Interactive interface for infant activated toys

Abstract

An interface for an infant toy includes a processor coupled to an activity parameter sensor removably attached to a body portion of the infant as by a wrist cuff. Signals from the sensor are employed to detect an infant's arousal state and activity level. The processor registers a baseline and determines threshold values with respect to the sensed activity parameter and also establishes a threshold value for the sensed parameter with reference to stored values and patterns of the detected parameter for specific age groups. Thereafter, the sensed parameter is compared with the calculated threshold value and if the sensed parameter value exceeds the threshold value, a wireless activation signal is transmitted to actuate a toy. The interface includes both motion and audio sensors and infrared, light or RF transmitters.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:  
     
         1 . An interactive interface for an infant toy, the interface comprising a processor, at least one sensor removably attached to a body portion of the infant, the sensor generating a signal representative of an infant activity parameter level, the processor receiving the signal and determining whether the sensed parameter level exceeds a threshold level associated with such parameter, the processor generating an output signal if the sensed parameter level exceeds the threshold level, the interactive interface further including at least one transmitter, the transmitter receiving the output signal and in response thereto wirelessly transmitting a corresponding signal to the toy.  
     
     
         2 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 1    wherein the infant activity parameter level comprises limb motion, the sensor being removably attached to a portion of the infant's limb.  
     
     
         3 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 2    wherein the processor and the transmitter are removably attached to a portion of the infant's limb.  
     
     
         4 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 3    wherein the sensor, the processor and the transmitter are carried on a band, the band being secured about a portion of the infant's limb.  
     
     
         5 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 1    wherein the infant activity parameter level comprises infant generated sounds, the sensor comprising a sound detector.  
     
     
         6 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 1    wherein the processor carries stored parameter levels categorized by infant age groupings, the processor determining the threshold level as a function of the stored parameter levels and the sensed activity parameter level.  
     
     
         7 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 2    further including another sensor for generating a signal representative of a different infant activity parameter level, the different infant activity parameter level comprising sounds generated by the infant, the processor determining when the sensed sound parameter level exceeds a threshold level associated with the sound parameter level and if so, generating an output signal to the transmitter, the transmitter receiving the output signal and wirelessly transmitting a corresponding signal to the toy.  
     
     
         8 . An interactive interface for an infant toys as constructed in accordance with    claim 3    wherein the sensor, the processor and the transmitter are carried on a garment.  
     
     
         9 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 4    further including a plurality of transmitters carried on the band, whereby wireless transmission of the corresponding signal to the toy is assured, regardless of the position of the infant.  
     
     
         10 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 1    further including a toy control unit module, the module being positioned remote from the interface, the module comprising at least one receiver, a controller and at least one output device, the receiver being operatively connected to the controller and the controller being operatively connected to the output device, the receiver receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal and in response thereto generating a signal to the controller, the controller, in response to such signal, actuating the output device.  
     
     
         11 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 10    wherein the output device comprises an illumination device.  
     
     
         12 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 10    wherein the output device comprises a sound generator.  
     
     
         13 . An interactive interface for an infant toy as constructed in accordance with    claim 10    wherein the output device comprises a motor.  
     
     
         14 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching to a body part of an infant an activity sensor which generates a signal representative of an infant activity parameter,    (b) processing an activity level parameter signal generated by the sensor to determine a baseline value,    (c) comparing the baseline value with a threshold value, and    (d) wirelessly transmitting an actuation signal to control a toy in the event the baseline value exceeds the threshold value.    
     
     
         15 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states in accordance with    claim 14    further including the step of storing typical infant activity parameter values for specific infant age groups and determining the threshold value as a function of the stored age group specific values and the baseline value.  
     
     
         16 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states in accordance with    claim 14    wherein the infant activity parameter comprises limb movement and the sensor comprises a motion detector, the step of attaching including attaching the sensor to a part of a limb.  
     
     
         17 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states in accordance with    claim 14    wherein the parameter comprises infant generated sounds and the sensor comprises an audio sensor.  
     
     
         18 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states in accordance with    claim 14    wherein the step of attaching comprises attaching the sensor to a band and placing the band around the infant body part.  
     
     
         19 . A method of actuating an infant toy as a function of infant activity levels and arousal states in accordance with    claim 14    wherein the step of attaching includes attaching the sensor to a garment and dressing the infant in the garment.