Abstract: A toy figure has a movable mouth coupled to an actuator in the belly area. A speech generator stores sound elements for an entire song, verse, or nursery rhyme. The speech generator is provided with a first track of sequenced sound elements (singing version) that form a song when sequentially generated, and a related second track of a like number of sequenced sound elements (humming version). Sound elements from the first and second tracks are interchangeable at any given point during sequential output thereof. A switch located in the mouth is connected to the speech generator to provide input as to the mouth position, i.e. open or closed. Squeezing the belly of the figure opens the mouth, changing the state of the switch and initiating an output sequence from the speech generator. When the mouth is open, the child is able to easily control the mouth position by varying the pressure on the belly actuator. The speech generator checks the state of the mouth switch at given intervals.

Abstract: A toy figure has a movable mouth coupled to an actuator in the belly area. A speech generator stores sound elements for an entire song, verse, or nursery rhyme. The speech generator is provided with a first track of sequenced sound elements (singing version) that form a song when sequentially generated, and a related second track of a like number of sequenced sound elements (humming version). Sound elements from the first and second tracks are interchangeable at any given point during sequential output thereof A switch located in the mouth is connected to the speech generator to provide input as to the mouth position, i.e. open or closed. Squeezing the belly of the figure opens the mouth, changing the state of the switch and initiating an output sequence from the speech generator. When the mouth is open, the child is able to easily control the mouth position by varying the pressure on the belly actuator. The speech generator checks the state of the mouth switch at given intervals.

Abstract: A multimedia enhancement for an amusement device includes a sound synthesizer for creating a user perceptible signal, such as an audio signal, in response to selective actuation of the controls of the amusement device. The amusement device includes a screen for displaying a viewer perceptible image and a pair of rotary control knobs operatively associated with rotary switches and a selectably actuable on-off switch to provide amusing sounds and feedback indicative of the operator's use of the control knobs. The sound synthesizer is programmed to also create one of a series of sounds from a plurality of families of sounds in a predetermined sequence in response to actuation of the control elements by the user or randomly.

Abstract: A mechanical user interface includes a supporting plate and a slider adapted to slide on the supporting plate. A position encoder is attached to the supporting plate to monitor movement of the slider. The position encoder provides an electrical output indicative of the position of the slider on the supporting plate. A sensor may also be provided to detect when the slider is at a zero position, thereby allowing absolute rather than relative, position data to be obtained. In a computerized film editing system, when the absolute position is less than a given threshold, the mechanical user interface may be used to advance film by a single frame. Otherwise the position may be translated to a frame per second rate.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a sound generating mechanism for generating realistic vehicle engine sound and a smoke generating mechanism for generating simulated smoke vapors. The sound generating mechanism and the smoke generating mechanism are simultaneously actuatable by moving an accessory, such as a spoiler, on a cab portion of the vehicle.