US4245430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Voice responsive toy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-07-16
•
Granted: 1981-01-20
•
Expires: 1999-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A sound responsive toy which seeks an emitted sound such as a child's voice, the toy includes control circuitry for activating an associated drive to turn and/or guide the toy toward the child's voice.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven D. Hoyt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 14:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H11/00; A63H30/00; A63H30/02; A63H30/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A toy, comprising in combination, solid surface contacting means, motive means including a power source for actuating said contacting means and moving said toy, an electronic circuit including audio sound responsive means, said electronic circuit including at least two positionally spaced microphones for providing a signal in response to incident sound, a signal processing channel connected to each of said microphones, said channels converting the signal from the respective microphones into pulses, and means for combining the output of said channels and providing an output dependent on the time delay between the pulses on said channels, and means for activating said motive means dependent on said time delay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A toy, comprising in combination, solid surface contacting means, motive means including a power source for actuating said contacting means and moving said toy, an electronic circuit including audio sound responsive means, said electronic circuit including at least two positionally spaced microphones for providing a signal in response to incident sound, a signal processing channel connected to each of said microphones, said channels converting the signal from the respective microphones into pulses, and means for combining the output of said channels and providing an output dependent on the time delay between the pulses on said channels, and means for activating said motive means dependent on said time delay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A toy as in claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a pair of motors, each of said motors connected to be started and stopped in response to the signals on said channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A toy as in claim 1 further including at least two feeler means for physically sensing an object, said feeler means electronically connected to said channels for overriding said audio sound and activating the motor associated therewith to tend to avoid the object being sensed by the feeler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toy as in claim 3 further including means for deactivating said motors when both feeler means sense and contact an object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toy as in claim 1 further including noise gates for sensing an audio sound above the level of said noise to cause the motors to selectively start and stop in the absence of the audio sound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toy as in claim 1 wherein the channels include a signal balancing means to assure the signal levels from the two microphones are essentially of the same amplitude to thereby provide an accurate time delay relation between the two signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toy as in claim 1 wherein the microphones are omni-directional microphones positioned a selected distance apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toy as in claim 1 wherein the ground reference for the electronic circuit is separated from the ground reference for the motor circuit to minimize the effects of noise.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A toy as in claim 1, wherein said toy is a doll having a stationary body, and said contacting means comprising a movable member mounted on said body for movement relative thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-20 | 1984-07-21 | 1985-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-20 | 1988-07-21 | 1989-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-20 | 1992-07-21 | 1993-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |