US20080200094A1

US20080200094A1 - Light show controller for an inflatable doll

Info

Publication number: US20080200094A1
Application number: US11/708,349
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheng-Hung Hsu
Original assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Current assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2007-02-21
Publication date: 2008-08-21

Abstract

A light show controller for an inflatable doll, which has at least lone light stream mounted inside of the body, has a processor having inner memory having multiple light show modes, at least one electronic switch driven by the processor, an input device used to select one light show mode of the processor and a power converter used to supply power to the above electronic unit and light stream. Since the light stream is mounted inside of the inflatable doll and driven by the processor through the electronic switch, a user uses the input device select different light show mode to light the inflatable doll. Therefore, the attraction of the inflatable doll is increasing by driving the light stream inside of the inflatable doll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light show controller, especially to a light show controller for an inflatable doll.
2. Description of Related Art
Most of conventional inflatable dolls are displayed in or in front of supermarkets or department stores to attract customers and create a friendly atmosphere, since they are easily to set up and conspicuous. A conventional inflatable decoration comprises a body made of fabric material, a barrel and a seat formed on a lower end of the barrel. The body is mounted on the barrel so that the body is suspended above the ground. The seat further has an air inlet communicated with inside of the body and an inflator mounted on the seat. A vent hole is defined in the inflator and corresponds to the air inlet so that air can be blown into the body when the inflator is operating. Hence, the body erects to attract the sights of the customers.
However, more and more conventional inflatable dolls are displayed in or in front of supermarkets or department stores. The customers are used to see these inflatable dolls, so the attraction of the inflatable dolls is decreasing by the time. At present, one dynamic inflatable doll is proposed to make the inflatable doll have dynamic movement.
Therefore, the static inflatable dolls do not easily catch the sights of people anymore. One new inflatable doll with different appearance should be created.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the present invention include providing a light show controller for an inflatable doll that makes the inflatable doll play music and have a light show controlled according to the music content in playing status.
The light show controller for an inflatable doll, which has at least lone light stream mounted inside of the body, has a processor having inner memory having multiple light show modes, at least one electronic switch driven by the processor, an input device used to select one light show mode of the processor and a power converter used to supply power to the above electronic unit and light stream. Since the light stream is mounted inside of the inflatable doll and driven by the processor through the electronic switch, a user uses the input device select different light show mode to light the inflatable doll. Therefore, the attraction of the inflatable doll is increasing by driving the light stream inside of the inflatable doll.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an inflatable doll in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2H are detailed circuit diagrams of a light show controller in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a list of multiple light show modes in the processor in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a wave diagram of a music signal played by the processor in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a list of a table stored in an inner memory of the processor in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of controlling procedure built in a processor in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, an inflatable doll (10) has a body (11) made of fabric material, an inflator (12), at least one light stream (13) and a light show controller (20).
An air inlet is defined in a bottom of the body (11) and connected to a vent of the inflator (12). Therefore, when the air inflator (12) is operating, air is supplied to inside of the body (11) through the air inlet. In FIG. 1, the inflator (12) is set up outside of the body (11) and electronically connected to the light show controller (20). The inflator (12) is also set up inside of the body (11).
In FIG. 1, four light streams (13) are mounted inside of the body (11). Each light stream (11) is consisted of multiple light sources connected in serial. The four light streams (11) are electronically connected to the light show controller (20).
With further reference to FIGS. 2A to 2H, the light show controller (20) has a processor (21) having inner memory, at least one electronic switch (22), an input device (23), an audio player (24), and a power converter (25).
In FIGS. 2A to 2H, there are eight electronic switches (22), each of which is connected to the four light streams (13) connected in parallel. A trigger terminal of each electronic switch (22) is connected to output terminal of the processor (21) through a resistor (R1 to R8) and a data bus (IC1BUS). Two other terminals of the each electronic switch are respectively connected to corresponding light stream or the light streams (13) and ground. When a trigger voltage inputs to the trigger terminal of the electronic switch (22), two terminals are electronically connected together. That is, the light streams (13) are electronically and commonly connected to the ground to light. Therefore, the light show controller (20) has eight output terminals. The electronic switch (22) is a Triode AC Switch (hereafter TRIAC). The trigger terminal of the TRIAC is gate terminal and the other terminals are respectively anode and cathode terminals.
