Communications: electrical – Audible indication – Simulation
Patent
1998-12-14
2000-04-04
Hofsass, Jeffery A.
Communications: electrical
Audible indication
Simulation
34038473, 446302, 446404, 446484, G08B 310
Patent
active
060466707
ABSTRACT:
An interchangeable sound effect device (1) which incorporates and plays sound effects that have been digitally recorded on interchangeable sound cartridges (4). This device (1) is designed to be used with entertainment and educational type products such as toys, dolls, figurines, books and instructional guides. The sound effect device (1) employs an infrared receiver (28) housed within a durable encasement which straps around the user's waist or is embedded within the doll, figurine, toy, or book. The receiver unit (28) contains an infrared detector (44), an electronic diving means (60), an audio speaker (52), and a sound cartridge (4) that rests within a sound cartridge chamber (32). The sound cartridge (4) contains a sound enabler chip (12) that stores, in digital form, a number of prerecorded sound effects. In addition, the user can easily remove the sound cartridge (4) and insert one of many other sound cartridges each containing a different set of sound effects. Finally, the sound effect device (1) uses an infrared transmitter (76) that attaches to an adjustable glove (92). This transmitter (76) contains several buttons (80) which the user presses to select the desired sound effect. When the user actuates a button (80), the transmitter (76) directs an infrared signal indicative of a sound effect to the receiver (28) which will in turn access the sound enabler chip (12) and play the sound effect. In another embodiment, the transmitter (76) and receiver (28) functions are eliminated and the sound effect device (1) is contained within a single housing unit (120) that would be physically incorporated into the doll, toy, book, etc. for convenience. The one-piece embodiment (120) also employs easy to use, interchangeable sound cartridges (4) and the user would operate both embodiments in the same manner.
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Hofsass Jeffery A.
Leary James J.
Pham Toan
Titus Carol D.
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