JPH11319330A - Voice responsive toy - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice responsive toy in which many kinds of motion data and voice to make the toy to do the motion can be registered only by one switch, and which can be manufactured at a low cost. SOLUTION: A data memory 3 of this voice responsive toy is for registering voice data for reference corresponding to words inputted by a user and motions of the toy corresponding to each other, and the data memory 3 has a memory area for plural words. When the mode is changed by a switch to a voice register mode, and if the total words are not registered yet in the data memory 3, the CPU keeps outputting messages one after another through a speaker 9 till the total words are registered, promoting a user to input words and corresponding motions. The user, responding to the messages, inputs a word as a voice through a make 1, and moves the toy, applying force from outside. The motion applied to the toy from the outside by the user is detected by a sensor 8, and the result of the detection and the corresponding voice data for reference corresponding to the inputted word are registered in the data memory 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice-sensitive toy that operates in response to a voice input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Voice-responsive toys that operate in response to a voice generated by a human or a surrounding noise are known. Such a voice-reactive toy generally operates regardless of the content of the input voice. For this reason, conventional voice-reactive toys
The operation was simple and easy to get tired of.

To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
A game device described in Japanese Patent No. 240468 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 1) and a speech recognition toy described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-142342 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 2) have been proposed.

[0004] The amusement device of the prior art 1 can register different voices for a plurality of operations registered in advance.
The corresponding operation is performed by giving the registered voice. Further, the speech recognition toy of Conventional Example 2 performs an operation corresponding to a specific word when a specific word is input, and furthermore, when a voice input is performed within a predetermined time from the time of recognition of the specific word, the voice input is performed. Take the corresponding action.

[0005]

However, the prior art 1 does not disclose any technique for increasing the number of voices that can be registered. That is, in the technique disclosed in the conventional example 1, since the toy operation designation switch corresponds to the registered voice on a one-to-one basis, if the number of voices that can be registered is increased, the operation designation switch also increases. Become. For this reason, it is difficult to increase the number of voices that can be registered in a small product, and there is a problem that the product cost increases even when applied to a relatively large product.

In Conventional Example 2, a pattern to be compared with a specific word or the like input by a user is registered in advance as a standard pattern. For this reason, in the conventional example 2, the pattern matching process is relatively complicated, and may react to a different word depending on the user. However, even if the user generates a specific word, a malfunction may occur that the user does not respond. . If the accuracy of speech recognition is increased in order to avoid such malfunctions, the cost will increase accordingly.

[0007] Further, in both of the prior arts 1 and 2, the operations that can be performed are only predetermined, and there is a disadvantage that the user cannot always perform the operation according to his / her preference.

An object of the present invention is to provide a voice-responsive toy that can register a large number of voices for performing operations and can be manufactured at low cost. Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice-responsive toy that can perform an arbitrary operation according to the user's preference.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a voice responsive toy according to the present invention is a voice responsive toy that operates in response to a voice input from the outside. Driving means for operating a toy, storage means for storing a plurality of sets in which information relating to sound and information relating to the operation of the toy are stored, and the mode of the toy is set to one of a voice registration mode and an operation mode. Mode switching means for switching, first voice input means for sequentially inputting voice from outside when the mode switching means is switched to voice registration mode, and voice sequentially input from the first voice input means And a voice storage control means for sequentially storing information on each of the sets of the storage means.

[0010] When the voice reaction toy is switched to the voice registration mode by the mode switching means, the information relating to the voice input from the first voice input means is transmitted to the toy.
They can be sequentially stored in the storage means. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of switches for registering a plurality of voices, and it is possible to reduce the size of the toy and the manufacturing cost.

[0011] A voice registration determining means for determining whether or not the information on the voice input from the first voice input means is already stored in the storage means may be further provided. When the voice registration determination means determines that the information about the input voice is not yet stored in the storage means, the information about the voice may be registered in each set of the storage means.