The input device (23) includes a switch element (SW1) with four sub-switches that are respectively connected to corresponding input terminal (P10 to P13) of the processor (21). The input device (23) further has an audio-controlling unit having a buzzer (BZ) and a signal converter (231). The signal converter (231) is connected between output of the buzzer (BZ) and another input terminal (P20) of the processor (21). A user can uses the switch element (SW1) to select different light show.
The audio player (24) has an audio driver (241) and a speaker (SPK). The audio driver (241) is electronically connected between another output terminal (V01A) of the processor (21) and the speaker (SPK). The processor (21) outputs audio signal to the speaker (SPK) through the audio driver (241), so the speaker (SPK) outputs the audio signal to the people.
The power converter (25) has an AC to DC adapter (251) and a voltage regulator (252). The AC to DC adapter (251) is connected to an external AC power (120V/60 Hz) and then converts the AC power to a first DC power (DC 12V). The voltage regulator (252) is connected to the AC to DC adapter to further convert the DC power from the AC to DC adapter to a second DC power (DC 5V). The first DC power is supplied to the audio player (24) and the second DC power is supplied to the other electronic units, such as the processor (21) and input device (23). The light streams (13) and the inflator (12) are connected to the external AC power through a fuse (F1).
The processor (21) builds a controlling procedure, music signal and a table. With further reference to FIG. 3, the controlling procedure has four light show modes corresponding to the four sub-switches of the switch element (SW1).
In a first light show mode (M1), the processor (21) detects voltage level changes to determine whether any high decibel audio is received by the buzzer (BZ), and drives all light streams (13) to light through the electronic switches (22), when the determining result of the processor is positive. However, in the first mode, the processor (21) does not output the music signal to the speaker (SPK) through the audio driver (241). Therefore, when the user switches the switch element (SW1) to the first sub-switch, the light streams (13) inside of the body (11) will light when the buzzer (BZ) receives high decibel audio signal. On the contrary, if the buzzer (BZ) does not receive the high decibel audio signal, the light stream (13) inside of the body (11) will not light.
When the user switches the switch element (SW1) to the second sub-switch, the processor (21) executes a second light show mode (M2). The processor (21) only drives the light streams (13) to light through the electronic switches (22) and does not drive the speaker (SPK).
When the user switches the switch element (SW1) to the third sub-switch, the processor executes a third light show mode (M3). The processor (21) only drives the light streams (13) through the electronic switches (22) to glitter according to a fixed cycle order. That is, the processor (21) alternatively outputs high and low voltages to the trigger terminals of the electronic switches (22).
In a fourth light show mode (M4), the processor (21) drivers the light streams to glitter according to music in current playing status. With further reference to FIG. 4 A, one music signal is marked by different symbols (S1 to S3) and the music signal with symbols (S1 to S3) are stored in the inner memory. FIG. 4B shows one example of the table having multiple symbols (S1 to S3) and driving statuses for light streams. The multiple symbols (T1 to T3) respectively correspond to different driving status of the electronic switch(es). For example, the processor (21) drives the electronic switches to glitter quickly according to the first driving status when the processor (21) determines that the present symbol in current music signal is first symbol (S1). Therefore, when the processor (21) plays the music signal, the processor (21) drives the corresponding light streams through the electronic switch (22) according to the symbols of the music signal.
With reference to FIG. 5, the controlling procedure of the processor has steps of:
(a) detecting which sub-switch is switched? (30)
(b) if the first sub-switch is switched, the first mode executed and the light streams driven to glitter according to decibel changes of outside audio of the body; (31)
(c) if the second sub-switch is switched, the second mode executed and the light streams driven to light; (32)
(d) if the third sub-switch is switched, the third mode executed and the light streams are driven to glitter according to different symbols of the current playing music; (33) and
(e) if the four sub-switch is switched, the fourth mode executed and the light streams are driven to glitter according to the fixed cycle order (34).
Based on the forgoing description, the present invention makes the inflatable doll with the light streams to have different light shows. Therefore, the inflatable doll with the light show controller in accordance with the present invention provides various light shows to catch more sights of the people.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A light show controller for an inflatable doll, which has a body made of fabric material, an inflator supplied air to inside of the body, at least one light stream mounted inside of the body, wherein the light show controller comprises:

