Abstract: A battery operated gyroscopic entertainment device is powered from a mating cradle, or from a battery supply within the device. The device includes an egg-shaped housing in which is disposed a high speed DC motor whose motor shaft preferably extends from each end of the motor. A hub member is attached to each shaft end, and a weighted belt is attached to each hub member. A central portion of the motor housing is fixedly attached to the device housing such that upon application of operating potential to the motor, the motor shaft, and the weighted hub members rotate at high speed, which imparts a gyroscopic action to the device. A cradle may be provided containing a power source, with power connections that mate to the device housing when the housing is placed within the cradle.

Abstract: A fortune telling entertainment device includes an electronic library of stored text and displayable icons, one of which library entries is selected, preferably at least quasi-randomly, and displayed in apparent response to a user's question. The user preferably shakes the device, which motion initiates a pre-answer period during which optional entertainment display and sound may be output. After initiation is completed, a circuit selects, at least quasi-randomly, a response that is then displayed as an answer to the user's question.

Abstract: A sound generator includes a memory bank storing user-selectable recorded sounds, a microprocessor that can quasi-randomly time-delay at least one of the recorded sounds, and a mixer that can combine a user-selected recorded sound and the time-delayed sound for output by speakers or earphones. The microprocessor can also cause the output sound to include a microprocessor-selected one of the recorded sounds for inclusion during playback of a user-recorded sound.

Abstract: A self-contained fortune telling entertainment device includes an electronic library of human speech and sound effects, to be selected and enunciated in apparent response to a user's question. User intent to use the device is detected, whereupon a pre-answer initiation mode is entered during which sound effects and/or speech is selected from the library and enunciated. After this period ends, a circuit then selects at least one sound, e.g., sound effect and/or vocalized speech, from the library for enunciation as the answer to a user's question, propounded before or during the pre-answer period. Selection of an answer or response may be random, quasi-random, or other, and may be influenced by detected ambient or environment conditions, and may be influenced by at least one user control. LEDs may be activated while the device is in use to provide visual as well as audible entertainment. The device may be handholdable in size, and can function without reliance upon ambient light.

Abstract: A preferably self-contained food conservator system includes a vacuum compartment appropriate for storing baked goods, in which a negative pressure of about 10" Hg in maintained, preferably at about 60% relative humidity. The environment of the compartment preferably is feed-back-controlled by a microprocessor control. The microprocessor preferably can control vacuum, relative humidity, temperature, the amount of ozone introduced into the compartment to retard bacterial growth, as well as outgassing time cycles. A pushbutton type menu allows a user to input data used to control the microprocessor, and permit optimization of the compartment environment for the particular foodstuffs presently being stored.

Abstract: A hand-held digital recorder apparatus (10) including a digital memory unit (11) formed to store independent data records, and retrieve selected ones of the data records. An electronic unit (12), coupled to the digital memory unit (11), is included which determines the storage location and data length of a respective data record in the digital memory (11). A graphical display device (13), coupled to the electronic unit (12), graphically represents the length and location of the data records in the digital memory unit (11) by corresponding record icons (14) to visually facilitate retrieval of the selected ones of the data records. A method for accessing stored data records from a digital memory unit (11) of a hand-held digital recorder apparatus (10) is also included.