IP Library Granted Patent US 12710690
Granted Patent B2
US 12710690 · App. 19/348,173 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Projector with audio and animation

Inventor: Richard G. Maddrell (Barrington, IL)
Assignee: COTTAGE DOOR PRESS, LLC
G03B31/00G03B21/145H04R1/028G03B2206/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12710690
App. No.
19/348,173
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projector, such as a toy projector, in which stored content or information is delivered both as digital images and digital audio content from an interchangeable character which is interchangeably attached to the projector. The stored content or information can be specific to the content and/or theme being displayed and is delivered through an electrical connection to the projector.

Claims (39)

1 . An audio and animation device comprising:

a housing having a panel, an interchangeable character body replaceably mounted with respect to the panel, the interchangeable character body having a readable memory device mounted within the housing and/or a body of the interchangeable character body, a processor mounted within the housing and/or the body of the interchangeable character body, the processor in communication with the readable memory device, the interchangeable character body having an electrical connection to the panel, the electrical connection including an electrical connector on the panel, the electrical connection positioned near a surface of the interchangeable character body, a structural receiver connected to the interchangeable character body, the structural receiver mounted and positioned about the electrical connector, an inlay element positioned on the panel and between the structural receiver and the electrical connector, in a mounted position of the interchangeable character body on the panel a top surface of the inlay element contacting a bottom surface of the structural receiver, a plurality of the interchangeable character bodies are interchangeable with each other, the readable memory device of each of the interchangeable character bodies has a story specific to each interchangeable character body and a different story content compared to each other, a projector lens module mounted with respect to the housing, an audio output device mounted with respect to the housing, the processor operating the projector lens module to display an image related to the interchangeable character body, and the processor operating the audio output device to produce a sound related to the interchangeable character body.

2 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the interchangeable character bodies replaceably fits within the electrical connection.

3 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the structural receiver forms the electrical connection between the interchangeable character body and the electrical connector.

4 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the image is static and/or dynamic.

5 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the image is digital and/or a photo.

6 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the sound is digital and/or acoustic.

7 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection includes an 8-pin electrical connector electrically connected to the processor.

8 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the image is a digital image and/or a photo image.

9 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the image corresponds to an unique story theme of the interchangeable character body.

10 . An audio and animation device according to claim 1 , wherein the readable memory device includes information specifically related to a story, a theme and/or a content corresponding to the interchangeable character body.

11 . A projector comprising:

a housing having a panel, a character body interchangeably mounted to the panel, a readable memory device positioned in the housing and/or the character body, a processor mounted within the housing and/or a body of the character body, the processor in communication with the readable memory device, an electrical connection on the panel electrically connecting the readable memory device, the electrical connection having an electrical connector on the panel, the electrical connection positioned near a surface of the interchangeable character body, a structural receiver attached to the interchangeable character body, the structural receiver mounted and positioned about the electrical connector, an inlay element positioned on the panel and between the structural receiver and the electrical connector, in a mounted position of the interchangeable character body on the panel a top surface of the inlay element contacting a bottom surface of the structural receiver, a plurality of the interchangeable character bodies are interchangeable with each other, the readable memory device of each of the interchangeable character bodies has a story specific to each interchangeable character body and a different story content compared to each other, a projector lens module operably mounted to the housing, an audio output device operably mounted to the housing, the processor operating the projector lens module to display an image related to the character body, and the processor operating the audio output device to produce a sound related to the character body.

12 . A projector according to claim 11 , wherein each of the interchangeable character bodies replaceably fits within the electrical connection.

13 . A projector according to claim 11 , wherein the structural receiver forms the electrical connection between the interchangeable character body and the electrical connector.

14 . A projector according to claim 11 , wherein the image and/or the sound is digital and/or acoustic.

15 . A projector according to claim 11 , wherein the electrical connection includes an 8-pin electrical connector electrically connected to the readable memory device.

16 . A method for operating a projector, including the steps of:

forming an electrical connection on a panel of a housing;

interchangeably mounting a character body to the panel;

mounting a readable memory device within the housing and/or the character body;

mounting a processor within the housing and/or a body of the character body;

forming communication between the processor and the readable memory device,

forming the electrical connection with an electrical connector mounted on the panel,

positioning the electrical connection near a surface of the interchangeable character body,

connecting a structural receiver to the interchangeable character body,

mounting the structural receiver and positioning the structural receiver about the electrical connector,

positioning an inlay element on the panel and between the structural receiver and the electrical connector,

in a mounted position of the interchangeable character body on the panel a top surface of the inlay element contacting a bottom surface of the structural receiver,

wherein a plurality of the interchangeable character bodies are interchangeable with each other,

wherein the readable memory device of each of the interchangeable character bodies has a story specific to each interchangeable character body and a different story content compared to each other,

operably mounting a projector lens module with respect to the housing;

operably mounting an audio output device with respect to the housing;

the processor operating the projector lens module to display an image related to the character body; and

the processor operating the audio output device to produce a sound related to the character body.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein each of the interchangeable character bodies replaceably fits within the electrical connection.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the structural receiver forms the electrical connection between the interchangeable character body and the electrical connector.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the image and/or the sound is digital and/or acoustic.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the electrical connection includes electrically communicating through an 8-pin electrical connector to the readable memory device.