Toy that reacts in response to information from a motion sensor

Abstract

A toy includes a motion sensor and an output device. The motion sensor optically detects motion of the toy with respect to an underlying surface. The output device receives information from the motion sensor and generates output signals based on the information from the motion sensor.

1 . A toy, comprising: 
 a motion sensor that optically detects motion of the toy with respect to an underlying surface; and,    an output device that receives information from the motion sensor and generates output signals based on the information from the motion sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the output signals include at least one of the following: 
 sound related to motion of the toy;    lighting based on motion of the toy;    movement of at least one part of the toy based on motion of the toy.    
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the toy is a toy car, and the output signals include the following simulated sounds: 
 squealing tires simulating sound from a car taking a turn at a fast speed;    a high rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a fast speed;    a low rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a moderate speed; and,    an idle sound simulating sound from a car idling.    
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein the motion sensor indicates when the motion sensor is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.  
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1:   wherein the motion sensor indicates when the motion sensor is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion;    wherein the toy is a car; and    wherein the plurality of different sounds includes a simulated car crash sound that is played when the motion sensor is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.    
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 1  wherein when the motion sensor is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion, this indicates one of the following: 
 a surface underlying the motion sensor is out of focus because it is too far from the motion sensor;    a surface underlying the motion sensor is out of focus because it is too near the motion sensor.    
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1:   wherein the information from the motion sensor is a plurality of values, each value representing an amount of movement of the toy with respect to the underlying device within a first predetermined length of time; and,    wherein to generate the output signals, the output device averages the values in the plurality of values over a second predetermined length of time; and,    wherein the second predetermined length of time is greater than the first predetermined length of time.    
     
     
         8 . A toy, comprising: 
 means for generating information based on optically detected motion of the toy with respect to an underlying surface; and,    means for generating output signals for the toy based on the information.    
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 8  wherein the toy is a toy car, and the output signals include the following simulated sounds: 
 squealing tires simulating sound from a car taking a turn at a fast speed;    a high rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a fast speed;    a low rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a moderate speed; and,    an idle sound simulating sound from a car idling.    
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 8  additionally comprising: 
 means for determining when the toy is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.    
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 8  wherein the toy is a car and wherein the output signals include a simulated car crash sound that is played when the toy is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.  
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 8  wherein the output signals include at least one of the following: 
 sound related to motion of the toy;    lighting based on motion of the toy;    movement of at least one part of the toy based on motion of the toy.    
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 8:   wherein the information includes a plurality of values, each value representing an amount of movement of the toy with respect to the underlying device within a first predetermined length of time; and,    wherein the means for generating output signals includes means for averaging the values in the plurality of values over a second predetermined length of time; and,    wherein the second predetermined length of time is greater than the first predetermined length of time.    
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising: 
 optically detecting motion of a toy with respect to an underlying surface; and,    generating output signals based on the detected motion of the toy with respect to the underlying surface.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the toy is a toy car, and the output signals include the following simulated sounds: 
 squealing tires simulating sound from a car taking a turn at a fast speed;    a high rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a fast speed;    a low rev sound simulating sound from a car traveling at a moderate speed; and,    an idle sound simulating sound from a car idling.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  additionally comprising: 
 determining when the toy is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the toy is a car and wherein the plurality of different sounds includes a simulated car crash sound that is played when the toy is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the output signals include at least one of the following: 
 sound related to motion of the toy;    lighting based on motion of the toy;    movement of at least one part of the toy based on motion of the toy.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein when the toy is unable to detect sufficient navigable features to accurately detect motion, this indicates one of the following: 
 a surface underlying the motion sensor is out of focus because it is too far from the motion sensor;    a surface underlying the motion sensor is out of focus because it is too near the motion sensor.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14:   wherein optically detecting motion of the toy with respect to the underlying surface includes obtaining a plurality of values, each value representing an amount of movement of the toy with respect to the underlying device within a first predetermined length of time;    wherein generating the output signals includes averaging the values in the plurality of values over a second predetermined length of time; and,    wherein the second predetermined length of time is greater than the first predetermined length of time.