[0012] When the mode switching means is switched to the operation mode, second voice input means for inputting voice from outside, and information relating to voice input from the second voice input means are stored in the storage means. Voice collating means for sequentially collating with the information about the voice stored in the memory, and information about the voice that substantially matches the information about the voice input by the voice collating means when the information about the matching voice is collated. And a drive control means for driving the drive means in an operation corresponding to the above.

When the mode switching means is switched to the voice registration mode, an operation measuring means for sequentially measuring the operation of the toy by an externally applied force, and an operation sequentially measured by the operation measuring means. Operation storage control means for sequentially storing information in each set of the storage means.

In this case, not only the voice but also the operation of the toy can be stored in the storage means. Therefore, it is possible to set the operation according to the user's preference.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the voice-reactive toy according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a microphone 1, an A / D converter (analog-digital converter) 2, a data memory 3,
PU (Central Processing Unit) 4, program memory 5, mode changeover switch 6, drive unit 7
, A sensor 8, a speaker 9, and a D / A converter (digital-analog converter) 10.

The microphone 1 receives a voice generated by the user, converts the voice into an analog electric signal, and outputs the signal.

The A / D converter 2 converts the analog electric signal output from the microphone 1 into digital data and supplies the digital data to the CPU 4. The D / A converter 10 converts the digital audio data supplied from the CPU 4 into an analog electric signal,
It is supplied to the speaker 9.

The data memory 3 registers the operation data of the toy measured by the sensor 8 and the voice data for collation (for example, a flower goes around) corresponding to the operation of the toy. A plurality of data can be registered in the data memory 3 as described later. This collation audio data is
The data is converted from digital data by the CPU 4 executing the program in the program memory 5.

The CPU 4 executes the program stored in the program memory 5 and converts the digital data supplied from the A / D converter 2 into audio data for comparison. CPU4
Has an internal timer for measuring a time for an operation input described later.

When the mode changeover switch 6 is switched to the voice registration mode, the CPU 4 compares the operation data of the toy measured by the sensor 8 with the verification voice data supplied by the A / D converter 2 corresponding to the operation of the toy. Compare data registered in the past. If the voice patterns do not match, the motion data of the toy input from the sensor 8 is associated with the toy motion data supplied by the A / D converter 2 and registered in the data memory 3. .

When the mode changeover switch 6 is switched to the voice collation mode (operation mode), the CPU 4
The voice data for comparison is compared with the data registered in the data memory 3 in advance, and when these voice patterns match, the drive unit 7 is driven according to the motion corresponding to the matched data.

The program memory 5 stores a program executed by the CPU 4 as shown in a flowchart described later. The program memory 5 also stores digital voice data corresponding to an input prompt message and a voice input end message described later.

The mode changeover switch 6 instructs the CPU 4 whether the mode is the voice registration mode or the voice collation mode by switching the switch by the user.

The drive unit 7 has a motor for driving the toy, and drives the motor to move the toy in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 4. This motor can move according to the force, for example, even when the user applies a force from outside.

The sensor 8 detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft of the motor provided in the drive unit 7 and measures the movement of the toy forcibly performed by the user to register the operation of the voice-responsive toy. I do. The data measured by the sensor 8 is registered in the data memory 3.

When the speaker 9 is switched to the voice registration mode, the speaker 9 outputs a voice for prompting the user to input a voice. When the voice registration described later is completed, a voice indicating that the voice input has been completed is output.

The operation of the voice responsive toy according to this embodiment will be described below. In this voice-reactive toy, the motion of the toy is input in the voice registration mode, and the user registers a voice corresponding to the motion of the toy. Then, in the voice collation mode, the voice-reactive toy collates the input voice with the registered voice, and performs an operation corresponding to the corresponding voice.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for registering a voice in the data memory 3.

When the user first switches the mode changeover switch 6 to the voice registration mode, a control signal indicating this is input to the CPU 4, and the CPU 4 operates in the voice registration mode (step S21).

