate connection of the present invention is of the type that comprises an electronic board having a switch to activate powering up thereof and sound emission transducer means, such as a speaker, which convert an analogue electrical signal into sound; radio frequency means associated with the sound received by the sound reception transducer means, such as a microphone, that convert a sound into an analogue electrical signal; radiofrequency means associated with the sound received by the sound reception means and for receiving a radio frequency signal associated with the sound to be emitted by the sound emission transducer means, alternately connected, for example by modulating and demodulating the electrical signals with a carrier signal; and means for selecting the alternate connection of the radio frequency means to indicate to the radio frequency means whether they have to emit or receive the radio frequency signal, thereby functioning in alternate connection mode, also known as semi-duplex or half-duplex, wherein the toy walkie-talkie either emits or receives radio frequency signals.

In essence, the walkie-talkie is characterised in that it also comprises sound digital processing means between the emission and reception transducer means and the radio frequency means, said processing means having analogue input with analogue-to-digital conversion means connected to the sound reception transducer means and an analogue signal output with digital-to-analogue conversion means connected to the sound emission transducer means, said processing means also having digital output of the converted analogue input and digital input of the analogue output to be converted connected to the radio frequency means; wherein the radio frequency means are equipped with digital modulation means connected to the digital output of the processing means and digital demodulation means connected to the digital input of the processing means, and wherein the radio frequency means are connected to the antenna for emitting and receiving a radio frequency signal over the 2.4 GHz band; i.e. between 2400 MHz and 2484 MHz, such that when working with digital signals greater sharpness is achieved in the sound transmitted on being able to incorporate redundancy and digital error correction techniques. Additionally, working over the 2.4 GHz band avoids interference with radio-electric emissions from frequency bands that require a licence, in addition to not requiring a licence to emit over said band and allow the use of a small antenna, in the order of a few centimetres.

Additionally, the sound emission means, the sound reception means, the processing means, the radio frequency means, the antenna and the selection means are connected to the same electronic board having a switch to activate the powering up thereof, such that the electronic components of the toy form a single packet that can easily be mounted on the toy and is resistant to blows and falls.

It is also disclosed that the electronic board has an essentially parallelogram shape having connection terminals for connecting to the antenna adjacent to three of its contiguous sides, thereby making it possible to connect the antenna on any one of said contiguous sides in accordance with the antenna and the shape of the toy. Therefore, depending on the shape of the antenna and the space available in the interior of the toy, it can be connected adjacent to one of these sides of the board. This enables different antennas of different bands to be used with the toy as required based on the frequencies they emit and receive, radiation modes and shape of the antenna. Therefore, the toy can use both a monopole-type antenna, which may be a filament that can be folded and better adjusted to narrow spaces, and larger-sized antennas, such as antennas printed on electronic boards, which require more space. Thus, in accordance with the size of the antenna and the space available on each side of the board, the antenna may be connected to one or other terminal. Preferably, these connection terminals will be disposed on a track having a path adjacent to three of the contiguous sides of the electronic board. Naturally, the electronic board does not have to be exactly in the form of a parallelogram, but rather may have trims, for example on its corners, or recesses on its sides that make it possible to correctly insert the board in the toy in a housing formed in the casing of the toy. It is envisaged that the side of the board that does not have connection terminals will be applied against a support for batteries, such that it is not possible to house the antenna, due to the lack of available space.

It is also disclosed that the sound emission transducer means and the sound reception transducer means are also supported by the electronic board, for example, if these are surface-mount electrical components, also known as SMD, which can be welded directly to the board without requiring connection cables that could break during the use of the toy without need to make holes on the electronic board. Preferably, all the electronic components of the electronic board will be surface-mount electronic components, such that the assembly of the electronic board can be more easily automated, forming a compact packet that is robust against falls and blows of the toy walkie-talkie.

It is also disclosed that the selection means are a push-button which, when pressed, makes it possible to establish the alternate connection mode of the emission and, when released, to establish the alternate reception connection mode.

It is also disclosed that the digital processing means are equipped with an alerter that generates an acoustic alert signal at the analogue signal output for the sound emission transducer means, such as a whistle, after a predetermined emission and reception inactivity period, for example, after a predetermined inactivity period of 60 seconds, which is considered sufficient to remind the child that the toy walkie-talkie is functioning without activity, in order to prevent the walkie-talkie from being powered up indefinitely without being used and eventually exhaust its batteries. Naturally, this alert may be repeated at regular intervals. The alerter can also generate this acoustic alert signal after powering up the electronic board in the manner of an acoustic welcome alert to alert the user that the toy is ready to be used.

