Electronic drawing toy

Abstract

An electronic drawing toy is disclosed for drawing and gaming applications used with a video monitor, wherein a complexity of the toy is minimized to facilitate use by young children.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 60/647,039, filed Jan. 26, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic device and more particularly to an electronic drawing toy for drawing and gaming applications for use with a video monitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional electronic toys are typically not appropriate for young children. Often, many different switches, buttons, knobs, and joysticks have been utilized to provide a user interface for controlling game actions. Thus, the use of the toy is overly complex and difficult for young children.

Games or activities may require a large number of actions alone or in combinations, and the user may manipulate a number of types of input devices to achieve the actions. Some control actions may require simultaneous manipulation of separate input devices using multiple fingers or both hands of the user. Because of the variety of potential hand and finger motions and the large number of combinations of input device actuations, it may be difficult for the user to remember or correctly utilize them all. An older user has the dexterity and eye-hand coordination necessary to manipulate and control such complex devices. It is typically difficult for young children to operate these complex devices.

However, young children do possess the intellect and ability necessary for meaningful interaction. The limitations that young children face in respect of these electronic toys are not inherent, but rather imposed by the presently available devices.

It would be desirable to produce an electronic toy wherein a complexity of the toy is minimized to facilitate use by young children. It would be further desirable to achieve the foregoing in a device that is easy to hold and manipulate and where a cost of producing the device is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Concordant and congruous with the present invention, an electronic toy wherein a complexity of the toy is minimized to facilitate use by young children, has surprisingly been discovered.

In one embodiment, the electronic drawing toy comprises a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor; a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor; a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor; and a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position.

In another embodiment, the electronic drawing toy comprises a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor; a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor;a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor; a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position; and a switch disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon inverting and shaking of the toy by a user.

In yet another embodiment, the electronic toy comprises a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor; a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor; a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor, wherein said first input device comprising a four-way operator positioned over a switch pad; a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position, wherein said second input device comprising a two-position switch pad; and a switch disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon shaking of the toy by a user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic toy according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing audio and video electronic components of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5a is a schematic drawing of a power switch component of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5b is a schematic drawing of a switch pad component of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5c is a schematic drawing of a ball switch of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5d is a perspective view of the ball switch of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 5c;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing a main processor of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing memory components of the electronic toy illustrated FIG. 1;

FIG. 8a is a first page of a quick start guide showing various play modes for the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8b is a page of a second page of a quick start guide showing various play modes for the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a main game screen of the electronic toy illustrated FIG. 1;

FIG. 10a is a menu screen for an Connect the Dots Menu of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10b is a menu screen for an Objects and Backgrounds Menu of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10c is a menu screen for a Trace a Picture Menu of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10d is a menu screen for a Free Draw Menu of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of cursor movement for the Objects and Backgrounds mode illustrated in FIG. 10b of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of operation of an option from the Objects and Backgrounds mode of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration of operation of the trace function from the Trace a Picture mode during the drawing phase of the electronic toy illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It is understood that materials other than those described can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Commonly owned U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/055,393 is hereby incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of showing and describing operation of a drawing and gaming device.

FIGS. 1-3 show an electronic drawing toy 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The toy 10 includes a main body 12 having a front main body portion 14 and a rear main body portion 16. Disposed in the main body 12 of the toy 10 are a first input device 15 for controlling movement of a cursor (not shown) and a second input device 17 positionable in a first and a second position. The cursor may be a crosshair, arrow, or other cursor configuration, as desired. Furthermore, disposed within the main body is a printed circuit board or PCB 28. Disposed on the PCB 28 is a main processor 34 as well as other electronic components schematically shown in FIGS. 4-7.

The rear portion 16 of the toy 10 has a removable battery cover 38. The battery cover 38 covers and protects batteries (not shown) which provide a source of electricity for the toy 10. It is understood that any conventional source of electricity can be used as desired.

In the embodiment shown, the front portion 14 and rear portion 16 of the main body 12 are produced from plastic.

However, it is understood that other conventional materials can be used as desired. Additionally, the front portion 14 and the rear portion 16 are shown as connected by threaded fasteners. However, other joining methods can be used such as gluing, press fitting, and other conventional methods, as desired.

