Abstract: A system and method for animated lip synchronization. The method includes: capturing speech input; parsing the speech input into phenomes; aligning the phonemes to the corresponding portions of the speech input; mapping the phonemes to visemes; synchronizing the visemes into viseme action units, the viseme action units comprising jaw and lip contributions for each of the phonemes; and outputting the viseme action units.

Abstract: A method and system for generating an article of a product. The method includes: receiving a request from a user; when the request include an identification of the product, retrieving traits of the product from a trait database, when the request include keywords, retrieving the traits of the product by comparing the similarity between the keywords and the traits or the synonym of the traits; generating candidate sentences corresponding to the traits; selecting sentences from the candidate sentences, and revising and rearranging the sentences to generate the article.

Abstract: A reward associated with a game may be provided based at least partly on a characteristic associated with a user device used to play the game. A threshold or level associated with the device characteristic may be determined. A current level of the characteristic while a user is playing the game via the user device may be determined. Based at least partly on a determination that the current level of the characteristic satisfies the threshold or the level during play of the game, a reward associated with the game may be provided to the user device and/or the user.

Abstract: This method of converting a displacement of a magnetic object into a signal directly perceptible by a human being, comprises: —the acquisition (32) of a temporal succession of measurements of a magnetic field modified by the displacements of the object during a sliding time window of predetermined duration, —the construction (34) on the basis of this acquired temporal succession of measurements of several signals each representing a characteristic of the measured magnetic field dependent on a corresponding characteristic of the displacement of the object, and —the adjustment (50) of several parameters of the directly perceptible signal as a function of the signals so as to render these characteristics directly perceptible.

Abstract: A transaction product includes an enclosure, an account identifier and an electrical circuit. The enclosure defines an aperture. The account identifier is at least one of connected to or enclosed within the enclosure and links the transaction product to an account or record. The account identifier is machine readable. The electrical circuit includes a flexible circuit member, wherein the flexible circuit member extends through the aperture defined by the enclosure such that a first portion of the flexible circuit member is coupled to an outside surface of the enclosure and a second portion of the flexible circuit member is positioned inside the enclosure. Other cards, products, assemblies and methods of using such cards, products and assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: This is a calculator for tabulating the score in the game of dominos or other tile or card games, wherein the score is determined by symbols or colors rather than numerals, comprising a housing, a display panel, a control panel having a plurality of mathematical function keys and input keys, wherein the input keys have symbols or colors corresponding to the symbols or colors on the game pieces.

Abstract: In order to be able to salvage toy pianos that have become damaged during shipping, a structure and process for manufacture of toy pianos has been developed wherein (1) stop piece (or block members) are permanently affixed to certain side forming members, allowing certain other side forming members to be non-permanently affixed thereto via connectors non-permanently anchored to said block members; (2) horizontal slits are provided near the bottom of certain side members to fit over edges of the bottom member, allowing the edges of said bottom member to firmly but non-permanently nest therein; and (3) vertical grooves are provided near ends of certain side members to fit over ends of certain other side members, allowing the ends of said certain other side members to firmly but non-permanently nest therein. These innovations each assist, and together greatly facilitate, the production of a toy piano that is solid and durable in structure while simultaneously allowing easy replacement of damaged parts.

Abstract: An operating device is capable of both digital operation and analog operation by using a pressing operation continuously. The operating device has detecting elements (e.g., pressure-sensitive elements) for outputting analog signals according to the pressing operations of operators, and is configured such that the analog signals output from the detecting elements are subjected to level dividing by a level dividing unit and converted into multi-bit digital signals corresponding to the output levels thereof by an A/D converting unit. The operating device is also configured so as to output single-bit digital signals according to a change in the analog signals output from the detecting element. A switching unit outputs one or the other of the multi-bit digital signals and single-bit digital signals.

Abstract: The invention includes a toy having a translucent body that includes a first surface and a second surface. A light source is disposed opposite the first surface. The first surface includes an image of a facial feature in a first position and the second surface includes an image of the same facial feature in a second position. When the light source is illuminated, the facial feature appears to be in the first position and when the light source is not illuminated, the facial feature appears to be in the second position. An audible output generator produced audible output simultaneously with illumination of the light source.