a processor having inner memory having multiple light show modes;

at least one electronic switch each of which has a trigger terminal and two terminals, wherein the trigger terminal is electronically connected to an input terminal of the processor and the terminals are respectively to ground and a corresponding light stream;

an input device electronically connected to an input terminal of the processor to select one light show mode of the processor, wherein the processor drives the at least one light stream according to the selected light show mode; and

a power converter converting AC power to DC power which supplies to the processor and the input device, wherein the at least one stream light is connected to the AC power.

2. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein each electronic switch is a Triode AC Switch.

3. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a switch element with four sub-switches that are respectively connected to corresponding input terminal of the processor.

4. The light show controller as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input device comprises a switch element with four sub-switches that are respectively connected to corresponding input terminal of the processor.

5. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device comprises an audio-controlling unit having a buzzer and a signal converter, wherein the signal converter is connected between an output of the buzzer and another input terminal of the processor.

6. The light show controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the input device comprises an audio-controlling unit having a buzzer and a signal converter, wherein the signal converter is connected between an output of the buzzer and another input terminal of the processor.

7. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an audio player electronically connected to an output terminal of the processor.

8. The light show controller as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an audio player electronically connected to an output terminal of the processor.

9. The light show controller as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an audio player electronically connected to an output terminal of the processor.

10. The light show controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the audio player comprises an audio driver and a speaker, wherein the audio driver is electronically connected between another output terminal of the processor and the speaker.

11. The light show controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein the audio player comprises an audio driver and a speaker, wherein the audio driver is electronically connected between another output terminal of the processor and the speaker.

12. The light show controller as claimed in claim 9, wherein the audio player comprises an audio driver and a speaker, wherein the audio driver is electronically connected between another output terminal of the processor and the speaker.

13. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner memory of the processor stores a first, second and third light show modes and a fixed cycle order, wherein

in the first light show mode, after the processor detects that the switch element is switched to first sub-switch, the processor starts to detect voltage level changes to determine whether any high decibel audio is received by the buzzer, and drives the at least one light streams to light through the electronic switches, when the determining result of the processor is positive;

in the second light show mode, after the processor detects that the switch element is switched to second sub-switch, the processor drives the at least one light stream to light through the corresponding electronic switch; and

in the third light show mode, after the processor detects that the switch element is switched to third sub-switch, the processor drives the at least one light stream through the corresponding electronic switch to glitter according to the fixed cycle order, wherein the processor alternatively outputs high voltage and low voltages to the corresponding electronic switch.

14. The light show controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inner memory of the processor stores a first, second and third light show modes and a fixed cycle order, wherein

15. The light show controller as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inner memory of the processor stores a first, second and third light show modes and a fixed cycle order, wherein

16. The light show controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inner memory of the processor stores a first, second and third light show modes and a fixed cycle order, wherein

17. The light show controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner memory of the processor further stores music signal with symbols, a table having multiple symbols and driving statuses for the at least one electronic switch, and a fourth light show mode, wherein the multiple symbols corresponds to the symbols and the multiple driving statuses, wherein

in the fourth light show mode, after the processor detects that the switch element is switched to fourth sub-switch, the processor drives the at least one light stream through the corresponding electronic switch to glitter according to the table and outputs the music signal to the speaker through the audio driver.

18. The light show controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner memory of the processor further stores music signal with symbols, a table having multiple symbols and driving statuses for the at least one electronic switch, and a fourth light show mode, wherein the multiple symbols corresponds to the symbols and the multiple driving statuses, wherein

19. The light show controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inner memory of the processor further stores music signal with symbols, a table having multiple symbols and driving statuses for the at least one electronic switch, and a fourth light show mode, wherein the multiple symbols corresponds to the symbols and the multiple driving statuses, wherein

20. The light show controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the power converter comprises:

an AC to DC adapter connected to the AC power and then converting the AC power to a first DC power; and

a voltage regulator connected to the AC to DC adapter to further convert the DC power from the AC to DC adapter to a second DC power (DC 5V).