US20080108277A1 - Toy - Google Patents

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Publication number
US20080108277A1
US20080108277A1 US11/935,632 US93563207A US2008108277A1 US 20080108277 A1 US20080108277 A1 US 20080108277A1 US 93563207 A US93563207 A US 93563207A US 2008108277 A1 US2008108277 A1 US 2008108277A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
piece
found
toy according
moving part
independent
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/935,632
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Sergio Nunez Serrano
Blai Gomez Humet
Joan Noguer De Palol
Tsang Chun Hung
Albert Bru Cervera
Joan Puig Pascual
Jacob Levy Botbol
Miguel Fernandez Rodriguez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMC Toys SA
Original Assignee
IMC Toys SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMC Toys SA filed Critical IMC Toys SA
Assigned to IMC TOYS, S.A. reassignment IMC TOYS, S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BRU CERVERA, ALBERT, CHUN HUNG, TSANG, FERNANDEZ RODRIGUEZ, MIGUEL ANGEL, GOMEZ HUMET, BLAI, LEVY BOTBOL, JACOB, NOGUER DE PALOL, JOAN, NUNEZ SERRANO, SERGIO, PUIG PASCUAL, JOAN
Publication of US20080108277A1 publication Critical patent/US20080108277A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H11/00—Self-movable toy figures
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H13/00—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
    • A63H13/02—Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole imitating natural actions, e.g. catching a mouse by a cat, the kicking of an animal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
    • A63H30/02—Electrical arrangements
    • A63H30/04—Electrical arrangements using wireless transmission
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a toy.
  • this invention relates to a novel toy which comprises a moving part designed to seek an object and bring it to the user.
  • toys of low weight but with the ability to move and an object-catching device are known.
  • these toys have to be directed towards the objective by the user, who must give the command to catch the object and carry it to the desired position.
  • the toy to which this invention relates behaves in the same way as a pet dog, that is to say, when the user throws an object the moving part seeks the thrown object, picks it up and brings it to the user.
  • the toy interacts with the user in an active way, in a similar way to that in which a pet animal would do.
  • the toy to which this invention relates has decision making capability in real time, without the user having to take decisions about the route which has to be followed in order to pick up the piece which has to be found, even in initially unforeseen situations.
  • the means for seeking the origin of the signal and the means for directing the moving part to the place from which the signals originate and the means for picking up the piece which has to be found and bringing it to the user have decision making means which are independent of the user's control; the said decision making means may, for example, comprise a microcomputer, a circuit board and an electronic memory.
  • the said emitters will be of the infrared type and more than one will be provided so as to ensure that the signal will be received independently of the position adopted by the piece which has to be found once it has been thrown.
  • the infrared receiver of the independent moving part intended to receive the signal or signals from the piece which has to be found will have a band pass filter in order to prevent interference originating from other infrared sources whose frequency does not coincide with the emitter.
  • this invention provides that the said infrared receiver is only capable of capturing signals originating in a direction perpendicular to the frontal plane of the receiver. This feature enormously simplifies the toy's computational and system requirements, as the toy will direct itself frontally towards the object which has to be found.
  • the user's control may preferably comprise a remote control, with the main functions of switching on the toy and, optionally, issuing a command for the moving part to return to the user.
  • this may, for example, have the shape of an animal or the like, for example a dog, inasmuch as its behavior is similar to that of a pet dog.
  • the means for seeking the origin of the signal or signals from the piece which has to be found will comprise means so that the moving part rotates 360° about an axis until it encounters the said signal or signals.
  • the said means for movement preferably comprise a system of two wheels, each having an independent motor, and one idling wheel or pivot.
  • control device preferably comprising a microcontroller, a circuit-board and an electronic memory for the storage of instructions.
  • the moving part may comprise detection sensors, preferably of the infrared type, and a speed and direction control system governed by a control device.
  • the means for picking up the piece which has to be found will comprise a concavity, or may also comprise means for capturing the piece which has to be found. It may also comprise a sensor system to detect the piece which has to be found once the latter is located in the said means for picking up the piece.
  • the control device will comprise means (in the form of circuits, memorized instructions, or any other means) for the toy to carry out the following operations in succession and independently:
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a diagrammatical illustration of a possible embodiment of a toy according to this invention. This shows the functional elements of the moving part, with an external cover as a dashed line.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a diagrammatical illustration of the functional elements and the front of a possible embodiment of a toy according to this invention, devoid of the decorative part.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical view showing detection of the part of the toy which has to be found by the moving part thereof.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view of elements located in the base of an embodiment of the toy according to this invention which provide the toy with adequate mobility.
  • FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatical figures showing a possible method of using the toy according to this invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a process carried out by a toy according to this invention.
  • FIGS. 1 to 8 refer to different embodiments of the toy according to the invention, but similar elements coinciding in different embodiments have been identified using the same numbers.
  • the toy to which this invention relates comprises:
  • the independent moving part comprises:
  • the toy to which this invention relates is physically divided into at least two independent parts (the piece which has to be found - 2 - and the moving part - 3 -), although preferably it will be divided into three physical parts: the user control - 1 -, the piece which has to be found - 2 - and the moving part - 3 -.
  • the user control may be implemented in various ways.
  • the user control may be implemented in the moving part - 3 - in the form of an on or off button.
  • user control - 1 - may be a remote control, for example of an infrared control, which will enable the user - 100 -, for example, to issue commands to start a search and return to the user.
  • the moving part - 3 - may for example incorporate the specific communications port for remote control - 1 -.
  • the piece which has to be found - 2 - may be of any shape. It will be advantageous if it has a spherical shape, because this shape will enable it to roll freely. In addition to this, this shape has the advantage that it most conveniently simulates play between a boy and his pet.
  • the piece which has to be found will preferably comprise a plurality of emitters, preferably five - 21 -, - 22 -, - 23 -, - 24 -, - 25 -.
  • the emitters may in this way be preferably of the infrared type, which have the advantage that they are light, durable and cheap.
  • An example of a useable infrared emitter may be the emitter IE-0545 marketed by the Waitrony company, with a radio emission of 10 meters, which is adequate for this application.
  • Moving part - 3 - of the toy to which this invention relates is independent.
  • independent means that there are no supply or information transfer cables.
  • the moving part of the object of this invention has means which will enable it to take its own decisions, for example, in order to overcome obstacles, as will be seen subsequently.
  • the external part of the moving part should be of an attractive shape, for example similar to that of an animal, although this is not strictly necessary.
  • the chassis should not have any cutting edges or clefts which might catch a user's finger, given its application to a juvenile public.
  • moving part must support a battery, the motor system, the corresponding sensor system and the control device (for example integrated circuits).
  • the control device for example integrated circuits.
  • the system - 43 - for receiving the signal from the piece which has to be found - 2 - will preferably be an infrared receiver.
  • the accuracy of the finally constructed toy will depend on this item. Location of the element within moving part - 3 - and focusing of the element is therefore of special importance.
  • Both the signal emitter and the receiver system must avoid common interference from IR sources such as sunlight and house lighting.
  • the receiving system - 344 - will have a pass band filter, of preferably 28.5 kHz, so that the receiver only receives infrared light which “blinks” 28,500 times per second.
  • a receiver such as the PIC1018 SMB manufactured by Waitrony will for example be used.
  • receiving sensor - 43 - will depend on the final shape given to the moving element and the location of emitters - 21 -, - 22 -, - 23 -, - 24 -, - 25 - in the piece which has to be found - 2 -.
  • sensor - 344 - should be located in a projecting part of moving element - 3 -, but preferably in the middle of the frontal plane, as seen in the figures.
  • receiver - 344 - will be covered in such a way that it only receives signals originating perpendicularly to the frontal plane of the sensor.
  • the moving part will also have a system for detecting obstacles which may lie in its path.
  • the detector system should have a short response time, that the sensor system should be independent of the material, colour and light of the obstacle, have relatively low consumption and be capable of being installed in an independent moving part - 3 -, that is without cables, of small weight and size.
  • the obstacle detector system should comprise infrared detector sensors.
  • infrared sensors have the advantage that they are sensitive and cheap, no great detection distance or calculation of the distance of the object being required, as the aim which has to be achieved is that moving part - 3 - should not impact against the obstacle detected.
  • Different embodiments incorporating three obstacle detector sensors - 341 -, - 342 -, - 343 - may be seen in the figures. According to tests carried out, these are sufficient for the embodiments illustrated.
  • An example of a sensor complying with the specifications mentioned here is the GP2D15 sensor from the Sharp company.
  • moving part - 3 - will have the ability to rotate about an axis. As will be described subsequently, this rotation aids location of the piece which has to be found - 2 -.
  • This system with a pivot or idling wheel - 33 - avoids complicating the toy electronically, being of simple construction.