Abstract: There is provided a rearing simulation apparatus which can dramatically produce further rearing pleasure for a player by allowing the player to rear and grow an imaginary living body of the rearing simulation apparatus and constructing the rearing simulation apparatus not only to display information but also to move or run, the rearing simulation apparatus comprising a memory means for memorizing control data related to the rearing of the imaginary living body, a control means for reading out control data corresponding to an input related to the rearing when the input is entered from the input means and executing control processing related to the rearing of the imaginary living body based on the control data so read out, a display means for displaying rearing information related to the imaginary living body and an operating means adapted to be operated by the information obtained from the control means, whereby the results of the rearing by the rearing means are displayed on the display means and the operatin

Abstract: A toy includes a housing, a plurality of buttons arranged to initiate playback of a tune or other sounds, a transparent enclosure containing a plurality of balls, an agitator extending into the enclosure, a motor mounted within the housing for causing the agitator to oscillate and propel balls that encounter the agitator against the walls of the enclosure, a sound generator and speaker, and control circuitry for causing the sound generator to play selected sounds upon pressing of one of the buttons, and for intermittently activating the agitator during playback of the sounds. The housing of the toy may be arranged to resemble a piano, and the buttons may be configured to resemble keys of the piano.

Abstract: A board game teaching letter locations on a keyboard including a first game board and a second game board. The upper surface of the first game board has a spinning wheel, a computer keyboard, and a pair of hand placement markers disposed thereon. The lower surface has a rotatable base secured thereto. The second game board has a path of travel defined by a starting location, a finishing location, and a plurality of spaces. The plurality of spaces are represented by letters of the alphabet in order. The second game board has a question card marker thereon. The spelling cards each have a category including related words to be spelled. A plurality of tokens are provided which represent players for movement along the path of travel of the second game board.

Abstract: A child's toy is provided which is convertible between an infant's gym and a toddler's piano. In the infant configuration, a small child can be placed under or seated in front of the toy within reach of hanging shapes. When the infant moves the hanging shapes, a sensory output of music and lights is produced through audio speakers and lighted keys. The infant's gym can be converted into a toddler configuration, which has keys arranged on top, resembling a piano. A toddler standing in front of the piano can produce a sensory output of music and lights by pressing the keys. A mode switch can be adjusted to vary the duration of the sensory output.

Abstract: The Christian learning tool is an educational toy having a base in the shape of an open Bible, the top surface of the base being divided into a left side and a right side. The left side has a cradle defined therein receiving a pair of praying hands attached to the base by a tether and having a plurality of apertures for emitting sound from a speaker. The right side has three sets of buttons disposed thereon, including a set of category selector buttons for selecting either the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes, a set of ten topic selector buttons in the form of a telephone keypad for selecting one of the Ten Commandments or one of the Beatitudes for audio replay, and a third set of buttons for selecting audio replay of a story about either the birth or death of Christ.

Abstract: A communication system includes a talking doll arranged to speak to a user and to request the user to carry out various tasks. The user responds to such requests by selecting and pressing keys on a remote keyboard. The doll and the keyboard communicate using infra-red signalling. The system is programmed so that the doll can respond to the user's selection and to say whether the selection is correct or not.

Abstract: With a purpose of providing a simulation device for fostering a virtual creature where the virtual creature is disciplined, the virtual creature is grown and fostered when a player conducts a corresponding treatment in response to a call or a request from the displayed virtual creature, the simulation device is provided with mark display units for displaying treatments for fostering the virtual creature by marks, and key switches for inputting a corresponding treatment by selecting a specific mark from a plurality of marks, the simulation device is provided with a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature and a control unit where, when a treatment for fostering the virtual creature is input by operating the key switches, the control data in correspondence thereto is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data, and the simulation device is further constituted by a detecting circuit for detecting a call fr

Abstract: A novel educational audio playback device is disclosed which, in the preferred embodiment, is in the shape of a simulated telephone. On the body of the apparatus are a plurality of buttons, each of the buttons having a hinged cover mounted thereon. These hinged covers have indicia on their front, this indicia, in the preferred embodiment, being letters of an alphabet. Upon the user opening the hinged cover, a simulated sound of a telephone ringing is generated and the associated button is exposed. On each of the buttons is a symbol or picture that is representative of a character, object or thing that is related to the letter of the alphabet on the hinged cover. The letter "H", for example, could contain a picture of a nursery rhyme figure, such as Humpty Dumpty. Upon the user depressing the associated button, an index is generated that tells a circuit or microprocessor where on the internal sound storage portion of the device is to be found the appropriate sound segment.

Abstract: A simulated computer includes a plurality of images, including at least one character image and a plurality of activity images, and user-operable keys for selecting one of the images, a selected one of the activity images being illuminated to indicate the selected activity. A sound chip simulates talk by a character represented by the character image, the character image being illuminated during simulated talk by the character. User-operable keys are provided for selecting a simulated computer function. A microprocessor performs a sequence of simulated computer play, including a plurality of sequential events, the sequence of play commencing at an event responsive to the selected computer function.

Abstract: A conventional computer is coupled to a data downloading station which in turn receives a downloadable toy. The downloading station includes a data transmitter such as an infrared light emitting diode while the toy includes a corresponding receiver or sensor such as an infrared sensor. Data is selected by the user operating the computer and is downloaded to the toy via the communication link while the toy is situated in proximity to the downloading station. Once the data has been downloaded, it is stored within a memory within the toy. Thereafter, the toy may be removed from the downloading station and operated in response to the stored data while completely independent from the downloading station and the computer. In one embodiment, the data downloading station replicates a miniature computer work station supporting a light emitting diode for transmitting infrared energy and operatively coupled to the computer. A doll having an infrared sensor supported thereon is seatable within the miniature work station.

Abstract: A piano set having automatic playing keys comprises a bracket having a plurality of fixing columns and mounting sockets. A gear set, linkage set of a gear set driven by a motor and connecting shaft of the keyboard are rotationally mounted thereon. The bracket further includes a controlling circuitry which includes a printed circuit board, a battery set, a microswitch and a speaker and which are electrically connected. The keyboard set includes an upper fixing board and a lower fixing board by which a plurality of keys are movably fixed therebetween. Each of the keys is aligned with a driving gear of the connecting shaft. The upper cover is provided with a front recess in which a fallboard is pivotally disposed thereof by means of a fixing plate. The fallboard is provided with a pair of pressing tabs at both sides. When the fallboard is uncovered, those two pressing tabs will trigger on the microswitch such that the motor is powered to drive the gear set and connecting shaft and the connecting rods.

Abstract: A stuffed personal computer toy, having a simulated processing unit, a simulated monitor, and a simulated keyboard, all of which are constructed of a soft material and provide the appearance of complementary functional components of a functional personal computer. The monitor and keyboard are attached to the processing unit using detachable fastening mechanisms so that they may be separated from the processing unit, and then reassembled.

Abstract: An educational toy keyboard is constructed of a main body, keys arranged on the main body, and transparent cylinders corresponding to the individual keys. The transparent cylinders are mounted on the main body and tone-indicating characterful figures are fitted for flotation within the respective cylinders. The tone-indicating characterful figures are floated by buoyancy of compressed air. The keyboard further includes a blower for feeding the compressed air, and a sound-generating circuit capable of sounding a scale or melody in response to depression of the individual keys. When the individual keys are selectively depressed, the sound-generating circuit sounds the scale or melody and the tone-indicating characterful figures are caused to float in the corresponding transparent cylinders.

Abstract: An electronic toy for teaching a child language and arithmetic skills utilizing a keyboard which is associated with the toy. Various illustrated cards intended to assist the child in learning language and mathematical skills are inserted into a slot associated with the keyboard. The portion of the card would include some sort of indicia which would prompt a child to utilize one or more keys in a particular order of the keyboard to spell a word or solve a mathematical problem. The portion of the card inserted into the slot has machine readable information included thereon which, a computer contained in the toy, would compare to the keys depressed by the child. Proper depression of the keys would be vocalized by the toy as well as appear on a display. Furthermore, various portions of the toy would move based upon the correct depression of the keys.

Abstract: A children's music player with control lockout includes a housing supporting a conventional audio music player having a plurality of control arms operable in connection therewith. An on button and an off button are positioned upon the housing to provide access thereto by a child user. The remaining player controls are supported within a control panel having a lockout mechanism utilizing a slide bar which cooperates with locking tabs on the controls to permit adjustment of the controls in one position and preclude adjustment thereof in the lockout position.

Abstract: A toy computer includes a keyboard housing and a monitor housing pivotally secured by a hinge coupler. A depressible keyboard unit is pivotally supported by the keyboard housing and is coupled to a movable slider within the interior of the keyboard housing. A return spring is coupled to the slider and is operative to pivot the slider such that a ratchet engaging tooth is raised to its engagement position in the absence of a keyboard unit stroke. An endless belt display utilizes a cylindrical lens element array together with a segmented image formed on the endless belt to provide apparent motion of the image as the endless belt is moved. A ratchet coupling system is coupled between the slider and the movable belt to provide incremental belt motions in response to each keyboard stroke.

Abstract: An audio-visual book includes a plurality of pages and a text portion on the plurality of pages. The text portion includes, on each of at least two of the pages, both a plurality of lines of text and a plurality of different predetermined graphic depictions related in concept to the subject matter of the text and interposed within the lines of text. A switching mechanism is disposed in predetermined relationship to the text portion and includes a plurality of individually actuable elements, each of the switches being associated with one of the graphic depictions. A digital sound generator, responsive to actuation of one of the switches, is provided for selectively effecting generation of a sound associated with the subject of the depiction associated with the one switch.

Abstract: This invention is a toy audio recorder in the exterior shape of a telephone. The recorder is equipped with large pushbutton assemblies capable of housing illustrations. Depressing one of the pushbutton assemblies will playback the message stored in the storage location associated with that pushbutton assembly, or, if the record switch is depressed simultaneously, a new message will be recorded in that storage location. Messages may be recorded directly or via telephone by using a conventional telephone in concert with the toy telephone recorder.

Abstract: A multiple-choice verbal sound toy uses a microprocessor to produce one song or poem that has at least one space or slot for introducing a supplementary verbal sound segment to complete the song or poem. The child user may be given a plurality of different choices of segments for completing the song or poem. For example, the microprocessor may play a song such as "Old McDonald Had a Farm", and a child user may select--as by pushing one of several keys associated with pictures of different farm animals--the verbal sounds made by that particular animal, to be inserted into each verse of the song. The song or poem may have a series of slots or spaces and there may be a plurality of sets of verbal sounds to be inserted with the individual sounds in each set being a plurality of the same sounds or a variety of different but related sounds. Sounds may be inserted in successive verses cumulatively, in the order (or reverse order) in which they are first introduced.

Abstract: A toy check out station simulates the action of an actual check out station by including a work supporting surface, a system that simulates the action of a bar code reader system, a cash register and a conveyor system. The station includes a plurality of objects that have identifying discs thereon and which are passed over a field generator. When the field of the generator is broken by the discs, a signal is actuated so that each individual item can have its own code according to the number of discs thereon.

Abstract: A toy computer "busy box" assembly wherein a toy assembly in the form of a simulated computer is provided with hand manipulated actuating members in a keyboard section connected to image producing members in a screen section through systems of gears and levers to produce moving visible images on the screen section.

Abstract: A drawing device having a platform from which a marking instrument is suspended and wheels for moving the instrument over the surface of a drawing medium, a pair of these wheels being mounted equidistantly on opposite sides of the instrument, each of the pair of wheels being mounted to rotate freely, another of these wheels being a drive wheel depending from the platform and separated from the instrument on a line therefrom perpendicular to a line connecting the pair of wheels and the instrument. The device has an arrangement for moving the drive wheel to cause the drawing device to move and for varying the angle at which the drive wheel moves.