DE3404260A1 - Intelligent toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A conventional unintelligent toy is characterised in that, when it is put to use, the initiative must always come from the playing person concerned. This has the following disadvantages: - It is not acknowledged by children as a real playmate. - The activation of the toy is too difficult for small children. - Not interesting for adults. These disadvantages are eliminated according to the invention in that the intelligent toy contains an observation system or a control system as well as the electronic evaluation which controls the responses of the toy to the movements of the playing person. A simple embodiment is, for example, a toy dog which is fitted with a movement detector (e.g. a microwave system based on the Doppler principle). When a child approaches, the dog begins to bark for a time and thereafter turns its head from side to side. In an expensive embodiment, interactive communication between the toy and the player is possible due to a programmable microprocessor controller in which speech recognition can also be used. Figures 1 and 2 show the fundamental difference between a conventional toy and an intelligent toy. <IMAGE>

Description

Smart toys

The invention relates to a toy with a motion detector or a guidance system, with this toy on the movements of the person playing can react independently.

Background of the Invention In the field of toy controls quite a few systems have been proposed. These are systems that work with Dniiit or radio control work. From DE 2916707 is also a, by myoelectric Potential controlled toys known.

Fig. 1 shows the operation of these conventional systems: The Initiative comes from the person playing (1) and the toy (2) either becomes by remote control or direct activation (e.g. by a permanent magnet as described in DT 2520433) is set to the working state (e.g. a dog barks).

This practical way of working has the following disadvantages: 1) Since the Initiative (switching on and operating the toy) only from the player who is playing Person goes out, the toy has no "intelligence". That's why it is used by the most children are not recognized as a "real play partner", which is often a purchase of a pet e.g.

of a cat.

2) for the group of toddlers from 1 to 3 years that is already Turning on the toy a difficult one Problem,. so that mostly are dependent on the ITlife of adults, which is the educational value of the toy very diminishes.

3) These toys are for adults (excluding electric Railroads and some other expensive and complicated toys) on the You're not interesting.

The motion detectors (with microwave, infrared or ultrasonic systems) are known from alarm system technology. They will also be used for door openers and others Control purposes such as neon advertising (described in DT 2549429) are used.

the electronic control systems (mainly based on the radar principle) are known from military technology.

OBJECT The invention is based on the object of creating an "intelligent Toy "to propose. This toy is said to be self-sufficient when approaching activate the person playing, so that a kind of "real communication" arises.

Technical solution According to the invention, this object is achieved by that the "intelligent toy" is an observation system (a motion detector) or a control system as well as the electronic (preferably programmable) Contains an evaluation that shows the reactions of the toy, e.g. a toy animal controls the play person's movements. The level of "intelligence" of the toy is of the quality of the observation or the control system and the evaluation and Part of the control (storage capacity).

Fig. 2 shows the operation of this toy.

The person playing (1) is supported by the observation or

from the control system of the toy (range preferably adjustable) detects that the toy is switched on and reacts to the movements of the person playing Person. A kind of "real communication" arises and there are innumerable Nen, g.e. of applications such as dolls, play animals, technical toys (e.g. cars) Etc.

We would like to use two J3examples to illustrate how this "intelligent one" works Toys "explain.

1) Simplest version (price under DM 100).

A toy animal, e.g. a dog that can bark and turn its head. This toy animal is equipped with a simple motion detector (e.g. a microwave system according to the double principle) and a sequence control. -Fig. 3. The movement the person playing causes a Doppler signal in the microwave module (1), which is processed in the amplifier (2) and in the evaluation part (3).

The sequence control (4) controls the reactions of the play animal e.g. when the person playing, the hand barks; when this stops rotating he head for 5 seconds.

In the case of the microwave module, mn .. can do this very inexpensively and simply Use the module according to our application DE 3106832, which belongs to the rest of the electronics to the state of the art.

2) Elaborate execution. (Price over DM 1,000) A toy e.g. a dog that can run, bark, turn its head and tail - Fig. 4. This one The toy animal has a control system (1) and a programmable microprocessor control (2) equipped. The person playing is recorded by the control system. On the microprocessor control the following data is transmitted: distance, azimuth, obstacle detection.

The animal's reaction is programmable - e.g.

running after the playperson, etc. You can also use this toy also with a speech recognition system (3) so that in this example described dog can also react to commands from the person playing.

This intelligent toy encourages the creative development of the Child, is also for toddlers who do not use conventional toys can, suitable and in the elaborate design also very interesting for adults.

Thanks to the very inexpensive microwave modules developed by ltnc and thanks to the simple controls, this toy is in the simpler version for broad strata of the population, also in terms of price (under DM 100) Interesting.

Claims (4)

Claims 1) A toy (doll, toy animal, mechanical Toys etc.), Characterized in that this toy or its control outside of the toy contains a motion detector or a guidance system that or that when a person approaches or moves, an electrical signal is sent to you Control part of the toy gives off. This signal causes an activity, preferably a preprogrammable one of the toy. 2) A toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the Motion detector a microwave, infrared, ultrasonic or other system is. 3) A toy according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that that the response range of the toy is adjustable. 4) A toy according to claim 1, characterized in that the Guidance system for complex toys, guiding the toy and avoiding obstacles controls.