Mattel, Inc.

James P Zielinski

Patricia Chan

Steven D Ryniker

E Ernst Ginkel

Mark J Barthold

Eric E Skifstrom

Peter MacIver

James A Molina

Jim Keifer

Peter E Teel

Charles H DeVoe

Kelly Rae Matheny

Jeffrey Alan Saunders

Catherine Demas

Natalie Repp Zigal

Scott E Wilger

Elaine Marans

Rene M Pasko

Kimberly Culmone

Stacey K Brand

Charles H De Voe

Daniel Leahy

Lucas Pope

Joy L Becerra

Paul T P King

David B Miller

Matt Thorne

Steve A Fulton

Ryan Ciociola

Blake C Knight

Audiovisual devices and methods of controlling those devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, an audiovisual toy may include a controller configured to receive a first output signal generated by an audio input device based on received first audio input that exceeds a predetermined threshold level, ignore the audio input device subsequent to receiving the first output signal during a first predetermined time interval, drive a motor based on the received first output signal during the first predetermined time interval, and, after the first predetermined time interval has elapsed, wind down the motor during a second predetermined time interval and monitor, during the second predetermined time interval, for a second output signal generated by the audio input device based on received second audio input that exceeds the predetermined threshold level.

Audiovisual devices

A toy doll with an illuminable movable portion is a toy doll with an illumination source, a first portion, and second portion. The second portion is movable with respect to the first portion and includes at least two panels which define housings configured to be illuminated. Each of the housings may include illumination areas, which, upon being aligned with the illumination source may become illuminated. Each of the panels may be selectively aligned with the illumination source. By illuminating different panels of the second portion, the toy doll can be configured in various illumination configurations. A user can influence which panels are illuminated by orienting the toy doll in certain orientations or moving the second portion to different locations with respect to the first portion, among other factors.

Toy with an illuminable movable portion

Audiovisual device

A toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article is disclosed. In particular, a toy doll with a reconfigurable clothing article and an electronic system that generates outputs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the clothing article can be reconfigured relative to the body of the toy doll. In one embodiment, the body of the toy doll includes a display portion that can be used to generate various visual displays.

Toy figure with reconfigurable clothing article and output generating system

A stand includes a supporting structure for supporting a doll and an electrostatic charge generating device supported by the supporting structure for causing hair of the doll to move when the doll is supported by the supporting structure and the electrostatic charge generating device is activated. A method of using a stand for a doll includes supporting the doll with a supporting structure of the stand and activating an electrostatic charge generating device that is supported by the supporting structure to cause hair of the doll to move. The supporting structure may include a conductive member made of carbon-impregnated plastic for contacting the doll and for transferring charge generated by the electrostatic charge generating device to the doll. The conductive member may be moveable in response to a positioning of the doll to provide for user safety. The stand may also include an electrical disconnect mechanism for user safety.

Doll stands and methods of using doll stands having an electrostatic charge generating device

Animated toy figures including a torso having a neck and an interior body cavity, a head that is pivotally coupled to the neck, a vertically oriented lifting structure, where an upward movement of the lifting structure results in a backward pivoting of the head, first and second arm members disposed on opposing sides of the torso, a cross-connector rotatably disposed within the interior body cavity connected to and extending between the first and second arm members and configured to drive the lifting structure upward upon rotation of the cross-connector, and an activating member disposed on the torso that is operatively coupled to the cross-connector. Activation of the activating member rotates the cross-connector, thereby rotating the first and second arm members and vertically displacing the lifting structure, so that the upward movement of the arm members is coupled to a backward pivoting of the head.

Toy figure with coordinated movements

Capacitive touchpad assemblies, toys including capacitive touchpad assemblies and integral card readers, and methods for detecting contact with a capacitive touch surface are provided. A capacitive touch surface may have a capacity that varies depending on whether it is being contacted by an object such as a human finger. A voltage of the capacitive touch surface may be altered during each of a predetermined number of recurring time intervals. The capacitance of the capacitive touch surface will determine the amount of time required to alter its voltage to a threshold voltage within each time interval. The sum amount of time required for the voltage of the capacitive touch surface to reach the threshold voltage in a predetermined number of time intervals may be used to determine whether the capacitive touch surface is being touched.

Capacitive touchpad and toy incorporating the same

The present disclosure is directed to DVD gaming systems that include DVD game remote systems having card readers, and methods of playing games using those DVD gaming systems.

Interactive DVD gaming systems

A game system including cards with computer-readable information is provided. The computer-readable information may be in the form of a code embodied on the cards. The cards may be selectively chosen and compiled in a card compiling device that is configured to remove singly a series of cards from one location and to deliver the removed cards to a new location.

Computer fashion game with machine-readable trading cards

A toy figure configured to selectively control a DVD player having a DVD game medium, the DVD player having a plurality of different functions and being adapted to receive a plurality of different control signals with each control signal being associated with a different function of the DVD player, and to perform the associated function in response to a received control signal is disclosed. In some embodiments, the toy figure may include a body; at least a first orientation sensor supported by the body and configured to detect a first orientation of the body relative to a reference plane, and to generate a first orientation signal based on the detected first orientation; and a processing subsystem configured to receive at least the first orientation signal, and to generate a corresponding first one of the plurality of control signals based, at least in part, on the received first orientation signal.

A music production system is presented that includes a music module to access computer software applications and produce music compositions. The system in a first mode records and corrects the pitch of a tune, typically a tune sung by a user at a microphone. The user may produce additional tracks with the software applications including instruments playing the recorded and corrected tune or to accompany the user while singing the tune. In a second mode, the system generates virtual characters such as band members, a producer and/or a manager to simulate the production and presentation of the recorded tune as a stage show as part of a recording industry. Virtual characters may assist in the use of user interface functions during music composition development and orchestration.

Music production system

Growing community of inventors

Hawthorne, CA, United States of America

James P Zielinski