| abstract |
An educational toy ( 10 ) having a dodecahedron shape is formed with a different visual display on each planar face ( 17-28 ). A position sensing mechanism ( 50 ) is oriented inside the toy ( 10 ) to inform a microprocessor ( 62 ) which one of the planar faces ( 17-28 ) is in the “up” position. As the toy ( 10 ) is turned or moved a signal is generated to “power on” and a musical tune is played. When one of the planar faces ( 17-28 ) is stopped in the “up” position, the position sensing mechanism ( 50 ) informs the microprocessor ( 62 ) and an aural response corresponding to the visual display is transmitted through a speaker ( 44 ). If the toy ( 10 ) is left alone for a specified period of time, a warning tune is transmitted. If the toy ( 10 ) is still not moved thereafter, the toy ( 10 ) will automatically “power off”. |