Toy having voice recognition and method for using same

Abstract

A voice-recognition control circuit and method for using the voice-recognition control circuit in connection with a toy. The toy has a predetermined name associated with it, but the predetermined name is not visibly displayed to the consumer. The voice-operated control circuit contains an audio detector, such as a microphone, to detect sound, an integrated circuit to determine when the detected sound matches the predetermined name associated with the toy, and an audio output device, such as a speaker, for providing audible indication of when the detected sound matches the predetermined name associated with the toy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A consumer product comprising:
 an audio receiver for receiver audible sounds;   an audio output device for emitting audible sounds; and   an integrated circuit coupled to the audio receiver and audio output device, said integrated circuit configured to determine when a predetermined sound is detected, and when said predetermined sound is detected, said integrated circuit causes the audio output device to emit a second predetermined sound,   wherein information specifying the predetermined sound required to cause the audio output device to emit a second predetermined sound to is not visibly associated with the consumer product at point of sale.   
     
     
         2 . The consumer product according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a counter, wherein the counter counts each time the predetermined sound is detected, and after the predetermined sound is detected a predetermined number of times, the integrated circuit causes the audio output device to emit a third predetermined sound.   
     
     
         3 . The consumer product according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun. 
     
     
         4 . The consumer product according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a counter, wherein the counter counts each time the pronounced personal pronoun is detected, and after the pronounced personal pronoun is detected a predetermined number of times, the integrated circuit causes the audio output device to emit a third predetermined sound.   
     
     
         5 . A consumer product comprising:
 labeling associated with the consumer product;   an audio receiver for receiving audible sounds;   an audio output device for emitting audible sounds; and   an integrated circuit coupled to the audio receiver and audio output device, said integrated circuit configured to determine when a predetermined sound is detected, and when said predetermined sound is detected, causing the integrated circuit to send a second predetermined sound to the audio output device,   wherein said labeling does not specify the predetermined sound required to cause the integrated circuit to send a second predetermined sound to the audio output device.   
     
     
         6 . The consumer product according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a counter, wherein the counter counts each time the predetermined sound is detected, and after the predetermined sound is detected a predetermined number of times, the integrated circuit causes the audio output device to emit a third predetermined sound.   
     
     
         7 . The consumer product according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun. 
     
     
         8 . The consumer product according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a counter, wherein the counter counts each time the pronounced personal pronoun is detected, and after the pronounced personal pronoun is detected a predetermined number of times, the integrated circuit causes the audio output device to emit a third predetermined sound.   
     
     
         9 . A method for identifying a consumer product, the method comprising:
 detecting audible sounds;   determining when a predetermined sound is detected;   emitting a second predetermined sound from the consumer product when the predetermined sound is detected, and   labeling the consumer product, wherein the labeling of the consumer product does not inform a user of the predetermined sound necessary to cause the consumer product to emit the second predetermined sound.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 counting the number of times the predetermined sound is detected; and   causing the consumer product emit a third predetermined sound after the predetermined sound is detected a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun. 
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a consumer product, the method comprising:
 detecting audible sounds;   determining when a predetermined sound is detected;   emitting a second predetermined sound when the predetermined sound is detected, and   providing information to a user regarding the product, wherein the information provided does not inform the user of the predetermined sound required to cause the consumer product to emit the second predetermined sound.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 counting the number of times the predetermined sound is detected; and   emitting a third predetermined sound after the predetermined sound is detected a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined sound is a pronounced personal pronoun.