Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Fermentate of unknown chemical structure – Having a known elemental analysis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-09-11
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Fermentate of unknown chemical structure
Having a known elemental analysis
C434S308000, C434S319000, C434S428000, C463S035000, C446S481000, C446S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287560
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an audio or image processing system to be used for playing a game of virtual cooking. Particularly, this invention relates to an audio or image processing system for realizing virtual cooking by performing audio or image processing corresponding to the respective input devices based on data input therefrom, and outputting the results thereof to an output playback device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been various cooking toys imitating cooking utensils and ingredients to be used as toys for virtual cooking upon playing house and so on.
As cooking toys with a burner, for example, there are those that simulate a flame by emitting light using an LED, or achieve the ambience of cooking by generating cooking sounds with a built-in audio generating device. There are also: types which resort to artifice of making ingredients, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, and so on, to be separable, and imitate the cutting of ingredients upon a user pretending to cut these ingredients with a toy knife.
In recent years, utilized as intellectual training toys for children are audio or image processing systems which perform prescribed audio or image processing pursuant to data input from an input device, and display the result to, for example, an output playback device such as a TV. As an example of this type of intellectual training toy, there are those in which pictures and characters drawn on a tablet with a touch pen as the input device are displayed on the aforementioned output playback device. There are also types in which a user may become familiar with traffic rules by using input devices imitating a steering wheel and gearshift of a car to conduct virtual driving while operating such steering wheel and gearshift and viewing the image displayed on the output playback device.
Nevertheless, the aforementioned cooking toy with a burner has a problem in that when a pot or frying pan is placed thereon, the LED simulating the flame is hidden at the bottom of the cooking utensil and the simulation effect is decreased thereby. Moreover, cooking toys that generate cooking sounds have a problem in that the sound produced, for example, is merely a simple frying sound and thereby lacks ambience. Furthermore, conventional cooking toys also have a disadvantage in that the arrangement of the respective switches is often a miscellany, which frequently led to erroneous operations
In addition, among the intellectual training toys for children utilizing an audio or image processing system, the actual situation is that a so-called system kitchen with a burner, cutting board, faucet, sink, etc., which enables a child to comprehensively enjoy and learn cooking in general, has not been provided heretofore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention was devised in order to overcome the aforementioned conventional problems and an object thereof is to provide an audio or image processing system capable of realizing virtual cooking such that a child may comprehensively enjoy and learn cooking in general while following the cooking steps.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides an audio or image processing system to be used for playing a game of virtual cooking, comprising: a plurality of input devices for respectively conducting different forms of virtual cooking; and an audio or image processing device for performing audio or image processing corresponding to the respective input devices based on data input therefrom and outputting the result thereof to an output playback device.
The audio or image processing system having the aforementioned structure is capable of realizing virtual cooking such that a child may comprehensively enjoy and learn cooking in general while following the cooking steps. If data is input only from a single input device, independent virtual cooking in accordance with the respective input devices; for example, frying, cutting, washing, etc., is possible.
The audio or image processing device is capable of performing the audio or image processing in accordance with the interval between a first signal input from the respective input devices and a second signal input subsequent to the first signal.
According to this structure, for example, the virtual cooking time and the timing of cooking will change, and the result of the virtually cooked dish is output in a realistic manner.
The respective input devices may be arranged integrally and at least two of the input devices may be arranged to be at different heights in order to avoid the input operations to the respective input devices from interfering with each other.
According to this structure, prevented is the occurrence of erroneous inputs to the respective input devices.
At least one of a plurality of input devices may comprise a vibration mechanism for generating vibrations based on the interval of the first signal and second signal.
The input device comprising the vibration mechanism may be a burner-shaped input device imitating a burner, and in addition to providing vibration to the cooking utensil placed thereon, it may conduct the on/off of input pursuant to the existence of the cooking utensil and maintain the “on” state while the cooking utensil is placed thereon.
According to this structure, the cooking utensil itself is vibrated in accordance with the time which the cooking utensil is placed on the burner-shaped input device. Therefore, realistic cooking is approximated and ambience i's improved thereby.
The input device comprising the vibration mechanism may have an engaging member for engaging with the cooking utensil, and a reception for engaging with the engaging member may be formed on such cooking utensil.
According to this structure, even if the cooking utensil is vibrated pursuant to the vibration mechanism, prevented is such cooking utensil sliding or falling from the burner-shaped input device.
Either the engaging member or the reception may be formed of a concave portion, while the other may be formed of a convex portion.
One of a plurality of input devices may be arranged in a position where the fulcrum of input is displaced from the center thereof.
The input device with a displaced fulcrum of input may be a cutting board-shaped input device imitating a cutting board, and a concave portion may be formed at the approximate center of the upper face thereof for indicating the position of placing the ingredient.
According to this structure, input signals will be difficult to input to the cutting board-shaped input device when an end portion near the fulcrum of input or the approximate center thereof is pushed. That is, input of input signals is prevented upon such acts of placing the virtual ingredient on the concave portion of the cutting board-shaped input device or accompanying the hand on the placed ingredient. Meanwhile, input signals will be input smoothly when an end portion far from the fulcrum of the input is pushed. In other words, as input signals will be input smoothly upon cutting the ingredients, prevented is input of signals different therefrom. Further, by the provision of the concave portion, ingredients may be placed thereon, and additionally prevented is the erroneous input of input signals.
One of a plurality of input devices may change input signals in stages.
The input device for changing input signals in stages may control the vibration of the input device comprising the vibration mechanism.
The input device for changing input signals in stages may be a burner control knob-shaped input device imitating a knob for adjusting the heating power of the virtual burner.
According to this structure, the thoroughness of cooking the ingredient can be changed by designating the adjustment; for example, off, low, medium, high, etc., of the burner control knob-shaped input device. Further, the thoroughness of cooking the ingredient can be changed in accordance with the time the knob remains at the designated position. Thus, reproduce
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Harrison Jessica J.
Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
Rada, II Alex F. R. P.
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