  • Motors - 321 -, - 322 - may be of the conventional type, including a power as low as 1 W, according to each specific application.
  • the motors will include the corresponding drivers which will allow them to be controlled differentially by a control device.
  • the robot may be equipped with motor speed measuring sensors - 311 -, - 321 -.
  • Commercially available encoders of the optical type may be used for this.
  • a suitable encoder for this application may for example emit a counting pulse every approximately 0.4 cm.
  • the sensor system is not illustrated in the figures.
  • moving part - 3 - will have the corresponding independent power supply system, because the invention dispenses with supply cables.
  • This system could comprise a battery, preferably a rechargeable one providing a voltage difference of 12V, which is not heavy, for example a rechargeable NiCd battery of some 800 mA and 12 V supplemented with a power source depending on the elements incorporated in the system.
  • Moving part - 3 - may have means which will enable it to recover the piece which has to be found in order to bring it to the user.
  • the front part of moving part - 34 - has a concavity which can be used to collect the ball or moving part - 2 - and bring it to the user.
  • means for capturing the piece which has to be found such as suction cups or clamps, although this could from the technical point of view unnecessarily complicate the toy.
  • the means for collecting the piece which has to be found will be associated with direct or indirect means for determining whether the piece which has to be found - 2 - is or is not within receiving zone - 34 -.
  • moving part - 3 - may also comprise systems emitting light and music.
  • the system or device for controlling moving part - 3 - is essential so that the various systems coordinate so that the toy fulfils its primary aim, that is to locate the piece which has to be found - 2 -, approach it and return it to the user.
  • control system will save the functioning processes of the toy and will execute precise commands in relation to the inputs originating from the various systems in moving part - 3 -.
  • a possible embodiment may for example comprise an 8 bit microcontroller of CMOS technology encapsulated with 18 pins (for example Philips 80C 522 microcontroller) which has the advantage of being an element of a known type, a circuit board incorporating the said microcontroller and an electronic memory containing the instructions for the microcontroller, together with the necessary communications ports for the various systems.
  • 18 pins for example Philips 80C 522 microcontroller
  • FIGS. 5 to 8 The functioning of the toy to which this invention relates is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 .
  • FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the basic intended functioning of the toy to which this invention relates.
  • the user - 100 - throws the piece which has to be found - 2 - and the moving part - 3 - seeks a signal emitted by the emitters - 21 - to - 25 - in the moving part.
  • moving part - 3 - approaches the piece which has to be found - 2 -, avoiding the obstacles in its path on the basis of the commands given by the control device based on data received from obstacle sensors - 341 -, - 342 -, until the piece which has to be found lies in receiving zone - 34 -.
  • the moving part then moves the piece which has to be found - 2 - to user - 100 -.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram which makes reference to the main procedure included in the electronic memory located in the control device circuit.
  • the toy (plus specifically moving part - 2 -) is switched on, it starts by giving an activity signal - 2001 - (for example the dog raises its head, which could incorporate a movement of the communications port with user control - 1 -, and for example may perform a circular movement - 2002 -, for example on pivot - 33 -.
  • This rotation about pivot - 33 - allows for a 360° sweep seeking a signal originating from emitters - 21 - to - 25 - of the piece which has to be found and/or a signal originating from remote control - 1 -.
  • the moving part proceeds - 2006 - to determine by any known means whether the piece which has to be found - 2 - is located in receiving zone - 34 -. If it does not find it it it begins a search routine - 2008 - advancing forwards towards the piece which has to be found - 2 -, for example after emitting a search signal - 2007 -, for example lowering its head. If the piece which has to be found - 2 - is located in the receiving zone, moving part - 3 - may begin a routine of “picking up the piece” - 2006 -, for example, closing its legs, lowering its head, activating gripping means or in any other way. This routine will preferably also include disabling of the sensors for locating the signal from the piece which has to be found - 2 -.
  • the dog detects a user signal - 2004 -, for example corresponding to a command to approach, the dog will begin previously mentioned routines - 2007 -, - 2008 - in such a way that it approaches the user - 100 -, bringing towards him the piece which has to be found - 2 - if this is in reception zone - 34 -.
  • control device will also comprise instructions for carrying out other procedures, such as for example control of speed, direction and distance run, and procedures to avoid obstacles detected by obstacle detectors - 341 -, - 342 -, - 343 -, which may easily be implemented by those skilled in the art on the basis of their available knowledge and the contents of this specification.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US11/935,632 2006-11-06 2007-11-06 Toy Abandoned US20080108277A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ESES200602802 2006-11-06
ES200602802A ES2270741B1 (es) 2006-11-06 2006-11-06 Juguete.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080108277A1 true US20080108277A1 (en) 2008-05-08