It is also disclosed that the modulation means and the digital demodulation means are Gaussian frequency shift keying modulation and demodulation means, which is strong against interferences and radio-electric noise that can affect the amplitude of the irradiated signal, in addition to introducing few harmonics in its transitions.

It is also disclosed that the analogue-to-digital conversion means and the digital-to-analogue conversion means have a depth of 12 bits, allowing the acoustic signal obtained after the passage of analogue to digital and subsequently from digital to analogue to be perceived by the human ear as identical or very similar.

It is also disclosed that the toy walkie-talkie comprises a casing that closes the electronic board together with the sound emission transducer means, the sound reception transducer means, the digital processing means, the radio frequency means, the antenna, the selection means and the switch; and, additionally, a support for batteries connected to the switch of the electronic board closes the casing, said casing having an external button for actuating the selection means and an external commutator for actuating the switch, thereby protecting all the components of the walkie-talkie from the exterior.

Brief description of the drawings

The attached drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, the toy walkie-talkie of the present invention. In said drawings:

Fig.1 shows a diagram of the electronic components of the walkie-talkie of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the diagram of Fig. 1 functioning in radio-electric emission mode;

Fig. 3 shows the diagram of Fig. 1 functioning in radio-electric reception mode;

Fig. 4. shows the diagram of Fig. 1 after an inactivity period or after being powered up;

Fig. 5 shows the diagram of Fig. 1 after an inactivity period or after being powered up; and

Fig. 6 shows the toy walkie-talkie of the present invention equipped with the electronic board of Fig. 5.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows the operating diagram of the toy walkie-talkie 1 with radio frequency sound emission and reception by means of alternate connection of the present invention. The same diagram in each alternate connection operating mode, in emission mode and in reception mode will be presented later. As will be observed, the walkie-talkie 1 can be used in the manner of a toy for children, allowing for example two children, each holding a walkie-talkie, to communicate at a distance from each other in turns, i.e. by means of alternate connection.

As can be observed in Fig. 1, each walkie-talkie 1 comprises sound emission transducer means 2, such as a speaker and sound reception transducer means 3, such as a microphone. The sound reception transducer means 3 will be used in radio-electric emission mode to capture sounds that are converted firstly into an analogue electrical signal and subsequently sent by radio frequency to other walkie-talkies 1 that are in radio-electric reception mode and the sound emission transducer means 2 will be used in radio-electric reception mode to emit sounds received by radiofrequency of other analogue toys that are in radioelectric emission mode., after converting the radio frequency signal in an analogue electrical signal. The communication between walkie-talkies 1 will therefore be carried out by means of alternate connection, also known as semiduplex or half-duplex, as will be detailed later, such that it will be indicated by means of selection means 6, such as a push-button.

As can be observed in Fig. 1, the walkie-talkie 1 is equipped with radio frequency means 4 connected to an antenna 5 to carry out the emission of a radio frequency signal associated with the sound received by the sound reception transducer means 3 and to carry out the reception of the radio frequency signal associated with the sound to be emitted by the sound emission transducer means 2, alternately connected, and a push-button by way of selection means 6 of the alternate connection of the radiofrequency means 4 that will determine the alternate connection mode of the toy, i.e. if the radio frequency means 4 are in emission mode or in radio-electric reception mode.

The walkie-talkie 1 is equipped with digital sound processing means 7 disposed between the emission 2 and reception 3 transducer means and the radio frequency means 4, said processing means 7 having analogue output 8 with analogue-to-digital conversion means 9, with 12-bit depth, connected to the sound reception transducer means 3, that generate an analogue electrical signal from the sound they receive, and from an analogue signal output 10 having digital-to-analogue conversion means 11, also with 12-bit depth, connected to the sound emission transducer means 2, which will receive an analogue electrical signal that they will convert into sound, wherein the processing means are also equipped with digital output 12 of the converted analogue input and digital input 13 of the analogue output to be converted connected to the radio frequency means 4.

The radio frequency means 4 are in turn equipped with digital modulation means 14 connected to the digital output 12 of the processing means 7 and digital demodulation means 15 connected to the digital input 13 of the processing means 7, wherein the radio frequency means 4 are connected to the antenna for the emission and reception of a radio frequency signal over the 2.4 GHz band, typically between 2400 MHz and 2484 MHz with channels typically of 1 or 2 MHz that can be defined between the different walkie-talkies 1 or can be selected by means of a prior negotiation between the walkie-talkies 1 that want to establish communication, in a known manner. Naturally, the digital modulation means 14 and the digital demodulation means 15 will be complementary, i.e. they will carry out opposing functions.

