| Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy -> Monitor Keywords |
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Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toyRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Toys, SoundingSonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070128975, Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Children often play a game, sometimes called "hide and seek", wherein one child hides and another designated child searches for the hidden player. In one version of the game, the designated "seeker" child calls out a certain phrase and the "hidden" child or children must audibly respond. [0003] It would be beneficial and fun to provide a toy system which permits the person playing the "seeker" game to search out or seek a designated toy unit. The hidden toy unit must respond to inquiries by the seeking toy unit. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy system. [0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a first and a second toy element which are separate and distinct and wherein one of the toy elements carries a sub-audible sound generator and the other toy element carries a receiver. [0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a seeker toy system wherein the receiver both audibly and visually indicates to the game player that the seeking toy unit is approaching the hidden toy unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The sonar enabled seeker toy system includes a first and second toy element. The first toy element includes a transmitter generating sub-audible sounds. The second toy unit which is separate, distinct and portable with respect to the first toy unit, includes a receiver. The receiver includes a sub-audible sound detector, a plurality of lights indicating the presence of any detected sub-audible sound and also indicating the signal strength of the received or acquired sub-audible sound signal. In an enhanced system, the receiver or seeker toy unit includes an audio announcer which audibly announces the presence of a high signal strength acquired signal detected by the sub-audible sound detector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0009] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a toy system including first and second toy elements; [0010] FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively illustrate block functional diagrams of the transmitter and receiver units; [0011] FIGS. 3A and 3B diagrammatically illustrate electrical schematics of one embodiment of the sonar enabled seeker toy system; and [0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B diagrammatically illustrate electric schematics of a transmitter and receiver of another embodiment of the seeker toy system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] The present invention relates to a sonar enabled seeker toy system with primarily visual outputs. An enhanced version includes both visual and audio outputs based on acquired signal strength. [0014] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the toy system including a first toy element 10 having a sub-audible sound generator or a transmitter TXR and a second toy element 12 which includes a receiver RCR to detect the sub-audible sounds. Other structural configurations of the first and second toy elements 10, 12 can be employed rather than the illustrated wand 12 RCR and animal 10 TXR. Typically, toy unit 10 is hidden and toy unit 12 is used to seek out or find unit 10. [0015] FIG. 2A shows a functional block diagram of the transmitter circuitry for the first or hidden toy element 10. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes battery 14, switch SW2, oscillator OSC 16, and a transmitter TXR 18 operating at preferably 40 kHz. LED 101 (light emitting diode LED) indicates when switch SW2 closes. TXR 18 generates sub-audible sounds (sonar signals). Other frequencies could be utilized but it is important that TXR 18 generate sub-audible sounds which are ultimately detected by the receiver diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2B. [0016] FIG. 2B shows the components, in a general functional block form, of the receiver located in seeker toy element 12 of FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, the receiver, as well as the transmitter, is powered by a battery. The receiver battery 20 is controlled ON-OFF by switch SW1. LED 5 indicates to the player holding receiver toy element 12 whether the power switch SW1 is opened or closed. Power is supplied to the remainder of the circuitry in the receiver as is known by person of ordinary skills in the art. [0017] Similar numerals designate similar items throughout all the figures. The prime components of the receiver in seeker toy element 12 include a sub-audio sound detector or microphone 22, signal conditioning circuitry, generally designated as circuit elements 24 in FIG. 2B, an integrated circuit or a plurality of discrete level sensing components 26, which determine the signal strength of the acquired or sensed signal obtained by microphone 22, and a plurality of lights 28 which indicate to the game player that any type of sub-audible sound is detected by mic 22 and further which indicate the signal strength of the acquired signal by stepwise activation of a series of lights or LEDs. Optionally, a vibrator or speaker unit 29 may be included to indicate, to the seeker game player, that seeker unit 12 is very close to the hidden, sought after first toy unit 10. [0018] Signal conditioning circuitry 24 is closely associated with and designed to operate with the type of signal generated by mic 22 as well as the type of lights 28 which are activated ON based upon the presence and the strength of the acquired signal. Therefore, if other types of lights, other than LEDs, are utilized, a different signal conditioning circuitry 24 would be incorporated in receiver unit. Also, the signal conditioning circuitry 30 for the integrated circuit or discrete components or multi-level comparator 26, generating ON signals for the signal strength lights LED 1-2 to LED 1-5, are uniquely matched for each other. Therefore, different signal conditioning circuitry 30 would be utilized for an integrated circuit as compared as discrete comparators. Persons of ordinary skill in the art understand the matching and complementary nature of the signal conditioning circuits 24, 30 with the items being driven or processed 28, 26. [0019] The output from mic 22 is fed to a first amplifier AMP1, and then a second amplifier AMP2. The output from amplifier 2 is fed to amplifier AMP3 as well as diode pump A. The output from diode pump A is supplied to a zener diode or LED zener diode limiter 31. Limiter 31 controls voltage or current to the multi-level sensing circuit. The output of limiter 31 is supplied to either an integrated circuit which is a bar graph LED driver or to a plurality of discrete circuit components which effectively determines multiple levels of acquired signal strength in a comparator circuit system. In other words, functional element 26 is either an integrated circuit which is a bar graph LED driver or a plurality of comparators. A microprocessor may be used for digital level sensing. In any event, the outputs of multi-level comparator unit 26, generally designated as output 27, provide an indication of signal strength supplied to the electrical elements coupled thereto. Therefore, LED or light 1-2 (level 2) is turned ON upon acquisition of a fairly low level sub-audible sound detected by mic 22. LED 1-3 is activated ON when the signal strength is higher; LED 1-4 is activated in the presence of even greater acquired signal and LED 1-5 is illuminated upon detection of a very high acquired sub-audible sound by mic 22. Unit 29 is either a vibrator or an audible announcer or speaker which signals the presence of extraordinarily high acquired signals. Further, the output of vibrator as well as the audible speaker increases upon greater acquired signal strength. As an example, if an audible speaker is used as element 29, the output of the audible speaker is demonstrably higher when the seeker receiver unit 12 is very close to the transmitting hidden toy unit 10. In one embodiment, the supplemental short distance indicator (vibrator or speaker 29) is connected to the high level signal acquisition light LED 1-5. In another embodiment, the speaker 29 is directly coupled to the multiple level comparator circuit 26. Continue reading about Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy... Full patent description for Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sonar enabled audio and visual seeker toy patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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