Family

ID=38319297

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/935,632 Abandoned US20080108277A1 (en) 2006-11-06 2007-11-06 Toy

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20080108277A1 (es)
EP (1) EP1918004B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE445445T1 (es)
DE (1) DE602007002765D1 (es)
ES (2) ES2270741B1 (es)
PT (1) PT1918004E (es)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150237828A1 (en) * 2014-02-18 2015-08-27 Rosse Mary Peavey Fun ball
WO2015077166A3 (en) * 2013-11-22 2015-10-29 Cepia, Llc Autonomous toy capable of tracking and interacting with a source
US9636599B2 (en) 2014-06-25 2017-05-02 Mattel, Inc. Smart device controlled toy
US9919232B2 (en) 2009-05-28 2018-03-20 Anki, Inc. Mobile agents for manipulating, moving, and/or reorienting components
US9996369B2 (en) 2015-01-05 2018-06-12 Anki, Inc. Adaptive data analytics service
US10188958B2 (en) 2009-05-28 2019-01-29 Anki, Inc. Automated detection of surface layout
US20220001292A1 (en) * 2020-06-18 2022-01-06 Saifeng Chen Programmable toy building blocks system

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018004831A1 (de) * 2018-06-15 2019-12-19 Red Gmbh Artikel mit einem Luftreinigungsmodul

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3132864A (en) * 1961-11-01 1964-05-12 Marvin Glass & Associates Wheeled toy target with ball retaining and sounding means
US4171133A (en) * 1978-02-10 1979-10-16 Marvin Glass & Associates Self-propelled target toy
US4582353A (en) * 1983-06-17 1986-04-15 Pont-A-Mousson S.A. Suction cup for gripping small, delicate objects
US20020106965A1 (en) * 2001-02-02 2002-08-08 Mike Dooley Toy device responsive to visual input
US20020177383A1 (en) * 2000-09-28 2002-11-28 Hornsby James R. Card interactive amusement device
US20030124953A1 (en) * 2000-02-04 2003-07-03 Hornsby James Russell Interactive dispensing amusement device

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6425887A (en) * 1987-07-21 1989-01-27 Takara Co Ltd Robot toy
ES2156557B1 (es) 1999-06-30 2002-02-16 Onilco Innovacion Sa Muñeco gateador con dispositivo de busqueda y cambio de direccion.
US7117190B2 (en) * 1999-11-30 2006-10-03 Sony Corporation Robot apparatus, control method thereof, and method for judging character of robot apparatus
JP2002018146A (ja) * 2000-07-04 2002-01-22 Tomy Co Ltd 対話型玩具、反応行動パターン生成装置および反応行動パターン生成方法
KR20020061961A (ko) * 2001-01-19 2002-07-25 사성동 지능형 애완로봇
JP2003088687A (ja) * 2001-09-20 2003-03-25 Ii K Japan:Kk 自律型ロボットを使用した遊技システム

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3132864A (en) * 1961-11-01 1964-05-12 Marvin Glass & Associates Wheeled toy target with ball retaining and sounding means
US4171133A (en) * 1978-02-10 1979-10-16 Marvin Glass & Associates Self-propelled target toy
US4582353A (en) * 1983-06-17 1986-04-15 Pont-A-Mousson S.A. Suction cup for gripping small, delicate objects
US20030124953A1 (en) * 2000-02-04 2003-07-03 Hornsby James Russell Interactive dispensing amusement device
US20020177383A1 (en) * 2000-09-28 2002-11-28 Hornsby James R. Card interactive amusement device
US20020106965A1 (en) * 2001-02-02 2002-08-08 Mike Dooley Toy device responsive to visual input

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9919232B2 (en) 2009-05-28 2018-03-20 Anki, Inc. Mobile agents for manipulating, moving, and/or reorienting components
US10188958B2 (en) 2009-05-28 2019-01-29 Anki, Inc. Automated detection of surface layout
US11027213B2 (en) 2009-05-28 2021-06-08 Digital Dream Labs, Llc Mobile agents for manipulating, moving, and/or reorienting components
WO2015077166A3 (en) * 2013-11-22 2015-10-29 Cepia, Llc Autonomous toy capable of tracking and interacting with a source
US20150237828A1 (en) * 2014-02-18 2015-08-27 Rosse Mary Peavey Fun ball
US9636599B2 (en) 2014-06-25 2017-05-02 Mattel, Inc. Smart device controlled toy
US9996369B2 (en) 2015-01-05 2018-06-12 Anki, Inc. Adaptive data analytics service
US10817308B2 (en) 2015-01-05 2020-10-27 Digital Dream Labs, Llc Adaptive data analytics service
US20220001292A1 (en) * 2020-06-18 2022-01-06 Saifeng Chen Programmable toy building blocks system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2332071T3 (es) 2010-01-25
ES2270741A1 (es) 2007-04-01
ES2270741B1 (es) 2008-03-01
ATE445445T1 (de) 2009-10-15
EP1918004B1 (en) 2009-10-14
DE602007002765D1 (de) 2009-11-26
EP1918004A1 (en) 2008-05-07
PT1918004E (pt) 2010-01-06

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: IMC TOYS, S.A., SPAIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NUNEZ SERRANO, SERGIO;GOMEZ HUMET, BLAI;NOGUER DE PALOL, JOAN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020310/0830

Effective date: 20071211

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION