Squeezable musical toy with looping and decaying score and variable capacitance stress sensor
US9259658B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2012 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10H2230/055
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An enhanced toy produces repeating, decaying notes in response to applied pressure. The tone of each note is determined, based on the location at which a user applies pressure. The initial amplitude of each note is proportional to the intensity, as measured by a stress sensor. The toy periodically repeats each note, attenuating the amplitude of each successive repetition by a decay factor. The toy may alter the notes associated with each of a plurality of locations. For example, if all currently repeating notes have decayed below a predetermined threshold, the currently available set of notes may be exchanged for a new set of notes, e.g. with different tones or timbres. The stress sensors may comprise flexible capacitors within the toy. As the user applies pressure, the geometry of one or more capacitors deform, altering the measured capacitance, through which the intensity of the applied pressure is determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.