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US4687457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hand-held puppet with pseudo-voice generation
Assignee: AXLON Inc
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Filing: 1985-08-26
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2005-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held puppet of the type configured to represent a living being, and having hand-controllable moving parts to simulate some form of animation, is provided with sound-generating apparatus operable in response to the hand-controlled animation simulation. The sound-generating apparatus includes a sensor that produces a signal in response to animation-producing movement of the hand-controllable parts, a circuit for producing a tone having a pseudo-randomly varying audio frequency, and a modulator that modulates the sensor-produced signal with the varying frequency tone to produce a sound signal that, when applied to a speaker mechanism, provides sound coordinated to hand-controlled animation of the puppet.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Milner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:41
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/28; A63H3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In a hand-operated puppet of the type having a hand-movable part to simulate animation, sound-generating apparatus coordinated for operation with said animation to produce an audio signal capable of being converted to sound by transducer means mounted in the puppet, the sound-generating apparatus comprising: sensor means mounted in association with the hand-movable part to produce a first signal having an amplitude that is varied by movement of the hand-movable part; generating means for producing a tone signal; and modulator means coupled to receive and combine the first and the tone signals, producing therefrom the audio signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a hand-operated puppet of the type having a hand-movable part to simulate animation, sound-generating apparatus coordinated for operation with said animation to produce an audio signal capable of being converted to sound by transducer means mounted in the puppet, the sound-generating apparatus comprising: sensor means mounted in association with the hand-movable part to produce a first signal having an amplitude that is varied by movement of the hand-movable part; generating means for producing a tone signal; and modulator means coupled to receive and combine the first and the tone signals, producing therefrom the audio signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a photocell mounted to detect light variations caused by said animation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modulator means includes means for providing the audio signal with an amplitude determined substantially by the first signal and a frequency determined substantially by the tone signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, the generating means including a multi-vibrator means for producing pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 4, the generator means including filter means coupled to the multi-vibrator means to produce the tone signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, including power control means responsive to the first signal for producing a supply voltage for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the generating means and the modulating means are placed in an operable condition by the supply voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sound-generating apparatus of claim 1, the generating means including means for providing the tone signal with a pseudo-randomly varying frequency component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a hand puppet of the type including hand-operable means for simulating animation, a sound generator mounted in association with the hand-operable means to produce an audio signal from which sound can be produced in response to and coordinated with the animation, the sound generator comprising: sensor means coupled to produce an amplitude signal in response to said animation, the amplitude signal having an amplitude that varies with movement of the hand-operable means; circuit means operable to produce a tone signal; modulator means coupled to the sensor means and to the circuit means to produce the audio signal by modulating the amplitude signal with the tone signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a hand puppet of the type including hand-operable means for simulating animation, a sound generator mounted in association with the hand-operable means to produce an audio signal from which sound can be produced in response to and coordinated with the animation, the sound generator comprising: sensor means coupled to produce an amplitude signal in response to said animation, the amplitude signal having an amplitude that varies with movement of the hand-operable means; circuit means operable to produce a tone signal; modulator means coupled to the sensor means and to the circuit means to produce the audio signal by modulating the amplitude signal with the tone signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sound generator of claim 9, wherein the circuit means includes a voltage-controlled oscillator for producing the tone signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sound generator of claim 10, including frequency generating means coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator for producing a pseudo-randomly varying signal, the voltage-controlled oscillator being responsive to the pseudo-randomly varying signal to produce the tone signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sound generating means of claim 11, wherein the frequency generating means includes counter means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The sound generator of claim 10, including means coupling the amplitude signal to the voltage-controlled oscillator, the voltage-controlled oscillator being responsive to the amplitude signal to vary the tone signal as a result of changes in the amplitude signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sound generator of claim 9, including power control means adapted to couple a supply voltage to the circuit means and to the modulator means for a predetermined time upon detection of presence of the first signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of producing a voice-like sound in response to hand-operable generation of animation of a hand-operated apparatus configured to represent at least a portion of a creature, the method comprising the steps of: producing an amplitude signal in response to, and having an amplitude that is varied by, the hand-operable generation of animation of the creature portion; providing a tone signal; modulating the amplitude signal with the tone signal to produce an audio signal; and converting the electrical audio signal to sound.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of producing a voice-like sound in response to hand-operable generation of animation of a hand-operated apparatus configured to represent at least a portion of a creature, the method comprising the steps of: producing an amplitude signal in response to, and having an amplitude that is varied by, the hand-operable generation of animation of the creature portion; providing a tone signal; modulating the amplitude signal with the tone signal to produce an audio signal; and converting the electrical audio signal to sound.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the tone signal has a pseudo-randomly varying frequency content.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15, including the step of: activating a supply voltage in response to variations of the amplitude signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the supply voltage is activated for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, including the step of providing a photosensor means in association with the hand-operable apparatus to produce the amplitude signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the photosensor means is operable to receive light that is varied by the animation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |