Audible responsive toy

Abstract

An animated toy having a body and head includes a mechanism for reviewing input audio signals from a microphone and/or sound jack, and controls movement of the head from side-to-side and up-and-down depending on a characteristic of the input signals. The head has a mouth which is opened and closed to simulate talking also in response to the input signals. A voice chip with associated control circuitry control two motors to effect the head movement and mouth movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An animated toy, comprising:
 a housing having a body portion and a head portion;   an input circuit for receiving data representing inputted audio signals; and   a controller for moving the head portion relative to the body portion in dependence on a characteristic of the inputted audio signals.   
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the input circuit comprises an input jack for receiving inputted audio signals from an electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the input circuit comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         4 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the input circuit comprises a switch for switching between connection to an input jack which receives inputted audio signals from an electronic device and connection to a microphone. 
     
     
         5 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the toy further comprises an animated figure in which the housing is located, the animated figure having a head in which the housing head portion is located, and a body in which the housing body portion is located. 
     
     
         6 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein the animated figure has a mouth, and wherein the controller moves the mouth open and closed in dependence on a characteristic of the audio signal. 
     
     
         7 . The toy according to  claim 1 , further including an acoustic output transducer for outputting audio signals in dependence on the inputted audio signals. 
     
     
         8 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to move the head side-to-side relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         9 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to move the head up-and-down relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         10 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to move the head up-and-down, and from side-to-side relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         11 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a voice engine circuit chip. 
     
     
         12 . An animated toy, comprising:
 a housing having a body portion and a head portion;   an animated figure in which the housing is located, the animated figure having a head in which the housing head portion is located, and a body in which the housing body portion is located;   an input circuit for receiving data representing inputted audio signals;   a controller for moving the head portion relative to the body portion in dependence on a characteristic of the inputted audio signals;   wherein the animated figure has a mouth, and wherein the controller moves the mouth open and closed in dependence on a characteristic of the inputted audio signals.   
     
     
         13 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the input circuit comprises an input jack for receiving inputted audio signals from an electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the input circuit comprises a microphone. 
     
     
         15 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the input circuit comprises a switch for switching between connection to an input jack which receives inputted audio signals from an electronic device and connection to a microphone. 
     
     
         16 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further including an acoustic output transducer for outputting audio signals in dependence on the inputted audio signals. 
     
     
         17 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller is adapted to move the head side-to-side relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         18 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller is adapted to move the head up-and-down relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         19 . The toy according to  claim 12  wherein the controller is adapted to move the head up-and-down, and from side-to-side relative to the body in response to audio signals. 
     
     
         20 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises a voice engine circuit chip.