Next, the CPU 4 determines whether or not the collation voice data has been registered for all words in the storage area of the data memory 3 (step S22). If the collation voice data is registered for all words, the CPU 4 causes the speaker 9 to output a voice input end message by voice via the D / A converter 10 (step S29), and ends the processing of this flowchart. I do.

If all the words are not registered, the CPU 4 prompts the speaker 9 via the D / A converter 10 to output a message (step S23). Here, in response to the input prompt message, the user operates the toy by applying external force. This operation is detected by the sensor 8, and data corresponding to the operation for a predetermined time is input to the CPU 4 and stored in the data memory 3 (step S24).

Further, when the user utters a desired voice (step S25), the voice is output from the microphone 1 as analog data, converted to digital data by the A / D converter 2, and supplied to the CPU 4. CPU4
Converts the digital data supplied from the A / D converter 2 into audio data for collation (step S26).

The CPU 4 determines whether the voice pattern of the voice data for collation converted in step S26 matches the voice pattern of the data registered in the data memory 3 (step S27). If the voice patterns match, the process returns to step S22.

If the voice patterns do not match in step S27, a word is registered in the data memory 3,
That is, the data relating to the operation of the toy input in step S24 and the data input in step S25,
Is registered in the data memory 3 in association with the collation voice data converted in (2) (step S2).
8). Then, the process returns to step S22.

If it is determined in step S22 that all data is registered in the data memory 3, the CPU 4
Causes the speaker 9 to output a voice input end message via the D / A converter 10 (step S29), and ends the processing of this flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for operating the voice-responsive toy according to the registered voice and motion.

First, when the user switches the mode changeover switch 6 to the voice collation mode, a control signal indicating this is input to the CPU 4, and the CPU 4 operates in the voice registration mode (step S31).

The CPU 4 prompts the speaker 9 via the D / A converter 10 to output a message. When the user utters a desired sound, the sound is output from the microphone 1 as analog data, converted into digital data by the A / D converter 2, and supplied to the CPU 4 (step S32).

Next, the CPU 4 converts the digital data supplied from the A / D converter 2 into audio data for collation (step S33).

The CPU 4 determines whether or not the voice pattern of the voice data for comparison converted in step S33 matches the voice pattern of the data registered in the data memory 3 (step S34). If the voice patterns do not match, the processing of this flowchart ends.

If the voice patterns match in step S35, the CPU 4 outputs to the drive unit 7 the operation data registered in the data memory 3 corresponding to the voice input in step S32. Thereby, the motor of the drive unit 7 is driven, and the toy operates (step S35). Then, the process of this flowchart ends.

Hereinafter, the voice-reactive toy according to this embodiment will be described with a specific example. here,
As the voice-reactive toy, a toy in which flowers move in response to voice as shown in FIG. 4 (a) is mentioned, and data as shown in FIG. 5 is registered in the data memory 3 by the processing of the flowchart of FIG. The following is an example of the case.

For example, the operation of "turning" and the case of registering a voice in the data memory 3 will be described. In step S24, the user turns the head of the flower within a certain time as shown in FIG. Then, the sensor 8 measures the operation and registers it in the data memory 3 as operation data. In step S25, voice data of "turning" corresponding to the movement is input.

The voice "Yes" corresponding to the "moving the flower up and down" operation and the voice "No" corresponding to the "moving the flower left and right" operation are registered in the data memory 3 in the same manner. In FIG. 5, the collation voice data is described in words such as "turn", but is actually stored in the data memory 3 in a voice pattern. In addition, the operation is also described with words indicating the operation such as “turning”,
Actually, it is stored as information such as the rotation angle of the rotating shaft of the motor corresponding to the operation detected by the sensor 8.

Next, the user switches the mode changeover switch 6 to the voice collation mode. In this state, when the user inputs a voice of “turning”, the corresponding verification voice data is registered in the data memory 3.
As shown in FIG. 4C, the operation registered in step S24 is performed.

When the user inputs a voice of "Yes", the toy moves the flower up and down, and when the user inputs a voice of "No", the toy moves the flower left and right. However, even if the voice of "dancing" is input, as shown in FIG. 5, the matching voice data corresponding to this voice is not registered in the data memory 3, so that the flower toy does not operate.

As described above, the voice-responsive toy according to the present embodiment measures and registers the movement of the toy to which the user has applied an external force in the voice registration mode, and registers the movement. And the audio data is registered. Then, in the matching mode, it is possible to make a motion according to the content of the input voice. For this reason, a desired operation of the user can be performed by the voice reaction toy.

When the switch is switched to the voice registration mode, if all words are not registered in the data memory 3, the CPU 4 causes the message to be sequentially output via the speaker 9 until all words are registered. Prompt the user to enter words and actions. Thus, this voice-reactive toy
The movement of a plurality of toys can be registered with one switch. Therefore, this voice-reactive toy can be manufactured at low cost and can be downsized.

In the above embodiment, the same speaker registers an operation, and stores voice data corresponding to the operation in the data memory 3.
In the example described above, different movements are performed for each voice data, but the same voice data may be input, or the movement of the toy may be changed by the speaker.

In the above embodiment, the operation is registered and the voice generated by the person corresponding to the operation is registered. However, for example, even if a bell sound, a bird's voice, a musical scale, music, and the like are registered. Good. As in the above embodiment, register any operation,
The corresponding sound may be registered in the data memory 3.

In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the same speaker registers voices corresponding to the actions of different toys in the data memory 3 and makes different movements for each word. When a word is entered, the toy may make the same movement.

In the above embodiment, the operation of the toy is registered in the voice registration mode, and the voice data corresponding to the motion is registered in the data memory 3. However, the order is changed, and the voice data is registered first. The operation of the toy corresponding to the voice data may be registered in the data memory 3.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of switches for registering a plurality of voices, and it is possible to reduce the size of the toy and reduce the manufacturing cost. Further, by providing the operation measuring means and the operation storage control means, the operation of the toy can be stored in the storage means. Therefore, it is possible to set the operation according to the user's preference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a voice-reactive toy according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process for registering a voice in a data memory.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for operating the voice-responsive toy according to a registered voice and motion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a voice reaction toy, wherein (a)
(B) shows how to register a motion in the voice-reactive toy by applying force from the outside, and (c) shows how the action is registered in response to the input voice. The operation of the voice-reactive toy is shown, respectively.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a data memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 microphone 2 A / D converter 3 data memory 4 CPU 5 program memory 6 mode changeover switch 7 drive unit 8 sensor 9 speaker 10 D / A converter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A voice-responsive toy that operates in response to an externally input voice, comprising: a driving unit that operates the toy; and a set in which information about voice and information about the operation of the toy are associated with each other. Storage means for storing a plurality of sets, mode switching means for switching the mode of the toy to one of a voice registration mode and an operation mode, and when the mode switching means is switched to the voice registration mode, sequentially from the outside A first voice input unit for inputting a voice; and a voice storage control unit for sequentially storing information about the voice sequentially input from the first voice input unit in each set of the storage unit. Speech-reactive toys that do. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a voice registration determining unit configured to determine whether information relating to a voice input from the first voice input unit is already stored in the storage unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the registration determining unit determines that the information on the input voice is not yet stored in the storage unit, the information on the voice is registered in each set of the storage unit. The described voice-reactive toy. 3. A second voice input means for externally inputting a voice when the mode switching means is switched to an operation mode, and information relating to a voice input from the second voice input means is provided. A voice collating means for sequentially collating with information about the voice stored in the storage means; and when the information about the voice substantially matching the information about the voice inputted by the voice collating means is collated, the voice matching 3. A voice-responsive toy according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a drive control unit that drives the drive unit in an operation corresponding to information on the toy. 4. An operation measuring means for sequentially measuring an operation of the toy by an externally applied force when the mode switching means is switched to a voice registration mode, and the operation measuring means sequentially measures the toy operation. The voice-responsive toy according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: an operation storage control unit configured to sequentially store information on an operation in each set of the storage unit.