The processing means 7 are also equipped with an alerter 19 for generating a predefined bit sequence which, after passing through the digital-to-analogue conversion means 11, will form an analogue signal which, on being received by the emission transducer means 2, will cause these to emit an acoustic alert signal. This alerter can be actuated, for example, on powering the walkie-talkie 1 or after a predetermined inactivity period and can even use different bit sequences to generate different acoustic alert signals in accordance with the situation.

It is envisaged that the processing means 7 will be a single chip that contains, among others, the analogue-to-digital conversion means 9, the digital-to-analogue conversion means 11 and the alerter 19. It is also envisaged that the radio frequency means 4 will be a single chip that contains the modulation means 14 and the demodulation means 15. Likewise, it is envisaged that the processing means 7 and the radio frequency means 4 may in turn be integrated in a single chip.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the walkie-talkie 1 functioning in radio-electric emission mode, wherein the push-button of the selection means 6 is actuated, indicating this mode by means of a voltage level, in a known mode, to the processing means 7 and the radio frequency means 4. In said Fig. 2 it can be observed that the sound reception transducer means 3, which can be a microphone, convert the sound pressure waves that arrive, for example, a user’s voice, into an analogue electrical signal that, after arriving at the analogue output 8 of the processing means 7, is digitised by means of the analogue-to-digital conversion means 9 to generate a bit sequence. This bit sequence is sent to the radio frequency means 4 through the digital output 12 of the processing means 7 which, after being modulated by the modulation means 14, for example by means of modulation by Gaussian frequency shift keying, also known as GFSK, is emitted by radio frequency in the form of electromagnetic waves over the 2.4 GHz band through the antenna 5.

In the reception mode shown in the diagram of Fig. 3, the push-button of the selection means 6 is released, indicating this mode by means of a voltage level, in a known mode, to the processing means 7 and to the radio frequency means 4. In this mode, the radio frequency means 4 receive a radio-electric signal through the antenna 5 formed by a bit sequence modulated in the previously described manner sent by another walkie-talkie 1. This radio-electric signal is demodulated by means of the digital demodulation means 15, for example by means of a demodulation by Gaussian frequency shift keying, also known as GFSK, to recover the bit sequence. This bit sequence is sent to the digital input 13 of the processing means 7 which, after passing through the digital-to-analogue conversion means 11, will send the analogue signal generated from the bit sequence received through the analogue signal output 10 towards the sound emission transducer means 2, such as a speaker, that will convert the analogue signal into pressure waves that will form the sound or voice sent by the emitting toy.

Fig. 4 represents the diagram of the walkie-talkie 1 in a start-up position of the toy 1, for example on powering up the walkie-talkie 1, or in a situation of inactivity of the walkie-talkie 1 wherein the alerter 19 of the processing means 7 generates a predefined bit sequence which, after passing through the digital-to-analogue conversion means 11, forms an analogue signal which, on being received by the emission transducers 2, causes these to emit an acoustic alert signal, such as a “BIP-BIP" whistle sequence. This alerter 19 can be actuated both on initiating the walkie-talkie 1 when the user actuates the switch 17 of the board 16 and after a predetermined inactivity period. It is also envisaged that different bit sequences can be used to generate different acoustic alert signals for the start-up situation and for the inactivity situation. This alerter 19 may be previously programmed in the processing means 7 and be executed by the microcontroller and the memory of said processing means 7.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the electronic board 16 of the walkie-talkie wherein the sound emission transducer means 2, the sound reception transducer means 3, the processing means 7, the radio frequency means 4, the antenna 5 and the selection means 6 are connected, wherein the electronic board 16 is also equipped with a switch 17 to activate the powering up thereof. As can be observed, the electronic board 16 has an essentially parallelogram shape, wherein connection terminals 18 for connecting to the antenna 5 adjacent to three of its contiguous sides are envisaged. It is envisaged that the electronic components mounted on the board are supported on the board and are surface-mount electronic components, also known as SMD, wherein the sound emission transducer means 2 and the sound reception transducer means 3 are also surface-mount electronic components supported by the board. In this manner, we can automate the assembly of the different components in an assembly line. Naturally, Fig. 5 does not strictly have all the electronic components of the board 16, since a person skilled in the art understands that other ancillary components will be necessary, such as resistances, oscillators, condensers, diodes, etc., for the proper functioning of the components illustrated in Fig. 5, as well as power supply and earth connections and other ancillary tracks. Although in the electronic board of Fig. 5 the selection means 6 are connected both to processing means 7 and to radio frequency means 4, it is envisaged that the selection means 6 may be connected only to one of the processing means 7 and the radio frequency means 4, if the processing means 7 and the radio frequency 4 means are conveniently interconnected to communicate the status of the selection means 6. Naturally, the selection means 6 may be alternately connected to other components that communicate whether the walkie-talkie 1 is in radio-electric emission or reception mode to both the processing means 7 and to the radio frequency means 4 in order for them to act in the correct mode.

Fig. 6 shows a walkie-talkie 1 wherein the electronic board 16 is closed by a casing 20 that protects it from the exterior. This casing 20 closes the electronic board 16 together with the sound emission transducer means 16, the sound reception transducer means 3, the digital processing means 7, the radio frequency means 4, the selection means 6, the switch 17 and the antenna 5. The casing 20 also closes a support 21 for batteries 22 connected to the switch 17 of the electronic board, wherein the casing 20 is equipped with an external button 23 to actuate the selection means and an external commutator 24 to actuate the switch 17 from the exterior of the casing 20. Naturally, the casing 20 may have different shapes as appropriate to the desired outer appearance of the walkie-talkie 1. Likewise, this casing 20 may come in different colours and have different prints or decorations.

The casing 20 is adapted to be comfortably gripped and handled by a user, preferably a child, in the usual manner in a walkie-talkie, such that the electronic components are duly isolated from the user. Thus, the user may actuate the external commutator 24 to actuate the switch 17 and power up the board 16, such that on pressing the external button 23 the push-button of the selection means 6 is actuated to establish the walkie-talkie 1 in radio-electric emission mode and, by keeping the external button 23 pressed, the user can speak through the sound reception transducer means 3, such as a microphone, whereupon his or her voice is digitised, modulated and sent by radio frequency, in the previously described manner, to other walkie-talkies 1 that are in radioelectric reception mode. Similarly, in order to receive communications from other walkie-talkies 1, when the user releases the external button 23, the push-button of the selection means 6 is released, establishing the walkie-talkie 1 in radioelectric reception mode, such that if communications are received by radio frequency from other toys in radio-electric emission mode, these are demodulated and converted into an analogue signal by the walkie-talkie 1 and finally into sound by means of the sound emission transducer means 2, such as a speaker, in the previously described manner.

Claims

1. - A toy walkie-talkie (1) with, radio frequency sound emission and reception by means of alternate connection, comprising an electronic board (16) having a switch (17) for activating the powering up of the electronic board and: - sound emission transducer means (2); - sound reception transducer means (3); - radio frequency means (4) connected to an antenna (5) for the emission and reception, in alternate connection mode, of a radio frequency signal associated respectively with the sound received by the sound reception transducer means and to be emitted by the sound emission transducer means; and - selection means (6) for selecting the alternate connection of the radio frequency means characterised in that the electronic board also comprises digital sound processing means (7) disposed between the emission and reception transducers means and the radio frequency means, said processing means having an analogue input (8) with analogue-to-digital conversion means (9) connected to the sound reception transducer means and an analogue signal output (10) with digital-to-analogue conversion means (11) connected to the sound emission transducer means, wherein the processing means are also equipped with a digital output (12) of the converted analogue input and a digital input (13) of the analogue output to be converted connected to the radio frequency means; wherein the radio frequency means are equipped with digital modulation means (14) connected to the digital output of the processing means and digital demodulation means (15) connected to the digital input of the processing means, the radio frequency means being connected to the antenna for emitting and receiving a radio frequency signal over the 2.4 GHz band; and wherein the processing means, the radio frequency means and the selection means are supported by the electronic board (16).

2. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the electronic board (16) has an essentially parallelogram shape, wherein connection terminals (18) for connecting to the antenna (5) adjacent to three of its contiguous sides are envisaged.

3. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sound emission transducer means (2) and the sound reception transducer means (3) are also supported by the electronic board.

4. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the selection means (6) are a push-button.

5. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the digital processing means (7) are equipped with an alerter (19) that generates an acoustic alert signal at the analogue signal output (10) for the sound emission transducer means (2) after a predetermined emission and reception inactivity period and after powering up the electronic board (16).

6. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the predetermined inactivity period is 60 seconds.

7. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the modulation means (14) and the digital demodulation means (15) are Gaussian frequency shift keying modulation and demodulation means.

8. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the analogue-to-digital conversion means (9) and the digital-to-analogue conversion means (11) have a 12-bit depth.

9. - The walkie-talkie (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it additionally comprises a casing (20) that closes the electronic board (16) together with the sound emission transducer means (2), the sound reception transducer means (3), the digital processing means (7), the radio frequency means (4), the antenna (5), the selection means (6) and the switch (17); and also closes a support (21) for batteries (22) connected to the switch of the electronic plate, wherein the casing is equipped with an external button (23) for actuating the selection means and an external commutator (24) for actuating the switch.