The first input device 15 provides directional control of the cursor or game object (as shown in FIG. 11) and includes a four-way switch pad 18 which is in communication with contact areas included in the main processor 34 of the toy 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The first input device 15 includes a four-way operator 20 that overlays the switch pad 18. A first cap 22 is disposed on the four-way operator 20 and switch pad 18. The first cap 22 is adapted to extend through a first aperture 23 formed in the front portion 14 of the main body 12 for manipulation by the user. FIG. 5b shows a schematic drawing of the first input device 15.

The second input device 17 provides a selection feature and a draw feature. The second input device 17 includes a two-position switch pad 24 which is in communication with contact areas included in the electronic components of the toy 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A second cap 26 is disposed on the switch pad 24. The second cap 26 is adapted to extend through a second aperture 27 formed in the front portion 14 of the main body 12 for manipulation by the user.

Numerous electronic components as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4-7 are disposed on the PCB 28 that is disposed in the main body 12 of the toy 10. The electronic components include an audio component 29 and a video component 31 shown in FIG. 4; a power switch 30 shown in FIG. 5a, the first input device 15 switch pad 18, the second input device 17 two-position switch pad 24 shown in FIG. 5b, and a ball switch 32 shown in FIGS. 5c and 5d; a main processor 34 as illustrated in FIG. 6; and memory components 36 illustrated in FIG. 7.

It is understood that the electronic components can be disposed on additional PCB's disposed within the main body 12, such as the first input device 15 components and second input device 17 components, for example.

In the embodiment shown, the main processor 34 is an EMG0802 manufactured by ELAN Microelectronics Corporation.

The main processor 34, alone or in combination with the other electronic components listed above, performs many of the toy 10 functions such as processing video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on a monitor 40 (shown schematically in FIG. 2), providing memory for storing games, and the like. It is understood that other main processors can be used as desired.

In operation, the toy 10 is connected to the video monitor 40. The toy 10 can be connected to the monitor 40 by any conventional method such as composite video connectors, an S-video connection, or component video connectors, for example. When the power switch 30 is placed in the on position, a game screen 41 illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed on the monitor 40.

As shown in FIGS. 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, an activity or game is selected from the menu 42 represented by a plurality of first icons 43 at the left side of main screen. It is understood that the menu 42 can be positioned elsewhere on the main screen 41 as desired. To select an activity, the first input device 15 is used to position a cursor (not shown) over an icon 43 representing the desired activity to highlight the activity icon 43. The second input device 17 is then pressed to select the desired activity icon 43. In the embodiment shown, the activities include Objects and Backgrounds, Connect the Dots, Trace a Picture, and Free Draw. It is understood that other activities can be added as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, once the activity is selected a submenu 44 is caused to appear. A sub-activity may then be selected from the respective submenu 44 using the method described above for selection of the activity.

As illustrated in FIG. 10a, selection of the Objects and Backgrounds activity generates a submenu 44 and second plurality of icons 45 that allows the user to select a game object 46 (also illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12) from the group of a snow shovel, a lawn mower, an airplane, a sand tool, a ice scraper, a piece of chalk, and a leaf blower.

It is understood that other game objects can be used as desired. A particular screen is then generated to permit the user to draw with the selected game object 46. The cursor then takes the shape of game object 46 selected. For example, in FIG. 12, the user manipulates the game object 46, a snow scraper 48, to draw on the screen, an iced surface 50, on the monitor 40. As the ice scraper 48 is caused to move on the monitor 40 ice scraper 48 draws on the iced surface 50. Where the ice scraper 48 has used to draw, the iced surface 50 appears to be scraped away, while the area not drawn on appears to remain an iced surface 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 10b, selection of the Connect the Dots activity generates a submenu 44 that allows the user to select an image composed of an array of numbered dots to be connected sequentially to form the image from the group of a dinosaur, a cool cat, a fish, a farmer, and a train. It is understood that other images can be used as desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 10c, selection of the Trace a Picture activity generates a submenu 44 that allows the user to select an image to trace from the group of a horse, a castle, a race car, and a ship. For example, in FIG. 13, the user manipulates the cursor to trace over the image, a horse, in attempt to accurately trace over the existing lines of the image to duplicate it. It is understood that other images can be provided to be traced as desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 10d, selection of the Free Draw activity does not generate a submenu. The Free Draw activity allows the user to draw any desired image on a blank screen.

It is understood that other sub-activities and images can be added to the submenus 44 as desired.

Once an activity, and sub-activity if necessary, is selected, the user can proceed to performing the selected activity. For example, in FIG. 12, the user manipulates the snow scraper 48 to draw on the iced surface 50 on the monitor 40. The first input device 15 is used to position the ice scraper 48 as desired. The second input device 17 is then pressed to enter the drawing mode. Then, as the ice scraper 48 is caused to move on the monitor 40, the ice scraper 48 is caused to draw on the iced surface 50. To stop drawing, the user simply releases the second input device 17. The user can then reposition the ice scraper 48 as desired, and begin drawing again by pressing the second input device 17. The user can navigate from one activity to another using the menu 42 and the submenus 44 as previously described. As illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b, an exemplary “Quick Start Guide” including sample screen shots and directions of the activities.

To completely erase an image produced on the video monitor 40, the user shakes the toy 10 in a back and forth motion to activate the ball switch 32. When activated, the ball switch causes images displayed on the monitor 40 to be erased. In the embodiment shown, this is accomplished in the programming for the toy 10. The user can position the toy 10 as desired, such as inverting the toy 10, for example, prior to and during shaking. The lone act of shaking the toy 10 back and forth to activate the ball switch 32 can erase the image on the video monitor 40. However, alternative programming for the toy 10 may require the toy 10 to be inverted prior to shaking back and forth before the ball switch 32 is activated to erase the image on the video monitor. The additional act of inverting the toy 10 is a tribute to the traditional method of erasing an image from the screen of an Etch-a-Sketch drawing toy.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Claims

1. An electronic drawing toy comprising:

a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor;

a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor;

a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor; and

a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position.

2. The toy according to claim 1, further comprising means disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon shaking of the toy by a user.

3. The toy according to claim 1, further comprising means disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon inverting and shaking of the toy by a user.

4. The toy according to claim 3, wherein said means for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon shaking of the toy by the user is a switch.

5. The toy according to claim 4, wherein the switch is a ball switch.

6. The toy of claim 1, wherein said first input device is a four-way operater positioned over a switch pad.

7. The toy of claim 1, wherein said second input device is a two-position switch pad.

8. The toy in claim 1, wherein said processor generates the video signal, the video signal causing a menu area and an active window to be displayed on the monitor.

9. The toy in claim 7, wherein the menu area includes a first plurality of icons generally aligned on the video display for accessing respective imaging functions to be carried out in an active window.

10. The toy in claim 9, wherein the imaging functions comprise at least one of an Objects and Backgrounds mode, a Connect the Dots mode, a Trace a Picture mode, and a Free Draw mode.

11. The toy in claim 10, wherein the cursor is a crosshair for the at least one of the Connect the Dots, the Trace a Picture, and the Free Draw modes and the cursor becomes a game object as selected by the user from the Objects and Backgrounds submenu area for the Objects and Backgrounds mode.

12. The toy in claim 11, wherein the game object is one of a snow shovel, a lawn mower, an airplane, a sand tool, a ice scraper, a piece of chalk, or a leaf blower.

13. The toy in claim 12, wherein said first input device is utilized to maneuver the cursor over one of a plurality of icons and said second input device is manipulated to select one of the plurality of icons.

14. The toy in claim 13, wherein when the cursor is positioned over one of the plurality of icons on the menu area, one of the plurality of icons is highlighted.

15. The toy in claim 14, wherein selection of one of the plurality of icons in the menu area generates a submenu area having a second plurality of icons.

16. The toy in claim 15, wherein said first input device is utilized to maneuver the cursor over a desired icon from the second plurality of icons and the second input device is manipulated to select the desired icon.

17. The toy in claim 1, wherein said first input device and said second input device are positioned for manipulation by a corresponding thumb of the user.

18. An electronic drawing toy comprising:

a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor;

a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor;

a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor;

a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position; and

a switch disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon inverting and shaking of the toy by a user.

19. The toy of claim 18, wherein said first input device is a four-way operater positioned over a switch pad and said second input device is a two-position switch pad.

20. An electronic toy comprising:

a main body adapted to be connected to a video monitor;

a processor disposed in said main body for generating video signals, audio signals, and application data to produce an image on the monitor;

a first input device disposed on said main body for controlling movement of a cursor on the video monitor, wherein said first input device comprising a four-way operator positioned over a switch pad;

a second input device disposed on said main body and positionable in a first position and a second position, wherein said second input device comprising a two-position switch pad; and

a switch disposed in said main body for causing the image on the monitor to be erased upon shaking of the toy by a user.